Butterfly Oval Wreath

A friend sent me this beautiful collage-style panel, and I love the elements on it.  I didn't want to cover them up, so I kept the focal point simple.  The wreath die is from Simon Says Stamp "Ariana Wreath", and the butterfly die is Tim Holtz "Mini Butterflies."

Thanks for popping in!

Hope your day is wonderful!

White Poinsettias

I've got a Christmas card to add to my stash for the next holiday, and it's got a sort of monochromatic feel.  Green and cream make a restful palette.  The olive cardstock base was embossed with the Sizzix "Winter Foliage" embossing folder.  It's got lots of 3D detail.  The mistletoe patterned paper is from Stampin' Up! and the poinsettias and holly leaves are from Tim Holtz "Seasonal Sketch" die set.  I added pearly drops in the centers of the flowers.

Thanks for popping in!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

Single Sparkly Tree

Another Christmas card to share:  this went to my mom this past Christmas.  She likes a modern aesthetic, so I think this comes clos.  The background of the olive green card base was embossed with Sizzix "Winter Foliage" 3D embossing folder.  Love the detail of it.  The green glitter tree was a gift tag on one of our gifts years ago, topped with a gold glitter punched star.  The iridescent white glitter "snow" is a diecut using Papertrey Ink "In The Meadow" die set.  

Have a WONDERFUL day, and make the most of it!

Good Times

Hi!  Popping in to share a "thinking of you" card made with Chapter One Papers "Damask Rose" from Etsy.  I scaled the page, which is 8.5" x 11", down to a 3.5" x 5" so it would fit neatly on this card.  Though it's hard to tell in a photo, the light blue paper behind it is baby blue metallic cardstock, which was run through the Big Shot with a Sizzix / Eileen Hull embossing folder called "Table Cloth".  The sentiment stamp is from Papertrey Ink, and the "good times" stamp is from a generic set from Temu.

Have a terrific day!

Dainty Baby, Bolder Baby

Hello all, back with a couple more cards today so I can enter a new-to-me challenge:  Dragonfly Dreams.  Their October challenge is "In The Pink".  Yes, it's November now, but the challenge closes on 11/5 so there's a little more time if you want to play!

First up is my pink baby card.  I think this soft pale mauve pink is so feminine, so pretty.  I wish I knew which brand the cardstock is, but it was in a bag of goodies given to me, and I had one precious piece!  I added some stamping off the edge, and several assorted pieces of lovely patterned paper scraps in shades of pink and soft gold.  And, of course, some hydrangea blossoms topped with pearls.

Papertrey Ink Wonderful Words: Baby die; Sizzix Donut Phrases 'sweet' die; Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch; pearls; doily; scraps of paper; matte gold cardstock

The next baby card is so different from the first!  Bursting with more color, with a more modern feel thanks to the patterned paper full of interesting stripes.  I added two sentiments from the same stamp set; one is on the heart, and the other is in tiny print below the patterned paper rectangle.  It says, "Life is sweeter now that you are in the world."  Awww.

Technique Tuesday Sweet Baby sentiments; pearls; My Favorite Things Heart Stax die

Again, thank you so much for your visit, and God bless you!

International Leaves

The Post Script background from Stampin' Up! makes its debut here!  I bought this stamp for a great price at an SU sale a couple of years ago, and finally, I've used it.  You know how it goes, too many stamps, not enough time.  😉

I like the look of it, and should remember to put it into action more. 

Inspired By Stamping Vintage Postcards 'Palermo' postmark; Stampin' Up! Post Script background; Tim Holtz / Sizzix Tattered Leaves dies; Papertrey Ink Keep It Simple: Get Well sentiment; My Favorite Things Slanted Sentiment Strips die; Distress Ink Sprays (assorted)

That top leaf was fun to color up with a whole bunch of Distress Ink Sprays.  

Autumn will be here soon, and I am so ready! 

Catching Up (a little)

Hello friends!  It's been quite a while since we met here.  Life has been biz-zee!  So busy!  I've been making masks, and cards, and decorating for autumn, and selling things on Mercari...and also the usual upkeep of a home.  But I really wanted to pop in and share at least some of my backlog of cards.  There is much more I need to show you, but time is short so here we go with this batch today! 

