Soft and Sweet Baby

Hello my friends,

I've been away from here for far longer than I expected.  Physical therapy has been part of my life for the last two months and I'm almost finished.  After my surgeries in October and November, a lot of strength and range of motion was lost.  Also, never knew about this before, but a thing called axillary web syndrome (aka, cording) happened to me and physical therapy has been instrumental in stretching out that unwelcome cord.  When the cord appeared (it's inside your body), I could not stretch my arm out very far at all!  I looked up my symptoms on the internet and discovered this phenomenon.  My doctors confirmed it for me.  Look it up if you wish to learn a little more.  It's strange and annoying.  LOL

Now, a card.

Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags sentiment; My Favorite Things Pierced Heart Stax dies, Mini Wavy Pennants die, Rolled Blooming Rose die; L'il Inker Designs Stitched Rectangles die; Stampin' Up! Lacy Brocade embossing folder; pearl; sparkling sequins; Crafty Wool Felt Baby Pink   

I made this a while back and put it in the shop - and I'm pretty sure it sold.  I don't recall seeing it there last time I stopped in with Mother's Day cards.  I do so enjoy the look of a white card, but there needs to be texture, subtle differences, so it's not just washed out.  I used a little snippet of a pale gray patterned paper for the smaller heart, and used an embossed panel in the background.  And that pink felt rose, oh my.  I used a nice quality wool felt from Crafty Wool Felt.  There are soooo many colors to choose from, and I'd honestly like to buy one of each. 😊 It cut very well with the MFT rolled rose die.  A little pearl seemed the best thing for the center, you know I love pearls!

Thanks so much for joining me today.  I wish you all blessed Mother's Day, if you celebrate it. 💗

Proverbs 31: 25-28 KJV

25 Strength and honour are her clothing; and she shall rejoice in time to come.

26 She openeth her mouth with wisdom; and in her tongue is the law of kindness.

27 She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness.

28 Her children arise up, and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praiseth her.

Orange Lilacs

Hello friends!  This is a bit different:  orange lilacs.  Here's how this came to be.  I had purchased this PSX Lilac stamp from an online sale site, and when it arrived, I wanted to test it to be sure it stamped well.  I chose a cardstock color that I don't use a lot of, in case the stamped image was less than desirable.  Then I wouldn't feel badly about tossing it, if it was no good. 😊

But, the lilacs stamped well so I saved the image.  I trimmed it out, and added it to a gardening book page (fitting!) and added a strip of orange patterned paper plus a few other elements.

PSX Lilacs; Stampin' Up! Fancy Fibers; pearls; old gardening book page

My daughter saw it and loved it.  This gave me the confidence to go ahead and post it, even if it is a bit different.

Thanks for your visit!

A Quartet of Birds

Hello my friends,

It's been a while. 😀  Had not intended for so much time to pass, but life kept me oh-so-busy, and I was tired.  And then it became busy in a different way, and I am still tired.  LOL

I have been making cards so frequently, mostly on weekends.  The process of getting them nicely here to the blog is a process that I've had no energy for.  So glad I have several drafts lined up so I can pick from them, add supply lists and hit "publish".

K & Co. bird, flowers, eggs stickers; Martha Stewart Branch punch; Papertrey Ink Choose Joy sentiment 

K & Co. bird, nest stickers; Martha Stewart Branch punch; My Favorite Things Inspired By Spring sentiment; Stampin' Up! Decorative Label punch

K & Co. bird sticker; My Favorite Things Pierced Traditional Tags die, Traditional Tags die; button; twine; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags die; Martha Stewart Modern Garland punch; The Greetery Sentiment Suite: Birthay sentiment

K & Co. bird sticker; Hug Snug Ash Pink seam binding; button; lace

These K & Co. bird stickers are beautiful, and easily dress up a card.  I have a stash of them and parcel them out a little at a time, as they are hard to find (or impossible?).  

Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from the will of your Father. ~ Matthew 10:29 BSB

Thanks for your visit today! 😃

Cristabel - and Roses Are Red, Violets Are Blue

Hello my friends.  I just haven't felt up to being here on the blog for a while.  We had to say a very, very difficult farewell to our beloved cat Cristabel on January 13th.  She had been an asthmatic cat for years, and we made sure she received the bimonthly medicine she needed to keep her airways clear.  In December, she seemed off, and that medicine did not help her.  After a visit to the vet on 1/4 with antibiotics that did not help, we took her to the hospital on 1/11 (same day I started radiation treatments), and discovered that her lungs had worsened badly, very rapidly.  The vets were not sure if it was pneumonia or cancer, or maybe both.  None of the treatments she received helped.  Oh how our hearts broke to watch her labor to breathe, and to know it was time to say goodbye.  She was a good friend and companion, and a special family member to us. 💔

Here's my card for today....

Precious Remembrance Happy Mail envelope, postage stamp; Flourishes Roses Are Red rose, sentiment; pearls

And a couple more of our precious Bel...

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Matthew 5:4

Very Victorian

Happy Friday!  Popping in real quick to share a card with a Victorian flair.  I'm entering it over at NBUS Challenge # 34 -- I used a new-to-me-but-really-old gardening book to create my card.

Anna Griffin flowers in urn; Inspired By Stamping Vintage Postcards postmarks;
paper flower; brad; pearls

The gardening book was a great deal (maybe $3) and will provide a lot of fun 'patterned paper' for the days to come.  

Our Christmas decorations are still up.  Last night we took the ornaments off the tree, so that will come down soon.  Slowly I will put away the other things.  Life is going to be especially busy the next month and a half, and my energy may wane.  Have to remind myself to take it easy, take it slow, and rest often.

Hope to be back here on the blog again very soon with another card or two!

God bless you! 

B is for Baby

I guess we have all have our tried-and-true, favorite reliable items for card making.  As I put together my posts, boy do I see my favorites showing up time after time after time.  LOL

This baby card features those things too.  Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags; Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Accents punch; pearls; rhinestones; thread of some kind.  Oh, I am such a creature of habit.  😄

I used American Crafts Dear Lizzy Lucky Charm patterned papers in shades of pink and navy.  There's a multifaceted heart gem atop the pink blossoms, too.

Thanks for bearing with my repetitive elements!  Ha!

Encouraging Messages

Hello again, just popping back in with a few more cards to share.  These all fall under 'encouragement', which seems to be one of my favorite types of cards to make.

Stampin' Up! Vintage Vogue sentiment; Papertrey Ink Angled Labels die; pearls; generic brand floral stamp (in background); flower die cut

Momenta Hello sentiment; Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch; Stampin' Up! Ornate Blossom solid flourish stamp; Spellbinders oval dies; pearls; church song sheet

Inkadinkado Big Butterfly; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags die; vintage thread; pearls

Papertrey Ink Inspired: Grace stamps and die; ivory dots

Short and sweet today.

Sending you love!

Sweet Bird, two ways

Hello my friends 😊 

Did you have a nice Christmas?  As much as I love this holiday, and the reason for the season, I am kind of glad the hustle and bustle of it is finished.  It's the same each year for me.  It totally exhausts me.  

I did get a few new stamping goodies recently, but they are not on display here today.  Instead, I've got a sweet bird, two ways.

The bird and greenery stamps are from Stampin' Up!'s An Open Heart, which is an older retired set (describes most of my inventory - ha).  Subtly in the background of the center pale pink panel, you may be able to also see a hydrangea stamped in pink.  The patterned papers are from My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Madison Avenue (also old!).  I've got the 12 x 12 inch version of that paper pad, so it does take a while to use up.

Stampin' Up! An Open Heart bird & greenery, Itty Bitty Accents flower punch; Hero Arts Hydrangea; The Greetery Sentiment Suite: Birthday sentiment; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags die; DCWV flower sticker; vintage thread; pearl

Stampin' Up! An Open Heart bird & greenery, Itty Bitty Accents flower punch; Hero Arts Hydrangea; The Greetery Sentiment Suite: Birthday sentiment; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags die; DCWV butterfly sticker; vintage thread; pearl

Which version do you like better?  I am leaning toward the bottom one, which has a lighter background paper.

