Sneaking in a Frog Card

I'm sneaking in this card for the Mojo Monday challenge before a new LIM challenge tomorrow morning. I know I won't get to show it if I don't. The froggie is from a Penny Black clear stamp set. You have probably seen this image wood-mounted too. I have a larger version wood-mounted. It always makes me happy to use frogs. Come now, have you ever seen a sad frog. Nope, I didn't think so. I have quite a collection of frog stamps and one day, I will stamp a set of cards for myself with only frog images. I do that now with hedgehogs and always give them away, usually fogetting to take pics.

This Sunday I have a stamping date with my gal pals. I don't know what the hostess has planned for us to do. Frankly, I'll be happy to just sit aroun and chat and munch some goodies. Hope your weekend is a happy froggy one.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

White On White LIM Challenge

Good morning. Blogger has been down for about 20 hours and even now, I can't compose properly, so have had to put on my thinking cap, sans my caffee, and come in the back door. I'm saying a little prayer that this post will go up properly.

I struggled with the Less Is More Challenge this week. I wanted something original for me. Usually, I get ideas from others. So, after viewing 50 or so entries and commenting, I stopped my visits and and put my thinking cap on, with coffee & chocolate, and this is what I came up with. This is a 5x5 card on Neenah solar white cs. I punched the MS leaf border and laid it out horizontal completely covering the card. I added the MS hydrangea punch which has three sizes of  blooms. I recently purchased this punch and love it. The blooms were given shape with my embossing tool. This is a very popular look these days. In the center of the larger of the blooms, I placed a bit of silver liquid pearls. On a Nestie label die, I stamped and silver embossed a saying from  Our Daily Bread Designs ...note to self must increase my stamps from this company. So, I'm  pleased with my card  and may leave it up to ogle for spiritual inspiration this week.

Have a great weekend.
Less than 20 hrs. 'til a new LIM challenge....WHOOPIE!

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Teacher's Appreciation Week card

 

 

It was Teacher's Appreciation Week last week, and oh how very much I appreciate
them, for my daughter, my grandchildren, and yes, for myself. They should be
called miracle workers and it goes without saying, they can never be paid enough for what they are asked to do these days. I sometimes reflect on teachers who I had the good fortune to be taught by more than 45 years ago. Many still linger in my heart because I recognized then, and now, how much they were contributing to my education. I remember their names and how they looked. I wish I could do more
for teachers of today and if my life journey changes I have some ideas I hope to put into play. For now, I will make cards for my grands to give and add a little gift card too. I know they do appreciate it.

So this card is made using a very versatile Flourishes set I just love, called Mugs & Things. I believe I warned you you'd see more of it. Copics were used for the coloring. I am improving here, but I still want Promarkers and won't be buying more Copics....just too expensive for my budget. That's a little hand-sewing you see and the bling for a little pizzaz. I've used ds papes from my splurge a few weeks ago.

Got a gift card for Mother's Day to Michaels. So I will be some new goodies soon. Also a Tassimo coffeemaker I have coveted and beautiful flowers. I also got a Tassimo coffee-maker. I had been wanting one of these babies for a year. It makes robustcoffee. The latest health info says coffee goes a long way toward preventing diabetes. So I had to have it....GRIN!  Here is a pic for your enjoyment. I didn't "set-up" the flowers properly...forgive the tags.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Hi legionnaires, I am CASing this just a bit, Here is the basic sketch from Mary Fish, Stampin' Up demo I go to often for simple, but elegant SU inspiration. I ran through her downlines' blogs and came across one very similar to this. Unfortunately, I ran through the blogs so quickly, that I can 't recall which one. It is not exact, but close enough. Sooo, if you're "the one", please take a bow. I really like how this card turned out and the sketch went into my faves folder.


I knew I couldn't or shouldn't color this image, so how to bring the pattern out...? It dawned on me that to do this card justice, I would have to need to concentrate on ds paper. This is SU ds paper and base cs and the image as well as the sentiment is SU. The antique brads are too. It's rare that I create an entire card using SU products. Odd that, since I'm an SU hobby demo. I like so many different stamp design companies, that I find it very difficult to stay with any one company when making a card. It's why I'm unable to make money from being a demo. I don't know how those big money-making demos do it. There is just sooo much stuff to play with...Guess I'm being a bit redundant, huh?

Have a great weekend.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

In My Mother's Garden

Hi legionnaires, since I've noticed that most bloggers are also mothers, I wish all of you a VERY Happy Mother's Day. Personally, I don't know how on earth mothers do it these days. Especially those who hold jobs outside home and manage to turn out a page or scrapbook page now & then. Well, my hat is off to them.

Todays card is my design team entry for Simply Create. We are challenging you to make a card that is about mothers...use a saying if possible. Won't you come play with us. You have to two full weeks to make your submission.

This is a stair-step card. SCS has a great tute. I have taken images from three different stamp sets and paper from several sources. I used my Nestie for the wagon and compter generated the saying as well as the sentiment. Should you want further deets, just ask in your comment.

Try a stair-step card. They truly have the WHOW factor.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

Just Thank You

Well, this is nothing to look at. The LIMettes took pity on their challengees and gave us an especially easy peasy one this week. This is an old Stampendous sentiment and this is the first time I've used it. The little birdie is from a clear set I've put away and don't feel like looking for....just being honest here. To punch the card up a bit, I used my Memory Keepers corner punch. It was sooo plain. So, there's plenty of white space and this card is nothing special, but it fits the bill. I'm working a Congrats card next which I hope is a bit more detailed w/o giving up too much white space.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica

House Mouse for Easter

Hi legionnaires. I didn't post my Easter cards, but I sent some out that I was happy with. This is one of two I manged to photo before mailing. I love House Mouse images. But let's face it, there aren't many people who want anything to do with mice...cute images or not. So, I don't often buy them. This one was half price at HL a few weeks ago. When that happens, I don't resist the urge. And I do have a dear friend who appreciates the little guys and she loves flowers, so here you are El. I'm sure you have it by now.

I used the SU tulip frame for this and two Nestie shape and colored with Copics. I think I almost have the hang of it...not that I'll ever be a pro mind you. The sentiment is an unmounted image I received years ago. A bitty butterfly and a teeny weeny bling.

Well, here comes Mother's Day....hot upon the heels of Easter. Lots of holidays to make cards in the coming months, and then our breather and we begin all over again.

Hope everyone has a great week and especially the people in the tornado devastated areas. Soo sad.

Hugs & Blessings,
Erica