Steampunk Debutante

Some time ago I filled this 7 Gypsies tray with the Steampunk Debutante paper from Graphics 45. Today I finally finished it up, adding a lot more embellishments. Don't forget to click on it to see a closer view of all the "stuff." Enjoy, and if your weather is like ours, stay cool!

The Magic Number!!!!!!!!

Look at that number! Isn't that amazing? At exactly 10:07 this morning someone visited my blog and pushed that number to exactly 50,000. This is both an honor and a privilege that people thought enough of my blog to visit so many times. Thank you everyone!

Happy Memorial Weekend!

I hope everyone is enjoying this Memorial Day weekend with family and friends. I feel like the 4th of July is really a patriotic celebration but that we should keep this holiday as a true remembrance. I am married to a veteran of the Viet Nam war and I had three brothers who were all career military. It makes me so proud to be able to say that. Think of all the families who have lost a loved one while they served our country. And think of those serving currently around the world. Each man and woman deserves our respect, support and prayers. I love the stories in the media in recent years about people who pay for a soldier's meal when they see them in a restaurant or those folks you see stop and clap as servicemen and women arrive or depart at an airport. And think of all the wonderful organizations that have sprung up at the grass roots level to send cards, goody boxes, etc to our military overseas. Some of us can do these things but not all of us. BUT we can all take one minute each day to silently thank God for those who serve, protect, and defend. It's such a small simple thing to do, but wouldn't you feel good about it if you knew your little prayer was instrumental in saving the life of a soldier? It's something we can all do. Give it a try and make it a habit. You won't regret it!

Framed Fairies

Just thought I'd touch base here real quick and let you see how the fairy piece looks framed. I love the frame! It came from Michaels and I got it half price. I think it turned out very well. Just the right size. Hope you all have a very happy Memorial Day weekend and remember to pray for all those past and present who have kept this country safe.

The Bride's Shoe

Did anyone see the shoes which The Dutchess of Cambridge wore for her wedding? Stilletos with a damask type fabric! They were gorgeous. This little shoe was made for my neighbor to use at the upcoming wedding shower she is giving for her niece. (You may remember the favors I made a few posts back.) It looks like something Marie Antoinette would wear! Verrrry French! The pattern for the shoe is from Ellen Hutson, the flower is a Sizzix 3D rose with leaves from a MS punch.

Fairies in Springtime

Good morning to everyone! It's overcast and rainy here today but I have a wonderful project to share that I hope will brighten your day. First I have to thank Lynette Carroll of My Creative Affair for the inspiration. She recently won a spot on the Graphic 45 Design Team. Since they are one of my favorite companies I visited the blogs of all their new team members and was blown away by Lynette's style and creativity. My daughter had gifted me with the Once Upon a Springtime paper some time ago and I was motivated to try Lynette's project. I truly cannot thank her enough for her help on this. I hope you'll be inspired to try a similar project. Be sure to click on each photo to see it enlarged so you can study all the details.

You use the Spellbinders Nestabilites Large and Small Rectangles and Scalloped Rectangles for the main individual layers. Then using your chosen paper you tell a little story with each frame, cutting layer upon layer of figures and embellishments. As I said I used mainly the Once Upon A Springtime paper from G45 along with a few other minor papers. I used 3 of Kaisercraft's laser cut wood embellishments, lots of tiny pearls, mini wood spools, antique pearl pins, etc. But really it is your paper that is the main player. And I used foam mounting tape in strips (thanks Lynette!) between each layer to make it pop up and stand out. I had the most fun I've ever had doing this project and once it is framed it will hang proudly in my studio. Please give this a try......it is very rewarding and not at all hard to do. Graphic 45 makes many paper lines that would work with this technique and their newest line to come out very soon is Wizard of Oz themed. I feel another one of these coming on in that theme! If you have any questions, feel free to email me or comment. Have a great day!

Blog Candy Winner

Today is the day I pick a winner for my blog candy. I put everyones name on a slip of paper, including two slips for those who signed up to be a follower, tossed them all in a little yelloware bowl, stirred them around and chose......DIANE!!! of Diane Knott's Musings. Diane please send me your complete address so I can mail off your package of goodies. I want to thank all who participated and those of you especially who became followers. I wish I could send you all a package! Enjoy your Sunday!

Blog Candy Note and a New Card

First I want to address the blog candy issue. I said I would raffle the candy when I reached 50,000 hits.........which is taking entirely too long because I haven't been posting as much lately due to family issues. Soooo, I'm going to raffle the blog candy (see post below) on May 15, this Sunday. So if you haven't had a chance to comment on the POST BELOW, please do so to be sure and have a chance to win. I don't want all of you to have to wait forever for this.

Having said that, here's a new little card I did last evening. The card is very simple, just some DP on Whisper White cs with some SU ribbon. The flower, however, is the standout! There is a tutorial for how to make these on http://www.stampartic.blogspot.com/. Just click on Tutorials and click Marianne's Flowers. The leaves are from a fabulous new Spellbinders die called simply Foliage. It has quite a few styles of leaves which come in so handy. If you use flowers, you have to have leaves! The center of the flower is a little sticky spot thing from K&Co. I hope you have a wonderful day and go sign up for the blog candy.

Vintage Wedding

While cleaning out my MIL's house this week I found a box with dozens of old greeting cards, including wedding ones. I cut out the center image on this card from a vintage one and gussied it up a little more with some seam binding and cream flowers and leaves from a new Spellbinder's die called Foliage. A Recollections rose in the center of the bow topped it off. There were also a gazillion baby cards. She had six children and she saved each card she received. I hope to use more in future cards. Have a great weekend everyone!

Strawberries!

Our local orchard tells us they will have strawberries by Memorial Day. I can't wait. To satisfy my craving, I used this older Flourishes image and colored it with copics. I did two layers on the large berries. This is a 5" square card, my favorite size to work with. Maybe this will help keep my taste buds primed!

Blog Candy Alert!!

Be sure to sign up for the blog candy pictured below to celebrate 50,000 hits to my blog!!!

What a week!

I have nothing creative to show you today unfortunately. We FINALLY are cleaning out my mother in law's home and it's proving to be quite a chore. She died in Oct. 2009 and it has taken this long to have my brother in law removed from the house. He left the place trashed so to get it ready for auction we will be working our fannies off for the month of May. And getting back to what a week it's been.....the royal wedding (does anyone else think she should have worn her hair up???), dress was gorgeous, everything lovely. Then the devastation in the south from storms and finally the killing of you know who. I knew we'd get him sooner or later. They'll be another to take his place but this particular piece of sh.., er, evil won't walk the earth again. I'm taking particular solace with all of these goings on in my garden. It's so lovely right now. I'll just share a photo or two. Hope you have patience with me for a few weeks to tend to family business and we'll get back together soon. Don't forget the blog candy below.