MHK Designs August Release: Beginnings & Endings

Hi!

Welcome back!  We're on day five of the MHK Designs August release.  There have been some awesome, and inspiring projects posted this month.  I have no doubt that Mynn will be happy with the outcome of her first release.  She's got some amazing digi's this month, and I can't wait for you to see what she's got coming in future months.  So exciting!  To visit her Etsy store, click HERE.

The last set I got to work with this month, was Beginnings & Endings.  This was perfect for me. lol  Just by looking at my card, you'll know why.

 
Here is what I made.

Yep, a butterfly!  And a gorgeous one at that.  I wanted it to be the main focus of my card, so I enlarged it, and colored it with my Copics.  I think it's beautiful.  I added a vellum scalloped circle, a small tag, some washi tape, a few Pretty Pink Posh silver sequins, a wood veneer heart and some metallic melon Gelato splatters.  In real life, the splatters are so sparkly.  Love that!

That's a wrap for our August release.  We hope you've enjoyed everything and we appreciate your help in celebrating the grand opening of MHK Designs Etsy store this month.  We will be back in October, with five new sets to share with you.  I hope you'll be back to visit, and see what's in store.  If you happen to create something with any of the August sets, make sure to leave me a comment with a link to your project, so I can visit and leave some blog love.

Have a wonderful rest of your week!

What's In It?
Paper: SU! Whisper White Cardstock, Lavender & Light Aqua Cardstock, Vellum, Kaiser Craft Kaleidoscope Patterned Paper
Stamps: MHK Designs Beginnings & Endings
Ink: Metallic Melon Gelato, Copic Markers: V20, V22 & V25
Accessories: Pretty Pink Posh Silver Sequins, Studio Calico Wood Veneer Heart, Music Notes Washi Tape, Reverse Confetti Circles & Scallops Dies, MFT In & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangles Dies, Maya Road Natural Twine

With Sympathy

Hello friends,

I hope everyone had a wonderful Christmas.  We had an amazing time this year.  R and Hulk surprised me by coming up the week before Christmas, and will be staying until after the New Year.  R never really confirmed he was coming, since he swore he would NEVER visit Iowa in the winter. lol I would have been a bit disappointed, but I would have understood.  The drive from Dallas to where we are is over 14 hours, and the weather in KS is usually quite scary around the end of the year.  He spoils me!  Although I'm sure he was not happy about the drive, he made my Christmas, and I am thankful that they made it safely.  I have been blessed beyond belief this year, and was glad that I was able provide an awesome Christmas for my family.  And even though the gifts aren't what we celebrate, it was cool to see their faces.

Unfortunately, one of my dear crafty friends lost her mother on the 23rd of December.  Her mother was a very strong woman, and won several bouts of cancer, before succumbing to it.  My heart breaks for my friend.  I know she was very close to her mother, and I can't even imagine how she must feel.  I cannot imagine  life without my mother, and am getting teary eyed just thinking about it.  We will keep my friend and her family in our prayers, and I will be here for her, in any way that I can be.

Here is the card I made for her.

 

My friend is a huge fan of the CAS style of cards, so I tried to make something that she would really love.  In this time of grief, I am hoping to send her a smile, even if it's only for a brief moment.  You can't tell in this photo, but the sentiment is embossed in silver.  I love the simple, yet gorgeous effect of embossing these days.  I was happy to find the following challenges, to help me pull my card together.

The Friday Mashup #190: Sketch w/Theme (my loose interpretation)

CASology #127: Light (I created a "sun" with my distress inks)

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Anything Goes

showCASe your style #5: Die Cut (I used my new SSS Stitched Circle dies)

I'm off to have some brunch (R is cooking), with everyone, and spend time with them.  I am hoping that once things calm down a bit, I will get some crafty time this evening.

Have a great Saturday!

What's In It?

Paper: SU Whisper White Cardstock

Stamps: Clearly Besotted Sweet Little Sentiments

Ink: VersaMark, Squeezed Lemonade & Mustard Seed Distress Inks

Accessories: Silver Embossing Powder, Simon Says Stamp Stitched Circles, Pretty Pink Posh Amethyst Sequins

With Sympathy

Good day ya'll!

I'm so glad today is Friday!  Unfortunately, I'm home with a sick child.  Even though she's almost an adult, this kind of sick needed "her mommy", as she put it. lol  We were up most of the night with projectile vomiting and everything else that comes with an upset stomach.  Thankfully, my supervisor allows me to work from home when I need to.  She's asleep now, so I hope she feels better soon. 

