Happily Ever After

I know, another Cuttlebug wedding card. It seems to be the only way I can make a wedding card. I used the paisley embossing folder for this card. My inspiration was this pretty pink paisley ribbon. The focal point image is from Sweet Love and the sentiment from Everyday Classics. I punched it out with my Giga scalloped oval punch. The pink paper is Prism. I love using Prism cardstock when I want textured cardstock. Prism paper has this really nice texture to it. You can really see it on the butterfly. The button is from Papertrey, I opted to cover the holes with gem stickers instead of tying thread through it.

Supplies
Stamps-Sweet Love, Everyday Classics (Papertrey)
Ink-Colorbox Chalk Rouge
Paper-pink (Prism), white (Papertrey)
Accessories-paisley cuttlebug folder, butterfly punch (MS), clear gem stickers (MS), giga scalloped oval punch, ribbon (Offray), button (Papertrey)


Have a blessed weekend,

Blog Makeover and A Challenge

So, I spent pretty much the whole day yesterday working on my blog. I have been wanting to change it for a while. I got really sidetracked yesterday playing with a digital kit and it turned into my new blog header. Then, of course, I had to change everything. What do you think?

Last year for my birthday, my husband gave me a new SLR camera that I really wanted BAD. I will be really honest and tell you that it really intimidated me and for a long time I just used my trusty little point and shoot. Lately I have been using it to take the pictures of my cards and have become comfortable with that, but I don't use it for anything else. So, I am issuing myself a challenge to use it take a picture of something every day in the month of June. I have not decided if I will share the pictures here on my blog or not. I guess I will just have to wait and see how well they come out. (My pride is showing through.) I would like to think I am not alone in this and that someone out there would like to join me. It doesn't need to be for the same reasons, think of how much fun it could be to take a random picture everyday for a month. If you would like to join me in this fun endeavor, please leave me a comment and let me know your in. It's always more fun when there's more than one!

Have a blessed day!

Raspberry Fizz Swirls, Butterflies...and Bling

I wanted to just play with no agenda, so I pulled out my favorite background stamp I haven't used in a while and stamped it in Raspberry Fizz onto Papertrey White cardstock. I tied a the pink ribbon around it and matted it onto Raspberry Fizz cardstock. I lot of my favorite cell phone bling and some punched butterflies from Raspberry Fizz patterned paper...and a little more bling and this is what I got. I think it's kinda cute. Tuesday, when I checked K's Card Creations blog, guess what the Tackle It Tuesday challenge was. It was to use your favorite background stamp to make a card. That is quite the coincidence, I think. So, does it qualify as a challenge if you have just made a card that fulfills the requirements of a challenge before actually reading about the challenge? That's a mouthful. I am in one of those really strange moods right now.

Hey, guess what! I just found out I am on the design team for KLM Designs! I am super duper excited! KLM Designs is a brand new digital stamp company. The owners are a mother/daughter duo--a super talented mother/daughter duo. I am so excited to be a part of their brand new endeavor. Be sure to stop by and check them out.

Have a great day!

Supplies
Stamps-Florentine Scroll Background (Hero Arts)
Paper-White, Raspberry Fizz, Raspberry Fizz Mix (Papertrey)
Ink-Raspberry Fizz (Papertrey)
Accessories-ribbon (Hallmark), butterfly punches (EK Success & Martha Stewart), cell phone bling

Mountain Birthday

I needed yet another masculine birthday card. I used Mountain Scenery from The Angel Company. (Mountain Scenery is on the retirement list and is available for only $8.21.) I stamped it in Landscape and New Leaf on Curious Poison Ivory paper which actually has a nice shimmer to it. I cut and embossed the image with my classic rectangle nestibilities and matted it onto Ripe Avocado cut and embossed with scalloped rectangle nestibilities. I used Kraft as my card base. I sponged the edges with Colorbox Chalk Creamy Brown and then used a color spritzer with a copic marker (YG95) to add a little color to the background. I love this added little detail, although it doesn't come through very well in the picture. I wrapped some twine around the image and secured it through a New Leaf button and then adhered the image to my card base with foam tape. The sentiment is from Everyday Classics and is stamped in Landscape.
So, I just wanted to show off the matching envy I made. I am always so proud of myself when I take that extra step.
And here is the inside. I stamped just the tree image several times but I only inked it once to get the different shades of green. I used both the Landscape and the New Leaf inks here. I also went over all the edges on the inside of the card with the Creamy Brown ink. The sentiments are from Birthday Basics and Father Knows Best

Thank you so much for stopping by.

