Happy Birthday Nancy!!!

For one of my sweet and dear friends, Nancy for her birthday.

 I CASE'd this beautiful card from splitcoaststampers.  I used Stampin' Up Roses in Winter, Very Versailles, Canvas, and Express Yourself stamp sets.  Crumb Cake, Smoky Slate, Garden Green, Pear Pizzaz, Calypso Coral and Daffodil Delight inks.  Calypso Coral, Pear Pizzaz, and white cards stock.  My Favorite Things Flags Stax die-namics, Recollections butterly, and a button.

Thank you for having a peek at my blog!

Happy Birthday Bruce...

I'm back...life just gets busy and though I've been creating my little heart out, blogging and posting has been on the back burner.  Anyhow, I created this card for one of our Tuesday riders, Bruce for his birthday.

I CASE'd this card I found on Pinterest.  I just loved this sketch and thought it was great for a CAS masculine card.  I used Woodware Craft Collections On Your Bike and Stampin' Up Fun on Wheels stamp sets.  Black and Tempting Turquoise inks.  Black and white cardstock.  Finished off the card off with some rhinestones.

Bruce, the Birthday Boy!

Thanks for stopping by!

 

You Rock Tony!!!

Sometimes you meet a person who just touches your life in a special way...if you talk to anyone within our cycling circle, Tony is one of those people.  He has made me feel welcomed and has encouraged me to join in on some of the more challenging rides that I didn't think that I was capable of doing.  Words can't express how thankful I am that he was introduced to our Tuesday Ride...we sure do miss him when he returns "home" for the summer!  

Tony gave me and my co-ride leader one of the most thoughtful and personal gifts I think I have ever received.  His son mines minerals.  He told his son a little bit about us, our personality, (my love for the color orange and my orange bike) and his son made each of us a personalized box of minerals.  I was so touched by his special gift, thank you just doesn't seem like enough.

Go ahead...laugh...I am!!!  Every time I look at this card I die.  It surely isn't pretty, nor is it my best work.  I really wanted to make Tony a special card to thank him for his thoughtful gift, but I totally failed...all I see is Grimace, haha!!!  I didn't have any type of stamps that were mineral, gem, or rock related so I went to Pinterest for ideas.  I came across this card by Jackie, and let me tell you ya'll...I did not do it justice, haha!!!  When I gave Tony the card, I told him he had to open it in front of me (because I knew how hideous it was), but he opened and said how much he loved it and how much his wife would love it too (so kind).  Anyhow...I can't unsee Grimace.  Supplies I used were My Favorite Things Caption Numbers, Caption Alphabets and Instaframe die-namics.  Smoky Slate, Black, and White card stock.  Circle punches.  To make the "rock" I tore the card stock, crumbled it in a ball several times, sponged Smoky Slate ink on it and eventually called it good.

Me and Tony at a gravel ride we went to.  

If you're still here...thanks for hopefully having a laugh with me!

Winter Poinsettia...

I fell in love with Rachel Alvarado's beautiful Winter Poinsettia Card from My Favorite Things.  Her card is the whole reason I bought the stamp set, coordinating dies, and the Christmas sentiments to go with it.  When I saw her card I just knew I had to make that card for my Christmas card this year.  What I didn't know or realize was how detailed and time consuming each card would be.  I made 67 of these.  I kept kicking myself thinking why did I pick this as my card for the year?!?!  But the answer was simple...it was just gorgeous.

I made one card just like hers (my daughter got that one) and left off the white stamped leaf on all the rest.  That's 66 less stamps I'd have to make, ha!  I used Real Red, Cherry Cobbler, White, and Crumb Cake.  I used glue dots and jewelry micro beads for the centers.  And tiny Iridescent bubbles to top off the card.

My assembly line.

Total of 67 made.

Thank you for stopping by!

 

Everyone Needs a Warwick in Their Life...

Another December birthday for another great cyclist of ours, Warwick.  He was our first cyclist when we started co-leading our ride just over two years ago and has held a special place in our hearts ever since.

When I saw Sandi Maciver's gorgeous card, I knew I had to recreate it and knew it had to be for someone special and I had the perfect person in mind.  I read over Sandi's instructions for how to make the card, but I don't follow instructions very well, I'm more of a visual learner.  So, I kind of just went for it with an idea of what type of colors I should use.  Surprisingly this was one of the easier cards I made using this stencil kit so far.  I used the Hero Arts card kit, Caramel, Sand, Tangerine Tango, YoYo Yellow, Daffodil Delight, and black.  I die cut the bike several time in black then mounted my panel on a black layer, then a white card stock base.  I added a little black bird to finish off the card.

