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! ;-)

Wish for Spring Pinwheel Card

I actually made this pinwheel card awhile back, but it makes me think of soft breezes, sunshine and a wish for spring so I thought I'd share it with all of you, knowing how much those of you suffering through a long cold winter are hoping for the arrival of spring! I hope it comes soon!!!
To create this card I used the tutorial found here: www.doodlesanddragonflies.blogspot.com/ which uses the Stampin'Up tag puch for the petals. I'm amazed at how ingenious some of you ladies are with these punches; your awesome ideas continue to amaze me!!!
Paper: Chatterbox's Scrapbook Walls Light Orchard Blossom front and back
Stamp: Stampin'Up's Small Script (Hostess set)
Punches: StampinUp's Tag Punch & Slit Punch
Bling: Making Memories' brads

Some Bunny Loves You!

Ever had one of those days where everything hits you wrong & you just want to cry because you feel like you can't cope & you're such a disappointment to everyone you really care about? That was my yesterday, but I talked to everyone I felt like I'd disappointed/failed and by the time I went to sleep, I knew it will all be okay. Just take each day one at a time & stop stressing over things in life that come up & you just cannot control/change -- seems so simple/logical now! Stuff happens & it always will -- all at once in a big lump too; never slow/easy/one thing at a time -- nope, not gonna happen that way! ;-) Thank God for sweet, understanding friends/family that make it all worth it & who are there for you when you truly feel like a failure. Crying sometimes helps, but mostly it just causes me sinus congestion & a headache, but that's just another one of those things I can't control.
Soooooo, my solution to getting over my headache was to papercraft, of course! Everything else got put on hold last night & I got out my new little $1 Studio G stamps and my bright, spring colors and Some Bunny Loves You is the result! Hope you like him because he made me feel brighter & more hopeful, just like spring does!!! I have to tell you this simple card layout is becoming an all-time favorite because it's so adaptable to so many punch shapes & so easy to dress up or down/make cutesy or elegant, as my friend Ilene just mentioned yesterday. It's the same basic layout I used for Simple Punched Thank You Card posted on January 9th and the Black & White Floral Rosette card posted on January 3rd! I'm lovin' it!!! Hmmmm, would maybe be a good one for an SBS8 Challenge!!!
Paper: DCWV Spring Easter DP; The Paper Company Color Connect Texture in Lilac
Stamp: Studio G
Punch: Marvy Uchida 1 3/4" Square
Embellishments: Colored Pencils/Chalks; Making Memories Funky Fibers in Watercolor Brite; $ Store small q-tips for nose & paws

Heartfelt Valentine Card

Probably my last Valentine card for this year; think I'll be a little tired of pink/red for a while now! This card is also for a very dear friend who's helped inspire me for many years! I'm quite sure she'll appreciate this gorgeous heart from my heart to hers!
Once again, after finding http://mamawslegacy.wordpress.com/, which is Mary's beautiful blog again, I couldn't resist using this precious heart on a card right away! It cuts like "butta", Mary!!! Thank you!
Paper: Silver Metallic text & red cardstock from my huge stash
Stamp: Stampin'Up's Heartfelt Thanks set
Ink: Tsukineko's VersaMark
Glue: Elmer's Craft Bond Multi-purpose Spray Adhesive

Heart Lock and Key to my Heart Valentine

A card for a dear, sweet friend who may not even know how much she means to me -- she's sweet, helpful, funny -- well, just everything a wonderful friend should be!!! The true meaning behind what Valentine's Day is all about when it comes to a friend's love, I think!

Just as in my previous post, I've used a fantastic .gsd file created by Mary, http://mamawslegacy.wordpress.com/. If you have a diecutting machine, check out her awesome blog - you won't be disappointed!!!\

Paper: MemoryStor (sold by Costco) Handmade Paper - red with gold dots; gold metallic text

Punch: Martha Stewart 1" circle punch

Stamp: Stampin'Up Retired Set: Key to my Heart from 1999

Ink: Tsukineko's VersaMark

Madly in Love With You, Valentine!

A card for "guess who" -- he's my one & only!!! Hopefully, he'll continue to "not look" at my blog until tomorrow!!! Normally he sees most everything I make long before the intended recipient, so doesn't feel a need to look @ my blog.

This card was easily cut on my Wishblade from a file so beautifully created by Mary @ http://mamawslegacy.wordpress.com/. She very generously shares her cutting files there for free. Thanks, Mary!!! When I saw this I just knew it was perfect for "him"!!!

Paper: Silver Metallic text; red cardstock

Embellishments: Making Memories silver eyelet; other brad/eyelet from my HUGE stash!

Glue: Elmer's Craft Bond Multi-Purpose Spray Adhesive

Tools: Crop-a-Dile; "Old Blue" Wishblade!

Smitten With Love Valentine Box

My little trinket box Valentine decoration is made from papers in the K & Company's Smitten line. I was "smitten" with this idea (tee-hee) after seeing a box made using ribbon spools. A heavy cardboard spool from inside a roll of metallic tape my husband had given me from his toolbox is the "box". Next, I played with my heart size to get it big enough to fit front to back & side to side to cover the spool for a lid & bottom. I painted my spool pink & covered the outside with various Smitten papers. Since the only chipboard I had was coasters from a local restaurant, I had to cut half a heart shape from each & glue them together in the center. Covering them with Smitten paper top & bottom made them sturdy. I then glued the bottom to my spool and while it dried, cut a second decorative little heart from my paper, attached the metal "Love" charm with a jeweled brad and glittered the lid edge with pink glitter to finish it off.
Paper: K & Company's "Smitten"
Glitter: Denami Design
Embellishments: Making Memories Jeweled Brad; Metal Word from stash

Brown Tweed Valentine Card; SBS8/CMUtd Challenge Card

This card was created to meet both our SBS8 challenge, requiring a Valentine's card using no pink or red, and the CMUtd challenge found here: http://challenge-cmutd.blogspot.com/, which requires you use no more than 3 colors on a card. To me this will make a great guy's Valentine card which we all know is difficult to come up with!
Paper: Martha Stewart's Coffee Bean cardstock; Making Memories Boho Chic Tweed Embellishment paper
Stamps: Stampin'Up's So Very set
Ink: Versamark
Embossing Powder: Comotion's White
Bling: Colorbok"s White Metal Dots

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! ;-)

All Dressed Up Birthday Card/Sketch Challenge #3

Happy Birthday to my sassy friend/fellow crafter, Ilene!!! She was very instrumental in getting me hooked on papercrafting nearly 12 years ago. For this card I used DCWV's All Dressed Up glittered flower and striped papers. This is also my entry for Sketch Challenge #3 posted by Nicola on http://www.mypaperworld.blogspot.com/. She has some fabulous cards for you to peruse, so stop by and enjoy!

Papers: DCWV All Dressed Up; black card stock

Embellishments: Silver Stickles; Making Memories Felt Flower & Crystal Brad; HB round tag from stash