It’s a triple play!

I have been a busy bee today just so I can make up for some lost time. I’ve got a card using one of Our Daily Bread designs’ February sets, a Paper Garden Project 4th Friday Fun Challenge and a McMahon Five Designs March sneak peek!

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Today happens to be PGP’s 4th Friday Challenge! What is it, you ask? Our challenge to you is to create a “Farewell to Winter” card. You can make either a winter or spring card just as long as it signifies the end of winter for you :). I know winter is over when the flowers start to bloom so here’s my take on the challenge using designer paper, cardstock, Dew Droplets and buttons from the Hearts Bloom Paper Kit and following the current SFYTT sketch:

I was inspired by Angella’s card for my button flowers and loved the look! It was perfect for a “springy” card :). Make sure to stop by the rest of the Paper Gardeners’ blogs to see their cards! Links to them are on my sidebar. Head on over to the PGP Blog to find out what you can win if you participate!

Card Recipe

Stamp: SU Brighter Tomorrow

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black

Paper: Hearts Bloom Paper Kit

Accessories: Cuttlebug Spots and Dots embossing folder, Spellbinders (Classic Circles Small, Petite Scallop Circles Small), Martha Stewart Pond Frond punch, red silk ribbon

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McMahon Five Designs will be releasing brand new digis this coming Monday, March 1 and I’ve got a little sneaky peeky for you! I love me some butterflies so here’s a card using the upcoming Swallow Tail with the MMSC42 sketch:

When I first heard of wood paper I was like “really?”. Then I got hold of some and I was blown away by how much texture and interest it added to any card or project! McMahon Five Designs carries several different wood papers so grab up a few of your favorites or grab one of each! Visit McMahon Five Designs March 1 to get your new digis!

Card Recipe

Digi: McMahon Five Designs Swallow Tail

Paper: Cherry Wood paper, K & Company Portabello Road pad, SU cardstock (Bordering Blue, Regal Rose)

Accessories: Prima Mini Flowers, light blue ruffled organza ribbon, white pearls

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Our Daily Bread designs will be releasing brand new sets March 1!! Have you marked your calendars yet? If not, do that now because you won’t want to miss out on getting them!

Until then, here’s a little something I made using the Nest set for this week’s Cuttlebug Be Inspired #72 and One Stop Craft Challenge 68:

I colored in the flowers using Smooch Siren. Gotta love any opportunity to add a little iridescent shimmer and I took full advantage of that! Having done so, I realize I NEED to have ALL the Smooch colors now! Uh-oh! LOL!

I know I promised a March sneak peek for ODBD, but I will have that posted tomorrow (Friday). Thank you all for being so patient while I play catch-up!

Card Recipe

Stamp: ODBD Nest

Ink: Versamark, Tim Holtz Antique Linen distress pad

Paper: Jenni Bowlin Vintage Red Line mini papers, SU Rose Red cardstock

Accessories: Smooch Siren, Basic Grey Opaline pearls, Ranger Antique Linen Distress embossing powder, Spellbinders (Classic Circles Small, Scalloped Circles Small), black embossing powder

ODBD and McMahon Five Designs news and MY BLOG CANDY!

I promise I have not been neglecting my blog or my design teams. I’ve been going through health/medical issues for over a month now. I’ve been trying to keep up, but sometimes all the lab/blood work, ultrasound and intestinal infection just gets the best of me. I hope to get back to regular postings soon :).

Our Daily Bread designs will be releasing BRAND NEW SETS March 1 and several of the Breadstick designers have sneak peeks up on their blog so make sure to visit them (links can be found on my sidebar). I hope to have sneak peeks up in a couple of days :).

Until then, here’s a quick card I put together using the Matthew 6:26 scripture from the Sing for Joy! set and the sparrow from He Watches Me:

Card Recipe

Stamps: ODBD Sing for Joy! and He Watches Me

Ink: Versamark

Paper: K & Company Blue Awning, SU Night of Navy

Accessories: K & Company blue Awning frames, blue rhinestones, black embossing powder, cream satin bow, Bow-Easy

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Next Monday, McMahon Five Designs will be releasing BRAND NEW DIGIS and believe me, they will make your heart go all-a-flutter!! I’ll give you a little sneak peek tomorrow so please come back :).

