Mother's Day Card

To My Mom

I worked on  my Mother's card for Mother's Day last night. Don't know why but it seems I do better work when it is time to go to bed.  Just got the build a blossom punch and clear stamps from SU and I couldn't wait to make one of these flowers.  They are so beautiful.  Saw Tami White's video so I had to try it for myself.  I used a different EF called Finial Press for the flower and then punched away!  I have been making  a lot of purple cards lately and still haven't stopped.  The cardstock is again from Basic Grey's Wisteria line.  Butterflies here and there for embellishments.  Outlines rubber stamp was used for the sentiment.  Check out Tami's video http://stampwithtami.com/blog/2011/02/blossom-petal-punch/      Happy Mother's Day to everyone!

Another angle to show the nestie that I used

Trifold card closed

Gold Finches At My Window

I have forgotten how brillant in color the Gold Finches are!  The males are a gorgeous brillant yellow!  Someone from work was telling me that May 5th is the day to put out grape jelly for the Orioles.  I am going to give it a try next week and see if we can get any to come this year. We have seen chickadees, cardinals (but only 1), and woodpeckers.  I'll keep you posted on the Orioles!

Spring Bling

My husband and I worked outside all day last Friday, raking and raking.  Spring cleaning is not just inside but outside too!  With all that work, I retired into my craftroom and came up with this card for someone's birthday.  I put some sparkle inside the tiny little prima flowers to give it the bling!  This is a side step card.  The birdhouse is made from SU tag punch and the roof is nesties squares for the angle. I used sizzix fence and little leaves. The birds are SU's bird punch. I embossed paper behind the birdhouse with Tim Holtz woodgrain EF. The sentiment is from SU "Love ya bunches"    Punch art is a lot of fun!!!  Never know what will inspire you!

Lindsey's Easter Basket

 

 

I wanted to make another one of these baskets for my daughter, Lindsey and her roommate, Rachel for Easter.  The instructions are from www.stamptv.com   I used the Basic Grey DP cardstock and coordinating paper.  The handles for the purple one is the MS border punch and ribbon from Joann's and for the blue one ribbon from SU and MS border punch. I filled it with candy and purple peeps.  My daughter loves peeps!!!

Flowers and bunnies for Easter

Purple Scallop Punch Flower Card

I know the title of this card is a mouthful but the flower is what makes this card.  The scallop punch is used for the flower with a little bling on the inside and the outside.The video for the scallop punch flower I found on youtube. Check out www.creationswithchristina.com for her video. You can also find her video on youtube.

Again, I used the easel style card the Basic Grey paper from the Wisteria line. The line of butterflies on the right side of the card is a sticker from Wisteria. Martha stewart punches for the big butterfly and border punch.  Nestabilities for the tag and Stampin up "Short & Sweet" stamps used for the sentiment.  Another cute, cute card for someone's birthday or anniversary.  You pick the occasion!

Perfect Paella

I have made this dish a couple of times.  At the request of my sisters, Chris and Connie, (for SCS fans they are Figaro and cbmott) I am posting the recipe.  It is really simple and delicious. It serves about 4 people and the calories are 480 per serving. The ingredients are 1 onion chopped, about 1 cup, 1 lb boneless skinless chicken thighs (I used the breast to keep the fat content down a little), 4 oz kielbasa sausage, cut into 1/4" thick slices, 1 pkg (8 oz) yellow rice mix , 1 cup frozen peas and 1/2 cup drained roasted red peppers, cut into strips. 

In a large nonstick skillet (I used our wok) heat 1 tbs oil over medium-high heat.  Add the onion, cook, stiring occasionaly, until the onions are soft about 4-5 mins.  Add chicken and sausage, stirring until browned, this will take about 5 minutes. Then add the rice and 2 cups of water. Bring to a boil and then cover and cook untiil all the water is absorbed.  Rice should be tender and chicken and sausage are cooked through. This will take about 25 minutes.  Add peas and peppers during the last 5 minutes.  If you would like, serve sprinkled with 1 tbsp of chopped fresh parsley. Total time of preparation and cooking is about 50 minutes.

My husband loved it and I think it will become one of our favorite meals. Hope you like it. Enjoy!

Love Greenhouses!

This time of year when everything is brown, it is nice to visit your local greenhouse and see some color!  It is still a little early to buy flowers but boy are they gorgeous inside. Walking through and smelling the flowers, we will be able to plant before you know it.

This is an inspiration for a card!

Just love to look at the different ideas for flower boxes. The birdhouse is an inspiration for a card that I want to make with birds and butterflies. I have made a couple of cards with butterflies maybe just birds this time.Check out the metal birds below.

So pretty

Mr & Mrs

Birthday Butterfly

Purple Birthday!

I have a big family so I am always busy making birthday cards. This one is for my sister who lives in Florida.  I used my new Marianne Design Butterfly die. I have used this before with gold paper so I wanted to try a "color" butterfly.  Purple is a very regal color and since I love it so much it became the theme. The paper is from Basic Grey Wisteria collection.  I bought this last year at the Manchester Convention in Manchester, NH and used it once or twice.  Good time to bring it out again! The paper is just so beautiful, every page! The flower and leaves are from the same convention as well so I don't remember which kiosk I got it from but it all fit so well together. Lavendar ribbon, MS border punch and Spellbinders Fancy Tags for the sentiment were used.  It is an easel card and it measures 5 x 9, scoring at the 2 inch mark and 2 1/2 inch mark.  The butterfly part measures 5 x 4 1/2. This works out great for the 5 1/2 x 5 1/2 envelope.  Looking forward to this year's Creating Keepsakes Manchester Convention in 2 weeks!!

Check out my dragonfly! I know it is hard to see.

Fun Easter Basket!

 This is a fun Easter basket to make.  I had a Stampin up party last weekend and we made these. If you go to www.stamptv.com the instructions for this basket are there and so easy. My sisters brought all the material to make the basket and we just decorated them on our own. They did the hard part and left the fun part of decorating it to us.  You can decorate it on both sides or all four sides.  I just did it on 2 sides. Thanks Chris and Connie for this fun project!!!

This just says Spring to me!

Easter Husband Card!

I just didn't feel like I had made enough bunnies for Easter and when I came across this saying on Splitcoast, I thought  this would be a cute card for my husband. I made a white bunny with Pretty in Pink sponging on the side of the bunny.  The funky fold card is a definite favorite type of card for me. I combined a little of spring with the paper and the butterflies on the side with a  cute Easter bunny.  I made another bunny card that I am going to send to my son in California from both my husband and I.  He will get a kick out of it!  The bunny for Eric is pink with some of Valita's tulips.  Thanks again Valita, I love your tulips!!!

Used some sizzix die grass and cuttlebug EF for this card. MS butterfly punch on the flowers on the side! Thanks for looking!

Golden Wings

Last week I got my Marianne design creatables butterfly die which I have seen on SC.  It is a lovely butterfly die because it is so intricate.  I have some gold shiny paper that I got at Michael's and thought it would make a  wonderful card for a special friend.  My friend, Debbie, was diagnosed with breast cancer 2 years ago and has been doing very well until  6 weeks ago the doctors found lesions in her brain.  She still feels well physically and mentally she is strong.  It is in God's hands now and she has a wonderful family that is supporting and caring. I hope this brings a smile to her face! Love you Debbie!