XOXO

Here's a quick, fun, card that can be used for Valentine's Day or anytime you want to send a hug.

The background was a snap to make.  Found a small heart in Concord & 9th's Beautiful Words and stamped it around an A2 card.  I'm betting you have a similar heart somewhere in your stash! You can use a circle stencil to help place the hearts.  I used one from Stampin Up.

Colored some pale pink paper with a neon pink Copic marker and die cut Xs and Os 16 times using Altenew's Bold Alphabet Die.  This is a pricey set of dies so it took me a while before I finally decided to purchase.  I plan to use them a lot.  If you don't want to spend that much, using a Silhouette or Cricut would also work. Stacked 4 of each die and adhered in a wonky way.

Now wasn't that easy?

MOOD WHEN DONE = All hugs and kisses here.

Ellen Hutson January Pin-Sights Challenge

Playing with the January Ellen Hutson Pin-Sights Challenge. Here's the beautiful inspiration photo. As you can see, I focused on the top card, second from the left. Love that color combination.

A closeup, where you can see the silver foil hello die under the white.

Watercolored some paper with  tombow markers and die cut with the Essentials by Ellen by Julie Bed of Roses die.  Hand cut with an exacto knife and added the Essentials by Ellen by Julie Brushstroke Hello die.  Because the Bed of Roses die is large enough to cover an entire card, I made two cards with it.

Worried about our country and continuing to struggle just a bit with health issues -- you take meds for one thing and that triggers other things.  I'm fine, though, and appreciate more and more having a hobby that I still enjoy (and good health insurance!).

MOOD WHEN DONE = Pensive

Inspired by Aga

Stole this design from Aga, whose work consistently blows me away!  You can find her card here. Isn't it great?

I used the same Altenew Invisible Alpha and changed up the background by using a circle stencil and gold Gouache paint.

This was for my niece's college graduation.  I just don't need many graduation cards, so I love to use alphabet sets for this purpose.


MOOD WHEN DONE = Happy!

Seeing Stars

Can you tell I bought a bunch of Altenew sets?  This sentiment is from Celebrate, a nice $5 set. The little star is from Concord & 9th's Eat Cake & Celebrate.

Individually stamped each of those stars!  Yes, my hand hurt by the time I was finished. Cut out the single stars and covered them and the word "YAY!" with Clear Pico Embellisher (similar to Glossy Accents but comes in a non clogging bottle, which should be required by law!!!).

Edited to add:

And I'm submitting this to the latest Muse Challenge.  I'll admit that I wasn't aware of it when I made my card, but Anita's card is fantastic.  Both of ours use the same Altenew sentiment placed in the same way against a background.  Great minds think alike!

MOOD WHEN DONE = Happy!

Beautiful Day

Anyone like purple?

I'm not a huge fan, but a little combined with green works on a floral card.  This uses Altenew's Beautiful Day and Tombow markers.

I'm very much enjoying keeping my cards simple and easy to mail.

MOOD WHEN DONE = Happy!

Butterfly Thanks

Keeping it simple.  Very much enjoying the ink and paper combo with nothing else.

Sentiment from Essentials by Ellen by Julie Autumn Acorns and the rest from  Altenew's Botanical Garden on watercolor paper.  

MOOD WHEN DONE = It's a nice Friday afternoon -- no complaints here!

Birthday Flowers (and a Personal Thank You)

I've had a few Altenew sets for a long time, but am only just getting around to using them.  What was once intimidating is now inviting.  Go figure!

This card uses Altenew's Painted Flowers and Label Love on watercolor paper -- I've seen this combination used many times.  Stamped only the black outline and watercolored with a few Tombow markers. Used an Exacto knife to cut part of some of the leaves and adhered the panel on gold glitter paper, and then on an A2 card.

MOOD WHEN DONE  =  Happy!

____

And a personal, heartfelt thank you. Throughout the fall, many of you took the time to reach out to me through comments on this blog, email, facebook, or instagram.  I read every comment and very much appreciated every one.

It was only last week that I began stamping again.  One of the worst things about going through the medical stuff was losing all interest in everything -- especially when I was in Europe (more on Belgium later).  So I am so very happy to be back stamping.  I look forward to sharing more.  Thanks for waiting!!!