Inspired by Kathi Carlson! (you'll see a LOT of these!)

I sure hope Kathi believes that old adage that imitation is the sincerest form of flattery! I love her style and imitate it whenever possible!!! She posted a wonderful card recently that I had to try. As often happens, I didn't have the same stamps - so I used some a little different. This is the card that my friend Jone suggested the liquid glass for (my comment last night). Anyone want to guess what stamp set I used for the vase? I'll give blog candy (small token!) to a random drawing from the correct answers I get by Saturday 4/4/09 . . . What? No guesses??? Ok, then, I'll just have to tell you. It was one of the wings from Bird Basics! I just trimmed the top and bottom to make it look like a vase! I'm actually pretty proud of it - it was a flash of inspiration after about 20 minutes of searching.

Details: Emporium papers, colors were Sweet Leaf, Spring Iris, Cocoa

Quick note

I had an overwhelming busy weekend. I'll be ready to go back to work tomorrow just to rest up a little bit! Today was my monthly "Open Scrapping" day with my friends. I love having them over - we laugh and laugh and help each other work through various scrapping or card making "crises" - like the spontaneous thought from my dear friend Jone this afternoon - "why not use liquid glass on the vase to make it look shiny"? Oh my goodness, these people are food for my soul!

So - bottom line? I am too pooped to pop. I promise to download some photos tomorrow night and post. In the meanwhile, please know that I have soaked up friendship and joy all day long and will indeed be a better person tomorrow for the love I've felt today!

Examples - Lisa Stenz

I found a great photo of the example I mentioned in my last post - the artist is Lisa Stenz.

My Creations Memory Keeper

We started this adorable memory keeper box ($6.95) at the CTMH Regional Celebration in Phoenix! I made mine a little different (because I couldn't follow directions - to be honest!) and ultimately decided that I also wanted more of the Emporium medallions paper showing - so it turned out quite a bit different from the others! I'm using my box to hold precious cards that my friends have sent me. Some of the ideas I've seen are very creative: A "Snowman kit" with the hat, scarf, etc. to make a snowman "just add snow"; boxes decorated for stationary kits with note cards, envelopes, stamps, even a writing pen; boxes assigned to types of cards such as Thank You notes, Birthday cards, Get Well cards, etc. The possibilities are endless and it seems like a nice (and pretty!) way to organize!

Story for today - Friday is one of my favorite days of the week! It was cold here today (well, ok - it was 55 when I woke up). We are so accustomed to the gorgeous weather. At least I know I'm spoiled - believe me, I'll try to remember this day in the middle of July. I had a great work day - very productive, and then to Yoga class, also good (although that substitute instructor was HARD!) and my favorite Thai curry for dinner . . . all in all, it was a perfect day. Hope your week also ended on a happy note!

Here's the box from the top view:

My Anniversary at Work!

Every year on my anniversary at work I celebrate my wonderful job with a thank you gift to my co-workers. Each year the list of those who make my work possible grows until this year I'm baking 6 dozen brownies, and purchased 24 boxes of girl scout cookies as gifts! This little card is my attachment for this year - I made some in blush, some in buttercup, and some in crystal blue. It's a 3 x 3 inch card - and adorable (even if I say so myself!).

Hoppy Easter

This card was inspired by somebody! I wish I could remember who . . . The card I loved was done with a lamb and the message was "thank you" although it could have been "thank ewe"! I changed it up (a lot) with different color paper, and the bunny instead of the lamb - and Happy Easter! I down-played the ribbons (compared to the original) and I'm pretty happy with the resulting card!

If you haven't tried liquid applique - it's very easy to use and so much fun! For the bunny, I put a thin line of liquid applique from the tube in a circular motion all over the bunny. I didn't wait (as the instructions say to) but hit it with the heat gun right away. It puffs up and looks like soft, curly fur. I like my bunnies curly, don't you?

