Mailbox Surprise!

 

A package arrived in the mail a few weeks ago. From a crafty supply company. Not such an unusual occurrence here in the Attic. But it was from a company I've never ordered from before and I was being good - I hadn't purchased anything for quite a while! So I was really wondering. Did I order something and forget about it? Have I become so addicted to this hobby that I browsed online and ordered in my sleep? What could this be? And then the real question became, "Now, what did she do?" So, hurriedly I dropped all the other mail on the table and tore open the envelope. I was right! It was from her! The package included a very nice note with my friend's name on it. We had been discussing in detail Penny Black's new Spring release, how excited we were over all of the cute animals, and which sets we really, really wanted (since neither of us could have them all!). Excited, frenzied, girl-talk! The very best kind! Both of us agreed "Garden Critters" was the "must have" on our wish list. I was going to order mine later since I was wrapped up in some other projects and wouldn't have time to stamp for a bit. How excited I was to receive this surprise gift!

This is the "thank you" card for my friend using two of the images and some paper from My Mind's Eye "Memorable" for a bit of paper piecing on the saucer and the background. The Memory Box Cosmo Border die cut was included with a previous card from her as well.

May each of you be surrounded by friends who continually surprise and delight you. They truly are blessed moments in our everyday happenings. I am blessed!

 

Materials: Paper: Neenah Solar White; MME Collectable "Memorable"; Stamps: Penny Black "Garden Critters", Simon Says Stamp "Beautiful Words";  Dies: Spellbinders Labels Nine; Memory Box Cosmo Border; Ink: Versafine Black; Spun Sugar Distress Ink; Prisma Color Pencils; Other: Ribbon: Michaels; Recollections Windmill; Martha Stewart Punch; Zing Clear Embossing Powder

Happy Hedgie

I love the "Garden Critters" stamp set from Penny Black. Loved it from the moment I first saw it. Love it even more since it was a surprise gift from a friend! She thought the bunnies "needed" a home in the attic, knowing how much they are adored in our little nook. And so right she was!

Penny Black is sponsoring a challenge, "For Family." Who do we call to celebrate all the big and little things that come along in life? Our family, and friends we consider to be family. The hedgie with her super-sized bouquet of flowers was perfect for a "congrats" card but I didn't have a sentiment  image small enough to fit on the tag. After some searching through my stamps, I happened upon the Itty Bitty Bird set from Paper Trey Ink; it included separate words to make your own phrase, and "happy for you" conveyed the message I wanted to send even better than "congrats." This was my first time coloring an image with distress markers; Cathy's tutorial using distress markers was quite helpful and made the process easier (and more fun!) than I thought. It makes me happy things work out just the way they are meant to be!

Materials: Cardstock: Neenah Solar White, Bazzill; Watercolor Paper; Patterned Paper: Graphic 45 Secret Garden, Basic Grey scrap (for butterfly); Stamps: Penny Black "Garden Critters"; PTI Little Bitty Bird; Ink: Versafine Black, Distress Ink - Spun Sugar; Distress Markers - Peeled Paint, Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, Rusty Hinge, Scattered Straw, Mustard Seed; Dies: Memory Box Hopmeadow Circle; Dancing Butterflies; Spellbinders Labels 4; PTI Tiny Tags; Misc: Recollections Gems, Pearls; Hug Snug Seam Binding Winter White; Ribbon; Clear Embossing Powder; Glossy Accents

A Little Sunshine, Please...

I participated in Marcy's Scramble on the Hero Arts Flickr site last Saturday. Her theme was sunshine and we were asked to create a design using one or more of the following: the word "sunshine"; an image of the sun (die, cut file, or stamp); or a yellow monochromatic project that conveyed the feeling of a sunny day. Spring has been slow to arrive this year and we have had many gray, cloudy days. A bit of sunshine was just what was needed, especially since the afternoon proved to be cold and drizzle-filled once again.

I wanted to use this Hero Arts Hydrangea stamp in my design, although I'm not sure there truly is a hydrangea this color - that's the beauty of art though, isn't it? We can design whatever we imagine! This was my first time coloring a stamp with distress markers and misting with water before stamping - there is definitely a technique to be developed in this process! After I stamped, I misted the image again with perfect pearls and water. The glisten is quite pretty in the light.

Marcy was a great hostess and provided a delightful way to spend the afternoon. Deborah will host the next scramble on May 18 - details for the scrambles are listed here in the Hero Arts Discussion Thread. It is simply amazing to participate in card making at exactly the same time with crafters in different parts of the world. Just take a look at all of the sunshine goodness created last Saturday and consider joining in the fun. Hope to see you there!

Materials: Cardstock: Neenah Solar White; Paper: MME "In Bloom"; Stamps: Hero Arts Hydrangea - K5376; American Crafts - Seeds; Ink: Versafine Black; Distress Ink - Pumice Stone, Squeezed Lemonade; Distress Markers - Worn Lipstick, Peeled Paint, Shabby Shutters; Misc: Spellbinders Romantic Rectangles, Perfect Pearls; Hero Arts Light Yellow Pearls.

