If a Card Could Exude Happiness...

Just uploaded and posted the following card to SCS for today's inspiration challenge (IC237) and I gotta tell ya this card just makes me wanna smile.

It's kind of like you're staring into the face of sunshine. It's bright, it's bold, and it has an amazing quote on it! Aaaaahhhhh....I just want to bask in it's radiance. HAHH! ;)




I loved the inspiration shop, Loveartworks Clay Originals. Who couldn't be inspired by something there? I was a little overwhelmed by everything, to be honest, but I love her use of color and the quotes she puts on some of her pieces. I went with that.

Hope you're all having a FABULOUS weekend! And thanks, so much, for stopping by.


{Supplies:
Paper: Colored c/s - (SU!), white (Georgia Pacific)
Ink: Elegant Eggplant (SU!)
Stamps: The Artist In You (Donna Downey for Unity)
Accessories: Flowers (Prima), Pearl, brads (SU!), Corner Chomper (We-R-Memorny Keepers) }


All my best,

Best Dad In the World

I participated in my VERY first sketch challenge yesterday on Splitcoaststampers (it's SC285, and the link to the challenge is HERE <-- click) and I decided to make it a Father's Day card for my dad. I knew I wanted to use my new DP from Tim Holtz called Lost & Found, but I wasn't exactly sure what I was going to do.

My original plan kind of fell apart when I realized I didn't have enough metal letter charms, so I went a different route and I really like how this turned out. I used the map paper and spelled out "Dad" with letter stickers from Jolee. The stickers were WAY too light so I sponged them darker with Coffee Arhival ink (Ranger). I love archival ink!

I also hand cut 1" squares out of swirl-embossed Grungeboard and used Perfect medium and a combination of two colors of Perfect Pearls to create a really neat color for the tiles. (Too bad you can't really see it in the photo, but they're soooo pretty!) Perfect Pearls are so much fun.

I added the metal arrow hardware (kind of like compass arrows to guide your way :) ). Anyway, using the map as my main "theme" and knowing it was a Father's Day card I knew what I wanted it to say on the inside to I printed my sentiment on cardstock. It says: "Happy Father's Day to the Best Dad in the World".

He's a great dad. And is hope he likes his card. I loved making it for him.





{Supplies:
Paper: C/S Oceans Tide (PTI), Naturals White & Choc. Chip (SU!); DSP - Lost & Found (Tim Holtz), Max & Whiskers (Basic Grey)
Ink: Distress Inks (Tim Holtz), Archival Ink (Ranger)
Accessories: Letter Stickers (Jolee), Grungeboard & Metal Findings (Advantus), Perfect Pearls (Ranger), Square Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Die-cutting/Embossing Machine (Cuttlebug by Provocraft) }

All my best,

In Honor of Flag Day

There's a challenge going on over at Splitcoast Stampers right now for the Clean and Simple group called "Things That Fly" (click HERE for the challenge). Well, I decided to participate today by making a card in honor of Flag Day.

Not much is known (I'm sure) about Flag Day. But here is a teeny snippet of information I pulled up from Wiki:

It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which happened that day by resolution of the Second Continental Congress in 1777.

I think that's pretty cool!

Now, I'm fiercely patriotic. I signed the dotted line, held up my right hand, and swore to defend my country by serving in the military. So making this card was pretty straight forward...sort of. I decided to drop one of the stars down and not really make it *look* like a flag. The "fallen" star is to commemorate all those fallen soldiers who, like me, also signed, held up THEIR hands and swore to defend this great country of ours. They...are MY heroes.



If you have a flag I hope it's out there flying high & waving proudly today.


{Supplies:
Paper: C/S (Enchanted Evening - PTI), White (Gina K Designs)
Ink: Distress Inks (Tim Holtz), Night of Navy (SU!), Jet Black Archival (Ranger)
Stamps: Star Prints (PTI), Bountiful Backgrounds (Verve)
Accessories: Clear Embossing Powder (Ranger), Star Punch (SU!)}


All my best,

May VSN Puddle Jumper Winner

Okay. So we all know that I did the VSN because Lydia FORCED me to, right? Right! ;) I really also did it because my mojo had all but disappeared. Soooo not good. (For anyone who says they need mojo? I can identify in ways that you just will never understand and will say prayers to the mojo gods on your behalf.)

