Butterfly Graduation Cards

Representing change and a new phase of life, butterflies seem to me to be a perfect symbol for graduation.  I made these three graduation cards for three special ladies using Stampin' Up's Swallowtail stamp, Copic markers, and various inks, papers, & embellishments.

Orange butterfly:

Blue butterfly:

Coral butterfly:

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs,
Marcy

Why I Make Cards

It may seem silly, in the age of e-mails, Facebook, and Twitter, to spend a couple of hours making a card that may end up in the trash in the near future.  So why do I do it?  Because when I make a card, I almost always make it with a specific person and a specific purpose in mind.  Card making is meditative for me.  I think about and pray for the person receiving the card.  I think about the design and colors that will speak to them most.  I hope that when they open that envelope, they are reminded that someone loves them and appreciates them.  That's why I make cards.

Here are two cards I made this week.

A birthday card for a card shower a church member organized to uplift a neighbor who has been struggling with health issues:

Details:
Stamps: Stampin' Up!
Patterned paper: Basic Grey - Mint Julep
Cardstock: Bazzill (yellow); Core'dinations (blue); Gina K Designs (ivory)
Markers: Copic Sketch
Ink: Memento - Rich Cocoa; Stampin' Up! - Night of Navy; Ranger Distress Ink - Tea Dye

A thank you card for the guy who lets my hubby hunt on his property:

Details:
Stamps: Stampin' Up!
Patterned paper: Teresa Collins
Cardstock: Core'dinations (brown); Gina K Designs (ivory)
Markers: Copic Sketch
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa; Ranger Distress Ink - Antique Linen

Hope is all is well with you in your little part of the world!

Hugs,
Marcy

Drive-by Crafting

Because of my crazy work & volunteer schedules, I've been doing a lot of drive-by crafting lately.  A little bit of stamping & coloring here and some assembling & embellishing there.  Not exactly the ideal crafting situation for me, but I am grateful that I've still been able to squeeze in a little creative time.

After church on Sunday we had a Craft Day, and it was such a luxury to be able to sit down and craft and fellowship with some good friends.  I was able to "stick down" about seven 12 x 12 scrapbook layouts, and now I just need to add journaling, titles, and embellishments, and they'll be ready to share.

In the meantime, here are the Valentine's Day cards I made for my kids' teachers. 

Details:

Stamps: Stampin' Up - Favorite Bear; Anna Griffin - sentiment
Ink: Memento - Rich Cocoa; Ranger Distress Ink - Tea Dye
Markers: Copic Sketch
Cardstock: Core'dinations, Gina K Designs, & Bazzill
Patterned paper: Basic Grey - Hey Girl
Ribbon: Stampin' Up!
Distressing tool: Tim Holtz - Tonic

 Details:

Stamps: Stampin' Up - Furry Folk (hedgehog); Crafty Secrets (sentiment)
Cricut cartridge: Straight from the Nest (tree)
Cardstock: Core'dinations
Patterned paper: Basic Grey - Hey Girl
Heart gems: Imaginisce
Markers: Copic Sketch
Twill ribbon: Stampin' Up
Ink: Memento - Rich Cocoa; Bamboo Leaves
Fringe scissors: Martha Stewart

Thanks for stopping by today!

Hugs,
Marcy

Crafty Secrets Thank You Cards

After all these years, I am still in (big "L") LOVE with my Crafty Secrets stamps.  They are such a fabulous company, and Sandy, the owner, works really hard to bring her customers fantastic products.

They've developed a wonderful line of digital images on CDs.  As soon as I'm able, I'm going to invest in a decent printer, so I can play with them.  In the meantime, I am very content with my CS Clear Art Stamps, Creative Scraps, and Image & Journal Notes booklets.  If you love their stuff as much as I do, make sure to stop by their new online store.  They're having a sale!

Here are a couple of cards I made recently using Crafty Secrets stamps.

A thank you card for my daughter's teacher:

Details:
Stamps: Crafty Secrets - Story of Me set; Stampin' Up - Apothecary Art (sentiment)
Patterned paper: October Afternoon - text paper; Making Memories (background papers, bookplate, & frame)
Cardstock: Gina K Designs (ivory)
Ink: Ranger Distress Ink - Tea Dye
Markers: Copic Sketch
Brads: Making Memories


This card is for a family friend, who surprised us with an amazing watercolor portrait of my daughter.  Shannon is on the archery team at school.  So Lisa painted her in a medieval Ireland setting shooting a longbow.  My heart leaped when I saw it.

Details:
Stamps: Crafty Secrets - All Dolled Up set; Stampin' Up! - Friendly Phrases (sentiment)
Patterned Paper: K&Company - Carolyn Gavin
Cardstock: Core'dinations (red & yellow); Gina K Designs (ivory)
Ink: Ranger - Adirondack Ink - Espresso & Distress Ink - Tea Dye
Die Cuts: October Afternoon - Sidewalks
Ribbon: Stampin' Up

Thank YOU for stopping by today!

Hugs,
Marcy

Feeling Springy!

Happy 1st day of March!

Spring still feels a long way off here in snowy Western Pa. We're doing the best we can to bring a little brightness to our gray, slushy world, though, in the form of art and craft projects, some fun playdates, and even a new springy, short bob haircut for Shannon!

