NEW LOOK.....

So, whatcha think? I have played a little with the My Digital Studio (hey, I've only had it a year or so) and my blog header was my first project. I loved what others had done to theirs and really wanted to personalize mine. There was a great tutorial video on My Digital Studio, an on-line forum for using this awesome software, that made it easy (if not quick --- when do I ever make up my mind quickly?). In addition to the original CD content, I had earned the add-ons from Sale-A-Bration, which included the Ice Cream Parlor DSP and ribbon that I used. My only problem is I am not sure how to get my header to line up with the blog "box" below it. Anyone have any idea how to fix this?

Anyway, I also have a card to show you. This was made for a friend who has had some medical issues lately and I just wanted her to know I had her in my prayers. I CASE'd it from one my upline, Debbie Naylor, did at our shoe box swap before Christmas here. I used the Watercolor Trio stamp set (retired) and pulled my colors from the Jolly Holiday DSP (Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler and Old Olive). I colored the stamp with my markers to get this look. The sentiment is from the Because I Care hostess set.

Thanks for stopping by!!! Have a great day!!!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!!!!!

This card is one I made for my mother's birthday. As you can see, I have once again used the Because I Care stamp set. I just really love that flower. The DSP is from the Lap of Luxury pack. The colors are so elegant --- Pretty in Pink, Basic Gray, Very Vanilla and Concord Crush. I wanted to make another Double Display Card (see my first attempt here) and started with the Pretty in Pink base. After cutting and adhering all of the little and big DSP rectangles, I cut out the butterflies using the Beautiful Wings embosslit die. Although you can barely tell it, the little pink butterfly on the left is mounted on top of a Basic Gray butterfly. Both butterflies are embellished with the basic pearl jewels. I also used the pearls on either side of my sentiment, which is from the retired Watercolor Trio stamp set and was punched out with the Oval punch and placed on top of the Modern Label punched piece of Concord Crush. This was then placed onto the card with Stampin' Dimensionals. I think it turned out pretty nice --- better than my dark, dreary picture shows it. And like all good mothers, my mom loves stuff her kids make for her (even if the kid is as old and decrepit as me).

Happy Birthday, Mom!!! We love ya!!!!!!

BECAUSE I CARE......

I love the Because I Care set so much. It is a set that I don't think I will ever let go. I would have never considered myself a "flower person", but if you look at my stamp sets, probably 75% of them are flowery in some way. There is something about a pretty little flower image that makes me just have to have it.

I unfortunately needed another sympathy card and chose to use this set again, but wanted a different layout from the ones I made a few posts ago here. So onto Splitcoast Stampers I went. My card is cased from this one here by Mimikitty. I used Marina Mist with the black trim and a vanilla base for the flowers. The black really makes this pop. I watercolored the flowers with the Marina Mist and the leaves with Always Arthichoke. After punching out the layers for the sentiment (from the Thoughts & Prayers set), I placed it on dimensionals on top of the strip that is accented with a length of Marina Mist ribbon.

Thanks for stopping by and have a Great Day!!!!

KICK IT UP A NOTCH.....

Unfortunately, I needed sympathy cards for 2 family members at the same time recently. It just so happened that the theme for the months Litlle Debbie swap was "Sympathy Cards". So, I guess I got 3 birds with one design. This was my first attempt:

Now, while this was a perfectly good card --- clean and simple --- I could not help but think something else was needed. So, to add some texture, I tore the edges of the Chocolate Chip layer. I also stamped the small flower from the same stamp set using Versamark on the background (Crumble Cake/Kraft) layer. You can't really tell from my "amazing" pictures, but on the second one, while I still colored the bloom in Marina Mist, I thumped it with the Night of Navy marker to give it a little more depth. The stamp set is the Level 1 Hostess Set Because I Care. What a gorgeous image, don't you think? The coloring was done directly on the stamp with my SU! markers and stamped onto Whisper White cardstock. After wrapping that layer with a piece of Marina Mist ribbon, I layered it onto the Chocolate Chip and then onto the Crumb Cake base. Here is the second card, with all of those changes:

Those few small changes really made a difference, didn't they? But it still kept the card simple (something I think is important when it comes to sympathy cards --- that "calming" colors) and flat enough to mail without padding and extra postage.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!!!!!