Special Little Star

As part of my 'Children's Collection' (basically, babies), I made this simple design to go to the shop.

The stars and sentiment are from Hero Arts' Year Round Sentiments.  The button and thread are both vintage.  So glad my aunt shared her treasure trove of buttons with me!  She's been collecting a long time. Thank you, Aunt Kay!

Love this little strip of whale paper.  It was in one of those $1 scrap bags from my Stampin' Up! demo, and it helped make a quick card.  I haven't bought a scrap bag in a long time.  I'm rather overloaded at the moment and am trying to make a serious dent in them!

Stamps: Year Round Sentiments - Hero Arts Paper: Barely Banana, whale pattern - SU Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: twill - SU; vintage thread Accessories & Tools: vintage button; marker - SU

Some of the Quickest Sympathy Cards Ever

I am running out of clever titles for all these sympathy cards I create!  The title of this one is really true.  Take a look at the cards in the middle of this post, and you'll see what I mean.

But first....

I used blue grid paper (old SU) to highlight a Honeyblossom Sprig / Memory Box die cut, done up in green gingham.  The sentiment is new-to-me Papertrey Ink:  Boutique Borders - Sympathy.

Okay, here's what I mean about the quickest handmade sympathies:

I used SU's Branch Out tree and bird, and a Hero Arts sentiment on a one-layer card.  This would be good for someone who lost a pet, don't you think?

The next three are also one layer, and use some of SU's background stamps to provide the beauty:  Medallion and Damask Backgrounds.

And though the card below wasn't the quickest of today's group, it didn't take too long.  I did not use a Stamp-a-majig to line up leaves, because the irregular pattern was something I wanted.

All the leaves and acorn are old Stampin' Up! (With Gratitude, Touch of Nature).  I even used an old ink color of theirs:  True Thyme.  Anyone remember that one?

We had some snow yesterday - about 4" - and another day off from school.  These kids in town have to make up, like, 4 or 5 days of school.  It's eating into the Spring Break week.  Ah, well.  I must admit to enjoying these unscheduled days off, with everyone at home, snuggled inside.  It's a small pleasure that I treasure.

Thank you so, so much for your visit today!

Card #1:

Stamps: Boutique Borders: Sympathy - Papertrey Ink Paper: white - PTI; blue pattern - SU; green gingham - Nana's Nursery - Girl - DCWV Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: pearls - Queen & Co; Honeyblossom Sprig die - Memory Box 

Cards #2 & 3:

Stamps: Branch Out - SU; With Sympathy - Hero Arts Paper: gray; Crumb Cake - SU Ink: Versafine Onyx Black 

Cards #4, 5 & 6:
Stamps:  Medallion, Damask backgrounds - SU Paper:  Vintage Cream - PTI Ink:  Bashful Blue, Mellow Moss, Crumb Cake - SU; Accessories:  White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger

Card #7:

Stamps: With Sympathy - Hero Arts; With Gratitude, Touch of Nature (acorn) - SU Paper: Close to Cocoa, Mellow Moss, Whisper White - SU Ink: Close to Cocoa, Mellow Moss, True Thyme, Always Artichoke - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools:

Bits & Pieces: A Friend Walks In

Isn't this shoe fabulous?  It sat in my Bits & Pieces basket for, oh, years.  I almost gave it away because I didn't know what to do with it.

Eons ago, I bought some Anna Griffin stamps via eBay.  When I received my package, there were some bonus items thrown in with my order.  It was an Iris-Fold kit by Anna Griffin (you can check out the technique HERE), and this shoe was part of it.  This is actually the negative....you're supposed to fill in the die-cut frame with the iris fold papers.

The shoe is made of a beautiful linen-look paper.  I stamped it with Grace by Market Street Stamps (sniff, sniff...miss their background stamps!).  I added holes, a bit of twine 'shoelace', and some pearls.

This sentiment from Inspired By Stamping couldn't be a more perfect match for the shoe.

Entering in these challenges:

• Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes With Pearls
• The Card Concept - Floral Theme - I've used a Shabby Chic & Vintage style on today's card.
• A Creative Romance - Jenny's Bingo Game - I picked the top row

I'm honored that a few of my cards were chosen for shout-outs and honorable mentions recently:  Fusion, CASology, Shopping Our Stash and The Shabby Tea Room.  Very grateful!

More good news to share:  I started a new job a week ago!  Alas, it's only temporary.  I'm helping out at a tax firm - processing/assembling tax returns, answering phones, doing the mail, making appointments, etc. - 2-4 days a week.  When April 15th rolls around, my job ends.  It's great experience, good on my resume, and gets me used to working in an office environment again.

