I Love You This Much

Happy Friday!

Love is in the air and getting closer to Valentine's Day! Its one of my favorite holidays having 5 daughters and I always make special treats for them and my Grand babies! I think I have decided on a type of treat bag I am doing, but I still have just a few days to get them together! I always seem to wait until the last minute :)

My card today is this adorable Changito Monkey! I love these little guys (changito cupid) and wish I would grow my collection of them but my budget always forces me into something else...Like milk and eggs and so on! Who needs food when you can make crafts right? 

My paper for this one is from a 6x6 pad "lovely" made by authentique. I have had it for a while but really haven't dug into it as much as I should have by now. The paper is just so sweet and perfect valentine patterns! Lucky for me, I have the time to use it up a little more! 

Have an amazing weekend everyone and thanks for stopping by!

Thank you/Tweet heart

Hello and Happy Thursday!!!

How about these cuties today! I try to mix things up a bit in my mind so I don't go extreme crazy! My favorite is when I can use the same leftover scraps to make two cards for my collection! 

A little water coloring for these two cards today...The first one with the goat is with a stamp from toodles and binks I have had in my collection for a few years...You know me, I start digging for one thing and out pops the ones in the back I haven't used in a while!

The second card I really can't be honest about the name. I am almost certain it's from Hero Arts, but my crazy self misplaced my backing I had on it! If I find it, I will be sure to come in and edit this for you!

Both cards are made with Stella Rose from my minds eye 6x6 stack.

Wishing everyone a wonderful day!

Thanks as always for stopping by!

Happiness

Happiness!

Happiness isn't always easy to come by especially when we are at our lowest points. Happiness is always in us somewhere and sometimes we just have to dig deep to find it and bring it to the top!

This is exactly why I love this phrase on this card. It comes from close to my hearts "treasured life" stamp set and its the perfect one to just wish happiness always shines through!

My card base is whisper white with pool party and pear pizzazz accents. My flowers are inked with pear pizzazz, wisteria and pool party pens and stamped. 

Hoping everyone has their happiness on the outside today!

Thanks for stopping by!

Thinking of you

Happy Friday!!!!

Oh, how I love Fridays...Not because it is the weekend, I am a stay at home mom so my job never gets days off but I look forward to NOT packing lunches in the morning! It is honestly the simple things in life which keep this Mamma happy!

My card I'm sharing today has the help of a stamp set from Close to my Heart "Rustic Flowers"

First stamping the square off two times in pear pizazz then hello honey for the flower and fussy cutting it out. I've added a button and twine from my stash and the sentiment in night of navy at the bottom. I just layered the card on white card stock for some extra weight and called it done! 

This week has certainly been about the simple designs but that is okay by me because crafting keeps me sane and if I can only get a little done, it's okay..at least I am getting my fingers inky in the process! 

Hoping you've enjoyed my inspirations this week and have an amazing weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!

One Big Meaning

Good afternoon crafty friends!

Sometimes the simplest things turn out to be one of my favorite things! This quick card set is just one of those times. I was actually looking through my stamps for something in particular and came across this older set in my stash from Close to My Heart. It's called "Seashells by the Shore" and I was thinking I must just grab it and make something sunny and fresh on a cold winters day! 

I paired it with Stampin Ups "One Big Meaning" set and did some back to basics stamping. The seashell is done with calypso coral ink by stamping off twice then stamping on my single layer cards. May I add they are the vanilla cards/envelopes from recollections to make it even easier! For a little extra touch, I also stamped the seashell on the envelopes. That's it...just clean and simple design and a bit of a belly band and matching tag to group them together. 

I hope you enjoy them and find some inspiration of your own!

Thanks for stopping by!

Love Note

Love Note

Hello everyone!

It is soooo cold here in Chicago land and this girl is meant to be on the beach. Right now it's about -20 wind chill and that is just too cold for me!

I spent a lot of the day crafting and drinking tea! Pretty much anything to stay warm!

My card I'm sharing with you today is a creation using one of my Taylored Expressions stamps. This one is a sweet valentine I snatched up a few years back. It's one of their single collection stamps and I just love it!

Using Stampin up "very vanilla" for my base and accents, I paired it with My Minds Eye "lost and found 3" 6x6 stack. I used some walnut stain for the antiquing and the sentiment comes from the Stampin up set "olive you". I also did a little paper piecing for the elephants with the pattern papers...I just couldn't resist those! They were so cute and the paper just jumped right out at me saying USE ME! USE ME! I added a little wink of stella to all of the hearts after coloring them with my copic markers to finish it off with a little sparkle! 

Well, if you are nice and warm where you are, I must say I'm super jealous right now...If you are freezing like me...I hope you find some fun crafty time and stay warm!

Thanks for stopping by as always!

A little Thanks

Scraps Scraps Scraps!!!!

