Sending Hugs Around

Today's post is another of cards made on my recent vacation using my June card kit from Simon Says Stamp. I've committed to making time to edit the photo and post at least one card each day this week.  I've got a running start and think I can finish strong.  The stamp set used is the SSS Favorite Flowers stamp set.  The patterned papers from the kit are MME's Now and Then collection and some coordinating cardstocks.  On this card, the flowers and leaves were fussy cut after stamping on white cardstock.  I actually was inspired by a Pinterest post and scraplifted this design.   Gathering up quite a stash- probably will give a portion of these away before it's over.  Still, they need to get used one way or another. 

You're My Favorite... No You Are... No You Are!

Back to some of my playing around with my SSS June Card Kit, specifically the Favorite Flowers stamp set.  Taking inspiration from Pinterest, I scraplifted this design.  Can I tell you, I love the finished product?  This set challenges my inner perfectionist because I noticed my "poor" stamping job on the upper right flower (the darker swirl extends beyond the lighter backgroud!).  I see the striations created by using distress ink rather than Archival ink, etc.  Yet, when I tell my inner Busybody to settle herself down, I really like the finished card.  The inks are Worn Lipstick and Shabby Shutters Distress Inks and the sentiment was stamped in black Archival Ink.

A Simple Thank You

I've had occasion to need some very simple, one layer thank you cards lately.  I broke out my chevron stencil and my Broken China, Vintage Photo and Walnut Ink Distress inks.  Tapping through the stencil with my Ink Blending tool to apply the colors and then stamping the sentiment in black Archival Ink.  The sentiment comes from my SSS Friendship Messages stamp set.  Simple, yet effective.  Not everything has to be elaborate, yes?

A Cute Notecard

What follows will be a series of posts of cards made on vacation.  It may take me a little bit to upload the pictures and create the posts.  Most of the cards were made using my Simon Says Stamp June Card Kit.  They must be sold out because the website no longer offers the kit.  The stamp set used is the SSS Favorite Flowers stamp set.  The kit came with 6 x 6 sheets of patterned papers from MME's Now and Then collection and some coordinating cardstocks.  On this card, the flowers and leaves were fussy cut and mounted on the polka dot vellum.  I actually was inspired by the card gallery at SSS where someone shared this design.  I really like how it turned out.

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!