FLOWERS IN VASES CARD

When looking through my stamp sets, I came across one that reminded me of one of the just released PTI stamp sets with vases so I decided to play around with it. I stamped the vases onto plain white cs and then stamped designs onto each one with two stamps that hadn't seen ink in a very long time. I used Glossy Accents on the designs (sprinkled some MS glitter onto the dark pink one) and set them aside to dry. The card base is white cs and I added some strips of dp from Basic Grey including one piece I punched with the MS doily lace trim deep edge punch.  I also fussy punched three little flowers from this dp with, yet again, a punch I've owned forever. The vases were adhered to the card front with the dark pink being raised up with SU dimensionals. I then drew stems with a Zig marker, adhered the small flowers, added some tiny pearl rhinestones and a button. I decided not to add a sentiment to the front; in part because I really like how it looks without one and also because I'm not sure if this will be a birthday or anniversary card.

BIRTHDAY FUN - BICYCLES & BALLOONS

This birthday card was made using two stamps from the Unity February 2011 KOTM. I've been meaning to use them and just never got around to it until today.  I wanted to keep the card very clean and simple so I started with a white cs base and used dp from Cosmo Cricket and SU red cs . I stamped the image and sentiment with PTI Fresh Snow and then embossed it with Ultra Detail white opaque embossing powder. The image was cut out with my Nestabilities Large Deckled Rectangle and I used a SU oval punch for the sentiment. The only embellishment is red and white twine. I'm entering this into this month's Unity Stamp Co. Challenge "Sun and Fun" because bicycles bring back memories of riding, racing and summer fun (with the occasional scraped knees when hitting that patch of gravel-ouch!!).

BABY HUMMINGBIRDS ARE HUNGRY

Checked on the hummingbird nest and, yes, there are two little babies!!! We saw the two of them but I was only able to get this one in the picture. Can you believe how much bigger the beak is already? They are also much fluffier than just a day ago. 

'SEW' IT'S A BIRTHDAY CARD

(First, please forgive the poor lighting and quality of my photos...once I get my laptop back I can go back to using Photoshop and not the Paint program on my netbook). I set a goal for myself to make birthday and anniversary cards way in advance of when I actually need them and this card is for a dear friend whose birthday is not until mid-August...two months early...woo hoo!!  My blog friend, Lynn, had a link to a tutorial to create your own canvas fabric using design paper (thanks Lynn for the link and you just have to check out the beautiful project she created!). I love the Cosmo Cricket Material Girl mini stack and decided it would be perfect to use for this. I already owned (and never used..bad me LOL) Ranger sticky back canvas and claudine hellmuth multi-medium. This process is messy...but I love the result with the green and white gingham paper turned into 'fabric'. I also got to use my late mother-in-law's very old pinking shears (which I know would have made her very happy); along with the PTI 'button card' that I stamped about a month ago and was just waiting to be used. Other supplies used:  white cs; SU sentiment stamp; PTI stamp, ink and die; buttons from Buttons Galore; Memento dye ink; dressform stamp my little shoebox, copic, Tim Holtz hanger clip

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY, 'MR. HUMMINGBIRD'

We checked the hummingbird nest this morning and look what we found...the baby (or possibly two...can't tell for sure but it looks like a second is on the right!!! Click on the pic the make it larger and check out that little beak and the tiny foot on the left...way too cute!!!) Those are my hubby's fingers holding the branch so I could get this pic...and for a bit of perspective as to the size of this little one (or two)!!!  So Happy Father's Day to my hubby and to 'Mr. Hummingbird'!!!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CARD

Our daughter and son-in-law will soon be celebrating their anniversary. Since they were married at the Paris in Las Vegas, I decided to use that as the theme for their card and chose pink as the accent color since that was the color the bridesmaids wore. The top picture shows the card displayed on one of the Eiffel Tower centerpieces that was used during their reception. I'm entering this card into the special monthly Lily Pad Challenge which is to make a card and use ribbons. Products used: kraft cs; SU pink cs, black satin ribbon, Mr & Mrs stamp, tag and tag punch, dimensionals; Recollections black sequin ribbon; mini pom pom ribbon from supplies; MS topiary edge punch; K&Company pink rhinestones; Paris stamp Inkadinkadoo; Old French writing stamp Hero Arts; sentiment Scrappy Moms; Memento tuxedo black dye ink; PTI Fresh Snow ink; Ultra Detail White Opaque embossing powder Mark Enterprises; Corner Chomper

CHRISTMAS IN 'JUNE'

The Christmas placemats I have been working on are finally finished...some golf, sightseeing and playtime at the casino interrupted the progress...had lots of fun (and won...woo hoo!!) so well worth the delay ;)

The pattern I used is called Set a Pretty Table by Annie and used a product called ByAnnie's Soft and Stable instead of batting (you can read more about it on her site).  It uses strips from one jellyroll (with lots left for other projects) with your choice of backing fabric. I purchased yardage from the same line called Fruitcake by Moda. You quilt your strips directly on top of the Soft and Stable and when the backing is sewn on you fold over the edges to create the binding. As you can see, I chose to do two with more red fabrics and the other two with more of the brown fabrics but kept the centers the same.  Now I just have to decide what I'm going to work on next....perhaps something for Halloween :) ....love this new hobby!!!!