Thanks for dropping by!

Kitty Sympathy

I had a custom order for a pet sympathy card a few months ago, and lovingly poured out feminine details for the owner's beloved kitty.  Very, very girly.

Simon Says Stamp Large Doily Heart die; Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch; Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Accents flower punch, Lace 3D embossing folder, Nine Lives cat; Papertrey Ink Daily Designs Sentiments sentiment, With Sympathy: Loss of A Pet paw print; pearls

I hope it touched the recipient's grieving heart.

Always so hard to lose a precious fur baby.

Versailles Thank You

Oh, sometimes I just ADORE a whole stamp set, don't you?  The Very Versailles set from Stampin' Up! has my heart going pitter-patter.  Filled with shabby chic, vintage goodness!

Stampin' Up! Very Versailles leaves, script, frame, sentiment; hemp crochet trim; pearls

I've used the script stamp and leaves stamps on other projects too, they are so Very versatile!  Ha ha, had no idea that pun was going to come out. 😉

Have a blessed day!

Hello Squirrel

I love monochromatic color schemes, in decorating, in clothing, and on cards!  It was fun to create this little woodland scene, very simple in design.  

My Favorite Things Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle die; Stampin' Up! Hardwood background; unknown clear set (squirrel, bird, branch, sentiment); hemp braid trim 

I used Copic markers to color the critters on a Sahara Sand background.  Warm grays, with just a touch of pink for cheeks!

Hope it makes you smile. 😊

God bless you!

Cup of Chamomile

I belong to the Altenew monthly Paint-A-Flower subscription, and months ago, we received a chamomile get well set.  This is one of the images that comes in it, along with the sentiments:

Stampin' Up! Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder; Altenew Paint-A-Flower: Chamomile sentiments and flowers

I kept it really simple, with some subtle polka dot embossing on the bottom, and a really thin strip from a book page.

Thanks for taking a peek!

Bird in Branch

This little bird has my heart!  He's from a Wplus9 set called Vintage Ephemera, and I think he's the sweetest.  I had to pair him with musical notes, and even a little scrap from a vintage hymn book.

Wplus9 Vintage Ephemera bird; Inkadinkado Manuscript (don't know if this is the real name, can't find this on the internet!); Skipping Stones Designs Timeless Textures Backgrounds music notes; My Favorite Things Bold Greenery; Prima flower

Although this is not a Christmas card, it does remind me of caroling.  I've not done that in a SUPER long time.  When I was in high school in Texas, my German class went to a local senior citizens home.  We sang Christmas carols in German.  So cool!  That's a nice memory that still makes me feel warm inside.

Bucket of Lavender

Yesterday was hydrangeas in December; today is lavender in December!  Why not, right?  I've got a backlog of cards to share.

This is a Power Poppy bucket of lavender, colored with Tombow markers.

Power Poppy Lavender; Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch; Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Accents flower punch; pearls

Short and sweet today.

Wishing you a beautiful day! 💜

Blue Hydrangeas

Hello friends!

Life has been busy, and of course it's close to Christmas so there have been additional things to do.  I am popping in with a hydrangea, in December! 💙

Altenew Paint-A-Flower: Hydrangea; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags sentiment, die; white cotton thread; yellow Stickles; Stampin' Up! Very Versailles script stamp

I have some good news to share:  no chemo is needed!  I will begin radiation treatments soon-ish, no date set yet.  But, praise God I don't need chemo!!  

Sending hugs your way,

Winter Birthday Wishes

Hello friends!  Just popping in with a wintery birthday card.  I designed it with my father-in-law in mind; he's got a winter birthday.  I like the dapper plaid background with the pinecones and sprigs.

