With Sympathy

Hello again! Hope your week is off to a great start!

Just popping in to share a card I made last week. I started with a sketch I found on Pinterest but I veered away from it in the end.

My main goal was to use new products that have been collecting dust...embossing folder, ink, cardstock, & die are all new to me.

Hope you like it!

Stamps: Simple Sentiments (PTI)

Paper: Smoky Slate (SU), white (PTI)

Ink: Smoky Slate (SU)

Accessories: die (PTI), embossing folder (SU), pearls (Kaisercraft)

Greeting Card Gift Set

Hey there! I've been busy, busy, busy with baby preparations, so I haven't had much time to craft. I did, however, find time to create a few things for my niece's bridal shower last week.

Today I'm sharing a set of cards I made as a prize for one of the shower games. I used a set of 3x4 journaling cards I picked up at Michaels as my starting point.

I kept it simple, mounting each journal card on a white cardstock base. I dug through my stash and added a few embellishments to each...

 Some rub-ons...

 Punched images & rhinestones...

And stickers. 

I think they turned out very cute, & it took me less than an hour to put the set of 10 cards together.

Hope you like them, too!

Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Garden Green (SU), Aqua Mist & white (PTI)
Accessories: Recollections journaling cards, American Crafts rub-ons, SU flower punch, Martha Stewart butterfly punches, SU corner rounder punch, Martha Stewart & Recollections stickers

July Showers Bring...Brides!

Hey there! Been busy the past few weeks planning a bridal shower for my niece, so I thought I'd share the invite here.

My SIL & I are co-hosting, & we are going with a tropical party, so I went with bright colors & some fun flip flops to give a hint about the theme...

Finished off the envelopes with some fun washi tape...

Hope you like it!

Stamps: Flipping Out (PTI)

Paper: Aqua Mist, white (PTI), Melon Mambo (SU)

Ink: Hawaiian Shores (PTI)

Accessories: Flipping Out die (PTI), rhinestones (Kaisercraft), washi tape (Freckled Fawn)

Ruff Day?

Hey! Just popping in with a quick CAS card to share.

School is almost out...the time of year when you can hear summer calling your name, yet the days are stressful & the end seems far away. I made this quick card as a "hang in there" for a co-worker. I love the punny sentiment the dog is holding up--SO cute!

Hope you like it, too!

Stamps: Puppy Love (There She Goes)
Paper: PTI white, pp from stash
Ink: Adirondack Espresso, Pumpkin Pie (SU)
Accessories: PTI button, The Twinery twine

Hey Baby!

Hey there! Just popping in with a couple of baby cards I made recently.

 The first one is a thank you I made for some of the early baby gifts I've already received. This was so simple I made a batch to have on hand.

The paper is from my friend, JoLynn. She is partial to boy colors, but since we don't know the gender yet, I added some bling with a rhinestone & a glitter pen on the tiny hearts.











The second card is a simple 3x3 I made to accompany a gift for a co-worker. She's having a girl, so I stamped it in pink & added pearls to the elephants' eyes.

Hope you like them!

Stamps: Cuddles & Kisses, Baby Steps (SU)
Paper: PTI white, Bella Blvd. pp
Ink: Cool Caribbean, Pretty in Pink (SU)
Accessories: Kaisercraft rhinestone, Spica glitter pen

Sorry...

Hey there! Happy hump day! It's been a dreary week so far...hoping for a bit of sunshine soon!

Just wanted to share a quick card I made a while back. I like to keep sympathy cards simple so the message can speak for itself.

Hope you like it!

Stamps: Background Basics: Text Style II (PTI), Botanical Blooms, So Sorry (SU)
Paper: Lemon Tart, Kraft (PTI)
Ink: Chocolate Chip (SU), Versamark

Spring Happiness

Hey there! Just popping in with a quick share. 

I'm finally feeling in a springy mood, so I thought I'd pull out a butterfly die & play along with this week's Flutterby Wednesday challenge. I used some fun papers that are still relatively new to me & finished off my butterfly with some sparkle.

Hope you like it!

Stamps: Fabulous Phrases (SU)
Paper: Bazzill textured cs, My Mind's Eye pp
Ink: Cool Caribbean (SU)
Accessories: PTI butterfly die, Mark Richards glittered pearls, tag, dimensionals

Feelin' Blue

Hey there! Hope you're enjoying your weekend--and if you're in the U.S., here's hoping you have Monday off! I know I'm thrilled to have that one extra day to get a few more things checked off the to-do list. 

This morning I got crafty and created a little something for this week's CASology challenge--blue. I wanted to go with some kind of "I'm blue without you" theme, so I decided to go with a singular bird and the "Thinking of you" sentiment. I pulled out my barely loved bird die & placed him on a woodgrain embossed background. I really love the way it turned out! 

What do you think? 