Here are some of the cards I've made in the past week.

A thank you card for my auction donation:


A springy friendship card for last week's Crafty Secrets member forum challenge, "Coaxing Spring" on Splitcoast Stampers: (this one is for the auction donation too)



A birthday card for our neighbors' little girl. This is quite different from my typical style but perfect I think for an adorable, sweetheart just turning three.


And lastly, a very tired Shannon happily sporting her new do and freshly painted fingernails, while wearing my bathrobe. :)



So if attitude counts for anything, we've got spring in spades at our house!

Pretty in Pink

After all of the white and gray days we've had recently, I have been so drawn to color wherever I can soak it up. So I was thrilled when I saw that Pammyjo had picked a pink theme for our Crafty Secrets challenge this week.

Here's the card I made:



Details:
Stamps - Crafty Secrets - Little Dancer & Fairyland (sentiment)
Patterned Paper - SEI - First Kiss
Cardstock - Bazzill (pinks) & Neenah Paper (white)
Ink - Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
Accessories - rhinestones - Prima; glitter glue - Stickles; embellished butterfly - Jenni Bowlin; ribbon - Making Memories; markers - Copic Sketch

And, in keeping with the pink (and apparently butterfly) theme - here's a card I made today. It will be part of a pack of cards that I'm donating to my daughter's school auction.


Details:
Stamps - SU! Wonderful Wings (butterfly); Papertrey Ink - Everyday Blessings
Patterned Paper - Prima - Flights of Fancy - Faith
Cardstock - Bazzill
Ink - Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
Accessories - markers - Copic Sketch; seam tape ribbon - Rebecca Sower Designs; label - Elle's Studio; corner punch - Fiskars

Hope you all are enjoying a relaxing weekend!

Happy First Day of Fall and a Yummy Recipe

I think everybody over on the Crafty Secrets member forum at Splitcoast Stampers is thinking warm and cozy thoughts on this first day of fall. I hosted this week's challenge with a "Falling for Fall" theme. I created this Fall Fairy card for my sample:

Details:
Stamp sets - Crafty Secrets - Fairyland & Sweet Kids
Cardstock - Neenah (natural); DCWV (yellow); Bazzill (orange)
Ink - Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
Markers - Copic

Last week the fabulous Julie Campbell (I want to be like Julie when I grow up!) hosted the challenge and chose a baking theme. She also asked us to post a recipe. Here's my card:

Details:
Stamps - Papertrey Ink - Punny Valentine
Cardstock - DCWV
Patterned Paper - Paper Pizazz - Flea Market Fabrics
Main Image - Crafty Secrets - Domestic Goddess - Creative Scraps
Corner Punch - Fiskars
Border Punch - Martha Stewart

Here's the recipe I shared, which is so good for holiday parties, open houses, showers, and such:

Chocolate Chip Cheese Ball
1 8-oz. pkg cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
1/4 t. vanilla
3/4 c. confectioners' sugar
2 T brown sugar
3/4 c. miniature chocolate chips
3/4 c. chopped pecans

Graham crackers

Beat cream cheese, butter and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually add sugars; beat just until combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Cover and refrigerate for 2 hours. Place cream cheese mixture on a large piece of plastic wrap; shape into a ball. Refrigerate for at least 1 hour. Just before serving, roll cheese ball in pecans. Serve with graham crackers.

ENJOY and Happy First Day of Fall!

Thank You Cards

I've found myself in need of a lot of thank you cards lately, which is pretty awesome when you think about it. Since my hubby's job was eliminated in July, we have been continuously blessed by the kindness and caring of our family, friends, and neighbors in so many ways. These loving gestures, both big and small, have made this trying time much more bearable, and they just add to the mounting evidence of how very much God cares for us in every aspect of our lives. He is indeed so good!

So here are two very different thank you cards. The first one is for the mum of one of my daughter's classmates. It's very feminine with lots of purple and flowers. It also has a good bit of sparkle with the rhinestone brad flower center and Spica Atyou Glitter pen highlighting the flowers (the glitter pen is hard to pick up on camera, but trust me, it's there).

Details:
Stamp set: Crafty Secrets - Bouquets of Joy
Dark purple dp: K&Company Recycled
Lilac dp: K&Company Brenda Walton
Natural Cardstock: Neenah
Ink: Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo & Stazon - Royal Purple
Markers: Copic Sketch
Accessories: Copic Atyou Clear Glitter Pen, ribbon - Michaels, flower - Prima, rhinestone brad - Making Memories, corner punch - Fiskars
This card is for a pastor and his wife, so I wanted it to be a little more suitable for a male recipient. I used a more masculine color palette (greens, blues, and browns) and limited the embellishments.

Details:
Stamp set: Crafty Secrets - Bug's Life
Plaid dp: Brenda Walton
Brown cardstock: Core'dinations - Chocolate Box
Natural cardstock: Neenah
Ink: Ranger Distress Ink - Vintage Photo
Markers: Copic Sketch
Accessories: ribbon - Michaels, glitter glue - Stickles - Stardust, clear gloss finish (to make eyes buggy) - Plaid

Thanks to YOU for coming by to visit today!