A Sympathy Card with Spring Flowers

I'm checking in to share this sympathy card.  I've had more cause this year to make sympathy cards and they never get easier.  I decided to go with a very pale watercolor theme for this card.  I stamped the Simon Says Stamp's Spring Flowers and leaves onto Bristol cardstock and then used my Clean Color markers and a waterbrush to finish the accent.  I fussy cut out the flowers and the leaf stems.  I used my Mission Gold watercolors to make a soft wash for the background and splattered some of the rose gold Starry Colors watercolor over the background.  A simple sentiment in London Fog grey ink.

Since Sorry is a word that starts with an "S", I've decided to link this card up with the City Crafter Challenge Blog Week 372 - Something Beginning With S.  That's why I sent the card - because of something beginning with S.

I've also linked to the following challenges:

Word Art Wednesday's Challenge 292/293: Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge: Simon Says Anything Goes

Celebrating 50 Years!

I'm terribly late in posting this card made for my hubby, Dan, who turned 50 years old this year.  I decided on a very formal, masculine shaker card highlighting silver, gold and black.  The sentiment is from a set of foam mounted black, glitter stickers.  Simple, elegant and enough to let the man know I care about him on his 1/2 century mark.

What milestones have you celebrated recently?

A Belated Father's Day Post

Uff da!  I've been hugely remiss in posting these past couple of weeks.  Life takes off and though I am crafting, I'm not taking photos and editing and posting like normal.  Additionally, Brandy has been sending me photos which I have not shared with you.  I thought I'd pop in today to share this goodie - a late Father's Day card post.  This simple, masculine card works well for the occasion and stylistically could inspire many different cards - including birthday, get well, etc.  I think the added ink on that moose head die cut is inspired!

Hope all is well in your crafting days.  I've been by to see what many of you are posting, so I'll hope to catch up with you in the days to come.

Reaching for the Stars Graduation Card

Brandy created this lovely card for my daughter to congratulate her on graduating high school.  I've been remiss in taking a photo and sharing with you all here.  This card is amazing!  Here's some details:

• The background was made using Worn Lipstick and Peacock Feathers Distress Oxide inks.  The chalky background is a perfect match for the washi tape.
• The edge of the card is gold embossed using Versamark ink and gold embossing powder.  The perfect frame for this collage front. 
• The congraulations die cut is colored using the Gansi Tambi Starry Colors watercolors. Brandy die cut several of these sentiment dies and glued them together to create the raised look.  
• The stars were die cut from several different die sets and sprinkled along with some sequins to great effect.  

Katie felt really special as her signature color is pink.  The card was perfect!  Join me in oooohing and ahhhhing over this special card.

Happiest of Birthdays - A Card

I decided to use some of the supplies that Brandy graced me with on National Scrapbook Day.  This card is a result of that effort.  I used an Our Daily Bread Designs set of dies to make the stacking, lacy frame for my stamped sentiment focal point.  The gold foil over green is washi tape - so chic!

On the inside, a simple sentiment with some more matching washi tape for accent.  A fun, quick card that makes me enjoy my gifts all the more.

Celebrating the Red, White and Blue on the Fourth of July

I'm stopping by today to wish you a happy 4th of July and to share some of the Red, White and Blue in my life.  This first picture is of a thank you card made by a good friend, Bonnie Grassi.  She is a true artist (not like the hack I play on tv!) and freehand watercolored this image with her Mission Gold watercolor paints.  Wow- that is some real pop of red color and a good start for today!

Next is our original White, Katie on graduation day this May.  Girls at Chandler High traditionally where a white robe.  She looks dazzling in her gown with her honor stole and medal.

A picture of the blue orchid my nephew gave my grandmother for Mother's Day this year.  My sister was so disappointed to learn that the orchid was colored by injecting blue dye into the plant which will fade over time leaving my grandmother with a white orchid.  It was a brilliant blue and still is these many weeks later.

I'll leave you to celebrate our country's birth with this photo taken at the Arizona Memorial in Honolulu this June.  We had visited before, but decided to go a second time.  This memorial, which pays tribute to the 1,177 men who lost their lives on a sunny Sunday morning in December 1941.  It reminded me of all those who have gone to war for my freedom.  It moved me the same a second time as it did the first.  We're very blessed to live in the land of the free and I'm proud to say - the home of the brave.

May all your celebrations today be filled with the joy that can come from celebrating our lives, liberty and pursuit of happiness.

Happy Fourth of July!

Zara On Display

I get the distinct pleasure of sharing this beauty with you today.  Brandy stamped the Prima Princess stamp Zara using Inktense pencils to color her hair and Prima Hair and Skin Watercolor Pencils to color her skin and lips.  The flowers are Inktense pencils and some purchased flowers.  Can you see the iridescent butterflies?  The clear drops and the butterflies are from Studio Katia.  The background was done with Blueprint Sketch Distress ink.  A wonderful work of art which I am glad to share with you today.  Enjoy!

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge Simon Says Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday's Challenge 288/289; Anything Goes