Happy Easter!

What a blessed time of year! Between the spring flowers poking their heads through the ground, the return of the songbirds, and the baby animals being born--we are all thankful for the blessings God had granted us!

I challenged myself again on this card, following along with Suzanne Dean's wonderful tutorial on coloring Scandinavian-style with Copic markers instead of distress inks. Suzanne always has suuch a great way of teaching the techniques, and inspiring me to try them!

While it seemed like this took a long time the first one, the rest colored up so fast (I made 7, total, for friends and family). I layered my card with a vellum panel that was first punched along the edge, then embossed with a Swiss dot embossing folder. LOVE THIS. I'll be using this more and more, now that I see what a great effect embossing vellum is!

My tiny double-loop boy was made easier by using a Bow-Easy--a great tool designed just for making perfect bows every time. (Suzanne also has a tutorial, for using this wonderful tool, on her blog.)

I hope you have a wonderful and blessed time with family and friends this Easter!

Supplies: Cardstock--GeorgiaPacific (white), Stampin' Up! (mellow moss), vellum (unknown); ribbon--Joann's brand (pink organdy); dimensionals--Scrapbook Adhesives; Magnolia stamps--Tilda Holding Bunny #335; Copic markers (as shown below).

Christmas All Year Long--March

Welcome! The year is going fast in the Magnolia-licious Christmas All Year Long Blog Hop! It's March already, and with spring in the air and crocuses in bloom, it's hard to concentrate on snow and winter.

You should have arrived here after visiting Cheryl Rowley's blog. If you just happened upon my blog, you might want to start at the beginning, which would be the Magnolia-licious Christmas All Year Long blog. Then you can follow us along, blog after blog, one beautiful card after another!

My card was a challenge to myself--to use some paper that was left from last year's cards. It was a beautiful paper from TPC Studio called Winter Blues Winter Wonderland, and I had quite a few pieces left. Adding the silver Mirror Card behind a cut-out oval gave me a perfect spot to place Tilda.

I'm not sure it shows in the picture, but I added sparkle to the fur on her hood and coat with a clear Spica glitter pen that I just got last weekend--love it!The paper itself had "Let it Snow" printed on one of the stripes, so I framed that on the lower part of the easel card with snowflakes. I don't know how many snowflakes I used--but can one have too many on a winter card? LOL! And any of them that the center was on top got a little gem in the middle.

While it looks like this card took a long time, it really didn't, and I'll probably make a few more like it before Christmas rolls around.

Many thanks go to Diana at Magnolia-licious Store, Deb of the Yahoo Magnolia-licious Group, and to our blog hop organizer, Julie!

Your next stop on the blog hop is with the talented Jessica Hammond. Enjoy the rest of your hop! And if you feel so inclined--leave me a comment and let me know what you think about my card! I love hearing from you!

Supplies: Cardstock--GeorgiaPacific (white), Mirror Card (silver), and TPC Studios (patterned paper); Nestabilities (oval die); Martha Stewart snowflake punch; The Paper Studio (gems); Magnolia stamp--Tilda #300 with Hood; Copic markers as shown.

The Hardest Cards to Make . . .

. . . are always the sympathy cards. This one came together a bit easier as I knew the recipient was also a cardmaker--but only a little bit easier. And the only way I can think to tell anyone how to make a sympathy card is to make a 'hug' out of card supplies--something that will make the recipient feel loved.

This one is very simple. Since my card was going to be 4.25" x 5.5", I started with a dark wine cardstock that was just a touch (1/8 inch) smaller. I cut an oval paper doily in half, and attached it to the front, folding about 1/4" of the doily to the back.

The gold ribbon was added and taped to the back of the front panel before I attached it to the card base. I cheated to get my bow made--I tied a bit of perle cotton around the ribbon to cinch it in, and secured it to the card front with a glue dot. Then I attached my double-loop bow with glue dots--under the center and under each side of the loops. Finally, I twisted over the one trailing ribbon and secured it with glue dot.

I cut the shaped piece with a Nestabilities Labels Four die, and stamped it. then I used my Copic marker (R85) to just edge the outside of it. To add the antiquing, I rubbed on Deep Gold Metallic Rub-On Paste around the edges, highlighting the embossed edge of the panel. It is attached with dimensionals, and I threaded the tail of the ribbon behind it. There is a second panel on the inside with a sympathy message stamped on it.

I hope this helps give you ideas the next time you need to make a sympathy card--and may those times be few and far between.

Feel free to leave me a comment if you'd like--I'd love to hear from you!

Supplies: Cardstock--GeorgiaPacific (white), Prism (dark wine); ribbon--Wrights (DS Sparkle Satin Gold); Copic marker (R85); Nestabilities Labels Four dies; paper doily.

A Wee Irish Lass

I have been so CRAZY BUSY lately, that I've neglected my blog--then I had to wait to post this until my friend had received it! Ah well, if I weren't busy--I'd probably be getting into trouble, right? ~wink~

This lovely little Tilda decided she was Irish instead of Swedish--but then, aren't we all claiming a bit of Irish blood around St. Patrick's Day? I needed to get my card made quickly and simply--I was late getting them made as it was--so I stamped Tilda, then masked her to stamp the bench, and some grass at the bottom. I am thinking that the 'think green' could be used for Earth Day next month, too!

But then this lovely lass was on her way to my friend, and hopefully arrived there yesterday, right on time.

Now, I need to get back to work on the invitations for my son's wedding in September. I never really had thought about how much planning and detail really goes into an invitation--not necessarily hard work, but detail oriented planning. I have part of it done, and waiting on the paper for the outside folders--such pretty bronze shimmer paper!!!!! And I'm making good use of the Cricut that my son got me for Christmas a few years ago--could he have been thinking ahead to this? Hmmmmm . . .

I promise will be posting a picture of them after they are mailed out--I hate to make you wait, but it seems best to wait until then--probably in mid-summer. Until then, though--if I disappear for a week or so--you'll know what I'm working on!

Supplies used: Cardstock--Georgia Pacific (white), DCWV (green); pearls--Crystal Stickers; Ink--Memento (Tuxedo Black); Copic markers (colors shown below); Stamps--Magnolia (#280--Striped Tights, and #525--Pink Bench--available through Magnolia-licious store), grass (Stamps by Judith); 'Think Green'--Studio G stamps.

Your comments always make me smile! Thank you for leaving them!