Supplies-
Stamps-Mountain Scenery (TAC), Everyday Classics, Birthday Basics, Father Knows Best (PTI)
Paper-Poison Ivory(Curious) , Kraft, Ripe Avocado (PTI)
Ink-Palette Landscape, New Leaf (PTI), Colorbox Chalk Creamy Brown
Accessories-classic & scalloped rectangle nestibilities, SU color spritzer, YG95 copic marker, twine, New Leaf button (PTI)

Happy Memorial Day!

I just wanted to take a moment to wish you all a wonderful day with your families. I especially want to take the time to thank each and every one who has ever served our country. I am so grateful to you. I have so much respect and admiration for those wives and mothers who are holding it all together while their loved ones are away from them serving our country. I know the times my husband has had to be away and how difficult it is to go it alone. I always think of the military wives and the great sacrifice they so willingly give. I pray for you, for God's protection on your families and God's guidance and strength. I am so truly proud and grateful to be an American. I feel so blessed to live here and to raise my family here. May God bless America!

Love Birds

I made this card for my parent's anniversary. While I was typing this post, I realized that I always seem to make a card with birds on it every year for them...and here's another. They always remind me of love birds, even after 41 years of marriage. They are still so close and best friends after all this time. My parents are such a great role model for my brothers and I. They laid such a great foundation for us and showed real Christ-like qualities consistently. There was never any compromising when it came to the important things of life. They raised us not by just their words, but by their actions. I have been so blessed to have them in my life. I am so proud to call them my parents.

Onto the card deets. I used the love birds image from Digital Oasis for this card. As soon as I saw it, I just knew it was the one I wanted to use for this card. I love the way they are snuggled together. I colored it with Copic markers and then added some shading with Prismacolor pencils for a little more depth. I cut it out with one of the Labels Two dies and colored in the background with blue Shimmerz chalk. This is my all-time favorite technique for backgrounds. The patterned paper is from My Mind's Eye Everyday Tango stack and I used Spring Moss as my card base. The tag is a marking tag that I picked up at Staples. They come in a package of 100 for only a couple of dollars and they are such a great size. I love these! I stamped the sentiment from Mega Mixed Messages in Prussian Blue and stamped the swirl over it in Spring Moss. I adhered the tag and the image with mounting tape. The bow is made with Spring Moss grossgrain ribbon.

That's all for now. I hope everyone has a fantastic weekend and a great holiday Monday, if you live in the US. I am so excited that we only have three more days left of school after this long weekend. I have so many big plans for the summer. I don't know how I am going to manage to complete them all, but I am going to give it my best shot.

Have a blessed weekend!

Supplies
Stamps-image (Digital Oasis), sentiment (PTI), swirl (HOTP)
Ink-Palette Prussian Blue, Spring Moss (PTI)
Paper- Everyday Tango (MME), Spring Moss (PTI)
Accessories-Labels Two dies, Copic markers, Prismacolor pencils, marking tag (Avery), Shimmerz chalks, mounting tape, Spring Moss grossgrain ribbon (PTI)

Pink Tulips

I finally finished this card. It took me almost three weeks. I just couldn't get it right. I colored the image using colors to match the paper I wanted to use, but then I didn't like it. I decided to try making my own background paper using Guide Lines II and then couldn't decide on a layout I liked. When I figured out the layout, there was still something missing. I sat it down and looked at it every day for a week, then I went through everything trying to find that magic missing element that would complete my card. I found the cuttlebug corner die and thought, "this is as good as it's going to get--must move on." So, here it is. The image is from The Angel Company. I colored it with Copics and added some crystal Stickles to the flowers. I thought the white was too bright against the background, so I colored the embossed edges with a very light pink Copic marker. You really can't tell in the picture, but it did a really great job of softening the lines. I used a little dot of crystal Stickles in the center of the pink medallions on my background paper and a pearl on the corner die cut.

I am so enjoying this beautiful weather we are having right now. My two youngest took the the Pom for a walk this morning, he definitely has a mind of his own. That little thing is so stubborn. He wanted to walk and then would get scared of big dogs barking and just sit. We would pick him up and carry him and he would just cry to get back down. It is amazing how loud that little thing can get. I'm sure everyone could hear him for a mile around. LOL

Have a blessed day!

