Happy Father's Day!!

Wow, guess what?! This card made the Friday Five over at the H2H challenge blog - what a great surprise!! Click on the button below to be taken back to that post!

• I want to wish all the men in my life a very happy day today!! I am so blessed to have many wonderful Father's in my life: my own beloved Father who raised me, my sweet husband Jose, my Pappaw (Dad's dad), the legacy of my Grandpa Orville who passed away shortly before I was born (but whose life, memory, and spirit has continued to bless and help me in spite of that), and an amazing Father-in-Law Juan! All of these men have made my life better in so many ways. I am strengthened by their faith, courage, and kind and loving example each day. I want you all to know how much I love, adore, and appreciate you!

• My little sister Mary is giving a talk today in her ward at church. I just read her talk that is posted on her blog and needless to say, it brought me to tears. Mary shares some of her memories and experiences with our Father over the years and it was so touching to me because I know this same man that she is talking about so well. Many of Mary's sentiments are mine exactly and I am so grateful that she has put into words so eloquently exactly how much I love my dad and all the men in my life also. I encourage you to read my sister's talk on her blog by clicking here! I promise it will uplift you and make you feel good (and for those of you who know me well, it will explain some of my family history to you and help you understand how I am continuing to become who I am). I have been so blessed throughout my life and have a lot to strive for and live up to!

• Now for the details about my card shown above (and below). I created it for the Heart 2 Heart challenge this week. Our challenge was to make a Father's Day card using up some of our scraps (and I certainly have plenty of those to use, lol!) I used the Simple Pleasures Level 1 Kit as well as My Stickease scraps I had a bunch of also. I did a lot of distressing with Cocoa ink, but amazingly there is absolutely NO STAMPING on this card (such a rarity for me)! I hope you enjoy my card and that it inspires you! Have a wonderful Father's Day everyone!

The H2H8 "background stamping" challenge resulted in a NEW Blog Topper for me (yaay!)

This card also helped me make the top 5 this week (6/4/2010):

This weeks Heart 2 Heart challenge was to create something using stamps for your background. I was inspired by Helen O's card and knew that I wanted to use the fun "argyle" looking stamp from the upcoming June SOTM - D1422 Wonderful Friend. This is my standard size card that resulted, also inspired by Wishes - Lucky Layers (p. 27). I used the "stamp-rolling" technique to give my argyle background a two-tone effect (garden green ink, rolled with cocoa ink at the top and bottom of the image). I also added a folded paper ruffle that I've been wanting to try making for so long now using B&T from the Veranda paper packet (I sanded the B&T ruffle with sandpaper to give it that "well-worn" look). Well, it turns out that I like my card enough that I decided to use it as the NEW topper for my blog (yaay!! It's about time, right?!) I hope you like the change as much as I do, as I was getting tired of seeing the same card there for so long - since last Summer (you can see my old blog topper in the post before this one if you want to remember it fondly with me, lol). Out with the old and in with the NEW!!

**Update: I was thrilled to discover this morning (6/4) that this card was chosen as one of the Friday top 5 on the Heart 2 Heart challenge blog!! You can see that post by clicking here! Yaay - I am so excited - thank you for the honor ladies that chose me!!