Snarky Cat Card

Happy International Cat Day! These days always sneak up on me, I wish they were printed on my calendar. After reading a few posts this morning, I decided to make this Snarky Cat Card to mark the day. We share our home with cats and I do adore each of them. There have been times that if they could roll their eyes at me, they would have. 😸

The hardest part making this card was deciding which papers to use. I finally settled on neutral tones and then added an embossed blue strip for a pop of color. The cat image and sentiment are from the Snarky Cat stamp set by Stampers Anonymous/Tim Holtz Collection. A few blue sequins were added and that's it. Everything was adhered flat for easy shipping. So glad you stopped by and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered:

• Crafts Galore Encore: Anything Goes
• Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper: Anything with Patterned Paper
• Critter Crazy: Anything Featuring a Critter
• Simon Says: Emboss It

Fall Card - TMS #623

Hello! The official start to fall is only 8 days away. That makes me happy! To add another fall card to my stash, I used this weeks sketch at Tuesday Morning Sketches. This weeks sketch is designed by Melissa Craig and I made my card a mini slimline design (3.5" x 6"). First, I picked out my paper from the Welcome Autumn paper pad by Carta Bella and then decided on the accent colors. After stamping and adhering my sentiment by Impression Obsession, I felt the card needed something else. Then I remembered these embossed leaves that have been in my stash of extras since 2016 when I made this Sympathy Card. It was time they made it onto a card and this was the perfect Fall Card for them. Some copper metallic thread was added and that's it. We would love for you to play along with the sketch this week. For all the challenge details and design team inspiration click HERE. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!🍂

Challenges entered:

• Alphabet Challenge: L is for Leaves
• Crafting Happiness: Anything Goes
• Make My Monday: Autumn/Fall Card

Golden Anniversary Card

Good day! Last week my parents celebrated their 50th anniversary. Not many couples make it to this milestone. To recognize their special day I made them this Golden Anniversary Card. It's a very simple design utilizing the pretty golden heart patterned paper by My Mind's Eye from the Yes, Please paper pad. The Happy Anniversary sentiment and 50 were heat embossed with gold embossing powder. That's it! A simple and easy card. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day.

Simple Sympathy Card

Good day! When it comes to making sympathy cards I tend to overthink it and stress about the details. So, I decided to make a Simple Sympathy Card with a design that would be easy to recreate quickly. I went with the less is more approach and used black die cuts (Spellbinders Die D-Lites Asters and Poppies) to speed things along. I made two cards to play with the background color and sentiment. I'm happy with the result and next time I need a sympathy card on short notice I'll know exactly what to make. This card is entered into the Make My Monday Sympathy challenge. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Using a different color and sentiment:

Butterfly Wreath Card

Hello! After all the cold weather and snow we've had lately I'm ready for Spring. The blooming trees, flowers and eventually the return of the butterflies. 🦋🦋🦋 Something to look forward too during these lonely days at home.

To make this Butterfly Wreath Card I used an image by Reverse Confetti and it was colored with Copic markers. Once the image was colored it was die cut with the coordinating die. I love using gingham, so I found a tiny check that worked well. A piece of white cardstock was embossed and layered on top of the gingham. The image and sentiment were adhered flat and that's it. I enjoy sending Thinking About You or On My Mind cards because they are unexpected and uplifting. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

Challenges entered:

• As You Like It: Favourite Reason to Send Card
• Creative Knockouts: Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday: Feminine
• Reverse Confetti/Stock Your Stash: Encouragement/Congratulations
• Simon Says: Anything Goes
• Watercooler Wednesday: All About Occasions

Just Because Card

Good day crafty friends! I'm still seeing several butterflies in my yard, so I decided to make another butterfly card. This Just Because Card features a butterfly from the retired Beautiful Day stamp set by Stampin' Up!. It was colored with Stampin' Blends markers in Mango Melody and then fussy-cut. The patterned paper is from a Halloween paper pad called Midnight Haunting by Pebbles (2017). The just because sentiment was heat embossed and a white embossed panel added for contrast. Everything was adhered flat for easy shipping and that's it. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy your day. 

Challenges entered: Crafting Happiness (Anything Goes), Crafty Creations (Anything Goes), Crafty Gals Corner (Fall Colours!), Creative Moments (Anything Goes) and Watercooler Wednesday (Anything Goes w/ Feminine Twist). 🦋

Floral Wedding Card

Hello! The next big event in our family is my oldest niece's wedding next week. This afternoon I made this Floral Wedding Card using the napkin design for her reception as the inspiration (photo below). I hope she likes it!

