Go for the Silver-25 years!

Twenty five years ago on one of the hottest days I can remember for May, George and I married. Both the wedding and the reception were outside, needless to say we were all sweating. The cold and bubbly champagne went down way to easy.

Silver anniversary, wow!! Who knew?!!

So here's to my best friend and husband George. As my favorite country singer Blake Shelton wote in "God Gave me You" 

Cause God gave me you for the ups and downs
God gave me you for the days of doubt
And for when I think I lost my way
There are no words here left to say, it's true
God gave me you
Gave me you.

May Flowers

Over at a blog named Hero they are having a challenge to use a Hero Arts stamp that hasn't had much love lately. I went through my drawers and there were any number of HA stamps that I could have used, but Large Flower Pattern S55471 called to me.  I tried to find it on the HA web site, maybe it has been discontinued? I sure hope not, it is a fun and versatile stamp.

I inked it in white pigment ink and embossed with white. Using Ranger's Distress stains I colored the flowers using spun sugar, barn door, spiced marmalade and peeled paint.  don't worry about it getting on the white, just wipe the excess off. I mounted the card on to white card stock and wrapped it in homemade bakers twine and mount onto pink card stock. I punched a butterfly from stamping scarps and added it.

I am ready to send this off to a good friend who just loooooves pink. Happy Birthday Margarita!!

Enjoy your Memorial Holiday Everyone!

Distress Markers

Hi Everyone-

I am happy to say I am completely healthy!! I was even glad to go back to work! I thought those words would never pass my lips!!!!

This card was lifted from Jennifer Maguire's post on using distress markers. I put my own spin on it.

I hope you enjoy it.

On the Mend

Boy, am I feeling better today, so well that I decided to play along with the challenge over at ColourQ. 

I was sorting through my StampinUp sets and came across a verrrrrrry old set, I don't even know the name, but it had the cutest little birds in it. Next thing ya know I had this CAS card for "one of my favorite peeps"! 

This is a great card sketch and I went ahead and made a thank you card with the topiary stamp from the same set.

I hope you find some inspiration from todays creations!

Sick Day and Inspiration!

I have been really sick the last few days, I won't bore you with the details, but it did involve a trip to the ER. Today I am feeling better, but wrung out. I thought I would just hang out in the studio and watch some crafting video's. 

Yesterday I received a package from Ranger and Simon says Stamp so I had new stuff to play with. I figured I'd watch video's on some of the new stuff I got. Well before you now it I was up and running- the ideas were swirling and I learned a really important lesson. I had forgotten how to play. Some where along the line it became all about the finished product and not the journey.

Sooooo......

Today I played, I experimented and I had lots of fun!!!

Let me show you all about it.

First, it was time to clean up, I mean how could I possibly work in a 5X5 area!

Next I caught up on the embossing episodes from Jennifer Maguire's Cut Above class. It  was a 2 week class showing how to use dies, embossing folders and the silhouette machine. You can take both parts or just the first part if you don't have a silhouette. Check it out, it was awesome and you can still sign up!!

Here is a sample of the letter press look. It is pretty just like that, but I needed to go one step further.

I gently sponged distress inks onto the raised areas. Next time for the butterfly embellishments.

Do you recognize the stamp companies for the above butterflies? No? Well the big butterfly is Prickly Pear and the smaller one is a die cut I embellished! Could be a stamp and matching die huh?

Here's a short how to.

First die cut, punch or both, a couple of butterflies.

Color with copic markers or whatever coloring medium you want. Outline with a permanent marker.

Then have fun, doodle away and embellish your butterflies. Add to your card.

What fun is that huh?!!!?

I guess being sick was the best way to jump start my creativity!

I hope you try this out!

First Communion

My niece is having her first communion today. On a Saturday of all days?! Not being Catholic I just assumed the big event was on a Sunday. Thank God, George said- hey you know the party is tomorrow.

So there I was frantically cooking and making her card on Friday night. May be that was a good thing. I couldn't over think the card as I am apt to do.

So here is the results, clean, simple and sweet for the sweetest little girl in the world!

No fancy staging for this card.

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend. I am off to get ready for the party!