sweet summer... ♥ A Spring Card ♥

One of the fun new ways to make a card is using the Spring card technique. So today I decided to try one! They are super easy to make! The tutorial can be found HERE on SCS. I also used today's fun Free for All challenge, which is to use a ice cream cone on your card.I punched out some scallop circles for the ice cream, covered them in glitter sprinklers and then added them to a hand cut cone. I then topped it off with some button cherries. The papers I used are by October Afternoon (Fly A Kite), The Girl's Paperie and Little Yellow Bicycle (Snugglebug). I also used a paper doily, a Studio G stamp, Webster's Pages Sparklers buttons, trim and seam binding ribbon.I hope you all have a super sweet summer and a great weekend! I will be back sometime next week as I am going to be getting the house ready for our annual 4th of July party. It usually takes us a week to get everything ready and that's when I'm not pregnant! So I will need all the time I can get! LOL Have a wonderful 4th!!

Hugs....

♥ Celebrate....good times ♥ 2S4Y

Here is a card I made for this week's awesome sketch over at the 2Sketches4You blog. I used a Maya Road Kraft envelope over a piece of OA (Woolsworth) paper. It is then covered in some ribbon trim, half of a white doily, Prima flower, handmade stick pin, Zva Creative gem swirls, punched MS butterfly, hemp cord, Melissa Frances rub-ons and a Sparkler button by Webster's Pages. Since the card front is so heavy, the base of the card is made out of a lightweight cardboard. Looks like Kraft cardstock, but more durable and sturdier for this card.
Here is the sketch:
Sorry for another quick post. I am off to the doctors today for the yucky Glucose screening (hate drinking that stuff!) and to pick out a date for my C-section during the last week or so of August! I can't wait to meet our new little addition to our family! I had another ultrasound yesterday and he looks perfect. Here is a pic of him sucking on his toes!! hehe Sorry it is not clearer.
Have a wonderful day!

Hugs....

Summer sweetness...

Yay! Summer is finally officially here! Not too thrilled about the heat, especially being 7 months pregnant, but after the winter we had, I still welcome it! Speaking of summer, here are a couple of summery cards I made for a Kim Hughes Sketch challenge over at Paper Crafts. I ♥ this sketch!

This first one uses some paper by Little Yellow Bicycle (Snugglebug line) and some cardstock stickers by Echo Park (Sweet Summertime).This next card uses some of my favorite paper by The Girl's Paperie {Paper Girl line} and October Afternoon {Thrift Shop}, as well as some hemp cord, MS punched butterflies, Zva Creative crystal swirls and a cardstock sticker by Echo Park. I hand cut the cloud, painted the edges with some white paint and then added some glitter to it while still wet.Here is the fun sketch:Sorry for the quick post, we are off to look at my son's Nursery School. He will start in September. My stomach already has butterflies in it just thinking about him leaving me even for those few hours a day!! He is my daily little partner and shadow. My little Best Friend!!

Have a wonderful Tuesday!

Hugs & much love...

♥ 4th of July Party Bucket and Card ♥ {And a Pizza Recipe!}

♥Warning: Photo Heavy Post!:)♥
Hi Everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful week so far! TGIF! Summer is almost officially here! And so is the 4th of July! This week's challenge over at The Shabby Tea Room is to make a card/project that is all about Summer Fun!

When I think of summer one of the first things that comes to mind is the 4th of July, fireworks, red, white and blue and BBQ's! So I decided to incorporate all that into a fun party bucket that holds plates, cups, eating utensils, napkins and some firecracker candles that is perfect for that festive BBQ on the 4th! I have also made a matching card using this week's 2 Sketches 4 You sketch.I used some fab papers and tags by We R Memory Keepers from their Old Glory line, some October Afternoon Recess paper, star picks, wooden USA, glitter, hemp cord, ribbons, flag and a banner I made from cardstock and the above pp's. The white tin is from Target's Dollar bin that I picked up for 2 bucks. {I will show you a fun storage idea for your Craft Room Wall next week, using these fun and inexpensive tins!}Here is the 2S4Y Sketch:And finally, yesterday my son and I decided to make some pizza. My husband's family own Italian restaurants and a pizzeria but I still like to make my own "Old World" pizza every once in awhile. Pizza that you find in Italy is nothing like the pizza here in the US. It is more rustic. Antonio had fun "playing" with the dough!Here is my easy "Old World" pizza recipe:

Mix 4 cups Bread flour, i cup at a time with 1 1/2 tsp. of Fast
Acting yeast and 1 1/2 tsp. of salt. Then add 1 1/2 cups of cold
Water. Knead dough for about 5-7 minutes until it is too hard to
stir by hand anymore. Form into 4 balls and place in a large
deep baking dish and wrap tightly with plastic wrap. Keep out
on kitchen counter for about 2 hours to rise. Then place in fridge
for 12 hours. Remove, knead for another 5 minutes, form a 10"
round or square pizza, add fresh mozzarella, plum tomatoes
{seeded}, fresh basil, fresh garlic and drizzle with Extra Virgin
Olive Oil. Place on pre-heated Pizza Stone at 425 degrees. Cook
until golden brown. {You can purchase a Pizza Stone at Bed, Bath
and Beyond for about $15-$20.} This can also be cooked on the grill
with yummy summer veggies like eggplant and peppers! Buon Appetito!I hope you all have a great weekend and a Happy Father's Day to all the Dads out there! We will be BBQ'ing all weekend and celebrating!

Hugs...

♥ Summer harvest ♥

Summer...my favorite time of year. Family bbq's...swimming...kites flying...butterflies and hummingbirds and one of my favorite summer things to do...gardening. I love to plant flowers, herbs and vegetables and watch them grow. Ahh, nothing beats some fresh tomatoes and basil with olive oil. Or the beautiful colors of zinnias, impatiens and petunias. Pure summer sweetness!This card was made using this week's fabulous sketch over at the Card Patterns blog as well as being inspired by this week's theme challenge, Summer Fun over at The Shabby Tea Room.I used some gorgeous papers from Webster's Pages, Nature's Storybook collection. As well as some punched MS butterflies, Hero Arts pearls, Wright's ribbon and trim and a Melissa Frances rub-on.

Here is the Card Patterns sketch:Have a sweet night!!

Hugs....

♥ heartfelt thanks...A Window Card ♥ 2S4Y

I was starting to make a card for this week's fabulous sketch over at the 2 Sketches 4 You blog, when I saw today's Free for All Challenge over at SCS. I thought, "hmm..I might just have to do that on this card!" It was to make a Window card. I first adhered all my October Afternoon papers onto my card base. Then I painted a chipboard heart with some white acrylic paint...let dry...then distress the edges a bit with some brown ink...then add some ultra fine white glitter. I then adhered some twisted seam binding ribbon behind the heart and adhered the heart to the paper. Then I trimmed out the center f the heart all the way through the 4 layers. {No easy feat!}I then adhered some Webster's Pages paper to the inside of the chipboard heart, inked it up and added some glitter, then adhered it to the inside of the card. I finished it off with some Hero Arts heart pearls, a Melissa Frances rub-on and a bow on the front.
Here is the 2S4Y Sketch:I hope you have a wonderful and fun weekend!!

Hugs....

♥ Thanks for being you ♥ MOJO142

Another envelope card and another MOJO card! I love this week's sketch at the Mojo Monday blog! It is so fun and versatile. I changed it up bit for this card. I used some October Afternoon papers from the Fly A Kite and Thrift Shop lines as well as the Maya Road Kraft envelope, Martha Stewart punched butterflies, fabric brads, Melissa Frances rub-ons, trim, string pearls, Hero Arts heart pearls and some cotton ribbon. ♥Tip♥ Since the front of the card is so heavy and I wanted to use Kraft colored cardstock as my base, I used a piece of lightweight cardboard as my base! It makes for a much steadier card base and it still looks like Kraft cs.Here is the Mojo sketch:This card is also for the Ways to Use it challenge over at SCS today. To use a bug on your card.

