Balloons!

I made this birthday card for a friend. I didn't forget her birthday, but I did forget to put the card in the mail. I hat it when that happens! Anyway, I love how it turned out and got to color with my Copic markers! The balloon stamps are from Papertrey Ink and I just cut them out and mounted them on some cute, cloud vellum paper (American Crafts), then embellished with cloud chipboard from Studio Calico.

Enjoy your day, hope it's sunny where you are!

Happy Birthday...

To me! It's my birthday today! Thought I would share a card I made over a month ago and never posted. I love the felt embellishments from Sassafrass on this one:

Short and sweet! Now I'm off to have my birthday!

Papertrey Blog Hop!

Good afternoon, crafty person! Today is the Papertrey Ink blog hop! They provided us with a photo challenge, which I LOVE! One of my favorite colors is yellow, so this was a wonderful inspiration photo for me! 

Make something wonderful using that photo above?! No problem-o! It's so happy! So, this is what I made:

I used the new AC Dear Lizzy Neapolitan paper (the yellow polka dots), Maya Road ruffled ribbon, a scrap of silver glittery paper that I used a border punch on and the buttons, stamp, ink in Shadow, die cut and twine are all Papertrey Ink. The stamp was a complimentary exclusive stamp and I love it! I have used it so many times and it fits perfectly in that label die!

If you want to participate in the blog hop or just see all the creations to gain some inspiration, CLICK HERE. Have a happy Sunday, friends!

Birthdays are Sweet!

Good morning! It's another beautiful day here... sunny and in the 60's! You can't beat that! I wanted to share another birthday card I made recently:

I used some leftover scraps of that cute banner paper, seam binding ribbon, SRM Stickers and Sassafrass felt embellies. It came together quickly- which I love.

I desperately want to do some scrapbooking, but my desk is such a mess that I can't spread out and work. Todays agenda is to clean it up! Hope you can get out and enjoy some of this day!

Send a Card & Feel Better...

I woke up this morning to snow flurries. Only in Louisville, KY can you have 70 degrees with tornadoes one day, and snow the next. We all escaped the tornado path here, but our friends up the road in Indiana weren't so lucky. My family has been devoting lots of prayers to the victims who lost homes, family, friends, animals and special belongings.

I recently visited my local Archiver's and saw the new Dear Lizzy line, Neapolitan. *LOVE.* Everything about it reminds me of spring and summer! I especially loved the 12x12 paper "twinkling lights" that is filled with empty jars. Those empties leave a lot of room for creativity! Here's a quick card I made:

Sentiment stamp, raspberry felt and twine: Papertrey Ink; strawberry card base: Paper-Source;

Background paper: K&Co., Sweet Nectar.

I think the watercolor effect on the jars is super cute! Looks like I added that... but didn't! Anyway, I think I will make a few more of these. They were easy, fun and sadly, we have several sick people in our lives right now. I think getting a card like this would brighten their day, don't you?

I encourage you to make/buy a card for someone that needs a boost. This person doesn't need to be sick, but choose someone that needs encouragement or a lift of happiness. Let someone know you care. Hugs!

Sweet and Simple

I whipped up this card last week so fast... it's sweet and it's simple. I love it when you let patterned paper do all the creative work for you!

I used a Martha Stewart doily as my backdrop for my crepe paper flower. The center buttons and seam binding tape are vintage. The sentiment is from Papertrey.

Cute for a springtime birthday!

Have a good weekend!

Pretty Paper=Easy Card!

Hi friends! A quick share today... I made this card for a friend that got married recently:

This took me about 5 minutes to make. I cut a portion of pretty paper out, inked the edges, adhered it to a card base, added some pink pearls and stamped "Mr. & Mrs." Seriously. Easy. I added the liner to my envelope with a coordinating print. I am totally digging the envelope liners... if I'm going to spend the time to make a pretty card, I want the envelope to be pretty too!
Now, I'm off to run- literally.

'Tis near Halloween...

I have made several Halloween cards this week! Here is another using the papers from Fancy Pants "Oct. 31st" collection. The vintage image is from an Etsy shop... forgot the name.

Tonight, I have declared it "Family Movie Night." I feel like we have all been going is several different directions pretty much since school started. So, a pot roast for dinner and snuggling in PJ's tonight in front of the TV. Sounds good, huh?! Now, if we can all agree on a family movie...

