happy spring!

This winter has been arduous to say the least. I am so over cold, and snow, and 6 foot snowbanks. I find myself, more often than not, Dreaming of sunshine, and digging in the dirt, and green things. I know that spring is on its way. We've had a few days where I could almost smell it. But I needed to see a little bit of spring. The easiest way to do that, was to make a card!

I absolutely love this card. The colors make me smile, remind me of the promise of sunshine, and lift my spirits. 

I used a simple technique that I had almost entirely forgotten about. I inked the edges of the So Saffron card stock with Pumpkin Pie ink. It gives the look of an extra layer without adding the bulk. 

Happy sping and happy stamping!

ho ho ho!

A Of all of the items that I made for the RCS PTO Holiday Bazaar, this has got to be my favorite! It's the swirls on Santa's beard that just puts it over the top for me. So super cute! It is hinged with a brad so that it swings open to reveal a gift card.

Gift cards are such a practical gift to give at the holidays. Putting one into a handmade holder makes it feel personal too! I've got a dozen of them made up to sell at the RCS PTO Holiday Bazaar. Hope to see you there on November 8th between 10:00 and 3:00 at the RCS Middle School!

Happy stamping!

mini sweet treats

Some things just make me happy inside. Snail mail with a hand written address. Freshly washed sheets, still warm from the dryer. Days when there is no bickering between my girls. These things cause little bubbles of joy inside that put a smile on my face.

And these little cuties do the same thing! Every time I see them, I grin from ear to ear. Rudolph hides snack sized Hershy bars. And Santa's coat conceals snack sized Kit Kats!

Now that they are all finished, I can enjoy them. But putting them together required tweezers. And tiny dots of glue. And precision. Ugh!!! Any craft that requires a pair of tweezers can drive me nuts! 

But the end results were sure worth all the frustration, and sticky fingers, and the fact that, for days, I was finding tiny black circles all over the floor. 

But look how sweet they look all ready for the RCS PTO Holiday Bazaar! I'd make a bunch of them again, in a heartbeat!

Happy stamping!

it's what they want

I am the mother of two teenaged girls. When they were little, Christmas gift buying was so very easy! A couple of Barbies, some frilly dresses, Polly Pocket sets, and a game, and I was done! Fast forward ten years and who knows what to get them?! They want big ticket items, like laptops and musical instruments. I can't even dream of picking out clothes for them, because apparently, Mom had no fashion sense. When relatives ask me what they want for Christmas, I always answer, "Gift cards!" 

Of course they say, "But that's so impersonal." I take those teens to the mall and see how much fun they have spending those gift cards! There's nothing impersonal about it! They know whose hard earned cash they are spending, and they are grateful! And careful. They turn into bargain hunters when armed with a gift card. 

But still, I know I feel like I'm taking the easy way out when giving a gift card. So I make adorable gift card holders! This one features Rudolph on the front, and a pocket for the card on the back. 

I think that these will fly right off of my table at the RC PTO Holiday Bazaar!

Happy stamping!

Custom order Halloween

I love opening Facebook and finding a message from someone looking for a custom order card! Now, multiply that by six, and you can imagine my excitement! 

There is something so satisfying in meeting a need; creating the perfect little piece of art; making someone's day. 

And when I work with a customer on a custom order, all of those things happen!

My friend needed a bunch of not-so-scary Halloween cards. No witches, ghosts, or ghouls. So I went with pumpkins and adorable owls. 

Aren't they just precious? 

Lots of paper piecing can be a bit tedious (especially those eensy, weeny, tiny black pupils on those owls!), but the results are phenomenal! 

I'm certain that the children receiving these cards will love them just as much as I do!

Happy stamping!