Cherry-O Birthday (with cupcakes!)

I had a lot of fun with the February Close-to-My-Heart stamp of the month, Piece of Cake! It has images in all sorts of sizes that look great on all sorts of papers! It will probably live on the work-table along with my birthday sentiments. LOL

The only thing that isn't really obvious about this card is that I actually paper-pieced the cupcake liners (the paper thingies). The paper pack is the new Cheery-O from the Summer catalog (available TOMORROW!!).

I'm just leaving home for the graduation event today! I'm so excited!! (see prior post for the deets).

Hugs!

Ruffles and pleats!

This beautiful card was inspired by Jeanette Lynton, Founder and CEO of Close to My Heart! It uses all CTMH products (except the green ribbon). I had fun learning how to make box pleats with the Buttercup cardstock. It took a couple of tries to get it right, and if I had followed Jeanette's tips (especially about sprinkling water on the cardstock to make it more pliable) I'm certain it would have been easy!

I'm glad it's Wednesday! I've been on a dead-run all week - but it always looks brighter on the down-hill side. I've got some "wicked fun" things to do this weekend (as my DD would say!) - first, a dear-dear friend is graduating with her Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN). This is even sweeter because this friend is my age. I cannot for the life of me imagine going back to school at my age and I am bursting with pride for her achievement! Naturally I wouldn't miss getting to be a part of it!

See you again soon -
Hugs!

Spring in the Desert

I've got new photos in the camera of stamped things, but am too lazy to go get it and download them. Please forgive me! To make up (a little?) for my lazy ways, I'm sharing this beautiful desert surprise I nearly fell over the other day! Spring in the desert is amazing! (there was no photoshop color editing done at all! This ugly brown prickly plant created these drop-dead gorgeous flowers - for real!)

Namaste.

Cherry-O Birthday

This is a another "sneak preview" of the new Close-to-My-Heart summer catalog - the papers are Cherry-O and the tea pot was paper pieced from Lovely Shelf (Nina Brackett) with the CTMH papers.  The sentiment is CTMH as well. 

My friends were over today for Open Stamping - we had a wonderful afternoon - I think everyone got something accomplished, and it was great to have their company!  Our "technique" for today turned out to be a review (of sorts) in the form of a make-and-take card.  I'll post a photo of that as soon as I remember to photograph it!  LOL

Tomorrow is Monday.  I guess I'm ready - I did have a lovely weekend, and am thankful for my terrific job!  For me, it's about accepting that work is part of my life and not something to be dreaded.  Work is rewarding.

I hope your week is rewarding, too.

Namaste.

Cheery-O

Good morning!  This happy project is a pad of note paper to hang on my refrigerator.  A place to jot quick notes (usually a grocery list) of things I need to remember.  The design and cardstock are from the new Cheery-O papers (Close-to-My-Heart) that release May 1.  The cherry stamp is an oldie-goldie (wood mounted!) that I had in the closet.  There is a new stamp set in the new catalog called Fruitful Delight that has a beautiful cherry stamp in it that I will use once I get it. 

Great day at the hospital yesterday - Britta was alert and breathing on her own (all day!).  Our prayers are working!  Otherwise, it was a busy day - filled with chores and errands, but a beautiful day here so being outside was not a problem!  I'm setting up this morning for my monthly Open Stamping group - so I'd better get back to work!  

Hugs! 

Resist technique

This card came about because I had been playing with some negative image stamps (Blossom Blocks from Close-to-My-Heart) trying to perfect my "resist" technique.  As you can see from the shine on the middle block, the image is clear embossed over the patterned paper that has writing on it.  Then, I used Tim Holtz distress inks to color in the parts that were not embossed.  The colors are SO much brighter when they're wet - but the final effect is very pretty.  I used another stamp from the "Lovely Shelf" set - mostly because I needed a card to send something to my darling daughter.  ;-)

Happy Friday everyone!  Thanks for your help with the swap - I did the top card first - wasn't convinced it was right and then made the bottom one.  I think I like it better, too.  I might try blending the two - using the sentiment above the scrunched ribbon and the map / compass detail below?  I'll post it if I try it.  This swap is due next week.  I get so stressed out when the deadline gets close - I am simply not a last minute person!  LOL


Have a delightful weekend!
Namaste.

Need your help deciding -

These are two prototypes I made for an upcoming Close-to-My-Heart consultant swap with new papers and stamps from the Summer 2010 Catalog.  I can't decide which one I like better for the swap?!  Will you help me??  

This week has just FLOWN by!  ZZoomm. I'm glad though - this Sunday is my monthly Open Stamping day when my friends come over to play!  I always look forward to seeing them and the creativity and laughter!  It's a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.

Hope your Friday is super - 

Please help me decide . . .

For a friend . . .

