A Floral Wreath of Birthday Wishes

The fall is an amazing season of birthday celebrations in our family.  What is stunning is the amount of friends and family who enjoy the same birthday season!  What a perfect time to make a soft, pretty card for a gift.  This lovely went to a co-worker before Christmas and I'm just getting around to editing the photo and posting on theblog.  Here's the details:

• Those flowers are Heartfelt's Arianna Blooms.  Stamped with black Archival Ink and die cut with the zero edge die.  Such an innovation!  I'm loving this stamp and die set a bunch.  The flowers are cut from the Authentic Grace paper collection I bought earlier this year.  All papers are from the coordinating backsides of patterned papers.  The centers of the flowers are gems adhered with my iRock tool, taken out of the tool shed for the first time in a while.

• The greenery is cut from green cardstock from the stash using my go to Our Daily Bread Designs Fancy Foliage.  Still one of my best buys this year!
• The sentiment was stamped in brown Archival Ink with a wood stamp onto cream cardstock.  

Simple, but a very effective result.  I'll admit to a bit of inspiration using this image from Pinterest.  Not a direct take, but definitely inspired by.  

Celebrating 65 Wonderful Years

It seems that big birthday's always come together.  This is the year that my grandfather celebrated 90 years and his daughter, my mom, celebrated 65 years.  Momentous, milestone birthdays call for a fun, pretty card.  This one is my tribute to my mom- delayed in the giving and, thus, in the posting of this picture.  Here's the details:

• The patterned papers come from MME's Kaleidoscope.  I used the background patterned paper, the frame piece and fussy cut the butterflies from a page.  The border piece comes from a pre-cut page in the paper pad.  Brilliant!
• The kraft glassine flowers were in the stash and I simplyshapped to add here.  They work beautifully to blend the various colors in the background and the kraft sentiment.
• The greenery is die cut from green cardstock using my Our Daily Bread Designs Fancy Foliage.
• The sentiment is a wood stamp I've had for years stamped on frame from the pre-cut die page of the paper pad.
• A tiny 65 was die cut with my Quickutz dies- also from the stash and well used after a decade of ownership.
• No mom card is complete without a fair bit of pearl accents in the flowers and on the butterflies.  

The inside begged for a bit of fancy sentiment cut using my Our Daily Bread Designs Elegant Ovals.  The sentiment stamped in brown Archival Ink is from the Simon Says Stamp Tilted Banners Sentiments.    Some more greenery and a butterfly and I think this card is ready for the big day.

My mom really enjoyed the card and her party.  We're hoping for many more celebrations to come.

A 65th Birthday Celebration

It's a party and it's on the way.  My mother celebrated 65 years of youth last month.  We felt this needed a party, but wanted to wait until my grandparents could join the celebration.  The big day is later this week.  I made these simple invitations for everyone to cherish.

The flowers are clear embossed and die cut using my Heartfelt Creations Arianna Blooms stamps and dies.  The flowers were then spritzed with water and accordion folded using the technique described in this video.  This creates such a unique flower- I'm really pleased with my flowers for this piece.  the greenery is my go to Our Daily Bread Designs Fancy Foliage die.

The patterned paper is two sided paper that coordinates.  I just thought the lacey effect of those borders worked perfectly with the sentiment.  I printed the circle out on the computer and matched it with a cream cardstock Lacey Circles die cut.  


On the inside, more information about when and where the celebration is to take place.  We'll be having our shindig later this week!

A Golden Birthday

I've mentioned before that I signed up to sponsor a child with Compassion International.  I've enjoyed the first 2/3 of the year and found that it was time to send my child a birthday card.  One of the reasons that I chose Yuli was because she shared a birthday with my son.  I didn't get the card mailed on time, though we did send a birthday gift to Yuli and her family.  This card was made to celebrate Yuli's golden birthday- the year when her age matched her date of birth.  So I made this gold card.  Here's the details:

• The background is a piece of glitter patterned paper from Hobby Lobby.  It is perfect, though you can't see it's charm in these pictures.  Trust me- it is shiny enough to charm any young lady.
• The sentiment is stamped in brown Archival ink on a shimmery piece of solid paper and die cut with my Our Daily Bread Designs Elegant Ovals die.  A frame was cut with the matching dies from a piece of gold paper and a cream cardstock.
• The greenery is cut out of scraps of green cardstock using my Fancy Foliage die and another die I've lost track of the name.  
• The flowers were cut using my IO Spiral Flowers dies using the coordinating papers including a vellum.  The tiny flowers set as a base is an old Quickutz die.  The centers are pearl accents.
• Add a pearl swirl and I think this is just about perfect.

