Just Believe

Just Believe is a gorgeous set from the new catalog. I love the images and the sentiments. It's just so versatile. I used it on this card. I also used some of the new colors. I really like Marina Mist.

Mmmm Cherry Cobbler and Vintage wallpaper

I recently got some new Stampin' Up! goodies. The new catalog is fantastic! The new colors are luscious. There is a great variety of new stamps; and the new accessories... Well, I want to just roll around in them. Seriously.

One of the new colors this year is Cherry Cobbler. I love, love, LOVE it. I'm a bit disappointed SU! didn't name it Sooner Sweetness, but I have slowly gotten over that. It is my favorite red ever! So my first card here uses this color. It's got some new goodies and an old favorite.



The bird is from the Always set. Nevermore! I can't see a black bird without going there. I like Poe. What can I say? Duh. Nevermore! hehe

I used that gorgeous texture folder, Chantilly crocheted ribbon, and the pearls on this card as well. I really love them both. Then I also used Morning Cup. It's a whole set dedicated to caffeine. What's not to love?!




So now that my GPS finally led me back to my blog, I hope to post more often. I think I can manage more than once every 3 months. LOL Thanks for looking. I hope you have a fantastic day!

Nevermore
Stamps - Always
Ink - Black Craft
Paper - Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake (formerly called Kraft), Basic Black
Accessories - scallop edge punch, Chantilly crochet thread, Neutrals button in Crumb cake, embossing powder, pearls, Vintage Wallpaper embossing folder

Vintage tea time
Stamps - Morning Cup
Ink - Crumb Cake
Paper - Chocolate Chip, Certainly Celery, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla
Accessories - Pearls, Chantilly crocheted ribbon, circle punches, scalloped circle, edge punch, markers, sponge

Faith, Hope, Love, Life, and procrastination

Every once in a great while, I make something I really love. This was one of those projects. I love everything about it. I really can't take much credit for it, however. I won this gorgeous frame at Michigan Mingle. Debra and Emma donated the most gorgeous basket of Stampin' Up! goodies. It had a frame, Decor Elements, a mat, Bella Bleu paper, ribbon, and more. To make it even better it was all beautifully packaged. I knew as soon as I saw it that I wanted to win it. Well, then I did! Woohoo! So over the weekend when I was supposed to be preparing for a vendor fair and my son's first communion, I decided to make my frame. Inspiration always comes along when I should be doing something else. Probably because I'm never doing what I'm supposed to be doing! hehehe

So here is what I did with the frame. I am really happy with how it came together. I just love everything about it. I love the picture here too. It is just one of my favorites taken in Orange County. I hope you like it too!

All Supplies SU!

Decor elements, Bella Bleu DS, jumbo brad, ribbon originals, Pretties kit, Night of Navy CS, Choc Chip CS, top note die, scallop edge punch

Card purse kit

Yesterday was Stefan's aunt's birthday. Debbie is just one of the nicest people you will ever meet. Her dear husband Paul invited the family out to Olive Garden to celebrate with them. It is always good to see them and visit! I had a fabulous time with them.

Since it was Aunt Debbie's birthday, I wanted to bring her a little something. She likes birds so I thought I'd make her a card with a bird on it. Then I decided a set of note cards would be even better. Now there is a slight problem. I have OCD when it comes to nature images. They have to be accurate or cartoony. There is no in between for me. I hate blue roses, and cardinals are red! I don't like purple daffodils. Artistic expression? Whatever! (just so you know- "whatever" is code for "You're full of it!" or "Go away!") Taking realistic nature images and coloring them weird colors is just not for me.

So for this little set I freed myself and made no attempt at realism. It wasn't that hard because I know almost nothing about birds other than 101 ways to cook a chicken. I used the Extra Large Two-Step Bird, the perfect polka dots impression folder, and the scallop trim border punch. The color palette is chocolate chip, certainly celery, and soft sky. Soft sky is retired and no longer available. I'll wait while you dry your eyes. I know it is very sad. Sniff. Sniff.





