Be Mine Valentine

I'm checking in with another valentine that I decided to whip up.  In this case, I used some of the softer flowers that I stamped onto smooth, white cardstock using my Papertrey Ink Farmers Market Florals stamp and die set.  The inks are also all Papertrey Ink.  Any imperfections in the stamping are all mine - I was playing with a lighter color and thus, a less solid impression.  I also used the Papertrey Ink You Have My Heart die and the bonus stamp set from January's release.  They all combined to create a very soft, delicate and, I think, delightful valentine.

It is really amazing to think that we've made it to the end of January.  We're entering the best month of the year in southern Arizona.  February - the month of love and fantastic weather.

Valentine's for Work

So, I did exactly as I said - I've made a big batch of valentines to give out at work.  I thought I'd share with you the fun mix and match die cutting that I did.  All coffee cup paper pieces were die cut using my Honey Bee Stamps' Coffee cup card die set.  I used papers already in the stash - again with no dent in the pile problem!  That's a testament to the stash, not my abilities, I hope.  

The heart shape on the front and the sentiment are all made using my Papertrey Ink You Have My Heart stamp and die set.  They stamp like a dream - I am falling more in love with Papertrey Ink's products with every step.

I think this makes me all set to get these cards done and ready to hand out in a few short weeks.  The trouble is that this has inspired me further to create a few more personalized valentines.  I've left that Papertrey products on the workstation so that I might add a few more to the pile, ready for the day of loooovvve.

How about you?  Any valentine making plans?

City Crafter Challenge Blog - Balloon Shakers

I was inspired by the challenge this week at City Crafter Challenge Blog.  I decided to join the fun using Balloons as the major theme and make this shaker card.  A bit clean and simple in design, but the sparkle in the shaker portion really pops in person.

On the inside, a simple sentiment.  My thought was to keep this neat and clean so that it could work for a masculine birthday if needed.  This card will go into the stash so that I can use it if needed.

I'm going to link the card up with the City Crafter Challenge Balloons.  Come join the fun!

Contagiously Crafty Runs in the Family

My daughter decided during Christmas break from college that she wanted a calendar for her dorm room.  I think the original thought was that she wanted to me buy her some calendar on the shelf during a shopping trip.  We're used to her purchasing tricks, having spent 18 years (she couldn't form full sentences on shopping trips until she was over 12 months old...) distracting and correcting this habit.  So I responded - "Hey,  I have one of those calendar kits at home (leftover from 2014...) that you could use to make your own calendar with your own pictures."  I followed up my response by pulling the kit from the stash and placing it strategically on the island in the kitchen.  She quietly began putting it together and I thought to share her final product here with you.  Bear with me and all the pictures for another post this year...

This kit is from Basic Grey - a now defunct manufacturer.  This project made me miss them, their design and creativity more.  Any funkyness to the photos are the fault of photography - Katie's or mine.  The pages are fantastic in person and will be a nice hello from home or her friends as she will be away at school for a large portion of 2018 - her first since last fall was her freshman semester in school.  Like mama, like daughter...

for Katie

BOOM! POW! You're Unstoppable! Creating a Pathway to Work

Hello, crafty friends.  I wanted to share this card I made using the My Favorite Things “You’re Super” stamp set.  Before I go into the details of the card, I would like to thank Andie, who so graciously not only posts the photos my creative attempts, but also writes the posts as well.  If it wasn’t for her, none of my creations would ever see the blog. Today’s post is one I wanted to write personally.  I also want to share the meaning behind this card and why it was created. I apologize for what I know is going to be an unusually long post, but if you read through you will see it is all done with the purpose of bringing attention to a very good cause.


When I saw the “You’re Super” stamp set, I immediately thought of all the very strong women that I have had the privilege to know in my life. I thought of making cards for all of them and couldn’t wait to get my hands on it.  The super hero girl is just so cute and comes across so determined, just like the women in my life, my personal heroes. 

These women keep me fueled, whether it is blowing off steam about the crazy environment we work in, supporting each other through personal challenges, laughing at things that only we find funny, crying with each other, and carrying each other when we can’t carry ourselves.  The women in my life have faced personal challenges and made it through to keep going and growing.  These women are my friends and my family.  With this post I would like to highlight one in particular, my cousin Shannon.

Shannon, is one of the most intelligent and giving people I know. I am blessed not only to know her, but also be related to her.  When I say Shannon is  “giving” I do not mean that hands out gifts to friends or picks up the lunch bill, although she does do those things; what I am talking about his how she gives back to her community and defends those who may not be able to defend themselves.  She picks people up and helps them stand on their own.

As long as I can remember Shannon has been a champion for those in need or crisis.  The long list of Shannon’s actions to help other includes volunteering with women’s crisis organizations, working in state education, teaching special needs children, and helping to build core values with the children in our family.  Shannon leads by example and continuously strives to find ways to positively impact the world around her. Shannon is one of my personal heroes.

Several months ago, I received a text from Shannon indicating that she and a group of colleagues/friends were working to establish a public charity organization, called Pathway to Work.  The goal of Pathway to Work is to prepare adults with developmental disabilities for the working world.  In late December, Shannon sent an update that Pathway to Work had achieved its 501 (c)(3) status and they are moving forward to helping people who otherwise may not have these opportunities!  The link to the website is provided if you are interested in learning more about Pathway to Work and how you can help further this cause.  Shannon’s determination and desire to help others inspired this card.

I could not be prouder to see Shannon’s accomplishments or happier to know how many people will benefit from the work she and her colleagues will do here.  Who are your heroes?

Now on to the card.  All of the images were stamped from the MFT You’re Super stamp set.  I used my MISTI to do some masking needed to add the shield as it is not part of the primary image and to add the skyline background.  

The image is colored with Copic markers, the sun rays were created with Fossilized Amber Distress Oxide Ink using the MFT Radiating Rays stencil, Broken China Distress Ink using the MFT Cloud stencil, and last, but not least the city scape is stamped using MFT’s new Extreme Black Ink.  The Extreme Black Ink is amazing!  It is the best black ink I have found for Copic coloring.  Unfortunately, as of the time this post is being written the large ink pad of Extreme Black Ink is out-of-stock with MFT.  I am hoping for a resupply soon as I only have the little cube that came in the December card kit.

Thank you all for taking the time to check out this post. Have a creative day.

ETA - I'm entering this card into the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge - Simon Says Layer It Up.