Happy Birthday, Super Hero!

My son Rhys got invited to two birthday parties on Saturday; Super Heroes and Star Wars! I was so excited to get to make two fun cards. Actually, it was quite the birthday filled weekend. I also made a little gift ensemble for one of my oldest son's friends as well. I will be sharing those throughout the week.  Today I am sharing the Super Hero card. I haven't used this sweet little Birdie Brown  Super Hero boy since last spring so I was happy to have an excuse to use it. I picked up a generic super hero-esque gift bag last year with these traditional super hero colors so that's where I headed.  He was colored with Copic and Prismacolor markers.

 The comic book pattern paper from PTI was the perfect companion. The white buildings were stamped from the Super Hero girl stamp set that I also used alot last spring. His mask was die cut from card stock and adhered with liquid glue.

 I also fussy cut the Pow conversation block which was stamped on pattern paper. I popped everything up for some fun dimension.

I always like adding in the person's age if I can fit it in, so I decided to do it as a detail on the inside. I also used the generic super hero emblem. I added some liquid glaze to the yellow star for some shine. I resisted adding any sequins or glitter since a 5 year old boy would definitely NOT want any of that! LOL!  Thanks for fluttering by!

Wishing you the {sweetest} day ever!

 I'm so excited to share this card with you today. I am in love with this new gumball machine die and coordinating sentiments from MFT. I got it in the mail on Friday but had to wait until today to play. I didn't have a recipient in mind but I just got to work having fun. When my daughter came home from school, she informed me that she needed a birthday card for a friend at school. Yay! Perfect timing. After I was done, I realized that I have been making all of my cards in the same palette...pink and blue. I will make a concerted effort and not make another card with these colors for a while.

The bubble gum machine was die cut from Aqua Mist cardstock. The metallic pieces are gold glitter cardstock that I just love. I also added a little bit of white for some contrast. Once I figured out how the whole thing was assembled, I got to work creating the shaker element for this card. The gumballs are diecut from white and gold cardstock. I stamped the white ones with pink pirouette ink. The gumballs are all glued down and then the "shaker" elements are the sparkling clear sequins. I did glue down a few so they didn't all end up at the bottom of the machine, but there are a few shaking around in there.

 I kept with the circle element and dry embossed the pink layer with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The green pattern paper is from the Pretty Pastels collection from PTI. I thought the varying sizes of circles kept the theme without going overboard.

The sentiment was heat embossed in gold for some extra shine and detail. I seriously loved working with this new set and coordinating sentiments. I can't wait for an excuse to use it again! Thanks for fluttering by!

P.S. What are some of your favorite crafting challenges out there? Color challenges, sketch challenges, etc.? I'm sure there are some fun ones I don't know about since I've been away.

{take care} feel better soon

 I needed a quick get well card this week so I made a nice, simple card. I stamped the white background piece using the flower images from "Happiness in Bloom" which I have never actually used except for the sentiments. I was happy to actually use it for today's card. The reason I bought it was it because it coordinated with the Beautiful Blooms flower die cuts which I already owned. You can see I added a diecut stamped flower on the side for some extra dimension.

While I was rummaging through my die cuts, I came across this frame out piece that I had already diecut with kraft cardstock. I thought it would be a cute addition so I grabbed it and used it. I used the coordinating "frame out" stamp set with white ink for a soft touch. The "take care" sentiment is from the Autumn Blessings set from PTI and I love them all year long! They are some of my favorites! I added a piece of button twine for a textural element. I also used grey ink in my color spritzing tool to spritz here and there to ground everything.

I added some sparkling clear sequins in varying sizes for some sparkle and shine. Easy Peasy and this one will get popped in the mail Monday! I used the "Happy Mail" sentiment from the "Happiness in Bloom" set on the inside. Hopefully it will be Happy Mail!!! Thanks for fluttering by!

Blush and Bashful {thanks}

 It seems as though I have a lot to be thankful for lately...and I do! This little number will get popped in the mail this week for a deserving friend. The poor post office seems to tire of my requests for additional postage and reassurances that no harm will come to my outgoing mail! LOL!

 I started my design by clustering a bouquet of flowers in my signature colors; Blush and Bashful! Just kidding! I couldn't resist! I do, however, love this combination of pinks. Actually, the first step was arranging the base layers including the blush doily on the side. After that was done, I just had fun stamping and layering the flowers and leaves. I originally had planned to use a diecut sentiment but in the end I didn't like it at all. I was kindof bummed because I didn't want to cover up any of the details with a solid piece of cardstock and like I said, the diecut wasn't working. Yay for vellum, right? It was the perfect fix!~

I actually really like the softness that it gives the card and makes everything seem so sweet. The finishing touches are some white sequins, diamond stickles a pink button and some navy baker's twine. I really like how it turned out. I think this would also make a pretty wedding card.  Thanks for fluttering by!

You are {Absolutely Fabulous}!

Have you ever had a person that was there for you RIGHT when you needed them and in the most unexpected way? And then it kept happening...they were just always there for you? This card is for such a friend...and the most amazing part is that this person didn't start out as a friend.  I am grateful for these small acts of kindness that have made such a big impact on my feelings toward this person. Isn't it nice to gain a new friend?  I felt it was about time that I sent her a thank you card to let her know how grateful I am for her and her kindness. 

 I knew that I wanted to incorporate stamped flowers as well as felt flowers to achieve a look similar to this but in a more modern vintage way. I think the vintage paper called "Romance Novel" from Prima marketing and the gold accents really help pull it all together.The soft blue doily was actually the starting point for the focal design and I chose all of my ink and felt colors based on the paper.

 Isn't the pink pompom trim on the bottom divine? I picked a yard up at the fabric store the other day while picking up some sewing supplies for another project I have been working on. I think I'll be returning for at LEAST another yard of two (wink).The stamped flowers and diecuts are from the Ruby Rose stamp set from PTI and seem to be some of my favorites.

The paper bow was diecut from gold glitter cardstock. The die is from MFT. It has already gotten A LOT of love since I bought it. I added a few buttons, gems and sequins to tie everything together. The stamped sentiment is from "Mega Mixed Messages" from PTI and is another go-to set. The pom poms and zig zag stitching were the final touch. Thanks for fluttering by!

P.S. Thanks so much for the sweet comments! They mean so much!

Spring Daffodils

 Happy April! You might think this post could be part of an April Fool's Day joke, but no....it's really me! My daughter came to me this morning with a horrified attitude and exclaimed that the last time I posted was in September of 2015! That is horrifying! LOL! Anyway, excuses aside, I am pleased to share a little spring creation with you. My daffodils are in full bloom and I thought this stamp would be the best choice for a few cheerful spring greetings!

 I got a really sweet email last week from a reader (hello!) asking me if I was okay. You really have no idea how much that meant to me and I promise I have intentions of replying. Thank you, thank you! I have been great and busy taking care of my sweet family. This year, with a preschooler and a kindergartner, have made things tricky with having any real length of time to get stuff done. I am constantly watching the clock to make sure I drop off and pick up at the right time. So...blogging has been put on the back burner, or better yet, taken off the stove altogether! Ha ha!

I chose to use lots of my favorite things on today's design; doily, sewing, vellum, sequins and baker's twine. Oh, and of course, coloring! I hope these cheer up their recipients! Thanks for fluttering by!