Growing Hearts

Welcome!  I'm growing some hearts today in a garden of pink, red and green.

I used more wonderful scraps from those $1.00 (well, now $2.00) scrap bags from my Stampin' Up! demonstrator, Gail Murray.  I found pretty hearts, even some that were embossed, as well as a leafy branch to 'grow' them on.

I planted it in crochet lace 'soil', and a mixture of patterned papers.  Some sparkling sequins from Pretty Pink Posh were added as 'dew drops'.

I think this could serve as a Valentine's Day card, but maybe a 'just because I love you' occasion too.

Thanks so much for coming by!

Stamps: Small Phrases - Verve Paper: Pistachio, Certainly Celery, Real Red, red pattern, taupe floral - Stampin' Up!; pink rose pattern - Authentique? Fibers: crochet lace - Hero Arts Accessories & Tools: Full Heart, small heart, Word Window punches, leaf die - SU; Sparkling Clear sequins - Pretty Pink Posh; embossing folders

Golden Ornament

Hi there!  Thanks for coming by today.  I've got a Christmas card to share, that I hadn't time to show before the actual holiday in 2014.  Hey, I'm early for 2015!

This is definitely a clean and simple design, making good use of patterned paper, but I've jazzed it up by doing this:

• Add a strip of houndstooth patterned paper at the top
• Stamp and trim a branch to 'hang' an ornament from; add glitter glue to the branch
• Gold-emboss a sentiment
• Add thin gold cord to a punched, gold-embossed ornament (don't know the name of the stamp set this came from, as it was in a $1.00 Scrap Bag from my Stampin' Up! demonstrator)

Thanks SO much for dropping in today.  I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Stamps: Christmas Greetings - Inspired By Stamping; branch - All That Glitters - Flourishes; ornament - Stampin' Up! Paper: patterns - Holiday Traditions - Me and My Big Ideas Ink: watermark ink - Versamark - Tsukineko; Always Artichoke - SU Fibers: thin gold cord Accessories & Tools: gold embossing powder - SU; iridescent Stickles - Ranger; Ornament Punch - Stampin' Up!

Silver Wedding Rings

Hi. :-)  I looooove an all-white card, don't you?  But, with all that whiteness, you need some texture to make it extra appealing.

The details that bring this to the next level (all supplies listed at the end of this post):

• a 'busy' embossed background
• a lacy, filigree heart die cut
• a wedding ring die cut, with the ring portion embossed in silver (I used a Versamark marker to get only that section covered)
• one rhinestone gem

I am so glad you popped in today.  Hope you like the card!  Be blessed.

Paper: white - Papertrey Ink Ink: watermark - Versamark Marker - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Lacy Brocade embossing folder - Stampin' Up!; Precious Wedding Rings die - Memory Box; Large Doily Heart die - Simon Says Stamp; rhinestone - Queen & Co.

Overjoyed for You

Hello!  Ever have a song of joy and gratitude in your heart, and when you make your art, it shows? The day I made this card -- and then the day I wrote the post about it, which were months apart -- reflect the joy in my heart at those times.

I had just received a juicy ol' bag of scraps from my Stampin' Up! demonstrator, and it included this fringe-y strip of cardstock, and some butterflies, and a few flowers.  I threw them together and it ended in this happy card.

The pink butterfly had been white, with a strip of floral washi tape on it.  I customized it by running a pink Copic marker over the white parts, to tie in with the flower below.

Had to add some pearls too, 'cause I just think they make nearly everything better!

“Joy is the serious business of Heaven.” ~ C. S. Lewis

Thank you SO much for visiting today!  May peace and joy be yours.

Stamps: Purely Sentimental - Verve; flower, butterfly - Stampin' Up! Paper: cardstock and patterns - SU Accessories & Tools: 5 Petal Flower, butterfly, small flower punches - SU; pearls; washi tape; pink Copic marker 

Loving lavender!

Welcome!  It's no secret that I love purple, if you've followed my posts for some time.  I don't always reach for it in crafting, but when I do, I get a little thrill.

I found a card with this sketch in one of my older issues of Papercrafts Magazine, and earmarked it. It's simple in design, but those two rounded corners give so much more interest.  All supplies used are at the end of the post, but I want to point out the sentiment:  it's from Verve's Joy For The Journey.

I love this sentiment!

Stamps: Joy for the Journey - Verve Paper: Pale Plum; Wild Wasabi - Stampin' Up!; white - Papertrey Ink; damask - Luxury Stack - DCWV Fibers: lace Accessories & Tools: assorted roses - iamroses.com; Branch With Leaves die - Sizzix; corner rounder punch - Fiskars

Bada Bling!

Hey there!  Thanks so much for the supportive comments from my last post, regarding balancing work and family time and "me" time (aka, crafty time).  I had to laugh at this one:

Julie Tucker-Wolek said...

My time is at 3:30 in the morning! That's when I get everything done! LOL!! People say I am crazy (probably true! HA!) ... but it's the only time the whole house is asleep and there is QUIET for me! So it works! :) I love love love your card! LOVING the pearls!!!!!

