50th Wedding Anniversary - Truly Golden

WOW - 50 years - that's a long time, ya know? A friend asked me to make a card for her in-laws 50th wedding anniversary celebration coming up; colors are cream & gold and they wanted me to incorporate the couple's wedding photo.

I really had a ton of fun making this card - well, the part where I broke my Big Shot Die Cutting Machine was NOT so fun - but beyond that, fun!

No, I didn't get a new Big Shot...wanted one, called Michael's, they said they had one, drove there over lunch...they didn't have one. URGH, bought a Cuttlebug; it'll work, but I like the Big Shot better! Alas, the Cuttlebug allowed me to finish the card, so all is good!

K, 'nuf of that nonsense! The base of the card is 5.75" x 7" with the front flap being about 1/4" less in width which just gives you a peek of those beautiful scalloped hearts - oh how I *heart* my scalloped heart punch! As you can see, I used it on the outside of the card too! All edges of the card were sponged with Encore gold.

For the main cream panel I used the letterpress technique (details at Taylor's blog <---- click here) sponging gold on the stencil. I then added a layer of brushed gold card stock and another layer of cream. The picture is in between these two panels and both panels were mounted with dimensionals. Got some serious dimension going on here folks! HA! I also used a standard & scalloped nestability oval to get the scalloped frame around the picture; just love that!

I tied on some gold ribbon and then I used my bow easy (<---- click here) to create a 3 loop bow which I tied onto the ribbon with the gold cord, I then tied on the two charms (heart & key) with the same gold cord and then finished it in a bow.

The inside says "The best and most beautiful things in the world cannot be seen or even touched. They must be felt with the heart. ~Helen Keller"; and then the lower right-hand corner says "Happy Anniversary".

I hope the couple is half as thrilled as I was to make their card; I pray their day is abundantly and richly blessed. And...congratulations on 50 years...that's a long time! Hope I see 50 years and more with my sweet love!

Thanks for stopping by; I really appreciate your visit! Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: PTI
Paper: PTI Cream, GKD 80 lb. Cream, SU! Brushed Gold, Misc. DP
Ink: Encore Gold
Accessories: ribbon, gold cord, charms, nestability dies, dimensionals, impressionabilities, Cuttlebug

Wish Big!

Look - I'm back with ANOTHER card! Sure enough, I was able to sneak in some stamping time tonight...makes me one happy momma!

I wanted to do another card for Joanne's "Sew Krafty" challenge. I took my inspiration from Dawn McVey - she works magic with her color combos and CAS layouts. I've had this stamp set for a few weeks but haven't had time to get it inky until last night; I just LOVED the font and size when I used it, so I knew I wanted to use it again tonight. The inside says "celebrate with style".

I stamped polka dots in Hibiscus Burst; layered with a strip of Aqua Mist & Hibiscus Burst card stock...and then I SEWED...yes, I really did. I know, breathe deep, again, let's all breathe deep! LOL! I rarely sew, but I love the whimsical feel of the stitching, totally random. What do you think?

I added a couple of jewels above each "i" and tied on some twill ribbon. I hope you enjoyed another Sew Krafty card. Thanks for stopping by; I really appreciate when you visit! Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: PTI Big & Bold Wishes & Polka Dot Basics
Paper: PTI Kraft, Hibiscus Burst & Aqua Mist
Ink: PTI Dark Chocolate & Hibiscus Burst
Accessories: ribbon, sewing, pink jewels

Trifecta!

Yeah baby - a trifecta for me! :D

I am lucky if I get an hour a week to stamp anymore - between our young man being so ill and 'life', there just isn't much time left. But I promised myself if I got some laundry and a few other chores done tonight, I would reward myself with stamp time. HA!

I wanted to participate in a couple challenges - Joanne's "just a little blogaversary" and Lisa's "Poppy Seed Challenge". You can click on their links to see the challenges; I managed to use kraft card stock, faux stitching, a hint of yellow, a flower (make that an MFT flower) - wow, that's more than 3, not too shabby for me! Oh yes, how could I forget? I used Jen's SFYTT also! WOOT, WOOT!!

I didn't use crystals (per Lisa's challenge) but I did use a gorgeous button from PTI - isn't it beautiful?

