CARDS Magazine - Published!

Hi friends! Just wanted to share a bit of joy with you today: I have been published!

Two of my cards are included in the April edition of CARDS magazine and I couldn't be happier... so excited to share them with you today.

Both cards feature the Crate Paper Recollection line of patterned papers... so beautiful and rich.

Mixing patterns and a scalloped edge gives this card a bit of an eclectic feel. I added the tag at an angle and stamped it with the hot air ballon from the Stampin' Up! Sweet Treats set. For some texture, I used a scallop felt matte for my balloon, a few buttons tied with twine, and a crochet flower... all simple details that work together to complement the vintage-esque patterns in the paper.

I think this is a modern-day baby card... perfect for a modern mommy. Rich floral prints, off-set scallops, and a paper-pieced buggy that steals the spotlight. The buttons (especially the "wheels") make me smile.

To see these in CARDS magazine is a dream come true. Thanks so much to all of YOU for your support and sweet sentiments throughout this journey! I plan to continue the celebration tomorrow with BLOG CANDY! ;)

Sweet Dreams - The Shabby Tea Room

Welcome! I am so excited to be joining The Shabby Tea Room as a guest designer today. I'm always inspired by the ideas and beautiful projects at the Tea Room... such a special treat.

The challenge this week is "Sweet Dreams".

Please use Blue + any Neutrals (white, cream, brown, or kraft) to create a project inspired by this beautiful photo:

Comfort. Cozy. Lovely. Home. Sweet dreams.

Papers from the For the Record collection (Echo Park) partner with a sweet house from the Love Lives Here stamp set. (Papertrey Ink) Finishing touches include wrinkle ribbon, a tiny tag tied with twine, and teensy wings. A card full of sweet details and sweet dreams. ;)

Thanks again for visiting, friends - I hope you will join us at The Shabby Tea Room this week.

Stamps: Papertrey Ink: Love Lives Here and Embellishments ("dream" sentiment); Ink: SU Soft Suede and Bashful Blue, PTI Chamomile Tea Dye; Patterned Paper: Echo Park - For the Record and Girls Paperie (gingham); Tools: Papertrey Ink: Love Lives Here, Tiny Tags and Banner Topper dies, My Favorite Things: Rosette die-namic; Sassy Somethings: Cabbage Rose Ribbon and angel wings from MemrieMare on etsy; Webster's Pages pin

5 {Lovely} Years

Today the hubs and I are celebrating 5 years of wedded bliss. I look forward to growing old with this man... being one of those wrinkly couples still holding hands while we walk down the sidewalk. An anniversary date night is in the works... so excited for a night on the town!

The new Fishtail Banners from My Favorite Things are so perfect... paired with their new TypeWriter Alphabet... {love}. I don't want to hear anything about putting a bow on a "man card". The hubs can handle it - I'm just sure he won't mind a bit. ;)

For a little something extra special I decided to make the inside "sassy" too. I'm smitten with the Clearly Sentimental line of stamps... perfect quotes and sentiments for every occasion.

The layout is also inspired by the MFT weekly sketch challenge... with a twist.

Stamps: My Favorite Things: TypeWriter Alphabet and Clearly Sentimental About Love (inside), PTI: Text Style; Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket - Circa 1934; Tools: My Favorite Things: Fishtail Banner Die-namics and Medium Scallop Die-namic, PTI: Tag Sale 4, Number dies; Sassy Somethings: PTI: Fine Linen saddle stitch, Webster's Pages chipboard button, SU corduroy brads

With Sympathy

A sympathy card for someone dear. I loved having quiet time to create and meditate during this time.

Butterflies... such beautiful symbols of spring... of renewal and life... of the incredible {gift} we are given to become new creations. The Shabby Tea Room is inspired by butterflies this week - check it out and play along. On a FUN {and sassy} note: I'll be a guest designer over at the Tea Room next week and hope you'll mark your crafty calendar to join us!

My layout was inspired by the weekly sketch challenge (MFTWSC16) over at My Favorite Things. (You may have noticed that I tend to "tweak" sketches as I create.) Such lovely ideas and inspiration there each week - a real pleasure to find the time to participate and to work with their {beautiful} products.

I've got several more projects to share this week. I'm taking time to create for those I love and cherish... looking forward to sharing them with you.

Stamps: My Favorite Things: Inspired By Spring, PTI: Round and Round; Ink: SU Soft Suede; Patterned Paper: The Girl's Paperie and Echo Park - For the Record; Cardstock: PTI Rustic Cream and Kraft; Tools: My Favorite Things: Dizzy Doily, Butterflies Die-namic, 1/4" Rosette; Sassy Somethings: SU Crochet trim and Basic Pearls

Easter Wishes

Spring. Easter. New beginnings. I really enjoy this time of the year - full of possibility and growth.

Emma's Shoppe prints are the perfect complement to spring projects... be still my heart, Crate Paper nails it every time.

This card is full of lovelies from My Favorite Things, and the layout is based on their recent sketch challenge:

Stamps: My Favorite Things: Pure Innocence - My Basket of Eggs; Cardstock: PTI Aqua Mist, Kraft, Sweet Blush and Cream; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper: Emma's Shoppe; Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black and Copic markers; Tools: My Favorite Things Die-namics: Fresh Cut Grass and Butterflies, PTI: Parisian Lace Doily, Tag Sale #1 and Double-Ended Banners; Ribbon: Memrie Mare on Etsy

In Bloom - Make it Monday

I'm {finally} participating in the Make It Monday challenge over at Papertrey. They are sharing some GREAT ideas each week. This week: using Copic markers on colored cardstock. I chose to stamp the largest flower from In Bloom onto Melon Berry CS. (Seriously, Melon Berry is so under-appreciated. I love it. Go give it a chance.) I used R02 and R05 to shade... makes me want to run outside and twirl in the spring weather.

The fabby bloom rests on Tag Sale #4 with a {new} Tiny Tag accent. Hope my sweet friend likes it... and I hope YOU do too! ;)

Tea Time

A PTI forum friend, Valeria, was looking for inspiration and ideas to create tea party invitations. Sipping tea in the spring makes me think of soft colors and dainty details. Valeria has 30 invitations to make so I tried to use lots of die cuts and pay attention to supply amounts. Unfortunately, I do not have the Time for Tea stamp set, but I know the cup design is very similar to Everyday Classics. Hope you are ALL inspired to sip tea! ;)

Here is the Tea Time "recipe":

• Cut Kraft cardstock to 5.25 x 9.25". Score at 4.25"
• Trim Aqua Mist CS to 5.25" and use lg. Edger #2 die. Stamp with sentiment. Trim and adhere to bottom of card.
• Cut 1.5" x 5.25" strip of Distressed Dots paper in Fine Linen and adhere. Note: This yields 6 strips per sheet and 36 strips total from one paper pack.
• Stamp largest flourish from Fancy Flourishes onto right side.
• Add Plum Pudding twill and Chocolate Baker's twine at seams.
• Create a Parisian Doily from Lavender Moon CS. Optional: Sponge lightly with white ink around edges.
• Using Limitless Layers #1 dies to create a flat layer or fold into a medallion.
• Stamp tea cup onto 1.75" circle and lightly sponge edges with Chamomile tea dye.
• Embellish with Plum Pudding buttons. Optional: Use the new Button Dies to create flatter buttons if you are concerned about the good 'ole USPS.