Wonky Cages

I {heart} this set! You probably already know that, but I just can't seem to move on. I make one card after another (I'm the yellow bird on top of the cage). This is from "Aviary" and the words are from "Word Play". Colors used are Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, Marina Mist, Pear Pizzazz, and Daffodil Delight I also used the 1" Circle Punch to make the half circle on the side and have a 5/8" Daffodil Delight grosgrain ribbon popping out. Thanks Marianne and Splitcoast Stampers for the idea!

The winner of the give away (a gift package of cards) is Susan H--I'll deliver your prize soon!

Benched

Do you like this color combo? It's Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, and Crumb Cake. Sets used are "Have a Seat", "A to Z", and "Trendy Trees". I used the Boho Blossom Punch to make the little flower, Neutrals Brads, 1/8" Daffodil Delight Ribbon, and the Scallop Edge Border Punch. This card fits into the Small Open-End Envelope and takes a regular postage stamp.

Pure Bliss

Here's a peek--it's mostly aqua and red, from the new Moda line called "Bliss". Here's another shot of the back with a little of the front showing.
Finally, here's the whole quilt--the pictures just don't do the bright colors justice.

100th Post!

Welcome to my 100th post! I started this blog about six months ago and am excited to announce a give away! Just leave a comment between now and Thursday (September 30) and your name will be entered in a drawing to win a gift package of cards (made by moi) with matching envelopes. It includes the card below and others we haven't made in a class--so I'm sure you would love to be the proud new owner.

This card is made with "Printed Petals" and words from "Curly Cute". Colors used are Melon Mambo, Pretty in Pink, Wild Wasabi, and Whisper White Craft Ink. The background is the DSP from the Brights and Subtles Paper Stacks. The Whisper White trim was made from the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch.

Happy Thoughts Make Happy Days

Don't you love brown and pink together = Early Espresso and Pretty in Pink? This card was made from "Apple Blossoms". I punched holes along the top with the Mat Pack, created some texture using the Square Lattice Embossing Folder, then added a Pretty in Pink striped bow.

Bright & Cheery

Anyone that knows me, knows I love bright colors. Even as a child I asked for my room to be painted yellow (must be those long, dreary Michigan winters). Anyway, this was the first quilt I made four years ago after not quilting for about 18 years. Now, I'm just addicted and can't stop (ask my husband, ask my kids, even ask the grandkids). Quilting has come a long way in 20 years--it's not what it used to be. There are tons of new fabrics and patterns for everyone's taste. This one is called "Sticks & Stones". This quilt I made mostly from the scraps of the first quilt and the pattern is called "Kite Strings".

Last, but not least, is "Cheese & Crackers". I did some hunting in several states to find more coordinating fabric to match the other two. Believe or not, I have one more quilt to add to the series . . . it's on the back burner for now.

Cute Christmas

This was a super fast and easy card to make. I used the set "Cute Christmas" from the Holiday Mini which is just adorable. It has nine different stamps including candy canes, presents, stockings, ornaments, a snowman, Christmas trees, "to: & from:", and these stockings and words. I stamped the stockings in Real Red and did some coloring with a Baja Breeze marker. The DSP paper is called "Candy Cane Christmas". The ribbon is 5/8" Satin Real Red.

Contempo Christmas

Love, love this new set in the big catalog called "Contempo Christmas". It comes with a contemporary tree and another sentiment. There's also a matching wheel. I stamped the ornament in Riding Hood Red and punched it out with the Ornament Punch. Then I popped it up with Dimensionals on a piece of Wild Wasabi DSP from the Brights Collection. I rounded the corners of the two pieces with the 3/16" Corner Small Punch. The cute rick-rack at the bottom was made with Tasteful Trim Bigz XL Die (from the Holiday Mini). This die has three other trims including a large rick-rack.