I hope Yuli had a very special birthday this year.  I hope, though this card is late, that she feels how special she is to me and her family.  I'm off to get this into the mail with a small gift.

Another Encouraging Card

I just love Word Art Wednesday and their weekly challenge blog.  The art and creativity shared there each week is simply amazing.  If you haven't checked it out and/or joined the fun, please take a moment and click through the links.  The sentiment on this card was printed out using my computer and then cut with my die.  Here's the details:

• All the patterned papers are from MME's Collectable "Notable" paper pad.  Yellow is unusual for me, but it really works here.
• The flowers are all stamped in charcoal archival ink and die cut using my Heartfelt Creations Sun-kissed Fleur stamps and dies.  I then colored them either with Peacock Feathers Distress Ink or copper stamp paint.
• The lattice die cut was made using my Heartfelt Creations Decorative Latice from a scrap of solid cardstock.  The centers of the flowers are A Penny Saved copper prills.
• The floral pieces are cut from green cardstock scraps using my Our Daily Bread Designs Fancy Foliage.  

I'm going to enter this in Word Art Wednesday's Challenge #144: Anything Goes.  Come on over to view some amazing art or join in the fun.

Guest Crafting

Not that you need an explanation, but I've been duly distracted this past few weeks as I experienced a bit of life changes.  I left my job of 5 years and started a new job with a larger company in a very different environment and structure.  Interviewing is very challenging to the introvert spirit!   I am a relatively confident person and believe that I am a good and valuable employee.  However, selling myself is a tough job.

In the middle of all this change a very good sister in Christ, my co-worker Wendy, also lost her position at our old company.  Upheaval and change... not always easy.  During all this mess, Wendy made a trip (we live on opposite ends of the Phoenix valley) to my house for some craft time.  She is very artistic and one of the most talented hostesses (right up there with my friend Keri, she who is of the Bubble Guppies fame) I know.  However, paper crafting isn't somethig she does everyday.  I got out a plethora of die cuts and stamps and let her make these lovely creations. She took them home to use them.  

So pretty, yes!?!  Proof that pretty paper and some matching embellishments and a keen eye can result in beautiful cards even with small amounts of experience.  More importantly, these cards represent a time spent healing together.  Beautiful!

I'm going to try to catch up with posts. I've been creative if not sharing...


 

An Encouraging Time

Ack!  I was on a roll there.  Guess I have to admit to being human.  It isn't that I have not been crafty.   Just a lack of time to get posts edited and up.  I've been going through some life changes and had commitments that gave distracted me and eaten up quite a bit of time. I made this card during all this change.   I intend to use it to encourage sometime remembering how making it encouraged me.   Here's the details:

• The papers are from MME'S Now and Then collection.   They came in the Simon Says Stamp June card kit. The coordinating dark brow card stock also came in the kit.
• The angel whoa die cut is made using my new Our Daily Bread Designs Angel Wings dies.  The detail here is stunning. 
• The floral pieces are cut using my Our Daily Bread Designs Fancy Foliage dies. 
• The little tiny flower is cut from a teal cardstock scrap using my Io Spiral Flowers.  So cute with those A Penny Saved copper prills.
• The sentiment is from Word Art Wednesday and was printed on my printer and die cut with my Spellbinders Labels 17.

I'm going to link this up over at Word Art Wednesday for their  Challenge #143: Anything Goes and the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday blog Anything Goes.  Come join the fun.

My Kind of Ladies Night Out!

I have been facilitating a women's book club for the ladies Bible study group.  We typically try to have something to meet over in the summer where everyone doesn't feel compelled to come since vacations and schedules are a little more erratic.  After we finished our first book, First Light by Brock and Brodie Thoene, we wanted to have a little party where we unleash our compassion (think about others rather than nurturing ourselves).  I suggested a card making party.  Two of us have Compassion kids and so the focus would be for the ladies to create a card and then write a note to our kids to send encouragement and love around the world.   If you haven't heard about Compassion International and their pen pal program, click the link.  It is a wonderful blessing to so many impoverished kids around the world.

This post is filled with the beautiful creations of the ladies.  So many of them had never made a card before.  You'll see an assortment of my supplies- I provided precut die cuts and the ink and stamp sets.  It worked out great, don't you think?



I had a fair bit of Heartfelt Creations Sun-kissed Fleurs already die cut and colored.  Some with copper stamp paint like this one, the others with Peacock Feathers, Ripe Persimmons and Scattered Straw Distress Ink.  

























Others had frames from my ODBD Ornate Borders and Flowers and lacey die cuts using my Heartfelt Creations Raindrops on Roses die.














Apologies for the photos- they had to be taken under artificial light because these cards didn't come home with me and we met at night.  Still, you get to see their lovely creations.


