Story for today - A work day, and definitely a Monday! Yikes! We had a wind storm last night - and I knew it was pretty bad because the wind chimes on my porch were like a heavy metal concert and actually kept me awake for awhile. This morning when I came out to the kitchen, looking out into my back yard, I saw that my patio table was upset and the umbrella was . . . well, where could it be ? . . . . OH, there it is! I was so excited to see it, that I threw open the patio door - and set off the alarm system! BELLS AND WHISTLES! Oh dear. After thanking the nice lady at the alarm company for caring enough to call me - I saved my umbrella and went about my day. Normally I would have been worried that the week started so strangely - but, heh! It got better after that!! Hope your Monday was a good one.

Weekly Planner

Last year a friend gave me a CTMH weekly planner. I immediately decided to scrapbook the left-hand side of the page each week with whatever seemed like the thing to remember. It has truly been a wonderful experience! I was desperately afraid I wouldn't have anything to scrapbook those first few weeks, but now I realize that my life is rich and full - there is more than enough material! I just need to keep my camera charged up and with me at all times!

Here is the page for this week - By the way - Fiona is the goat's name. Kid doesn't have a name yet . . .(Update 3/30/09 - "Kid" has been named Penny. She was named so after an old bridge that crosses the River Liffey in Dublin called the "Ha'Penny Bridge" that is bright white.)

Thinking of You card

Happy Sunday! I think if there is one blog that I've followed more than any other, it would be Kathi Carlson. Kathi has a style that I just LOVE. I learn from her posts, and admire her commitment to family. I want to be like Kathi when I grow up!

Anyway - I didn't have exactly the stamps she used to make this card - so I "improvised". I used the Close to My Heart bamboo background stamp (in bamboo ink, of course, it's a bit green) and then I tipped the ends of the stalks with a little flower that I cut off (yes, you can DO that with the My Acrylix stamps) from the September 2008 Stamp of the Month - I think it is called Moments to Treasure. Now that's a great stamp set - it made it into the catalog - you should get it!

What I like about this card is that it's a little bit somber without being depressing. I have used it twice now for a sympathy card. I do wish I had a stamp that said "with sympathy" but I've found that "thinking of you" works.

Want to know a secret? The reason I put the brown ribbon where I did - when I ran the background through my Cuttlebug embossing folder (Swiss Dots) I had to turn it around and run the other end to get it all embossed (it's a standard size card - but the folder is just 1/4 inch too short). There was a funky line where the two ends met. Well! That's a great opportunity for a ribbon!!!

Story for today - At church this morning, we tried to have a Fellowship Committee meeting but all of the meeting rooms were full! So, we settled into a corner of the parish hall, only to have the group getting ready for the rummage sale come in and start moving tables out from under us! It was really comical - our meeting was a bit shorter than usual with "promises to e-mail you" all around! We agreed that next month we'll meet outside if we have to.

Have a wonderful week!

Discovering Fancy Cuts Botanicals

I was inspired by one of my CTMH consultant friends, Kelly English-Triggs, to make this card. She used dimensional elements in her version, and I wasn't having any luck copying her design so, necessity being the Mother of Invention, I discovered the fun new Fancy Cuts Botanicals!
They are beautiful, fun, and super easy! They come pre-printed on cardstock and you simply punch them out, layer them, add (liquid glass, brads, etc.), and you've got a quick and unique flower! This card also used the new CTMH rub-ons, and Unforgettable paper and it could easily be "Hello" or "Happy Birthday" or "Get Well Soon". Nice and versatile.

(ok, first attempt to link to another site - did it work???)

My first blog post!

Welcome to my blog - I'm a little nervous so please bear with me! I want to share stories and art work that I hope will improve as I'm striving to post regularly!

This is a card I created recently with the Close to My Heart products. The 2009 Spring Catalog is full of wonderful papers and stamp sets to make your mouth drool!

I guess the other benefit that we'll hope for is improved photography! Anyway - I'll try to share something at least a few times a week and hope you'll drop by to see what's new!

Story for today - I carried a bag of bird seed out to the long-empty bird feeder this morning. As I entered the area under the tree, I swear the birds were scolding me "where have you been?" and the ducks were asking "what about us?". It's a glorious spring day in Mesa; we could reach 90 degrees here today. Hope you're getting ready for spring, too! Enjoy the weekend.