Happy Belated Mother’s Day and quilt progress

Sorry I am so late with the belated wishes for a Happy Mother’s Day and a card to share but you will see why later in the post!  Here is a card I made my mother-in-law for Mother’s Day (John’s stepmom Shirley) which she adored!  Little does she know the card came together so quickly like 10+ minutes!  I used Melanie’s Branching Out and Notes to Mom for the sentiment.  I made my card centered around this scrap of ribbon that came off of a notepad.  I loved the idea of pairing the pink & white with kraft pure luxury cardstock (the branching out rectangle was already stamped from a previous stamping session so I did cheat a little!)  She loved it nonetheless and that’s what counted!  Even more so, she loved what I put inside, one of the pictures we took in Jamaica on our cruise. 
So, hopefully you are not bored with seeing a Mother’s Day card after the fact (you can always switch up the greeting for another occasion real easily!), but I have been busy working on my 1st quilt (and the top is finished as of this evening!) I worked hard on it Sat, Sun afternoon and tonight because I need to get some stamping done this week!

As you recall from a previous post, I am taking an on-line quilt class with Rebecca of Chasing Cottons and I was determined to finish the top and I did!  This is a picture of John helping me figure out the pattern, the quilt almost took up our whole island (little did I know when we planned for the island, it would double as a sewing station)  ha!  I went with diagonal triangles for this quilt.

Here is a picture of the ‘planned’ design.  We got the design down in less than 15 minutes and I started sewing 12:00 on Sat. while John went out geocaching with some friends.  He rolled in about 8:00 p.m. and I was still sewing (but I took several breaks during the day to eat, nap and watch a little t.v. *snicker*

By Sunday, I had this done (just worked on it a few hours since we were out most of the day visiting parents for Mother’s Day).  I was so excited it was taking shape so quickly!! I looked forward to working on it as soon as I got home from work today and I did!  John was so sweet, he was washing dishes and had put dinner together so I got started right away!
A few hours later and this is what I had (took several breaks to share some exciting news with some friends and family a few times – don’t worry the news will be shared here soon, promise!) It’s past my bedtime and my quilt front is complete!  It will be a lap quilt, roughly 4’ x 4.5’ I believe.  Eeeks! I can hardly believe I MADE THIS!!!  


I also wanted to share with you, that on Friday May 20th, there will be a Friday Night Sew In going on, with Heidi and Bobbi
I am looking forward to it since I had to miss the last one since we were on our cruise.  If you like to sew, we'd love to have you join us!  I'm not sure if I will be done with my quilt or not, but I have plenty of other sewing projects in line to do!

Follow Your Dreams night sky

Here is my attempt at a sponged night sky using Theresa’s beautiful set Follow Your Dreams.  Since I wanted the night sky to take center stage, I framed it with black onyx and placed it on white pure luxury cardstock, which makes it a great clean & simple card!  I love those in case I hadn’t told you lately. 

Sorry this post is so short; it’s past my bedtime as I write this and I have had a long week – this weekend I will be busy working on my quilt and a card order so I may not have anything to share.  Hang in there with me though because I will be back again soon, promise! 

Thanks for stopping by! 

Simple Crazy Daisy card

Here is a simple card I made using Melanie’s Branching Out set and her first digital paper pack called Crazy Daisy!  I used the 1/4 sheet pack for my card – how quickly a card can come together using it!  All I had to do was stamp my focal image and cut it out and adhere it all with some double-stitch 5/8” grosgrain ribbon.  I really like this card too!  Sorry this post is so short but this card was so easy, there’s not much to explain!  All Supplies used can be found in the Gina K Store!!

Supplies
Stamps: Branching Out
Cardstock: White, Black Onyx, Red Hot Pure luxury
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ladybug
Accessories: 5/8” double-stitch black grosgrain ribbon

To Learn = To Live What I’ve been up to lately

learn/lərn/Verb
1. Gain or acquire knowledge of or skill in (something) by study, experience, or being taught.
2. Commit to memory.

I truly believe when you stop learning, you stop living!  The brain is like a sponge and just like a sponge, if it is not used (wet with water) then it gets dry and old.  If you don’t wet your brain with knowledge, it can get old too!  I can’t remember what year it was but for a while now I have learned something new to add to my repertoire!  One year it was learn to swim, another learn to sew, another learn to make jewelry, you get the idea!  So, lately I have re-discovered my love for sewing so I have added learn to quilt as my goal for 2011.  So, I have been researching and found a new blog last week while blurfing around all the sewing blogs and found Rebecca of Chasing Cottons, all the way in Australia who is teaching an on line Quilt Class – everything one needs to know to make a quilt in 12 weeks!  Although I discovered it when she was on Week 4, I quickly made up for lost time and last Thursday I went shopping for my materials and by Sunday evening, I was done making 120 half square triangles! 

