Whiff of Joy Brown and Blue

I used two of my Summer Stamps from Elizabeth Bell for this challenge card. I colored with my markers and highlighted with my inkessential Opaque pen.

I stamped the tree twice and cut out some of the apples to create a layered look. I also used stickles on the design on the pants and the plant pot. I used the daisy edge from Martha Stewart and my flower punches from Marvy to create the 4 flowers on the corners.

On the inside I used my new frame shapablility from Spellbinders and used the die itself to paint the design. You can't see the sentiment but it is done in light blue.

My youngest son spent the last 2 days being checked at the hospital for lumps found in his groin... so far great news...just an infection they think. It is so tiring to wait and the hospital is just not a fun place. Hope you all have a great weekend.

Hugs

Heather

Picture in a Frame

My DH works in a treatment center for adolescents experiencing difficulty behaviorally and socially. One of their clients won a Turn-Around Award at school so I made this 8 x 10 picture for her using stamps and twinkling H2Os. The butterfly and the dragonfly are both from Stamp Zia and are so wonderful to color. The small butterflies are from a set I purchased at a yard sale. The sentiments are from Inkadinkado while the flowers are unmarked. I embossed all of them using versamark and gold detail powder. I used Black Disco powder on the sentiments.

The girl's favorite colors are orange, blues and greens so I did the butterfly in a combination of blues and the flowers were done in Golden Orange. I used Golden Rod stickles on the antenna and dotted areas.

The dragonfly has much more orange and greens on it. I also outlined the sections with gold and dotted with the stickles.


I used an 8x10 frame to hold the picture. I am very pleased with it....hope she knows how proud we all are of her.

Off to pick up one of the boys....my son had 2 interviews for jobs yesterday and was hired last night. We are so pleased with this. I hope you all have a wonderful day. I hope to get some stamping done the afternoon.

Hugs

Heather

Dutch Dare Challenge Sweet Hello

The Challenge this week at Dutch Dare Challenges is Glitter and Bling-Bling. I used one of my new Whiff of Joy Summer kit stamps. Isn't she adorable. I painted her with Twinkling H2Os and Markers. I layered the image on Glitter Paper from DCWV. The ribbon is from Michaels Satin Traditions. I used my new Spellbinders Shapeabilities Flower Bouquet Miniabilities. I used my wizard but I put the paper on the wrong side. Unfortunately, I didn't have any more so....the flowers are not as detailed as they should be. I used liquid pearls to create the dots on the ribbon and the swirl on the bottom left.

I used Twinkling H2Os on the apron and stickles Golden Rod and Spiced Marmalade on the trim. Love the glitter of stickles. The sweet Hello sentiment is with the Whiff of Joy sheet and I cut it out with the small oval punch.

I used the Label 4 on the outside image and Label 3 of the nestibilities on the inside. The DP is from DCWV.

My son is looking for a new job so I took him on 2 interviews this morning. I hope he gets one of them...it is a major increase in pay and the job really appeals to him. I hope everyone has a great day. Thanks for all the lovely comments.

Hugs

Heather

New Born Sympathy

One of my DH colleagues was expecting her first grandchild and after being 2 weeks overdue the child died at birth. She is so devastated as are the expecting parents that making this card was very difficult. I tried to make it less about death and more about becoming an angel. I hope this gives some expression of caring to the family.

This image is from Inkadinkado. I embossed with gold detail powder and colored it using Twinkling H2Os. I used the curvy rectangle nestibilities on all the papers...Textured Metallic from DCWV . The half pearls are almond colored and are from SU.
The flair image is from Stampscapes and the sentiment is from Inkadinkado. I also put the embossed flair on the envelope.

Beautiful weather here today so I must do some outside tinkering. It's only 2 weeks until my son's grad party and the pool and hot tub have decided to stop working! Not a good thing for a pool party. Here is hoping that they both get fixed very quickly.

Hugs

Heather

Stampers Dream Challenge #7

I made this card following the rules for the color and bling and texture challenge on Stampers Dream.

I painted Willow using H2Os and then used the aqua brush to add Riding Hood Red for the dress and Baja Blue for the apron. This makes the color change but keeps the twinkling showing through...what a way to make more colors. I added Star Dust Stickles to add some bling.