Above is the inside of the card purse. Isn't this a clever idea? I didn't come up with it. These have been cropping up at several stamp gatherings over the last year, and I just thought they were adorable! I found the tutorial here on Julie's blog. Check it out. She does very nice work.



Finally this is the little card we put our birthday wishes in and tied to the handle. This set went together surprisingly quickly. I came up with the design and made ten cards and the tote in about an hour and a half. I take longer than that to choose a color palette some days! So to make something that I like that comes together quickly makes for a very good day. I hope you had a good weekend too.

I get by with a little help from my friends

I love the new Vintage Vogue set and matching wheel from Stampin' Up! Love them. So I have been reaching for it a lot. Here are two of the cards I've made recently.



This one is a little busy, but I'm fairly happy with how it came together. The satin ribbon fulfills a void in my crafty soul I never knew was there. I made this for a swap I was in last month. Pink and green are my favorite colors, and I have been indulging myself by using them together more often lately.




This card is a little bit more crisp and clean. The "F" has been cut out and is popped up with some dimensionals. I had no reason for making this card. These "no pressure" cards are my favorite. It's fun to just sit down and make something without obligation. I sent it to someone special. The sentiment on this one is much nicer than yesterday's. It simply states, "Life happens. Love helps." So true. So today when life happens to you, I hope love does help. And if all else fails, whack your love upside the head and say, "Help me, dadgummit!"

All products are Stampin' Up!
Stamps - Vintage Vogue, Very Vintage wheel
Ink - Choc chip, very vanilla, pretty in Pink, Mellow moss
paper - Same as ink
accessories - pretties kit, dimensionals, pink satin ribbon, scallop edge punch, clear EP

Yin and yang

I have a confession to make. There are two very distinct sides to my personality. The evidence is here in these two cards.

On the one hand, I recognize that every human being struggles with something. Sometimes people are going through very difficult times. I feel for them. I pray the good Lord will give them strength and courage to carry them through. So in these times, I may send them a nice, little card like this one.





I actually made this one for my Grandma. She broke her tibia and is struggling in rehab. And since I can never get her on the phone, I went the archaic route of snail mail. Crazy! I know.

Then there is the other half of my personality. It isn't as nice. It says, "What the heck are you belly aching about?" and "Would you like some cheese with all that whine?" I know. It's not pretty. It was this little devil inside of me who encouraged me to make this next card.



It looks pretty, right? Did you see the sentiment? Oh yes. It does say, "Suck it up, Buttercup!" This is for all the times I read FB and tire of my friends constantly complaining. Quite frankly, I don't care that you have the sniffles, it's cold outside, or that your dog farted and is stinking up your house. Okay, I probably do care unless 99% of your statuses are complaints. This is for the people who never say "fine" when you enquire about how they are doing. Instead, they give you a diatribe about ingrown toe nails and unfair bosses and global warming and their large hineys. AHHHHHHHH!!!!!! You're a grown up. Sometimes life sucks. Deal. I told you it was not pretty.

So this is where I come back to my senses. I remind myself that God did not equip everyone with the same set of coping mechanisms. Some people can't just suck it up and roll with the punches. I cannot control how other people behave, but I can control my reaction to it. So I make a mean card that I will pull out and laugh at, but never send. I make 2 more like the one for my Grandma and I pray that the good Lord grants me restraint the next time someone annoys me. I will try to offer encouragement and not just a big old cup of "Suck it up!"

All products used are Stampin' Up!
Nice card
Stamps-Thoughts and Prayers
Ink - Whisper White, choc chip
Paper - Choc chip, Kraft
Accessories - Scallop edge punch, scallop corner punch, pretty in pink satin ribbon

Naughty card
Paper - So saffron, Choc chip, Very Vanilla
ink - So saffron sponged on flower's edges
Accessories - XL flower punch, big brad, double stitch ribbon, mover/shaker die, oval punch