I'm flying high today...

 I'm flying high today!!!  For several reasons.  First of all because of the happy mail I received in my mailbox today.

The above card was sent to me from Carol...http://ourlittleinspirations.blogspot.com/
Carol knows that my favorite color is pink!  She has sent me several beautiful birthday cards in pink and I would NEVER get tired of seeing her pretty pink cards.  The above card is just perfection, Carol.  Thank you so much.

Carol, drove me to her favorite stamp store which has now become my favorite stamp store.  I also had the privilege of stamping with Carol several times.  She blows me away with her creativity.  The cards on her blog are lovely but even more so in person.  (she's fun too!)

 The next lovely card that I received in my mailbox is from Sue.  Sue is a/k/a  IrishGreenSue at Split coast stampers.  Sue doesn't have a blog, but here is her wonderful gallery at Split Coast

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/showgallery.php?cat=500&ppuser=113778

I had the privilege of meeting Sue in person two times at a stamp show.  

 

 The next card is from the very kind and creative Darnell.  This is the link to Darnell's blog.

http://www.djkardkreations.com/

Darnell's blog not only has beautiful creative cards and projects on her blog...it's so much fun to read her stories.  I always leave her blog with a smile on my face.  The above beautiful card also brought a smile to my face.  Thank you so much, Darnell,  for brightening up my day.

Okay,  Trust me this Choc crumb cheese cake with whipped cream tastes a lot better than the pic
I took.  It may also  be the fact that I couldn't wait to try a bite before I took a pic!

Indulge on your birthday...order dessert first!

Hubby asked me what I wanted to do today.  I told him go to a craft store!  I'm sure he didn't expect me to say anything else.  He took me to my favorite craft store.  (the one that Carol above first took me to)  I had a blast there!  Finding some new goodies and also meeting several ladies there (They were having a get together in the stores craft workshop area)  Some of them were members of  My favorite craft forum (Split Coast Stampers)  So we got to exchange blog addresses, etc.   It is so nice to meet people in person.  (Extra special when they enjoy crafting as much I do!)
It definitely made my day!  Thank you again, Ladies,(If you get to read this)  for letting me crash your party for a few minutes.  

Would you believe, Jim also took me to two more craft stores after that.  What a guy!  He gets a gold star today!  It would have been three but I think I missed the closing of the other store by just a few minutes.

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

Another Baby Card

Yesterday, It was a baby girl card, and now this time it's a baby boy card.

I have seen so many of these cards posted at Split coast stampers, and also on Pinterest.
The card was on my to do list for a while.  I finally decided to give it a try after watching a video on Utube by Jackie Topa

http://www.jackietopa.typepad.com/

Jackie makes it look really easy, and it is!  I used her directions in the video and added some Stickers that I had had for a very long time  (stickers were from KC& Company)  also added a little hanger I had on hand and some brads for the knobs.

"Babies are God's Opinion that the world should go on." Carl Sandburg)

Thank you for visiting me today
Blessings,
Jill

Baby card

 I managed to complete two projects tonight at craft night!  Only one of my craft buddies could come tonight, but we still had a blast crafting.  (My favorite thing to do! )   
Baby card was made using a rubber Stamp from Kaisercraft, stamped in Brown Memento ink. Used designer paper from Our Daily bead, added brads and a ribbon.


My neighbor helped me to finish another bracelet.  I did all the stitching on the bracelet...(she helped me correct my mistakes...smile).
The pattern for the bracelet was found on Pinterest.  It's a free pattern from 
www.AroundTheBeadingTable.com
It's called Stackers!

"Babies are a blessing from up above that fill our hearts with lasting love."

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

Center step card

This is sort of a mystery card.  The UNKNOWN image is one that my husband colored with copics many years ago, and I finally got around to making a card using it.

I don't know if the image was rubber stamped or if it was a digital image.
One of the reasons it probably took me so long is the fact that the image has a lot going on, and I did Not want to take away from the image by adding too much else on the card. 
...Thus the black background!
  Jim liked what I did with the image and that is what was most important to me.

I'm grateful that I managed to get another one of Jim's big box of colored images done...
Many more to go...

"Give this one day to thanks, to joy, to gratitude."
Henry Ward Beecher

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

Retirement Card

 A friend asked me to make a retirement card for her to give to her friend, and that is about all the information I received.  I struggled a bit as to what I could make for someone that I don't know or know anything about.  So, I hope she is happy with this card.

