Pair of Anniversary Cards

Hey everyone - back today with a couple of anniversary cards. First up, one for my brother and his wife:

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts A2 Sea card, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, scrap of kraft
Stamps - Hero Arts CM165 Color Layering Turtle (with matching dies) and
CL342 Everyday Sayings (retired); Simon Says Stamp Falling Hearts
Inks - various My Monthly Hero Kits
Other - foam tape, Duck Egg Blue Nuvo drops

D&D, as we call them, looooove turtles. When they went on a cruise recently, they were sure to take the turtle tour and made a pair of handmade drums with turtle designs for a drum contest. I couldn't resist making them a card with a pink girl and blue boy turtle using a fun color layering set from Hero Arts. I bought an extra set of the stamps and dies for Donna but I doubt she'll do anything like these crazy colors - LOL! I embellished a bit around the eyes with a calligraphy pen - too much? Anyway, definitely custom made for them!!

Next, a card for cousin Debi and her hubby:

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Pop-tone Snow Cone
Stamps - Hero Arts CL945 Color Layering Goldfish, CM165 Color Layering Turtle (one of the seaweeds) and 
CL342 Everyday Sayings (retired)
Dies - Hero Arts DI348 Heart Confetti Fancy Die
Other - foam tape, Hickory Smoke Distress Ink, various My Monthly Hero inks

I was at a JoAnn's store the other day and spotted a 50% off sale on stamps so got a couple of color layering sets I had missed when Hero Arts released them, including these cute goldfish. I added some definition to the bodies with my calligraphy pen. They don't particularly love goldfish but I thought this pair would be cute kissing & with hearts going up instead of bubbles.

That's it for today and the rest of this week - looking forward to some holiday weekend fun! Thanks for stopping & I hope you'll check back on Monday for my Merry Monday post!

Happy and sad

Hi all - two occasions today, one happy and one sad. My youngest auntie celebrated her birthday in my home state while I attended a funeral for a chorus friend. Yes, we had another death among our members - Carol battled cancer for 8 years and finally succumbed, very sad!

For my aunt Jean who (like sister Tami) quilts, I made this card:

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card and glitter paper, scraps of brown and ivory,
Authentique Summer Seasons 6x6 pad
Die - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Quilt Square Cover-up
Hero Arts DC150 Happy Stamp & Cut (for birthday word stamp too)
Other - Michael's gems, Gathered Twigs Distress Ink

I have several quilt dies - just when you think you have enough, you find another that you can't resist! I cut it a bunch of times so I'd have pieces to mix and match. I offset-layered the Happy so it would show up better on the quilt.

Sweet Carol who passed away sang in a quartet with three of her sisters - a fourth sister also sings but just isn't a Sweet Adeline. I made them this card with a musical theme:

 

Supplies: Paper - A2 card (brand unk) Neenah purple, Heidi Swapp Marquee Love glitter,
Bazzill black, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Kaisercraft Provincial 6x6 patterned
Other - washi (brand unk), Michael's gems, Distress Markers, digi file for treble clef
Stamps - Hero Arts CM124 Color Layering Fuchsia (sentiment) & CL476 With Sympathy (lily - retired)
Dies - Hero Arts DI337 Nesting Ovals Infinity Dies
My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 2 and 13

Thanks to my friend Heather for the music washi - perfect for me and my singing friends! The music clef digi-cut was given to me by my friends at Hero Arts back when I was a Hero Hostess (program now retired). They had developed some Silhouette cuts that would work with their stamps but I love to use them as silhouettes. I found the clef when I was doing my crafty clean-up and thought it was perfect for a lily bouquet. The service was lovely and my friend Mary was asked to sing the same solo she sang at our friend Lou's funeral a couple weeks ago. She did a fabulous job as did the male soloist who sang The Lord's Prayer in my favorite arrangements. About  20 chorus members (besides the sisters) attended and we sang a few songs during the luncheon at the family's request.

Anyway - hope we have no more losses of chorus members!! Thanks for stopping and hope you're having a great week.

