...Featured Stamper #53 & Big News

This is my submission for today's Featured Stamper Challenge at SCS. The lucky recipient this week is Mrs. Sarah Green. You can check out her blog HERE...she is one talented lady! I chose the card seen HERE to CASE. I changed it up a little, but kept the "bones" of the card very close to the original. I changed the following components: The colors, the stamp sets, and the embellishments (I opted for more simple accessories on mine just to be different). I started with a card base of Summer Sun cardstock that measured 10 X 5, and when folded to open at the bottom measures 5 X 5. The next layer up is Old Olive cardstock that measures 4-7/8 X 4-7/8, and it was stamped with "Flannel Plaid" in Old Olive Classic Ink.

The focal panel consists of the following: Real Red cardstock (5 X 2-1/2), Summer Sun cardstock(5 X 2-3/8), and Watercolor Paper (5 X 2-1/4). All of the layers were attached to each other and the card base using SNAIL Adhesive. Several stamps were used to make this creation, but all of the images were stamped in Staz-On Black Ink, then each was colored using Derwent Studio Colour Pencils, Blending Stumps, and Mineral Spirits. The truck from the set "Loads of Love" was stamped twice...once onto the focal panel, then again on a scrap piece of watercolor paper. The one stamped onto the scrap piece was colored and allowed to dry. The driver and puppy passengers from the set "Loads of Love Accessories" were stamped using a Stamp-a-ma-jig and Image Sheet onto the focal panel, then colored also. The colored truck image was cut out using CutterBee Scissors, then layered over the image on the focal panel using Dimensionals. The puppies following behind the truck are from the "Tailgating" Standard Wheel. They were also stamped onto watercolor paper, colored, and attached to the focal panel using Dimensionals. The sentiment "friends for the long haul" (also from the accessories set) was stamped in Always Artichoke Classic Ink in the lower right corner of the card, then Real Red Brads and Summer Sun Brads were added to the top left corner of the card with the use of a Mat Pack and Paper Piercer. Shadows were added under each image to add a little more depth and to finish off this simple card.


Now for some BIG NEWS...my oldest son, Christian has been recruited to play basketball for the Chattanooga Panthers! We were approached a week ago by the head coach of the AAU (Amatuer Athletics Union) team about him becoming a member. I attended my first parent meeting today in order to get all of the details regarding practices, schedules, fees, fundraisers, etc. I met some wonderful, sweet, and welcoming mothers who made me feel like a part of their circle an less like an outsider. I also got to meet the two assistant coaches that would be working one-on-one with him. I am so excited that my son has this opportunity...he will be playing with and facing the best of the best. Not only that, but he will also be watched and ranked by college scouts......can you say "scholarships"? I think it means so much more due to the fact that this was his first year playing basketball! He had played when he was five and six on my husband's recreation team, but has never played on a school team until this past November. Boy has he come a LONG way!!! Our first tournament is in two weeks, and there will be alot of practices between now and then (so I may not be posting as often as I would like. Please be patient with me).


Not only have I been impressed with Christian's talent, but I have been equally impressed with the cooperative and encouraging spirit of his middle school coach, Derek Smith. I received this touching text message from him this afternoon: "Christian's progression in basketball for just one season is uncanny. Let me know if he needs a reference for AAU. I will be willing to open up the gym on the weekends and work with him if he wants". It's coaches like him that make the biggest impressions on these young yet growing boys. Even after their season has ended, this coach is willing to work with and speak for one of his players. I am so thankful that he has had the chance to play and learn so much in one season. Thank you, Coach Smith! Needless to say, I think that he has found his niche! He has already told his dad and me that he doesn't even want to play football next year in high school, because he wants to focus on and train for basketball. It now looks like basketball has become a ten month stint for us......but I think we can handle it!

Thanks for stopping by today, and sharing this happy and crazy time with me! I will see you all later! Until then.....Hugs ~ Mercy

Supplies

Stamps: Loads of Love, Loads of Love Accessories, Flannel Plaid, Tailgating Standard Wheel

Paper: Summer Sun, Old Olive, Real Red, Watercolor

Ink: Staz-On Black, Always Artichoke, Old Olive

Accessories: colour pencils, blending stumps, mineral spirits, scissors, dimensionals, brads, adhesive