Our Little Butterflies

This beautiful poem and handmade bookmark were gifts from a fellow demonstrator Elizabeth in honor of our two miscarriages in 2007. Elizabeth had a friend who experienced the same thing for the first time last year - and out of her pain and sorrow came this new ministry -
Jewels of Hope.

I received this gift during the first week of Easter, and as is God's wondrous plan - I received it on a day I was feeling my own sorrow remembering our own first miscarriage at Easter Triduum 2007, as well as for a lifelong best friend who has experienced 4 consecutive losses in the last two years. God's perfect timing - a Holy Spirit moment I call it.

Thank You Elizabeth and THANK YOU Jewels of Hope for understanding what suffering is truly meant for - not something to be shunned and avoided, but something to be embraced and turned into service to our Lord.

ENJOY!

First Holy Communion

This invitation is for our son's First Holy Communion. It's hard to believe he his old enough for this beauitful Sacrament already! Wasn't it just yesterday that he was Baptized and we spent our days happily nursing, playing and napping together?!

And I am having great fun using my NEW Glimmer Mist and Cuttlebug and Embossing Folders too!! Woohoo - don't you just adore playing with new toys and bling? I believe the Glimmer Mist is STILL ON SALE at CreativePlayStamps through the end of this week only! Go check it out - they have the limited edition Spring Releases along with a large variety of other colors.

This Design has the Iridescent Gold Glimmer Mist sprayed all over the card as a final touch. Though let me NOTE: DO NOT spray Glimmer Mist on stamped vellum or the ink will run! lol - you guessed it, I learned the hard way so you don't have to - isn't that sweet of me?! LOL

This invitation got a thumbs up and a "Cool" from my son - so I guess it is good, huh? :) I used a sentiment from the CreativePlayStamps First Communion set - and used the technique of Direct to Stamp Omitting - i.e. using a Stampin' Write directly on the stamp to only ink up the words I wanted. I really like the choice of typestyles in this set - CreativePlayStamps did a nice job touching on a variety of typestyle preferences for this important Sacrament.

Stamps: Refuge and Strength (SU!) AND First Communion (CreativePlayStamps)

Cardstock: Night of Navy, Bashful Blue, Whisper White and Vellum Paper

Ink: Bashful Blue

Accessories: Stampin' Write Marker in Night of Navy, Irirdescent Gold Glimmer Mist, Cuttlebug and Spots & Dots Embossing Folder, Dimensionals, Night of Navy Eyelets

Gifts of the Holy Spirit

This weekend I accomplished two of my stamping goals - using my new Cuttlebug and Embossing Folders AND designing Confirmation invitations for our niece, plus a card to send to her made from the trial pieces. "Trial pieces?", you may ask. You know, when you try out different color combos, layouts, etc. until the *right* ones come together and you say, "That's the one!" It's really not that different from finding your wedding dress!! :)

I wasn't that interested in the Cuttlebug UNTIL I received a card, then started seeing on my fav blogs, designs using the Embossing Folders. Thanks to a Sudsol Sister who shared a link to a site that was offering the Cuttlebug for $35!!!! - I got in on that deal - then went a little eBay crazy and picked up several Embossing Folders for both very good prices and average prices. So - hopefully I'll be using these more often. This Confirmation invitation needed some kind of background on the Lovely Lilac layer and the Cuttlebug came to mind. It was exactly what I was looking for - no additional color or shading, just some added texture.

But I must admit that the focal piece you are looking at, is not the one I went with. Why? Because my scanner wouldn't pick up the Almost Amethyst Classic Ink. I *almost* chose the colors from the focal pieces you are viewing, but decided for my niece, a softer look was better. PLUS, I liked how the Cross was more subtly in the background, an ever-present shadow, part of everything - like the breaths we take or the beats of our hearts. The Dove, of course, is a long time symbol of the Holy Spirit. So - on the actual cards that will be sent, the Cross is in Almost Amethyst, and the Dove is in Lovely Lilac.

