BIRTHDAY CARD FOR A FRIEND

My friend, Georgia, had a birthday at the beginning of the month and this is the card I sent to her.  I used the beautiful Fancy Flora designer series paper and added it to Starry Sky card base.   I also die cut a butterfly from a scrap of the Starry Sky card stock.  I love this paper!

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WITH HEARTFELT SYMPATHY

I needed a quick sympathy card.  This was made a few weeks ago, but I probably CASED a card from Pinterest.

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USING A CARD PIECE

This stamped and die cut piece was needing to be used on a card.  I also had some stitched rectangle pieces available which came in handy.  I used the Painted Texture embossing folder for the 4" x 5 1/4" piece on the white card base.  Quick and easy.

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TWO CARDS MADE WITH FRIENDS

In my efforts to use up a lot of retired designer papers, I have recruited my two friends to help do that.  The card above and the card below are cards that we made together.

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BIRD BALLAD CARD KIT

When my two friends came to make cards the last time, this is one of the kits that I had made up.  They are helping me to use up some of these retired papers.  My sample used the Calypso Coral card stock, but the kits used Pool Party as the card base and mat.

My sample

 Card Kits

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BERRY DELIGHTFUL DSP

This package has great designs of berries.......strawberries, black raspberries, red raspberries.  Two-step stamps make it easy to color the images.

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ANOTHER PACKAGE OF DSP GONE!

The last time my friends came for a play date, I had a couple of card kits made up to use more of this paper.  There was still more left so I sent the rest home with them.  DONE!

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STAMPIN' UP! - Garden in Bloom, Gingham Gardend

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STAMPIN' UP! - Flowers for Every Season

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MAGNOLIA LANE DSP

Today we are going to go watch one of our granddaughters perform in probably her final dance recital.  We have two granddaughters who have been in dance.  The oldest one danced beautifully and stayed in long enough to do her Senior performance.  Our youngest granddaughter is also a very talented dancer -sometimes being in 7-8 of the presentations.  Ballet was always my favorite because of the grace with which they perform.  Taryn probably won't be continuing with dance because her interest leans more now to volleyball.  I will miss going to recitals but will still enjoy watching her at her volleyball games.  She's also talented in that arena.

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STAMPIN' UP! - Hues of Happiness

I sent this card to one of my friends.  It is a fun fold I made after watching a video.....I think it was on YouTube.   While I am trying to use up retired designer paper, I love this package so much that I bought a second package.  There are just so many ways to use it.  So it looks like you'll be seeing a lot more in the future.  

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ANOTHER MYSTERY MONDAY PROJECT

I wasn't thrilled with the Mystery Monday project that I posted yesterday, but this one I liked.  A few weeks ago I learned that for these challenges it is best to choose non-directional dsp.  I also try to use dsp that is retired for these projects in case I'm not happy with the end result.  

The measurements for this card were very simple and easy to follow when following the step-by-step clues.  The directions were to stamp two designs and then add them to the white panel with one overlapping to the left and one overlapping to the right.  When I chose the dsp to use, I already had these die cuts in a bag and used them instead and added them the way I wanted.  As Sharon Armstrong would say, I went "rogue".

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MY MYSTERY MONDAY "Experiment"

Cutting pieces to specific measurements using card stock, designer papers, inks, stamps, dies etc. can be a real challenge............especially when you don't know what the end result is supposed to look like.  Those directions are emailed out on Sundays.  On Monday evenings Sharon Armstrong then does a live video giving us clues one at a time what to do next.  Everyone's cards are different because of the colors, papers and dsp they choose.  Sometimes the cards are even assembled differently.....by accident or by choice.   After seeing some of the alternate layouts from this Mystery Monday, I would like to make a new one because I really liked some of their "rogue" layouts better than this one which was by the directions.

