Singing the Blues.....

Not really, I am actually very happy and blessed! I just thought that was a good title to highlight the card I made for the current "Cure for the Blues Winter Challenge" over at Moxie Fab World. Anyway, in here California we don't get the winter blues, unless you're talking about the skies (sorry, my eastern pals!).

When I saw this challenge I immediately thought about a technique that I tried about a year ago called "Delft Tile". It involves scoring and masking and it was such fun and I wanted to work more with it. For this card I used Hero Arts CL488 and CG245 and a perfect piece of ribbon (see how nicely it ties?) that was given to me quite awhile ago by my dear blogging buddy, Barb.

I also plan to enter this in the Simon Say's Stamp Challenge which is "Anything Goes". Check it out and play along!

Have a great day - no blues allowed! - and thanks for looking!

Such Sweet Inspiration!

A dear blogger buddy, Virginia Lu, has been offering up lots of inspiration for a long time. Her blog has lots of beautiful cards, nifty ideas, funny family stories and lovely photographs. Now it is official - she is on the Design Team at the wonderful Lily Pad Cards. There she offers up a monthly challenge called "Virginia's View". Check it out!

This moth's inspiration for her challenge is this lovely photograph. Aren't the colors great? Love them! In addition, this optional sketch was also provided. This was such a fun inspiration.

I used my all-time ever favorite cupcake stamp, Hero Arts F5495. It is so versatile! I love to use it for paper piecing, layering, and all sorts of fun stuff. Here, I coupled it with a sentiment from Hero Arts CL139, a dotted Swiss Cuttlebug embossing folder, an eksucess edger punch and some colorful buttons from my stash. What a bright and happy card, eh? Thanks, Virginia!

It was a glorious weekend in the Napa Valley! I just love our little "Hideaway". We swim in the warm mineral water, relax (no phones, no t.v. and no internet!), ride bikes and just enjoy the beauty. Thanks to you all for all your good wishes - my post-op recovery is going so well. I'm even back in the pool! Thanks for checking in and have a wonderful week!

The Infirmary is Closed and I'm Ready for Some Fun!

Thanks for all of your good wishes, positive thoughts and prayers! They all worked. I am doing quite well recovering from my surgery - every day is better! The body is a real miracle! I just need to regain some of my strength and resume my normal routine of exercise and well-being. I have sure missed all of your inspiration, ideas, support and lovely card designs. I can't wait to catch up with each of you. Thanks so much!

What a better way to return than using up some of that patterned paper? Those wonderful gals over at Lily Pad Cards are hosting another Simon Says Stamp Challenge. This one requires the use of patterned paper!

I decided to make a folded Dahlia (instructions here for your use), using two-sided paper.  I made a tag-style get well card. The paper is from K&Company and the stamps are Hero Arts CL414 and CL490. I added some hand-dyed silk ribbon from my stash.

Thanks again for stopping by! I am off to enjoy some of our unseasonably warm California weather.

Closed for Repairs

Not repairs to my blog, to me! I'm headed in for some surgery which we hope will finally make me all better. I will more than likely be "offline" for about 2-3 weeks, so not to worry. I will miss you all - all your sweet comments, encouragement & amazing inspiration. And to all you silly spammers - give it a break! xox

Scavenger Hunt!

When Cath announced her "Around the House Challenge" over at Moxie Fab World, I knew that I had to play along. I am a master at recycling and this is my chance. One night I couldn't even sleep, just thinking about it. My husband said, "What do you care? You were already Moxie Fabber of the week?". He just doesn't get it - it is all about the challenge!

I had my basic idea, but the next morning I went hunting. Did I ever find some treasures! These are the ones I used:

 

• dressmaker's pins
• various washers
• a snap
• packing cardboard
• wire
• a pot scrubber
• staples
• aluminum foil

Can you find them all?

Warning: Do not attempt to take this card through a metal detector!

The regular supplies I used include Rocket Age paper by October Afternoon, googly eyes (what else?), Hero Arts "Robots" (CL242), and the funny sentiment is Paper Smooches "Boob Tube".

This was great fun! You can join in - the deadline is February 13th (that's Valentine's Day Eve). I hope I never have to tuck this into an envelope, that's for sure!

Happy Heart (don't ya love 'em?!) Month! Thanks for looking!

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!