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It’s all in the family

I’ve been an emotional wreck lately. Those of you who know me, know how sentimental and sappy I can be. Well today was full of all kinds of emotions! This afternoon I met my brother and sister in law to pick up my mother’s old writing desk. I wanted it to give to my daughter for a graduation gift. My mother was a writer and my daughter is graduating with a creative writing degree. I thought it would make the perfect, sentimental graduation gift!

My mom’s writing desk

My sister in law told me she had a surprise for me. She gave me a small box and said she thought I would like these because I make cards. I really didn’t look inside until I got home. To my surprise, inside the box were a bunch of handmade cards my great aunt had made.

I totally remember them.

My great aunt was a nun and she would give these cards as gifts because handmade gifts were all she could afford. Here are two of her handmade cards.

I think she crocheted the little flowers and drew the leaves with a marker. Aren’t these cards so sweet? I was really thrilled to find out I had something in common with my great aunt. I have very fond memories of her and loved my Aunt Teresita so much.

Here is the card I made from her inspiration.

I made this card for my mother in law. I hope she likes it!

Happy Mother’s Day 💗

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A Rose for Mom

It’s time to start thinking about how we can honor the Mother’s in our lives. My mom loved roses and she would have loved the projects I made with this new stamp set from Divinity Designs.

I was fortunate to be a guest designer for Divinity Designs this month. I really fell in love with this new set – My World Stamp/Die Duo. It has the perfect sentiments for creating Mother’s Day projects.

Here are a couple of cards I created using this new stamp and die set.

I also thought it would be fun to create a Mother’s Day themed Timeless Tote.

I decided to use glitter paste and the new Rose Mixed Media Stencil on the front pocket to add some sparkle and texture.

This pocket is the perfect size to hold a gift card! Inside the tote I placed a small pack of tissues and a small hand sanitizer. We can’t have too much of that these days!

Happy Mother’s Day!

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It’s a Perfect Day for a Coffee Date with Kathy

I’m so excited to have another coffee date with my crafty friend Kathy Schweinfurth over on the Coffee Loving Cardmakers blog.

This color palette was the inspiration for our cards.

I love this color palette! It was so fun creating a card for this coffee date. Below is Kathy’s gorgeous card! She was inspired by the Concord and 9th Coffee Blend Turnabout Stamps and Dies. Please head over to Kathy’s blog to read how she created her card.

Here is my card “Thinking of You”

For my card, I decided to use the Cozy Cup stamp and die set and Cozy Cup Coaster Die from The Greetery.

To create my card, I first used the Lawn Fawn Quilted Backdrop die to add some texture to my card. Next, I stamped all of the elements. I used Catherine Pooler dye inks in Spruce, Skylight, and Sand Castle, and Chocolate ink from Close to my Heart. Layered stamps can be tricky sometimes, but using the MISTI stamping tool makes it simple! These stamps were easily lined up.

After stamping, I die cut everything and adhered it all to my card base. Super simple.

Thanks again to Kathy for inviting me to be her coffee date…truly wish we could meet in person for coffee. Hopefully soon!

PS I dedicate this card to my fellow co-workers. I miss you all so much!

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Divinity Designs: Is it a Match Made in Heaven?

I certainly hope so! I am so thrilled to have joined Divinity Designs as a guest designer. I have always been a huge fan of their unique dies and I appreciate all of their uplifting stamps and sentiments.

This month they have released the Twist and Pop die. This die helps you to create a fun, pop up feature to the inside of your card!

For my card I used the Great Faith stamp/die duo for the florals and sentiments. I really love the hibiscus image, so I stamped it in a light ink to create a floral background. I’m so pleased at how this turned out. I stamped and Copic colored several more of the hibiscus images and then die cut them to place on my card.

Here are the other supplies I used on this card : A2 Portrait Card Base and Layer, Oval Dies, Pierced Oval Dies and the Twist and Pop with Layers die.

