For Cath (sans CHA) with Love Blog Hop

As you may know, Moxie Fab World's Cath Edvalson (Trends Editor of Paper Crafts) won't be able to attend CHA due to some nasty shoulder pain. Bummer! She always shares so much with on a daily basis, but also from CHA. She is such a sweet inspiration all the time!

I visit Cath's blog, Moxie Fab World, every day (sometimes multiple time!) and I was lucky enough to be selected as a Moxie Fabber of the Week. Such a thrill!

So, blog buddy and all-around amazing Virginia Lu organized a blog hop with cards for Cath to help her know she is in our thoughts, wish her a speedy recovery and show how much we appreciate her.

So, here is my card just packed with good wishes for Cath! 

We are thinking of you with lots of love, Cath and sure appreciate all you do! Check out Virginia's blog for more love.

A Window into my Heart

I am heading out early tomorrow morning, so I'm posting my Monday blog tonight. As I shared with you in my January 23rd post, my blogger buddy Virginia has joined the Design team at the fantastic Lily Pad Cards. She is doing a series of challenges called "Virginia's View". This lovely photos is the inspiration for her first challenge, which is sponsored by Penny Black.

For my card I decided to use one of my most favorite (I love hearts!) and oldest (it's from 2004!) Penny Black stamps (3088C, "Beaded Heart"). Perfect! I stamped it many times, colored it with Copic pens and I raised some of the hearts with dimensionals. My freehand "window" frames the hearts.

I added a bit of shine (Glossy Accents) to represent the window's glass and some thread to echo the twine from which the hearts are suspended in the photo.

This is WAY out of my comfort zone and nothing like my "normal' style - and that's what a challenge is all about! I am just delighted!

Thanks to Virginia and Lily Pad Cards! You have until February 2nd to submit if you'd like to join me. This is also going into the Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Anything Goes!

I'm liking the photos I can take with my new camera! I still have lots to learn about it, too.

Have a great week!

Rallying to a Hoot for Help!

One of my cardmaking sisters over at the Hero Arts Flickr group, Martha, reached out for some help in providing some cards for the folks at a rehab center/nursing home where her mom is recovering from a fall. She was so taken by the sadness that she saw there and wanted to do something special. What a special lady, eh? Well, many of us rallied to the cause and offered to provide her with some handmade cards. If you would like to help, check it out here.

I chose a cute image that would work for both the ladies and the gents. Keeping with the "white space" theme that I used the other day, I cranked out the old Cuttlebug and went to town. I made eight different cards using two different embossing plates and lots of different Copic colors (Whooo said that owls need to be brown?). I added some googly eyes (you know I love them!) and some glitter to bring some extra smiles.

The owl is Hero Arts "Big Hoot" (D5217) and I also used Hero Arts "Heart" (A150 - an oldie, but a goodie from 1985!) to embellish the inside and the envelopes. The perfect sentiment is from Stampendous (E269, "Owl Thinking"). some punched hearts give some added dimension.

My heart goes out to all of our older folks - we need to remember to share our love with them. Thanks, Martha, for this gentle reminder. And my best wishes to Martha's mom for a speedy recovery.

Thanks for looking and Owl be thinking of you - have a great weekend.

Hugs and Kisses

Another Valentine today!

I am so crazy about the new Hero Arts set called "XO". This time I used it to create a background and matched it up with a chipboard (empty cereal box, actually!) die cut from Tim Holtz that I colored with pens. Lots of ribbon scraps, some bling, a vintage button from my stash -  and we have a card. I embossed the little heart from the "xo" set to give the dress form some soul. The sentiment is from Hero Arts CL500, "Love Every Day", another favorite of mine.

In person the color is not so "neon". This is a difficult color to photograph, even in natural light.

This will be going into the Hero Arts monthly contest which is featuring lots and lots of love and the Lily Pad Cards Simon Says Stamp Chipboard Challenge.  Check them out and join in - you have until tomorrow.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great one!

Sweet and Simple for my Sweetie!