This photo shows the effect of the stickles...it truly sparkles.

Go check out the challenge and have some fun. Off to the Doctor's so talk later. Again, Happy Memorial Day to all American buddies.

Hugs

Heather

Simply a Dragonfly

I attempted to make a stamp simply card but missed the deadline. I used watercolor paper to gold emboss this stamp Zia dragonfly.

I painted it with Twinkling H2Os and a Kuretake Aqua brush. I then outlined it with French Grey and placed it on a scrap of fuchsia paper and then textured gold from DCWV.

On the inside I used the same DCWV Asian design paper as found on the front cover. After layering it on the textured gold I added a label one cut out for the sentiment.

We are having beautiful weather here and it looks like the perfect weekend. Happy Memorial weekend for all my American friends and for the rest of us....have a marvellous time this weekend.

Hugs

Heather

Its Your Day

I made this card to give to my son's date for the Prom. I wanted to have something she could save with her photos since she is such a great girl. I can submit this card for both the Spoon Full of Sugar Challenge and the Stamp with Fun Challenge. The Spoon full of Sugar challenge is to make a card to celebrate something so I choose to celebrate graduation.

I used my Prismacolored Markers to color these images and attached them using dimensional dots to this DCWV Far East stack paper. I also used the Metallic Textured paper by DCWV as the BG. I used my heidi Swapp Edge Distresser to create the shabby vintage look for the Stamp with Fun challenge. I then used the Worn Lipstick distress ink and Gold ink to highlight the edges. The butterflies were made using the Martha Stewart butterfly punch. The sentiment stamp is from the $1 bin at Michaels. I embossed it with a mixture of Garnet and Tinsel Gold powder.
I left the inside plain to write a "perfect" note to the date. I have to rush off and do a "small" bit of housework to say I did some...HaHa. Talk later.

Hugs

Heather

Summer Time Frame

I am so pleased with this great wall hanging. I used 6 of the Victorian Fan stamp from Me and Carrie Lou to make this completed fan. I attached 6 together with Foam dimensionals and then kept them together with a brad and ribbons were added for the final touch.

I embossed the fan with gold detail and then painted with Twinkling H2Os. I wanted to keep it soft and girlie so I used mainly the lighter colors.

This fan is made on Cansons' Watercolor paper and is quite firm. I only added a back cover to hide the areas where the color had some through.

I used a blue crystal brad with a decor washer to hold all the fan sections together. The ribbons were added on the back and I used some of the small roses Prima has on the ribbons.

Happy Victoria Day Canadians. I hope all your family is having a wonderful time.

Hugs

Heather

A Loving Encouragement for the Grad

It doesn't get much better thank this: to make something that turns out great and to have a great time making it. I made this for one of the girls graduating with my son. Her favorite colors are green and orange so I knew it had to be something cheerful with those colors.

I made this tabletop picture quote to encourage her during her studies. I used the butterfly stamp from The Artful Stamper and added the quote and some flowers and leaves. The entire project is embossed with Gold Detail and Twinkling H2Os.

This creation started from the bottom up. I found this large clothes pin at Michaels, on sale of course. I planned on either making a frame for a photo or something to encourage her. I talked it over with her Aunt and decided on this. I covered the pin with Kiwi Kiss and then attached the cut out butterflies and flower. I used Golden Rod stickles to add extra sparkles. The center of the flowers has Spiced Marmalade or Broken China Distress Stickles for some sparkle.

I used the leaves from I Love Roses set from Flourishes and the blossom is from the $bin at Michaels. I used the Golden Rod stickles to add the dots to the watercolor paper BG.

This is an Inkadinkado sentiment which is perfect for a student. I used the curvy rectangle nestibility to cut it out and used the gold spica pen around the embossed edge. It is attached with foam tape. I was so excited to find the little roses from Prima. I have seen them on many blogs and grabbed them when I saw them at Michaels. I added some Twinkling H2O to the edges to match the other flowers. The ribbon is actually ribbon yarn the I made a hat out of....gotta use all your scraps!

