Clare's Paper Works

Heartfelt Creations Alumni Design Team Blog Hop

2012-02-28T08:17:00.000-06:00

Good morning, dear friends, new friends and old! I hope you are having a wonderful week so far, even though it's only Tuesday, and we have a ways to go... Welcome to the February 2012 Heartfelt Creations Alumni Design Team Blog Hop!

There is a $25 gift certificate from Heartfelt Creations up for grabs, so definitely leave some love for each of the talented designers participating in this blog hop! The hop will remain open for comments on each designer's blog through midnight Friday night,
March 2. The winner will be posted here and on the member's blogs who are able to post, by noon on Saturday, March 3.

You should have arrived here from Marsha's most excellent blog where she has posted her beautiful project. Next in line after me is Linda, and she has a gorgeous creation to share with you. Here is the order of the hop:

Olga Jewell http://craftieodamae.blogspot.com
Selma Stevenson http://selmasstampingcorner.blogspot.com
Carla Suto http://carlasstampingspot.blogspot.com
Marsha Sanderlin http://stampingdownsouth.blogspot.com
Clare Curcio http://clarespaperworks.blogspot.com YOU ARE HERE! :)
Linda Payne http://paynehollercards.blogspot.com

Easter is right around the corner, and I love these two colors together for a elegant and soft-looking layout. I used each of the cross dies in the Spellbinders Cross Collection dieset, and layered them on top of the Heartfelt Creations HCD 719 Cross & Lilies Diecut set. The white image stamped and heat embossed in white on the blue is from the HCPC 3365 Decorative Vintage Cross Precut Set. The very background is the HCPC 3367 Vintage Life Background Precut Set embossed in a white and blue embossing powder mixture that I made to match the cardstock.

Linda's blog is next and you can travel there by clicking HERE!

Here is a complete list of products used in my card.

Heartfelt Creations -
HCPC 3367 Vintage Life Background Precut Set
HCPC 3365 Decorative Vintage Cross Precut Set
HCD 719 Cross & Lilies Diecut Set

Other -
Wrights Designer Classic 3/8" white ribbon - Flower Dobby
Martha Stewart Border Punch - Vintage Lace
Zva Pearls
Prima Roses
Light Blue embossing powder
Stampin' Up - cardstock, Whisper White & Cool Caribbean
                     Craft inkpad in white
Spellbinders - Classic Petal Borderabilities
                     Grand Labels Twenty-three
                     Nested Oval Medallion Labels
                     Cross Collection

Thank you for visiting, and good luck in the drawing! Please feel free to leave a comment below! I love hearing from you!

Poppy Get Well

2012-02-18T11:23:00.001-06:00

Hello, dear friends! This card was sooo fun to make! I took a Copic class in Knoxville, TN, last year, and I love 'em! I pick up one or two a month with my Hobby Lobby coupons. I love doing the shading! I love the simpleness of the poppy stamp on the front from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps, and the one inside from Gina K Designs. From the same set, I used the "Praying for you" sentiment, and the larger verse on the inside is called May God Meet You from Stampabilities.

I stamped the poppy image in Versamark ink and used black embossing powder then heated. It is so neat the way the color doesn't bleed into other areas past the embossing if you don't hold the marker there too long. These remind me of the poppy fields in the movie, The Wizard of Oz. I'm getting sleepy, sleepy... The black patterned cardstock is from a DCWV 'The Black Currant Stack', and all other solid colors are from Stampin' Up. The edge punch is called "Lace Border" from Fiskars. I used trimmings from the border punch for all of the borders - positive and negative.

The inside of the card

The black marker is from Stampin' Up. The Copic markers I used on the poppies are G82 Spring Dim Green, G28 Ocean Green, C1 Cool Gray No. 1, BG72 Ice Ocean, R29 Lipstick Red, R39 Garnet, R59 Cardinal and R35 Coral.

Condolences - RRR42

2012-02-15T15:03:00.004-06:00

Hello, friends! So many of us have lost a loved one, and remember the grief we felt, and still feel at times. It's strange that we cannot remember physical pain that we may have experienced but emotional pain can come upon us like a shower of rain. And sometimes, feels like it's just as strong! I don't remember the pain that I felt in child-birth, right after shoulder surgery, "moon time" cramps, etc. I don't like feeling grief, but it's a necessary part of life, in order to remember the love we felt, too! Do you ever wonder how God made us to "feel" emotions so strongly in our hearts, literally in our chests, that can ache so very much, when our emotions come from our minds? He is so deep, mysterious and great that we cannot fathom some of what God does or has done! That's what makes us completely "human", and because of that limitation, some will never be able to comprehend all that Jesus has done for us! Why is it so hard to get our minds wrapped around His gift of salvation, love and grace? Is it because we are so "human", endowed with limitations? I know I don't deserve it, and there's nothing I can do to earn it. I believe that we will see the whole picture when God reveals it to us, like opening a curtain on our lives, with the brightness of the sun illuminating everything, and our questions will be answered in the blink of an eye, when we finally reach our home in heaven! Anyway, that's what I hope for, and without hope, this world we live in wouldn't be livable! He is preparing a room for us, and I hope mine has a huge picture window on one wall!

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what

God has prepared for those who love Him"-

1 Cor 2:9

I used a rose stamp from the Justrite Stampers set In Sympathy, and another fantastic die cut that my friend, Donna, sent me. The background paper is from DCWV - I've always liked pink and black, but this pink and brown are beautiful together. I used Copics to color the main image and touch up the butterflies on the background. The striped paper is from Memory Box. I'll be glad to give you a complete list of products used if you'll just email me at muttpuddles@comcast.net.

The pearls were white and from Zva. I used my Copics to shade them pink. The butterfly was cut from a sheet of printed butterflies that I purchased, and they are all done to make a 3-D flutterby.

The inside of the card.

I hope you are staying safe, warm and happy! I'm still waiting for snow! Frost has come and tried to claim the lives of my daffodils, but they are still hanging in there, although they are looking at the ground! Still beautiful!

I pray that God will hold you in His arms, with comfort, compassion and love. May He do it through another person even. May you and your family be safe, healthy and prosperous. I pray that Jesus will guide you through the dark forests of life and bring you out through the other side to sunny days! Don't give up and turn back! Keep putting one foot in front of the other, and you'll get through the forest!

"Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God, trust also in me.

2 In my Father's house are many rooms; if it were not so, I would have

told you. I am going there to prepare a place for you. 3 And if I go

and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be

with me that you may also know where I am. 4 You know

the way to the place where I am going."

John 14:1-4

Thanks so much for taking the time to visit! I appreciate each of you, and I hope you'll take a moment to comment on what you feel or think about anything you'd like! I'd love to get to know you better, and I won't share with anyone else if you'd like to email me.

May God bless you all!

Run!

2012-02-09T09:40:00.004-06:00

Run for your life! Have you ever stood outside, and a bee comes along, and flies around you, or tries to land on you, and won't go away? I've had that happen in the summer when I was wearing a certain cologne from Avon, and it smelled just like roses. I've been stung a few times, but never by a bumblebee or wasp, just honey bees. I've never been chased by a swarm either, knock on wood! I'd like to hear your story of any relationship you've had with a bee, ant, wasp or anything else that bites. I've been bitten by ants and a horsefly and I don't know which is worse! If your experience was a terrible one, then I apologize for bringing it back to mind!

I love this digi-image from Nicecrane Designs! These sweet little cherubs are bringing flowers to someone, and are needing to run from the swarm! This image was a lot of fun to color using my Copic markers and glitter! I'm using glitter more and more and like it! I think I usually wear more than I apply to paper, but truth be told, Mike likes me sparkly! lol

The bee stamps are from Judith, and they are two separate "Stubbies", one large, one small. Since stamping them normally would have had them flying in the opposite direction, I had to figure out how to flip the images. I used a black marker, and colored only the bee's body without the wings, and stamped the image upside down. I had to hand-draw the wings on. If I had stamped them normally, the bee's would have been flying upside down in order to chase the "girls". That's something I would like to see more of in stamps - the ability to order a stamp's mirror image, unless you have an idea or suggestion on how we can do it easily without a separate stamp. I'd love to hear your suggestions on this!

The background cardstock was embossed using my Cuttlebug and a Cuttlebug embossing folder called Floral Fantasy. I used a sanding block to take some of the top layer of the cs off to show the white core. Cardstock is from a DCWV stack. The sentiment stamp is from the Justrite set 'With Sympathy', and the border punch is Martha Stewart's. The sentiment was cut out using a Spellbinders Labels Twenty die, and colored in with a sponge dauber and SU's Daffodil Delight classic inkpad. The white cs is from SU.

Thank you for visiting, and I love to hear from you, so please leave a little note! Before you leave, I wanted to share with you a photo of my backyard flower box! Way too early, but beautiful! The first one actually bloomed on January 29! We have had such a mild winter - no snow and mild temperatures!

January Heartfelt Creations DT Alumni Blog Hop

2012-01-31T00:01:00.000-06:00

Hello, dear blog friends! January is nearly gone already and Valentine's Day is just around the corner! Can you believe it? Slow down, Time! We're here with another Heartfelt Creations blog hop, and I know you'll enjoy all of the gorgeous creations from our alumni design team members, but also receive some incentive and inspiration to get stamping and creating! What better way to spend these gray, dreary days of winter, than doing what you love? These ladies never fail to amaze me! Don't forget to visit the Heartfelt Creations blog each Wednesday to see the current design team's projects, and watch for new products being introduced!

The hop starts on Tuesday, January 31st, at 8:00 a.m. EST - it will close on Friday, February 3rd, at midnight.

There will be one lucky person chosen at random from all the comments on the blog hop to receive a $25 gift certificate from Heartfelt Creations! All you have to do is visit each designer's blog and leave some love in the comments section! Emma Lou at HFC will do the rest, and we'll all try to announce the winner on our blogs, on Saturday, February 4th. If you're the lucky one, just email her with "winner of alumni hop Jan 31" in the subject line. Good luck to each of you!

Here's the list of Heartfelt Creations alumni designers - just leave a comment on each blog after you enjoy the creative beauty of each entry. I know I can speak for all of us - we love your comments, and look forward to hearing from you! We are also thankful for each of you!

The blog started here:

Olga http://craftieodamae.blogspot.com
Selma http://selmasstampingcorner.blogspot.com/
Loretta http://lovetocreate.blogspot.com/

You are here: Clare http://clarespaperworks.blogspot.com

My encouragement card is 4 7/8" wide by 6 1/4" high, and was very easy to make! I started with plain white cardstock scored and folded to the above measurements. I cut a piece of black cardstock 3 5/8" wide by 6 1/4" high and adhered that to the left side of the front of the white card base. I used Tim Holtz Vintage Photo Distress Ink and a sponge dauber to "age" the remaining white cs showing on the right side of the front panel.

Prior to assembling the card base and panels, I made the flowers, and set them aside to dry. I used Heartfelt Creations HCPC 2293 Aztec Gold Sunflowers 2 Precut Set (2 of smallest) and HCPC 2294 Aztec Gold Sunflowers 1 Precut Set (2 of largest, 3 of medium, and 3 of small) to stamp the flowers in Versafine Onyx ink on fuchsia cardstock from the Black Currant Stack by DCWV. (This is gorgeous cs!) I hand-cut (or some call it fussy-cutting) the flowers, since I don't own the Blossom 2 Nestabilities dies from Spellbinders that matches these stamps. I used pink glitter nailpolish on the tips of each flower petal (and the butterfly's antenna) then painted all the flowers but 1 med and 1 small of Precut Set 1, with glossy Mod Podge, and let dry. On two of the smallest flowers, I glued black chunky glitter to the centers.

I cut a piece of the floral foiled cs from the Black Currant stack, 6" high by 4 1/2" wide. Before adhering it to the front of the white cardstock base, I glued a scrap piece of the fuchsia cs (measuring 1" high by 4 1/2" wide, across the bottom of the floral foiled piece, about 2/3 down from the top. About 1/3 of the way down on the front of the floral cs, I glued a piece of black scrap cs 3 1/2" wide by 1 1/2" high horizontally on the left side, with the right edge trimmed with fancy scissors. I adhered a piece of pink vellum vertically down the center of the card front, measuring 6" high by 1 7/8" wide. Over this I glued a stem and leaves diecut, which was cut from white cs, and I used Tim Holtz Vintage Photo distress ink to "age" the paper. I cut a 9" length of 7/8" wide black grosgrain ribbon, tied one side into a bow, and looped part around the stem diecut, loosely twisting it and taping both loose ends to the back of the floral foil panel.