QUILTED COASTERS AND FABRIC CADDY SET

I couldn't wait to try making this coaster and matching caddy set when I saw it in the Summer 2011 issue of Quilts and more magazine. The fabric matches the placemats I previously posted about as you can see in the pics ..sorry about the reflections, but it's not easy taking a pic on a glass top table :)  My favorite coaster is the one with the little owl in the top pic and I absolutely love the caddy with the prairie points (and that little green flower shaped button, on top of the round yellow one, I sewed to the center point matches perfectly and added just the right touch!!!). I can see myself making more for different holidays and gifts. Speaking of holidays, I'm now working on Christmas placemats which I'm hoping I'll finish this week. Thanks for stopping by..I always appreciate your feedback!!!

'YOU ROCK' BIRTHDAY CARD

 Front of Card

 Inside of Card

Video Showing Jeep In Action

Our former neighbor, and good friend, is going to be turning 8 years old (oh my, how time does fly....seems like just yesterday he was a baby!).  My hubby and I got him interested in 'rock hounding' and everytime we'd go on an adventure in our rv or Jeep we'd bring him back some new rocks for his collection. Last year my dear hubby made him memorize what each rock was before he'd give him a new one the next day....let's just say that remembering 'septarian nodule' was not easy for a 7 year old...but he did it and rang our bell very early in the morning and frantically said... "I didn't sleep at all last night!!!"... because he  didn't want to miss getting the next rock he kept repeating 'septarian nodule', 'septarian nodule'....toooooo funny!!! We usually go rock hounding when we're out in our Jeep so that is what inspired this birthday card for our little friend. A fun touch is the Wobbles I used under the Jeep which makes it look like it's rock climbing (and yes, we sometimes have to do that to get to a good rock hounding site). I've attached a video showing it in action...my first attempt at doing a video for my blog! The septarian nodule can be seen to the right of the card in the first picture; the others are from many different adventures. I'm entering this into the latest challenge at The Paper Variety which is to create a paper project, about or for, a special man or boy in your life.  Products used: kraft and other cs from stash; Cuttlebug and Candy Cane Stripe embossing folder; Unity Stamp; Sizzix dies; TH Distress inks; Memento dye ink; PTI ink; Glossy Accents, Alphabet Stamp set from stash and Wobbles. 

MAMA HUMMINGBIRD ON NEST..TOO CUTE!!!

I love hummingbirds and when my hubby told me one built a nest in the bush on the side of our house I just had to try and get a picture (or two or three LOL!!) It wasn't real easy since 'mama hummingbird' wasn't thrilled that we were nearby. She kept flying around to try and distract us. Once my hubby left, I stayed where I was and didn't move. What luck!! She returned and sat on the nest and I was able to get some great shots!! There is one teeny tiny egg in that teeny tiny nest...hopefully I will be able to get some pics once the egg hatches!

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY CARD

My sister-in-law and her husband will be celebrating their anniversary later this month and so here is the card I created for them.  Products used: SU ruby red cs, Basic Grey dp and die cut, Scrappy Mom's sentiment stamp, SU scallop edge punch, Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink and rhinestones from stash.

BEST WISHES CARD

My brother-in-law's bday is coming up and so I created this card for him. Products used: kraft cs, Basic Grey & 7 Gypsies dp, twine, PTI Button Boutique die, TH Distress Ink Rusty Hinge, Cuttlebug and Allegro embossing folder, Corner Chomper, Taylored Expression stamp & die, Nestabilities Large Deckled Rectangles.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY CARD

Sorry that I have been MIA this past week but my laptop decided to die on me ..HP thought it was the hard drive and shipped us a new one, however, that wasn't the cause and now the laptop has to be shipped back to them so they can figure out what is wrong. I'm having to use my netbook (which is not fun with the tiny screen and no Photoshop program) so I have been keeping busy quilting, papercrafting and reorganizing my craft room. I finished three cards and this one is a bday card I created for my sil. Products used: white cs, Cosmo Cricket dp, PTI Button Boutique stamps and die, chamolmile and new leaf ink and Newsprint stamp, Taylored Expressions die and stamp, Nestabilites Blossom dies, Copic marker, twine, Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink and ribbon from my stash.