Simple Stampin'

Some homemade kindness....

 

Good Morning! The PALS blog hop was fantastic yesterday and it is super clear that we are all so thankful ~ I need to toot my horn and give a huge SHOUT OUT to many that have emailed me with their amazing work in sharing homemade kindness!

I have been embracing to sharing "homemade kindness" in sending cards...."just because"...and when you really think of it - we can always be making someone smile and feel special with a handmade card.

Today is a color challenge with the Pals Paper Art - I hope that you play along with us....and you can click here to see what the amazing talent of team 2 came up with ~ I think it is super fun to see what everyone comes up with!

 

 

In the spirit of sharing some homemade kindness., I wanted to send a card to a friend from the barn that had a amazing Horse Show last week in Raleigh. If you follow my blog, you know that I adore animals and that my daughter Hannah rides horses. We had a wonderful (WET) time in Raleigh last week and all of the horses and riders had a great show!

 

This is a super simple , straight forward card that literally took me minutes to whip up....remember ~ it is the thought...the gesture...that make someones day! I am "pinching  myself" with the joy I get from reading your emails, seeing your cards with sharing and spreading the thought of "homemade kindness" The Bravo stamp set is always a keeper and is the shining star for todays card.

 

 

After I inked up the stamp in the tangelo twist, I took a damp "Q-tip" and took off the color on the star and then colored it with the Blackberry Bliss! I then matted the sentiment part in the same color to give it a POP1

You must admit, it does not get any easier than this card but it still sends a great, fun message!

 

 

Confession time....when I saw the color palette for todays challenge the first thing I grabbed for were my Swatch Books....why??? - EASY...they are a fantastic reference to use as the colors are listed and then I knew what paper to go for....Sweet Li'l Things Designer Series Paper was the right fit!

A simple pair of 1/4" pieces of paper and then the same for the lining of the envelope was all that is needed - BAM....done!

 

 

One simple and fun card....What do you think? Can you see yourself making this.....to me, it is a great one to have on hand...."just in case" You can easily have fun with different color combinations etc....

Now to Eddie,,,,I promised you that I would give you an update!. I did not blog about him for the past week + as he has once again is going through a stage that he has not been eating. While I was gone for 6 days, I must admit....I was very worried that he was telling me to go and not to worry so much about him!

John and James did not mention him to me and on day 4 for being away I asked, "How is Eddie"....as I know that John would never tell me if something happened to him while I was gone (but at the same time I was not sleeping and I just had to ask) - and the answer - he is GREAT....back to eating and playing ball!

Here is a picture of him on Monday and he made me smile.....poor Mr. Chicken - he has seen better days but one thing that melts my heart is Eddie. He is one special dog that continues to teach me each and everyday! He LOVES his toys!

 

 

 

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It a PPA Day!

Today is not only a Pals Paper Art Challenge~ it is a super fun sketch for a very special day as my "peep" James turns 25 today! Wow ~ that is super hard to believe and I try to remember the "special times" and famous memories that he has not only given to John and I but celebrate his accomplishments that he always gives!

Here is the sketch that we are to work with this week and I do hope that you try it. I am super excited to see everyones interpretation of this fun sketch. Please find some "me time" and play along. It is super simple to upload your work, just go the the site and a quick click and you are done!

I know that it is hard to come up with Masculine Cards...but just think if how you could easily change up the Designer Series Paper and colors of paper to fit for many cards that you might need. Because the stamp set is a photopolymer set, it is super easy to make the pattern in a cinch! This is from the good old - "Age Awareness" Stamp set - what a FUN one!

You know that I am a HUGE lover of "sentiments" and each and every time one comes out - you can bet that it will be arriving to Randall Lane! This is from the Hello You Thinlits Dies ~ I just think that they always make a statement and they make it super easy to make a card!

I have had so many questions about the Vanilla Coaster Board and I will do a video on how I use it but I am a lover of it as it adds that extra special touch that really "sets off" your work. I do usually "double it up" and I use the "green glue" to adhere them.

TIP ALERT: - Remember that you can just put the glue on....set it side to "set up" and then at the end, simply adhere!

This was not only a super card to make, it was fun! It uses minimal products and it is rewarding to stamp sentiment after sentiment and know that you can get it "just right" because you can see through the stamp because it is a photopolymer!

Because I did not want to make it too fussy, I just added the fun candle print paper to the back flap! You know men, sometimes they think that fussy paper is too feminine but this paper works with this layout.

 

You know me by now...I adore, love, my friend = The white gel pen....

Could not...would be be without it!

It is the "icing on the cake" for many of my cards as it always adds a great interest, a depth, a FUN factor that is nothing more than a little time....and WOW - what a difference!

Thanks for popping in today, please let me know how you like this card. I think that it is a keeper for just about anyone. We all need Birthday Cards throughout the year, and I think that this is one that would be a fun card to have on hand in many colors...."just in case"!

Pop back tomorrow....I know you will smile! Have a fabulous day and I truly wish that each and everyone of you could meet my dear James....one thing I have always said about James since he was a little tike....

"If there were more James' in the world, it would be a happier place"!

