Wish big...

I received a text this morning from a friend I work with asking me to bring a couple of birthday cards (hand made, of course) to work on Monday. I just received in the mail some new goodies from Papertrey Ink so what a perfect time to play around with them! I got a couple of new dies and the perfect stamp set for birthdays so here is one card I created tonight.

Pattern papers and ribbon are from Stampin Up. I used my new Filligree border die and the Limitless Oval die along with the new stamp set, 2012 Birthday Tags. I love, love this stamp set and I see myself using it over and over.
My daughter had outpatient surgery yesterday so I've been pretty busy taking care of her. She actually had 2 different procedures done - one being a laproscopy and a hysteroscopy - not sure if I'm spelling these right. The doctor removed a polyp on her uterous and found lots of scar tissue in her stomache and around her intestine. Doesn't sound good. What is even worse, her fallopian tubes are blocked. We go back to see the doctor in 2 weeks so we have lots of questions. I ask you all to keep your fingers crossed and keep her in your prayers for a good outcome!
Have a good rest of the weekend -
Nancy

Chicks

Spring is here along with some spring weather. After a week of record breaking temps which was more summer-like than spring here in Chicagoland, we are getting a break and are now having spring showers and temps. I can't remember a March where the grass is so green - and long - that we need to tune up our lawn mowers and start cutting our grass!
Today I have another Easter card to share. My sister showed me some new stickers and papers she had just purchased and I fell in love with them. I had to run out and buy them immediately! Love these sweet little Easter chicks by We R Memory Keepers...

The pattern papers are from My Minds Eye - Miss Caroline and Follow Your Heart series along with the pink doily sticker. Ribbon is from Stampin Up and button and pearls are from my stash.

Now I'm about to pop over to the Card Pattern blog to see what the new sketch is for this upcoming challenge. I'm hoping to clean up my craft table, put things away, and organize so I can focus! I feel as if I'm running out of steam and losing my mojo again.  I hate when that happens! Until next week....
Nancy

tub fun

My, how the weekend flies by. 5 days in a row we have had beautiful weather - I'm talking 75 to 80 degrees. And it is mid-March? I'm loving it but I am also leery. Is this the calm before the storm?

My sweet nephews decided to come visit me this weekend. They helped me clean up the yard, pulled some weeds, pruned a bush ( scalped it is more like it!) and cleaned out my car. After coming inside and eating a nice spaghetti dinner and smelling like little puppy dogs (I love that smell) I let them take a bath.

Aren't they the cutest? After putting on some fresh pajama's we popped some popcorn, snuggled on the couch and watched a movie.

I made another Easter card. Can't help it with the weather like it is!

Love this sweet little guy hugging his bunny! I found this on an Etsty store - Made by Janet. Love her stuff! The green cardstock was dry embossed with a harlequin background by Stampin Up. Ribbon and button was from my stash.
This Sunday is coming to an end very quickly. Time to get myself ready for the upcoming work week.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday -
Nancy

Easter eggs...

Happy Sunday to you! Here in Chicagoland the sun is shining and looks to be a beautiful day. Maybe I will get outdoors and do some spring cleaning in the yard. Looking out from my kitchen door, it looks like the rabbits have already started to have their babies! I see one big rabbit hole...

Today I have an Easter card to show. I took this sketch from a blog I happen to come across (shame on me for not writing down the blogger's name).

I stamped the egg on colored card stock scraps, stamped the designs in versamark ink and embossed with white, blue, pink and gold embossing powders. The stamp set is from Stampin Up called "A Good Egg".
The tag is cut from Spellbinders' Fancy Tags #3. The stick pin is made from Stampin Up's Pretties Kit.

The die cut trim is from Papertrey Ink and pattern papers are from Imaginisce and Karen Neuburger.

I will be making more Easter Cards in addition to what I already have in my stash of cards! I love to look at cards I have made in years before compared to now. Remarkable how many different styles I have had! A friend from work has commissioned me to make Easter cards for her two sweet grandchildren along with a couple of  sets of 'all occasion' cards. So that being said, I better get started!
Enjoy your sunday!
Nancy

Card Patterns - Sketch 155

Hi all!
I can't believe how quickly the weekends come and go. I feel as if I got nothing done this weekend and here it is Sunday evening already. I did get a bit of shopping done yesterday - shopping for clothes for my upcoming cruise to the Bahamas. Part of me feels badly about this cruise as I will not be home for my son's birthday. I have never, ever not been around for his birthday in 26 years!
I was able to make a card for this week's challenge at Card Patterns. Here is the sketch:

I love this pattern! Here is my take on it -----

Pattern papers and ribbon are from Stampin Up along with the flower punch I used. Buttons and doily are from my stash and the sweet bunny image is Melissa Frances, stamped sentiment is by Great Impressions.

That's it for now. I'm heading over to Card Patterns website to post this card.
Enjoy the rest of your Sunday -
Nancy

Early riser...

What a morning so far I've had! Never enough time in the day to complete one's chores, tasks, wish list, crafts...I truly hope to be able to enter a card in this weeks Card Pattern challenge. However, I am having my family over this afternoon for a lasagna dinner in celebration of my daughter's birthday and graduation which was earlier this month.
I have always been an early riser and this morning was no different! By 6:00 a.m. my pasta was boiling, and gravy was simmering. Finished reading James Patterson's "Private Games" as it is due back to my local library in 2 days! I have saved the chore of vacuuming for last - we have a hairy cat. Need I say more?

I do have a card to show you today. Another birthday in the family! I made several ahead of time! Here is the one I chose to give her:


This is the same pattern I followed when making my niece and nephew's birthday cards a few weeks ago. I love the sketch. I don't remember where I found it but I'm sure I'll use it over and over again.

My daughter's birthday was the 16th of this month. All her friends took her out to dinner and followed up with an evening of dancing and a few cocktails! Oh, to be 24 again!! Here is the card I made for her:

Again, same pattern I used for my sister's card above, and same patten papers and card stock. Just replaced the flowers with buttons and bling!
Thats all for this morning. I need to check on the 'gravy' that is simmering on the stove, vacuum, and hopefully get in my craft room to make the card for the challenge over at Card Patterns!
Have a great Sunday,
Nancy

Card Patterns - Sketch 153

Wow - can't believe I finally found time to make a card and enter a challenge! I've been super busy making birthday cards for family and friends! February alone has 5 birthdays and they all were within the last 2 weeks! I will show them later but first here is a picture of the sketch over at Card Patterns:

Looked pretty easy until I had to cut out 10 squares to fit along the width of the card. I am not good at measuring and fitting and piecing things together. But it's the attempt that counts, right?! Here is what I attempted to put together:

All ten of those tiny little images are from the Crafty Secrets Vintage images. Card stock and pattern paper are from Close To My Heart.

Ribbon, button and pearls are from my stash. Sentiment is also from Crafty Secrets, the tag and trim are die cuts from Papertrey Ink.

I'm off to post this card over at Card Patterns. I'll be back to show some of the birthday cards I made for the February birthdays!

Enjoy this beautiful Sunday!
Nancy