This card was created Sunday after church to send to a dear, dear friend in need of a little love.  The design papers are Basic Gray, the cardstock is New England Ivy and Baby Pink from Close-to-My-Heart.  The stamped images are from the Lovely Shelf set I got by Nina Brackett.  If I hadn't mailed it already (oops!) I might have gone back with my new Copics and done some shadowing!  (can you believe it?  I forgot I had them!)  The vase was stamped twice - once on the base and again, pop-dotted up a little bit.  Perhaps I should have colored the vase, too?  The sentiment inside the card says "Keeping you in earnest prayer".  I'm telling you, it's a lovely set!  (pun was NOT intended - giggle!)

I am SO thankful to be alive!  I feel spring in my steps - joy in the daily activities and am just thrilled by the beauty around me!  I could have gone on and on and on in my list last night!  But there was one thing I really should have included - definitely more than food - possibly more than a safe home - probably more than a pretty church - I am so happy to have YOU my dear blog friends!

10 Things that Make Me Happy

I'm thrilled to say that my friend Julie Ranae of Julie's Open Window gave me this sweet award!  What a thoughtful gesture - not at all surprising for Julie!  I am eager to tell you 10 things that make me happy - so let's get started!


1.  I love my daughter beyond belief.  Our relationship makes me happy.


2.  My Mom was such a good parent - although it took becoming one before I knew it.  I am happy that I was so lucky to pick the right Mom.

3.  My church family makes me happy - they are a warm gathering, full of love and just like a real family - with enough weirdness to be interesting!

4.  Being in my church makes me happy - it is a beautiful place that is filled with music and love.
  
5. My work makes me happy - I love what I do and believe in my heart that I help others.
  
6. My creative outlet (stamping especially) makes me happy - I learn so much from YOU and enjoy playing with ink, paper, and scissors (I no longer eat the glue). 

7. Food makes me happy.  Very happy.

8. My home makes me happy - I feel safe here and content.


9. Trees make me happy - trees filled with birds, singing away.  Trees dancing in the sunlight.  Trees reaching up to touch heaven while being firmly grounded on earth.



10. Yoga makes me happy.  Namaste.

Get well argyle else? (huh?)

I know I'm not the only one that sometimes struggles with what to name the posts!  Please forgive me for that one!  This card was made and is gone already - off to cheer up a friend!  I like how it turned out!  I was inspired by some argyle paper I'd spotted on another blog - and I realized that with a little work, I could recreate something similar.  I used the argyle stamp from the Close-to-My-Heart Felicity for 2010 National Papercrafting Month and stamped the red dotted lines with a stitch stamp from Circle Around.  The only thing not CTMH was the cute focal image from The Cats Pajamas and the kraft cardstock.

I had a restful day Saturday!  Hooray!  I did laundry, cleaned and nibbled.  I hit a slump in the afternoon and just sat for awhile, but when my energy returned at 7 PM, I was in the craft room until 11 PM making fun things!   I'll save those so I have something to post during the week!  ;-)

Happy Sunday!

Birthday!

This card was inspired by a beautiful thank you card I spied on Laurie Schmidlin's blog here.  I used a "oldie-goldie" stamp from Close-to-My-Heart called "Whoops-a-daisy" for my flowers.  The rest of the details are pretty obvious.

It's Friday and I've turned the corner, I do believe!  Hooray for me!  I ate soup today - and it stayed down.  I truly hope that none of my friends have to live through this "stomach bug" - it's been terrible!  Terrible.  

But that's behind us now.  I plan to take it really easy this weekend.  I need to clean a little bit - my home feels like a sickie has been haunting it ( ! ) and I'm an usher at church on Sunday.  Other than that - quiet work, most likely at the craft table ;-)

Hugs!

I bought 4 COPICS!

I realize that buying any Copic markers is a slippery slope (LOL) but I really love the way people shadow their images with them.  I bought 4 of the lighter ones that were "bundled" as shadowing ones.  This card was inspired by Julia Aston.  I colored with Close-to-My-Heart inks and a water brush, then after it was dry, used the copic to shadow.  The images are from Lovely Shelf by Nina Brackett.  I also used a touch of liquid glass on the middle vase.

Hope you are having a good week!

Namaste.

Autumn colors

I was in the mood Sunday for some autumn colors - and was toying around with several inspirations (Kathi Carlson and Jackie Solomon).  My card wound up looking different from either of them, but they were both knocking around in my head while I made it!  LOL  

Speaking of knocking around (no, don't run - it's not a knock-knock joke!)

I got sick with something horrible Sunday night - and it KNOCKED me on my b-u-t-t!  I'm just now (36 hours later) able to sit upright and sip flat ginger ale.  I ate a piece of toast (which is still deciding whether it likes it's new home).  Yuck.  I know I have nothing to complain about, it could be so much worse - but I'm not a good sickie especially when it's stomach sick.   


Well, enough of that.  I'm heading back the couch - need to turn off my head for awhile.  


Hugs (whoops, maybe I should just say "later" this time)

Thank You for Your Kindness!

