Are you a roller coaster person?!

Happy Friday to you!!  Are you a roller coaster person?!  Have you ever been really hesitant to try something because you were concerned it was too complicated or too scary?!  I must admit that I have been really hesitant about using the stamp set Jar of Love because I thought it was going to be too complicated.  I finally challenged myself to take it out today and play with it...guess what?!!  I LOOOOOOOVE it!!  It is an absolutely amazing set!!  So many fun little details you can create.  So many options!  I kept my card simple today, but am tickled with the way it turned out! Here's what I came up with:

I stamped the background with the Hardwood stamp.  That stamps just screams country to me and I thought it would compliment the jars (which also scream country!) well.  I added a torn piece of Crumb Cake to the edge to add some visual interest.

I toyed with the whole stem/glass thing and decided to combine die cuts and stamping to make them look like they are resting inside the jar. I am really, really loving this stamp set!  

I double stamped the pink flowers in Flirty Flamingo and Melon Mambo and stamped the smaller ones in Sweet Sugarplum by stamping off once and then stamping and then stamping the centers in full strength.   So much fun!!

Here are the supplies I used to make this card:

Product List

Jar Of Love Photopolymer Stamp Set

[141587]

Hardwood Clear-Mount Stamp Set

[133035]

Blushing Bride 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131198]

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[101650]

Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[120953]

Always Artichoke 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[105119]

Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad

[141397]

Melon Mambo Classic Stampin' Pad

[126948]

Sweet Sugarplum Classic Stampin' Pad

[141395]

Always Artichoke Classic Stampin' Pad

[126972]

Pool Party Classic Stampin' Pad

[126982]

Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad

[126979]

Everyday Jars Framelits Dies

[141490]

Linen Thread

[104199]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

If you haven't played with this set yet I would highly recommend it!  It was a little scary to me at first, but I think this set is going to wind up being a go to set for me! I am in absolute love with it!!  I am really glad that I conquered my fear and gave it a try.  I won't, however, be riding any roller coasters any time soon! ;)  Have a wonderful day!  I will be back soonest with more to share!

Seasons of life

Hello again!  Been a very challenging day around here today!  As many of you know my hubby (who if I haven't already mentioned it a thousand times is an absolute saint!!) and I are 24/7 caregivers for my grandmother.  She is 99.  I went to her home (in a different state) almost 2 years ago to assume that role and about 16 months in hubby and I decided to move her to our home where she has been for the last 6 months.  She. Is. A. Handful.  She stands about 4'9" of  solid trouble.  Every day is a new adventure with her and we never know what to expect until we are eyebrow deep in it. I won't go into details, but let me just say that today started with more excitement then we prefer! LOL  She definitely keeps us on our toes.  Lately, I have found myself thinking about all of the stages or seasons of life that we go through.  Life is a series of cycles that we grow into and grow out of.  I can remember having small children and feeling like it would be my life forever, but they grow and they move on and you do the same.  I find myself missing their small, sweet hands and faces and smiles, but absolutely love watching the seasons that *they* move into and out of.   Life is full of amazing chapters and often it is bittersweet moving from one to another, but it is what ultimately makes our lives full.  All that philosophical chitter chat inspired my project today. I made a Seasons of Life/Change desktop banner.

I cut my base at 4 1/4" x 11 and then scored it at 2 3/4" (moved over 2 3/4" and scored again and repeated that a third time!)  I cut my angles off to create the banner shape and then trimmed down my Very Vanilla to fit each panel. I stamped and decorated a tree form each season of the year and then matched a sentiment to each.

This is Spring!  Full of color and excitement.  It reminds me of new beginnings and new little things!

This is Summer.  It reminds me of playful youth and a time of life that offers very little stress.  

This is Fall.  It reminds me of wisdom and feeling a bit more aware of life's lessons.  It represents a time in life that is challenging and a little more trying than the other seasons.  

Finally, Winter.  It's a time for reflection and a bit of winding down.  

Another look at the tabletop banner!

This was a really fun project to make!  Here are the supplies I used:

Product List

Sprinkles Of Life Photopolymer Stamp Set

[139971]

Sheltering Tree Photopolymer Stamp Set

[137163]

Crumb Cake 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[120953]

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[101650]

Crushed Curry 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131199]

Peekaboo Peach Classic Stampin' Pad

[141398]

Sweet Sugarplum Classic Stampin' Pad

[141395]

Flirty Flamingo Classic Stampin' Pad

[141397]

Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad

[126949]

Tempting Turquoise Classic Stampin' Pad

[126952]

Wild Wasabi Classic Stampin' Pad

[126959]

Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pad

[126979]

Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad

[131179]

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

[140931]

Crushed Curry Stampin' Write Marker

[131901]

Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write Marker

[105115]

Real Red Stampin' Write Marker

[100052]

Linen Thread

[104199]

1/8" Circle Handheld Punch

[134365]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

Aqua Painters

[103954]

Hope that you are having a good week!  I will be back soonest with more to share!

Cupcakes = Happiness!

Hey there!  It's so true!  Nothing like a good cupcake to evoke a little bit of happiness!  I happen to be all about the cupcakes!  Cake is lovely, cheesecake is fun, but there is just something so happy about a cupcake to me!!  It can't be just any ole' cupcake mind you!  It has to have the right icing to cake ratio and preferably the icing should be in the pastel color family.  Sprinkles are a nice addition, but not totally necessary.  Above all, it should be moist and full of yum!!  I happen to be watching my calories pretty closely these days, so there haven't been too many cupcakes in my life lately. Today I found myself thinking about cupcakes though, so I made a paper one!  Here's my calorie free creation:

It's hard to see in the picture, but the icing is shimmering with sparkle!

I used the Sprinkles of Life stamp set to make this card.  I colored in the icing using Sweet Sugarplum ink with an aqua painter. Once it dried I covered it with the Wink of Stella pen!  I made a second one and layered it on top using dimensionals!  In my mind that was the equivalent of extra icing! :)

I used the lovely flowers form the Flourish Thinlits and kept them monotone in color.  I wanted design, but I wanted it to be subtle.  I added a single Rhinestone to the center for a pop more of shimmer.

I stamped and stamped off the tiny little flower from the Sprinkles of Life stamp set using Smoky Slate and Sweet Sugarplum to fill in the empty space in the background. I also added a bit of shadow under the cupcake using Smoky Slate and an Aqua painter.

Here are the supplies I used for today's card:

Product List

Sprinkles Of Life Photopolymer Stamp Set

[139971]

Very Vanilla 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[101650]

Blushing Bride 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock

[131198]

Sweet Sugarplum Classic Stampin' Pad

[141395]

Smoky Slate Classic Stampin' Pad

[131179]

Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad

[140931]

Tree Builder Punch

[138295]

Flourish Thinlits Dies

[141478]

Rhinestone Basic Jewels Embellishments

[119246]

Aqua Painters

[103954]

Stampin' Dimensionals

[104430]

Ok, I hope that I have inspired you to create something today (or at least to enjoy a cupcake!)!  Have  a wonderful day!  I will be back soonest!