Framed Flowers

Hello and Happy Saturday.  I made this card for the PTI Make It Monday challenge and posted it on Instagram, a few days back.  Unfortunately I am just now getting a chance to post this on my blog.  I used an assortment of frame dies as well as stamps from Gran's Garden as well as Farmer's Market Florals from Papertrey Ink.  

I wish I had more time in my day to craft and post, but that never seems to happen.  I stay connected to the stamping community through Instagram and post regularly there.  If you'd like, you can follow me there.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

Flowers and Valentines

Hello again!  I have been so horrible about posting on a regular basis, as I've been sporadic about crafting.  We had weeks of really cold weather and all I wanted to do was crochet and watch tv on my day off.  Gone are the days when I stayed home with my son and would craft whenever I felt like it.  I work full time, have an elderly client I care for on Sunday, and try and make it to the gym 4-5 days a week after I get off work.  That really only leaves me with Saturdays, which I usually go to the gym on that day as well, weather permitting.  Needless to say that my card-making has gone by the wayside.   

Here are a few cards I made over the last month.  A couple Valentine's and a Best Wishes card for my work bestie that is leaving and going to another job.  As soon as I'm done typing this out, I am going to create some more.  Stay tuned!!  

All cards were created using Papertrey Ink cardstock, ink, Stamps, and coordinating dies.  

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

Wishing You A Quick Recovery

Good afternoon!  I have a couple cards to share with you that I made for some of my coworkers, that are having surgery.  I used the same basic design, just varied the stamps.  

 The above card background was stamped using an MFT background stamp and PTI Lavender Moon ink.  The flowers were stamped in Lavender Moon, Lilac Grace, and Melon Berry, while the leaves were stamped in Spring Moss.  Cardstock is Spring Moss and Stamper's Select White.

The card below was made using Lavender Moon and Lilac Grace cardstock.  I stamped the sweet butterflies from Butterfly Dreams in matching ink on the Lavender Moon and Background Basics is stamped on the Lilac Grace in the matching PTI ink.  The Darling Butterfly is stamped in Lavender Moon and Melon Berry with added Stickles for some glitter.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

We Love Dawn Blog Hop

I've been using PTI stamps nearly as long as I've been blogging  and making cards.  They were the very first company that I ordered stamps from.  When they posted a Blog Hop for Dawn, one of their long time stamp designers/DT members who just had a much needed transplant, I decided that I wanted to make a card to send and show my support.

This card was made using Garden Party, one of my favorite floral sets designed by Dawn.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

Sweet Butterflies

Hello, and Happy Friday!!  I don't know about where you are at, but the temps has significantly dropped and its been in the 30's for highs and teens for lows.  Brr!  I made this Thanks card last weekend but have yet to have time to post it.  I didn't make this for any particular reason other than wanting to have more thank you cards on hand.

The photo below is most true to color, the top photo has a bit of yellow cast to it.  As I have mentioned before in previous posts, I like to stamp backgrounds ahead of time.  I have a small basket sitting on my desk with background stamped patterns.  The sweet little butterflies were stamped using PTI's retired set called Butterfly Dreams.  For the life of me I can't think f the name of the set with the little polka dots.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

Quick Birthday Card

Hey!  It's Friday and we've had some snow flurries!  I am not ready for snow.  Heck, the trees just started turning for fall, now its snowing.  Ugh!  I do in home care for seniors during summer breaks and on Sunday's.  I have an elderly lady that I have been working with since last June, and her birthday was yesterday.  She loves her coffee, so I thought this was fitting.

I used all scraps for this card, expect for the die cut coffee cup and label.

I am entering this into the Seize the Birthday.

Have a great weekend!

Heather

Build A Wreath

Happy Sunday!  I am popping in quick to share the card I made for Make it Monday at PTI.  This week Melissa is challenging us to build a wreath.

I used a few PTI stamp sets to get this look.  Graceful Greetings, Tag its 2, Background Basics: Text Style, and Sending You.  I like how this turned out.  I followed Melissa's advice on building the leaves behind the die cut wreath.  Ink colors used: Honey Nut, Pale Peony, Simply Chartreuse, Melon Berry, Classic Kraft, and Fine Linen.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

Make it Monday

Hey there!  Told ya I had several cards to share.  This one was created for PTI's Make it Monday.  I have to admit, this didn't turn out like I had hoped.  Something I realized after making this is, that I do better with less restrictions on my creativity.  I like my cards best when I am creating for myself, or for an occasion, not a sketch or specific challenge.  When you are new to cardmaking you need these challenges to help you create.  It is the trial and error process that makes you learn your style and likes.  For me, I like the elements of this card separately and individually, but not how this ended up when put together.  

For the first time I tried the shadow effect for my sentiment.  I now see that it would have been better if I had not only moved it down, but over slightly as well.  The sweet butterfly background was stamped alternating each solid and open butterfly group pattern.  I stamped this background several months ago and it had been sitting in my basket, awaiting to be used.  I have to say that hands down, butterflies and flowers are my favorite and go to for stamps.

