A {Queen} Bee for Mother's Day

...and here we have the Queen Bee in her natural habitat:  a lace, pearl and damask-filled card for Mother's Day. (oh, beg your pardon, that's my kind of habitat!)

Some retired Stampin' Up! patterned paper made short work of this card, which features a beautiful pairing of die cuts from Spellbinders' Laurel and Bee.  I added some pearls to the bee, and a sentiment from Pink Paislee's Queen Bee (what else?!).

This card was fun to make, and I've already delivered it to Arts Plus Gallery.  Hope someone decides this is perfect for his/her own mother!

Thanks for buzzing by today.  :oD

Stamps: Queen Bee - Pink Paislee Paper: Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Bella Toile pattern - SU Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: sheer chocolate ribbon - Offray; Venise lace - eBay Accessories & Tools: Laurel & Bee dies - Spellbinders; pearls - Queen & Co.

Roses for Mother's Day

Kaisercraft makes a really pretty line of paper and accessories called Lady Rose.  I used some patterned papers from a 6 x 6 pad, and a smattering of die cut elements to create two cards for Mother's Day:

Here's a little Verve tucked in (Happy Phrases) among the diecuts:

On the next card, I chose something from Papertrey Ink's Daily Designs Sentiments instead:

Before I let you go, I just have to share something that made me wince (yes, typos make me wince).  I almost bought this stamp set, which coordinates with the Lady Rose line ~ just look at the fabulous damask! ~ but the grammar typo on one stamp made me halt:

Can you tell what the boo-boo is?

Stamps: (top card) Happy Phrases - Verve; (bottom card) Daily Designs Sentiments - PTI Paper: patterns - Lady Rose - Kaisercraft; Purely Pomegranate - SU; Vintage Cream - PTI Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: Cameo Beige seam binding - Hug Snug Accessories & Tools: champagne pearls - Want2Scrap; floral, butterfly, frame die cuts - Lady Rose - Kaisercraft; circle die - Spellbinders

Sunflower for Mother's Day

Hello!  Easter and Mother's Day were pretty close on the calendar this year.  After making Easter cards for the shop, it was time to whip up things for moms, too.  Here is a giant sunflower for some deserving mother:

The sunflower comes from Inspired By Stamping's French Country set.  After coloring and trimming it, I used a black marker to run along the edges as best I could.  Don't want to see the white edges!  Then, I added a glossy center after adhering to the card base.

The flower stamp has a short stem, and I do wish it could be longer.  To hide the shortcoming (oh, pardon that pun!), I stamped a Stampin' Up! sentiment from Teeny Tiny Wishes on a hand-cut banner and hid the stem.

I'm so glad you could drop by today!  I'll be back soon with more cards for Mother's Day.

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes - SU; French Country - IBS Paper: More Mustard - SU; white - PTI; cream - WorldWin Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; More Mustard - SU Fibers: brown twine - Darice; lace Accessories & Tools: black marker - SU; Copic markers; Sugar embossing folder - Sizzix; Glossy Accents - Ranger

Bits & Pieces Make a Tulip Anniversary

My 'Bits & Pieces' box helped me once again, this time with a pretty tulip image from Anna Griffin.  It had been stamped on a bit of cardstock and colored, and then waited a long time for me to put it to use.

A Grommet Tags die from Spellbinders fit it perfectly.  I layered another die cut underneath, from Fancy Tags Two.  All patterned papers come from K & Co.'s Julianne stack.  They are so traditional and elegant, and really appeal to me.

For years, I only had one Papertrey Ink stamp set (Wonderfully Whimsical), and always held off getting more because I thought they were too expensive.  Well, that's all behind me now - hee hee - and I have really stocked up!  LOL  The sentiment here comes from Daily Designs Sentiments....a SUPER-essential set, in my opinion.

Can't wait to show you some Mother's Day cards later this week, so I'll see you soon.  Thanks so much for coming by today.

Stamps: Daily Designs Sentiments - PTI; tulip - Anna Griffin Paper: white - PTI; all patterns - Julianne  - K & Co. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Antique Linen, Frayed Burlap - Ranger Fibers: Mushroom seam binding - Hug Snug Accessories & Tools: Fancy Tags Two, Grommet Tags dies - Spellbinders; oval punch - SU

Tranquil Hills

One of my birthday gifts was Summer Hills stamp set by Papertrey Ink.  Love, love, love.  This sweet little scene stole my heart.

To create the base beneath the scene, I adhered a pretty floral pattern from Stampin' Up! (retired, no idea what the name is) and a strip of scalloped punched white cardstock to the plum base.  Then, I sent it through the Big Shot with a Paper Studio embossing folder, Ornate Flourish.

The sentiment comes with the same stamp set, and there are boundless occasions this card could be used for.  God's grace is truly amazing!

