Somewhere

under the rainbow?

This card was inspired by the amazing Virginia Lu and her "Virginia's View" challenge over at Lily Pad Cards. Check it out and play along!

I love touching and sorting my extensive button collection, which includes new and vintage buttons. Lots of childhood memories playing with Mom's button box. I resist using too many buttons on cards because of the weight they add, but this is a worthy exception!

The great airplane is from Papertrey Ink's "Fly Away" stamp set. I have had it for years and love it, especially for masculine cards. The clouds are made with Die-namics dies and a Swiss dots Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Thanks, Virginia, for the inspiration for this fun and colorful card. Have a rainbow of a day!

Voila - A Charming Charm!

When I saw Cath's DYI Embellishment Challenge at Moxie Fab World and when I saw the current Let's Play Bingo Challenge at Simon Says Stamp I had to reach for a sheet of my old "Shrinky Dinks". I made my own charm embellishment by stamping the Shrinky Dinks with Hero Arts CL325 and H2141 and cutting it with a heart Sizzix die. I colored it with pastels and hit it with my heat gun. Such fun to watch it sizzle and shrink! The colors intensify, too.

The background is faux letterpress, done with a Cuttlebug embossing folder, the Eiffel Tower is black heat-embossed on metallic paper and the die for the sentiment is Memory Box Chadwick Label.

This card qualifies for the Simon Says Stamp Bingo Challenge - the third row across using a charm (homemade!), a die cut and ribbon. Bingo!

Check out these great challenges for some great inspiration and some fun ideas. Thanks for looking!

Hollywood

When I saw the Fascination with Feathers Challenge on Moxie Fab World I immediately thought of a feathered boa (perhaps inspired by the luscious one which adorns Trends Editor, Cath?).

I cut a free-hand star for the card and used Spellbinders for the label and the cameo shape. My favorite glamor girl stamp (Inky Antics, H2-0865-F) is colored with Copic pens. The sentiment is computer-generated from my silly mind. Some glitter and rhinestones add to the glitz.

See you on the red carpet! Thanks for looking. Have a great week - a little rainy here, but we really need it.

Odds and Ends

I recently attended a demo sponsored by Lifestyle Crafts. This company (which used to be QuicKutz) has some great dies (if you are a cupcake baker, check out their cute paper liners - love them!) and letterpress supplies. There are some great ideas on their blog. I purchased some Nesting Dies and I also ordered a couple of New Releases on their online store. There is always something new to buy!

I cut this little gift card at the store with a Nesting Die and some of their "Sweet and Spicy" paper and I embellished & assembled it (I used SU and MS punches and a Hero Arts sentiment) when I got home. The die creates nice embossed edges without the extra embossing step required with Spellbinders dies.

I also want to show you this adorable cupcake apron that my crafting buddy Antoinette gave me. Too cute, eh? I guess she is tired of seeing me wearing ink, glue and glitter!  Why?!  I added the pockets, which I made from a vintage linen napkin, and I made the name badge for when I teach/take classes.  Thanks again, sweet pal.  

Hope you have a glorious weekend! We are off to our little slice of heaven in Calistoga, in the Napa Valley.

Keeping It Simple & Elegant

I am really trying - to keep it simple, that is. For this card I "kissed" the Hero Arts Classic Fabric Design background stamp (CG245) with the Hero Arts Friends Definition stamp (CG125). I have had difficulty with this technique in the past, but I have learned that sometimes you just need to try different inks and stamps. For those of you unfamiliar with this, here is a great video (except for the music).

This great tulip is from Hero Arts Antique Engravings set (CL427) and the perfect sentiment (love that font!) is from Stampendous - Paisley Spring (SSC1042). As for challenges, this is a "4 fer" ! There is a Simon Says Stamp "Kissing Technique" challenge at Lily Pad Cards for which this is perfect. Then, there is the CAS-ual Fridays challenge to make a card using a pattern, an image and a sentiment. My original inspiration was the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger, "Casual Elegance". And, finally, this month's contest at the Hero Arts Blog is "Fabulous Flowers"! Check, check, check, check! All good! Come and play along.                     

Never Easy

That is how I feel about making sympathy cards. It is so difficult, but very healing in its own way. I recently made this for a dear friend.

The Poppy is our state flower here in California, so it has a special place in our hearts. This great Hero Arts Delicate Blossoms stamp (CL449) was perfect. This is colored with Copic pens. It is difficult to see in the photo, but I added some black Pearl Pen to the centers of the flowers for some dimension.

I often have a difficult time using vellum, but it gives such a unique and soft look so I used it for the sentiment (Hero Arts CL476).

Have a lovely week as we enter Spring! Thanks for looking.

Irish - It's All in a Name! Or Not.

Everyone assumes that I am Irish because of my name. I have always loved my name, but I am not Irish. My roots are Scottish and German/Pennsylvania Dutch. But, as they say, we are all Irish on St. Patrick's Day!

