Hope

Hello friends, I'm back again with another post.  I was able to get a bunch of card photos edited and some draft posts begun.  Makes things a little easier.

As I mentioned in my previous post from today, I've got more surgery to face soon.  My medical team is trying to prevent me from needing chemo (radiation and hormone therapy are still necessities, though).  I tell you, having cancer is such a humbling experience.  I am in control of NOTHING.  This is completely out of my hands, and totally in God's.  He is directing my steps, and providing my medical team with the knowledge and skills they need to treat me.  My job is to move forward, do the "work" (surgeries, treatments, medications, etc), and trust in Him.

Fittingly, I had made a card months and months ago that says, "Hope".  And, what do you know, it's in pink.  The sentiment is from a PinkFresh set called, Walk By Faith, and that is exactly what I am doing.   It's a perfect card to share right now.  I have hope.  I am overwhelmed at times (often!) by what is happening, and how many appointments I have, but...I have hope.  

PinkFresh Studio Walk By Faith sentiment; Inspired By Stamping Summer Flowers lily; Sizzix / Stampin' Up! Large Paper Doily Sizzlit die; ivory dots; crochet lace

When I made this card, I pulled together odd bits to make a cohesive card.  The text background is from packaging from a Girls' Paperie stamp set.  It was much too pretty to throw away.  And if you can see it, there's a mauve doily diecut tucked under the crochet lace.  That had been hanging around my desk for too long!  

I am entering this card in a challenge, at Little Red Wagon - #626 So Very Thankful.  I am beyond thankful for HOPE.

Thanks for joining me friends!  I so appreciate your visits!

From Shabby Chic to Clean and Simple

Hey there!  It's Friday, the weekend is here, and I'm grateful for that.  And I'm here again to share cards.  Hope you don't mind.  

We've got a busy day ahead tomorrow.  My daughter has to move from one dorm building to another as Temple University has all students condensing to one side of campus.  Right now, they're spread out all over, and with many students having gone home already, there are a lot of empty beds and rooms.  Our girl is mostly packed and ready to go, and she'll need our help to load it all up and bring it to the new dorm building.  Both of her roommates had gone home a few weeks ago, and she was sad about that.  Now, she'll have two other girls to move in with, and she already knows them.  I pray all goes well.  One thing is for sure, we are not in control of most things that happen in our lives.  Our times are in His hands.

PinkFresh Playful Animals 2 sentiment; Stampin' Up! Stitched So Sweetly, Ornate Frames dies; pearls; Papertrey Ink The Sweet Life rose and matching die

Anna Griffin flourish stamp; PinkFresh Playful Animals 2 sentiment; crochet lace; picture from magazine; Stampin' Up! Ornate Frames die, Framed Tulips embossing folder

Poppy Stamps Town Houses die; Papertrey Ink Boards and Beams sentiment, Tag Sale #10 die; black sparkle ribbon  

Stampin' Up! butterfly patterned paper, Stitched Nested Dies die, Blissful Blooms sentiment; blue rhinestones

Below, this is the card our cat, Cristabel, 'gave' to Daddy for Father's Day. 

Stampin' Up! Top Note die, Nine Lives cat, bowl, yarn ball; Papertrey Ink Everyday Cat Sentiments sentiment

For my oldest, sparkly-lovin' daughter's birthday this summer, I made her two cards, both below.  Plenty of bling and shine on each of them! 

Gina Marie Designs Flower Pleated Lace Nested Rectangles die; Memory Box Precious Hearts, Scalloped Banner dies; pearls; green rhinestone; My Favorite Things Stitched Mini Scallop Rectangle die; Papertrey Ink Year Round Puns sentiment; gold cord; gold glitter paper and royal blue mirror cardstock (both Stampin' Up!)

Stampin' Up! Absolutely Fabulous sentiment, Beautiful Friendship rose stamps; Spellbinders Fancy Tags die; pearls; hot pink glitter paper

Stampin' Up! Happy Birthday To You cake stamp, Petal Burst embossing folder; doily; clear rhinestones

Stampin' Up! Blissful Blooms sentiment, Sailing Home sailboat stamp, Smooth Sailing boat, rope, wheel dies, Stitched Nested Dies die 

Well, that's it for now.  May this post find you healthy and well.  😀

God bless you,

Be My Valentine(s)

Hello there!