At the tips of the leaf stems, I glued the flower bases, and used dimensional pop-dots to layer all of the flower layers. Two largest, two medium, one small, one smallest, and the smaller flower was one small and one of the smallest glued together. The two smallest are the ones with the black chunky glitter. My good friend, Donna, was kind enough to diecut the leaf stem and the butterfly layers for me! These really added a nice touch to this card. Thank you, Donna! I glued the white butterfly diecut just in the center of the body to the pink base, and applied the tiny pink rhinestone. I gently bent the white wings up. The antenna had been previously painted with pink glitter nailpolish. (I like using nailpolish, because of its acrylic base, and unlike glue and glitter alone, when the polish is dry, the glitter doesn't flake off) I adhered the butterfly with Aleene's Tacky Glue just on the points of the butterfly where it came into contact with the larger flower. Adhere entire front panel to card base centering it on all sides, leaving a 1/8" border all around.

On the inside of the card, I used a next to largest Spellbinders die from the Labels 5 set to cut the white cs panel. Then I used the small and medium stamp from the precut set 2 along with Stampin' Up's Marvelous Magenta classic ink to stamp the flowers on it. I used the Psalm 3:3 stamp from my stash for the sentiment. For layering, I cut one of the largest diecuts from the Spellbinders Fleur De Lis Motifs set out of the pink vellum, and applied it to the center of the left inside. Adhere the sentiment piece offset to the lower right, and glue flat the two accent flowers. The black cs border is punched with a Martha Steward punch from a scrap.

I had a lot of fun making this card. I really like making the 3D images. Thanks again, Donna, for the diecuts! If you have any questions at all, please contact me!

Next up is the uber-talented and creative Carla - just click on her link to go to her blog and see her beautiful creations!

Carla http://carlasstampingspot.blogspot.com
Marsha http://www.stampingdownsouth.blogspot.com/
Linda http://paynehollercards.blogspot.com

I have another posting I need to get done, so I'll close for now - I just want to wish you good luck, and happy stamping! Thank you, Heartfelt Creations!

For Paisley

2012-01-24T13:07:00.001-06:00

Hello, blog friends! The weather here in Tennessee has been crazy warm, and we have had no snow this year! It was 73 last night in Memphis when the severe thunderstorms went through. I must have been really tired, because they didn't wake me up! It is January 24, 2012, a Tuesday, and it is near 60* outside, and I have daffodils ready to bloom!
This card is for a little girl at church, named Paisley. She has a terminal disease called Neimens Pick Syndrome, a very rare condition similar to Alzheimers, where the nervous system shuts down over time. I just wanted to cheer her up, and this image from Nicecrane Designs was cute for a little girl. The yellow, peach, green, white and blue together just looked cheery to me.

This ribbon makes the most beautifullest bows! If you'd like some, I have about 30 rolls of it! Just email me.

My friend, Donna, has supplied me with many diecuts, and the white one here is one of them. It just frames this picture nicely!

The flower die I used for these I got from Joan's Gardens, but I don't remember the name of it. I love the way they turned out, and the stamens I found in the cake decorating department of Joanns.

I found this cute little lamb stamp in amongst some other small ones from Stampin' Up.

Here is a complete list of materials I used:

Little Bo Peep digi-image from Nicecrane Designs

Spellbinders Grand Scalloped Ovals and Nested Oval Medallion Labels dies

Wrights Prestige Moire Ribbon, white, 1 1/2" wide

Heartfelt Creations HCPC 3372 Dutch Iris Frame Precut Stamp (sentiment)

Diecut frame from friend, Donna

Stampin' Up - cardstock, Lamb stamp

DCWV - Glitter stack cardstock

Pearls from my stash

Ink - Versafine Onyx

Dragonfly from stash

EK Success-Scalloped Flower border punch

I'd love it if you'd leave a comment! I love hearing from you! Thanks for visiting!

Happy Birthday, Grace!

2012-01-21T12:59:00.000-06:00

Aren't these two babes precious? The little one kind of looks like I did as a baby.

I just love vintage and Victorian style things of all kinds! From old pictures, to eyeglasses, to cameos, to watches, to perfume bottles, to embroidered linens,

and on and on... These little gals were in black and white, and I really love the technique of

adding just a hint of color to the focal image. That's what I did here. There

are many components to this card, but I don't have time to go into them all at this

moment. Please email me if you have any questions - I will be more than happy

to answer any you may have. The lacy oval above was diecut and sent to me by my

good friend, Donna. I don't know the name of it, but I'll find out.

I used a new die I just got for making these tiny roses. The more I make,

the better they look, and the rosebuds are so precious!

These little flowers remind me of some that I made for a wedding cake.

Well, I hope you had a wonderful birthday, Grace! That, along with your hubby's good job

news has made your week a great one! And as you said, "Praise the Lord!"

This card is going in the mail to you, Grace, so keep an eye out for it!

Happy New Year, Happy Birthday, Grace.

Congratulations to Alan!

A Happy New Year!

2012-01-21T12:36:00.003-06:00

Hello, friends! Happy New Year! I know it's nearly a month late, but hey,

better late than never! This darling image is from Nicecrane Designs, a digi-stamp

company that I have the honor of designing for. Ignacio does such a wonderful job

putting digital images together in kits. They are awesome! So many to choose from,

but all exquisite! Thank you, Ignacio!

I used a couple of new dies I just got, and they are really nice! The layered pieces and

the roses are cut from dies. The lace I got at a local craft and sewing store, and I

absolutely love, Love, LOVE it! My husband is right when he says I was born in

the wrong era! Vintage or Victorian are my style!

If you have any questions, please contact me - I'll be glad to answer any and all!

I'd love it, too, if you'd leave a comment - I really want to know what you think!

Thanks for stopping in, and HAPPY NEW YEAR to you and your family!

Merry Christmas, All!

2011-12-17T17:35:00.000-06:00

Happy and Merry Christmas, All! I wish each one of you a very wonderful holiday! Not to start anything political, I just wanted to say that as a Christian, I say Merry Christmas to everyone. As I'm sure everyone has heard before, without Jesus Christ, there would be no Christmas. I truly believe this, and that the holiday should be remembered for Him, not Santa, and not just for giving and receiving gifts! I'm not saying that I don't like to get gifts, nor that I don't love giving presents to others. It shouldn't be the primary focus of this special day of our Lord. If some parents choose not to bring their children up in a Christian atmosphere at home, then call your holiday, Santasnight or something like that.

I am originally from Denver, Colorado, and we didn't always have a white Christmas, but we surely had more white Christmases than we have here in Tennessee! I miss Colorado, and the snow. I remember building snowmen and making snow angels. This card was created through wishful thinking. It is chilly outside, but not cold enough to snow. I also wanted to see how many Spellbinders dies I could use that went together for this snowflake.

I wish each one of you a very blessed Christmas, and a prosperous and healthy New Year!

HAPPY TURKEY DAY!

2011-11-23T22:28:00.000-06:00

Wishing each and every one of you a wonderful Thanksgiving Day, with many treats, eats and blessings! I'm thankful for each of you!

Nicecrane Designs 50% Off SALE!

2011-11-23T22:24:00.000-06:00

My friend, Ignacio, is offering 50% off all of his digital designs! This special sale is now through November 25, Friday! Take advantage of this awesome savings to get some unique and beautiful, or just fun and playful digital images for your cards, scrapbooks, or whatever you fancy! He has some gorgeous pictures of children at Christmas, the little darlings below, and much, much more! Just click on the picture below to go to his website! You won't be sorry!

Here's a photo of one of my cards using a digital image from Nicecrane Designs.

I call this card, "Walking the Babies". It's so precious!

Little Mother Save Pack

A new DIGITAL STAMP,,,,,by the famous play by my favorite childrens illustrations All my Digi-Stamps are in a very High Resolution,,,,so you you can...

Little Mother Save Pack II

A new DIGITAL STAMP,,,,,by the famous play by my favorite childrens illustrations All my Digi-Stamps are in a very High Resolution,,,,so you you can...

I call this image "Little Mother" - she's so cute, feeding her doll with a huge spoon!

This is a bookmark made with an image from Nicecrane Designs' Mother Goose bookmarks. http://nicecranedesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=9&products_id=500

Here's Nicecrane Designs Vintage Typewriter Machine - just click on the link below to see a description and photos of all the "typing's" that you can add to it!

http://nicecranedesigns.com/index.php?main_page=product_info&cPath=12&products_id=644

Tell Ignacio that Clare sent you!

Happy Fall, Y'all!

2011-11-08T15:08:00.000-06:00

Hello, blog friends! I am so happy that Autumn is here! This cooler, more colorful time of year is my favorite! Summer is too hot and humid for me, and I don't take the heat well. I don't tan, just burn in no time at all! God's beautiful palette of colorful leaves is just gorgeous, and I can't tell you how many colors there are! To celebrate this beautiful time, I made some cards having to do with pumpkins, my most favoritous "squash" of this time, especially as pie! Or bread, or soup, or muffins, etc.! Can't you just smell that wonderful cinnamony pumpkin scent all over the house? I can - could be because my daughter just used one of the pumpkins we bought for Halloween, and made little chocolate chip pumpkins loaves for a bake sale at church! hehe They are soooooooooooo good! You wouldn't think chocolate chips and pumpkin would go well together, but it's almost, I said ALMOST as good as chocolate and peanut butter together!

Well, with no further ado, here are photos of my cards. I hope you enjoy! Thanks so much for visiting, and please know that I really appreciate you taking the time to check in! Happy Fall, and Happy Thanksgiving!

This card was so fun to make! I love this stamp set from Our Daily Bread Designs. The focal image is from a Vintage Winter Holiday Postcards cd from Twisted Papers. The little pumpkin on the envelope is from the same.

This is the inside of the card.

The pumpkin label was printed in muted colors, so I brightened

the pumpkin by coloring with Copic markers.

I got some new "toys" in the mail - some actual silver and copper stripping, and applied
some of the copper here. It molded right onto the embossing on the orange background. This
image is from the cd mentioned above, and the seed packet and wording are from
Our Daily Bread Designs.

I love this vintage pumpkin image from the cd above! It's so different, and the coloring is unique.
It reminds me of all the different pumpkins we saw at the pumpkin patch, but some not this pretty!

Closeup of sparkle added to pumpkin - PUMKUM as my little grandson called it!

This is the card inside, and it could be used for any occasion during the fall.

I didn't care for the background paper here too much when just looking at it by itself,
but when I put the image on top, with it's similar colors, it didn't look bad! The paper
looked like a bunch of eyeballs! lol The swirls and leaves are from Heartfelt Creations.
The Thanksgiving Greetings panel is from the Vintage Winter Holiday Postcard cd.

Here's a good look at the "eyeball" paper! hehe "May many blessings come your way
on this Thanksgiving Day" sentiment by Heartfelt Creations.
The maple leaf is a sticker from my stash.

I love the ribbon used on this card with its leaves, pumpkins, corn and such. It really went
well with the ODBD Stamps. The pumpkin image is from the cd mentioned previously.

The little leaves stamped on the burgundy background are from a stubby stamper
from Stamps by Judith.

Inside the card.

This image from the Vintage cd is just wonderful! I put gold sparkly ink on the sun rays.
The sticker leaves just added to the elegance as they are embossed with gold too!

Here you can see the gold embossing on the leaves and a little on the sun rays, and the bow.

This sentiment from my stash, spells it out!

I would love it if you would leave a comment! I appreciate all comments left!

Back in business!

2011-10-25T14:16:00.001-05:00

I have worked on my blog for 1 1/2 days, and I think I got the "bugs" worked out. I hope you enjoy, and thank you for your visit! I appreciate you!

Shoes and Purses Galore!

2011-10-25T14:15:00.000-05:00

Have you ever wanted to wear a pair of beautiful shoes, and carry the gorgeous purse that matched? I have, and my daughter says I should become a shoe designer! I don't think I have time for that, but I do have time to share with you the 12 sets of shoes and purses I made for a recent church function, Festival of Tables. I decorated my two tables for High Tea, and my ladies had so much fun, as well as all of the other ladies who didn't sit at my tables. All of the tables were decorated beautifully, and there were some "just-plain-ol'-fun" ones, too! I hope you'll leave a comment below on what you think of my shoes and purses. Thank you for visiting! If you'd like the directions on how to make these, please contact me. I cannot chose between them one favorite - they're all my faves!

Something's wrong with my blog!

2011-10-24T14:27:00.000-05:00

Hello! I'm sorry to tell you this, but there's something amiss at Blogger! I went into my blog to list a new set of creations, and I found that my header and sidebar are gone, gone, gone! I have emailed Blogger but haven't received any answer from them. I haven't made any changes, so I'm at a loss as to what has happened! I really don't want to have to create another, but I will if I have to. That is why I changed my blog before, from queenteacuppapertreasures to clare'spaperworks! On the "queen" blog, all my photos disappeared, and were replaced with black squares with a big "minus" sign in the middle! So I made the "paperworks" blog. I wish it could be reliable. It's very frustrating, and I would greatly appreciate it if anyone out there has a suggestion or an answer to these problems, to contact me on my email please! It is muttpuddles@comcast.net. Thanks, and I hope you're all having a great day! Isn't Autumn awesome?