The birthday boy...

Our December babies...

Thank you for stopping by!

 

Happy Birthday Linda!!!

For my best friends mom for her birthday.

I CASE'd this from the Stampin' Up catalog, changing it ever so slightly.  I used Earthen Elegance paper, Pretty Peacock, Pebbled Path, and Very Vanilla cardstock.  I stamped Earthen Textures in Pebbled Path.  Then die cut the coordinating dies.  Stamped my sentiment from SU Morning Meadow set in Copper Clay on Very Vanilla.

Thanks for taking a peek at my blog!

 

Happy Birthday Kellye!!!

For my bestie for her birthday.  

I absolutely fell in love with this card and wanted to recreate it.  I know I didn't do the card any justice as Miriam's card is just stunning!!!  I used Rich Razzleberry and Island Indigo for the background.  My Favorite Things Birch Tree Forest Cover Up Die-namics in white over the top.  Stamped my images from the MFT Polar Bear Pal stamp set in Memento on Neenah, then colored with Copics.  I added Liquid Applique to the top of the cocoa.  Stamped my sentiment from the MFT Cool Day stamp set on Rich Razzlebery and mounted it on a white card base.

My card inspiration.

Kellye with her card.

Thank you for stopping by!

 

Lending Linden...

For my wonderful friend and co-ride leader, Linden to thank her for lending me her spare bike while mine was in the shop getting the crack repaired.  Without her bike I would've been off the bike for 4 weeks, losing all my fitness...which would've been awful for our upcoming trip to Colorado to ride up Mt. Evans.

Cycling and Coffee go hand in hand.  When My Favorite Things came out with their Coffee Release I had to have it all.  I loved all the Design Team's card creations, this one from Linda Van Wily being one of my favorites, I knew it would be perfect to create for Linden.  I changed the colors to Blue and Orange, the color of mine and Linden's bikes.  I used MFT Coffee Bean Background in Chocolate Chip, stamping it off once before stamping it on Crumb Cake.  I die cut MFT Coffee Break Companions in Only Orange, Marina Mist, and Chocolate Chip, highlighting with a white gel pen.  I stamped my sentiment from MFT Coffee and Conversation in black to finish off the card.  I layered my panel on Marina Mist, then a white card base.

Thank you for stopping by!

Winter Birthday Song...

A birthday card for my dear friend and fellow cyclist, Delia.  Delia's such a sweet and kind soul.  So thankful to have met her and get to cycle with her each week while she's in town.  

 I bought the Winter Songbird stamp set/die-namics because of this beautiful card by Barbara Anders.  I ran my main panel through the die cut machine using my new Blanket Stitched Rectangle die my bestie got me for Christmas.  I sponged Ranger Adirondack Light Aqua and Versamagic Sea Breeze Chalk Ink.  Then I stamped my images in Memento ink on Neenah and die cut them.  I colored them with Copics and positioned them on my panel.  Finished off my card with a sentiment from My Favorite Things Every Flavor of Happy.

Thank you for having a peek at my blog!  

Warmest Wishes...

I fell in love with this card by My Favorite Things Design Team Member Anna Lorenzetto.  It is the whole reason why I bought the Quilt Square Cover Up and the Warmest Wishes set.  A lot of times these amazing DT members will make a card that I fall in love with and I end up purchasing the supplies because of their beautiful card.  So, it got me thinking...why don't I create the card that made me purchase each stamp set that I purchase?  Wouldn't that be a great way to honor that person, their creativity, and my purchase???  I think that will be my new goal for 2023...use all my non used stamps I have and create the card that made me purchase that set!  

Anyhow, I got a very late start to my Christmas Cards this year.  And if I'm being totally honest, I wasn't feeling the Christmas Spirit this year.  For whatever reason, I had zero energy and zero desire to create and also to make Christmas presents for my friends and neighbors like I do every year.  So while I made these 10 cards, they were the only ones I made and I didn't send a single one out.  I guess I'm ahead of schedule for Christmas 2023!

