Birds on my Brain

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies and happy Monday!

We just returned from a wonderful visit to California's beautiful central coast. That area has always been a favorite of mine. We are so blessed that so much of California's unique coastline has public access - a gift to us all.

Anyway, I have had birds on my mind because I want to make a set of cards for a friend who is seriously into them - she is president of a bird group and an all-around great gal.

I took advantage of Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, which is "Clean and Simple". This is never easy for me, but when I am making cards as a gift for someone I like to keep them that way for easy mailing.

The Design Team used Hero Arts stamps, so I did too! This uses old favorites, Newspaper Bird (H5580), Friendship Definition (CG125), and Everyday Sayings (CL342) on kraft papers. Still having trouble with photos here in the new digs.

Have a fantastic week and thanks for the visit!

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge

Hi, Bloggin' Buddies!

Just a quick post today - it is too darn beautiful outside to remain inside for too long! I don't usually do many challenges, but this Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge, Make Your Own Background, just pulled my strings. How much better does it get?

I used a Hero Arts background stamp (Looped Flower) with my amazing Gansai Tambi watercolors to create a colorful background for the great Avery Elle "Happy" die. Love the combo.

Hope you are having a grad weekend! Thanks for the visit!

Crazy Fun

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

As you know, I don't "let go" and create silly very often. But I was in need of some bright colors and some fun. So I took advantage of Ellen Hutson's "Mix It Up Challenge" over at the CLASSroom.

We are to mix it up with Essentials by Ellen and Lawn Fawn. How fun is that?

I mixed up some Essentials by Ellen dies with some Lawn Fawn paper and a stamp to make this crazy card.  I die cut four layers of the "Prize Stag" to make him pop. And the speech bubble is heat embossed for some super-shine. I'm still having problems photographing at our new house.

Essentials by Ellen - Prize Stag and Laurel Wreath dies

Lawn Fawn - Chit Chat stamps/dies, Bright Side Petite Paper Pack

Happy Monday!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

I was up early and read about the Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge which is all about "the middle". Check it out and play along - you have all week!

Well, it got me to thinking (AFTER I had my coffee) about how we are in the middle of a terrible drought here in California. And, we have a friend who has been told by her doctor that she needs to drink more water, preferably in the middle of the day. So, I got the idea to put a jar of water in the middle of a bunch of other jars. Silly? Maybe, but I like it!

I used Hero Arts CL673 "Love Jar" and matching die and the perfect paper from Studio Calico's "South of Market" 6x6 pad.I added a sheet of vellum (I'm trying not to be so afraid of that stuff - it scares me!) to soften the background paper. I embossed the lemon slice and popped it up. A simple card.

Drink up and thanks for the visit.

Let's Get Outside!

Hello, dear Bloggin' Buddies!

I hope you are having a great weekend. We are enjoying some perfect weather (but we'll take more rain, please). It is the time of year that we love to get outside - before it gets too hot.

We have met some new friends here who have amazing adventurous spirits. They are always going somewhere or doing something exciting.

I wanted to make them a special card after they told me about their amazing parents who, in the 1940's and later, hiked and camped in some pretty desolate and exciting places and produced documentary films. Simply amazing folks.

This card uses Hero Art's Lattice background, die-cut stars from "Essentials by Ellen", my terrific Gansai Tambi watercolor paints and some computer-generated words.


Thanks so much for the visit. Have a lovely Sunday.

Happy Easter, Happy Spring!

Hello, Bloggin' Buddies!

I wasn't going to make any Easter cards this year (for many reasons.....), but when I got this great layered flower stamp set from Stampin' Up I knew that I had to pair it with my MISTI (Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented) to see what might happen.

Incredible.  I made four of these cards in no time. Many companies are making these fun layered flower stamp sets and, while I have never been much on floral designs, I am so taken by the great look they achieve.

This post is short because there is so much going on - all good!

Wishing you a blessed Easter and/or a lovely Spring! Thanks for the visit.