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, MOM!

2011-10-03T12:14:00.000-05:00

October 2 is my mother-in-law's birthday, and we took her out for dinner to Famous Dave's for barbequed ribs. She is 73 years young! Here is the card I made for her -

Stamps from Stampin' Up, cardstock from Stampin' Up, and Memory Box.
Markers from SU, and flower punches used. Zva pearls, Spellbinders die, border punches,
corner punch and leaf punches used, and additional stamp from Gina K.

WE HOPE YOUR BIRTHDAY WAS A HAPPY ONE, MOM! ;)

1 Thessalonians 5:12-13

2011-10-03T11:39:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends! I hope everyone is well and happy today! It's been beautiful outside! Fall is my favorite time of year because of all the colors, and the crisp coolness of the air after a long, hot summer.

I wanted to share a scrapbook page-turned-shadow-box-framed-thank-you that someone ordered. This layout was adapted from a Heartfelt Creations class project, and made for one of my husband's co-workers. She is framing it, and presenting it to her pastor as an appreciation gift. I love the way it turned out!

The background paper is from the Happily Ever After stack and the plain cardstock is from Stampin' Up. The bible passage I copied into a word document, then printed on plain white cardstock. I used Tim Holtz Vintage Photo inkpad to "age" the edges. The Heartfelt Creations products used were: Falling Leaves Die HCD 707, Decorative Dutch Iris Die HCD 711, HCPC 3323 Large Elegant Word Background PreCut Set, HCPC 3334 Open Falling Leaves PreCut Set, HCPC 3375 Flora Grande 1 PreCut Set, HCD 703 Daisy Patch Dies and HCPC 3374 Flora Grande 2 PreCut Set. The pearls are from Stampin' Up's Pretties kit, and the butterflies are Martha Stewart. The border is from Spellbinders Parisian Accents Die Set. I used Versamark ink to heat set the black embossing powder on the flowers.

These flowers turned out beautifully, and the three-dimension is crazy!

I don't normally use Martha Stewart products, but when I saw these butterflies, they were a must-use!
They matched the gold glitter that was on the background paper perfectly,
and provided just a little bit of sparkle that enriches this page.

Thank you for visiting my blog - I hope you had the time to leave a comment on what you think of this page. I appreciate your thoughts! I hope you'll come back again, and again, and again! lol hehehe

To Encourage You

2011-10-03T10:49:00.000-05:00

I have a new friend who has just learned she has breast cancer! It's hard to believe that I have five friends now with this dreaded disease. I made this card of encouragement for her. She hasn't received it yet, so she will probably see it on here before she physically receives it in the mail. Be encouraged, Friend!

The rose was made using satin ribbon, and scor-tape applied to one side of a cardstock circle.

I twisted the ribbon around and around, then back again while pressing it onto the scor-tape, starting in the center. The end of the ribbon was folded underneath, taped, and covered with another cardstock circle.

A pearl was applied to the center with craft glue.

The leaves are from a Heartfelt Creations stamp set called HCPC 3378 Perfect Petal Class. It's a class that was offered at the CHA and CKC show. The "To Encourage You" is from HCPC 3363 Inspire Me Sentiments PreCut Set. The inner sentiment is from HCPC 3321 Believe PreCut Set. The diecut used for the burgundy border is from Spellbinders Fleur de Lis set, and the window die is from their Labels Twenty-one die set. The inner image under the phrase is from Justrite Stampers Shabby Chic Labels Four. I used a small butterfly punch to cut two butterflies, and glued one just in the body area, then bent the wings up for a 3-D effect. The embossing is from the Sizzix embossing folder Birds and Flourishes, and the pearls are from Zva. Also used was Spellbinder Fleur de Lis die set. Cardstock is from Stampin' Up, and DCWV. Coloring was done with Stampin' Up and Copic markers.

Heartfelt Creations Alumni Team Blog Hop!

2011-09-27T06:00:00.003-05:00

Hello! It's time for another Heartfelt Creations Alumni Team Blog Hop! I know you'll enjoy each and every blog you visit! Happy inspiration by some very talented ladies!

We will be giving away the Stamp Set HCPC 3306 Posy Patch Garden Delights Pre Cut Set. The winner will be randomly selected from comments received on all our blogs for the hop through midnight Thursday the 29th! The winner will be announced on Saturday October 1st on our blogs...wooo hoooo!

I'm up first, but you may have come here from Linda's blogsite. No problem! Let's get to it! Enjoy!

For my card, I used several commercially made embellishments

because I needed to make this card in a hurry.

The lace, ribbon, flowers, pearls and dies made my job much easier. I don't

normally take this "simple and quick" approach to making my cards,

but I think the card looks like it took a lot of work to make.

I thought the light blues helped make the card soothing.

The sentiments on this card are from the Heartfelt Creations HCPC3377 Sympathy Sentiment PreCut Set. They are just wonderful, caring and simple.

Other products I used to make this card are: blue striped cardstock from Stampin' Up, white cardstock, Stampin' Up Bliss Blue classic inkpad, Momento's Paris Dusk, Zva pearls, flowers from Prima, fern punch, ribbon and lace from stash, and Parisian Accents border die.

Next up on the blog hop is the oh-so-talented Debbie! But before you go to her blog, please just take a second or two to leave me a note on what you think of my card. I appreciate all comments left! Thank you!

Clare - this is where you are now!

Debbie

Selma

Olga

Dina Roedel Kowal

Angelica

Linda P

Oh, Baby Girl!

2011-09-16T16:58:00.000-05:00

Hello, out there in blogland! I hope everyone is doing well, and happy!

I have had the misfortune of having my shoulder operated on three times in the last year and a half, and physical therapy was a big part of the recovery process. My physical therapist, Casey, was so supportive and a big influence on my healing and recovery! His wife, Kim, is pregnant (if they haven't had the baby girl yet as of this writing) and due! I made a set of baby shoes for them out of cardstock, a display box, and a card of congratulations. I'd like to share them with you!

I'd love to know what you think! Please leave a comment below, and have a great weekend!

MY MEMORIES Digital Software Giveaway WINNER!

2011-09-15T12:38:00.000-05:00

Today is the 15th, and it's time to announce the winner of the My Memories Digital Software Giveaway!

CHRISTINE B. - YOU'RE THE WINNER!

Contact me through my email address, muttpuddles@comcast.net, and I will give you the instructions on how to download your free My Memories most awesome, fantastic, fantabulous, neat, groovy, wonderful, and did I say, AWESOME, and easy-to-use software? I can't wait for you to get it, so you can use it, and share your awesome pages with us!

Email me right away, so you can get started! Congratulations, Christine!

All Things Through Christ

2011-09-12T20:45:00.000-05:00

Hello, blog friends! The weather has been so pretty here the last few days, since the remnants of the last hurricane brought us some much-needed rain. I have spent some time in the garden taking photos of flowers, God's creations, as well as a little time in my craft room. I wanted to share some of the beautiful flowers in my yard, and a card I made over the weekend.

I wish my camera would pick up colors a little better! The red shade here on this card is actually burgundy. The flowers in the paper are burgundy also, but look totally different than the ribbon! I was playing with some new Spellbinders dies I got in the mail, and boy, what fun!!! I love the way they layer! The sentiment is from Verve, and the framed stamp is from GinaK. The patterned paper is from my stash, and all solid paper is from Stampin' Up. Ink is Stampin' Up Baroque Burgundy and Versafine Onyx.

Card size is 6" x 6".

Thank you for visiting! I appreciate you!

ATTENTION! FREE AMAZING SOFTWARE GIVEAWAY!

2011-09-10T00:01:00.000-05:00

Hi, blog friends! I am soooooooooo in love with this new digital scrapbooking software, that I just have to share it with you! And, the best part is that My Memories is giving away one of their My Memories Suite software downloads completely free to one lucky person - but you have to enter to win! Just visit the My Memories site www.MyMemories.com and tell me in a comment below on this blog, which digital paper pack or layout you like the best. This is valued at just under $40! You will also receive $10 credit towards the purchase of any additional software downloads! Below are links you can click on for more info, pictures of two pages I did, and a video that is very informative!

I will be choosing the winner on September 15, so you have a little time to contact My Memories or me with any questions! Please include your email address! I will notify the winner by email, and will put the winner on my blog as well. You have 24 hours to claim your "sweet" suite download. I will then send you the promo code so that you can complete your download!

If you want to purchase the suite, (if you don't have winning luck, OR you just can't wait to use it!), we're giving you a $10 discount towards the purchase of the suite, plus $10 credit towards any other software download purchase! A $20 value! Just click on the following link, and order your suite and any other downloads you desire (that are just awesome!), plug in the code to get this great deal, and you're on your way to creating the most beautiful, awesome, fantastic and "how did you do that?" digital scrapbook you can imagine! You can even print it! Click here - My Memories Suite. Enter this code: STMMMS843. (copy and paste) in slot indicated on the order form.

I have been using the software for two weeks, and absolutely love it! Do you see my pink blog header above with all the pretty flowers, ribbon and bows? I created that on the My Memories Suite! And, here's a look at two scrapbook pages I made with the suite, in a very short time! (My grandson is a doll, isn't he?)

The dashed lines on the above page are actually "stitching" lines that I added to make it more like a quilt.

Aren't my pages great? Everything you need except your photos is included in the suite - just insert your photos and add your story with journaling! There are many, many fonts to chose from, and the options are unlimited!

I would love for you to win it, so please enter the contest!

If you aren't the one picked to win, I hope you'll purchase it! You will love it! You can print your completed album, too! You know, I've been trying to get my kid's albums physically done for over 20 years, and this is so much faster!

Here some other sites you can visit for more

information and ideas!

Blog- http://blog.mymemories.com/

Facebook- http://www.facebook.com/mymemoriessuite

Twitter- http://twitter.com/#!/mymemoriessuite

MyMemories Suite Video Introduction

We have created a video that is an introduction to
My Memories. Here’s what’s on the video –

· Software Screen Tour – finding your papers and embellishments.

· MyMemories.com website tour (and description of different types of products on the site)

· Beginning information on album creation

· Introduction to SOME of the tools (and references to the other video tutorials that are available)

Welcome to the Family! from Lisa Jurrens on Vimeo.

One of my design team friends uses the My Memories Suite, and here's what she says about it- "I love their software, it's very easy to use and create with. I have a few posts on my blog right now using their software." Lisa Somerville

I hope you like my pages above, and will enter the contest! If you don't win, I hope you'll purchase the suite, because it will make your life so much more "sweet", and easier to use than paper, scissors, cutters, stamps, markers, ink, pens, chalk and glue! Listen to me saying that, and I am an avid stamper! hehe Enjoy, and I wish each of you good luck!

Monochromatic Blues Challenge

2011-09-05T13:24:00.000-05:00

Hi, everyone out there in blog land! I am entering a contest for cards or projects all in blues! I was playing around with ribbon, hot glue gun and cardstock circles. I used some ribbed blue ribbon, which created a beautiful rose! I need to get this posted by the deadline, so I'll include instructions later. Thanks for visiting!

Heartfelt Creations Alumni Team Blog Hop!

2011-08-23T07:18:00.000-05:00

Hi, Friends! Come blog hop with us through some beautiful projects made by the Alumni and current design team for Heartfelt Creations! I hope you enjoy your hopping, and leave happy, full of eye-candy, and inspired by these gorgeous creations by some awesome designers!

If you arrived here from Loretta's fantastic blog, you're on the right path!

My project was a sympathy card made for my daughter's boss, who's father passed away last week. I truly hate to hear about things like this. Credit for the layout must be given to Heartfelt Creations, since I adapted the layout from a card made in one of the CKC classes that I helped with here in Nashville. It is a simple card to make, and fun! Please don't forget to leave me some lovin' in the comments section! I love hearing from you, and I hope you enjoy your visit!

I used the following products on this card: HCPC 3377 Sympathy Sentiment PreCut Set, HCPC 3374 Flora Grande 1 PreCut Set, HCPC 3375 Flora Grande 2 PreCut set, Blossoms 3 Nesties, HCPC 3334 Open Falling Leaves PreCut Set, HCD 707 Falling Leaves Die, HCD 703 Daisy Patch Die, Oval Cutter from Creative Memories, VersaMark ink, Classic ink pad in Green Galore (Stampin' Up), White Embossing Powder, half-pearl, adhesive tape runner, popdots, 1/8" dowel rod for curling petals, and embossing stylus with mat, patterned paper from stash and solid cardstock from Stampin' Up.

This photo shows the dimension that the flower has. This cardstock holds the shape

beautifully, and it's a lot of fun to make. It's easy, too!

This is the inside of the card, using a sentiment from HCPC 377 Sympathy Sentiment PreCut Set, the flower sets mentioned above and Spellbinders Labels 18 die.