Anyway, when I did the VSN I kinda trudged along and did the best I could. Some things I really liked how they ultimately turned out (which you may have seen in earlier posts) and some I thought were just, well, meh. What I have learned is that beauty really IS in the eye of the beholder. Really!!!

Two of the cards I felt the most "meh" about were two that seemed to leave the biggest impression somehow. One was the CAS (clean and simple) card that got picked for a CAS Weekly Favorite. Total shocker. The other was this card:



It was for the watercolor challenge and to use brown. I didn't use brown (other than a little tea dye ink) in my image just a lot of brown in the paper and ribbon. Actually, it's a fairly straight forward card. And I thought my water-coloring was awful! My hands shook so bad...I colored outside the lines. I was embarrassed to post it. But, I did it anyway.

Well.

It got picked as one of the WINNERS, yes, WINNERS!! for the May VSN (Virtual Stamp Night). The card is considered a "Big Puddle Jumper Winner". Still not sure what that means, but I'm very honored and excited.

Thanks to all of you who have been kind enough to look at all these posts recently, to comment, and be so supportive. I cannot possibly thank you enough!!

Hope you all have an AMAAAAZING weekend. Hugs to you all!


All my best,

A Card With a Wish!

I've been so bad with the whole card-making thing lately. I did VSN amidst craft room/office madness. Seriously, it was a disaster zone (HazMat suits were a requirement to get in there it was so bad)!! But, I knew there were a few cards that really needed to get made. I just couldn't get them done until the room was back in order. Eddy's eldest sister's birthday card was one that got delayed. (I felt horrible, too.)

So, now that order has been restored to the room and I can craft & create in a reasonable state of calm again I knew I needed to make that birthday card. Since she's being forced to wait for it I figured I try to make her something really special. I received some really beautiful paper (FOR FREE!!!!) from Eclectic Paperie in my last order from them so I decided to use that along with some Tim Holtz goodness and a little Core'dinations in the Jenni Bowlin line (it's so yummy!). Anyway (enough babbling)...here's what I made for her:



I love using all those little metal findings from Tim Holtz. They're so fun and add such a cool touch. The inside is really neat, too, but my camera's battery died. Boo hoo! Sorry.

Thanks for stopping by to have a look at what I've created today. Hope you like it!

{Supplies:
Paper: C/S (Stampin' Up!), DSP (MME - Bloom & Grow), Specialty - Core'dinations (Jenni Bowlin Collection), Grungepaper (Tim Holtz Ideaology)
Ink: Distress Inks (Tim Holtz for Ranger)
Stamps: Birthday Basics (Inside card) (PTI)
Accessories: Tattered Florals Sizzix Die (Tim Holtz for Sizzix), Adage ticket, Metal findings, Rock Candy Crackle Paint, Glossy Accents (Tim Holtz/Ranger), Lace (from stash).
Die-Cutting/Embossing: Cuttlebug (Provocraft)}


All my best,

Me? A CAS Favorite? Huh?

So I did the VSN thingy, right? And one of the cards was for a certain color-combo, and I did it. But I was a little unsure, so I kind of really didn't do much with it. I felt a little un-easy about the card. It felt a little "blah". Not much going on, y'know? But I loved the stamp set & went with it.

So...a week has passed.

IT GOT PICKED AS A CAS (Clean And Simple) Fan Favorite over on Splitcoast Stampers this week!!!!!!!! I'm so excited!!! This is a really big deal.

Here's the card:



Soooo not my usual style, right? :)

And here's the link to my super nice shout-out on Splitcoast Stampers <-- click And A HUGE, MASSIVE heartfelt thank you to my dearest honey-bunches-of-oats, Lydia. Who encouraged me to participate in VSN...THEN encouraged me again to select that card and tag it for CAS, also. What would I do without you, my friend? You are a shining light in a sometimes scary world. xoxo

All my best,

I've "DIED" and Gone to Heaven!

Ever since I first saw this Flowers 3-D Sizzix Bigz Die on my enabler (Lydia) friend's, blog here: Flower Pot Beautifulness I knew it MUST be mine! I mean, c'mon...HOW AWESOME IS THAT?!

I know a lot of people punch scallops/circles out and then cut the little swirly things by hand, but why? When you can buy this die and do a squillion of 'em?! YAY!!

