Garden of Tulips

Okay, I am hooked!! As promised, I wanted to make another of Valita's tulip owl punch. They are so beautiful and creative, imagine using the SU owl punch!  I added a few "bugs" to the garden.  MS punch is the butterfly and sizzix for the grass and ladybug.  Now if only spring would really come here to Maine!!!

Spring Tulips

Valita's tulip owl punch card is so pretty, I wanted to give it a try for an Easter card for my mom.  I just got the spellbinders Labels #10 nestabilities and used it for the background behind the purple tulip with DP from SU.  Check out  Valita's blog for the instructions on the tulip and the leaves-had fun making it and gonna give it another try tomorrow.  Come back and see!  Valita's blog  is found at http://valitasfreshfolds.blogspot.com/

Spring Pop Up!

This card started out trying to do something with the paper that I purchased a while ago at Stamped Design in Dover, NH.  I usually like to use blues, pinks and purples but this time decided green is very much a spring color. !  I used the Fifth Avenue SU set for the outside. Copic marker- Chrome Orange, was used  for the flower. MS border punch and nesties for the frame of the flower.  Sizzix "little leaves" was used for the foliage. The picture shows the flower a little dull but Chrome Orange Copic Marker is actually very brillant as well as the paper!

Then you open up the card and it is a pop up card with flowers and butterflies. The style of the card is called an M fold design.   I colored the SU Stipple Butterfly with copic markers,  Chrome Orange and Canary Yellow.  MS butterfly  and fence border punches were used and  the Sizzix EF from SU (the name escapes me but it coordinates with Fifth Avenue Floral). The flowers are held on with acetate cut in 1/4 stripes. Check out Valita's blog at http://valitasfreshfolds.blogspot.com/2010/01/pop-up-balloon-card.html

Easter Fun!

Here is another cute bunny/chick card. Alot of punches used for these cute little creatures. My sister, Connie, gave me the instructions a while ago for the Stand Up Card, (She made me one for my birthday last year)  so this is my first experiment with this type of card.  It took me a couple of days to think about the design of the card but I hope you like it.  I was going to put Happy Easter on the bunny's feet but decided to put it in the inside of the card instead.  The bunny is all punches from SU, oval, heart, round. The grass is sizzix and the tiny butterflies are from K& Company Grand Adhesions

I used Velcro fasteners for the bunny but I think next time I am going to adhere the left side and use velcro for the right side. The center of the card is the sizzix easter basket and some pretty sticker eggs I found at Michael's. The cute little chick is smaller than what I have seen on SC but same idea using the 1 3/8 inch scallop punch from SU.  The sentiment is something I found on the internet which I thought was fun for an easter basket theme. The left side behind the bunny is just an assortment of flowers from punches and dies that I have with the vine being the SU bird punch.  Another idea for the next time is to use one of my Cuttlebug EF for the background behind the Easter basket.

More Easter cards to come!  Thanks for coming!

Happy Birthday Kyle!

My niece, Danielle,  is coming to visit with her new husband, Kyle!  We have never meant Kyle and his birthday was recently so at the party that we are having for the two of them we are going to give Kyle a birthday cake with cards. The first thing I thought of was their wedding.  Danielle's mother is my sister and most of our side of the family could not attend because the wedding was in Georgia and my dad was ill at the time.  But we saw many pictures and the one that stood out most was Danielle on the back of Kyle's John Deere  tractor after the ceremony going to the reception.  This photo is a hoot!  Sometime ago, I saw a punch art tractor and this is what I came up with for Kyle's card.  It was actually on Isaiah 40:31 blog and she was inspired by Jackie Topa.  Her blog address is http://jackietopa.typepad.com/addicted_to_stamping/2009/08/punch-art-tractor.html

The seat is a heart punch but I bet you could use 2 small oval punches. The steering wheel are 2 SU small  slit punches. Engine of the tractor is a large tag punch from SU.  The wheels are nesties scallop and circle.  I just typed "John Deere" on the computer really, really tiny and put it on the tractor because my handwriting would just mess up the card.   The smoke stack is SU word window punch and the smoke is just a small sizzix flower that I had.  Enjoy!  

