A Rose Is Just A Rose...

This picture I think has to be my all time favorite. This beautiful rose picture was taken in our neighbor's yard during one of our evening walks (DH always has his camera around his neck in case he spots something worth taking a photo of or an opportunity for a great picture for a card LOL!!) and if you didn't know better, you would of sworn that the rose buds behind the large rose was just placed there, but NO this is how it was growing on the bush. In fact all of JoAnne's roses were blossoming like this. Of course my DH was ecstatic and couldn't wait until we got home from our walk that night for me to upload and see what it looked like. And here you have it. This card took me awhile to assemble as I had to figure out the pleating and knew I had seen it done with tutorial instructions from one of the DT members for a specific stamp company ( I promise to locate it and place the link HERE). I had to search through endless files of papers to get the right combinations to pull the colors out of the rose to make it pop. I realized I had the perfect papers sitting in front of me from a previous project the whole time I was searching..LOL! I began the card at 5:00pm and finished it around 10:00 pm. Again I finished the inside of the card to make it complete. If you have not discovered the newest and easiest way to make a bow, head on over to Sharon Johnson's Blog and order the Bow Easy. I am so glad I purchased it and now my bows come out perfect everytime with the tails behind it instead of one in front and one behind. You'll wonder how you ever made bows without it.
Supplies: Paper-SU Pink Pirouette and Kiwi Kiss, Paper-PTI Berry Sorbet, Stamp-SU "Say It With Scallops", Cuttlebug 2x2 Die, SU Top Note for inside of card. 1/2" Pink Satin Ribbon and MS Pearls.

You Are My Sunshine...

I am not a person who is fond of yellow's but after dh took this picture I knew I had to make it as it was a flower that was saying :Do I remind you of sunshine?" It was really quite easy to pull together and I think I will prbably give it to a friend who is recovering from surgery. Below are other views of this card. I have began finishing the inside of the card as well instead of leaving it just plain. I think it just makes the card complete. I have seen others do it to theirs and at the time thought it was to much trouble, but now that I have begun doing this as well to all my cards, it really makes a difference and helps when people notice and comment. We all can use praise once in awhile. After finishing this card I liked the way the yellow complemented the green papers. Unfortunately I wish I could tell you who these papers are made by, but like many of us we buy and stash, take apart the reams and file them with the color palette they belong too. LOL!!
Supplies: Various papers (Company Unknown), Studio G Sentiment, Offray Grosgrain ribbon, Yellow dew drops, MS Punch, Nestibilities Ovals-Plain and Scalloped, CB 2x2 dies for squares.

Dreams...

Hello fellow bloggers. It has been awhile since I was last on here. Lots of things going on and just plain life happenings if you know what I mean. I have been working on various cards these last few weeks and think I am ready to share. LOL! I don't know about your place, but it is definitely the mating season for our feathery friends. My husband was inspecting the rain gutter on our house and happen to here the cooing of these doves. He made sure not to get to close so he wouldn't disturb their nest or upset them. Of course he had to come and get the camera to take a few pictures of the female dove sitting on her eggs and the father with his proud chest out over watching making sure nothing happens to her or their little family. We couldn't understand why they had picked the lower eve below the larger one until we happen to see a cat trying to get to them. Luckily there is no tree near and even if the cat tried to get on the roof, he would fall to the ground as there is quite a distant to try and jump and needlessly to say he did try several attempts but always fell. Do you see those beautiful colors on his chest? So rich and seeing them up close is even more amazing. I have seen many doves but none with this coloring and I wonder if they are from the south as far as Mexico or South America. I always feel blessed when God has so graciously let the birds nest near our home. Last year it was the hummingbirds, this year it is the doves. Hmm.... I wonder will we be able to see the little ones before they take flight? Only time will tell. Hope you have enjoyed this picture.
Papers: Caffee Latte and Rich Cognac by Bazzill, Ribbon by SU, Sentiment from PTI "Spiral Bouquet" and the glistening stones are from Michaels.

FREEDOM!

Hoping everyone had a wonderful Memorial Weekend and for those who have loved ones away an in the various armed forces, know that my prayers are with them and I pray for their safe return. To those who have served and still serving, thank you for protecting us and keeping America Free. We are so indebted to you as a nation and we will never be able to express or repay you or show you how much this has meant to us. Thank You from the bottom of my heart!!

Find The Seed

Another card, that took a little longer than anticipated. I can't believe I got as far as putting the finishing touches on it and realized that I didn't have the correct color of ribbon. aarrgghh! What to do? What to do? I know I will try the technique that I saw on someone's blog (sorry forgot whose and if it is you please let me know so I can give credit where it is due). I remember her saying that when she was crafting late at night and didn't have the correct color of ribbon, she would pull out her markers and use either white or creme satin ribbon and voila! she would have the color needed. Mine came out just a tad darker than the paper, but it definitely worked. I love purple if you haven't guessed by now and when I had begun picking out the papers to match the pictures it was almost as if this paper combination was screaming at me! LOL! Of course this is another picture taken by DH when we went and saw the wildflowers and I thought that this quote (which is a favorite of mine) worked so perfectly for this one flower that had just opened up. I think the world would be a better place if people applied this to their busy daily lives. What do you think?
Supplies: Bazzill Papers in African Violet and Witch Hazel Green, Stripe by Doodlebug, Ribbon was from the Ribbon Outlet and beads by Westrim. Used SU Black Classic Ink.

Gratitude

I cannot believe it has been 9 days since my last post where I had promised to get my cards posted that I have been working on. But nothing ever goes as planned as life happens and then there are always the computer issues! aargghh! Anywho, my mojo is definitely back and here is the first card of 10 to be posted. Actually I have quite a few in the making as I finally got smart (duh...LOL!!!!) and lined up the papers, embellishments and so forth that will be going on each card and started an assembly line to make it go a little smoother.
Supplies: Fabrique Aquarello Watercolor, Doodlebug Dotted Swiss, White Chenille and Bazzill Green Papers. Stamp: PTI Spiral Bouquet Sentiment;EK Lace Punch; SU Black Classic Ink used over Versamark with clear embossing powder and Offray Black Dotted Swiss ribbon.