I ordered it from the only place that seemed to have it in stock (thanks again to Ms. Lydia) and had it in my hot little hands within two days! Yippee! I ordered Wednesday AFTERNOON and had it today! So fabby. So as soon as I ripped open that package I had to start making a card. Without further ado, I present:



Don't those flowers just make you wanna squeal? Just a little? :D And you can adjust how small or large you make them by tightening or loosening them up. Love that!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend! And thanks for popping by to have a look.


{Supplies:
Cardstock & DSP: SU!
Ink: Versamark (Tsukineko), Distress Inks (Tim Holtz)
Stamp: Mega Mixes Messages (PTI), Flower Lines (SU!)
Border Punches: EK Success (1 punch for SU!)
Ribbon: Stash
Die: Flowers 3-D Bigz Die (Sizzix)
Accessory: Corner Chomper (We-R-Memory Keepers), White Embossing Powder (SU!)



All my best,

My Mojo Went MIA! But It's BAAAACK!!! :)

Sorry for my extremely lengthy absence. It happens to the best of us. Kind of like when our creativity ignores us just like a moody teenager. That's pretty much what happened to me. It was not pretty.

So my dear bloggy/Twitter/Facebooking friend Lydia (@understandblue - her awesome blog HERE) upon hearing my predicament suggested I try the Virtual Stamp Night over at Splitcoaststampers . Of course, initially, I recoiled at the idea. Who? Me? Stamp a whole pile of stuff in a limited amount of time? 45 minutes for EACH project?! ARE YOU INSANE, WOMAN?!?! But, that Lydia, she's a tricky one. Somehow she worked some magic on me and I participated. :)

I didn't get to make ALL of the projects since we went to Napa on Saturday. But I did make 13 cards & a bookmark. Yay!!

So, I thought I'd post a few pics of some of MY faves. (One even got featured on Splitcoast's Facebook page & Twitter feed! How awesome is that?!?!)













Now these are just 8 cards! If you wanna see the others, please check out my gallery in SCS. Which you can do from the button over there. See it? It says something about My Gallery on Splicoast? ;) A few of the other cards feature some of the awesome stamp sets by that sweetheart, Kelly, of Lawn Fawn Stamps.

Thanks for stopping by today & hopefully I'll be way more creative again in the future!



All my best,

It's a Spring Thing

I know, I know....I haven't posted in FOREVAH!!! Lots has been going on in my house. I won't bore you with all the sordid details, since most of it hasn't been all that happy. So I thought I'd post today with something that IS happy. It's SPRING!

Though I'm sorely lacking in the card-making mojo department (someone PLEASE send me some!!) I thought I'd post a picture of something so totally cute and so totally Spring-y. I just know you're gonna go, "Awwwww!!!" Cuz it's a Spring Thing! :D

Ready?



HOW CUTE IS THAT?!?! Yes, we feed our squirrels. We'd rather give them squirrel food then have them constantly trying to eat the bird food. We're cool that way. But, it makes for great amusement for the kitties. Especially Gracey just a few minutes ago, who took huge interest in this corn-eating squirrel. So cute.

Hope everyone is doing fabulous. I hope to see some of that mojo in my in-box, mail, by smoke signal or whatever soon, m'kay? THANKS! xoxo

All my best,

Happy Birthday- AmCrafts Style

How do I love thee American Crafts? Let me count the ways. Your flair is delightful. Your Thickers make my heart go pitter-patter. Your paper is glorious! You make paper-crafters all over the world leap for joy! Am I laying it on too thick? I think not. :)

I needed to create a birthday card today and (as some of you know) I have been feeling über funky this past week. So I knew I wanted to create something really beautiful, but something that wasn't going to take me all of next week to make, right? So, what to do...what to do? Well, I didn't have to think THAT long. I just started grabbing for the wonderful, beautiful, LOVELY stuff that I have that is American Crafts! (No, this is not a paid endorsement. HAHHA!)

I just used their gorgeous paper, a little flair button, created a flower, stamped a sentiment and I have a really fabby birthday card that I know Eddy's sis will love.



Do you love American Crafts too?

Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend. And HAPPY EASTER!!!



