Life Is Grand

Paula and Cherie came over on Sunday and brought their creativity with them!  Today's card is from Paula.  The photo doesn't do it justice.  Paula used a Sale-a-bration stamp set, Painted Seasons, for the flowers.  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up"s Life Is Good set which is in the Occasions catalog.  I am liking these stamp sets that look as if they were stamped multiple times yet it only takes one time to get the multiple-step look.  Have a great day!

Fabulous Flamingos

As if I didn't have enough flamingo stamps, Sunny Studio Stamps introduced a new one that was too cute to pass up.  The name of the set is Fabulous Flamingos.  As always, I needed to play with it once I received it.  That happened on Saturday while the snow was coming down and I was thinking sunshine! I used Versafine black ink and clear embossing powder to stamp the images and then cut them out on the Scan N Cut.  The sentiment is from a Clearly Besotted stamp set and the ovals were cut with retired Stampin' Up punches.  Strips of pattern paper along the sides of the card are also from Sunny Studio Stamps.  Have a great day!

Leftovers

For today's card, I used "leftovers".  The images are from the Tweet Friends set by Stacy Yacula for My Favorite Things Stamps. The images were cut and colored when I first got the set.  I put them in a little plastic bag for safe-keeping.  I even used left over Stampin' Up designer paper from I don't know how many years ago.  It is a very happy card.  Have a great weekend!

Lighthouse

Since I was making a thank you card for Matt the other day, I made an extra for "when needed". This lighthouse is from the same stamp set (not SU).  I used basic gray for everything~~ink, cardstock layers and designer series paper.  I even had little adhesive dots in basic gray.  The sentiment is from Stampin' Up's retired Teeny, Tiny Wishes.  This card could be used for a variety of occasions.  There is a new nautical stamp set in SU's new annual catalog.  I will definitely be purchasing it come June 4th!  Have a great day and find yourself a little stampin' time.

Meet Sandie

We finally got Sandie! Matthew has been volunteering with Hoof Woof Meow Animal Rescue for a few years.  I had been to a couple of their events and I always felt bad for the dogs that were posted on their Facebook page.  John and I decided we could do more than just feel bad for some of those dogs.  So, we have our first foster dog, Sandie.  She is a four year old beagle mix.  We were supposed to get her a few weeks ago, but she had intestinal parasites so the vet wouldn't release her for transport.  We picked her up on Saturday afternoon.  The really nice part, Sandie needed transportation from Rockford to Gilberts, IL.  Unknown to us, Matt went to Rockford to get her for the last leg of her trip.  It was a special surprise for us.  I have said it a lot, but I am so proud of my children.  They go beyond thinking of themselves.

Anyway, the little girl was quite skittish when we first met her.  In no time at all, she attached herself to John.  When he is not home, then she likes me!  She is a gentle dog and now the poor little girl will get heartworm treatment.  Once that is complete, she will be ready for adoption.  Until then, she is our little treasure.  Have a great day!

Seaside Thank You

Last week was a special week for public safety telecommunicators.  Matt needed a thank you card for the bosses as they went out of their way to make sure the dispatchers knew how much they are appreciated.   As I looked thru my stamp sets, I came across a set with the image on today's card.  I thought it was rather appropriate since very often, a dispatcher is a "life preserver" for someone while that someone waits for the police, paramedics and/or firemen to arrive.  So, here is a big thank you to all public safety dispatchers and telecommunicators.  Have a great day!

Polish Chicken

A few years ago, one of Stampin' Up's Sale-a-bration sets was Hey Chick.  I did get it and made a couple cards with it and put it away.  A few weeks ago I was wondering what kind of Easter card to make for Matt and I remembered the Hey Chick set.  As many know, Matt is raising chickens.  One of his favorites (or Matt is the chicken's favorite) is his Polish chicken.  This chicken follows Matt around when they are out of their coop.  She even lets Matt hold him.  In the Hey Chick set, one image is a Polish Chicken.  So here is the card and here is a picture of a Polish chicken (not Matt's).  Matt got a kick out of his Easter card for sure!  Have a great day!

More Cuteness

Today's card is from my friend, Paula.  She also used Stampin' Up's Fable Friends stamp set for her adorable card.  She used Stampin' Up Blends (alcohol markers) to color the Mom and her ducklings which are too cute!  This stamp set is in the Occasions catalog.  I looked at it, but wasn't something that really caught my attention.  That was until Paula sent me a gift tag with the bunny image.  I then looked again and saw that the stamp set is very cute.  Now I get two Easter cards using the same stamp set in totally different ways.  Wouldn't this make an adorable Mother's Day card?  Have a wonderful Easter and remember the gift of love we were all given all those years ago.

Fable Friends

Today's card was created by my friend, Kathy Z.  The bunny is from Stampin' Up's Fable Friends stamp set.  She used Highland Heather and Granny Apple Green cardstock and gingham checked paper.  The bunny was stamped on white cardstock and then layered on Highland Heather cardstock.  Kathy used SU's Stitched Shapes Framelits for the ovals.  Pretty card, Kathy.  Have a great day!

For Mom

I wanted to make a pretty card for John's Mom.  I used the retired Botanical Builders Framelits from Stampin' Up and scraps of water-colored papers from previous projects.  The pattern paper is retired Pool Party paper.    The scallop circle was cut from a My Favorite Things framelit.  After cutting everything, I started placing the pieces.  I had seen a card on Pinterest and this is what I remember of it.  I should have pinned the card. Have a great day!