The next blog to hop to is Debbie Seyer's wonderful blog! Just click on her name to go to it! Here is the blog order in case you have gotten lost - just click on a name to go to the respective blogsite.

Anita Chapman-Hovey
Selma Stevenson
Dina Roedel Kowal
Olga Jewell
Loretta Mitchell Lock
Clare Curcio - YOU ARE HERE! ;)
Debbie Seyer
Angelica Turner
Linda Payne

There are many more design team members that will participate in other hops, so keep on the lookout for the next one! I would appreciate you sharing my blog with your friends that enjoy beautiful things, paper crafts, scrapbooking, jewelry, or hopping! If you're not a follower, please become one! Praying God's blessings to each and every one of you!

Home Sweet Home!

2011-08-18T19:36:00.000-05:00

My husband and son recently went to a men's retreat with our church over a weekend, and I made this card for my husband on his return. The images are from a set called "Home Sweet Home" by Chocolate Baroque, a stamp company in England. I love their stamps! Glenda has put a tutorial on how to mask and create the sunrays on the Chocolate Baroque website, here. Please visit them, and tell them I sent you! You'll be glad you did! :)

The striped paper is from Color Box, the "Frond" 6" x 6" pack, and the solid cardstock is from Stampin' Up. I used Copic markers and Stampin' Up markers to color the image. I punched out some little leaves using a punch by Punch Bunch, for the tree. The edge punch is a Martha Stewart called Gothic Arches. The blue doily is a new die I just got from Cheery Lynn, called English Tea Party. The green circle under the image was diecut using Spellbinders Eyelet Circles. I tied pieces of ribbon (stash) through the eyelets to kinda extend the sunrays.

I sure do appreciate you visiting, Friend, and hope you enjoyed your stay. Have a great weekend!

On the Grapevine

2011-08-18T03:48:00.000-05:00

Hello! I hope this post finds you all very happy and healthy!

I was given the following quote by Teresa of Avila to put onto a card/project, and I thought it was a super quote to share! Teresa of Avila (1515-1582) was a Spanish Carmelite and mystic. For her, the full mystical life was one of prayers and service. One of her favorite remarks was, "The Lord lives among pots and pans."

Christ has no body now on earth but yours,

no hands but yours, no feet but yours.

Yours are the eyes through which Christ's

compassion is to look out to the world.

Yours are the feet with which Christ is

to go about doing good.

Yours are the hands with which

Christ is to bless all people now.

by Teresa of Avila

Isn't that awesome? Speaking of Christ, as He is the vine and we are the fruit, I have made a grapevine bracelet, which really reminds me of who I am and why. A daughter of God, sister of Christ, friend and sister to many, wife, mother and grandmother. I wanted to share a photo of it, along with one that my friend, Lorraine, made for me. She instructed me on how to create this beauty. Please feel free to contact me if you would like to order one! muttpuddles@comcast.net, or by commenting on this blog.

Thank you for checking out "my" grapevine, and may all your endeavors be fruitful! Come again!

GIVEAWAY AT NINAB'S!

2011-08-17T11:34:00.000-05:00

Hey, head over to Nina's and tell her I sent ya!!!! To help spread the word, NinaB Designs is having a little giveaway. Please share this page with your friends and tell them I sent you. Olga will pick a random winner and you and your friend will get some yummy stamps from Layers of Color Art Stamps, The Craft's Meow or The Angel Company that I designed. Contest will go on until Saturday and I will announce the winner shortly after that! Here's the link: https://www.facebook.com/pages/NinaB-Designs/188808934489421?sk=wall

My Health May Fail Card

2011-08-03T15:03:00.000-05:00

Hello! Thanks for stopping by to visit!

This verse has become one of my favorites with all that's happened to me physically. Last Thursday I was released from physical therapy on my shoulder - YAY! Then on Friday, I was diagnosed with Diabetes Type 2! I've lost 7 lbs in a week on the new meds and diet, and hopefully, over time, I will lose enough weight and get this under control to where I can stop taking all the meds. Wish me luck!

There are several women in my life who have been struck with breast cancer, requiring surgeries, chemo and radiation. This is a card I made for one of them, using this verse, and unfortunately, this stamp is getting a lot of use.

The sentiment stamp and butterfly is from Our Daily Bread Designs, and the flowers were made using punches. I used Copic markers to color the butterfly. Thanks for dropping by!

Flower Window

2011-08-03T14:47:00.000-05:00

Hello, everyone! I hope you're all doing well! It's been so hot here in Tennessee, that the heat index is above 110*! Venturing outside is detrimental to anyone's health today. It's going to be that way for a few days. I'm ready for my favorite season of all - Fall!

I've loaded some new photos of cards I've made, and I'm not sure if I've posted them before - since all the images on my blog are missing, I can't tell. So, if you've seen it before, enjoy it again! hahaha

The main card shape is from the Spellbinders Grand Labels Four die. I used the Spellbinders Large Circles for the hole in the front, and a Large Scalloped Circle for the blue cardstock opening. I diecut the largest Lacy Scalloped Circle in the darker blue and applied small pearls to each section. The peach-colored design on the inside is diecut from Spellbinders Lotus and mounted on top of the scalloped circle previously cut from the front of the card.

Large flower: stamped in light blue on white cardstock with the Heartfelt Creations sets HCPC 3374 Flora Grande 2 and HCPC 3375 Flora Grande 1.

The smaller flowers and leaves were punched with Punch Bunch punches - sun, cosmos & split leaf.

I dry embossed swiss dots onto the left side of the blue front, and applied a lacy edge trim across the front.

All cardstock is from Stampin' Up, as well as ink. Ziva pearls were applied to flower centers.

Thanks for visiting! I appreciate you dropping by, and please leave a little note for me if you'd like! I love to hear from you!

I'm Back!

2011-07-26T12:20:00.000-05:00

Hello, all my blog friends out there! I've been missing-in-action for a while, tending to several things here at home, which hasn't given me any time to work on my blog. As you probably know, my blog images disappeared at some point (if anyone knows what point, I'd like to know!) and were replaced by that notorious "little red X in the upper left-hand corner". I've contacted Blogger and they haven't responded so, I'm thinking those blogs containing images now replaced by that X are now history. There are only a few that didn't vanish, and none of those showing are my projects, so... bear with me, and we'll get this going once again and hopefully this problem won't happen again! Cross your fingers, say your prayers, rub your lucky rabbit's foot, or whatever you need to do!

Here's what I've been up to!

1. Everyone knows that I had shoulder surgery for the third time on March 25, 2011. I was released by physical therapy last week on Thursday, and had a follow-up appointment with my fantastic surgeon this morning. He is pleased with my progress, and says I should just continue with the strengthening exercises, and go back in four months for my last appointment. He is the most awesomeness nice professional great doctor, and I would recomment him to anyone!

2. My husband, Mike, had his left shoulder operated on four weeks ago, and he is progressing well also! We love to share! hehehe I tore mine golfing, and so did he! He hasn't asked me to go since, and I don't think he will in the future. His rotator cuff tear was not as bad as mine for which we are very thankful, but he wasn't prepared for the discomfort and pain he has endured while healing and doing physical therapy. Even though he helped me through three of the same surgeries, he was on the caretaker side, and I think he was surprised at what he anticipated, and what has actually occurred. He has a new appreciation of elastic-waisted gym shorts & slide on crocs! The great news for him is he went back to work yesterday, after six weeks off! When this shoulder is strong enough, he'll have his right one done! We really shared! hahaha Believe me, I'm laughing with him, and I have a new appreciation for being on the caretaker side! Well, no trailer vacation this year!

Photo used with permission!

3. I am somewhat taken aback with the news that I now have diabetes type 2, which hopefully I can control with medication, diet and exercise. I needed to lose weight anyway, but I would rather it wasn't this way! I cannot wait for the day when my regular doctor can say that I don't need the medications anymore, and that I also don't need to take a few others for blood pressure or high cholesterol. My family roots as far as these issues are concerned, are set deep in the quagmire of heart disease and the above two. diabetes has not plagued any of my family that I know of. So, there you have it! Fun stuff, huh?

Well, I hope to post some new cards within the next day or two, so don't go to far away. Thanks for being there - I appreciate all your shoulders! It's time to eat something!

Testing, testing, this is only a test!

2011-07-02T17:16:00.000-05:00

Please excuse any duplicate postings that you may receive from me! I don't know about you, but all my photos and images have disappeared from my blog, and I have to reload them. In order for me to know if it is working, I have to post a photo. So you may receive something that has a duplicate photo you've seen before, or a duplicate posting. Please disregard and I will post again when I have it fixed. Thanks!

Flowers

2011-06-25T17:38:00.000-05:00

Hello! Third post today, and it's the charm! I thought I'd try making a different kind of card, with the main frontal image also being the inside image! It turned out better than I expected, and I hope you like it. The card shape is from one of the newer Grand Spellbinders dies, and folded in half. The large flower is a stamp from Heartfelt Creations, placed over the peach-colored Lotus diecut from Spellbinders, and the smaller flowers are made from Punch Bunch flower punches in two sizes. Enjoy!

Spellbinders dies used: Grand Labels, Open Scallops, Scallops, Lotus, Circles.

Also used was a leaf punch, by Punch Bunch, and a border punch by Fiskars.

The hole opening in the front of the card fit perfectly over the main flower.

Thanks so much for dropping by again! I truly appreciate your visit, and I hope you'll send your friends over to see my creations also. Have a great day!

It's a Girl! Again!

2011-06-25T17:20:00.000-05:00

Well, blog friends, this is my second blog for the day! I go in spurts. Make a few cards, post all of them. Make one, post it. Wait a week, make two more, post one, then post the other later, and on and so on...
I wanted to share this very cute little image with you! I got it in a set, and this one has the sentiment, "Crib notes" on it. How cute is that? I was trying to make a very simple card, and for some reason, I just can't! This one didn't take long, but I started putting layer upon layer upon layer. I stopped one layer shy of it needing another stamp to post it! lol

Isn't she just too sweet? And it's just as cute done in blue for a boy! I used a special pen to go over the crib rails and make the shiny dots on the scalloped border.

I love this new sentiment from Quietfire Designs! Suzanne hand-calligraphied this message, and it's wonderful!
I couldn't put it any better myself! Thanks, Suzanne!

Thanks for coming 'round again to check out this card! I really, really appreciate your visit!

Happy Father's Day! (better late than never!)

2011-06-25T17:07:00.000-05:00

Hi, everyone! I'm wishing all those father's out there a belated "Happy Father's Day"! Here's the card I gave to my husband on Father's Day. He had a good one, including an ice cream cake. He had his shoulder surgery on Friday, two days before, so he slept for a while, and our son came up to visit with his girlfriend. I hope all you Daddy's out there had a great day! I really miss my daddy, but I know he's having a good day as well!

I hadn't used this "Cheesecloth" background stamp from Stampin' Up before,
and I thought it would look goodheat-embossed in silver to look like window screen. It didn't fail to please as screen! With just a few little accents and the right sentiment, it worked well!
I even had the little screwhead stamp!

I found some silver wire, and tried to weave a little piece of screen
with it, but it wouldn't hold still. lol So I just swirly-clipped a
small piece of the wire to the card.

It's been a week now since Father's Day, and Mike is doing much better! We are both going to physical therapy together, and he's doing some of the same exercises I've been doing for the past three months! It really seems strange, with me on this side, and him the patient now. Speaking of patient, he's trying to be. I hope you're all having a wonderful weekend! We're just staying around the house, being cool in more ways than one! lol

Thank you so much for visiting! I truly appreciate it, and appreciate any comment you may wish to leave. ;)

2011-06-24T13:25:00.000-05:00

Hello, friends! My husband was going through his dresser drawer, and came upon this card that I had made him years ago for Valentine's Day. I had forgotten about it, and that was before I started blogging. I like the way it came out, with the heart-speckled vellum pocket sewn onto the cardstock front, the focal image and the key.
Heat embossing the hearts in gold and silver
really made them pop.
All stamps and cardstock are from Stampin' Up.

This card, with it's muted colors was ideal for a guy! It was sentimental, touching, and romantic but still a "man's card"!

"I wish to live because life has with it that which is good, that which is beautiful,
and that which is love." by Lorraine Hansberry

Thanks so much for stopping by! I hope you have a great weekend!

It's A Girl!

2011-06-09T11:05:00.000-05:00

I like all of the layers of shape, which add dimension to the focal point.

A friend of mine from church and her husband have adopted a little baby girl, and I sent this card to congratulate them. It was a lot of fun creating it, because of all the different components. My physical therapist and his wife are expecting their third, their first girl in September, and I'm working on some announcement cards for them. There are too many reasons to make a card - I can't keep up with it! lol

I'm going to make a few more "prototypes" of announcement cards for Casey and Kim to choose from. I can't tell you how much fun I have doing this! It's just awesome! Can you tell they are having a girl?