Here is a picture of all the patterns I got in my charm pack – I was quickly drawn to the freshness of the blues, oranges and browns in this fabric. 


After I stacked all my pinned white & pattern squares, I had to draw a line on the diagonal and sew.  Then, I cut each diagonal and then pressed the 2 fabrics. 


Here’s what the triangles look like, I was playing with a few variations of patterns I see can be made (the chevron upper left orange pattern is based on Rebecca’s drawing here). 
So this is why I haven’t stamped much or posted many cards on my blog – I am distracted with sewing!  I know this is a stamping blog – so bear with me, promise to share more stamping soon! 

Our Cruise pictures to share!!

Western Caribbean Cruise - April 2011 VIEW SLIDE SHOW DOWNLOAD ALL As promised, here are pictures from our cruise! We had such a fabulous time!! Our stops were Cozumel, Mexico (have mostly flower pictures since everything was in bloom and we didn’t see much more than what was right at the port along a busy street) – Apr 12; next was Georgetown, Grand Cayman where we went on an excursion to Stingray City a 30-min boat ride to swim with the stingrays we loved Grand Cayman most! – Apr 13; last stop was Falmouth, Jamaica where we did an excursion to the Dunns River Falls where I climbed 600 of the 1000 ft falls which was so exhilarating and intense but I’m so glad I did it – Apr 14. It was great to have a relaxing and fun vacation that lasted more than 4 days where we didn’t have to ‘do’ anything, had gourmet meals, nightly entertainment, met so many friendly people (even a couple who are geocachers!), got to sleep in, and take a few naps! We’re ready for the next one already! Hope you enjoy the pictures. Let me know if you have any questions after you peruse them. I will be back later to show you what I’ve been up to lately!

Gina K Inspiration Hop: What’s the Dirt?

This is our last day of inspiration hops for the Gina K. April release.  Last up is What’s the Dirt?  This is a fun Spring/Friendship set with many great sentiments.  I made a very busy paper-pieced card for Jimmi’s challenge at the party.  I really had a of of fun making this card with the Echo Park Walk in the Park papers. 

Make sure to visit all the designer’s blogs and leave a comment on each one to increase your chance of winning a free stamp set of your choice ($23.95 value!)   The winner will be posted on Gina’s blog tomorrow.

• Gina K
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Michelle Woerner
• Sharon Harnist
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Vicki Dutcher
• AJ Otto
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Colleen Schaan
• Deb Felts
• Donna Baker (you’re here!)
• Emily Giovanni
• Giovana Smith
• Jennie Harper
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy

Thanks for stopping by!

Card details
Stamps: What’s the Dirt?
Cardstock: White, Sweet Mango, Bubblegum, Cranberry Tart, Chocolate Brown Pure Luxury
Ink: Memento Rich Cocoa, Wild Honey Distress
Accessories: Orange button, Marvy Flower Punches, Brown stitched ribbon, Copic markers, brown thread

Gina K Inspiration Hop: Branching Out and Follow Your Dreams

Welcome to our 2nd day of inspiration hops for our April release.  First up today is Melanie’s set, Branching Out which coordinates with classic circle and oval nestability dies.  I used the image with the circles on my card.  This set also coordinates nicely with several cuttlebug folders (used Leafy Branch here).  I also used a black pen to create a shadow beneath the leaves since I stamped them with such a light color green ink.  I love how it makes them stand out. 

Next up is a simple no layer card I made for Mother’s Day.  I stamped the circle directly on the card base and stamped the red flowers to create some color.  After I added some red gingham ribbon, I felt like the card needed a little something more so I grabbed some red & green scraps and made stripes on the bottom.

Here is the stamp set at a glance; click on the picture to see it in the store.  The possibilities are endless with this stamp set – Melanie will have a ton of inspiration on her blog in the weeks to come, including a tip sheet!



Our next set is by Theresa Momber called Follow Your Dreams which is lends itself to beautiful scenes!  On my first card, I used just a few stamps: cattail silhouette, smaller dragonfly and sentiment by Ghandi which I love!  The card base is our awesome new accent color Key Lime!  This is the card I sneaked a peek of last Thursday, so if you didn’t make it to the release party and see it there, now you can see it all.  