Here is another card I created from the new release. This card features the My World stamp/die duo. This set contains lots of sentiments that would be perfect for Mother’s Day as well as some pretty rose images. I also incorporated the Delicate Doily Die that I decided to use the inlaid die-cutting technique. I have been creating lots of “thinking of you” cards during this pandemic. I believe this card would be perfect to send to one of my far away relatives.

For this card I used the following additional supplies from Divinity Designs LLC: Shabby Rose Collection paper pack, Bitty Blossoms Dies , Rectangle Dies, Pierced Rectangle Dies and A2 Portrait Card Base with Layer.

For this card, I really wanted the Delicate Doily Die to be the focus. I die cut 2 doilies and offset layered them. I stamped the sentiment from the Great Faith Stamp/Die Duo directly onto the top layer of the doily. Lots of rectangle layers to complete the background.

For this card I used the following additional supplies from Divinity Designs LLC: Shabby Rose Collection paper pack, Rectangle Dies, Pierced Rectangle Dies and A2 Portrait Card Base with Layer.

I hope you are inspired to check out the new release from Divinity Designs. Thanks for stopping by!

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Real Life is starting to interfere with my crafting time

I bought this pin a while back from The Grey Muse. Who knew that sentiment would become the topic of my blog post!

Unfortunately, last week I broke my arm. I wish I could say that I fell while dancing on a table, but I actually tripped on the vacuum cord as I was cleaning my craft room. This accident has prevented me from making cards. But in this first week of a long recovery, I’ve learned a few things. I mean, what I thought was true, has definitely been proven to be the case.

Truth #1: I need to create

I often joke that my crafting time is my therapy. It’s been a week of no crafting and I am one grumpy girl – just ask my family! I’m really missing that creative time!

I’ve also just received some new stamps and supplies and I am unable to try them out! It’s like being on a diet and someone sets a plate of brownies in front of you. It stinks.

Truth #2: Receiving a hand made card is magical

Some wonderful cards I received recently

I love sending cards. I really think about how my card can send a little happiness or express how much I care. I keep a list of cards that I need to make and add to it as I hear of things… like Sue’s cat just passed away or Ruthie got engaged. Anyway, I’ve gotten a couple of cards this week and those cards have transformed my dull, gray day into a bright, even sparkly, day! Of course I’m saving each of the cards. Knowing that my friends care enough to make and send me a card means so much. It reminds me why I love to send cards.

My point in writing this is that if you are a card maker, give yourself a little pat on the back. You need to know that you are making a difference in this world… one beautiful card at a time. Keep creating!

Also, you need to check out the Grey Muse: www.thegreymuse.com

Rubeena has all kinds of cool pins (many designed for card makers) and beautiful stamps too. Go treat yourself!

And don’t clean your craft room… it’s far too dangerous!

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Why I’m in Love with Mr. Pumpkin

Meet Mr. Pumpkin. He’s been in my life for almost 30 years! I have very strong feelings for him. In fact, I think I love him. What’s not to love? He’s always smiling and he shows up every Fall (my favorite season). And besides, he’s really cute!

My mom bought him for me at a craft show years ago. He was one of my first Fall decorations. Mr. Pumpkin has followed me to 3 different homes. I think he loves me too.

Usually towards the end of September I start thinking about him and really want to get him out and put him up in my yard. Once he’s out, I feel complete. I sometimes wonder why he makes me so happy, but I’m pretty sure it’s because he reminds me of my mom. If you haven’t figured it out, I’m a very sentimental soul. So, when Lawn Fawn released the Stitched Pumpkin Frame and Outside In Stitched Pumpkin, I had to have it! I wanted to make a cute paper pumpkin!

I created this little thank you card using both sets of dies and the sentiment is from Hello Bluebird.

My goal was to make a simple, cute card. I needed to make several of these, so a quick card design was needed. This card came together so easily. I just die cut the pumpkin pieces and glued them together. I cut an additional pumpkin to attach to the top, back part of the pumpkin, to create the little card.

Lastly, I die cut 3 of the sentiments and glued them together, to add dimension.

