BeYOUtiful T-Shirt

 

Hello there!

Happy Sunday!

It's been two months since I was here and since I was in my craft room and crafted.  We had to go out of town unexpectedly in early June and wound up being gone for three weeks, as my mother became ill and then passed away.

I've been home for two weeks now and still not really back in my routine and a To Do List much longer than it was in early June.  I've managed to unpack our suitcases, do laundry, cook a couple times, took a short trip to Richmond this week to return our granddog and even straighten up my craft room. So last night, I finally sat down and actually crafted a little. 

So here is the result:

I had seen this cute die set from The Stamp Market, T-Shirt die.  All it is is the collar and some cute little extras like the hearts, a star, a flower, etc.  I figured that would make for a quick and easy card and it did for the most part.  My biggest decision was what patterned paper (Catherine Pooler) to use for the shirt.  The sentiment die is by Ellen Hutson. I used Samba ink from Catherine Pooler for the color and and the top layer of the sentiment.

I made this for the Color Hues Challenge, which ends tomorrow morning at 9am. 

For Following Challenges:

My beautiful, independent, selfless 91 year old mother had been having some health issues for a couple months and took a turn for the worse.  She was hospitalized June 7th and it was evident within a couple days that we would be taking her to her home in Conway, SC under Hospice care.  I went down on the 10th. My two brothers and I and our spouses spent the next week at her home with her, caring for her round the clock along with Hospice until she passed on June 19.  She passed peacefully and without pain, for which we were very thankful.  Dave and I then spent four days packing up her house to transport furniture and such to our home in NC and my brother in WV.  The funeral was planned for the following weekend so it made sense for us to stay and help pack up things.  She did not want her home to sit long and for all of us to be burdened with it. That was my mom - clear up to her last breath practically, thinking to make things easier for the rest of us first. We were home for 36 hours before turning around and going to WV with a Uhaul and for her funeral the following weekend.  And if that wasn't enough, my mother requested literally the day before she passed for my brothers and I to conduct her entire funeral service including doing the eulogy.  I don't know how we did it, but we did, along with our uncle, her brother.  All in all it was a very blurred, stressful, whirlwind three weeks physically and emotionally for all of us.  I miss her dearly already but after the last four months she had, I am thankful she is not suffering anymore.

🩷Edith Marlene Harrah 🩷

January 31, 1934 - June 19, 2025 

                   

 Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"You can't use up creativity. The more you use, the more you have." 

- Maya Angelou 

Nance

Jarring Congratulations

 Hello!

It's been 19 days since I was here.  Not totally intentional.  Too many other things taking up too much time.  I did get a day of crafting with Bonnie two weeks ago. Unfortunately, I didn't unpack my craft bag until three days ago. I also finally found time on Monday to make a card.  My goal was to squeeze into the Freshly Made Sketch but I didn't make it.  Last month my youngest took a solo trip to the Catskills for a week to write. I'm thinking I need a solo crafting trip.  What a week that would be! A girl can dream! hahahaha

I did at least get to play with some new products I bought from Honey Bee Stamps.  I fell inlove with their newest release, Cottage Countryside, so I had to do some shopping.  These ginger jar dies with coordinating stencils I just love. I color coordinated them to go with the pattern papered background. 

I used Catherine Pooler inks and did ink to paper for the jars and the oval frame die behind them.  The patterned paper was part of a freebie pack I got in my Honey Bee order. So very pretty! I put everything on an ivy cardbase to coordinate with the ivory/cream in the background paper. I love the finished card. I decided to add a "congratulations" sentiment to use as a wedding card for a wedding we are attending in a couple weeks.

For Following Challenges:

All Those Pretty Papers Challenge - May - Floral Option

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Sentiment - Simply Said Stamp Set (Waffle Flower).

Paper: Neenah Ivory 110lb cardstock

Ink: Tranquil, Cove Blue, Polished, Terracotta (CP Inks)

Extras: Ginger Jars Dies, Ginger Jars Stencils, Antique Layering Frame die (Honey Bee Stamps); Label die for sentiment (CP Designs).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” 

~ Georgia O’Keeffe

Nance

Color Hues #109 Guest Designer - Bring Me Joy

Good Morning 

and 

Happy May!

Today is a good day as I am the Guest Designer at The Color Hues Challenge! So thrilled to be guesting again.  You can see the card that got me a guestie spot here. 

I had several ideas in my head for this color combo - beachy, floral, poolside, but I finally went with this cat in a basket of flowers.

