Thursday, February 28, 2013

Let's Have Some Cake

It's almost the beginning of the weekend ... YEAH!  It's been a long week, and I don't know about you, but I'm totally ready to relax, create some cards, and have fun with friends.

So I thought I would share a card I made a while back from the Sweet Shoppe DSP and stickers.  I wasn't really a fan of stickers, but the stickers that came with this designer series paper were so cute.




I like the way the card turned out, and I especially like the cute little candy that lines the bottom of the envelope.  Cute, huh?  The cake looks so yummy, it makes you want to eat a piece.  Well, we can enjoy the sweet cake without the calories.  Happy Stamping!


Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Coloring Down the Lines - Melon Mambo

Well, chalk it up to being a ditz and forgetting one of the most fun things I look forward to each week.  I even had my card made 2 weeks in advance, and I forget????  AHHHHHHHHH!  Well, the night's not over, so here it is, without further ado...

So I hope you weren't disappointed too much after just being over at Carol's blog.  I know I would be - and as I said ... thank goodness I made it in before the end of the day.

So, if you haven't hopped on over to Joni's blog yet, please do.  Here's the link, and away we go..


Coloring Down the Lines - Melon Mambo

Sorry Everyone.  My post will be up later on this evening.  Chalk it up to "whoops, forgot what day it is"!

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Come with Me & Sit a Spell

This card reminds me of a quiet place to just sit and reflect and enjoy the company of a friend.  So that's why I called this card:  Come with me and sit a spell.  This bench could be in a park, a back yard, under a big, giant tree, or anywhere, and it's so inviting to just sit and have great conversation with a friend.  See if you don't agree with me ...

This was the other card that was attached to the pin up board I received as a polyanna gift last year.  I have it hanging off of the board, and it will most likely always remain there as a reminder of the wonderful person who made it and gave it to me.

You know what tomorrow is, don't you?  Yeppo, it's Coloring Down the Lines day ... our weekly blog hop.  I hope you'll tune in tomorrow to see all the pretty cards that will be shared on the blog.  We have a larger group than what we have had these past few weeks, so lots of ideas will be flowing your way.  Until then, happy stamping!

Monday, February 25, 2013

Love is in the Air

Last October, I attended a RemARKables Stampin Weekend, and we all brought a hand-made gift worth $10 to share for a polyanna exchange.  I made a cute hot cocoa box, decorated all up for the holiday, with yummy hot cocoa packets inside and some other sweet treats.  Well, the gift I received in return was an awesome display board to hang in my craft studio and two hand-made cards were attached.  One of the cards I'm calling "Love is in the Air".  It's a really pretty card and I thought I would share.  I think I may have already published the display board, so I'll check to make sure.  If not, I'll post it tomorrow night so you can see it.  What a gift.  I was truly blessed to receive such a nice gift.

Anyway, here' one of the cards that was on the board:

I love the background on this card, don't you?  Pretty, Pretty, Pretty.  I'll share the other card tomorrow evening, and possibly the display board.

Have a super night, and I hope you see you tomorrow.


Saturday, February 23, 2013

Sweet Shoppe Happy Birthday

For this card, I used the sweet shoppe DSP and stickers.  At first, I wasn't fond of using stickers, but these are cute.  I made quite a few cards using the paper and stickers, and here is one of them:

Don't you think it's a cute card?  I like the happiness of the color in the paper.  And that's what birthdays are about ... happy times and celebrations.  So enjoy ... and I'll see you tomorrow.

Friday, February 22, 2013

Bitty Butterfly

Here is a simple card we made at our team meeting last weekend, and I just love it.  The sentiment is sweet too ... "so glad we're here for each other".  Simply said, don't you think?

I love the bitty butterfly punch too.  I love butterflies anyway, so how cute to add this to the card with a colorful DSP and whola.




Well I don't know about you, but I'm glad we're here for each other.  Aren't you?  What better support than from our dear creative friends.  Hope you enjoy it.

Thursday, February 21, 2013

Comfort Cafe Thank You

I had an urge to use the Comfort Cafe DSP the other day, and I put a few ideas on paper but nothing really grabbed me.  So i put the paper aside and for the next few days, I looked at it and left it.  Then this morning, I looked at the paper again and, out of the blue, thought of another design and quickly put it together before I left for work.  I rather like the way it turned out.  I can't explain it ... but I just wanted to use the dsp ... it's not too often I design a card around dsp, but this was one of them.