Most of the supplies used to make this Floral Wedding Card are retired by Stampin' Up!. The stamp set is called Climbing Roses and the coordinating dies are from the Rose Trellis die set. The image was colored with Copic markers and the sentiment was heat embossed with a pearl embossing powder by Stampendous!. The white panel was embossed with a leaf embossing folder and a little lace added to one edge for detail. The gold trellis, sentiment and roses were adhered flat and that's it! Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day.

Challenges entered:

• Craft Rocket: Embossing (dry/wet)
• The Sisterhood of Crafters: Here Comes the Bride
• Through The Purple Haze: Wedding/Anniversary
• Simon Says: Something Metallic
• Watercooler Wednesday: All About Occasions

Reception Napkin Design:

Wishing Joy Card - TMS #528

Happy Tuesday! This week at Tuesday Morning Sketches we are happy to welcome KT Fit Kitty to our design team. She will be a co-designing with Lisa Lynn and they will alternate weeks. I'm thrilled to be working with both of these talented ladies.

This weeks sketch was designed by Debbie Foster and it made me think of a neglected snowflake die I had tucked back in my cabinet. It's been a while since I've used it and I'm trying to use my older supplies. So whether you have something older or something new to use, we would love to see your take on this weeks sketch. You have until 8 pm EST on Sunday to link your creation. Click HERE for the design team inspiration and challenge details.

Challenges entered: Artsystamper (Monochromatic), Crafter's Castle (Anything Goes), Dragonfly Dreams (Christmas/Winter) and Dream Valley (All That Glitters).

Sketch #528:

Butterfly Gala Note Card

Happy Friday! I think I figured out why I haven't wanted to make much lately... it's time to clean. My work space is overflowing and I desperately need to organize. So, that's what I need to do. It will make finding things easier and maybe then I won't be so frustrated. Are you a messy crafter like me, or are you the organized type? Feel free to share any organizing tips that help keep your crafty space under control.

Earlier this week the new Stampin' Up! annual catalog was released. Lots of pretty new products! I was thrilled they carried over the Butterfly Gala stamp set from the occasions catalog. The colors were chosen from the Bird Ballard dsp and include: Calypso Coral, Pool Party and Daffodil Delight. After stamping the butterflies with Memento black ink they were colored with Stampin' Blends markers. Once the butterflies were punched they were adhered to the embossed panel (retired Garden Trellis embossing folder). The sentiment was stamped, fussy cut and layered onto a piece of Old Olive cardstock that was die cut with a Stitched Nested Labels die. Everything was adhered flat for easy shipping and that's it. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered:

• Aud Sentiments: Nature + Sentiment
• Creative Knockouts: Anything Goes
• Cute Card Thursday: Anything Goes
• Watercooler Wednesday: Feminine Anything Goes

Mother's Day Card

Recently one of my friends asked me to make her a Mother's Day Card and this is the card I made for her. The design is based from a previous card I made, but I have changed up the colors to make it different. It features patterned paper from the Secret Garden paper pad by Bo Bunny, embossing, lace and paper flowers. The sentiment stamp is by Hero Arts and was stamped onto white cardstock with Rich Razzleberry ink by Stampin' Up!. I think it turned out lovely and I hope her mother loves it. Wishing you a wonderful day and thanks for stopping by!

Challenges entered:

• Aud Sentiments: Feminine + Sentiment
• Cardz 4 Galz: Ribbon or Lace
• Cute Card Thursday: Anything Goes
• Watercooler Wednesday: Feminine Anything Goes

Loss of Pet Sympathy Card

For those of you who have lost a pet you understand the heartbreak it brings. My friend and her hubby lost their 14 year old Yorkie yesterday and I know they are devastated. He was sweet and cute and went everywhere with them. They, like us, have no children and their dog was the center of their lives. I made this card for them in the hopes that it will help in some small way. 💔

The layout and design for this Loss of Pet Sympathy Card was based on a card I made in 2013 (click here). I moved the twine and used a different paper and embossing folder, but the sentiment and paw print stamps are the same. Thanks for stopping by and give your fur baby and extra hug today.

Challenges entered: Just Add Ink (Just Add Embossing), Make My Monday (Make it Krafty) and The Creative Crafters (Anything Goes).

Butterfly Belated Birthday Card

Hello! If you're anything like me, a birthday gets missed every once in awhile. Not on purpose, it just seems life goes too fast to keep up sometimes. One good thing about Facebook is it reminds us we have friend/family birthdays coming up. Getting a card in the mail is a completely different story!