I'd love to hear from you on whether you like these are not! Please leave some love in the comments section! Thank you so much for visiting - I love it when you do!

Little Mother Images

2011-06-08T20:14:00.000-05:00

Are you staying cool? It's summer here in Nashville already, with the past nearly two weeks and the week ahead in the mid-90's. Hot, hot, hot!

I know I've raved about the Nicecrane images before, but I just can't say enough about them - they're fantastic! It's the only stamp company I'm designing for right now, and I'm staying busy! I've fallen in love with the Little Mother images, and am having a blast working with them! Very Victorian, and right down my alley! (Remember, I was born in the wrong era! lol) Please let me know how you like my most recent card made with one of these images. You can find the set, including this image of Mother holding baby, talking with sister (or brother) here.

The inside sentiment, "A baby is such a beautiful way to start a person", is a stamp from Quietfire Designs, the hand-calligraphied work of Suzanne Cooper. She's amazing! You can see more if you click here.

I am feeling really good with the physical therapy on my shoulder. Mike has his surgery next Friday, so I have to ready to help him by then! Wish me luck! And him! If you think of it, please remember him in a little prayer. Thanks for stopping by, and I hope to see you again real soon!

13-Year Cicada's Are Back!

2011-05-28T13:05:00.000-05:00

Reddish-orange eyes!

Shiny, irredescent wings

In my last post, I think I mentioned the cicada's are back, but didn't have a photo of them at the time. Now I do! I cannot tell you how much I despise these ugly creatures, not only for their ugliness, but also for the sound they make for a continuous 6 weeks, until they go underground again after mating, and most die above ground! God has a sense of humor! These bugs remind me of vampires, with their black bodies, shiny irridescent wings, and big reddish-orange eyes! The only thing they don't have is blood dripping from their teeth! The sound they make is deafening, and you can hear it well even if all the windows are closed. The sound ebbs higher or louder, then lower, up and down, up and down. It's as if they are sitting at a football game or something similar, and they are doing the "wave" around the colliseum! There is a conductor who is conducting away, waving his wand back and forth in the air, as if he's directing traffic. In the car, if you're not passing any trees, you don't hear them, but when you do pass a tree, you can here them as you pass by. I don't know how to describe their lovely music! Here's a good look at all my little friends.

Come To Me For Rest

2011-05-27T05:25:00.000-05:00

Hello! I haven't been able to sleep much due to my shoulder hurting, so I'm getting a lot of "playing" done. I've got to get rested up though, and be in the best shape possible, because my hubby has to have his shoulder done on June 17, and then the other sometime in November or December. Poor guy has never had anything done to him, bodywise. He's actually been practicing his wining!

Mike asked me to make a card for a co-worker who's father passed away recently, and I hadn't broken out my new Our Daily Bread Designs stamps yet. I have several from them that are good passages out of the bible for just such a reason. They have so many though that would serve useful for any occasion - encouragement, love, illness, etc. I wanted to try making a window in the card with the sentiment going behind the sides of the frame. It came out better than I had planned. I'd sure appreciate you clicking on "Follow", and for leaving a kind comment below.

Thanks so much for stopping by today - have a great one! Oh, by the way, we're still here after some terrible storms, a lot of lightning and thunder and tornados all around us. Please pray for those in several states that have been hit by tornados. I also want to add that the 13-year cicada's are back, and what a noisy lot they are! My goodness, it's deafening if you want into the trees! They are so ugly with their red eyes!

Audubon Bookmark

2011-05-27T04:47:00.000-05:00

Hello again! I hope everyone has great plans for this Memorial Day weekend, unless you live outside the U.S. We're going to a park near here on the lake, and swim, barbeque, and just have fun. I can't wait to see my littlest grandson in his new Spongebob swim trunks! (Of course, he'll have a "L'il Swimmers" diaper on). I wonder if he'll like the water. It's probably going to be too cold for him since it's not summer and the sun hasn't heated the water yet.

Here's another of Nicecrane Designs Audubon Series bookmarks. I am really enjoying making them, and I love the images from Nicecrane. Please visit the Nicecrane Designs store and check out all of the extra-uber goodies there, just waiting to be picked!

Walking the Babies Victorian Card

2011-05-20T13:30:00.000-05:00

Hello, there! Just a quick post to bring you up to date on a couple of things. When I posted the blue-hued card previously of the little girls helping their baby brother and baby doll walking, I forgot to add the links to Nicecrane Designs where you could purchase the image I used and much more. Please click on the links below to go directly to Nicecrane Designs to order the images if you desire. I'm still learning little things about this blogging stuff, and things occasionally get by me!

To go to Nicecrane Designs for this specific image, click here
There is a coordinating pack of images that go with this image that you can purchase, shown here
To go to Nicecrane Designs main page, to see everything, click here

Once you see them all, you'll want them all! Please support Nicecrane Designs by purchasing one or more of her image sets! They are all gorgeous, and so versatile! You'll love them all! I guarantee it!

Remember When?

2011-05-19T16:49:00.000-05:00

Hello! Do you remember helping your little brother or sister learn how to walk? Do you remember helping your doll walk? What about all those Barbies that went to the prom, beach, shopping, car ride or on a date with Ken? Someone had to help them walk! I never had a Barbie doll, but my Grandpa Carroll gave me a 36" doll, with blond curly hair, all dressed in pink, with white shoes. I helped her walk all over the house and the yard. I don't remember what happened to her, but I know she's in doll heaven.

This image by Nicecrane Designs is one of my absolute favorites, and brought back those memories for me when I looked at it for a while. I was too little to help my little sister learn to walk, but I did have the doll. This picture is just wonderful, and I can see the little girls helping the littler ones in my mind's eye.

There are little pearl sprays coming out from under the main flower.

I love this pearlized beaded lace I found! Just the right Victorian touch!

The way to a great card or project is a wonderful base, and that's what Nicecrane Designs provides! Please visit the website, and peruse through all of her wonderful images.

I appreciate your visit and would love for you to leave a comment before you go. Have a wonderful day! May God's blessings be with you always.

Another Beautiful Audubon Bookmark!

2011-05-14T10:15:00.000-05:00

Hello, everyone! Thanks for visiting on this fine, stamping kind of weather day! It's not cool out, but overcast and we're supposed to have more rain! It's already flooding parts of Tennessee. You should see the water coming out of the dam nearby! It's a great day to stay indoors, and stamp, color, cut, glue, ribbon, stamp and play some more!

I've fashioned another bookmark for Nicecrane Designs, and I hope you like it! You can find out more about these wonderful creations by clicking on the link of their name.

This card was made so that the bookmark can be pulled out and

used. The swirly paperclip, the white sentiment panel and the

peach-colored swirl and bird hold the bookmark in. One just needs to

remove the paperclip and pull the bookmark out.

I'd love for you to comment on this card in the space provided below! I appreciate your comments! Come back soon!

Audubon Bookmark for Nicecrane Designs

2011-05-10T22:31:00.000-05:00

Hello, blog friends! I hope you've had a good Tuesday. It was pretty warm here in the Nashville today - only 2 degrees from matching the high for this date on record. It's supposed to be even warmer tomorrow! Is summer here already?

Today, I have another bookmark from Nicecrane Design's Audubon series. I absolutely LOVE these new Mother Goose images! You will too!

Jack and Jill are going up the hill...

Vintage Mother Goose Birthday Card

2011-05-09T20:13:00.000-05:00

Hello, blogger friends! I hope you're all doing well, and enjoyed your Mother's Day weekend! Last Friday was my youngest child's 30th birthday! I can't believe it! Do you know how old that makes me? Yikes! She had a good day, off from work for three days in a row, and Mother's Day on Sunday! I had made homemade spaghetti, meatballs and sausage for supper on Saturday, and there was enough to make homemade lasagna on Sunday, which is a favorite around this 1/2 and 1/4 Italian family. No offense meant, but our three kids are "quarter woppers"! I wanted to share with you the birthday card I made for Julie, and the fabulous Mother Goose image I got from Nicecrane Designs!

I had fun experimenting with some Prima flowers that I got at a craft show.
These roses weren't hard to make at all.

Thank you for visiting, and tomorrow I'll have another bookmark to show you, using another of Nicecrane Designs Audubon collection!

Victorian Trading Cards by Nicecrane Designs

2011-05-09T19:47:00.000-05:00

Previously posted was the history of trading cards, which I really found to be very interesting. I hope you did too. Nicecrane Designs has some gorgeous and very vintage-looking Victorian Trading Cards that are just waiting for your name and information to be filled in on them! Below is a sample of what they look like.

Nicecrane Designs made me a calling card, and personalized it for me. Below it are the ones I made.

Here are the Victorian Trading Cards I purchased from Nicecrane Designs, and how I personalized them in my Picasa photo program.

I know that Ignacio would love to hear from all of you on how you like her Victorian Trading Cards, and would certainly love you to purchase the set, or the even larger set. But there is SO much MORE in her store that you would just absolutely love! Please go to her website and visit, and leave her a message!

My next post will be of my daughter's birthday card, using one of the digital pictures that Ignacio carries in her Nicecrane Designs Store. Her Peter Rabbit and Mother Goose images are absolutely out-of-this-world gorgeous, and I used one on the birthday card.

History of Trade (or Trading) Cards

2011-05-09T19:04:00.000-05:00

A trading card (or collectible card) is a small card, usually made out of paperboard or thick paper, which usually contains an image of a certain person, place or thing (fictional or real) and a short description of the picture, along with other text (attacks, statistics, or trivia). There is a wide variation among different types of cards as to the configuration of objects, the content on the card, and even the material used to make the card. In artwork, especially stamping, scrapbooking, calligraphy and graphic arts, the cards used to trade with others are called Artist Trading Cards, or ATC's.

Trade card, 1730-1742 V&A Museum no. 14435:60 Trade card describes small cards, similar to the visiting cards exchanged in social circles, or that businesses would distribute to clients and potential customers. Trade cards first became popular at the beginning of the 17th century in London. These functioned as advertising and also as maps, directing the public to merchants' stores, as no formal street address numbering system existed at the time.

The trade card is an early example of the modern business card. Some businesses began to create increasingly sophisticated designs, especially with the development of color printing. A few companies specialized in producing stock cards, usually with an image on one side and space on the other side for the business to add its own information. As the designs became more attractive and colorful, collecting trade cards became a popular hobby in the late 19th century, since color images were not yet widely available.

In its original sense, the "trade" in trade card refers to its use by the proprietor of a business to announce his trade, or line of business. By moving into the realm of collecting, trade cards gave rise to the trading card, the meaning now shifting to the exchange or trade of cards by enthusiasts. Some cards, particularly those produced by tobacco companies featuring baseball players, later developed into collectibles and lost their function as a business advertisement.

Lithographed trade card advertising Murray & Lanman Florida Water Cologne

Back of a german Liebig Extract of Meat Trade Card from 1885

Early 19th-century English-language trade card of John Maria Farina, cologne manufacturer, showing Farina Haus, Köln.

Trading cards are traditionally associated with sports; baseball cards are especially well-known. Cards dealing with other subjects are often considered a separate category from sports cards, known as non-sports trading cards. These often feature cartoons, comic book characters, television series and film stills.

As with playing cards, which they generally resemble, trading cards are often used to play various games. In the 1990s, cards designed specifically for playing games became popular enough to develop into a distinct category, collectible card games. These tend to use either fantasy subjects or sports as the basis for game play.

Trade card
From Wikipedia (See original Wikipedia article ») Last modified on 11 March 2011 at 04:57
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
I have been honored by Nicecrane Designs in that they have made me my own ATC, but after purchasing the card images, I have been able to apply my own text, just as Nicecrane's Trading Card page on their blog shows. If you click on Nicecrane's name just above, you will see a post that further explains the history of the Trading Card. You can purchase these beautiful cards for your own personalization at Nicecrane Designs Store.

Audubon Bookmark for Nicecrane Designs

2011-05-01T18:38:00.000-05:00

I have the pleasure of designing for Nicecrane Designs now, and I am so impressed and blessed by the beauty and grandness of the digital stamps and images they provide me! I hope you enjoy seeing what I have done with the ND images, but also leave a comment below! Enjoy your visit, and I wish you well. Until next time...

New Blog Name!

2011-05-01T18:24:00.000-05:00

You may have seen my blog under the name Queen Teacup's Paper Treasures, but as things change, so does this. It was too long anyway! lol Clare's Paper Works is shorter, and describes me more accurately. I used to be Queen Teacup of the Red Hat Society chapter Rah Rah Ya Ya Gals, but then started another group as that one was quite full. I became Queen Magnolia, then back to Queen Teacup of the Magnolia Marmaladies. The ladies have been busy, and it's been hard for us all to get together at the same time, so the group has kind of fizzled out. Maybe we'll start up again after taking some time off.