I am so pleased with this and can hardly wait to give it to her. I hope you all have a wonderful long weekend. We are gardening and cleaning to prepare for the grad party in 3 weeks. Its raining now so I got a break. Have a great time with friends and family.

Hugs

Heather

Me and Carrie Lou Roses

Hi everybody. I am so pleased. Susan from Me and Carrie Lou stamps asked if they could use some of my work for display purposes on their blog. I feel so great...imagine someone wanting to show off my take on their stamps! I am so pleased. Today I made a card suitable for just about anything. I used the 3 Me and Carrie Lou stamps and 1 Magenta rose stamp for this card.

I embossed all these images on watercolor paper using Gold Detail powder. The stamps make a wonderful impression that embosses perfectly. After embossing I used Twinkling H2Os to paint.

I embossed, painted and then cut out the Rose before attaching it onto the Victorian Background Image. I cut out the BG image and attached it to Pale Pink paper from DCWV. I ran my versamark pad around the edges of the pink paper and embossed with gold detail powder and then attached to the base cardstock.

On the inside I attached another rectangle of the Pale Pink paper and a section of the Romantic Border image on the bottom of the page and the flowers from the Hummingbirds stamp on the left side.

I really recommend you check out these Carrie Lou stamps. As you can see they are versatile...you can cut out sections of an image and they work well with other images. Go on, check them out.

On the homefront we are busy getting set up for Graduation. Its only 3 weeks until the party and all the house and yard have to be cleaned up after the winter. My DH mowed the yard for the first time last night and that's when I know Summer is coming. That and the fact that Spring allergies have hit the house...there is more sneezing going on then breathing sometimes. The boys only have slight allergies so once they get in the groove of Summer the sneezing will stop.

Hope your day is great.

Here are the stamps used:

Me and Carrie Lou: Hummingbirds K130

Romatic Border H117

Victorian Background K180

Magenta : 0907910

Hugs

Heather

A Dog's Purpose

This wonderful story was sent to me and I think it is something for all to read. As you know, I live in a household of one husband, three teenage sons and 5 dogs, 2 cats, 4 reptiles and numerous fish....needless to say this household is full of pets. When I read this I felt I now had a new way to live so I share this with you.

A Dog's Purpose? (from a 6-year-old).

Being a veterinarian, I had been called to examine a ten-year-old Irish Wolfhound named Belker. The dog's owners, Ron, his wife Lisa, and their little boy Shane, were all very attached to Belker, and they were hoping for a miracle. I examined Belker and found he was dying of cancer. I told the family we couldn't do anything for Belker, and offered to perform the euthanasia procedure for the old dog in their home.

As we made arrangements, Ron and Lisa told me they thought it would be good for six-year-old Shane to observe the procedure. They felt as though Shane might learn something from the experience. The next day, I felt the familiar catch in my throat as Belker 's family surrounded him. Shane seemed so calm, petting the old dog for the last time, that I wondered if he understood what was going on.

Within a few minutes, Belker slipped peacefully away. The little boy seemed to accept Belker's transition without any difficulty or confusion. We sat together for a while after Belker's Death, wondering aloud about the sad fact that animal lives are shorter than human lives. Shane, who had been listening quietly, piped up, ''I know why. ''Startled, we all turned to him. What came out of his mouth next stunned me. I'd never heard a more comforting explanation. It has changed the way I try and live. He said,

''People are born so that they can learn how to live a good life -- like loving everybody all the time and being nice, right?'' The Six-year-old continued, ''Well, dogs already know how to do that, so they don't have to stay as long.'

Live simply. Love generously. Care deeply. Speak kindly.

Remember, if a dog was the teacher you would learn things like:

• When loved ones come home, always run to greet them.
• Never pass up the opportunity to go for a joyride.
• Allow the experience of fresh air and the wind in your face to be pure Ecstasy.
• Take naps.Stretch before rising.
• Run, romp, and play daily.
• Thrive on attention and let people touch you.
• Avoid biting when a simple growl will do.
• On warm days, stop to lie on your back on the grass.On hot days, drink lots of water and lie under a shady tree.
• When you're happy, dance around and wag your entire body.
• Delight in the simple joy of a long walk.
• Be loyal.
• Never pretend to be something you're not.I
• f what you want lies buried, dig until you find it.
• When someone is having a bad day, be silent, sit close by, and nuzzle them gently.