{Supplies:
Cardstock: PTI
DSP: Flowering Fields, Dragonfly Dance (Dear Lizzy + American Crafts)
Ink: Distress Ink (Tim Holtz for Ranger)
Stamp: Birthday Basics (PTI)
Die-cutting/Embossing: Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders)
Trim: Lace & Ribbon from stash
Extra: Flair button (Dear Lizzy flair shiny by American Crafts) }


All my best,

Thank you! Etsy Inspired #81

This is my final post as Guest DT for the wonderful gals at the Etsy Inspired Challenge Blog. They have been so good to me and being a part of the team for the month of March was a total blast. Thank you so VERY much for having me.

This weeks Etsy inspiration store is another great one (aren't they always?!). It's called Ponder & Stitch and she makes really beautiful hand-sewn cuffs and bags. The fabrics are so pretty. Please go check her store out and do a little shopping. You won't be sorry.

Here is the piece I chose of hers as my inspiration piece:



And, what would an EIC Challenge be without another wonderful sponsor? Yep! This week's sponsor is Digi Stamp Characters. Really, really cute digi stamps. And this week's winner will receive 3 free digital stamps! Who wouldn't want to win that?! But you gotta play to win, so be sure you link your blog to the EIC blog and get all the other details HERE.



And, since this is my final card as guest DT I decided to incorporate an element from both the inspiration shop AND the sponsor! :) Hope you enjoy something you won't always see from me... a CUTE card:



I think it's pretty cute. But, yes, I'm biased.

Please check out all the wonderful creative inspirations from the rest of the Design Team here:

Ashley
De
Emily
Heather
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Shannon
Laurel (March Guest DT)


Thank you again, EIC, for having me this month. I had a great time.

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping by!!



*Sorry, I haven't updated the supplies. I got super sick when I returned from my trip. But the big thing is that I used Basic Grey Kioshi DSP and the super sweet Purr Button digi-image from Digi-Stamp Characters. My stick-on epoxy words are from Jo-Ann's and are by Heidi Grace. All my c/s is PTI, except for the white which is Gina K Designs. Hope that helps a little. :)





All my best,

Etsy Inspired #80

Hi, and thanks for joining me in another Etsy Inspired Challenge.

This weeks inspiration shop designs by cathy has some of the most beautiful (recycled!) silver jewelry I have ever seen. I'm a sucker for silver jewelry anyway and I love that her pieces have that rustic and eclectic look (as she also says in her shop announcement). The oxidation makes them look so cherished. Seriously, check this store out!

Here is the (now sold!) piece that I was inspired to create from:



I know, total *sigh*.

And, if you're familiar with EIC you'll know that there are always fabby sponsors willing to give away wonderful prizes if you participate! (Deets on the EIC blog, so be sure you play along, ok?)

This weeks sponsor is The Digi-Kitty. Really fun, whimsical digital stamps. The winner this week will receive an Easter bundle that contains 8 (EIGHT!!) Easter images! Wow!! The Digi-Kitty also has an Etsy store HERE. Check it out.

Okay, so now onto my card. I really love this jewelry so I thought I try the good ol' faux metal technique and see how it turned out for my card. Not too bad although the sentiment is a little tough to read :( . And I got to use my awesome new Lawn Fawn stamps (will definitely be using these more soon, so fun and they stamp like a dream!).




and a close-up of the sentiment:



Please be sure to stop by the Design Teams blogs, see what they've created and leave them a wonderful comment!

Ashley
De
Emily
Heather
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Shannon
Laurel (March Guest DT)



On another note there's been a lot of sadness in our lives lately, so I hope that you will all hold each other a little tighter, tell one another how much you love each other, and know how very much your friendships are appreciated.

I thank you for being a part of my life...even if it's in a small way, just by stopping by and saying "hi", you touch my life.



{Supplies:
Cardstock: White (Gina K Designs), Black (SU)
Ink: Black (Memento), Versamark (Tsukineko)
Embossing Powder: Silver (SU)
Stamps: Sew Lovely (Lawn Fawn), A Charmed Life (Melanie Meunchinger for Gina K Designs)
Punch: Loop Border Punch (Martha Stewart)
Dies/Embossing: Oval Nestablities (Spellbinders)
Embellishments: Ribbon (stash), brad (Tim Holtz for Ideaology).
Die-cutting machine: Cuttlebug (Provo Craft). }



All my best,

Facing the Unknown

We are facing something unknown in our household. The impending loss of a loved one. Eddy's dad is so very sick. He has metastatic lung cancer, is already at an advanced age and his mind is fading so fast.

