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.

Water Birds

I have been spending so much time out in the yard - the green things and my roses have really gotten carried away out there!  I wanted to take advantage of the good weather to get things trimmed up, cut back and fed. But that means not much time in the studio or on the computer. Hope to catch up soon.

I was inspired by the Designer Drafts Challenge at Paper Smooches SPARKS this week. My Distress Stains had been calling my name and this was the perfect chance to use them (and some Perfect Pearls) for a fun background. This card doesn't look like something I would normally make, but I guess that is what challenges are all about.

I turned the sketch upside down and used Paper Smooches "Surf and Turf" and "Geo-Graphic".

Sure wish I had more time to play with this - I really like this sketch.

Hope you are having a good one! Take care and thanks for the visit.

Bold and Funky

Happy Monday, everyone!

I needed a bold and fun card for a friend - this is it.

A wild color combination and lots going on!  I used my standard "glamor" stamp (Inky Antics H2-0865-F) and some bold papers to put it together.

That is the Simon Says Stamp Folded Banner die and coordinating stamps - LOVE it!

I added a butterfly with an ek success triple layer punch (but only 2 of the layers work). Doing so qualifies this for an entry (my second) into the current Simon Says Stamp "Things with Wings" challenge.

Thanks for the peek - have a great week!

So Swell!

 My dear brother-in-law and his wife are amazing sailors, so the current Trend Watch Challenge at Paper Smooches SPARKS, with a nautical theme, is just perfect.  I loved creating this fun ocean scene (if you want to see some seriously amazing card scenes, check out my pal Robin's website).


Paper Smooches stamps used include: Surf

and Turf; He Said, She Said; Vegtastic; Spiffy Scooters and the Sailboat Wise Die. The yummy patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye, Indie Chic - Nutmeg and the water is torm vellum colored with Copics.

Thanks for the visit - have a great weekend. No sailing for me - I get sea-sick!

Happy Mother's Day to all who qualify (I do not).

A little homage to my wonderful Mom, who I miss every single day. She was my best pal, an amazing Mother, a spectacular RN - so full of talent, fun, & unconditional love. Oh, yeah - she sure had great legs!

On the Wings of...

an OWL! I just adore owls.

This card is one I developed for a recent class I taught to some new card-makers. They loved it.



The sunshine was a little too bright (it IS sunny California!) for this photo, so I added a close-up.

This is perfect for the current Simon Says Stamp challenge "Things with Wings" and the 2 Creative Chicks current challenge to use googly eyes (love 'em!). I also just became aware of a Linky Party at Craftin Desert Diva's to use a pun. Sounds like phun, so I will enter this there, too.

Stamps: Hero Arts Newspaper Owl (5562) & Stripes and Frame set (657858); A Muse Artstamps (8-8456B0) for the sentiment and, for the inside sentiment ("Owl Be Thinking of You Today"), Stampendous (E269).

Happy Mail

I often return to making this card (with changes and in several versions) when I want to send along some special happy mail, so it is perfect for the current Simon Says Stamp challenge.

This stamp (Hero Arts G5416) always makes me smile. The background is Hero Arts and Sizzix Stripes and Frame set (657858). I white embossed on kraft paper and used some vintage embellishments.

Crazy fun!

Thanks for the visit and hope you are having a glorious day!

Home Again!

After a couple of wonderful weeks visiting with my family and then several days at our place in the Napa Valley we are settling back into our "normal" routines.

I hope to visit all of your blogs and the Hero Arts Flickr page very soon to catch up on all of the wonderful creations I have missed!

A quick post today to share a Mother's Day card I made for my dear Aunt using My Mind's Eye "the sweetest day" collection of 6" x 6" papers and coordinating enamel dots (love them!).

Stamps are Hero Arts CL596 and CL498. I was inspired by this lovely card made by the super-talented Lin.

Travels are fun, but we are happy to be home again. See you very soon and have a great week.

One more quickie!

I thought I was done blogging because we are heading out on a trip, but I realized that our niece, who is a professional photographer, has a birthday and needs a card. What a great way to use the current Paper Smooches SPARKS designer challenge.




I thought it would be funny to use a camera and have the Paper Smooches image "break" through the lens. The lens is glossed up with Glossy Accents.

Silly and fun, eh? Love those Paper Smooches animals!

This time I will really say good-by for awhile.....be good and I'll miss you all.

Hopin' for good traveling weather, 

A Quick Hello

and then, good-bye again! Retirement is so darn busy.

Just home for a short while and I wanted to make a quick post in honor of Simon Says Stamp's fourth birthday! They are the most amazing company - great products, excellent customer service - they've got it all going on.

This week's challenge at their blog is for birthday cards, and this is mine. I used the Elzbell's 60073 stamp to make the background and the others are Hero Arts F5495 and CL148.

We are headed to parts east to visit family and sight-see a bit. I hope to hook up with my super-talented blogging buddy Robin while there - won't that be a blast?

In the meantime, I hope to catch up with your wonderful blogs. I will check in when we return. Do take care - I'll miss you!

Thanks, as always, for the visit!