This Butterfly Belated Birthday Card was made for one of my cousins. Her favorite color is purple, so I colored the butterfly from the Beautiful Day stamp set by Stampin' Up! with Highland Heather Stampin' Blends markers. The layout was based on the sketch challenge at Just Add Ink. Other Stampin' Up! supplies include: Marbled stamp, Memento black ink, Softly Falling embossing folder and silver sequins. The Smoky Slate cardstock circle was cut using a stitched circle die by My Favorite Things and the sentiment was stamped using the Hang in There stamp set by Lawn Fawn. That's it! Thanks for stopping by.

Challenges entered:

• Just Add Ink: Sketch
• Southern Girls: Stamp Your Mark
• QKR Stampede: Anything Goes

Falling Flowers Birthday Card

Happy Thursday! Lately a lot of my cards have featured critters on them, so I decided to make a floral card. This Falling Flowers Birthday Card features one of my favorite stamp sets by Stampin' Up! called Falling Flowers along with the May Flowers Framelit Dies. The images were stamped with Memento black ink and then colored with a mix of Stampin' Blend and Copic markers. The birthday sentiment is from the retired Watercolor Wishes stamp set and it was heat embossed with white embossing powder. For the background panel I did a subtle version of the Faux Patina technique using an embossing folder along with Crumb Cake cardstock, Crumb Cake ink, Whisper White Craft ink and clear embossing powder. If the Faux Patina technique is new to you here is a link to a great video tutorial. If you want to see all the cards I've made using the technique click HERE. The layout for this card comes from a couple others I found on Pinterest. Sometimes the hardest part of making a die cut floral card is arranging the flowers and I really like how the others were done. One of the cards was by Sue Miller and the other by Tina's Creative Studio. It's amazing to see how color changes the look of the card. Thanks for stopping by and I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

Challenges entered:

• Dragonfly Journeys: Flower Power
• Inspire.Create: Floral
• Pause Dream Enjoy: Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations: Favourite Stamp
• Tuesday Throwdown: Anything Goes
• Watercooler Wednesday: All About Occasions

Chubby Butterfly Card

Hello and happy July 1st! There a lot of people with holiday/vacation plans this week since the 4th of July falls on a Wednesday. I hope you will have time to enjoy with family and friends. Please remember to keep your animals safe during fireworks! The 4th of July results in many animals running away from home or getting injured because they were scared.

This Chubby Butterfly Card was made with a couple of challenges in mind. I used the recipe challenge at Catch The Bug to use Kraft and a BRIGHT POP of color. Dry and wet embossing were used to play along at The Crafty Catz and I'm also linking this card to the anything goes challenge at Lil Patch of Crafty Friends. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the holiday week!

Blue Butterfly Thank You Card

Wow! It's been a very long time since I've had two posts in one day. I'm definitely neglecting my household chores, but oh well!!! This Blue Butterfly Thank You Card was made for one of my neighbors who organized an outdoor activity for our neighborhood this coming weekend.

To make this card I decided to use a couple of Stampin' Up! supplies that I've had unused in my stash for awhile. I seem to buy supplies faster than I use them. The butterfly is from the Beautiful Day stamp set and was colored with Night of Navy Stampin' Blends. For the background the Marbled stamp was used with Poppy Parade ink. A strip of white cardstock was embossed with the Softly Falling embossing folder and then the Thank You sentiment from the Abstract Impressions stamp set was heat embossed on black cardstock with white embossing powder. The completed panel was matted to Night of Navy cardstock and that's it. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered:

• C.R.A.F.T: Thank You
• DL.ART: Red, White & Blue
• Shopping Our Stash: Red, White & Blue
• Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
• SU-Only!: Patriotic, #SUOC202

If Flowers were Hugs Card

Happy Tuesday! We had a wonderful rain shower this morning and it cooled the air temperature, so I ran a couple of errands to take advantage of the cooler weather. With the gloomy skies it seemed like a good time to make a bright and cheerful card. A couple of weeks ago I received my order from the new Stampin' Up! catalog and I finally inked up the Abstract Impressions stamp set. Using new colors: Mango Melody, Granny Apple Green, Shaded Spruce, Grapefruit Grove and Pineapple Punch. To accent the stamped image both ends of the Mango Melody cardstock was embossed with one of the Petal Pair embossing folders. A retired butterfly stamp and punch were used for the little butterfly and that's it. Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

This If Flowers were Hugs Card is entered into the following challenges:

• Dragonfly Dreams: Anything Goes
• Stamping Sensations: Anything Goes

Heartfelt Sympathy Card

Last week a longtime friend of our family passed away and I made this Heartfelt Sympathy Card to send to her family. Unfortunately another family friend passed away yesterday, so I have a few more cards to make. When it comes to making sympathy cards I like to make them when the need arises. I have a few on hand, but I try to make a card that reflects the person who passed. Of course, sometimes that's easier said than done.