I made some slight changes from Anna's card.  It took me some practice to make my background as I'm not use to using blending brushes and blending colors to make backgrounds.  It was fun, but I think I need the proper type of inks for it.  I used Stampin' Ups Pink Pirouette, Polished Pink, and Rich Razzleberry.  I die-cut Snow Drift die-damics and attached it to the bottom portion of my background.  Then I took the Quilt Square die-namics and put it on top of the whole background.  I stamped my image from Warmest Wishes on Neenah card stock then die cut it with the coordinating die-namics.  I colored it with copics and used pop dots to attach it to my card.  Stamped my sentiment and sprinkled the cards with opaque white paint to finish off my card.
I'm just about caught up with my 2022 blogging, yay!  I have one more card to upload for 2022, but will have to wait until I give it to the recipient.  

Thank you so much for taking the time to look at my blog!

 

Happy Halloween...

Halloween Cards for some friends and family.

I saw this card on Instagram, liked the layout and wanted to recreate it.  It was a lot of fun to make.  I will most likely use the layout again as I love it so much!  I used Hero Arts for the Cat.  Sentiment if from a retired My Favorite Things stamp set.

Slowly but surely catching up with my blogging.  Thank you for having a look!

 

Happy Beer Day Ryan!!!

For my best friends step-dad for his birthday.  

I saw this card on Pinterest and wanted to recreate it.  Laura did such a beautiful job with the Frosty Beer Mug Die-namics from My Favorite Things, I hope I did her CASE good.  I die cut the image on Neenah cardstock then used copics to color it.  I covered the whole mug in Diamond Glaze three times to give it a thick glass appearance like a real frosty beer mug.  I topped it with Liquid Applique and heat embossed it to give it the frothy look on top.  Sentiment is from the My Favorite Things Here's to You stamp set.
 

Thank you for having a look at my blog.

Happy 13th Birthday Wylie!!!

For my grandson, Wylie for his 13th birthday.  I can't believe I'm a grandma to a teenager!  He started playing basketball this year and just loves it.  I found this card on Pinterest and decided to recreate it, changing it up a little bit.

I used Only Orange card stock, put it through and embossing folder that gave it some texture to resemble a basketball.  I cut it, then used a white gel pen to make highlights.  Mounted it on a black card stock base.  I used Highrise Alphabet Captions and Alphabet Impact Numbers die-namics from My Favorite Things in White, and mounted off set on black to create a shadow.  

 My daughter and grandson.

Thank you for taking a peek!

Happy Birthday Delia...

For a dear friend that I cycle with for her birthday...

I saw a card on pinterest that I loved and recreated it, changing the colors, paper, type of bike and adding a sentiment.  I used Daffodil Delight, Very Vanilla, and My Mind's Eye Sunny side paper.  Die-cut bicycle, itty bitty birthday sentiment and itty bitty strips die-namics from My Favorite Things.

Warwick, Me and Delia.

Thank you for stopping by!

 

Sunflower Wishes...

For my dear friend of many years, Renee for her birthday.  Was great to spend some time with her this fall when she came out from Texas to paint my kitchen cabinets.  

Kept this clean and simple.  I used Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Granny Apple Green, Crushed Curry, and  Chocolate chip card stock.  Sunflower, royal leaves, happy birthday, and A2 stitched rectangle di-namics.  Daffodil Delight, More Mustard, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip ink.  

Me and Renee when she was here visiting in October.

Thanks for stopping by!

Some Days You're the Dog...

For my best friend for his birthday.  I make him a funny card every year.  I already have next year's card planned for his 50th.

I saw a card this card on pinterest and knew I wanted to recreate it.  I stamped and masked my images from the MFT set You Make my Tail Wag.  I used the Watercolor Wash Free Form Stencil from MFT then used blender brushes to blend versamagic chalk ink for the sky and ground.  I then colored my stamped images in copics, and made some highlights with a white gel pen.  I stamped my sentiment then mounted my panel on a Real Red card base.

Me and Jeremy.

Thanks for stopping by.

Happy Birthday to my Hubs!!!

For my sweet hubs for his birthday!