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I had promised BLOG CANDY when I got to 50,000 hits and with so many things happening I have had to put it off…so sorry! I have hit 60,000 and would like to THANK ALL OF YOU for the frequent visits with some blog candy! I will post it along with all the details on Feb. 26 so stay tuned!

Keep your eyes on the sparrow

I LOVE all the birds in the February sets from Our Daily Bread designs as I’m sure many of you do, too!  And guess what?!  You are going to FLIP over next month’s sets so stay tuned!  Lots of surprises and challenges in store!

Here’s a card I made last week based on two SCS challenges (WT257 and SC267) using the He Watches Me set from ODBD:

There’s a lot going on for the month of March for ODBD so keep on the look out for sneak peeks from the Breadsticks next week!!

Sorry for the quick post, but I am my son’s assistant for his science fair project and it’s due on Friday!  Wish him luck!

Card Recipe

Stamp: ODBD He Watches Me

Ink: Versamark, SU Old Olive

Paper: K & Company Blue Awning, Prism Spring Willow Pack, Prism Champagne Metallic cardstock

Accessories: Cuttlebug Victoria embossing folder, Spellbinders (Petite Small Scalloped Circles, Classic Circles Small), Basic Grey Opalines, cream satin ribbon, foam adhesive, black embossing powder

Teacher Gifts for Valentine’s Day

Ahhh, love is in the air! Well, love mixed in with some rain. How does that one song go…”It never rains in Southern California”…WRONG! But, hey, we need it so we’ll take it whenever we can. I know I promised Valentine cards last week, but I’m currently suffering from a really bad intestinal infection and haven’t been well enough to create until now. My apologies! I hope my projects will make up for that :).

Another big holiday, which means gift giving time! I decided to make really simple gifts for both my sons’ teachers, but each unique in their own way :).

My first ensemble is an easel card (FTTC53) using this week’s MMSC40 and Penny Black’s Every Which Way set that is available over at Paper Garden Projects. I made little monogrammed binder clips that you can see a close-up of on the other ensemble I created.

Gosh, I’ve forgotten how cute all the little Penny Black hedgies were! I braided three colors of ribbon together and tied three knots to add some interest. Make sure to swing by the PGP Store to see what’s currently on sale.

Hedgehog Gift Ensemble Recipe

Stamp: Every Which Way set

Ink: Versamark

Paper: Hearts Bloom Paper Kit, SU Basic Brown, watercolor paper

Accessories: chipboard clipboard, black binder clips, computer generated sentiment, ribbons-buttons-Dew Drops(from Hearts Bloom Paper Kit), Crystal Stickles, black embossing powder, paper floss, Prima Flowers, Spellbinders

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This next ensemble is for my other son’s teacher. As you can see, I tried to make both unique in their own way. For this one I used the colors from the CC257 challenge over at Splitcoast and MOJO125 for the sketch:

I love digi’s that don’t require any coloring on my part, especially if I want to pull something together really quick and the Valentine Heart from McMahon Five Designs. It's red, but I changed it to a rust color for the SCS color challenge on my Photoshop Elements program. I just printed the heart three times and cut them using my Spellbinders to add dimension.

I hope my sons’ teachers like them because we truly do appreciate them!

Stop by McMahon Five Designs to find out the current specials!

Valentine Heart Gift Ensemble

Digi: Valentine Heart

Paper: Fancy Pants I’m Yours, SU cardstock (Soft Sky, Really Rust, Close to Cocoa)

Accessories: chipboard clipboard, black binder clips, white flatback pearls, Fiskar’s Effervescence border punch, computer generated monogram and tag, brown grosgrain ribbon, craft button, white paper floss, Dew Drops (Mens), Spellbinders (Scalloped Circles Small, Classic Circles Small

My little chickadee…

This adorable little chickadee from the You Will Find Refuge set by ODBD really does make me want to sing!  Actually ALL the birds from the February sets make me want to sing!

Here’s a little card using this week’s SCS266:

I stacked two organza ribbon flowers I made.  They are super easy to make and you can find my video tutorial HERE.  I used foam tape to adhere the two flowers together.