Stampin' Up! Peaceful Boughs dies, Close to Cocoa grosgrain ribbon; Inspired By Stamping Heartfelt Greetings sentiment, Fancy Labels 18 frame; Spellbinders Labels Eighteen die

I'm going to enter this at a new-to-me challenge, found it thanks to my friend LeAnne. 😊

It's Inkspirational - and they're looking for plaid.  How perfect!  

That's it for me today, keeping it short and sweet.  Hope your Thanksgiving was lovely (to my American friends)!

God bless you!

Frosty Tidings

Though our temps are in the upper 60's today, they'll be dropping soon.  It will feel more like Christmas in the air when it's cold outside, at least that's always how it has been for me.  

I'm putting this wintry Christmas card in the Jingle Belles challenge, Ornamental. It was hard to capture the sparkle of these iridescent gemstones I decorated my tree with, wish you could see them in real life.  And since the card is nearly all white, with some navy at the perimeter, the gems are truly the star of the show.

Verve Glad Tidings sentiment; Stampin' Up! Christmas tree die and birch tree die; iridescent gems

Maybe you can see the sparkle a little better in the picture above?  

Thanks so much for your visit, God bless you!

Planted In My Heart

When Papertrey Ink was discounting many of their stamps and dies months ago, I bought quite a few things.  Among my new goodies is Garden Variety stamps and dies.  I keep meaning to play more with the suite of items, because they are so charming!  I created just one card so far.  My intentions are good, I promise!

Papertrey Ink Garden Variety stamps and matching dies; crochet lace; Stampin' Up! ribbon; pearls; Market Street Stamps Gingham Background

I'm going to enter this at Word Art Wednesday, challenge #517-518.  "Anything Goes"!

While I was visiting over there at W.A.W., I noticed this card of mine made it into the Top 3!  That made my day much sweeter!  Thank you all at WAW!

Thanks for your visit today 😊

Grid Cards

Hello friends 😊  I am back with some grid cards I've created since the end of summer.  I was inspired by Jacqueline de Groot's creations, after revisiting her blog after many years, and soaking in her words as well as her creations.  What a lovely woman, and I do so enjoy looking at her cards.  Her work inspired me to try grid cards.  It was fun to try.  Here are a few examples of what I came up with:

Stampin' Up! Organic Grace flower, Bliss butterfly, Canvas background; Inkadinkado Botanical Script Background (hydrangea); Rubber Stampede Monkey Paw Fern; pearl; vintage thread; tag; old gardening book page

I'm entering the card above in the NBUS challenge.  The old gardening book page I used as background paper is new to me from a local thrift store.  What a great find!

Stampin' Up! Organic Grace flower, dragonfly, Itty Bitty Accents flower punch, Canvas background, Nature Walk bird; Inkadinkado Botanical Script Background (hydrangea); Rubber Stampede Monkey Paw Fern; pearls; burlap ribbon

Stampin' Up! French Script background, Organic Grace flower, Canvas background; Inkadinkado Botanical Script Background (hydrangea); Rubber Stampede Monkey Paw Fern; pearls; tag; crochet lace; twine

Here is something interesting, and makes me really ponder the ways of God.  He is truly wondrous.  Earlier this summer, I was looking around on Pinterest and stumbled upon one of Jacqueline's cards.  I thought, "Oh yeah!  I remember her!  I liked her cards years ago."  So I went looking for her blog.  I read her posts from most recent to oldest - even though many of them are years old - on my lunch breaks, and sometimes before bed.  As I read backwards in her blog, I discovered that she had breast cancer.  She spoke of her faith continually, and I was learning new things as I read her blog as though it were a book.  I looked forward to each "chapter".  Then, in late August when I had my mammogram, and then a second plus ultrasound, and finally a biopsy with cancer diagnosis, I realized why the Lord had led me to read Jacqueline's blog.  Her words were filled with hope, and she praised the Lord continually throughout her trial.  She came through it, and watched sons get married, and grandbabies be born.  It brings tears to my eyes writing this. 

Jacqueline, if you ever wind up reading this post of mine, I thank you for sharing your trial and your faith on your blog.  It was of great benefit to me.

God is good.  He is always good.