Kiss Me, I'm Irish

I think is my last St Patrick's Day card fpr the year, although, I had fun making this Irish Chin guy!  I saw Alene's card  on SC and was inspired to try it. I think I have every tone of green on this one!  I wished I had sponged his nose so that it would show up a little better. Oh well, gives me a reason to do it again with a different design.   Lots of punches were used. SU wide oval, word window, ornament, and sizzix scribbles swirls, pots, nesties for his hair and sign.  I used copper colored metal for the pots. Alene said that she was inspired to make her card by Ellen Kemper, she does a great job with chin people. Check her out at http://blinkthinkink.blogspot.com/20...-in-green.html.

St Patrick's Hat

To celebrate St. Patrick's Day,  I wanted to try the nestabilities die hat.  I saw it on Joda25 gallery-very cute!  Tried a couple different versions.  The plaid hat embellishments are stickers from Joann's.  Very simple design using the label #8 and the brim and the black strips are 1/2 inch.  The buckle is a punch from EK success that I punched in gold paper.  I just thought this was such a cute and quick St Patty's Day card to send especially to a male which is always hard to do.  Thanks for looking!

Organization is so important!

I worked last week in my craft room organizing and cleaning out things that I haven't used or didn't want anymore.  I feel so much better now that I can find things easier.  You get to a point that you forget what you have and I don't want to feel that way again! I have an area to cut and an area for my Big Kick which I use all the time.  Then a separate table for Tim Holtz crafting mat with his ink pads and mists. Not shown is another table that I have my computer and up above is my peg board with all my punches and spellbinders dies. 

Couple of years ago, a craft shop was going out of business in town so I bought the card holder for $10.  It now holds the cards that I have made which you can see in one of the pictures.  Now I can get started on my next project!  Thanks for looking!

Mary's Walk 2011

Over 2500 people participated

There were 150 people for Team Orr

After the walk, we were still standing

St Patrick's Day couture

Yesterday was a celebration and remembrances of people close to those you chose to walk to raise money for the Maine Cancer Society.  Our group walked for my husband's secretary, Sandy Orr, who died on January 18, 2011 of liver cancer.  She was diagnosed in December 2011 and was 61 years old.  A wonderful person who would do anything for anybody.  She worked at Waterboro Elementary School for 27 years.  There were about 150 people walking for "Team Orr" yesterday to remember Sandy.  It was a wonderful day and even the rain held off for all of us walkers and runners.  The walk route started at Thornton Academy in Saco and ended at the Kerryman Pub.  In the Kerryman Pub parking lot, there was food and drinks for all participants.  I saw Amato's italian sandwiches, beef stew, chinese food, ice cream, coffee and water. I am sure this will be an annual walk to remember Sandy.  She would have like this because it is money well spent to help others.  Helping others is Sandy's legacy!  Miss you and love you Sandy forever!

Easter Bunny & Eggs

Since I did a Easter Duck, of course, I had to do an Easter Bunny!  I made this bunny  last year but made an Easter Bunny Box (see my SCS gallery for more info- beechwood) The basket is actually Tim Holtz die cut bird cage upside down! The handle is nestabilities oval.  The bunny is different SU punches oval, round and nesties paisley for the body.  The eggs and "little bunny" are stickers from Michael's. This side step fold is so much fun!

Easter Wishes

Little Donald before he grew up!  I saw this on MrsBoz gallery and had to give it a try with the side step fold.  Changed it up a little with the eyes and feet but still adorable! The head and body is the ornament punch from SU. His feet are nesties scallop circle as well as his hands.  His beak are SU oval punches.  "Loads of Love Assessories" is the sentiment.  The eggs and little bunnies are stickers from, I think, Michael's.  I had a lot of fun designing this card at the wee hours of the morning.  I seem to get more inspiration when things aren't so hectic and  it is quiet.   Anyone else feel like that?  I added some more pictures  of different angles of this card.  Enjoy!