All the ladies really enjoyed themselves creating and laughing and sharing together.  It was a lovely night that I think everyone enjoyed.  Who knows, it might lead to other such nights for different purposes.  As always, I'm out there spreading the "contagious" enthusiasm for creating.  I challenge you to pass it on!

A Couple of Thank You Cards

Last month when my daughter went on her Girl Scout trip I thought a lovely thank you card was needed to let the two adult leaders know how much we appreciate their willingness to put up with six teenagers for 6 days.  Thus, two of this card were made.  Here's the details:

• The background die cut was made from patterned paper using my Heartfelt Creations Decorative Lace Border die.  I use wax paper between the die and the patterned paper to make this intricate die cut pop right out of the die.  It does create quite the confetti pile, but the result is well worth the effort!
• The flowers are made by stamping with my Heartfelt Creations Tattered Blossoms stamps in brown Archival ink and then die cutting using my matching dies.  Clicking the link and then the tab on the Heartfelt Creations page will take you to videos that show you how to do this stamping and cutting technique.
• The flower centers were made using my A Penny Saved prills and I just love how they blend to add to my somewhat monochromatic look on this card.
• The green floral pieces were cut out of cardstock scraps using my Our Daily Bread Designs Fancy Foliage die. 
• The sentiment was created using Word and then die cut with my Spellbinders Labels 18 die.  A little Worn Lipstick Distress Ink around the edge ties it into the rest of the pink colors.  A piece of vintage seam binding as a ribbon/bow accent was added to the card.  

I think these ladies felt special and I was really happy with how the card turned out.  I'm going to post this card over at Word Art Wednesday's Challenge # 140: Anything Goes.  Come on over to see the amazing art posted and join in on the fun.

A Heartfelt Get Well

I decided to give my precut flowers from working with Heartfelt Creations a good run of cards.  Here's the first I've made.  This card was a get well card for my sister-in-law.  It went with the set of bicycle note cards I made to cheer her up after surgery.  Here's the details:

• The patterned paper was the inspiration.  The Majestic Blooms flowers were inked with some Ripe Persimmons and Worn Lipstick Distress Ink.  Neither were just the right color, but together I think they hit the right note.
• There is a few die cuts- ODBD Fancy Foliage, a flowery stem I've long since lost the name for and the lace work behind the white frame is from my Heartfelt Creations Raindrops on Roses die.  They are all cut out of coordinating solid patterned paper from the collection.
• The frame was cut with my Labels 18 die and then stamped with my Stampin' Up Apothecary Art stamp using Peacock Feathers Distress Ink.  I colored the image with my Ripe Persimmons and Peeled Paint Distress Ink using a water pen.

I didn't purchase the Majestic Blooms stamps and dies, however, like all good tools once I worked with some of these pre-made flowers They have come to grow on me in a significant way.  They look very different depending upon how you shape them.  I like this version a lot.

Best Wishes for the Best of Followers

In the next few months, this blog will realize our fourth anniversary of blogging.  We've not grown a lot of followers, but the followers we do have are loyal and encouraging.  I'd take these few faithful and encouraging women all day long.  One of the most faithful from a very early point is Karon of Karon's Krafty Korner. She reads faithfully, comments faithfully and encourages me from a distance such that I know her as friend even though we could pass on the street without recognizing each other.  This caused me great distress when we recently held a contest for some blog candy and restricted it to mailing within the US.  *Frowny Face*  So, I thought that I might bless her with a unique gift all her own.  At the scrapbook convention at the end of May I picked up the Delicate Asters stamp and die set from Heartfelt Creations.  Karon had her eye on a couple of my cards and indicated she might want them as a Christmas present.  Christmas was just too far away so I made this card to express my fondest wishes and sent a little care package all the way to Canada.  Here's the details:

• The papers are from the MME Forgettable 6 x 6 paper pad edged with Peacock Feathers Distress ink.  
• The flowers are stamped in black Archival ink and die cut using my Heartfelt Creations Sun-kissed Fleur.   I then used copper stamp paint to color the flowers.  The centers are made with some Peacock Feathers Distress Glitter.  
• The flourish is green cardstock cut with my ODBD Fancy Foliage die. 
• The patterned paper was cut using my Labels 18 die and the white cardstock sentiment cut with my Labels 17 die. 

This is truly a very small gift to have made and given to such a loyal follower.  I received a grateful and humble email from Karon this weekend.  While my weekend was full of activities and commitments, I literally bounded around the room waving my hands in the air like a 5 years old chanting She Got It! She Got It! She Got It!  That my friends is what joy looks like. Karon inspires joy like she is a pro.  I'm so grateful for her.  Check her out, she will not disappoint you!

I've entered this card into Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge: Anything Goes and Word Art Wednesday's Challenge #136: Anything Goes. 