I edged all the papers with SU! Close to Cocoa. That beautiful flower was inked with VersaMagic Pink Petunia & Pixie Pink; can you see the two pinks in the image? They are oh so pretty and soft! I feel like a new woman after finding some time to create - I really needed the relaxation!

BTW, for my anniversary, my dearest love bought me an iHome system, so tonight while stamping I charged my iPod and listened to all kinds of music - 80's, John Denver, country, AC/DC - LOVE my iPod and my iHome is fabulous! Thanks sweetie pie!!

Hope you have a great week; thanks for popping in, I really appreciate your visit!



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Boho Blossoms from MFT, PTI Big & Bold Wishes
Paper: PTI Kraft, Sweet Blush & Dark Chocolate, DP by Basic Grey, GKD 80 lb. Cream
Ink: VersaMagic Pink Petunia & Pixie Dust, SU! Close to Cocoa
Accessories: nestabilities, sponging, button by PTI, paper piercing

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Hugs, ~M.

Compose a Card #4

Oh my goodness - I started this card last week right after Becky released the challenge...here it is almost a week later and I just finished it. Life just got in the way! Not to mention I've been ill all weekend long! URGH!

Before I show the card, today my dear sweet hubby and I are celebrating 18 years of marriage - WOW; what a blessing!!

OK, on to the card! I didn't have a negative stamp - can you imagine, I thought I had EVERYTHING in my stamp room; but alas, not a negative stamp. So, I did the next best thing...stamped white on black. LOL

I added some Hibiscus Burst to the card as I'm using this as a birthday card for a friend. I didn't have any olive satin ribbon either, so instead I took some white satin ribbon and died it with my Ripe Avocado stamp pad from PTI. Worked like a charm!

Thanks for stopping by; Becky will release a new challenge tomorrow and this week she has a "theme" running all week long - what fun! Hope you get a chance to check it out. Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Floral Frenzy from PTI
Paper: PTI Black & Ripe Avocado, GKD 80 lb. White
Ink PTI Ripe Avocado, Hibiscus Burst, Memento Tuxedo Black, SU! White
Accessories: ribbon, twine, button

You Rock Our World!

Our oldest turns 14 tomorrow (February 10) - AMAZING! I saw THIS card created by Michelle Zindorf several weeks ago and I just loved it - she does such incredible work!! I've been wanting to try it forever but I can barely find time to create, but I snuck in about 30 minutes tonight and made a small 3.75"x3.75" card for our daughter.

I ordered some gourmet cupcakes from Folk Tales Flowers & Gifts for Valentine's Day, but I'll take one tomorrow and deliver it to our daughter at middle school just before she has lunch and I'll drop this card off with it.

This card features Inkadinkado's "In The Groove" stamp set - I had my daughter preview the images before I bought the set - she thought they were cool, so I thought I'd be safe using one of the images on her card. You know how teens can be...F-I-C-K-L-E!! :D

I sponged on several colors on the base card - PTI's Aqua Mist, Ocean Tide & Spring Rain and then edged it in SU! Close to Cocoa. I layered the main image onto PTI's Smokey Shadow and Spring Rain.

Thanks for peeking in; hope your week is going great!! Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Inkadinkado In The Groove
Paper: PTI Smokey Shadow & Spring Rain, GKD's 80 lb. White
Ink PTI Spring Rain, Ocean Tide, Aqua Mist, Memento Tuxedo Black

Heartfelt Basics & Thankful Blossoms

So - did you watch the Super Bowl? Did your team win? Mine didn't and I was so bummed, I watched the game from start to finish! Seems, to me at least, the commercials weren't quite as funny as some of the others I've seen, but I did enjoy them. Which one was your favorite? I was surprised at the # of commercials Denny's had - that cost some big money!!

Anyway, on to what you're visiting for! I created these cards numerous weeks ago but haven't found time to post them until tonight.

The first one uses Verve Visual's Thankful Blossoms - I find myself turning to this set time and time again. I embossed the flower 4 times on BG designer paper and cut out various layers, each one is mounted with dimensionals for a serious 3D effect.

Each card uses the same base colors, just different background papers from Basic Grey. Both flowers are tied off with a button in the center. The flower on the 2nd card is made with nestabilities and a paperback book - these flowers are so popular right now and are tons of fun to make. It's tied off with a double bow twine & button. This card uses PTI's Heartfelt Basics stamp set.

