Love Never Fails

Morning/Afternoon All!

I've had this Quick Quotes vellum quote sitting on my work table along with this scrap of paper for weeks now!  After reading a post my granddaughter just posted on her FB page I felt it was time I turned this message into a card. 

I created a frame using the Lawn Fawn Cross Stitched dies to hopefully bring more attention to the quote itself.


I then used some very old, rarely used dies to embellish the corners.  

Those dies are Tattered Lace 'Ornamental Rose' which I die cut twice and layered in the upper right corner and the Frantic Stamper 'Trio of Swirls' was snipped a bit to adorn the lower left corner. 

 

Nuvo 'metallic copper penny' crystal drops were used for the prima flower center and upper left corner.

Here's another quick look at my finished card . . .

Won't you reach out to someone today and show them that you care ... no matter what their differences might be!

Challenges to share in:
Die Cuttin Divas Challenge #354 - ATG
Frilly and Funkie Challenge - All you need is Love!
 Scrapyland Challenge #82 - ATG (product carried in their store)
Dream Valley Challenge #171 - Love
The Crazy Challenge #267 - Love
Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #155 - ATG

Thanks for stopping by today ...
As always ...

Thinking of You!

Happy Sunday Everyone!

Hope you are having as good a weekend as I am!!

I do have a quick card to share with you today and I will put it here at the top of my post before telling you all about my fun day yesterday!  I noticed a couple of challenge right at the top of the 'Saturday List' on Paper Playful and that was my inspiration.  First is the 'Cool in Blue' challenge at the A Gem of a Challenge Blog and next is the OMBRE challenge at the Addicted to CAS Blog.

To create my OMBRE watercolor background panel, I used Tim Holtz Oxide Distress Inks (Broken China, Salty Ocean & Faded Jeans).  I simply swiped the colors across my watercolor paper, spritzed with water then blotted with a paper towel.  Next I die cut the Memory Box 'Starlight Snowflake Collage' from my ombre panel and added a touch of 'Waterfall Stickles' to the snowflake points & center for a touch of sparkle.  Lastly I added my Simon Says 'Thoughtful Messages' sentiment.  VIOLA!

For those of you not interested in my personal life, feel free to stop here ... it's okay! LOL 

Others,  please feel free to move on and share in my happy personal moments with family! 

Yesterday afternoon began with a 'Sip & Paint' class with my daughter & granddaughter!  What fun we had!  So much so that daughter Carolyn & I are getting together again for another class this coming Thursday evening.  This time it will be a 'Winter Welcome' canvas we will be painting ... oh yes, I will share my 'masterpiece' when it's done!  LOL

I must admit ... Crafty I am ... Artistic I am NOT!!  

 Granddaughter Morgan 

 Daughter Carolyn

(back row - left is Dawn ... one of Carolyn's running friends ... they've done several 5k, 10k and half marathons together)

 

None of us are going to quit our day job and become art instructors ...

But, we sure had a great time!

The fun didn't stop there!

As I shared yesterday, it was my mother's 88th birthday, so after our painting class fun we linked up over in PA at Mom's for pie & coffee to celebrate.  Carolyn picked up an Apple Crumb and a Lemon Meringue pie (Mom's favorite) at a Mennonite Restaurant called Der Daus Haus and I stopped by the florist to pick up a sweet smelling floral arrangement to surprise her with.  She was thrilled to see us come and had the coffee ready (that was her part in this get together).  LOL   It wasn't long when we heard another vehicle pull in and my grandson & his girlfriend popped in to surprise Great Grandma (or as she likes to be know ... Grandma Great).  

It was a fun filled day for Mom since my other siblings linked up with her earlier in the day.  They took her out for lunch and had a few laughs over some of her 'non traditional' birthday presents.  

What a blessed day all around!! 

Thanks for stopping by today and for those of you who made it to the bottom of this long post ... BLESS YOU!  LOL

As always . . .

Kitchen Cards for Carolyn . . .

Happy Saturday All!

Back on the 17th of this month I shared this card that I made for the current 'Kitchen' challenge over on Double D.  My daughter commented how much she loved it and how great it would be to have some on hand for when she is sharing her homemade/baked goodies to friends and family.  She is an AMAZING cook/baker (she didn't get it from me!) so I told her I'd be happy to make some for her and that's what I'm sharing today!

