Now that was Easy - February Card Class

February's cards are classmate and Boutique Owner requested. Karen requested my Get Well card. We'll be using Flower Soft and Spellbinder's Labels 8. I will bring my dies and my Flower Soft, however, you can bring your supply if you choose to use your own. A reminder to everyone, if I use a Spellbinder die that is sold out, Karen will order one for you. Keep in mind they are subject to availability.

The second card is a classmate request. Many of the girls in the SOS group have the Martha Stewart Deep Heart Border Punch and want to give it a try on the Valentine card. I'll be bringing my punch, if you don't have one you can borrow mine during the class.

The date of the class is February 9th from 1:00 to 4:00. Please call Karen to reserve your spot. Karen's number is: 530- 876-8037. Hope to see you in class.

My Friend Brenda

I met Brenda several years ago. I was teaching an Easter Card class at Michaels and Brenda was my student. We've been making cards together ever since. We try to spend at least one day a month making cards. Brenda will arrive on Saturday morning and we will work on projects all day and sometimes into the early evening.

We stop only for lunch and to unwrap the chocolates that my husband always has ready for her. Our lunches are always working lunches, Brenda brings out the list of questions and ideas she's assembled since our last visit. We look at magazines for inspiration, and we eat....


I wanted to make her something special and I decided to bring out the Bind-It-All and put together a book for her to write notes, with a pocket for keeping coupons, and a section with post-it-notes for her to mark pages in magazines.



When all the pages have been filled with questions and comments....we can cut the wire binding and add more pages and rebind the book. The post-it-notes are refillable too. This was a fun project. I think I'm going to have to make another one....

Have a wonderful weekend!

Operation Write Home

I'm so excited. A few days ago, I told you I'd have news about an important project at

Paradise Scrapbook Boutique. Check out Karen's Blog page here.

The card above is the first card I've made for Operation Write Home. Karen's blog page gives information about the program. I know as a card maker, I always have cards to share. I'll bet you do too. I hope you become as excited as I am and you want to share some of your beautiful art with someone far away. If you have any questions. Call Karen at: 530-876-8037.

Mother's Day is right around the corner. In order to have turn around time, cards will need to be packaged and ready to be mailed by February 20th.

As a mom, I know how much I love getting cards and emails from my kids and grand kids. Imagine how a mother, father, spouse or child will feel when a card is received from a loved one so very far away. Our simple act of kindness will make a big difference in some one's life. I hope you can find time to join in, either by sending cards or spending a day at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique making cards. I'll be there, I hope you will be too.

Chat later......

Birthdays and Friends

I have a sister-in-law, that I must admit I have not made many cards. There is no excuse or reason. Knowing her birthday is coming up quickly, I wanted to make her a card that would honor her and challenge me. For this card, I went out of my box and I'm glad I did. I'm going to apologize now....during the week I was reading blogs I follow and I was also checking blogs for those who entered challenges. I saw a card that I really liked and I made a mental note. I told myself to bookmark it and then promptly moved on to something else (that's a trait I seem to have developed all to often lately). Last night I decided it was time to make a card similar to the one that inspired me. Well guess what....I can't remember where I'd seen it. So, calling on my memory....that's scary, I sketched out what I thought the card looked like. I remembered a lined piece of card stock and some rubber stamped flowers. I also remembered a dotted strip and a ribbon. The photo above is what I made. If anyone has seen a similar card...please let me know. I'd love to give credit to the one who inspired me. I'd also like to see how closely my card resembles the inspiration card.

Now to give more credit. Karen, the owner of Paradise Scrapbook Boutique , has forced me out of my box and into the world of layering. Had it not been for classes I'd taken from her over, especially the past year, this card would not have been possible. Karen is the queen of layering. She has a wonderful eye for patterns and colors. Things I never would have put together I am attempting. Papers I would never have purchased, I am purchasing and using. Thanks Karen!

This is what I used to make the card: The card stock is from Prima - Mango Cherries and Chintzy. I also used a piece of scrap for the dotted piece. The gems are also Prima. All of the Prima products were purchased from Paradise Scrapbook Boutique The sentiment is from Stampin Up, the flowers are from Posh Impressions. The ribbon is from my stash.

I have to say, this card did challenge me and I am excited to give it to my sister-in-law.

Now....On to sharing a beautiful project made by my friend Carolyn. She is amazing and she inspires me every day. Not just when crafting, but always. She is a person I can confide in, she shares my love of paper, she keeps me on the straight and narrow when it comes to Weight Watchers (well...she tries!) and she laughs....she's the kind of person who attracts people to her because she is so positive. She is a very talented card creator....below is the card she sent me to celebrate the season. I love sparkle....this card has it's share. If you left click on the photo it will enlarge and the sparkles are better seen. Her card stock matches so well, the ribbon ties it together and the sentiment says it all. What's amazing about all of this....Carolyn hates winter, she's our little summer girl! For someone who dislikes the cold, she certainly captured the feeling of winter. Carolyn....thank you for sharing your card with me and allowing me to share it with others.

I'm off....I'm going to clean house today....oh sure, we've heard that before! This time I'm not going to start in my craft room!

Have a wonderful week!

The Poor Little Me's

I'm not going to give out too much information about this card, other than to say....More will be revealed later. I will let you know that I revealed to a dear friend that I was having a poor little me day, actually more like a poor little me month! It's not like me to be in the dumps and I've just not been feeling creative lately....well after meeting with Karen, Carolyn, and Mary Jane, I think I am on the way to recovery! I came home and created this card. Next week I'll tell you why. Now I'll tell you the how....

I used card stock from my stash. The Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Stylized Flowers; Spellbinders Nested Squares and Scalloped Squares used to mount the sentiment, which is an oldie but goodie stamp - 1996 Stampington and Company - K5063. The feather....Years ago I bought a package of feathers....I'm always happy to find a use for them.

Off I go for now....It's raining here today, perfect weather to play. Have a great day....