Singing Bird Canvas

This is truly a gift of the heart ... don't you just want to melt when someone does that for you? I do. It makes me feel happy and loved. One of my girlfriends made me this canvas, using supplies that I had given to her when I cleaned out my mom's stamp room after she passed away. She first painted the canvas gray, then used glimmer sprays to give it glitz and glam. She then stamped various patterns from mom's stamps, and added an antique button from her jewelry box as part of the embellishment. The tiny button next to the bird beak says "How Lovely". Enough said!

And here's the truly best part ... the verse is ultra-special because I sang at my mom's funeral service. I'm telling ya -- truly a gift from the heart! Thank you Deanna, from the bottom of my heart!

Halloween is Almost Here (ssnotime104)

I decided to make a Halloween project out of some wonderful stamped images sent to me by Sweetie Pie Janine! And since she is on Sharon's design team, it was a perfect time to play along with this week's Halloween challenge! Some time ago, Sweetie Pie Janine sent me a goody box plumb full of happiness - it made me squeeel! I love her style, her work is inspiring, and her heart is bigger than a moon pie! Thanks, Janine, for making light work of this Halloween project! These line art images said "color me with copics, Kay". So I indulged - sigh. But I told them they must endure bright colors that make your eyes blink! And yet, they still agreed. Thus, welcome to my rendition of Halloween. I'm not big on spooky, so rather than traditional Halloween sentiments I chose a theme of "anything goes" and it was a blast!

Some images are over stamped with PTI Polka Dot Basics (ah-hem, just get it!) and other images I simply used my trusty technique of sponge daubing while still in die. These beautiful line art images stand alone, especially with these bright colors, so everything is grounded in basic black cardstock, on a Kraft base.

The "other" side of this cool black polka dot paper has bowling balls and pins on it! I don't expect to go bowling anytime soon, but you watch -- next week Mr. Stubborn with the newly replaced knee will want to try it! I'll just have to say "Nope, I already used that paper!" :)

Some cards have rounded corners, some have ticket corners, some are sideways, some are longways. I just went to town with no never mind! I always wanted to live in a purple house with an orange roof, don't you? Just look at the warm glow through the front doors! What a NICE neighborhood! It just needs a Harley parked along side the driveway ...

You will notice that some cards have a smaller piece of the "inside/out bowling paper" (i.e. black polka dot). In those instances, I stamped a black or purple cardstock with CHF Pretty Pattern Backgrounder using Fresh Snow Ink. I LOVE this gal and her pumpkins! Perhaps it's because I'm kinda short (and chunky), and a streak of jealousy might pass through my mind for a fleeting second?! Or maybe it's because I love pumpkin bread so much?!

The best for last! Jeepers Creepers, I'm smiling almost as big as this guy! Thanks, Sharon, for a fun challenge. Thanks, Janine, for contributing to a smashing fun set of cards!

RAK Happy

I am nothing but grateful for the beautiful crafty ladies in blogland! Just look at the love I received in my mailbox recently! This first card is from a sweetheart who lives in rural Australia. Theresa is a very talented lady and I'm sure you would enjoy visiting her blog at Misstreez's Weblog. Theresa not only sent me this adorable card that I admired (no, I actually coveted the sweet thing!), but she also sent me some adorable handmade folded flowers! They are some of the cutest things I've ever laid my eyes on! I'm dying to know how to make them, but I don't have the heart to tear one apart to figure it out so I'm depending on y'all to visit her blog and ask her (beg her) to spill it in a blog post! You can get all the deets on this beautiful dress card here on her blog. Doesn't it put ya in the party mood? Thank you Theresa!

Now, onto more RAK happiness! Lori is no stranger to many of you who visit my blog, she made a guest appearance here. She has a heart the size of the moon. And I love moon pies, so that's pretty big! Lori is participating long-distance in our Summer Scripture Challenge, isn't that smarvelous?! If you little darlings will visit her blog at Lori's Addiction: Playing With Adhesive, not only will you see some beautiful scripture cards, you will get sneak peaks of the new Stampin' Up soon-to-be-unveiled catalog. Now, back to this RAK which truly showed up inside my mailbox one day as a big fat surprise! Isn't it pretty? And clever? And cool colors? And a way cool sentiment? And get a load of this girl: she wrote me a message on a large yellow post-it note that was slapped inside the card so that I might be able to use the card to send to someone else! Isn't that too much?! I hereby humbly decree this card to be the gift that keeps on giving! Thank you Lori!

RAK from Lori

Whoo-la-la is right! Check out this yummy card that Lori sent me! I love it! She is such a sweet heart. My mailbox got all excited when it arrived! All the other mailboxes on the block were jealous because my mailbox was doing the Happy Dance! Lori got her hands on some new SU Designer Series Paper {available in the next Idea Book & Catalog}. It's called "Raspberry Tart"... which got me all excited! This little owl just drips of Whoo-la-la.

And it gets better .... just when you couldn't stand how good it was! Check out what she did with the inside of this yummy Raspberry Tart. How clever is she? Answer: Pretty. To see more of her beautiful work, check out her blog at Lori's Addiction: Playing With Adhesive. Warning: you'll be Whoo-la-la-ing! Thanks Lori. You made my day!