HAPPY NATIONAL STRAWBERRY DAY!!! . . . LAST WEEK!!!

Well, I thought I had this post scheduled to go live last Saturday - "Strawberry Day" . . .but somehow, that didn't happen! I love the card, so will show it to you now . .. a few days late!! LOL!

Strawberries . . . .my favorite fruit!! I love living in an area that has a LONG strawberry season, and can't wait for the first crop to get ripe! Since this is National Strawberry Day, I decided to make a special card in honor of this day! I had fun with this set from Stampin' Up, and made the strawberries "pop" with some Crystal Effects covering them. Hope your first strawberries of the season are not too far away!

SWAPPIN' SUNDAY!

I've decided to dedicate Sundays on my blog to the many swap cards I make and receive. I have organized a swap called "Sisterhood of the Terrific Stampers" for about 10 years now. Stampers have dropped and others joined . . .I have kept the group to around 10 stampers to keep the monthly committment manageable. My friend Jill also has swaps every time a new Stampin' Up catalog comes out, and I participate in those. And, from time to time, I'll hold or participate in a random "theme" crop. Soooo . .. I have "cards comin' out my ears"!! Thankfully, I have just found a wonderful place to donate a lot of the extras I have. I've gotten involved with a marvelous charity called "Mercy Multiplied" and the girls who live there (a 6-month residential program for girls with a variety of life issues) love to send letters and cards. So, I'll be trying to keep a box of cards filled out there for them to use. www.mercymultiplied.com

Enjoy some of my most recent swap cards . .. more to come another Sunday!

TODAY IS LOVE YOUR PET DAY!!

Had to show you one of the many Graphic 45 cards available at www.bellacosavintage.com, including cards with cats and dogs. Isn't this the sweetest card? Graphic 45's line called "Raining Cats & Dogs" is so much fun to play with and has beautiful vintage-style images of our pets.

A Color Challenge from The Paper Players!

Had to play along again with The Paper Players, as I loved the color combo they came up with for this week's challenge! Colors are Pool Party, Tangerine Tango, and Delightful Daffodil . .. perfect for spring!! (these are all Stampin' Up's colors).

In keeping with the spring theme, I chose a spring flower (Stampin' Up). I paired it with the stunning border die I got from England, from Joanna Scheen. . . . LOVE this die as well as another one I got from there, which isn't quite as ornate. I'm having such fun using it in a variety of cards.

Hope spring will be here soon . . . . I know if you're on the East Coast that is more of a "longing" than a hope. Here in California, we see signs that bring hope!

Check out the other wonderful submissions to this week's challenge!

www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com

BEAUTIFUL NEW DIES!

I recently discovered the company "Heartfelt Creations" (www.heartfeltcreations.us) and some of their gorgeous dies. This is the first card I've made with one of their dies and I absolutely LOVE it! Isn't it beautiful? I used "brushed gold" cardstock to cut the die and focused in on the saying  .  . . one of my favorites, as I reflect on the amazing blessing of friendship . . . such a special gift from God!
Happy Tuesday  . .  . do something creative today! Enjoy God's gift of creativity, too!

HAPPY VALENTINES DAY!

This is my favorite Valentine project this year....something I had never tried before, but I love how it turned out! It was not hard, but took awhile . .. .but soooo worth it, as a gift for a special friend! Next year I plan to have some of these for sale on the Bella Cosa Vintage web site, or take special orders for those who would like one. VERY fun to make, too, if you're inclined to try it!

It's also posted on www.creativecarteblanche.com . . check them out! Beautiful stuff!


Valentine Hanging

All you need . . .. for The Paper Players!

I decided to participate in this week's Paper Players challenge, as I LOVE the subject . .. .Animals!! I made a vintage style card, with my favorite "doggie saying": "all you need is love . . .and a dog"!!
Along with some pretty red Bo Bunny red background paper, beautiful deep red silk ribbon from May Arts, and a vintage dog picture . . . and I love how it turned out.  Check out all the other submissions this week at www.thepaperplayers.blogspot.com . . . so many cute cards!

YUMMY VALENTINE LUSCIOUSNESS!!

Nope - not referring to my niece's chocolates (although those are AMAZING, too . .. www.chocolatefandango,com) . . but to papercraft lusciousness! Just look at the stunning Valentine card I got from my sweet friend Jilli!! Isn't it simply wonderful!!?? She surprised me with this early card . . . my first Valentine of 2016 . .. and I absolutely LOVE it!! Friends who just "get you" are one of God's greatest and most special gifts!! Thank you my friend!

Welcome to the JUNGLE!!!

I LOVE the designer paper, floral stamps, and matching dies that are part of Stampin' Up's new "suite" of products called "Botanical Blooms". Sooooo pretty . . .the color combos are great, and they're so much fun to play with. This is another of the cards we're making in my February Stamp Clubs which meet this week. I had a SUPER weekend of stamping, "just playing" like I love to do, as well as finishing the prep for my first Graphic 45 workshop in Dixon next Saturday, and getting started on my "Spring Fling" workshop prep for March in Dixon. Definitely keeping busy!! But lovin' it! Happy papercrafting!