Congrats!!

Good morning!!! I hope you are well!! I am not dead...nor have I fallen off the face of the earth!! We've had internet problems that made me want to throw my computer off the rooftop, end of school crazies, and now summer with my 5 sweet people home with me!!

I've cut way back on the amount of time I've been able to spend at my desk....my kids are in a place where they are requiring me more and I love that!!! But, it means my posting here will be a little less....just in case anyone still checks in here ever!!

I'm sharing the new sketch for the week, over at Retro Sketches!!! 

And here is the card I created....it is time for several congrats envelops from our house these days!!! I wanted to keep this one masculine...which is always a slight stretch for me!!

I used some Altenew and PTI stamps. My stripped background was made with a Heidi Swapp stencil.

Hope you are having a wonderful summer!!! Enjoying the best of the beautiful weather, wonderful fruit offerings, and time with our families!!!

Take care friends!!

Super Lucky!

Hey there!! I hope you are doing well!! I am a little late to the party getting this posted...but better get it posted late than never, right!!?

I love this sketch...so clean and fresh!! All sorts of fun with the sketch this week and I can't wait to see what you come up with!! So, the sketch is here...

 And my card, here!

 I recently enjoyed a little bit of happy mail from the Ellen Hutson...don't you love a package from her store!!?  I used the Up the Happy stamp set and matching dies on this card. Could you die!!? I love, love, love this sentiment!! It sounds very much "Julie, HRR" to me!! :)

I used a little bit of Heidi Swapp washi and some assorted sequins...and copic markers! 

Can't wait to see what you come up with for the challenge this week!!

Thanks!!

Hey there!!!

Popping in again today with the new Retro Sketch for the week!!! I have to say, I LOVE how this sketch turned out for me....don't you love days like that!!? 

Here is the sketch..

 I found these awesome Maggie Holmes bows at Tuesday Morning the other day...be STILL my bow loving, gold addicted soul!!! I pulled some Heidi Swapp paper, being brave with my pattern mixing...and oh, I love!!! The thanks is cut with black fun foam...and is from Lawn Fawn.

Take care dear ones!!

Thank You!

Morning again!! I'm back with the new Retro Sketch for the week!!

And here is my card!! I used a couple new products...and I have to say I'm in love!!

I started with some gold glitter paste...it's dreamy!!! I used a Tim Holtz stencil and just added a schmear to the middle of the card base. The I used my new Maggie Holmes flower die!! OH my heart! I love, love, love them!! As you can see the flowers are built from a few different pieces! I don't have any dies that are like this...and oh, I think you'll see a bit more of them!! I also used some leaves from one of the Maggie Holmes flower packs...delicious!!!  My thank you is a Heidi Swapp die that I cut with gold foiled paper...yummy!!!

Hope you get a chance to join us over at Retro Sketches this week!! Take care peeps!!!

Thank You!!

 

Good morning!! Happy Saturday once again!!!

 

I'm back with the new sketch for this weeks, Retro Sketch!!

Here is the new sketch for the week:

And her is my card!

You know that day you're just walking through Target--minus any children to distract you;) and you see that there are new Heidi Swapp products!!! You all know now that I love her dearly....sweet in person and her products always make my heart happy!!! So, I grabbed this fun new pack of paper and got my "making pretty stuff" on!!  I love the detail in the paper, the gold foiling is so pretty!!

 



I paired the paper up with a bit of gold confetti...because really, who doesn't love confetti!!? I made a quick window/frame and this cute shaker was born!!! The Thank you sentiment stamp is from Impress...picked it up the day I hung out with Amy and Julie!!

 

I hope you'll play along with us at Retro Sketches this week!!! It's always so fun to see how everyone takes the same sketch and makes such awesome projects!!!

 

Take care, enjoy these late summer days!!! See you soon!!



Congrats

 

You know that time of year when you need several congratulations cards!? Well, this past month was one of those times for us!! So, this is one of the cards I made, just super fast and simple

 but I LOVE it!!