The front of the card is made using a computer generated sentiment that I cut out using Stitched Rectangle Layers die from Memory Box,  and Graphic 45 Designer paper.  I also used a die from SweetNSassy stamps,(Sun die)  added a button and a background dry embossed using a cuttlebug folder (Swiss dots)

This is the inside of my card.  I made it using a Sweet N Sassy stamp  (SNS-11-023 Ocean Paradise).
This is another NBUS stamp (Not been used before)  I'm trying very hard to start using my craft things that have been sitting a while.  I used Graphic 45 paper and paper pieced the umbrella.
I haven't made too many pop-up cards so this one took me a while to do.  I colored the chair with copics.

"Happiness is not having to set your alarm clock for the next day."

Thank you for visiting my blog
Blessings,
Jill

Merry Monday, Use Purple, White and Silver

I made this card for this week's Merry Monday Challenge...the link to the challenge can be found here...

http://merrymondaychristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2016/04/merry-monday-201-purple-white-and-silver.html

The challenge this week is to use Purple, White, and Silver on my card.

I had a problem photographing this card.

(I think this card will qualify for Darnell's boo boo challenge next year)

What my boo boo was .......is that I used shiny silver brads for the centers of my snowflakes.

They were (are) so shiny, that they worked like mirrors.  Every photograph I took showed ME

in the card...  Where the brads are you can could see ME holding my camera taking the

picture!    SMILE!   I know it made my hubby laugh.

I could NOT figure out how to take a pic without it reflecting me, so I had to scan this card instead.

My card was made using a spellbinder snowflake die and a EK success punch for the bottom border. I stamped my sentiment with a stamp from Stampin' Up. using Versamark and heat set it.  I added very SHINY brads and a ribbon to my card.

This is another card where I went to Pinterest for some inspiration.

I found this card that I cased

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/1705543

The card is by Biggan, and at Split Coast stampers it has over 23,000 views!

Thank you Biggan for the great inspiration.

Find something to smile about today!

(I know I sure did!)

Thank you for visiting my blog today,

Blessings,

Jill

I'm addicted to pinterest!

Inside of card

I am definitely addicted to Pinterest!  I have a feeling that I am not the only one.  

I have pinned so many things for inspiration, that I have decided that I need to stop pinning and start going back to see what I pinned, and see if I can use the pins for inspiration.

The  card that I cased...I first spotted on Pinterest, I'm surprised that I missed seeing it on Split Coast Stampers because so many people had put the card in their favorites...

Here is the link to the card that I cased..

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2325172?&limit=last7

It's a card made by darleenstamps...  I like her card better than mine, but I'm so happy to find this great inspiration.  Thank you Darlene.

My card was made using a stamp by Stampin' Up.  It's an oldie but one I still keep using a lot.  (Garden Silhouettes)  My designer paper and ribbon is also from Stampin' Up.  My sentiment is a NBUS stamp from SweetNSassy stamps.

I finished the inside of my card, something I don't usually do when I MAKE my cards.  I wait till I'm ready to send it to put something on the inside.

Do you finish the inside of your cards?

I think I'm going to start finishing more of my cards as I make them now...

The lady that had been my Mother's best friend, is carrying on the tradition of taking my sister and me out to lunch on our birthday every year.   Since our birthdays fall within one week of each other, it's especially nice to celebrate them together.  My Mother used to do that for us, and her best friend told my Mother that she would continue to do that for her. (in her memory)

Since she is so nice to do that for us.  I always make her a box of cards as a thank you and a box of cards for my sister.  They both like it when the cards are finished inside, and not just left blank.  So this year when I gave them each a dozen cards...I had to quick (because of short notice for our lunch date) try and do the insides of the cards.  I think it took me as long to do that as make the cards.  I hope to be better prepared for the next time if she takes us again.

I just wanted to add that I apologize for not visiting blogs as much, I don't spend as much time typing on the computer because of the pain in my shoulder.  Hopefully, when I go to my doctor's appointment I will get some relief from the shoulder pain and be able to be on the computer more.  The problem is...I could not get a doctor appointment till May!

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

Blessings,

Jill

Merry Monday Challenge #200

Here I am again, entering a challenge at the last minute!  I did NOT want to miss joining this special challenge.  It's the 200th Challenge at Merry Monday...  Something so special to celebrate!