Another thing I've been stuck on lately is the "kindness matters" stamp set.  I used it on this card.  You never know what will inspire you, at any time, so I take advantage of my inspiration and usually happy with the outcome.

Well I hope you're enjoying your inspiration, and please do share.  That's what's so nice about this craft ... there are so many talented and super nice women out there, and best of all, they love to share.  Keep on inspiring!

Wednesday, February 20, 2013

Thinking of you - Island Indigo

Here is a card we made this past weekend at our team meeting.  We made a several of a few card designs to share with the Church where we have our Stamp Camps.  It's so nice to make cards for those who appreciate them. 

So this card is a simple one, but a nice one.

I like the "Thinking of You" stamp.  I've used it in a lot of cards, and I've also seen some really pretty cards made using it.  I guess I just love the shape of it too.  So many possibilities. 

Until tomorrow ....

Coloring Down the Lines - Regal Rose

I hope you're enjoying our weekly blog hop.  This week, the colors are Regal Rose and Rose Red.  Well, I usually don't use just two colors, so I always have to put on my thinking cap to figure out what to do. 

We're a little mixed up this week ... instead of following Carol, I'm following Joni.  She's certainly a tough act to follow ... so I have to keep up with these very creative ladies.  Here is what I came up with this week .. and after adjusting a few things here and there, I like the way it turned out.  Take a peek ...





Card recipe:
Paper:  rose red, whisper white, regal rose designer paper stack
Ink:  rose red
Stamp Set:  kindness matters, papillon potpourri
Accessories:  ovals collection framelits, fancy fan embossing folder, finishing touches edgelits, itty bitty shapes punch,scallop trim border punch, basic rhinestones

Not bad for two colors, if I must say so myself.  I hope you like it.  Now, let's go check out what Sandy created for us this week.  Sandy always has great ideas, and is a natural at this.  Let me show you ... let's hop on over now ...

Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Happy Birthday, Connie

February is a very busy month for birthday's.  It starts off with my brother's birthday. groundhog's day. then my father-in-law (who is no longer with us), my niece, our son, my parent's anniversary (although my mother is no longer with us either), my friend, Connie, and my grandfather (who is no longer with us).  So it's nice to get a head start on February birthday cards ...

So here's the card I made for Connie.  I'm mailing hers out tomorrow ... just in time for her birthday by the weekend.  


Card Recipe:
Paper:  pool party,. island indigo, whisper white, tangerine tango, sweet shoppe dsp
Ink:  island indigo
Stamp Sets:  pretty postage, happiest birthday wishes (hostess)
Accessories:  postage stamp punch, pool party 3/8" ruffled ribbon, perfect polka dots embossing folder

Well, I hope she likes it.  It's a happy card, and it was real fun to make.

Wednesday is our coloring down the lines blog hop.  Hope you're going to check us out this week.  Our challenge is two colors ... wow, it takes a lot of thinking ... stay tuned.

Thanks for stopping by!




Monday, February 18, 2013

Happy Birthday, TJ

Today is our son's 27th birthday.  I wanted to make him a card that looks masculine, so I put on my thinking cap and pulled out some embossing folders and worked around those.  I was rather pleased with how they turned out, and so was he.  YEAH!  Guess I did good.  My father and husband really liked them too.  My dad especially liked the one gift card holder with the brad.  Check them out below, along with the card:

Birthday Card Recipe:
Paper:  brushed silver, early espresso, very vanilla, morning mocha dsp
Ink:  early espresso
Stamp Sets:  beautiful birthday; happiest birthday wishes (hostess) inside
Accessories:  honeycomb embossing folder, apothecary accents framelits, metalic brad

Gift Card Holder #1 (left)
Paper:  black, very vanilla, mocha morning dsp
Ink:  pewter embossing powder, basic gray (distressing on edge of postage stamp)
Stamp Set:  pretty postage
Accessories:  pretty postage punch, black 1/8" taffeta ribbon

Gift Card Holder #2 (right)
Paper:  brushed silver, black, very vanilla, mocha morning dsp, brushed gold, early espresso
Ink:  stazon black
Stamp Set:  that's the ticket
Accessories:  honeycomb embossing folder, antique brad

I hope you like them.