I love this sweet cat die from Waffle Flower and I just thought a bright yellow cat sitting in a basket of blue flowers was perfect. Then, I decided to add a little bluebird friend as well.  I kept my background pretty simple.  I already had the blue watercolor panel of the same blue as the flowers so i die cut it from a scallop frame die.  The flower blooms are some of my only stand alone flower dies and they are by Lil Inker Designs.  They are no longer in business and I miss them. So I hope you enjoy my little feline.  

I hope you will play along in the challenge this fortnight.  Be sure and check out the Design Team's wonderful creations on the Color Hues blog. It's been one of my favorite challenges to play in as they come up with some great color combos. 

 

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Sentiment - Where Flowers Bloom (MFT Stamps)

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock; Kraft cardstock (Lawn Fawn); Watercolor paper (Stratford).

Ink: Icing on the Cake; Chiffon, Oh Boy (CP Inks)

Extras: Cat Die - Be A Cat (Waffle Flower); Flower dies (Lil Inker Designs); Tag center die - Stash; Basket die (Impression Obsession); Bird die - Snowman and Friends Die (Waffle Flower).

Our own Annabella celebrated her 8th birthday this week so it's fitting I made a cat card.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

"I found I could say things with color and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” 

~ Georgia O’Keeffe

Nance

 

Pastel Festivities

 Happy Monday!

It's a nice cool day today.  Hope your day is going fine.  I got a little crafting done over the weekend just in time for the end of the current Color Hues Challenge.  Had ambitions for other challenges, but life is not slowing down right now.

I love this color combo and I had so many ideas for it.  In the end I chose this beautiful Chinese lantern die by Catherine Pooler.  I paired it with the background stamp also by Catherine.  And of course the ink is Catherine Pooler also.  I love how it came together and very quickly also, which is sometimes I feat for me!

For Following Challenges:

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Background - Fan Dance and Sentiment - Lantern Festival (CP Designs)

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock

Ink:Midnight, Cummerbund, Sweet Sixteen(CP Inks)

Extras: Paper Lantern Die and Sequins (CP Designs) 

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 

– Pablo Picasso

Nance

Holiday Greetings

 Hello, it's FRIYAY!

It may be April, but I have a Christmas card to share.  It's been five months, almost to the day, since I made and shared a Christmas card - Nov. 26, 2024.  Hopefully I can maybe let this be the beginning of me making at least a couple Christmas cards each month the rest of this year.

I used the Holiday Street Betterpress Plate and coordinating stencil set by Pinkfresh Studio to create my card.  I also used the Holiday Greetings Sentiments Betterpress plate as well.  Before I stenciled, I pressed another copy of the stamp and then fussy cut it so I could create my "northern lights" effect around the top. I wanted a very soft, festive looking neighborhood so I used pinks and soft greens and blues.  I'm very happy with how this turned out.  

For Following Challenges:

Peace On Earth Christmas Challenge 

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Holiday Street Betterpress; Sentiment - Holiday Greeting Betterpress  (Pinkfresh)

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock

Ink:Midnight, Minted, Cotton Candy, It's a Girl, Be Mine, Pucker Up, Oh Boy, All That Jazz, Limoncello(CP Inks)

Extras: Holiday Greetings die (Pinkfresh); Gold gems.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 

– Pablo Picasso

Nance

Colorful Canoes

One more quick post today....

This one is for the Inspired By Challenge.  This one is a one layer full of color and punny.  LOL

For Following Challenges:

Inspired By Challenge #332

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Canoe stamp and sentiment - Oarsome Dad (CP Designs)

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock

Ink:Midnight, Something Borrowed, Oh Boy, Blue Raspberry, Limoncello, Tiara, Orange Twist, Bellini(CP Inks)

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 

– Pablo Picasso

Nance

Ears To You

Hello there, Wednesday!

I cannot believe I had another small sabbatical from crafting last week.  It most certainly wasn't planned, but you know ---- life. I finally got in my craft room this afternoon and miraculously made two cards!

The first one is for the challenge at JUGS. 

The inspiration photo was too good to pass up and I took my inspiration from the cake slice.  It is similar to a jello pie I made this weekend for our Easter dinner. So I went with that.  Had to add the little sprinkles on the top layer for added interest and texture. The pie, btw, really really good.  Tasted like summer - light and refreshing!

For Following Challenges:

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Bunny - Hops & Peeps(CP Designs); Sentiment (EH)

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock

Ink: Chiffon, It's a Girl, In The Park, Midnight (CP Inks)

Extras: Chevron EF (The Paper Place); Banner die (Reverse Confetti); Scallop die - Dashes & Ruffles (CP Designs), Clay dots (Pretty Pink Posh I think).

