Happy Easter

A Very Happy Easter to all my friends and family.  Sharing a card I sent to my niece and her family - I only got four Easter cards made this year.  Other things keeps getting in the way.

Image is by Penny Black colored with Copics - what is color is a hedgehog (is that how you spell it).  I love this jelly bean paper from Doodlebug.  Very cute.  I believe the sentiment stamp maybe from Stampendous.  I added some glossy accents to the snail.  I chalked the sentiment and around the image to add some soft color - sometimes the white is so glaring white.

Enjoy your day.

Birthdays and Freshly Made Sketches

A week of birthdays along with Easter kept me busy this week.  I got home one day early and was able to take my picture outside - well of course - I have shadows - had forgotten about that - and the card has already been given and loved by the recipient.

The card design is based on the weekly sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  I stayed pretty true to the sketch this time.  That does not happen too often.

The paper is from Doodlebug.  The sentiment is from SRM Stickers and the image is from Stampendous colored with Copics.  The scallop is a Papertrey Ink die I have.  The flowers in the image have glossy accents on them.

Everyone enjoy your Saturday.

Time for Easter Cards

I am working on my Easter cards - I hope I get them done - who knows.  Stay tuned.

I based this card on the sketch from Just Add Ink.

The cute bunny is from Whipper Snapper Designs colored with Copics.  I did use my Stardust pen to add some sparkle to the dots on the dress and the little flower.  The paper is from Doodlebug - love those jelly beans.  The sticker is from SRM Stickers and adds the final touch to an Easter card.

Enjoy your Tuesday.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love to your old supplies.  I have used up the last of this 6 x 6 pad from Basic Grey - I must confess I did throw away some pieces but I was waving my arms - enough - let me play with some different paper - please.  Next week I will start the adventure to use up another older 6 x 6 pad.

These three cards will go into my Operation Write Home box.

I need to get my Easter cards done and I also need two birthday cards this week - so hopefully there is some Mo Jo flowing.  Three Easter cards are already finished - two bunnies and one hedgehog.

Everyone enjoy your Monday.

Bee Happy

Sharing another card I have made to send to my Mom - she goes by Bea - her real name is Molly Beatrice - we have four generation of Bea's in our family,  Molly Bea, Bonnie Bea, Carrie Bea, and Elaina Bea.

The challenge on CAS-UAL Friday is no stamps.

The cute little bee is an applique which I adhered to some pattern paper with Glossy Accents.  The "Bee Happy" is a great sticker from SRM Stickers.  I had just recently bought this Tim Holtz embossing folder - honeycomb - I think it will be the perfect backdrop for all my bee cards.

Everyone enjoy your Sunday.

Riley the Moose Celebrates Easter

One Easter card made - it has to go to Alaska so it must head out the door tomorrow - and hopefully make it before Easter.  My daughter see moose on a regular basis so I send Riley cards to her and her hubbie quite often.

I bought this new collection of papers for Easter - I believe they are by Doodlebug.  Don't you love the colors but how about that patterned paper with those colorful jelly beans.

I am entering the card in the weekly challenge on the Riley and Company which is to use twine on your card.  

I am also entering it in the challenge on Simon Says Stamp to do Easter or Spring.  I was the lucky winner last week for the $50 gift certificate from Simon Says - I have already started making my list - I am up to $100 already - oops.

I used a sticker from SRM Stickers to add the finishing touch to the card.

Simon Says Try a Sketch

I got some new paper from Fancy Pants Design and the collection is called Swagger - fun paper - great for masculine cards.  I needed a get well card for my nephew - he is having his tonsils removed at the age of 40 - rough surgery for an adult.

The Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog has a couple sketches for their challenge this week.  This card is based on one of the sketches.  The sketch was  a square card but mailing square cards involves getting to the post office for the correct postage.  Here is the sketch I used.

I just started the online class - Pattern Play - I played with a few patterns but I also used some solids to offset everything.  Did you notice the silver dots in the corner of the image - every card with a truck on it needs chrome - don't you think.

Thanks for stopping by.

Oldie Moldie Monday

More cards from that same 6 x 6 Basic Grey pad I have been working on for several weeks.  I believe I still have a few more cards that can be made from the remaining paper.  I am getting so I want to be done with the paper so I should just knuckle down and "getter done".

A few more cards to go in my Operation Write Home Box.

Everyone enjoy your Monday.

Twinkling H2O's, Ombre Colors, and Moxie Fab

I had been attempting to make my boss a card since Thursday and nothing was coming together for me.  She was finally recognized for all her hard work and leadership so I wanted to make a card for her from her staff.  She does appreciate my cards and has several that she keeps on display in her office - which is very nice of her.

Purple is Whitewater's colors so that is why I went with the color purple and of course black is a great accent color.

Moxie Fab World has a challenge for Ombre - and you might ask what is Ombre - and this is the definition from the Moxie Fab World blog - What is ombre you might ask? Well, ombre is when color graduates from light to dark on a surface.  If you flip the panel on my card it is going from light to dark but I chose to put the dark on top.

