Serene Sympathy

I'm sure that every artist or creative person experiences a mojo-block.  A mojo block is when you want to create but the ideas are not coming.  When I experience mojo blocks I go to Pinterest to jump start the creative flow. This card was made almost a year ago during a block.  I got the inspiration from this card.  At the time I wasn't looking to create a sympathy card but I loved the design and it was easy enough to recreate with the stamps I have and I can change the sentiment for other occasions.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Fine Lace, Secret Garden, Brighter Tomorrow - SU
Paper:  WW, Brocade Blue
Ink:  Brocade Blue - SU, Tea Dye - Tim Holtz
Accessories:  Stick Pearls

Our Savior is Born!

When it comes to making my annual batch of Christmas cards I start think about designs during the summer.  I get out all of my Christmas themed stamps and play around to discover that year's design.  I tried a few different things stamp sets and Verve's Weary World came out on top.  This isn't the design I chose for this year's big batch, but it is highly likely that  I will use it for a future year's batch.  The design I chose for this year will be revealed after Christmas.

One of the reason's I love the Weary World set is because the images and sentiments represent the true meaning of Christmas, that Jesus Christ was born to save us from our sins.  This is the message I try to convey in the cards I give out each year.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Weary World - Verve
Paper:  WW, Concord Crush, Daffodil Delight
Ink:  Concord Crush
Accesories:  Embossing Folder, Verve Die, Framelets

Butterfly Trio

While I'm in the middle of making my annual batch of Christmas cards, I remembered that there are cards that I have made and photographed but have not posted on my blog yet.  This card is one of them.  I actually made about 6 of these cards to have when I need to send a quick "thank you".  It was a very easy design to do.  I used my Martha Stewart butterfly punch to create the butterflies in colors matching the the background paper and added rhinestones to give the card some sparkle.

Recipe:

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper:  WW, Early Espresso, Lucky Limeaide, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, DP

Ink:  Early Espresso

Accessories:  MS Butterfly punch, Stick on Gems, 

Merry Christmas Tree by Michele

My friend Michele came over this afternoon to play in my craft room and get her fingers ink.  Here is the Christmas card she designed.

She chose the current Freshly Made Sketch 238 and used Peaceful Pines stamps by SU and the sentiment from Verve's Weary World.  Michele used my MISTI and loved how she could easily line up the stamps for perfect placement, even when re-inking the stamp.  She doesn't have a blog (yet) so I am posting this for her so she can participate in sketch challenge.

Recipe:

Stamps:  Peaceful Pines - SU; Weary World - Verve

Paper:  WW, Handsome Hunter, So Saffron, DP

Ink:  Handsome Hunter, Rose Red

Accessories:  Dies, Star Punch, Ribbon, MISTI 

Party Like a Critter

Here is one of the August birthday cards I made but forgot to post.  I made this for my sister using Penny Black's Critter Party stamp set and colored the images with Chameleon pens.  I added ribbons attached with SU's Hodge-podge Hardware and a few sequins for fun accents.  I used my oval Nestabilities to cut around the images and created wide mattes with stitched oval Die-namics.

Recipe:

Stamps:  Critter Party - Penny Black

Paper:  WW, Island Indigo, Chocolate Chip, DP

Ink:  Tuxedo Black, Rich Cocoa - Memento

Accessories:  Chameleon Pens, MFT Stitched Die-namics, Nestabilities, Hodge-Podge Hardware, Ribbons, Sequins, Stick on Gem