Remember, You are First Place

Hi friends!  I hope you are doing well!  We are ok.  We are wrapping up Brady's school year this week.  Wish me luck with having him home for the next three months.  Parker has another month of preschool to go then we'll have some time to hang out and do fun stuff.

Today, I'm sharing a card I made for a magazine call that wasn't picked up.  It's a shame because I LOVE this card.  I still do.  I made this with some Crate Paper Maggie Holmes Styleboard paper and die cuts.  I added some Gold Metallic Divine Twine to this.  I also used a little washi tape, some wood Studio Calico veneer hearts that I colored with Copics and coated with glitter glue, and some inking around some of the edges with gold ink.  The stamp is Studio Calico/Hero Arts from a Studio Calico kit.  

Have a great day, friends!  

May Arts and CardMaker Blog Hop (Giveaway)

Hi friends!  I hope that you are all doing well!  Today, I have a very special post for you.  I'm participating in the May Arts and CardMaker Magazine Blog Hop.  To start the hop, please go to the CardMaker Blog.  Be sure to leave comments on every blog because May Arts is giving away a prize to one lucky person, FOUR spools of ribbon!

I haven't made many cards in the last few months.  Since I had the baby, I feel like my creativity is back but my time is really limited.  That and I'm really sleep deprived.  I'm a little rusty at making cards so please bear with me.

My first card is actually featured in the banner!  :D  I was pretty excited when I figured that out!  I used a bunch of colors of May Arts 3/4" striped twill and 1/2" white crinkle ribbon.  The sentiment is from Fresh Squeezed Stamps.  

Here's a more vintage card.  I used May Arts 3/4" lace with pearl center, 1/4" trimming ringlets, and gold metallic string.  The paper is Pink Paislee and the stamp is Hero Arts.  

My next card is for when someone finds out they are having a little girl.  I used May Arts 1" solid woven check ribbon, 1/2" crotchet ribbon, 3/8" grosgrain striped and stitched, 5/8" satin scalloped edge, 5/8" satin pleats, 3/4" twill stripes, and 5/8" faux suede.  The stamps are Paper Smooches and I added a velvet flower.

And for my last card, I made another baby girl card because apparently I have baby girl on the brain.  I used May Arts 1/2" crotchet, 5/8" satin scalloped edge, and the 1 1/4" silk ribbons.  The stamps are Paper Smooches and the paper is Crate Paper.  

I hope you enjoyed my creations!  Next up on the hop is Candy Rosenberg.  Don't forget to leave comments to be entered in the giveaway!  Have a great day, friends!  

Find a Beautiful Place

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a great day!  We are doing pretty good.  We are trying to get the house ready for the baby.  We still have seven weeks but we figure with the holidays coming, we should get things ready early.  Hopefully, we get things done soon.

Here's a clean and simple card I made.  I used some Echo Park For the Record 2: Tailored for this card.    The stamp is Hero Arts/Studio Calico.  The ribbon is Hot Pink Satin Edge 1 inch ribbon from May Arts.  I added some Kaisercraft rhinestones to finish this one.

Have a great day, friends!  

Dream Big Butterflies

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a great day!  We are doing ok around here.  Just enjoying what will likely be the last days of 80 degree weather for this year.  In November, lol.  

Today, I'm linking up my card for the Paper Issues Stamp On It! Challenge.  I made this card with some Echo Park papers and stickers.  The sentiment is a stamp from Hero Arts.  The mini pompom ribbon is from May Arts and I added some pearls to finish this off.  

Have a great day, friends!  

Life is Good

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a great day!  We are doing pretty good.  We had a busy weekend but it was fun.  Lots of birthdays to celebrate!  

Today, I'm sharing a card I made for a call that wasn't picked up.  It's based off one of the sketches from the last Paper Crafts Magazine call.  The paper is Echo Park's Sweet Day.  The stamps are from two different Hero Arts stamp sets. 

Have a great day, friends!

Right at Home

Hi friends!  I hope you're having a fabulous day.  Today, wasn't that great.  I'm feeling a little sick still from my procedures and hope that passes quickly.  Sigh...I have a really hard time trying to take it easy.  I think I need to write it on my hand or something.  

