In Sympathy and Friendship

Hello, friends!  I know I have been away for a while, and I am sorry I have not been by to visit.  In addition to the usual spring craziness, our entire family had a nasty stomach virus, and we suffered a crushing loss in our extended family.  My husband's cousin David was killed in a car accident -- he was 38-years-old and leaves behind a wife and two young daughters.  He was a gentle soul, a generous, kind, good-humored man.  It has not been a good two weeks.  However, we are a faith-filled family, and with Holy Week and Easter approaching we can find comfort in the fact that God knows our deepest suffering and can transform it into good. 

With that in mind, I am sharing a sympathy card I made for David's wife and children.  I wanted to participate in the current challenge at the Classy Cards 'n Such to use an embossing folder and at least one item from their shop.  I used several items from their shop (found HERE) and will link them below. 

Classy Cards 'n Such is a hidden gem in my book, and their shop is growing.  Beverly is a sweetheart and her customer service is awesome!  Check out the store and the blog when you get a chance.

Here is my card.  I first used the Daisy Flourish embossing folder and sanded it so the card's white core would be revealed.  The label was made using  a Spellbinder's Fancy Tags die, and the sentiment is an MSE! sympathy sentiment from a set very similar to this.  I stamped the Hero Arts envelope background on the label and did some distressing as well.  The black rhinestones were applied to the card and the Prima flowers for a finishing touch.

I hope you will consider breaking out your embossing folders and entering some cards in this challenge...you have until April 5th to enter, and you could win a $10 gift certificate to their shop!  I have a few items on my wish list...like THIS 9x12 magnetic storage folder for my Spellbinder dies.  I could use  a bunch of those!

Thanks for stopping by...  not sure when I'll be back again, especially with Holy Week and Easter next week.  (Lots of cantoring at church services, lots of family get-togethers, and spring break after that!) 

Stay well until next time,
Judy

Celebrate...With Buttons!

Hello, friends, and Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Today I'm stopping by with a card I made for Virginia's View Challenge #3 at Lily Pad Cards using THIS old Hero Arts stamp set. (Does anyone remember these little four-pack of stamps? I have several!). 

When I saw Virginia's picture I immediately thought of this button stamp and went to town!

The sentiment is from PTI's Signature Greetings set and I inked it up with markers; the embossed border is a Cuttlebug embossing folder.  I inked the button stamp with various ink pads and markers. 

Here is another pic that shows the stamp I used...it's so tiny and cute!

I also want to say WELCOME to my newest followers...I'm so flattered that you've signed on!

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

St. Patrick's Day Wishes

Hello, friends!  Just stopping by with one more St. Patrick's Day card inspired by Donna Mikasa's gorgeous card (a birthday card for Virginia, posed HERE). 

I changed up the colors but used a similar layout, the same lace background, and felt rolled roses.  Here's my take:

All stamps are Hero Arts (Circle Lace, sentiment cut and stamped in a straight line).

Also, a quick shout out to my best girlfriend EVER on her birthday...HAPPY BIRTHDAY, ANDREA!  I so wish I could be with you today to celebrate your special day!

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

St. Patty's Day is on the way!

Hello, friends!  I happened to see that the Create blog is calling for its newest challenge to submit St. Patrick's Day cards, so I got busy this weekend and made not one but TWO cards.  I have a few others in the works because I like sending out cards to all my nieces and nephews for this holiday.  Hey, I may only be half Irish (my mother's family came from County Leitrim), but I'm ALL Irish on March 17th!

First up: a layered and embossed card using all Hero Arts stamps:

Next up, a one-layer card with masking.  I used some old Hero Arts stamps along with a current background and sentiment.  The shamrocks were paper-pieced using a $1 Studio G stamp I found at the local craft store, and I added the black gems for a little punch; the shamrock on the right is popped up for dimension. 

I have always loved St. Patrick's Day...and the funny Irish blessings and quotes that abound (e.g., "May you be in heaven a full half hour before the devil knows your dead!").  Check out THIS website if you want to find lots of info about St. Patrick's Day.  Here is a pretty blessing that I'll end this post with, my friends:

May you always have work for your hands to do.
May your pockets hold always a coin or two.
May the sun shine bright on your windowpane.
May the rainbow be certain to follow each rain.
May the hand of a friend always be near you.
And may God fill your heart with gladness to cheer you.

Take care,
Judy

PDCC#122: You're So Thoughtful

Hello, friends!  I'm back again with a second card for the current Play Date Cafe challenge using the colors charcoal, ash and butter yellow.  Here is their inspiration photo:

 

My card is pretty straightforward; I used a Hero Arts digi image along with a few Hero stamps (sentiment, envelope pattern, and flower wallpaper) and some grey ribbon, distress inks, a button, and jute. 

 

Thanks for stopping by!

Judy

 

PDCC#122: Welcome Baby

Hello, friends!  Happy Friday!  I love Fridays because I'm off from work and I can finally get some time to create and blog!

I was happy to see the lovely color combo presented as part of the current Play Date Cafe Challenge...check these out!  Charcoal, ash and butter...yum!

I quickly went through my stash and came up with this little card for a new baby using Paper Smooches A Little Lovin and Hero Arts Magical Background:

I have another card in the works but will share later.  In the meantime, I couldn't help snapping some pics about the yard today of some other cheery shades of yellow.  Spring is upon us in New Jersey (at least for the past few days)...enjoy!