GIVEAWAY time!

Hi crafty peeps! I had a super nice gal ask if she could send me some of her Washi Tape to work with to help get her business name, Washi Wishes out there. Well... uh, YES! Please do send it! I *LOVE* working with Washi tapes- they are easy, removable, versatile, and add so much to any project. They are a definite must have for any crafter!

So, this is what I made with the generous package of samples that came my way!

This Thank You card was a snap to make and really packs a punch. The flower was easily made by pleating the tape in a circle making a flower. I added a brad and the sentiment is an SRM sticker.

Sometimes, birthday cards for boys are hard for me to create. Well, using some cute boy paper a stamped sentiment and a little Washi Tape at the top- BAM! Done!

My last project is this Christmas tree card. I used the green and yellow and red and yellow striped tape only on this card. However, I got out my Copic markers and colored the yellow stripe. In the tree, I colored it grass green, and in the gifts, chartreuse and prawn. I finished it of with a glittered button at the top of the tree and some sequins and rhinestones at the top of the gifts. Fun and bright!

And for you? Washi Wishes sent me *two* full rolls of tape to giveaway! Yippee!

 Argyle Print

Bright Stripe

Leave a comment below by Saturday and I will randomly choose two people to get a fun roll of Washi Tape in the mail! In the meantime, visit Washi Wishes site and browse through their selection of tapes.

Use the code: Fall Tape Fun to save 10% on your entire order too!
*If you can only choose one roll to purchase... get the green stripe. My fave!

PTI October Blog Hop

*If you are here for the Jingle Belles card, scroll down to the post below. I am such a dork... I thought today was Wednesday!
OK... on with the Papertrey Ink Blog Hop for the month! I got this stunning picture via email for the inspiration and I had to participate!

Holy gorgeous! The colors, patterns, stacked fabric, and darling decor just screams "FALL!" I love it. With the inspiration of the photo pumping through my veins, I came up with this card:

I used all scraps on this card! The paper, the fabric strip and the orange twine were all scraps from another project! I hand cut some leave from the PTI chartreuse felt, added a button, the twine and a rhinestone. Then, I repeatedly stamped the PTI sentiment "birthday wishes." An instant fall birthday card. Enjoy!

Hello, My Pretty!

It's almost Halloween! I have my house decorated with pumpkins, witches and gourds and the kids are always jacked up on the bowls of candy corn I have in the house! It smells good with the candles lit and soup is on the stove. Ahhh... the autumn season is here!

Lovin' this card mostly because of that homemade broom I made with a scrap of kraft paper and my handy dandy Martha Stewart fringe scissors! I tied it together with a bit of twine and inked the edges of the paper. I also glittered the witches shoes in red.

Inspiration for this little gem was brought to you by:

This weeks sketch from Card Patterns:

And, Paper Craft Star's 67th challenge: Trick or Treat!
Enjoy, my pretties!

Hang In There!

Good morning! Wanted to share this little card and goody bag I made for a friend of mine going through a rough patch. 

I used the Paper Smooches set "Falling for You." This was the first set I purchased and it's still my favorite. Lots of cute images that can be used all year round! I stamped the bat and colored him with Copics and added black rhinestones for his eyes(which you can't see from this picture). I added some decorative tape, twine and chipboard buttons. I used stickers to spell out my sentiment.  I folded the card over and attached to a polka dot bag filled with Dove chocolates.

My friend loved it and I think it cheered her up. Mission accomplished! :)

JB- Labor Lost

This week, over at Jingle Belles, they are cutting the "labor" out of card making. They want us to CASE a card that another friendly card maker has already done. No problemo... loads of inspiration at the JB blog! I chose the previous challenge "Shape Up" and used Leslie Hannah's cute card of a shaped beanie.

How cute is this?!! Leslie makes loads of cute cards and you can check them out on her blog "The Crooked Stamper." She is hilarious! So, this is the card I ended up making...

So, her beanie creation totally inspired me to not only CASE her card, but also make some cute felt embellies to add to my Etsy shop:

And, since you guys totally got jipped out of seeing crafts last week due to my blog abandonment, I made another holiday to share...

This card took me like 5 minutes to make. Easy.

Now, go check out Leslie's blog, The Crooked Stamper. Gotta RUN!