A Musical Thank You

Whew, what a week.  I've felt overwhelmed with the end of the school year activities, the beginning of the next band season (that starts in May, y'all) and multiple family commitments that just happen to have coincided with all the other fun.  In the midst of all that activity, I needed a thank you card for two faithful volunteers who dedicated many hours to my daughter's marching band.  I wanted to make something special that would let them know how grateful we were for their contribution.  This lovely is the result.  Here's the details:

• The patterned paper comes from the stash.  So, very old that I created this card back in 2011 with a separate piece of the same paper.  At that time, the source of the paper was indistinguishable because of it's age.  Time flies when you own a Scrapbox.  Should we talk about the patterned paper stash?  ...ummm... nope.
• The floral pieces are a grouping of my Our Daily Bread Designs Fancy Foliage and a new Simon Says Stamp Leaf Column die. 
• The flowers are stamped with black Archival Ink and cut with my Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret dies. 
• The treble clef and notes were cut from my Cricut Quarter Note cart from black cardstock. 
• I created the sentiment using text boxes in Word and then die cut the printout using my Spellbinders Labels 18 die.

My fellow volunteers cannot know how very valuable they have been to the program.  A handmade card travels some of that distance.  Here's hoping the holiday weekend allows me to catch up on my posts!

A Small School Project

My daughter, Katie, approached me a few weeks ago with this sheepish request.  She had a project due on Monday to create a journal for Juliet (based on the Shakespeare play).  Her English class had read the play and a writing assignment required the students to imagine a journal written by one of the star-crossed lovers.  They were given permission to be creative in the process.  The question from Katie was "will you help me?"  Ahhh, yes!

We started with a browse through Pinterest pins for ideas.  Katie found this example that she really liked.  Next was a selection process for patterned paper/color scheme.  I had recently purchased (on discount from my LSS) a paper pack of Authentique's Grace collection.  Katie quickly decided that the soft peach, pink and mint green of this collection coupled with gold and cream was just the right mix of romantic.  I was home one day over the weekend when she was out with a commitment and die cut a bunch of leaves, ornamental die cuts, and flowers for her to choose from.  Here's what she ultimately selected and pieced together:

• Brown cardstock floral icon using my Heartfelt Creations Ornamental Add On die.
• Mint green patterned paper leaf and swirl die cuts using my Spellbinders Floral Flourishes and ODBD Fancy Foliage dies.
• Dark green cardstock leaves with my Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters leaf die.
• Pink patterned paper flowers using my Heartfelt Creations Delicate Asters dies. 
• Frame die cut with Juliet printed out from the computer using my ODBD Ornate Borders die.
• Floral patterned paper border from the Authentique's Grace collection.
• Pearl accents and a pearl swirl from Michaels clearance bins.  
• Mint green ribbon from the local ribbon store (been in the stash quite a while now).
• Everything edged with a bit of Vintage Photo Distress Ink and most edges worn using my Tim Holtz distress tool.

The book was made by stapling the computer printed pages (figure out how to get those puppies printed double sided on 1/2 of an 8 1/2 x 11 paper was... challenging) inside a cardstock cover.  The staples covered by the patterned paper both in the front and in the back.  Simple, effective and didn't take a lot of time.  After we'd made the cover, we didn't have much time left!

I think I might have had more fun than Katie.  At least I thought that until the report was turned in and Katie came home with the same sheepish grin to tell the story of how her teacher responded.  Apparently Katie was part of the group that was singled out because they "put in a little extra effort".  Truthfully, Katie's writing was mostly what she was singled out for.  Here's a sample:

The cover was shown to the class.  Too bad it's totally not-cool to be pleased by this kind of attention in high school.  She did tell me the story though, high praise and a kind of real 'thank you' from your teenager.

From the too proud mama.

A little ballerina card

After I finished the paper dolls for Yuli, my Compassion International sponsorship, I just couldn't resist a quick card with the Close to My Heart ballerina paper.  I used this card to write to Yuli and tucked it into the package with the dolls.  This is a simple card- pink cardstock was used to make the card base.  Patterned paper from the collection for the background.  I used several die cuts from my workspace- using my Our Daily Bread Designs Fancy Foliage dies and Spellbinders Floral Flourishes dies.  The flower is from a very old Making Memories package.  The sentiment is from Word Art Wednesday cut using my Spellbinders Scalloped Ovals.  A pearl swirl from the stash and I have a particularly lovely card to send to Yuli.

I linked this up over at Word Art Wednesday's Challenge #124: Anything Goes and The Shabby Tea Room's Week #210- Anything Goes  The sentiment came from Word Art Wednesday's wonderful blog.  Come on over and join the fun!