This reminds me of the elephant image...

as if the momma daffodils are watching over the little ones!

I was being watched as I took pics of my daffodils!

Happy Spring...it's around the corner!

Take good care,

Judy



LIM 57: Neutrals - Three Neutral Cards

Hello, friends!  Wow, several cards in one week...not sure how much longer this will last!  The craziness of spring is setting in...BUT, I had to play along with this week's challenge at the Less Is More Week 57 Color Challenge featuring NEUTRALS (i.e., anything from off-white to black with any shade of beige, brown or grey in between). 

I also used some of my favorite Hero Arts flower stamps, so I'll enter this first card in their monthly challenge, too. 

For my card, I stamped the background Harlequin Pattern Block (G3316) using Soft Vanilla shadow ink.  Using Latte chalk ink I stamped the sentiment as well as the Wild Flowers, which I also restamped using Soft Wheat shadow ink for a more subtle effect.   

I made two other cards for the challenge, too.  The first is a simple thank you card:

Using the Hero Arts/Sizzix Stripes and Frame stamp and emboss combo set, I first stamped the stripes in latte chalk ink, then embossed, then added the sentiment in black ink. The latte gems were the final touch.



The next card uses a Hero Arts digi image sent to me a while ago by Arlene (thanks again!):

This card uses a rub-on sentiment from my stash, along with the Hero Arts envelope pattern background. The grey strip is actually Martha Stewart adhesive ribbon. (Cool stuff!)

OK, that does it for today...thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Liebster Blog Award

Hello, friends!  I am stopping by to say a big THANK YOU to the lovely Ann at kingstonmamacrafts for choosing me as one of her five recipients of the Liebster Blog Award!  This is my first "blog award" ever, thank you so much, Ann!  (She knows I am a big fan of her blog, too...and I'd give this award right back to her but she has already received it multiple times by other admirers...no surprise to me!)

So, this being my first blog award, I wasn't sure what it was all about.  Here is how Ann described it at her blog, and I quote:

"Liebster" is German for 'dearest.' The award is a 'share-the-love' arrangement, given to inspirational bloggers with fewer than 200 followers (based on Google followers).

Here's the to-do list of any Liebster award recipient:
1. Thank the giver and link back to the blogger who gave it to you
2. Reveal your five blogger picks and let them know by leaving a comment on their blog
3. Copy and paste the award on your blog (see above)
4. Hope that those you award forward it to their favorite bloggers

So, I thank you again, Ann...and I suggest you all check out her awesome blog!

Next is the hard part.  I would love to share this award with so many of my faithful followers who are gifted crafters and have blogs that I read daily and adore, but most of them have over 200 followers (and its no wonder!).  You know who you are, ladies! 

At any rate, I did narrow down my list to five of my favorites with under 200 followers -- my guess is it won't be long before they are over that number, but for now -- here they are in no particular order:

1.  Joy at Morning Glory Card Studio ... Joy is my birthday twin and I LOVE her work!  Check out her blog when you have time to sit back and relax...you're in for a treat!

2.  Dana at Reliving Tomorrow ... Dana is an amazing crafter and a super lady, sweetness to the core!  You MUST check out her blog, she is SO gifted!

3.  Shelly at Sweet Greetings ... this is a hidden gem, this blog!  Shelly was part of the 2011 Stamping Royalty (which is how I found her blog) and I can see why!  Love her style...clean and simple at its best!

4.  Paula at Scrappy Me ... Paula is such a versatile stamper, I love her blog (hard to believe it took me until recently to discover it, I've been a fan of hers at the Hero Arts Flickr group for a while now).

5.  Nancy at The Summers on 49th Street ... Nancy's blog is so sweet and cheerful to visit, and her cards are always worth the visit!  I love what she does with her Hero Arts stamps in particular...such amazing talent!

I wish I could give this award to many more people...so many wonderful blogs out there, so many talented ladies! 

Thanks again, Ann! 
Have a good day, everyone!
Judy

Flowers, a Sketch, and a Challenge

Hello!  Just stopping by with a quick card I made for the current Hero Arts monthly challenge.

When making my card, I used the current sketch from Clean and Simple Stamping:

 

For my card, I stamped a flower from the Hero Arts  Blossom Art set onto various patterned papers from the Cosmo Cricket Odds & Ends 6x6 pad and fussy cut them.  I stamped the stems and the sentiment and adhered the flowers, rolling their edges and popping one up.

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Inspired Flowers

Hello, friends!  We recently received a lovely thank you note from my best girlfriend's daughter (for her birthday present), and the card she sent us reminded me of some of my favorite Hero Arts stamps.  It was the perfect inspiration for the current Hero Arts Monthly Challenge, too!

I'm also entering this in the Simon Says Stamp Challenge Blog Anything Goes challenge.

Check out the sweet little card she sent us (unknown maker...nothing on the back):

For my take on this, I embossed (F3245) Fanciful Dot Filament in black and embossed the sentiment from the (CL493) Live Life set in white.  I used an old flower punch and a 1/8" hole punch to make the red and white flowers.  Finally, I added a butterfly using a Martha Stewart butterfly punch.  Here is my take on the card:  

Do you ever look at a store-bought card and immediately think about how YOU could MAKE it using your stamps?  (I do!)

Thanks for stopping by!
Judy