Stamps: Scattered Showers (PTI)
Paper: Bashful Blue (SU), SU pp
Ink: Adirondack Espresso
Accessories: woodgrain embossing folder (SU), bird die (Memory Box), button (PTI)

Thanks So Much

Hey there! It's my first week back at school, and boy, am I tired! I came home last night and crashed HARD. Feeling just as exhausted today, but darn it, I am trying to keep up some kind of regularity on the ol' blog, so here I am.

I thought I'd share a quick card I made for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge: Thank You. I wanted the focus to be on the sentiment, so I stamped it using two different fonts. Then I colored the "thanks" with a white gel pen to make it pop. I finished it off with a few snowflakes, since I'll be using it as a Christmas thank you. Flat = easy to mail!

Hope you like it!

Stamps: Chit Chat (Paper Smooches)
Paper: PTI white & kraft
Ink: Adirondack Espresso
Accessories: All Over the Page Punch: Snowflakes (Martha Stewart), white gel pen

Celebrate

Hey there! Hope your first week of 2013 is going well so far. I'm trying to enjoy the last few days of my Christmas break. Not sure I'm ready to go back on Monday...

I spent my afternoon crafting (& eating...& chatting) with some friends--all hosted by the fabulous JoLynn! I made these two cards using new stamps from Paper Smooches & Hero Arts, along with some new papers from My Mind's Eye.

I'm entering these in the Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes challenge as well as A Blog Named Hero's New Year, New You.

Hope you like them!

Stamps: It's All Good & Hey Y'all (Hero Arts), Sentiment Sampler (Paper Smooches)
Paper: PTI white & kraft
Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black
Accessories: dimensionals

Happy NEW Home!

Hello again! Hope you had fun ringing in the new year! If you missed the fun here on the blog, you still have time to enter my giveaway for the Seasons Giving Blog Hop!

Today I'm playing along with THREE challenges--two I've played along with before & one new (to me)--but all with the same theme: 365 Cards "New Beginnings," A Blog Named Hero's "New Year, New You" & CASology's "New" challenge.

I used my new Hero Arts stamp "Newspaper House" to create this very CAS card--just stamps & a glittered heart for a pop of color. 

A co-worker of mine experienced a badly damaging house fire just before Christmas, so she & her family are in the process of rebuilding & redecorating their place. I plan on giving this to her once the "new" house is complete.









Before I go, I just have to show you a close-up of the sweet little heart--check out that sparkle!

Hope you like it!

Stamps: Newspaper House (Hero Arts), Scattered Showers (PTI)
Paper: PTI Kraft
Ink: Close to Cocoa (SU)
Accessories: American Crafts glittered ribbon, SU heart punch

Happy WCMD!

Happy World Card Making Day! It's been a looooooong time since I've crafted. Work has completely taken over my life...hoping things will settle down soon. I miss it...& YOU, my crafty friends!

Used a few *new* goodies on this one--both paper & stamps have been waiting for some love since I bought them back in August! Ack!

Have a wonderfully crafty day!

Stamps: Chit Chat (Paper Smooches)
Paper: PTI white, AC glittered cardstock, My Mind's Eye pp
Ink: Adirondack Espresso
Accessories: Nestabilities circles, PTI heart dies, Kaisercraft rhinestones

Shoebox Swap

Hey there! It's been a busy July around here...can you believe I've been working a LOT on back to school already? :(

I've also been busy on the crafty side; last weekend my friends & I had a HUGE garage sale. I cleared out stamps that I've owned since I started crafting about 8 years ago...so not only is my crafty space less cluttered, but I also made several hundred bucks! Woohoo!

Today I'm sharing a set of cards I made for a shoebox swap I attended recently. It was up to us whether we wanted participants to make one or two cards...so I compromised & had the ladies make the same card in two different colors. It's always a challenge for me to come up with a design for a shoebox swap...it needs to be easy to make AND I have to make sure I have enough supplies for all the cards. 

The ladies loved them...hope you do, too!

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (PTI)

Paper: PTI white, American Crafts & SU pp

Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black

Accessories: buttons (stash)

My Cup of Tea

Hey there! Another HOT day here in central Illinois. We've had temps in the upper 90's with the heat index in the triple digits for almost a week now. It makes it unbearable outside...but, on the bright side, not much to do besides stay inside & CRAFT!

In light of the weather, I thought it was funny that my card today is all about teacups. While I was staring at this color combo (the challenge this week over at The Play Date Cafe), I got inspired by the PDCC coffee cup logo & came up with this design. It's also my entry for PTI's Make It Monday challenge to stamp on patterned paper. 

Hope you like it!

Stamps: Warm Happiness Too (PTI), Absolutely Delightful (Simon Says Stamp)

Paper: Basic Gray (SU), white & patterned papers (PTI)

Ink: Basic Gray (SU)

Accessories: Heart Prints die & Warm Happiness die (PTI), rhinestones (Kaisercraft), dimensionals

Hey There, Chickadee

Happy Monday! I've been busy putting together projects for pub calls...it's been over a year since I've even tried, so I figured it was time...BUT, I did find time to whip up a quick card for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge--use two circles in your design.

