Skip to content

Happy Anniversary X Two

  • by

My niece and her husband celebrated their second anniversary this weekend. Their wedding was one of the most fun weddings I’ve ever attended, and the two of them couldn’t be sweeter! Here’s a more elegant verson of the anniversary card I made for friends a couple of weeks ago.

Anniversary

You need to see it up close to get a good look at the metallic papers.

AnniversaryClose

The embossed silver cardstock came from Michaels, and the gold is from Paper source. I used Simon Says woodgrain again for the Phrase Play #5 die cut from Papertrey Ink. The stamp is from the same set. I couldn’t seem to get a good picture of the sequins, but there’s a pretty clear sequin from Pretty Pink Posh nestled into a larger gold one from Michaels.

AnniversaryInside

The inside sentiment is from Papertrey’s Delightful Dahlia’s Additions. The hearts on both the front and the inside are from the Hearts and Arrows die from Savvy.

The next card was inspired by the current CAS-ual Friday challenge to create a card with hearts in summer colors. 

CAS

Hearts

I die cut the Tic Tac Toe Hearts into the front of the card, then colored the hearts with my Copic markers and laid them back into the original die cut. The sentiment comes from two Simon Says sets: Happy, and Color and Sunshine. 

HeartsClose

It makes for a nice one-layer, flat card that will be winging its way in August to friends on the west coast.

I’ll link both up to Virginia’s Die Cut Challenge as well.

V. V. Challenge #5 (2)

Before I go, I thought I’d share a few photos (all from my phonte) from our Fourth of July birthday celebration.

IMG_6270ed_blog

We had bruschetta chicken, and orzo salad with spinach and feta, potato salad, a green salad, and rolls for dinner. I didn’t get a photo but we had chocolate mousse cake from Joey B’s for dessert. My mother-in-law requested it, but didn’t expect we’d be able to get it direct from the restaurant. It was delicious.

Here we all are—a couple folks are looking rather serious, but I only took one quick photo so the food wouldn’t get cold.

IMG_6271ed_blog

After dinner we drove to Canandaigua Lake, boarded the Canandaigua Lady, and watched the fireworks from the lake. It was a bit chilly, but we were well-prepared, and the fireworks were wonderful. We got a beautiful sunset as well.

IMG_6299ed_blog

IMG_6282ed_blog

Fireworks

 

 

Red, White, and Blue

  • by

Happy 4th of July! I’m grateful every single day for the freedoms I have living here. It’s an extra-special day for us because we’re celebrating my mother-in-law’s 85th birthday today. Tomorrow is the actual day, but everyone is coming here for dinner and then we’re headed to Canandaigua to board the Canandaigua Lady for a tour on the lake and to watch the fireworks. It’s quite cool here this morning, but clear and sunny!

I have three red, white, and blue cards to share. I’m entering all three cards in the Fusion Challenge this week:  Red, White, and Blue. The last one fits both the color and the sketch challenge.

Fusion copy

The first is the birthday card for Ellie. Once I created the anniversary cards here, I knew this die would make an awesome shaker card. I ended up taking the first card apart and redoing it. I folded a piece of clear cardstock, sealed two sides with Washi tape, and dumped the star sequins inside. Then I sealed the top when I adhered the white background. It makes for a much flatter and neater card.

HB

The die cut and sentiment are both Papertrey Ink, and the cardstock is Simon Says Lipstick Red and Soft Navy. I think I found the stars at Michaels, but it was awhile ago. 

HBClose

I’m entering this one in the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge:  Shake It, and Virginia’s Die Cut challenge.

Wednesdayblog-logo

V. V. Challenge #5 (2)

The next two cards use the July Simon Says Card Kit. This kit is going to get a lot of use! The first one is for friends who received some tough news this week. We’re hoping it will all work out, but I wanted to get a card of encouragement out to them ASAP.

SendingPrayers

Absolutely everything on this card came from the kit. I love all the patterned papers, and managed to get five of them on this card!

PrayersClose

Even the inside message came from the kit.

PrayersInside

The last card was inspired by the Fusion Sketch and this card by Shari Carroll. 

BestWishes

More yummy patterned papers from the kit, as well as a Lifestyle Crafts embossing folder (never used before) and a die cut from Papertrey’s “Bubble Talk” with an embossed sentiment from PTI’s “Faux Ribbon” (one of my oldest PTI sets).

