CKC Convention - Mesa Fun!!!

Had a fabulous time Fri. & Sat. at our local CKC Convention with my crafty BFFs Gwen & Ilene!!! Wanted to give a shout out to Linda & Julie whom we met there & joined for a fabulous lunch on Friday! Great to meet/visit with these fellow cardmakers!!!

One of our favorite local stores, Scrapbooks, Etc., did a different FREE make-n-take card both days. As you can see, they're both totally cute, simple & colorful with awesome textured Bazzill cardstocks & DPs (manufacturer unknown). I'll be able to put these fun freebies to very good use! Thanks, SBE!

Ahhh, such fun, great classes/teachers -- so much to see, so much shopping, so little sleep! Now to get it all organized so I can actually create again!

Raspberry Suite Color Challenge 2 by Dawn McVey

Well, you know the ole saying, "the best-laid plans of mice and men". . . so I missed the deadline, but had a blast making my little chocolate cuppy card anyway! My sweet friend, Gwen, kindly loaned me her Hero Arts Cupcake stamps. I've wanted these forever, so I had to play with them! Thanks, Gwen!!! I had hoped to create a male-appropriate cupcake card & thought these colors chosen by Dawn for her 2nd color challenge would achieve that goal nicely -- what do you think? If you click on the photo to enlarge it, you'll better see my embossed Birthday edge, which is a fabulous new card treat to use. Our card group met here last Saturday and this trick was shared by our talented friend Judy who sadly does not have a blog -- you'd really enjoy visiting it -- believe me!!! To see the cards our group made visit our group's blog!!! We're just beginning to post there!

Papers: PTI's White; teal & celery from stash

Stamps: Hero Arts Clear Design Cupcakes

Ink: PTI's Dark Chocolate; Versamark Watermark pad

Embellishments: Liquid Applique; ribbon

Techniques: Provo Craft Embossing Folder: Birthday; Spellbinders Wizard & Square Nesties

RAK from Julie SBS8

I received this adorable gardening apron card from my SBS8 Sister Julie from England! I love it and think it's such a clever creation!!! It also was quite a task to create because it includes stamping, hand cutting, shrinky dinks, eyelets and all the little hand-applied stitching around the edges.
She also included a plethora of goodies: two darling stamp sets, a molding mat, laser-cut butterflies and several sheets of stickers.
I've never had a sister in real life, but if this is what it would be like, I've really been missing out!!! ;-)
Thanks so much, Julie, and once my package to you arrives, I'll be an even happier Sister!

Designing Diva's Stamp Group Creations

It was long past my turn to have our crafty group, now fondly known as the Designing Divas, to my house for our monthly get together. Sadly two
members were unable to attend, but we had a wonderful time and these talented ladies once again wowed me with their creations:
Ilene shared 2 spring flower cards found through Hero Arts, www.heroarts.com/, incorporating sayings and flower stamps. We used colored pencils on them and added Stickles for a little pizzaz. I also changed my pink card up slightly by off-centering the stamped piece and adding a border on the edges of the green layer with my Scor-It. Simple cards, yet simply adorable!

Deva's creations (yes, she shared 2 also!) both incorporated flourishes, which we all LOVE! Her brown and blue card's flourish is a sticker from Dollar Deals! The oval scallop and Stampendous stickers just finish it off beautifully! Her citrus-colored card makes me think of warm weather & tropical flowers with the limey jewels adding just the perfect touch!

Caryn couldn't join us, but sent along her unique postcard to share. It very cleverly says, "just wanted to say..." on the front and "thanks for being so kind" on the flip side. Her black/pink plaid paper, ribbon and jewels just make this simple postcard fabulous!

Gwen's shirt/tie creation is awesome and would make a great Father's Day or birthday card for a lucky man in your life! She previously posted this along with a matching gift card tin @ www.mycraftydaysoff.blogspot.com/ on March 24th so I'll refer you there to see it! You won't be disappointed -- her site rocks!!!

The Designing Divas are each uniquely creative and their sweetness, kindness and willingness to share makes me feel truly blessed to have them in my life!!!

