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! 

CHRISTMAS 2015

Well, we didn't have a white Christmas this year, but it still was a very nice holiday.  I wanted to get my card for this year posted before we get into the new year.

All of the pretty red cardstock is from SU and called Cranberry  Crisp. I added a bit of Always Artichoke for the leaves, and a strip of Silver Sparkle, also by SU. The designer paper is from My Mind's Eye, the Merry Little Christmas collection. The white card layer was embossed with the Textured Impressions Stripes Embossing folder and I added the Textured Impressions Designer Frame for the greeting, both by SU. Also used were MFT Die-Namics Fishtail Flags STAX, and a poinsettia die by Memory Box. The Merry Christmas greeting is by Hero Arts. To finish it off, some SU Dazzling Details Silver Sparkle was used for the poinsettia center. I think that just about covers it all....

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas, and wish you a safe, healthy, happy new year!!

Happy 2016 to everyone!!

Until next time...

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LUCY!

I just can't believe it's Lucy's 10th birthday today! By my thinking, she should only be about 4 years old. Lucy, you're making gramma feel really old today.  :)

Lucy had indoor soccer this morning and she was very determined that as it was her birthday today, she WAS going to make goal in celebration of it. Great job Lucy, with all your determination this morning, you DID make that goal. WOOHOO...

This is the card I made for her to celebrate being 10 years old!

Using a green card base, I added a white panel. The designer papers are from MFT and the solid card stock is from Stampin' UP. MFT die-namics are Party Balloons, Bright Lights Numbers, and Pop-Up Happy Birthday. The small amount of stamping is done using the Party Balloons stamps by MFT and the Celebrate Everyday set from Hero Arts.

Lucy is a very sweet little girl who does cheerleading and plays soccer. She loves to do crafts and also to cook. She loves school and recently made the honor roll at St. Louis School. WAY TO GO LUCY!!

I hope you have the best birthday ever.

Enjoy your special day to the fullest!  XOXO

OPERATION CHRISTMAS CHILD

Each year, I like to find different charities looking for help around the Christmas holiday to donate or volunteer at. I found that The American Heritage Girls, troop 1716, that both Lucy and Lily belong to, were participating in Operation Christmas Child. I had never heard of this before but found myself interested in learning more about it......

Operation Christmas Child is a very worthwhile organization, helping children from around the world, and a project of Samaritan's Purse. You fill a shoe box with small toys, candy, healthcare items and school supplies, along with other items of your choice.

Lucy and Lily showing all the items we purchased for our Operation Christmas Child gift shoe boxes. We chose to buy the plastic shoe boxes so the children would also have a sturdy storage box to use.

We squeezed all those items into our 5 shoe boxes! There was a mini assembly line going on in the dining room. Also included in each box was a letter and picture, so the children who receive the box will know a little about, and be able to see, who sent them their gift box.  Jocelyn, their mom, bought and printed out a special shipping label so the girls will find out what country their shoe box arrives in.  I really was happy to see the girls so involved in this and setting a personal goal for next year to double the amount of shoe boxes they put together. This is a great way for children to help other children who are much less fortunate then themselves. Most of these boxes go to orphanages and very poverty stricken countries.

Jocelyn, Lucy, Lily and I have already decided to participate again next year. We will be picking up supplies all throughout the upcoming year for next years Operation Christmas Child shoe boxes.

Until next time...