I have made a set of six cards for her ... 2 of each pattern.  

Changing them up just a little by using different background paper (still available at Hobby Lobby online ... click on link) from the Paper Studio 'the Blue Barn' 4 1/2" x 6 1/2" paper pack but still using the same dies.

Here's a closer look at each card...

I have used the Elizabeth Craft Apron die from the Dies R Us store.  As well as the Tutti Designs Scallop Stitched Nesting Squares also from the DRU Store used for my sentiment panel.  I found this kitchen sentiment on Pinterest and since it wasn't watermarked, I saved it and printed it for these cards.

I will be seeing my daughter AND my granddaughter later today when we are getting together at a winery in her area for a fun 'Sip & Paint' class (my granddaughter is almost 26 so she's allow to partake, lol).  So, I have put this card set into a clear box (cards are A6 in size), along with envelopes and put a pretty coordinating gingham ribbon around it for her.  

MAYBE she won't see this post and will be surprised!  LOL 

  I'm also thinking ... if I get time, I might make up a few boxed sets for an upcoming Spring show with the Country Club crowd ... those ladies might like something like this.  What do you think?

Oh yea ... and hopefully we can make our way over to Pennsylvania after our class to spend a little time with my Mom!  Her birthday is today and she's a very young 88!  

I kid you not ... she drives, still works a bookkeeping job, sings in the church choir and her local county Choral Society, is the bookkeeper for her church and sings at the 'Old Folks' homes in the area.  Hard to keep a good woman down!  LOL

Happy Birthday Mom, Gram & Grandma Great!

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hope to have a GREAT weekend!

As always . . .

Dies R Us Inspiration Blog - Happy Wishes . . .

Hello dear friends . . .
Today I'm sharing a shaped card that is perfect for that Ballet dancer on your card list.  I must confess, I was a dancer (in my youth) ... my sister & I took ballet & tap for 13 years.  Must also confess we were both better at tap dancing then ballet!

I rarely make shaped cards but after seeing this beautiful Amy Designs die set in person, I knew exactly what I wanted to create and share with you today.  I hope you find inspiration in my creation.

Dies used are:

Amy Designs Wild Animals African Circle

Cheery Lynn Designs 'Arabesque Ballerina'

Impression Obsession 'Greeting Set'

My card began by die cutting the large outside die 'slightly off the fold of my A6 card' to create my base card.

Next I die cut a panel using the same die but from beautiful bright pink foil paper.

The next largest die was cut from white card stock and

the ballerina was cut from a lighter pink foil paper.

Although not photographed, I die cut the body of my ballerina

from a scrap of glitter paper and did a little fussy cutting to create

my ballerina's dress.

After adhering the doily panel to the background foil panel,

I added dimensional tape to the back of my ballerina before adhering 

her to the front of my card.

Lastly I added the sentiment (also die cut from the sparkle paper) and white

Nuvo crystal drops.  Viola!

Challenges to share in:
Cards 4 Galz Challenge #63 - Anything But Square
Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #276 - ATG
Crafty Gals Corner Challenge #157 - ATG
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Layers
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #338 - Birthday

 I hope you've enjoyed what I've shared today!  

Don't forget to come join in the fun at the Dies R Us Challenge Blog.  There's a new challenge theme offered on the 1st and 15th of each month and one lucky randomly drawn winner will receive a gift voucher prize to the Dies R Us Store.

 For your convenience, all the important Dies R Us links are provided below.

click below for:

STORE 
 CHALLENGE BLOG
  FACEBOOK
  INSPIRATION BLOG

FRIENDS OF DIES R US PINTEREST PAGE

Thanks for stopping by!

It's Fussy and Fancy Time!

Hello Everyone!

It's time once again for a new challenge over at the 

Fussy and Fancy Challenge Blog!

 Today's theme was chosen by our very talented Annie, and is true to our blog name . . .

FUSSY and FANCY

Here's my creation . . .

I began with a beautiful background designer paper from the Paper Studio called Country Road.   Then began my layering with a variety of dies.  I'm in need of several birthday cards for an upcoming Spring show and I think I'm off to a good start with this card.