I used a new Heidi Swapp stencil and distress inks. The I used my Altenew Label Love stamps to create the sentiment...

 

Take care, thanks for stopping by and see you around!!!



Congrats

Good morning!! I'm excited to be popping in today!! I was able to get a few challenges in this weekend and that made me super happy!!

The first challenge I wanted to get in was the current Ellen Hutson, Mix it Up! challenge!! The mix up is to use Altenew and Essentials by Ellen stamps. Oh, hello two companies that I LOVE!!

I am in need of a few congratulations cards for some sweet kids in our life that graduated the past few weeks. So, I kept things super simple-and made a bundle of the same card! I know it is hard to tell from the photo, but the card front is an awesome embossed stripe--from this Heidi Swapp embossing folder. I love the look and simple class it adds to a card!!! It's really lovely in real life!!

Next I pulled out some neon Hero Arts inks, my Bold Blooms stamps from Ellen, and went to town!! I found that I preferred to use my MISTI--even though I was just stamping to get flowers to die cut, I like that I can get such great coverage with the MISTI!! So, flowers, leaves, die cut--and added to the card front. Then I pulled out my Altenew Label Love set.

I love, love, love these colors. They are summer, happy, and I know the recipients will love them as well!!

Thanks a bundle for stopping by today! Take care peeps and I'll see you soon!!

Thank You

Good morning and Happy Memorial Day to all of you in the States! I  hope you are all enjoying a great long weekend and that today will be full of great adventure!! And I think today starts the beginning of BBQ season, right!!?

I have a quick little something to share today. I used  the awesome Saharan Screen Card Panel from Frantic Stamper...it makes a wonderful card front!!

I started the design out by cutting a piece of Stick It double sided adhesive and attaching it to a piece of white cardstock that was cut to the same size and the card panel when it was die cut. That way, it was super easy to attach the intricate die to the paper--I didn't have to put any adhesive on the back of the die when it was cut!!! And as I popped the patterned paper pieces back into the card panel, I didn't have to use adhesive on them either--as there was adhesive already waiting for them!! It made the process super quick. I ran 4 different papers through the big shot with the Saharan Screen die, and hand a little pile of each pattern. I simply grabbed popped the little shapes back into the die and it was really quick!! I adhered the card panel to the front of the card with some foam adhesive.

 

I used fun foam to cut out that black Thank You--which is from Heidi Swapp. I love that it was an adhesive backed fun foam--easy peasy!!

 

I hope your day is lovely!!! Take care friends and make it a great one!!

Thinking of you

Hey there! I'm popping in quick to share a card I made because I as all out of "thinking of you cards!!" How could I be out!? We learned of one of our good friend's mother passing away and I didn't have a card to share! So I ran and sat down with a couple new stencils....oh my!!

This new stencil is from Heidi Swapp and oh, it's a goodie!!! I used my distress inks and it went super fast!! I stamped the "thinking of" with black hero arts ink, and then used the SSS you die and black cardstock for the "you".

Super quick and simple, and good for a masculine card?!

Thanks a bundle for stopping by!! I hope you have a great one!! Oh, I'm linking up to the Simon Says Stamp challenge, Clean and Simple too!

Thank You!

Hey there! Post #2 for today! The new Retro Sketch for the week is a fun one!! It is based on a card from Arielle, and it's a goodie!!

Here is the sketch:

 And, here is my card.

 

I used some great Amy Tan paper...I love that design!! I decided to keep a black/white theme going for the card today. My bloom is from Ellen Hutson, the white stitched banner is from PPP, and the thank you die is from Heidi Swapp. I was SO excited to find this Heidi Swapp die while at Joanns a few days ago!! I love, love, love it!! So, a quick simple thought to share my thanks!!

I am excited to see what you come up with for the sketch this week!! Have fun with this one!!

