Heartfelt

The boys are home from camping ... this time returning from southern Ohio!  Our Scouts spent the last four days "roughing it" in Hawking Hills State Park.  Exploring the caves, flying through the trees on a zip-line, fishing and hiking and so much more.  A fabulous Father's Day adventure if you ask me!

So, my girl and I spent time doing "girly things".  A bit of shopping, some baking, and of course a bit of creativity too.  I haven't crocheted in ages and it was so nice to just sit, relax, and create a heart for this Heartfelt greeting.  A row of buttons, some glittery chipboard, and of course a soft bow ... so sweet.

Thanks for letting me share!

Reunions

A wonderful family reunion filled our hours today.  It's always so good to see my brothers again - wishing all of them could have been there.  Cousins I had not spoken to in years ... the miles separate us and each with our lives filled with "busy".  Catching up with dear sweet Aunts that I have such beautiful memories of.  What a blessing to just sit and relax.  I didn't once think about all the things on my "to do" list.  No worries about "got to get groceries" or "there's a pile of laundry at home" or "I need to work on that presentation due Monday".  No ... not today.  Today was spent listening when my Aunt talked about her grown children fondly remembering them at ages 6 and 8.  Today was spent listening to my cousin tell me about fishing and swimming with my brothers years before I was born.  Today was spent hearing about my Dad and being reminded how wonderful he was.  Today was spent counting my blessings.

I have a sweet ballerina card to share with you ... custom made for a dear friend.  I just love this crocheted heart pattern.  It's the perfect size.  A cute crocheted flower with button helps to break up to amount of pink.  One of my paper flowers (this one with a pearl center) works well with velvet leaves and dyed seam binding.  Two stamped and fussy cut frames are part of my shabby layers.  The smaller frame is from Forever Young and the larger frame beneath it all is from Papaya Collage.  I also used the polka dot stamp from Four Frames ... love it!  And super easy to cut with the Decorative Label Punch.

It's been a good day and I hope you enjoyed yours.  Thank you for stopping by and spending some time with me!

A Bit of Crochet ...

Life is beginning to settle down once again.  My daughter is finally home from her 8th grade trip.  I say "finally" because I miss her so when she's gone.  The hours and days seem to crawl as I imagine all the exciting things she is seeing and doing. My son and I just returned from a Mother/Son Boy Scout camping trip.  The weather was perfect and we had a wonderful time.  He has just joined a new troop (having out-grown his previous group) and he is fitting right in.  The boys are very welcoming and he is enjoying his new friends.

I've been doing some crocheting and have been able to find some time to create a few things to share ... I hope they provide a bit of inspiration or at least bring a smile to you today.

Thanks for stopping by and spending a moment of time with me.  I'll be back soon with another project to celebrate the long weekend!

Be My Valentine

Yesterday was wonderful.  Friends filled my afternoon with stamping, laughter, and great conversation.  Our monthly gatherings are a time to de-stress and enjoy the company of our "sisters".  It amazes me to think we've been doing this for over 10 years.  Some have come for just that long while others are newer to the group.  Regardless of who or how many attend, we are lovers of pretty papers, glittery embellishments, and one of a kind results ... kindred spirits appreciating our time together.

I crocheted hearts for everyone in a lovely coral to coordinate with these gorgeous papers.  They are from our newest collection being released in just a few days.  This sweet heart sits on up-cycled corrugated cardboard that has been brushed with paint and "glitterfied" with mica flakes along with Beau Chateau paper in soft shades of blue print shaped with the Decorative Label Punch.

The bow is made of Bashful Blue Satin Ribbon and hand dyed seam binding.  Decorative pins from Viola and a button with natural hemp are added for texture.

Finally, the banner is from Sweet Cake, a new stamp set in our Occasions Mini Catalog (there's a link over on the left if you want to see more).  The Chantilly Lace is beautiful with these papers.