Inspired By Stamping - Graceful Hydrangea small flower cluster stamp; Papertrey Ink Inside & Out: Birthday II sentiment stamp; Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch; clear dots; Sizzix Sweet & Donut Thinlits word dies

Stampin' Up! Butterfly Basics sentiment, postmark and flower stamps, Floral Background stamp; K & Co. pale purple flourish die cuts

Stampin' Up! Watercolor Trio solid flower stamp in background, 'friend' on die cut from scrap bag; Gina Marie Designs Small Butterfly die; button; clothing tag (floral with lace); twine; doily; L'il Inker Designs Stitched Rectangle die; Spellbinders Parisian Motifs die (a small section below tag)

The Greetery Sentiment Suite: Birthday; My Favorite Things Falling Leaves dies; All Night Media small maple leaf stamp; Stampin' Up! Sanded Background stamp; gold cardstock circle

Lawn Fawn Little Bundle stamps and matching dies; pink and white twine; Spellbinders Scalloped Squares die; DCWV Luxury Stack patterned paper

This one was easy peasy.  The heart and sentiment from Stampin' Up were already stamped and embossed (from a scrap bag).  I just die cut it with a My Favorite Things heart, added a white glittery sticker from the craft store, and added pearls and clear sparkling sequins. 

Stampin' Up! 'wish big' sentiment (from a scrap bag, unsure of the set) and patterned paper from Good Neighbors paper pad (oldie); My Favorite Things Mini Wavy Pennants die

And we've come to the end of the show for today! 😁

I do have another post coming soon.  Looking forward to showing you those cards as well.

God bless you,

Sweet Shades of Aqua

Hello friends!  Well, we finally made it to Friday.  It's April 3, 2020, and it was a long week.  Busy too.  I am still working full time, praise God, and we had some celebrating going on here at home this week too.  It was my husband's birthday, and we ordered takeout from the Silver Diner.  My youngest daughter and I baked him a fudgy chocolate cake, and we will have that finished tonight (baked last night, and we're about to put the frosting on).  She found the recipe here. It's easy and has a little bit of instant coffee and cocoa powder in the batter, to give it a darker chocolate flavor.  The frosting is a chocolate ganache, made with just two ingredients:  heavy cream and chocolate chips.

Another celebration of sorts is for our town's high school seniors, of which my daughter is one.  We were asked to decorate our front door in honor of our son/daughter, and take a photo.  The pictures will be included in their yearbook.  These poor kids.  It's been an anticlimactic second half of her senior year.  The Disney World class trip was cancelled and will not be rescheduled. Not sure if there will be prom.  And who knows if they'll get to graduate together in June?  Anyway, I included a picture of our front door at the end of this post.

On to some cards:

Papertrey Ink Inside and Out: Birthday II sentiment stamp; Martha Stewart Hydrangea punch; clear gems; Inspired By Stamping Graceful Hydrangea floral branch stamp; Sizzix Sweet & Donut Phrases sentiment dies; gold embossed cardstock from store-bought card; oval die cut

Stampin' Up! Beautiful Friendship sentiment stamp, punched leaves, aqua rhinestone brad; L'il Inker Designs Stitched Rectangles die; Spellbinders Blossoms dies; fabric

The card below was for my senior's birthday.  She went to France last year with her French class from school, so I included the Eiffel Tower.  And we have a black cat named Cristabel, so there she is, looking up at the Tower.

Hero Arts Eiffel Tower die; Impression Obsession Cat Set die; clear sequins; rhinestones; Inspired By Stamping Paris fleur de lis, 'paris' sentiment stamps; L'il Inker Designs Stitched Rectangles die

Lawn Fawn Little Bundle stamps and matching dies (birds, clothing, clothespins); Glitz Designs Fancy Frames frame stamp; Papertrey Ink Monthly Moments: Journal Card 2 die scalloped rectangle, Daily Designs Sentiments sentiment stamp; Stampin' Up! oval punch

Here's the celebration door for our girl:

I did lots of papercrafting, as you can see!  I hand cut the word, 'Hawks' and '2020' from red cardstock.  My older daughter cut out the boat (because our senior, Kerry, was a rower on the high school team).  I cut two oars out of paper, but they look like kitchen rubber scrapers.  Ha!  And below you can get a better glimpse of the Eiffel Tower (Hero Arts die) garland I made out of two different shades of pink cardstock and some red and white twine.

I also cleaned out my whole china cabinet and washed every dish and glass and bowl and tray, then polished up the shelves themselves, and put everything away.  Whew!  What an undertaking.  But now it's done for a while.

Hope you are healthy and enjoying your families in our quarantined situations.  😀
Thanks for your visit today, and God bless you!

Butterflies and Birds

Good morning friends!  It's Sunday March 29th, 2020 and I hope you are healthy and well. 😊  There are so many sad stories in the news; sometimes it is good to step away from the TV, radio, internet to give your emotions a break.  I am grateful for this card-making craft of ours.  The process of making, photographing, and sharing them is therapy for the soul.  The cards help me escape for a little while.

For today, here are cards with themes of birds and butterflies.