Recently, one of my good friends lost his grandmother.  She was the sweetest woman.  She always took care of all of us, not just her grandkids.  She will be deeply missed.  Here is the card I am going to send his family.

I dislike making sympathy cards, when they have a purpose.  I just hope they find comfort in knowing she's no longer suffering and is in a better place.

I've combined the following challenges in my card.

Simon Says Wednesday Challenge: Emboss It
CAS(E) This Sketch Challenge #86: Sketch
CAS-ual Fridays Challenge #134: Tic Tac Toe (I chose sequins, embossing & twine)

I'm off to finish working on a few things, and if I get caught up, maybe make another card.  I hope everyone has a wonderful weekend!

Stay crafty my friends!

What's In It?
Paper: Dark Brown Bazzill cardstock, SU Very Vanilla cardstock, Bo Bunny Cream Polka Dot cardstock, Cork paper
Stamps: CAS-ual Fridays Casual Comfort
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black dye ink, Frayed Burlap distress ink
Accessories: WPlus9 Chevron Embossing plate, MFT Simply Scallops Medium die, SU Little Leaves die, Clear Sequins, Maya Road Twine, Prima Flowers, Paper Studio Pearls

FYI Challenge #45

Greetings y'all!

It seems like forever since I posted something crafty.  I guess it has been about 4 months, huh?  I haven't created anything, at all, in the past few months.  I'm still shocked that I have a card for you today. lol  Rather than rambling on about everything else, lets get to my card for today.

Here is the inspiration photo posted over on the FYI challenge blog.

Isn't it beautiful?!  I LOVE lighthouses!  I've never actually been to one, but I still think they're lovely.  And knowing why they were built in the first place is quite fantastic.  Below is the card I made, based on the photo.

I got out my distress inks again, and they worked wonders, as usual!  This is my first time using washi tape, and I'm quite happy with how it all turned out.  The colors in the photo I found to be quite masculine, so I rolled with it!  Unfortunately, my mother used up all of the sympathy cards I had in my stash, and she needed another.  Lots of people around here being called by the Lord recently.  May they rest in peace. 

I've combined the following challenges in my card as well.

The Pink Elephant #197 - Washi Tape
Kaboodle Doodles Challenge #169 - Brown & Tan
Craft Your Passion #160 - Well Read (use text)
The Paper Shelter Challenge #110 - Music
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Anything Goes

I hope that you'll head over to see what my Lovelies have created for you today.  They're more than fantastic!  This challenge is open until Wednesday, May 15th, so that gives you two weeks to join us.  We hope you'll give it a go!

On a side note, I leave you with a picture of my landscape as of yesterday afternoon.  It's May, why is there snow??!!!  *sigh*  I am seriously ready for the warm Texas weather I'm missing!

I'll be back soon with another something crafty.  I'm starting to feel that itch to create more. :-)
Hugs!

Papercraft Star Challenge #127

Hi y'all!

How has you week been?  Did you get lots of crafty stuff done this past weekend?  I'm settling into my new job better, and things are going really well this week.  I'm being bombarded with information, but it's ok.  I'll be running the show by myself already next week, for a couple days, and I want to make sure I do a good job.

Onto this weeks Papercraft Star challenge.  The theme this week is: 

 

An inspiration photo!

 

 Here is my card, based on the photo.

 

 

I love the way book paper looks on projects.  After looking at the photo from my project last week, I wanted to incorporate it into this weeks project too.  Those distress inks have definitely done the trick again this time.  I love the simplicity of this card, and the focus on the sentiment.  Unfortunately, this card is for my mom.  The mother of one of her friends passed away recently and she's sending it to their family.

 

I do hope you'll head over to the PCS blog to see what everyone else has created this week.  As usual, they're absolutely gorgeous!

 

Have a wonderful day!

Hugs!



For Kelly...

Hi everyone,

I got a phone call yesterday from my best friend in San Antonio, Kelly, with word that her mother had passed away on Tuesday.  Even though I had only spoken with her mother a handful of times, I knew she was a wonderful woman.

Judy messaged me on Facebook a few times to ask a few questions about papercrafting, and to let me know how beautiful she thought all of my projects were.  Only knowing her a short time, I feel blessed to have had her kind words, and support.  I know that Kelly, and her family are hurting right now, but I'm hoping that the sentiment in this card holds true.  I didn't want a lot of "fluff" on this card.  I wanted it simple, and meaningful, and I think I've accomplished that.  I know they'll appreciate it. 

If it's not too much to ask, would you please say a prayer for my friend and her family in their time of loss?

I appreciate each and every one of you!
Hugs,