CHRISTMAS 2016

WOW.... I've been really bad about posting on my blog lately! I've made several cards that never did get posted here to show you. I guess it's because I've been so busy with the hustle and bustle of the holiday season.

These are the two Christmas cards that I made this year. The backgrounds on the first card differed, depending on what I had for supplies. I was happy with how they both came out and hopefully those who received them, liked them as well.
I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!

Until next time...

HELLO FRIEND

I recently joined a new online card swap group. The group is a small one and the only requirements are to join at least one swap a month and make sure that the card you send is quality done..... something you wouldn't mind receiving yourself!  That certainly is fair, don't you think? The swap I joined for October was a swap with something on your card using the letter "B". This is what I came up with...

"B" is for Butterfly

I started out with plans to make a Halloween card with a bat on it.... I'm still not sure how I totally changed to making a soft, pastel, flowery card! But I think it's really pretty.  LOL
These are the supplies I used to make my swap card...

MFT - Grapesicle Cardstock
MFT - Lucky Prints DP
SU - Mellow Moss Cardstock
SU - Lavender Lace
MFT - Oval STAX dies
MFT - Upsy Daisy Die-namics
MFT - Simple Leaf Flouish Die-namics
Gina Marie Designs - Butterfly Die
MFT - Fall Foliage Stamp set
Enamel Dots

Until next time...

CLAUDIA!

It's hard to  believe my youngest grandbaby is going to be 3 years old already. Where does the time go??? This is the card that I made for little Claudia to help celebrate her big day.

Here are the products I used to make her birthday card.

By The Numbers stamp set - MFT
Circle & Circle Scallops - Sizzix
Rectangle & Rectangle Scallops - Sizzix
Blueprints 22 - MFT
By The Numbers Die Namics - MFT
Tempting Turquoise Cardstock -SU
Summer Sun Cardstock - SU
Regal Rose Cardstock - SU
My Girl DP Collection - My Minds Eye
Decorative Dots Embossing Folder - SU
Bakers Twine & Large Flower Brad

HAPPY 3RD BIRTHDAY CLAUDIA!

HELLO!

Well, the beautiful weather has been keeping me awfully busy with yardwork lately and out of my craft room. But I was happy to have been able to squeeze in a little time yesterday to get this one made!

I was asked to join 2 challenges this week so decided to make one card that would meet the requirements of both challenges. The first challenge was over at Cardcamp...the challenge was an easy one this week. You had to make your card with flowers and an added butterfly. The second challenge given by Chris, was to use the colors orange, yellow, green, and pink. The card needed to be something making you think of summer. FLOWERS AND BUTTERFLIES!!  I love it when a plan works out...

These are the things I used to make my card...

Orange Fizz card stock - MFT
Country Fair Plaid DP - MFT
Yellow card stock - unknown, found in my paper stash
Regal Rose ink - Stampin' UP!
Certainly Celery ink - Stampin' UP!
Blender Pen
Stitched Rounded Rectangle STAX-MFT
Fly By Friends - MFT
Hello! sentiment - My Sentiments Exactly

The butterfly and centers of the flowers has some awesome shimmer to it made using my Wink of Stella brush. Unfortunately, it must be camera shy because it doesn't show up in the picture.

I hope you all have a great weekend! 

SURPRISE PARTY

My granddaughter Lucy had a surprise party on Saturday, and she sure was surprised! Everyone seemed to have a great time as the party was at Spirit Central where Lucy takes her cheerleading classes. It was a high energy party with lots of young girls running around and tumbling. This is the card I made for Lucy.

Purple is Lucy's favorite color so I started off using SU's Lovely Lilac for the card base then I dug into my DP stash and found some marbled yellow and pink paper to make a layer using MFT's Horizontal Stitched Strips to place on top, then added the pocket made from Dazzle Purple-Pink Wash by Paper Heart Design. Here are the additional things I used to make her card.

Stampin' UP - Pocket Fun Stamp Set
Copics - Various colors
MFT - Label Maker Sentiments
The Cat's Pajamas - Flower Button Die
MFT- Bright Lights Numbers Die-namics
Stampin' UP - Lovely Lilac Die Ink
Stampin' UP - Positively Pink Cardstock
Jeweled Purple Brads

I think this stamp set has the perfect images to use for a 10 year old girls card. Don't you agree?

Lucy - I'm so glad your party was a big surprise and all your friends came to help share in the surprise and fun!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

Over at Cardcamp this week, it was my turn to do the weekly challenge. I asked that everyone take the initial of their first name and use an image of something that has the same initial. In my case, my initial is a "C", so I decided to use a CAT image.

These are the products I used to make my challenge card:

Stampin' UP - Wild Wasabi card stock
MFT - DP Lucky Prints Paper Pack
Copics - various markets for the coloring
MFT - Blueprints 3 Die-namics
MFT - Blueprints 26 Die-namics
MFT - Cool Cat Stamp Set
Stampin' UP - Birthday Sentiment

I used a button from my button stash and a thin piece of twine to tie it off.

