Bliss...

I made this card for my best friend's bridal shower, which was on Saturday. I love distressing all the layers on my cards lately, it definitely gives the cards a different texture. I used Julee's Mojo Monday Sketch #76 for the card layout.

Materials: Stamps: Unity Stamp Co- June 08 Kit of the Month. Paper: American Crafts- Black Textured. Papertreyink- White, Spring Rain. Stampin Up- Pacific Point. Designer Paper: Basic Grey- Urban Prairie. Ink: Memento- Black and Dandelion, Bahama Blue and Rose Bud for sponging. Ribbon: May Arts. Shimmerz: Ultramarine and Pixie Dust.

Quote of the day comes from the Nickelback song, "If Today Was Your Last Day":

My best friend gave me, the best advice,

He said each day's a GIFT, and NOT A GIVEN RIGHT

Leave no stone unturned, leave your fears behind

and try to take the path less travelled by

that first step you take is the longest stride.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day!!

Leave a Trail...

I was working with some of the LARGE quote stamps from Unity Stamp Co the other night, and this quote is probably one of my favorites of all time. I remember starting work again, after maternity leave, almost 4 years ago. I was assigned to a new park, faced with TONS of NEW challenges, and my boss said something very similar to me at that time, and it has always inspired me to work hard and do my best. So this is a Thank You card that I made for all of the help and support, especially on a recent project.

Splitcoast Sketch Challenge #220 is the card layout.

Materials: Stamps: Unity Stamp Co- Leave a Trail. Paper: Papertreyink- White, Lemon Tart, Aqua Mist. American Crafts- Textured Black. Designer Paper: Basic Grey- Urban Prarie. Ink: Memento- Black, and Summer Sky, Dandelion for sponging. Distressing. Flowers from Oriental Trading.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day!!!

UNITY **WORLD RECORD** INSPIRATIONAL BLOG HOP...Feel the Joy

Hello!! Hope you are enjoying the Unity **World Record** Inspirational Blog Hop so far. If you did not start at the beginning, head to Angela's blog, Unity Stamp Co and start there. You will be nothing short of delighted with all of the beautiful artwork you will see along the way.

Materials: Stamps: Unity Stamp Co- Feel the Joy. Paper: Papertreyink (PTI)- Kraft. Stampin Up- Old Olive, Chocolate Chip. Designer Paper: SEI- Dill Blossom. Ink: Memento- Tangelo and Bamboo Leaves, Summer Sky for the sponging. Accessories: Prima- Belle Fleur Daisy.

Quote of the day:

LEARN from yesterday,

LIVE for today,

HOPE for tomorrow.

~unknown

NEXT STOP ON YOUR HOP......THE TALENTED BECKY CARAFA.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful, inspirational day!!

Happy Spring!!

Ahhhhh, SPRING has finally arrived, and the weather is starting to feel like it now, too. I made this card with stamps from the FABULOUS Kit of the Month from Unity Stamp Co. This is actually February's KOM, but just got to using it the other day. This kit is probably one of my favorites thus far. Oh, who am I kidding....I {LOVE} them ALL!!

Project materials: Stamps: Unity Stamp Co- February 09 Kit of the Month. Paper: PTI- White, Ripe Avacado. American Crafts- textured black. Designer Paper: Basic Grey- Urban Prairie. Ink: Memento- Bamboo Leaves and Dandelion (used for sponging too). Accessories: colored pencils, distressing, Shimmerz- Pink and Angel Wings.

I used Splitcoast Sketch Challenge #220 for the card layout.

SO, If you have not tried UNITY stamps yet, you must!! AND, their Kits each month are always such a great variety of stamps of different sizes and themes. All the past KOM's are now for sale at the Unity Store. Click HERE for more info on the Unity Kit Club and to become a member.

Quote for today: You only live once, but if you do it right, once is enough. ~Unknown.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day!!

Live Simply...

