Ollie's Graduation Card

 I asked Ollie (Oliver) to send me a graduation card 

so I could send him some money.

He's the most respectful, kind, gentle, sweet young man.

He answered "Oh - You don't have to do that".

His father, who is my yard man, told him

"You don't ever say no if someone's offering you money".

We all had a good laugh & I told Ollie

"Be like your Dad". 

LOL!

My yard man is very Christian

and only continues doing my yard and just a few more

in my neighborhood, which is all widows.

He has a job, but out of kindness to us, he continues to keep up our yards, 

which by the way are all 3/4 acre in size.

Ollie's school colors are maroon & white.

I went with a very clean & simple card.

Using burgundy/maroon cardstock as the base,

I edge punched white cardstock for a nice look.

Also die cut the numbers 2026.

The inside of the card has a simple sentiment,

to which I used the same edge punch that is on the front of the card.

Clean & simple card for a very nice young man!

Wishing Ollie the very best future,

as he's going to attend our local college for Mechanical Engineering.

What a FANTASTIC choice!

With all of the industry here, he will have no problem getting a job when he's done.

Thanks for checking out Ollie's Graduation card!

Have a blessed day!

Lisa

Products used:

Recollections - Cardstock - Burgundy Linen

Martha Stewart - Edge Punch - ZigZag

Lifestyle Crafts - Dies - English Rose

Tools

Adhesives

My Craft Room - Part Three - Friends Wall

 Those that know me, know how much I love animals.

A few years back, I decided to dedicate wall space

especially for my animal friends, both living & deceased.

Some were living when I hung these layouts, but have since passed on.

Today, I made a slight change by replacing one with 

my favorite dog at the moment, Rex.

He is the only living animal on the Friends Wall,

well, as far as I know.

The Friends Wall is just to the right when you walk into my Craft Room.

A perfect area that fits 9 layouts very nicely.

Here are a few different angles of the Friends Wall.

Now for each individual layout,

in order beginning at the bottom where I have my three

sweet babies that belonged to me.

The middle row has the only living friend, Rex,

with my deceased Grand animals.

The top row has two friends & my little precious Pepper.

Thanks for coming by to see my Friends Wall.

I LOVE every single one of these precious sweethearts!

Have a blessed week!

Lisa >^..^<

Rex - 2026

 I finally made myself a Rex layout!

This handsome (well, really he's gorgeous) boy

is my priest's dog that I babysit from time to time.

I think he loves me just as much as I love him.

Father Paul took the photo of Rex with the ball in his mouth

and I took the two smaller ones.

Rex loves string cheese, that I cut up into small pieces for him.

I just HAD to include the words "Cheese....please!"

as a reminder to me how Rex sits & whines for cheese.

I was lucky to still have a sheet from a very old collection 

that was just perfect for this beautiful boy.

The photos are framed and the two flower arrangements coordinate perfectly with Rex's colors of black, white & rust.

All over the page, I also did thick splashes using undiluted jet black gesso

and some rusty colored grunge spots were inked through a stencil.

For the flowers arrangements - 

I die cut rose leaves in a green to closely match the grass that Rex is standing on

and some black leafy ones too.

I sprayed a rust color on natural moss; used blue roses & buds;

sprayed jet black color on white flowers;

and even used a few tiny pale pink roses.

Rex has pink coloring on his top lip just under his nose!

Each arrangement is mounted on top of a swirly chipboard 

that I heat embossed in a rust color.

Notice the beautiful ReneaBouquets butterflies on this layout!

These are another favorite of mine.

Nothing seems 'complete' without one of her beauties!

The edges of the layout are stamped stitchings in jet black.

I really enjoyed designing & creating this layout of my beautiful friend, Rex.

He will now have a special spot on my "Friend's Wall",

which I will do a feature post soon on that.

Thanks for coming by to see him!

Have a blessed weekend,

Lisa >^..^<

Products used:

Blue Fern Studios - Happy Accident - "Quirk"

Recollections - Cardstock 

Jet Black
(behind photos & leafy die cuts)

"Spice Market"
(used rust color behind main photo)

"Cypress"
(used green for die cut rose leaves)

Chipboards

Dusty Attic
Fancy Trim #12

Dusty Attic
Teeny Tiny ABC
(spelled the name "Rex")

Creative Embellishments
Vintage Flourish Set 1

Stampers Anonymous - Tim Holtz layering stencil

"Splatters"

Technique Tuesday - Clear Stamps - "In Stitches"

Tattered Lace Dies

Meadow Leaves

Ornate Leaves

ReneaBouquets - Tiny Treasures Butterflies - "Frosty Kisses"

Flowers

30mm Pale Blue Wild Roses

2-tone Blue Hip Rosebuds

10mm Vintage Color Open Roses
(used light pink)

White Gypsophila
(colored in jet black)

Reindeer Moss - Natural color

Colored in a rust color

Mediums

Liquitex Professional
Black Gesso
(for undiluted thick splatters)

Liquitex Basics Acrylic Gesso
(used to prime chipboard before embossing)

Tsukineko Versa Mark
Watermark Stamp Pad
(applied to chipboard before adding embossing color)

Tsukineko Versa Magic Chalk Ink
"Pumpkin Spice"
(used through a stencil to make grunge marks)

Ranger Archival Ink
"Jet Black"
(used on REX chipboard name & stitch stamping on LO edges)

Blue Fern Studios Embossing Powder
"Goldilocks"
(used on swirly chipboard)

Blue Fern Studios Embossing Powder
"Stormy Skies"
(used on long chipboard at top of layout)

Lindy's Gang Starburst Spray
"Canna Lily Burnt Orange"
(used to recolor natural moss)

Lindy's Gang Flat Fabio Spray
"Blazing Black"
(used to recolor white flowers)

Tools

Fiskars 12" SureCut Deluxe Paper Trimmer

Sizzix Big Shot machine

Sizzix Magnetic Platform

Sizzix Standard Plates

Sizzix Heat Embossing Tool

Recollections Acrylic Stamping Blocks

Adhesives

Scor-Tape

Nuvo Glue

Martha Stewart Hot Glue Gun

Elmer's Foam Adhesive Tape

Recollections Foam Adhesive Circles