My Favorite Things Decorative Doily Duo die; butterfly sticker; pearls; Gina Marie Designs Peekaboo Square die; Papertrey Ink Words of Comfort sentiment stamp; Inkadinkado Floral Damask stamp (behind doily)

My Favorite Things Decorative Doily Duo die; Hero Arts Canvas Stripes background stamp; butterfly sticker; pearls; EK Success Postage Stamp border punch; Papertrey Ink Words of Comfort sentiment stamp

Papertrey Ink Words of Comfort sentiment stamp ('for your loss'); butterfly sticker; crochet lace; My Favorite Things Mini Delicate Doilies die; Verve Heartfelt Phrases sentiment stamp ('so sorry')

Papertrey Ink Topiary Trio sentiment stamp; butterfly sticker; Sizzix Donut Phrases dies ('so sweet'); gold pearls

Hug Snug Mottle Brown seam binding (in a Colleen Bow); L'il Inker Designs Stitched Rectangles dies; Stampin' Up! Natural Beauty bird stamp; Spellbinders Labels Eight die; Inspired By Stamping Creative Tags sentiment stamp ('hello'); Verve Heartfelt Phrases sentiment stamp ('feel better')

Stampin' Up! Punch Potpourri bird stamp, Extra Large Bird Punch, house stamp (set unknown); Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags sentiment stamp and die; My Favorite Things Bold Greenery dies; twine

Thank you so much for joining me here today.  I will see you again soon.

Social distance hugs,

Seeds of Hope, Life is Fragile, and more

Hello again, my friends!  How are you doing today?  Did you spend some time exercising outdoors, or gathering with one another while outdoors, spaced apart?  I hear a lot of neighbors enjoying time outside, either walking, riding bikes, taking dogs for a walk, or listening to music and playing board games on porches.  It is kind of nice, you know what I mean?  People are connecting in ways they haven't in quite some time.  Though we are supposed to keep our distance from each other, there's a different kind of closeness that's developing; it makes my heart happy.

I hope you don't mind I have another post this week. I'm really trying to bang out the photo-editing of my cards, so I can share them here.  Ready?  Here we go!

Old seed packet; Martha Stewart Rose Leaf punch, Hydrangea punch; crochet lace; pearl; fabric flower cluster; Sizzix Sweet and Donut Thinlits heart die

Stampabilities Life Is Fragile sentiment; Gina Marie Designs Small Butterfly die; Prima papers; Sweet Stamps Lace Border stamp; pearls; Spellbinders Labels One die

Stampabilities Life Is Fragile sentiment; Gina Marie Designs Loopy Rectangles dies; Martha Stewart pansy stickers; pink rhinestones; crochet lace

Gina Marie Designs Loopy Rectangles dies; Martha Stewart camellia (?) sticker; pink rhinestones; pearls; My Favorite Things Love You More sentiment; handmade round doily; Stampin' Up! Itty Bitty Accents heart punch

Papertrey Ink Happily Ever After sentiment; K & Co. floral oval frame sticker; Recollections bride frame sticker; pearls; Gina Marie Designs Eyelet Elegance Rectangles die 

Impression Obsession Cat Set dies; K & Co. floral frame sticker;
Papertrey Ink Everyday Cat Sayings sentiment; pink sequins 

Impression Obsession Cat Set dies; K & Co. floral frame sticker; 
Papertrey Ink Everyday Cat Sayings sentiment; pink sequins 

Stampin' Up! Paper Pumpkin Friends of a Feather sentiment and feather stamps, Clearly For You flourish rectangle stamp; doily; white sequins; 

Papertrey Ink Fancy Flakes dies; rhinestones; Stampin' Up! Winter Post sentiment

Verve Holiday Phrases sentiment; Stampin' Up! silver glitter paper, mirror cardstock, stripe patterned paper; circle dies; Papertrey Ink Fancy Flakes die; clear sequins; My Favorite Things Stitched Mini Rectangle Stax die

Lace; Basic Grey Wassail floral pattern paper; Anna Griffin green flourish paper; pearls; gold cardstock from a store bought card; Inspired By Stamping Summer Postcard Add On heart/circle stamp;
Papertrey Ink Keep It Simple: Birthday III sentiment

My Favorite Things Mini Delicate Doilies die; pearls; crochet lace; old book page; Gina Marie Designs Pleated Lace Rectangle die; calendar photo of mountains

Stampin' Up! Print Pattern background stamp; Papertrey Ink Spring Moss button; Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Squares die; Blockhead Paper Arts Feeling Regal crown stamp; gold embossing powder; Inspired By Stamping Happy Occasions Sentiments sentiment 

My Favorite Things Layered Leaves dies; yellow green glitter paper; calendar page; Stampin' Up! sentiment (set unknown)

Stampin' Up! balloons, elephant (set unknown; they were in a scrap bag); Kat Scrappiness - Stitched Postage Stamp Edge Rectangles die; rhinestones; Papertrey Ink Keep It Simple: Birthday III sentiment

Oh, I have plenty more to go.  We'll see how far I get.  As I said before, since we're all supposed to be home for the foreseeable future, it gives me more time to get it done. 😀