True Love - Operation Smile

This was inspired by someone on one of the CTMH Consultant sites - and I've forgotten who!  I changed just a couple of things - top piece, white ribbon, and black/dot piece and the shirt on the boy - otherwise it was just like the card I saw.  If it was your design, please speak up!

I am really enjoying this Operation Smile stamp set!  It's so cute, and one of the sentiments ("This Card is a Paper Hug") really is what my hand-made cards are all about, after all!  Anyway - This one I can post before 1/1 without giving anything away, so enjoy!!

ps - used my birthday/Christmas gift flesh-tone pencils and markers on this one, too.  I am so glad to finally have a variety of flesh tones!

More Thanks

This card is an imitation of the one on the front of the new Seasonal Expressions Catalog that is available 1/1/17.  I used a thin cut sentiment from my stash (not CTMH) and cut it from one of the design papers, and rose gold foil tape from CTMH instead of the ribbon shown on the new catalog.  See me if you NEED a copy of the catalog!  Same paper pack - "Hello Lovely".  It seems to be designed for weddings - but I need thank you notes more than anything!  LOL

I learned an awesome trick making this card.  The design paper (in Whisper) on the card front is the reverse side of the pink scallop design of the circle.  Since I was adding a White Daisy cardstock piece between the two, there was no reason to waste all that paper under the white piece - so I cut my circle from there.  (I bet you all knew that!   I'm still trying to catch up here!)

New Seasonal Expressions sneaky peak

There isn't enough of the new "Hello Lovely" paper pack from the Seasonal Expressions 1 - 2017 launching 1/1/17 to qualify as a more than a sneaky peak, is there?  I didn't think so either!

The little lamb and sentiment are from Stamping Bella - I got them at least 6 years ago; I loved them at first sight and haven't used them very much.  My darling daughter gave me flesh tone pencils and dye-markers for Christmas/Birthday and I had to play immediately!  One of the first images I thought of was this sweet lamb!  Finally, a card with my sweet lamb!  Both doilies are from my stash, rose gold sequins from somewhere - not CTMH. The circle is cut with stitched circles from My Favorite Things.  Everything else is CTMH: Sorbet, Sea Glass, Fern, New England Ivy, Whisper, White Daisy, Colonial White, and Desert Sand.

Cats (real one)

I'm interrupting our regularly scheduled posts of cards for two very important reasons!  1st, I have made two things to share and am supposed to wait, wait, wait until the new year to post them.  I dislike rules!  2nd, I have the cutest kitty in the world and doesn't everyone want to see photos of him?  

Presenting, Mr. Bilbo Baggins and his new toy!

This kitty weighs over 25 pounds.  He has been on a diet for three years - because he has to be 25 pounds or less to fly on the airplane.  His response to receiving smaller portions of food?  He is now sleeping 23 1/2 hours a day and play involves laying down and batting at the toy for a moment.  I love this guy!  Wish I could take him for a walk or something!

Exploring in the Studio - Retired CTMH design papers!

This card was made with a retired paper pack, some smokey plum (dusty plum?) cardstock (also a retired color, I believe), and a small piece of vellum with a diagonal stripe.  The bouquet is a "sneaky peak" at a new stamp (shhhh!) and the ribbon is seam binding in a teal-ish color.  I added a beige dot pattern to the inside with a stripe of the design paper from the front.  I thought the vellum helped tone down the  busy-ness of the pattern paper.  It could be a sympathy, thinking of you, or even a valentine card?!

Hugs!  

Old and New

Last year I did a card workshop where we made the card on the right hand side "Twinkle Twinkle".  I thought it was really cute with possibilities for a baby card!  Today while fiddling around in the studio I found one left-over card packet with the elements and rather than let them go to waste, I decided to make the card!  Do you think I could find the SOTM set that had "twinkle twinkle"?  Nope.  (I did find it - just now as I was sitting down to write this post!) So, I improvised with the cute little "M" stamp that was recently available that had birthday wishes with a few tiny stars.  I added some more stars in from a set called All is Calm, All is bright, and I found a black star puffy to use instead of stamping the star.  The Glacier thick twine was also missing in action so I used black grosgrain (love it!).  The cards are "same" but "different".  Fun!

Well - great news is that I'm 10 days post-spinal fusion surgery and I've turned the corner!  All it took was more chemicals (ahem, drugs).  But seriously, I am truly doing great!  What an awesome Christmas gift!

Merry Christmas, or Happy Holidays, hope you are finding time to relax with loved ones.

R&D from Nancy Ball

I was very inspired by Nancy Ball a few weeks ago when she created several different colors of cards using the Close to My Heart Lovely Leaves.  Check out her awesome work here. I think the only change I might have made to her stunning design was to use a sentiment from the December Stamp of The Month set.  Thank you Nancy for the idea!  *ps - I use the term "R&D" to mean "rip-off and duplicate".