A Birthday Card and Some Praise!

Good Morning!

Today is a WONDERFUL day!!!!!!!!  My husband, who has worked 7 days a week, 12 hours a day for MONTHS, finally has a day off! We are off to Disney World to spend the day,,,,,,,,and we have reservations for dinner at one of the restaurants tonight! WOO HOO! I'm bouncing, I'm so happy!

I hope you're not sick of window cards LOL. I know that the Grand Madison Window die is extremely popular for a reason, and I've used it here again!  I have to say, that in googling this die to see what other people have done with it, I have especially enjoyed Kittie's cards  .  Although I did not directly copy any of her cards, her style has definitely STRONGLY inspired this card!  I surely hope she doesn't mind! Pop on over (link above) and see some of her gorgeous cards and leave some love while you're at it!

Here's mine!

]

You can probably tell by the shine, but I used an old spellbinders package cut to size to imitate the glass in the window,,,,,

  

I also created little hinges for the shutters, so they pop out a bit,,,,,,,,,and of course, a bow on my bow maker!  The garden fence is a die by memory box,,,,,,,I bought it some time ago, and had no clue what to do with it until I got this window die LOL

Card Recipe:
Papers:scraps (PP), Coordinations Cardstock
dies: Poppy Stamps Grand Madison Window die, Grand Madison Shutter die, Memory Box Wrought Iron gate, Spellbinders ribbon banners
punches: Martha Stewart Eyelet Lace Punch around the page set, The Paper Studio tiny flowers punch, Martha Stewart winter branch punch
Ribbon and Flowers: Michael's Brand

Now time for some praise!

I bought my Grand Calibur exactly a year ago,,,,,,I can't imagine life without it! I love it! Unfortunately,,,,,,JUST out of warranty, it died on me LOL. My kinda luck, right?  Well, I didn't want to buy a new one if I could help it, so I emailed Spellbinders to see if they offered a repair service.

Turns out, they do!  She asked me a few questions, to which I responded honestly,,,,,,and I told her I was out of warranty on the machine and did not mind paying for repairs!

She responded back that they would HONOR that warranty!  My machine will be fixed for free.

I have to say,,,,,,,,I was stunned. How often does a company, in the face of being honestly TOLD they are no longer responsible, CHOOSE to take responsibility?????? NEVER,,,,,,,,,except,,,,,,it has happened!

Fortunately, I have my old Big Kick, which I was able to get new plates for yesterday, to hold me over until my Grand Calibur is returned to me (free of charge!).

But in case you are contemplating a Grand Calibur,,,,,,,buy with confidence!  You won't be sorry!

I hope you enjoyed the card! Now I'm off to Disney World to enjoy the world!!!!!!  Have a lovely Sunday!  And thanks so much for your comments!

Sympathy with Just Rite

Good Morning!

I hate to make sympathy cards,,,,,,,I like knowing that my loved one will receive a handmade card from me at a difficult moment,,,,,but I dislike what they stand for. sigh.

Unfortunately, there's been a death in the family of a dear friend. Sympathy card called for. Since I enjoyed the sketch this month over at the Justrite Friday Challenge  , I decided to go with that for my card.

Here's the sketch that we were to follow this challenge!

  

Here's my rendition of this great sketch.

  

I used the little bird house made from Squares Large as my focal point,,,,,,a border punch and lace as my scallop layer,,,,,,,,and a leafy branch cradling my sentiment as my banner. I tried to recreate the peaceful feeling of a birdhouse cradled in the branches of a tree for this card. I hope it brings some peace to my friend and her family.

I used a fabulous Justrite set called "Be Strong". It's so appropriate to so many situations and has several phrases of comfort in cases of illness and/or death,,,,,,,,as well as several support ribbons and frames.  I've used a phrase and a frame from that set.  Here's the stamp and the little bird house close up.

  

You can see the intricate frame that I've stamped on the green paper and cut out with Lacy Ovals. It's gorgeous!

Here's a pic of the little bird I fussy cut from the fabulous Webster's Papers digi papers,,,,,,,,

  

can you see the shimmer on that gorgeous ribbon? It's the Silky Crush Ribbon from May Arts bought from Really Reasonable Ribbon!  It's gorgeous,,,,,,,,,,silky, shimmery, and oh so soft! It makes fabulous bows! And it's OH SO reasonable!!!!!

Card Recipe:
Papers: Websters Papers Digi papers, Coordinations,
Stamps: Justrite "Be Strong" set
Ink: Versafine Sepia
dies: Spellbinders Squares Large, Lacy Ovals, Classic Ovals Large (some oldies but goodies!) and Foliage.
Lace and Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon
Punches: EK Success Threading Water Border punch
buttons: Recollections

I hope you enjoyed the card,,,,,,,thanks for looking! You still have a few days to join the fun over at Justrite! (Link at the top!) So run on over there and link up your rendition of the sketch using Justrite Stamps!

Justrite and some new dies!

Good evening!  It's the day before Valentines Day and I have been waiting impatiently for some new dies to come in in order to make my husband a valentine!  And Just Rite Stampers Friday challenge gave me some wonderful inspiration for my card today, and so I wanted to share!

Here's the challenge sketch for the week! I thought it would go so well with my new Poppy Stamps dies!

I am just loving how my card turned out!  I'm only hoping it's not TOO girly for my husband LOL

The dies, of course, are the well loved Grand Madison Window die and Grand Madison Window Box die. They got here at noon today, and I was cutting by 12:05!  The stamps are, of course, Just Rite Stampers!  A favorite set of mine is used here,,,,,,,,,"Just the Right Words",,,,,,,,because they are just the right words for almost anything!