I got out my Twinkling H2O's to make my background - my friend Ivanka - does such a wonderful job using her Twinkling H2O's.  I first tried chalk and ink.  I was going to try acrylic paints but I did not have any purple.  There sat the Twinkling H2O's and thus began my creative journey to make my background.  To get the darker colors you just add less water to your paints and paint over the top and build your colors.  The stamp is from a large acrylic set which I bought years ago but I thought this image was fun - somewhat elegant.  There are a few specks of embossing powder where they should not be (dang).  Everything was matted with black.  Some black houndstooth ribbon was added and a few black jewels.  A sentiment from SRM Stickers finishes off the card.

Well off to do a few things and then head out to see my Mom today - now ice on the roads this morning but snow in the forecast for tomorrow.  On that YUCKY note - everyone have a wonderful day.

Get Well Soon

A card I made for my Mom - she is rehabbing in the hospital so try to send her a card every couple days.  This one will go out next week - it looks springy and we are in desperate need of spring.

I did this card for two different challenges - both are clean and simple challenges so hopefully this is not too busy for that type of card.

The first challenge is for CAS-ual Friday which is to use chipboard.  This is a Basic Grey chipboard piece - did not know where the coordinating paper was but luckily these colors are very popular right now so I just went into some of my 6 x 6 pads and found the paper to use.  The yellow/orange pin dot is actually the top that attached the paper into the pad.  Too cute to waste.

The second challenge is from Addicted to CAS which is things with wings.  My birdie has wings.

I added a little bakers twine and a sticker from SRM Stickers to finish off the card.  I did add a little Stickles to the wing to make it sparkle. The card was missing something - it was an eye on my bird - a little gem added the perfect eye and also was a touch of black to balance the sentiment.

Enjoy the remainder of your Saturday.

Saturday or is it Sunday or gee I just hate Winter

Winter weather - may I say I hate it - icy roads today and I was going to drive up and see my Mom who is rehabbing in the hospital.  A two hour drive is very long when the road conditions can be touch and go so I am not going today - so now I must readjust my thought process - today will be my Sunday and tomorrow will be my Saturday.  So today I must get some cards made and I must also do some errands and some cleaning and cooking.

Today's card share is a card I made using some of the ideas from my "You've Got Mail" card class from Studio Calico.  I had this text card base so I laid my mask over it and sprayed with Mr. Huey mist.  I ten added the strips of paper on the side.  I decided I wanted a doily on the card and then the final design image was 3 or a triangle of orange elements.  Strip on side, circle in middle of doily and sentiment.  The white is picked up in the doily, sentiment and on a piece of patterned paper.

I have been watching lots of tennis lately and it must be Nike who is using the colors of yellow and grey in their clothes for women.  It really is a pretty color combination.

The patterned paper is from Studio Calico and the sentiment is a favorite from Hero Arts.  I think the card base maybe K & Co - I must confess it was lying on the floor and I picked up and thought - hmmm - I think I will use this and spray it with a mask - thus a card was born.

Well off to enjoy my Sunday - or is it my Saturday - I am so confused.

Studio Calico Card Class - You've Got Mail

I am taking an online card class at Studio Calico called  - You've Got Mail.  It is a month long class - the cost was only $29 and you got an acrylic stamp set.  I just got my stamp set so I had to use it - plus I recently had purchased some of their mists and when I looked in my drawer - I found a mask from Studio Calico also.  The pink floral paper is made using the mists and mask.  I misted the same paper for the sentiment so the color would match.  The sentiment is from the stamp set.

The paper is a Studio Calico 6 x 6 pad.  I decided I wanted to also try the splatter technique with the mists - I am not sure I like it.  This morning I touched the lower left corner and the dot smeared - it had not dryed overnight (maybe a little too much) - but luckily since it was a block of white - I found a piece of the same white I had practiced the splatter on so but it to fit and placed it there - smear solved.

I had created a rectangle with the mist and mask but did not like it as a rectangle so decided to cut a couple circles.  I then added the strips of paper along the right side of the card front.  The teal stripe is washi tape that I placed on paper and then added to my card.

Since I used washi tape I am entering it in the Moxi Fab challenge to use washi tape.  They are featuring their new issue - Card Creations - I have bought the magazine but put it away for my vacation - something for me to drool over on the plane.

Everyone enjoy what is left of your Tuesday.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love for some old supplies - I am still working on that same 6 x 6 pad from the last couple weeks.

Unfortunately I needed a couple sympathy cards so I made two of this card.  The stamp is from Penny Black heat embosssed in brown.  The sentiment is an SRM Sticker.

Remember to show some love to your old supplies.

CAS(E) This Sketch, Papertrey Ink and Die Cuts With a View

Isn't it great when you find a beautiful piece of paper and you don't have t add much to it to make a beautiful card.  I have this pad of paper from Die Cuts With A View - Spring Fling - and the colors are so pretty - maybe spring will come - I am hoping.  The card is based on the sketch at Cas(e) This Sketch.

