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! 

Confession

Well, that's it.  I have to confess.  A few months ago I was gifted with Tim Holtz Wildflowers dies and stamps and I am not kidding--since then, all I want to do is play with them.  They are so incredibly versatile.  I have made dozens of cards with them and I can think of a many more projects. They make me happy.  Here are a few of my most recent.  These were inspired by cards on Pinterest and there are so many featuring these wonderful dies and stamps.

These lavender stems were cut out of water color paper and colored with Distress Inks.  I did several versions of this card, one using Spellbinders fancy oval and some using paper doilies.  I dragged some white seam binding through a puddle of water colored with distress inks and dried it to perfectly match the shade of violet for my bow.  

And another version using the small paper doily.  Slightly lighter shades of ink.

Thanks for looking.  Get a little creative this week.  It's good for us.

Hugs,

Kathy

Heart to Heart

Quickie post today with a couple of valentine cards and a little thank you card made for a dear friend who did a nice nice for me.  I have been intrigue with the new Tim Holtz Distress Oxide ink introductory videos.  I watched Tim and Jennifer McGuire each play with them. They are not going to be sold in the small cubes which disappoints me but I really like the inky beauty they produce.  I'm afraid some craft dollars will be spent for them (not all 12 though).  Thanks for visiting!  xoxo Kathy

Thankful

Hubby decided to have shoulder surgery over the holidays for a rotator cuff repair which resulted in my playing nurse and doing his chores along with my own.  I'm only sharing this because I had promised to post my Thanksgiving cards and was so busy I never got around to it.  So.....here it is.  I made quite a few of these just because they were such fun.  The silver mirror paper was perfect as a little tray for my pumpkin pie, the doily a perfect table cloth, while some liquid embroidery worked brilliantly for a dollop of whipped cream.  As always, thanks for looking.

Fall has fell

I've been busy working on a lot of projects, including coming up with a Christmas card prototype to mass produce.  Do any of you do that or do you create one-of-a-kind cards for each person on your list?  I'm just not that creative.  I found some banana paper in my stash from ancient times and thought it might do for some fall cards. It die cut beautifully. So i sent six of these out to my little Church ladies and a few for family members.  Entered Simon Wednesday Challenge Anything Goes.

So my Thanksgiving cards are almost done and I am SO happy with them. Here is a sneak preview.
Hugs, Kathy

October Birthdays

We have more birthdays in October than most any other single month so I've been busy.  I still have a couple to do but I thought I'd share these two.  I did the yellow version first and it just came together so quickly.  They're small, cute but have a bit of sass.  I'll probably think of something to add after I send them off.  Hugs, Kathy

Birthday Balloon Bonanza or Party in an Envelope

Like that alliteration?  I was an English major.  Just a quick post.  I've been making cards but haven't posted because they need to be received first.  This one is for a very special lady who is turning 79 next week.  I was going to go all sophisticated and flowery but then I thought we can't be there to throw her a party so I'll send a party in an envelope.   This is the cascading 3D fold that's so fun and easy to make.  Doodlebug Sweet Shoppe dp,  a Martha Stewart edge punch some gold embossing and a few die cuts.  The gold glitter paper I found at Michaels.  I guess I could call this everything but the kitchen sink.  Anyway, have a terrific weeeeeekend!  Hugs, Kathy  ( P.S.  Click on image for a closer look.)

Kind Words are Sweet Tones

Every month I make cards for some little ladies at church.  This month's theme was using kind words at home, so I cut up some loving little words and stuck them in a vellum Mason jar with a pretty pink gingham topper with a little doodling.  So simple but I had to make lots. 

Hugs,

Kathy

It's a Good Day

I love this sweet little fairy from  A Day for Daisies.  I felt like some fussy cutting, so here is my card.  I was going to add some sequins and sparkles but sometimes it's good not to guild the lily....or daisy.  Hope you're having a great weekend!  Hugs, Kathy

Sorry the photo is a bit wanky.  K

Hugs times 8 (or maybe 4)

Trying out a new tentacled Spellbinders In'spire die for a hugs card.  Bit of ink splattering, some seaweed stamping and clear sequins.  I gussied him up with some coarse gold embossing powder.  Can't decide if this octopus is playful or menacingly real looking.  Anyway, Crafty Cardmakers have a challenge where he is a perfect fit.

Crafty Cardmakers Challenge 171 By or Under the Sea

Hugs and Happy Friday!

Kathy