Hello Friend

I broke out my Swirly Birds stamps and dies, and played along The Color Throwdown:

The sentiment is from an old Paper Pumpkin.  Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Cajun Craze, and Blush Blossom work well for this challenge:

You're The Best

Been really missing baseball and sports in general.  Especially the kids.  

I used an old SU! baseball stamp, a Paper Pumpkin sentiment, and some old Karen Foster paper.  Sharing with The Male Room's Sport challenge and the Inspired By Summer sketch challenge.  What else represents summer sports more than baseball :(.

New Year's in July?!?

I have a number of friends who do not celebrate Christmas, I try to make a few cards that are general Celebrate or New Year's.  

I paired a great sentiment from a new-to-me Avery Elle set with a die from The Paper cut.  These older MAMBI papers matched Tumbled Glass Distress Oxide perfectly!!  Sharing this with Shopping Our Stash Hanukkah/Christmas in July and The Paper Players Fancy Fold challenge.

Inspired By Summer

It has been super hot here in Ohio.  Since I live in a high COVID rate area, I have't been leaving the house much.  Bright side - more craft time.  For the Inspired By Summer challenge, I broke out a fun circle die, and ran some bright rainbow papers through my Xyron.  

I made 5 of these since I liked the first one so much.  These will be perfect for Cards for Soldiers.  Here is the inspiration photo:

I am also sharing this with the JUGS Rainbow challenge.  

Learning Lessons

When I start a project, I usually have an idea of how I want it to look upon completion.  I get really frustrated when it doesn't work out, and have pretty things in my trash.  Case in point.  This didn't turn out as expected, so I threw it out.  I pulled it out this morning, and realized that it wasn't so bad, just wasn't what I intended.  And maybe that's OK.  

I started to use Molotow masking fluid to create the "Hello" mask, and then use watercolors to create a rainbow effect.  The fluid was to gummy to use.  OK, I can stamp it and heat emboss it in clear and then add color.  That didn't work either, the colors ran under the embossing.  OK, I can layer white embossing over the clear (thankfully, I hadn't removed the stamp form my MISTI and could stamp directly over the original).  Nope, it didn't cover it all.  OK, try again.  It took three layer of the off white powder to cover the color.  I posted this to remind myself that sometimes the process is just as important as the outcome., and I am sharing this with the JUGS Rainbow Challenge.  

Silver Doily

I have these pretty silver doilies, but never have good ideas on how to use them.  This week's Try Stampin on Tuesday sketch is perfect.  

I use spray adhesive on doilies, since regular glue makes them wavy, and running them through a Xyron is messy.  

Simple layout, but I think the doily and the punched border add enough interest!

Be sure to check out the For Sale page, I add new stuff regularly!

Stars & Stripes for the Holidays

In honor of the Fourth of July, the Jingle Belles have a Stars and Stripes challenge.  I have made literally hundreds of these over the past few years. 

The inside:

I write a short note of thanks in every one of them, and send them to the group Cards for Soldiers to distribute with their care packages.  The center panel was purchased from Hollo Paper in Ohio.  I trimmed it down and punched the corners.  Sometimes I add stars to the corners, other times jewels or Stickles.   I know it isn't the most original or fancy entry, but I hope it is a reminder to all of the sacrifices our ancestors made, and our military still make, to keep us safe.