Supplies
Stamps-Forever Friend (TAC), Guide Lines II(Papertrey)
Paper-Olive (TAC), White, Hibiscus Burst, Sweet Blush (Papertrey)
Ink-Palette Noir, Spring Moss, Ripe Avocado, Sweet Blush, Hisbiscus Burst(Papertrey)
Accessories-Labels One die (Spellbinders), Cuttlebug die, pearl, crystal Stickles, Martha Stewart doily punch, pink satin ribbon, Hibiscus burst button (Papertrey), embroidery floss, copic markers

Hemingway...Love it!

I used the Hemingway collection to make this card. I love this paper, it is so versatile and beautiful. I wanted to tone down the paper just a little, so I lightly sanded all the pieces. The Tiger Face stamp is stamped onto the designer paper that I also sanded. I sanded the edges a little more for contrast. This tiger stamp is retiring and is on sale for just $5.96. It's really sad, I love this stamp and have used it many times. It is such a perfect size.

Supplies-All supplies from The Angel Company
Stamp-Tiger Face
Ink-Palette Burnt Umber
Paper-Hemingway Soar with it collection, Hemingway cardstock
Accessories-Hemingway hardware, Hemingway ribbon, antique triangle loops

I am been very blessed to meet some very sweet people since I have started blogging and I have received awards from two of them. I feel so honored every time I receive an award, I truly do. It makes me feel really special!

I received this award from Becky. Becky's blog is the very inspirational A Diamond in the Rough. Thank you so much Becky. I received this award from Paula of Crop Notes and Crafts. Paula makes amazing baskets. I think that would be such a cool craft to learn. I love baskets and their functional, can't beat that. Thank you Paula for the award. Ok, so I know I am supposed to pass this on to other blogs, but I am just going to point you to my sidebar to the Designing D.I.V.A.S. Lately I have not had much time to go blog hopping and have pretty much just visited the blogs in this amazing group. They are all so fantastic. If you haven't checked out these blogs yet, please check my sidebar and visit the blogs of these very creative women. They are all awesome. I hope to come back and update this post to pass these on when I have a little bit more time.

Have a blessed day!

Design D.I.V.A.S. Challenge

The Design D.I.V.A.S. Challenge hosted by Kristi is to alter an item in any holiday theme. The first thing that came to mind was coasters. I LOVE making coasters. I intended to make one with a Christmas theme but then my brother-in-law asked me to come up with something to give the fathers for Father's Day at the church he pastors. I thought what father wouldn't like his very own coaster. The name of his church is Lighthouse Christian Fellowship, so I pulled out my lighthouse stamp from Cornish Heritage Farms. I lightly sanded the tile and cleaned it off really well. I stamped the image in Black Staz-on and colored it with Prismacolor pencils and Bic Mark-it markers. I love these markers for coloring on coasters, they are so vibrant. I stamped the sentiment from Father Knows Best and the name with JustRite Brayton font. This is my practice one. I am not in love with my coloring job and I think that the sentiment needs to come up a little, but I really like this idea for Father's Day. I plan to include a stand with each coaster so they would have the option to display it or use it as a coaster. What do you think?

Have a great day!

Supplies
Stamps-lighthouse (Cornish Heritage Farms), sentiment (Father Knows Best, Papertrey Ink), Brayton Font (JustRite stamps)
Ink-Black Staz-On
Other- tile (Lowe's), Bic Mark-Its markers, Prismacolor pencils

More Notebooks

After seeing the notebooks I made for my husband, my brother-in-law asked me to make 25 of them for the mothers coming to a Mother's Day Breakfast he was hosting. The picture really does not do these justice. I just can't seem to get the lighting right. I made five each in five different designs. The paper is from My Mind's Eye. The flowers are from Michael's Bride Collection. I colored them with Copics. On the second notebook, I did not have a color that matched so I stamped it with a matching color ink. That one turned out to be my favorite. Each notebook was personalized with the recipient's name on the cover. I adhered the name to a Label One die cut in the same color as the cardstock. I did not take a picture of the completed project for privacy reasons. I wish I had made one for me, I just might have to go back and do that.

Have a wonderful weekend!

A Wedding Card

I am really loving simple cards lately and this was so easy to make. I cuttlebugged a piece of Stampers Select White paper with the textile embossing folder. I then wrapped my organza ribbon around it and tied a bow. I adhered that layer to the card base made out of the same cardstock. I added some beads to a corsage pin and then added the love charm with a jump ring. I glued a bead onto the bottom of the pin after snipping off the end with wire cutters. I just love the way it turned out!