Tom and I took Tj out to dinner to end the evening.  Happy Birthday, Tj!

Coffee, Tea or Me - Happy Birthday

We made some cute cards today at our team meeting today, and one of them I really liked.  So, I thought I would share it with you.  It's a cute little way to say happy birthday, and give that special friend a cup of coffee (or tea, or hot cocoa ... whichever you like).

The pull out was made with a piece of very vanilla card stock and crumb cake, using the apothecary framelit in the center.  Then a single packet of coffee is tied onto the card using very vanilla seam binding, and adhered with with a cute "happy birthday" tiny tag on a trinket safety pin.  A small pull tab is at the top of the pull out, then all is inserted into a crumb cake envelope which is cut off on the one end and scallpped using the scalloped edge edgelit, and the stitched embossing folder at the bottom.  How cute is this?  Hope you like it.

Tomorrow is my son's birthday.  I made a masculine card for him, and I also made two gift card holders to match.  My husband and I are taking him to dinner at a place of his choice, and spending some nice, quality time with him.  Happy Birthday, my Tj!  I'm so happy to have such a wonderful young man as my son.

Stop back.  You'll see the card and gift card holders tomorrow night.  Ciao for now.

Friday, February 15, 2013

Vintage Verses - Wishing You A Day As Perfect As You Are

I thought I would share another team swap from our January meeting tonight.  I like the colors in this card, and the sentiment is so sweet.  We don't always do swaps at our team meetings, but some we do, and we left with a nice sampling from the Sale-a-Bration brochure last month.  Check this one out ...





The more I see cards made with "So Saffron", I like that color more and more.  So keep watching; I'm certain that I'll be using it in some future postings.

Thank you for taking the time to stop by and check out my blog.  I wish you a sweet evening.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

3 x 3 mini note cards

I made a bunch of 3 x 3 note cards for my friend, Katy and they turned out really cute.  I had them sitting on my desk at work, and lo and behold, two of my other dear friends want me to make them some too.  Oh la la.   They are so fun to make and so cute, so looks like that's what I'll be doing over the weekend.

Here they are, all set up on my desk:

The summer smoochies 3 x 3 cards I CASED from someone on the Stampin Connection, but the picture didn't have a name on it.  If I find out who made them, I will give them the proper credit they deserve.  The other 3 x 3 cards are all mine! 

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY!

Until tomorrow, happy stamping!

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Patterned Occasions Team Swap

Here's another card from our team swap last month.  This card uses the Patterned Occasions stamp set (Sale-a-Bration).   It's so cute.  My upline, Jill, made it.  Take a peek:


Isn't it cute?  It's a keeper!  Hope you enjoy it.  Until tomorrow, happy stamping!








Coloring Down the Lines - Tangerine Tango

Welcome back to our blog hop this week.  We've switched things up a bit, and now we're going to two colors vs. three.  This took a little thinking on my part because I usually use more than just two colors, so I was up for the challenge.  This week, the color combination is Tangerine Tango and Cajun Craze.  Since the two colors are similar, I had to think a bit.  I bet Carol didn't have to think too hard.  As I always say, Carol is a natural, and you can certainly see that  by her creations. 

So without further delay, here's what I made for the challenge:

Card Recipe:

Stamp Sets:  Madison Avenue (Sale-a-Bration), and Kindness Matters (Spring 2013catalog)
Paper:  Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla
Ink:  Tangerine Tango
Accessories:  Finial Press Embossing Folder, Postage Stamp Punch, Tangerine Tango satin ribbon - Sycamore Street Ribbon and Button Pack (Sale-a-Bration), Rhinestone Basic Jewels

Ok, so now that you've seen what I've made, let's see what Joni has for us.  I know she created her card early in the week, so I know it's going to be great.  Let's go check it out ....

Tuesday, February 12, 2013

Rain or Shine Heartfelt Sentiment

I really like the Rain or Shine stamp set.  The umbrellas are so cute and they take on a really cool dimension when used with dimensionals.  I saw a card that someone made, but I can't remember who it was, and thought it looked so "happy", so I decided to try and make one similar.  Here's what I came up with ...