Final Merry Monday Summer Link-up

Hi everyone - I'm back with one last entry to Merry Monday's Summer Link-up, then the Merry Makers are back on Labor Day with all new challenges. Be sure to stop by and check out my card and an announcement that day!

MERRY MONDAY

and August!

I scrolled through past challenges from 2017 and decided to do #241 from March - Deanne's challenge to use Red, Green, and White for your Christmas card. Spotted a red card in my pile and die cut a white snowflake circle tag. Freshly-Made Sketches provided inspiration with sketch #300 from August.

Supplies: Hero Arts A2 Grenadine card, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Heidi Swapp Marquee Love,
BoBunny Merry & Bright Collection 6x6 pad (green pattern), 
American Crafts Christmas (white/red/green patterned - from Target Hot Spot)
Stamps - Hero Arts DC166 Merry and Bright Tag Set by Lia
Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 13, Hero Arts DC168 Winter Cheer Tag Set by Lia,
Hero Arts DI199 Circle Infinity Dies
Inks - Pine Needles Distress Ink, Fired Brick Distress Oxide Ink
Other - scrap of ribbon, foam tape

I flipped the order of which strip of paper was on top & I made my strips the same size using a Blueprint banner die - one facing up and one down. My tag is a circle but, no worries, the challenge is long over! I just really liked the look of this sketch. I didn't like leaving the tag without a back since I didn't want to see the line where the red met the green. Liked it much better after backing the tag with a circle cut from glitter paper.

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by and hope you're having a crafty week!!

Sew Happy Birthday

Hi all - I'm sharing a birthday card I made for my sister. She celebrates #60 tomorrow but she already received the card so I'll post it today. Tami loves to sew & quilt, so this was perfect for her!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah Classic Crest Solar White & A2 marbled card, 
Paper Studio glitter,Basic Grey and Authentique patterned, Pop-tone Black Licorice
Stamps - Lawn Fawn Sewn With Love
Dies - Hero Arts Happy Stamp & Cut, Lawn Fawn Sewn With Love Lawn Cuts
Other - strip of washi, Michael's gems

What do you think of the staging for the photo? I'm not big on doing that but I popped a handmade doily (made by one of my Mom's friends) and some buttons into the scene. Looks so vintage! Speaking of quilts, I don't think I ever shared a photo of the quilt Tami made me for my retirement.

The pattern is the Bali Wedding Star and, besides the quilt, Tami made the bedskirt, valance, and purple pillow shams (the decorative pillow was store bought). I love purple and Tami found the yummiest batik prints in that color! Thanks again to a talented sister!!

That's it for today - hopefully I'll have time later to create a card for the last week of the Merry Monday Summer Link-up. Thanks for stopping by and I appreciate your kind comments!!

Christmas Cheer Wreath

Hi all - beautiful Wednesday in Minnesota and I'm indoors making cards, go figure.... Back today with my Merry Monday card - just this week and next for their Summer Link-up and then the Merry Makers will be back on September 4th.

Merry Monday

and August!!

I had some loose wreath pieces laying around and, during my crafty clean-up, I'm trying to use some of this random stuff. I layered two wreath and added some extra leaves. The die cut bow ended up on another project weeks ago so I added some patterned twill ribbon. I scored a few lines above the sentiment (hard to see in the photo) for some texture. This fits Challenge 244 to use a wreath on your card.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 card, scraps of various greens

Sentiment stamp - Hero Arts CL890 Holiday Greetings

Die - Tim Holtz Alterations Holiday Wreath

Other - foam tape, Copic Markers, Michael's dome gems, craft ribbon

Ugh - had to make another sympathy card today; a friend's dad passed away after a brief illness. Luckily I had stamped several sets of fuchsia flowers when I made a previous card so I just made a duplicate of that design. Then I made another Christmas card I'll be sharing in the near future. Now it's time to take inventory for September occasions - there are a bunch coming up so I'll need to get busy on those cards! How far in advance do you make your cards? Just curious - I try for at least a couple weeks, usually a month, ahead.

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by and be sure to check out Merry Monday to keep up that Christmas card production!!