Thanks for stopping by!!:) I'll be back with my PTI blog hop card next!!

Thanks for everything!

Morning friends!! I hope you are doing well! 

I am happy to sharing a little sneak peek with you today! I know I say it all the time, but I LOVE these new sets! You will find so much joy in these images!! 

Today I am sharing a little peek at the "Yappy" set. I LOVE the clean font! Great sized sentiments and a great collection of things to say! They will also pair really well with a lot of the word dies that you might already have in your stash...a great set indeed!!

I started my card with using a Heidi Swapp stencil and distress inks for my butterflies. I used a bit of water to sprinkle on them and then when they were dried I used some Heidi Swapp color shine to make the black spray. I stamped my sentiment in black onyx versafine and then heat embossed it with clear embossing powder. I used some black cardstock and my old reliable Martha Stewart butterfly punches to add a few more touches! The butterflies have been brushed with wink of stella and then covered with glossy accents so they are shiny and smooth!! The black and white diagonal stripes are Lifestyle Crafts shape tape--I sure to love that stuff!!

I hope you have a great day! Thanks for stopping by!! Take care and see you soon for the revealing of the new sets...stay tuned!!

You are Awesome!

Good morning!! Happy weekend! I love the weekend. I know that sounds a bit silly, but I SO love the weekend! I am super happy that the weekends are a bit slower paced for us at the present-not for too long, but I'll take the slower pace while I can get it!

So, Saturday means a new Retro Sketch! This week's sketch is based on a card of mine, you can see it here! It's always fun to "remake" a card, right!? Here is the sketch,

And here is my new card!

I used some Heidi Swapp paper, a project life grid journaling card and a bit of twine! The "you are" is from PTI, and that FUN "awesome" is from Heidi Swapp as well.

I hope that you are able to play along with us this week!! I hope you have a great weekend!! See you next week!! Enjoy!

Happy Birthday

Hey there peeps! Hope your week is going well!! I'm happy to have had a few minutes to have a little bit of therapy tonight...it's been a crazy week!! I started with a sketch, as usual!;) Having not been quite as consistent in my creating...sketches help get my mojo going!

 

I loved the sketch this week over at CAS(E) the sketch. 

I pulled out some distress ink, a stencil, and painters tape! I used some delicious "fall" colors...I love the changing of the seasons so much!! I love the yellow, orange and red leaves right outside my window...made my heart happy today!! I trimmed the middle piece, just cut the card front into 3 pieces. I used some black shape'n'tape and then attached the middle portion with foam adhesive. It's really cool looking in real life!! My arrow is from my Studio Calico wood veneer stash, I just used my black copic marker to color it in, and a bit of wink of stella on top! My cute Happy Birthday is from Heidi Swapp, and Oh, I love it!!

 

Have a great one friends!! I'll be back for the Be Inspired Challenge on Friday..



Sending Prayers

Good morning!! Happy Saturday to you all! Saturday means a new Retro Sketch!! The card that inspired this weeks sketch is this one, from Laurie!  Isn't it a fun one!? So, here is this weeks sketch

And here is my card!

I used my new Avery Elle pigment inks. I have to say, I am totally NOT a fan of most pigment inks. In fact I haven't used any very often because they always smear and make a mess of my stamps! Well, I am happy to report that I LOVE the Avery Elle pigment inks! They are divine! Great colors, wonderful formulation that says wet--but not too wet-just long enough. The color stacks great...they are really great!! I would definitely recommend them! I used a heidi swapp diagonal stencil and some black soot distress ink for my little back ground. Since I made my own background, I decided to link up to the Simon Says Stamp Challenge for the week, "making your own background." I am also playing along with the AEIHeart Challenge, CAS! My stamps are Avery Elle. I added a sprinkle of gold sequins and just a touch of gold thread.