Hello, Friend

I know, it's been a while... almost a week! I just wanted to pop in quickly to share this card I made back in July, but hadn't shared yet. I had gotten the new Claudine Helmuth creative layers stamp set. The set is so fun! You use paint and/or ink, I used both.

The patterned paper is Basic Grey, Out of Print and the sentiment is from Michael's $ bin. I added some twine, a button and a glittered flower piece of chipboard. The end.

I hope you all have had a nice long Labor Day weekend. Saturday morning I ran 20 miles (!!!) and on Sunday, I got to have breakfast and coffee with one of my best, oldest friends, Megan. She lives in Chicago, so she will see me again in 5 weeks for the Marathon! Ran 7 miles again this morning and tonight... the plan is to eat, drink some wine and go to bed early. ;) I'll post again soon. Promise. 

Clean and Simple = Love

Those cute Jingle Belles are teaming up with the Clean and Simple Stamping gals this week! I don't care what it is, I love clean and simple- it's my style... it's just how I roll, k? So, imagine my excitement when I was handed not only a sketch, (love!) but also the instructions to keep it clean and simple! Holy awesome, Batman! I'm on it!

Here's what I came up with:

A close up of all those delicious Basic Grey chipboard embellishments... I only have 3 left from the pack!!! I also used October Afternoon paper and stickers and added a few tiny clear rhinestones.

And last, but not least, the sketch:

I hope you'll play along! You have until Wednesday at 6 pm to add your link. AND, the Jingle Belles have a swell prize up for grabs to one lucky, random participant! Woo-hoo!

Jingle Belles- Shape Up!

Shape up! The Jingle Belles challenge this week is to make a shaped card! Okay, I think I made a shaped card back in the 90's, but haven't since, so this was actually a challenge for me! Once I got an idea in my head, I got excited and eager to start.

So, here's my not so Clark Griswald decorated home for the holidays:

AND, I even made the house shape attach to a card that actually opens! Squeal! I was so impressed with myself!

If you look close, really close, you can see the coarse glitter I used on the chimney, trees and window edges. Those trees are cut from a Papertrey Ink die and the snow drifts? Those are die cut clouds from felt, cut in half. My wreath was assembled with Hero Arts poinsettia flowers and leaves, all attached with a vivid green brad. The Christmas lights are from Michael's and they have glitter on them too! ;) Whew!

Now, shape up, or ship out! That's what I always say to my kiddos... get yourself going on a shaped card- it was fun!

You Make Me Hoppy!

Hi there, hoppy Sunday! Hope you have had a little time to create today... I'm squeezing a little in before I head into a busy week! I loved the Card Patterns sketch this week, and I actually needed to make several cards for various reasons. This one is going to my animal loving niece, along with a pack of animal stickers- just for fun. :)

The stamps are from Papertrey Ink and the patterned paper is Echo Park. The frog embellishment is from an Etsy store called "Ring-O Crafts."

If you get a chance, and want to play along, here's the sketch: 

Enjoy your Sunday evening!

Papertrey Ink Blog Hop!

Hi friends... this is my second post for the day! I wanted to squeeze in a card I made for the Papertrey Ink July Blog Hop! This month, the inspiration came from this awesome photo:

I wish I had a spot in my house that looks like this! It looks like such a happy place... the perfect spot to read or do some needlepoint! ;) 

This is the card it inspired me to create:

Quite simple, actually. It was leftover Sassafrass paper, odds and ends, paired with some Papertrey ribbon and sentiment stamp. A happy little card!

Click here to join the hop and see all the creations!

Oh Deer!

Hi friends! I whipped up a quick card this morning for the Jingle Belles weekly prompt. This week... "reindeer games!" At first, I was like, "great. I don't have any reindeer in my stash." Then, I found the Basic Grey paper pad! The tag and the patterned paper are both from the Jovial collection... are you sick of seeing me use the same 'ole stuff?

In addition to the BG Jovial papers and tag embellishment, I also used a couple rub-ons, a "love" stamp, some cranberry seam binding tape (my mom gave me loads of spools!!) to make a bow and added some hand cut felt leaves all bound together with button and twine. I actually love this card... and so does Elan. He thinks it's a hunting card. :)

You're the Best!

Happy Friday! Getting ready to leave for a girls weekend to do some scrappin' and craftin' and eatin'! Super excited, but first I wanted to share a fun card using the Card Patterns sketch for the week. Here's my card:

And this is the sketch:

Hope you have a great weekend!