"BLOOMIN' BEAUTIFUL" SYMPATHY

Well, my husband thought that the "Just Believe" sympathy card (two posts down) was a little too fancy, complicated, and "busy," so I designed this one instead using Stampin' Up!'s "Bloomin' Beautiful" stamp set.  Each time I see the name of this set on my stamp shelf, I realize that I still love it as much as ever--it is one of the best, and mine shows the inky stains of how much it is (and has been) loved.  Other Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include "Teeny Tiny Wishes" stamp set (another favorite), Framed Tulips and Square Lattice embossing folders, aqua painter, So Saffron and Mellow Moss ink, Daffodil Delight, Always Artichoke, and Whisper White card stock, oval punches, and ribbon.  Inside the card, I stamped (and shadow-stamped) more So Saffron flowers.

FLOWER FOLDS FOR "FREESTYLE FRIDAYS"

Oh, what fun it was to make this card!  With her Freestyle Fridays post last week, Julie issued a mission for me to make a card like hers, using the same colors, but add a stamped image and sentiment.  From the start, I was unable to fulfill the mission because I didn't have any Groovy Guava card stock.  Instead, I used Peach Parfait.  The other colors used are Baja Breeze for the sentiment (leaf), True Thyme, and Whisper White.  The stamp sets that I used are "Happy Greetings" from Stampin' Up!'s Summer mini catalog, and "Itty Bitty Bits" for the smallest center on the flower.  Other Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include the Elegant Bouquet embossing folder, rhinestone jewels, 1/4" grosgrain ribbon, Scallop Trim Border, Scallop Oval, 1" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, and Itty Bitty Shapes punches and, of course, the Sizzix Flower Folds die.  I hope Julie will issue more missions like this in the future because it's quite easy to create a card when the design has already been created!  Ha!

"JSUT BELIEVE" FANCY FOLD

This evening, I needed a sympathy card, and Stampin' Up!'s "Just Believe" stamp set is such a good one!  I love this silhouette image!  I stamped the image with Basic Black Craft ink after I sponged the card stock with Pear Pizzazz and Bashful Blue ink.  Other Stampin' Up! products used to create this card include "Teeny Tiny Wishes" stamp set (I have really gotten my money's worth from this one), Scallop and Large Oval punches, "Beautiful Wings" Embosslits die, and Pear Pizzazz seam binding. 

CHAD'S "BABY BROTHER" IS 16 TODAY!!!!

It's hard to believe, but my nephew is celebrating his 16th birthday today!  I can remember visiting the hospital that evening, 16 years ago.  On the way home, Chad (who was 4 y/o) wanted to know if Bryson was his brother--or if he "could" be.  I told him that Bryson would be his very good friend and that they'd probably be a lot like brothers.  A few months later, when Chad went to Kindergarten, he told his teachers that he had a baby brother who didn't live at our house.  It was during a parent/teacher conference when I found out about this, and I'm not sure that I convinced the teachers that Chad's "brother" was actually my nephew.  My squirming and stammering, I'm sure, made the teachers wonder what kind of mother I must be to have a child--a baby--who didn't live in my home.  For a while, Chad told a lot of people--strangers, store employees, etc.--about his brother who didn't live at our house.  I tried to give a convincing isn't-it-sweet-how-much-he loves-his-baby-COUSIN look, but you know a lot of people didn't buy the truth.  Through the years, Chad and Bryson have been a lot like brothers, and I feel blessed that they have each other.  Bryson is a smart, compassionate young man with a level head on his shoulders, and I wish him all the best on this milestone birthday!  I wanted to send him a special card, so I designed this one on the Gypsy and cut it with the Cricut.  The boy on the card actually resembles a younger Bryson, and the dog riding with him is his own dog, Winston.  Bryson enjoys skateboarding, and that's why there's a skateboard strapped to the top of his car.  ;-)

THE PERFECT FAVOR FOR A WEDDING

Just in time for late Spring and Summer weddings, this dress-shaped box is one of the projects on the agenda for my May Inkerbelles' class.  Stampin' Up! products used to decorate this project include "Tiny Tags" stamp set, Jewelry Tag punch, Finial Press embossing folder, pearl jewels, Baker's Twine, and taffeta ribbon.  I don't personally know of anyone getting married soon, but I kind of wish that I did.

"MAKE-IT-SNAPPY-MONDAY"

I recently purchased Stampin' Up!'s Build-a-Cupcake punch, and it is so cute!  When I first saw the punch, I thought the punched pieces might be too small, but they're actually an okay size and would work perfectly to quickly decorate a gift tag.  For my snappy Monday project, I wanted a birthday card, and this is just one way to use the small punched cupcake pieces as the focal point on a card.  Looking at the card now, I kind of wish that I had omitted the glimmer brad and used a small bow instead, so try to get a mental picture of that.  The card stock colors, all from Stampin' Up!, are Whisper White, Blushing Bride, and Cherry Cobbler.

SHAPED WINDOW CARD

This card was created for a challenge issued on She's a Sassy Lady's blog.  The challenge was to use the Gypsy to design a shaped window card and, since shaped cards are a favorite of mine, I accepted the challenge.  The stamped sentiment on my card is from Stampin' Up!'s "Easter Blossoms" stamp set.

AN APPLE FOR THE BEST TEACHER IN THE WORLD!!!

This apple-shaped card was made for my sweet sister who had to take a 4-hour test in Charlotte today, and I thought (knew) she needed a little extra encouragement.  There's no stamping on this card--it's another Cricut/Gypsy project.  My son thought this was a perfect card for her since she's his "aunt" who happens to be a teacher.

IT'S A GARDEN HAT MOTHER'S DAY CARD

Yesterday, I spent some time with the Cricut and created a couple of cards, and this is one of them.  In addition to my passion for square cards, I also (very much) enjoy shaped cards.  Something else that I enjoy is Stampin' Up!'s "Tiny Tags" stamp set and its coordinating Jewelry Tag punch.  These two products, along with the linen thread, worked perfectly on this card, don't you think?  The little tag reminded me of Minnie Pearl's hats and how they always had the price tag on them.  What's that?  You've never heard of Minnie Pearl?  Ha!

FREESTYLE FRIDAYS ALL SQUARED AND SCALLOPED

It's time for Freestyle Fridays, and Julie has shared this pretty and textured square card, complete with frilly scallops and jewels!  I wonder if my obsession with square cards has become contagious for her.  It wouldn't be the worst thing that could happen, now would it?  To learn more about this card, we'll have to visit Julie's blog.  I love the big flowers with their curved petals and the soft colors that she has used and, of course, the Scallop Trim Border punch and jewels!  Let's be sure to visit her blog and leave a little love.  Have a stampin' good Friday, my friends!