I hope everyone is having a wonderful day. It is raining here again. We seem to get these little teases of beautiful sunny days and then it's back to the rain. I guess I shouldn't complain since we need the rain to make all the beauty bloom. I just really wanted to cook on the grill tonight. I was planning on grilling teriyaki chicken breasts with grilled pineapple. My kids absolutely LOVE grilled pineapple and have been talking about how they can't wait for me to make it again. Looks like they will have to wait a little while longer. Maybe someday I will have a covered patio, then I would be grilling all year around. I would so love that!

Have a blessed day!

Supplies
Paper-Stampers Select White (Papertrey)
Other- ribbon (Offray), corsage pin, beads, charm (Walmart), textile cuttlebug embossing folder

Yellow Daisies

Have you ever had to make a card, but you just didn't know where to begin? That's the way I felt the other day when I needed to make a birthday card. I decided to use a set that had not seen ink yet-Treasure It by The Angel Company. I really had so much fun with this set and put it back on the top shelf within easy reach. I stamped the daisies in Paris Lights and Summer Sunrise, then added some Star Dust Stickles just to the center of the yellow daisies. I stamped the sentiment in Summer Sunrise and adhered my card front to Summer Sunrise cardstock. Wa la, super easy one layer card... great for mailing!

I had a wonderful Mother's Day. My husband and children made me dinner and cleaned up afterwards. Such a nice treat! They gave me CASH, woo-hoo...now I am trying to figure out what I want to buy on my wish list. My daughter and son-in-law gave me a beautiful engraved frame with a picture of the them and my husband and I on their wedding day. It has already found a special place in my family room. My favorite gifts of all were the cards and the special little notes they each wrote to me. I will treasure them forever. I am so very blessed to have such a great family. I enjoy every minute of being their mom and a wife to their father.

Have a blessed day!

Supplies
Stamps-Treasure It (The Angel Company), Happy Birthday (The Paper Studio)
Ink- Paris Lights (Palette) , Summer Sunrise (Papertrey)
Paper- White, Summer Sunrise (Papertrey)
Accessories- Star Dust Stickles

A little something

My husband asked me to make him 30 notebooks for some VIP guests of his and this is what I came up with. I used the digital paper "Sonata" by Desi Design for the background. Everything is digital and one piece except for the name. I cut the name with my nesties and popped it up with foam tape. Here is a picture of the inside.
Really simple and easy. I have so much fun making things like this.



I received the good karma award from Sue. Thank you, Sue. You are so kind. If you have never been to Sue's blog, it's a definite must-visit. Sue's work is incredible. The meaning of this award is "These blogs are exceedingly charming. These kind of bloggers aim to find and be friends. They are not interested in self-aggrandizement. Our hope is that when the ribbons of these prizes are cut even more friendships are propagated. Please give more attention to these writers". I feel very honored to have received it. I was thinking just the other day about how blessed I have been by the friends I have made in the blogging world. I never would have thought that it would be possible to make such a connection with someone I have never physically met. I want to pass this award onto the following people who I have really enjoyed getting to know.

Dru, Katy, Amy, Paula, and Anne

Be sure to check out their blogs. Their work is amazing and they are such nice peeps.

I hope you all have a wonderful Mother's Day weekend whether you are a mom or not, have a wonderful time with the ones you love.

A Sweet Thing

I made this for my son's birthday. He loves candy, so I thought this would be a good fit for him. I can't believe that little baby I thought would never get here is already 18! Excuse me for a minute while I go on a tangent of how proud I am of him. Malachi has become such an amazing young man in the past year. Two years ago, I was so afraid for him because he was not making wise decisions. This is why it is so important that we as parents pray for our children. God really got a hold of him and changed his direction. Today, Malachi's favorite thing to do is study God's word and worship God with all of his heart. You will find him in his room with his Bible, a dictionary, a concordance and his notebook. He has pages and pages filled with Scriptures and thoughts God has given to him. At church, you will find him on the front row worshiping like there was no tomorrow. He feels God has called him to the ministry and has a burden for young people who were in the same place he was two years ago. God is such a great God, who truly cares about us and our children and where we are at at this moment in our life. He wants us to have a satisfying and fulfilling future. He died for us to have that, how could we ever say that he doesn't care? I am so very thankful for his blessings in my life--there are no words to truly express how I feel about Him.

I was so blessed to receive this award from Jennifer. (Psst...Jennifer just made the Digiments design team. I am so proud of her.) Jennifer is one of those people who so totally inspires me. She has so many health issues and she could so easily complain or use it as an excuse or even blame God for the things she has to deal with, but she doesn't do that at all. Jennifer is consistently upbeat and always chooses to give God the glory and praise that He is so worthy of. She is so quick to offer a kind, encouraging word to someone feeling down. Jennifer, thanks for being a friend, for choosing to have a positive attitude and let Jesus be your strength and encouragement and taking that to encourage someone else.

I have to admit, I have never been on the Women to Women: Sharing Jesus site until I received this award. I was really impressed and will definitely be visiting often. If you haven't checked it out yet, today would be a really good day!

The Exalting Christ blog award is given to bloggers who consistently exalt the name of Christ on their blogs. What a joy to see crafters blend their passion for Christ and papercrafting. This award is given to bloggers who share Christ through their posts or through the design of their artwork. We are commanded in Scripture to be "salt and light" sharing the Good News of Jesus no matter where we are (Matthew 5:13-16). This award is just a way members of Women to Women: Sharing Jesus can say thanks for exalting Christ with us!

Rules:

1. Post the blog award in a regular post on your blog with the explanation, including the original link to WTW and the rules for passing the award along

2. Name five people (more or less is fine!) to whom you want to offer this award and link to their blogs. The blogs need to obviously exalt Christ in some manner.

3. Contact the bloggers you have named to let them know they can pick up their blog award from you.

4. Invite them to permanently display the WTW blog badge and/or the award on their blogs. The badge can be obtained on the WTW site.

So, I am going to pass this award along to two ladies who I have just recently met. Their blogs are an encouragement and an inspiration to me, not just in the cards they make but in the words they say and the spirit in which they say it.

Molly of Miss Molly Creations
Carmen of QueenTomas

Thank you for sharing the love of Jesus through your blogs.


Edited to add- I realized I forgot to put the info on my card. Here are the deets:

Supplies
Stamps-Remember happiness (Unity August KOTM), Expressions (Hot of the Press)
Paper-Ripe Avocado, Cupcake (Basic Grey)
Ink-Palette Noir, Shabby Shutters distress ink (Ranger), Prussian Blue (Palette), copic markers
Accessories-orange jewelry cord, metal tag, scallop dot punch (Martha Stewart)


Have a blessed day!

Take Pride

I needed another masculine birthday card and I chose to use Take Pride. I stamped the elephants on New Leaf cardstock with Versamark and embossed with clear embossing powder. I really love the dimension and texture it gave the card. I stamped the elephant and colored it with Copic markers and cut and embossed it with the Label Two nesties. The tag is Spellbinders and the sentiment is from a GWP stamp.

Thanks for all the advice and congrats on the puppy. He seems to be adjusting ok. My kids, on the other hand, are driving me crazy fighting over who is going to take care of him. My dog, Picasso, is not sure what he thinks. Peanut loves to chase him and he gets very annoyed by that. It really is hilarious--this little dog chasing a dog much larger than himself. Peanut is so small that when he walks, he waddles and when he runs it is just too funny.

Have a great day!

Supplies
Stamps-Take Pride, GWP (The Angel Company)
Paper-Soft Stone, Smoky Shadow, New Leaf
Ink-Palette Noir, New Leaf
Other-black button, black twine, Spellbinders Labels Two & Tags Trio

Oh, No He Didn't!

My husband brought home a puppy yesterday. I still haven't decided if I'm going to keep him or not (no, I'm not talking about the puppy.) The puppy was abandoned on the loading dock at my husband's work place and the staff decided to give it to my husband as a gift. Very sweet staff, wouldn't you say? It is a Pomeranian and is only about 6 weeks old. My kids are ecstatic and have already named him Peanut--not really sure about that name. My youngest has been asking for a puppy she could "baby" for about a year now, so she is on cloud nine. She is just so proud of that little puppy.
Ok, so it is really adorable. How can you say no when you are outnumbered 6-1? Looks like he'll be staying for a while. I think I'll keep my husband, too. I would be lost without him, and I need someone to do the dirty jobs:). Anyone have any tips about raising Pomeranians? I don't know anything about them.

So, I'm off to take care of the puppy.