Happy Birthday Sue Ann!

Good morning!

Today's post is dedicated to the sweetest person in crafty blogland...my pal Sue Ann. 

Today is her birthday and I want her to know how much sunshine she has brought to me.

Kind, generous, intelligent, talented, forgiving, and funny. Sue Ann is all these things and more.

She is forever creating amazing projects to give away to teachers, friends, and random strangers! She can cook like nobody's business, bake like a mad woman, and is just about the best Momma one can imagine.

I wish we lived closer together and could hang out and drink tea and do pilates and bake strudel!

This song is for you Sue Ann!!

I sent you this BD card earlier this week, and hope it has already arrived. 

Wishing you a day filled with love and laughter Sue Ann. I hope you feel celebrated! I'm so glad you were born! Have a piece of cake (Pineapple coconut with cream cheese icing and glazed pralines), made last night in your honor!

Love you to pieces my friend,

XOXO

CAS-ual Friday (name that tune)

Ok, so this is an easy one, right? 

This week's CAS-ual Friday challenge is a super duper fun one...one of my favorites I think!

Create a project based on a song!

I was originally going for Sunshine on my Shoulders (by John Denver) but could not make the shoulder thing work, so I switched it up and printed the sentiment from my computer and turned it into a Beatles song!  Sun ray stamps are by PCD from the set You're Dandy.

We are sponsored by Melanie Muenchinger this week, so I'm sure the prize will be fabby!

Come on out and join us for this fun challenge!

Create a project based on a song and link it up to CAS-ual Fridays!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO,

"Hoppy" Spring

I know Spring officially began a few days ago, but it was only 11 degrees Fahrenheit outside this morning at my house!!! *shiver*

A girl can be hopeful though, right?

Today's card is for the product spotlight sale happening at Denami this week. This sweet bunny border is 10% off for the whole week, and the DT has showcased it on the blog today just for you!

I started with a white card base and drew yellow stripes on it with the chisel tip of a COPIC marker. I love doing that technique. SO fun!

The bunny border was stamped twice then masked at the top and stamped again.  I just love how the sentiment fits the tiny bunnies perfectly. *smile*

If you are looking for more inspiration check out the Denami blog today. I'm so lucky to be working with such talented girls!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Lucky to know you

My current supervisor is leaving for a new position, and although we didn't see each other very often (his office was on the other side of the state) he was excellent at his job.

I made this card for him, letting him know he will be missed, but wishing him all the best with his new endeavors.

All supplies are PTI except ink (Amuse and Impress Fresh ink) and light grey cardstock (SU!).

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

In neon

Just some super fun embossing techniques on this bright, neon card!

For a full tutorial, go HERE! 

Stamp Supplies by Denami: 

Thinking Of You 
Bamboo Leaves
Large Bold Hibiscus
VersaMark
Black rhinestones 

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Sunday sketch #4

Hello! I'm popping in today with a card for the newest Sunday Sketch at the 365 Cards blog.

Because we are sponsored by SRM Stickers, we each received a package of awesomeness to play with, and I couldn't resist making this sweet card for my great niece. 

SRM has some really fun images and sentiments and borders for you to play with. Except for the cardstock, this entire card is stickers! I used this fun sheet of stickers. Thanks SRM, for sponsoring us!

If you want to join us, use the sketch below (I turned it) and link up your project to the 365 Cards Blog!

And don't forget to check out what the rest of the Sunday Sketch team has done!

ERIN

ANNIE

JENNY

WENDI

ROSE

I can't wait to see what you create! 

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Blog Hop for Janelle!

Welcome!

Today some friends and I are hosting a blog hop for our friend Janelle. 

We wanted to do something to let her know we are thinking of her and we appreciate all the updates on her health that her husband Ken keeps giving us on her blog.

For a full list of participants, go here to Laurie's Blog. The inlinkz will remain open, so if you are feeling moved, please share a card for Janelle and she can peruse them when she has the time. 