BestWishesClose

If you’re celebrating today, I hope it’s a wonderful and safe holiday!

Welcome, Baby!

  • by

I’m back with a card for The Card Concept challenge site. The current challenge is “Oh, Baby!” and I needed a baby card for good friends who just had an adorable baby girl.

Baby

I had a lot of fun creating this card. I started by applying embossing paste with  Simon Says “Falling Hearts” stencil. While that was drying I die cut two tags with Papertrey Ink’s Tag Sale #5, one from the Bazzil pink cardstock and one from a vellum that is also embossed with tiny hearts. The sentiment is from PTI’s “Fillable Frames: Addition 2.” I tied a Paper Source pink ribbon to the tag and adhered everything to the card base. The gorgeous sequins are new ones from Pretty Pink Posh. This fits the Card Concept category “Clean and Layered.”

BabyClose

I combined sentiments from Avery Elle’s “Oh, Happy Day!” and Simon Says “Favorite Flowers” for the inside greeting. I just love how they work together.

BabyInside

I’m also linking this to Simon Says Work It Wednesday Challenge: “Create & Share.”

Workitwedbanner

Happy Anniversary & Two Challenges

  • by

My dear friends celebrated their 66th anniversary yesterday. They no longer live in the same building (but are at the same facility) so this year I made an anniversary card for both of them to have in their rooms. 

AnniversaryCards

I was anxious to put this new die from Papertrey Ink to work, and I’m sure it’s going to get a lot of use. I love the simplicity of it, and the accompanying stamps make it very versatile. I die cut it from Simon Say’s woodgrain cardstock and added the wood veneer heart, colored with a Copic marker so I could enter them in the CAS-ology Challenge this week:  Wood.

Here’s a closer look.

AnniversaryClose

Week 101 - Wood

I’m also linking up to the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge:  Anything Goes.

Wednesdayblog-logo

Papertrey Ink June Blog Hop

  • by

The inspiration for Papertrey Ink’s June Blog Hop was a photo, sketch, and color challenge. This was the way Nicole described it:

You can choose to work with any of the ideas above or use other components of the inspiration photo to jump start your creation.  Have fun with it and challenge yourself to work outside of your comfort zone!

I created three cards, using each of the sketches, and combined one of the sketches with one of the downloadable color combinations. In my ongoing attempt to use stamps that haven’t seen enough (or any) love, each card uses at least one stamp or die that I’ve never used before.

Here’s the first sketch and the color inspiration.

Sketch1

ColorInspiration

And my interpretation:

Card 1

This color combination is definitely not in my comfort zone (nor is trying to combine five different colors on one card.) I began by die cutting frames from Framed Out #1 and Framed Out #12 as well as a collection of flowers from Button Stacks II. (The Button Stacks II dies are my unused item.) I took a little liberty with the sketch and stamped the sentiment from “Fillable Frame #4 inside one of the frames. The Spring Rain color was added with the enamel dot from MME. The rest of the colors were die cut from the corresponding paper in the inspiration piece.

For the second card I used a sketch, but choose my own colors from a pile of scraps laying on my desk waiting to be filed into the scrap paper folders.

Sketch3

Card2

I used a Nestability Small Circles die to cut the circles from Pure Poppy, Tropical Teal, and Summer Sunrise. The star is from Impress, and the sentiment is from another unused (but new) stamp set “Wet Paint II.”

The last card is my personal favorite (CAS design), and a masculine one, to boot! I used this sketch:

Sketch2

Card3

I started by stamping a variety of the”Square Prints” designs on Fine Linen cardstock. I’ve owned the “Square Prints” set since it came out, and don’t believe I’ve ever used it. Liked it when I bought it, and I still do. I cut each square on the diagonal and mounted the resulting triangles under a thin strip of True Black cardstock. The sentiment is from “Botanical Prints.”

I’m linking up all three cards to the Simon Says Monday Challenge to use products we ought to use more often. True, true, true.

Mon-challenge-badge_zps05647c53

I was hoping to link up to the blog post this morning, but either TypePad or my internet service were being disagreeable. So now I’m off to check out the inspiration linked here.