Stamps: Summer Hills - PTI Paper: Pale Plum, Going Gray, So Saffron, white, floral pattern - SU Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; So Saffron - SU Fibers: Violet seam binding - Hug Snug Accessories & Tools: Copic markers; Dotted Scallop border punch - EK Success; tag - SU; pearls; Ornate Flourish embossing folder - The Paper Studio

Aviary Postcard & a prom dress

Hello everyone!  The rustiness I felt with card-making is gone, eased away by a stretch of vacation days (well, not really vacation...but rather just some time off).  I have been in the craft studio quite a bit, mostly making Mother's Day cards for the shop.

This card, however, is a 'just because' project.

It started with a piece from my Bits & Pieces box...this large Victorian birdcage (from Victorian Eccentricities by Blockheads Paper Arts, which is sadly no longer available).   A few years back, when I served on the Blockheads team, I had stamped the image on white cardstock, then cast it aside.  It stumped me for a good, long while.

I decided to turn this into a postcard by using the Inspired By Stamping sets, Vintage Postcards and Summer Postcard Add-On.

And since it still looked too clean, I added speckles from Itty Bitty Backgrounds (Stampin' Up!).  That's a keeper of a set!

My daughters and I went shopping for a prom dress over Spring Break.  She is a sophomore, and the prom is for juniors and seniors.  All others may attend by invitation only.  A friend asked her to go, so my girl is very happy and excited.  She loves to feel like a princess (most girls do!), and this gives her a chance to dress like one.  We chose this:

It's twirly and bejeweled and very, very regal.  :-D

Stamps: bird cage - Victorian Eccentricities - Blockheads Paper Arts; Vintage Postcards, Summer Postcard Add-On - IBS; Itty Bitty Backgrounds - SU Paper: Sahara Sand - SU; white - PTI; shimmery paisley pattern - Luxury Stack - DCWV Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen - Ranger; Crumb Cake, Sahara Sand, Early Espresso - SU Fibers: Mottle Brown seam binding - Hug Snug Accessories & Tools: topaz gems - Want2Scrap; rhinestones - Queen & Co.; Copic markers

Happy Bird-Day

Hope you all had a Happy Easter!  We had glorious weather here in NJ.  Temps were in the 70s, with plenty of sunshine.   Great for an egg hunt!

Just sharing a couple of birthday cards that were made in February:

Don't these colors remind you of sunny days?  They are so cheerful!  I took full advantage of some beautiful (retired) papers from Stampin' Up!, and added a birdcage from the set, Happy Moments.  After stamping, I sponged on yellow and rose inks to create a glow.

Also on both cards, I stamped a flourish from Verve's Blessings near the bird cages and further down to fill 'empty' areas.

My family and I saw The Phantom Of The Opera at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia recently.  It was the first time for all of us.  It was a neat experience.  To avoid high costs, we bought tickets in the 'nosebleed' section.  Now, I have a bit of a fear of heights in certain circumstances.  The top section, right near the ceiling as you can see here, is VERY steep.  I admit to having a small panic attack there!

I brought a small pair of child's binoculars that fit in my purse, and they were a great help.  The show was terrific, and the music so beautiful.  Our kids didn't really like it much, but we're trying to give them different experiences.  Our youngest, 12 years old, tried to fall asleep during the performance, but there are gunshots and explosions that happen during the show, so sleeping just wasn't happening.  ;-)

We weren't allowed to take pictures during the show, but my phone's camera wouldn't have done justice anyway.

Thanks for coming by today!

Stamps: flourishes - Blessings - Verve; sentiment - A Lovely Birthday - Inspired By Stamping; bird cage - Happy Moments - SU Paper: Summer Sun, patterns - SU Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Scattered Straw, Tattered Rose - Ranger; Regal Rose - SU Fibers: white seam binding - Hug Snug; pink sheer ribbon Accessories & Tools: butterfly button; Petal Pink Liquid Pearls - Ranger

Bella Toile Sympathy

Hello everyone!  I am feeling a little rusty with making cards AND with blogging right now.   And so....here's a card made back in January ;) --

Bella Toile background stamp (Stampin' Up!) is one of those treasures I'll always keep.  I stamped it in white on a navy background, and love how it looks.

The Verve sentiment (Blessings) was stamped on a scalloped oval, and matted on a piece of a Hallmark card that was just too pretty to throw away.  It's got a damask pattern, and I am a sucker for damask.

I finished my temp job at an accounting firm the other day.  What a wild ride that two months was!!  I helped process and assemble tax returns (plus answering phones, making copies, doing the mail, etc.), and am grateful to have learned a lot.  It's good on the ol' resume.  That was THE most exhausting job I've ever had, due to the pace.  Sooooo glad the kids have their Spring Break this week, so our pace at home is nice and easy.  Just what I need!