I hope you enjoy your visit to my new and improved blog! Please leave a comment below! I appreciate you!

Nicecrane Designs - Audubon Bookmarks

2011-04-26T17:57:00.000-05:00

Hello, Friends! I am so very pleased to announce that I am now designing for Nicecrane Designs! There are so many digital pictures to chose from to add to your personally hand-made cards and scrapbook pages, or anything else you can think of! Below is just a sampling of the Audubon bookmarks being featured right now, and you can get one free, no purchase necessary! It would be wonderful, though, if you browsed through all that Nicecrane has, and found something you need!

The website you can go to for your free bookmark is http://nicecranedesigns.blogspot.com/2011/04/audubon-bookmarks.html.

Justrite Friday Challenge 053

2011-04-19T16:32:00.000-05:00

Hello to all you Hoppy Easter Bunnies out there!

Now that I'm not so busy, and recuperating from shoulder surgery, I have a little more time to create, but slowly. I couldn't pass this challenge up! I haven't been into my Justrite stamps in a long while. So, the challenge was to make a card using a Spellbinders die, a flower that I made, and Justrite stamps. Here's my take on it...

I used Spellbinders Lacey Squares, the Heartfelt CreationsDecorative Dutch
Iris Die, and traced around the outside edge of the same die I cut the white
scalloped square for the base in patterned paper. A little pearl here, a little
pearl there, and "Voila'"! The right edge is laced with the Martha Stewart
Scalloped Fan border punch.

I used a square that I punched out with a corner punch in vellum to
add a little pizzazz to the yellow sentiment square.

For these roses, I used the Cherry Blossom punch from Punch Bunch
and the tutorial for the flowers by Sherry Cleever here.
Aren't they awesome? Just a little yellow
marker and gold ink on the edges, and they're done.

Thank you so much for visiting and I hope you left me a comment! Hoppy Easter, all you Hunny Bunnies!

Bloggers Challenge Sketch Challenge

2011-04-19T15:28:00.000-05:00

This is the challenge for this month. I haven't used this layout before. I had fun making my card though, and it seemed like it took forever to figure out which direction the card should go, and how I was going to coordinate all the components I wanted to use. Here is the link back to Lisa's blog page where the challenge is posted.

And here is what I came up with, using upcoming Easter as my subject.

I used a medallion stamp of an Easter egg as the main image. The white background was dry embossed with a Sizzix folder bird on a branch. I used green glitter glue on the green, and pink glitter around the egg. The little eggs on wire came from Joann's, and the sentiment is from Stampin' Up. The white punched strip is just a scrap I found laying around from one of my border punches. The "scraps" from border punches really come in handy sometimes, and some are just as pretty as the border itself.

I wish everyone a very Happy Easter! Hugs!

Cancer Awareness "Thank You" Cards inside Explosion Box

2011-04-04T19:42:00.000-05:00

Hello, Friends! I have five friends who have/had breast cancer, three of which are cancer-free at this moment, one who has had a partial mastectomy, and one who has just had a complete mastectomy and hysterectomy at the same time. After Christmas, I was perusing through the Christmas clearance aisles at Wally-World and found some beautiful Cancer Awareness wrapping paper for about 35 cents. Couldn't pass it up! I got an idea while looking around, that I've never seen thank-you cards or any cards that are cancer-specific. But I've never really looked for any either.

I had a box that is 4" x 4" x 3.5" and thought it was the right size for smaller thank-you cards. I made ten thank-you's, each sporting a pink ribbon and put them along with envelopes into the decorated explosion box and this is what I ended up with...

I hope my friend likes these. I know she's been blessed by many people helping her through this tough time, and maybe these can be a little blessing in return. I hope you enjoyed your visit, and I'd appreciate you leaving a comment at the bottom of this blog to let me know what you think. Happy Spring!

Surgery Update

2011-04-04T16:01:00.000-05:00

Hello! I hope everyone is doing well!

I am recovering from my third rotator cuff surgery, and I think this one is right up there with the first one as far as post-op pain. The cuff and bicep were both sheared off of the head of my humerus, and this tear was much bigger than the previous one. Physical therapy is twice a week, and I haven't lost a whole lot of range of motion. The only things Doc Price and I can come up with as the cause for the tear is that I was in a wheelchair for 2 1/2 months after foot surgery, and pushing myself around with that repeated motion did it, along with picking up a 40 lb. bag of dog food. I guess my weight lifting days are over. hehehe It is very frustrating relying on others to do much of what one needs done, and can be embarrassing at times. I'm just glad they're here to help since hubby is outta town again!

My term as a design team member with priscillastyles and Heartfelt Creations have come to an end at this time, and I am already missing doing my weekly projects, talking with the girls, and seeing what beautiful things they are creating! (sniff-sniff) I really enjoyed working on both teams, and everyone I was in contact with was wonderful!

"Here, Pidgey, Pidgey, Pidgey!" - MMSC 96

2011-03-22T02:00:00.000-05:00

This is my last post and design team entry for the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge and priscillastyles Store, as my term comes to an end. Three months has passed by so fast! I have enjoyed it all, and thanks to Priscilla for allowing me to use her digital stamps which are awesome!

I had the opportunity to stay on the team longer, but I thought I was going to be travelling with my hubby, Mike, more with his job.

I found out today that I am having a third shoulder surgery, next Friday, as I have retorn the rotator cuff/bicep again, and worse than before. I won't be able to create for a while, which will give me an excuse to get the craft room cleaned up and organized, with help of course.

Here's my last card made for the MMSC, and I've enjoyed all of the other team member's projects! You are all awesomely inspiring!

Hubby was in Honduras on a mission trip with some others from church, and he took my camera. I borrowed one, and didn't know the date stamp was on it, and couldn't remove it, so I apologize for that.

A "Thank You" to Linda & Emma Lou at Heartfelt Creations Card

2011-03-19T02:00:00.000-05:00

Hello, Girlfriends! I made a thank you card for Linda and Emma Lou at Heartfelt Creations, and was going to work with Emma Lou at the CKC convention in Louisville, KY, so I just took the card to her. I didn't have a chance to write anything in it to them, and Emma Lou put it up on the display board in the show. Here's my "THANK YOU VERY MUCH!" card to these two wonderful ladies!

Thinking of You

finished size is 5 1/2" x 6"

HCPC 3377 - Sympathy Sentiment PreCut Set
HCD 702 - Butterfly Diecut
HCPC 3371 - Dutch Iris Oval PreCut Set
HCD 711 - Decorative Dutch Iris Diecuts
HCPC 3373 - Dutch Iris Medley PreCut Set
HCD 710 - Decorative Oval Window Diecut

Other supplies: Spellbinders Nestabilities Scalloped Ovals Lg., DCWV Cafe' Mediterranean 5" x 7" patterned paper, Flower Soft Ultrafine Citrus Crush, Stampin' Up - Pear Pizzazz, Baja Breeze, True Thyme, Old Olive, Summer Sun, Yoyo Yellow, Daffodil Delight, Certainly Celery, Barely Banana, Peach Parfait inkpads & markers. Green grosgrain ribbon. Another option for coloring is to use a water pen and inkpads on watercolor paper.

Directions: Stamp sentiments on white scrap cs. Cut out with dies or scissors. Mount on mat, then again if desired using different papers. Set aside. Stamp the iris oval and two more separate irises on white cs. Stamp & cut two more leaves & stem. Cut out the iris oval with scissors leaving 1/4" border around oval line. Color in all irises, stems and leaves with markers. Cut out remaining leaves & irises using dies and scissors. On one stamped iris, cut out only the two top and the center bottom petals. Cut 1" off the short end of a piece of patterned paper (in photo, striped). Layer leaves and other petals with dimensionals to give a 3-D appearance on oval iris. Cut one piece of patterned paper (orange) 4" wide by 5" high. Use corner punch to accent corners. Using largest scalloped oval die, find center of paper and use machine to cut it out. On the back of another piece of subtly-patterned paper (red-orange) trace around the same die on the outside and inside without moving it. Cut out with scissors or hobby knife. Position & glue the red-orange piece over the same cut opening in the (orange) piece. Using the window die, cut one out of another patterned paper (blue bayou). Cut into four even pieces. Attach on all four sides of the orange piece. Cut one strip of another patterned paper (floral) into 6" long x 2" wide. Cut this in half. Glue onto sides of striped paper overlapping striped over floral by 1/2". Cut a piece of green grosgrain ribbon 8" long. Position across the center of the card horizontally over the floral & striped paper. Position the iris oval that is 3-D in the center of the striped paper. Use dimensionals to "pop-up" the frame over the iris oval. Glue small sentiment at center top of the frame. Use embellies on side centers and corners. Apply glue and Flower Soft to "stamen" or fuzzy areas of petals. Let dry. Glue front to card base of white cs. Using the scalloped ovals cut from frames or scraps, position on left side of center inside. Center matted sentiment over smaller oval. Use the four corners cut from the frame die to accent corners of both inside pages. Cut a butterfly using die from floral paper & apply.

Thank You, Heartfelt Creations!

2011-03-17T23:00:00.000-05:00

Well, I am at the end of my six month term as a design team member with Heartfelt Creations, and I cannot believe it's been that long already! There were 19 of us chosen, and we all wanted to remain on the team. HC needed to mix it up a little, so they decided to keep 10 of the team, and add 10 new designers. They are working on chosing the 10 new currently, and that must be a hard job to do with all the talent that is out there in Stampingland! I know it was a terribly hard choice to make concerning which 10 of the current team to keep on, but that in no way diminishes the talent, nor desire to keep everyone on it. I saw, firsthand, how beautiful everyone's creations were by working alongside Emma Lou and Rich at the CKC convention in Louisville, Kentucky, last weekend. The photos that are posted on the website, and on the blog do not do justice to the real items! Since photos are 1-D, they don't show the depth, color, detail, glitter, shine, or texture of the projects. I was able to hold them, touch them, feel them, and see them. What a difference! Each one is a masterpiece, which holds the essence of the maker in its design.

I personally, asked HC to choose 10 others that wanted to be on the team first, because I've not been able to do some of the other crafts I love, but also because I knew how much each lady desired to be on the team again. I'm glad I chose to do that, because I found out today that I have to have a third shoulder surgery next Friday, March 25. Apparently, I've torn the rotator cuff even worse than I did the first time. I wouldn't be able to make the project deadlines with one arm in a sling for six months.

Heartfelt Creations has been the most helpful, generous and giving company to design for. This was my first time as a designer, and I was blown away (there I go!) with all they did for me during the past six months. Not only did I receive products with which to create my projects, but personal support if needed, friendship and a generous discount. They allowed me to work at the convention, and I was able to obtain some of the items I wanted and needed. But mostly, we just had a lot of fun, fellowship, creativity and laughs! I met Jen who teaches the classes for HC at conventions there, and she's a "hoot"! I can't say enough about HC's customer service, team service, and professionalism. They are just plain uber awesome!

I talked with Linda Bontrager (Emma Lou's mom) this morning, and thanked her for everything they've done for me. They'll have a design team "call" every six months, so perhaps after I heal, I can design for them again. Until then, I'll be taking it easy, posting when I can, but not for a little while...please keep in touch with me, and I will continue to check your blogs to see what beauties you're creating! My email address is muttpuddles@comcast.net. Please email me and let me know how things are going! Each and every lady on the design team is a new friend of mine, and I want to know how and what y'all are doing!

Heartfelt Creations Sympathy Flower Card

2011-03-17T12:39:00.000-05:00

Hello, Friends. Have you noticed that as we grow older, more of our friends and family are getting ill, injured or dying? I'm sorry to bring this up, but it is a fact of life. I do not like making these cards, but am finding "Get Well" and sympathy cards are needed by me more and more often. I guess that's the circle of life also.

Here's a sympathy card I made for Heartfelt Creations, with directions on how to make it.