On *these* samples - the Cross is stamped off in Lovely Lilac, and the Dove is stamped in Elegant Eggplant.

Stamp Sets: Refuge and Strength, Peace Be Unto You (retired)

Colors: Lovely Lilac, Almost amethyst, Elegant Eggplant & Whisper White

Accessories: Ticket Corner Punch, Designer Label Punch, Elegant Eggplant 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Cuttlebug and Swirls Embossing Folder.

ENJOY!

C&C 112 Inspiration

This is the inspiration for the sketch tonight. It was originally desinged by my demo friend Tina Moore. Not sure if she got her inspiration from somewhere else - but she does a LOVELY job, doesn't she? ENJOY!

Chat & Challenge Sketch #112

Woohoo! Time for another MOJO NightCap over on the demonstrator only site SUDSOL.

You can play along too! You pick the stamps, color combo, embellishments, etc. and create a card or scrapbook page that resembles this sketch. Post it to your Gallery or Blog, then leave a link here for all to enjoy - especially ME! ;) ENJOY!

Putt'n on the Ritz

Yep - that' s me and my hubby. We clean up pretty well huh? ;) This pic isn't the best because it is a Polaroid - so sad Polaroids are almost down for the count. They really were a GREAT invention!

I designed this fun Top Hat frame for the Putt'n on the Ritz Dance sponsored by the Rockford/Milwaukee/Madison Marriage Encounter. This was our fourth year attending, and second year coordinating this dance. It is a wonderful, inexpensive Date Night for married couples. Couples attending pay a low registration fee to cover the DJ cost, plus bring an appetizer or dessert to share. We make a dinner out of it, because there is always plenty to choose from! You can also add to the fun by donating a raffle item and buying raffle tickets. There were several packages of hand-stamped cards donated by yours truly, and they were quite popular! So all you stampers out there take heart - recipients of your cards DO APPRECIATE receiving your lovely, handmade creations!

If you see what looks like specks on the Basic Black part of the Hat, and the Whisper White Designer Label Punch (from SU!) it's really Silver Glitter Mist Spray by Tattered Angels. It was perfect to make my top hats look satiny! You can find it CreativePlayStamps.com in many colors! And I believe they are ON SALE now through April 18th too! Haven't used this yet? You'll LOVE it! I have received some lovely cards that used the Glimmer Mist. It gives such a lovely, all-over, light coating of glitter. I think of it like hairspray - the PERFECT finishing touch, or in this case embellishment. Buzz on over to CreativePlayStamps and get some to play with for yourself and a friend! :)

Cardstock: Basic Black, Metallic Brushed Silver and Whisper White.

Accessories: Silver Glitter Mist, Designer Label Punch and whisper White Taffeta Ribbon(both SU!),and the Creative Memories Oval Cutting System.

Chat & Challenge 111 - Daytime!

On Sudsol I am not the only one who hosts these wonderful Chat & Challenges - and today there was a daytime C&C. The kids were done with there lessons so I was able to participate - woohoo! :)


Stamps: Noble Deer
Colors: Handsome Hunter, Close to Cocoa and River Rock.
Accessories: Watercolor Wonder Crayons, Aquapainter, Twill Ribbon, Antique Brass Hodgepodge Hardware, Rich Regals Eyelets, Crop-a-dile, Large Star Punch, Watercolor Paper, Black StazOn Ink.

I left the Star blank - soI can use Everyday Flexible Phrases to choose the sentiment when I know exactly what I'll use this card for. This was done quickly, and while chatting. I think if I do another one, I will add some texture to the River Rock layer, maybe tone on tone with a background stamp or wheel. Canvas, Flannel or Rough Edges Jumbo Wheel would look good. Ooo, or maybe I will try my NEW Cuttlebug Embossing Folders and use the Distressed Folder! ENJOY!