Never Tried a Macaron

I've never tried a macaron.

 

I think they are so pretty! 

 

 I haven't had the opportunity..but one day I will.

stamps: Altenew Halftone Circles/Handmade Tags  dies: Altenew Handmade Tags/Layered Rose leaves

The colors at Altenew inspired this creation~

 

Simon Says (Monday): Food and/or Drink 

 

 

 

Thanks for visiting~

Let's Pretend

If you're like me...your cards are on time.

 

Meaning, I create a card ON their birthday.

 

However, it still has to be mailed.

stamps: My Favorite Things Anything-but-Basic Birthday Wishes  dies: My Favorite Things Tree-mendous/Sttiched Dome Frames, Avery Elle Double Pierced Rectangles  other: circle punch 

This is one of my favorite sentiments in this set~

all are pretty real.

I went with these colors~

 

 

Work it Wednesday June 2018: The Great Outdoors

Thanks for stopping by friends~

 

Unstoppable

I truly believe God creates us for the generation we were born in.

 I marvel at my girlies' resiliency in this age of social media.

If I was left out of whatever back in the day...there wasn't a daily reminder to see.

If I was invited...there wasn't an instant recording shared immediately, far beyond my scope of influence.

I feel for kids these days...they can't slip without the threat of immediate humiliation spread out to friends of friends or strangers.

They have to. watch. their. every. move.

However, 

they-are-unstoppable!

 stamps: Dina Wakley Fashion Forward  other: Copics

 God gave this generation a resiliency to handle these particular challenges.

It's how they do.

 Sure, they can spell check their papers easily,

or find synonyms with a right click...did you know that?

Their friend can send a pic of notes.

They can download a book online, rather than hunt in a library or wait for a coveted resource to be returned.

Still, I like the world I grew up in and I pray pray pray for my girlies and their peers.

They need it!

Sincerely, Marlena

Simon Says (Wednesday): Anything Goes

 

 

Baby Elements

I struggle with baby cards,

 

 probably because I lean toward graphic and geometric designs.

 

This baby card, however, was fun for me.

 

stamps: Papertrey Ink Bitty Baby Blessings

Make It Monday #326: Inchie Elements

 hosted by Lexi Daly

 

Watch her tutorial...she's so efficient!  

Love the way she attacked it head on with strips of one inch tall.

Um, I probably would've gone the long route...working on 

each. and. every. individual. square....

and cried.

 

I did the smoosh thing with watercolor paper, Summer Sunrise ink and a water mister.

The stamp set (last call at Papertrey Ink now) is one of the few baby collections I have.

Since there are mini duplicates of the images...I used the larger ones for monotone contrast.

The sentiments in this set are perfect for inchies!

I'm also submitting this to the following challenge~talk about timing! 

Thanks for stopping by~

Citrus Sunshine

It's been gloomy doomy the past weekend,

 has anyone seen the sun???

stamps: WPlus9 Citrus Background Builders, Hero Arts Thoughtful Messages  dies: My Favorite Things Wonky Stitched Circles

I'll admit, however, rainy days are perfect for crafting~

there's zero guilt about staying in.

I created this with the following challenges in mind:
 

Simon Says (Monday): Food and/or Drink

 Simon Says (Wednesday): Bright and Cheerful

 Simon Says Work It Wednesday: Sunshine and Summertime

 Thanks for stopping by!

Papertrey Ink June Blog Hop Challenge

stamps: Papertrey Ink On the Wagon/Stamp-A-Faire 2014:1980's/Palm Prints/Half& Half sentiment   dies: Papertrey Ink Geode Layers/On the Wagon/Stamp-A-Faire 2014:1980's/Palm Prints

Papertrey Ink June Blog Hop Challenge

Worked on this card for a few hours and barely have time to post because I'm running out the door!

Hope to hop your blogs tomorrow~thanks for stopping by~

 

Lucky to Have You as a Friend

I feel like this card birthed itself...

you know?

I wasn't sure what I was going for until it was done.

Now I want to make more versions of it. ;)
 

stamps: Hero Arts Dress Up Stamp & Cut  dies: Hero Arts Dress Up Stamp & Cut/Stamp & Cut Yes, Papertrey Ink Geode Layers  other: Copics, Nail Polish drops, Papertrey Ink Modern Background Stencil

I love the power of friendships~especially among women.

We cry together, laugh together~the point is...we all need friends!

 Addicted to Stamps Challenge Challenge #297-Make Your Mark

 (Copic coloring and nail polish drips)

Thanks for stopping by, friends!

Heart of a Hippie

I bought this stamp set for the cool sentiment and image~

stamps: Unity Stamp Company Summer Girl  dies: Avery Elle Double Pierced Rectangles, Papertrey Ink Geode Layers

it totally suits my free spirit aunt.