And last, but not least, so proud of my 15 YO for her beautiful performances in the high school musical, 'Grease.'  She's in the center, with the light blue dress.  Haley had a blast, made a lot of new friends, and gave her self-esteem a much-needed boost.  Oh, gushing momma here!

Thanks so much for your visit.  :-)

Stamps: Words of Inspiration - Inspired By Stamping; Grace background - Market Street Stamps Paper: kraft - PTI; linen - Anna Griffin; stripe, pink pattern - Lost & Found / Madison Ave - My Mind's Eye Ink: Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: doily - Wilton; pearls - Recollections, Queen & Co.; shoe die cut - Anna Griffin; hole punch - Fiskars

Love Story Wishes

Verve's Love Story is one of my all-time favorite stamp sets.  Since I make so many cards for wedding/shower/anniversary occasions, I need to rely heavily on stamps in this category.  The various sentiments and images in this set make me happy.

I was thinking of "Tiffany Blue" when I chose the paper for this card.  It's from K & Co.'s Elegance Designer Paper Pad.    

The chipboard bird (Michael's $1 bin) was washed with white craft paint.  I meant to glitter him up, but was so immersed in the placing of elements that I forgot.  He looks a bit naked to me.  The fancy frame and sentiment are both from Love Story.

Thank you all for the wonderful comments you've left about my Bridal Collection posts.  :-)  It was so nice reading all the lovely things you had to say!

I'm so glad you came to visit today!

Stamps: Love Story - Verve Paper: kraft, white - PTI; aqua pattern - Elegance Designer pad - K & Co. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap - Ranger Fibers: gathered lace Accessories & Tools: Copic markers; flower - IBS; pearls - Queen & Co.; chipboard bird - Michael's; white craft paint

The Bridal Collection - Part 4

Finally, my last installment of the cards I'd delivered to the bridal shop, A Beautiful Touch, back in January. You can see my other Bridal Collections here:  Part 1, Part 2 and Part 3.

The shop owner told me there are many brides who have beach themes for their weddings.  With that in mind, I created a card that could be given to a couple for their engagement or wedding, or just to the bride for the shower.

You can see a peek of a seahorse stamped inside the card in the following photo.

Stamps: seahorse - heart - Year Round Sentiments; sentiment - Best Wishes - Hero Arts Paper: Creamy Caramel, Whisper White - SU Ink: white - Ranger; Close to Cocoa - SU; Frayed Burlap - Ranger Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions; burlap ribbon; fabric medallion accent - Webster's Pages Accessories & Tools: Scallop Tag punch - Martha Stewart; Elegant Scrollwork die - Memory Box; starfish; white craft paint; glitter; rhinestones - Queen & Co.

The owner also mentioned many brides LOVE their bling, so I kind of went all-out on this next one, which was very tricky to photograph.  It's got a shimmery silver layer on a gray card base, a strip of metallic-looking studded ribbon trim from Webster's Pages, and glossy accents on the flowers of the cake. There's also a piece of black glitter cardstock, and rhinestones.  And when you've got black AND white, the camera is very confused as to how to read the light.  Sheesh!

You can see the gloss on the flowers better in the photo below.

Stamps: Wedding - Hampton Art Paper: Basic Gray, Whisper White - SU; black glitter; silver shimmer - WorldWin Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: sheer black ribbon; stud ribbon trim - Webster's Pages Accessories & Tools: rhinestones - Queen & Co.; Floral Ovals die - Spellbinders; Copic marker; Glossy Accents - Ranger

I love the sweetness of this next one.  I created my own background with old Stampin' Up! stamps: Canvas background, and a white flourish in the corner from Baroque Motifs.

I love topiaries.  This one - Flourishes / DIY Topiaries -  was sitting in my UFO (unfinished object) box, colored and waiting to be used.  I added a tag and sentiment from Verve.

Stamps: Baroque Motifs, Canvas background - SU; DIY Topiaries - Flourishes; Love Story - Verve Paper: Crumb Cake, Whisper White - SU; floral pattern - Lost & Found/Madison Avenue - My Mind's Eye Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Crumb Cake, Whisper White - SU Fibers: gingham ribbon - Really Reasonable Ribbon; vintage thread Accessories & Tools: doily - Wilton; Copic markers; Scallop Tag punch - Martha Stewart; Elegant Scrollwork die - Memory Box; pearls - Queen & Co.

Hope you enjoyed seeing the finale of the collection!