Lasting Hearts Prayers

Hi friends,
Today I'm sharing some cards I created to send to the Lasting Hearts card drive. These cards are going to be given with a book for parents who have suffered the loss of a miscarriage. This is something that many women experience and hopefully, through these efforts, they will know they are not alone, it is not their fault, and there are people who care and want them to know they are stronger than they may think.

Here's my card design:

 I chose a soft color palette of Hero Arts Shadow Inks in Pastel Yellow, Passion Flower, Pastel Blue, and Pastel Mint. I chose butterflies because, to me, they symbolize renewal, faith, and more. They come from the Butterfly Stamp set by AmyR. I love this stamp set because it has lots of butterflies in different sizes and stages of flight. I added some vellum butterflies (Martha Stewart punch) scattered around them. The sentiment from the Prayers Set (Simon Says Stamp/Hero Arts) was heat embossed in Liquid Platinum (Ranger).

Here's a peek of the innies:

 This sentiment came from the With Sympathy stamp set (Papertrey Ink).

Here's all of the cards I created, all the same way.

I have a friend who recently had a miscarriage, and it's been very hard on her. So in her honor, I decided to contribute some money to purchase books for other women and create these cards to go along with them.

This is the card I had made and given to her:

I wouldn't ordinarily use bright colors for these kinds of cards, but knowing her, and how she feels about rainbows, I decided to use the die-cut as the rainbow.

You can find all of the info about the Lasting Hearts card drive HERE.
Thanks so much for peeking today and have a great weekend *Ü*

Stinkin' Cute

Hello friends,
I have a few more cards for the Cards from the Heart card drive and the Share the Love card Challenge.

Here they are:

This is the "boy version."

 I used the Stinkin' Cute stamp set with the coordinating dies (Lawn Fawn). Now that's a stamp set that lives up to its name! *Ü* I colored the little skunk with Copics. I die-cut the large heart from the Nestabilities heart set (Spellbinders) and the Heart Circles die (Spellbinders) from Regal Rose and Strawberry Slush cardstock (SU).

Here's the "Girl version."

 Everything is the same except for the little flower on her head and the embossing folder in the background. The boy one has dots and this one uses the Rose Garden folder (Sizzix).

Here they are together for comparison:

Here are all the Girl ones: I made 3 of these.

and 2 boy ones:

 (If the skunks looks different, you have a good eye! No need to adjust your screen...I colored one skunk with Warm Gray markers, but I liked it better with Cool Grays, so all the rest of the skunks are colored in cool grays.)

Here's a peek of the innies: all have this design.

The sentiment stamp came from the $1 bin at Michael's.

I used this week's Mojo Monday Sketch #431.

 I hope the kiddos getting these cards think they're stinkin' cute! Too bad these aren't scratch & sniff... that would have been a fun touch! ... well maybe the boys might think so. *Ü*

Thanks so much for stopping by!
Tootles,

Cards From the Heart Card Drive

Hi friends,
There are a few card drives going on right now, and since I had a lovely crafternoon free, I decided I should spend it making some Valentine's Day cards to bring a smile to some sweet kids. Today's set is going to the Cards from the Heart drive. You can read all about it ---> HERE.

I created 5 cards in this set.
Here is one:

 I used the Pizza my Heart stamp set & coordinating dies (Lawn Fawn). I colored the pizzas with Copics & had fun stamping on the toppings. Since the "Olive You" sentiment was on all the cards, I made sure to include at least one olive on each pizza. *Ü* I used the Gingham Backdrops Stamp set (Lawn Fawn) and the Plaid Embossing folder (Cuttlebug) in the background.

Here are the innies, which is the same for all cards:

 Here's a peek at the other pizzas:

And a group shot:

 I used this week's clean & simple sketch from My Favorite Things #263.

I truly hope the kiddos receiving one of these cards, smile when they see it *Ü*
Thanks so much for stopping by today!
Have a great day!

Feliz Cumpleaños

Hola friends,
I have a little something I made to add to the décor of my classroom.
Here it is:

I mean, you can't have a fiesta without a piñata? I used this cutie from La La Land Crafts called Piñata Marci. I luv how she's peeking from under the bandana to make sure she hits it! *Ü* Took one from the Karli playbook ;) wink. She's colored with Copics. The background was created with Distress Inks. All the little candy got a coat of glossy accents & are popped up on foam tape.

I have so many fun piñata memories... and so do my boys. Gotta luv the simple things in life *Ü*

Thanks for peeking today. Have a FUN-filled day!


The 411 
Stamps: Piñata Marci- LLLC
Paper: White cs-Neenah, Tickled Pink-My Mind's Eye, pink cs
Ink: Cocoa Brown- Memento
Tools: Mini tabs quartet dienamics-MFT, beautiful bows dienamics-MFT, copics, Stickles, Wink of Stella pen, Glossy Accents

Hope

 Hi friends,
 I spent part of Saturday (World Cardmaking Day) making a mess in Studio K! Being that it's Breast Cancer Awareness month & there are loads of card drives going on, I thought I should make as many as I could get done. As I've said in the past, this is a cause that's near & dear to my heart because my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer when I was 7 years old. She beat it thanks in part to early detection. My godmother who was also diagnosed, was not so fortunate. She passed away at 32 years old, leaving behind 3 young sons...

