A Beautiful Sympathy Card

I made this sympathy card early last month for my husband's cousin, who tragically lost a young daughter very unexpectedly. I wanted the card to convey our heartfelt sympathy, show solemnity and yet be a bit cheering. 

The dies I used on this one are Spellbinders (Fleur de Lis Square and Foliage) and Sizzix (Tattered Flower Garland). The blue print cs is from a lovely tablet by K & Co. called "Julianne"

And, yes, I am actually entering this one in a few challenges! (Its been a while!)

https://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com - April Challenge

http://inkspirationalchallenges.blogspot.com - #132 Word Prompt: Spring

http://www.scrapyland-blog.com - #63 A.G.

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #278-279 A.G.

Spring is Coming!

I'm sitting home today with the flu, so I guess its a good time to catch up a bit on my sadly-neglected blog. I can hardly believe I used to post something several times a week! 

The beginning of 2017 has been a pretty busy year. We (hubby and I) took an unexpected trip in January to Arizona. My only sister, Judy, was very sick and did pass away in January. I helped my brothers sort, pack and distribute  her belongings; then we drove home with a car full of treasures for my kids...her nephews and nieces and grands...including a bunch of scrap-booking and stamping supplies...for me! I put her initials on all her stamps so I think of her each time I use them.

I'm still having card-making classes at my home once a month and I'm on jury duty. AND I have a new grand baby...a little girl named Willamina Jude! Her mom and dad said they'll call her Willa.

So...I've even gotten kinda bad about taking pictures of my cards so I only have a few more to post.

These are the cards we made for my class last month.

Willa's baby card

Where Did October and November Go??

This Fall was one of the busiest ever! In November we went to Hawaii for 2 weeks so I spent allot of time preparing and packing for that. I also had 2 card-making classes in October (instead of the normal 1) because I knew November would get completely missed. 

Well, I'm back from Hawaii...with a nasty cold from the lovely woman who shared it with me on our longest flight home! She told me, "I don't have a cold...I've just been blowing my nose and coughing all week!" Uh-huh! Right!

Anyway, I don't have time to enter any challenges this week but thought I'd post a few of the cards I did make in October and November (lots of birthdays those 2 months!).

Birthday Greetings to Daughter #3

My 3rd daughter, Lindsey, is such  a nature lover...she will love this birthday card!  In fact, the little dried fern fronds are from a plant she picked out for me to add to my shade garden. They appear to be black in the photo but they're really a nice dark chocolate.

I made this card using a design I saw on someone else's blog...something that was entered in a challenge and I went to check it out. I saved a picture of that card and it has been hanging above my desk in my craft room for over a year. It is my very favorite card! The gal who made it is named Agnes B. If you know her, please tell her Thank You for me!! (Agnes is my mom's name too, so its even a bit more special!)

My list of ingredients follows -

Dies: Gina Marie Designs Lg Prcd Flower, Spellbinders Spiral Blossom 1, Fleur de Lis Acct, Foliage, Elegant Ovals, Cl Scal. Circles Lg, Joy Crafts Vintage Flourishes #32

Stamp: JustRite Birthday Sentiments

Adhesives: ATG tape, Zots, Glue Dots small and medium

Ink: FSJ Coffe Bean

Sequins: FSJ Blue Skies

Cardstock: K&Company Que Sera Sera, Paper Studio Ivory heavywt.

Challenges -

http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com - #331 AG

http://www.cropstop.com/blog - #20 AG

http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com - #117 Autumn Colors/Theme

http://www.scrapyland-blog.com - #50 Happy Birthday

http://trystampinontuesday.blogspot.com - Sketch #289 (I used a circle instead of rectangle)

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #248-249

A Wish for Happiness

This week I need birthday cards...last week I needed more sympathy cards...when will I learn to make extra cards ahead of time?! Well, I actually do have a box full...but not the kind I need!

So today I looked up a few challenges and decided to use the Cas(e) this Sketch sketch to get me started.

I hadn't used vellum or heat embossing for quite a while so this was fun to work on!

I used the dies 'Catalina Wreath' by Memory Box, and 'Vintage Flourishes' by Joy Crafts.

The gold embossing powder is PSE, the stamp is Hero Arts, the pearls are Kaisercraft, and the bow was made using my Craft-DeeBowz bow maker. The vellum was recycled from being part of the packaging in a gift.

Challenges

http://casethissketch.blogspot.com - #189 Sketch

http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com - #329 Anything Goes

http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com/2016/09/september-challenge.html - AG

http://www.scrapyland-blog.com - #49 Anything Goes

http://pileitonchallenge.blogspot.com - #116 Recycle

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #246-247 AG

Welcome, Baby Julia!

One more card today!  (I haven't been on my blog for weeks and now 3 times in one day!)

And a very special announcement! I have a new granddaughter: Julia Rose.

She was born on Wednesday and is doing beautifully, as is her mom! She has 3 brothers and a sister to welcome her home and they are all thrilled with her...so far! LOL Just wait until she cries too much to suit them or gets into their Legos! Oh well, we are rejoicing and thanking God for another healthy baby and a safe delivery!

Here's the card I made to welcome her:

The image is a digital one from A Day for Daisies. 

I used my bow-maker from Craft-dee Bowz to make the bow and a Spellbinders die (CC Fancy Ribbon Threader) for the little tag. Oh, and a Cuttlebug embossing folder...the tiny hearts one.

Challenges:

http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com - #326 Anything Goes

http://www.cropstop.com/blog - Linky Party #19 Anyhting Goes

(Cropstop doesn't like you link multiple cards in a row...but I really did create my 3 cards in less than 24 hours and finally had a chance to post on my blog!)

http://papersweeties.com/blog/paper-sweeties-inspiration-challenge-august-2016 - #46

(I was inspired by the colors and the delicate, feminine qualities)

http://craft-deebowz.blogspot.com - August: Anything Goes

http://reasonableribbon.blogspot.ca - #147 "Buttons & Bows"

http://www.scrapyland-blog.com - #48 (used digi image)

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #244-245 Anything Goes

Hello, Butterflies!

Now here is a simple "Hello" greeting card that I left blank inside (well, I did add a butterfly!). I was inspired by a sketch I saw on "Cas(e) this Sketch". Great way to use up scraps too!

The die-cut butterflies are made using the FSJ "Butterflies" die set.

Challenges:

http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com - #326 Anything Goes

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #244-245 Anything Goes

http://imaginethatdigistamp.blogspot.com - #7 "Signs of Summer"

http://casethissketch.blogspot.com - #187 Sketch:

Happy Birthday, Biff!

Good morning! What a lovely, rainy Saturday! I am forced to stay indoors and actually get some household chores done...and a little blogging! Today I have a few cards I want to post and enter into some challenges. First up, a birthday card for my son. A masculine card...sorta.

This card is appropriate for him because I know I likes wood. He heats with wood and has also tackled many a carpentry project. And "clean and simple" is always good for a guy's card!

Challenges: 

http://craftyourpassionchallenges.blogspot.com - #326 Anything Goes

http://www.cropstop.com/blog - Linky Party #19 (I used Cuttlebug embossing folder)

http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #244-245 Anything Goes