Great News!

Oh my goodness! I found the cutest digital stamp set from My Grafico today! It's this set. I made this card for Charisma Cardz which I am going to be a GDT for August! So excited! I was thrilled to read this news today! The current challenge is "something with a tail." A kite has a tail right? :-)

I have found a plethora of new blogs this week. I am not sure if that's good or bad because once school starts again, I will be challenged with time :-( I so wish I had time to create everyday. I encourage you to check them out!

Stamp, Scrap, & Doodle: digi

Daring Cardmakers: layer it Up

Dutch Dare: anything goes

Stamp -n -Doodle: anything goes

All I can say is I love the challenges and much thanks to the blogs for inspiring cardmakers to create!

Christmas in July

it seems like there are many Christmas in July happenings. I have missed out because after the heinous winter we had, I was ready to feel the heatwave and enjoy the humidity. Okay maybe not the humidity part because my hair is just a frizz nightmare when I go outside. I think I could modge podge it and it would still find a way to go all crazy on me. Thankfully I have the Summers off. So onto this Christmas in July. Not really feeling it. I tried my hardest today to create a festive card with a jingle bell and all. Hmmm. Guess once Fall kicks in I will be ready to settle down with my seasonal papers and a cup of hot tea. For now this is it.

I used two different Cutting Cafe files for this. The "remember" is from Jot it Down and the tiny tree is from a tag from Journaling for the Holidays. I cut it out, filled it in and then glazed to make shiny. I used MME, So Sophie papers which I need to use more often. I am not sure where the green / red stripe ribbon is from? The book plate, flower rhinestone, and silver bell are from Jo-Ann's. More of my stash I am tyring to purge desperately. I think I had four packages of book plates and now I am down to 1. I am getting there. Rub-on's are Foofala.

Challenges for this card:

OCC: red, green, white, and black

Papertake Weekly: sketch

Tuesday Throwdown: Christmas

Tuesday Morning Sketches: Sketch #39 and Christmas

Lil Red Wagon: Christmas in July

and

FTLOA: hand stitching

Thank you for stopping by my little corner of the world. :-)

Welcome to

parenthood is my card for today. I can't say it's a new experience for me but then again, it's always kinda new as I learn how to parent daily with DD. Hmmm. Yesterday was the perils of misfortune as she fretted over a broken flip flop. She was so worried that I would be mad about it because I bought them for her. I literally laughed out loud when she relayed the news to me and assured her there was no anger over such a trivial thing as a broken shoe. Then I felt bad for LOL and then my thought shifted to a horrible place...am I a Mom that my daughter fears? That's not such a good thing to feel. We talked about it over dinner and she said she was worried because I always place value on items and how to take care of them. Ughhh! Not making me feel any better. I have turned into my parents! As much as I would love to deny using the same phrase, "money doesn't grow from trees" I am unable to because I have said it to her. The exact words my parents spoke to me 20 plus years ago. I've turned and never knew I had. Sigh. I think it's important to teach my daughter how to care for her belongings as well as others, but also know stuff happens. Things break. While trying to convey this message to my DD over dinner, it hit me! Holy moly! She didn't use the word, "accident". She claimed up to breaking her shoe. This probably sounds completely bizarre to some but this is a major feat for her. I think she gets it! She gets that sometimes her actions make things happen that may not be so good. Yes, I think she learned this long ago while playing with others in preschool but it became a forgotten concept. But now she's remembering. Just another day in parenting. I know it sounds silly to some but another day I will cherish. Oh how I love her so!
Onto my card. I wanted to do a shabby chic card for the Moxie Fab challenge.

I used the Card Patterns sketch #74. Speaking of which, I was graced with the honor to be in the top 6 last week! Always feels good to be recognized. :-)

I was bound and determined to make this sketch work with TSTR's challenge of "One, Two, Three." 1 ribbon, 2 buttons, and 3 punches. Another note of appreciation for being in the honorable mention last week for the "From the Garden" challenge! It was a good week!

Hopefully this week will be even better!