Sweet Pea

  • by

One of my goals this year is to try to use all the stamps in my collection. Truthfully, it will probably take me more than a year, but I’m making progress. As soon as I saw the current challenge at Curtain Call, I knew I had the perfect stamp, and one that hasn’t seen much use.

Sweet pea edited

Papertrey Ink had a series of stamps several years ago called Year of the Flower. I only purchased two of the twelve, but one of them was “Sweet Pea.”

SweetPea

I’m also entering the card into the Less Is More challlenge:  Watercolour. It’s a relatively new challenge for me, but one I see frequently on my inspiration journeys around the internet. The cardstock base is a beautiful shimmer one from Papertrey Ink, but it’s not showing up well in photographs. The sentiment is also from the Year of the Flower:  Sweet Pea, embossed in white on vellum and stitched down. 

SweetPeaClose

Usually I have a receipient in mind when I make a card, but this one originated with the challenge call. It’s nice to have a few cards in the file when I need one but don’t have the time to create one.

Happy Retirement

  • by

It’s that time of year, and two people I’ve worked with are retiring in June. The first is the program secretary at the Presbytery office. Jan has been a huge help to me during the six years I’ve served on Presbytery committees, and especially the three years I was chair of one of the committees. A group of us took her out to dinner a week or so ago, and I made this card for her.

Retirement

Embossing and then doing a watercolor wash is becoming a favorite (and quick to do) technique. This time I used Dylusion sprays. I dipped my brush into the spray and applied it to the watercolor paper. I love how bright (almost neon) they are. The sentiment is an old wooden stamp by PSX. It’s been in my collection for a very long time. The assortment of sequins came in a kit, but I’m not sure which one. I’m entering this card in the Less Is More challenge:  Watercolour.

LIM for blinkie

The second card is for our Assistant Music Director at our church. I was on the hiring committe that chose Chris nineteen years ago! My original idea for this card didn’t work out, but the end result is one of my favorites in quite some time. Totally CAS, but elegant.

ButterflyCongrats

I almost didn’t purchase the “Life is Beautiful” stamps and die from Papertrey Ink, but they are already a favorite. The sentiment is from a Papertrey set, “Congratulations,” that I’ve never used before, but it was the perfect size and font.

ButterflyCongratsClose

Here you can see the beautiful vellum, streaked with silver glitter from Cosmo Cricket’s “Simple Surfaces” paper pack. The glittery enamel dots are from MME. The gold paper has been in my stash for a long time. This is the perfect card for the Fusion part of the CAS(E) this Sketch collaboration this week.

CTS_Fusion

I’m also entering both cards in the Simon Says Monday Challenge:  Anything Goes.

Mon-challenge-badge_zps05647c53

 

Happy Father’s Day

  • by

Today is Father’s Day in the US, and I know three of the greatest dads around. My husband, my son, and my son-in-law couldn’t be more conscientious, loving, and devoted fathers. Watching them with their child(ren) is such a joy, and the love they give is returned in kind. I’ll be home from Detroit in time to celebrate with Tracy at Matt and Betsy’s house for dinner. 

Light

This one, needless to say, is for Tracy. Most of the products on the card are from the Simon Says April Card Kit. The stencil is from Crafter’s Workshop. I added bright yellow acrylic paint to some transluscent embossing paste. Before I layered on the embossing paste, I did cut a circle mask to save the spot in the middle for the light bulb from “Watts Up” by Simon Says. None of the sentiments in the set were quite what I was looking for, but after searching through my collection I found the perfect one from an old Unity stamp set, “Shine On.”

LightClose

A closer look at the dimension created with the embossing paste.

SuperStarDad

I was excited to finally get out this cover plate die (Simple Stars) by Papertrey Ink for Matt’s card. I colored the cardbase with Copic markers to create the ombre stripes behind the stars. The sentiment comes from an older Papertrey set “Star Prints.”

StarDadClose

I added some glossy accents to accent the sentiment star.

AmazingDad

I used the Simple Stars cover plate to emboss the top portion of Adam’s card. The sentiment is from WPlus9’s “Super Star” set. It appears that set is no longer available so I’m glad I bought it when it was released several years ago. This might be the third Father’s Day that it’s seen action, and all three of the inside sentiments were stamped with the Happy Father’s Day sentiment from that set.

All three cards use Simon Says “Sunshine” and “Lipstick Red” cardstocks as well as Papertrey Ink’s Select White.

