I hope you all had a fabulous 4th of July! I know we did. It was my grandfather’s 74th birthday. I hope to share photos when my camera batteries are re-charged!!

Time has flown by. I signed my children up for swimming lessons and I was reminded of when my grandfather taught me how to swim over 25 years ago! Today’s stamp set goes with my thoughts today. Those were great times at my grandparents all summer long. My grandfather would play “shark” and chase us around the pool. We would spend an hour creating a “whirlpool” so we could get caught up in the circling motion. We would spend HOURS in that pool. They had a screen house that we would then sit in the glider chairs and just listen to the buzzing of the electric lines of the hot day, and watch all the June Bugs try to get into the screen house. The second we were dry we were back in the pool. Just great memories there. Obviously since the 4th of July is my grandfathers b-day, this time of year always gets me thinking like that.

So, anyway the day was great. I decided that this card, with somewhat 4th of July colors would be our sketch for this weekend. This set is called Summertime Fun. You can view it, and the other design team samples HERE! Don’t forget to enter to win a free set of your own 😀 The release of the 3 new sets is the 7th!! Party starts on the forum at 8pm EST-10pm EST

I hope you enjoy it. Its got some good layering going on! LOL! Take the risk!

The paper for this is by Making Memories. I just love the boy themed colors. I hope you get to try it as well. Send us a link here if you do, so we can see your take.

Now let me share some other fun creations I made using this set-

I adore this card 😀 It uses American Crafts paper/ribbon. It was inspired by my layout for the sketch today, just mixed up a bit 😀 The colors are super summer fun!!

Monkey Fun

 He is flocked. Isn’t he just the cutest thing ever? I love him floating on the “waves” like that.

Lulu scuba dives-a gel card

 This was a super quick card. I wish I could have incorporated some purple paper but my brain was DEAD when I made this one! LOL!

I have MANY more samples to share, just not today!

I also want to wish Kim from MFT a HUGE Happy Birthday since today is her 40th!!!!!! I made something special for her, but I will share that tomorrow. Oh and I still have more MFT stuff to share from the new release! YEAH!

OK I need to run and take the kids to Canobie Lake 😀 Later!

WOW! Who would have thought my Papertrey Ink newsletter project would spark such a flurry of questions & emails! LOL! As I sit I have over 400 emails all asking the same questions. I thought I had covered everything, but I guess I didn’t. Sorry.

I am swamped so figured I better answer you ALL here.

ALL the supplies I used have a LIVE link as to where I purchased them. Please click on the name, that is underlined, and it will take you to the site where the item can be purchased.

The Yasumoto Pearlescent watercolors I used can be bought —>HERE! I think that was the biggest question. No doubt Kim will be sold out as soon as everyone realizes that! LOL! They are super awesome, and give a great shimmer.

As for the sandwich for your cuttlebug machine and nestabilities I did put the directions in #3. MANY people are confused as to the “black mat” layer. I bought my 2 mats a while ago, when they sold you a tan, and black mat. You can use just use/buy 2 tan mats for the nestabilties/cuttlebug combo as well to get the embossed circle.

So sorry for all the confusion.

The other questions I got swamped with were about the Amish Friendship bread.

This is the starter bread directions:

1 pkg. active dry yeast
1/4 cup warm water (110°F)
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
1 cup warm milk (110°F)

Directions:
1. In a small bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water for about 10 minutes. Stir well.

2. In a 2 quart glass or plastic container, combine 1 cup sifted flour and 1 cup sugar. Mix thoroughly or the flour will get lumpy when you add the milk.

3. Slowly stir in warm milk and dissolved yeast mixture. Loosely cover the mixture with a lid or plastic wrap. The mixture will get bubbly. Consider this Day 1 of the cycle.

For the next 10 days handle starter according to the instructions above for Amish Friendship Bread.

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I hope that answers everything for everyone 😀

Thanks for reading, and let me know if there is anything I left out.