Super quick and easy card. This card makes me smile almost as much as Mr.Pumpkin!

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A New Day Prawning

As soon as I saw Newton’s Nook Shrimp Cocktail stamp set, I knew I had to have it. Those shrimp are so stinking cute!!

Honestly, I had no idea what I was going to do with them, but I had faith I’d come up with something. I saw a card on Instagram by a_touchofshimmer that was so cool! It inspired me.

Here’s my card:

I wanted my card to look like the shrimp were having a party in the sea. I know I want to join them!

Congratulations to Christine Miller! She is the lucky winner from the Coffee Loving Cardmaker Coffee Date giveaway. Thank you to everyone who visited and left such sweet comments!

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Coffee Date With Kathy

My good friend, Kathy Schweinfurth invited me to be her coffee date on the Coffee Loving Cardmakers blog . This is a new feature where the design team members invite a friend to be their ‘coffee date’. We each created cards for this special blog.

Our cards were inspired by a sketch and color combo:

Here is the card I created. I really love this pretty to go cup image and I thought the sentiment was a good fit.

Coffee Cup Image:  Unity Spring To Go

Sentiment:  Altenew Coffee Talk

Patterned Paper: Jen Hadfield: Heart of Home “Painted Gingham”

I started my card by stamping the image and coloring it with my Copic markers. I fussy cut it and also fussy cut an additional flower to give my card a little dimension.

Using the sketch as a guide, I cut my card pieces, including some pretty ribbon I had in my stash. I wanted to add something more to the back panel, so I stenciled some coffee rings with Ground Espresso Distress Oxide Ink. (As you can see, I’m really taking this coffee thing seriously!)

Next, I glued my pieces to my card base, except my to go cup because I needed to line up my sentiment. Using my Misti, I stamped the sentiment and then adhered the die cut circle to my card. Lastly, I used foam tape to pop up my cup.

This card will most likely be sent to a friend at work, who swears she can’t function without her caffeine.

Also, we have a little giveaway!  Leave a comment on the Coffee Loving Cardmakers blog for a chance to win a coffee-loving prize package (US only).  For an additional entry, leave a comment on my blog and Kathy’s- Stamps At Play

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Commenting open until Saturday, August 3rd.  Winner will be announced on our blogs Sunday, August 4th.  

Thanks for stopping by. I’d love it if you followed me on Instagram!

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Keep Marching

I created this card for MFT’s sketch challenge #447. I seriously love these marching band bunnies! When this set, “Strike Up the Band” was released, I knew I had to have it. I’ve had it for a while, but haven’t used it in a long time.

I was in marching band in the early 80’s. I didn’t play an instrument; I was a flag girl. I have lots of fond memories from band camp and football season.

Then my son joined marching band his freshman year. He played percussion until his senior year, when he became a drum major. This is a picture from his last marching band rehearsal.

Making this card brought back all of those memories!

This card is pretty straightforward. I colored my bunnies with Copics and then used the coordinating dies to cut them out. The sentiment is also from that stamp set. I stenciled some clouds with the MFT cloud stencil and added my grass pieces. I decided to pop up the bottom grass and bunnies. It was difficult to squeeze in all of the bunnies – but I had to use them all! ( they are just too cute to leave off any) My layout was determined from the sketch challenge.

I’m dedicating this to all of the guys and gals sweating it out at band camp. Can’t wait to see you marching in the Fall!

Update: a friend asked for this card. She’s sending it to her son who just finished up his first band camp as the band director. I hope he likes the card❤️

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I’m Speechless!

This week on the Newton’s Nook blog, it is fan feature week. Design Team members are picking their favorites from social media and challenges and sharing them on the blog. There have been so many amazing projects featured this week!

To my surprise, one of cards was featured today! I am so flattered that Samantha Mann picked my card. ❤️ The card she chose, was a shadow box and it utilizes one of my favorite stamp sets.

I hope you get a chance to check out Newton’s Nook blog this week. You will find tons of inspiration! http://www.newtonsnookblog.com