The last few weeks have been crazy chaotic and hectic with the Hubs' surgery/recovery (he also got a stomach bug last week) but we had something exciting and happy happen as well....

Our youngest, Ben, proposed to his longtime girlfriend, Molly, at the beginning of their two week vacation to New Zealand!  YAY!  WOOHOO!  She had no idea it was happening. However, both families and their close friends knew, as Ben had arranged a few days before they left for all of us to make congratulatory videos he could show her afterwards.  And what a place to get engaged!  He arranged a private helicopter ride over Auckland to a cliffside overlooking the ocean before a celebratory dinner at a nearby vineyard on Waiheke Island.  Thanks to the helicopter pilot for the pics!

               

And of course, since we were dogsitting, we had to make sure their dog, Jack, got in on the celebratory videos and pics for them as well...

So, I just had to share our happy news here!

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 

– Pablo Picasso

Nance

 

AAA Colorful #15 Guest Designer

Hello to you and happy Tuesday!

I'm happy to share that I am the Guest Designer at AAA Colorful this month! 

WOOHOO! 

I'm thrilled as I have guested with them before.  

They are a really inspiring and creative color challenge!

Here is next month's colorboard for April 15 - May 14:

And here is my card I was inspired to make:

I used Catherine Pooler Inks in the following colors: Drive-In(background and flower centers); Cotton Candy, Cummerbund(lightest color on flower), All That Jazz(darkest color on flower), and Aquatini(stems).

I won't lie, this color combo really did challenge me quite a bit trying to choose the right combo amounts.  I knew I wanted the darkest color as my background.  Trying to get out of my comfort zone a little by using bold background colors.  I'm very happy with the final result. 

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Flowers - Japanese Anemone (Altenew); Sentiment - Delicate Garden (Altenew)

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock

Ink: Midnight, Cotton Candy, Cummerbund, All That Jazz, Aquatini, Drive-In(CP Inks)

Extras: Hi sentiment die- part of Sunshine Mini Cover Plate set(CP Designs); EF - Tiny Tufts (Simon Says Stamp); Stencil and Dies for Japanes Anemone (Altenew).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 

– Pablo Picasso

Nance

 

Seize The Birthday #303 Surprise Guest

 Hello Thursday Afternoon!

I am thrilled to be the Surprise Party Guest today at Seize the Birthday! 

🥳 WooHoo! 🥳

This has come at an optimal time as April is a busy birthday month in our family. If you have visited my blog in the last few days you have seen several birthday card posts already.  So it has worked out well for me to be Guesting and sharing a special card for my niece. 

The toppings for this fortnight is Layer It!

As you see, I did layer it!  I've been wanting to play with this butterfly/flower die from Waffle Flower for a few weeks now.  I'm a member of the Sneak Peek Club so I got it early before the February release. Yet, you know how it goes sometimes when acquiring new stamps/dies, they sometimes sit patiently for a while before they're given some love.  So I pulled it out for this challenge.  It also has a coordinating stencil set, which I got also.  And there is a separate die set of some butterflies and flowers so you can bump some of them up off the main die if you want.  And I wanted! LOL  I paired the image dies with an overlapping sentiment die/stencil combo also from Waffle Flower.  

I layered it all on top of a very light cream background with a stitched frame that I found in my background ufo box. I love how it gave a little soft tone to the card. I added some sparkle to the middle of the flowers to finish it off.

So please stop over at the Seize the Birthday Challenge blog and check out all the beautiful creations by the fabulously talented Design Team and play along!  Use the topping or just make a birthday card and for the always "Anything Goes".

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Sentiment - Overlapping Happy Birthday(Waffle Flower).

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock;  Cream cardstock - stash. 

Ink: It's a Girl, Chiffon, Limoncello, Cummerbund, Fiesta Blue, Garden Party(CP Inks)

Extras: Butterfly die - Butterfly Blossom Texture Die/Stencil Combo(Waffle Flower); Butterflies, flower centers - Butterfly Blossom die (Waffle Flower); Sentiment die - Overlapping Birthday die/stencil(Waffle Flower).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 

– Pablo Picasso

Nance

Hello Spring Pup

Good Evening, Wednesday!

One quick post today for the Inspired By Challenge.

Each week Inspired By gives a photo inspiration and a sketch.  You can use one of them or both of them.  I chose both of them.  I thought this Frenchie would look cute peeking out from his umbrella while he's staying dry from the rain.