Sympathy Flower

5" x 6" finished size

HCPC 3376 - Distressed Leaves PreCut Set
HCPC 3375 - Flora Grande 1 PreCut Set
HCPC 3374 - Flora Grande 2 PreCut Set
HCPC 377 - Sympathy Sentiment PreCut Set
Other: Stampin' Up - Inkpads: Pear Pizzazz, Certainly Celery, Groovy Guava, Blush Blossom, Close to Cocoa. Markers: Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Soft Suede, Groovy Guava, Cameo Coral. Chalk: Pretty in Pink, Cameo Coral. Cardstock: Pear Pizzazz, white, Cameo Coral. Nestibilities Labels 5 & Scalloped Ovals, DCWV Spring Stack, Fiskars Lace border punch, Tulip Glitter Spray, paint brush, sewing machine, dimensionals, clear embossing ink, white embossing powder, white embroidery floss, button, butterfly punch, yellow/green vellum

Directions: Cut card base from white cs. Set aside. Cut card front from patterned paper. Cut oval with die from Pear Pizzazz cs. Cut rectangle 4 1/2" x 2 1/4". Adhere oval to left side of card front (opening at bottom) and rectangle on right side lapping over oval. Use sewing machine to border the rectangle. Use border punch on long edge of white cs. Glue one scrap from punching to front over stitch line. Glue ribbon around straight edge of punched scrap on front. Make bow. Stamp one large leaf and two medium leaves on Pear Pizzazz cs in pear ink. Use markers to accent lines, edges and tears on both. Cut out around lines. Fold large leaf in half & roll edges around a small paint brush to bend. Apply dimensionals on back along edges. On small leaf, use dimensionals to apply sentiment stamped in cocoa ink on white, sponged with pear & guava ink, matted on scrap piece of patterned paper. Stamp one each of the flowers on Cameo Coral cs. Using markers and chalk, highlight the petals on each. Cut out, and cut on lines between each petal on all. Score each petal down center and crease, then fold outside corners down with paint brush. Edge each petal with glitter spray using paint brush. Let dry. Use dimensionals to stack each flower on top of the next in size starting with the largest. Tie bow with floss in holes in button, glue to center of small flower. Glue front panel to card base and apply leaves, flower and bow. On inside - Stamp flowers on right side of inside, after "stamping off" on scrap paper. Cut piece of patterned paper 5" x 6", glue to left side of inside. Trim extra paper from edge if needed. Glue piece of border scrap along bottom. Stamp sentiment on white cs, "stamp off" flower images, sponge edge with pear ink. Cut with Labels 5 die. Trace around die on cameo cs, cut out, & glue sentiment to it, leaving a 1/8" border. Glue medium leaf to bottom left corner.

Thank You, priscillastyles Store!

2011-03-17T11:41:00.000-05:00

My last project for the Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge MMSC96 will be posted soon on the priscillastyles Store blogsite. I have had the pleasure and challenge of working with digital stamps drawn or created by Priscilla bi-weekly, for the last three months. I have really enjoyed it! I've also really enjoyed seeing the creations that the other team members have made, and also ones that you out there in stampland have made and posted.

Priscilla has really been patient with me regarding blog booboo's, and forgetting to post a card by a deadline, and has helped me do just regular things on the computer than I was confused about. She's not only a great artist, but a computer techie, too! Thanks, Priscilla for everything you done, and for the digi's!

I'm glad that I was able to finish my term before my shoulder surgery next Friday. Take care Priscilla and team members! I've enjoyed it!

Wednesday, Day 4 - Scrap-Mart mini-blog

2011-03-09T08:54:00.000-06:00

Hello, and welcome to Scrap-Mart's week long mini-blog featuring Heartfelt Creations products! Below is the schedule of the posts that Scrap-Mart will put on their website in the "Blog", and you can link to each person's blog page from there. Today features myself and two other very talented ladies, Debbie Sayer and Lisa Gregory. Just click on Debbie's name to go to her blogsite to view her beautiful creation, and then you should be able to go to Lisa's from Debbie's site.

The Dutch Iris-Blossom 3 Collection debuted yesterday, at midnight EST. There are 7 new PreCut Sets. These new sets coordinate with a new exclusive Heartfelt Creations die, made by Spellbinders, and 2 dies released by Spellbinders at Winter CHA. These are the most beautiful, and in my opinion, the best sets produced yet by Heartfelt Creations!

Here are the two cards I made for the hop:

This card was made using Heartfelt Creations HCPC 3301 Hydrangea/Posy Branch PreCut Set

and HCPC 3364 Stained Glass Background PreCut Set. I then punched some flowers that were
nearly identical to the stamp's flowers to make it look more 3-D.

This closeup shows the dimension of the flowers, butterfly, and the detailed stitching.

I love the way this card turned out. I stamped the background image and heat embossed it in

white. I then sponged ink on it, which didn't stick to the embossing. I really like this method, and

the effect it makes. I used HCPC 3373 Dutch Iris Medley PreCut Set for the flower, and the

background is HCPC 3372 Dutch Iris Frame PreCut Set.

This closeup of the iris shows the detail on the "stamens". I love irises and this stamp!

I have been working on another card I wanted to post, but didn't get it done in time. I'll post it in a few days.
I hope you have a blessed week, and have enjoyed hop, hop, hopping! Come back to the Scrap-Mart blog tomorrow to see what the next three gals have in store for you! Thanks for visiting!

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge - MMSC94

2011-03-08T12:54:00.000-06:00

Hello again! I really enjoyed the challenge this last week from "priscilla styles" store, Butterflies are one of my favorite creatures made by God! Thank you, Priscilla! I hope you'll go to Priscilla's blogsite (just click on the link above) and view all of the designers projects, and then leave a comment of love on each. If you've made a card and would like to share it, we'd like to see it. Click here to visit the Midnight Madness Blog. We sure appreciate each and every one of you that visits!

Here's the sketch, then below that is my card.

Thanks for visiting, and we hope you've enjoyed the view! Come back again, soon!

Scrap-Mart Weeklong Heartfelt Creations Blog Hop!

2011-03-06T15:20:00.000-06:00

Hop, Hop, Hop! Please come and join us for a Heartfelt Creations blog hop, sponsored by Scrap-Mart! This hop will be all week long, and each day will feature three design team member's work with Heartfelt Creations products. There is some amazing work to see, and be inspired by! Please drop by each day, and leave a love comment! We love to hear from you. Now, if you're in love with the Heartfelt Creations images, just wait until this Tuesday, when the new stamps and dies in the Dutch Iris-Blossom 3 PreCut Sets will be released! Here's a sneak peek.

Created by Angelica Turner

The Dutch Iris-Blossom 3 Collection will debut on March 8, 2011, at midnight EST. There will be 7 new PreCut Sets. These new sets will coordinate with a new exclusive Heartfelt Creations die, made by Spellbinders, and 2 dies released by Spellbinders at Winter CHA.

Have fun, and don't forget to leave a note in the comments section! There is some fantastic creativity here! Here's the schedule:

Tuesday, March 8th

Mindy Miller
Rosemary Dennis
Olga Jewell

Wednesday, March 9th

Clare Curcio
Debbie Sayer
Lisa Gregory

Thursday, March 10th

Laurel Seabrook
Angelica Turner
Peggy Cain

Friday, March 11th

Katie Piotrowski
Kerry Urbatch
Olena Levchenko

Saturday, March 12th

Karen Walker
Gini Cagle
Linda Payne

Heartfelt Creations Blog Hop!

2011-03-05T10:32:00.000-06:00

Hello, Everyone! So glad you could join us for fun and inspiration! We are happy that we could take this time to blog hop with you!

Here is the order of the hop, so put your seat belts on, and hang on for a fantastic ride with some very talented ladies! If you've started here, you're in the middle, so you probably need to start with Linda here. If you've come to me from Giovana, then you are in the correct place! As you visit each one, please leave some love in the comments section!

Linda
Lisa
Gini
Kerry
Angelica
Olga
Debbie
Giovana
Clare - (you are here!)
Anita
Rosemary
Kristina
Lisa
Dee
Loretta
Cheryl

My first card is one made for Linda B. I used the new Stained Glass Background PreCut Set, Product ID: HCPC 3364, Hydrangea/ Posy Branch PreCut Set, Product ID: HCPC 3301, and Elegant Single Leaves PreCut Set, Product ID: HCPC 3314.

Next up on the blog hop is, Anita! You can go directly to her blog site by clicking here. Have fun, and don't forget to leave some comment love for each designer! Thanks for visiting, and I hope you come again!

Sweet Pea - priscillastyles Team B sketch MMSC92

2011-02-22T23:20:00.000-06:00

Hello, and Happy Almost Springtime! I have three daffodils completely bloomed in my back yard, and they are a site for cold eyes! hehehe I can't believe they've already bloomed, and there's many more on the way!

Here is my card made for the above sketch challenge, and I really love Priscilla's Sweet Pea image! You can find the image at "priscillastyles Store" here. You can also see the projects of the other design team members here. I think the card is pretty plain except for the flowers - I've been "stumped" lately for ideas on layout, color, etc. Please feel free to leave a comment below. Thanks for visiting, and I hope you are well, happy, and blessed!

FLOWERS FOR A FRIEND

2011-02-18T16:35:00.000-06:00

A very sweet woman and good friend of mine had major surgery 10 days ago. I wanted to tell her we missed her at church service (she's also the church secretary), and at the Valentine's dinner and concert we had at church Monday night. We don't know when she'll be back, but when we took her and her hubby dinner last night, she said she was ready to get off the couch! I wished her quick healing and a speedy thorough recovery with this card -

I was really surprised when I used three different Spellbinders dies and the points all matched up!

This is a closeup of the flower and the dimension put into it to make it more 3-D.

Thanks for stopping by! St. Patrick's Day is up next!

My Heartfelt Creations Design Team photos - new release!

2011-02-10T16:44:00.000-06:00

Happy Valentine's Day, all you sweeties out there! I have been so blessed to have been chosen to be on the Heartfelt Creations design team these past six months! I, as well as other team members, have expressed the desire to remain on the team, or to do a blog hop together. (I imagine that each member on every team has expressed the same desire.) We don't know what Emma Lou or Linda will deside to do, but whatever it is, we'll still have been blessed to use their products, get to know one another, and become friends! I will have the opportunity to meet Emma Lou and Linda if they are both at the CKC show in Louisville, KY, on March 11 & 12! I cannot wait to meet them, so I can thank them in person! Their talent is amazing, God-given and I am so lucky to have been able to share in all of this with the other team members! They are all wonderful designers, whether it be cards or scrapbook pages, altered projects, or gift tags! The variety is endless, as well as the talent! Thank you all, Ladies, for the inspiration you have given me, the discussions we've had, and the friendships we've made. God bless you!

Here are photos of my recent designs using the newly released set by Heartfelt Creations, called the New Life collection. You can view all of the design team's creations by going here. The HC blog has all the instructions on how to create the projects you see. I'd love to see any project you make with your sets! Just forward it to me in an email or link it to your comment!

You may not believe it, but I've been using makeup and nail polish to color some of my cards, just to have fun, and see how they come out. Stained Glass Background PreCut Set, Product ID: HCPC 3364, Wrought Iron Cross PreCut Set, Product ID: HCPC 3366, Hydrangea/ Posy Branch PreCut Set, Product ID: HCPC 3301

Closeup of the card and "stained glass".

These Cross stamp sets are so gorgeous! The one above is called Wrought Iron Cross PreCut Set
Product ID: HCPC 3366. Below is Decorative Vintage Cross PreCut Set Product ID: HCPC 3365.

I also used Easter Lilies PreCut Set Product ID: HCPC 3370 on the above card. The ribbon technique is called Ruching and you can see Becca's tutorial on how to do it by clicking here.

I hope you've enjoyed your visit to "my place", and I appreciate you coming! Please leave some "love" in the comments section if you'd like. I'd love to hear from you!

MMSC90 Sunflower Card

2011-02-10T14:51:00.000-06:00

Hi, everyone! Thanks for taking time out of your busy schedule to take a look at my blog. Here is a new Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge that I had a lot of fun making. Don't you just love sunflowers? Priscilla is a great artist, and I love her images. You can visit her store at http://priscillastyles-store.blogspot.com/.

(ps) "priscillastyles" MMSC90

Happy Valentine's Day! Valentine Drawing!

2011-02-01T08:17:00.000-06:00

Hi, and Happy Heart Day! Today, I'd like to share the Valentine's card I made my sweet husband. He'll probably see it on here, so, "Happy Valentine's Day, Sweetheart! I love you!" And for all of you Sweeties out there, "Happy Heart Day!" to you as well! If you are so inclined, please leave some love in the comments section. I'd like to know how you are and if there is a special someone in your life, and how you met. Someone will win one of my Valentine's cards. The ending time is midnight tomorrow.

Mike and I met in 1979, at the Airmen's Club at Lowry AFB, Denver, Colorado, after we were both "stood-up". We were to meet dates at the club, and both were waiting...and waiting...and waiting. It was nearly an hour drive home through the city, so before I left, I went up to the bar to get a glass of water. Mike was behind me in line. He heard me order the water, and said, "Be careful! That stuff will get to you!" Can you believe that I fell for a smart-aleck? We started talking, found that we had both been left without dates, and decided to spend the evening dancing. Later that night as we talked, we found out that we had both been married before on the same date, 1-17, and that we share the same birthday, 9-22!

Mike holds the key to my heart!

It may be a little key, but my heart is big!

Have a wonderful day!

