Spring Coffee Lovers Bloghop!

Happy Sunday! 

I'm joining in the fun over at the Spring Coffee Lovers Bloghop!

I whipped up this little card while spending Spring Break with my Mom in Missouri!

Lots of crafting, shopping, and decorating...you can't beat that, right?!

Some long-neglected Verve goodies finally got broken in...the Better With You stamp set and Coffee word die. I sewed some paper scraps along with a wool scrap onto an office tag and that was it!

Back to the real world...and LOTS of coffee tomorrow! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs & happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: Verve Better With You

Cardstock: SU Crumb Cake, paper scraps

Ink: SU Early Espresso

Accessories: Verve Coffee Word Die, Big Shot, office shipping tag, SU Linen Thread, sewing machine, white yarn, scrap of wool

Calling All Sistahs March Blog Hop!

Welcome to the Calling All Sistahs March Blog Hop!

It's the 17th of the month, and you know what that means:

***This is your reminder to do your self breast exam***

now remind your sistahs to do it too!

You may remember when Michele of CAS-ual Fridays Stamps was diagnosed with breast cancer and created the Calling All Sistahs campaign to remind us sistahs to do our monthly breast self-exams. The CAS-ual Fridays Stamps design team and special guest designers from Laura's Loft are hopping this month to help raise awareness! 

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps is now an official sponsor of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and they will be receiving the 50% profit donation from the sale of the Calling All Sistahs stamps and die collection for 2016.

Now, a little bit of "how-to" info on my card...

I happen to be spending spring break with my awesome, quilting mom, so, of course, I had to get a little quilty here. 

I made a cardstock pattern with the Hope Ribbon die and traced it on the back side of the fabric and quilt batting with a washable marker:

I cut all those out and made my "quilt sandwich" and hand sewed it together. You could definitely use a sewing machine here, but I didn't want to risk messing up my mom's machines, since she's a professional, ya know. 

I forgot to take a photo of the center part of the ribbon, oops. I cut it outside of the blue line, then made notch cuts, folded the notches under, pressed them and slip-stitched it close. Wow, that's like real "sewing" speak! ha!

After sewing it together on the blue lines, I used a damp cloth to "erase" the blue washable lines. Even though they were marked on the underneath side, they easily washed away. Then I trimmed away excess fabric along the stitching to create a neat edge. Lastly, I glued a pin back on.

To put it together, I attached the ribbon on a tag made with the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Scallop Tag Fri-Dies with a couple of small glue dots, then tied the tag on with some sweet twine. *Hopefully* it will be easy to remove and wear. Oh, I also used the Scallop Tag Fri-Dies with some silver glitter washi tape for a little extra shine along the bottom.

Hope that covers it, let me know if you have any questions!

If you're hopping along with us, next up is the wonderful work from the amazing Archana! You can always start back at the beginning of the hop here to make sure you don't miss any of the fun!

Make sure you leave a little love as you visit each blog,

3 lucky comments will win $25 gift certificates to the store!

That's it for now! Remember to do those self-exams, sistahs!

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs & happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Hope Ribbon

Cardstock: Neenah Solar White, misc patterned paper

Ink: Memento Black

Accessories: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Ruffled Ribbon & Scallop Tag Fri-Dies, Big Shot, pink fabric, quilt batting, needle/thread, pink button, sequins, Heidi Swapp silver glitter tape, pink/white twine.

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps: Here for You

Happy Tuesday!

I'm up today on the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog! Yay!

Have you seen the series finale of Downton Abbey yet?

Don't worry, no spoilers here...except for this fashion from Lady Mary that inspired my card! The side piece with the brown trim was kind of a long scarf that swayed gracefully when she moved. (Aren't the costumes on there to die for?!)

Twas a simple super card to make, and it's actually pretty flat and "mailable" with that ribbon and tag! I used the Tag Buddies Fri-Dies (one of my all-time faves, no doubt!) and the Lovely Greetings stamp set. I kind of liked mixing it up with cream cardstock instead of my normal go-to white cardstock. 

I must away...my lady's maid is waiting to get me ready for school today! 