Anniversary Martinis

Hi all - back with an anniversary card for a pair of friends who were adopted into my family. They fit right in! For their 25th anniversary we went to Alaska, including sisters Tami and Kari and Tami's hubby. Nine years later - no big trips planned but maybe next year for 35!!

Supplies: Paper - Hero Arts A2 foliage card, American Crafts plaid (from Target's Hot Spot),

Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, Pop-tone Black

Stamps - Hero Arts CL272 All Occasion Msgs (retired) and Impression Obsession MC185 Fore Retirement

Other - foam tape, Hero Arts gems, 3M Washi Tape, Copic Markers

Bro-in-law Doug loves his martinis and both he & Connie love golf so I thought this golf martini image would be perfect.for them. I started by cutting a rectangle of Neenah white and stamping a martini. I stamped and fussy cut a second one to pop over the first. I put washi at the bottom and then extended it with Copics to resemble  a hill. Hand snipped a banner from a scrap of white for the sentiment. The sentiment stamp comes from an old favorite set with loads of simple sentiments in various fonts - love it!! I got the golfing martini set last year, enabled by my friend Heather. If interested, check out the cute Christmas card she made with this set. Thanks again, Heather, for helping me add to my stash!!

Thanks for stopping and happy crafting!!

Reindeer Sleigh

Hey everyone - back today with yet another Christmas card. I was excited to pick up a new Hero Arts Stamp and Cut set the other day (love them) & couldn't wait to give it a play. I decided to make an A10 card so I could fit 8 reindeer and the sleigh on it.

Supplies: Paper - Neenah brown and Solar White; Heidi Swapp Marquee Love glitter,
Authentique Christmas Essentials 12x12 pad
Stamps w/matching dies - Hero Arts DC216 Jingle All the Way Stamp and Cut
Stamps - SSS Falling Snow, Hero Arts Envelope Liner Background (retired)
Dies - banner from some MFT Blueprint, Lawn Fawn Mini Snowflakes
Other - Copic markers, foam tape, Michael's gems, gold pen, May Arts string twine

After I cut and stamped all the elements, I realized that I had no Santa to sit in the sleigh. This lead me to placing the sleigh on a rooftop - presumably Santa is inside the house!! I cut a triangle for the roof and then freehand cut some icicle trim to top it. One row of reindeer is popped up, as is the sleigh. I stamped the roof for some texture as well as the sky. For some reason the snow doesn't show up very well; we won't talk about the abortive attempt to use Distress Spray (I saved that piece just in case it works for something else....).

Hope this little scene brings a smile! Thanks for stopping!!

I'm adding this to the Merry Monday Summer Link-up using past challenge 231 Reindeer.

MERRY MONDAY

And August!

Skating moose - found him!!

Merry Monday all - I'm back to share a card with the stamp set I couldn't find until I searched most of last week! It fits for past challenge 254 to use a moose so I'm adding it to Merry Monday's Summer Link-up.

Merry Monday

and August!!

Supplies: Paper - Michael's A2 card, Neenah Classic Crest Solar White, 
Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid Winter Petite pad, Authentique Cozy 6x6 pad, 
Echo Park The Story of Fall 6x6 pad (sweater pattern)
Stamps - Avery Elle Snow Much Fun (moose & sentiment), Hero Arts Woodland by Lia (bunny)
Dies - Avery Elle Snow Much Fun Elle-ments, Spellbinder's 2010 Holiday Trees, 
Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside Borders, Forest Border, Mini Snowflakes
My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 13
Other - Copic Markers, google eye, foam tape

I stamped the moose and colored him with Copics and added the google eye. His sweater was stamped on a scrap of patterned paper and fussy cut. I thought it was red but turned out to be orange from a fall paper pad! I simply colored it with a red Copic - perfect! The Authentique paper for the "sky" had snowflake on it but it looked empty so I added die cut snow flakes. What do you think of my plaid frozen lake for Mr. Moose's skating day?