I used the window as my focal point, a Recollections heart border punch as my scallops,,,,,,and the window box in place of the banner in the sketch..

Here's a close up!

\

 Card Recipe:

Papers:MME Noel stack, Recollections, DCWV , GA Pacific white card stock, silver mirror card
Stamps: Justrite Stampers
Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Dies: Poppy Stamps/Memory box Grand Madison Window, Grand Madison Flower box, Spellbinders Classic Hearts
Punches: Recollections border punch, Martha Stewart border punch, Martha Stewart winter branch punch
Ribbon: Recollections
Glitter: Martha Stewart Copper tinsel glitter

I hope you enjoyed the card,,,,,thanks for looking!  I appreciate your comments, and I'll be getting back to you as soon as I'm over this virus!

Some Cute Little Valentines,,,,,,,

Good Evening,,,,,Today I decided to make a few valentines for my grand children,,,,,,

I don't go overboard for Valentines Day, but I do like to send a handmade card and a bit of money,,,,,and a small candy treat,,,,,,,just to let them know I love them and am thinking of them :)

Here's what I came up with!

I made two of the red---one for each grand son---but they were exactly the same, so I only photographed one.  I just LOVE that Martha Stewart Tinsel glitter I picked up at Michael's for 1.49 yesterday on clearance!

Here's the insides,,,,,,,,

 There's room inside for a little note to personalize for each,,,,,,,

And on the back, I've glued a box of sweetheart candies!

Card recipe:
Paper:Coordinations
Dies: Spellbinders Labels one, Scalloped Labels One, Classic Hearts, Classic Scalloped Hearts
Glitter: Martha Stewart Tinsel Glitter Copper and Kunzite Pink
Glue: Aileen's Tack it over and over
Buttons: unknown stash
Flowers: Michael's brand
Ribbon: Red-Recollections, white and pink dots-Really Reasonable Ribbon January selection


Thanks for looking,,,,,,I hope you liked the cards and thank you for your comments! I'd love to know you're there,,,,,,,,and I'd love to come enjoy your blog!

Love is in the air,,,,,,,,,

Good Evening!

It's almost Valentines Day,,,,,,I've been busily making valentines for my children, grand children and husband,,,,,,,,,,,and enjoying every minute of it,,,,,

when I had a request from a sweet friend to make her a couple valentines.  I think I can handle that :)

She needs two,,,,,,,,,one for a sister and one for her boy friend.

So without further ado,,,,,,,,,Teresa's valentines.  I hope she likes them!

And here is the inside,,,,,,,,,,,,,

Card Recipe:

Paper: scraps, Coordinations
Stamps: Justrite, Inkadinkadoo
Ink: Versafine Onyx black and Sepia
Embossing folder: Cuttlebug Polka dots
Dies: Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Hearts, Floral Ovals, Ribbon Banners, Ovals Large, MFT Die-namics Sentimental Flourish, Memory Box Elegant Scrollwork
Ribbon and gems: Recollections

The second card is a card for her boy friend,,,,,,,,guy cards are SO much harder LOL

Here's the Inside!

card recipe:

Paper: DCWV, Coordinations, The Paper Company gold mirror card stock
Stamps: Justrite
Ink: Versafine Black Onyx
Dies: Spellbinders classic scalloped hearts
Ribbon: Recollections





I hope Teresa loves the cards and they make her valentines extra special!

Thanks for looking!  I do so appreciate your comments!

Pretty in Pink and White!

Good Evening!!!!

They say death and taxes are the only things you can count on in life,,,,,,,I disagree. If you're very lucky,,,,,you have friends.

Recently a couple of friends did some very nice things for me,,,,,,,,,,and so of course, thank you cards are called for.

Can I tell you I am totally in love with my new Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page set?  L-O-V-E!


On this one, I punched a 6 3/4 X 5 inch panel to use as my first layer,,,,,,,

I layered that with Spellbinders Resplendent Rectangles that I had embossed with a My Favorite Things die.  Some framing and layering, some pearls and handmade flowers, a bow, and she's done!

Here's a close up! The Stamp is CTMH.

For this second thank you card, I fell in love with this stamp on EBAY, and my wonderful husband bought it for me,,,,,,,,,,without telling me :)  He's so sweet sometimes :)

I colored the image with copics, of course,,,and created a frame around a spellbinders M-bossabilities,,,,,,,a MFT Die-namics flourish, more hand made flowers and some bling,,,,,,a tim holtz button adorns another sweet pink bow!  I even used the corner punch to punch around a circle! Easy peasy!

Here's a close up of that gorgeous stamp!

Card Recipe:

Cardstock: GA Pacific (white), Coordinations (pink)

Stamps: CTMH Cricute Artiste Collection Kudos, Rubber Stampede
Ink: Momento Tuxedo black for image, Copic Markers, Versafine Onyx black, Momento Angel Pink for highlighting embossing
Dies and Punches: MS Eyelet Lace punch around the page set, Spellbinders circles Large,  Ovals Large, MFT Die-namics Vintage Flourish, MS winter branch punch, MFT Die-namics Mini Royal Rose, MFT Die-namics Sentimental Flourish
Embossing Folder: Spellbinders Regal
Ribbon: Really Reasonable Ribbon, January ribbon club collection.
Pearls and bling: Recollections
Buttons: Tim Holtz and Bazzill

That's all for today!  I hope you liked the cards, and I hope the recipients love them as well!