It's Time to Say Goodbye for Just a While

It is with some sadness that I must say goodbye but it will be for just a short while.  I am moving and tomorrow the Internet will be shut down until I get into my new place.  It will be too many days before I even find my craft supplies again and can make some new projects to share with you.  In the meantime, if you have any questions about placing a Stampin' Up! order or scheduling a Workshop, just send me an e-mail and I'll answer back within 24 hours.

For now, enjoy some pretty Autumn colors.  I'll be back soon.

Until next time...happy creating!

My Day of Rest and Worship

The word of the Lord endureth forever.

1 Peter 1:25

It's Box City!

The packing is coming right along and trust me when I say, I wish it was done and the move was over.  It has sure cut into my creative time.  I have all of these ideas floating around in my head for Christmas gifts and it's making me crazy that I can't get to work on them.  Most of my craft supplies are in sealed boxes and I'm forcing myself not to rip into them.

The box mountain is slowly growing.  The boxes you see are only the a fraction of what's left.  Sad, isn't it!  I still have the kitchen and part of the bedroom.  Oh, let's not forget all the craft supplies.  There are only three small boxes of those in the stacks you see.  Ugh...

The only think I know for sure about tomorrow morning is, I'm going to play with some of my new Stampin' Up! products before they are put in boxes.  So, tomorrow I'll actually have a new project or two to share with you.

Until next time...happy creating!

My Day of Rest and Worship

Rejoice ye in that day, and leap for joy:  for, behold, your reward is great in heaven.

Luke 6:23

Nic's 7th Birthday

It's hard to believe that my next to the youngest grandson is seven today.  Where has the time gone?  Nic and his brother Zac spent the morning with me and made bottle cap necklaces.  They were fascinated by the melting embossing powder.  I have to admit it is fun to watch.

I kept Nic's birthday card very clean and simple.  Being a boy, he just is not into being careful.  :-)  You just gotta love him!

The patterned paper is from Fancy Pants Down by the Shore paper pad.  I love those little whales!

Until next time...happy creating!

No Time to Play!

Over the next few weeks my time to create is going to be very limited.  I'm going to try to post a couple of times a week but that may not happen.  Sigh... I'm moving and I've kept only a few of my craft supplies out just so I can get my fingers in the ink once in a while until I'm moved and unpacked again.  The boxes are being packed and the stacks are growing in my living room.  I try to do one room at a time but that just never seems to happen.  I get a box so full then it's time to add some light weight things to finish it up which, of course, are always in another room.  It's a never ending battle.

To top it all off, the leaves are changing and the days are very cool, in the 50s.  There is going to be no time to take a drive and enjoy the beauty.  Hmm?  I'm headed to my grandson's birthday party on Saturday.  I may just leave early and take the long way just to soak in some of the color.

Until next time...happy creating!

My Day of Rest and Worship

Whosoever shall give drink unto one of these little ones a cup of cold water . . . he shall in no wise lose his reward.

Matthew 10:42

Happy Birthday to You

You know, you can never have too many birthday cards.  There is just one problem, the birthdays I have coming up in the next couple of months are for my sons and grandsons.  Guess I need to get busy with some guy designs.  For now, here is my latest gal card.  I used more of my Graphic 45 Secret Garden patterned paper and I love how the coral and blue come together.

Stamp Set:  Botanical Bookplates Vol. 1; Ink:  Tim Holtz Vintage Photo (Ranger); Card Stock:  Very vanilla and Calypso Coral (Stampin' Up!), Secret Garden Patterned Pape3r (Graphic 45); Accessories & Tools:  Square Lattice Embossing Folder, 1/4" Calypso Coral Ribbon and Pearl Basic Jewels (Stampin' Up!), Pop Dots, Blending Tool

I've used this design before and really like the way it looks.  I think it would be pretty as a Christmas Card.  I may just have to give that a try.

Until next time...happy creating!

Pretty and Pink

Yes, it is possible to make a card without stamping an image or sentiment.  Will wonders never cease!  I know it's way to early for Valentine's Day but I was in the mood for something simple and different.  This sweet little design fit the bill perfectly.  It is not often I use pink so my friend, Heather, should be so pleased.

The sentiment was printed using an Inkssentials White Opaque Pen.  For the card base I used Pink Pirouette and Rose Red card stock from Stampin' Up!  The patterned paper is from Jillibean-Soup's Grandma's Lima Bean Soup.  Punches, dies, twine, eyelets and rhinestones finish it off.  The inside has a strip of the patterned paper with a Pink Pirouette heart attached to it.

Until next time...happy creating!

It's Time To Vote!

Hello everyone.  It's time for you to vote for your People's Choice Guest Designer over at Flourishes.  They had a contest for their December Guest Designer spots and I decided to play along.  Now it's your turn to help that dream come true.  Click the link above or the image below to go to the voting booth!  You have until October 14th at 11:59pm CST to cast your vote.

Here is the card I submitted for the contest.

Until next time. . .happy creating!