SORRY FOR YOUR LOSS

Unfortunately, I had to make a card for a dear friend whos little dog crossed the rainbow bridge this past week. I was so saddened to find out little Muffin had left us. This is the card I made to send.

I started out using Kraft cardstock for the card base then decided to try my hand at using my Copic Airbrushing ABS-1 set to airbrush the blue sky using Copic B00 for color. I loved using the airbrush and hope to play around with that more! I think it came out pretty good for my first try at airbrushing.
These are the additional things I used to make my card.

MFT- Cloud Cover-Up Die-namics
MFT-Snow Drifts Die-namics
MFT- Sour Apple cardstock
Hero Arts-sentiment
MFT- You have my Heart Stamp Set
The Cat's Pajamas-Bitty Banners (used for the small heart)
Copics-various colors

I just love this MFT stamp set. There are several adorable stamps in this set. I can definitely see myself creating many other cards with it.

Our little fur-babies are family members and it's so difficult when we have to say goodbye to them. They see us through our best and worst times. They are faithful companions who ask so little from us, yet give back so much. Run free little Muffin... 

APRIL

Here is my Lizzie Kate cross stitch project for the month of April. Even though Easter was in March this year, it normally falls in the month of April. I like all the colors that were used for it, making it a cheerful little cross stitch to display in the springtime.

HAPPY SPRING!

Over at Cardcamp this week is a new challenge. It was Nancy's turn to chose what it was going to be, and she picked "gardening". I thought this sweet little bunny holding a trowel and plant was perfect for the challenge.

I love using some of my older, retired stamps. This little image is from a Stampin' UP set called "Spring Gifts".  Here are the other items that were used to make my card.

Square Lattice embossing folder - Stampin' UP
In & Out Stitched Rounded Square Die-namic - MFT
Blueprints 20 Die-Namics - MFT
Upsy Daisy Die-namics - MFT
Everyday Flexible Phrases - Stampin' UP
Pretty in Pink cardstock - Stampin' UP
Certainly Celery - Stampin' UP
Copics - various colors

The yellow cardstock and designer paper were from my paper stash. The manufacturer is unknown.

It's still pretty cool and very windy here in New England. But many of the daffodils and crocus are up and in bloom, so spring has sprung!!

HAPPY SPRING!

EASTER JELLY BEAN TREATS

 I like making little things, in addition to, cards for the holidays. These are some little Easter treats that I made, filled with jelly beans and a bunny topper.

A close-up of the bunny toppers

I started out making one for each of my granddaughters for Easter. But I thought they were so cute, I decided to make more for my sister's grandchildren too!

WISHING YOU ALL A WONDERFUL EASTER!

EASTER BUNNY

Here is the Easter card I made for this year. I think what I liked the most is using all of the different colors on it.

Here are the supplies I used to make my Easter card...

Stampin' UP - Bunny Hugs
Cuttlebug - Swiss Dots embossing folder
Copics - Various colors
MFT - Blueprints Tag Builder 4
Bakers Twine
Button
Stampin' UP - Dimensionals to raise the center panels up from the card base.
Paper - Everything used was taken from my paper scraps

I just love being able to make full cards using scraps!

I've been making more cards than usual lately and I'm really lovin' it! I still have other things that I'll be posting soon so keep checking back... :)

FEEL BETTER

The weekly challenge over at Cardcamp this week was to make a get well card. I rarely send out get well cards because by the time I get around to making (and finishing) one..... the person I was going to send it to, has gotten better.  These kind of cards are the ones I guess I should make to have on hand....  

This card is so bright and cheerful. I think it's perfect for a get well card!  Every piece of paper used, with the exception of the light blue cardstock card base, was a scrap piece of paper from my scrap bin. I LOVE being able to use up paper scraps! The card base was SU's Bashful Blue. The greeting is a stamp by Stamps by Judith, and I used the Stitched Rainbow, Sunny Skies, and Stitched Cloud Edges~~~all Die-namics from MFT.

SPRING TIME

The challenge this week over at Cardcamp was to make a card that reminded you of spring time!  I chose to make mine a combination of both birds and flowers with this adorable image from Stampin' UP's "For the Birds" stamp set.

Here is a list of the supplies used to make my spring time card.

SU - Pale Plum card stock
MFT - Pierced Circle STAX
MFT - Border Die-namics (name unknown)
MFT - Blueprints 3 Die-namics
Copic markers - various colors

I also used two different pieces of DP. They were just in my paper scraps that I try to use up, so don't know the manufacturer of them. They matched great though!  :)

I deliberately didn't use a greeting on my card because I'm not certain what I am going to use it for. It would make a good birthday card, as well as, an Easter card or just simply a thinking of you one. 