Today, I'm sharing a card I made for a couple challenges.  I used to Card Positioning Systems sketch #262 for this card.  I also made this for Touch Twin Marker Challenge #15 using the theme In the Neighborhood.  Now, I didn't use my Touch Twins for this even though they are amazing!  I just didn't have the colors I wanted to use.  I'm entering this in the Hero Arts Sunshine challenge as well.  What's sunnier than a yellow house?  The stamps are from Hero Arts, an OWH set.  I LOVE that Hero Arts made Operation Write Home stamps!  What an awesome company!  I used Cosmo Cricket Baby Jane paper, Copics, and Glossy Accents for the windows.  The washi tape is from Target and the gems are from Michael's $1 section.     

Have a great day, friends!  

Hello Sunshine

Hi friends! I hope you're having a great day! I'm a sorry mess today. I think I have some sort of cold that's causing a runny nose, sneezing, and pink eye. You would think after all the antibiotics, I couldn't get pink eye but somehow I still managed. Yeesh. :) I'm actually in ok spirits though.

Today, I'm sharing a card made for a couple challenges. I made this for the Hero Arts Sunshine and Showers Challenge and Retro Sketch #6. I pulled out my Copics and colored her skin, are you surprised? I even strayed away from my normal skin combo and used E50, E51, and E53. The papers are Basic Grey Konnichiwa and the stamps the matching ones from Hero Arts/Basic Grey. I added some gems, Stickles, and letter stickers.

ETA: The adorable Arielle Gordon told me that I could also enter this in this week's ColorQ #132.

Have a great day, friends!

So Lucky

Hi friends! Hope that you are having an excellent weekend! I'm feeling ok. A bit tired from all the activity but I'm trying to push through it. I should be coming back later on today with a Easter project but in case I don't, HAPPY EASTER!

Here's a card I created for a couple challenges. First up is a brand new challenge called A Blog Named Hero. This is for challenge one which is Play Favorites. The new Hero Arts/Basic Grey Konichiwa Lantern stamps are a new favorite of mine. I fell in love with them at CHA and I'm so glad I got them! I used the Hero Arts April Sketch challenge for this card. The paper is Basic Grey Konichiwa. I love when things match, did you know? I added some Stickles to the flowers on this card.

Have a fabulous day, friends!

November 2011 SFYTT

Hi friends! I hope you are having a great day! We are tired today! Brady went back to school and we all had to wake up early to him there. Perhaps we should have signed up for afternoon preschool! :) I'm ready for a nap but the kids are not.

Today, I'm sharing my card for Jen del Muro's Nov 11 Sketch For You To Try. I decided to make a vintage card with my new Hero Arts stamp that I got at my LSS for 50% off. The paper is Pink Paislee Butterfly Garden and I added LOTS of Stickles to this. (PS since Christmas decor has gone up, you're gonna see these Christmas lights in my pictures from now on. It's not a statement, it's because I take my pictures on my mantle and we decorate it for Christmas and I'm not taking it down everyday to take pics!)

Have a great day, friends!

Some WCMD Cards

Hi friends! I hope you had a great day! I got a migraine but was able to get it settled down enough to make a couple cards this evening. I'm gonna share a couple with you now as my last hurrah for this WCMD. :)

Here's a card I submitted to the I {heart} Papers Facebook Page contest. The challenge was just to use some IHP goodies on your card which is SO easy being that I have A LOT from that store, they sell everything I love! You could also enter this card over at Lawnscaping Challenges for the WCMD challenge. You can make ANY card with Lawn Fawn and link it up to win! Supplies: Lawn Fawn stamps, Cosmo Cricket paper, handmade flowers, lace and crotchet trim

Next up is a fun little card I made for a few challenges. This card uses the Card Patterns sketch 135. I'm linking up this card for the Link Up For Pink linking party. They are trying to raise money for their Relay for Life team and there's a HUGE link up party with TONS of prizes! If you're looking for a place to donate, they have a link on their sidebar to donate. I think this is a wonderful way to fundraise and raise awareness about Breast Cancer. I know several people who have or have had cancer and I will do anything I can to support research!

Speaking for breast cancer awareness, I also made this card for one of the Hope You Can Cling To challenges on Splitcoast. For the entire month of October, there will be new challenges everyday to show support, awareness and help the cause. There are prizes and they have a place where you can mail your cards. I made this card for Lydia's challenge to put a pink critter on your card. Supplies: Authentique paper, Paper Smooches stamps, button, punch, and string

Lastly, here's another card I made for the I {heart} Papers challenge. I used this week's SCS Sketch Challenge for this card. I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes challenge. Supplies: Studio Calico paper, Hero Arts/Studio Calico stamps, seam binding, handmade flower, tiny attacher.