A New Journey

When I learned the owners of our local scrapbook store were retiring, I wanted to make a card for them using supplies I purchased at their shop. "The Scrapbook Page" was the first store in our area to carry Memory Box dies, so I thought it fitting to include those on their card. They love cats, and as those of us who are owned by cats know, if you want the best seat on the bench, you'll have to move the cat! 

Penny Black's transparent set, "Eloquence," provided a great sentiment for the inside of the card - so perfect for a new adventure into retirement. This set has many other beautiful sentiments and small flowers. The flourish above was included as well.

I added a simple detail to the envelope by embossing the Memory Box Pippi Butterfly. I have found this is a nice way to give a hint of the card inside and add to a rather plain envelope. Since this card is  large at 5 x 7 inches, there was a lot of empty space and this bit of embossing helped fill a corner; plus it is a fun technique to use. 

I will truly miss The Scrapbook Page. It wasn't in my immediate neighborhood, so it was quite a venture out and about across the city to go there and took about 35 minutes each way. But oh, what enjoyment it was! Darling husband (dh) and I would travel over there almost once a month (more often when I was very persuasive or there was a Make & Take I just had to do!) and I would take him to Panera's where he was quite content working on his laptop. I would then head to the shop, and easily be entertained for an hour or more just browsing and dreaming of all the wonderful things to be made. The owners were so friendly, helpful, and kind. They genuinely appreciated their customers and made them feel valued. Saturday Make & Takes were a bit of scrappy goodness fun to be had - always filled with new techniques and products.

I wish them many blessings upon their retirement as they begin this new journey together! My prayer is that everyday, may their hearts sing! 

Blessed be,

Materials: Cardstock: Neenah Solar White; Core'dinations Kraft Core Nostalgic Collection: Patterned Papers: MME Collectable "Memorable"; MME Lost & Found Two "Blush"; MME "Lime Twist"; MME "In Bloom"; Basic Grey "Max & Whiskers"; Heidi Grace Designs "Sunshowers"; Dies: Memory Box Curious Cat, Sitting Cat, Marshmallow Clouds, Summer Border, Madison Park Bench, Pippi Butterfly (for the envelope); Papertrey Ink Medium Scallops; Stamps: Hero Arts CL559 "Greatest Gift," CL646 Happy Birthday; Penny Black "Eloquence"; Inks: Memento Summer Sky, Pear Tart;Versafine Onyx Black; Other: Gemstones: Mark Richards Crystal Stickers, Recollections Stars; Clear Embossing Powder; Glossy Accents; EK Success Punch; Crochet Thread.

Ev'ry Morning is Easter Morning

"Ev'ry morning is Easter morning from now on!
Ev'ry day's resurrection day, the past is over and gone!
Good-bye guilt, good-bye fear, good riddance! Hello Lord, Hello sun!
I am one of the Easter people! My new life has begun!"

I remember singing this song in church on Easter morning and then for several following Sundays. With the exception of, "Morning Has Broken," it is one of my favorites for springtime! Written by Richard Avery and Donald Marsh in 1967, one cannot help but feel a spirit of hope and renewal when singing this uplifting tune.

Ahhh, Spring must be on its way since today is Easter Sunday. It's a perfectly beautiful, warm Spring day here and the screen door is open. Winter, however, hasn't decided to take her leave just yet - a mix of rain and snow is predicted for tomorrow!

When I saw the stamp set, "Easter Blessings" from The Craft's Meow, I fell in love with the beautiful script fonts, sentiments, and silhouette spring animals. I can imagine using this set for a variety of Spring cards. After I made the first card, I decided to make three more, each one using a different color ribbon and base - I do enjoy changing things up a bit!

I rarely wind up with a card that qualifies for clean and simple (CAS), but I think I managed to stop before it was too late this time - I enjoy adding too many embellishments, and before I know it, CAS has been replaced with all kinds of things! I am still wondering if a sprinkling of gemstones or pearls might have been nice. See, there I go...

Since this week's cue card at Casology is "hope," I am entering this design in their challenge. The message of hope is included on the inside sentiment, and Easter is the representation of hope and renewal, of all things made new.

Here are the pastel creations all lined up in a row. Just looking at these colors together has me thinking about flowers to plant in the baskets next month; the one for the front porch just may have to be entirely pastels with some lacy ferns and baby's breath mixed in! 

Here are some individual photos along with a peek of the inside:

I pray for each of you a holy, blessed Easter, filled with the renewal and hope this day brings. May it be so. Happy Easter!

Materials: Paper: Neenah Solar White, Bazill Basics SeaWater, Hero Arts Carnation Layering Papers, PTI Lemon Tart; Ink: PTI Lemon Tart, Memento Angel Pink,Summer Sky and Dandelion, Versafine Black; Stamps: The Crafts Meow "Easter Blessings"; Other: Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Martha Stewart Punch, Ribbon from the stash.