Next up is a scene card I attempted to sponge and I am no Theresa Momber when it comes to this, but I certainly tried!  I hope you like it too.  I love that a lot of her sets can be made masculine so it is a Father’s Day card!

Here is the set at a glance and as usual, you can easily mix with other Theresa sets!
Now be sure to visit all the designer’s blogs and leave a comment on each one to increase your chance of winning a free stamp set of your choice ($23.95 value!) 4 winners will be chosen!  The winners will be posted on Gina’s blog along with the next inspiration hop. 
Thanks for stopping by and thank you for your kind comments, I appreciate each and every one!

• Gina K
• AJ Otto
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Deb Felts
• Donna Baker (you’re here!)
• Emily Giovanni
• Giovana Smith
• Janice Whiting
• Jennie Harper
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Michelle Woerner
• Sharon Harnist
• Suzanne Dean
• Tami Mayberry
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Valerie Stangle
• Vicki Dutcher

Card#1 details
Stamps: Branching Out, Say it with Flowers
Cardstock: White, Crème de Menthe, Black Onyx Pure Luxury
Ink: Memento New Sprout, Tuxedo Black
Accessories: White, Black & Green Buttons, Leafy Branch Cuttlebug Folder, Black stitched ribbon
Card#2 details
Stamps: Branching Out, Notes to Mom
Cardstock: White, Key Lime, Red Hot Pure Luxury
Ink: Wild Lime Vivid, Ladybug Memento
Accessories: red gingham ribbon
Card#3 details
Stamps: Follow Your Dreams
Cardstock: Key Lime, White, Black Onyx Pure Luxury
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Aqua Vivid, Wild Lime Vivid
Accessories: black brads




Card#4
Stamps: Follow Your Dreams Special Fathers
Cardstock: Kraft, Turquoise Sea, White Pure Luxury
Ink: Memento rich cocoa, Cottage Ivy, SU! Soft Sky, Cool Caribbean, Vivid Straw
Accessories: Copic markers, cloud template

April SFYTT: It’s Your Day!

Here is a card I made for the April Sketch For You to Try on Jen’s blog.  I am cutting it close to the end this month since I was getting ready for vacation a few weeks ago!   I just remembered, I promised y’all more pictures from our cruise – I will try to do that this week.  I used the new Timeless Textures stamps from the recent Gina K. release as well as Perfect Pennants for a brightly colored birthday card.  I just love the new Key Lime pure luxury accent color, see how well it goes with Sweet Mango & Turquoise Sea? I love it.  The Timeless Textures are used on the solid color panels.  All supplies used can be found in the Gina K store (except mini white brads).

I hope you have a Blessed Easter tomorrow! 

GKD Inspiration Hop: Garden Silhouettes & Timeless Textures

Welcome to Day 1 Inspiration Hop for the Gina K. April release!  I hope you were able to make it to the fun release party last night at StampTV (if not, the thread will be there for you to peruse at your leisure), including all the details on the challenges for you to participate in (deadline is Tues) so you can win some free stamps**see below too! 

On my first card, I used the One Free with Three set called Garden Silhouettes.  Purchase any 3 stamp sets, and it’s yours for free!  Just add it to your cart after you add the 3 and it will automatically be sent to you!  I just love solid stamps sometimes because you can use different techniques with them.  I used markers directly on the stamps. I also used the new Wild Lilac color, isn’t it pretty?

On my next card, I used Timeless Textures to create a focal point for my bloom.  These stamps are different shapes and textures which are so fun to use by themselves or to create fun backgrounds on your cardstock.  How I used it, makes it easy to make a nice simple card in a hurry!  I think this card literally took about 15 minutes.  I also used the new color Key Lime which is a slight lighter weight than pure luxury cardstock and it is in the ‘accents’ line of cardstock and Gina will be offering more new colors!  Yea!!  Since I stamped on a white layer on the front of my card, I made outside score lines with my scor-pal for some visual interest. I wish I remembered to do that more often, it’s a cool thing!

Here is the Timeless Textures set.  Remember, all the stamp sets and new Key Lime pure luxury accents cardstock are available to purchase NOW!  Here is a link to What’s NEW in the store.

Now be sure to visit all the designer’s blogs and leave a comment on each one to increase your chance of winning a free stamp set of your choice ($24.95 value!)   The winners will be posted on Gina’s blog along with the next inspiration hop.  Thanks for stopping by!  Hope you have a wonderful weekend/Easter!!

