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

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

Birthday Butterflies

Well, this evening I have my bags all packed, ready to head south tomorrow morning! Hubby and I are taking a quick trip to Gulf Shores...just 9 or 10 days. It has been unusually cold down there, but nothing like it has been around here. Grand Rapids, MI set some records for cold weather. We had -14 last week! So you can see, I'm looking forward to some warmth...and butterflies! They always make me think of summertime. This b-day card is for a friend whose birthday is the day after we get back so I had to get it done now.

It is a one-layer card using almost all Fun Stampers Journey products...only the sequins are not. The butterflies (from the "Enjoy the Journey" set) have either "Sparkle Dust" or "Journey Glaze" on them to dress them up a bit. And the natural and black twine tied along the fold is that nice stiff kind FSJ sells. Love it! The sentiment and inks are all FSJ too!

Fun Stampers Journey is a great new crafting company...lots of new products, new ideas and designs and a whole new way to earn money or product doing what you love: crafting! If this sounds interesting to you take a look at my FSJ wesite. If you'd like to order some of the lovely products, why not consider having a workshop and earn some hostess gifts!

For those of you who do not live near me, you can have an "on-line party" that you host...you just invite your friends to look at the FSJ catalog on our website and order right there indicating they are "attending" YOUR party! Very easy! You can just send invites via emails, post to your Facebook friends, hand out postcards, etc. Interested? Let me know! Leave a comment or email me at Fivensandie@aol.com.

Challenges:

http://thekraftjournal.blogspot.com - #212 CAS One Layer Card

www.wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #171 Anything Goes

http://shoppingourstash.blogspot.com - #190 Out of the Jar (glitter)

http://ourcreativecorner6.blogspot.com - Feb. "Tic Tac Toe"

(I chose Metal-sequins, Stamps, Glaze)

http://sparklensprinklecreativechallenges.blogspot.com - Feb. Anything Goes

Fluttering By with Thanks

I just had a card-making workshop a couple nights ago and gave out some door prizes, two of which were sets of 3 handmade note cards. So I'm starting to replenish my supply for the next workshop! 

This little CAS card went together very quickly, but the next 3 will be even faster! The green "grass" is cut from a 4"x 8" piece of print cs. On the back I drew a line at 2" across the 8" length. I randomly cut grass blades up and down keeping the center line in the middle so half of the blade was above and half below (or close). That way the part on top that is cut away can be turned upside down and used as another "grass" piece. The 8" pieces were cut in half, giving me 4 of them...so 4 cards have a quick start! The butterfly is printed and die cut 4 times so I can color all 4 at the same time. I used the Fun Stampers Journey matching sets, "Enjoy the Journey" stamps and "Butterflies" dies. The butterfly is colored with alcohol markers and adhered with a couple foam squares. The 'Thank You' sentiment, and the butterfly are stamped with dark brown FSJ ink, and the twine is colored with that ink to match.
Other ingredients: 'Thank You' from stamp set called "Greet & Shout" -FSJ
The kraft card stock, white and print are Fun Stampers Journey as well as the twine ('natural')
Challenges:
http://thekraftjournal.blogspot.com - #208 CAS Made in a Minute
http://wordartwednesday.blogspot.com - #168 Anything Goes
http://sentimentalsundays.blogspot.com - #243 Anything Goes
As always, thanks so much for stopping by today! And I really do appreciate your comments! If you have any questions about the new company of crafters I joined, Fun Stampers Journey, (see sidebar) please leave a comment and I'll get back with you!