Spring Flowers for a Friend Diamond Card

First of all, I want to thank my BBGF (Best Blogging Girlfriend) Gwen (http://www.mycraftydaysoff.blogspot.com/) for this darling card & DP, which she so sweetly shared when we got together with our Stamp Group last Saturday. She's famous for these 5" diamond cards & had shared another one, but then said if we wanted an extra we could take it. Well, DUH, of course I wanted another - who wouldn't!!! ;-) I was playing with my 1/4" punch making the notched edge I'd seen on Barb's blog (www.barbstamps.com/ - under techniques) & decided it matched nicely with this DP! Then I decided to use my COD to punch holes in this sweet little felt flower I'd gotten @ Joann's in a pkg. of 24 for $1 -- what a bargain! They are quite thick & the COD punched the holes easily! I then added the large eyelet to the flower and fashioned Friend from some left-over letters on an old sheet of rub-ons -- a bit time-consuming, but it worked.
Paper: The Paper Company Mandarin Cardstock
Embellishments: Felt Flowers from Joann's $1 Spot; WeRMemory Keepers Eyelet; left-over rub-ons
Tools: 1/4" SU punch; Crop-a-Dile

Blog Candy Surprise!!!

Look at this wonderful surprise blog candy I received today from my BBGF (Best Blogging Girlfriend) Gwen @ http://www.mycraftydaysoff.blogspot.com/!!! OMG, she is just the sweetest and most thoughtful person!!! She knows I've been going through a rough time lately with helping get our daughter ready to move out of state, so she sent this wonderful care package for me to play with when she's all settled in her new job and residence. I'll probably share more about that later, but I just wanted to let all my wonderful visitors know that though I've not had time to create/post much lately I will soon be back! And now, thanks to Gwen, I have these beautiful K & Comapany papers and gorgeous ribbon/twills, bubble stickers, frames & word stick pins to create with!!! I'm so blessed!
The truth is if it weren't for her I would have never dreamed of doing a blog and that is why she's my BBGF. Because of her encouragement, I now have many new blogging friends I truly enjoy visiting to see all your gorgeous creations, as well as reading your sweet comments here! I'm learning so much from all of you and look forward to growing in this very fulfilling hobby through our blogging sisterhood! I've been a tad emotional lately, so I'll go rest now and dream of new creations made of sweet blog candy!!! Wishing Gwen & all of you sweet dreams! ;-)

Scalloped Pocket Heart Valentine Card

For my card to share with my stamping group on Saturday, I used this fun pocket heart idea from SplitcoastStampers! The tag is a bit hard to read through the vellum envelope, but when pulled out, it reads "Forget me not. . ."! There are so many unique samples on their website of such varied ways to use this pocket heart, it's almost overwhelming! I used 3/4" punched circles to form my scalloped edge and then added the little half pearls.
Paper: Bazzill Bling's Diamond & Red Carpet cardstock
Stamp: Rubber Stampede
Punch: Stampin'Up's 3/4" Round Punch
Ink: Tsukineko's Raspberry VersaColor
Embellies: Hero Arts 3mm Pearls; ribbon; vellum envelope

Cards Made by my Clever, Crafty Friends

Yesterday was the most FUN -- as you can obviously see by the awesome array of creative craftiness displayed here. I have some very talented friends -- I'm so lucky!!! The multi-talented Gwen (www.mycraftydaysoff.blogspot.com) hosted our get-together and shared the clever criss-cross Love U card for some lucky male I know. I left my inside blank for now. She incorporated so many great ideas for a guy card -- the blue/brown colors, lots of metal brads, distressing, SU's Canvas background & perfect letters she cut on her Sizzix Big Kick!

Sassy Ilene's darling Le Cafe card was created using her Wishblade and a darling table and chairs stamp by Great Impressions. For a little "dessert", I added a tiny SU ice cream sundae stamp on mine! Yummm!!!

Deva's (yes, she's the "original" & that IS her real name -- lucky girl!) Cupid card incorporates the most adorable Cupid paper, rub-on and Sizzix cutout!!! The black ribbon & bling just make it even more precious, as did her inside phrase, "Cupid's got his eye on you. . . and so do I"!

Judy's sweet Valentine creation uses another ingenious fold, one of my favorite things! Her darling card should open when you untie the bow on the right side. I ended up "flipping" mine to open at the bottom when I realized I'd cut my heart background paper so the hearts would have been sideways! (I didn't sleep much the night before!) The unique fold is further enhanced by the cute circular Love stamp and pewter brads added on top of the stamped hearts! As a bonus, Judy gave us each another Valentine DP already cut to create a second card, which I can't wait to make!!!

Caryn's elegant card incorporating luscious S.E.I. papers, beautiful fibers, metal dots and a Cuttlebug "Love" phrase, sparkling with Stickles, is simply breathtaking! I think I know who the recipient of this gorgeous creation will be, but it's a secret!!!