Come back tomorrow and I’ll show you some “love” cards since Valentine’s Day is just around the corner!

Card Recipe

Stamp: ODBD You Will Find Refuge

Ink: Versamark, SU Ruby Red, Tim Holtz Antique Linen

Paper: DCWV La Creme Stack, SU Sahara Sand, Canson watercolor paper

Accessories: Smooch Siren, red and silver organza ribbons, Fiskars Circle Punch, black embossing powder, jewel brad

Oh, Spring! Hurry up and get here!

Apparently the little groundhog saw its shadow which means six more weeks of winter. I say I'm ready for spring. My card today practically screams out warm sunshine, blooming flowers and tweeting birdies!

Following the CCEE1004 sketch and Cute Card Thursday's flower challenge I made this card using the Tweets digi from McMahon Five Designs:

You can make an organza flower using my lace flower video tutorial which you can find HERE.

Be sure to sign up for the McMahon Five Designs newsletter to stay up-to-date on the store’s happenings!

Card Recipe

Digi: McMahon Five Designs Tweet

Paper: Basic Grey Lemonade, SU cs(Brocade Blue, Positively Pink)

Accessories: cloud template, Stickles, black embossing powder, watercolor markers, Gesso, circle punch, blue organza ribbon, heart pin, SU Flower Trio punch, jewelry beads, hatpin

ODBD Blog Hop to kick off BRAND NEW February Releases and an announcement!!

IT’S BLOG HOP TIME! I, for one, am happy that January is over (along with the rain, wind and tornado warnings in CA!). Another reason why I’m happy? It’s February and we finally get to introduce to you FOUR BRAND NEW SETS from Our Daily Bread designs:

I love all things nature…birds, flowers, etc., so these sets were a real treat!! Keep reading to get all the details of our blog hop and grab up my secret words!

If you came from Angella Crockett’s blog then you’ve come to the right place. If not, please start your hop at the ODBD Blog. For my card I used the cardinal from the Sing For Joy set:

What is the reward for joining the hop? Well, Kelley has generously offered to give 3 prizes!! Three randomly selected participants who does the following will win a $15.00 Gift Certificate for Stamps from the ODBD Store:

1) Leave a comment on EACH DT members blogs AND collect their secret words.

2) Return to the Our Daily Bread designs Blog and leave a comment that you completed the hop and left comments for each designer.

3) Send Grace an e-mail giving her the correct words in order

4) You have until Thurs. Feb 4th at 8:00PM EST to complete the requirements to be eligible to win

BONUS: For an extra chance to win, send her another email telling her the Scripture reference where the verse can be found.

My SECRET WORDS are: the Son

Your next stop is at Julie Warner’s blog. If you come across any broken links just return to the ODBD Blog because the list of DT blogs can be found there in the correct order. Have fun doing the hop and we hope you get inspired along the way!

Card Recipe

Stamp: ODBD Sing for Joy

Ink: ODBD Crimson, Versamark

Paper: K & Company Portabello Road pad, SU cs (Basic Brown, Green Galore, Rose Red), Prism Bronze Metallic cs

Accessories: Cuttlebug Brocade Window embossing plus folder, olive green organza ribbon, gold cording, Basic Grey Opaline pearls, Spellbinders Labels Four, brown brad, foam adhesive

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I would also like to share some awesome news!! I told Sue of McMahon Five designs if she were to ever put together a design team I’d love to be a part of it and lo and behold she e-mailed me and asked if I was serious about it…LOL! So, Sue has announced her new design team and I am one of the lucky girls, along with:

Bonnie O’Clair

Carolyn Miller

Kristine Beach

Michelle Armijo

Here’s a card using a super cute digi called Sweet Skater by Jessica Grundy and this week’s MMSC38. I actually heat-embossed the image after printing it out on my ink jet. You can find a quick tutorial over at Mel’s blog on how to do it:

Card Recipe

Digi Stamp: Sweet Skater

Paper: DCWV Rustic Stack, SU cs (Basic Brown, Certainly Celery

Accessories: Prima Pearls & Crystals, Prima Flowers, Gesso, watercolor markers, Flower Soft Ivory, Tattered Angels Pearl Glimmer Mist, Cuttlebug Victoria embossing folder