Needless to say, we are beyond devastated. The tears just keep flowing. We feel so helpless, since we don't know when only that it won't be too long. Maybe 6 months? Maybe a year.

I had e-mailed my sister (who I made the butterfly for) since today is her birthday and she sent me the following poem from Henry Van Dyke which I will now post and share with all of you. It made me cry like crazy, but also gave me a sense of peace.


GONE FROM MY SIGHT -- Henry Van Dyke

I am standing upon the seashore. A ship at my side
spreads her white sails to the morning breeze and
starts for the blue ocean. She is an object of beauty
and strength. I stand and watch her until at length
she hangs like a speck of white cloud just where
the sea and sky come to mingle with each other.

Then someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"

"Gone where?"

Gone from my sight. That is all. She is just as large in
mast and hull and spar as she was when she left my side and
she is just as able to bear her load of living freight to her
destined port.

Her diminished size is in me, not in her. And just at the
moment when someone at my side says: "There, she is gone!"
there are other eyes watching her coming, and other voices
ready to take up the glad shout: "Here she comes!"

And that is dying.

Thank you so much...all of you...who are keeping Eddy's dad (and all of us) in your thoughts, prayers or whatever you subscribe to. It is appreciated so much more than I could ever express in words.


All my best,

Etsy Inspired #79

Today's Etsy Inspiration shop is just super cool! It's called 3Dots Jewelry and there are some really beautiful designs. Love the stuff in this store! I played around a lot with different designs and ideas before making my card. Here is my inspiration piece from 3Dots Jewelry:



Isn't that just gorgeous? Love the wood with all the different colored glass beads.

There's also another terrific sponsor this week. (There always IS with the Etsy-Inspired Challenges, which is why YOU should play along by creating something and linking your blog HERE. ) This weeks sponsor is: Stretch N' Bubbles!! Prizes include 4 digital stamps for first place and 3 runners-up get 1 free digital stamp of their choice. More of their images can be seen on their blog HERE.



So, hopefully you've had some time to take a look at all the wonderful goodies at BOTH places by now, right? Great!

Without further ado, here's my inspiration card from 3Dots Jewelry:



It was just too much fun playing with my wood grain background stamp and breaking out the cork for some additional texture on this one. Way fun!

Please be sure to check out the rest of the DT's inspirations, by clicking on their links below and leaving them some love. ;)

Ashley
De
Emily
Heather
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Shannon
Laurel (March Guest DT)



Thank you, as always, for stopping by. Wishing you a beautiful weekend!

{Supplies:
Cardstock: Stampin' Up; Other - Cork (QuicKutz)
Ink: Distress Ink (Tim Holtz for Ranger)
Embossing: Clear embossing powder (Ranger)
Stamps: Woodgrain background (Hero Arts), Daily Designs Sentiments (PTI)
Die-cutting: Tags Five, Standard Circle Nestie (Spellbinders)
Embellishments: Page Pebbles (EK Success), Bubble Sticker & Metal Dots (Colorbok), Silver Elastic Cord (SU), Faux stitching - ScorBug & white gel pen (Inkssentials by Ranger)}


*edit: Yes, this post was written prior to today. I thank you all for your kind thoughts & well-wishes for Eddy's dad and for thinking of me, too. xoxo


All my best,

Gift of a Butterfly

I have the most wonderful sister in the world, I really do. And I knew that I wanted to make her something super special for her birthday (and now I'm hoping she doesn't see this post...EEK!). So I was wracking my brain on what I could do that would be crafty, unique and something that she would really love.

I tried to pull a bunch of elements and techniques together and tie them all into one really unique piece. I know my sister loves butterflies, so that was my starting off point. From there I just started thinking of what I could add that could make it my own, yet tie it to the relationship that I share with my fabby sis.

I hope you'll like this project as much as I do. It really became a labor of love:




This was so much fun to make and I have a feeling I may make more stuff like this in the future. Not as easy as a card, by any means, but I really loved putting all the elements together for it.

I'm also entering this into the Simon Says Stamp Mother's Day/Girly Challenge. I think it fits. :)

Thank you for stopping by to have a look & I hope you are having a wonderful weekend.


