Encouragement

Today I am sharing some encouragement cards I made for Send A Smile 4 Kids
The first one features SU's Watercolor Words

The sentiment is actually 2 different stamps. One of them says "Just for You". I masked the word "just" to get the sentiment I wanted. The star in the background is from the same set. Then I used different dies to cut out sparkle stars. This one use the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches

My second card features SU's Botanicals for You

The embossing folder and DPs are also from SU. This one used the sketch from The Paper Players

"Snow" Bird

Here in the north, we refer to people who winter in the south as "snow birds". My card is the opposite. Since penguins are in the extreme south where there is extreme cold, my "snow bird" traveled north to find some sand and sun.

This is inspired by my recent trip to Puerto Rico. It was 1 degree when we left Indiana last week and while we were gone, a major snow storm hit the United States. We so wanted to stay longer but alas, we had to return home. Thankfully the snow was gone here when we arrived home. I know some are still struggling with removal of several feet of snow.
I think the SU cardbase is called Lost Lagoon. I found some shimmery paper from DCWV that pretty well matched. It is hard to tell in the picture but the background square is really glistening. Waves are from SU Moonlight DSP. The sand patch is from my scrap box. The tree and penguin are My Favorite Things, colored with pencils and fussy cut. Oops, Mr Penguin forgot his sunblock and is getting a bit of burn on his chubby little tummy. Dream is a die from Little Yellow Bicycle. Are you dreaming of fun in the sun?
The theme this week at  Tuesday Morning Sketches is winter using this sketch

I think I qualify for the winter theme since penguins are really winter climate birds. Are penguins really birds? I don't think they fly. But they do lay eggs.
I am also submitting to Tuesday Throwdown challenge of Anything Goes.
Looks like I am in for some camera repair. I cleaned the lens but am still getting that circle shadow up there on the top. I hope all of my vacation pictures don't have that spot on them.

Cupcakes

Nothing says birthday celebration like cupcakes. Today I have a fun birthday card for Send A Smile 4 Kids using the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches

 

I found the cupcake paper at Hobby Lobby and had a scrap of brown polka dots that just matched the design in the paper. The sentiment is Inkakinkadoo. I think the font looks a bit like kids printing. I punched out one of the cupcakes and secured that to a punched scallop and then popped it up with foam tape. I added Wink of Stella to make the frosting sparkle.
And of course I had to decorate the inside with a fussy cut cupcake from the DP.

And happy dance here, tomorrow I am escaping the cold winter weather with a week in Puerto Rico. If you don't hear from me for awhile, you'll know I decided to stay until spring! I wish!!

Little Boys & Girls

Cards added to my collection for Send A Smile 4 Kids using the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches

These are images from the out of business The Angel Company
Ones for the girls:

And another for the boys:

Flower Centerpiece

I really struggled with this color combination from Color Q

I've had varieties of papers laying on my desk for 2 days. Then when I went back to look at the picture, I decided to focus on that big flower. Then I found this sketch at Global Design Project

So here is what I came up with:

I used all scraps here on a Kraft cardbase. The pool party stripe is long ago retired from SU. The big flower is from SU Mixed Bunch stamped in Melon Mambo and then punched out. Small flower is also a SU punch. The sentiment is Lawn Fawn? I also decorated the inside

Any one else have problems photographing Kraft cardstock? Even when I use auto correct on my photo editing program, it seems to turn out looking gray. Any advise? Too much light? Not enough light? 

A Warm Heart

We've had our first snow of the season and it is icy on the roads too. So it is a perfect day to sit in the craft room and catch up on some challenges. The challenge from The Card Concept is "A warm heart". I would call my concept clean and graphic.

The impression folder is from SU. The heart die is from CASual Fridays. The latte cup (Fiskar stamp set) is paper pieced and pop-up with foam tape. I know I have a stamp somewhere--probably in a Christmas set--that says You Warm My Heart. I couldn't find it so did this one on the computer.
I am using this Valentine along with a gift card for my son who is a Starbuck's fan.

Granddaughter Valentines

I used the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches to make Valentines for my granddaughters.
Actually, I made this one for the sketch and then decided it would be good for one granddaughter.

Because they are sisters, I can't say one is the best over the other. So I made a second one.

The background papers are from a Stampin' Up paper pack from a couple of years ago. The sentiment is from SU Watercolor Words. Then, doilies and punched hearts to finish up.
Here is the sketch

R2D2 Valentine

Another Star Wars valentine for my collection for Send A Smile 4 Kids and because The Paper Players challenge is all about numbers.

The image is from the internet. I did the sentiment on the computer. The shiny blue and silver strips are from my scrap box. To make it more Valentines Day, I added punched hearts covered with glitter glue. Even R2 has a heart! My grandsons really loved their Star Wars Valentines last year so I am sure some little boy will like receiving this one.

"Tweet" Valentines

So don't call me sexist but I think of Star Wars as boy's theme. Let's do equal time for the girls.Here are more girly valentines for Send A Smile 4 Kids 
This is my first one. I found this free digi image but sorry, I did not record its source so I can't give anyone credit. It has a balloon under the heart. The DP is from a paper pad from Stampin' Up.

So I am looking at that and thinking "eehh, kind of plain". So here are more of the same image and papers but a little more dressed up.

What do you think? Which is your favorties?

Star Wars Valentines

Time to start making the Valentine cards for Send A Smile 4 Kids since they need them a couple of weeks ahead to get them sent to the children's hospitals.
So today I have 2 with Star Wars theme. I found these 2 images somewhere on the internet last year to make cards for my grandsons. I incorporated computer made sentiments.

I had some scraps of shiny green and blue papers to back the images. The DP on the Yoda one is in a paper pack from Stampin' Up. I mounted 5 punched out stars on a gold cord and then covered them with glitter glue. I cut out a little heart to add to R2D2, then covered it with crystal effects.
I know the little boys especially will love these Valentines.