Stamps: Bella Toile - SU; sentiment - Blessings - Verve Paper: Not Quite Navy - SU; white - PTI; green damask - Hallmark card (shhh...) Ink: white opaque, Antique Linen - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: Mushroom seam binding - Hug Snug Accessories & Tools: Scalloped Oval punch - SU; oval die - Spellbinders

The Easter Collection - Part 4...last one!

The grand finale of my Easter collection is here.  :-)  Five cards in this post, and it's been fun sharing Easter all week long with you!

Up first, an oldie-but-goodie stained glass lily stamp from Stampin' Up!  I bought it at a garage sale years ago, and it was all by itself, so I'm not sure of the set name.

The sentiment is from Wplus9's Easter Blessings set, which has a great assortment of Easter sentiments.

Stamps: lily stained glass - SU; sentiment - Easter Blessings - Wplus9 Paper: white - PTI; patterns - SU Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: Ash Pink seam binding - Hug Snug Accessories & Tools: pearls; Copic markers; corner rounder punch - Fiskars

On the rest of the cards, I used the same sweet bunny from SU's Tender Toile set in different variations.

Stamps: sentiment - Fresh Cut Wreaths - Wplus9; bunny - Tender Toile - SU Paper: patterns - K & Co. Ink: Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss - SU; Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: green twine - American Crafts Accessories & Tools: tag punch - Martha Stewart; oval die - Spellbinders; 1/16" hole punch - Fiskars; pearls

On the next card, I stamped the bunny image in Pale Plum, then used Copic markers to color in.  It gives a much different, softer effect than a deeper color of ink would.

One of the problems with making a card, then not blogging about it until a good month later, is that you forget the names of things you've used.  Like this patterned paper, for instance.  I have NO idea which pack it came from.

Stamps: bunny - Tender Toile - SU Paper: Vintage Cream - PTI; Sahara Sand - SU; pattern - ? Ink: Pale Plum - SU; Antique Linen, Tea Dye - Ranger Fibers: lace, vintage thread Accessories & Tools: Parisian Motifs, Fleur de Lis Motifs, oval dies - Spellbinders; pearls; Copic markers

This card is almost identical to the green version up above, but this time done in shades of purple.

And finally, last but not least, and my very favorite...

I stamped a cream base with Vintage Wallpaper background (Market Street Stamps) in Going Gray.  Oh, it makes my heart go pitter-patter with all the damask goodness!  I added some cream crochet lace, and gray velvet ribbon by May Arts.

I'm keeping this one.  :-D

Stamps: Fresh Cut Wreaths (sentiment) - Wplus9; bunny - Tender Toile - SU; Vintage Wallpaper - Market Street Stamps Paper: Vintage Cream - PTI; Going Gray - SU Ink: Going Gray - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Antique Linen - Ranger Fibers: vintage thread; gray velvet ribbon - May Arts; crochet trim - IBS Accessories & Tools: tag punch - Martha Stewart; oval, scalloped oval dies - Spellbinders; pearls

I hope you enjoyed the week-long share, and I'll see you soon!  Thanks so much for coming by.

The Easter Collection - Part 3

Welcome!  Sharing more Easter cards with you all today...and we begin with a CASE of Wplus9 owner Dawn Woleslage's card:

I received this Easter Blessings set for my birthday, and think it's the cutest thing ever!  Just had to CASE Dawn's card, 'cause it totally made me smile.  :-)

Stamps: Easter Blessings - Wplus9 Paper: Vintage Cream - PTI; Pale Plum - SU Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Copic markers; white paint pen (for the tail); pearls

Used the same set for the next card, but it's soooooo much paler....in fact, it was hard to photograph and photo-edit this one.  It looks much too gray in the pics, but in real life it's got touches of very pastel pink throughout.

I used pale gray ink to stamp everything, to keep the look soft.

Stamps: Easter Blessings - Wplus9 Paper: white - PTI; digital patterned paper - IBS Ink: Going Gray - SU; Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen - Ranger Accessories & Tools: White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger; pearls; corner rounder punch - Fiskars; Copic markers; doily - Wilton

The next one is also fairly pale, using patterned papers from K & Co., a sentiment from Stampin' Up!, and more new Hug Snug seam binding.

This seam binding is called Violet.  I topped it with a flower petal, which had been completely white, but I tipped the edges with a pale plum Copic marker, then added a button.

Stamps: Something to Celebrate - SU Paper: patterns - K & Co. Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Milled Lavender - Ranger Fibers: Violet seam binding - Hug Snug Accessories & Tools: flower petal; Copic marker; button; pearls

I've got another installment of Easter cards to share....think I'll post it for Friday, then take the weekend off. Hope you have a great day!