Happy Father’s Day to all the great dads who make such a difference in their children’s lives!

Something Simple: Two Anniversary Cards

  • by

I sent off two anniversary cards the end of May. I’m entering the first one in Curtain Call’s current challenge “Something Simple.” 

Something simple

3HeartsClose

This card was made with the wonderful die (Simon Says) I won on Melissa’s blog several months ago. I sprayed a piece of watercolor cardstock with Dylusions sprays and then added a spray or two of Sheer Shimmer Spritz.

DylusionPaper

I cut a piece of the cardstock and put it behind the three die cut hearts. Sadly, I couldn’t find any light that really showed the glimmer of the red watercolored piece. 

3Hearts

I add three die cut hearts (Simon Says) cut from metallic gold paper and finally the sentiment from “Round and Round” by Papertrey Ink. The cardstock is a textured one from my stash—probably American Craft.

The second card is a total CASE of a card on Danielle Flander’s blog so I won’t be entering that in any challenge. It’s such a great design, however, I thought I’d share it for those who don’t follow Danielle’s blog. She’s a wonderful designer, not only of cards, but of scrapbook pages as well.

AnniversaryShimmer

The black die cut is Papertrey’s Building Blocks coverplate, layered over Select White with another metallic gold die cut heart (Simon Says). The sentiment is the same as the first. 

We’re off to Ithaca tomorrow for our annual spring trip to the Farmer’s Market. We’re hoping to visit the Johnson Museum on the Cornell campus as well, but just discovered it’s reunion weekend there so we may not find anywhere to park! I’ll be trying to finish my last assignment for my photography course, and maybe a few photos for Rinda’s scavenger hunt.

Just a Note: Three Challenges

  • by

Yesterday I received an email saying a gentleman who serves with me on a Presbytery committee had been admitted to the hospital. I wanted to get a card and note off to him.

JustANoteClose

This card actually fits three current challenges, although I didn’t start out to meet the requirements of any of them. The first is one I’ve never entered before, “The Card Concept.” There’s an inspiration piece and in addition, you need to identify your card by type. This card fits the “Clean and Layering” category, and includes the following color challenge:

CardConcept

The CAS-ual Friday challenge is to create a masculine card with the following catch: no kraft cardstock, and you must use some ribbon.

Cfc132

And finally, the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge is to create a masculine or Father’s Day card.

Wednesdayblog-logo

JustANote

I started out with the cute Savvy die cut typewriter which was  already in my die cut basket. I pulled out an Avery tag, and used some Tim Holtz Distress Ink with a Crafter’s Workshop stencil to createsone interest on the tag. The sentiment on the tag was stamped with Papertrey Ink’s “Just The Ticket.” When I looked through my patterned paper I found the perfect match for that from Pink Paislee’s “Vintage Vogue” collection. After tying on some gray grosgrain ribbon, I layed the tag on the patterned paper and realized I needed some plain cardstock between it and the patterned paper. I hand cut a larger tag with Simon Says “Smoke Gray” cardstock, and adhered it all to a Rustic White cardbase (Papertrey Ink). Since the sentiment wasn’t stamped perfectly in the center, adding the yellow enamel dot emphasized the sentiment, and was the final color needed for the Card Concept challenge. I hope it cheers up my friend, Ben.

May Papertrey Ink Blog Hop Challenge

  • by

Not that any month seems to drag along any more, but May has really flown by. We spent all day yesterday helping Matt and Betsy move to a new (to them) house just five houses away from their previous home. They’re expecting #2 in November (!!!!) and this house has quite a bit more room, and a fabulous, huge, fenced-in yard. They’re going to love it there. We’ll be back there again today helping them get settled. When I got home last night, I had time to play around with some watercolor techniques and a new stamp and die set from Papertrey Ink.

This month’s blog hop challenge was a color challenge: Aqua and Melon.

PTIBlogHop

My first card meets the challenge with both colors. 

3Butterflies

I love this new butterfly set, “A Beautiful Life.” The darkest of the butterflies was die cut from a piece of Bristol paper on which I did a watercolor wash with some Peerless watercolors. The other two butterflies were stamped after coating them with Gelatoes and spraying them with water. Then I die cut the stamped images which were amazingly easy to line up. The sentiment is also from the same set stamped in Aqua Mist.