Here is my Unity Challenge card for today's challenge, picked by the fabulous Cyndi. She picked a 4-color challenge for us: use Brown, Pink, Orange and Turquoise on your card. When I first received the challenge, I thought, sweet!...retro-theme! I was so happy to use my new Unity Kit of the Month that appeared on my doorstep yesterday. The "live simply" stamp just stood out to me. (I am trying to "live simply" lately, with all that is going on and just letting things roll.) AND...I had some October Afternoon designer paper that had ALL 4 colors on it. It is from the Weathervane collection, and is called Sweater Weather.

I used Julee's Mojo Monday Sketch #79 for the card layout.

Card Supplies: Papers: Stampin Up- Chocolate Chip, Tempting Turquoise, Pink Pirouette and Tangerine Tango. Designer Paper: October Afternoon- Weathervane collection. Stamps: Unity Stamp Co- March 09 Kit of the Month. Ink: Memento- Rich Cocoa and Bahama Blue, Tangelo for sponging edges. I distressed all edges of this card. Orange swiss dots ribbon from Michaels. Scallop Border Punch from Stampin Up.

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget to check out all the other Unity Challenge gals' blogs today!! Have a wonderful day.

Just a Happy Hello...

Finally using some of the wonderful stamps in the Unity Kit of the Month for February. I love this little (or should I say, LARGE??) leaf stamp. Its great for a "hello" card. The birds on the inside of the card are also found in the February KOM from Unity. I used the SCS Sketch Challenge (SC220) for the layout, and went crazy on distressing the edges of this card. I actually love the "feel" this card has, and the colors....kinda beachy. I distress the edges by wetting the edges of the papers with a baby wipe or other moist towel and then scrape *gently* on the edges with my fingernail. It frays so easily that way.

Card supplies: Stamps: Unity Stamp Co- February Kit of the Month. Papers: Papertreyink (PTI)- Kraft, White. Stampin Up- Chocolate Chip. SEI- Dill Blossom Designer papers. Ink: Memento- Rich Cocoa and Summer Sky, Bamboo Leaves for sponging.

Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day!!

Happy *Mushroom* Birthday

This is another very **special** birthday card, this one is for my dear Aunt Michelle. When I was making this card, the pink and brown color scheme called her name, since it is 'chic'. She is the one I can thank for getting me into the whole scrapbooking and stamping world. So, thank you Aunt Shells, because I never knew I had an ounce of creativity inside me until we started scrapping together. (I hope you have received this card by now...otherwise, its a sneaky peeky.) Love you!!!

I used SCS Sketch Chellenge 204 (SC204) for the layout.

Other supplies: Stamps: Unity Stamp Co- U+Me=Happy. Verve- Birthday Surprise. Papers: Papertreyink (PTI)- Kraft, and White. SEI- Dill Blossom Designer papers. Ink: Memento- Rich Cocoa, and Rose Bud, Dandelion for sponging.

Thank you for stopping by, hope you have a wonderful day!!

It's Birthday season...

March has just been full of birthdays for family and friends, so needless to say I had alot of special cards to make!! This is a card that I made for my dear Aunt Sue, and the soft but bright, springy papers reminded me of her.

I used Julee's Mojo Monday Sketch #78 for the card layout.

Other Supplies: Stamps: Unity Stamp Co- Feel the Joy (one of my new favorites) and Verve- Birthday Surprise. Papers: Papertreyink (PTI) New Leaf, Raspberry Fizz, Spring Rain and White. Basic Grey- Urban Prairie Designer Paper. Ink: Memento- Rose Bud and Angel Pink for sponging. Ribbon: May Arts- Pink satin ribbon.

Thanks so much for stopping by, have a wonderful day!

A hundred hearts would be too few...

Here is another fun friendship/love card that I made with the Verve Stamps set called A Hundred Hearts. This is yet another quote that I LOVE from this set. I can tell that I will be getting alot of use out of these stamps!! I followed Amber's sketch USCSC17, from the Unity forum on Splitcoast for this card....although, I did not use Unity. OOPS!!