Have a wonderful day!

Hugs...

Blessing.... ♥MMSC57♥

a favor or gift bestowed by God, thereby bringing happiness. What a beautiful sentiment. Isn't it? One of my favorite Melissa Frances rub-ons. This card is for this week's fabulous sketch over at PriscillaStyles home of the Midnight Madness Sketches. I LOVE this sketch. There are actually 2 sketches this week to choose from. I chose the more fancier one. I am loving these Maya Road Mini Kraft envelopes. They are so fun to work with.

For my card, I used some October Afternoon papers from the Fly A Kite line. As well as some seam binding ribbon, Prima Swirls with clay roses, MS punched butterflies, 2 paper doilies, glitter and some brads. Love this color combo!Here is the Sketch:I will be back later with another card using a MR Kraft envelope. I can't get enough!!

Finally, yesterday I was talking to myself, {which I find myself doing more and more of!} saying "This chair feels a little loose" Next thing I know my 4 yr old son, Antonio, goes upstairs and comes back down with his Handy Manny tool box. Takes out his tools and starts "fixing" the chair! I couldn't resist taking these photos! He is too much! Well, back to my house cleaning!! See you later!!Hugs...

♥ Sew thankful ♥

I am truly thankful for everyone and everything in my life. Especially, friends and my family. My 4 yr old son and the upcoming birth of my 2nd son are the most precious things in my life. And I am truly grateful for them. I thank God everyday. As well as my husband, Robert, my Mom (who is my Rock in Life) and my sister Stacey, who means the world to me! {just wish you lived closer!! hint! hint!}

Another thing I am thankful for are all of you. It is such a joy to be able to come on here and share with you all my creative side and to get the feedback that I do from you all. You all mean so much to me. You have no idea. I have always said that the women {and men!} that are in the crafting world, especially cardmaking and scrapbooking, are the most nicest and generous people out there! I don't know why, maybe it's all the yummy paper, stamps and ribbons out there that make us so happy, but whatever it is, THANK YOU!!

This is a card I made recently for a challenge. I had a blast making it! I loved paper piecing that dress together. Another thing I am thankful for...beautiful papers!! I just love these papers by October Afternoon and The Girls Paperie! And aren't those little mini wooden spools just the cutest! You can find them in the wood section at Michael's.{Sorry for the different color variations in the photos!} Well, I hope that you all have a wonderful day! Take the time out today to tell your loved ones how thankful you are for them! It will feel good!!

Hugs....


P.S. I have received so many emails and comments regarding my Blogaversary giveaway next month! I am just as excited as you all to be giving away a Cricut Cake!! Make sure you look out for the chance to win one sometime next month!! Ooh, I can't wait! :)

A Father's Day card ♥ MOJO142 and Shabby Tea Room ♥

Hi everyone! I hope you all had a wonderful weekend! We had another HOT one! But we still had fun! We did some yard work, played in the pool, did some grilling and most importantly relaxed! Ahh! The sweetness of summer is almost upon us! And so is Father's Day here in the US. I decided to get a jump start on my Daddy's Day cards, so I decided to use this week's sketch over at the Mojo Monday blog. It was perfect for the idea I had in my head, to use these MME tags and mini clipboard. This card is also for this week's challenge, Just for Dad, over at The Shabby Tea Room. But first, here is the sketch! For my card, I used some papers from the Fresh Print Clothesline collection from Little Yellow Bicycle. As well as the forementioned My Mind's Eye So Sophie Tags {which I trimmed the 1 to fit the Stampendous! Mini Clipboard}, some ribbons and trim, gold star brad and some Studio G stamps. I didn't want to make the large scallops on the sketch, on a masculine card, so I liked the idea of that blue trim instead. Hope you likey!Have a wonderful rest of the day!!

Hugs...