I had some new felt on my desk and I also had some large flower dies that I hadn't used yet. I figured big bold flowers would fill up all of that open space perfectly!
Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Freshly Made Sketches: Flowers for Mom
It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Jen Timko.
Big, bold and soft - all at the same time!!
I'm not going to chat today. I'm actually typing this on Monday morning before I head off to my first day at a new job!! I'm an early morning person so I'll always have a little time to read blogs or create cards before I get ready to head out. How perfect is that? I am definitely looking forward to this job, but it's even better in that I get to keep a little of my crafty life every day before I start working. (My family are not early-morning people so they can have my time in the evenings!)
I look forward to seeing what you create with this sketch.
SUPPLY LIST
Just the sentiment comes from Simply Succulents. The diagonal paper is from the scrap pile.
Monday, April 25, 2016
The Storms and the Rain
This card was so totally simple that I almost didn't post it! But I got the stamps precisely for their simplicity so why not embrace it?!
I just got these stamps from Papertrey Ink. When I saw that the current challenge at Addicted to CAS was "Rain" - my new stamps didn't even disappear into my not-yet-used-stash!
I just got these stamps from Papertrey Ink. When I saw that the current challenge at Addicted to CAS was "Rain" - my new stamps didn't even disappear into my not-yet-used-stash!
The image is Papertrey Ink's Splits: Get Well Soon Mini stamp set. It's a small set that only comes with the sentiment "Get Well Soon". During their release week, Amy Sheffer did a variety of cards using the new Splits set and on one of them she tucked in a sentiment from an older set called Rainy Day Sentiments. I'd never noticed this set before but it has fabulous sentiments - so I was sold!
I can't seem to leave a card unmatted or unframed. I love it when I see other people embrace all of the white space out to the edges - but I just feel a need to frame it. So I pulled out my new go-to frame set from My Favorite Things - the Stitched Rectangle Scallop Frames. A few sequin raindrops and sunspots and I think it will bring a smile to someone.
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Saturday, April 23, 2016
Fairy Lanterns
I spent a wonderful afternoon this week at a friend's house making fairy lanterns! (Thank you Michele!!)
My friend had the stamp sets, she had found all of the supplies and had everything out and ready to go. It was a beautiful afternoon with the sun shining in. There's not much more that I need in life - a friend, a shared hobby and sunshine!!
The fairies comes from Lawn Fawn's Fairy Friends. They had created little scenes with them in jars which gave my friend the idea for the lanterns. As another option, she also had the You Gnome Me set from My Favorite Things (that's where the snail came from).
Truth be told - I am absolutely terrible at dimensional projects. Poor Michele had to handle the glue gun (I tried once and burned myself), she had to bend the wires for the flying fairy, and she had to reach into my lantern and plant the various flowers and images! So I can't really claim responsibility for my little lantern - but I really wanted to show it off!
Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Freshly Made Sketches: Hugs
It's time for a new sketch at Freshly Made Sketches! Today we have a sketch by Amy.
I did have to cheat just a little bit because I couldn't use a wide strip (the darkest piece in the sketch) because the flower would be covered, so I just used a piece of twine.
I hope to see you playing along!
SUPPLY LIST
I went right to my never-used box of dies to see what rounded shape that I could put in the background and was thrilled to see these rounded roses. Right next to them in the box was the "hugs" die!! LOVE it when things come together quickly and easily!
Monday, April 18, 2016
Taylored Expressions: A Diploma in 2016
The newest release from Taylored Expressions included a die for a diploma. I immediately realized it's the same size as the numbers in the Just a Number die cuts!
Everybody has cards that they find difficult to make. For me, it's graduation cards. Having a 20-year old and a 16-year old myself, the difficulty is that it is a serious occasion - but the recipients are still children at heart. I liked using the diploma because it adds just enough whimsy that I think the "child" in the graduate will enjoy it.
This is a card that works well if you have graduates from a variety of schools. You could do an elegant black and white version - maybe add some gold, or you could easily do each one with their school colors. I like doing school colors - but have you noticed that many of the high schools have really ugly color schemes. Sometimes it's just easier to stick with black and white!
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Sunday, April 17, 2016
Life Never Stops Changing!
Almost exactly two months ago, I did this card from a long-time friend who was moving far away. In the post, I talked about changes - those in her life and those in mine. Today, I have updates on both.
First, her party was held quite early because she actually just moved last Friday, but she's an accountant and she was more than just a little busy during tax season so we got together while she was still able to think about something besides numbers! But I couldn't let her leave without one more card to remind her how much I love her.
In March, Reverse Confetti released a great die and stamp set (which I also just used on this card and will definitely use many, many more times!) I already knew that I was going to get it - but was completely sold when I saw Jen's use of the die and stamp set as a little house because I knew it would make a perfect card for my friend. So here's my take on "Happy New Home" also using the current sketch challenge at Reverse Confetti.
First, her party was held quite early because she actually just moved last Friday, but she's an accountant and she was more than just a little busy during tax season so we got together while she was still able to think about something besides numbers! But I couldn't let her leave without one more card to remind her how much I love her.
In March, Reverse Confetti released a great die and stamp set (which I also just used on this card and will definitely use many, many more times!) I already knew that I was going to get it - but was completely sold when I saw Jen's use of the die and stamp set as a little house because I knew it would make a perfect card for my friend. So here's my take on "Happy New Home" also using the current sketch challenge at Reverse Confetti.
FYI - all dies and stamps are from Reverse Confetti (linked below) except that I didn't have the Edgers die that Jen used to make the roof which would have made things much, much easier had I had it! The heart "grass" below the sentiment is actually a row of five hearts so I cut it and just moved the die over to recut it.
So on to my changes. I also talked in that post linked at the top about my going back into the work world and the fear that I was feeling, but that I knew that God cared about every detail and He had a plan. Well...He definitely had a plan - and it was that that particular job wouldn't work out. Long, long story. But much more importantly, He had a better plan!! I have left that job and I start tomorrow at a new job that thrills me beyond words. The work is exciting, the employer is more "important" - and to top everything off - it pays more, has better benefits, requires less hours and is exactly 3 1/2 miles from my home!! How lucky did I get?!
I am going to work at town hall for my little Town of Parker! I call it more "important" because I will am working with taxpayer money and helping to appropriately budget for town safety and recreation. I take that very, very seriously. I also won't be stuck in an office. My official title is "Accounting Technician - Interdepartmental Liaison" (definitely need to shorten that title.) And the departments are located around the town - the Rec Center, the Field House, the Parker Arts Pace Center - and more!! I am a small town girl at heart - and it thrills me that I get to spend my days in my own town!
Praise be to God!!
SUPPLY LIST
The paper is my favorite We R Memory Keepers Chalkboard which is getting a little hard to find. I've seen individual sheets at franticstamper.com and I have seen 6x6 pads at Amazon.
