Lifetime Love

I've had this Verve set for over a year, but this is the first time I've inked it up for a card.  I really love the sentiments.  I used the latest Mojo Monday sketch and included hearts for the Diva Dare challenge.  How could I not?  The sketch had them already!  :)  (You can see other cards for the challenges here and here.)

I started off by stamping the word "love" repetitively across the red cardstock using the matching ink.  Once that was mounted on a black card base, then I embossed a strip of white cardstock with the Stylish Stripes folder by Stampin' Up and also matted it with black.

I stamped my sentiment and highlighted the word "love" with a Real Red marker.  I stamped the little arrow pointing toward the word "you" and underlined it for emphasis.  I matted the panel with black and added a black piece cut with the Labels One die underneath.  I then added small white dots along the curve.

For the hearts, I used white embossing powder on red cardstock and cut them out.  I also glued two more hearts on a white panel inside the card and stamped "Love Always" to continue the sentiment.  I really love this card.  It turned out fantastic!  My son thinks I should give this to my hubby for Valentine's Day and I think I will.  :)

Stamps:  Stronger Love (Verve)
Paper:  Real Red (Stampin' Up); White, True Black (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  VersaMark; Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Misc:  Stylish Stripes embossing folder (Stampin' Up); Labels One die (Spellbinders); white pen (Inkssentials); Real Red, Basic Black marker (Stampin' Up); white embossing powder (Filigree)

Hello Friend

In my new stash of retired paper (see previous post), there was one piece of pretty textured paper from a pack called Parisian Breeze.  I have to admit that I haven't really paid much attention to Stampin' Up decorative paper in the past.  I bought a couple of packs last year, but most of the time, I'm drawn to the stamps and that uses up my budget pretty quickly.  When I do buy paper, it's usually the 6x6 paper pads because the smaller scale prints work better for cards.  Looking through my old catalogs to identify my new 12"x12" papers really opened my eyes.  There have been some great papers released in the past.  I feel so lucky to have some of them to play with now!

This card uses the same piece of decorative paper.  I just took advantage of both sides of the paper.  (I only had one sheet from the original pack.)  Aren't they pretty patterns?  I used the latest Sweet Sunday sketch #201 for my card, matting each piece with Chocolate Chip cardstock.  The layered flower is stamped with both words and netting for more interest.  I used a Viva Pearl Pen for the center of the flower.

You can see other cards using this sketch here.  Inside the card, I added a piece of Baja Breeze cardstock and a strip of the Parisian Breeze patterned paper.

I actually made this card last Thursday night, but we've had two solid days of rain here in North Carolina and that's made it difficult to get a photo.  It's been one of those times when I wish I had a photo tent!  I was so glad to see the sun come out today.  :)  I made two other cards using this piece of decorative paper, so expect to see those posted soon.

Stamps:  Sweet Summer, Netting, By Definition (Stampin' Up); Little Labels (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Parisian Breeze (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up)
Misc:  Standard Circles Small die (Spellbinders); Beautiful Blooms II #1 die (Papertrey Ink); Cream pearl pen (Viva)

Good Neighbors

I received a wonderful gift last month.  My Stampin' Up demo decided to purge her remaining retired designer paper and gave it all to me.  Talk about a treasure trove!  It was so exciting to go through the box and see what was there.  She also gave me a stack of retired colors of cardstock.  Seriously cool!  In the box was a Welcome Neighbors 6x6 pad that was part of Sale-a-bration a few years ago.  I remember getting the Good Neighbors set at that time, but had not really noticed the paper.  I really love it!  It's full of pretty little patterns and I just had to use it to make a card.

Last week's Make It Monday video over at Nichole Heady's blog was an angled background technique using patterned paper.  I'd been meaning to try it out and the Welcome Neighbors paper was perfect for it.  I started with a white piece of cardstock and layered strips of different papers, starting at the bottom and varying the angles as I adhered them.  Then I trimmed the excess.  It made a fun background for my card!

I cut fishtail flags out of white and Bermuda Bay cardstock.  I stamped a Good Neighbors house on the white piece with Pumpkin Pie ink and added Bermuda Bay clouds.  Lastly, I stamped the word "thanks" underneath.

Inside the card, I used a strip of the house print paper and stamped the sentiment above it on a piece of Crushed Curry cardstock.  Very simple, but it adds so much.

Hopefully this card will convey my gratitude to my demo for her very generous gift!  I had a lot of fun going through my old Stampin' Up catalogs to identify the patterned papers.  Now everything is properly labeled and ready to use!  :)

Stamps:  Good Neighbors, Picture This, Flight of the Butterfly (Stampin' Up)
Paper:  Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Welcome Neighbors 6x6 pad (Stampin' Up); White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Pumpkin Pie, Bermuda Bay (Stampin' Up); Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Misc:  Fishtail Flags STAX, Fishtail Flags Layers STAX dies (My Favorite Things)

Pink Monster Love

I've gone into my studio the last three days to make a card with no real progress.  (Darn those mojo-blocking fears!)  Today I was determined to push past it and create something.  My Favorite Things started a new Color Palette challenge this month with the colors pink, black and white.  (see it here)  I love that combo so I pulled out some Pretty in Pink cardstock and the Peek-a-Boo Squared die, and things just evolved from there.