I am also not happy with the lighting for the photo of my card.  I did spend the money and buy a light tent, but it was absolutely not what I had hoped for.  Unfortunately I let it sit in my craft room closet too long to return it to Amazon.  I'm totally kicking myself in the butt!!  It looks much better IRL.  I may try and add a thin Melon Berry frame around the circle window.  I think that it needs it to ground the middle of the card.  Heck, I am way too hard on myself!  Story of my life.  Haha

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

Happy Fall

I've been a busy little Bee this last week.  I've been creating but not having time to post, so I'll have several posts today.  This sweet little thing was put together with a hodge podge pieces I had laying around.  Remember me telling you in my previous post that I stamp out a bunch of backgrounds ahead of time?  The top pattern is from MFT called Jumbo Mod Borders, and I like how easy it is to stamp in my Tim Holtz Stamp Platform, or even a MISTI.

I have had this Wreath For All Seasons set from PTI for many years.  I like the versatility and easy of creating various wreath for different seasons.

The wreath is stamped in Memento Rich Coca ink, while the berries are in PTI Honey Nut, and flowers in Pale Peony, and leaves in Spring Moss.

I am entering this in Inspired by All the Little Things challenge.  

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

Humming Along Birthday

Hello and Happy Sunday!  This sweet little card will be added to my birthday stash that I'm working on  building up.  It never fails, when I need a birthday card at the last minute, I never have one on hand.  

The darling little Humming bird and flowers comes from the stamp set called  Humming Along from PTI.  PTI inks used: Kraft, Honey Nut, Spring Moss, Aqua Mist, and Mint Julip were used.  Cardstock: PTI White, Honey Nut, Black

This was based off the sketch at Freshly Made Sketches.

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

So Sorry for your Loss

Hello again!  I have a card to share that I created for a coworker, who's grandmother passed away.  I needed it to be fairly simple and quick, as I wanted to be able to give it to her right away.  Die cuts and a pretty floral set from PTI did the trick.

When I don't have a specific project to work on, I stamp a variety of patterns and colors for backgrounds and keep them in a basket on my craft desk.  The blue polka dot was pretty easy to do, in my Tim Holtz stamp platform.  I have the small MISTI and it works great for smaller things like the flowers, but for background stamping, I like the Platform. 

Yes, I am totally addicted to the Wonky Stitched Rectangle dies, I use them on nearly every card.  Since I don't sew on my cards anymore, these work perfectly!  I stamped the flowers from PTI's Floral Sketches on Tim Holtz watercolor cardstock using PTI Melon Berry and Berry Sorbet, then added a little water to the tops for a softer look.

Thanks so much for stopping by,
Heather

Autumn Blessings Take 2

Hello and Happy Tuesday!  I've been enjoying creating without restrictions, lately.  The MFT Sunflower dies were on my desk, so I pulled out my TH Distress inks and TH watercolor paper and started to mix different colors to create the look that I ended up with.  I really liked the colored cardstock and pretty blue patterned papers, when they were all out on my desk.  After I assembled the card and started taking photos, it looked too 'country' to me.  Not what I was going for.  UGH!!

The dies are mostly MFT, with the exception of the center cutout panel.  

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

Autumn Blessings

Hello!  I made these cards a couple weeks ago but needed to wait until the recipient received them before I could share them on my blog.  I love this oldie but goody from PTI called Autumn Abundance.  I pulled out my brush pens and started coloring this darling fall image.  Its been fun experimenting with this new to me medium for coloring  

Another sweet oldie but goody from PTI that is simple and quick to stamp out is Botanical Silhouettes.  The mix and match stems and various flower head options make for a quick card when in need.  

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

Coworker's Birthday

Hello, and Happy Thursday!  I have a couple coworker birthdays this week and quickly whipped up these two cards.  The recipients are both males, so I kept them CAS.  I ordered the balloon bash cover plate with my last PTI order, but had not used it yet.   I sponged some TH Distress inks on white CS and spritzed some water on it, for the background behind the die cut panel.  

This card was quick and easy to make, just a one stamped layer.  The stamps and dies used are from My Favorite Things.

Both cards we created for the Seize the Birthday challenge with the "toppings" to be balloons.  

Thanks so much for stopping by,

Heather

Sending you Sunflowers and Sunshine

Good morning!  It's the beginning of September and the shorter days and cooler temps have me thinking of fall.  I adore this set Simple Sunflower stamp set from PTI.  I have used it countless times over the years, and it continues to be one of my favorites.  I was playing around with my Tim Holtz Distress markers with this set.  I colored the stamp and misted with water, which gave it this pretty washed out look.  I played around with different colors for the sunflowers trying to decide which one I was going to go with.  Well, I decided that I loved them all and made three different cards with varying color schemes.   

I am entering the top card in the Sisterhood of Crafters for the "anything goes" challenge.  

I used several PTI dies for each card, and some pretty foiled vellum accents.  The flowers were inked using Tim Holtz Distress markers, misted with water,  and stamped on Tim Holtz watercolor paper.

This one turned out to be my favorite.  I am also entering this one into the Seize the Birthday challenge.  

Thanks so much for stopping by,
Heather