For Following Challenges:

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Umbrella & Sentiment - Blue Skies (CP Designs); Puppy - Peeking Pets (CP Designs).

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock

Ink: Limoncello, All That Jazz, SMores (CP Inks)

Extras: Mini Cover Plate - Puddle Jumper (CP Designs)

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 

– Pablo Picasso

Nance

 

Licensed To Grill

Good Evening!

I have one more birthday card for today.  This is another card for our Ben. He loves to grill and cook. Last summer he bought himself a nice grill, so this apron giftcard holder card is perfect.

For Following Challenges:

The Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers - #261 M is for Manly

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Sentiment - Dressed To Grill (Franctic Stamper); Inside Sentiment - Big Dill (Darcie's Stamps).

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock;  Silver cardstock - Stash; Patterned paper - Moose Crossings (CP Designs). 

Ink: Rockin Red, Glitz, Something Borrowed, Midnight (CP Inks)

Extras: Apron card die and Apron BBQ Add on dies (Honey Bee Stamps); Embossing Folder (on mitt) - Cuttlebug.

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 

– Pablo Picasso

Nance

 

Recycled Teenagers

Hello again!

Another birthday card this morning. 

This is for my sister inlaw who turned 65 yesterday.  She does not look 65 by any stretch.  I wanted to create something funny and uplifting at any rate and I've been wanting to use this stamp by Unity Co that I got a few months ago and I specifically paired it with the sentiment from Riley and Co.  Of course I had to color these wild ladies in bright colors.

For Following Challenges:

Kraft Chicks - Challenge # 762 - Birthday

Addicted to Stamps & More - #489 Any Occasion

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Sentiment  (Riley & Co)

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock;  Patterned paper- (Altenew). 

Ink: Limencellos, Black (Memento); Copics

Extras: Oval dies (Ellen Hutson).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 

– Pablo Picasso

Nance

 

 

Hoppy Birthday

Hello there!

A couple quick posts this morning in between errands.  This first one, I'm skirting in at the last minute for Seize The Birthday.  Have too many things happening at once and sometimes is challenging to squeeze them all in at the same time.  Anyway, this card is for my youngest, Ben's birthday on Sunday.  Only, he won't see it until he's back from his dream trip to New Zealand with his girlfriend.  He doesn't look at my blog so it's all safe.  Hahaha

The die cut "grungy" parts are a corner die I used in various parts of the background for a grungy bar look.  It's hard to see in the pic, but I did puff emboss the beer foam also. 

For Following Challenges:

Seize The Birthday - #302 - Milestone Toppings

(I did not use the Toppings)

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Sentiments - Here's to You (MFT Stamps)

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock;  Patterned paper from stash. 

Ink: Limenocello, Glitz, Midnight (CP Inks)

Extras: Beer Mug Die (MFT Stamps); Corner die - Distressed Baptista Collage (Memory Box).

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 

– Pablo Picasso

Nance

 

You're The Vest

TGIF!

Happy FriYAY!  

It's a hot one here in central NC.  It's like we jumped clear to July temp wise while in full blown pollen mode and haven't checked today but maybe also in fire danger mode. Springtime in North Carolina!

I've had a little more time, off and on, in my craft room this week.  The Hubs has been recouping from shoulder surgery and doing very well.  Post-op visit today doc gave him six weeks of physical therapy and light duty at work (he returns Sunday) and home then we will see.  

This is one of my creations this week.  I have surprised myself in that I've made six cards in one week, definitely a record for me lately.

Is this not the coolest die set for anyone - life vest?  It's a newbie from Catherine Pooler Designs - part of the series "At The Lake With Dad".  This life vest die is actually a gift card holder.  I did not take it apart to photograph the inside I'm afraid.  You don't have to make it a gift card holder, you could glue down the straps and just use it on a card.  

I wouldn't say I bought it jsut for the AddictedToCAS challenge, but the timing was nice that it dropped in the shop within the time frame for it.

For Following Challenges:

The Color Hues Challenge #107

Card Supplies: 

Stamps: Sentiment - Vest Gift Sentiments(CP Designs)

Paper: Neenah Solar White 110lb cardstock. 

Ink: Orange Peel, All That Jazz (CP Inks)

Extras: Lifejacket die/accessories - Vest Gift Ever (CP Designs); Coverplate (Lil' Inker Designs)

Thank you for stopping by and I hope you come back soon!

“Art washes away from the soul the dust of everyday life.” 

– Pablo Picasso

Nance