Hang in there Janelle! We know you are strong and can defeat this cancer. 

We wish we could do more. But we are thinking of you, and sending you much encouragement.

A special thanks to her husband Ken for keeping us informed.

Sending good wishes and healing vibes your way Janelle. 

Many blessings upon you,

CAS-ual Friday (pastel)

Hi everyone! I'm comin' atcha today with the newest challenge at the CAS-ual Friday blog!

This week it's all about the BOLD & THE BEAUTIFUL. *chuckle*

In layman's terms that means use black and a pastel color on your clean and simple project.

I clearly went with pale yellow. 

Clearly. 

HA! 

Ignore me, I'm in a mood! *grin*

And did you see the big news????? 

CAS-ual Fridays is looking for some new DT members! 

Do you have what it takes to be a "Girl Friday"? 

Be sure to follow the instructions here, and submit your application to the DT call!

This week we are sponsored by Sweet Stamp Shop. 

I couldn't resist using their Old School Rock stamp set for my card this week. I love that cassette image! Doesn't it remind you of the late 80s and walkmans and leg warmers?

Ok, I'm totally dating myself here, but you KWIM, right?

Right?

Please don't leave me hanging here folks....

Be sure to link up your CAS project using black and a pastel color to the CAS-ual Friday blog for a chance at a fabulous prize.

We love seeing what you create!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Sunday sketch #3

Welcome! 

Today's card is based on the new Sunday Sketch at the 365 Cards Blog.

I LOVE adding tags to my cards so this was a really fun one for me :)

Here's the sketch:

I hope you'll join us for this week's challenge! We'd love to see what you come up with!

Link your post up to the 365 Cards blog for a chance to win!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Wishing you all the luck o' the Irish today!

Supplies: Sentiment, Medium Polka Dot background, Celery cardstock

Thanks for stopping by,

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

XOXOX

CAS-ual Friday (1-2-3)

Thank you all SO MUCH for the sweet birthday wishes yesterday!

It was a...let's say, strange day to say the least. *chuckle*

Today's card is all about the newest challenge on the CAS-ual Friday blog.

The rules are simple:

1. use an image

2. use a sentiment

3. use a background or pattern

I used the adorable new set by Clear and Simple Stamps, called Cart Pals: Occasions. I also used their awesome Diamond Grid BG stamp, which I just love.

Clear & Simple also happen to be our fabulous sponsor this week, so be sure to check out what they have to offer. You will be amazed!

This card is about as CAS as it gets for me. It was soooo hard not to add more elements. I wanted to pop a sweet little wagon on there, maybe a ribbon, some brads...*sigh*

CAS can be difficult!

If you want to play along, please link your project up to the CAS-ual Friday blog. We love seeing what you create.

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Happy Birthday to me

So I'm 35 today. 

And thanking my lucky stars for all that I have, and all that I've done, and all that I am :)

I may not be where I thought I would be at this point in my life, but does that really matter?

Nah. 

*smile*

I like to make myself a birthday card. I do it each year. 

Last year I made one wishing me luck on this past year's journey. It didn't work so well...

So this year, I'm all about the NOW. Right this instant. Today.

I'm going to celebrate today because who knows what tomorrow will bring!

This card looked strange no matter how I photographed it. It was too washed out in that first photo, so I took it outside to get some natural light (which I usually prefer), but it was cloudy. 

I have the worst time trying to photograph cream colored cardstock. It always looks grayish.

Flower stamp by Tim Holtz, sentiment by Papertrey Ink

Thanks for stopping by today and listening to me ramble!

It's going to be a good day :)

XOXO,

Think Spring

Morning friends!

I'm terribly ready for Spring to arrive, aren't you?

This sweet basket image makes me think of childhood days spent gathering eggs from the hens. And it happens to be on sale all this week at Denami.