Love Ya

Happy Monday to you! I was digging through my paper collections and found lots of the Making Memories "Noteworthy" line that I insisted on getting in large quantities because my LSS sold out of the first batch. Now several years later, I remember buying it but not so much using it. It is a horrible addiction. Paper lovers you know how it feels when you find that paper collection that is impossible to put down. It causes your mind to spark with creativity and you fear you won't have enough to complete a project so you overbuy? Yep, I tend to do this which the paper companies love me for. If the food supply dries up I could survive off of paper for years. Wouldn't it be grand if the papers you bought were a reflection of a tasty meal? All those polka dots were actually a yummy sorbet with fruit? Oh heaven.
and onto my card because clearly I am craving a treat and it should not be. Based on Laura's sketch #57 for 2S4Y:
What did I use? A Michael's stamp with a SU mini heart stamped on top. Some vintage lace along with Making Memories velvet strip ribbon. I finally pulled my Smooch pearl accents out and added it to the edges of the craft cardstock and filled in the sentiment as well. I distressed the entire card with SU Saffron and added a few pink "x's" to tack the ribbon down. A Foofala button and Bazzill rhinestone finished it off.
Thanks for looking!

You Warm My Heart

Hey there! I am back with a teapot shaped card to share. Regina designed this for The Cutting Cafe'. It's called, Teapot Shaped Card Set. I also used the Tea Time file.

These are easy to do. I printed the template on GCD Studios Ava paper(Delish) and cut out carefully. I then printed the sentiment on white cardstock and matted it on light blue paper. I filled it in and then added Paper Glaze for the glossy effect which you can't see too well here. :-( I used red Stickles for the heart. Then I added a few stitched buttons and a bow to complete!

Now for the list of challenges:
Charisma Cards: anything but a square
Crafty Creations: happy or sweet *** Sponsored by The Cutting Cafe***
Creative Inspirations: anything goes
Papertake weekly: cute
Pile It On: stretch your plastic (buttons)
SSDS: digital image
The Creative Cottage: texture/layers

Whew! That's a lot for me! Happy Sunday to you!

A shabby chic card

Hey there! Hope you are having a wonderful Wednesday! It stormed something fierce last night. Whew! I thought for sure we were going to see more trees down as well as lawn furniture overturned. It was not too bad. Thank goodness. We needed the rain though. The ponds are getting low so maybe last night's downpour helped. Poor ducks could not even float across the water in some parts because the water is so shallow. It's the strangest thing to see them start to swim and then their webbed feet just pop out in the middle of the pond and they start to waddle. Amazing how the oil on their feathers allows them to float. Okay enough rambling about ducks.


This first card is for Card Patterns sketch # 73 and The Shabby Tea Room's "From the Garden" challenge. I pulled out some of my Girls' Paperie for this project. Also some vintage trim I found at a thrift store a few weeks back. I decided to layer the trim under the craft card stock to give some depth. Then I pierced the craft card stock edges with a piercer. Lots of glimmer mist was used on the Prima felt pieces for the corners. I cut down the trim to sizes I liked and decided to try two different styles to break up the symmetry some.

The close up shot shows the sentiment which is on ticket punch that I stamped with a clear stamp and then layered a circle of Creatively-Green card stock for color. I used a scrap piece of lace to place the flower on. They are Kaiser craft which I layered then added a vintage button for the center. I love the rhinestone! A few more buttons, a cream satin ribbon, leaf stick pin, and a pearl strand complete it.

Webster's All American and Vintage Vacation Swap

Another Monday! A marvelous Monday I should add. It always is when DD is in the house and bouncing around. I am hoping the rain clouds hold off for a bit so we can head to the pool.
I made a card yesterday before picking daughter up. I pulled out some Webster's Pages for the red, white, and blue colors that CCCB's challenge asked for. I added lots of buttons which was Lucy's challenge.


Yet more Webster's Pages goodness with this trinket box I covered with the new Seaside Retreat line. I made this for my swapper partner, Jennifer in the Vintage Vacation Swap. It's painted, distressed, covered, and embellished. I think about covers everything. Oh and I did mist it with Maya Road ink. It was much darker than I anticipated but I liked the look because it reminds me of the ocean's blue waters.