Thanks for stopping by today.  I have more to share and will be back soon with another posting.  Until then ... enjoy your day!

A heart to share

I admit I am crazy for hearts lately.  I'm crocheting them like mad and enjoying every minute!  I have friends coming over next weekend for our monthly get-together and I'll certainly have to plan a project that has a heart for everyone!  For now, I placed one on this Valentine to share with you today.

I love our striped ribbon as much today as when it first came out.  I love how it feels and it ties so beautifully.  Paired up with red satin makes for an incredible bow.  The white "doily" beneath is new - cut with the Paper Doily die...a touch of ink on the edges makes it shabby.  Layered on top is a calendar print from the Beau Chateau Side Notes collection.

I crocheted the heart with red twine and love how it turned out with a vintage country feel.  Another button and the perfect greeting with pearls makes it complete.

Thanks for your patience as I work through my Valentine craze.  How about something in pink?

Enjoy your weekend!

Robins egg blue ...

Hello again my friends.  Have you seen all the wonderful inspiration on the blogs this week?  Oh my, there is so much I want to try and so little time!  I counted no less than six of my favorite sites that have the most beautiful images and samples created by incredible design teams ... I hope to jump into them all!  For today, I have combined two challenges into one project to share with you - I hope that's ok.  The City Crafter shares this fabulous image of polka dots and stripes ... such a sweet pairing of patterns.  The Play Date Cafe takes us to "days gone by" with a vintage photo in colors of sepia and a touch of robin egg blue.  Delicious!

I began with a fold of So Saffron cardstock layered with polka dot paper of the same shade and a scrap of lovely blue stripes.  The cocoa herringbone and remaining color coordinated prints are from my scrap drawer.  Some old pieces of chipboard were cut into squares ... painted or covered in papers, distressed and sewn.  I didn't have a blue flower so I made one by layering three punched flowers and curling up the petals to create a bud.  That big beautiful button adds the perfect balance to my crocheted heart.

The bow is seam binding dyed with  So Saffron Classic Ink ... scrunched and slightly tattered.  The tag is stamped in Soft Suede Classic Ink with a sentiment from All Holidays and punched out with Jewelry Tag Punch.  Topping off the bow is a glorious pin from Viola - you just have to get yourself some of these!

Thanks for stopping by .. I hope you get to spend some time creating something beautiful for yourself today.

You have my heart ...

Goodness - two posts in two days .... I told you I missed you!  Volleyball is a big part of my life in the springtime - following my daughter as we travel the state together...enjoying every minute with her.  However, I am not one who can just sit.  Like you ... our minds and hands are always crafting or visualizing our next project.  So my idle time, while she is not on the court, has been spent crocheting ... sweet delicate white hearts have been my latest love.  I use the softest of yarn which makes them so elegant.  You'll see one featured on today's project and more in my ETSY shop.  The Play Date Cafe has a color challenge this week combining purple, green, and grey.  Isn't this wallpaper fabulous?!  Don't miss seeing the work of the design team ... you'll enjoy the visit! 

I began with Very Vanilla card stock and layered on scraps of decorative papers .. one a simple newsprint the other in shades of purple.  The print in the lower right is created with the gorgeous Bella Toile background stamp and Old Olive Classic Ink on Very Vanilla card stock.  This background stamp is wonderful and makes such a beautiful background pattern ... I love it.  I also used  Basic Gray Classic Ink paired with a script background stamp ... En Francias to create a space for your eye to rest.  My sentiment is retired but I love the message it sends.  The layered butterflies are made from a creme felt and a fun decorative paper ... cut with the Beautiful Wings die and embellished with a pearl.

My seam binding was dyed with reinkers in shades of green and the button is from the Designer Buttons - Brights collection.  While the antique lace adds a vintage feel, the soft white crocheted heart is the perfect compliment to a shabby bow.  

I enjoyed creating this for you and my thanks to the Play Date Cafe team for the colorful inspiration!