There are some really clever ways to use this large basket stamp, so be sure to check out the Denami blog to see what the DT has done with it!

Stamps used:

Large Spring Basket (cling)

Thinking of You (cling)

Spring Flowers set (cling)

Thanks for stopping by today, have a good one!

XOXO,

Birthday Blog Hop

For my 365 Sketchy Sunday post, scroll down!

Hi!

Although I'm out of town at the moment I wanted to let you all know about the Denami Birthday Blog Hop happening today!

I'm the LAST STOP on the hop, so if you made it this far I applaud you!

You should have arrived from Kate's blog, but if you are interested in potentially winning a $20 Gift Certificate to the Denami store, then start at the beginning on the Denami Blog and leave  a comment at each stop along the way

.

I kept my card CAS (Clean and sophisticated) because sometimes it just makes a bold statement. And the awesome Brushed Balloon stamp (which happens to be on sale right now;) is perfect for those times when you really want to be bold! 

I stamped several patterns on top of each balloon using the new border cling stamps that Denami is now carrying. I used the Decorative and Retro sets, and finished the front off with the bold calligraphy sentiment too!

The best thing about this easy but fun card, is that the colors can easily be changed for any person, male or female, in any age group too!

I hope you enjoyed this Denami Birthday Hop and found lots of inspiration for your upcoming birthday cards. Be sure to leave a comment because not one, but TWO lucky commenters will win a $20 Gift Certificate from Denami!!!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

Sketchy Sunday 2

I'm popping in with a new card and a new sketch for the Sketchy Sunday challenge on the 365 Cards blog!

I really like how a simple sketch can be a starting place for creativity, and this week's is awesome.  Instead of an actual sketch, it's a card! Check it out:

Pam created this card for us as a base sketch. I really liked the button cluster and the pom poms, so I made sure to incorporate those into my own card.

Just wait until you see what the other DT members designed for you! 

ERIN

ANNIE

JENNY

WENDI

ROSE

If you are feeling creative, why not join us for Sketchy Sunday and link your card up to the blog? We'd love to have you!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO

CAS-ual Friday :(

Hello! 

Welcome to Friday on the East Coast.

While this week's CAS-ual challenge is a fun one (and reminds me of our first ever challenge to use text), it's also a sad one as Julie Ranae will be leaving us:(

She has accepted a lot of new opportunities lately and we will miss her greatly! She is a one woman powerhouse that Julie is...:) We are so sad to see her go.

That's why this challenge is bittersweet for us girl Fridays. 

We do indeed feel sentimental about our loss of our Julie!

I created this card just for her. I want her to know just how much we appreciated her time, commitment, and friendship, not to mention her talent!

Thank you Julie!

I used product provided by SRM Stickers because they are our AWESOME sponsor this week!

It was so much fun to peel all those different sticker strips off and apply them where I wanted them!  I began with the sentiments of course, and then added the scallops, zig zags, and ric rac stickers in the spaces. I forgot just how fun it was to play with stickers! All cardstock is SU, and I think the grey I used here has been retired, but I do love this shade.

Won't you join us this week for the sentimental challenge at CAS-ual Fridays?

We'd love to see what you create!

XOXO,

Butterfly thanks

Morning all!

I'm popping in with a card for the color challenge happening on the Denami blog right now!

This is such a fun array of colors and I think Emily did a fab job of choosing them.

After inking up the butterfly in grey, I colored it with Copics and added gel pen polka dots to the bottom half before cutting it out. It's popped up on an embossed panel stamped with the large dot swirl and inked. Sentiment is the brushed thank you stamped inside the scroll frame (which I love and which happens to be on sale this week...*wink*). All cardstock, ribbon, stamps and button are DeNami!

Create a project using these colors and link it up to the Denami blog!

Let's see what you come up with!

You might be one of the spotlight picks or the winner of a $20 gift certificate to the Denami store!

Thanks for stopping by,

XOXO