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs & happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Lovely Greetings

Cardstock: Neenah Classic Cream, SU Early Espresso

Ink: SU Early Espresso

Accessories: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Tag Buddies Fri-Dies, Big Shot, SU natural cotton ribbon.

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps: Springy Smile

Happy Saturday!

I'm up today over at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps!

 I made this happy card using Sassy Smiles and Friendly  Flowers Fri-Dies!

Head over to the CFS blog for the tutorial involving springs, highly flammable material, and gouging!!

Oh yeah, if you feel like picking up some goodies at the CFS Store, you can use my discount code for 15% off?! How cool is that?!

Thanks for stopping by! Hugs & happy stamping!

Calling All Sistahs Blog Hop!

Welcome to the February Calling All Sistahs Blog Hop!

It's the 17th of the month, and you know what that means: get 'em squeezed!

You may remember when Michele of CAS-ual Fridays Stamps was diagnosed with breast cancer and created the Calling All Sistahs campaign to remind us sistahs to do our monthly breast self-exams. The CAS-ual Fridays Stamps design team and special guest designers from Laura's Loft are hopping this month to help raise awareness! 

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps is now an official sponsor of the National Breast Cancer Foundation and they will be receiving the 50% profit donation from the sale of the Calling All Sistahs stamp and die collection for 2016. 

So, about my card...did you see what I did there? *wink*

I was driving home from work Monday trying to think of a card idea, and I happened to look down at my sweater vest and two, uhhh, you know. Lightbulb! Never in my life has a card came together so easily from an idea! lol!

I hope you'll hop along with us to check out all the inspiring cards!

Michele is giving away 3 $25 CAS-ual Fridays Stamps gift certificates drawn randomly from all the comments on the blogs during the hop! She'll announce the winners on February 20!

Next on the hop is Archana, so please head over and give her some love!

If you're just joining in, you'll find the hop starts here at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps!

Thanks so much for stopping by! 

Hugs & happy squeezing!

Recipe

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Calling All Sistahs

Cardstock: SU Basic Black, Whisper White, Studio Calico patterned paper

Ink: Memento Black

Accessories: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Oval Tags Fri-Dies (discontinued) to make the "scoop neck" of the sweater vest, Big Shot, pink crochet trim, SU pink ribbon, SU Hodgepodge Hardware piece.

Blog Hop for Cox Family!

Greetings!

I'm here with a special post for the Cox Family Blog Hop!

The paper crafting community really is a small world and you may know Ann Cox. She  happens to be a fellow teacher, and I've grown to love this "cyber" friend of mine, even though she kicks my butt regularly at Words with Friends!

Ann's husband, Kevin, recently underwent a triple bypass surgery and is recovering, praise God, but he is also struggling with his one kidney. He previously donated one of his kidneys to his father for a life-saving operation. Kevin has been the primary caregiver to the couple's young son, Liam, while Ann teaches. So you can see, they have their hands full right now.

As you can imagine, when their paper crafting friends saw a need, they jumped right in to help! Ann's longtime friend, Karen Kelly, set up a Go Fund Me page for the Cox family, then another creative friend, Ashley Newell, came up with the blog hop to help spread awareness. If you are able to contribute, please know that any amount is appreciated.

Ashley has organized a great hop, full of warm and encouraging cards to support the Cox family, as well as great prizes for you, the hoppers! Please comment on all the blogs along the hop for your chance to win one of the prizes! Winners will be posted on Ashley's blog on February 11.

Cas-ual Fridays $50 gift certificate 

Lawn Fawn  $50 gift certificate 

Sugar Pea Designs $50 gift certificate 

Hero Arts $30 gift card donated by Amy Tsuruta

If you're following the hop, you would have arrived from Lisa Lara's blog.

Next on your stop is Stacey Shafer!

If you want to start at the beginning, head over to see Ashley Newell.

I hope you like my card. I struggle with creativity frequently during the school year, but this card actually came together very easily, like it was meant to be. :)

Thank you for visiting and please send a kind thought and prayer to the Cox family.

