Kisses Free - Hugs $1.00

I haven't played in 2 Sketches 4 You challenge in weeks & sure have missed it! With so many challenges out there, how can one possibly do them ALL? I like to try & rotate them out as much as I can & usually base them on being truly inspired. Well the bonus card & sketch by DT member Ashlid did just that for me this week!

I thumbed through my pictures of my niece Gabby the other day to do a few scrapbook pages (may as well take a few with me on my trip next month for her album!) and remembered this one - thinking it would be perfect to use with Melanie's Little Tees & JustRite small letters set

I decided to play up the hugs & kisses aspect of the page theme & used the solid heart from Little Tees and a big hug from Cuddles and Hugs to make my cardstock patterned. The XOXO is JustRite Curlz Alphabet.

The journaling on the pull tab says, "One day when Gabby gave her Nino Micky a kiss good-bye, he said, 'Can I have a hug too?' and Gabby said, 'Yea $1.00'. It made everyone laugh! So when Nino Micky & Nina Andrea saw this shirt at Target, they just had to get it for her!!"

Never be the first...

...to let go of a hug. Hugs are powerful; they hold so much meaning, they break down barriers, are healing. You can use a hug to say I'm thinking of you, I'm sad you're hurting, I'm sorry, I miss you, I value your friendship, I love you.

I'm not sure how long ago or where I first saw that quote but when I did, it made me think so much about the meaning of hugs. I often think about this quote when I hug someone, but only truly apply it when the other person knows about it as well (like in my DH's case...but usually I'm the first to let go not because I don't love him, but because I'm usually in the midst of some project) and he's trying to make me slow down. I remember growing up and always hugging my dad because we were so close, and when he died I started to hug my mom more but she wasn't all that big on affection. I think by the time she died, I changed that a little because she got used to it. I love that hugging is a great form of expression and a way to say so much when words are hard to come by.

This is the first card I made using the image of the koalas Melanie drew for her new set Cuddles and Hugs. I used a sketch from Little Book of Sketches for my card (and knew I wanted to use Kraft c/s - so I went with Blush Blossom, Ruby Red and Pretty in Pink to complement it) - the dp is Ginger Blossom by SU!. I Googled some images of koalas for the most accurate way to color them and was taken aback at how adorable they are! No wonder they were my mom's favorite animal! Which led me to wonder, do I have a favorite? I'm not sure I do. But I always wanted a monkey (so cute as babies in diapers) and I like snakes (so funny Melanie put those in her set, not realizing that about me) - always wanted one of those growing up but my mom wouldn't allow it (more on that another time). I love cats (have 2) and Melanie put those in her set too! I'll have a card using them to show you soon. I love bears, they are cute too! But I don't know that I can associate a favorite animal of mine just yet.

I digress...thank you, Melanie...for making this set! It really is my favorite of all you've made because as you put it, I'm a 'champion hugger' and since I was the inspiration behind it, it makes it all the more special to me.

For the Mr. & Mrs.

Here is the first card I made using Melanie's new set Cuddles and Hugs by Gina K Designs for a wedding I attended last night. I used SCS' LSC173-It's NOT Hip To Be Square Limited Supplies Challenge from Friday - to make a shaped card. I knew the flamingos (and matching 'For the Mr. & Mrs.' sentiment -on the envelope would fit the bill for a wedding card). I used 'love' from the Just so Hippy set & stamped it in between the flamingos - loving how the space forms a heart.

Here is the happy couple who got married on a boat at Canyon Lake. It was my first time meeting his lovely bride because they recently got back together (after being apart for the past 8 years). They looked SOO happy and I am happy for them. Robert is one of my 'brothers' - since John and I were 'adopted' into my friend Kay's family MANY years ago. Robert is 6 years younger than me but about 14 inches taller. Our families have been there for one another through lots of trials & events over the years. Kay happens to be one of my customers too (but that's secondary to the fact we are friends/family first).

Here is mom Kay. She didn't realize I took this picture of her because I stole the moment during the ceremony. I love those kind of shots (even though it's a little blurry) - she has so much love written on her face and you can tell she couldn't be more thrilled about Michelle coming back to the family because she always loved her. Kay and other family members pulled this wedding off in about 3 weeks because Michelle's brother was here on vacation from Alaska (going back this week) and she wanted him to be a part of their wedding. I found out their first date in '97 was going out for coffee - and the date that reunited them was too, which is why Kay made these favors and the nuggets - chocolate goes with everything!

This was one of the most special weddings I have attended; it was intimate - only 60 people allowed on the boat although I don't think there were that many. It was quite humid (and little white bugs flying around and tight quarters) but once we started moving on the water, it was just beautiful. The bride & groom rode off into the sunset on her step-dad's smaller boat and we took a moment to have someone get our picture before the moment was gone. We ended the evening with the toast & cake and saying our good-byes. It was really a moment to treasure and we were happy to be a part of.