{Supplies:
Inks: Distress Inks (Tim Holtz for Ranger), Versamark (Tsukineko)
Paint: Acrylic Paint dabber (Ranger Adirondack)
Stamps: Old Letter Writing (Hero Arts)
Paper: Garden Gala Collection (Webster's Pages), Adage ticket (Tim Holtz Idea-ology), old dictionary paper
Chipboard: Butterfly Coaster Album, Olivia Mini Alpha, Butterflies Mini (Maya Road)
Metal Findings: Foliage, Ornate plate, Word stick, Word key (Tim Holtz Idea-ology)
Coloring Medium: Cherry Maya Mist (Maya Road), Chestnut Embossing powder (Zing! by American Crafts), Distress Crackle Rock Candy (Tim Holtz for Ranger)
Trinket/Stick Pins: Vintage Black Pearl (Maya Road), Antique (Jenni Bowlin)
Flowers: Velvet blossom (Maya Road), Rose: created by me out of muslin. (Color created from Distress re-inkers mixed with Perfect Pearls and water.)
Additional embellishments: Pearls (Hero Arts), trim (random in ribbon drawer)
Extra: Copper Wire. }





All my best,

Etsy Inspired #78

I was so incredibly honored and excited beyond words when sweetie Ashley from the Etsy Inspired Challenge blog asked me (ME?!?!) to be one of their guest Design Team members for the month of March. Woooo-hooo! Of course! How cool is that? :)

These girls put a lot of work into finding really cool inspiration shops. I hope that anyone stopping by takes a little time to not just look at what I've created, but to look at the shops that helped inspire MY creations during my time as a guest DT member.

This weeks sponsor is none other than Glue Arts!! I know I adore my Glue Glider Pro! ;) And just look at this prize pack:

• GlueArts Tote Bag
• Glue Glider Pro (GGP)
• GGP Repositionable tape refill
• GGP High Tac tape refill
• GGP Perma Squares tape refill
• Wall Art Decor Adhesive
• Adhesive Squares (roll)
• Ribbon Adhesive (roll)



Today's Inspiration shop is the Fantasy Art of Maigan Lynn

Maigan is ALSO offering a wonderful prize! The winner will get to choose 3 4x6 prints of their choice. So be sure to play along.

Here is the piece that I found from her shop to work from:


So colorful! Isn't it?

So here's my interpretation of that:



I've fallen in love with trying do just about anything I can to make a rose in any way I can!! Hahha! This was super easy, but so fun and it just works, don't you think?

Please check out what the rest of the DT did by visiting their blogs, listed below:

Ashley
De
Emily
Heather
Jackie
Joy
Kerry
Laurel (March Guest DT)
Shannon



For more details, please check out the Etsy Inspired Blog Thanks, as always, for stopping by to have a look at what I love to do.


{Supplies:
Cardstock: SU
DSP: Sugar Rush (Basic Grey)
Ink: Distress Inks (Tim Holtz for Ranger Ind.)
Stamps: The Artist In You (Donna Downey for Unity), Friend Definition background stamp (Hero Arts)
Flower: Petaloo
Brads: SU
Coloring Medium: Perfect Pearls (by Ranger), Copics
Fabric: JoAnne's
Rhinestones: Kaiser }



All my best,

Exciting News!

I have some super exciting news!

I was asked to be a Guest Designer for the month of March for the awesome Etsy Inspired Challenge Blog. Who? Me? You sure you got the right girl? After the initial shock, the happy dancing around the house, jumping up and down like a lunatic and then calming down enough to reply to the e-mail I, of course, said "yes".

I am amongst some really wonderful company. These women really rock out the weekly challenges. Most have been on a variety of Design Teams and have been published, so to be given this opportunity I am extremely humbled and honored.

I hope that during the month of March I can show what "Art Inspiring Art" means to me and do the very best I can.

Please check out the Etsy Inspired Blog TODAY for my introduction (*blush*). And then come right back here on Saturday for my VERY first Etsy Inspired Challenge card. I'm very proud of it.

Thank you, Etsy Inspired and especially Ashley & Tiffany who I am grateful to know personally. You bless my life.



All my best,

Painting..and Dancing in the Rain

I know I just blogged a few days ago (*edit: umm, I blogged yesterday I really don't know what day it is anymore. Oops!) , so it's really crazy for me to do another blog post so soon. I just really wanted to try some new techniques and do some different things with some of the supplies I had on hand, so that's what I decided to do.

