Happy Birthday

I'm back to post a card that I'll be linking over at Seize the Birthday. I've really been trying to stay ahead of my birthday card making. Having 27 people in my immediate family and friends who I send cards to, keeps this girl BUSY!

Here is another example of using a 6x6 selection of paper this time from the Broadway Bound DSP. This extended Z fold card worked perfectly and allowing me to make 3 cards plus having several sheets left over to add to my stash.

PRODUCTS USED:

SU Cardstock: Real Red, Lemon Lime Twist, Black, Broadway Bound DSP. **I did replace Real Red in place of  Lovely Lipstick, but honestly you can barely see the difference especially with the patterned paper I selected.

MFT  Balloon Die Cuts

PTI  Balloon String stamp for a retired set.

SU Framelits Deco Labels die cuts (retired)

Sentiment by unknown manufacture

Well I'm off to prepare some more cards. I hope you have a wonderful evening and are able to do something you LOVE with the remainder of the evening.

Live Simply, Bernadette

Just Saying Hello

Tuesday night I prepared some cards to put together with my crafting buddy Vicki yesterday afternoon. This Garden Impressions DSP has not been my favorite, but I was determined to use my 6x6 pieces! The cards are A2 size with the floral panel cut to 4 x 5 1/4. Easy Peasy... The stamp for the sentiment is by an unknown manufacture.

I did look on Pinterest to get some creative ideas and I liked what was created by different card makers and demos. I still can't say I love it, but I'm happy with the results. I used SU So Saffron for all the bases of the cards and 2 of the layering dotted squares. The Pacific Point layer looked better on the the last card and I'm glad I used it. It made the card really pop. My favorite is the blue background floral paper. Although I would like to make another, I can't. That's one downside of buying the 6x6 samplers.

I'm sending these along to some friends tomorrow and I hope they cheer up their day. I'll be posting a card over to Seize the Birthday in a few minutes. I hope you stop by there to see the birthday card I created using the 6x6 paper from the SU's Broadway Bound.

Live Simply, Bernadette

Just me

Just a quick and easy card tonight. I've been doing some purging and organizing and came across this sentiment that's a least 4 or more years old.. I don't believe it has ever been used or know the name of the manufacture. I hope I'm not  the only crafter who has been in this position.

Everything on this card except the little bird from MFT "Birds of a Feather Card Kit", are all retired products. It's amazing how much stuff I've accumulated and have saved, but I'm slowly purging.

I decided to use the sketch that was posted over at MFT's Card Challenge. I really loved the simplicity of it and thought it would work well with the little bird and sentiment.

PRODUCTS USED:
SU Retired Watermelon Wonder CS, Tempting Turquoise, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White, MFT Smooth White CS
MFT Birds of a Feather dies

Sizzix Woodgrain Embossing Folder

Stamp: Unknown
SU Stitched Shapes Framlits Dies


That's about for this evening. I have quite a mess to clean up from purging and making a card. Have a great night and I hope you still have some time to do something you LOVE!

Live Simply, Bernadette

Birthday Wishes

Today I put together a card with some bits and pieces I had gotten from a local Card Class I attend once a month. My demo had all the pieces cut for several cards from a class that I missed because I was out of town. Although the sketch she provided I liked, I decided to redesigned the card with the pieces.

This card will be linked over at Seize the Birthday blog.

PRODUCTS USED:
SU Cardstock; Mint Macoron, Shaded Spruce, Whisper White, Share What You Love DSP
Ink: Memento,Versa Mark
Ranger Clear Super Fine Embossing Powder
SU Share What You Love Artisan Pearls
SU Pearlized Dollies
SU Bring on the Cake stamp retired


Have a wonderful weekend and go do something you LOVE!

Live Simply, Bernadette

Here to Give You a Lift - REDO and OOPS!

Yesterday I thought I posted a card to link over at the Freshly Made Sketches challenge. It looks like I skipped that step. My time with my GD and her making 18 cards, yes 18, must have fried my brain when I wrote the post and didn't link it.  ;-{ I used the balloons from MFT and a sentiment from PTI - Everyday Button Bits (ret.) The info of the products are on my previous post.

