Wishing You Success Beyond Your Wildest Expectations...

A sweet friend asked for a graduation card for one of her former students; I used Mercy's Sketch (HERE) for the layout and some MME designer paper (I'm working really hard to use the paper I have - yeah me!!).

I really liked this layout; I sponged everything with PTI's Dark Chocolate and hand cut the Hawaiian Shores border for the focal panel, 1st time I've hand cut a layered piece like this; thought it turned out pretty good for a girl that can't draw a straight line, glue anything straight, etc.  :D

The two sentiments on the outside are from PTI's Scattered Showers; the inside is from Verve Visual's Great Expectations (wishing you success beyond your wildest expectations).  The papers are PTI's Hibiscus Burst and Hawaiian Shores; such a fun, cheery combo celebrating a very fun and cheery event!

Wishing you and yours a very Merry Christmas!  Thanks for popping in; I love when you visit!  Hugs, ~M.

A peek inside!

WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps:  PTI's Scattered Showers, Verve Visual's Great Expectations

Papers:  PTI Hawaiian Shores, Hibiscus Burst, DP by MME

Ink: PTI Dark Chocolate & Hibiscus Burst

Accessories:  MME Die Cut, Spica Glitter Pen, Wrinkle Ribbon, Cuttlebug Embossing Folder

MTSC101

I loved Mercy's sketch this week so set about making a card for fun!  Here's the final result:

I used Verve Visual's Dream Big set for the flowers and a freebie "Thanks" stamp.  The flowers were stamped in PTI's Berry Sorbet and the edges were highlighted with PTI's Pure Poppy.  I edged the flowers and nestie in Antique Linen Distress Ink; the DP and other layers were sponged with Pumice Stone Distress Ink.

The two smaller flowers were cut out and adhered with dimensionals; I added a PTI Spring Rain button in the middle threaded with black hemp.  The pearls were purchased from Sharon Johnson (No Time To Stamp); they are called Bliss and are the lightest, most beautiful blue.

Thanks for popping in; hope you're having a great weekend!  We're headed to the hockey game tonight, then tomorrow I'll need to work for a few hours so I can tolerate Monday - LOL!

Hugs, ~M.




WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps:  Verve Visual Dream Big
Papers: GKD Cream, PTI Spring Rain, Basic Grey DP
Ink: Antique Linen & Pumice Stone Distress Inks, PTI Berry Sorbet & Pure Poppy
Accessories: nesties, sponging, pearls

Forever In Our Hearts

I'm telling you; aren't sympathy cards just the hardest to do?  Urgh; breaks my heart - particularly this one.  But, let's skip the details of why and just move on to the creation, K?  I didn't think you would mind!

I used Mercy's 100th sketch - kinda cool eh?  You can see the sketch HERE; the papers are Sugardrop from Memory Box - I always seem to turn to these papers for sympathy cards, so soft and subtle - love 'em!  Everything was sponged in VersaMagic Jumbo Java.  The sentiment was also stamped in the same ink and embossed with clear embossing powder.

I have had the Zva Crystals F-O-R-E-V-E-R...they are actually 2 shades of pink intertwined and so beautiful; delighted I could use them on this card!

I added mushroom colored dots to the scalloped circle (Adirondack Dimensionals), such a beautiful and unique color; I thought it worked really well with the papers.

Thanks for popping by; I hope you have a GREAT weekend!  Hugs, ~M.




WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Verve Visual Forever in our Hearts
Papers: PTI Sweet Blush, Dark Chocolate & Kraft, DP by Memory Box (Sugardrop)
Ink: Versamagic Jumbo Java, PTI Dark Chocolate
Accessories: nesties, clear embossing powder, dimensional pearls, zva crystals, sponging

My First Time...Yours?

Oh my - I have TWO FIRSTS with this card; how cool is that?? First up, I used my very first stamp set from TCP (The Cat's Pajamas Rubber Stamps); the set is called "Forget the Cake" AND for the first time ever, I left a portion of the image (tops of his little ears outside the nestability circle I cut). Oooo, so proud of ME!!

:D

Trust me, there were plenty of other things that went wrong with this card, so I have to brag about what I can. LOL

The layout is Mercy's current sketch (found HERE); great layout and I knew I wanted to use my brand new stamps. Let me say, the TCP stamps stamp very vivid, clean and clear - LOVE THAT!!! I used my Copics to color the image and then I added the scrumptious Dimensional Pearls in Espresso - L@@K, doesn't that look like real frosting? You know, the kind you lump on a little extra so you can lick it off? Hmph, don't act like you don't know what I'm talking about...I'm smarter than that!

The inside says "Go Forth and Eat Cake!" Oh yeah! The envelope says "Forget about the cake, go for the icing"...see, that's why I had to lump a little extra icing on there!

Mercy's sketch called for a ribbon across the middle, but I had to make that little felt flower in the corner because the sewing machine ATE MY PAPER AND TORE IT. :( So wrong, so very wrong. The ribbon just seemed like too much busy-ness, so I left that part off.

K, I'm kinda hungry and looking at this cake is only making it worse....so that's it for tonight. Have a great weekend friends! Hugs, ~M.




WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: TCP Forget the Cake
Papers: PTI Hawaiian Shores, Smokey Shadow, DP by Junkzit (really old)
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Accessories: nesties, Copics, Janome, PTI Felt, PTI Dies

A Woman's Best Friend (MTSC74)

Everyone has probably heard "a man's best friend"; but you know, sometimes a dog is a "woman's best friend"! I have a very, very dear online friend who lost her dog after 14 years. That's a LONG TIME; the loss is so hard and as is often the case, 'time' heals, but it will take a long, long time!