Julie, you are too funny!  I WISH I could do that, but boy do I ever need my sleep.  If I don't get enough of that, I'm a little cranky.  ;-)

I'm sharing a bit of bling today, for a card that can be used for engagement, wedding or anniversary.

I had delivered this one to A Beautiful Touch a couple of months ago.  It was easy enough to make:  two circles, one die cut in white (to match the background) and one die cut in silver mirror cardstock.  Got mine from WorldWin, but I'm sure there are other sources available.  The sentiment is from Verve's Love Story.

Thank you, too, for the comments with regard to my frequency of posting.  I used to post nearly every day (which is probably too much for some folks), so this new routine/schedule feels strange to me, like I am lacking in some way.  I realize though, that it is 'quality' versus 'quantity', and I am okay with that.

Stamps: Love Story - Verve Paper: white, True Black - Papertrey Ink; silver mirror - WorldWin Accessories & Tools: circle dies - Spellbinders; rhinestones - Queen & Co.

Pale Blue Engagement



Hello there!  Got a little pale blue engagement card to share today.

I made an all-white focal point by using some die-cut splendor:  Romantic Rectangles and Fantastic Flourish One from Spellbinders, topped with pearls and a silver-embossed Papertrey Ink sentiment.

I delivered this one to A Beautiful Touch a couple of months ago (maybe more?), and I hope it sold.  :-)

Well, I'm crying "uncle":  it's hard working many hours, and trying to balance family and "me" time. You got me.  I don't know how many crafter/bloggers juggle full time work, and then sit on many design teams (and therefore post often), and still have kids at home.  Wish I had their secret! I suppose maybe if I didn't go to bed so early...but hey, a gal needs her sleep, right?  I ain't givin' that up!

Thanks so much for dropping by today.  It means a lot to me!

Stamps: Propose a Toast - Papertrey Ink Paper: white - PTI; Pool Party - SU Ink: Versamark - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: pearls; silver embossing powder; Fantastic Flourish One, Romantic Rectangle dies - Spellbinders; Regal Flourishes embossing folder - Sizzix/Tim Holtz

Thinking of you today

Hello!  As I type this, it's Monday, and the first business day of the new year.  Over the long weekend, I immersed myself in card-making.  It felt SO good.  My hours are now occupied with a job, which leaves less time for crafting.  So...that long weekend...yeah.  It was glorious.   

I cut into a Webster's Pages patterned paper, and I love the mix of images right there on one sheet:  honeycomb, ivory frilly frames, cheetah spots, flowers.  All I did was add a bow and pearls, a sentiment from a new Papertrey Ink set, "A Cheerful Heart", and some pretty K & Co. die cuts.

I'll be back soon to share more fruits of my crafting labors.  Thanks for stopping in to see this one today!

Stamps: A Cheerful Heart - Papertrey Ink Paper: kraft - PTI; pattern - Webster's Pages Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: pearls; rose die cuts - K & Co.

Thanking our Creator

Hello there.  :-)

You know that saying about taking time to stop and smell the roses?  I've decided that is how I want to live my days, focusing more on the beauty and blessings that surround me, and away from the never-ending to-do list that weighs me down.

The inspiration for today's card is based on the beauty of nature, and gratitude to our Creator for giving it so freely to us.  I started with a piece of masked, spritzed paper (see THIS post for the 'tool' used to achieve the look), and stamped random leaves on it (With Gratitude / Stampin' Up!).

A wood grain embossing folder (Sizzix/Tim Holtz) seemed perfect with the natural theme, and a simple but powerful sentiment ties it all together (Joy For The Journey / Verve).

Thank YOU for coming to visit me today!  I truly appreciate the time out of your busy schedule.

Stamps: With Gratitude - SU; Joy for the Journey - Verve Paper: kraft, white, True Black - Papertrey Ink Ink: Lettuce ink spray - Ranger; black - Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: black twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: brown corduroy button, oval punch - SU; plastic netting; Copic markers; Woodgrain embossing folder - Sizzix/Tim Holtz

Happy New Year!

Happy 2015, everybody!  Did you stay awake 'til midnight to ring in the new year?  Or maybe you fall asleep well before then, as I sometimes do.  hee hee  Older I get, harder it is to make it past 9:30 or 10!

For the first time ever, I did not get any Christmas cards mailed out -- either store-bought or handmade.  Life was too full!  Luckily, mailing out New Year's cards IS a thing now, so I'm trendy.  :-)  I took inspiration from my friend Virginia, and mass-produced these as our New Year's cards:

I like Virginia's version much, much better...but I needed to make over 30 of these, so some of the pretty design elements had to go.  Ah well.  I am still pleased with how they came out.

Wishing you a fabulous new year, my friends!    

Paper: Night of Navy - SU; white glitter paper - Colorbok Accessories & Tools: turquoise glitter, Alpine & Himalayan snowflake punches - Martha Stewart; silver sequins; Snowflake punch - Stampin' Up!