The link to this great Challenge is here...
http://merrymondaychristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2016/04/merry-monday-200-multi-challenge.html

My card was made using a stamp from Inky Antics.  Since this is the first time that I have used this stamp I can call it a NBUS!  (not used before item)

I colored my image using colored pencils by Crayola.  I liked this image and definitely wished I had gotten it out earlier in the week, (and not the last minute) or I would have tried coloring it with copics.  I think the image would have  stood out more.

I used three different spellbinder dies making this card, (but forgot to write down the name of the dies).   I also added a brad from Stampin Up.

Thank you for visiting my blog today
Blessings,
Jill

Merry Monday Challenge #199

I made this card for this week's Merry Monday Challenge.
The challenge can be found here...

http://merrymondaychristmaschallenge.blogspot.com/2016/04/merry-monday-199-getting-sentimental.html

 This week the challenge is to make the sentiment the focus on the card.

My sentiment is a peel off that I purchased at a craft show last Saturday. ( I'm happy with myself because this is the third item I have used of my new purchases.  I usually don't get around to using them so quickly).

My Designer paper is from Stampin' Up.  I added peel offs, lace and ribbon and my card was done.

The card was probably one of the quickest cards that I have made in a while.  I can sometimes take days to complete a card.  Another one for my Christmas card stash....  I'm about at the half way mark in my goal for completing my Christmas cards.  I'm very thankful for this challenge that has helped to encourage me to getting to my goal.

"I will honor Christmas in my heart, and try to keep it all the year."

~Charles Dickens

Thank you for visiting my blog on this snowy day (Yes, it is snowing today, where I live)

Blessings,

Jill

Masculine cards

See Below for my card for the Our Daily Breads Design Challenge...

 Masculine cards are always difficult for me to make.  The card in my last post had lace, ribbons, pearls, etc on it.  It's more my style...

So I went looking for some inspiration to make a masculine card and I found this card on the Split Coast Stampers site...( a card made by Hejanderson... Hope the link works

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2368858?&limit=last1

The second card I made using two of the items that I purchased this past Saturday when I went to a stamp show.  I purchased the Gatsby stamp at the OUR DAILY BREAD DESIGNS booth.  I also purchased the banner die that I used on my cards.
My designer paper is from Stampin' up

Edited to add:
When I posted this card to my blog, I had looked at the challenge at "Our Daily Breads Designs, but I didn't think this card qualified.  I went back and reread the rules and I think it does, so I am adding this card to the ODBD challenge.

The challenge is a recipe challenge
Using the letters ODBD

My O - Our Daily Bread Designs stamp, Gatsby, (Artistic Outpost)
       D - Dies, I used the banner die from Our Daily Bread Designs
       B - brads, Birthday card
       D - Designer paper with Diamonds in it

The Challenge can be found here

http://ourdailybreaddesignsblog.blogspot.com/2016/04/odbdslc273-o-d-b-d-recipe-challenge.html

"Despite the forecast, live like it's spring."
~Lilly Pulitzer

In my area (even though the calendar reads spring...It does NOT feel like spring.  smile
Thought that would be a good quote for today

Thank you for visiting my blog today
Blessings,
Jill

PS.  I glued my second card crooked.  I started to reach for my "Unglue" when I remembered the hint to try and reheat it with a glue gun.  I tried that first and it worked!  I could take my crooked piece off and just reglue it and put it down straight on my second try.

I missed Darnell's boo boo challenge

 I made yet another Anniversary card, but this one isn't for a 50th Anniversary.

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I so wanted to post on Darnell's boo boo challenge...(You can find the link here)

http://www.djkardkreations.com/2016/03/lets-play-boo-boo-on-april-fools-day.html

The comments are so funny.  The problem is...I could relate to too many of the posts.
I have glued my card fronts upside down, I have glued them opening from the left instead of on the right.  I have accidentally smudged my cards with ink from my hands.  I have tried water coloring on paper NOT meant for water coloring (it did NOT work)  I have spilled water on my cards, etc.

Most of the time those cards end up in the trash can,    Unless I can manage to savage at least parts of the card.

One of my favorite products to use is Undu  (doing a disclaimer here, I don't sell or profit from this product in any way.  I just make enough mistakes that I need it, and it does work.

Someone had comments on one of the boo boo blogs that they just heat up the glue on the card again, using a heat gun, and the card will come apart.  I have never thought to try that.  Next time I have to try that first.

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill