Here's some of the cards I've been working on!

I made this card for my mom for her birthday. I used Tattered Angels and masked the flowers and butterflies then popped the butterflies up. I used a Gold Leaf pen for the the outside of the inset and stickles to add accents.

The stamp used for this card is from Hero Arts and is more of a winter stamp. I chose to make it more spring/summer-like by coloring on the stamp with Tim Holtz's Distress Markers and spraying a little water and stamping onto watercolor paper. It's a great masculine card which can be used for any occasion.

Finally here is a pretty anniversary card I made for a couple in our church celebrating 61 years of wedded bliss. There is no real secret to this card. The paper can be any coordinating paper; the die-cut image is from Spellbinders; the sentiment is from Penny Black. There is a little bit of Stickles on the flowers for accent!

 

Thanks for looking today, I hope you have a moment to be creative and enjoy the little things!

 

Blessings,

Lorelei 

Novel Challenge - Room by Emma Donoghue

Room is a fabulous book! I give it a 5/5 and it becomes one of my favorite all time books. The story line is disturbing but the author chooses not to dwell on the negative. Jack, a five-year old boy, is born in Room where his mother has lived for 7 years as the sex slave to her kidnapper, Old Nick. The author goes into great detail about the psychological effects this lifestyle has on both the mother and Jack. It is very well written from Jack's perspective. Room is all he knows but it's not so bad to him as his mother has created a wonderful life for Jack; giving him exercise, reading books to him and keeping him safe from their captor. The story is very thought provoking and as the book jacket suggests you will never forget Room. Either the author has done extensive research on this subject or it has actually happened to her! A MUST read!

Novel Challenge - Sizzling Sixteen

Stephanie Plum is a favorite character of mine. These books have a similar story line for all the books but I still turn the pages. They are funny, easy reading books with a dose of suspense. Yes I have read all 16 and will be reading the 17th as soon as I can! The characters are lovable and quirky and become like good friends. I hope that Joe and Stephanie hook up soon though! I love Ranger but he's not the guy to spend all time with. In this book Vinnie, of Vincent Plum Bail Bonds, has run up a gambling debt of $786,000 with mobster Bobby Sunflower and is being held until the cash can be produced. Nobody else will pay to get Vinnie back, leaving it up to Stephanie, office manager Connie, and file clerk Lula to raise the money if they want to save their jobs. (This paragraph was copied from the book description in Goodreads.)

Long Time No See!!

I'm glad you didn't give up on me! I've been to Texas for 3 weeks and then 3 weeks on the boards for Penny Black and finally I am nearly caught up on my life!!

I got some mustache tattoos for the family in Iowa Park, Texas. We were makin' memories!
Here's a little gift I made for a friend as a Thank you for much kindness.

My friend can use the pins on the card on her projects. I stamped the background with stamps from My Minds Eye and the background color was sprayed with Tattered Angels. The butterflies were masks that I sprayed over.

That's all for today. I hope you are enjoying a creative life.

Love,
Lorelei

A Busy Season for Card Giving

This is a very busy season for cards. I shared a wedding card with you last week but that's just one card you might need in the next few weeks. Today I have a masculine graduation card to share. The feminine grad card will be coming soon.

I made this card for our nephew who is graduating from College!! Good job Peter, woot, woot!! 

The sentiment is from Our Daily Bread. The paper on the top half of the card is from Creative Memories. I think the bottom paper is from teh Paper Loft (I'd have to make Daisy, my protector, move to verify and she is sleeping so soundly :).

This is an anniversary card I made for friends. It stands to reason that if there's lots of weddings in June, there are going to be lots of anniversaries too. T'he paper is from My Mind's Eye, I think (again the dog's in the way!). The sentiment is from Inkadinkado and the flower is made from the same ribbon used underneath the sentiment. It's from Michaels.

 

I made this card for a masculine birthday. The paper used here IS from the Paper Loft. The brads are from Tim Holtz.

Finally, here is the dear one. She doesn't do much cardmaking but she does keep me company especially when we should be outside taking our walk. If you'd like to stay in touch, follow me!!

Off we go!

Blessings,
Lorelei

Cards to Share: Wedding, Baby and Military, oh MY!

June is the month for weddings and as the summer months approach, you might have a wedding or two to attend and this card is pretty fun and easy to make.  I stamped a swirl from Autumn Leaves with Sticky Stuff by Judikins and heated it just slightly (until it becomes shiny) then I sprinkled a bit of ultra-fine white glitter and heated it again. This seals the glitter into the Sticky Stuff  better than glitter glue. Then I added some ribbon, a Prima flower, misted with Tattered Angels, Olive Vine, and 2 stick pins from Maya Road. Easy peasy!

We had a wee, small baby, born into the extended family this month. He weighed 3 pounds 8 ounces! He was supposed to join us right around our Texas trip in June, but we must welcome him a bit earlier with this card. The stamp is from Inkadinkado. I used regular watercolor paints from Crayola to paint him! This is my favorite way to apply color. It is so quick and easy. The sentiment is from Whipper Snapper Designs and the heart was a random stamp. The background is embossed with a Sizzix folder called Beaded Ribbons.

This is the card I sent to Chris as encouragement while he serves our country in the Navy. He's been sharing the cards I send him with his "peoples" which means I have to send more!! Don't you know I just LOVE IT?? The stamped sentiment is over an anchor stamped very lightly in Antique Linen Distress Ink. These stamps are from Our Daily Bread (which I am fast becoming a shareholder in). The background map paper is something I got free at CKC and the anchor strip is from Stampin' Up.

I hope the sunshine finds you doing what you most love to do. I'll be making cards :).

Blessings,
Lorelei

Wow Has it Really Been This Long?

Clearly I have been up to something, but what, you ask?  I am really enjoying the added bonus of challenging myself  to read books I've had on my shelf or have wanted to read. I am averaging 3 a month which isn't fantastic but it's more than I thought I could read. Since I've been away from blogging, I enjoyed Easter with one of my boys (the other is in the Navy) and my mom and husband. I've been excerising more and reading about the Paleo Diet, thanks to my friend, Brenda. I spent some prescious time with Peggy and Mel, making cards and a Button Farm album kit and shopping with Laura. Oh yeah, and making cards :).

I made this sympathy card a bit more cheerful and hopeful than most. I used My Minds Eye "Be Amazed" paper, which is a huge favorite of mine! The oval die is from Spellbinders. The pearl swirl is by Zva and the sentiment is by Stampin' Up.

This is a pretty card and easy to make. I used book text for the background. The poppy stamp is from Hero Arts. I colored the poppies with Distress Markers from Ranger and distressed the image with Antique Linen Distress Ink also from Ranger. The scripture sentiment is from Stamp Camp.

This is a pretty, very feminine card that could also be used for Mother's Day by changing the sentiment. The paper is by Crate Paper, the die is from Spellbinders.  Improvise on the rest and you'll have a beautiful card also.

Thanks for looking at my creations today. I'm sorry it has taken so long to share my passion for all things paper with you!

Blessings,

Lorelei

Books I've Read for April (A little late I know)

I read some great books in April!

I continued the series by Debbie Macomber and read 74 Seaside Avenue. It is the ongoing story of the folks who live in Cedar Cove, Washington. This book was even better than her last one! There was a great twist at the end and then the tease for her next book. I like this series because the books are simple, the plot keeps me turing the pages and I don't get tired of cheesiness. I look forward to reading the next one! I read this book for the Finish the Series challenge.

One Good Dog by Susan Wilson was a great book! I would highly recommend it to you. It is a book about healing and finding what's most important in life--money or peace and the well-being that comes when you leave your selfish tendencies and help others.  The dog (yes, another dog read) has to learn to trust and love humans.

The Mermaid Chair by Sue Monk Kidd was an unusual book which got me somewhat wound up about the characters and would they do the right thing. It has a tilt toward The Thornbirds but there are other twists and turns that make it different enough. The main character learns the truths about her childhood which causes her to think about how she views herself and the choice she must make for love. The setting for the book is on an island outside of Charleston, SC.  I read this book for the Southern Lit. challenge.

I forgot to tell you that I read the Hunger Games in March!! Yes, it was a great book. I haven't seen the movie yet, but I want to. You have probably heard that Katniss has volunteered before the Council to take her sister's place in a game that is played and broadcast on TV every year. The game is to be the last one standing by surviving other kids that have been chosen to represent their district. I know it sounds grim, but it is a great story of love and survival.

6 Rainier Drive made me smile!!

I gave this book 4/5!

This book was even better than her last one! (50 Harbor Street). 6 Rainier is Book #6 in Debbie Macomber's Cedar Cove Series. There was a great twist at the end of this book and then the tease for her next book. I like this series because the books are easy reads, the plot keeps me turning the pages and I don't get tired of cheesiness and over dramatization.The books are about folks that live in Cedar Cove, Washington. It coves their lives as they face tragedy, family difficulties and family triumph. I look forward to reading the next one!

I recommended this series to my mom and I'm afraid she's going to pass me up! They are addicting!

I hope you have a good book that you can't put down and many more on the shelf!

Blessings.
Lorelei

Creative Chemistry!! Day 5 (Still Hangin in There!)

These are the tags for Day 5. I made a card using the first technique which is a resist technique.

All of the stamps used on this card are from Hero Arts. I changed up the technique and instead of using Kraft Resist paper which are beautiful, I just didn't have any, I used water color and stamped my own resist. The Ranger Distress Stains are used to make the background.

The third tag was a technique that created the marbled background. I love the look and want to make a card using this because it's so much fun seeing what your going to get when you turn your paper over! Did I mention I love Tim Holtz!! He is a rockstar in my book.

Back to the class!

Blessings,

Lorelei