Supplies: Paper- PTI White, Summer Sunrise, Pure Poppy, SU- Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip and K&Co Designer paper- Wild Saffron. Stamps: Verve-- A Hundred Hearts. Accessories: Prima- Belle Fleur Daisy. Ink: Memento- Ladybug. Sponging with Memento Ladybug and Dandelion.

True Friends....

I am soooo loving the Verve Stamps set called A Hundred Hearts. There are some really adorable quotes in this set and also very versatile for year-round use on cards. This quote just melted my heart when I read it. I have some very special friends, that this quote rings so true, and I think of them whenever I read it. SO....this card is for you, my dear friends, who have touched my heart in so many ways! I love you!!

I followed Splitcoast Sketch Challenge 218 (SC218) for this card. Check it out, every Wednesday there is a new sketch posted.

Supplies: Papers: SU- Tempting Turquoise, PTI- White, New Leaf, Summer Sunrise, and Ocean Tides, Designer Paper- K&Co. Wild Saffron. Ink: Memento- Cottage Ivy. Sponging with Memento Dandelion and Bamboo Leaves. Accessories: Prima Belle Fleur Daisy. Stamps: Verve-A Hundred Hearts.

Birthday Wishes....

Here's a simple and cute Birthday card in celebration of my dear Aunt Sue's birthday today. I used the new Unity Stamp Co. set called Love, in the Air. I just love that hot air balloon and the funky sentiments!! I used PTI White, Summer Sunrise, SU Green Galore and DCWV Sweet stack designer paper. Memento Black ink was used for the image and senitment. The balloon was colored in with colored pencils and then painted with Shimmerz. Thanks for stopping by, have a wonderful day!!

Sherry, this one's for you hun!!

The Unity Challenge today is dedicated to our dear friend Sherry, whose mother suddenly passed away the other day. Nothing but heartfelt thoughts and prayers coming your way, sweetie, we all love you!! {{HUGS}}

Latisha picked the challenge, which was to make a sympathy card for Sherry.

Papers: PTI White, Pure Poppy, New Leaf and Spring Rain. Designer Paper: DCWV Green Stack. Stamps: Unity Stamp Co: Rain and Flowers, and Floral Fantastical. Ink: Memento: Cottage Ivy. Accessories: May Arts Satin Ribbon, Cuttlebug: Swiss Dots Embossing folder, Shimmerz, dimensionals, scallop border punch, colored pencils.

Thanks so much for stopping by, have a wonderful day!

This quote...

Isn't this just **the** cutest quote ever?? I love it!! It comes from the Verve Stamps set called A Hundred Hearts. I also used Julee's Mojo Monday sketch for this card. Of course this card went to my darling, Eric with a little love note, just because.

Papers: PTI White, Summer Sunrise, Stampin Up Chocolate Chip, Close to Cocoa, and Marigold and K&Co Designer papers. Ink: Memento- Cocoa and Dandelion (for sponging)Stamps: Verve- A Hundred Hearts Accessories: Oval Punch, Black Brad, Yellow flowers from Oriental Trading, Tan grossgrain ribbon, sponging, piercing tool.

Thanks for stopping by. Have a wonderful day.

The simplest card ever made....

This has got to be the simplest card I have ever made....EVER! I was stamping with my daughter the other night and was just randomly stamping these huge flowers from the brand new Papertrey Ink (PTI) set called Friends Till the End, on white paper. Then, a light bulb went off...create a no-layer card. Now, creating a no-layer card is totally out of my element, but its very easy to do, while helping Amanda out. I think with the variety of colors I used here, it came out pretty dynamic. I also did not embellish...just stamps and paper on this card. Easy Peasy. Have a Great Monday!!!

Paper: PTI White

Stamps: PTI Friends Til the End

Ink: Memento: Summer Sky, Paris Dusk, Dandelion, Bamboo Leaves, Rose Bud, and Tangelo