Praying For You Card With Avery Elle

Is it August already? 

Summer is flying by, and what a wonderful one we've had in our neck of the woods. I don't think we've had a mosquito yet... and we live beside a river. Fantastic!!! My shade garden is the prettiest it's ever looked. The only downside... I miss our sweet Cassidy running around in it chasing out the snakes and rabbits. How long does it take to get over losing a longtime pet?

Recently, I purchased my first set of Avery Elle stamps and dies from Simon Says Stamp, and I'm more than thrilled with them. I've been trying lately to do more cards in a simpler manner so I can mail them in regular envelopes. This set is called Sentimental Too. I used the die to cut the you. I love the long length of these dies and the thinness. 

I didn't use the stamps on this card, but an older set I had from Verve that teamed nicely with the die-cut. My card base is a standard white pre-made from Core'dinations and the papers are a mix of older 6x6 pads from My Minds Eye. I used Alterations Thinlits Stitched Rectangles for the image mat and the thin strips. I cut the Praying for labels with Thinlits Labels set. I can't remember where I got the bird image. It's been laying on my desk in a pile of other similar ones, so it was time to put it to use.

Have a happy August 1st, my friends!

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La Bella Vita Graduation Pocket Card

Hi crafty friends!

It's Monday again... and the Penmaker and I have begun another week of... who knows what! I feel I could have used a bit more rest yesterday, but there's no time to dwell on that. Saturday, we spent the day with our son in Pennsylvania. He was shooting B-roll with some of his team for a new movie, and we got to tag along and watch. The scenery was fabulous and the weather was absolutely delightful. Lots of hiking, a visit to a festival, and an all round great time. Thus... the tiredness.

But here we go with another week.

I like to make my cards a little unusual... not the expected design for an occasion. This is one a created for the daughter of some family friends who just graduated.

The base, tag and layers are Bo Bunny's Enchanted Garden and Juliet. The image (I love this) was cut from Authentique's Fabulous. The flower is one of 49 and Market's Blush Shimmer & Shine Melange. I cut the foliage with Alterations Thinlits Garden Greens and congrats with their Celebrations Words Script. I gave them all a coat of Wink of Stella for some shine.   

Thanks for stopping by!

Sunshine & Good Times Pocket Card

Happy Sunday sweet friends!

With a glance at this card, can you tell it's from Prima's new St Tropez collection? This newest release is mostly a beachy, ocean theme, but this sheet that I used for my base and tag is a gorgeous floral. Oh, how I love Prima papers!!!

I went with the rich, dark navy of the floral background, adding in the pinks and greens. This stripe is a favorite of mine. I topped it with one of my mini wood hearts.

The leaves were cut with Spellbinders Foliage die set and glossied-up with Ranger UTEE... triple coat and heat set. The pink flowers are from I Am Roses, and the beautiful green bloom is 49 and Market Sage Vintage Shades Bouquet.

Clebrate is cut with Alterations Thinlits Celebration Words Script... three layers in Core'dinations Metallic Kraft Cardstock. It's held together with Ranger Distress College Medium.

The triple bicycle layer was cut with Die-namics Layered Labels. I used white craft foam for dimension.
Since it's Sunday, I'm considering a nap. It's too hot out for sitting on the patio, so I think a good movie and a rest are in order. Hope you have a wonderful day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Praying For You Card and a Product Review

Hi sweet friends!

I'm working on replenishing my stash of easy mailing cards... as opposed to those I have to send in padded envelopes. I like working on pre-made card blanks to speed up the process, and I generally buy them at Pat Catan's or Joann's stores.

I was hoping to go quickly on this, but ended up taking almost as much time as I do on a fancier card. The base mat and doily are colored cardstock and the layers are Prima's Rossi Belle, with some fussy-cutting. I added some Pretty Pink Posh Sparkling Clear Confetti Mix and an ivory burlap string bow. I heat embossed my sentiment using Ranger's Super Fine Gold Embossing Powder.

Recently I purchased the Tim Holtz Guillotine Comfort Paper Trimmer by Tonic. I saw Jennifer McGuire using one on her YouTube videos, and thought that's just what I need. My Fiskars trimmer is okay, but the cutting blade falls off and it doesn't always cut straight. So, seeing I could get one at The Funkie Junkie Boutique for a good price, I decided to give it a go.

Here is what I've discovered in my first week of use:

• It is light weight, and as my working surface space is small, I have to move it back and forth from table to crafting station, that's a definite plus.
• It cuts smoothly and straight.
• It has a grid pattern (which I love) plus rulers at each end.
• Since I'm terrified I'll cut myself, the protective plastic shield is a big positive.

My only negative so far:

• It only cuts up to eight and a half inches. I do a lot of pocket cards that are cut twelve by five and a quarter. So I have to pull out the old Fiskars tool for those.

This is a tool I'm extremely happy to have paid the money for, and definitely recommend you checking it out. I'll be even happier when Tonic decides to make one to handle twelve by twelve sheets.

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas in July Pocket Card

 When my daughter-in-law asked if I had any Christmas cards on hand for a Christmas in July event at her school, I thought this would be a good time to get started on my stash. I needed to check my inventory anyway, and with all the new collections coming out on pre-sale, now is the time to get these ordered. I got side tracked, though, when I saw all the new Fall ones. Guess I'll take this one step at a time, and concentrate on those first then move on to Christmas. In the mean while, I still have some of last year's patterns left, and that's what I used to create the card she needed. 

This is the Carta Bella Christmas Delivery collection with some other odds and ends mixed in.

The flowers and greens are all from Petaloo, and the Alterations dies used are Thinlits Doily 2 and Holiday Words Script.

Hope you have a wonderful Wednesday, my friends, and please let me know what you're buying to make your Christmas cards.

Thanks for stopping by!

Thanks Pocket Card and Pen Set

Happy Monday friends!

The card created for today is an combination of companies... Prima, Glitz, and My Mind's Eye.

The base is MME's Madison Ave. The layers and tag are Love Clippings from Prima and Glitz Design's 6x6 Pretty in Pink.

The lace medallion trim is by Prima. The ivory Fleur Des Champs and blush Melange Shimmer and Shine flowers are from 49 and Market. The white organza ribbon is from Joann's.

The Penmaker created these stunning writing instruments for a special order in our eBay shop... an antique pewter stickshift and a gunmetal shock absorber set in a royal designer resin.

Thanks for stopping by!

Thinking of You Pocket Card on Hester

Hi friends. Is your weekend in full swing? Our's certainly is... expecting the whole family here soon to celebrate the Penmaker's birthday.

While I wait, I'll show you a pocket card I created last week using the very last of my Melissa Frances 5th Ave paper Hester. I had just enough for the base and the tag.

I finished off the card with layers of Photo Play's Belle Vie by Julie Nutting, Love Clippings from Prima, and my old Glitz 6x6 paper pad Pretty in Pink. The butterfly is from 49 and Market's Shimmer & Shine Ivory Fleur Des Champs and the pink flowers are their Blush Melange.

I have to run now and get everything ready.

Thanks for stopping by!