You are Wonderful

I made a "just because" card~

for an anything goes challenge. ;)


Simon Says: Anything Goes


Anything goes in my neck of the woods...esp the weather.



Swamped with snow one day... then it disappears a few days later.


Seriously, I don't know what to expect or how to dress ...so flexibility is the tool I hold on to.


 I'm not a "roll with it" kind of gal, but watcha gonna do?


Hey, at least we don't have to shovel it.

Not today. ;)

Have a good one~

Black Card/White Flowers

I used the same stamps from my last card~this time white on a black panel.


I love the look of white on black!


However, I don't have a lot of patience when a card is in the works.


The last one I tried didn't make it to my blog because I smeared it before it could be photographed.


grrr!


Waiting, 

waiting for ink to dry is crucial.

(stamps:Papertrey Ink The Sweet Life/Rosie Posie  dies:Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Elle-ments,Papertrey Ink Sparkle & Shine)

 With this card, I was good...


and waited.


;)

After the ink dried, I felt it needed something more.

This die cut that's been lying on my desk found a home in the corner to pop out of. 

I went with the same inspirational photo~I'm nuts about black and white...


you don't even know people, 

you don't even know.

 Time Out Challenge #50 Home Sweet Home Photo Inspiration

Enjoy your Saturday & thanks for spending a little time with me. ;)

Dream Come True

I've been dreaming of making this card for months~

 

but sometimes you need a challenge (and limited supplies) to get the ball rolling.

(stamps:Papertrey Ink The Sweet Life/Rosie Posie  dies for masking:Papertrey Ink The Sweet Life/Rosie Posie)

I wanted black and white flowers to SHINE with splotches of colors shrewn about.

I achieved this by masking the stamped flowers and stamping their shadow partner images in color.

The masks were removed and solid images stamped again with whatever ink remained.

 Time Out Challenge #50 Home Sweet Home Photo Inspiration motivated me~

CAS on Sunday:Challenge #77:One Layer Wonder

As for limited supplies...we are finally finished with my craft corner~all that's needed is to paint the walls and I can have my dream craft space. ;)

So for now...my supplies are in piles everywhere and

 I could only grab a few items to work with.

My finished craft wall is a dream come true, thanks hubby! kisses&hugs!!!

 Thanks for stopping by~

Papertrey February Blog Hop Challenge

Ooooh, pastels are rounding the corner!

I love a dipped color ANYTHING~

so I painted the corner of a tag.

(stamps: Papertrey Ink Songbirds  dies:Papertrey Ink Songbirds,Sizzix tag  other:acrylic paint)

I don't know if you noticed, but I really fancy those songbirds lately. ;)

 

I was inspired by the soft pinks and greens at

Papertrey February Blog Hop Challenge

Thanks for hopping by! ;)

Birthday Month Card

I went in a folksy direction with this card.

(stamps: Papertrey Ink Charmed  die:Papertrey Ink Songbirds  other:heart confetti)

I love this charmed set...now I can aim for a birthday month and not feel too bad about being late to the party.

That's been me lately...aim, shoot, and hope for the best. ;)

At least I try.

(this should be my newest bumper sticker.) ;)

 Here is the inspiration photo~pinks, greens and blurry backdrop.

Thank you so much for your visit!


 

So This Happened

My girlies went to see the Pride & Prejudice zombie movie on Valentine's Day.

Yup, apparently zombies were a thing back then.

I made them each this...because, well, it's true.

(dies: Silhouette Cameo Illustration Ink: I Eat You UP,Avery Elle Dotted Elle-ments)

 No matter what I look like when I wake up

 ;)...

I will always love them~

like,

FOREVER.

I'm submitting this to the following challenge because of the "pop" dimension~and poppin' eyeballs. ;)

Thanks for stopping by!

Florals, Gold & Tags

This card came together~because love is in the air...


as well as florals, gold and tags.

(stamps:Papertrey Ink The Sweet Life  dies:Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Elle-ments,Papertrey Ink The Sweet Life  other:American Crafts Maggie Holmes Confetti tag,Teresa Collins Something Wonderful Cardstock sentiment)

Layered blooms and gold....a lovely combination is used by Jeanne who is spotlighted at Inspired by All the Little Things #3.

Praying you feel loved today~

Poppin' Color

I love pops of color.

(stamp: Hero Arts Glow Girl  dies:My Favorite Things Wonky Stitched Circle STAX)

Are your eyes PoPpIn???

Good, cuz that's what I'm aiming for. ;)

Don't know where you're currently sitting...but it is WHITE WHITE WHITE out and colors are needed in the corner of my world.

 I'm gonna get it wherever I can. ;)

 Thanks for stopping in~

 

All Together Valentine

I rarely give my parents a Valentine card...but this year I made the effort.

(stamp: Stampendous Cling Heart Stack  die: My Favorite Things Horizontal Stitched Strips  other:American Crafts Maggie Holmes Confetti,Teresa Collins Something Wonderful)

 

CAS on Sunday: Challenge #76 Valentine

 My parents are always encouraging "togetherness"~they invest their money, time and energy in ensuring that we gather as much as we can.

I don't live near my family~so they sent family to me for the New Year's break.


I love them for that and so much more. ;)



Have a blessed Friday~

Thinking of You

Every time I hear a song on the radio~I think of a lady at my church who sang it for us.

It was the first time I heard  "My Story".

I cried.

I not only cried,

I cried those hot tears, you know what I'm talking about?

The tears that are just as surprised as you that "this is happening people" and they haven't had time to cool down before shooting out of your eyes.

The song still moves me.

 Every. Single. Rendition.

I just wanted to send a simple card.

(stamps:My Favorite Things Pretty Poppies/Flowers  dies:My Favorite Things Cross-Stitch Oval STAX/Sentiment Strips, Avery Elle Dotted ELLE-ments)

I used this sketch.

I wasn't up to coloring today, so I inked a poppy flower and layered it over the B&W one.

Simple, simple~just a note.

Hope you have a great day and thanks for stopping in. ;)

Ephemera-Like

Sometimes I stack images~

pretty random images.

(stamps: Papertrey Ink Songbirds/Meadow Greens/The Sweet Life/City Scene & coordinating dies)

 

When I do, I'm channeling my inner Melissa who stacks all things pretty~like this creation...

Her use of florals zigzagged amongst a bough or two is pure melody.

 

Create Along With Us February 2016

Of course, I had to add my own quirky marlena...cuz, it's me, marlena.

Hence, the building thrown in there~just for kicks. ;)

Thanks for stopping in~

 

Rose Collage

I love love stories.

Inspired by love,

I had a mini idea that became a card.

I have this humongous rose that I wanted to "fill" with multiple images.

Many swoonworthy stories are a mish mash of "stuff"...represented by my collage-style rose.

 

I was inspired to get this card done by setting my timer for 5 minutes and grabbing the materials I envisioned.

Day 3:Grab & Craft Challenge

 

 (stamps: Papertrey Ink Year of Flowers Roses/Winter Woods/Grunge Me/Background Basics Text Style  dies: Papertrey Ink Year of Flowers Roses, My Favorite Things Cross-Stitch Oval Stax/Sentiment Strips  paper:Teresa Collins Something Wonderful, Hampton Art Playlist  inks:Papertrey Ink Raspberry Fizz/Hawaiian Shores/New Leaf, Memento Tangelo,Versafine Onyx)

With this idea swimming in my head...I thought of fill images for the rose (Grunge Me being a definite) and backdrop dies to frame around it.

I enjoyed the process~sometimes pressure brings completion.

Now my card is ready to celebrate a love story.

Thanks for stopping by~

 

Day Two Dress Up

Creating cards has improved my wardrobe.

Yes, you heard me right.

;)

I used to buy clothes that were "art" and walk around in them.

yikes.

Um, I'm not cute enough to pull off every design~ HA!

Now, if I really like something (usually a top) but know it would look HORRID on me...

I construct a card based on it.

Papertrey is hosting a challenge (Day 2) which is to create a card inspired by a piece of clothing.

Here is my card~

(stamps: Papertrey Ink Winter Woods/The Sweet Life  die: My Favorite Things Cross-Stitch Oval STAX)

I misted water on each colorful image before stamping it on paper, to get that "mottled look" of my top which inspired me~

Yes, I said "my".

Maybe this wasn't a good example...hahahaha...

No matter~

it's pretty colorful, yes, but I love the cut soooo,

it's kay. ;)

Papertrey Ink Day 2:Dress Up Inspiration

 Ooooh, so fun, I bet you have awesome outfits.

Esp if you don't wear them...design a card that gets to show off.

I've shared this before...but here is a pic my daughter drew for me years ago...it cracks me up!!

 That's my card strutting down the runway~with me peeking through the curtains all proudlike.

My creative kids man~I love the way they think. ;)

 Thanks for stopping in~

Day One Colors

Ooooh, there is stampy fun going on at Papertrey Ink...have you seen???

Check it out.

Here is my creation for the Day One Challenge.

 (stamps: Papertrey Ink Background Basics Super Stripes/You're a Gem/SAF 2014 1980's Kit hearts)

 My daughter's doodling inspired this card. ;)

I used Heather Nichols' colors:

(although you may not see a difference between the red and pink~they're both there~on either side of the Chocolate line)

Papertrey Ink Day 1: Design Team Favorites

There's lots of time 

and tons of color schemes to choose from.

Go get some stamping therapy in! ;)

Thanks for stopping by~

good friends

I love my friends.

Whether it's been months or years since we've spoken~they are precious to me.

(stamp: Unity Impossible to Forget  dies:Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Banner Duo  other:American Crafts Maggie Holmes Confetti)

TIME OUT Challenge #49

"Love is the flower you've got to let grow"



Friendships are miracles and blessings.

When you don't expect them, they appear, just like that.

They pop up throughout the seasons~a gentle reminder that you are not alone.


I found out recently
a high school buddy,

 has passed on after a life long battle with cystic fibrosis.

She was amazing, courageous and lived a full full life although taken too soon at the age of 45.

I am thinking of her family today and praying that they are comforted through this difficult time.

May the Lord heal their broken hearts.

May we that are still alive,

 live each day as if it's our last.

May we honor the Lord and live the life that glorifies Him.

Life truly is short, friends.



 

I Heart Stripes

Stripes. Are. My. Jam.

LOVE them. ;)

(stamps: Verve Poppy Birthday,Unity Best Year Yet KOM)

The more, the merrier...the brighter, the happier, as far as I see it~

zig zaggy or straight...

happy happy sigh.

Add some floaty hearts and you've got yourself...

LOVE. ;)

 
Simon Says (Wednesday): Have a Heart


Word Art Wednesday #219: Anything Goes


Thank you for stopping by~

Happy Trails With Doggy

My aunt had to walk her dog last weekend in the deep snow which hit the East Coast.

I was in tears listening to her "fun"experience. ;)

Hopefully I get this to her in time for Valentine's.

(Heidi Swapp September Skies panel,heart confetti  die:Verve Wavy hearts)

Simon Says (Wednesday): Anything Goes

It's still Monday but we are further into the day~

Hang in there warrior.




 

Neutral Colors Sympathy Card

This is one of my favorite sentiments for a sympathy card.

It empathizes with the recipient, yet highlights the love of those still remaining.

(stamps: Flourishes llc Calla Lilies   dies: Spellbinders Classic Circles,My Favorite Things Horizontal Stitched Strips)

I pulled the neutral rustic colors and circular panel from the following photo challenge:

& the center row from Just Us Girls.

*Die-cuts/Stamps/Flowers*

Hope your Monday isn't hitting too hard.

It's February, guys...

we survived the first month of the year!!!


Just remember that. ;)

Thank you for stopping by~