After cutting out the Peek-a-Boo Squared die, I stamped some distressed diamonds using the matching Stampin' Up ink.  I also cut it out of white cardstock to use the inner circles.  I stamped some images from a retired MFT set called Monsters Ink.  Aren't they fun?  The long monster was stamped across the bottom circles and onto the white mat, and the other two monsters were stamped on the top two circles.  I added the black bowtie and hat, darkening them up a bit with a marker.  After coloring in the monsters with a Pretty in Pink marker, I stippled the bodies using the same color to give them a mottled look.

Once the pink square/circles were glued in place, I stamped some diamonds in black on the top left and then added my sentiment "so in love with you" on the sides of the square.  The "YOU" is actually part of a sentiment that says "Thank You", but I only inked up the one word.  The card needed something a bit more, so I diecut a Pretty in Pink heart (from the Homespun Birdhouse set), stippled it with dots, and then crumpled it up for texture.

Inside the card, I stamped some more diamonds in Pretty in Pink in the lower left corner and stamped a monster over the top.  I added the sentiment "today and every day" in black from yet another MFT set.  (Yes, I used three different sets for the sentiments! Five sets in total.)

So, this card is not entirely what I had in my head to start.  Isn't it funny how that works?  I just kept messing around and adding/changing things until I was happy with it.  It turned out pretty cute!  :)

Stamps:  Monsters Ink, Distressed Diamonds, Bold Statements, Sending Thanks, Celebrate Big (My Favorite Things)
Paper:  White, True Black (Papertrey Ink); Pretty in Pink (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Misc:  Pretty in Pink, Basic Black markers (Stampin' Up); Peek-a-Boo Squared die, Homespun Birdhouse die (My Favorite Things); distress tool

New Year, New Card

"The woods would be very silent if no birds sang 

there except those that sang best."

 - Henry van Dyke

I got a Silhouette Cameo for Christmas.  :D  Squeal!!  Yesterday, I finally broke it out of the box.  I had installed the software the previous day and was dying to try it out.  My bundle deal (from the Black Friday sale) came with the Designer Edition software.  I've been saving the weekly freebies from the online store for the past year and the birch trees cut file caught my eye right away.

I cut it out of Dark Chocolate cardstock and layered it over Rustic White.  I cut the little red birds using my In the Meadow dies from Papertrey Ink.  I love how they pop against the trees.  I had this quote in mind as I made the card, but don't have it in stamp form, so I used Photoshop Elements to print it directly on cardstock.

Last year was tough.  Some personal experiences caused a lot of pain and self-doubt.  I did a lot of soul searching.  I learned who my true friends were and who honestly cared about me beyond their own goals and benefit.  It was a shake-down type of year.  Not a pleasant experience.  Still, it has made me stronger.  I survived.  It did not break me and I am moving on.  Am I still healing?  Definitely, but I am so much closer to complete forgiveness of those who hurt me.  I have confidence that with the continued help of the Lord, I will reach that point.  The Atonement is a glorious thing.

It doesn't matter that life took an unexpected detour.  It doesn't matter that I am just ordinary me.  It doesn't matter that I like to do lots of things and am master of none of them.  It doesn't matter than I am not a famous performer or well-known artist.  It doesn't matter that my quiet personality is often overlooked.  It doesn't matter that I have a sensitive soul.

I am ME.  Unique, individual me.  All of it makes me absolutely one-of-a-kind.  No one else has had all of my experiences, no one else thinks exactly like I do, and no one else can contribute in the unique way I can.  My small contributions matter.  If only the loudest and flashiest and most talented birds sang, the world would be a very quiet and boring place.  All songs matter.  Wouldn't it be nice if more people remembered that?

I'm not a prolific stamper, but I love the creations I make.

I'm not a sought-out performer, but I am a good actress.  I have a beautiful voice and have had many wonderful experiences, on-stage and off, because of that talent.

I am not Mother of the Year by any stretch of the imagination, but I have four amazing children who bring great joy and love into my life.  I wouldn't trade them for anything the world could offer.

I am loved, for better and worse, by a man who stands head and shoulders above the rest, mistakes included.  Twenty-two years together and still going strong.

I am surrounded by good friends and family who love me, flaws and all.  They love me just the way I am now and see my potential even when I am blind to it.  I am not my mistakes.  My mistakes do not define who I am.  We all make mistakes.  Despite that, we all keep trying and that is what matters.

Our song is not beautiful every time we sing.  But somehow, it all joins together in one big gorgeous symphony.  All songs matter and I will not stop singing.