This card is entered into the following challenges:

• Stamping Sensations: Close to Nature
• A Gem of a Challenge: Get Well/Sympathy
• Crafty Girls Creations: Anything Goes

All supplies used on this Heartfelt Sympathy Card have been in my stash for a while and include:

• Paper: Natural, Fresh Fig, Pistachio Pudding and Crisp Cantaloupe cardstock by Stampin' Up! with text patterned paper by Prima Marketing Madeline Collection (2011).
• Stamps: Visual Artistry by Tim Holtz, With Sympathy by Hero Arts, Bitty Butterfly and sentiment stamp both retired by Stampin' Up!.
• Inks: Fresh Fig and Crisp Cantaloupe by Stampin' Up!.
• Other Stuff: Big Shot, retired Framed Tulips embossing folder by Stampin' Up!, Cuttlebug Flourish embossing border, oval punch, scalloped oval punch and butterfly punch all by Stampin' Up!, along with three small pearls by Recollections. 

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Elephant Sympathy Card

This past week at the Tulsa Zoo their long time resident Gunda an Asian elephant passed away at the age of 67. She lived two decades longer than the average lifespan of an Asian elephant. My hubby and I were planning a trip to the zoo, so I made this Elephant Sympathy Card to give to the Zoo Keepers and Staff.

The elephant image is by Bugaboo Digi Stamps and it's one of my favorite older images. It's been in my stash since 2012 and I already had several printed to make a set of note cards. A paisley embossing folder by Cuttlebug, another older favorite, was used along with a scalloped frame by Taylored Expressions and the Petite Petal stamp set by Stampin' Up!. The colors include: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Perfect Plum and Pear Pizzazz all by Stampin' Up!. That's it, thanks for stopping by and enjoy the rest of your day!

Challenges entered:

• Allsorts: Old Favourites
• Creative Moments: Anything Goes
• International Art & Soul: Do Something Digital

Recover Card with Band-aids

The first week of the new year is almost over and it's been a cold one for many places in the United States. I'm still working part-time but not for much longer. The job is seasonal, so in about a week I'll be finished. It has been nice getting out of the house, but it also made me realize my day to day pain was more than I thought. When I sit for long periods of time or stand for too long I'm in pain. So, I made an appointment with a doctor and had an x-ray to find the reason. Come to find out... I have a bone spur on my right hip bone. It could be causing more damage, but I need an MRI to determine the extent. Anyway.... that's what's up with me. I hope you're having a better New Year!

This Recover Card with Band-aids was made for my aunt who had rotator cuff surgery earlier this week. The design is repeated from a card I made back in 2013. It's simple and easy to make. The band-aids and sentiment came from the retired Patterned Occasions stamp set by Stampin' Up!. Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful weekend!

Challenges entered:

• Alphabet Challenge: Use 3 of Something
• Simply Create Too: Use Embossing
• QKR Stampede: Anything Goes
• Just Us Girls: Anything Goes

More than Naps Card

Good day crafty friends! This year has flown by, especially the last couple of months. I want to thank each of you for following my blog and leaving your encouraging comments. It's fun to share my creativity and I love all the inspiration I receive from my the online crafting community.

This More than Naps Card was inspired by the current Inky Paws Color Challenge #62 (see photo below). I love the combination of colors and the cable knit sweaters. So, I knew I had to use the cable knit embossing folder by Stampin' Up!. Surprisingly... there is NO patterned paper on this card. Copic markers were used to color the Newton's Naptime image and then it was die cut using a cross-stitched oval die by My Favorite Things. Circle punches were used to cut out the sentiment and some Very Vanilla twine from Stampin' Up! adds the final detail. That's it! Thanks for stopping by and have a happy and safe New Year's Eve.

Challenges entered include:

• Inky Paws: Color Challenge
• Cute Card Thursday: Anything Goes
• Simon Says Stamp: Anything Goes
• C.R.A.F.T.: Anything Goes
• Hiding in My Craft Room: Freestyle!