Simplicity

I had breakfast this morning with a couple of special friends. I wanted to give them an Easter card. This is what I came up with last night. It was very simple but elegant. The card was made to fit one of my small envelopes -- 3" x 5".

Easter Treats

Sometime ago there was a die for making "Little Milk Cartons". I always wanted to get it but never had the money. A few days ago I ran across a video showing how to make one. Here is my little "milk carton". This one is 2-inches square and 1 1/2-inches high. That measurement does not include the triangle top.

The measurements  I used--
Start with a piece of card stock that is 8 1/2-inches by 5-inches.
With the short side at the top of the score board, score at 1 1/2", 3" and 4 1/2".
With the long side at the top, score at 2", 4", 6" and 8".

Here is the link to a great video--Pootles.

CCE This Morning--Oh What Fun

CCE stands for "Create, Challenge, Encourage". This is my goal for each of our stamp club meetings. Some of the gals came Friday afternoon because they couldn't make it this morning. So much fun with each group.

We did three cards. Each one different; each one loved by all. With this first card, we were talking and learning about coloring with colored pencils and gamsol. I have had this rose stamp for many years and it is one that I love to color with my Prisma color pencils. There is so much detail but it is just large enough to be easy.

The second card used the Eclipse Technique. You can see the post I did a few days ago here for this card.

The third card used the stamp set called "High Tide". This was a CASE of another card I had seen on Pinterest. Everyone enjoyed working on the card. I look forward to doing some other cards with this set.

For our challenge we did a sketch challenge. How do card sketches work?  Here is my experience. I had all these pieces laying on my desk for several days. I just couldn't seem to get it together. When I looked at the sketch for our challenge, I saw how this card could be put together. It worked.

Our Sketch Challenge

Tranquil Tulips In A Frame

For some time I have been thinking about using some of the new stamp sets to create "art" for the walls in my craft room. Yesterday I had a little time to myself so I went to Joann's. While there I was looking at the photo mats.  I found one with an opening of  3 1/2" x 5" which would fit into a picture frame 5" x 7". This morning I set out to create my picture. Using a quarter sheet of card stock I started to stamp the stems. Messed it up. Turned the paper over; started again. This time I messed up on the flowers. Went and got another piece of card stock. This time I was able to stamp a usable image. Found a frame that I have had a long time. Here is the end result. It looks so pretty hanging on the wall.

Heartfelt Blooms

Since I do not have the "Large Letters Framelits" and since I don't think I can afford them, I have been looking for other ways to do the "Eclipse Technique" that I see all over Pinterest. For this card I used the Sale-a-bration set called "Heartfelt Blooms". I stamped the flower three times on white card stock and then using the die from the set called "Celebrate You", also a Sale-a-bration reward, I cut out the word "you". Then taking the die, I cut three pieces out of black card stock. I then glued all three black pieces together and then added the piece from my stamped image on top. This creates a clipboard like piece. After gluing the stamped image onto the black card stock, I inserted the glued piece back into the cut out spot. Worked beautifully!  And I didn't have to use any dimensionals. It was just the perfect height.

Tulips for Spring

I have been seeing the "Eclipse Technique" all over Pinterest. I watched several videos and saw one that really inspired me to give it a try. I worked on my card this morning and this is what I ended up with.

I have had the "Tranquil Tulip" set for some time. The video I watched used this stamp set.  I used "Sweet Sugarplum" for the card base accented with black. For the tulips I used the "Sweet Sugarplum" ink and for the leaves, I used my favorite "Old Olive". The sentiment comes from the set "Label Me Pretty". I hope you enjoy looking at the pictures. If you are interested in learning more, I would suggest that you visit the blog called "Tedder Bear Stamping". From there you can watch Lisa Tedder's video. She did a great job.

Sympathy Cards

All of a sudden, I need two sympathy cards for friends who have lost their husbands. I know that that is not an easy thing to go through. I just want to let them know that I am thinking about them and praying for them in this difficult time.

Both cards are monochromatic. Both use white and Pacific Point for the accent color.This first card uses the flower stamp from Stampin' Up 's set called "Touches of Texture". I colored the image using ink and a blender pen. I used a stamp from Stampin' Up's set "Waterfront" to add a little color to the white background. Both cards use the sentiment from "Simply Sketched" on the front and the inside sentiment is from the set called "Close As A Memory".

A close-up of the flowers

The second card using stamps from the set called "Petal Palette". I colored the images using ink and my "Aqua Brush". They were cut out using dies from the "Petals and More Thinlets" set.

The inside sentiment for both cards.

Surrounded By His Love

When I go to post a picture of one of my sewing projects, I think that maybe I should change the name of my blog.

I love to sew. I started when I was in the seventh grade and have been sewing ever since. Because of where I am in life's journey, I tend to enjoy smaller projects better than large ones. I had made a wall hanging for Christmas but I knew that I could not leave it up all year. One day while looking at projects on Pinterest, I ran across a picture that really caught my attention. Immediately I knew that this was my next project. After playing with the design on graph paper, I was pretty sure I knew where I was going. I started my project in January at a quilting retreat. Finished it up this morning. I am not good at naming my projects, but I am going to call this one "Surrounded By His Love". I used the same fabric for the binding that I had used for the cross. Thus the name.

I fell in love with the new Stampin Up set called "Hold On To Hope". Early this month I wanted to use it for a class. I had seen a card using the set that really got my attention. After cutting the die from white card stock, you cut an oval around the opening. Cut a scalloped oval frame with a coordinating die. Glue the white oval onto the scalloped oval. Insert the cross back into the original cutout. It really gives a cool focal image -- and so simply. I really like the second card better because I like the higher contrast.