Dad's Bday

Dad's birthday isn't until July...but I'm ready!

 

(stamp:Hero Arts Operation Write Home sentiment  other:We R Memory Keepers Gemstone Embossing folder,Cuttlebug Diamond Plate Embossing Folder,Pink Paislee Licorice Chipboard Alphabet,About Time Travellin' Cars Rub-On)

Sister sent me FUN FUN scrapbook hand-me-downs ..rub on trucks and alphabet letters.

Not to mention, the following challenges which motivated this card...

This dynamic sketch from CAS(E) this Sketch...

Time Out Challenge #55

Celebrations with optional twist of die cutting/fussy cutting

 (I applied the truck rub-on to black cardstock and fussy cut it and the "happy" sentiment)

(I was inspired by the chrome shine in this photo-hence the papers and embossing folders chosen)

Simon Says (Monday) Challenge: Show Us Your Metal 

~metallic paper~

Thanks for stopping by, blog friends~

Sympathy Card With Black Leaves

I managed another sympathy card.

Why won't I learn to make these when I don't need them?

It would make it easier on my nerves, seriously.

(stamp:My Favorite Things Flowers sentiment  dies:Papertrey Ink Songbirds,Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Elle-ments,My Favorite Things Stitched Ovals)

 Simon Says (Wednesday): Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday Challenge #228-229:Anything Goes

 Perhaps the one thing useful about me waiting until it's painful to create...is that I'm praying for the recipient as I work.

We grieve together.

Thank you for your sweet visit~

Loved

Unfortunately, I need sympathy cards.

This one is for a sweet, classy lady~

the wife of our recently deceased pastor.

(stamps:Papertrey Ink Rosie Posie& Step 2,My Favorite Things Flowers sentiment  dies:Papertrey Ink Rosie Posie & Step 2/Circle Scribbles)

She is precious to me (as was him...can't even talk about it guys or I won't be able to function...).

Fortunately for me...there is a lovely photo to draw inspiration from.

I gave a touch of lavendar within and behind the florals...

as well as keeping it CAS & classy like the guest artist, Lynn Mangan.

I'm also sharing at

Simon Says (Monday) Challenge: Show Us Your Metal 

~metallic paper~

If I can manage another sympathy card...I'll share it too.

Thanks for stopping by~

Smile Tag Card

This is a just because card, 

for those just because moments.

(stamp:Papertrey Ink Happy Trails dies:My Favorite Things Stitched Ovals,Avery Elle Dotted Elle-ments,Sizzix tag)

The little doodlybop bow on the black one is made from thin slivers of paper from metallic cardstock.

It's just the right thickness to hold a wiggle or two!

There's a tiny staple above it~

Simon Says (Monday) Challenge: Show Us Your Metal 

~metallic paper, staple~

Simon Says (Wednesday): Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by today~

April 2016 Blog Hop Challenge

(stamps:Papertrey Ink The Sweet Life roses/Mighty Oak  die:Papertrey Ink Mighty Oak  other:wood sentiment)

Papertrey Ink April 2016 Blog Hop Challenge

Nichole mentions looking beyond the geometrics to see the layers and intensity of color.

I took the trio rose silhouette from The Sweet Life and overlapped  colors to create a peaceful tree.


Thanks for stopping by!

Shine & Smile

This card came from a happy trio of colors~

(dies:Papertrey Ink Sparkle & Shine Words/Songbirds banner,Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Banner Duo)

These colors sing summer to me!!!!
 

This card came from a rainbow of colors~

 (stamps:Waltzingmouse Teeny Trees  dies:Simon Says Stamp Greeting Blocks,My Favorite Things Blueprints 11,Spellbinders Wonky Rectangles)

Here's hoping you have a great day~thanks for stopping by~

Lemon Squeeze

I LOVE me some citrus images.

(stamp:Flourishes Tiny Tags & Flowers  die:Memory Box Sour Citrus Wedges)

Check out this refreshing photo at Just Us Girls..

Let's get ready for summer!!!

 Yessss, bring on the bright colors, fruit & sunscreen.

 Simon Says (Wednesday):Make It Girlie

Just Add Ink #308: Just Add "M"

(Memory Box dies)

Count Your Rainbows

I've had my eye on this sentiment set for years & finally picked it up.

 

(stamps:Papertrey Ink Super Stripes, Inkadinkado Friendly Advice  die:Avery Elle Rounded Diamonds  other:confetti)

I love the way kids see the world~

 We still quote phrases from when our girlies were littles.

Some of them will go down in history!