Who could ask for a lovlier array of creations in one crafty day? Not me! You might ask where my shared card is -- well, I did share one, but due to a lack of sleep/lateness of the hour, I cut my only short length of ribbon wrong, leaving me with only 4 pieces to give to 5 ladies. So, I gave mine to one of them and need to redo my card, using another ribbon. I'll try to post it later today -- Super Bowl festivities permitting! ;-)

Lovely Flowers

Our DD brought us this gorgeous flower centerpiece she designed for the holidays. It's so exciting to see her creations and how she's growing and evolving in her career!

Retro Peace Christmas Card

My daughter needed a Christmas card for a dear friend and she knew this 70's look would be perfect for the occasion. It always amazes me to see how our minds perceive completely diverse ways to use embellishments! She used the Making Memories large grommets, but didn't mount them into the card, instead leaving the unset "ornaments" hanging at the ends of the fibers. I think this card turned out to be one of the best she's ever designed and her designer's eye has definitely come up with some very unique cards over the years! She always amazes me!!!

Paper: DMD's Adhesive Mats "Carefree Autumn"; Cream Linen
Stamp: Penny Black
Embellishments: Making Memories Color Grommets; WeRMemoryKeepers Large Eyelets; Trimtex Picture Perfect Fibers; Koss Pastels; Ribbon
Tools: WeRMemoryKeepers Crop-A-Dile; Martha Stewart 1" Round Punch

Handmade Christmas Cards

I received two handmade cards from dear friends this week. Ilene's poinsettia card was created with embossed snowflakes on vellum & finished off with the greeting and a poinsettia cut from Wishblade, then matted all around in black -- very lovely!
My Stampin'Up demo, Kimberly, sent the simple & adorable tree card with corrugated red strip on a green card. Simple and yet, simply adorable! Love the way she tied her ribbon! Thanks so much ladies for sharing your creativity!

A Beautiful Surprise! (Santa Christmas Card)

What a wonderful surprise we received in our mail today -- this gorgeous handmade card from my friend, Gwen, who encouraged me to start this blog & is truly a crafting genius, in my humble opinion! Isn't it just beautiful in every way?!!! The inside is equally beautiful, with the scallop repeated in a pale pink metallic paper on which she stamped Merry Christmas and added two metallic snowflakes with the same sparkly dots in the center! A masterpiece to behold! Her blog, MyCraftyDaysOff is linked here on my site, so check it out! You won't be disappointed!!!

Copper Snowflake Card

Deva brought a second card to share which is unique in that the snowflakes were 3-D decor items from Ikea, which she ingeniously cut apart (giving her twice as many!) to craft this stunner! Adding to it's beauty is her snowflake stamp by DeNami Designs and darling snowflake phrase by Hero Arts. Sure glad she brought this, "in case we had time and wanted to do another card". Who could go home without it after they'd seen it -- not me!!!

Santa Snowflake Card

This blue and white z-fold Santa card is a vision to behold! Gwen shared this card inspired by a tutorial on the Stamping Moments blog. The blue, silver and white metallic papers in multiple layers, snowflakes (Martha Stewart punch from Michaels) with "bling" brads and snowflake roller (Stampin'Up) all add to the card's true elegance! It's always so fun to have a new fold to ramp up our card making!
 

Daisy Stripes Card

Our hostess, Caryn, shared this adorable card incorporating pink/brown Daisy Stripe paper by Sandylion from JoAnn's, which I also happen to have in my "paper stash". In addition to the pretty paper, she adorned the front with a flower stamp and flower brad, round pink brads and soft fibers. She ingeniously created the inside with brown and pink panels, additional flower stamps and a creative friendship phrase layout! Another marvelous creation from Caryn, as always!

Two Thanksgiving Cards Shared by Friends

(Sorry, photo corrupted/lost!)

Deva's green Thanksgiving card includes gorgeous silk leaves that I believe she said were from Dollar Tree (they're magnificent), pretty ribbon, brads in fall colors and cute phrase stamp. She added orange & green Stickles to the leaves & acorn for added pizzazz -- truly a beautiful card "in person"! Ilene's card with pumpkins, swirly "vine", phrase and silk leaves all by Close to My Heart (I think) and added punched leaves, bow and Stickles glitz is a vision of fall loveliness also! Now you know why getting together to craft with these ladies is so much fun -- they never cease to amaze me!!!