Dies I've used . . .

Sue Wilson 'Cathedral Background'

Sue Wilson 'Trailing Ivy'

Sue Wilson 'Canadian Collection - Toronto'

Sue Wilson 'Daisy Cluster'

and

Cheery Lynn Designs 'Exotic Butterfly - sm' DL113
which doesn't seem to be available any longer.

The sentiment is from Technique Tuesday.  The little butterflies were punch from the same Tim Holtz Oxide Distress Inks panel as the flowers/large butterfly using the '3-in-1' punch by Martha Stewart.  A few amber sequins were added for a finishing touch.

Challenges to share in:
Addicted to Stamps & More Challenge #276 - ATG
Creative Moments Challenge #135 - ATG
Simon Says Wednesday Challenge - Layers
Word Art Wednesday Challenge #318 - #319 - ATG
Everybody Art Challenge #417 - Butterfly or Heart
Shopping Our Stash Challenge #338 - Birthday

I do hope you will come join in our challenge fun!  See you there!

Thanks so much for stopping by and as always . . .

TWO cards from ONE!

Hello All!

How is your week going?

Here are a couple fun cards I created by using the images

from a card I received in the mail from one of the companies we contribute to.

I love being able to do this but always forget to take a BEFORE photo ... sorry!  LOL

INSIDE

The image and sentiment on this first card came from the FRONT of the card I'm repurposing.  By using the Tutti Designs 'Scallop Stitched Nesting Squares' dies, I gave it a different look & appeal.

The designer paper comes from a very old (circa 2008) Basic Grey 6x6 paper pad
called 'Sultry' and the flowers are by Prima.  Nuvo white crystal drops was
used for my flower center.

INSIDE

For my second card, I have used the image that was INSIDE my
repurposing card which is basically the same image as the front
but just more muted in color.  To showcase this image, I chose the
Memory Box 'Wrapped Stitched Frames'.

I have used the same Basic Grey designer paper pack, added
prima flowers to the upper corner and my embellishment
is Poppystamps 'Musical Happy Birthday' die.

I have a few more cards in the set that was sent to me and the images on these remaining cards are reminiscent of images by artist Thomas Kinkade ... though they are not marked as such.  I will be making 'Two out of One' cards using those cards also, for my Spring show stash.

Challenges to share in:

Shopping Our Stash Challenge #338 - You Say It's Your Birthday

Crop Stop January Linky Party - ATG using product carried at their shoppe.

Seize the Birthday Linky Party - ATG Birthday (no topper this time)

 Thanks so much for stopping by today and,

As always . . .

 

Dashing Through The Snow

Happy Wednesday Everyone!

It's time for a new challenge over at the Sisterhood of Crafters Challenge Blog. 

'Sistah' Marsha is our hostess today and the theme she has chosen is:

Dashing Through The Snow!

What a fun theme and I decided to make the snowflake the

window looking out onto my wintry scene.  I hope you like it!

 

This Impression Obsession 'Large Snowflake' die (DIE093) makes the perfect window looking out onto this wintry cabin in the woods scene.  The stamp is by Inkadinkado (#99417) and I've probably had it for at least 10 years.  

After die cutting my 'window' I ran the panel through my Sizzix with a Carta Bella snowflake embossing folder.  After everything was popped up using 3M dimensional tape, I added Star Dust Stickles to each snowflake.

The sentiment is part of the Sue Wilson Festive Collection 'Peeking Snowflake' die set.

 And, the sky was colored with a makeup sponge and a little blue chalk dust.  For the cabin, I colored it ever so lightly with a Spectrum Noir alcohol marker.

Challenges to share in:
A Snowflakes Promise Challenge #47 - ATG
Cards 4 Guyz Challenge #186 - January Blues
Die Cuttin Divas Challenge #353 - Snowflakes
CropStop January Linky Party #36 - ATG using product carried at their store
 Merry Monday Christmas Card Challenge - Let It Snow

 I hope you'll pop over to see what my 'sistahs' have created to inspire you ...

Then come join in the fun ... can't wait to see what you create!

Here's one more peek at my final creation:

 

 Thanks so much for stopping by today and,

As always . . .