Spring?

I love these little bunnies and have made a bunch in many varieties, paper piecing, and cards of course. I had so much fun embellishing them with chalk and patterned paper, and fun little ribbon accents. Who could resist that face? Whimsical and fun-fun to create and even more fun to make and send. I love vellum envelopes, they really show off your handmade cards with style! I love to receive and send cards-they really brighten your day. I have a close friend who sent me a card that simple stated sometimes it is nice to get something in the mail besides bills and junk mail. That is so true! Hence the name of the blog. Email is nice and facebook and twitter are fast-I like that the communication is so quick. But there is nothing like a nice note popped in the mail waiting on the table when you get home!

Card making fool

It has been a busy week, I am part of a card making group called Inkblots (creative therapy) and this past week I learned a new technique to me called card embroidery. I have done some stitching on things before and this was kind of a combination of several different techniques and I love it! It takes a little time and effort but the finished product is gorgeous! I actually started to look on line for some other patterns-this is the finished card and I love all the design. We have such a talented group of ladies. It is so nice to be in a group that shares their ample talents. Friendship and creativity are great things. It is great to keep sharpening our skills in a paper crafting world that we love. It is cold today and I have cards in various states of done-ness. I am going to go make myself a nice cup of warm cocoa add some pumpkin spice flavor (love it!) and some left over snowmen marshmallows-then I think I will be ready to get them finished and posted! I tend to work in ciaos but that seems to work for me. Every year I work on getting more traditionally organized and this year is no different. I have been going through all my patterned paper and getting it better organized, holiday, color, type, style. Takes some time but wow is it nice-

All for the love of Hearts

I began making cards with fabric because it was a natural extension of loving fabric-all the patterns and colors that can so beautifully be layered together. Sometimes I will pick out fabric and it will look wonderful together as fat quarters but when I cut the fabric into shapes sometimes it doesn't go together as well as I would hope. It is kind of amazing that way-I love black and white fabric especially stripes and polka dots. So I designed a whole serious of cards with that theme.


This last summer though while fabric shopping with a friend of mine I came across some gorgeous paisley in a teal and green fabric, not normal fabric that I would love but this piece just jumped right out, so of course I had to find a few pieces to go along-I have designed other cards now besides hearts but I always make hearts year round. I like to collect fabrics and have been dabbling in now actually sewing projects and not just card making! It is always fun to design new shapes to do of course I love Snowmen and have also done apples and pumpkins.

Nature is great to recreate in fabric and there is nothing nicer than receiving a handmade card!

Time Flies

Time flies and I think sometimes it is at rocket speed. As someone just reminded me we are half way through January? What how did that happen? I have been having fun making Valentine cards maybe this year I will actually get them all sent! Who doesn't love a card in the mail? I certainly do!







I love my little glitter pen I use it to add just a
little sparkle to everything. I have had so much fun coloring with my

Copic markers and adding just a little touch of glitter-love it love it love it. I want every color of Copic markers-who wouldn't? They are so smooth to use, I love the blending ability and all the fabulous colors. Too much fun. I have so many now that I can actually separate them by color family...

here are a few of the Valentines I have made-
Took a bike ride on my pink cruiser on Saturday-What a beautiful day about 50 degrees, sunshine. Didn't really seem like January. I am so grateful for the beautiful seasons that I get to enjoy each one has its place and purpose.

I have to go make dinner now, it is a 3 cheese penne night. Great recipe I will have to post later!

I can't believe it is so close to Thanksgiving. I have started thinking a little about Christmas gifts, because each year I want to make all my gifts. Sometimes I give in and buy things. Economically sometimes it is less expensive just to purchase things. So this year I have decided to try and meet the goal of all handmade gifts. ( again) I have been so excited to really have had the opportunity to craft all kinds of things this year and it has inspired me-I have always loved card making that is a given, but this year I have dabbled a little more in sewing. The fabric store and I are way too good of friends and I need to spend less time there for my financial safety. I make cards with fabric and even though I buy small pieces they really can pile up ( I love this! ) I have been sewing table runners lately and that has been super fun, the whole process from picking the pattern and fabric to the sewing and hand work. Also because I can use up my smaller pieces of fabric- I really am enjoying my craft area. I have put up some pictures and other favorite things to look at which make me happy. As everyone knows we all need a little "happy" each day. Because I am a crafter that involves getting sticky, sometimes glittery, and always messy. Just for the sheer joy of creating! I am working on some cards, bags and tags, for my ladies group and that is always a challenge-but an extremely fun one. I also ordered some new stamps. Let's just be honest, no one NEEDS new stamps, but I couldn't resist their snowman theme and I have big plans for them, I promise! They are from Darcie's heart & home. So, soon you will see the fruits of my labor that only new stamps can produce! My Inkblots stamp group meets next week and we always have a great time, learning new techniques, show & tell. These ladies are so talented and they keep me totally motivated! I have enjoyed beautiful sunshine today (70*) only to be enjoying a more seasonal change tomorrow. But seasonal changes always allow for more crafting and hot cocoa! I am a hot cocoa...um snob, I guess. I like mine darker, with a splash of pumpkin spice flavor and a little eggnog. Yum. Speaking of food, got to run and get dinner started...

It looks a lot like Christmas...

I know it isn't even Halloween yet, but today sure looks a lot like Christmas! We are getting lots of snow we are at 12 inches so far and it is not done yet. It has been a great day to get busy with all my supplies and create-snowmen of course!
I love collecting them and making them. The snow makes me want to put on Christmas music while sipping hot cocoa and enjoying a cozy fire. Part of the fun of creating snowmen is the different fabrics that come together-sometimes it is the "look" on their face when they are done. I like to blush their cheeks because in my mind they are out in the cold and enjoying it! The downside of all this snow is the power keeps blinking on and off-back to reality I go.

The air is crisper now an my red maple is shedding it's leaves quickly. I love the change in seasons! The beautiful bright Summer weather fades into the stunning colors of fall. I love to see the pumpkins and mums on porches and the smell of fireplaces. I get out my fall decorations, and don't you think that it is funny that we spend so much time raking up leaves only to decorate with fake ones in our home? I recently did a craft show with my Mom and as I talked to ladies that were shopping I realized that craft show shopping is a Mom & daughter activity or daughter-in-law, friend. No one goes alone everyone loves to look at all the fun things! I love to make and collect witches, scarecrows and snowmen so of course I keep my eyes peeled for new ones to take home and love. So in the spirit of loving scarecrows and fall I made this scarecrow card and I love to imagine the smile he brings to the faces of those who receive him. Knowing that I have that same smile.