Wow.  I’ve been working on these things for what seems like forever and they’re finally done!!!

Our church is having a Mother/Daugther Tea this coming weekend and I volunteered to help out.  I always forget how much work it is through the entire year until it comes around again.  Someday I’ll learn.

Anyway…here’s what will be sitting at each place as a party favor.

We’re filling the little boxes with candy for each guest.  And here’s the flowers taking over my desk.

Maybe if I’m lucky, tonight I’ll be able to get back to the surface of my desk and start stamping some fun New projects.

Thanks for sticking around while I finish this.  I apologize for missing this weeks’ regularly scheduled programming.  I should be back up and going again next week.

Happy Stamping!

I can’t believe how busy this week is!  This Saturday our church is holding the annual ladies’ tea and I volunteered to make the party favors.  Several other women and I have been assembling little flower cups, which I will show you soon.

Also, Mother’s Day is coming up on Sunday so I’m finishing up those gifts.

And, my Grammy is turning 70 next weekend so I’ve been working on her gift as well.  She’s such a great grandma and a beautiful person.  So today’s project is what I am giving my Grammy.

I used the basket from “Basket full of fun” by Stampin’ Up! and the “Sleeping Kitty” from Inkadinkadoo.  I colored her with markers on white card stock and sponged caramel ink around the edges.  Then I cut some caramel cardstock into strips to weave together and create the background ‘basket’.  A couple of brads at the top finished it off.

I used a tiny square canning jar to put the little plant in.  I know she’ll have to re-pot it, but I didn’t want a really big bulky flower pot.

So, anyway.  That’s my latest (completed) project.  As I get these other things finished, I’ll post them for you.

And, I’m afraid the Technique of the Week isn’t going to make it this week.  I’ll see if I can get the Afternoon Quickie video done in time.  Cross your fingers!

Hey, all!  First of I’m sorry I haven’t gotten the Technique of the Week posted.  I’ll get it up ASAP.  Second of all, I have some exciting news!

April Showers bring May flowers, but if you join me on May 15th and 16th, you’ll see more than lovely blooms! Pack your bags ’cause you’re going on a trip! Take a tour of 20 beautiful blogs, and you will see creations that will amaze and delight you. But it’s only a two-day trip! It begins at 8:00 a.m. EDT on May 15th and ends May 16th at midnight! Bookmark this blog, and you will be able to hop on the bus to begin the journey!

My tour stop will be focusing on the Crazy for Cupcakes stamp set and Cupcakes wheel.  I know my family has a lot of birthdays in the summer which means they’re coming up quick!  I’ll be showing you some fun and adorable ways to celebrate with cupcakes!

I am so excited!  I hope you’ll join me here on May 15-16 and then hop on the tour bus to check out all the other exciting stops in our Idea Book & Catalog!

See you then!

• A Soft Spring Hello from Laurie Schmidlin
• This Frosted Cupcake by Sophia Landry looks so yummy!
• These Beautiful Spring Flowers were created by Fran Sabad.
• Linda McClain’s stop on the blog tour showed some great versatility with the set “Scene in a Garden”.
• Julie Buhler is turning black and white and blue.
• This card by Laurie Schmidlin is an elegant vintage chandelier that looks like it belongs in a historical mansion somewhere.
• Hungry?  Try this take out from Linda McClain: fortune cookies included with every order!
• These cards from Patty Bennett are just my style – simple, but beautiful and it still makes a statement.

Have a great weekend!

The first Friday of every month, our community has an Art Walk. So when the weather is nice, people set up booths and sell their hand crafted items. There are also a number of art galleries around with many different local artists’ work on display.

There is usually something for the kids to do, plus live music. It’s an exciting thing and really establishes a feeling of culture and community.

Anyway…tonight we all went together and the kids made Fairy Gardens. Since I didn’t get a sample posted, and we had such a good time as a family, I thought I’d post these instead.

Hey all!  I hope you all got a chance to watch the Afternoon Quickie video yesterday.  Because I got a very sweet comment from Stephenie who wanted to CASE this card:

Well, sure, I said!  I’d love to see what you come up with!  And so she did:

Isn’t it awesome???  I love that she took the same layout turned it sideways and glittered the flowers!!!

Head on over to Stephie’s Space and let her know how cute this card is!

Happy Stamping!

So, I subscribe to Kristina Werner’s blog and I’ve been waiting for her 50th Color Challenge with much excitement!  So, here is her challenge:

And here’s what I came up with:

I used patterns from MelStampz (which is amazing by the way, you should totally go check out all the free templates and tutorials!) and Mirkwood Designs.

Everything is hand cut (except the center circle is a 3/4 inch circle punch).  I sponged ink on each flower layer and attached them together after finessing the petals.  The design at the bottom is paper piercing/faux stitching and I think it just turned out great!  I don’t think I could have done that well with real stitching!

It seems like a fairly simple card since it’s plain white card base, but the flower is definitely worthy of center stage.  I just felt like anything else would be overpowered by the flower.

So, that’s it!  Let me know what you think and come back this afternoon to watch the afternoon quickie video!

Happy Stamping.

The first thing you’ll want to do is choose a shape for your mask. You can use a punch of any size or a square, circle, rectangle – whatever you like. Here, I’m using my Coluzzle to cut an oval big enough for this rose image from Inkadinkadoo.

Once you’ve cut your shape, you want to keep the negative image and not the shape itself.

Line up the mask where you want it to be on your card.

Start adding color to the card; I used a sponge to add Kiwi Kiss ink, but you can add color however.  (You can also stamp over your mask.*)

Once the color is finished, remove the mask to reveal the shape on the card.

Finish your card.

*I have created another sample using reverse masking that shows stamping over the mask.

I saw the oval and really wanted to make an egg so here’s my second sample of today’s Technique of the Week.

I hope you’re enjoying these tutorials.  Thanks for stopping by!  Happy Stamping!

The teacher asked the pupils to tell the meaning of lovingkindness.  A little boy jumped up and said, “Well, if I was hungry and someone gave me a piece of bread that would be kindness.  But if they put a little jelly on it, that would be lovingkindness.”

Kindness provides a house, but love makes a home.

Kindness packs an adequate sack lunch, but love puts a note of encouragement inside.

Kindness provides a television set or computer as a learning aid, but love controls the remote control and cares enough to insist a child “sign off”.

Kindness sends a child to bed on time, but love tucks the covers around a child’s neck and provides a goodnight hug and kiss.

Kindness cooks a meal, but love selects the “your favorite foods” menu and lights the candles.

Kindness writes a thank you note, but love this to include a joke or photograph or bookmark inside the envelope.

Kindness keeps a clean and tidy house, but love adds a bouquet of fresh flowers.

Kindness pours a glass of milk, but love occasionally adds a little chocolate sauce.

Kindness is doing what is decent, basic, courteous, and necessary for an even, smooth, and gentle flow of life.

Love is taking the extra step to make life truly exciting, creative, and meaningful.  Love is what makes things special.

How often do we have the chance to show love to someone and overlook it?  Or how many opportunities have we missed to go beyond common courtesy to kindness and patience?  This really struck my heart today.  This is my favorite part about stamping and making cards and gifts by hand.  It’s the extra touch of love that goes into everything.

You know, like when you’re little and your mom makes cookies and they taste sooo yummy!  And then, when you grow up and try to make them yourself they never seem to come out quite right?  The secret ingredient is that little touch of mom’s love.

So, who do you know in your life who could use an extra touch of love this week?  We all know someone or come into contact with someone who would feel blessed with not only a touch of kindness, but a little extra love.