I loved Mercy's sketch (HERE) and decided to use it for a sympathy card making my dear friend's dog the focal point. Unfortunately, I need a new toner cartridge, so the picture isn't the greatest (sorry CW)!!

The "with sympathy" on the main panel is embossed with clear embossing powder using SU! Craft Chocolate Chip ink. The DP is by Basic Grey and the card stock is PTI's Kraft, Spring Rain & Ripe Avocado. I just love the color combo.

Mulder, may you rest in eternal peace, CW, may you find comfort and peace through friends, family and the many memories of Mulder. Love you dear friend!

For my American friends, hope you enjoy the long Memorial Day weekend! Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: PTI Anniversary Set
Papers: PTI Ripe Avocado, Spring Rain & Kraft, Basic Grey Kioshi DP
Ink: SU! Chocolate Chip Kraft
Accessories: nesties, sponging, clear embossing powder, corner chomper

YOU take the cake!

Greetings friends - how's everyone doing? It's been a chilly, wet, drizzly day here today. :( Unfortunately, we were out in it most of the day.

I made this card a few weeks ago for Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge (#43); slow in getting it posted, but you know, better late than never!!

The image was a free digital image from My Favorite Things - how fun is that? Free, you can print it time and time again! AND it comes in 3 colors; just love the variety!

Thanks for popping in; it's always good to see you. I hope you have a splendid Halloween - stay safe!!!



Hugs, ~M.


WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: My Favorite Things Digi-Download, You Take the Cake
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: PTI's Dark Chocolate, SU! Barely Banana, DP by Gasic Grey
Accessories: Spica AtYou glitter pens; paper piecing, Copics

Cinnamon - Birthday Style & Lord Have Mercy! Style

Here I am, back with another one of Mercy's fabulous sketches - MTSC36. My image was a bit big for the sketch...but I made it work! I had a customer request a couple of b-day cards for "tweenagers" so these are the cards I made. I love this paper by Junkitz - always perfect for any birthday card. Such bright colors and don't you just love those cupcakes?

I sewed the cupcake paper to green and blue DP from the same paper pack, layered over the striped DP. Love the bright colors. I colored "Cinnamon" from Penny Black with Copics and matched the girls clothes to the various colors in the DP. I stamped the oval from Amuse to ground the girls as they walk along. And see that blue flower? It was ivory - just like the other one...I colored it with my Copics. One of my absolute favorite things to do with Copics - change the colors of flowers and ribbon!!

I have so many cards to share - let's hope this week is MUCH better than last week. URGH...I moaned when I woke up and realized it was Monday. LOL

Oftentimes when mothers are asked if they are ready for their children to return to school - they emphatically reply YES (you know, kind of yelling?)! Not me! I prefer the lazy days of summer - I wish those lazy days had a bit more structure, but they are so 'calm' compared to school days!!!

Our oldest made cheerleader, our middle one is playing volleyball and fall softball and our youngest is playing football and fall baseball. That makes for lots and lots of practices and games - think something going on every single night!! Exhausting!!

That's it for now; I'm glad you stopped by, hope to see you again soon. Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Cinnamon by Penny Black, Oval by Amuse
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Paper: DP by Junkitz, SU Taken with Teal & Certainly Celery, GKD 80 lb. Pure Luxury White
Accessories: ribbon, flowers, brads, sewing, Copics

Lord Have Mercy

I found time this week to participate in Mercy's sketch - everyone loves Mercy's sketches and I wanted in on the fun! I was also inspired by THIS card which I found on Splitcoaststampers - love the colors so I set about to use the same stamp set.

You know me, I love to make 2 cards at a time to put in my stash, so this time was no different.

I broke into my new paper pack called "Pretty Please" by My Mind's Eye. I love MME's paper - love, love, love them! It's double-sided and I can always use every square inch of it! I stamped the floral image (Floral Symphony) in PTI Hibiscus Burst and Versamagic Spanish Olive; I also colored in the flowers and stems with these same colors. I stamped the butterfly from PTI's Tags from Spring in PTI Raspberry Fizz and then colored over the butterfly with a Clear Spica atyou Glitter Pen. So sparkly IRL!

I also sponged both main images with Versamagic Aegean Blue & Spanish Olive. As you can see on one I used my favorite Martha Stewart Punch (Arch Lattice); the other I rounded opposite corners. One I tied a double bow with my Bow Easy; the other I added a flower and button (yes, my button is NAY-KED...hope you don't mind) - LOL!

With both cards I used PTI's Hibiscus Burst Bitty Dot Satin ribbon. PTI has such scrumptious ribbon - I'm slowly falling in love with all their papers, buttons, ribbons...and NOW they have envelopes. Can't wait to get some of those!

I'm glad you dropped in - I hope to have some news about selling my cards online very soon...stay tuned! Have a great week! Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Verve Visual Floral Symphony, PTI Tags from Spring
Ink: Versamagic Spanish Olive & Aegean Blue, PTI Hibiscus Burst & Raspberry Fizz
Paper: GKD 80 lb. Pure Luxury White, PTI Hibiscus Burst & Raspberry Fizz
Accessories: flower, button by PTI, ribbon by PTI, MFT Swarovski Crystals in Rose