I settled on this design:

 Since I was making several, I needed something simple but pretty. I used PTI's Fanciful Flourishes & stamped it with the Ranger Sticky Embossing Powder. Then I added Prisma glitter because it's super sparkly. I like using the sticky powder because it really holds on to the glitter. I die cut the butterflies from vellum & added a pink ribbon on the body. Last, I stamped the sentiment from the Hope stamp set from Taylored Expressions.

Here's a closer peek at the sparkle:

Zombies aren't as scary as my photog skills! these cards came out so pretty (in my humble opinion :) and I hope they bring the recipients exactly that... HOPE.
 I used this week's Mojo Monday sketch:

Hope you had some crafty time this weekend! Now, to get ready for the week :(
Tootles!

Craft Dash for a Cause

Hi friends,
Today I have a card I created for: the 10 Minute Craft Dash at Pretty Pink Posh

  and for the JULY Cards for a Cause at SCS.
The challenge at PPP is to use stars on your card & add a sun for the cards for a cause.
Here's the finished card:

It took me this long to complete the card:

I learned a few things since the last time I filmed so I think this video is a bit better than the last one. This time around:
1) I had a clear card concept so i took out the supplies i was most likely to use & "KISSed"- Keep It Simple Sweetie!
2) I figured out how to better record myself *Ü*
3) I did a voice over so I could focus on just creating the card during the video & not on what I was going to say too. I really think that was a time saver & it freed up some brain cells too *Ü*

So, was everything perfect? Umm, no. It wouldn't be me if it was all perfect! Hee Hee! I goofed a couple of times, but it was fun! I really appreciate everyone who also take the time to create a video of the process because I enjoy watching other people stress out too! *Ü* ...and I say that with love ;)
If you have any tips, tricks, suggestions for videos, I'd love to hear them! I'm not a tech person & honestly, I just play around with stuff until I get lucky figure it out. And if I get really stuck I look on You Tube for help! I think because I'm on a mac & using imovie, it helps a lot ---> user-friendly.

As I mentioned in the video, I created the sun rays card front on my SCAL 2 and if you'd like it, you can find it---> HERE.
SVG file format---> HERE
PDF file format ---> HERE
I based it on a free cut file from CKS- by Laina Lamb--->HERE.

July's cards for the Cards for a Cause are going to the Sunshine Mail Foundation. Here's a description: 
"They are a 501c3 nonprofit, provides children in need comfort, support and joy through free Sunshine Mail Care Packages. Sunshine Mail is filled with handmade cards, care essentials and other age appropriate items and delivered to children in hospitals, homeless shelters and in foster care."
You can find all the info ---> HERE. Once I finish all of the cards,  I'll be sure to post them. Here are the finished cards: 1 dozen ready to ship!

Here's the video:

or watch it on you Tube---> HERE 

EDITED TO ADD: Regarding the cut file... It will work if you have the Sure Cuts A Lot (SCAL) software program (or something that will cut svg files like a Silhouette, or e-clips) unfortunately because Provo Craft (the makers of Cricut) sued the makers of SCAL, the current version of SCAL (SCAL 3) will NOT work with your Cricut.  :(  Those of us who were fortunate enough to purchase SCAL 2 BEFORE the lawsuit are able to use the software to cut on the Cricut. I'm sorry if this disappoints those who are Cricut owners who wanted to use the cut file, but don't have SCAL 2.  I know I would be disappointed too.  I will make a PDF of the file available to you. Sorry if there was any confusion.
 Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks for peeking!
Tootles!

Cards for a Cause

Hi friends,
While making my rounds on SplitcoastStampers, I came across "Cards for a Cause." This is how it's described, "So just what is the Splitcoaststampers Cards for a Cause Challenge? It is simply an invitation to create a card and donate it to the "cause of the month." Everyone is invited to play along!"

For the month of April, the cause organization is St. Baldrick's Foundation. They award grants for childhood cancer research. Say no more...I'm in!

Here's the card I made:

I used a very old Sizzix die for the cupcake (the big red ones!) I haven't used it in ages & it brought back some fond memories of my early teaching days---> long before electronic die cutting machines. I have all my old Sizzix dies & I won't part with them! never... ever!
Back to the card: I used my newest fav paper Happy Day by MME because it does make me happy *Ü* The background paper is embossed with the CB cupcakes embossing folder, the front panel is partially embossed to leave room for the greeting with the CB Swiss Dots EF. I added a few sprinklings of Viva pen to the icing. 

I used this week's Sweet Stop sketch:

and this inspiration pic

 from a new challenge blog called Creative Claws (I thought it was about kitties *Ü* but it's about nail art inspiration. Luuuv! This will be a fun challenge to play along with and get some inspiration for my own claws *Ü*

Friends, I am blessed that my boys are healthy. Sadly, I have had students, friends, and loved ones who have battled cancer. I can't image what it's like for these parents & children. So if sending some cards will help, I'm in. I am sending a few more cards I've had in my stash along with this one.

You can read all about the SCS Cards for a Cause and ST. Baldrick's Foundation---> HERE. I'll be joining this group each month & hope you can too!

Have a healthy, sweet, creative day!