I remember when she had long brown hair and 70's colors were swirling about.

I know those colors were bright back then~

 Simon Says (Wednesday): Bright and Cheerful

 but I stamped and colored on patterned paper so it has that vintage feel.


 I created a one-of-a-kind window for the wonderful sentiment.

 I didn't want it to get lost in the large space, so I filled the rest with a layer of vellum. I also distressed the edge that distinguishes the two layers~going for a hippie/worn look.

I added nail polish drips, sequins and Copic specks for embellishment~

Thanks for stopping by~ 

Explore

I was inspired to create tropically today~

stamps: Hero Arts Color Layering Hibiscus/Color Layering Graphic Flowers  pp: Crate Paper Gather, Simple Stories You are Here

The hibiscus flower has me thinking Hawaii, which has me thinking summer vacation~(most summers to visit my fam)

Simon Says (Wednesday): Bright and Cheerful

Simon Says Work It Wednesday: Sunshine and Summertime

This summer, however, is staycation city~so I'm bringing the tropics to me!

Have a good one friends~

Reverse Flowers Sympathy Card

Make It Monday #325: Flowers in Reverse

hosted by Dawn McVey

stamps: Papertrey Ink Bold Blossoms/Words of Comfort  dies: Papertrey Ink Bold Blossoms/Songbirds banner/Brushed Off Rectangle for a stencil

This challenge is appropriate for a sympathy card~

with the leaves displaying full color, rather than the flowers.

My new favorite pink is Pale Peony~so I matched it with outlines in Autumn Rose.

Both pinks sit on the warm side, and harmonize well. 

I did a little sponging on a brushed off rectangle, creating a subtle frame for the images to rest on.

 Thanks for stopping by~

Dream Higher Than the Sky

This is the year for male graduates, apparently~

 

stamps: Practical Publishing Hot off the Press Life's an Adventure, Verve Strong Anchor  dies: Winnie & Walter In a Word: Friend Cutaway, Taylored Expressions Crustaceans, Verve Nautical Die Set  pp: Authentique Seafarer

I used Authentique's  patterned panels to set the direction for this card.

The first, "Dream Higher than the Sky and Deeper than the Ocean" set this card in motion.

I stamped an airplane in the background and built the rest up with ocean themed images.

Thanks to the following challenge, I had a direction to steer toward

 ~see what I did there ~ :)

 

Simon Says (Monday): Transport It

Thanks for stopping by~

Masculine Colors Celebration

stamps & dies: Papertrey Ink Palm Prints/Celebrate Big (free customer appreciation set-Jan), Avery Elle Wonky Stitches

My color of choice for this week's Just Us Girls Challenge is blue added to black & red~

 

Love the bold color of red!

These colors are perfect for a masculine graduation card.

Thanks for stopping by~

Treat Yo Self Tropical

When I first saw this sentiment~I thought it was HILARIOUS. :)

I don't use it enough.

stamps: Essentials by Ellen Stay Golden/Abstract Paint Strokes  dies: Essentials by Ellen Stay GoldenTreat Yo Self

I stamped a collage from the following colors~mostly with images from Abstract Paint Strokes.

Ellen Hutson May Color Trends Challenge: Floral Fantasies

I used flowers from Stay Golden, and stamped/die cut the awesome pineapple crown.

Thanks for stopping by today~

Enjoy the Ride in Teal & Pink

I ordered this adorable set...motivated by the final last call for it.

stamps: Papertrey Ink Enjoy the Ride/Glorious Globes February flowers  dies: Papertrey Ink Mat Stack 3/Layerz Mat Stack 3, Avery Elle Wonky Stitches

Over the years, it kept getting booted out of my online cart by various sets I needed for specific cards.
When I saw Papertrey was discontinuing this design...I snatched one up.

Geez, I should have looked at the sentiments, because it's way more than a cute car and I could have justified it on that alone!

I was inspired by the colors in Michelle's card here~

love teal/turquoise and pink together!


Lately I'm squeezing patterned paper on my cards, hence the touches of orange too.
 

I'd like to use more of these paper packs I've piled up. :)

Thanks for stopping by~ 

Strong & Courageous Father

There are different dimensions of strong.

My dad is strong in the love department.

There is nothing...and I mean NOTHING my dad wouldn't do for family.

 He doesn't rule by fear; he rules by love.

He is constant in his kindness and he is a true patriarch.

 stamps: Practical Publishing Hot off the Press Life's an Adventure, Verve Strong Anchor  dies: Verve Nautical Die Set, Avery Elle Wonky Stitches  other: Love Nicole Seaside Paper Pad,Copic Marker for splatters

I know I'm blessed to have such an earthly father.

I'll stop now before I start bawling.

It's too early to cry today!