We haven't met up with each other here in a while.  I hope you are doing well in your little corner of the world. 😀    How is it that, as the years roll by, we feel busier than ever before?  I wonder about that sometimes.  Do I truly have more on my plate than I did before, or am I just slowing down and am not able to keep up as well?  LOL

With some of the free time I have, you'll find me up in the craft studio making cards, versus blogging about them.  And I have kept myself plenty busy with art therapy, aka card making!  The creations you see here today were actually from last year; that's how behind I am in the realm of photo-editing and blogging about cards.

So glad you came by for a visit, and I hope you enjoy seeing these belated Valentine cards.

PinkFresh Studio cat - Playful Animals 2; Papertrey Ink sentiment - Daily Designs Sentiments;
MME Kiss and Tell patterned papers

Stampin' Up! truck, hearts, sentiment - Loads of Love; Papertrey Ink - Cloud 1 & 2 die

Essentials by Ellen sentiment, bear, heart - All Inside; L'il Inker Designs - Stitched Rectangles die

Essentials by Ellen sentiment, bear, heart - All Inside; Papertrey Ink sentiment - Daily Designs Sentiments

Simon Says Stamp Large Doily Heart die; Inspired By Stamping sentiment - All Year Wishes I; Prima flowers; Cuttlebug Love is in the Air conversation hearts embossing folder

Stampin' Up! Heart to Heart punch, window die (unsure of name); Papertrey Ink sentiment - Tag Its #11 and Tiny Tags round tag die; MME Lost and Found patterned paper

Top Dog Dies Doily Hearts die; Spellbinders Ribbon Banners die; My Favorite Things Essential Sentiments 

MME (My Mind's Eye) Union Square patterned paper; glitter heart sticker

Paper Sweeties Pennant Party banner and sentiment; My Favorite Things Mini Delicate Doilies die; pink glitter heart sticker

Verve Happy Phrases sentiment; red glitter heart sticker;
Stampin' Up! patterned paper

Stampin' Up! A Happy Heart sentiment, Round Tab punch; My Favorite Things Pierced Heart Stax dies;
Stampin' Up! retired patterned paper

Stampin' Up! A Happy Heart tic tac toe sentiment / image; Hug Snug Mottle Brown seam binding

It's 4:30 on a Sunday here, and it's been a wonderful sunny day, with church and then a nap. 😃  I'm washing bed sheets, vacuuming, and of course - visiting here with you.

I hope you have a terrific day, what's left of it!  God bless you!

Mother's Day cards

Hello there!  Today I've got a group of Mother's Day cards to share. I put my personal favorite up first.  Love that periwinkle card base that brings out the beauty of the intensely colored butterfly sticker.

K & Co. flower die cut border, butterfly sticker - Flourishes Stamps 'Spring Bouquets' sentiment

Papertrey Ink 'Tiny Tags' sentiment - My Favorite Things / Die-namics 'Mini Wavy Pennants' die, 'Heart Stax' and 'Pierced Heart Stax' dies 

Papertrey Ink 'Keep It Simple: Mother' sentiment - patterned paper by Stampin' Up! - My Favorite Things/Die-namics 'Sensational Stitched Flowers' dies

Papertrey Ink 'Keep It Simple: Mother' sentiment - patterned paper by Stampin' Up! - My Favorite Things/Die-namics 'Sensational Stitched Flowers' dies

Papertrey Ink 'Cover Plate: Stripes Horizontal' - Flourishes Stamps 'Spring Bouquets' sentiment - mirror silver cardstock by Papertrey Ink - My Favorite Things/Die-namics 'Heart Stax' die 

Flourishes Stamps 'Spring Bouquets' sentiment - Close to My Heart 'Flower Pot' pots - PinkFresh Studio 'Playful Animals 2' flowers

Papertrey Ink 'Delightful Dahlia' sentiment - Close To My Heart 'Flower Pot' pot and flowers

My Favorite Things Die-namics 'Heart Stax' die - Papertrey Ink 'Tiny Tags' mom sentiment - Stampin' Up! heart smiles tag / sentiment from scrap bag - Pretty Pink Posh 'Sand' sequins

Papertrey Ink 'Keep It Simple: Mother' - Sizzix 'Flower Layers and Leaf' dies - My Favorite Things 'Layered Leaves' dies

Lots of flowers appearing here!  When I think of Mother's Day cards, I do tend to lean toward the botanicals.  I went off the beaten path, though, for that one card with the deep raspberry and black stripes and a silver heart.  I was going for a modern touch, but I'm not digging it with all my heart (pun intended).

Thanks so much for taking a peek and God bless you, have a terrific weekend!

All about Baby

Hello!

