Garden Set

I had so much fun the other day coloring up some images from the  Lockhart Stamp Company that I decided to make a little gift set of garden note cards. I was inspired by the Card Set Challenge over at Moxie Fab World. I haven't joined up with one of Cath's challenges for quite some time.

All the stamps are Lockhart colored with Prismacolor pencils, the patterned paper is Bo Bunny's "Country Garden" and the dots are Candi. For the simple packaging, I decided to keep with the grocery/kitchen theme and use a brown bag and a Sizzix embossing folder with some twine.

I particularly love this artichoke. When we first moved to California, there was a plant in the backyard and my parents had no idea what it was - they had to ask the neighbors! They are kind of crazy, but one of my favorite veggies. Dad always said that it is the one thing that, after you eat it, you have more than before you started!

There is still time for you to enter this fun challenge - do check it out! I can't wait for the Farmer's Markets to get into full swing so we can actually taste these garden delights.

Thanks for the visit!

Lockhart Flowers - Sweet and Simple

It has been some time since I colored up some Lockhart and Company stamps. They are so sweet and Karen Lockhart (I've had the pleasure of taking several classes from her) is such a talent and a very dear soul.

I love coloring up these images with Prismacolor colored pencils. It is so therapeutic! I keep the card designs simple because the stamped images are so detailed.

I wish the light had been a little better on this photo, but it is overcast here this morning.

I plan to enter this in this week's Simon Says Stamp challenge, Flower Power. I'm not sure if Simon carries Lockhart stamps, but he should!


We are heading to wine country for a long weekend. Sure hope your weekend is great. Thanks for the visit and I'll catch up with you next week.

One more for TDay!

Since I was traveling most of October I am very late this year with making Thanksgiving cards. That means I am also late with Christmas cards. Ah, well....I am still going to relax and enjoy the holidays.

One last Thanksgiving card for someone very special. I have been playing with my new Sizzix Circle Flip-Its Die. Such fun, especially considering that I used to make this type of card with regular cutting and scoring. It is such a great interactive format!

As you may know, I am a huge fan of Lockhart Stamp Company stamps and this one is perfect for fall and coloring. I've taken several classes from Karen Lockhart and she is simply amazing! This sentiment is an old Stampin' Up favorite.

I'll be hooking this up for the Simon Says Stamp Thanksgiving/Thank You challenge. 

Yep, you caught a glimpse of my metallic purple nails for Thanksgiving - they go great with turkey and fixin's.

I'm unplugging for the rest of the week. Wishing all of my American friends a blessed holiday. Gary and I continue to send prayers to all of nasty Sandy's poor victims and wish them our very best.

Thanks for looking in here!

Minty Pears

I decided to jump on board Cath's Minty Fresh Challenge over at Moxie Fab World. I haven't done a challenge over there for some time and I've missed it! Cath is such a source of sweet inspiration.

As you know I am a huge fan of Lockhart Stamp Company stamps. Several months ago I took an amazing class from Karen Lockhart where she taught us great techniques for coloring with Prisma colored pencils. I hope to take another class from her in October.

I thought pears would look just peachy on a mint background. Have you ever had a minty poached pear? Yum!

For this card I used Lockhart's #2068 pears stamp, Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler and some Lawn Fawn paper. I wanted to keep it pretty simple to focus on the image.

Green is probably my least favorite color, but I do like mint green. My hubby's favorite flavor of ice cream is mint chocolate chip, but I think it tastes like mouthwash! We are still the perfect "pear"!

Thanks for being here and have a minty-cool day! Have a glorious weekend - see yu next week.

Circles and Balls

Some of you may remember that I recently took part in a 2-week+ long job doing product testing - testing chewing gum. I am not permitted to discuss it, but suffice it to say - all the chewing, describing and analyzing..... it took a big bite out me!

This morning I wanted to make a card for one of my co-chewers and I saw the current CAS-ual Fridays Challenge to use 2 circles (and twine - it is sponsored by the Twinery). One might say that this card has lots of circles, if you count the gum balls and the scallops, but I am counting only the two big buttons.

This is another great stamp from Lockhart Stamp Company. They have such fun designs and they are located right here in California! I colored it up with my Prisma colored pencils.

I am looking forward to a great weekend (it is a rare one because we are staying home) - I sure hope yours is wonderful. I plan to get the red, white and blue bunting on the front porch, get the strawberries picked and get my bicycle decorated for the 4th of July!

Yes, Virginia.....

you've inspired me once again! Have you all gotten to know one of the card-making blogger world's most wonderful talents? Virginia Lu has been inspiring me and others for years. She is not only super-talented, but lots of fun and she has a HUGE heart.

Virginia recently posted a great photo taken by her daughter of her son's cello group - is there talent in those genes or what?! She challenged us to use the colorful photo as inspiration for a card.

For my card I got out another of my treasured Lockhart Stamp Co. stamps, combined it with Prismacolor Pencils, some sheet music and an SRM Sticker (from Virginia!). Great colorful fun. Thanks for ALL you do, Virginia - you are a real gem! Have a great day.

Baby Quilt

Lockhart Stamp Co. #2024, HA CL144

There is big news in the crafting world! Jennifer McGuire and family have welcomed a new little soul - Lila Grace (don't you just love that name?) who was born on Mother's Day. Jennifer's friend Jana is organizing a card-making event to welcome the little sweetheart. Everyone is welcome to join in. Jennifer is such an amazing talent and loving Mom. The crafting world is blessed to have her.


I am not really a quilt maker, but I have this wonderful stamp from Lockhart Stamp Company that I have been wanting to use. I am also just NOT a baby pink person, so I used one of my favorite color combos. Too bright for a baby? I don't think so!

Congrats to Jennifer and Ken and the wonderful big brother and sisters - what joyful news!

Some of the quilt squares are gingham, so I am entering this in the Moxie Fab World Card Creations Week "Gingham Challenge".

Have a great weekend - we are off to our Hideaway!

I Scream

for ice cream! I am actually not a big fan of ice cream, but whatever - it is cute.

Hi, pals! I am just home from a few days away in time to quickly post another entry for the current Simon Says Stamp challenge, "Sweet Tooth" and for the Gingham Challenge at Moxie Fab World.

This is another wonderful Lockhart Stamp Company image that I colored with Prisma Pencils. I kept it clean & simple, too.

I hope to catch up with most of you tomorrow, but then we are off again on another week-long road trip. Having Gary retired has certainly changed my crafting life!

Lockhart Stamp Company

Before I head out of town for a few days I want to share with you about an amazing class that I took last weekend. Do you know Lockhart Stamps? I have loved them for a few years - the designs are so sweet, simple and fun to color. And, the company is right here in northern California! Check it out - the website is very cool.

When I heard that my "local" scrapbook store was hosting Karen Lockhart to teach an introduction to color pencils class I was jumping with excitement. Not only is Karen a wonderful artist and designer, she is a great & really fun gal. She uses Prisma Pencils, which I have used extensively since high school.

Karen taught us some amazing coloring techniques, including laying down multiple layers of gradients of color. These cherries have four layers of color, starting with sand and a very pale pink and ending with a deep Tuscan red. There are some great Tips and Techniques on her website.

With this image I wanted to keep the card clean and simple. The gingham is for the current challenge at Moxie Fab World and the cherries are for the Sweet Tooth challenge at Simon Says Stamp.

I'm heading out for a few days - sorry, no blogging or comments on your lovely work. Take care!