I'll talk about the card...

I did lots and lots of framing/matting to give levels here~including framing with smaller images like the anchor and wheel.

  Simon Says (Wednesday): Frame It

 I also want to share an inexpensive way to organize those free magazine stamps I've started collecting recently.

Those collections are HUGE!

 I found out that the plastic sandwich fits into binder sleeves.

 Recycle your kid's binder...that's what I did.

I kept the reference sheet and tucked it behind the set.

Thanks for stopping in friends!

~Untied Lei~

This is probably the most masking I've done in awhile!

stamps: Essentials by Ellen Stay Golden  dies: Essentials by Ellen Stay Golden, Avery Elle Wonky Stitches

It brings me way back to when I would shop for leis.

They would be displayed, untied, until purchased.

 I went with the gorgeous colors here, featuring the pineapple in one of my new favorite colors (a cross between anything peach and orange).

Ellen Hutson May Color Trends Challenge: Floral Fantasies

Thanks for stopping by!

Firing on All Cylinders

Dad's birthday is next month...but my stamps came in and I wanted to get the card done.

 

stamps: Unity Stamp Company All Cylinders

I started with alcohol inks, yupo paper and alcohol blending solution.

I used Staz-On black for the image, re-inking a few times with my Misti.

Funny thing is, I still haven't done his Father's Day card yet!

Goodness, talk about putting the cart before the horse!  ha!

Thanks for stopping by~

 

Watercolor Dress Up

I recently watched the second episode of The Toys that Made Us on Netflix.

It was about Barbie, but briefly covered paper dolls.

I forgot about paper dolls!!!

This is probably inspired by that. :)

stamps: Hero Arts Dress Up Stamp & Cut

The striped scrap was sitting on my table and I built the beautiful doll up from there.

 I created a similar friend to go with the peach/orange splash.

Simon Says (Monday): All Things Bright and Beautiful

The watercolored background fits the following challenge~

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Anniversary Dots

Make It Monday #324: Lots of Dots

hosted by Michelle Leone

 

 

My girlies pass their nail polish on to me when they've outgrown a color or brand.

 

I sometimes use them for dimensional purposes~like the dots featured in Make it Monday. 

stamps: Papertrey Ink Mat Stack 3 Collection/Garden Party  dies: Papertrey Ink Mat Stack 3/Layerz Mat Stack 3/Garden Party  stencil: Papertrey Ink Modern Background

The brush wasn't small enough for the dots I wanted here, so I used my embossing tool that came with my ancient Fiskars Shapeboss.

There's a small and larger nub that gives me more control of this teal color.

I added a Layerz Mat Stack die cut in a similar color.

Since I need an anniversary card for next month, this gave me the nudge~

Simon Says (Wednesday): Anniversary/Wedding

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Windmill Thanks

stamps & dies: Avery Elle Windmill  stencil: Papertrey Ink Modern Background

I was excited about the following photo~reaching in to my inner Ikea. ;)

Simon Says (Wednesday): Anything Goes

Since windmills are a source of power...

Yay Monday!

Husband always tells me...false enthusiasm is better than no enthusiasm. ;)

So yayyyy Monday!!!

Take care, friends~

Masculine Grad Card

I'm in need of masculine grad cards this year...
 

stamps: Papertrey Ink Glorious Globes Basics/On the Wagon  

dies: Papertrey Ink Glorious Globes Basics/On the Wagon, Spellbinders Classic Circles

Simon Says (Monday): Masculine

Thanks for stopping by!

Hope Anchors the Soul

 stamps: Papertrey Ink Rosie Posie/Inspired Hope Mini  dies: Papertrey Ink Rosie Posie/Inspired Hope/Geode Layers

HOPE.

It's powerful.

 Simon Says (Wednesday): Anything Goes

It's not so much that I have it,

but WHO I have it in.

Thank you so much for visiting!

Stay Cool in the Summer

 

stamps: Recollections Pool-Riffic  dies: Simon Says Stamp Script Thanks, Avery Elle Wonky Stitches,Recollections Pool-Riffic

It finally feels like summer is around the corner!

It's getting HOT outside...

so stay cool! :)


 

Simon Says Stamp Work It Wednesday: May 2018

sunshine/summertime

Thanks for stopping by!




 

Cascading Die Cuts

I've barely started Christmas cards...

but here's one for the pile!

 

stamps: Papertrey Ink Make It Market Kit: Tinsel & Tags  dies: Papertrey Ink Geode Layers/Make It Market Kit: Tinsel & Tags

I was inspired by the following challenge to bring out my tiniest dies and stamps~

Make It Monday #323: Cascading Die Cuts

hosted by Stephanie Gold

LOVE what I learned here~especially lifting the ends up!

Thanks for stopping in friends~