MTTSC31

At first this sketch had me a bit worried. However, as I looked at it more closely the possibilities really started springing to mind. It truly challenged my creative thinking to go outside of the box a bit. And that is one of the things I love most about this group. The challenge sketches force me to stretch my imagination.

For the background, I decided to go with a new technique I just learned on SCS called faux grid. On shiny cardstock I stamped various leaves in the colors I chose and created the tile around them. For the yellow rectangles I used a technique called faux linen created by sanding shiny white cardstock then sponging ink over it. Unfortunately the faux linen doesn't show up in the picture.

Thank you Ms. M for a truly challenging, exciting sketch!

Hugs,
Lisa ;)

MTTSC30

Wow, this week has been so nutty. But, I finally created a card for this weeks sketch challenge. I apologize for my extreme tardiness.

As I look at my blog, I see that I used the same stamp set as I did for the last challenge. I guess this means I like this one ;)

This sketch really stumped me (not an excuse but another reason I am late getting this done). But I finally came up with something that I like. I went with the color blue because of my sentiment "i miss you" as in I am blue 'cause I miss you.

Yeah my brain is really doing it's own thing this week. Anyway, thank you for stopping by to see my VERY late card! Thank you Jack for this great sketch!
Hugs,
Lisa :)

Erik's High School Graduation

It was such an exciting day watching Erik graduate from high school. 18 years... where did the time go? Seems like yesterday that I was lying in that hospital bed, holding our son who was born 5 1/2 weeks prematurely. He sure isn't tiny anymore though (and our grocery bill represents that lol).

So much has happened in that amount of time. And Erik's graduation had me reflecting on how lucky we are to be here, right now in this moment... together.

My mother struggled with kidney failure and spent years on dialysis. I lost track of how many times I got calls in the middle of the night from IC Unit that she had taken a turn for the worse and that they couldn't stabilize her and telling me I should get there quick. Erik was pretty young then, and I would dress him (it was always around Christmas) and drive through the chilly night to the hospital to wait and pray for her to pull through... again. A few years ago she received a kidney transplant, but it still has been a bumpy road for her... one wrought with challenges and at times discouragement.

I remember when Erik was a baby, and I would wonder if my gram would see him grow into a boy. She has been living with us now for over 5 years as she slowly slips further into Alzheimers. It has been so difficult watching her as the dementia takes more and more of her mind. But at Erik's graduation, you could see the joy light up her face as she spotted him walking past her. She grabbed his arm and smiled so big! It made me cry.

It was such an amazing thing that my mother, grandmother, and Nana (my mom's mom) were there to see Erik graduate. I feel so blessed.