I am posting this today as a mini-memorial for my dear friend Jill's beloved Patrick, for my Irish cousins (the Rileys) in New York state, for two amazingly inspirational Irish blogging buddies Heather Maria and Deirdre - and for all of you. This will be entered into this week's Simon Says Stamp Challenge, a Bit O' Green. Enjoy the day and don't drink too much green beer.

CAS-ual Fridays Sentiment Focus

I have made this fun and simple card for the CAS-ual Fridays current challenge to use sentiments as the focus. The sponsor is SRM stickers, to which I was introduced awhile ago by one of my dear blogging buddies, Virginia Lu.


I pulled out my SRM Stickers and one of my favorite old Paula Best stamps for this card. The image is colored with Prisma Colored Pencils. I kept it flat for easy mailing (those 65 cent stamps are killing me - ha!).

These challenges are new to me, but they have really expanded my thinking about putting cards together - fun!

Thanks for coming by.

Mother's Day Card and My New Photo

Good Morning!

Today I have a Mother's Day card that I made for the current challenge at Simon Says Stamp. I made it with a new Memory Box stamp called "Dogwood Branch" (F1847). I know - I have never seen a blue dogwood - call it artist's license! I kind of went crazy buying Memory Box papers, stamps and dies last week from the Spring 2012 collection - I love them. I pretty much CASED (that stands for Copy and Steal Everything!) a card from the website, so I can't call this an original design. But it was fun! My dear Aunt loves dogwoods, so this is for her. The sentiment is Hero Arts CL498. I love the softness and the colors.

I also want to thank so many of you for your positive comments on my new blog photo! You are most kind. My previous photo was quite dated and, I am happy to report, with a year of very serious dieting/portion control and regular rigorous exercise (no gastric surgery!), I have lost about 80 pounds. It hasn't been easy, but I feel great. I do think that I look significantly older - I miss my chubby rosy cheeks, as seen in this photo that was used when I was Moxie Fabber of the Week back in August, 2011!

I still have a long way to go, but I know that I can do it. My husband, family and friends have been so understanding and supportive. I can't believe that I actually like exercising now! Thanks again to each of you.

Thanks for checking in and have a great week.

Thanks to my blogger buddy, Sheila!

I have just returned from several days out of town and find that one of my dear blogging buddies, Sheila has awarded me the "Leibster Award"! Apparently Leibster is German for "dearest", which is something I am hardly ever called. "Smart Aleck",  maybe.....ha! The award is a type of "share the love" gesture or arrangement that is given to inspirational bloggers with fewer than 200 followers (I have 40).


Please check out dear Sheila's wonderful blog, "Color Me Happy".  She shares her happiness, her joy of crafting, some precious gems about her lovely family, and lots of wonderful and funny stories. She is a true ray of sunshine!

So, the rules are that I need to:

1. Thank the giver and link back to her blog
2. Reveal my five (5) picks
3. Copy and paste the award on my blog
4. Hope that those who I have selected will forward it on to their favorite bloggers

It is difficult to select only five bloggers who inspire me. There are so many of you. Some are very "famous" and some, like me are just in it for the fun. I start most of my days checking in with several blogs. Since I am limited to five bloggers, I will share (in alphabetical order)with you:

Anita from "Crafty Girl Designs" - not only does she have a wonderful card-making style, she makes the most amazing wreaths which she shares on her sweet blog! We also get some insights into her dear family. Check it out.

Barb of "Enjoying Life!", who was my very first blogging pal. She is the dearest gal - always has a positive word for us all. And her cards are to die for! She has so many responsibilities here online and at home, I don't know know how she does it - but she does, and with such grace!

Dana of "Reliving Tomorrow" is one uniquely talented gal. She is a real sweetheart, with wonderful projects, sincerely kind words of encouragement, and she is a Filmo crafter and a designer for Staedtelr! How she does it all is beyond me - but she rocks!

Helen of "Handmade Cards by Helen" had become a special friend. Her cards are adorable and she is so good about entering lots of challenges! Check out her sweet blog.

Jen, of "JENerally Speaking" has inspired me in so many ways. She has a terrific graphic style that knocks my sox off and she has a huge heart, especially for furry friends.

Thanks again to dear Sheila for this and for causing me to pause and really appreciate what talent and kindness we have here in blogland - we are all so blessed with each other.

Apricot Trigger

Time for another Tuesday Trigger from Cath over at Moxie Fab World. Check out this delicious trigger:

 

I have such wonderful memories of summer weekends picking apricots with my parents - biting into a warm one and letting it drip down my chin! Somehow they just don't taste the same anymore. Ah, the golden memories of my youth.......

Here is the CAS (clean and simple) card - inspired by the CAS beauties made by one of my dear blogger buddies, Cheiron -  I made based on this wonderful trigger.