After looking at the card several times I decided that the sentiment - "here to give you a LIFT," although at the the time, I thought it was cute. But when I went to bed I had a different opinion.

Today I redid the card and instead of making the whole card over, I added a panel with a birthday sentiment from the same set. I really don't like it as well, but it is what it is.

My original card

Thanks for stopping buy to here about my debacle. Have a wonderful Saturday and Sunday. Now go do something you LOVE!

Live Simply, Bernadette

Here To Give You A Lift

Hi All... Hope your are having a wonderful Friday. I had a chance today to do some creating with my granddaughter Esther . We've actually been playing with paper, stamps, and inks since Wednesday. She just turned 11 last week and has always loved to do crafty things. I probably should teach her to cook or bake, but she's a girl after my own heart. We love the smell of paper and ink.

She loves playing with my Cricut as much as stamps.

The card I'm posting today is for the Freshly Made Sketches challenge for this week. I just received some Happy Mail from MFT which included balloon dies.  I have been wanting balloon dies for months and finally bought them.  I still need a set that has some larger ones, but these worked perfectly with my card design. Even though they are birthday balloons, I felt they could be filled with helium to give you a lift! I know, a little artistic licence taken on this...

PRODUCTS USED:
SU Cardstock Mint Macaron, Rich Razzelberry, Balmy Blue, Tranquil Tide,Tranquil Textures DSP
Ink: SU Rich Razzeleberry
Stamp: PTI Everyday Button Bits (retired) balloon strings, sentiment
MFT dies: Birthday Balloons

I'm off for the evening. My older daughter and gret granddaughter are coming over for dinner tonight so I should think about getting that started. Have a wonderful evening and a great weekend, AND go do something you LOVE!

Thinking of You

Today I decided to make another card using the Detailed Dragonfly Thinlets Dies. I choose the grouping of smaller dragonflies to put on this card, although I favor the larger ones.

I was looking at the challenge sites today and saw this older sketch posted by Freshly Made Sketches would work with using one of my 6x6 papers, Garden Impressions. I was able to get three 2" panels allowing me to use this sketch to make 3 cards. Got to love that!

PRODUCTS USED:

SU Cardstock: Shaded Spruce, Mint Macaron, Garden Impressions DSP (6X6)
SU Detailed Dragonfly Thinlit Dies
Stamp:  Taylored Expressions - Love Grows Here stamp set (ret.)
SU Rhinestone Basic Jewels
Wink of Stella

That's it for today. I'm off to see my daughter and grandchildren. It's always a sweet time to visit and love on them. I hope you have a blessed day and are able to do something you LOVE!

Live Simply, Bernadette

Sending Wishes Your Way

Last night I had a chance to finish another birthday card. The SU Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits Die was graciously loaned to me buy a dear stamping buddy. It's such a beautiful set of dies and I enjoyed putting a card together with it. I also used one of the SU DSP specialty paper for the first time.

During the time of the year when Demonstrators offer a sampling of the new papers, I usually purchase them. I used to be a paper hoarder and still have some older papers in my stash, but I really have tried to avoid that in recent years. Although only having 6x6 per samples proves somewhat of a challenge, I really try to make it work so I can get at least 2 cards per sheet. Thank goodness for the creative ideas on Pinterest! This cards layout was CASED from a demo which unfortunately I forgot  to write down her name. It worked perfectly with the 6x6 sheet cut in half, although I did cut about a 1/4 in off of the side. I will be linking this the Seize the Birthday today. I enjoy how that blog pushes my creativity and birthday card making.

PRODUCTS USED:

SU Cardstock: Tranquil Tide, Rich Razzelberry, Share Share What You Love DSP, Micheals Shimmer Paper, MFT Thick Cardstock,

Stamp: SU ButterflyBasics

Memento Black Ink

SU Stitched Framelits Dies, Detailed Dragonfly Thinlits, Scalloped Oval (unknown)

SU Banner Triple Punch

SU Share What You Love Artisan Pearls, Mini Dimensionals

*** I found the name of the demo whose card sketch I used! Thanks Jo Hopper...

That will be it for today. I'm heading out to church and really need to get off of this computer! Have a blessed, restful Sunday and go do something you LOVE!