This week has been super emotional and a bit heavy. I lost a dear friend last Friday morning, and today is her funeral. I made this card to send to her family...I see them a lot, they live quite close to me, and we go to church together...and I am challenging myself to get a card in the mail to them for many weeks to come. Their mom/wife died too young and oh, how she will be missed. She was one of my friends that found my card in her mailbox often and she always told me how much they meant to her...and how thankful she was that I took the time to fill her mailbox....so I will continue to fill her mailbox and tell her family just how much I loved their wonderful Momma!!

Our time is precious, hold your dear ones tight today and make today the best one yet!! Thanks a bundle for stopping by!!

Wedding Wishes

Happy Saturday!! I'm excited to be popping in today...my sweet niece is getting married and we had a shower for her this week, it isn't every day that I get to be involved in a lot of family things, because I live so far away, and I LOVED being able to attend the shower and share the fun with all the girlies in my family!! It was great to have a card that was just for her...

 

My card was inspired by the new Retro Sketch that was posted today!! I loved the sketch, and it was inspired by one of my cards...(that's just fun!!) you can find it here. So, here is the sketch

 And here is my retake!

My paper is from Heidi Swapp...love, love, love. I used my PTI spiral notebook die for my little heart accent piece. I used squeezed lemon distress ink and a Heidi Swapp stencil for my pretty yellow hearts...oh be still my heart!! I love them...perfect shape! "Wedding wishes" is from PTI, and the Congrats if from Label Love, from Altenew. I think I LOVE that label set...it is named just perfect!! My glittery hearts are from Heidi Swapp...and the little wood heart is from studio calico. I have been hoarding those little wooden hearts...but I am here to declare that I will no longer hoard them!! So, watch out...you'll be seeing all sorts of little cuties coming up!!

 

I hope you have a fantastic weekend, spend time in the beautiful summer weather and that you get a chance to play along with the sketch!! Take care and see you soon!!

Hello!

Good morning friends! I hope you are having a great week, Thursday already...time is flying by! Happy May Day to you all!! I can't believe that it is MAY! My little baby will be here in just 14 short days!! I have been looking forward to this month for SO long...can't believe it is finally here!!!

Yesterday was a WONDERFUL sunny day in Seattle! We were at 80 degrees, jumping on the trampoline with swimsuits and sprinklers, eating smoothie pops and enjoying the sunshine!

 

Today I have a happy sort of card to share, one that my 6 year old Ruby has told me is her, "most favorite card" I have ever made!! She is sweet but we had a lot of fun on this one!!

I started with a large 12x12 Heidi Swapp sunburst stencil, and some distress inks. After the sunbeams were colored, I added some PTI clouds. They have been properly made into shimmery glitter clouds and a couple of them are popped up with foam adhesive. My hello, is from Lawn Fawn. I cut it out about 5 or 6 times with white cardstock. The last one I left in the negative space while I added the rainbow color, with distress inks as well. After I adhered the dies all together, and added it to the card, I applied a thick coat of glossy accents to make it shine!! It is very shiny in real life...you just need to run your fingers all over it (or so says Ruby!).

 

I am linking this card over to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge, featuring Lawn Fawn products!:) I hope you have a great day!! Take care, hopefully you will get a chance to enjoy the sunshine in your part of the world today!!

Love you always...

Hey there friends! Popping in today with a little "therapy". My sick daughter is feeling better and that means everyone is doing better!! I was excited to get a peek at the Cure for the Monday Blues this week!! What a beautiful inspiration photo!! Wouldn't you agree!?

Really, this color palette is my favorite!!! So, I pulled colors, floral and gold for my inspiration...

 

I used the current Retro Sketch for my layout...and went town! Heidi Swapp papers---can you say beautiful!? The gold diagonal stripe is Lifestyle Craft Shape N' Tape, as is the solid gold stripe. PTI Wet Paint...love it so much...stamped in gold...love it more!! The awesome pink clear flower is also Heidi Swapp...and I love that I found a place for it!! I attached the flower to the sentiment with my tiny attacher...love again!! Oh, and a few gold sequins...