I can't tell you how happy I was to make this project. Remember that Christmas advent tree I made a few months ago? I made three of them altogether for my girls and grand babies and I will tell you they left me with (75) 4 x 8 1/2 inch pieces of paper. I couldn't just throw them away, that would be a sin!

I finally was able to sit down and think of something I wanted to do with them. Somehow these 3x3 note cards with envelopes made their way into my heart. I used a simple heart punch with the "one big meaning" set from Stampin Up. 

The box probably took the most time seeing I had to think about measurements and its been a really long day and thinking was probably not one of my biggest priorities! Somehow, with ONLY one messed up piece of card stock I managed to get it right :)

Hopefully with a few more hours left in me for the evening I can maybe spice up another card or two. You never know considering I can easily spend two hours or more on a single card!!! I do have plenty more of these scraps so I am guessing another boxed set is in my future as well...Maybe I should keep my notes on the box this time so no more major  thinking is involved!!!

Thanks as always for stopping by!

Nautical Happiness

Hello friends!

Winter can't keep me away from enjoying some nautical cards...I really wasn't sure where these were going when I started. I just picked up some colors and went from there. 

My sailboat card I just used a circle and a square punch with some fancy pants design paper "beach babe" to design my sailboat. Both cards use CC Designs "underwater sentiments" set and Stampin Up "work of art" set. The Fishy card used Penny Black set "Mermaids". 

More snow is blanketing our paths again but nothing will keep me away from enjoying summer fun in my craft room!!!

Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!!!

Money Can't Buy Happiness

Cupcakes Cupcakes Cupcakes!

Oh, how I love a good cupcake and lucky for me it's just a short drive to the city to grab some sprinkles cupcakes. It has been too long since I have had one and I'm thinking I may have to grab one of these daughters of mine and head downtown for some fun and treats!

Today's card was certainly inspired by those very same cupcakes! Money sure won't buy happiness but put a cupcake in almost anyone's hand and I promise a smile will be attached!

I used Stampin Up stamp "sprinkles of life and some paper from My Minds Eye "lost and found"

Added a few extra bling because...well why not! I put a few seed beads and some wink of stella on the cupcake topping itself for some extra fun. 

If you have set those new resolutions, I am sorry if I made you want some cupcakes, but hopefully I have inspired some crafty work along the way!

Thanks as always for stopping by!

The Little Things

Hello and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I can't believe another year has clocked itself in the books! I must say it wasn't one of the best years I have had but I can say that I am still alive and get a chance to try another one. I did have many blessings among the heartaches and I am grateful each and every day for that gift! Hello 2016...I have many plans for you!

As for creating, I feel so lucky I still get to inspire many with my work. It may not always be as involved as it was once upon a time but I do enjoy the clean and simple designs as well. I have a bit more time these days so I can really put my heart back into it!

Today I am sharing one of  those clean and simple designs. with just a punch and some clustering (I must say I love clustering) Splattered a bit of solar gold lumier pot and punched a heart. Made a tiny banner with a stamp set from "hello life" from stampin up. added a cute button for a pop of color and finished. The picture actually doesn't do this one justice, but I promise...It has that sparkle you have grown to know I love!!!

Wishing all of you good health and happiness in the new year!

Touch of Nature

Good morning friends!

Spring is out there...I think. It has been hot/cold/snow/rain and that is all in the last week! I really want to see spring come and stay here for a while so I can get out there with all my little ones!

My card I'm sharing today is made with Stampin Up's "touch of nature" set. One of my favorites for sure! I actually was inspired to make this card by the scraps on my table. I had just made the mini album I shared and had lots of black scraps everywhere. Now if you know me by now, black just isn't my thing all the time. I seem to have a lot of trouble coming up with the perfect layout when I use black.

I used a dots embossing folder and inked the embossed area with black. I then just colored the bird and added the ribbon. Once I got all the measurements to where I was happy, I looked back and was proud of what I came up with. It may not be the hardest card in the world but I used my scraps on the table and that makes me very happy!

Enjoy your day friends and thanks for stopping by!

God's Handwriting

Good evening blogging friends!

I saw this sign while walking through the mall and the inspiration fairy hit me! I loved the colors of the background and knew I would love making something similar to it. I was thrilled when I started digging through my collection of stamps to realize I had the perfect stamp to fit my inspiration.

I used Stampin Up's "God's Beauty" for the stamp and just some markers on watercolor paper for the background. I finished the card off with a tag punch to match the tag on the sign. I love the way the colors all came together. 

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you find your inspiration when you least expect it!

By the Sea Side

Taylored Expresions "Surf's Up" stamp and DCWV summer stack

Stampin Up "Summer By the Sea" and paper scraps on kraft base

Taylored Expressions "Pearl" with paper by Fancy Pants

Hello Again Crafty Friends!

I have been hiding for a couple weeks but happy to know I have been  hiding in my craft room. I have just been working on some scrapbooks and loving it since it is my first love!