Live Simply, Bernadette

Birthday Wishes

Today I created a card that I will link to My Favorite Things Card Challenge Blog. I decided to use some retired paper from my stash and pair it up with the some In Colors. I'm also using the MFT's Birds of a Feather die cuts to brighten up even more of this birthday card.

PRODUCTS USED:

SU Card Stock: Lemon Lime Twist, Rich Razzelberry; MFT Smooth White
SU Ink: Fresh Fig
Stamp: Taylored Expressions Sending Sunshine
Die Cuts: MFT's from Birds of a Feather Card Kit, SU Stitched Framelits Dies

Well I'm off to make a few more much needed cards. Have a wonderful and productive weekend and as always, I hope you get to do something you LOVE!

Live Simply, Bernadette

A Friend Like You...

After being gone for ten days with no card making, I'm back today with a card. I stopped over at The Paper Players blog and thought I would give the monochromatic challenge a try.

MOJO MONDAY sketch #390

PRODUCTS USED:
SU card stock:  Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Mango Melody, Garden Impressions DSP
Stamp sets: GinaK  Wreath Builder sentiment and stitched circle, MFT Birds of a Feather die cuts
SU Banner Triple Punch
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink

That's about it for today. I'm attending a SU Card Class tonight and get to play stamp and have some fun my crafty friends.

Enjoy your evening and I hope you can do something you LOVE!

Live Simply, Bernadette

I'm here in VA vacationing with my hubby for the next several days.  Today we are having beautiful weather, plenty of warmth and sunshine. It looks like the next 3 or 4 days there will be more of the same. YEAH!!!

Just before I left I received my Gina K order. A sad, sad moment for me. I wanted to stay home and play, but it will be the first thing I'll be playing with when I return home. See me doing the Happy Dance...

I bought this as a bundle. All I'll have to do is cut my paper and make a card. It such an easy system to use to make perfect wreaths. There are some beautiful examples on line if your interested in looking.

That's  it for today. I hope you have a wonderful weekend and are able to do something you LOVE!

Live Simply, Bernadette

Happy Birthday Suprise Card and another Surprise Today!

The past several days I have been working on a birthday card for one of my GD's. She will be 11 on the 18th. of this month, but I needed to finish the card before I go away for a few days. I needed something a little whimsical, but also a little "grown up". I think I managed it. I'm linking it over to Seize the Birthday today. This blog pushes me to make the Birthday cards I need for my family.


She loves "stuffies" (stuffed animals) , but the only images I had that I felt she would love were on my Cricut Explore. So to the rescue it came.  I'm not all that keen on piecing the image pieces together or that adept at doing it, but I gave it a try.  I'm pretty pleased the way it came out and hope she will like it. The hardest part was choosing a color combination. I tried several and decided on the bright colors from SU.

Here is the outside. Pretty generic:

BUT open the inside and this is the "surprise" she will get:

I was originally going to put the image on a white card base, but opted to put it on the Lemon Lime Twist. Of course I had it all glued together, so unfortunately, the hat doesn't stand out like it should.

It is a pop - up card!  I just found out how to make these, I know they've been around awhile, over at Jennifer McGuire's blog.  This is a 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" top fold card base with the pop-up leaving enough room on the bottom to sign. Jennifer made the examples she gave with windows in the front which I will try the next go around. She is so talented , a great communicator and artist. I love her videos.


Some products I used:
SU: Lemon Lime Twist, Granite, Lovely Lipstick
SU: Retired Polka Dot Paper
SU: Clear Paper Pumpkin Stamp, Retired Hello You Thinlits Die
Cricut: Teddy Bear Parade

2nd. SURPRISE!
The card that I linked to Seize the Birthday for the July 19th. challenge with toppings was chosen as a Challenge Winner! I was so surprised and honored to be chosen. Thank you Seize the Birthday.

That's it for today. I'm off to make cookies for one of my neighbors who just had surgery. Have a wonderful day and go do something you LOVE!

Live Simply, Bernadette