This is going to my Aunt in New York who is celebrating her 92nd birthday. Thanks for looking and have a great weekend. We are headed to southern California to visit my Dad. Lots of car time, but we make it fun. See you next week!

Hey, Hey - Beep Beep

What is this? A second post in one day! Oh, my goodness!  She must have too much time on her hands. Nah; actually, I wanted to share this quickie and enter it into a challenge.

As I mentioned here on Monday, I found a source for some really cute digital stamps (to which I go kicking and screaming - ha! I do love that ink!!), Meljen's Designs. While I was there I picked up this cute image for our robot-loving nephew and I colored it up for their current challenge to use orange. I must say, it was fun!

I popped up and embellished the electrical panel on his tummy and added some aluminum foil. I used Paper Smootches "Boob Tube" for the cover sentiment and Hero Arts CL242 for the envelope and inside sentiment.

I was wondering....do you think that robots the new version of the Tin Man? Does he need a heart? As I said, too much time on my hands. Thanks for looking!

Hey, Baby - CAS-ual Fridays

I have been lurking around the CAS-ual Fridays Blog for several months now, just checking it out. It is all about what we call clean and simple card designs, which can be a seriously tough challenge. All I can think about is that saying, "Keep it simple, stupid!" Ha! You might want to check it out - the galleries there are very inspiring and the challenges are fun - there are even prizes.

This week's challenge is "Hey, Baby" and it just so happens that I need a baby card, so I decided to jump on in. I have used Hero Arts CL144, Baby Boy (but it works for girls!), a paper doily and some hand-dyed silk ribbon. I love the square format, even though it requires extra postage.

Does this qualify as simple? Hope so! Have a great day and thanks for looking!

Reluctantly Digital

Happy Monday! We had a beautiful weekend here in northern California, but our hearts are with those who are dodging Mother Nature - take good care!

My friend Mary is the neatest, nicest, knittingest gal that I know. I wanted to make her a special card, but I couldn't find a great knitting-themed stamp anywhere. So, I reluctantly went digital - something in which I have just had no interest. There is just something about having that ink hit the paper, if you know what I mean.

I poked around the internet and found this cute digital stamp from Meljen's Designs. This site is very user-friendly, the prices are fair and the designs are very sweet. They even have Freebies!

I colored this little guy with Copics, used my Spellbinders and Memory Box dies, and I added a vintage button from my stash. The tiny sentiment is Hero Arts CL414. Fun!

Old News!

I don't usually post on weekends, but one of my super-fun blogging buddies, Jen (check out here blog here) introduced me to the Flashback Friday Challenge. What a total kick!

How does it work? You are asked to share your "first" card that you ever posted that represents the current challenge.  You need to dig way back and find the project that matches the challenge and repost the picture in your new blog entry.

What if just seeing the project again makes you cringe? That's part of the fun - to see how we're all growing as cardmakers and crafters! And, there are prizes! This time there is a gift certificate from "Paper and Such". This Fun, or what?

Jen is the guest designer and she has challenged us to post our first paper-pieced card. So, I found the very first ever card that I posted and I had paper-pieced it. This was in July of 2010, before I even had a blog and was just posting on flickr!

For this card I used Hero Arts CL346 and CL33 plus a sampling from my collection of vintage cookbooks. At the time I thought this card was pretty deluxe! I remember spending most of an afternoon on it. Actually, I may just revisit & update this theme - it is kind of cute!

Thanks for sharing my walk down nostalgia's path and thanks to Jen for sharing this fun site! 

To those in Mother Nature's pathway during this nasty tornado season - you are in our thoughts and prayers.

Home Sweet Home

As Many of you know, Cath over at Moxie Fab World hosts a fun challenge called the "Tuesday Trigger". I wasn't going to play along this time, but the other day I was re-organizing my craft supplies (sometimes I think I spend more time doing that than using them!) and I found this adorable chipboard house (Thickers by American Crafts). So, I put a halt to my organizing and started crafting.

The trigger this time is this "Home Sweet Home" photo of a quilted knob-hanger.Too darn cute, eh?

I made my own little knob-hanger. Many of my cabinet knobs, lamp switches and other handy appendages have something cute & homemade hanging from them.....gives the place a special look, don't ya think? Drives my husband crazy, as they come flying off at the most inopportune times. Never a dull moment around here!

Back to my project. I started with a Sizzix heart die cut (yep, another cereal box!) which I filled in with quilt-like paper pieces (K&Company). I stamped it with Hero Arts Designer Woodgrain (S5208) and used Distress Inks. I added vintage lace, rick-rack and a piece of tape measure from my garage sales stash, a little heart button and some pearls (to represent the dots on the Trigger). I completed the look with a small banner (Mini Market Cream and Red Letters, October Afternoon).

You have until Sunday to join in, so please check it out! Have a wonderful weekend and thanks for dropping by my sweet home.