Sweepie is 10!

Sweepie, my little niece whom I often write about, had her 10th birthday yesterday!  She has gone from a cute and precious little baby to the beautiful, kind, and very intelligent young lady that I am so proud to call my niece.  We had a nice bowling party for her with many of her friends and some of her classmates.  

Sweepie has had an interest in building things from boxes since she was very little.  Since seeing the movie Hidden Figures a couple of months ago, she now has a passion to become an engineer when she grows up.  She has asked for motorized Legos and Kinex kits for her birthday.  I think she ended up with over a dozen sets!  I can't wait to see all of the amazing things she will create with her birthday gifts.

Recipe:

Stamps:  Number of Years, Party This Way - SU

Paper:  Pear Pizzazz, Crisp Cantaloupe, Pool Party, DP

Ink:  Pool Party, WW Craft

Accessories:  Framelits, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Stick on Gems, Nestabilities

A Little Something for Baby Girl

As I am going through pictures of cards I made I found this one that hasn't been posted yet.  This is a card I made earlier this year for a baby shower.  This cute card was so quick and easy it is my on my need-to-make-a-card-fast list.  I used a coordinating die from the SU Something for Baby set and used the negative over DP.  I attached a Prima flower with a gold brad and the card was done and then mounted it on coordinating card stock and the card was done.

Recipe:
Stamps:  All Year Cheer II - SU
Paper: Blush Blossom, Crisp Cantaloupe, DP
Ink:  Crisp Cantaloupe
Accessories:  Framelits, Prima Flower, Brad

You'll be Tea-fully Missed

This card was made for a co-worker who left our office to move across the country.  She loves tea, so when I saw this card on Pinterest I just knew that the design would be perfect for her.  I used different colors in my card and a sentiment that expresses that she will be missed by all of us in the office.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Wild about Flowers, Petite Petals - SU
Paper: WW, Handsome Hunter, Lucky Limeade, DP
Ink:  Handsome Hunter, Tempting Turquoise
Accessories:  Flower Punch, Framelits, Bird Builder Punch, Beads

Butterfly Well Wishes

This card was made for someone at work who has been out with some health issues.  I got the idea for the design from an older MFT sketch 146.  I chose the colors from the DP.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes - SU
Paper:  Marina Mist, Daffodil Delight, WW, Lucky Limeaide, DP
Ink:  Luck Limeade
Accessories:  Butterfly Framelit and Thinlit, MFT Die-namic, Embossing Folder, Stick on Pearl, Glimmer Mist

Summertime Joy

My new craft room is pretty much set up and I can find everything I need to make a card when inspiration strikes.  For this card I used Prisma and Koh-I-Noor color pencils on this summery House Mouse image.  The sketch is from Mojo Monday 454.

Recipe:

Stamps:  Flower Raft - House Mouse, Serenity - Verve

Paper:  WW, Bermuda Bay, Calypso Coral, Gumball Green

Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, WW Craft Ink

Accessories:  Prisma and Koh-I-Noor Color Pencils, Gamisol, Framelits, Embossing Folder, Ribbon

So Much Snow!

My area is getting hit with the blizzard and I am completely snowed in.  At the rate at which the snow is falling and blowing, I may be stuck inside until Monday or Tuesday.  I'm not complaining though.  I lots of time to play in my craft room.

This is one of several cards I have made so far today.  I applied Marina Mist ink to the embossing folder then ran the cardstock in it through my Bigshot.  I like how the ink is not even because it gives the effect of blowing snow, like the blizzard going on outside.

I made several cards today and will continue to make more until I get dug out.  So there will be a lot more post coming over the next week.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Snow Place
Paper:  WW, Marina Mist
Ink:  Marina Mist, Memento Tuxedo Black, Bermuda Bay
Accessories:  Embossing Folder, Framlits die, Thinlet die, SU Markers, Glimmer Mist

Vintage Well Wishes

A friend was in the hospital recently undergoing a painful procedure.  To cheer her up, I made a card with an Autumn themed design.  I used one of the dies from the SU Leaflets Framelits set and sponged it with ink in Fall colors.  I tilted the background papers to give the card a fun effect.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Vintage Leaves, Thoughts and Prayers - SU
Paper:  WW, Chocolate Chip, Really Rust, More Mustard, DP
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, True Thyme
Accessories:  Leaflets Framelits, Nestabilities, Sponges, Tear Drops, Glimmer Mist

Cafe au Natural

Yesterday was National Coffee Day and I made a card in honor of the occasion.  Coffee is my favorite drink.  In fact, I would almost start an IV on myself to have a continuous infusion of coffee.   I made this card just in time to enter it in this year's Fall Coffee Lover's Bloghop.  

I used new and old elements in my craft stash for this card.  The leaves are a combination of old Cuttlebug dies and new SU framelits.  The Cuttlebug die cuts were embossed while the SU cuts are stamped with the matching stamp set.  I also used new to me coffee-themed dies and stamps from Verve.  I like to add a touch of sparkle to my work, so I used sparkle gel pens to accent the word coffee and the coffee in the cup.