Hope you all had a GREAT World Card Making Day! I can't wait for next year!

Love My Tapes Headband and Card

***For my Whisker Graphics giveaway, CLICK HERE.***

**For my Your Next Stamp post, scroll down**

Hi friends! I hope you are having a fabulous day! We are making it. :) The kids are a wee bit crazy today. But we have their auntie coming to visit and have dinner later so they will be THRILLED!

Here's a project that I blogged on the Love My Tapes blog today.

All I did was take a plain headband and wrap it in some Baylee Fabric Tape. This was really simple to do. It didn't take too much tape, you could probably make 5-6 headbands from one roll of tape! The flower is from Hair Doodles. I have tons of flowers from there and now I can make cute headbands to match!

While I was getting crafty, I decided to pull together a fun little card inspired by the Hero Art sketch on Lily Pad Cards. This sketch just BEGS for some Love My Tapes Lace Tape. I used the light pink, lime and 17mm beige tapes for this. I made the big flower with a Cosmo Cricket Gluber and Pink Satin Pleated Ribbon from Ribbon Carousel. Speaking of Ribbon Carousel, this card fits in perfectly with the current challenge RCC22 alter your ribbon. The sentiment is from Hero Arts.

Have a great day friends!

A Card for Olivia

Hi friends! I hope you are having a great day! It's almost the weekend! Woohoo! I can't wait!

Today, I'm sharing a card I made for the Cards for Olivia card drive. I saw this on Facebook and some other blogs and I really wanted to send a card. Olivia was supposed to be starting kindergarten this month but instead, they founds a brain tumor and she had to have surgery. She's not that much older than one of my kids and that makes me SO sad! I'm hoping this card will brighten her day a little.

For this card, I'm playing along with Jessie's Forgotten Stamp Friday. The premise of the challenge is to use a stamp that you haven't inked in at least 6 months. I have a BUNCH of those. Actually, this set had never been inked and I've had it for a long time. It's from Hero Arts. I used some My Little Shoebox paper for this. Honestly, it doesn't feel like a card I made at all. I don't know why. Oh well, it's going out in the mail and that's all that matters!

Have a great day everyone!

Love Hearing From You

Hi friends! I hope you are having a great week! I spent today chatting and crafting with my friend Marie Ramirez and I had a great time! It's just what the doctor ordered! Honestly, a day with a friend is just the best, isn't it?

I actually have a ton of cards to blog since I've been having so many crafty dates with my friends and I usually get a few cards/projects done at a time. Perhaps I should start blogging a couple cards a day. Wouldn't that be fancy? ;)

Here's a card I made a couple weeks ago at my friend Gina's house. I borrowed one of her Hero Arts stamp sets for this card. I do love this set, I might have to buy it! The paper is from Colorbok Flea Market.

Have a great day everyone!

Deanna's Bridal Shower Invites

Hi friends! I hope you are having a fabulous day! I'm having a really rough morning. We had yet another hard drop off at school with Brady today and I'm just bummed out. I was planning on trying to get some work done but I'm SO sad right now. I think I'll be able to get things done after we go pick him up and I get to see that he ended up having a great time at school.

Today, I'm sharing the card I made for my sister in law, Deanna, for her bridal shower invites. She's getting married next month! :) She's super sweet and I was glad to do these for her. I made about 32 of these but I forgot to photograph them all together so you get to see ONE. But you get the idea.

Deanna choose mustard, black and white for her colors and she's using a damask theme. I decided to make the invites match the colors and theme. The background was made with a Hero Arts background stamp and some Distress Ink in Scattered Straw. I used an EK Success punch for the edge and Spellbinders Labels 8 for the sentiment. I added ribbon and a gem to embellish. She wanted this pretty simple and I think I achieved both an elegant yet refined look here.

Have a great day everyone!

Authentique Uncommon

Hi friends! I hope you are doing well! We had a ROUGH drop off today at school. Brady was crying and telling me how he didn't want to go to school and he wanted to go home with us. It was hard on me. :( Hopefully, it will get better soon.

Ok, today I'm sharing a couple Authentique cards I made a week or so ago at my friend Gina's house. It's always fun to craft with friends! I love these cards and I hope you enjoy them too!