 I saw this  card on Pinterest and wanted to recreate it using shades of blue since it's my hubs favorite color.  I used the Color Blast Die-namics in Night of Navy, Midnight Muse, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Cool Caribbean, and Soft Sky.  Next I stamped my image from the Fast Track stamp set in Memento Ink, coloring with Copics, then die cutting it with the coordinating Die-namics, using Pop Dots to mount it on the card.  I die cut Caption Numbers Die-namics in black with a Wink of Stella then added them to the racecar.  I used All the Encourangement and coordinating Die-namics for the speech bubble then stamped the sentiment.  Finished off the card with some flat dots from Stamping Bella.  

Thank you for stopping by!

Paper Hugs...

For a friend of mine who could use a Paper (((HUG)))...

I absolutely fell in love with the My Favorite Things Wild About Rainbows Card Kit and had to have it!  I got my inspiration for the card from one of the examples in the kit and also from a card I saw on Pinterest using the cloud stencil in rainbow colors.  I started out stamping the rainbow using my stamparatus, so happy I invested in one!  I used Real Red, Only Orange, Granny Apple Green, and Bermuda Bay.  I masked the rainbow and began making the clouds with Coastal Cabana and Bermuda Bay ink.  This was my first time using the cloud stencil, I definitely need some practice!  I wasn't quite sure how they'd turn out, but I hoped well enough that I wouldn't have to toss the effort.  Using the same colors, I sponged the sky then added splatters with an ink sprayer and Taken with Teal Marker.  I added white gel dots as well.  I used the Essential Stitched Sentiment Die-namic and the sentiment from the My Favorite Things I Miss Your Hugs stamp set.

Thank you for stopping by!  
I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

      

Happy Birthday!!!

 Happy Birthday Brooke!!!  I hope you have an amazing day today!  Brooke is such an incredible athlete, mom, and friend.  She's always wanting to do, be apart of, lead, and take charge of things when things need to get done.  She has an amazing drive for her sport/sports and just did a Half Ironman last month.  What an awesome accomplishment!!!  I'm so happy to be teammates and friends with Brooke!!!

Splitcoaststampers holds a challenge every day to get your creative juices flowing.  I was the Featured Stamper FS716 on Splitcoaststampers the week of October 25th (completely took me by surprise!).  What you do for this challenge is look through the Featured Stampers Gallery and CASE (copy and share with everyone) a card, changing one or more things about the card.  You share the card in the FS's gallery and your card and what you changed.  I played along in the challenge too!!!  This is the card that I created for Brooke for her birthday.  I used Black, Gorgeous Grape and White card stock. My favorite Things High Rise Alphabet Lower Case and Happy Birthday.  My Favorite Things Sweater Weather in the Woods stamp set, stamped in Neenah, colored with copics.  SU sequins.

 This is the cards that I CASE'd.  I didn't realized it until my friend opened the card in front of me that I put the p's and y in the wrong position.  They're lower case letters, not upper case, lol.  It's bothered me ever since and I wanted to do the card justice!  I also changed the hot pink to purple, the image, and added sequins.

Me and Brooke last year, meeting each other on the loop to train for El Tour de Tucson.

Hope you have a wonderful day.  

Prayers for the Lautaire's...

A friend of mine asked me to make a couple of sympathy cards for her to give to a mom and boy who lost their son/brother.  The three of them were crossing the street in a crosswalk and were hit.  The driver didn't stop.  The mom didn't have any injuries, but the driver killed her 9 year old son and left her 11 year old son in a cast and wheelchair.  It was absolutely heartbreaking.  My friend asked that I make something with dinosaurs for Max and a cross for his mom.  Here's what I came up with-

Playing along in the featured stamper challenge on splitcoaststampers FS716, I used this card as my inspiration-

I changed the colors, flipped the image, used a different image, and didn't use the clouds.  I used My Favorite Things Little Loveosaurus, Taken with Teal, Basic Gray and Neenah cardstock.  My Favorite Things Wonky Stitch Die-namics, and pop dots. 

This is the card that I came up with for the mom.  I made an extra one for a friend who lost her sister in law.

I also used the Featured Stamper FS716 challenge for inspiration.  I changed the shape of the card, square to the standard 4.25x5.5, changed the circle to an oval, the image, colors, sentiment and put a bow instead of a strip of ribbon.  I used Coastal Cabana, Sahara Sand, and Very Vanilla card stock.  Crosses of Hope and Thoughts and Prayers stamp sets from Stampin' Up and the ribbon is from Michael's.

My card inspiration.

LOOK! Save a Life

Slow down and don't drive distracted...

Thank you for stopping by!