 

Thanks for stopping by...see you tomorrow!!

You're the Best!!

Hey there friends! I hope you are doing well. My days of being a momma to 4 children are getting fewer and fewer...my 5th little one will be born on May 15th... (if everything goes according to my schedule!;) and we are so excited!! I tell you what, no rest for the weary these days! We had a couple of days of the flu with my oldest daughter last week, and that threw me for a loop!! Now, last night my other daughter followed right in her sister's footsteps! We've got flu case #2 today, and although my sweet little one is doing better...I don't like the sick bugs!!

 

I'm happy to have her occupied for the moment (being sick and home from school at our house is SO BORING!!! Or so my daughter tells me)...so I thought I'd finally get a chance to post my card for the fun Pretty Pink Posh shaker blog hop! I've been looking forward to the fun, but didn't know if I'd get a few minutes to post...so I'm glad I am getting these few minutes!

I was asked to make a card for one of our FAVORITE teachers that is retiring this year. We are all so sad to see her go! I pulled out a new pad of Heidi Swapp paper--beautiful paper--I might add, that I picked up at Joann's, and my fun Heidi Swapp stamps too. I cut the frame from my PTI Fabulous Frames, and just trimmed the bottom off a little. I stamped my flowers, added my sequins, stuck them all together and then attached them to my card! The stars are beautiful Heidi Swapp too...they come all glittered and ready to be beautiful! My sentiment is from Avery Elle, the Handwritten Notes stamp set. I think she will love it...and I think the shaker with iridescent and silver sequins makes it super special! I am linking up to the Simon Says Stamp "Keep it clean and Simple" challenge too...:)

 

Glad that I got a chance to post and link up the PPP blog hop! Hope you have a wonderful sunshine day...thanks so much for stopping by!! See you tomorrow for a bit more of my sharing my "therapy"...:)

Thinking of You...

Good morning friends. I hope you are doing well this Thursday morning! I seem to be drawn to beautiful green things...I guess my person is ready for lots of beautiful green grass and if possible some flowers to boot! With the rain that comes to us in Seattle, we know the green WILL come...just hoping we don't drown in the rain that brings it!;)

Although today isn't Monday, I wanted to play along with the "Cure for the Monday Blues" challenge. I LOVE the pattern on the rug.... and the floral pattern on the wall and I LOVE the pops of bright color! I was excited to find that my stencil matched the rug... anyway...I love the inspiration photo...

 

I also used the new Freshly Made Sketch.  I loved the simple cleanness of it..as always!! This particular stencil is from Simon Says Stamp. I used Mowed Lawn distress ink for most of the color, then after I took off the stencil I lightly used my ink blending tool to add a little bit of Peacock Feather distress ink too. Just a little hint of the Peacock Feather... The Moxie Fab Challenge that is currently going on is about stencils... YEA!! I have been smitten with them...

My floral pattern is from an American Crafts Spring pad I picked up at Target the other day...and the colors are SO fresh and vibrant...I love them all!! The sentiment is also new for me, it's from Hero Arts Everyday Sayings set. I stamped it with some Hero's Hues Black ink.

 

My lovely feathers...were cut out of watercolor paper with the Wplus9 Fanciful Feathers dies. I used distress ink to water color them, then used some Martha Stewart Neon glitters to add some texture and shine!! I had to almost fight my daughter Ruby for these feathers...I was letting them dry on my desk and she spotted them...oh boy! You will be happy to know that she painted a whole bird worth of feathers today...and they have all been glitified and are awaiting being put onto cards when she gets home from school today!

 

The last piece of my card are my cute pink sequins...that are FLAT! They are a new Heidi Swapp RUB-ON! How fun are they...VERY!! There are some great shaped rub-ons that you will see in the coming days...SO much fun!!

 

I hope you have a wonderful day and I'll see you tomorrow for some more fun!! Thanks care and thanks for stopping by!!