Cute Animals

It's true that I mostly make very feminine, fancier cards, but every now and then, I'm tempted to pick up some cute stamps like these (from Simon Says Stamp:  Circle Friends):

and these, from the same set:

I added some Glossy Accents to the pup's nose.

These were both rejected by Paper Crafts magazine (before they went into a digital format).  It's taken me a while to get around to posting them for you to see.  I'm done with submitting to publications for quite a while.  It takes a lot of time and energy, neither of which I have in abundance now that I am working up to 4 days a week (almost full time!).  Not complaining...I am happy when that paycheck comes to me each week!

Stamps: Circle Friends - Simon Says Stamp Paper: white - PTI Ink: Summer Sun, Green Galore - SU; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: circle dies - Spellbinders; Copic markers; circle punches - SU; Herringbone embossing folder - Cuttlebug; Glossy Accents - Ranger; yellow gem - Queen & Co.; Corner Rounder punch - Fiskars

Celestial Thanks

I was aiming for a 'quick' thank you card this past weekend, and wound up taking extra time to apply Liquid Pearls on this embossed blue background.  That slowed up operations a bit.  They look like stars twinkling in the night sky, don't they?

All in all, this did go together pretty quickly.  I appreciate how an embossing folder can elevate a card into something more fancy just like that (snapping fingers).

Thank you all SO much for the fabulous birthday wishes yesterday!  I did have to work on my birthday, but hey, any birthday I celebrate is a GOOD one in my book.  I'll take as many as I can get!  ;-D

Stamps: Perfect Punches - SU Paper: Not Quite Navy, Pear Pizzazz, Whisper White - SU Ink: Not Quite Navy - SU Fibers: white seam binding - Hug Snug Accessories & Tools: Ornate Flowers embossing folder - Sizzix; Scalloped Oval, Wide Oval punches - SU; White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Well, this card isn't exactly in keeping with the feel of St. Patrick's Day, but it IS my birthday on St. Patrick's Day, and this IS a birthday card!

All of the papers are SU.  I played with some My Favorite Things dies for this beautiful focal point.  I do love those sweet little flowers from a retired SU paper collection, and decided they needed framing.

The sentiment is from Elements of Style, trimmed, set on a scalloped circle patterned paper, and topped with Liquid Pearls.  The ribbon is vintage, from my beloved Mom-mom.

(good grief, looks like I needed to change the blade on my paper trimmer!)

I'm entering this in Simon Says Stamp's challenge:  Mother's Day or Special Girl.  This decidedly-feminine card is going to someone very special, for her birthday.

Hope you liked today's birthday card!  It's really got a lot of my heart in it.  I should give it to myself. ;-)

Would you like to see a St. Patrick's Day card I made years ago?  You can view the original post HERE.

I've also got other St. Patty's Day cards from years past here:

• Giant Shamrock Tutorial
• Garden Shamrock
• St. Patrick's Day
• Simple Shamrocks
• Lucky Birthday
• Kiss Me, I'm Irish

and finally one more, a reeeaaallly old one...(I cringe when I look at the oldies)

Happy St. Patrick's Day to my Irish sisters, but as I like to think, everyone's Irish just for a little while on St. Patrick's Day!

Stamps: Elements of Style - SU Paper: Pretty In Pink, Crumb Cake, patterns - SU Ink: Close to Cocoa - SU; Frayed Burlap, Walnut Stain - Ranger Fibers: vintage ivory picot trim satin ribbon Accessories & Tools: scalloped circle, circle dies - Spellbinders; Decorative Doily Duo, Simply Scallops Large dies - MFT; doily - Wilton; White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger

Bits & Pieces Make A Collection for Wee Ones

Baby cards are among my favorites to create.  They're just so darned sweet!   Here are some that I made about a month ago.  First one's my favorite:

The Colleen Bow was made with Mushroom seam binding, a bit of cream twine, and a sentiment from Little Hellos / Stampin' Up!.

From my Bits & Pieces basket....a little punched snippet, too cute to throw away.  I thought it made a good 'shelf' for the fussy-cut giraffe, also from Little Hellos.

Stamps: Little Hellos - SU Paper: white - PTI; patterns - Girls' Paperie Ink: Frayed Burlap, Antique Linen - Ranger; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: Mushroom seam binding - Hug Snug - Zipper Stop; vintage thread; cream twine - American Crafts Accessories & Tools: buttons; Dotted Scallop punch - EK Success; Scalloped Tag punch - Martha Stewart; markers

The next card also captured my heart, and I think it's the monochrome feel to it plus that darling giraffe:

The patterned paper, complete with tree, baseball, bat and glove, is from Webster's Pages (couldn't tell you which collection...I have too many 6 x 6 packs to recall).  So many lovely details, that the card did not need much adornment.  From my Bits & Pieces basket came a negative of a die cut:  the caramel rectangle with rounded corners.  It was the perfect size for this giraffe.  Mounted on some burlap with a twine bow, and added lemon yellow Liquid Pearls for good measure, and this was done!

