Veteran's Day Hugs

Still been using up the little GinaK designer paper pack I ordered on a whim with a larger order last month.  I love Fall colors (doesn't everyone).  So here are a few more cards.

Poppies, Veteran's Day, Remembrance and hugs

There's something so satisfying about die cutting copper foil.

Til next time, happy Fall y'all!

Kathy

Surrender to November

It's my birthday month and a week after, the birthday of my dear and youngest daughter who is now adulting very successfully.  I seem to make an inordinate number of birthday cards.  Here are two more from the past few weeks.  My dear bonus daughter Jennifer loves the frogs, so when I see a cute one, I snag it.  This guy in his tuxedo was perfect.  I printed him, colored him (Prismacolors), fussy cut his little butt out and planted him in a "pond" of pretty blue paper.  I find him quite charming for a slimy reptile.

Our granddaughter Meleea turned 15 and has retained her sweet little girl love of unicorns (hey, I'm happy she's not into Goth), so this chunky Stampinup unicorn had to be the star of her birthday card this year.  I admit I totally swiped the design from an incredible Australian cardmaker named Bronwyn Eastley because...well look at it.  SO cool!  

It's Thursday so weekend is coming up soon.  Our weather here in Arizona couldn't be lovelier.  Blue skies for miles and all the plants in our garden are blooming.  I know.  Strange.  It's an Arizona thing.

Hugs,

Kathy

Babies and Birthdays

Couple of birthdays for a couple of sweet Church ladies so I decided to make duplicates.  Then we heard the news that the family welcomed a new baby boy into the clan so time to make a baby boy card--I love making baby cards!

This Gina K designer paper was perfect for October birthday cards.  It has a bit of a sheen to it unlike most designer paper but the colors and leaf design are so pretty.  I die cut the focal leaf out of some copper sheet paper I've had forever in my stash and highlighted it on a matted cork circle.  Couple of Nuvo drops and done.

These Marianne Designs dies are so perfect for baby cards.  The little deer is adorable and that baby script is to die for.  Sentiment is by Mama Elephant.

Thanks for dropping by!

Kathy

There is magic all around...

Stampin Up puts out some really good quality cute stamp sets.  I pulled out one of my favorites--the charming little wizard in Magical Kingdom set  (don't go looking for it--it's retired).  What an easy card. I used a computer generated sentiment because it's Stevie Nicks....'nuff said.

This birthday card uses a Inkblot Shop stamp set Flopsy Birds for its cute flamingos.

Have a terrific weekend.  Our winter lawn came in thick and green. Arizona's two most appreciated seasons are Fall and Spring.  The weather is perfect!

Oh baby!

I'd been eyeing this Marianne Designs little deer die for a long time, but the company is European and it's not easy to always find their products here.  I lucked out!  An Etsy seller had one for a very reasonable price and it arrived just as I heard that a friend back home in California had a new baby girl.  Here's my card which should have been received by now.  The  deer and "baby" script are both Marianne dies.

More soon.  Hugs, Kathy

Encouragement

It seems as though too many of my friends are going through some difficult challenges.  When the miles separate good friends and loved ones, and we can't take them over a plate of cookies or run an errand for them, we must make do with a greeting card. Here are two I recently sent hoping to remind them that they are loved.  

I used the Memory Box Palace Oval frame with some mirror cardstock 

(which does NOT photograph well) and added an encouraging sentiment.  

This is the Spellbinders Hemstitch rectangle die and IO Birds on 

a Branch. I used one of my favorite quotes inside: 

"Faith is the bird that feels the light when the dawn is still dark." 

Here's to a happy productive new week!

Hugs,

Kathy

Bubbling Along....

Just a quickie.  This adorable stamp set by Picket Fence Studios features Kylee Boo and some wonderful sentiments.   I'll post the set with my card.  Our 90 year old sweetheart Aunt Jessie in San Antonio has suffered a couple of falls so I sent this card to her.   We've had news of the death of one of my old high school girlfriends, a sweet niece diagnosed with cancer in three places, a neighbor beginning stem cell treatment in her long standing fight against cancer.  Encouragement cards are sometimes the hardest but sometimes a card is all I can offer.  Thought for the day?  Life and health are blessings not to be taken for granted. 

Don't you love for ever and ever and ever and ever?   Can't wait to use that one.

Hugs,

Kathy

Quilting Bee Anyone?

I promised last post I would show you some paper quilting.  If you feel like a fussy but cool project, I highly recommend it.  Pick out some pretty designer patterned papers (I prefer tiny prints) and cut out squares, then cut them diagonally and play with color/pattern placement for a pretty card.

Hope your week is going well.  I've got several projects on my craft table at the moment, so more to come in a day or two.

Hugs,

Kathy

Sharing a few more...

I thought I'd share a few of the cards I've made during my "blog-cation" and that's quite a few cards actually.

Here's a couple of Mother's Day cards made for my sweet mom-in-law.  The first one is a bouquet of Tim Holtz Wildflower dies that I watercolored using Distress Inks.    The second I took advantage of Graphic45 beautiful Secret Garden paper and a lot of Kaiser pearls.

It's hard to go wrong with pretty posies on feminine cards.  Next post I'll show you some paper quilting.  Click on images for larger view.

Happy weekend my friends,

Kathy

Awesome in Wild Clover

A 2nd post in a week--I think I'm on a roll.  My daughters are all grown up now but it's so easy to bring up memories of first days of school, birthday parties, vacations--you know.  So now I have grandchildren starting new school years and they are amazing kids. Their mom, my eldest, decided to return to university to complete her degree.  Not only did she return, she returned and excelled and is now an honors student.  So, to all the members of my family who are pursuing their education, here's to an awesome new year!

Used my new Technique Tuesday Wild Clover set.  I don't usually buy the coordinating dies for stamp sets, because they leave a white border and I prefer to fussy cut my images close.  I decided to turn this "detriment" (in my eyes) to an asset letting the white border contrast against the dark dotty paper background.  I've used my current favorite Spellbinders Hemstitched Oval Die and water colored the image with Distress Inks.  Thanks for looking!

Hugs,

Kathy

Brushing off the cobwebs

With Instagram and Facebook it's just been easier posting my cards there, and I have neglected (more like ignored) this blog completely.  I'm not even certain I remember how it all works....my memory can be bad sometimes.  Anyway, for sentimental reasons I'm not ready to let it go, so this is my attempt keep it rolling.  Here are a few recent cards.

This graphic was found on Pinterest.  I searched and searched for a name to give credit but never found its creator.  It makes such a lovely card of encouragement.  I've made several.

This is my Independence Day 2018 card using lots of texture.

Another "just because" card using some distress oxide ink blending and spritzing.  Inlaid happy die.

More ink blending and spritzing.  Distress Oxide inks are amazing.

 Stamped embossed sentiment on vellum

Happy weekend, crafty friends!