Fabulous Birthday!

 My daughter is off to a birthday party this afternoon and that is always a great excuse to make a card.  I decided to go for a cleaner look with today's card. I made the card to coordinate with the bag (surprise, surprise) and it is a crisp white with flowers at the bottom.  I took all of  my color cues from the bag itself. I wouldn't have necessarily come up with these particular colors together.

 All of the stamps are from PTI. The sentiment and frame are from one of the Boutique Border sets...probably Birthday LOL! The flowers and leaves are from the free set called "Ruby Reprise" and this is the first time it has seen ink. I really like it so I am sure it will be getting inky regularly now.

 I feel like I have been overusing sequins so I chose to only add them for a little shine to the middle of the two larger flowers and it about killed me to leave the center of the smallest flower bare, but I did it. Clean and Simple, right?

The sentiment from the inside is from the original Ruby set and I love, love, love it. It didn't stamp clearly, and at first I was super bugged, but in the end it just has a rustic, vintagey quality that I can go with! This card was quick and easy, but I still think it is fun and it goes super good with the gift bag.

We have been up to our eyeballs in birthdays, so hopefully I can take some time to blog about those parties. I had a lot of fun with them. Thanks for fluttering by!

P.S. School is starting soon and I want to put something together for my daughter's new teacher, so stay tuned for a school inspired project.

With sprinkles on Top!!!

 My darling daughter just turned 11 and this is the card I made for her! I used my new "Shakers and Sprinkles" kit and it is much more fun to work with than I first thought. The papers worked perfectly with the colors of her birthday party.  I will share some pictures from that a little later on.

 I used Monday's "Mojo Monday" sketch for this card and it worked out very nicely.  I thought the doily worked nicely with the "food" theme also.  As much as I wanted to make a shaker card, this particular sketch really wouldn't allow it. I really wanted the heart to hang over.  I used a little bit of stickles on the sprinkles diecut for some shine.

I was also pleased to use these fibers on the top that I have been hoarding for well over a decade. They worked nicely here.  My daughter loved it and that is what is important! I can't believe she is 11! THanks for fluttering by!

Thank you ever so much!

 Well...I am supposed to be making invitations for my soon-to-be 3 year old's dinosaur party, but I wasn't feeling it. I decided to switch gears and make a card and tag for the chorister at church. Every week she brings beautiful flower arrangements with cut flowers from her yard to place on the pulpit. I always love seeing them and I appreciate her being willing to part with her beautiful blooms. I made a card to say thanks and then I will attach the tag to a cello bag with cookies.  

This picture captures the true colors of the card better. I was playing around with some different settings on my camera and found the others to not be quite right.

My mother's day gift FINALLY arrived in the mail this week and it was the "Shakers and Sprinkles" kit from PTI! I was so excited for it to come and now that I have it, I am not as excited. Isn't that sad? I did, however, use the heart die that it came with for this card. I was trying to sleep the other night and this card just came into my mind so I had to create it. I used a couple of stamp and die sets to get it all put together. It really is simple card, but all of the little things took a while to put together.

 For the inside, I used this sentiment because I thought it worked well with the "reason" why I was giving her a thank you on the inside (flowers...seeds)

You can see the tag here. I just used the inside portion that was left from the heart frame for the focal point. I used the same senitment as the inside of the card for continuity. I just love these colors. Thanks for fluttering by!

With Sympathy

 I know I've said this before, but I absolutely hate needing a sympathy card. I don't usually keep any on hand...maybe because I hope I will never need one. Unfortunately, I did need one so I got to work creating this.  I used a Mojo Monday sketch from a week or so ago.  I wanted to make something that is bright and cheery and this paper is perfect!  I chose inks to create the focal image that matched as well as I could; between SU! and PTI I think I did a pretty good job.

 I used that stamp set called "Lovely Layers" for the focal image and the sentiment is from a frame set. I can't think of the name off the top of my head. It is one of my faves though.  The ribbon is surprisingly from the dollar store; 6 yards of satin ribbon for a buck! I bought quite a few rolls even though this girl doesn't need any ribbon AT ALL.  I really, really, really like the color though.