Good Monday morning to you!

First, I want to make a huge shout out!!!. Two of my dear blogging buddies, Barb and Virginia have announced some special news. They are now part of the amazing design team at Lily Pad Cards! Wow! That is a great place - something is always hoppin' there - and these gals will only make it more special. Please check it out and participate in the Virginia's View Challenge. What great fun! All my best and a huge congrats to these two special gals.

Speaking of Barb, she gave me this adorable little chipboard embellishment (doodlebug designs inc.) I that used on this card I made for my husband. Don't you just love its glittery adorableness? The photo just doesn't do it justice. Thanks, Barb!

I had been seeing so many of you who took the "Clean and Simple" class using lots of white and I loved it. So, I gave it a shot myself. I am tickled with the result - a fresh and fun look. The card front is textured with a Cuttlebug embossing folder and the simple sentiment is from Hero Arts new clear set "XO", CL586. Love!

And, speaking of Lily Pad Cards, I thought that I would enter this in their "Simon Says Stamp Chipboard Challenge". Check it out and play along. You have until Thursday to submit.

What a way to start the week! Thanks for checking in here and have a great one!

Hanky Panky! It's a card - It's a package!

My Aunt Barbara loves vintage hankies - she uses them and always has one in her purse or pocket. I found a special one for her, monogrammed with a "B"!, and saved it for several months for her birthday.

I learned this nifty envelope technique from my card-making master & friend, Bibiana. It is a tricky little number! I know that I could never teach or demo it. You score, fold, fidget and fight, fold some more and then it sort of magically happens. Cool, eh? It is a perfect way to present an adorable handkerchief.

The envelope starts as a 12" x 12" piece of paper that is scored and folded. I used a MS Around the Page Wildflowers punch and I found this amazing ribbon at a little local gift shop (I love to support local merchants).

The label is Spellbinders "Labels Ten" and the stamps are all Hero Arts. The background is faintly stamped with CG300, Life of the Party. The cupcake is F5495 - I love to paper piece that image! The sentiment is an SRM sticker (thanks, Virginia!).

Making this was such fun, but sharing the day with our dear Aunt was the very best! Happy Birthday Aunt Barbara - we sure love you!

I am entering this in Cath's "The Punches Challenge" over at the amazing Moxie Fab World. Come and play - you have until February 13th.

Have a GREAT day (it is icy cold here this morning) - thanks for peeking here!

Cute as a Bug!

Happy Monday morning! One of my dearest friends, Sylvia, drives a cute Volkswagon Beetle and her favorite color is purple. So, when I recently made a gift set of cards for her I used both the "Bug" image and the color purple. I made two of each style and packaged them for my friend.



      I used Papertrey Ink's "Enjoy the Ride" set (stamps and die), a sentiment from Hero Art's Everyday Sayings (CL342) and some great retro patterned paper. I think these colors look great on the kraft card stock. The labels are Memory Box dies and the scalloped circles are Spellbinders.

Now, some exciting news. My dear friend and blogging buddy, Barb is having an amazing giveaway! Barb is not just an amazing card-maker, she is the dearest lady ever. She is so inspiring and so very generous - you must get to know her! Check it out and follow her blog - you will be simply delighted!

And, I hope you remember to pause today and think of justice, empowerment, love and peace.

Have a wonderful week and thanks for checking in here.

Lusious Ledger Window Card

Hello, my friends! I celebrated my dear husband's birthday with him yesterday. We had great fun in San Francisco where the sunshine was glorious (yes, I know we need the rain, but....) and we lunched at one of his favorite places.  What a great treat!

Here is a very special card that I learned from my dear card-master friend Bibiana. It is made with some of my favorite tropical colors and images. Lots of Hero Arts stamps ( CL278, CL383, CG211, CG302), Distress Inks and some great embellishments. The window was cut with Spellbinders "Labels 20".

The butterflies are 3-D, done by stamping and coloring 3 butterflies to make one that is "ready to fly". Simply glue one wing of the second and third ones under the main one and then attach the other wing to the card.