MARCH

My March cross stitch project is finished. It is one of my favorite Lizzie Kate patterns of my 12 months of cross stitch project I've been working on for the past several months. I just love his happy, smiling, little face. Isn't he the cutest little leprechaun??

HAPPY ST. PATRICK'S DAY!

NAUTICAL BIRTHDAY CARD

It was my turn this week to choose the challenge over at CardCamp. I decided the challenge was to make a card with a "Nautical Theme".

These are the products used to make this card...

Night of Navy card stock - SU
Dark red card stock - Unknown
Very Vanilla card stock - SU
Close to Cocoa ink - SU
Night of Navy ink - SU
Sea Charms Die-namics -MFT
Blueprints Tag Builder 4 Die-namics - MFT
Blueprints Tag Builder 5 Die-namics - MFT
Stitched Rectangle Frame Die-namics -MFT
Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set - SU
Set Sail Stamp Set - SU
Old World Map Background Stamp - SU

The vanilla cardstock was covered with various amounts of Close to Cocoa ink using a sponge dauber to give the paper more of a vintage look. A bronze brad was used on the charm in the circle and popped up from the card using stampin' dimensionals.

I really like how this came out and looking forward to making more nautical cards. They're perfect for when you need a masculine card.

WISHING YOU HAPPINESS

My sisters birthday was yesterday and this is the card I made for her special day. We met up today and the weather was nice enough (wearing layers and gloves) to finally go for a walk. It was great getting some fresh air, exercise and a few hours of chat time!  :)

The card is a 4 1/4 x 4 1/4 square and fits fine in a standard A2 envelope so doesn't require extra postage.

This is the list of products that were used to make the card.

MFT - Square Frames Die-namics
MFT - Wild Greenery Die-namics
MFT - Large Desert Bouquet Die-namics
Stampin' UP! - Lavender Lace Ink
Stampin' UP! - Summer Sun Ink
MFT - Coral Crush Ink
MFT - Peach Bellini Ink
Stampin' UP! - Certainly Celery card stock
Stampin' UP! - Old Olive card stock
MFT - More Essential Sentiments Stamp Set
MFT - Large Desert Bouquet Stamp Set




It was great seeing her today. I always enjoy the time we spend together. We're hoping the weather stays good so we can get together and do more walking.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BRENDA!

SENDING YOU LOVE

Valentine's Day snuck up early on me this year and I didn't get as many cards made as I wanted to. This one was made for my daughter, Jocelyn.

I used white cardstock for the base and a layer on top, embossed using a Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder. The DP is made by American Crafts. The rest of the card was made using MFT's Blueprints Tag Builder 3 and Blueprints 16. The little greeting is from MFT's "I Heart You" stamp set. This is being posted in this weeks #48 Sweet Hearts challenge for the clean and layered style at The Card Concept. It's a new challenge site that I stumbled on to today.

I hope you all had a great Valentine's Day!

FEBRUARY

It has been so cold lately here in New England. Some days I don't even want to leave the house it's so frigid outside. That's probably why I was able to finish my Lizzie Kate cross stitch project for February so early this month.  :)  My project was done using 14ct Fiddlers Cloth.

I wasn't crazy about the pattern for this month, but now that it's finished, I really like how it came out. Hope you like it too...

Happy February....try to stay warm!

JANUARY CROSS STITCH

Now that the holidays are over, it's time to get back to my cross stitching and finish up with my monthly Lizzie Kate projects.  This was the pattern for the month of January. Another adorable little snowman.

I've pulled all of the necessary supplies together, along with a new piece of Aida cloth, and plan to start the new cross stitch project for the month of February tonight. I only have 4 months left to complete, then will have the entire 12 months finished.  :) 

ENJOY YOUR DAY

This week, the challenge for Card Camp was to make and mail a RAK card. I had just gotten some of MFT's Sour Apple cardstock and wanted to see what I could come up with using it.

I started off with some Grapesicle cardstock for the base. Then used the Stitched Cover-up vertical companion die with the Sour Apple cardstock. The DP is from the Plaid Pattern paper pack. The stamps are MFT's More Essential Sentiments and Blissful Blooms. The flowers have glitter on them done using the Wink Glitter Pens, but you can't see their shine/sparkle in the picture. All the products I used, with the exception of the 2 purple enamel dots, are from MFT.

CONCORD GRAPE JELLY 2015

This year for Christmas I decided to give everyone something small, but homemade, as well as the usual wrapped, store bought gifts. I hadn't made jelly in many years but decided to make a couple batches of concord grape and do some container decorating.

Concord Grape Jelly made for my daughter, son, and sisters. Decorated with burlap, twine, Christmas patterned cotton fabric, and homemade wooden tags.

These are the smaller size jelly jars. I just made a handmade label to put on the top of them. These jars were tucked inside of a few gifts that were given to friends ~~ and were a big hit! 

It felt really good being able to make a few small things this year and give them out as gifts. I already have some ideas of things to make for next Christmas!