Pretty Succulents!

I am loving the succulents that I am seeing on Pinterest!  I don't have the SU succulent stamp set and dies but I wanted to try and make them with other dies that I have.  I have a number of flower dies and punches and was happy to use them for this.  The succulents in the picture above are made with Tim Holtz's Tattered flower die and a couple of punches that I have.  I alternated with some of the flowers and then used the same with others to change it up a little.  I like the way they came out, although, not perfect like the ones from Stampin up.    The little cactus-like one in the middle is just made with the extra-large circle punch from SU. I think I punched out 8 ovals to make the cactus. All the flowers are inked with Ranger's distressed inks.  For the inks I used concord grape, forest moss and barn red.  There are more pictures to show the side view.  I love the little container that I used. I bought it at Michael's for only $5.  What a deal!

Dies and punches used

Side view

Love this pink one!

Happy Halloween!

A fun weekend ending today with cute little monsters from the neighbor trick or treating tonight.  I bought these white paperbags and just added the Tim Holtz sizzix Halloween cat with green eyes and a sentiment that says "Trick or Treat" from, I think, Stampendous.  They were obviously really easy and the kids loved them!  It was a great night for trick or treating, not to cold.

Yesterday, my sisters and a very good friend, Cindy got together to make the Papertrey Ink Petite Places on Mason jars.  They are so adorable and so small!  Check out picture below.  Thank you Andrea for hosting this fun Stamp Camp!

The Church

Holiday Lane

Birthday Cupcake

I have been wanting to make this type of card for a while. It is called an upright Z fold card.  Have been looking all over for the instructions, although, it is pretty easy to figure out but wanted the exact scoring measurements.  So I finally found some very good instructions here.  Stamp owl made a Christmas card but I wanted to do a birthday card for a high school friend who's birthday is next week so I am headed to the Post Office to get it in the mail. Like she did, I used Elizabeth Craft's stickers and colored with copics for the front of the card.  The background is embossed with the "happy birthday" Cuttlebug EF.  The paper line I used is from "My Mind's Eye".  It has a fabric feel to it.  Just love the colors!

The inside of the card is a sentiment I had from my stash that says "Your Special Day" with a drink to celebrate!  Betti always post a drink, usually a martini, on Friday night of her drink on Facebook and they always look yummy!  I think she will get the connection.  LOL!  The upper left hand corner is the stopper to hold the card when it stands up and I had a cupcake brad which was perfect!

The Back of the card was a fun sentiment and some Martha Stewart punch balloons.  This was a fun card to make and I am sure I will make more.  It gives you a lot of space for sentiments and decorating for whatever occasion the card is.  Happy Birthday Betti!  Enjoy your special day!!

Travel Birthday

My son's birthday is next week so I had to get these cards in the mail for him.  He is going to be 32!  I can't believe I have a 32 year old man! Where has all the time gone!  He is a avid bicyclist so I had to use my bicycle die for  one of his cards. He also loves to travel so I made him a card from the graphic 45 collection paper that is titled "Come Away With Me".  Love this collection, it is soooo pretty!

Closer look

This card is a tunnel card. The hot air balloon die is from Memory box and it is the first time I have used it.  The clouds are from SU cupcake punch.  Fun card to make! Happy Birthday Eric! Love you and miss you!

Another Graphic 45 Easel Card

I have a long list of summer birthday cards to make.  Since I made one of these for my mother for Mother's Day, I decided to make another one for a friend's birthday in June. Botanical Tea Graphic 45 is such a beautiful collection I used it again.  I am also making a Tim Holtz large folio with the Botanical Tea collection and it coming along great!  I have been watching a few tutorials on different folios and I am incorporating a lot of them in mine.  This card has a lot of the cut aparts from the collection  as well as MS butterfly punch and I also used a bottle cap with a 1 inch punch from the paper.  The flowers are from $1.50 bin at Michael's.   I haven't put the sentiment on it yet but will finish it later.  Just love this collection!!  Thanks for stopping by!

Side view

Back view

Best Mom Ever!

I just have to start saying that my mother is the best mom ever!  She brought up 8 terrific children who are all adults now.  My sister Terri, passed away 6 years ago and she was an amazing mother, teacher, sister and friend.  My mom took care of  us all and a husband who adored her.  Mom's birthday is next week and she will be 86 and looks terrific!  Although, she wouldn't agree....

The card that I made for her is from Graphic 45's Botanical Tea!  It is such a beautiful collection and so springy that I had to use it for my mom's card.  The easel card design just showcases the gorgeous collection.  I really didn't have to do much because it all goes together perfectly.  I did add some pink flowers from Michael's $1.50 bin and some butterflies with the MS punch.  My mom loves birds and flowers so this card is perfect for her!

Back of the card!

I love this picture of mom.  She was enjoying a story that my husband was telling her.  Love it when she really laughs.  What a wonderful Mother's Day!  Four of her children were able to celebrate with Mom at Macaroni Grill yesterday.  With husbands, grandchildren and one great-grandchild, there were 12 of us in all. Hope everyone had a wonderful day!