3ButterfliesClose

I decided the butterflies were a bold enough statement that they didn’t need any other embellishment.

My second card is my favorite, and although I tried adding some melon accents I really like it better without them. So here it is, even though it really doesn’t meet the challenge.

AquaButterfly

I stamped the butterfly image with Aqua Mist on a piece of Tim Holtz watercolor paper, and then “bled” the ink around the image much the way Betsy Veldman did here. Then I added a butterfly die cut from dotted vellum, and a die cut from an aqua watercolor wash with Peerless watercolors. This time a few white sequins seemed in order.

AquaButterflyClose

Hope you’re having a wonderful weekend! 

Watercolor for Card Makers & A Challenge

  • by

Today is the last day participants in the Online Card Class can post their work to the galleries. Today I found time to finish two cards I had already started and create a third one. Each one uses a different medium for the watercolor.  I’ve taken several of the Online Card Classes and loved them all, but this one rates an A+. Each lesson was loaded with content and inspiration, and the techniques varied from beginner to very advanced. I’ll be working on the techniques for weeks to come, but I’m already more comfortable with many of the watercolor mediums now than I was when we began. One thing I’ve learned (which is not easy for me) is that you cannot hurry watercolor. It takes time!

All three cards qualify for the new CAS-ology Challenge: Flowers, so I’ll be linking them up there.

Week 96 - Flower

My first card is based on a lesson for Day 2. Jennifer McGuire demonstrated how to use art masking fluid (or rubber cement) to seal the stamped image. Once it dried, it was easy to add a water color wash over it.

Thanks

After the watercolor dries, you can easily rub the masking fluid off the stamped image. I added a die cut from Simon Says and put the watercolor panel on a card of Raspberry Fizz (PTI) and added some thin pieces of black card stock to set it off.

On Day 4, Shari Carroll used Gelatoes directly on a stamp. She used a red rubber stamp, so I wasn’t sure how it would work on a clear acrylic stamp, but my test sample came out just as I hoped, so it ended up on the card! My purple Gelato is one of the metallic ones, and so the flower has a subtle sheen to it.

Thinking

The stamp is from a rather neglected set by Papertrey Ink called “Life.” I do believe this class will breathe new life into some of my older, less used stamp sets. The sentiment came from “Winter Hills,” also by Papertrey. Here you can see the subtle shine of the Gelato.

ThinkingClose

 

The last card was based on another of Jennifer McGuire’s cards on Day 6 where she watercolored a white embossed stamped image. She used some Sparkle mist as her water, but I didn’t feel the tulips were a great subject for that, so I stuck to water. This one took a lot of time. It was very difficult to see the white embossing on the watercolor paper. I taped it down on a clipboard and by tilting the clipboard to the light was able to get it watercolored. I used Tim Holtz Distress Markers for this one.

BDWishes

I do love these soft colors, and it was worth the time it took. 

BDClose

The tulips are from Friendship Jar Spring Fillers, and the sentiment is from “Wishes Come True,” both Papertrey Ink sets. 

More Watercolor

  • by

I’ve fallen behind in the Watercolor for Cardmakers class. The featured cards just get more and more beautiful every day, and I’m a bit overwhelmed by all I want to try. I do have a couple cards to share. The first one is watercoloring a stamped image from Jennifer Razsa’s lesson on Day 5. In my desire to use some of my older wooden stamps I chose “Happy Birthday Topiaries” by Uptown Rubber Stamps. I don’t even know if they’re in business anymore. Every time I purge my stamp collection, this one makes the cut. It’s whimiscal nature gets to me every time. 

I used my Inktense watercolor pencils for this one, and it was definitely a learning experience. I’ll be giving it another go once I’ve tried some of the other techniques.

BirthdayTopiaries

TopiariesClose

The next card was also a learning experiences from the lessons on Day 3:  watercolor stamping. This involves applying ink directly to the stamp and then adding water to the stamped image. I followed along with a video by Dawn Woleslagle on her WPlus9 blog to create this card. She’s one of the instructors for the class, as well.

SpecialDay

I used another older wooden stamp by Judith for the mason jar. It’s a bit bigger than I would have liked so I’ll search through my acrylic stamps next time for a better choice. The flowers, foliage, and sentiment are all from Dawn’s “Fresh Cut Flowers.”