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BETTER DAYS - Two Step Stamp set

When I saw this set, I decided I wanted it.  I grew up on a farm and have always appreciated the variety of colors in rolling hills especially when a variety of crops are growing in the fields.  Once I got the set, I've only made one card.  I stamped and cut out the piece but didn't know here to go with it.  Eventually I added it to the white mat which I had run through the Subtle 3D embossing folder.  Then I added it to the So Saffron dotted dsp and onto the white card base.  Now I just need to find another way to use it.  Guess I better head over to Pinterest.

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STAMPIN' UP! - Forever Blooms

These two cards were made using the Forever Blooms stamp set.  It is such a pretty sprig of flowers.  For the first card, I folded the 5 1/2" x 8 1/2" Balmy Blue card stock in half.  I then cut away a 1" piece from the right side of the base.  I added the stamped and colored design t the front and then a piece of the gingham dsp to the inside of the card where it would still show when the card is closed.  I'm not happy with the placement of the "sympathy".  I wish I would have just stamped a narrow strip instead of the one I used.

Instead of cutting of the right edge of the front on this card, I added some scored lines for detail.  I don't think I will add a sentiment to the front of this card unless I stamp a small one in the lower left corner.

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TWO MORE CARDS USING RETIRED DSP

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FANCY FLORA DSP

The papers in the Fancy Flora dsp package all look like beautiful water colors.  I watched THIS video and decided to make one like it.  My "bow" is a little thick.....I should have just tied a single instead of a double.

This card was sent to another of my high school classmates.  She is an amazing lady!  Her husband has MS and requires a lot of care given by her.  Somehow she finds time to make Quilts of Valor for those who have served our country.  At our last class reunion she gave 17 quilts to class members and/or their spouses who had served. But that isn't the end of the things she does for others.  When I saw this stamp, I immediately thought of Pat and sent her this card.  It meant a lot to her to be acknowledged for the wonderful things she does.  (Oh, and I forgot to mention that she is a wonderful baker.  She has multiple blue ribbons for the pies she makes.)

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TRUE BEAUTY AND AWASH IN BEAUTY

This is definitely a CASE of a card I saw on Pinterest.  My card is very close to the same as the one made by Rae Jean Communal.  With all the details to this card it was a little time consuming but certainly well worth the effort.  After taking the photo of the card, I quickly addressed an envelope, attached a stamp for non-machinable mail.  (I love the butterfly postage stamp!) and sent the card to a high school friend dealing with Cancer.  I have been sending a card a week to her for the last 1 year and 3 months.  She is such a sweet person!  I don't live close enough to her to be of any help but I know she appreciates these cards.  

Thank you for coming by today!

APRIL 11 AND APRIL 12 CARDS

April 11th Card

Once again I forgot to post a card I had designated for yesterday.  Since I already have enough cards to cover the next month, you get several cards today.  

I discovered that one of the scalloped  dies from Color and Contour set fit perfectly in the space with this SU embossing folder.  There was a scrap of the Bird Ballad dsp that I couldn't bring myself to throw away so I trimmed it down to fit.

Below are the two cards scheduled for today using more of the Bird Ballad dsp.  This  was my favorite paper from that pack.  I cut two identical pieces and then cut off 1" from the side for the book binder fold.  As you can see, I just reversed the way I chose to show the designs.

For years we have had Robins building their nests  on the back side of the house.  They usually start by trying to build a nest on the light just outside the back door.  It causes quite a mess!  However, eventually they get the idea and build their nest under our upper level deck. It  is great because then we get to watch the progress of baby Robins and sometimes have gotten to watch them leave the nest.

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STAMPIN' UP! - Irresistible Blooms

 

After I had met the personal challenge to myself to use retired designer papers through the entire month of March, it sure felt good to be able to pull out some new dsp from Stampin' Up!  The Irresistible stamps, dies and Hello Irresistible dsp are really a great collection!