First, let me start (before getting to the card) that it was a little hard getting motivated. We've had some rough news that Eddy's father MAY have lung cancer. With that thought in the back of my mind, I kept putting my work aside and then picking it back up again when I felt like I could. Any good vibes, prayers, happy thoughts, or whatever you subscribe to would be much appreciated. His dad is a good man and never smoked.

*heavy sigh* Now the card.

I really wanted to use some of the paint that I received during the Ranger class taught by Claudine Hellmuth at CHA. Wasn't sure what I'd do with it, but I wanted to try something...anything. I've also been wanting to use some of the paint dabbers from Ranger (also acrylic paint). There's a lot going on with this card!! Techniques galore! My fave.



and a close up of the sentiment (which is stamped with acrylic paint then covered with Distress Rock Candy Stickles):




It IS raining here now in so-called Sunny California and with the news of yesterday it seems fitting. But I'm hoping that we will also find ourselves dancing in the rain, too, and not just waiting for the storm to pass.

Thank you for stopping by & taking a look!

{Supplies:
Cardstock: SU
Canvas: Sticky Back canvas (Claudine Hellmuth Studio for Ranger)
Inks: Distress Inks (Tim Holtz for Ranger Industries), Versamark (Tsukineko)
Stamps: Urban Chic, Good Thoughts (Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous) and Aged Print Frame (Hero Arts)
Paint: Claudine Hellmuth Studio for Ranger, Ranger Adirondack Acrylic Paint Dabbers (Purple Twilight and Black)
Embossing: Distress Embossing Powder (Tim Holtz for Ranger)
Coloring Medium: Forever Violet Perfect Pearls by Ranger, Rock Candy Distress Stickles by Ranger
Embellishments: Word Stick, Staples using Tiny Attacher (both Tim Holtz Idea-ology for Advantus)}



All my best,

Inspiration Box

One of the most creative and gifted paper-crafters I know, Sarah Martina, made her first template and it's just the sweetest little box ever. (Please go HERE to see her template on the Clean & Simple Stamps blog.) I have a real love for working with templates, so when I saw hers I knew I wanted to try to make something with it, too.

I chose to emboss the entire box (not an easy feat, let me just say) and change out the handles using binder clips as the handles with ribbon attached. I saw it on Lauren Meader's blog HERE and I thought it was sooooo cute AND I've been just itching to try it, so thought I'd try it on this box.



I used two of my new Tim Holtz stamps, which I just love! And some of the new Distress Inks as well. I can't tell you how much I adore his new line of stamps, inks, and other goodies. In case you can't read the stamp it says, "Live in the moment and make it so beautiful that it will be worth remembering". Isn't that fabulous?

Hope that you all have an amazing weekend and live in your moments.

Thanks for stopping by!

{Supplies:
Cardstock: SU
Ink: Distress Inks (Tim Holtz for Ranger Ind.)
Stamps: Urban Chic and Shabby French (Tim Holtz for Stampers Anonymous)
Flower: Prima Artistry Flowers
Brad: i-top brad maker (Imaginisce)
Ribbon: SU
Crimper: Fiskars
Brads: Making Memories
Embossing: Textile texture (ProvoCraft) }


All my best,

Valentine's Day...the day after

I was out & about yesterday. My sweetie & I spent the majority of our day in Napa. We've finally been having some Spring-like weather so we decided to enjoy the day & took a drive up to Napa.

It was a glorious day:





and one of my sweetie!



We had a really nice time. His mom thinks that Valentine's Day is a holiday so we stopped by and had a really lovely evening with his family after we did our thing and had just a great time with his family.

His mom had sent us a beautiful Valentine's card and I had not had a very good week health-wise so I didn't get around to making her a card until late Saturday night. Then I saw a post on Tim Holtz's blog that got me inspired. Here <---click . So, I made her this:

Close up of the roses & tiny tag:



It doesn't look like his at all, but I did get my inspiration from his. That's what counts and I wasn't TRYING to copy it anyway.

Hope you all feel loved and had a wonderful Valentine's Day. And that you are staying safe and warm wherever you are.

{Supplies:
Cardstock: SU
Inks: Distress Inks (Tim Holtz for Ranger)
Stamps: The Artist in You (Donna Downey for Unity)
Other: Sticky back canvas (Claudine Hellmuth for Ranger), shaped clips & brads (Making Memories), Adage Ticket (Tim Holtz for Idea-ology)}


All my best,