SpecialDayClose

I’m anxious to try this again soon, as I think I know what I what’s needed to improve the watercoloring here. I’m hoping to find time today to watch the last three days worth of videos for class so tomorrow I can give another technique a try. I’ve always thought these classes were well worth the money, but this one far exceeded my expectations. I’ll be working on these techniques all summer!

 

Happy Mother’s Day & Watercolor #4

  • by

Today is Mother’s Day in the States, and I’ve had quite a lovely one. Before I share a little bit about my day, I thought I’d share the cards I sent to my daughter and and gave to my daughter-in-law. Sarah’s been spending a lot of time in her yard, so I sent her a gift certificate to a lovely nursery around the corner from their house. A floral card seemed appropriate. One of my goals this year is to use some of my older stamps and decide if they are ones I want to keep. The stamp collection is the one thing I really didn’t spend a lot of time purging in January, although I did give a nice sized box to the charity shop. I decided this stamp of tulips by Lockhart is a keeper.

MothersDay2

I colored it with Copic markers, adhered it to a Paper Source embossed flat card, and then to a card made with Simon Say’s new Fog cardstock (a new favorite.) The sentiment is from Avery Elle.

MD2Close

Betsy’s card is another card for the Watercolor for Card Makers class. I posted another card using this technique earlier. This time I was quite happy with the way the Distress Inks stamped off the acrylic block.

MothersDay

The die cut is from Simon Says “Happy,” and the rest of the sentiment from Winnie and Walter’s The Big, The Bold, and The Happy. After mounting it on Papertrey Ink’s Tropical Teal card, I added two gold die cut hearts left over from a previous project. 

HappyMothersDayClose

This is also the week of my birthday, and I took some money I’ve been saving and purchased a fixed aperture 17-50mm lens for my camera. We’re finally having some splendid spring weather, and the Lilac Festival in Highland Park opened on Friday. This morning Tracy and I walked through the park and I had a chance to try out the new lens.

IMG_4549ed_blog

This is just one section of a huge pansy bed they plant for the festival each year. The design is always different.

IMG_4553ed_blog

Despite a lot of rain Friday night and some pretty strong winds (we were in the park for Tracy’s brother’s band performance), the magnolias have survived rather well.

IMG_4568ed_blog

IMG_4561ed–blog

IMG_4562ed_blog

 

My main motivation for purchasing the lens was to improve my ability to take photos in low light situations. I’m asked pretty frequently to take photographs at Presbytery events, usually in a church where I’m uncomfortable using my flash. And then, more importantly, I’d like more consistently good shots of grandchildren indoors. But I have to say, I’m pretty pleased with the way the lens performed outdoors today. It’s the heaviest lens I own, but wasn’t a problem during our three mile walk.

After lunch, we went to the nursery and purchased the geraniums for our patio bed, and a flat of marigolds to plant along the driveway. Tracy bought me a beautiful hanging pot of geraniums, vinca, and lobelia which is hanging by the front door. (Forgot to take photos of these!)

Matt, Betsy, and Skylar came for dinner, and we had a nice long Face Book session with Sarah, Adam, and Caleb. I couldn’t have asked for a nicer day!

 

Watercolor: Part 3 & CAS(E) This Sketch

  • by

Back again with yet another card from the techniques introduced on Day 1 of the Online Card Class. This time it was the embossed resist technique which I’ve done before on a smaller scale. I didn’t have a background stamp with the open spaces they recommended but I thought this one called “Tiny Flags” by Hero Arts might work.

Anniversary

I embossed it with gold on the smooth side of Tim Holtz’s watercolor paper, and used Distress Inks to watercolor diagonal stripes, and adhered it to a card made with PTI’s Raspberry Fizz cardstock. The stamp is a very old wooden one by Savvy Stamps. I needed an anniversary card for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law and this looked appropriately festive. The card design is based on this week’s sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch. It couldn’t have been more perfect!

CTS_Sketch_75 (1)

Here’s a closer look at the watercoloring.

AnniversaryClose

We’re off in just an hour or so to celebrate Mother’s Day with Tracy’s mom and siblings. We’re celebrating a day early since his brother, Greg, who’s band was inducted in the Rochester Music Hall of Fame last week, flies back to Texas tomorrow.