Stamps: Little Hellos - SU Paper: River Rock, Creamy Caramel - SU; pattern - Webster's Pages Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa - SU Fibers: burlap; twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: Lemon Yellow Liquid Pearls - Ranger; red marker 

Not as wild about this one, but thought I'd share anyway.  It doesn't suck, a saying my husband and I have.  ;-)

Blue spots on the giraffe, because it's fun.  :-)

Stamps: Little Hellos - SU Paper: Wild Wasabi, So Saffron - SU; white - PTI; stripes, gingham - Nana's Nursery - DCWV Ink: Antique Linen - Ranger; Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: Wild Wasabi ribbon - SU; vintage thread Accessories & Tools: Romantic Rectangles die - Spellbinders; markers, heart border & circle punches - SU; button

And lastly, another card that's, ehhh, okay.  From the Bits & Pieces basket:  strips of fun designer patterned paper (retired Stampin' Up!) and a little die cut tag.  I added the sentiment (and image) from Love Bug / SU.

Stamps: Little Hellos, Love Bug - SU Paper: So Saffron, Sahara Sand, patterns - SU Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko; Frayed Burlap - Ranger Fibers: Mushroom seam binding - Hug Snug / The Zipper Stop Accessories & Tools: markers, die cut tag, brad - SU

Thanks for checking out the baby cards!

Congrats, Congrats

Just sharing a couple of simple congratulations cards that were delivered to Arts Plus Gallery in December or January (ah, my memory isn't what it used to be).

The only difference between these two creations is the flower that tops each one.  On the first card, I used a white Prima paper flower that I transformed with a coffee bath, and then some ink sponged on.  The leaves were punched with Rose Leaf (Martha Stewart), and those sweet little taupe flowers in the center were a gift from my friend, Sindhu.  :-)  They traveled all the way from Thailand to me, here in the USA! That was an exciting package to receive.  Thank you SO much, Sindhu!

This Prima flower was not given a coffee bath.  :-)  My 15 year old critic tells me this card is her fave between the two.

Which version do you prefer?

Stamps: Think Big Favorites #5 - PTI Paper: Old Olive, River Rock - SU; Elegant Designer pack - K & Co. Ink: coffee; Frayed Burlap - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Rose Leaf punch - Martha Stewart; white paper flowers - Prima; small taupe flowers - my friend Sindhu

CASEing a Crafter: Hollyhocks

It's time for an unabashedly-CASE'd (copy-and-share-everything) card.  :-D

I found THIS on Chupa's blog via Pinterest, and was completely inspired.  I was having a difficult time figuring out how to use this Jumbo Hollyhock stamp by Stampendous, and her creation totally wowed me.

Since the stamp is so large, keeping everything simple is key.  And using amazing marker colors helps to add such interest.  A little sentiment from SU's Teeny Tiny Wishes and some pearls were added, and that's it.

Thanks for letting me share this with you today!

Stamps: Jumbo Hollyhock -Stampendous; Teeny Tiny Wishes - SU Paper: Pale Plum - SU; white - PTI Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: Copic markers; pearls - Queen & Co.

EAD Designs Blog Hop - Helping Miss Emma

Hello and welcome to my blog!  

Today is going to be special!  There's a group of us that are EAD Designs fans so we decided to inspire each other to use our goodies!  For those of you that don't remember, EAD Designs created vinyl stickers and rub-ons.  Awesome products but the company closed up shop over a year ago.

What all of our projects will have in common is that we are all using EAD Goodies and our challenge is:

Kid-Friendly

All our cards from today's blog hop will be going to a special little girl named Emma.  Please read about the card drive hosted by Kelly, who we're so excited is joining our hop today.  She chats about the card drive on THIS POST.

Here's how the card drive for Emma inspired me:

We want to shower Emma with cards, to help cheer her up.  She's dealing with cancer, and all cards going to her should be happy, cheerful, and help take her mind off the heavy stuff.  I read on Kelly's post that she likes blue, purple and green, so my card focuses on those colors.  Kelly's got some important guidelines to follow for those who plan to send cards for Emma, so be sure to read up on that.  

Remember Stampin' Up!'s Pretty Princess?  I do love this whimsical set.  It's fun to color.  This princess sports some bling (iridescent glitter glue) on her crown, dress and wands.  The purple flower/ribbon accent was something I picked off a store-bought card a while back and saved.  The ribbon is deep purple, but looks almost black in the photo!

This EAD Designs rub-on sentiment, which came from a birthday set, is PERFECT for matching up with a fairy wand!  The sentiment inside the card says, "Wishing you smiles & laughter."

There is surprise blog candy in this hop!  The more comments you leave on the blogs that are participating, the more chances you have to win!

Want another chance for a prize?!  Make a kid-friendly card for Emma!  We'd love for you to join in the card drive!  Check out these guidelines over at Kelly's blog first, make a card for Emma, send it to Kelly and link up over on Amy's blog!

Commenting/Card link up open until Monday, March 24th at 11:59 pm pacific

Winners posted on Amy's blog on Monday, March 31st.

Have fun hoppin'!

Amy  

Colleen - you are here!