This first one is made with a Hero Arts flower stamp and a Lawn Fawn sentiment.

This next one was done with tons of cutting and a PTI sentiment.
Have a great day friends!

Happy Birthday Jenny!

Today is my friend Jenny Suchins's birthday! YAY Jenny! HAPPY BIRTHDAY! Her darling friend Anita asked me to be a part of a Surprise Birthday Blog Hop for her. You should have come here from Vera's Blog. If not, you can start the hop off at Anita's blog!

Here's the birthday card I made for Jenny. When I think of Jenny, I often think of Hero Arts and I think cutesy so that's the direction I went with this card. I used some Hero Arts/Basic Grey stamps from Life of the Party with the corresponding paper. I added some Orange Divine Twine and that's done.

Next up is Lindsay's Blog!

Check out the hop! The people participating are AWESOME! And leave Jenny some birthday LOVE!

Anita Recksiedler http://craftygrldesigns.blogspot.com/

Laurel Seabrook http://www.want2scrap.blogspot.com/

Lisa Hjulberg http://lisahjulberg.blogspot.com/

Vera Yates http://lingshappyplace.blogspot.com/

Ashley Nguyen Newell http://www.hearthugsdesigns.blogspot.com/ (HERE)

Lindsay Amrhein http://lindsayamrhein.blogspot.com/

Jessica Fick http://iembellish.blogspot.com/

Alice-Lihsuan Wertz http://aliceslittlewonderland.blogspot.com/

Wendy Elliot http://wendyelliot.blogspot.com/

Lynn Miller http://www.millers-ink.net/

Laurel Beard http://laurelbeard.wordpress.com/

House Congrats

Happy Friday, friends! I hope you had a great week! I haven't felt that great all week and I'm hoping my doctor will order more tests for me. We shall see.

Ok, here's a card I made with Mojo Monday sketch 197 and Gallery Idol. Gallery Idol results will be posted first thing in the morning, wish me luck! This card uses a Hero Arts house stamp and a sentiment from Mint Motif. The paper here is Echo Park Country Drive and I finished with some Divine Twine.

Have a great weekend everyone! OOHHH!! And if you are in the Bay Area, come visit me at Our Paper Place in Newark on Sunday! I will be there purging supplies at their garage sale!

Sad Little Reject Card

Hi friends! I'm about to fall over with exhaustion! I've been working non-stop on the kids's birthday party for the last few days. I'm hoping it goes well and everyone has a good time. :) Wish us luck, it's in the morning!

Sigh...here's a card I've been holding onto for a couple months that I KEEP submitting to magazines but it's been rejected every time. I'm sorry, little card, but I'm giving up hope on you and just sending you out into blog land. This card was made with Hero Arts stamps. I paper pieced each one of those flower petals with some Basic Grey Hello, Luscious. I just LOVE this card but I guess I'm alone in that. :( Oh well, moving on!

Have a great day everyone! SCROLL DOWN ONE POST FOR A GIVEAWAY!

Mmmm...Cotton Candy

Hi friends! I hope you are having a good day! My day is a little rocky. The kids are really accident prone today. We've already had one knocked over dresser and one goose-egg. Ack! And it's only 3pm!

Here's a card I had fun making. I decided that I wanted to ink this cotton candy stamp up and flock it. Isn't that fun? I cut it off it's cone and put it on a piece of bamboo skewer with some Divine Twine on it. The stamp is from a Hero Art/Basic Grey set and the paper is Basic Grey Life of the Party.

Have a great day everyone!

Flutter By Birthday

Hi friends! I hope you are all having a great day so far! It's a little after 4pm here. I meant to take the kids to story time this morning but I couldn't find my keys. Last I knew, my hubby pulled the car into the garage for me. I was so upset. AFTER story time was over, he texted me and said he left them on the hook in the kitchen. Yeah, I didn't look there. Whoops!

Ok, I wanted to blog this card I made for Flutter By Wednesday #156 before the time ran out. I am always doing that! I make a card and forget to blog then time runs out. So, here is my card. The theme is Clean and Simple. I decided to make a girly birthday card for this challenge. The sentiment is from Paper Smooches, I LOVE their stamps! The butterfly is from Hero Arts and the paper is Echo Park Little Girl.

Have a great day everyone!