Hopefully this is clean and simple enough.  I struggle with that.  For me this is pretty clean - I love lots of layers and I guess there are some on here.  What is a girl to do.  I cut the border with my Silhouette.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink embossed in white.

I made three of these cards.  One for my mom and two for my next Operation Write Home Box.  This card is also for the challenge hosted by Our Daily Bread Design - the challenge is to use scallops.  Our Daily Bread Design will pay for the shipment for two boxes of cards to our Heroes if we can reach 50 cards in the monthly challenge.

Everyone enjoy what is left of your Friday Evening.

Unity Stamps and I Am Sew Happy

A card I am going to send to my Mom - she is going through a little rough stretch right now but I guess when you are 94 that can happen.

For the card I used the sketch from Sweet Sunday Sketch.  She has a new sketch challenge each week.  I was pretty much true to the sketch this time.

Simon Says Stamp and Show challenge is to use numbers.  What better to use on a sewing card than twill tape that looks like a tape measure.

The weekly challenge on Paper Players is "in stitches" - the card can be sewing themed, have stitches, etc.

The cute stamp and sentiment are from Unity Stamps.  The paper is from Basic Grey - the Lucille collection - love the sewing motifs.  The little flower is made from pattern pieces.  I have enough pattern tissue to make at least a gagillion flowers.

Now it is time to get ready to go and have my taxes done - hope for a big refund so I can go to Alaska to visit my daughter.  Enjoy your evening.

What's Cooking Wednesday

Today I am sharing a favorite soup recipe - it is hearty enough to satisfy everyone in your family.

                      Beef Tortellini Soup

 1 lb. beef stew meat                       ¾ c. chopped onion

 ¾ c. chopped carrot                        ½ c. chopped celery

 2 cloves garlic finely chopped           2 tsps sugar

 14.5 ounce can diced tomatoes

 1 can beef flavored broth

 1 tsp. dried basil leaves                 1 c. frozen green beans

 2 cups frozen cheese filled tortellini

 Spray crock pot with cooking spray.  Add beef, onion,

 carrot, celery, garlic, sugar, tomatoes and broth to

 crock pot.  Cover and simmer on low heat for 8 to 9

 hours.  About 25 minutes before serving, stir in basil,

 tortellini and green beans.  Increase heat to high. 

 Cover and cook about 25 minutes or until beans are         

 tender.  I shred beef before last step.

I made this last week for soup day at work along with a fish soup.  Both were very good - I finished this up one night after work and enjoyed it a second night.

When I take it to work - I cook the tortellini at home and then will warm it in the microwave and then stir into the crock pot.  Tortellini can swell on you and absorb all your liquid.

Enjoy your dinner.

Oldie Moldie Monday

Oldie Moldie Monday - time to show some love to your old supplies.

More cards made with the Basic Grey pad from last week - I think I still have a couple sheets with pears on them - but not as prevalent as the paper I have been using.  Maybe I can finish that pad this week - I hope.  Four more cards made - the fourth one is basically the same as the middle card.

I have started a new box for Operation Write Home and these will go in there.

Enjoy your Monday.

Lawn Fawn, Freshly Made Sketches, and Operation Write Home

Second post of the day - can you believe it - I have been playing with paper - but I think I will run some errands pretty soon - grocery store - here I come - I just need a few things.  Going to look at some summer clothes - going to Florida so I may need some clothes.

This card is based on the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  I am still using paper from a 6 x 6 pad from Basic Grey - come back on Monday - more Oldie Monday cards will be posted - have a couple on the design table already.

The stamps are from Lawn Fawn.  Great stamps for cards for Operation Write Home.  Of course, will some of the young heroes even know what a portable radio is - and I may be dating myself on what I called the radio.  I made one for my OWH box and one for my son in law.

Enjoy the remainder of your Saturday - off I go to brave the grocery store - normally I do it on Sunday morning early when everyone is in church.

Saturday - Yeah

I don't know what it is about the work week - I am not creative - so last night I started putting this little card together.  The challenge on CAS-ual Friday is wallpaper - or make your own background paper.

This was very hard to photograph but I went into my cardstock and found a piece of blue - it was big enough for a card base and a card front.  I first stamped a Hero Arts background stamp of circles on the blue - I did it in a blue color also - you can kinda see it at the top - it is very very subtle.  My friend Ivanka had sent me some patterned paper and one of the stripes in the paper were these flowers - on the back was the green.  I cut a strip of flowers and matted them with the green and adhered to the stamped background.  I stamped the sentiment on a coordinating yellow print and matted it with green also.  The card front is pop dotted on the card base (5.5 x 3.25 size).  The sentiment is also pop dotted.  I used my Stardust pen to add just a bit of sparkle to the center of each flower.

Simon Says Stamp's challenge is Anything Goes - so here goes my card into that challenge.

This sweet little card is going in the mail to my 94 year old Mom - she loves her flowers and is patiently waiting for spring to come.

Everyone enjoy your Saturday.