This card was inspired by a card with a diagonal patchwork piece . . . I started toying around with it and this is the result!  I truly love this card - the papers (getting down to scraps on this Basic Gray 6x6 pad) especially and the piece of Breeze textured paper that I put behind it all - just so Happy!  The sentiment is Close-to-My-Heart. 

Things are stable here - my SIL is still in ICU but she is getting excellent care and is stable.  The biopsy came back benign on the kidney tumors - thank God!  Still  hard to believe all this started with a vacation in Egypt and a simple fall.  

Have a wonderful Sunday!  I've been playing a little, so more to post later!

Re-stocking my Sympathy cards

I've had such a run recently on sympathy cards that I thought maybe if I tried to get ahead, it would slow down.  Either that, or would you believe I'm kind-of on a sympathy card roll?  Anyhoo - I like how this one came out!  The paper on the left is a scrap of Basic Gray but I don't remember who made the pretty flowers.  Sorry!

The flower stamp is a Close-to-My-Heart (You're so Beautiful) and the sentiment is PTI.  The ribbon is a silk one - so yummy!  I need to buy silk ribbons all the time - they are just so pretty.  The problem is that I have enough ribbon already to circle the earth twice.  

(exaggerate?  me?!)

Tonight I visited my sister-in-law in ICU and was rewarded with a lovely smile!  She is really, really sick - but alert enough to recognize me and know that I'm not one of the people who keep poking her!  Keep your prayers coming - they're working!

Happy Friday dear friends!  I can't thank you enough for your sweet comments and support.
 

The famous Julie Ebersole inspired this one!

Julie posted a card recently that just spoke to me - I wasn't sure that it was the colors, but I loved the black, kraft, balance and the flower(s - in her case).  You can see her inspiring card here.

I had a great day at work today - and as I was leaving to go see my SIL this evening, I had a phone call with bad news - she was in emergency surgery.  We're back in the ICU again.  I was able to get some information from the ICU physician (what amazing people!) - but it will take a little time before we know if she'll pull through this one.  It's been a very difficult journey for her.  And for her DD (my niece) in Australia.  Please keep them in your prayers.  Hug your loved ones.  Don't delay - life has strange little twists and turns - you never know.

Love. 

Trade Coffee for Gossip?

I've had this stamp set for a couple of weeks and was so excited about it, I actually was describing (in the air, with my hands) the great image and sentiments to a non-stamper friend!  Can you imagine?  She probably thought I'd lost my mind!

I'm actually going to give this card to her tomorrow - it was fun to make - the first "serious" paper piecing card I've done but I love how it came out!  The supplies are from a huge variety of places - this was truly a collaborative effort.  Close-to-my-Heart cardstock and some of the design paper; other paper was Basic Gray, and kraft cardstock from somewhere.  The images are "Coffee? Tea?" from MFT, the ribbon was purchased about 5 years ago . . .

It's Tuesday evening.  I've got laundry in the washer and had a lovely smoked turkey & dried cranberry salad for dinner - it was yummy!  I'm about to pour a glass of wine and address some card envelopes.  It's been a delightful evening - hope your's has been also.

Hugs!

I sure do love to CASE other people's art!

This card was designed by Vicki Wizniuk.  I loved it so much, I had to try - and mine is VERY similar - so I have to give Vicki complete credit for the idea!  If you don't already have Vicki's blog bookmarked, you really should go do that - she is very creative!

I had a wonderful Easter - the Vigil last night was awesome, and church this morning was so bright and happy - I love seeing people I've missed seeing at church and the children grow SO much over the year!  It's sweet to see them all dressed up, too!  I did three egg hunts this year and after cleaning up the parish hall and finally getting lunch at 2 PM, I am completely wiped out!  I think I'll take a nap on the magic couch, then see what happens.  Hope your day has been everything you wanted!

Hugs!

Another "inspired by" card

Happy Thursday!  I actually love this card!  It was inspired by Lisa Johnson of Poppy Paperie here.  I used Close to My Heart stamps and the colors of ink that were out on my work table (Olive, Crystal Blue, and Tulip) with a touch of Parchment for the rug!  The background was stamped using one of the Boutique Borders stamps and then I sponged in some color over the stamped image.  The ribbon is a new w-i-d-e one from Sharon Johnson at her blog here.  It's very light and drapes so nicely!  I want it in every color now.  The inside of the card says "The door is always Open".


It was a BUSY day at work today - then I went over to the hospital for a quick visit with my sister-in-law.  I'm winding down and getting ready for bed-time.  I am super glad that tomorrow is Friday, but already worn out just thinking about how busy I'll be this weekend.  I have lots of commitments (all joyous fun, of course) and will need a good nap by Sunday afternoon.  Now, that couldn't possibly have anything to do with being in a chocolate coma, huh?  ;-)


Have a joyful, blessed weekend dear friends!
Hugs.