100 Days!

Just wanted to let you know--there are 100 days until Christmas! Let the card making begin! This card was made with the "Tags til Christmas" set from the Holiday Mini. I stamped the "Dec. 25" in Real Red punched it out with the new XL Decorative Label Punch. The Baja Breeze strip was made with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch. This is a great punch that makes any card stock look like a ribbon! I used the Square Lattice Embossing Folder for the Garden Green background and punched out Candy Cane Christmas DSP with the Top Note Die. The coordinating designer buttons are also called Candy Cane (all from the Holiday Mini).

Sneak Peek

This embossing folder called "Northern Flurry" is from the Holiday Mini. The snowflakes are so fast and simple to do with the Big Shot and they add a great background to any card. I stamped and heat embossed the tree from "Paisley Prints" in white on Marina Mist card stock and then punched it out with the new Extra Large 2 1/2" Circle Punch and popped it up with Dimensionals. Last, I added a Marina Mist 1/8" bow.

Like a Bird in a Cage

I'm feeling like a bird in a cage, so it's time to get off this island. Soon, I will get to see the grandkids (oh, and the kids). In the meantime, here's a card from "Aviary" made with Poppy Parade, Baja Breeze, and Daffodil Delight (of course). Yes, we are making this one in class on September 23.

Here Comes the Sun!

We finally saw sun today, so I just had to post this card from the set "Cottage Garden". It has coordinating 12"x12" designer papers called "Sunny Garden" that are cheery too! I used Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, and Poppy Parade, topped off with a Daffodil Delight 1/8" bow. Watch for more holiday cards coming soon!

Just Leafy

Yup, I'm already seeing some leaves turning color. Could the never-ending rain, low temperatures, and 40 mph winds up here be the culprit? This set from the Holiday Mini is called "French Foliage" and is one of my favorites. We are making a card similar to this at the class on September 23. I used Riding Hood Red, Old Olive, and More Mustard. The Old Olive 3"x3" square scallop was made from my Big Shot (see previous post).

Back to School

Labor Day always reminds me of going back to school. When I was a child I could barely sleep the night before in anticipation for the first day of school. Then when I was a teacher, I was always excited to meet the kids and give them crisply sharpened pencils, brand new boxes of crayons, and carefully printed name tags for the new school year. My classroom had welcoming bulletin boards and a shiny, clean floor. But, my best memory of Labor Day is from 1984 when our first child was born--happy belated birthday Lindsey! You're the best!

Here's a card for all those who teach and appreciate the teachers in their lives. It was made with "Apple Blossoms" and "A to Z". The Real Red 3"x3" scalloped square is from the new "Scallop Squares Duo" die in the Holiday Mini.

Paisley Prints

Here's another card from "Paisley Prints" one of my favorite new sets from the Holiday Mini (click on the icon on the side to view it). I stamped the leaves in Cajun Craze, Old Olive, and Pumpkin Pie. Then, I cut them out and placed them on a Crumb Cake Top Note shape. I adhered a strip of Daffodil Delight polka dot patterned paper and on Old Olive card stock. If you look carefully, you can see the tiny paisleys I rolled in Versamark with the "Paisley Party" wheel in the background. I punched a row of holes along the top edge with the Mat Pack. Last, I added a bow with the Daffodil Delight wide striped ribbon. The letters are stamped with "Rough Type".

Happy Fall (almost)!

The weather has cooled down, so there's a feeling of fall in the air! The Holiday Mini started yesterday so here's my first card (of many) from it. The stamp set is called "Paisley Prints" and has a matching wheel. I used Crumb Cake card stock, run through my Big Shot using a paisley texture plate for the base. The polka dot paper is Old Olive from the Bold Brights Patterns Designer Series Paper Stack and trimmed with Early Espresso. I also used the 1 3/4" Circle and the 2 3/8" XL Scallop Circle Punches after stamping the cute pumpkin in Pumpkin Pie (of course). Last, I used the 1 1/4" Pumpkin Pie Ribbon tied with a piece of linen thread popped up dimensionals. "Grateful" is from "Falling Leaves" in the big catalog.