Springtime Bird Nest

Hi!  This week at Topflight Stamps, we're creating with Spring or Mother's Day in mind.  I happen to have both!  The front of my card doesn't say "Mom", but can certainly be used for Mother's Day.  With a page from the Creative Expressions Nature's Compendium paper pad, I created a base layer for my card.  On another piece of paper from the same pad, I stamped Crafty Individuals Love Is All Around Bird Nest with Versafine Onyx Black Ink, then trimmed it out and mounted on the base panel.  On vanilla and white cardstocks, I stamped an assortment of tiny things:  blossoms and a tiny butterfly from Hobby Art Hydrangea, and little tickets and a "for you" circle from Crafty Individuals Vintage Tickets & Ephemera.  Each piece was fussy cut, edges inked for a vintage look, and assembled in a cluster around a flower I had in my stash.  The little butterfly was mounted on the "for you" circle.  For the hydrangea blossoms, each one was topped with a Hunkydory Diamond Sparkles Gemstone (a silver ball).  

Supplies Used From The Topflight Stamps Store:

Crafty Individuals - Love Is All Around - Bird Nest

Crafty Individuals - Vintage Tickets & Ephemera

Hobby Art - Hydrangea

Creative Expressions - Nature's Compendium Paper Pad

Versafine Onyx Black Ink

Hunkydory Diamond Sparkles Gemstones (silver balls)

Thanks for stopping by!  Wishing you a beautiful spring and a blessed day!

More Mother's Day Cards

Hello friends!  As the weather is so very hot outside, and gardening is more of a chore than a pleasure, I'll turn to paper flowers and insects instead!  Looking forward to lower humidity and lower temperatures, hope they come soon.

These are from my batch of cards that went to the shop this past Mother's Day.  Hope you enjoy.

Papertrey Ink Spiral Notebook Page die; Stampin' Up! Sentimental Rose sentiment; pink ribbon, lace, pearls; Anna Griffin rose sticker

Inkadinkado Butterfly; Papertrey Ink Daily Designs Sentiments sentiment; Anna Griffin rose cluster stamp; Gina Marie Designs Frilly Lace Rectangles die; pearls; Stampin' Up! Sentimental Rose (in background)

Pink Paislee Queen Bee sentiment, bees; Inspired By Stamping Fancy Labels 2 stamp and frame die; yellow gems, yellow ribbon; Stampin' Up! Country Floral embossing folder

Gina Marie Designs Medium Butterfly die; pearl; Stampin' Up! Avant Garden sentiment; Papertrey Ink Fillable Frames # 5 stamp & die; Flourishes Lilacs stamp (in background); K & Co. corner stickers

I'm entering the card below in Word Art Wednesday's current challenge # 505-506: use an uplifting sentiment.  Letting someone know they are a blessing is truly uplifting.

Heartfelt Creations Birds and Blooms birds, flowers, and matching dies; Stampin' Up! Rose Wonder sentiment, Artistic Textures (in background)

I do like these little birds and branches (from Heartfelt Creations), aren't they sweet?  The stamps and matching dies were a gift from my friend Susie.  She is good to me!  

Luke 12:27 ESV

Consider the lilies, how they grow: they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.

God gives us a lesson each time we see flowers.  He created each plant and provides what they need to grow.  However, He treasures you and me far above these.  He gives us what we need to grow, too; we only have to ask Him.

Thanks for coming by, I appreciate you!

Mother's Day Cards

Hello there!

Today I'm sharing Mother's Day cards I made a couple of months ago. Some went to the shop, some I used myself to send out.  Hope you enjoy the 'card parade': 

Stampin' Up! Paper Pumpkin My Wonderful Family sentiment, Country Floral embossing folder; Gina Marie Designs Small Butterfly die; Anna Griffin roses stamp; lace; pearl; My Favorite Things  Pierced Oval STAX die

Papertrey Ink Happy Hydrangea sentiment; Stampin' Up! Bella Toile background stamp, butterfly patterned paper; My Favorite Things Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle Stax die; Inkadinkado Butterfly; iridescent gems

Inkadinkado Butterfly; Blockheads Paper Arts Flower Garden poppy stamp; Flourishes Spring Bouquets sentiment; pearls

Flourishes Spring Bouquets sentiment; Pink Paislee Queen Bee 'queen' sentiment, bees; Blockheads Paper Arts Feeling Regal crown (with gold embossing); La Blanche English Rose rose stamp; crochet lace; pearls; Spellbinders Labels Thirteen die 

Stampin' Up! Because I Care hydrangea, Perfect Polka Dots embossing folder; lavender pearls; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags sentiment and tag die; white & lavender twine

Anna Griffin roses stamp; Stampin' Up! Paper Pumpkin My Wonderful Family sentiment, Lace 3D Embossing Folder; Hug Snug Periwinkle seam binding; My Favorite Things Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle Stax die; pearls

Proverbs 31: 28-29

28 Her children arise and call her blessed; her husband also, and he praises her: 29 “Many women do noble things, but you surpass them all.”