In between I have made a few cards and want to share them with all of you! 

I  have listed the main products under each of the photos for you just in case you get the urge to love these stamps as much as I do. 

Thanks for stopping by and I can't wait to share some more creations with you. I'm still trying to catch up a bit on my scrapping but I will certainly be throwing some cards in the mix :)

Have a wonderful Weekend everyone!

Sweet Friend

Good morning bloggers!

It's another cold one here in Chicago but spring promises to be around the corner and I am holding it to Mother Nature to keep her promise..This winter has just been crazy!!!!

Today my card is for the Just us Girls challenge. I really loved looking at all of the different concepts the design team came up with for this photo inspiration. It never amazes me how many difference you can come up with when you are all seeing things just a little different in your own eyes.

I used My revolution vase die with some paper from a paper studio "little safari" paper stack. I added some extra bling because you know I love the bling and the sentiment is from Taylored Expressions "pennant parade" set. 

Head on over to the Just us Girls site to try out this challenge for yourself! 

Thanks for stopping by I appreciate it!

Chicken Coop

Happy Wednesday Bloggers :)

Just digging through my stamps and decided I would pull out an oldie but goody. I haven't used these little guys from Stampin Up "Best of Cluck" set in quite a long time. I love looking in the back corners of my shelves and seeing what pops out for inspiration. 

I used a 6x6 paper stack from the Farmhouse paper collection "market square barbershop" I had put the first one together and had a lot of scraps from it so I figured I would make the second one while it is out. I added a little raffia to give it that little extra farm feel..and because I love the stuff!!!  

I hope you have a wonderful day..Stay warm out there if you are freezing like me!

Beauty is in God's Handwriting

CAS(E) this Sketch #68

Hi everyone...I can't get enough of the clean and simple sketches out there! Some just work so well to give such an elegant look to a hand crafted card. This is one of those cards I put together and just LOVED when it was finished. I used white on white and added some scraps from a 6x6 Bo Bunny pack "Gabrielle Collection" The stamped sentiment and leaves are from SU God's Beauty and the butterfly is from K&Co. I used my spellbinders and embossed the edges for the oval and popped it up above the papers. 

Come and play along..you have a few days left. Click on the link above.

Thanks for stopping by! 

A Kind Word

The Paper Players Challenge #187

Another challenge card for me to share with everyone!

The paper players have a clean and simple challenge this week. I was very excited to pull out some of my spring goodies for this one. I think a few more weeks of this cold Chicago air and spring may actually arrive..a little late, but I'll take it!

For this card I used Stampin Up's "both way blossom" and "serene spring". I used the SU wheel "dry brush" run on scrap first for a light background effect with some brown sugar ink. I also grabbed some cantaloupe, coral and pistachio for the flowers and leaves. 

If you would like to join, click on the link above and head on over :)

Thanks for stopping by!

Hello Blossoms

Just Us Girls Challenge #232

HELLO blog hoppers!

It's been a few weeks since I have posted and played in some challenges, so I was excited to play in a few this week. First on my list is from the Just Us Girls Blog. They had a color challenge this week using Aqua, Green and Yellow. I was excited to try this combo because I don't think I have really used it before or if I have it's been a while so it's fun to try a little something different.

I kept this one pretty simple using "hello blossoms" from stampin up. My paper is Saffron, pool party and pear with some designer paper from SU "walk in the park".

After I stamped it, I used a 1/4 circle punch on the letters and added a bit of glossy accents to them just to give a little glow.

If you want to try out this weeks challenge for yourself, head on over to the JUGS blog and get crafty!!!

Thanks for stopping by!

Simple Sketches

Happy Tuesday!

I have just a few cards I wanted to share that I put together. I kept them pretty simple and flat so I had some good cards for my stash and easy to mail without extra fees. I hope you enjoy them!

SU "simply sketched" 

Cardstocl chocolate chip, wild wasabi

SU "serene spring"

Cardstock mellow moss, regal rose

SU "wetlands"

cardstock chocolate chip, wild wasabi

SU "happy hour"

Ink used for inside glasses- coastal cabana, canteloupe, strawberry and gumball green

Wild About You!

Just Us Girls Challenge #230

Hi everyone...

Today I am sharing another challenge card for the "Just Us Girls" blog.

Sketch challenges are always fun because I can use them over and over in many different ways after the challenge is finished :)

My stamp is one of my favorites from Stampendous..can't love these monkeys enough! My pattern paper is from Reminisce collection "Mighty Jungle". Card stock is chocolate chip and garden green. 

I colored the image with copic markers and fussy cut and popped up the tree leaves in 3 different layers..The photo shows a bit of it, but you know getting those pics just right is something I am still working on ;)

If you get a chance, head on over to the challenge blog and try this new sketch out for yourself. Just click the link above.

Have a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!