I have to say, when I originally created the card, I wasn't real thrilled with it.  I must have taken it apart several times before I got it to where I liked it.  I added the melon mambo for interest and it made all the difference.  So I hope you like it and feel "happy" as it was intended.  Enjoy!

Monday, February 11, 2013

Thank You From a Dear Friend

I wanted to post a "thank you" card that I received from a very dear friend.  How sweet of her to thank me for just being me.  I don't think I've ever received a card like that.   So, I thought I would share the beautiful card with you.


Thank you, my friend, for thinking of me and making me feel so special.


Friday, February 8, 2013

Oh Hello, Thinking of You Sympathy Card

Another sympathy card ... I don't know if I can bear to make another one.  My heart goes out to everyone who lost someone, especially in these past two weeks.  So much sadness and sorrow is hard to bear, and I sometimes reflect back on all the sadness I've had over the years.  Some, more difficult than others.  I've had 3 people pass away last year, all within our family.  Two of them were young members of our family and were unexpected.  The trauma seems unbearable at times and seems to live on, although easing ever so slightly.

So, it's with heavy heart that I create these cards for all my friends that have lost loved ones over these past two weeks.  I'm so sorry for their loss and continue to keep them in my prayers so they will find peace and comfort in friends and family around them.

Card Recipe:

Stamp Sets:  Oh Hello, Thoughts & Prayers, Sincere Salutations
Paper:  Calypso Coral, Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz
Ink:  Calypso Coral, Crumb Cake
Accessories:  3/8" Coral Ruffled Ribbon, Perfect Polkadots and Needle Point Borders Embossing Folders, Basic Pearls

I saw the design for this card on someone's blog, but honestly, can't remember who it was.  I apologize for not giving the proper credit where credit is due.  If I remember, I'll surely let you know.

Hope you like it.  Thank you for stopping by.

Thursday, February 7, 2013

Oh Hello, Sympathy for April

Sadly, I had to create another sympathy card this week.  A dear fellow stamper lost her sister and it's a very sad situation.  Creating these cards isn't that easy either.  Most of the time when I sit down to make a card or two, I always have "happy" on my mind, and so my card reflects that.  Since sympathy cards are not associated with being happy, you want to make sure you make something very special and pleasing to look at in hopes that it may bring the person who receives it some comfort and strength to bear the burden of losing a loved one.  So I created this card in hopes of just that.


Card Ingredients:

Stamp Sets:  Oh Hello, Thoughts and Prayers, Teeny Tiny Wishes, PS I love You
Paper:  Rich Razzleberry, Pretty in Pink, Whisper White
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive
Accessories:  Textured Impressions Designer Frames & Needle Point Border Embossing Folder, Adorning Accents & Labels Colletion Edgelits,  Basic Pearls

I pray that everyone who lost someone finds the strength, courage, and comfort to make it through this difficult time.  May God bless!

Wednesday, February 6, 2013

Coloring Down the Lines - Summer Starfruit

Howdy, blog hoppers!  It's that time of the week for something a little special.  Our challenge this week was to use either one of the following color combinations:  Summer Starfruit, Elegant Eggplant, and Baja Breeze (the creative combo), or Summer Starfruit, Marina Mist, and Real Red (the sweet set combo).  I chose the creative combo for my card.  I really like this color.  I was a little skeptical about it at first, but now I really love it.  You can do so much with it, or as little as you want, and still get a stinkin cute card out of it. 

Carol never seems to have trouble with any color combination that's put in front of her.  She knows just how to use the right texture and style for her creation that just makes it top notch.  Just trying to keep up is hard enough .. so here's what I've done for my entry using the creative combination:




Card Ingredients:

Stamp Set:  Vintage Verses (Sale-a-Bration)
Paper:  Summer Starfruit, Elegant Eggplant, Baja Breeze, Whisper White,  Patio Party DSP
Ink:  Elegant Eggplant
Accessories:  Blossom Bouquet Triple Layer Punch (retired), Designer Frames and Needle Point Border Embossing Folders, Labels Collection Framelits, Summer Starfruit Dahlia Flower


I actually saw this layout on a Christmas Card by Vicky Hayes and used it for my card today.  I added a few touches and whola.  Thank you Vicky for the inspiration.