Quick story - when challenge 254 was announced, I recalled 2015's moose challenge 175. I was enthralled by Kim's darling card - that week's challenge winner - and thought I'd ordered the Avery Elle set she used. But it wasn't in my Christmas stamp stash so I thought I was mistaken. Then I spotted the matching die set in a drawer - hmmm, where's the stamp set then??? I've done some crazy purchasing but didn't think I'd ordered the dies without the stamps! I hunted off and on during the week, starting with the obvious places. Going to the not so obvious places, I finally found it in a little box where I'd hastily thrown a few items before a Misty (brother's cat) visit. Moral of the story - put stuff back where it belongs!

During the search I also found some things I didn't know I had! And - oh no - a duplicate Tim Holtz mini stencil set. I asked my friend Betty if she had it - didn't, so I mailed it to her. Phew - I know she'll make good use of it! That's it for today - I'm off to practice some Christmas music that we're starting to rehearse already for our December show.

Thanks for stopping and have a wonderful week!!

Lost & found update

What's that old saying about things getting worse before they get better?? I feel this describes my crafty clean-up efforts perfectly! Last night I went back to my search for a missing stamp set - FOUND IT!! It wasn't where I expected either. I stamped off a few images but was too exhausted to do anything else. I'll finish a card with this set on Monday - you may have guessed, it involves Christmas!

This morning I went back to crafty clean-up but took an hour break to use a new Poppystamps die before I put it away in its new home. This item had a manufacturing delay, hence the long wait for my order. I also received a new Blueprints set from My Favorite Things and thought it would pair nicely. Finally, a random stamped fairy showed up during my cleaning frenzy so I decided to color her and incorporate her into my card.

Supplies: Paper - Anchor Paper bargain bin marbled, Michael's blue, 
My Favorite Things Watercolor Wash, Paper Studio glitter

Stamps - Hero Arts CL663 Thanks a Bunch (retired), CG222 Music Background (retired) and 
August 2016 My Monthly Hero (fairy - sold out)
Dies - Poppystamps Tulisa Collage, My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 32,
My Monthly Hero die to match the fairy
Other - Lemon Yellow Stickles, Copics, Hero Arts Ocean Ombre sequins,
Distress Inks - Black Soot and Antique Linen

Next, I'm sharing a card made for my friend Heather's sweet husband. Philip loves rock music and plays guitar so I found a rocker Silhouette image for his birthday card. He received it right on his birthday Wednesday so I was glad the postal system came through!

Supplies: Paper - Poptone beige and black, BoBunny Christmas Collage (star patterned)
Stamps - Hero Arts CL661 It's Your Day, CG279 Musical Clef, & You Rock (from a rocket set)
Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 13 & 21 (retired)
Silhouette images - 60873 Rocker Boy by Patty Young and a bit of music flourish

Who would know that the star paper was from a Christmas pad?! I thought it was perfect for a rock star!! I had to look up the collection at BoBunny because, guess what, I've lost track of that 6x6 paper pad! Who knows where I set it, sigh.... Well, it's back to crafty clean-up (at least I'll try not to get distracted again!). Hope you're having a wonderful weekend and thanks for stopping!!

In Memory of a Queen Mum

Hi friends - I'm sharing a couple sympathy cards. We sent our friend and Queen Mum Lou off in style today. She passed away unexpectedly a few weeks ago after a short illness. It was a sad, yet beautiful, day and we shared music and memories with Lou's family and the other attendees at her memorial. I made the card at left for Lou's (and my) friend Mary and the one at right for the family.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV A2 pale blue cards, Graphic 45 patterned, Neenah Solar White
Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 20,
Hero Arts Infinity Nesting Postage Stamps, dies to match stamps
Stamps - CM124 Color Layering Fuchsia, S5449 Fabulous Flourish (retired)
Inks - Hero Arts Neon Pink & Fuchsia Layering Ink cubes 

Here's a photo of our two Queen Mums, Mary & Lou. Both are Sweet Adelines International Quartet Champions, aka Queens of Harmony (hence the crowns). At our annual conventions, the past champions host a show and I took the photo at the 2010 show.