Recipe:

Stamps:  One Cup, Coffee - Verve; Vintage Leaves - SU

Paper:  WW, Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke, DP

Ink:  Soft Suede, Dusty Durango, Elegant Eggplant, Always Artichoke

Accessories:  Coffee Word and Cuppa Dies, SU Framelits, Embossing Folders, Gel Pens

Happy Birthday Balloons

This is a quick and simple masculine card I made for a recent birthday celebration.  I will probably reuse this design when I am short on time and need a birthday card in a pinch.  I think it works well with any color combination and many DPs that I have in my hoard.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Celebrate Today
Paper:  WW, Basic Gray, Lost Lagoon, More Mustard, DP
Ink:  Lost Lagoon, Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories:  Punch, Framelits, Embossing Folder, Stick on Pearls, Baker's Twine.

Delicate Butterfly Birthday

I finally got a chance to play with my SU Butterfly Thinlets.  I love the pretty delicate butterflies it makes.  For this card I cut two butterflies in two shades of pink and layered them.  The leafy die cut is from the Secret Garden Framelets.  I distressed the edges of the Mellow Moss layer and sponged the same color ink on the edges.  I sponged a little Pink Pirouette on the top layer; I love the look it gives.  I really intended to emboss only the top layer, but I forgot and attached it to the Mellow Moss layer.  I ended up running them together through the Big Shot, but still like the way it came out though.  It is hard to see in the photo but sprayed some Shimmer Mist on the top butterfly to give it a subtle sparkle.  Pearls were added as finishing touch.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Butterfly Basics, Express Yourself - SU
Paper:  VV, Cream Confetti, Mellow Moss, Pretty In Pink, Pink Pirouette, Always Artichoke
Ink:  Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Pink Pirouette
Accessories:  Secret Garden Framelits, Butterfly Thinlets, Shimmer Spritz, Embossing Folder, Stick on Pearls, Distressing Tool, Sponges

Gingy's Christmas Joy

I really like this little gingerbread man from SU's Scentsational Season stamp set.  I've decided his name is Gingy.  In this card Gingy is jumping for joy for he has learned the true meaning of Christmas which can be summed up in John 3:16 - 18

For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life. For God did not send the Son into the world to judge the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.  He who believes in Him is not judged; he who does not believe has been judged already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God.  

So even though it is really August, it is like December to Gingy because he has now received the greatest gift all.

When I make "Christmas" cards, I want them to reflect the true mean of Christmas; that is the advent of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.   This is a conviction that I have.  I am not trying to judge those who make Christmas holiday cards with trees, snowmen, or just say "season's greetings".  For me to make a Christmas card, it must have the message of Christ's advent in the image or sentiment.  Cards that I make without that message I categorize as "winter" cards.

I was inspired to make this card after viewing Ceal Pritchett's gallery and seeing her Sweet Christmas card plus dozens of her faith-based and Bible verse cards.  Ceal is this week's SCS Featured Stamper #287.  I was reminded of my new little friend Gingy but also inspired to make a card that reflects my faith, so here it is.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Scentsational Season, Come to Bethlehem
Paper:  VV, Soft Suede, Real Red DP
Ink:  Real Red, Soft Suede Craft Ink
Accessories:  Clear EP, Heat Tool, Bakers Twine, Button, SU Border Punch, Brads, Holiday Collection Framelits

Preserved Apples

This is the 5th card I have made for the SCS Dare To Get Dirty 2012 challenges.  I had a blast playing along and wish I could have done all 37 challenges but work and real life get in the way of my creativity =-)  The colors are from the Color Throw Down 161 challenge.  I used the new Perfectly Preserved stamps and matching Cannery Framelits from the current SU mini catalog.  The pearls are colored with Sharpie markers to coordinate with the colors in the card.  For details on the DTGD12 challenges this card is for SCS Fan Club members may click on the codes below.
DTGD12rainy
DTGD12stampertammy

Recipe:
Stamps:  Perfectly Preserved
Paper:  WW, Poppy Parade, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeade, DP
Ink:  Early Espresso, Poppy Parade, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade
Accessories:  Boho Blossoms Punch, Cannery Framelits, Twine, Paper Piercer, Pearls, Sharpies

Dirty Merry Gingy

This is another card for the SCS Dare To Get Dirty 2012 Challenges.  This card is a combination of 4 of the challenges.  SCS Fan Club members can click each of the following links to get info and participate in each challenge.
dtgd12edna15
DTGD12Twinshappy
DTGD12Bar
DTGD12blondie090277

Recipe:
Stamps:  Sensational Season, Warm Words
Paper:  VV, Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Early Espresso, Riding Hood Red, DP
Ink:  Early Espresso, Crumb Cake
Accessories:  Cuttlebug, SU Punches, Buttons, Stickles, Holiday Collection Framelits

Gracias x2 in 5

Weeeee!  I could be hyped up on coffee and endorphins from the aerobic workout I just did, or maybe it is that I also made 2 cards in 5 minutes this morning!  You will notice that these cards are in a much simpler design than I usually make.  I participated in 2 challenges for these cards: SCS Clean and Simple Challenge 180 and SCS Color Challenge 385.

I'm overdue in sending out thank you cards to some people in Honduras that hosted our missionary group in June.  I used one of the new SU sentiment sets in Spanish that I ordered a couple weeks ago.  You will probably see more quick and simple cards like this from me but with a few more artistic details added to them.  I have a card making class for beginners coming up next month and we will make something similar to this as one of the projects.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Deseos Divertidos - SU
Paper:  Very Vanilla, River Rock, DP - SU
Ink:  Island Indigo, Real Red
Accessories:  Window Frame Framelits