I have 2 birthdays coming up so I will be making stuff for those and I will share later! Thanks for fluttering by!

Showers of Blessings!

 It's always fun to make baby cards!  This particular card was inspired by yet another gift sack. The funny part is that I forgot to even take a picture of it with the gift sack! Silly Me!  I never would have made this card unless I took inspiration from the sack.  That is one of the reasons why I love this little challenge that I am giving myself. It makes me use things I don't normally use and then use other things in different ways. For this particular card I ended up using "Scattered Showers" and "Baby Button Bits" for the focal images and then a die for the word "baby".

 The umbrella was diecut and then I added some diamond stickles to the center of each flower.  I also diecut the word baby twice; once out of the green and used the negative space and once again with the yellow to set it inside the green piece. I popped up the green piece to give it some extra dimension.

 I colored the floral image using copics and then adhered the buttons using glue dots. The ric rac was diecut out of yellow felt and then stitched down with my sewing machine. I also used my color spritzing tool to spray a little yellow ink onto the sentiment at the top. I scattered a few sequins here and there to mimic some raindrops. They are iridescent in real life but show up a bit more pink here in the photos.

I used the green diecut that was left over from the front and glued it down and then added crackle glossy accents (on accident).  Thanks for fluttering by!

Happy 4th of July!!!

I don't have anything new to share today but I do have a fun little project that you can check out here. I hope you all have a fun and safe 4th of July holiday! Thanks for fluttering by!!!

Feel Better Soon, Friend!

It's never fun to "need" a get well card, but I do. In fact, I generally don't make get well cards because usually the person is feeling better before they even get their card. However, the person who will be getting this will probably be needing some cheering up for a while. My "get well" sets are few and far between, but as I was searching I saw this set that I love and I don't think I have ever used this sentiment with it. The set is called "Autumn Abundance" from PTI and since it isn't even technically summer yet, I chose to use the sunflower image rather than the other two which are definitely fall. I colored the flowers in such a way that they could be a type of daisy if you wanted.  I chose to use some summery paper as well to make it cheery and bright.

 I am always more apt to use my sets that have coordinating diecuts as well. This is one of those sets. I just like that I can layer the colored image on a piece of pattern paper for more "punch". This set reminds me of a card I made a few years ago that is one of my favorites. You can see it here. I obviously didn't go into as much detail on today's card, but I wanted to give it a similar feel with the punched flowers and circle focal image. I colored the image using copic markers and then used my color spritzing tool to add some brown splatters to the pitcher. I like doing that because it makes it look more like real pottery. I also added some glossy accents to it to make it look more realistic!

The bottom piece is diecut from pattern paper and then stitched down using my sewing machine.  I will pop this little card in the mail and hopefully it will bring cheer to the recipient and she will know she is cared about. Thanks for fluttering by!

The {kind} of person....

 I'm a little late is saying "thanks" to my awesome neighbor who took my daughter to and from school every day...even if her kids weren't going! Yeah....she is pretty amazing! I got her a few goodies that I packaged up in cellophane and then made her a quick card. I really love this quote and I am sure I will be using it alot. P.S. I accidentally gave credit to PTI with my watermark in this first photo, but it is not PTI. I "think" it is stampabilites, but I am too lazy to go back downstairs to check it out. I will update this when I get it all worked out! :)

 I really wanted the saying to be the main attraction, but I really love this paper. too, so I gave them both equal time to shine, I think.  You will be seeing more of this paper soon, too. I have a fun project to share with you.You will get to see a lot of the different designs.

 I also picked up some gray lace which I love and added a yellow rolled felt rose to the bow. My daughter was so pleased that the staple was blue, too. Um....total accident. I thought it was black. Good thing it matched.

Here is a peek at the inside. I stamped the sentiment onto some pattern paper and then attached it with some washi tape.

Wishing you Rainbows and Sunshine!