ENJOY EVERY MOMENT OF EVERY DAY!

Stamp with Fun Bike Ride

I followed the sketch on Stamp with Fun for this card. I used markers and the cuttlebug folders to create this card. The image is a Sarah Kay stamp Taking a Spin.

I used dimensional spots to attach the image to the label 4 nestibilities. I used my sander from Basic Gray to highlight the designs on the pink with white core paper.

I created a pocket on the inside to hold the sentiment tag I made using 2 label 4 layers. The Thanks so Much image is from Inkadinkado.

The repair man is here fixing our dryer...thank goodness. Living in a house with 4 men and myself and no dryer or clothes line..it is absolutely no fun. I have had clothes on chairs on the inside deck drying. I put some on the outside deck but the dogs thought they were toys so in they came. We lost our clothesline with the deck extension and I have asked and asked for a new one. Then it became apparent that I couldn't really used the line so the dryer became the only way of drying. Tonight will be a challenge trying to convince everyone that they only get 1 load each!

Enough babbling. I hope you all have a fantastic day and that the weather is beautiful.

Hugs

Heather

Me and Carrie Lou Birthday

Just a quick post to show a BD card I made. I used the remainder of the papers from yesterday's post and the same stamp set...I was on a roll.

I used those wonderful Twinkling H2Os and gold embossing detail powder. I put dimensional foam under the birds and flowers to make it 3D like.

I wanted the inside to be just as beautiful so I used the violet banner from Me and Carrie Lou on the inside. Since it was going on white, I didn't have to cut quite so finely as I did for the front.

I really enjoy detailed work and love using my Twinks. My Mom loved her gift from yesterday and has it placed on the fireplace mantle so all can see it....this is what makes this craft so much fun. Off to pick up the oldest from work...talk later.

Hugs

Heather

Happy Mother,s Day Projects

I decorated this candy dish for my Mom for Mother's Day. I filled it with her favorite candies and it was a huge hit. I got the dish at an auction and I colored the images with Twinkling H2Os on water color paper.

After cutting each image out with a craft knife (this took the longest time) I used Modge Podge to connect it to the dish.

I ran 1/4 inch ribbon through the holes of the dish to decorate and make that home-made appearance stronger. I put this Inkadinkado bird silhouette on two sides and the Me and Carrie Lou images on the other two sizes.

I was asked to make this next project using a shadow frame and this Lavender Flower Fairy Stamps Happen image. I colored the frame mats using a bayer with lavender lace and bashful blue SU ink.

I colored this image with Twinkling H2Os after embossing it with Gold Detail Powder on watercolor paper.

I am very pleased with both of these projects and hope the receivers enjoy them as much as I do. I hope each and every Mother had a fantastic day. One of my sons gave me the MM spinning carousel and the the other gave me beautiful panzies for one of my planters. I had a wonderful day and think Mother's Day should happen more often.

Hugs

Heather

Stamp with Fun Dreams

This week the challenge on Stamp with Fun is to make a 4 x 8 inch card and this is what I created. I used the remainder of the scraps from yesterday's post and my new Labels 3 and 4 nestibility.

I colored Tilda with my markers and used stickles on the wings and her eyes. This image reminds me so much of my sister. She had long braided auburn hair and was such a dreamer. She would have gotten a kick out of this card because I always called her a dreamer.

I used the smaller dies from Label 4 and hand write the sentiment. I added the half pearls and stitckles on the prima flowers. I used Martha Stewart's oak leaf pun for the leaves.

On the inside I used both sizes of the Marvy punch to create the flowers. I was thinking of sending this to a university student who is writing her thesis now....just reminds my of my studying time at university....many dream breaks.

Well it is 5 am and I finally think I could go to sleep. My boys were all at a going away party for a friend and I can't go to sleep until they are all home. Unfortunately, time means nothing to them. By the time the last one came in I had my second wind which at this moment is running out sooooo...time for a short nap.

Hugs

Heather