I saw THIS card on Pinterest.  I absolutely loved the way she (StampItUpWithJaimie.com) had cut that die four times and applied them to the front of her card as the background.  Now I'm glad I did like she did, but on the other hand, it was a bit tricky dealing with the die cut once I had the adhesive sheet off of each piece.  It wanted to twist and turn........but I won the battle by taking a deep breath and a lot of patience.  

The flowers and leaves were die cut from pieces of the 6 x 6  "Hello Irresistible" designer series paper. Circles were cut from a set of Tutti stitched circles.  

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HAPPY EASTER

I saw a card made by Terri Gaines on Pinterest and decided that was going to be the design I used for cards that I send to current and retired priests who have been in our lives.  I also made a few extras for others.  I was really happy that I had that Stampin' Up! dsp that looked like wood.  The "Painted Texture" embossing folder has become one of my very favorite folders.

I hope all of you are having a wonderful weekend with family or friends.  Thank you for stopping by!

 

EASTER CARDS FOR MAILING LIST

I found this basic card on Pinterest.  I improvised by using a different cross, greenery and sentiment, but the layout and basic design are what I saw.  I was very happy with the result.

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HAPPY EASTER, TARYN

was

The card I made for our granddaughter was inspired by one I saw on Pinterest.  Although I couldn't find the one I originally saw, I did see another one made by Eva Dietz (Stampin' With Eva) which she made back in 2013.

I used two different oval dies for the ears and a heart upside down for the bunny face.  I punched out a little circle with the same dsp for the nose and then attached two black metal dots for the eyes.  I really like this cute little bunny.

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HUES OF HAPPINESS DSP

When I saw a video making this card, I thought to myself.....WOW!  The Hues of Happiness paper is gorgeous on its own, but when I saw how this card was made, I knew I just had to make one too.  I am so sorry that I went back to YouTube to find a link for you in my saved videos but couldn't find it.  If I find it later, I will add it to this post.  Check out the inside of the card below.

Because there are so many colors in these beautiful flowers, there were two different combinations that she showed on the video using a different portion of the paper and a different color of card stock for the base.  This card was sent to one of my friends for her birthday in March.

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HAPPY EASTER, TUCKER

Making cards for our grandson is getting to be more of a challenge.  Tucker is 17 so I certainly don't want to give him a card that is too childish and I want it to be different than the ones I make for the 5 granddaughters.  I saw a card similar to this on Pinterest.  I actually had the scrap of gingham paper and the blue strip of card stock on my table.  I used SU blenders to color the cute bunny.

Thank you for coming by today!

EASTER CARDS

Well, it looks like I forgot to post cards or Sunday and Monday so today you will see those plus the one scheduled for today.  I plan these cards out in a folder on my computer and label them for when I want to show them on my computer.  Sometimes those cards just don't get on my blog as planned.

Sunday's card is one my friends and I made to donate to the Independent Living Center where my mother had lived.  The stamps and dies are from Lawn Fawn.

These Monday's cards are a variety of dsp patterns from the same paper pack.  These cards are going to a Care Center where my mother also spent some time.

And finally, today's card is the design we used for the ones donated to a care center where my husband's mother spent her final days.  

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SHARON ARMSTRONG - March 13 Mystery Monday Stamping

This is another card made while watching Sharon Armstrong's Mystery Monday videos.  It isn't always easy to know how the cards are going to turn out.  Measurements are given on Sunday of supplies needed but many times the card goes together completely different than you expect.    With the piece that I prepared for the sentiment, I assumed it would be centered on the card front.  But the clue during the video instructed us to place it like I did.  I would have liked it better if the sentiment layer had been more squared. 

If you haven't ever done one of Sharon's Mystery Monday challenges, you can sign up for her emails on her blog.  Then each Sunday she sends out an email with announcements and "Clue 1" which is the measurements and supplies you need.  It's fun!

(P.S.  My March Challenge to use retired dsp is over but this card was made in March and more of my April posts will be showing cards that were made during March.)

Thank you for coming by today!