Christmas with a Twist

It's Flourishes October Release Challenge and I can't wait to see what new Christmas themed stamp sets they will have for us.  So, the challenge was to create a Christmas design without using traditional Christmas colors thus, the Christmas with a Twist.  Okay, no red, no green; not a problem.  Since blue is my favorite, of course it was the first color that came to my mind.

Rather than add a sentiment to the front of the card, I put it on the inside.  I kept the design clean and simple and let the beautiful image be the focal point.  Flourishes Christmas Candles Stamp Set is another favorite.  It's the one I'm using for all the cards I'll be making and sending to family and friends this year.

Stamp Set:  Flourishes Christmas Candles; Ink:  Stampin' Up! Night of Navy; Card Stock:  Flourishes Classic White, Stampin' Up! Night of Navy, Bo Bunny Powder Mountain Collection; Accessories & Tools:  Spellbinders Tear Drop Circles Die, 1/4" White Grosgrain Ribbon, Clear Rhinestones

If you would like to join in for a chance to win the whole October Release, click the image below for all the specifics.  I can't wait to see the new stamp sets!

Until next time...happy creating!

Harvest of Plenty

A bow and a new sketch.  Today I used the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches to create this card for the Crazy 4 Challenges Bows Challenge.  Whew!  Can you tell I love challenges?  And, sketches make it so easy to put a card together.  To find out more about the sketch and challenge I used today, just click on the links above.

Stamp Set:  Harvest Expressions (Inkadinkado); Ink:  Early Espresso (Stampin' Up!); Card Stock:  Crumb Cake, Bravo Burgundy, Cajun Craze and various other colors (Stampin' Up!), Feels Like Home Paper Pack (Little Yellow Bicycle); Accessories & Tools:  Tim Holtz Autumn Gatherings Strip Die (Sizzix), Smooch Pearlized Top Coat, Crystal Effects and 1/4" Calypso Coral Ribbon (Stampin' Up!), Clear Rhinestones

I love Autumn!  Can you tell?  I've been making a lot of fall cards.  Now, I'm off to make a birthday card for my oldest son, Wayne.  His birthday is Saturday and we are getting together for some cake and ice cream.

Until next time...happy creating!

Marsha's Garden Fairy

It's another Timeless Tuesday Challenge and this one was so much fun!  One of the requirements was to do some paper piecing, not to be confused with paper piercing, two very different techniques.  What's more, those who enter have a chance to become a Guest Designer for Flourishes.  Now that would be beyond exciting!  All you have to do is follow the challenge specifics to be considered.

For my card, I used one of the images from the Garden Fairies stamp set.  The main image was stamped on Classic White card stock using Tuxedo Black ink.  I used colored pencils for the grass and flower stem.  Each segment I paper pieced used a different patterned paper for the flower, the dress, the wings and the butterfly.  The image didn't stamp well on the silver glitter paper, so I used a black colored pencil to show the detail in her wings as well as on the butterfly.

I added the sentiment to the inside of the card because I wanted the image to be the focal point of the card.

Stamp Set:  Garden Fairies;  Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Card Stock:  Classic White (Flourishes), Silver & Gold Collection (Bo Bunny), Vintage Christmas (My Mind's Eye), Silver Glitzy Glitter (DCWV); Accessories & Tools:  White Organdy Ribbon, Silver Rhinestones, Standard Circles Dies (Spellbinder), 1-3/4" Circle Punch (Stampin' Up!), Pop Dots, Glue Dots, Big Shot Die-Cutting Machine

If you want to more details about the challenge and special contest, click the image below.  There is still time for you to join in the challenge.

This stamp set is one of my favorites.  I loved reading about fairies and fairy tales when I was a girl.  And, yes, I still believe in fairy tales!

Until next time...happy creating!

Happy Thanksgiving

Today I'm playing along with a new, to me, challenge over at CAS-ual Fridays.  The challenge was to use a Fall color palette and at least one leaf in a clean and simple design.  It also gave me the opportunity to use one of the cut files I have for my Silhouette SD.

The leaves have now started to change here in Iowa.  The trees out my front door are adding a touch of golden yellow to their branches.  I think this weekend will be a good one to go check how much Fall color is out there.  Another week or two and should be beautiful.

 

Stamp Set:  Teeny Tiny Wishes (Stampin' Up!); Inks:  Tim Holtz Vintage Photo (Ranger), Soft Suede (Stampin' Up!); Card Stock:  Whisper White, Soft Suede and Tangerine Tango (Stampin' Up!), Happy Harvest Patterned Paper (Doodlebug Design); Accessories & Tools:  Leaves Silhouette Cut File, Tim Holtz Candy Stripes Embossing Folder (Sizzix), Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder,  Large Oval Punch and Scallop Oval Punch (Stampin' Up!), Pearl Glimmer Mist (Tattered Angels), Clear Gems, Pop Dots

The Glimmer Mist is hard to see in the photo but it gave the whole card a very pretty shimmer. Now it's time for you to go check out all the other talented designers.  Just click the image below to head over to CAS-ual Fridays.

For me, it's time to go make some bows.  I have my week all planned out and it's a busy one!  You'll find me most days and evenings sitting at my craft table inking and stamping and cutting and gluing and just plain having fun.

Until next time. . .happy creating!