Flying high - another mini banner

Here's another mini banner I made recently. The banner was cut from coated cardstock but all the other pieces are kraft cardstock. The dies are by Sizzix. Tim's keyhole punch from the alterations line is the bird's wing. All stamps are Wendy's including the scalloped border. I cut it out, punched out the holes and added some gems. The background was colored using an idea from Wendy. Several distress ink pads were smooshed on my craft sheet then spritzed with Perfect Pearls and water. I know the recipient was tickled to get this!

It's all about families

I am spending this week and maybe next diligently working on finding more info for my family research. I did locate my great-grandmother's photo when she turned 16 back in 1882. And I think I found the name of a great-great uncle's wife through some diligent census work. It's tiring and tiresome but I figure one day I will be able to find my paternal great-grandfather. All I know is Charles was from KY and was married twice, both to women named Nancy. He died in IL in a town that no longer exists. Ancestry.com can't seem to locate him based on this info. Go figure. LOL My dad's family reunion is the end of June. I am planning on a new release of the info then...it's been 8 years since I shared the first book. Enjoy spending time with your family...and learn what you can NOW and get it down in writing while you can. Label those photos NOW! Believe me, generations from now will be most appreciative. Just because your kids may not be interested in their family history, their kids may show interest later.

Happy Mother's Day!

Here is the card I made for my mom to celebrate 55 years of motherhood. It's totally CASEd from a card I found on another blog. You'll have to go back to April 13 to see her card. I don't usually CASE a card so completely but the original is so nice I didn't want to mess up the idea.

I used Wendy's tree and plaid background (on the pink strip), sentiment is Hero Arts. All inks by Ranger (distress and archival). My butterfly is 3-D and is by Martha Stewart. The dictionary page was carefully torn out to reveal 'mother' words.

Wishing you all a splendid day...no matter what you're doing, where you're doing it, or with whom!

Mother's Day cards - part 2

Here's another card I made for the occasion. This one was inspired by one I saw on Splitcoaststampers back in early April. The tutorial was Acrylic Distress. I used the Cuttlebug Victoria embossing folder and Nestabilities Label 4. The central image is by Rubber Moon (on glossy paper), the background and edge stamp are Wendy Vecchi's. I got the flower from Tim in a giveaway. Added a few decorative jewels, a button and some ribbon it was complete.

Mother's Day cards - part 1

One of the blogs I follow is Mrs. C, one of my Gingerwood friends. Her cards inspire me as does her message of sharing them. The March 15 card inspired this Mother's Day card for my sisters.

Kraft paper on hot pink with some decorative paper thrown in. Not a color palette that fits either sister but I really like the combo so there you have it. My photography skills have the pinks looking quite different when they really are in the same family. I have no idea of the brands on anything I used. The only way I could achieve the white ink look was to go with a white acrylic paint on my Wendy Vecchi plaid background stamp. The Mother's Day stamp is Hero Arts.

I'll have my step-mom's Mother's Day card to share tomorrow and my mom's card on Mother's Day. I planted peach-tinged yellow dahlias in a large urn for my mom but gave it to her a few weeks ago when she was here.

What's noisier than a Carolina wren outside your window?

TWO Carolina wrens singing their hearts out! Love listening to their melodies. Always brings a smile to my face. This year I have a pair nesting in a birdhouse attached to an old hoe on the steps leading down to the patio. Between singing from the roof and the nearby weathervane, they're driving my poor kitties nuts!

With the birds all a twitter thought I'd share another birdcage I did. This one is for my other sister. This one has a backdrop for the flowers (chipboard), the 'stems' (thin cardboard), the bird is Tim's - probably thin cardboard. A Wendy rose, Martha butterfly (2 stuck together for more dimension), velvet rickrack from Basic Grey and some dew drops. Another stencil letter by Tim, that ribbon is also Basic Grey. All ink by Ranger. I'll drop it off tomorrow; hope she likes it!

Scallops - they're not just for dinner

Just picked up the Scallops On the Edge die by Tim Holtz. I've been wanting this since the preview so I was tickled pink (see it?) to be able to use it right away. The front edge was die cut and so was a contrasting narrow strip for the inside right edge.

The image is from Penny Black (Brushed Tulips 2835K). I colored it with Tombow markers then misted lightly before stamping. The message on the tag is actually the title of the MSE stamp set and was the perfect size. I didn't ink up the year or company name. The small flower is from the same set (M101).

The rickrack scooted a bit...too late now, it's in the mail. Why didn't I notice this before?!?!? Grrrr....