Well, I'm anxious to see what Joni created this week using Summer Starfruit.  Joni always has a special technique or something to share.  Shall we hop on over and check it out?  Yep, I'm right there with you.  Let's go .... 



Tuesday, February 5, 2013

Kindness Matters

Here's another card set we made at the Super Stampin Saturday event on January 26th.  I really like the stamp set (Kindness Matters), and the cards turned out so cute.  The box was easier than I expected, and altogether, it looks smashing.










The set includes four cards and the box.  I love the color combination for this set.  The colors are very vanilla, perfect plum,, and crumb cake.  The box is made up of the DSP, Natural Composition Specialty.  It just all works great together.   Hope you like it!

Monday, February 4, 2013

Just Thinking - Card for Missy's Mother

I am a member of the RemARKables, and one of our dear friends, Missy, asked us to send her mother a hand-made card to help her through her ordeal.  Her mother had surgery and is having a rough go of it, and unfortunately, will have to have another surgery soon.  To keep her spirits up, we each made a card with positive notes of encouragement. I know I would be very happy to receive such beautiful and happy cards.  I do hope they cheer her up and let her know that we're all thinking and praying for her.  Here's the card I made for her:





Recipe:

Stamp Set:  Just Thinking, Thoughts and Prayers
Paper:  Summer Starfruit, Whisper White, Patio Party DSP
Ink:  Midnight Muse
Accessories:  Window Frames Framelit, 3/8" Satin Stitched Ribbon in Primrose Petals, Glimmer Brights Brad

I really like the "Just Thinking" stamp.  It's a nice size, and it makes me think "happy".  So in keeping with that thought, I do hope Missy's mother finds happiness when she receives it.  Get well, Mrs. Miller.  We're all praying that you have a speedy recovery.



Sunday, February 3, 2013

PP131 - Sympathy

This week was a very sad one for two of my dear friends.  My friend, Risa, lost her nephew, who was in his thirties, and my other friend, Michele, lost her grandfather.  It's sometimes hard to find just the right words to say during times like these, and a card can sometimes fill that void.

Ironically, this week's challenge at The Paper Players is "Sympathy".  I thought I would participate since I've had to create 4 sympathy cards between last week and this week alone.  Too many, I agree.  

Here is one of the sympathy cards I made for my friend.




Recipe:

Stamp Sets:  Faith in Nature, Petite Pairs, Thoughts & Prayers
Ink:  Marina Mist, Wild Wasabi
Paper:  Whisper White, Marina Mist
Accessories:  Scallop Trim Border, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, 3/8" Stitched Grosgrain Ribbon, Basic Pearls

May God bless all those who passed and keep them in His care.  To my dear friends, I extend my deepest sympathy.

Saturday, February 2, 2013

Happy Birthday John - Sycamore Street

Today is my brother, John's birthday.  Yes, he was born on groundhog's day!!!  Pauxatawny Phil didn't see his shadow today, so we're supposed to have an early Spring.  Wouldn't that be great?  We're actually waiting for some snow this evening ... so Spring would be so welcome right about now.

 I wanted to make my brother a special card, and I was going round and round trying to find just the right one.  Well, I stumbled upon a card that Amy O'Neill made, and I thought I would make that one for him.  I changed it ever so slightly, and it came out splendid.  Here it is:




Recipe
Stamp Sets:  (Sale-a-Bration) Patterned Occasions, (Hostess) Happiest Birthday Wishes
Paper:  Island Indigo, Whisper White, Pool Party, (Sale-a-Bration) Sycamore Street DSP
Ink:  Island Indigo, Rich Razzleberry, Tangerine Tango, Summer Starfruit
Accessories:  Perfect Pennants Die, (Sale-a-Bration) Sycamore Street Ribbon & Button pack, Linen Thread, Basic Rhinestones


I hope he likes the card I made for him, but most of all, I hope his day was very special and he got everything he wished for.  Happy Birthday, John!

Friday, February 1, 2013

Simply Sent Valentine

Yes, there's another project we made at Super Stampin Saturday.  We made Valentine cards / envelopes using simply sent.  These were so easy and fast to make, and they turned out quite nice.  Take a peek.


So, what do you think?  Hope you like these.  Happy Friday!