My word of the year

 For several years now I have been picking a word for the year.
Some past words have really worked for me such as "Believe" and "Breathe"
I had also picked the word" Joy", and then the word "Focus"
The word Focus NEVER worked for me...I always seem to think of it as Unfocused,
Unclear, etc.  (The way I was feeling at the time...)

I was having trouble picking a word for this year...so I googled Word of the year,
and a website came up that would help you pick a word of the year by answering a few questions.
The word that came up after that was     BLOOM!
(It made me wonder if everyone would be given that word...smile)

I then found a website that offered some free printables like the one I have posted above.
(Forgot to write down the link)  I'll try to post the link later...
anyway, I like the positive words on the poster, and I had fun coloring all those "Blooms!"

The link to the free printable that I used can be found here...
https://papercraftsecrets.com.au/



Coloring the free printable was very relaxing and very inspirational.  So I decided to try and make my first BLOOM card

My card was made using the wreathe builder technique.
I used a stamp that came with a magazine I had purchased.

"Simply Cards" Issue 191
I colored my blooms with copics...
and my sentiment is a PSX stamp 
Stamped with Memento ink.

Remember "Good things are going to happen"
Thank you for stopping by my blog today
Blessings,
Jill

Anniversary cards

Now that I know that the Anniversary cards that I mailed out were received.  I can post them.

As usual my cards went out late.  No matter how hard I try to keep up with birthday's Anniversary cards, etc.  I seem to always be late.  At least all my Christmas cards arrived before Christmas this year.  (That was a big accomplishment for me!)

I had three Anniversary cards I needed to send out the end of  December.  I totally forgot.!  I guess I was too busy making Christmas cards.  

Both cards were made using a stamp set that came with the Cardmaking and Papercraft Magazine #194.  My pink swan card pretty much followed the example of the card that they displayed in
the magazine.  I usually try not to copy cards exactly, but I liked the design so much, and as I said before I don't SELL my cards so I try not to worry too much about that.

I used copics where I needed to color, and added dimensionals to pop up the swan images.

Thank you for visiting my blog today
Blessings,
Jill

The Secret Garden

One of my new year resolutions was....that I would post more on my blog...

Here it is 12 days into the New Year and this is my first post...
Hopefully, I will  do better as the year goes on...

This is a pop up book card...I found the instructions to make this card here...
https://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/popupbookcard/

As I have said in a previous post I love to read.  (I'm addicted to reading)  and now I'm addicted to making cards using this fold.

My paper is from Graphic 45, (French Country)  I used a PSX stamp  (Yes, an oldie, but still a favorite of mine)  the  bird house die is from Impression Obsession.

Thank you for visiting my blog today
Blessings,
Jill

TLC417 Technique challenge using washi tape

Click on image to enlarge

I made this card for this weeks Technique challenge at Split Coast Stampers.
I enjoyed doing the challenge last week so I thought I would try it again...
This week the challenge was to use Wahi tape on our cards.
I have several different Washi tapes that were just sitting in my drawer...Never think to use them on my cards.

My card was made using a stamp from Sweet  'N Sassy cards . I paper pieced the dress using some Unknow (to me) designer paper.  I added the "ruler" washi tape, and the sentiment was computer generated.  I also added a charm to my card.

Thank you for visiting my blog today
Blessings,
Jill

TLC757 Recessed Panel card

This is for this week's technique challenge at Split Coast stampers.

I can't begin to tell you how long it's been since I did a techniue challenge there.
I'm glad I stopped by because this is a technique that I always wanted to try.  I know I will be using this technique more.

I used stampin' Up paper for my background and my sentiment is from Stampin' Up'
"Perfect Pennants"  I added some peel offs and used some dimensionals.


Oh before I forget.  If anyone read my last post...I FOUND MY MISSING STAMP!
It was a small sentiment stamp,    When I went to use my Versamark to heat emboss my sentiment for this card.....I found my stamp stuck to the top of my Versamark stamp pad!

I hope everyone has a great weekend.   For Jim and I we will be celebrating our Anniversary by
(hopefully) going out to dinner at a restuarant that we have never tried before.

Thank you for visiting my blog today
Blessings,
Jill

Sympathy card

I needed to make a sympathy card.  I grabbed a stamp that I have from Our Daily Bread Designs to make the background.  I covered over the image with velum.  I heat embossed a sentiment on top of the velum.  Would you believe that after I made this card I could not find the stamp?  It walked off my table.  I looked everywhere for it.  Places I often find lost stamps are like under my score Pal, or stuck to cardstock, or somewhere on the floor, etc.  Hopefully it will walk back to my table sometime.  I definitely like using the acrylic and vinyl stamp the best.  Easier to store the stamps, etc.
But I have to say, it was rare when I lost a wood block stamp.  smile.

Thank you for visiting my blog today.
Blessings,
Jill

Another tulip card

Yes, here I go again, another card made using The stamps from my card magazine.
I think I'm up to about 12 cards using this magazine.  I feel like I did get my Money's worth with this magazine.  I Colored my stamped image with copics.  My background paper is from Stampin' Up, added a doily and a ribbon...

Thank you for visiting my blog today
Blessings,
Jill

More cards made with supplies from my "Cardmaking and Papercraft Magaine"
I used the free papers for my backgrounds for my cards.

Second card was stamped with a stamp from Sweet NSassy 
The third card I used a die from Penny Black...
The fourth card I used a peel off for the sentiment and a sticker...

Still trying to use up some of my supplies...

Thank you for visiting my blog today
Blessings,
Jill

May today be a day of Happy memories

I'm still using my craft magazines to help motivate me to make cards.  I like the pretty background papers in the magazine, and, obviously, this was made from one  of the background papers in the magazine!


Thank you for stopping by my blog today
Blessings,
Jill

Birthday card for Chris

Just a quick card I made for my grandson for his birthday.  I used the rubber stamps that were found in the "Stamping creative Stamping Magaine.

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

Yes, Pink is my favorite color!

 Click on pictures to enlarge

Yes, More Stained Glass cards, or I guess I should say cards made with my Stained glass looking rubber stamps.
I think I am addicted to this stamp set.  I will add a sentiment to the cards when I mail them.

I mentioned when I did a previous post with the Orange Tiger lily images... that I forgot to take a photo of the Tiger lilies in our yard....but then I remembered that I did take a picture of the pink Lilies.

In the photo you may be able to tell that there are still a lot o buds there,  I should have tried taking another photo  one  or two later.    

Would you beleive that my husband counted how many flowers and buds were there?  Yes he did...He told me he counted about 200.

Thank you for visitng my blog today
Blessings,
Jill

Stained glass flower cards

Click on card to enlarge

I'm still enjoying using the stamps I found in the magazine that I purchased...

The one that I posted about yesterday.

I colored my images with copics.

(I'm not that great with using copics, so these cards have been giving me

some much needed practice).

The images remind of how our yard looked a few weeks ago.,

The one side of our house was a profusion of orange tiger lilies.

I wish I had taken a photo so I could have posted it here...

Thank you for visiting my blog today,

Blessings,

Jill

Twofer Card Challenge #18 gardens

 Click on pictures to enlarge

I made these two cards for this month's Twofer Card Challenge...
The link to the challenge can be found here

https://twofercardchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/07/twofer-card-challenge-18.html

You can also hit the Twofer Icon on my side bar...

I made by cards using a stamp that I found the "Cardmaking and Papercrat" magazine
I colored my images with copics...

Thank you for visiting my blog today,
Blessings,
Jill

JUdi's birthday card

 I am so sorry that you have to look at a crooked card.  I took a quick pic of this card,
and then quickly put it in the mail.  It was already late for my friend's birthday (I should just make some belated cards to keep in my stash).  The problem isn't so much making the cards on time...    It's getting them in the mail in time.

This is what I do on cold and snowy days... besides making cards and jewelry... read, above are books written by some of my favorite authors...

Thank you for visiting my blog today
Blessings,
Jill

Warm Thoughts to you...

Click on photo to enlarge

This week it will be 9 years since I lost my beautiful Mother.

I was trying to think of a card I could make that could kind of be a tribute to her.

My grandmother loved to sew and spent many hours at her sewing machine, and I was the happy recipient of many lovely dresses that she made for me.  My  mother, following in her mother's footsteps, also liked to sew.  I still have a small quilt that she made that I sometimes wrap around my shoulders while I'm sitting at my computer typing on a chilly night.

For many years I liked to sew, and made many clothes for my daughter when she was young.  I also spent many hours at my sewing machine.  (Don't ask me how long it's been since I last sewed...I sure don't remember).  I keep saying that one of these days I will get back to it.   It seems that my computer,  My greeting cards, my jewelry making, and reading...call out to me instead this days.

Thank you for visiting my blog today

Blessings,

Jill

My Son-in-Law's Birthday

Click on cards to enlarge

Today is my son-in-law's card so the first card I posted today is his birthday card.  Both cards use the SweetNSassy stamp "Tender Thoughts."  The first card is a side step card, and the second card is an easel card.

I have a weekly craft night at my house  (almost weekly anyway...life seems to get busier and busier for everyone.)

My one neighbor who comes wanted to use my Sweet N Sassy deer stamp for a card, but wasn't sure how she wanted to make her card.  I made these two so she could have some samples to choose from.  She liked the side step card so she made one too.

Thank you for visiting my blog today,

Blessings,

Jill

Twofer Challenge Birds

 Click on cards to enlarge

I finally managed to make another Twofer Challenge.  I've only

managed to make one Challenge.    I've already managed to make one card for the challenge and then by the time I got around to trying to make a second one the challenge time was up...(what can I say...I'm slow at making cards!)

For this challenge you are to make two cards with the same stamp or die, but they have to be for two different occasions and two different designs.

The link to the challenge can be found here...

https://twofercardchallenge.blogspot.com/2019/01/twofer-card-challenge-12.html

I made my bird cards using a stamp (and matching die) that was in a magazine I purchased..."Simply cards and papercraft" issue 165.

I colored my birds with copics, and used Graphic 45 paper for my backgrounds.

On my first card I used peel offs, the sentiment was stamped with a stamp that came from the same magazine.

The second card I used a sentiment that came from SweetNSassy, and I paper pieced my birdhouse.  I added a vine using a die from Cheery Lynn Designs,  the die is called Fanciful Flourish B117.

Thank you for visiting my blog today

Blessings,

Jill

More poppy cards

 Click on cards to enlarge

I had posted a pink poppy card a few weeks back,  and now here comes my purple poppy card, and my yellow poppy card.

I used a stamp by stampendous...Pretty Poppies  CRS5096

colored the cards with copics.

I gave these two cards as Christmas gifts, I forgot to take pics of the little sentiment cards that I enclosed inside the cards. For each of the cards.  I made up three sentiment cards...each with a different sentiment, One for a Birthday card, one for a Sympathy card, and sentiment that could be used for everyday.  I put strips of removable tape on the back of the sentiment squares so that they could pull off the tape liner and put down which sentiment they wanted to use for their card.

Speaking of Yellow

I made the above card for a former classmate of my daughter.  We were talking at my daughter's Christmas party when I told her that I could not participate in some of the games because I have vertigo right now.  She asked how I got that because she told me that she had the same problem.  I told her how my hubby at to take me to the emergency room a few weeks ago because of it and some other problems.  I thought that when he took me to the emergency room that they would treat me, maybe keep me for the night!    But No, they kept me for a few days and while I was there....because of the dizziness, that I was feeling, I wasn't allowed out of bed.

My daughter's friend looked at me, and said "Did they give you the yellow socks?"  

I said "Yes!"   And that's how I found out that was the code for me not being allowed to get out of bed.  When my mother was in the hospital she always came home with slipper socks but they were always blue or another color.  I don't ever remember her having "yellow" socks!

To me that was a perfect opportunity to make a personalized card for my daughter's friend.

I made the card to read...

The stockings were hung...

and on the inside

by the chimney with care.

knowing that there would always be

yellow socks to wear.

Hope she got a chuckle out of it.

Thank you for stopping by my blog today

Blessings,

Jill ---Who always has cold feet

and is wearing her yellow slipper socks.

Masculine Birthday card

 Click on pictures to enlarge photos

I think I actually made this card this past June...and I'm finally getting around to posting it.
Yikes!  Where does the time go???????

I made the card using a stamp from Our Daily Bread Designs...Artistic Outpost...The stamp name is Gatsby.  I made the inside of the card using a technique from Jennifer macQuire's blog   I like how the inside reminds you of a book.   So I stamped "The Great Gatsby on the side of the card.

Thank you for visiting my blog today
Blessings,
Jill    <---who busy="" cards="" christmas="" font="" is="" make="" to="" trying="">

Poppy card from craft night

 Card Inside

Click on card to make it larger

Front of card

I realized especially this past week...

How much I have missed my crafting buddies...

They really help to get me inspired to try making cards again.

It's been for a variety of reasons that we haven't been able to get together as much.  When we are able to get together I really appreciate how special the time is and, of course, how special they are.

This past week I called it project poppy, because three of us were coloring the poppy images.   I had these stamps with the matching dies for at least two years and they have just been  sitting in a drawer in my craft room.  I thought it was way past time they got used.

I colored my poppies with copics.

YG61, YG63, 100, N4, R22, R21, B91

My stamps are from Stampendous!

(Cling Pretty Poppies  CRS5096

I used an embossing folder that I borrowed from one of crafting buddies (forgot to write down the name) to mount my poppies to the front of the card.

Thank you for visiting my blog today.

Blessings,

Jill