I was inspired by this week's

 The Challenge #69:Rainbow Heart Inspiration~

Today is the perfect day for this sentiment...it's so gloomy here!

We were spoiled with sunny skies and warm temps this week~glad I didn't stash my winter/fall clothes too far away.

Thanks for stopping in~

Inside & Out

I went with abstract today...

 (stamp: Verve Learning to Sail  dies:Avery Elle Rounded Diamonds)

and pastel colors...

just because it's Thursday. 

Thursdays are like that~

Floating Gems of Nature

Butterflies are floating gems of nature, in my opinion.

Hence, my train of thought when framing and stamping this beautiful journaling card.

(stamps:Winnie & Walter My Precious sentiments  dies:Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Elle-ments  other:We R Memory Keepers Inked Rose Journaling Card)

 The butterflies were already there...I just added sentiments & "sparkles" (inked in grey).

Simon Says Stamp (Monday) Challenge:Butterfly Beauty

 Simon Says (Wednesday):Make It Girlie

Thank you for your visit today~

 

Choose Joy Today

I think joyful people ARE joyful...

but I think they choose it.

I mean, everyone has problems, right?

(stamps:My Favorite Things Flowers  die:My Favorite Things Cross-Stitch Oval Stax)

 That's why I love this sentiment. :)

 It's a reminder to actively choose joy...

rather than just expect to receive it.

I would love to insert that new "thinking face" emoji...

right.

here.

Thanks for stopping by~

 

Hold Your Breath Father's Day Card

Hold your breath, Marlena is aiming for perfection.

(stamp:Verve Strong Anchor  dies:My Favorite Things Cross-Stitch Oval Stax,Avery Elle Dotted Elle-ments,Sizzix tag)

 Okay, maybe not perfection, 

but it felt like meticulous surgery, lining up the elements. ;)

I tried to keep it as neat and intentional as possible...

just like my dad.  

As I was placing each piece down, I'm thinking...

"don't breathe, steady...steaaaady..."

hahahaha 

Just Add Ink #307 Colour

 Thanks for stopping by!

Never Give Up

I had another wood sentiment I wanted to use.

(stamp:Verve Learning to Sail star  dies:Verve Wavy Hearts/Build a Poppy  other:Sassafras flower,wood sentiment,confetti and sequins)

 I die cut openings with "Build a Poppy" for the fun paper to play peek-a-boo through.

Here's the inspiration~

 I say YES to color!! 

I can't wait for warm weather~how 'bout you?

 Thanks for stopping in~

 

PeAcE & lOvE

Peace & love are not easy.

It's messy business, folks.

Literally.

I peeled the wood sentiment off this sheet, and it broke~right at the swirly.

Go ahead, zoom in.

Check out the disaster, I'll wait.

(stamps:Papertrey Ink Rosie Posie  die:My Favorite Things Sentiment Strips  other:My Mind's Eye Picket Fences cardbase)

I know, right? ugh.

 

 

But you know what?

 

 

It's perfect.

 

 

 It's a perfect illustration of peace & love.

 

 

It's an awkward, messy business that involves salvaging brokenness, humbling of personalities, and well, no where near perfection.

But if a relationship can be restored...

 

 

it's worth it.

(the larger confetti is green~but it's reflective and hard to see~sorry!)

Hold out for love & peace if you can...and pray like crazy for a forgiving heart.

I've seen miracles occur in this regard~and it sure takes less energy than hate, once pride is laid down.

That's all I have to say about that. :)

Classy Hat Lady

I wear hats all the time.

It's mostly because I'm too lazy to do my hair. :)

Not like back in the day...

there were classy ladies who did their hair 

and THEN

 placed a hat on!

So classy.

(stamps: Hero Arts Year Round Sentiments OWH, Dylusions So Many Hats   die:Simon Says Stamp Greeting Blocks)

 There's a NINETY+  sweet lady who sits a row in front of my family at church.

You'll spot her fancy hat after Spring.

When I admire her hat, she's waves the compliment away, and states she can't handle sun.

smile.

Surrrre, it's only the sun. :)

CLASSY & HUMBLE~such a sweet combination!

Simon Says: Let's Do the Polka

(polka dot washi tapes)

Thanks for swinging by~

 

Create Along With Us April 2016

Papertrey Ink Create Along With Us April 2016

(stamps:Papertrey Ink Rosie Posie 2/The Sweet Life  dies:Papertrey Ink The Sweet Life)

Check out Betsy Veldman's amazing card.

I reached for my multi-stamp sets, The Sweet Life & Rosie Posie Step 2.

There are partials here and there~

popping with color over black, like her stunning creation.

 Her duo-colored butterflies inspired my trio of roses inked in pink and orange (over yellow).

The hardest part was choosing what flowers NOT to include.

I loved them all and could have covered the panel!

Thanks for stopping by~

You've Got This

I went with a simple creation today~

I LOVE this huge sentiment!

(stamps:Avery Elle Brushed  die:My Favorite Things Wonky Stitched Circle Stax  other:Want2Scrap rhinestones)

Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday March 2016:Use Pastel




I know it's only the middle of the week~but you've got this!!!


Take it to the finish line guys~

Pastel Scripture

I love this verse.
 

(stamps: Our Daily Bread Designs Scripture Series 3  die:Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Banner Duo)

I mean, who doesn't have worries?


We all do at some point.


There are times I pray just for the faith to pray. :)


Seriously.

ODBDSLC273 O-D-B-D Recipe Challenge

O-Our Daily Bread Designs Stamp
D-Die Cut
B-Blue Sequin bling
D-Designer Paper

Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday March 2016:Use Pastel

Thanks for stopping by~

Happy Birthday Red & Blues

I have multiple journaling cards, so I grabbed a red & blue one and built up from there~

(stamps:Papertrey Ink Rosie Posie/Winter Woods)

Simon Says Challenge (Wednesday): Happy Birthday

(reds, blues, and woodgrain stripes)

I don't often add ribbons to my work, but this rickrack wanted to ground this card. :)


You know you've been cooped up too long in the craft room when you imagine your supplies with feelings.


ahem.


"Rainy days and Mondays always get me down..." comes to mind on this dreary day in my neck of the woods.


I'm not down, but I ammm getting sleepy....



Thanks for brightening my day~

Blue Color Isolation

I need another teacher card for the end of the year.

(stamps: Papertrey Ink City Scene/Teach & Inspire)

The technique at MIM is perfect for a CAS creation~

Make It Monday #245:Color Isolation

hosted by Ashley

I don't use my city stamps as much as I'd like ~ this gave me a chance to play around with the buildings.

 By partially inking them, I aimed for a graphic feel.

Thanks for stopping by~

 

Another Christmas Card

I created another Christmas card~and it's not even July yet!!!

(stamps:Hero Arts Joy to the World)

I'm so proud of me. :)

A Blog Named Hero:Clean & Simple

Thank you for your sweet visit!

Thankful Washi Card

So, I've officially boarded the washi train.

I thought I had all the washi I needed until I saw a classy design (bottom row of my card).

sigh.

Thankfully washi is inexpensive and worthwhile, if I actually use it.

So, today I used it.

A lot.

(die:Papertrey Ink Counting My Blessings)

I layered and layered washi for a multilayered festival of patterns like this inspirational photo.


TIME OUT Challenge #54 Home Sweet Home

I washied a strip of neon and then cut with a word die for that dipped look.

The letters emerge into white space like the top trim of this fun hutch.

Thanks for stopping by~it's a blessing to see you. ;)

Hello Blue Green Black

I picked up a navy washi set recently and wanted to utilize~

 Initially I laid them straight on the green, but the pop wasn't enough for me.

  I reapplied layers on white and die cut with a banner die and trimmed.

 (stamps:Avery Elle Brushed, Newton's Nook Fanciful Florals dots   dies:Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Banner Duo,Papertrey Ink Songbirds  other:washi)

I miss bright colors sooo bad in my dreary land...so this pic has me loving neon~

I love anything goes challenges too~

Simon Says Stamp (Wednesday): Anything Goes 

  Word Art Wednesday:Challenge #224-225-Anything Goes

Thanks for stopping by!

HASHTAG NO

I have another for TIME OUT, but I don't know if my fingers can type all I wanna say in time...let's just see if I can, shall we?

(stamps:Studio G,My Favorite Things Let's Hang Out masked off "no"   dies:Avery Elle Wonky Stitches Elle-ments,Sizzix tag  other:washi & enamel dots)

I have this fun hashtag my girlies gave me forever ago...it came with three other random keyboard stamps.

 I decided to take the TIME OUT challenge *link below* and go this route, because lately my girlies are learning the beauty and strength of NO.

Teenage girls need to learn it, don't you think?

Peer pressure is a powerful thing~but so is God.

He gives them the courage to say "no"...even to seemingly innocent situations, in order to say "yes" to where He wants them to be.

TIME OUT Challenge #53

 'A woman is like a tea bag - you can't tell how strong she is until you put her in hot water' by Eleanor Roosevelt

Thanks for stopping by~