An "Emptier" Nest

Hello, sweet blog friends!  As many of you know, our oldest daughter got married this past weekend.  All our company has finally departed, including our youngest daughter and her husband who were staying with us over the wedding weekend.  It was the last time I'll ever have had them all under one roof for a VERY long time (if ever).  It was a very bitter-sweet experience, for sure.  Two down, and one (our 17-year-old baby boy) left in our home.  I wish this time could last forever.  We have the best kids a person could ever ask for, and we would have gladly let them all live with us forever.  But we know when it's time to let go and trust them to God (and to their spouses as it should be).  It just always seems to take a few moments for everything to hit you, and to then make the necessary adjustments to find your new normal.  It sure is hard walking past (now two) empty bedrooms.  That never seems quite right.  Perhaps we need to do something with all of these extra empty bedrooms.   But for now.....memories fill our house and our hearts.

I was so glad (now that all our guests have gone home) to finally have some time to get into my craft room and work on a few things; both for my Design Team commitments as well as just for fun.  There were a few challenges where I knew I really wanted to try to play along this week/month and now I have a card that I can enter in these challenges.

I used a wide variety of products on this card.  It started with a few different October Afternoon patterned papers and an October Afternoon music flair (pin).   The stitched heart is from Papertrey Ink (also cut from OA paper), and I stitched it with pink DMC floss.  I tied a bow with Frosting Seam Binding, Teal Baker's Twine, and I implemented the color green by adding two hand-stamped leaves that are from Paper Sweeties Make Today Beautiful (Retired) stamp set.  I hand-cut them and added them to the bow.  The stamped sentiment is from Inspired By Stamping.  I also used the coordinating Fancy Labels 3 Die-Cuts to compliment their Petite Banners Stamp Set.  I really enjoyed Guest Designing for them this month.

Here are the challenges where I'm sharing this sweet card:

Paper Sweeties August Challenge - Color/Photo Inspiration - I used a couple of Paper Sweeties products on my card (details above).  This colors and layers in this sweet photo really inspired me, and I had a lot of fun pulling out my Paper Sweeties products again.

DL ART August Linky Party - I always enjoy playing along here when I can.  I always enjoy getting the sweet comments left by Diana and her talented Design Team.  I hope everyone will stop by and play along here.

Little Scrap Pieces - Saturday Linky Party

Paper Minutes #449 - Sewing - Stop by this sweet challenge blog for some lovely inspiration by their talented designers.  I almost always LOVE to machine stitch on my cards, so I knew I just HAD to enter this sweet challenge.

Tuesday Throwdown Challenge Blog:  TT#308 - Make It Sparkle - I added some white and some clear sparkly sequins to embellish my card and make it sparkle.

Thanks so much for stopping by my blog today.  I'm always so grateful for your visits and I always appreciate the sweet comments you leave for me.  Have a wonderful and creative week, my sweet blog land friends.  Can't wait to see what ya'all have been creating.  You all inspire me so much.

Have A Sweet Day,

Karen