Smile

Today it's a quick little post about a thinking of you card. I hope it will bring a smile to the recipient's face.  I had a bit of sunny plaid in my scrap bin that caught my eye the rest of the card coordinated from that.  I didn't want to add more twine for the buttons so I did a little cheater move, I used a fine tip sharpie and drew in the stitch lines for the buttons.  You have to look really closely to tell and of course, there are polka dots which always make me smile.

Happy Wednesday!  I'll talk to you again soon.

A day to soar!

I've been working in the craft room off and on this past week, in between organization projects and taking care of the dog.  I'm working on some card ideas for a card exchange I'm participating in later this week.  It has been so nice being able to wander into the craft room during the day, to sit down and play with different mediums without any real direction.  This card includes painted and glittered die cuts, dry brush with paint, a little glittery color mist and stitching using the sewing machine.  A little bit of everything, a chance to just let my creativity soar!  Got to love summer vacation!

Have a wonderful week and I'll talk to you again soon.

Felt flower card

I had a few felt flowers left from another project and decided to use them on a thank you card.  These little flowers are so easy to put together that before I knew it I had a good pile of them.  I think they look sweet with all the different layers of stamping, paper, ribbon.

Have a great day and I'll talk to you again soon.

May highlights

Today was the last day of school for this school year.  I think I can finally breath a sigh of relief.  This past month has been a bit frantic with all the end of the school year activities and graduations and fun family celebrations, May has been a whirl.  I did get some craftiness done and photographed and with a sweet new camera to break in I did a lot of photography.  So here are some of the highlights from the month (so far).

 Some quick thank you gifts for my library volunteers.  They really outdid themselves this year.  I would not have gotten half the things done that did get done without them.  Inside the tags there were gift cards too.

I filled the cups with a few goodies just for them and some they could share with their kiddos.  Next, I had a friend who was celebrating mother's day with several female family members and wanted to give each one of them a handmade card.

Yep there's more....

Almost done.....

Whew!  Got'em done just in time.  Then I made my mom's card but I didn't get a picture of that one.
I did several photo shoots this month and have a couple more before the end of the month gets here.

Mr. M and sweet Miss B.  It was my first time photographing an infant and young children, I had a great time.

I attended a photography workshop with my friend Sara.  We had so much fun and learned a lot too.

A shot of the "super moon" over the Sandia mountains.  And finally, I've been busy in the kitchen trying to get fresh fruits and veggies into my sweet DH.   My latest was a version of a cobb salad.  It tasted as good as it looked.

Well, there they are, a few of the highlights of the month so far.  It's been hard to get to the computer to up date everyone so I apologize for the length of this post.  But, summer break is upon us so I'm hoping to get caught up and back to a regular schedule again.  I hope you've had a great week and I'll talk to you again soon.

Last Day and a Count Down

Well, it's the last day of December, the last day of 2011 and the last day of my personal creative challenge.  This year has been an exciting time of creative projects and working out of my comfort zone.  Reflecting on the past year and all the projects I was able to work on and complete, I decided I would do a top ten post to end the year.  So here are some of my favorites and some of the most visited posts of this year...

No. 10

The gifts and packages I made for my mom & sister's and niece's

 annual birthday tea.

No. 9

A brunch I catered for some friends.  We had so much fun that day.

No. 8

A set of cards I made for a special Aunt. They actually got put in the mail to her (I won't tell you when)

No. 7

A card I did for a challenge. I still like this orange and blue combination.

No. 6

 Pinky and Dotty the owls, I found the instructions on the internet and wound up making several to give away.

No. 5

December's Valentine Bear.

No. 4

A card I made for a challenge that honors the famous NM question.

No. 3

Another challenge card that earned a spot in the top 10 on the Heart 2 Heart challenge blog.

No. 2

Polka dot love! This was for another challenge and actually won the top honor for the month.  As a result I got to be the guest designer on the Heart 2 Heart challenge blog.  It was quite a thrill!

 

And finally, the No. 1 
post for 2011, it was the most visited and I actually won something!

 
Well, there you have it!  My creative highlights of 2011.  I already have big plans for 2012, I hope you do too.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you come back often.  Have a safe, healthy and happy new year.  I'll talk to you again soon.


**Edit** Joined the link to top ten @ Someday Crafts.

10 minutes or less

This is day 20 of my personal creative challenge

A very quick card for the top of a cookie tray.  One stamp, one color of ink, a little glitter, ribbon and a tag I already had.  I really like this lime green color it's not a traditional green but I like it's brightness.  I'm making more goodies in the kitchen and hoping to post pictures soon.

Have a great evening.  I'll talk to you again soon.

Snow theme

Today is day 19 of my personal creative challenge

It snowed most of the day today.  Big fluffy wet snowflakes that melted when they hit the ground (until about 4:00)  tomorrow's commute for some folks will be a bit dicey.  Thankfully, I'll be spending the day in the kitchen working on cookie platters.  But for tonight, a cheery little snowflake card.  Thanks for stopping by.  I'll talk to you again soon.

Christmas gift set version II

This is day 13 of my personal creative challenge

Finished the second Christmas gift set this evening.  I used the un-traditional colors of pink and black for this set.  This gift is for my friend Rebecca, she is a girly girl so the color combination reminded me of her.

This set contains the same elements as the first, a decorated notepad and paperclip bookmark, three different gift tag designs, 4 embossed note cards and envelopes and 4 embossed gift card envelopes.  Hope she likes it. 

I've got somethings in the oven so I better go take care of that.  Thanks for stopping in, I'll talk to you again soon.

Gift set

This is Day 11 in my personal creative challenge

Finished!  All the pieces are together in my holiday stationary gift set for my friend Rosa.  I'm making three more sets in different color combinations but I just had to show you one of them completed!  Everything is handmade, even the gift box.  So here's what's inside...

On the left side of the box is the notepad and matching paperclip bookmark with a coordinating pen.  The center sections hold the three different designs of gift tags (four of each design) on the right are 4 snowflake embossed note cards and envelopes and the bottom right are four snowflake embossed gift card envelopes.  Hopefully it has everything she needs to finish her gift wrapping and correspondence.  I'll add a big bow and gift tag when I give it to her.  As I finish the other sets I'll post them too.

Well, I have some photos to edit still tonight so I guess I better get busy.  Have a great start to your week and I'll talk to you again soon.

Day 3 creative personal challenge

Whew! just made it.  I've been away from home the majority of the day, but I was able to get a card made for a care package that is leaving tomorrow for a friend stationed in Korea.  That was first thing this morning about 7:30 am, but I only got home a few minutes ago to post.  I guess that's why it's called a challenge, right?  My goal is to use this activity to manage my time better, to use those quick minutes productively rather than squander them.   I know when I've been able to be creative in some small way during the day I feel like I've accomplished something and that gives me a little more joy.  When I get to make or do something for someone else that brings them a little joy, that just adds to the feeling.

There is still time, do something this evening that brings you joy, and if it is for someone else... that's all the better!  I'll talk to you again soon.

November birthday

Woke up this morning to a cold, rainy, blustery day.  A perfect day to stay holed up in the workroom.   Made a quick birthday card for our sweet Angie.  I'd gotten her a gift card earlier and wanted to secure it inside the card.  So I made another of my quick paper pockets from a piece of card stock (see this tutorial) I ran through my big shot in an embossing folder.  Wrapped it around the gift card for a quick measurement, folded it, cut my notches, taped it together, added a ribbon and secured it inside the card. Wa-la.  

She loved it!  It was so nice to see her smile.  Have a great day and I'll talk to you again soon!