Card Recipe

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Butterbows

Cardstock: Spectrum White, polka dot scrap

Ink: Versamark, Memento Black, SU Pacific Point, Daffodil Delight, Real Red, Gumball Green, Rich Razzleberry, Calypso Coral

Accessories: CAS-ual Fridays Tag Buddies and Friendly Flowers Fri-Dies, Big Shot, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Ranger Mini Round Ink Blending Tool, SU button & cotton thread, Creative Memories Corner Rounder.

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps: It's Your Birthday, Friend!

Happy Wednesday! 

I'm up today on the CAS-ual Fridays blog so I whipped up this little card for a special friend!

I created one of my special "I don't know what I'm doing" watercolor backgrounds! hehe! I used the sentiments from the Shenanigans stamp set and the Friend Fri-Dies, love that thing! 

Thanks so much for stopping by!

Hugs & happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Shenanigans

Cardstock: Spectrum Noir White, Studio Calico kit patterned & vellum paper

Ink: Memento Black, Zig Markers

Accessories: CAS-ual Fridays "Friend" Fri-Dies, Big Shot, Wink of Stella Glitter Brush, SU heart sequins, water in spray mist bottle

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps: Love Ya!

Happy Wednesday!

I'm up today on the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Blog! Yay!

I whipped this little card up with some scraps leftover from this card!

I just added a few patterned paper hearts and some glitter, no embolus needed!

I had to use some goodies from my favorite new Girlfriends Collection, like the Curtis Background stamp, the Tag Buddies and Love Ya Fri-Dies, and the Heart Board Fri-Dies (on sale now!)

Head over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog for the step-by-step instructions!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs & happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Curtis Background

Cardstock: Spectrum White, SU Bermuda Bay, Summer Starfruit, Melon Mambo, Studio Calico patterned paper

Ink: Bermuda Bay

Accessories: CAS-ual Friday Stamps Love Ya, Tag Buddies, and Heart Board Fri-Dies, Big Shot, white glue, water, paintbrush, glitter.

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps: January Release Day 2!

Happy Tuesday!

One more day of sneak peeks of the new CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Girlfriend Collection that will be available this Wednesday!

For this card, I started with the Curtis Background stamp again...eek, I love this one! I stamped in red ink on kraft cardstock very lightly, for sort of an uneven effect. Then I cut the piece into thin, 1/4" strips and glued them down randomly on the white card base. Next, I added the "friend" Fri-Die in deep, dusty blue cardstock, and topped it off with some silver cording and sequins. So quick and easy!

Head over to the CAS-ual Fridays Stamps blog to see more cute creations from the rest of the design team and learn how you can get a chance to win the entire new Girlfriend collection!

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs & happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Curtis Background

Cardstock: Neenah Solar White, SU White & Midnight Muse

Ink: SU Cranberry Crisp

Accessories: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Friend Fri-Die, Big Shot, SU Silver Cord & sequins.

CAS-ual Fridays Stamps: January Release Day 1!

Happy Monday!

I'm so excited for this CAS-ual Fridays Stamps release!

Every stamper with 'girlfriends' will totally need this! :)

You may have seen some of these items before when they were available only through a special box stamp kit. Well, now they are available individually, for the whole wide world!

My card today features the Girlfriends and Curtis Background stamp sets as well as the Love Ya and Tag Buddies Fri-Dies! Oh my, there are so many fun things you can do with these! 

I inked up my Curtis Background stamp and stamped "lightly" across the bottom. It resulted in a sort of "hill" so I used that shape to stamp my sentiments around it. Aren't those fun? The tag dies and love ya dies are awesome! I tried to venture out with some bold colors for me and the New Year! haha!

Be sure and head over to the Casual Fridays Stamps blog to see the creations from the rest of the design team, they'll knock your socks off! All items will be available for sale at CAS-ual Fridays Stamps on Wednesday! 

Thanks so much for stopping by! Hugs and happy stamping!

Recipe

Stamps: Girlfriends, Curtis Background

Cardstock: Neenah Solar White, SU Bermuda Bay, Summer Starfruit, Melon Mambo.

Ink: SU Soft Sky, Summer Starfruit, Bermuda Bay.

Accessories: CAS-ual Fridays Stamps Tag Buddies and Love Ya Fri-Dies, Big Shot, ruffled ribbon, white twine, resin flower.