This card is very detailed and takes some time, but I think it is sure worth it. I plan to enter it into Cath's "Die Cutting Challenge" over at Moxie Fab World. Check it out and play along - you have until February 13th (that's Valentine's Day Eve!) to submit. Thanks for looking!

Winner, Winner; Chicken Dinner!

With some simple celebratory cupcakes (We R Memory Keepers) for dessert!

First, thanks to all of you who took the time to come by and visit and leave a comment! I am just tickled to see you all. Thanks to all my "old" pals and a joyous welcome to some new ones. I will be checking in on each of your blogs/flickr streams to get to know you even better. This has been such great fun!

Without further hesitation, let's see who will be going to France - in their cardmaking, anyway!

I had 21 lovely comments and the random number generator selected #16! 
That would be the fantastic Helen! I am just delighted to share the French-inspired stamp set with you. Congratulations! We look forward to the masterpieces "merveilleux" you'll create. Enjoy!

I hope you all had a great weekend. We went over to the coast, where it was breezy but sunny and clear. I feel guilty enjoying this rare January sunshine when we so desperately need rain, but I have learned to enjoy whatever I am given. Anyway, it is high season for Dungeness crabs here and are they ever yummy! I took this picture of a crab boat filled with the delightful crustaceans with my new camera and I hadn't yet learned how to use the zoom so it is difficult to see the precious cargo. But you can sure see the glorious sunshine!

Thanks again so very much to everyone for your continued friendship and support - Happy New Year!

Happy Everything Window Card

Today's card is full of sweetness and light, just like the person for whom it was made (sorry, Tim - no distressing here- just bright and cheery!). I am not normally a pink person, but once in awhile it brings in a little breath of happiness, don't you think?

I stamped the great dotted background pattern (Hero Arts CG298) and punched out the circle window. I carefully centered the sentiment within the circle and stamped it on the inside.

Decorating this cute cupcake (Hero Arts F5495) was such fun! I paper pieced and used Copics and some lovely sprinkles. The cupcake is elevated with dimensionals and I tied a twine bow under it. The bottom curve was traced from the Hero Arts envelope template - so versatile!

The "Party" is from Hero ArtsCL514. All too cute - Seriously! Hope your day was as special as you are, Barb! Thanks for looking & have a great day!

Bonne Année and Hero Arts Giveaway

Happy New year everyone! Let's hope that the new year brings lots of goodness to us all. I sure enjoyed my holidays but I am ready to return to somewhat of a routine.

Today I want to share with you some of the new Hero Arts rubber that I have been enjoying. This cling set is from the "Art of the Card" line and it is called Paris, France (AC011). Many of you know what a Francophile I am - I love everything French (except the food - it is a bit too rich for my simple tastes)! I have been lucky enough to travel to France a couple of times and I loved every minute of it.

This card is like a scrapbook page with all the small images. I used watercolor paper for the background, which I painted with Niji Pearlescent Watercolors and Perfect Pearls mist. I wish you could see the shimmer! It is mounted on a kraft card and decorated with some great French-themed washi tape and layered with the stamped images (stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa and colored with Distress Inks). I added a Sparkler Button from Webster Pages and a great glittery Fleur-de-lis which was given to me by my dear pal, Antoinette (she really knows what I love!).

When I said that I wanted to share this with you, I really meant it. I want to kick off the new year by giving this stamp set (a brand new one) to one of you. Thank you all for all your loving support during the year - it has been so great! Just follow my blog and leave a comment here and I will draw a random winner on January 9th. I will send the ANYWHERE, so please join in the fun.

Finally, I am entering this in the Ellen Hutson LLC Hero Arts Cling Make 'n Take. Check it out and play along - you have until January 15th. A photo of the card with the stamp is required, so here it is.

Wishing you all the best for a grand and glorious 2012 - may we all be healthy, have fun, be enriched and prosper! Thanks again for being here - I appreciate each of you.