I do so cherish my own mom.  💟

Tomorrow I'll be sharing some cards for dad.

See you then!

Bird-Themed Cards

Hello everyone!  We have a cold day here in NJ; today's high is 28 degrees!  Very cold indeed, and super windy, too.  I am grateful for a warm home, and sunshine pouring in our windows.  I'm burning a Peppermint candle from Antique Candle Co.  I bought the bundle while it's on sale.  It smells soooo good!

I've got some bird-themed cards to share with you, and I'm entering the first one in a challenge called Tic Tac Toe.  See below for the row I picked!

K & Company bird sticker; Spellbinders oval dies; white lace; gold mirror cardstock; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags sentiment stamp 

I used the bottom row, with a sentiment, embellishment (lace, bird sticker) and die cut (the two ovals).  Love how easy the options are on this whole board!


I'm entering the card below in another challenge called Inspired By... and the current theme is Tweet Messages.   

Impression Obsession Birds dies; My Favorite Things Bold Greenery dies; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags tag die; The Greetery Sentiment Suite: Birthday sentiment stamp; cream twine; DCWV Coral Couture patterned papers

I was inspired by the bird sitting atop a branch.  I like that bluebird image so much.  😀  What a beautiful watercolor piece.  

Stampin' Up! Natural Beauty moth/butterfly stamp; Papertrey Ink Keep It Simple: Birthday; pearls; Altenew Build A Flower: Rose leaf cluster stamp; lace; pearls; calendar image of nest

Stampin' Up! Paper Pumpkin 'My Wonderful Family' elements, sentiment stamp, yellow pearls

Stampin' Up! Paper Pumpkin 'My Wonderful Family' elements, sentiment stamp

Stampin' Up! Paper Pumpkin 'My Wonderful Family' elements, sentiment stamp, mint pearls

Impression Obsession Birds dies; My Favorite Things Bold Greenery dies; Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags tag die, Angled Labels die; The Greetery Sentiment Suite: Birthday sentiment stamp; DCWV Coral Couture patterned papers

The final two cards are fairly flat, with no pearls (gasp!) and no foam tape, and can use ONE postage stamp!  I am not accustomed to doing this.  LOL  I always keep a steady supply of Additional Ounce stamps, as I mostly make bumpy cards, ha ha.

Impression Obsession Birds dies; Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Accents flower punch, sentiment (not sure what set), patterned papers; lace

Stampin' Up! Garden Pleasures birdhouse, bird stamps, Weathered background stamp; Papertrey Ink Buttoned Up #1 button die, Skinny Mini Banner die, birthday sentiment; vintage thread 

I hope your weekend is peaceful, relaxing, or whatever you are most hoping for!  I am ALWAYS up for a weekend that includes cardmaking. 😀

Exodus 35:35 NIV

35 He has filled them with skill to do all kinds of work as engravers, designers, embroiderers in blue, purple and scarlet yarn and fine linen, and weavers—all of them skilled workers and designers.

Thanks for visiting today!

God bless you!

Floral Aprons

Hello friends!  I'm back to play in a couple of challenges.  One of them is new to me.  I've got a little list of challenges that I keep in my phone's Notes app, and the list continues to grow!  

Let's get started! 

At Little Red Wagon, the current challenge is to use dies, and this one closes tomorrow, so I'm just making it in under the wire!  

I'm also going to link this up at the NBUS challenge, which is to use your never-before-used-schtuff.  This cute apron die set from Stampin' Up! is retired, but new to me.  I know it was a popular set, and no wonder.  How adorable!  The possibilities are endless.  I made two in soft pink and soft yellow, inspired by the Stampin' Up! patterned paper.  

Stampin' Up! Apron Builder Framelits dies; Gina Marie Designs Eyelet Elegance Rectangles die

Stampin' Up! Apron Builder Framelits dies; Gina Marie Designs Eyelet Elegance Rectangles die

I used brushed silver cardstock for the cooking tools; they shimmer nicely in real life.