• Gina K
• AJ Otto
• Carolina Buchting
• Cathy Tidwell
• Deb Felts
• Donna Baker (you’re here!)
• Emily Giovanni
• Giovana Smith
• Janice Whiting
• Jennie Harper
• Jimmi Mayo
• Lee Murphy
• Melanie Muenchinger
• Michelle Woerner
• Sharon Harnist
• Theresa Momber
• Tina Gilliland
• Valerie Stangle
• Vicki Dutcher

Card#1 details
stamps: Garden Silhouettes, Timeless Textures (links above)
Cardstock: White, Wild Lilac, Vibrant Violet and Fresh Asparagus pure luxury
ink: Versamark
Accessories: Spellbinders Nestability classic & scallop ovals, grommet tags, markers, eyelets, buttons, sakura glaze pens

Card#2 details
stamps: Garden Silhouettes, Timeless Textures (links above)
cardstock: white & key lime pure luxury
inks:  vivid (wild lime, straw)
accessories: markers, pumpkin/mango 5/8” striped ribbon

You’re Invited to April’s GKD release tonight!!

We are very excited to extend an invitation to Gina K. Designs April Release Party. We have a fun evening planned for you; chatting, prizes, challenges, stamp sets reveals, design team samples, and most importantly at the end of the party (9:00 p.m. CDT) you will be able to go shopping!

If you came from Deb Felts’ blog , you're at the right place. If not make sure to head over to StampTV where you will find a list of all those participating in today's hop.

Here is a sneak peek of one of the cards I will be sharing at the party (p.s. it’s my favorite one I made!)

Hope to see you at the party, here are all the details – hope to SEE you there!!

• When: Today Thursday, April 21
• Where: StampTV Release Party Forum
• Time: 7 PM to 9 PM (CDT)

Head on over to Emily’s blog to see what sneak peek she's sharing with you today and see you back here tomorrow for the beginning of our three day Inspiration Blog Hop series for April!

MFTWSC15: Gabby’s Birthday card!

Here is the birthday card I made for my niece for her 5th birthday which is next week!  I cannot believe how big she has gotten!  This is for this week’s sketch challenge at SCS!  This is my first time to use the Pure Innocence set Don’t Open Until.  I hope I get her card & gift in the mail before her birthday!  I used papers from the Little Girl collection of Echo Park and a cloud die from Taylored Expressions. 

I am busy getting samples for Gina K’s release which is this Thursday at StampTV – hope you will join us for the release which will be 7:00-9:00 pm in the release forum.  Speaking of news – did you see Gina’s fun news today on her blog?  She is posting daily snippets of the new sets too, so you get a little preview of what’s to come! 

Now I will leave you with a picture from our cruise; promise more to come!!  This was taken last Thursday when we were in Ocho Rios, Jamaica at Dolphin Cove.  We had such a fabulous time on our trip and it’s back to reality for us (insert sad face).  It was just gorgeous out there, can’t you see from the picture and you can tell how happy we were too. 

I’ll see you again soon – thanks for stopping by!!

password: iloveyou! a matching card & purse I made!

Here is a card I made many months ago that happens to match a purse I made this week so why not share it now?  This card was made using the Tech Talk stamp set by Melanie for Gina K Designs; I just love using it to ‘decorate’ a desk!  This one is just Passionate pink & Wild Dandelion yellow – so sunshiny!  All supplies can be found in the Gina K store. 

Now for my sunshiny purse that I made the other night using this great pattern!  It was surprisingly easy even though it was my first time to make something this big and REVERSIBLE.  Don’t you just adore this fabric?  I love the big pink blooms!

 

 

Here is the other fabric – smaller pink blooms!  It took me about 3 hours, but I know it would have taken way less time if my sewing machine wasn’t giving me fits – I finally got it right when I made a few adjustments to the tension and bobbin tension.  Then it was smooth sailing.   Speaking of sailing – the reason I was determined to finish this bag in one night (and I stayed up past my bedtime about 15 mins), was because I wanted it to take on our **CRUISE which we leave for in the morning!  We are super excited and a little tired since we just finished packing!  Talk about waiting until the last minute!  Well, I have to admit the reason I waited so long was because I was working on making a small change purse to match!  I will have to share that another day with you. 

Here is a little drawstring pouch I made though – this is to put my medications in for the trip. 

**we will be gone for a full week – going out of Galveston for this Western Caribbean cruise and stopping in Cozumel, Mexico – Grand Cayman – Falmouth, Jamaica.  This will be my 2nd cruise and John’s 1st.  Unfortunately, I don’t have any posts pre-scheduled and have a Gina K release to stamp for when I get back but I will try to post at least a few pictures as soon as I get back! 