Hoppy Friend

I find myself using Stampin' Up's Gingham Gala Designer Series

paper quite often.  For today's card I used the Highland Heather paper and cardstock.  I colored the pretty bunny (MFT Stamps Hoppy Friends stamp set) with Prisma colored pencils.  The sentiment is from my well-used set from SU, Teeny Tiny Wishes.  I am going to have to order more of the Gingham Checked paper before May 31st as it is in the Occasions Catalog and will not carry over to the new Annual catalog.  Have a great day!

Warm Wishes

After the snowy Sunday we had, I decided to post a card that reminds me of nice, warm weather.  This card was created using Stampin' Up's Beach Happy stamp set.  For the beach umbrella, I stamped the image on Calypso Coral 6x6 Designer Series Paper and then fussy cut it.  I layered that on the image that I previously stamped on the card.   I simply stamped the coordinating chair seat using Calypso Coral ink.  Carefully, I sponged blue for the sky and Crumb Cake for the sand.  I framed the beach scene using an oval framelit to create the opening and added a few palm fronds around the edges.  Have a great day and think warm!

His Grace Easter

Last week I posted a sympathy card I created using Stampin' Up's His Grace stamp set.  Today I am posting two Easter card using the same set.  I stamped the floral image on pattern papers from the retired Wood Textures Designer Series Paper Stack.  I wasn't sure if the alcohol marker colors would show up against the wood patterns, but they worked.  The colors showed up even better on the lighter wood pattern.  I used crosses that I previously cut on my Scan and Cut.  I sponged the entire oval on the lighter colored card.  Only the edge of the white oval on the card on the right was sponged with Gorgeous Grape ink.  Not sure which card I prefer.  Have a great weekend!

Doggy Kisses Get Well

Today's card was created using Art Impression's Doggy Kisses stamp set.  A few days ago we found out that out neighbor across the street fell and ended up with some bad breaks in her leg.  She is a mom of 3 grade school kids, so this injury and following surgery is making life a little challenging at the time.  Her recovery from surgery is going to take at least six weeks.  The  little bandaged dog and the sentiment were perfect for her.  I used Spectrum Noir alcohol markers to color and the Scan N Cut to cut out the image.  I will say that of the four dog images in the set, only this dog cut out on the SNC.  I tried different things to get them all cut out, but I finally told myself I would work on the problem another time.  Have a great day!

Country Floral

Last month I purchased a few Stampin' Up items and was able to get a free Sale-a-bration item.  I chose the 3D embossing folder Country Floral.  Today's card is very simple, but it showcases that embossing folder  The sentiment is from an old Amuse Studios set which I use quite often.  After stamping the sentiment on Shimmery White cardstock, I used a framelit from the Be Mine Stitched Framelits set by Stampin' Up to cut it out  The little pearls add an elegant touch to a simple card.

I got the results of my MRI.  I do not have a torn Meniscus~~yay.  But I do have degenerative joint disease of the knee.  For now the doctor has suggested that I continue icing and even using a cane for three months.  It is possible that this could heal.  It is a bit better than 10 days ago, so I am hoping and praying it heals.  Until then, I just do things slower.  Have a great date!

Looking For Sunshine

Yesterday was Cricut Sunday and it was good!  Because life gets in the way, we have missed a couple months of Cricut Sundays.  So yesterday it felt good to be with some of my favorite ladies.  To top it off, Jen, Sydney and Niklas came for lunch and that made the day more special.

John was out of town for the weekend so I had a lot of time to clean up my messy scrap room.  We were supposed to get our foster dog, Sandy, on Saturday.  Unfortunately, she had intestinal parasites and the vet wouldn't release her for transport.   So John went to play with his friends in Havana, Illinois.  He deserves to get away!  The last two months have been all about taking me to doctor appointments, physical therapy and the like.  It was a nice change of pace for both of us to be able to play with our friends.  And hopefully we will get Sandy in two weeks. The poor little girl deserves to start her new life in a home with people that will love her and take good care of her while she waits for her forever family.

Today's card was made while I was cleaning my scrap room mess.  The image was colored and cut out long before that, but just on the counter waiting for a place to go.  I started playing with the image and different colors and framelits and successfully used the image to make something cute. The little duck is from Simon Says Stamp's Flowers and Showers set.  I used MFT's Mini Scalloped Circles for the layers.  It's a fun card.  Have a great day!

With Sympathy

 As many of you know, my friend, Kathy Z's Dad passed away last week.  He was a nice man who is now at peace.  I made this card for Kathy using Stampin' Up's stamp set, His Grace.  When I purchased His Grace, I envisioned making Easter cards with it.  But then I thought it would make a pretty sympathy card.  I used framelit for the oval and sponged it with ink.  The sentiment is from a Close To My Heart retired set. I did not purchase the matching framelits to His Grace, so I found a cross on Pinterest that I copied and cut on the Scan N Cut. 

This morning I have an MRI so hopefully the doc will have a clearer picture of what is going on in my knee.  It just isn't getting better.  Have a great day!

Cute Easter Card

Went down to my craft room over the weekend for a while.  I made a mess, made today's card and left the mess for another day.  What I spent the most time doing was playing with Stampin' Up's Stitched Seasons Framelits.  I used the smallest framelit and with the Scan N Cut I was able to make a smaller version without the stitched edge.  As you can see, it worked great as a top layer.  The little bunny is from My Favorite Things' Hoppy Friends stamp set and then cut out on the SNC.  The yellow plaid paper is from Lawn Fawn and the pretty ribbon is Stampin' Up's retired Lemon Lime Twist color which matches the green cardstock layer and leaves.  Have a great day!