Did you have a good weekend?  I spent plenty of time in my studio, making cards for Valentine's Day.  I sewed holes in my comforter, and my lace curtain (Cristabel's nails did a lot of damage!).  And I watched a movie with my daughter (Disney's Brave) and it was so good!  It's an old movie, at this point, but I don't care.  LOL  I cried near the end, we both did actually.

Can't be mad at this little face...

God bless you,

Cards From The Heart (Still catching up!)

Hello friends!  I'm back with even more cards to share, as I try hard to catch up!  Not just cards today, there are a couple of other artsy projects in the line up.

The first card was made with lots of scraps, and I "shabbied" it up for a shabby chic vibe.

Stampin' Up! Butterfly Thinlits dies, Butterfly Basics lace butterfly stamp, Bliss solid butterfly stamp, Framed Tulips embossing folder, Itty Bitty Banners sentiment stamp and matching die; pearls, old book page

Next up is my mother's Mother's Day card.  My mom adores the colors of black and white, mixed with a bright pop of color.  I chose a bright blue, because I thought of the beach and a most beautiful blue sky!  I added seashore elements, using new to me dies from Gina Marie Designs.  Gosh, I really love her dies!  I'm amassing quite a nice collection, and the prices are really good.

Papertrey Ink Family Ties: For The Girls word die; Gina Marie Designs Starfish, Sand Dollar, Fan Coral dies; pearls; gold sequins

And, yes, it's similar, but this card below was for my mother-in-law.  She loves the color yellow, and she likes black and white too.  And she likes the beach.  😉

Papertrey Ink Family Ties: For The Girls word die; Gina Marie Designs Starfish, Sand Dollar, Fan Coral dies; pearls; gold sequins; EK Success Swirl Border punch

The next card came straight from the heart for a friend who lives on a mountainside in Colorado.  The deer visit her and her husband every day, and they've named them all!  They are like family to her, and she shares pictures of them on Facebook.  Always makes me smile and warms my heart.

Hero Arts Deck The Halls deer stamps; Stampin' Up! Woodland embossing folder, Lovely As A Tree tree stamp; Echo Park Trust In The Lord sentiment; iridescent glitter

A girly-girly birthday card...

Papertrey Ink Garden Garland flower frame and flower dies; Gina Marie Designs Small Butterfly die; Power Poppy Dynamic Duos: Peonies and Tulips sentiment; Stampin' Up! Flower Trio punch (pink flowers); rhinestones

...and a very simple thank you card.

Papertrey Ink Penned Elegance sentiment; Stampin' Up! Vintage Leaves stamps; Gina Marie Designs Big and Little Chain Rectangles die

Really gave my Soft Suede ink pad (Stampin' Up!) a workout on the next card!

Inspired By Stamping Guy Sentiments sentiment, mustache, top hat, bow tie, pipe stamps; Spellbinders Labels Fifteen dies; natural ribbon

Next up is a notebook, something different for me to make.  I decorated a marble composition notebook, and it is now a prayer book.  I love the gray damask patterned paper and how it pairs with whitewashed woodgrain paper, too, along with lots of lace, and a pretty tag.

Gina Marie Designs Flower Pleated Lace Nested Rectangles die; Sizzix Crochet lace border die; Memory Box Precious Wedding Rings die (bow); marble composition notebook

And this is the back.  I ran out of that pretty gray damask paper (darn) so I had to use a different scrap along the spine.

My daughter's friend graduated from college this summer, and she loves purple, so I personalized this for her.  Not school colors at all.  LOL

Impression Obsession Mortarboard and Scroll die; Gina Marie Designs Big and Little Chain Rectangles die; pearls

And finally, some paintings that I did with my youngest daughter this summer, before she left for college.  It was such a pleasure to paint with her.  We sat at the dining room table with our paints and canvasses, and she had the TV remote next to her as we watched an old Bob Ross (from PBS) painting video.  Have you ever watched his shows?  Sadly, he passed away in 1995, but his videos are still available online.  His calm voice is very soothing, and he creates pure magic with just a few painting supplies.  His directions are easy to follow as well.  The first painting shown here is Kerry's second to make, and the one below hers, is my first and only.   

Thank you so much for joining me yet again in the last couple of days!  I'm not finished yet, and I hope to share more soon.  

God bless you,