Both cards share the same layout, just different punches and 'bellies. I hope you like these creations; thanks for popping in! Have a great week! Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Verve Visual Thankful Blossoms; PTI Heartfielt Basics
Paper: PTI Sweet Blush, Dark Chocolate, Berry Sorbet, White, Basic Grey DP
Ink VersaMagic Jumbo Java, PTI Berry Sorbet:
Accessories: embossing powder, buttons, twine, punches,

Compose a Card Challenge

The extremely talented Becky Oehlers has started a Tuesday challenge called "Compose a Card with Becky"; you have to check it out, tons of fun! I couldn't participate last week, but I jumped on the band wagon and participated this week. Love the colors she used and although I didn't have all the exact colors, I found some pretty close matches.

You can pop over to Becky's blog (links above) to see the requirements for the card; it was really hard to photograph to capture the embossed lines as well as the white on white layers. Or maybe I need to learn better photography skills...ah...that "might" be it!

Because the card was all white, I used a piece of Hibiscus Burst card stock to help it stand out.

I love the white on the card; but I have to admit, it was tough not to add an additional mat of color between the two white layers. LOL But that would have been against the rules and I really like to play by the rules (however, you would NOT have known that when I was a teenager...sorry mom!!). *snort*

Now, I sure wish the weather would cooperate and give us some great spring weather to go along with these fab spring colors! We've had snow, sleet and rain today and it looks like that's the forecast for the next few days. Bummer - I need some sunshine!!

Update on our 'little man'; he celebrated his 10th birthday on January 30 - amazing! And to think our oldest will turn 14 in a few days and start high school in the fall? YIKES....how did I get so old? HA!! Our little man is doing good - we're right in the window of when the 'episodes' happen so I'll keep you posted. We have an appointment with a pediatric gastro doctor in early March; I pray we don't need that appointment but as of yet, we do not have answers to what is causing these episodes. I have a calendar at work and I have all the dates of episodes marked, notes about medication starts/stops, diet changes, etc., but for now, he's doing good. I'll be so thankful when we have an answer and I can breathe normal again!!

Thanks for stopping by, I love when you visit! And you know, Valentine's Day is just around the corner - won't you leave some love? Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: PTI Floral Frenzy
Paper: PTI White
Ink: PTI Aqua Mist, Hibiscus Burst, Summer Sunrise & ??
Accessories: PTI Hibiscus Burst Swiss Dot ribbon, Scor-Pal, buttons, twine

Mish Mash's Blog

Here's an entry at a blog I read every single day - it's very touching; I love what she has to say. Hope you'll pop over and read her entry - leave her some love too!!

Mish Mash <----CLICK HERE

Or copy and paste this address into your web browser: http://michellewooderson.blogspot.com/2010/02/seventeen.html.

Until next time; hug the ones you love!!!

Love Monkey

Hi friends; how are you? Me...well, you know I've been missing my mojo right? I saw a fab tutorial on Cornish Heritage Farm's blog and it inspired me to take a little step - rather than creating something that felt big and overwhelming, I went small - very small! These are mini note cards, 3"x3". I used the Love Monkey from Verve Visual's newest release...cute fella eh?

The cards are all identical and very simple, I stamped the Love Monkey's face/head twice and cut out the 2nd image and popped it up with dimensionals to create some interest.

I also stamped the little heart in Pure Poppy; distressed all the edges, edged everything in Close to Cocoa, decorated the inside and voila, a few, quick valentine's.

They were super fun to make and my babes just loved them, even my little guy!

I've been getting things ready for Valentine's Day and then our anniversary is just a few days after that so I've been getting a few gifts together for the man of my dreams. Love that guy!!

Thanks for popping in; I hope you're getting ready to spread some love to your friends and family on Valentine's Day! Have a great week!! Hugs, ~M.



WHAT'S IT TAKE?
Stamps: Verve Visual Love's Monkey
Paper: PTI Dark Chocolate, Sweet Blush, White; Bittersweet DP by BG
Ink: Versamagic Jumbo Java, SU Close to Cocoa, PTI Pure Poppy
Accessories: nestabilities, sponging, MS Scalloped Heart Punch