I went with this cute little birdie from one of my all-time fave PTI sets, Everyday Button Bits. I had to throw in some twine, too, since The Twinery is this week's sponsor.

Hope you like it!

Stamps: Everyday Button Bits (PTI)

Paper: Lavender Lace, Green Galore (SU), white (PTI)

Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Lavender Lace (SU)

Accessories: lilac twine (The Twinery), button (PTI), Polka Dot Basics II Impression Plate (PTI), Nestabilities circles

Think Pink

Happy hump day! Hope your week is going smoothly. Today is supposed to be the first of many HOT days ahead...hoping the weather forecasters are wrong, but then again, it is almost July. Can you believe it?!

Today's card is for CAS-ual Fridays 58--Pretty in Pink. I used my new die from Simon Says Stamp (designed by Kristina Werner--love her!) & played with some color blocking, using 4 varying shades of pink. I love how it turned out!

And while we're on the subject of love, can I just say how much I love Simon Says Stamp? I placed my first order on Thursday, & it was here by Monday! Woohoo for fast service!

Have a great day!

Stamps: Birthday Basics (PTI)

Paper: Sweet Blush, Raspberry Fizz, white (PTI), Pretty in Pink, Regal Rose (SU)

Ink: Adirondack Espresso

Accessories: Oh Happy Day! die (Simon Says Stamp)

Celebrate YOU

Happy Sunday! It's a cloudy day here, so I snuck into my crafty space for a little creative time. 

I'm playing along with the current challenge at The Play Date Cafe. This week is the ever-popular "color splash"--black, white, & blue. I went CAS on this one...only took a few minutes to put it together, but I love the way it turned out. Gotta love it when that happens!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Stamps: Spot Dot (PTI), A Little Birthday Cheer (SU)

Paper: PTI white

Ink: Adirondack Pitch Black, Brilliant Blue (SU)

Accessories: rhinestones (Michaels), dimensionals

Ouch!

If you read yesterday's post, you know my best friend Angela nearly died last week from heart failure. I thought today I'd focus on a more lighthearted side of the situation...this goofy card I made to cheer her up!

As with most great friendships, we have always had our share of laughter, so I'm sure she'll appreciate the tongue-in-cheek humor of the broken heart & "Ouch" sentiment. God knows she could use some laughs right now!

Hope you like it, too!

Stamps: Framed (PTI), Twisted Too (MFT)

Paper: Raspberry Fizz, white, kraft (PTI), glittered cardstock (stash)

Ink: Raspberry Fizz (PTI), Adirondack Pitch Black

Accessories: Band-Aid, googly eyes (Hobby Lobby), black Sharpie

Get Well Wishes

Hey there. I haven't posted in a while...it's been a rough week. Last Wednesday, my best friend was rushed to the emergency room with complete heart failure. She was on a heart pump, ventilator, etc...we weren't sure she'd make it through. It was a HUGE shock as she is only 35 & has no history of heart problems. 

Thankfully, she has been slowly but steadily improving. She was moved out of ICU late Sunday, but she still has a long road ahead, so prayers & positive thoughts are appreciated.

I also found out a co-worker & friend had her gallbladder taken out on Thursday. It was a scheduled event, but in light of what happened on Wednesday, it only added to my stress. Thankfully, she is doing well & healing at home.

Needless to say, I'm back today with a get well card! I'm playing along with two of my favorite challenges: The Play Date Cafe 136--azure, raspberry, blackberry--& CAS-ual Fridays 57--to use vellum or acetate.

Hope you like it!

Stamps: Simple Sentiments (PTI)

Paper: PTI white, Elegant Eggplant textured (SU), SU pp, white vellum (stash)

Ink: Elegant Eggplant (SU)

Accessories: PTI butterfly die, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, Making Memories brad, Kaisercraft rhinestones

Thinking of U

Happy Thursday! Looking forward to the weekend? I know I am!

Today I'm playing along with a *new to me* challenge over at A Blog Named Hero. If you're wondering about the name, it refers to the ladies' love of Hero Arts products. Since I share this love, I knew I had to join in on the fun!

Their challenge this time around is a color challenge--using the colors of their very own logo. These colors are right up my alley, so I came up with a card in a snap.

I used the Everyday Sayings set to stamp the first part of the sentiment, then finished it off with a glittery chipboard U. A quick CAS card, but I love the end the result!

Hope you like it, too!

Stamps: Everyday Sayings (Hero Arts)

Paper: PTI white & kraft, Green Galore & Regal Rose (SU)

Ink: Cool Caribbean (SU)

Accessories: chipboard letter (Making Memories)