CARDS Magazine - May

Hello friends!  I had a few cards published in the May issue of CARDS Magazine and wanted to share them here with you:

Celebrate Today

Included in: "Inside and Out"; pg. 90

My husband loved this card - which is sweet because he rarely takes much notice of my foofy things everywhere, but perhaps this is simpler and more his style. ;)

I really love how the main embellishment looks like a compass.  I created it by layering 2 felt stars cut with PTI's Seeing Stars die collection.  Patterned papers are October Afternoon - Thrift Shoppe.

the inside:

I Love You

Included in: "Jewels"; pg. 49

Just little bits of sweetness added to a cute cupcake. 

Personal Note: I've got a goal to blog every-other day this fine month of June. 

So hold me accountable and keep me crafty.  HUGS. ;)

Pink Persimmon Creative Team

Hello, friends!  I have something special to share with you today... something I have been keeping a secret... something I am SO excited about...

I am joining the Pink Persimmon Creative Team!

Pink Persimmon is a family business founded by two sisters: Judi and Darcy.  The stamps are created from the highest quality clear photopolymer and manufactured in the USA.  They have a great selection of designs, many vintage-inspired, and plan to release several more sets throughout the next few months. All of the images are beautiful and extremely versatile.

My project today uses the You're A Jewel stamp set.  It brought to mind my grandmother's brooches and antique jewelry.  Brooches, jewels, crystals... these are {hot} trends right now for crafting.

{click photo for enlarged view and sharpened image}

Buying clunky embellishments can get expensive - or be too heavy for card fronts.  These stamps are a great solution for creating custom, one-of-a-kind "sparklers" for your paper projects.  With the wide variety of rhinestones and colored pearls on the market, your jewels can always coordinate with your favorite patterned papers, etc.

Heat embossing is a fabulous touch for these to get lots of shine.  For my large jewel I stamped in VersaMark and then embossed with silver powder... a few silver rhinestones were the perfect touch.  On my smaller "brooch" I stamped in brown and embossed with clear powder then added pearls and rhinestones for my "bling".

Looking forward to sharing more Pink Persimmon with you in the coming weeks... be sure to check out their website and blog to stay up to date on creative team projects/tutorials as well as stamp releases.  HUGS.

Stamps: Pink Persimmon: You're A Jewel; Ink: VersaMark {jewels} and ColorBox Creamy Brown for edges; Paper: Melissa Frances' 5th Avenue collection; Sassy Somethings: Kaisercraft clear rhinestones, SU! pearls, Webster's Pages Spring Market eyelet trim, Cabbage Rose ribbon from MemrieMare on Etsy, and Maya Road trinket pin

Postage Please

Sometimes the best notes to receive are "just because"... just because I'm thinking of you, just because I love you, just because you're special... just because.  For such a sweet sentiment, a post card can be the perfect little something.  Full of vintage tidbits and shabby postal elements this little piece of crafty goodness is definitely a treasure.

I used lots of Papertrey Ink tea-dye duo.  I "smooshed" (technical term) the die-cut postage stamps into the lighter Chamomile color and then inked the edges and corners in Chai.

The soft color palette is from this week's CR84FN Color Challenge.

I was honored that my card from last week was chosen to be included in the Top 3... woot, woot!

The Waltzingmouse Sketch Challenge was the starting point for my layout.  I used the WMS Musical Backgrounds set for the card edge.  I love using background stamps for borders and accent strips.

I hope your holiday weekend is filled with relaxation, family, and crafty goodness!

Stamps: PTI Postmarks, WMS Musical Backgrounds; Ink: Stampin' Up! Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Pink Pirouette, and Plum Pudding, PTI tea dye duo; Patterned Paper: Webster's Pages - Hollywood Vogue; Sassy Somethings: PTI Fine Linen satin ribbon, Tim Holtz accoutrements, Webster's Pages trim

Make A Wish

Oh this little silhouette just tugs at my heartstrings.  She is from The Craft's Meow and I adore her.  Makes me want to run outside with my little princess and make lots of dandelion wishes.

Have I ever told you that I am a slow crafter?  I am.  It's tedious sometimes, but I sort-of savor the process and revel in the details.  It's one of the main reasons that I combine challenges... I just can't get to them all individually.  For this card I combined 3 of my favorite places to "play":

The Play Date Cafe.  

This week is a color challenge... loved the shabby-chicness of it. 

Card Patterns.  

The sketch inspired me try a long card that measures 4"x 8".  

I love the result and plan to package it a large glassine bag for gifting.

And lastly, Wee Memories - Stamp It!  

I just think it is too cute that she gives out Hoots and Hoolalas as recognition. ;)

It's a hodge-podge of supplies today, so be sure to check out the supply list.

Stamps: The Craft's Meow - Butterfly Kisses, MFT - alphabet; Dies: Stampin' Up! Top Note, PTI Banner Builder, Nestabilities Classic Ovals, MFT Butterflies; Patterned Paper: My Mind's Eye; 

Sassy Somethings: Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla grosgrain, PTI wood buttons

Cards & Cuppies

Happy birthday, Waltzingmouse Stamps! I have fallen in love with Claire's style and sense of humor... so glad to be a small part of such a fantastic celebration.

I loved the colors of this week's CR84FN Challenge... rich red, golden yellow, and cream.

Cuppie Love for Claire's Tea Party

WMS sets: Say it Loud, Gingham & C0., Roses in Bloom, Dainty Doilies 2

Please note: I may become obsessed with pom-pom trim and need to use it on every project for the rest of forever.

Winner! Winner!

Let's get straight to business:

Do you love the blog make-over or what?

I couldn't be happier. So me. So perfect.

Such a great "stage" for what's to come.

Now, without further ado, the winner of the fun blog candy is:

Comment #42: LittleSurferGirl

aka: Amy ;)

Congrats, girl! Send me an e-mail with your mailing address and I'll get your goodies right out to you.

It was interesting to me that so many of you associate sass with having a no-nonsense attitude. I'm proud to be among so many strong women!

I tend to think of sassy in terms of shoes and accessories... I really love a bit of leopard print or a fun pop of color. I rarely say no to something sparkly and I've got a collection of lipgloss that could put your local Clinique counter out of business.

Thanks so much for all your comments - I always love hearing from you.

{Please note: There were 51 unique commenters, but 2 of them disappeared with all the recent Blogger issues. They were still accounted for in the random drawing, so rest easy: I'm sassy and fair.}

Sweet Spring

{Please note: This has been re-posted due to a technical glitch with the Blogger service.}

We had a little swap over on the Papertrey Ink forum. Our theme was embellishments... that extra something sassy you can add at the last minute that makes such a sweet difference.

I stuffed a few glassine bags full of ribbon, twine, trinkets, and goodies for my friend, Jennifer, then tied it all up with twine and a simple tag.

The sweet spring birdhouse was created from a template I found here on Nichole Heady's blog. It was very easy to whip up and created such a darling presentation for the little buttons found inside. I have a confession though: I sealed the house totally shut with adhesive and realized too late that it might be difficult to actually get the goodies out. Oops! ;)

I stamped the twig and berry wreath from Wreath for All Seasons and punched the middle with a 1" circle punch. A few pearls and a Webster's Pages resin bird adorn the welcoming wreath.

Sweet treats for sweet friends... life is good.