Semper Augustus Tulips

2011-02-01T07:51:00.000-06:00

Hello, again! I had to share a card I made using the new Heartfelt Creations Semper Augustus PreCut Stamp Set. This set blew me away when I saw it, and it was really interesting to learn about the history of this now nonexistent Dutch tulip. You can read about it, and what makes the white striations here. I was really surprised that some Dutchmen would pay more than a year's salary for one or two bulbs! I love Spring, because I have planted many tulip bulbs in my yard, and they just brighten everything up after a cloudy and dull winter! I just wish they would last a little longer! It is February 1, 2011, and my daffodil bulbs are coming up! They are about 3-4 inches tall! They can tell that Spring is coming, I guess, and the temperature outside has warmed up a bit.

Well, I'm off to the stamp room! I'm an addict, what can I say? My name is Clare, and I'm a stampaholic! There, I said it! lol Have a great day! =l)

MMSC88 Valentine Wreath Card

2011-01-31T23:28:00.000-06:00

Hello, again, everyone! Thank you for stopping by to take a look at my site. I appreciate your visit, and hope you'll leave a comment as you leave - come back again soon!

This card was made for "priscillastyles" Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge 88. I love the heart wreath behind the vellum sentiment, and the vine and hearts on the right side of the card, are a enlarged version of the same wreath, cut in half. I love the digital stamps that Priscilla makes - she's a very talented artist! This is the first card I made for this sketch challenge, but I forgot to post it with the other one previously. Oops! I may have sometimer's, but at least it's only sometimes! =)

Have a blessed week!

Happy Valentine's Day!

2011-01-25T14:06:00.000-06:00

Hello! This is my card made for the "priscillastyles" MMSC88 (Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge). Priscilla draws the best images for coloring! I love this digi-stamp! The card was simple to make. You can see more at her website http://priscillastyles.blogspot.com/. You can leave a comment below the photos if you'd like! I'd love some love!

How's the weather where you're at? It's still chilly and wet here in Nashville. I wish it would snow some more! It was so pretty. But Spring is coming! My daffodil bulbs are already coming up!

priscillastyles Team B sketch MMSC86

2011-01-13T08:54:00.000-06:00

Hi, everyone! I had so much fun working with my first "priscillastyles" image! I'd like to share it with you! You can view all the projects made for this Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge here, and the "priscillastyles" Store here.

I'm working on my second image, and can't wait to get it done! Thank you so much, Priscilla, for this opportunity!

Midnight Madness Sketch Challenge 2011

2010-12-28T13:08:00.000-06:00

Hi, Everyone! I have enjoyed seeing all the creations by the "priscillastyles" Design Team, and now I have been chosen to be one of them! I am so excited! I cannot wait to see what the other team members create, that we will oooh and aaah over, and get some inspirational-juice going! The work that will be shown on the team members blogs will be utilizing images created by "priscillastyles" stores. The fun will start on Tuesday, January 4th.

Thank you, Priscilla, for making and sharing such wonderful images! It's my pleasure and a blessing to me to have been chosen as a team member, and I am really looking forward to it!

Christmas Card

2010-12-26T21:04:00.000-06:00

Hello, All! I hope you enjoyed your Christmas Eve and Christmas Day! I had some of the family overnight and we had a lot of fun opening "gag" gifts and playing cards. The baby was adorable, and he had fun with all the wrappings!

I had been working on this card but didn't get it done in time to give to someone. So this card goes out to all of you! Merry Belated Christmas, and may your new year be wonderfully blessed!

I so appreciate every one of you, and appreciate your comments of love. Take care and may God bless.

Christmas Angel

2010-12-25T14:19:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas, Everyone! I hope each of you is having a wonderful and blessed Christmas day after the same on Christmas Eve. I had most of my family with me. My son proposed to his girlfriend this week, and she said, "YES!" So we have a wedding in the future. That's a nice Christmas gift!

I made six of these little Angels for my Red Hat Society Christmas Party. I saw the directions on another website, and just had to try them! They're really easy to make, and you can find the directions and pattern here.

Back view.

This is outside of my comfort range, using these untradition colors, but it came together nicely after all.
I made this card for my mother-in-law.

Holly Gatefold Card

2010-12-01T17:22:00.000-06:00

This is a gatefold card that I used a Marianne style embossing stencil on, in a fan shape. I really like using the stencils, because they are so different! You can do a lot with them, too.

First Annual Scrap-Mart Blog Hop - Have fun!

2010-11-30T13:35:00.000-06:00

Welcome to the First Annual Scrap-Mart.com Blog Hop! If you are just joining in please go to the Scrap-Mart blog to start from the beginning. There are 31 blogs participating in the hop and you will find some great prizes along the way. You must comment on THAT blog post to be eligible to win that prize. There are also some Grand Prizes posted on the Scrap-Mart blog. You must comment on EVERY blog throughout the hop to be eligible for the Grand Prizes. Comments will remain open until midnight CST on Sunday, December 5th. Winners will be chosen at random for each individual prize and will be announced on the Scrap-Mart blog on Friday, December 10th. You may only win once. We'd like to thank our sponsors for generously donating all the prizes for this hop: Making Memories, Spellbinders, JustRite Stampers, Sizzix, Heartfelt Creations, Lifestyle Crafts, The Stamps of Life, Boss Kut, Unity Stamps, October Afternoon, Copic, Silhouette America.

If you came to my blog from Stephanie Kraft's, you are on the right track! Good luck!

Scrap-Mart http://scrapmart.squarespace.com/

Sharon Harnist http://www.paperfections.typepad.com/

Boss Kut http://www.bosskutgazelle.blogspot.com/

Gini Cagle http://www.ginicagle.blogspot.com/

Debbie Seyer http://www.debbieseyer.com/

Eva Dobilas http://www.evafromca.blogspot.com/

Debbie Olson http://debbiedesigns.typepad.com/muse_and_amuse/

October Afternoon http://octoberafternoon.typepad.com/

Maren Benedict http://www.zanynotcrazy.com/

Terre Fry http://terresscraptherapy.blogspot.com/

Lisa Somerville http://www.lisasomerville.com/

Jenn Lynn http://www.jennsscrapbooknook.com/

Sizzix http://www.sizzixblog.blogspot.com/

Stephanie Barnard http://www.stephaniebarnard.blogspot.com/

Mindy Miller http://www.mysecretheart.typepad.com/

Karen Maldanado http://reallifeinpictures.blogspot.com/

Anita Hovey http://www.hoveyhut.blogspot.com/

Bev Gerard http://savorthejourney.blogs.splitcoaststampers.com/

Stephanie Kraft http://handkraftedbystephanie.blogspot.com/

Clare Curcio: http://www.queenteacuppapertreasures.blogspot.com/ You are here!

Laurel Seabrook: http://www.want2scrap.blogspot.com/
Kristina http://www.reflectionsofahappycrafter.blogspot.com/

Olga Jewell http://www.craftieodamae.blogspot.com/

Katie Piotrowski http://www.katiepiotrowski.blogspot.com/

Angela Barkhouse http://www.snippetsofpaper.blogspot.com/

Dee Jackson http://www.stampincuziluv2.typepad.com/stampincuziluv2/page/2/

Angelica Turner http://bellisimavida.blogspot.com/

Karen Walker http://www.kbwalker.blogs.com/

Rosemary Dennis http://heythererosigrl.blogspot.com/

Sihouette http://silhouettemachine.blogspot.com/

Christmas Poinsettia

2010-11-28T19:11:00.000-06:00

Merry Christmas! It isn't even December yet, but I'm in the spirit! I have had so much fun making some Christmas cards using new stamps and diecuts from Heartfelt Creations. One of which is their Poinsettia leaves. I had to make many leaves of five different sizes to create this card, but I'm not complaining! lol Making 3-D cards has always fascinated me, and I love the look, so that is what I wanted to achieve on this card.

To achieve the vintage look, I "aged" the papers I used by making them a brownish color. I even found some of my grandmother's old lace to put on the card. The center is made of seed beads from my jewelry-making stash.

Ornament Gatefold Card for Collaborative Christmas Book

2010-11-28T19:00:00.000-06:00

One of the Heartfelt Creations designers suggested that all each of the design team members make a page that would fit into a 5" X 5" scrapbook album. This collaborative book would be given to the owners of HC to wish them a Merry Christmas, and as a Christmas gift to them. We are all blessed by Emma Lou and Linda - they have been overly generous and kind to all of us! This is my page, and when I have photos of the entire book, I will post it so you can see what a wonderful piece of art it is! We have some very talented people on this team!

The gatefold card is one which opens up. I love making
vintage or old-looking cards.

First Frost, First Snow

2010-11-28T18:44:00.000-06:00

This card portrays a first frost in the high country. From the leaves changing, to the dry grass, everything is covered with a layer of sparkle and cold. Now the leaves will finish changing into their fall attire.

This card is representing a first snowfall. I'm from Denver, Colorado, originally, and west of there on I-70 was a water wheel alongside the highway. When driving through that area when it was snowing, it was so beautiful. They stopped the waterwheel in the winter, but every spring, when the warm temperatures melted the snowcaps and the water came rushing down the mountainsides, it was started up again, and circled faster than it had before.

These are Heartfelt Creations Scenery stamps and Window/Frame diecut.

Holy Night

2010-11-28T14:01:00.000-06:00

This is one of my favorite cards! I wish my pictures did the cards justice. It is embossed in shiny gold and has a layer of mirrored gold cardstock behind the green panel. I love olive green and burgundy together.

Hello, again! I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! I spent mine with family and friends, and had a wonderful meal. Why do we always eat so much?

Christmas is nearly here!

2010-11-21T16:48:00.000-06:00

I know we say it every year, but every year it seems to arrive and then go more quickly than the last! It seems like it was just last Christmas, and this Christmas is here! Our lives are truly shorter than we realize!

I have had the pleasure of making cards with some beautiful Heartfelt Creations stamps. They're really helping me get into the Thanksgiving and Christmas spirit!

This is from the Snowflake Medley PreCut

The stamp used under the cut-out snowflake is the same as above - from the Snowflake Medley PreCut Set. The snowflake was cut with a die from Spellbinders 2010 Snowflake Pendants.

This stamp is called Lg. Cardinal Pine Bough.

I am really looking forward to this Christmas! Grant will be 16 months old, and he's so much fun! He's the best little boy a grandma could have!

What a mess!

I'm Starting to Feel Christmas-sy!

2010-11-16T12:36:00.000-06:00

Hello, All! I've been working with a lot of Christmas stamps, and it's putting me in "that mood"! Not only have I been working with cardinals, but they are abundant here in Tennessee, so I can look out and see some! I was looking at some Christmas cards that were at the store, with cardinals on them. They were very nice, and then a thought popped into my head! There were two totally red cardinals sitting side-by-side on a tree branch, looking very cozy. Females are brown and red, so these must have been friends sitting on the branch, both males! Now everytime I see a card, calendar, or whatever it is with cardinals on them, I notice how many are printed with two males, not a male and female!

I'd like to share some recent cards I've made for Heartfelt Creations and other cards that are generic. With my travelling husband gone a lot, I spend many an hour in my craft room creating. I love this time of year! This morning I've been watching the leaves float down off the trees like and orange and yellow snow fall. I wish it would snow. Anyway, I'd appreciate any comments you'd like to make! Thanks for visiting once again!

This is called First Snow.

Happy Belated Birthday, Lorraine!

2010-11-10T12:53:00.000-06:00

I missed Lorraine's birthday, so made her a birthday card while she was visiting us. Sorry about that, Lorraine! The image is from Justrite Stamps, and the cardstock is from DCWV's Linen Closet stack. This is a great and versatile paper stack to create from!

Country Cardinal Christmas

2010-11-03T23:04:00.000-05:00

I just absolutely love cardinals, don't you? They are such beautiful birds, and are surprisingly cousins to the blue jay, and both are members of the crow family. I have learned several things new when I "googled" them for colorings or info.

My sewing machine is coming in handy for stitching on cards, and the effect is awesome. Some are better than others, but...

I collected some pinecones while on vacation on the coast of Virginia in September, and learned by "googling" them that the projections all around the surface of a pinecone are called "wings". No joke! When I saw a card somewhere with a 3-D paper pinecone on it, I took it as a challenge to figure out how it was made. This is my second try at, and I'm pretty proud of the way it came out! I can't thank God enough for giving me the gift of creativity! All credit and glory belong to Him!

A Pocketful of Daisies

2010-11-03T22:39:00.000-05:00

Have you ever had a pair of those jeans with the studs or embroidery on the pockets? I used to have the ones with embroidery. Well, this pocket has both! I love this stamp, and the pocket is a stamp also! This was soooooooooo much fun to make! The photos don't do the "real thing" justice.

I stitched a little on the sewing machine, and hand-embroidered some too! Tied some knots, and used a little glue! Hey, that rhymes! hehehe

I found some "denim" paper in my stash, and it just made my day! I mean, pocket!

This is a closeup of the stitching on the pocket.

I made this little card into a surprise "pop-up" card. When opened, the flowers "in" the pocket pop up and out. Thanks Heartfelt Creations for the very cute stamps!