{ Sweet Pea }

Why is it the more we have on our plates the more we are able to accomplish. This weekend was a good example. I often find myself clicking through everybody's blogs, moaning and groaning to myself that I just can't figure out how everyone but me has the time to make all the wonderful cards they post on their blogs. This weekend my brother, his wife and their two dogs came for a visit. They stayed with my mother, but I spent the good part of the weekend at her house enjoying my family. I also designed and finished two cards, photographed them and uploaded them for my blog subscribers to see. An amazing feat as I often labor over a single card for days. Part of the insentive may have been my new PaperTrey Ink Green Thumb set. The card elements came together quickly andas soon as I finished it I was ready to make another.

{ so many RAKs it feels like Autumn }

What a great card!! Every time i look at this card from Monica Ackerman it puts a smile on my face. This is a precious stamp and I would enjoy knowing where it is from. Monica's "Just So You Know" is a new addition to my blog roll. Be sure to take the time to look. I will be looking in often on Monica and Abby her beautiful Golden Retriever. Thanks again, Monica~ :)



I received this sparkly card from Joanne Johnson. The stamping, the layering and the embellishments came together beautifully in this detailed card. Joanne you did a great job on it, and it is most appreciated. Thank you so much. Let me know your blog information so I can give you credit. In the meantime you can see Joanne's work on SCS (stamps4sanity).




This darling pocket card is from Simone Collins. Simone is a SCS Blogger and you can see what she has been up to on her blog Daily Dose of Spazz,. Not only did Simone stamp the card, but she also stamped the envelope and the note she included with the card. It looks like it may have been a wheel. I'm making a note to do that on my envelopes and enclosures in the future. Thanks so much Simone!

{ raking in the RAKs }

I'd like to thank Nancy Elrick for this soft coloured Birthday Wish. This is one of my favorite SU stamp sets, Nancy, and for those of you who cannot tell from my photo, she overlayed the stamped image with the acetate Birthday Wishes square. Nancy is a member of the SCS Bloggers RAK Group and you can view her blog at Nancy's Creative Mess . Be sure to take a look and while you are at it wish her son, Alex, a happy birthday!

{ Easter Easter }

One of the first cards I made when I started stamping was a crystal paned window card, and it was always a favorite of mother's. I made it at a "stamp camp" and the window was rectangular with no enhancements. I though it might be nice to make another for her using some of the tools and techniques I've acquired over the past couple years. The circular scallop punch was off set on purpose to accomodate the closeness of the window opening to the outer edge of the card. { I've since added a new tool to my "stuff I need to acquire" list so the openings can be better placed }.
The closure is fastened with one of the new Basic Grey Magnetic Snaps.

I fixed Easter dinner for Mother and worked on a new batch of cards.

{ a special birthday card }

..from my Mom.. from the woman who gave me life.. who has nurtured me.. supported me and loved me for the past 63 years.


Thank you Mom for everything and thank you for my beautiful card.

{ a bevy of birthday RAKs from my beautiful Splitcoast bloggers RAK buddies }

I don't think I've ever received so many cards on my birthday! What a wonderful surprise. Thank you ladies for making it so special.
Kirsten DuBosque at Confessions of a Naptime Stamper shares an April birthday and made this adorable Bella card. Not only do Kristen and I share a birthday month, but we both also live in Florida and of course everyone who lives in Florida enjoys fishing. You couldn't have picked a better bella for my card Kristen, thank you so much. This is definately one of the nicest bella cards I've ever seen!

Leslie Brown sent me this adorable "Birthday Basket" in my favorite colour! Be sure and take some time to check out Leslie's "Continuing to Create" blog. Not only does she have great cards but also yummy blog candy. Thanks so much, Leslie!
I'd love to find this template to use on summer beach bag cards for some of my friends. If someone finds it before me, please let me know. I can also see that I need to do some ribbon and Prima shopping soon!

Alisa Blankenship created and sent me this bright and cheerful card and included the nicest note along with it. You can see more of Allie's work at Allie's Inky Hugs. She is another quickly becoming addicted to the Bellas. (tucking that note into my Future RAKs to Send box.) Thanks so much for my birthday card Allie!


My last but certainly not least card was from Melissa. You can see more of her work at Stamping Through the Tulips (what a great name!) Melissa, you are going to have to share your technique for inking the Cuttlebug embossed background with me sometime and you've sold me on this particular pattern. I don't have any of the "words" templates yet, but this will definitely be my first. Thanks for the great birthday card!

{ my first RAK }

A beautiful card of a perfect rose with sentiments of Beautiful Memories from Wanda (buttons2) at SCS welcoming me to the world of RAKing holds the distinction of First RAK Received. Thank you so much Wanda for thinking of me.

{ bleached doodles }

I've always wanted to try the bleach technique, but kept putting it off. Earlier this evening, I'd put away nearly all my groceries after a trip to the store to pick up a few things in preparation for my sister and niece's visit. My laundry soap and new container of bleach were still sitting on the cabinet waiting to be carried to the laundry room. I decided this was as good as time as any to attempt stamping with bleach. Besides, I wanted something new to show my sister when she came. The fine detail was lost, but the appearance, after I over-stamped the image with black ink created, a shadow effect. The flowers were stamped on BasicGrey's new Blush paper, cut out and applied with fat pop-dots to give the card even more dimension. I used Stardust Stickles to add some sparkle to the card which in the picture doesn't show up. It ended up being a fun, quick, and easy card and I'm looking forward to using the bleach technique on more of my cards.

{ gra dilseacht cairdeas }

Happy St. Patrick's Day

love loyalty friendsip
{gra dilseacht cairdeas}
forever

Irish Claddagh

{ walkin' the dog }

Just one more week until my sister and niece arrive. Mom's been busy planning menus and I've been busy cleaning my workroom in preparation for their arrival. (I think Mom is making more headway than I!)
When this Bella arrived in my last order, I immediately renamed it Momabella & Chloe. Chloe is one of Mother's two Yorkshire Terriers, Chloe and Andy. Although they are sister and brother from the same litter there is question surrounding Andy's lineage. He's a sweetheart even if he doesn't look like the Yorkie standard, and in all fairness the next time I use this stamp I'll colour it "Andy".

Stamps Sets:
Stamping Bella - Walkabella, MTF STamps - Let's Go For a Walk
Paper:
SU Watercolour Paper, Summer Sun, Real Red, Memory Box - Homespun
Ink:
Stazon Black
Accessories:
SU Ribbon Originals - Rustic Retreat, Scrapbook Tacks, Lyra Coloured Pencils

{ in the pink - Perhaps}

Its fun to come home to surprises, and not the kind of surprises like a chewed up cell phone.
I was so excited two years ago when I became eligible for an upgrade on my cell phone. I promptly ordered, it arrived, and two days later Zoe decided it made a good teething tool. Consequently, I carried a bruised and battered phone around with me for for the next two years. Well, needless to say, on the day I once again became eligible for another upgrade I was online placing my order. It arrived Monday along with my order from Basic Grey!! I had a hard time trying to decide which to open first! The Basic Grey won out and Bella got a new spring outfit.
I'm looking forward to using more of the Perhaps papers along with the new Scarlett's Letter paper.

Stamps Sets:
Stamping Bella - Frizzy Bella
Paper:
SU Kraft, Brushed Gold, Basic Grey - Perhaps Collection 6x6 Pad
Ink:
Stazon Black,
Accessories:
SU Ribbon Originals - Flirty, Basic Grey Chipboard Elements, Cuttlebug 2x2 diecuts, SU Gold cord.
The cellphone's been programed and is setting in a high enough spot that even the best counter surfer can't reach!

{ walking the dogs walking me }

I was thrilled when I ran across this stamp set from My Favorite Things Stamps, since I am an avid dog lover and the BIG dog reminded me of my Great Danes that were my best friends for over 35 years. Although I coloured this Dane the traditional fawn colour it is the only colour I've not actually owned. I'm sure you will see a brindle, a blue, a merle, and of course the beautiful harlequin, appearing on my cards from time to time. My last Great Dane, Catherine was a harlequin -those flashy black and white spotted dogs. After Catherine crossed The Rainbow Bridge two and a half years ago, I decided after much contemplation to downsize and Zoe, my Whippersnapper, has been a part of my life ever since. Whippets have an entirely different personality from the Danes. The dog walks me now rather than I walk the dog.

Stamps Sets:
MFT Samps - Lets Go For a Walk and PaperTrey
Paper:
SU Very Vanilla, Barely Banana, DCWV Old World Stack, Watercolour Paper
Ink:
Stazon Black,
Accessories:
SU Barely Banana Ribbon, Create-a-Cut, Spare Parts