Thanks for stopping by!

Bling Birthday & Matching Clutch

Here is another cute  clutch I made recently, this one is in the mail to my sweet friend Carolina for her birthday (her favorite color is green)!  I emailed her a little bit ago to let her know and not to visit my blog so her surprise is not spoiled!  Let’s see if she obeys!  I got a great tutorial for a wristlet from Bev at Flamingotoes and I put a little spin on the front of this one, using her basic design/lining!  I made a gathered natural center (the back is the same fabric) and a small strip of coordinating fabric for the center and handmade the flower.  I cut many small circles by hand and used a fray stop at the ends and each one I would bunch up & glue to a felt circle with a permanent fabric glue.  It was so easy!  My DH picked out this fabric and little did I know it coordinated so nicely with Melanie’s new Bring the Bling set for Gina K Designs so I made a matching birthday card!

Here is a picture of the coordinating liner with credit card/driver’s license pockets.  I hope she likes it as much as I do!  I just know I’m going to have to make myself one (probably not the same fabric since I don’t think I have much more left, but definitely with the gathered center and handmade flower)!

Here is a close up of the card I made.  I kept it very simple, stamping all the bigger flowers first and then filling in with the sentiment from Lovely Labels 3 and smaller flowers.  Then I sponged around the edges.  I was so happy to have turquoise rhinestones to put in the centers which is the same as on the fabric!

Supplies
Stamps: Bring the Bling
Cardstock: Ivory, Sweet Mango, Green Apple
Inks: Vivid Butterscotch, Wild Lime
Accessories: Sponges, Want2Scrap, Liquid Pearls

I am linking up to the following link parties to share what I made, please click on the photos to check them out for a TON of handmade inspiration: (but beware – it is ADDICTING!)

Uncolored cards–Cute as a Bug

Here are a few cards I made using the newly released Cute as a Bug stamp set for Gina K Designs!  I thought it may be fun to make some mini cards with scraps I had on my craft table and also to choose not to color them in – yikes!  That was hard, because for a long while I thought they looked ‘unfinished’ since that’s not the norm for me.  But, I was inspired by all the non-colored creations I’ve found on the talented Julie Lacey’s blog so I figured I would step out & try something new!

I kinda like how they turned out actually, once I got used to the idea of not coloring and marveling in how quickly they came together!

Supplies
Stamps: Cute as a Bug
Cardstock: All Gina K Designs; Red Hot, Grass Green, Wild Dandelion, Black Onyx, Bubblegum Pink, White Pure Luxury
Accessories: Ribbon, buttons

Thanks for stopping by – hope you have a great week!!

MFT sketch time!!

Hi everyone still out there reading my blog!!  I took another much needed break** from posting and I’m back to share this week’s MFT sketch!  I used my new Pure Innocence cutie Something Special Just For You.  This card is for my DMIL to give to our niece Gabby who will be turning 5 in 3 weeks!  I can hardly believe it!  We just talked to her a little bit ago, it had been too long since we had and I was missing hearing hers and her brother’s voices.  She cracked me up saying “Auntie Donna is creatable” when I told her I was making her birthday cards!   A few weeks ago my sister said that Gabby told her, “I can’t get over how talented Auntie Donna is” that really made me laugh out loud and smile!  I just love it!! 

I used my new Key ingredient subscription papers are from the Stella & Rose Gertie Collection by My Mind's Eye.

PERSONAL STUFF: **Am I the only one still reeling from the affects of the time change??  I am struggling with getting to bed/sleep at my normal time because, well it’s not my normal time anymore!  So then I am super sleepy during the day and have no energy to get stuff done in the evenings!  So, my break had to do with that.  Oh and the fact that I have been sewing more clutch purses!  Will share more soon – sewing is addicting!  I guess it’s because I have an addictive personality.  Last weekend I went to a Geocaching event with John and some others and we hosted 2 couples spending the night Fri and Sat.  They all went out Sat & left Sun and I stayed here and sewed – it was a lot of fun! 

MORE PERSONAL STUFF: Speaking of fun, it was our quarterly event at work today – only worked until 10:30 and then met at a bowling alley, had fajita lunch and bowled 3 games.  It was great – started off with a bang, a strike and it’s been at least 10 yrs since I’ve bowled.  I got another 2 frames later then I finished the game and subsequent games with a ton of gutter balls oh and one more strike!  I got tired fast but I still had a lot of fun.  Have I told you lately how much I love my job!!??

Thanks for stopping by – have a great weekend!!!