Signs of Spring!

Hi there!

I'm so glad you stopped by today! I have a couple of cards to share with you but first I want to show you where my inspiration came from. 

I've been spending as much time as possible, outside in my yard, just watching and enjoying the signs of spring. If you know me at all, you know that this is my favorite time of year. Not only because of the warmer weather that has FINALLY arrived, but also because it's just the beginning of our warm, beautiful summer season - YAY!!!

So here are some signs of spring from my yard.

 This is one of my Peonies plants - can't believe how tall it has grown in just the last few days and I can't WAIT until they bloom!

Pansies! LOVE!!

 Our pine tree is even budding!

 

This is a big, fat, awesome squirrel's nest, way up high in one of our maple trees. In another week or so, the tree will be so filled with leaves, we won't be able to see it. 

 I love it when my crab apple tree starts to bud - so very pretty!

I found Mr. Bunny next door in the neighbor's yard - isn't he sweet?!

We are visited every year by a special mallard duck couple. I love watching him follow her around! He is so patient with her and so very protective!


My last two photos gave me some wonderful inspiration for card making. First up - these adorable goldfinches!

 See the one little guy peeking around on the right side - so cute! :) Here's my inspired card, created using the Simon Says Stamp, April card kit.

  

And one last springtime photo - my pretty begonias.

The beautiful pink and yellow colors are what inspired this next card, which sort of took on a life of its own.

I used the Looped Circle Pattern stamp from Hero Arts, embossed in yellow and colored with Distress Inks. I added a bunch of sequins for a sparkly look.

Happy spring (and summer) to everyone - you can bet I'm going to enjoy it while it lasts! :) 


 

Happy Mother's Day!

Hi all!

I had a quick few minutes this morning to take a photo for you.

 
It's a chilly but beautiful day here today. I'm planning on mowing the grass on Tuesday and I can't wait! (So much better than shoveling snow!)

I'm heading to work in a few minutes, but wanted to wish all my crafty mom friends out there a very Happy Mother's Day!

I hope you all have a wonderful, relaxing and crafty kind of day!

Hugs to each of you!! :) 

Birthday Stars

Hi there!

I wanted to share a quick card with you tonight because I finally got the chance to play with this stamp and die set from Simon Says Stamp - just love it!

I used all Hero Arts Shadow Inks for the stars. Soft Cantaloupe, Mid-Tone Bubble Gum and Mid-Tone Butter Bar. 

I'll be saving this card, and many others to come, for a special cause. I've been asked by one of my managers at work to make between 150 to 200 cards for our United Way Campaign, which happens every September. We will sell them at two cards for $4.00 and all proceeds will go to the United Way. I went through my stack of cards which I store in a big box and will be able to use about 35 of them - (they only want certain sentiments) still a long way to go but I'm excited to help out for a good cause.

I had a restful day today so I'll be ready for my crazy, Mother's Day weekend at work. There will be long hours and tons of sales to make lots of moms happy! To all of my "mom friends" out there - I hope you have a wonderful Mother's Day! 

Thanks for stopping by! :) 

 

 

 

CAS-ual Fridays #99

Hi there!

Just a quick post tonight before heading to bed. I wanted to join in the CAS-ual Fridays Challenge to help celebrate Michele's birthday. I finally found a bit of time to play - yay! Here's my card.

I stamped the circles using a tiny ornament stamp from the "Merry Christmas Tree" cling set from Hero Arts. I used several different Hero Arts inks - Soft Pool, Midtone Pool, Cornflower and Ocean. I also used Color Box Frost White pigment ink. The sentiment is from the "It's Your Day," Hero Arts clear set. I couldn't resist adding a few sequins! :)

We've been having wonderful, warm, sunny weather the last few days and I'm really loving it. There is a bit of a setback coming though - tomorrow night into Thursday we are suppose to get lots of rain with high temps only in the 40's again, and they actually said we will get a couple of inches of SNOW overnight - ICK!! I think I figured out why winter will just not stay away this year - Mother Nature and Old Man Winter MUST BE having an affair!

Thanks for stopping by - I hope you enjoy the rest of your week! :)

What a Difference!

Happy Saturday!

I wanted to pop in quickly to share a card before heading outside. Yup, that's right, I said, "OUTSIDE!" What a difference a few days make! Just four days ago, my yard looked like this:

 With how heavy the snow was, I felt bad for my droopy pine tree!

 But it truly was beautiful on the trees.

The weight of the snow really did a number on my front bushes too!

Fast forward four days later - it's a gorgeous day here today - temps in the low 70's and the difference makes me so happy!

  My front bushes will survive. . . .

. . . .and so will my pine tree.  Can't wait until everything is budding and more green! Won't be long now!

I couldn't wait any longer to start getting my pots out on the deck! And do ya see that square-shaped area just behind the big tree? That's my veggie garden. It'll have to wait awhile longer to be planted because we can still get very cold temps at night this time of year, but I've got them started inside the house.

I am one happy girl today - I have the day off from work and I've already made a card too.

I adhered my die-cuts to some white cardstock, then adhered some

tissue paper over them with Studio, Multi-Medium. After letting them dry, I cut them out again and used them on my card. I love the soft texture!

Can ya tell by the pretty colors I'm definitely in springtime mode?!

Okay, I'm headin' outside! Hope you enjoy your weekend! :)

Muse Challenge #14

Hi There!

Before I share my card I just have to tell you that our snow from four days ago had all melted as of this morning. . . . . BUT . . . . .
You won't believe this - it's been snowing all evening, very heavily, and we've received another 6 inches of the darn white stuff AGAIN!! There IS a light at the end of the tunnel this time though - they are saying it will be close to 70 degrees this coming weekend - Thank goodness! Boy, oh boy, will that ever feel good!!!

Okay, enough about the weather. Have you seen who the Monday Muse is over at Muse? It's Virginia! I am so excited for her and couldn't wait to play along! Here is her beautiful card :

I was so inspired by the happy colors and fun masking, so I created a similar card using an oval die-cut for my mask and some fun flower stamps from the Hero Arts clear set called, Luscious Patterned Flowers.

 

The flowers were stamped with Hero Arts, Mid-Tone Shadow Inks in Butter Bar, Bubble Gum and Cornflower - LOVE these inks! The sentiment is also Hero Arts - from the Fancy Basics clear set. I added a little butterfly die-cut and some bright green Enamel Dots to finish off the card.

I'm so happy for you, Virginia - congratulations on your guest design spot and thank you for continuing to inspire us!
  
Thanks for stopping by! Have a good week! :)

Joining the Fusion Challenge!

Happy Saturday!

I'm playing with the Fusion Card Challenge for the first time - yay! :)

When I saw their third challenge, I fell in love with the colors of Lesley's inspiration photo! I also love Jackie's sketch, so I decided to use both for my card.

 

I used some black strips for the bottom of the card. The Sizzix Branch with Leaves was die-cut from paper that I had inked up with Hero Arts' Soft Granite Shadow Ink. Then I inked up some more paper with their Raspberry Jam, Mid-Tone Shadow ink and die-cut the PTI flowers. The glittery, gray center is an adhesive accent from Cloud 9 Design and the sentiment is also Hero Arts.

I'm so glad you stopped by today - hope you're enjoying your weekend! :)