 

 

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A Color Challege for PPA!

It's Thursday and you know what that means....time to play with the Pals Paper Art! Today is my favorite - a color challenge and below you will see the palette that we are working with today!

I have a confession....Sahara Sand was probably one of my least favorite colors for a LONG time until one day I realized that I was out of Crumb Cake and needed a neutral so I thought - WHY NOT?

The rest is history and I hope that you try this as a base color and accent as it is just fabulous with so many different colors. It is a "sleeper" and I think that once you give it a try, you'll like it!

I am still feeling not 100% but I am determined that today is going to be a better day....I have been on an antibiotic and I am counting on tomorrow to be my "shining day" - Needless to say, I did not get to go to the Horse Show this week but there will be others and Hannah understands!

You really do not need me for this clean and classic card! With the tools that Stampin' Up! has for us at our fingertips we can make a beauty in no time!

This card is using the stamp from the Lighthearted Leaves Photopolymer Stamp Set from the Holiday Catalog, it is a keeper of all keepers and the fact that we have matching framelits makes it a "blue ribbon" card! (I just LOVE the ease of our speed tools, to me, framelits are total speed tools)

 

Here is a "funny" for you - the other day James said to me, "Mom did you know that it is proven that coloring helps you relax, it helps people with depression, there are so many benefits to taking time to sit and color" - Just then we were going past a local store that the sign said...."New Stock of Adult Coloring Books" - 

This card is one of those "adult coloring" that is FUN - remember, no rules just have fun. Can you remember how much fun it was to color and get a fresh pack of crayons and a new coloring book! Happy times filled with great memories but I can also remember getting made at my brothers if they took my coloring book and did a page!

It is hard to see in the photos the richness and depth of this card, but when you hold it - I must say that it is stunning! I needed a card for a friend and I thought that this would "do the trick" and this sentiment is from theThoughts & Prayers Clear-Mount Stamp Set. (This has been in the stampin' up! catalog for a while and you can see why.....one great stamp set!)

 

All you need is to color, color and color! I used the brush tip end of our Stampin' Write Markers....I have had my original set for over 4 years now and besides me losing one....each one still work like a "dream machine". I realize that it is a HUGE investment to purchase the Many Marvelous Markers, but I will say that you will not regret it and I would love to help you get it for 50% off with a hostess reward!

The moral of this whole stampin' story is to HAVE FUN....and enjoy and cherish each and every time you can sneak some "me time" in!

I hope that this envelope makes you smile, I tried to pull all of the colors in ~ the fun print is from the Farmers Market Designer Series Paper - a beautiful collection of papers!

Please pop over to the Pals Paper Art Site and see what everyone else had up their sleeve this week and then YOU give it a try. I know that there is a ton of talent out there and it is FUN!

Pop back tomorrow and I will share with you another super simple card that will make you say - that is soooooo easy - I can do that! Guess what...I know you can!

Until tomorrow!

 

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It a PPA Day!

 

It is Thursday and you know what that means....time to play with the Pals Paper Art Challenge and today is a sketch and I have a confession..I was STUMPED!!! I was having such a brain block as I look at sketches and take them too literally.

Does this every happen to you???...all I could see was using stars but I was determined to do something different! Todays card I used the lots of labels framelits to do the job! This framelit was introduced in the Annual Catalog ans it is a keeper. (It fits with so many of our stamps)

Let's get to this fun and whimsical card! As you know...it's hip to be square and this is a 4 1/2" square card using the thick whisper white card stock. If you have not used this yet, hit that SHOP NOW button and treat yourself to it (you'll never go back)!

I just adore the paper stacks, and these polka dots are just plain old fashion FUN at its best! There is something just magical and special when you see a bright red and green together at the holidays.

You can clearly see that the label framelits were the star of this clean and simple card. The "peek" of red was just one framelit cut in half and adhered behind. It is "just enough" to give the card balance and then let the pom-pom trim shine!

Did you notice the white dots around the Tip Top Taupe shape? This is something that I do all of the time and the white gel pen is a dear friend...I love it and always have a spare ready, just in case I run dry! (Heavens, that would be terrible) This simple touch makes a big statement and basically costs nothing but it does so much!

I knew that the fun polka dots needed a little something fun = THE POM-POM TRIM! Is that the cutest or what? An instant smile came on my face when I saw this in the catalog....just use it in bits and pieces and you will make a great statement.

I added a glue dot to adhere the pom-pom trim and also added a white cotton bow to hide the area of the trim I cut. I also added a glue dot behind the 3rd pom -pom to hold it in place and then the trim hung perfectly!

The custom envelope came together in a cinch with the envelope punch board....so fast and easy! To add a bit more interest to the envelope, I first adhered a 1/4" Tip Top Taupe and then added the cucumber crush polka dot fun paper!

Now I ask you.....how would you interpret this sketch? I invite you to hop over to the Pals Paper Arts Site and see what the other designers came up with....( I had a sneak peek earlier this week and WOW - there are some super cute cards !

Thanks for popping in...and I hope to see you back here tomorrow as I am going to showcase some goodies from the weekly deals! You will smile!

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