Sunday, May 29, 2016

Shoreline Treasures Card

Hi friends!  Happy Memorial Day weekend to those celebrating the holiday in the States.  While summer doesn't officially begin here until June, most see this weekend as the start of the summer season.  Weatherwise, it certainly could be with temperatures in the 90s and an increase in humidity.  Not going to say how much I prefer fall and winter!  lol

Today's card was made a couple of months ago for a sister-in-law's birthday who lives and breathes the joy of summer.  To create this card, I used the beautiful Pion Design papers, Shoreline Treasures.


The card came together so easily.  I inked and distressed all edges first.  I placed a sheet of pattern paper onto a cream cardstock base.  A Tim Holtz diecut was placed in the lower left corner and upper right corner of the main image.  Bronze glitter was added around the edge of the picture with the verse.  It was attached to the card with foam tape after a piece of cheesecloth was tucked under it.  Next, came the embellishing.  The seashells are from Michael's, the vintage anchor button is from my stash, and the butterfly was cut from the papers.  The birthday sentiment was also cut from the papers and placed with a little bend at the top.  Touches of Stickles were added here and there, and a hemp bow finishes it off.


And, there you have it.  I simply love working with Pion Design papers.  The images and soft color palette are so pretty.

Now, it's time for me to prepare some holiday fare for the menu today.  Besides the BBQ, I'm making potato salad, deviled eggs, and a light refreshing strawberry mousse.  Have a wonderful, safe weekend everyone.  If you can, take some time to craft.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Sunday, May 22, 2016

April Showers Bring May Flowers

Hi friends!  So far, we've had a rainy month of May.  Flowers are starting to bloom.  Today's card was made for an April challenge.  I used a My Besties stamp to create a card with the idea of April showers bringing May flowers.


I don't often work with the color yellow, but I just love these sweet Graphic 45 papers and decided to use that color palette when coloring the stamped image.  Beginning with yellow cardstock for the base, I layered white cardstock followed by the patterned papers.  Two strips of white trim were added next.  Tiny yellow rhinestones accent the white lace flowers.  The image was colored with Copics, matted to yellow cardstock and placed on the card.  The large daisy was a handmade gift to me.  The smaller flowers are Recollections.  The butterfly is a Spellbinders die--I also cut the butterfly in vellum to give a shadow effect.  A yellow hemp bow is the final accent.


My coloring skills need improvement, but it is so much fun and a wonderful way to relax by coloring.  There are so many adult coloring books on the market now for that purpose as well.

Thanks so much for taking the time to stop by.  I appreciate all your comments.  Have a wonderful week ahead!

Sunday, May 15, 2016

Mother & Daughter Tag

Hello, everyone!  After a few humid, rainy days, the weather today is crisp and windy.  I do love the fresh air, though.  It is odd to go from almost summer-like temperatures to fall-like temperatures in the span of 24 hours.

For my project share this week, I have used a beautiful image of a mother and daughter from Pion Design.  I began by cutting a tag shape from cardboard and covering it on both sides with paper from K&Co.  I attached ruffled lace trim and pearls around the tag edges and a crochet doily at the bottom.  I also attached more ruffled lace trim around the image and placed it onto the tag with foam tape.  The flowers are from my stash and accented with diecut leaves from Prima.  The gorgeous butterfly is a Spellbinders die--I also cut the shape in vellum to give a bit of a shadow effect.  A stained seam binding bow with a Maya Road trinket was placed at the bottom and a pearl/rhinestone bauble placed at the top.


I so love old images like this one!  It is wonderful that Pion has quite a selection available for use.  I do hate to cut into them but I can't keep saving everything!


Well, that's it for me today.  Since there is a chill in the air today, I think I'll make some comfort food for dinner--a chicken casserole with cream cheese brownies for dessert.  Thank you so much for stopping by and your kind comments.  Wishing all a wonderful week ahead!

Sunday, May 8, 2016

Mother's Day 2016

For all those celebrating today, Happy Mother's Day!  After much rain and chilly temperatures all week, the sun finally came out today and it is turning into a pretty day with a fresh breeze.

For my Mom for Mother's Day, I created this card using Pion Design Paris Flea Market paper for the background.  Prima trim was placed across the bottom of the card.  A Prima diecut doily was added next.  I cut out one of the thread spools from the paper and attached a Jolee fabric flower to it.  The sweet toddler image was a gift and I adhered ruffled lace and pearls around it.  The photo and spool were place onto the doily with foam tape.  The Papertrey Ink sentiment was stamped onto a piece of the paper which I then cut in the shape of a banner and placed it next to the photo.  The flowers in the corner are a combination of Petaloo and Spare Parts, and the butterfly is from Recollections.  The finishing touches were flatback pearls (given a coat of gesso), a Prima pearl swirl, and a couple of hemp bows.


This card was a joy to make.  I love the vintage, shabby chic look.  My heart always melts with those old-fashioned images.


Lastly, I'm sharing a photo of my Mom, myself and my son taken on this day.  Thank you so much for stopping by and your sweet comments.  Have a wonderful Sunday and week ahead!


Sunday, May 1, 2016

Little Birdies Card

Happy May!  For the first day of May, we are experiencing heavy rains and chilly temperatures.  Also, today, my son participated in his first 10-mile Broad Street Run in Philadelphia, which is a very big thing in this area.  We are so proud of him!  Not a good day weather-wise for the runners (some 40,000) but it is better than being too warm.

As much as I love making shabby chic items, every once in awhile, I love to pull out my stamps and Distress Inks and get a little messy.  Recently, I purchased Dina Wakley's Little Birdies Stamp + Stencil set.  I love these sweet stamp images and decided to make this card.


Using watercolor paper and various Distress Inks, I first created my background.  Using the stencil from the set, modeling paste and more inks, I was trying to go for a somewhat leafy background.  Not exactly what I had in mind but, hey, in art there are no mistakes!  The little birdies were stamped with Archival Ink onto watercolor paper, colored and cut out.  They are adhered to the card with foam tape.  A piece of string from Tim Holtz was tied around the card.  I stamped hello onto a stitched diecut from Tim Holtz and attached that to the card with pop dots.


And, there you have it--a fun little card.  I cannot remember all the shades of ink I used.  I just kept mixing them up until I felt satisfied.  Not too fond of the background, but it's a learning process!

That's it for today.  I thank you so much for taking the time to visit my blog as well as the sweet comments you leave.  Enjoy the rest of the weekend and have a wonderful week ahead!