I look forward to a brand new year full of possibilities.  To quote L.M. Montgomery from her book Anne of Green Gables, “Isn't it nice to think that tomorrow is a new day with no mistakes in it yet?”

Happy New Year!!

Stamps:  none
Paper:  Dark Chocolate, Rustic White (Papertrey Ink)
Cut File:  Birch Trees (Silhouette)
Misc:  In the Meadow die (Papertrey Ink)

Looking Back: Some Favorite Projects From 2013

It's time for an annual look-back at the year to showcase a few of my favorite creations.  This was my blog's third year, but I posted quite a bit less than last year.  (although still more than the first year!)  I had some mojo droughts, so to speak, where I didn't create much at all, and also some heart-wrenching experiences that put my creativity in deep freeze for a while.  Life has a way of doing that sometimes.  My unofficial word for the year was "change" and change definitely happened in both expected and unexpected ways.  I'm ready to put this year behind me and move on.  Still, despite less output than originally planned, I love what I made.

I'm going to show the pictures of my thirteen favorite projects in honor of the year 2013.  (in no particular order)  Click on them to go to the original post for more info about each one.

It was fun to try the chalkboard technique for this card, plus I just adore that gorgeous Limeade Ice color.

I got back into reading books this year and this sweet Bella stamp is just adorable.

Pink and black, what's not to love?  I need to make a whole set of these for myself.

I made this for a Splitcoaststampers challenge.  It was a true labor of love, and it makes me smile every time I look at it.

Love these greens!  Polka dots and chartreuse brads put it over the top.

Glitter buttons!  So much fun and such a simple card.

This card brings fond memories of Kool-Aid dyeing watercolor paper butterflies with my daughter for the PTI Stamp-a-Faire back in August.  Plus, we won Top Chef!  :D

I love the soft colors and ridiculous amounts of glitter in this card.

I made this birthday card for my sister.  Love the pretty patterned papers!

This card was a CASE using my own supplies, but I still really love it.   :)

Love this color combo, plus I really love snowflakes.

Love the bright pink against the black and that sassy little PI girl.

This was a commissioned birthday card I made earlier this year and it's still one of my top fave cards I've ever made.

So there you have it!  Just a sampling of my 47 posts this year.  I made a new card today that I will post once the sun comes up tomorrow and I have better light for photographs.  Now, it's time to sign off and go welcome in the new year with friends and family.  The table is spread and the wassail is simmering.   Cheers!

Christmas tags

I got sick the week of Christmas.  Totally not in the plans.  Of course, who ever plans on being sick?  Thankfully, we could just laze around the house.  My husband took the week off, my kids took care of themselves, and I slept a lot.  Seriously.  I can't remember the last time I took so many naps.  I made these tags for this year's Christmas gifts.  Last minute, naturally, but at least it was before I got sick!  :) 

I kept the tags very simple.  I pulled out my new Snow Day set for the snowman tags.  (which incidentally were the last set I made)  I embossed the snowman using white embossing powder and stamped the face using StazOn ink.  The little carrot noses were stamped separately and cut out.  The sentiment is from a PTI set called Tiny Treats: Christmas.  It fit perfectly in the space left on the tag.

This next set uses Watercolor Winter, a set released last year, and finally got to see some ink.  I love the two-step sketchy style of the images.  The sentiment is from a PTI set called Rustic Snowflakes.

My third set of tags uses an old Stampin' Up set called Peace On Earth in companion with another set called Peaceful Wishes.  I used Copic markers to color the globe ornament.  The word "peace" comes from a PTI set called Holiday Tree.

My last set of tags are actually the first ones I made.  I stamped the wreath image from Glad Tidings and colored it with Copics.  I added red Stickles to the berries for extra sparkle.  Quick and easy!

Stamps:  Snow Day (Stampin' Up); Tiny Treats: Christmas (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  Spring Rain, White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Oyster White (ColorBox); Pumpkin Pie (Stampin' Up); Dark Chocolate (Papertrey Ink); Jet Black (StazOn)
Misc:  Tag Sale #3 die (Papertrey Ink); white embossing powder (Filigree)

Stamps:  Watercolor Winter (Stampin' Up); Rustic Snowflakes (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink); Real Red (Stampin' Up)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Misc:  Real Red, Handsome Hunter markers (Stampin' Up); Tag Sale #1 die (Papertrey Ink)

Stamps:  Peace On Earth, Peaceful Wishes (Stampin' Up); Holiday Tree (Papertrey Ink)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento); Handsome Hunter (Stampin' Up)
Copic:  0, C1, B41, B45, G24, G28, YR23
Misc:  Tag Sale #5 die (Papertrey Ink); Basic Black marker (Stampin' Up)

Stamps:  Glad Tidings (Verve)
Paper:  White (Papertrey Ink)
Ink:  Tuxedo Black (Memento)
Copic:  G46, R29
Misc:  Tag Sale #4 die (Papertrey Ink); Xmas Red Stickles