Lou sang baritone (same part as I do) and her quartet Music Gallery was the 1982 champ. A recording of them singing "Amazing Grace" played during the service - such a perfect example of their amazing blend!! Mother Mary (don't know how she does it) sang a solo and Lou's daughter Kim sang a duet with her husband while he played guitar. Her tenor, lead, and bass singers were at the memorial and sang after the lunch with another gal filling in on baritone. Any Sweet Adelines (many City of Lakes Chorus past and present members) who knew it sang "Thank you Dear Lord for Music".

I thank Lou for her friendship & musical advice over the years. In the card to her family I recalled Lou coming up to me after my first show appearance with my former quartet Chord Company. In her no-nonsense way she let me know how I could be better in the quartet and I know our success had much to do with her input! RIP Lou - I'll miss you!!

Night Before Christmas

Merry Tuesday everyone - I'm back with a card for Merry Monday's Summer Link-up. The banner says Christmas in July but the link-up actually runs through August during the Merry-makers' vacations. Yay!!

Merry Monday

I was all over the map yesterday trying to use some new supplies and find some missing ones - LOL! Still haven't run into a stamp set whose matching die I've located.... But I did find the Graphic 45 paper I sought for a previous MM challenge - Night Before Christmas (#246 from May) - woo hoo!! I created a little sleigh  from a die I bought recently & was wondering what to do with it - nothing came to mind. Then I found the Graphic 45 paper and a new doily die. Suddenly my card came together! I love when that happens!!

Supplies: Paper - Neenah A2 card and red cardstock, Michael's green cardstock, Pop-tone beige & black,
Graphic 45 'Twas the Night Before Christmas 8x8, Tim Holtz kraft metallic, Paper Studio glitter

Dies - My Favorite Things Die-Namics Blueprints 2 & 13, Poppystamps Capri Sleigh
Your Next Stamp Doily Trio Two; Hero Arts DI199 Circle Infinity Dies
Other - Michael's gem, foam tape, washi tape

The Santa image came from one of the Graphic 45 papers. I partially cut a circle at the top, stopping the process so I could fussy cut the bottom. Then I layered it onto the green doily but didn't like the open half circle holes - I covered them up with a beige circle behind. Took a photo but didn't get the blog post done before I had to rush off to chorus rehearsal last night. When I got home, I thought something was still missing so I added the strip with the continuation of the poem. Too dark for a new photo so I waited until this morning. Hmmmm - still needed something so I added the narrow black washi (not sure of manufacturer) and took a new photo. I think it gave the sleigh a nice little "road" - what do you think?

Now I'm back on the trail of my missing stamp set - wish me luck! Thanks for stopping by and have a crafty week!!

Sharing Handmade Kindness

Hi all - hope you're enjoying the weekend! It's a bit gloomy today and we had a huge thunderstorm around 2p but I sang at Como Park with the City of Lakes Chorus and several other area Sweet Adelines choruses. We had a great time and the weather cleared up for our Harmony Explosion.

Today, I'm sharing a card made for a card drive.

Supplies: Paper - DCWV mocha A2 card, Neenah yellow, brown and Solar White, scrap of Michael's green, 
Studio Calico Here & There 6x6 pad (orange patterned)
Stamps - Hero Arts CL661 It's Your Day and CL754 OWH Dude (retired)
Dies - Hero Arts star, My Favorite Things Blueprints 2 and 13
Other - Copic Markers, foam tape, Michael's star gems, Silhouette for the Birthday (font ?)

Jacob Priestley, a young man suffering a terminal illness, will celebrate his 15th birthday on August 28th. My sister Tami (who's birthday happens to be on the 28th too) spotted Jacob's story on ABC 15 in Phoenix. He's trying to receive 100,000 birthday cards to raise his spirits and also awareness of his condition in hope of a cure. Tami shared the story with me because she knows we card makers love to share handmade kindness. I also posted the information on the Hero Arts Flickr group here and have heard from some members that they plan to send a card. So easy for us to do and it brings such joy to the recipient!

If you're interested in sending a card to Jacob, here's the address:

Jacob Priestley

PO Bx 855
Queen Creek AZ 85142

That's it for today. I'll probably be back tomorrow with a card for Merry Monday's summer link-up. Until then, enjoy the rest of your day and thanks for stopping!