 It's summer vacation and I am so excited! I have been counting down for a while now and it's finally here! I am hoping to get even more crafting done now that I will have some helpers to watch the little ones. I have a little birthday ensemble to share with you today. I really love these hot air balloons. I used some scraps that I had left over from some cards I made last spring. I am so proud of myself for using so much of my old/hoarded paper!

 I didn't take a picture with the lid off, but all of the focal images are attached to the lid. The ribbon is threaded through the inside so that the lid can be easily taken off without having to undo anything.  The bottom sentiment is attached to the base of the box.

I made a tiny 3 by 3 card that I could slip inside the box with the gift. Sometimes I like having just one complete package to give rather than loose odds and ends. Not much more to say! Thanks for fluttering by and enjoy your summer!

P.S. I am needing to make a new banner for my mantel so I will post that when I get it done! I found the perfect paper...I hope!

Little Acorns

 Can I be honest? I think we've been friends long enough, right? Okay, here goes; I am REALLY burned out on teacher cards! LOL! I made so much stuff for Teacher Appreciation Week, I really got a good dose of it! I am ready for summer, sunshine, no homework and fun, fun, fun!!!!! I have been counting down the days and now it is finally here! So...I made my daughter's teacher a very simple card. I checked out this week's mojo monday sketch and was thrilled to see it fit the bill perfectly.  It was supposed to be tall and skinny, but I had already cut the base and floral layer, so it is a standard size. Oh yeah...before I forget, I made a baby ensemble that you can check out here if you are interested!

 I love, love, love this quote and knew I wanted to use it for the card. Because of the sketch, I knew I would want the tree to be die-cut, but the tree that is included in this set doesn't have a coordinating die or at least, I don't have it if they do. So....I used "Trendy Tree Tops" for the tree and trunk.

 I kept all of the details simple as well and even used the white hearts from the tree when I diecut it...twice because I accidentally used a dirty piece of paper. I did take the extra time to die-cut a red felt heart to go inside the tree as well as a tiny bird from one of the other dies in the set. These are the little details that really can make a difference, though.

I stamped another sentiment on the inside and called it good. I got her teacher an Olive Garden gift card that I will tuck inside. Easy Peasy and I am sure she will like it! Thanks for fluttering by!

P.S. I have a little birthday ensemble to share with you soon!

You are *Amazing*!!!

It's mid-May and around here that means it is dance recital time! I always like to make a card to give to my daughter and write a note of encouragement and congratulations! She will be earning her 5 year certificate on Saturday as well. I am so pleased with her and she is becoming an amazing dancer! She will have 5 numbers; tap, ballet, jazz, soft shoe Irish and hard shoe Irish and then throw in the finale and she will have danced her heart out! I can't wait!

For the card, I actually had to go raid her "Sassy stamps" from her room to find one with a dance image. I know, I know...how could I not have a dance stamp set!?!! I really have never fallen in love with any that I have seen. I actually really like this little stamp and used it last year as well. I never posted the card, but she keeps it in her room on display. Maybe I should go snap a picture.  I also used the Boutique Border: Love set for the piece it is adhered to. The jumbo ticket is from PTI as well. I haven't even used those very much, but I love them.  I didn't mark the "my favorite" column because I knew it would spark some ill feelings with the rest of my kids. She is definitely my favorite girl, though! LOL! She is also my favorite dancer!

I knew for sure that I wanted to make an accordion medallion with a layer of tulle on top. I thought it would mimic the look of a tu-tu. I also added a little bit of Star Dust stickles to the edges as well as the tu-tu on the focal image.  I added a few sequins and pearls to give some detail and shine and heaven knows how many sequins she will be wearing! LOL!

I was also excited to add one of the new button stacks to the card. I was over the moon when I saw that PTI had come out with these die cuts. They will be getting used quite a bit, I can already tell! Thanks for fluttering by!

I'll always love you!

Can I just say how much I love my daughter? She is the greatest! She has a field trip today and when she wrote out the grocery list of what she needed in her lunch she wrote all kinds of treats, but she also asked for a "lunch note from  mom". How cute is that? How could I NOT include THAT!!! When I showed this card to my husband he said,"Wow! I thought you were just going to rip a piece of note paper and write something." Doesn't he know me well enough by now? So...this little gem is for my darling Emma!  I just have to make sure she doesn't see it until lunch time. My husband is going with her so hopefully he can help keep it hidden until then.

I chose a bright, fun, cheery color combination that seems perfect for a 5th grader. I diecut the saying four times; once with coral cardstock, once with spring moss cardstock, again with brown cardstock and finally out of the pattern paper I used in the shaker part. I also made a sweet little felt heart stack to incorporate some more "love" into the card.

The portion where I stamped "sweetheart" is actually just a piece of pattern paper that happened to have a paper clip printed on it. I thought it was perfect for a "school" lunch. For the shaker, I added two different colored sequins and some seed beads. I chose a fun floral pattern paper for the background as well to give it some extra dimension. It is slightly different than the card base. I also scattered a few of the same sequins that I used inside the shaker scattered here and there on the card as well.



 I chose all of my patterned paper from a paper pad, but chose to use patterns I have never used before. I seem to gravitate towards the same ones all of the time and I decided to mix things up.  I hope she is pleasantly surprised to see that everything on her list was taken care of and that she has a fun time with her Dad on the field trip! Thanks for fluttering by!

Let's Go Fly a Kite!

 Happy Monday! I hope you had a great weekend and an enjoyable Mother's Day! I know I did! I don't think I changed a single diaper!  My cute kids made me some fun stuff and my husband got me just what I wanted! I always get spoiled at my mom's house and my In-law's house, so after all of that kindness, I thought some thanks were in order! I quickly cleaned off my desk from the Mother's Day projects I was working on and looked at this week's Mojo Monday sketch. It was perfect because while I was cleaning up I spied this cute kite image (that I have never used) and really wanted to use it. Once I saw the sketch, I could envision exactly how I wanted it!

 I wanted something fresh and springy so I used an old pattern paper pad from SU! with all of these fun papers with the exception of the green. That was a scrap left over from my other projects. Since I was making four, I got into "mass production" mode which turns out is so much tidier and controlled for me. I don't have near the mess I usually have.

The kite was stamped with Pure Poppy ink, cut and then I adhered the kite string with clear tape on the back. I also wanted the string to come directly from the point of the kite, so I dabbed a little Tombow Mono multi glue to keep it down. I also added some glossy accents to the kite for some shine.

 I manipulated the string in the pattern that I liked and then tacked it down with the two ribbons and once where the string intersects on the loop. Hopefully that will keep it where it needs to be. I also diecut some felt ric-rac and stitched it down with my sewing machine. I really love little details like that.

On the inside, I chose to use a cheery sentiment; Thank you just didn't seem like enough.  I really had a lot of fun making these cards and hopefully they will bring some sunshine into the lives of those who get them! Thanks for fluttering by!

P.S. You may have noticed that I have been doing a ton more blogging than usual. I won't be doing it every day like I did during Teacher Appreciation Week, but you can expect to see me pop in twice a week or so.

Happy Mother's Day!

 Happy Mother's Day! I hope all of you Moms out there have a great day! I know that sometimes today can be hard, but I hope that you get spoiled in all the ways that matter to you!  After the creative week I have had, my desk looked like a bomb went off. I tried to clean it up and as I did, I started to make a pile of scraps that seemed like they could be worked into a card for my mom. I knew I would be using a "garden-y" theme so it was easy to pick which ones would work alright.

 The first thing I did was to make all of the background panels. After that was done, I diecut all of the garden elements from the coordinating dies. The stamp sets I used were Garden Variety and Garden Variety II from PTI.  Once they were all cut and stamped I worked on the placement.

I hope my mom likes it. She loves to garden and be outside, so I thought it was fitting! Thanks for fluttering by!

P.S. I am still waiting for my  Mother's Day gift to come, but when it does, you will all know! Ha Ha!