Julie Smith

Julie Tucker-Wolek

Katie Brooks

Kelly

Lauren Bergold  

Liz

Rose

Shannon

Stephanie 

Wendi 

Thanks so much for coming by today!

Stamps: Pretty Princess - SU Paper: Bashful Blue, Lavender Lace - SU; watercolor - Bienfang Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: ribbon/sequin flower accent Accessories & Tools: Copic markers; iridescent Stickles - Ranger; EAD Designs rub-on sentiment; rectangle, scalloped rectangle dies - Spellbinders

Insects & Hydrangea

Here we are in February, and the garden hasn't woken up yet for spring.  I am not trying to rush life, but I am anxious to see my hydrangeas as they come into bloom in June.  Last year, I did not really get a chance to appreciate them.  My youngest was graduating from elementary school, and as the school year drew to a close, we were busy with all sorts of graduate-type activities.  And right after school finished, I had the Lapidus bunionectomy (major foot surgery) which kept me captive upstairs in my bedroom for much too long.  No trips outdoors for me.

My kids clipped hydrangeas and brought them inside for me, which was great, but it's not the same to a gardener who wants to be outside with her plants.

I made this card a couple of years ago, and it got lost in my computer files.  At long last, it's making its debut here on the blog.

I used Stampin' Up!'s Because I Care hydrangea, Natural Beauty butterfly (moth?) PLUS single leaf (tucked under hydrangea leaf) and a bee from Queen Bee / Pink Paislee.

The above shot shows that the interior is lined with lavender stripes.  I kept the card front at a shorter width so you can see the stripes whether the card is open or closed.

Thanks so much for your visit!  Enjoy your day, wherever you are.

Stamps: Queen Bee (bee) - Pink Paislee; Because I Care (hydrangea), Natural Beauty (butterfly, single leaf) - SU Paper: white - PTI; lavender stripe - K & Co. Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: sheer white ribbon Accessories & Tools: Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder - SU; Copic markers; Doily Lace punch - Martha Stewart 

Special Little Star

As part of my 'Children's Collection' (basically, babies), I made this simple design to go to the shop.

The stars and sentiment are from Hero Arts' Year Round Sentiments.  The button and thread are both vintage.  So glad my aunt shared her treasure trove of buttons with me!  She's been collecting a long time. Thank you, Aunt Kay!

Love this little strip of whale paper.  It was in one of those $1 scrap bags from my Stampin' Up! demo, and it helped make a quick card.  I haven't bought a scrap bag in a long time.  I'm rather overloaded at the moment and am trying to make a serious dent in them!

Stamps: Year Round Sentiments - Hero Arts Paper: Barely Banana, whale pattern - SU Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black - Tsukineko Fibers: twill - SU; vintage thread Accessories & Tools: vintage button; marker - SU

Some of the Quickest Sympathy Cards Ever

I am running out of clever titles for all these sympathy cards I create!  The title of this one is really true.  Take a look at the cards in the middle of this post, and you'll see what I mean.

But first....

I used blue grid paper (old SU) to highlight a Honeyblossom Sprig / Memory Box die cut, done up in green gingham.  The sentiment is new-to-me Papertrey Ink:  Boutique Borders - Sympathy.

Okay, here's what I mean about the quickest handmade sympathies:

I used SU's Branch Out tree and bird, and a Hero Arts sentiment on a one-layer card.  This would be good for someone who lost a pet, don't you think?

The next three are also one layer, and use some of SU's background stamps to provide the beauty:  Medallion and Damask Backgrounds.

And though the card below wasn't the quickest of today's group, it didn't take too long.  I did not use a Stamp-a-majig to line up leaves, because the irregular pattern was something I wanted.

All the leaves and acorn are old Stampin' Up! (With Gratitude, Touch of Nature).  I even used an old ink color of theirs:  True Thyme.  Anyone remember that one?

We had some snow yesterday - about 4" - and another day off from school.  These kids in town have to make up, like, 4 or 5 days of school.  It's eating into the Spring Break week.  Ah, well.  I must admit to enjoying these unscheduled days off, with everyone at home, snuggled inside.  It's a small pleasure that I treasure.

Thank you so, so much for your visit today!

Card #1:

Stamps: Boutique Borders: Sympathy - Papertrey Ink Paper: white - PTI; blue pattern - SU; green gingham - Nana's Nursery - Girl - DCWV Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: pearls - Queen & Co; Honeyblossom Sprig die - Memory Box 

Cards #2 & 3:

Stamps: Branch Out - SU; With Sympathy - Hero Arts Paper: gray; Crumb Cake - SU Ink: Versafine Onyx Black 

Cards #4, 5 & 6:
Stamps:  Medallion, Damask backgrounds - SU Paper:  Vintage Cream - PTI Ink:  Bashful Blue, Mellow Moss, Crumb Cake - SU; Accessories:  White Opal Liquid Pearls - Ranger

Card #7:

Stamps: With Sympathy - Hero Arts; With Gratitude, Touch of Nature (acorn) - SU Paper: Close to Cocoa, Mellow Moss, Whisper White - SU Ink: Close to Cocoa, Mellow Moss, True Thyme, Always Artichoke - SU; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: