A Mother's Love

Today I found this designer paper at Hobby Lobby to match the yellow circles that my sister cut out for me. The sentiment "a mother's love is like no other" seemed to be quite fitting for this bird and nest. Thanks for loaning me your stamps too, Julie. You're such a nice sister.

Stamps: A mothers's love from http://www.stampingsensations.com/ , Cavallini Bird & Nests
Paper: So Saffron, Very Vanilla, Rose Red cardstocks by Stampin' Up!, DP by My Mind's Eye
Ink: True Thyme, So Saffron
Embellishments: brads, moss gingham ribbon, ivory 3/8" organdy ribbon, red hemp twine
Tools: 1" and 1 1/4" Circle Punches, 3/4" Punch for ticket corner effect, Double Circle Punch

You cheer me up award

A big {THANK YOU} to Donna for giving me this cute little Lucy "You Cheer Me Up" award. I thought that was so sweet of her to say that, and the funny thing is she cheers me up every time I see her. Donna is a talented stamper and quite an accomplishe chef too. Now I'm supposed to select five others to nominate for this award and here's who I have picked. They are generous in sharing on their blogs with all of us. When I've been tagged with things like this, I tend to be somewhat slothful at replying because I don't want to leave anyone out, but this was a fairly easy one, because these people do really cheer me up when I go to their blogs.

Simply Pink: Melissa was the first person whom I received a random act of kindness (RAK) card from. This sweet gesture from someone whom I'd never met in person, had the inkling to send me a card because I told her how much I loved it, really touched me. She certainly cheered me up and has ever since with her sweet blog and lovely art.

Kiyomi Krafts: Sweet Miss Jenn is from Hawaii, and is one my my newest blogs I love to visit. She puts together these wonderful Aloha Friday videos with delightful music and gorgeous cards. She also leaves me nice detailed comments which are always fun to get.

Me, My Stamps & I: Chat is a stamping machine! I have enjoyed copying so many of her excellent designs and am amazed at how much she cranks out. She is very talented and her beautiful cards really cheer me up.

Kristina Werner Design: This woman is truly a superstar. Anyone in the stamping and card making world would agree. I love her style, enjoy her creativity, appreciate all the videos and excitement that exudes from her blog. She is remarkable. I've participated in her Color Challenge #6 in this post, by the way.

My Creative Treasury: Kandis has a style like noone else and comes up with the most unique, interesting designs. She's fantastic and I admire her stitching and unique embellishments she adds to her cards.

Thank you to each of these women from the bottom of my heart! You {really} CHEER me UP!

--Kelly

Mom celebrate

It's my mother's birthday today, so happy birthday, Mom. I hope it's a great day for you.

Stamps: Looks Like Spring, Wonderful Words, Letterpress Alphabet
Ink: Lovely Lilac, Elegant Eggplant
Paper: Lovely Lilac, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White, embossed
Embellishments: Silver Brads
Tools: Spring Flower Bouquet Punch

Birds in springtime

My sister, Julie, sent me this adorable card (above), and I copied her layout (turquoise and red card, below) to create a similar birthday card (bird-day Ü) card for my mom. Julie's colors are so pretty! Thanks, Sis. I'm too tired and lazy to fill in the details. Just let me know if you need to know about any of it.

Looks Like Spring, Martha

Last year I made a card similar to this for my mom for her birthday and it turned out to be one of my most viewed and commented on cards on SCS and was created with the now discontinued Cool Caribbean cardstock. I've been wanting to create it again in some new colors, so here's what I came up with. I am drawn to the Martha Stewart craft section when I go to Michael's, but usually just look. This time, I bought some of the ribbon, and designed the rest of the card around it. The envelopes and prefolded cards match Stampin' Up's Soft Sky perfectly.

• Ink: Chocolate Chip, Soft Sky
• Paper: Simply Paper 6.5" x 4.5" Envelopes, Simply Paper Cards, Soft Sky, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
• Stamps: Looks Like Spring, Print Pattern, French Script
• Embellishments: Martha Stewart Piped Nylon 3/8" Cloud Ribbon, Coke can tab, Pop-Up Dot to adhere tab securely, Crystal Stickers Pearl by http://www.markrichardsusa.com/ from Archiver's
• Tools: Spring Floral Bouquet Punch, Scoring Tool

If there was an inexpensive and easy way to buy about 100 of these hardware pieces at a time, not in a kit with other things, I'd be happy to get some. So in the meantime, when I'm mass producing, I'll just use my cheap Diet Coke can pull-tabs.

Ebony Chandelier

As I was in the checkout line at Michael's yesterday, picking up my framed art order--we had a family photo taken--I spotted these bargain notecards in a bin, ten per pack. I assumed they were just a dollar, but when I got home, realized that they were two packs for a dollar. I'm going back today to get more, just for the envelopes alone! These cards were a nickel apiece, basically. That's practically free. I added the HB sentiment and the black ribbon, which I snipped from my daughter's prom dress, those unpleasant hanger straps that always manage to make their way on the outside of the dress. This card is so minimalistic, but sometimes, that's all we have time for, isn't it?

Thanks so much, friend

Target has the best $1 items sometimes, like these striped notecards with envelopes that came in a set of 8, for just a buck. I bought these a long time ago, more than a year ago. Keep an eye out for similar bargains in the future, then embellish them to jazz them up!

• Paper: Striped notecards from Target, Tempting Turquoise, Chocolate Chip, Gable Green, Whisper White
• Stamps: Think Happy Thoughts, Friendly Flowers
• Accessories: Misc. ribbons, staples, "Ice" circle rhinestone brad, Stampin' Dimensionals
• Tools: Scallop, Key Tag, 1-3/8, 1-1/4 inch circle punches, Crop-o-Dile

Sprinkle your celebration with fun

Okay, here we go with the last of my prestamped images of the balloons from Tag Time. I coupled it with a new Hero Arts clear design Cupcakes set sentiment.

• Paper: Real Red, Pumpkin Pie, Confetti White
• Ink: Basic Black
• Stamps: Tag Time, Hero Arts cupcake set
• Tools: 1/2 inch circle punch
• Accessories: Crystal Stickers elements, Green Ribbon from Hobby Lobby

Sarah's Wedding

My husband's cousin, Sarah, is getting married this month and I made this card for her and her fiance, Nick. I'm crazy about the "print pattern" looking designer paper and used the framed border image from the Sweet Dreams set for the first time today. Today has been all about using scraps as I'm cleaning and sorting, and I had one last piece of Kraft cardstock that I had previously stamped using the Spunky Spots jumbo wheel.

• Paper: Kraft, Basic Black, "Print Pattern" DP that I got at Hobby Lobby, Whisper White
• Ink: Basic Black, Whisper White, Sharpie Twin Tip Ultra Fine permanent marker
• Stamps: Sweet Dreams, sentiment is a Michael's $1 stamp
• Tools: Small Oval, Large Oval hole punches, Slit Punch
• Accessories: Clear Button, Green Ribbon from WalMart, Black Hemp Twine, Black Ribbon, Black and White Ribbon from Hobby Lobby

Tender Bunny

As I was cleaning my desk, I had one extra stamped image of this bunny from the Tender Toile set, and one extra stamped Kraft cardstock scored and folded, so I whipped up this card today. I should have enough baby cards to last me for several months now!

• Paper: Kraft, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink, Old Olive, Whisper White
• Ink: Basic Black, Whisper White
• Stamps: Tender Toile, Spunky Spots and Dotted Lines Jumbo Wheels
• Accessories: Ribbon, spiral paper clip from Target, Stampin' Dimensionals

Oh baby!

This morning I got a call at 2 am to go to my friend's house as she was in labor, so I could stay with her kids while she and her husband could go to the hospital. It was very exciting because they didn't know the gender of their baby yet. I was hoping for a girl, to help balance out the family, but it was a boy. Now they have four boys and a girl! But I had already started on this card, so I'll have to save it for the next baby girl.

Also, thanks Jenn, for urging me to post another card! That's motivating.

Paper: Gable Green, Prints Pack DP, Whisper White, Almost Amethyst, Pretty in Pink, Misc. Green, D.O.T.S. Pink and White Polka Dot DP
Ink: Basis Black, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Pink Gingham Ribbon, green polka dot ribbon from WalMart, staple, Stampin' Dimensionals
Tools: Crop-o-Dile for dry embossing
Stamp: Michael's $1 stamp (from a year or so ago)