There are lots of cool 3-D projects at Creatilicious challenge #12. My interpretation of 3-D is lots of texture with miscellaneous beads, shells, charms, and buttons to give depth. It's definitely bumpy. Be sure to visit and see all the creations made by some talented artists on the link above. I am heading back to leave some love. Thanks for stopping by!

Cup of Joy

Happy Thursday to you! It's time to share another Cutting Cafe card I made. This is the Tea Time file which has 31 images and an invitation with an envelope template.

I used Card Patterns sketch #72

I think this card has a little of everything: embossing, distressing, stitching, fussy cutting, layering, coloring, glittering, and lots of punched pieces. It was a difficult sketch this week! Thanks for stopping by!

Oh how I love Summer!

Hey there! It's going to be another hot day here but no complaints here. I am travelling to get my DD for dinner this evening. :-) I miss her so. She is my light. Without her I feel like it's just dark at home. I can't wait to see her dimple when she smiles. I also get to enjoy the evening with Simon listening to Andrew Hellier at Kybecca. It's going to be a great night!
On to my cards. I was feeling a bit lovely dovey, hence my romance themed cards.

This card is based on Unscripted Sketches #62 for this week. Lots of Making Memories on this card. It was a combination of Love Notes and Sabrina products. The rub-on is rather ancient but also by MM.
I made this card for the JUGS sketch. I used GCD Studios papers, Melissa Frances chipboard, K& Co. glitter stickers, Making Memories rub-on, and buttons from my craft supply. I love the scallop border punch! I seem to always use this when making cards.
That's it for me today. Take care and have a great Thursday!

Embossing goodness

Hey there! Another glorious Summer day here. :-) I'm back to share my card for The Shabby Tea Room's "Let's Make an Impression" challenge this week and The Cuttlebug Challenge to use lace. Thanks Terrie!



I used the Hounds tooth Cuttlebug embossing folder and then lots of Glimmer Mist and ink to give depth to. While I had the old red machine out, I die cut a few hearts from K & Co. paper. I am so bad about using this tool. I store it on the shelf and rarely pull it out because it's heavy and cumbersome. So many thanks to TSTR for encouraging me to use. :-) Lot's of embellies on this card. I have not used this color palette in a long time and thought I needed to give it a go. I like the way it turned out. Although, it was difficult to put the lace trim on an angle for me. I usually want everything straight. :-) Okay, off to water the poor plants.

Heatwave is here!

The heat has returned and it is expected to be close to a 100 today. Yeah! I love the hot weather. Tomorrow will be hotter. I think it's a pool day indeed. Most people are off today in the DC area so I expect it will be a busy day for the pool, shopping, and lots of traffic. I hope you had a fabulous 4th of July! What an honor to be able to celebrate as an American citizen and share in our freedom to watch fireworks and hang out with the family. Thank you to all those men and women that help keep us safe.
Today I have my Card Patterns card for sketch #71

I used some older Cosmo Cricket papers on this card. I wanted to add a little texture so I did some paper piercing around the edges of the papers. I made the rosebud flower with three paper flowers. It was easy to make just pinch the flower into a rosebud for the center and then glue layers around it. I distressed the edges of the card with So Saffron ink and used scissors and nail file to give a rougher edge.

These two cards feature GCD Studios papers that I made for the "Spotlight Gal" this month. I used Homespun, Artsy Urban, and Ava papers. I kept them simple but sweet.

I wanted to highlight the colors of the papers so I used the black cardstock to bring out their vibrancy. I love the texture of the papers. Not to mention the embossed and glittered papers they have! Fun stuff! The sentiments are from "book page" that I cut out. Lots of great phrases, sentiments, and more on this piece. I have more GCD Studios to share throughout the month so please check back. The theme for the month is birthday parties with lots of emphasis on fun and soft colors. Pop on over to see the circus tent card with a free template to make your own by Heidi V. Fun indeed! Thanks for stopping by!