Today's post is all about baby cards, one of my favorite card-crafting categories.  You get to use the sweetest little stamps and adornments!

A woman at my church is becoming a grandmother for the first time and commissioned a card for the momma-to-be.  I made four!  I was on a roll and had fun with all the cuteness; just couldn't make one. 😊

Avery Elle 'More Stories' bunny, stars and moon - Papertrey Ink 'Inside and Out: Baby'

Unity 'Delight in the Little Things' carriage - Papertrey Ink 'Tiny Tags' tags and sentiments

Avery Elle 'Storybook' stamps and dies - Spellbinders 'Ribbon Banners' die

PinkFresh Studio 'Playful Animals 2' cat - Papertrey Ink 'With Sympathy: Loss of a Pet' pawprint - Stampin' Up! 'Occasional Quotes' sentiment

Thanks so much for your visit today!
God bless you!
And thank you for the comments on my posts from this past weekend.  So good to catch up with crafty friends!

Happy Independence Day!

Hello, and Happy Independence Day to my American friends!  I don't have a single patriotic card in today's mix, but I wish I did.  I'm grateful to live in the Land of the Free and the Home of the Brave.  My thanks to all who serve our country. 

My family and I went in the pool today, as it was 92 degrees outside and very humid.  It was wonderfully relaxing. 😄

I had a chance today to photo-edit some card pictures so I can share them here on my neglected blog. As you may notice, I still photograph my cards the same way as always, in my light-tent with the cards standing upright.  Much as I love to see others photograph their cards flat on a surface, with beautiful accessories that change depending upon the look of the card, I am comfortable continuing to do things my way. If I had a less hectic schedule, maybe I'd be able to play around more with the flat photography and props. I'm lucky if I get time just to take pics of the cards.  LOL

Thanks for taking a peek!  If you have any questions about the supplies I used, please feel free to leave me a comment with a way to get back to you, or email me (see side bar).

I used snippets of things lying on my desk to create this birthday card.

My inspiration:  the stamped sentiment, which I found in a Stampin' Up! scrap bag.
I stamped the Fabulous You (SU) shoe, colored and trimmed, to go with it.

Always in need of more New Homes cards for the shop, I used Papertrey Ink's Boards and Beams sentiment, and Stampin' Up!'s Holiday Home house.  Paper is by Webster's Pages.

See?  Another new home card!  More Webster's Pages patterned paper, a metal key, PTI Keep It Simple: Home sentiment, butterfly from SU Nature Walk.

Papertrey Ink's Think Big Favorites #16 fills in the bottom portion of this thank you card quite well.
The felt flowers and orange flower brad are ollllddd Stampin' Up! accessories.  The gorgeous patterned paper is by SU, too.

Another new home card, and another metal key.  I like the keys. :-) 
More PTI sentiments:  Boards and Beams, and Tiny Tags.

Get your sunglasses on!  This is old Stampin' Up! Pixie Pink cardstock, embossed with Cuttlebug Roses, topped with My Favorite Things Sensational Stitched Flowers -- cut from pink and green glitter paper.

A pink and cocoa sympathy card, using a leaf stamp from Altenew's Build-A-Flower: Rose; sentiment from PTI Tag-Its #5; a snippet of cocoa velvet ribbon; vintage thread bow; pearls, and a Blush Blossom cardstock base.

Bold birthday card! Love the whimsical Stampin' Up! patterned paper, paired with a thin strip of copper metallic cardstock. The 'hello gorgeous' sentiment was a freebie from Altenew.

More Pixie Pink cardstock brightness!  I stamped a lacy border from Inspired By Stamping Delicate Doilies II in pink alongside pink patterned paper (?).  I stamped the Anna Griffin 'thank you' sentiment/scroll, trimmed it and added to the top of the card.  The pale gray stamped flower bouquet in jar vase is from Unity's Countryside Blooms (love!).

It started with the little circular stamped sentiment, found in a scrap bag.  I built out from there, in soft shades of blue and green.  The bear, balloon and butterflies are from PinkFresh Studio's Playful Animals 1 stamp set.  I stamped the bear in Wplus9's Warm Wool ink; what a comforting gray hue. 

And one more new home card for the road!  More Webster's Pages patterned paper...it does the heavy lifting here.  A stamped birdcage from Stampin' Up!'s Nature Walk in pink ties in with the birdcage in the paper.  And favorite Papertrey Ink sentiments of mine appear here, too:  Tiny Tags, and Keep It Simple: Home.

Thank you for hanging through a long and photo-heavy post!

God bless you!