Trio of Blue

I thought I would get a jump-start on some birthday cards for the year.  My mother's birthday is in May and she just loves flowers and I love the color blue. This is my blue card for the month.  It is just blue everything. Blue flowers, blue butterflies, blue bling and light blue ribbon as well as blue DP from SU.  The DP is called Blueberry Crisp and it is beautiful!!! The flowers from SU  Fifth Avenue Floral is against Tim Holtz Wood Grain EF.  The leaves are "Make an Impression" stamp.  I used copic markers to color the flowers and leaves.  The ribbon is light blue from SU  and then I heated the ribbon to crinkle it.  I love the crinkled look!  On each  side of the card is MS lace punch with a little bling from one of the craft stores, again, light blue.  Can't wait to give it to Mom!

Versatile Card

I love this stamp set from Stampin up, Just Believe! I actually made this card around the ribbon.  I bought the ribbon at Joann's Fabric and wanted to make a card with it.  It can be a birthday, thankyou, or  sympathy card. Used the sponging technique around the masked circle punch.  It is hard to see but there are pearls on the flowers. Cuttlebug EF on the edge of the card was used - that is also hard to see.  Sometimes pictures doesn't do a card justice.  Thanks for looking!

Lucky Owl

With only 10 days or so left before St Patrick's Day, I thought I better get started with at least one card for the holiday since I am Irish/English.  I haven't used my Season of Friendship stamp set from Stampin up so why not cover it with 4-leaf clovers! They kinda look like green flowers but really they are 4-leaf clovers!  I know they are because I cut out 12 of them. I am now cross-eyed from cutting out something so small!  I used confetti 4-leaf clover to put on the owl's chest.  I was going to use the confetti on the tree (would have been easier) but I didn't like the look. Then I used some green glitter for bling. Those punch owls are so darn cute from SU-can't get enough of them. 

Warm Christmas

This is a card that I wanted to make at Christmas time but the time just got away from me.  I didn't get time to actually send out any Christmas cards!  I didn't want this idea to be forgotten so I decided to do it now instead of waiting for the end of the year. I used punch bunch for the wreath and Carlacraft punch for the poinsettas. The leaves were from the Stampin up bird punch as well as the fire in the fireplace. I love the sizzix pot die and I used copper metal from Ten Second Studio  ( I seem to always try to find a place to use metal). Jackie's tutorial for the fireplace is my inspiration which can be found at  www.jackietopa.typepad.com The candles on the mantle are from EK success punch-it is actually just the top of the birthday cake punch.

Congratulations WIndjammers!

Last night my husband and I went to the Class B Basketball State Championship Game,  the Camden Windjammers vs Cape Elizabeth Capers.  We have been going almost every year for the past 3 or 4 years because my husband's roomate from college is the Assistant Coach to the Windjammers.  They have been in the finals for about 5 or 6 years.  They won 2 years ago and again last night.  Last year, they lost in the finals to Falmouth.  (Sorry about that, my son played for Falmouth so I had to root for them)   Again congratuations Windjammers and Coach Paul!!

How can you not like Camden!

Home Sweet Home

Here is my housewarming card for my brother and his wife.  They are moving from Connecticut to NJ this month.  Just wanted to let them know that we are thinking of them.  I made a "bureau" card (which is what I call it) previously  for birthday card and I  thought this would be perfect for them. Directions for the side step are http://jackietopa.typepad.com/addict...-tutorial.html  Jackie does a great job of showing how it is done with a few ideas.  The window is done on SU whisper white cardstock sponging blue for the sky and green for the grass (SU soft blue, and always artichoke). Then I stamped SU "Lovely as a Tree" stamp with always artichoke.   I cut the piece in 4 equal pieces and glued it on a black cardstock.  The window treatment is used with the MS punch.  The broom is sizzix.   This was a lot of fun to make and I know I probably will make another one. Thanks for looking.