More than my Fair Share...

Gosh it seems like lately I've been making more than my fair-share of Sympathy cards.

I always find making these cards tough - I'm not sure if it's because my creativity turns itself off because it KNOWS WHY we're making the card (great how I talk about US, huh?), or if it's just because I don't know the 'RIGHT' elements for a sympathy card.......

In anycase, I'm very pleased with how this turned out. 

For some reason I really love the look of the dry embossing for these types of cards.

Image - Studio G Butterfly; Miscellaneous Thinking of You stamp

Papers - Bazzill Purple & Green, Black Standard Cardstock and Kraft Card Base

Techniques - Heat Embossing on Sentiment & Dry Embossing using Cuttlebug and embossing folder

Extra STUFF - Nestie frame for Thinking of you, Dew Drop Metallic Purple Ink, Versamark Ink, Bling, Ribbon, Stickles and White Embossing Powder

Be sure to pop over to Shelly's Images today - Audrey has a fabulous tutorial this wonderful Tuesday!

Well, off to see what you all have been up to lately! :)

Super Quick Quickie

I just thought I'd share a card I put together the other day using just some scraps that were on my desk.  It's a sympathy card, so I really love how simple it turned out.

Paper - Coredinations & Kraft

Cuttlebug - Embossing (I really MUST use these folders more often on cards!!)

Extra STUFF - Metal Butterfly with bling from Michaels - sure wish I could find more of these!

Nesties to cut out sentiment

Digi-Sentiment created by me

I hope you're having a great week so far - if you're looking to add a little celebration to your day, be sure to stop over at Shelly's Images - we're celebrating Shelly's Birthday this week and just by leaving comments each day you have the chance to win free digi-stamps.  We're picking 5 winners each day. 

How about that?  Someone elses birthday and YOU get the gifts!?

Fourth of July Creativity....

Happy Weekend!!  I wanted to share with you this little 4th of July quickie I put together for my nephew - Purple & Dinosaurs, a great combination for a little boy who KNOWS what he likes!  :)  Our favorite little Firecracker!  His baby sister will have a good teacher! :)

Image - Doodle Dragon Studios

Papers - Scraps from my scrappy bin - Red, White & Blue CS and Kraft

Technique - Embossing & Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Extra STUFF - BLING, Doodling, Studio G Stamps, Stickles & Red, White & Blue Ribbon

Well, we're off to mom and dad's today - Building deck steps that lead to dad's gargen are on tap today.  If I have a chance tomorrow, I'll be sure to share photos of our progress and of the garden - you'll be AMAZED at how the veggies are growin'.  Heck, today, we might even have green beans to pick!  :)

Happy Day!

"Letters Home"

With Camp-Friendzy going on right now and being halfway thru camp, it's always nice to sent a "Letter Home" and let the 'rents know how camp is going.  I never went to a typical 'camp' growing up, we went to a 4-H camp - we stayed in dorms at Michigan State University (yep, really 'roughin' it) for four days.  Anyway, although we never wrote letters home, I remember the movies where the kids at camp wrote letters home, never mentioning the Poison Ivy, Jock Itch or other bad things they'd picked up at camp - just "Things here at Camp are just fabulous - learning a lot and making new friends".  Anyway, I digress -  So one of our bonus challenges during camp (it is a scrappy camp you know) was to put together "Letters Home" out of your scrappy 'tovers (or at least the cards).

So, I thought I'd share one of my "Letters Home".

Papers - Kraft, Coredinations Aqua & Yellow

Technique - Embossing (can I tell you I just LOVE this embossing folder?!)

Extra STUFF - Metal butterfly from M's $1 bins (love these, must get MORE!), Studio G Sentiment, Dew Drop Ink

If you haven't had a chance to join us over at Scrap-Friendzy for "Camp-Friendzy", don't miss out!!  You won't be disappointed with all the fabulous inspiration!!

Thanks so much for stoppin' by today - here's wishin' you great day today!

It's a Terrifically Thrilling Thursday....

at Shelly's Images!!  Join us for a great Terrifically Thrilling Thursday Challenge - we'll get your creativity going and even better yet, give you a chance to WIN some of Shelly's Images for FREE - that's the best kind!!!!  Stop by HERE for all the details.
Here's my sneeky peeky for you - isn't this Carousel Horse just adorable??

Image - Shelly's Images

Paper - SI flowers & stripes; Inked/Painted Chipboard, Orange Bazzill

Technique - Magic Colored Pencil Technique

Cuttlebug - Embossing/Distressing

Miscellaneous - Pool paint; Dark Peony Ink, BLING, Ribbon from my stash, Happy Day Studio G Stamp & Doodling

Thanks so much for stopping by today! 

I hope you have a Terrifically Thrilling Thursday!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

Tequila & Lime . . . . Must be a Monday

I sure could have used one more day after this busy weekend!!  I did just a little creating - this one is a card that will go into the mail tomorrow and is headed straight for my dad.  He starts his second round of Chemo on Thursday, so we keep sending him funnies to try and keep his spirits up.

You can't go wrong with Stella from Bugaboo Stamps.

The Inside says: "And some days a wedge of lime and a shot of tequila".

I made the paper 'lime' with a little ink and some diamond stickles.

The papers are all from my stash.

I embossed the papers with the dots and celebrations embossing folders from sizzix.

That's all for today.  I hope you're having a great day!

Happy Craftin'!

Min

A Weekly Challenge with A Good Friend

Wow, can you believe August is already here?? In Michigan, we're still waiting for Summer to arrive. Our high today was 78, tonight it's chilly, good sleeping weather however.
So, to kick off the first Monday of a new month, my friend Shelly and I decided it would be kind of fun to set up our own weekly challenge. We're both trying to increase our Cards in Stash while depleating the Paper in Stash - aren't we all now that CHA had introduced some amazing new products!!
So, each week for fun we're going to do this challenge, I've happily nicknamed The Good Friend Challenge. Shelly will pick one week, I'll pick the next. You're welcome to join in if you'd like. You don't necessarily have to use the image we're using, but we'd love to have you participate. The more the merrier! If you want to leave the link to your card in the comments, we'd love to see your creations!

This week is my week, so here goes -
Because I love to drop a quick card to family and friends on a regular basis, the theme this week is Thinking of You
- Dust off your colored pencils and let's put them to work!
We're going to use the Magic Colored Pencil Technique.
- Get out an image (Stamped or Digi) that's been collecting dust :o)
This week we're going to using 'Pumpkin Patch Pete' and some of his accessories from High Hopes Rubber Stamps.
- Use at least 2 different paper - 1 printed and 1 plain
- Use some type of embossing
The size of the card is up to you.
You can add anything else you'd like - So, how's that?! Inspiring? Too Challenging?
I can't wait to see what you create!
Happy Craftin'!
Min

Elegant Thank You with a bit o'Bling!

I had a few Thank You cards that I needed to get together and out in the mail, so I made three of these little beauties. Aren't they great? I just love this stamp! Of course, every Chandelier needs a little bling included!
Card Size: 5.5 x 5.5 Card
Paper: Black - Cardstock, Aqua Dotted embossed paper used for mat
Stamp: Chandelier Heidi Swapp
Embossing powder: Zing - I love these bright colors!
Bling, Thank You Stamp & White Ribbon from my stash
I've been crazy busy working on albums for clients, trying to get them wrapped up.
Tomorrow we have a friend in from California - someone my hubby & I used to work with. So, we plan to do a bit of grillin & chillin' tomorrow evening and enjoy the summer!
Thanks for stopping by today. Hope your Hump Day was speedy!
Happy Craftin'!
Min