Surprise!!! It's Best Bunny!

There is something about Granny Apple Green that just brings a smile to my face!  When the first signs of Spring appear you are sure to see that lovely yellow green shade.  Today's card features not only Granny Apple Green...  oh, how I wish I could wear that lovely color...  :-(  and another fav...  gingham!  

I just adore these bunnies and the coordinating punch from Stampin' Up!  I did do some fussy cutting to create their perfectly white tummies and lovely pink inner ears.  I also cut out the fun carrots.  Did you notice that wonderful wink on bunny number three?  He got all the carrots after all!  I guess the other two bunny friends were surprised by that!  ;-)  They really don't look TOO annoyed with him.  

So here are some of the items I used...

Stampin' Up - Best Bunny stamp and coordinating punch, Buffalo Check stamp

Stampin' Up - Granny Apple Green, Watermelon Wonder Card Stocks

Recollections - White Cardstock

Spellbinders - Oval Die

Copics - Y38, YR68, YG05,YG45

Dew Drops

Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up - Granny Apple Green (sentiment)

Stampin' Up - Rectangles Stitched Framelits

Mass Producing a Merry Christmas

We have all been there.  You need a bunch of cards and in a hurry!  That usually happens to me every Christmas season.  You would think someone who blogs about card making...  has cards!  Wrong!  I am always procrastinating until you guessed it...  I have 10 days til the day and zero cards!  :-(  I am totally a bad card influence!  #cardloser

And just in case you think I have it together for 2019 I must confess I created these cards before last Christmas.  I never mailed them.  Sigh...  #doublecardloser  

So if you do not want to be like me...  you can start early and pick a pattern that is fast, easy and can be changed up easily.  Here's a design I did in three different versions that literally took a few hours.  

 Gray and White

 Black and White

Red and Black

 

You can see I mixed up the design colors using red and black, gray and black along with black and white.  I also chose to mask the sentiment and use different colors on occasion.  You can really take a simple design and make it your own.  I made 5 of these in no time and I used a new toy for me...  the Stamparatus.  I'm not a Stampin' Up demonstrator so I can tell you that gizmo is super handy!  LOVE!  

Here's the details for the cards you see!  Thanks as always and have a great day!

Stampin' Up - Buffalo Check Stamp, Farmhouse Christmas Stamp

Stampin' Up - Real Red, Always Artichoke, Gray Granite Card Stocks

Memento Tuxedo Black, Stampin' Up Real Red Ink

Spellbinders - Jolly Holly Die

Our Daily Bread Designs - Circles Die, Stitched Circles Die 

PP434 - Together is a Wonderful Place to Be

You know that feeling when you and your best friend get together after several week or months?  It seems like you never really left off.  They finish your sentences, laugh at your zany jokes and just make you smile!  Togetherness really does make the world go round.  How many civic organizations build their culture around weekly or monthly meetings?  Churches (and the Bible) encourage believers to come together.  Family reunions, block parties and holiday events provide that sense of completeness.  It is just plain fun to be with other like minded people.  We relate on a personal level and being with a special person or group just makes everything seem better!  And this card celebrates just that!

Items you see -

Stampin' Up - Wonderful Floral Framelits Die

Stampin' Up - Wonderful Romance Stamp Set

Stampin' Up - Country Floral Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder

Stampin' Up - Rectangle Stitched Framelits 

Memento Tuxedo Black Ink 

Stampin' Up - Peek A Boo Peach Card Stock and Ink

Stickles - Crystal

Copics - G21,YG03, YG11, YG61, YR000, YR00, Y04 

I'm playing along with Paper Players PP434

Thanks for looking!

When Life Gives You Lemons

I have taken some much needed time away from crafting to focus on the important things in life like my health and family.  I finally feel like I am enjoying the process again.  :-)  For those who stop by, I would encourage you to follow me on Instagram.  You can search for saintsrule71 to locate me there.  I also would suggest you look me up on Pinterest.  I post almost all of my cards on Pinterest because it is SO MUCH easier!  You can find my cards on my board entitled Saintsrule!.  I will do my best to bring my cards here.  But honestly, I find the whole art of blogging is a time drainer and I simply hashtag the items I use on both Pinterest and Instagram.  So that makes it easier for me and you!  As a result...  I can enjoy the process.  

Here is today's card featuring a Stampin' Up set from the 2015 Sale-A-Bration.  I found mine via Etsy...  I believe they are still around on Ebay and the like...

The lemon is a single image so it was necessary to mask the first stamping before doing the second.  I love the black and white check along with a crisp yellow.  I'm seeing this trend so much in home decor and I have even incorporated a few snippets of this into my home.  Don't you love it when inspiration strikes in an unexpected way?  

Thanks so much and as always have a wonderful day!

Stampin' Up - Daffodil Delight CS, A Happy Thing Stamp, Buffalo Check Stamp, Rectangle Stitched Framelits 

Our Daily Bread Designs - Circle Die, Pierced Circles Die

Dew Drops - Harvest

Memento Tuxedo Black

Copics - Y000, Y13, Y15, YG03, YG63, YG67

Recollections - Black and Yellow Card Stock

Word Art Wednesday #376- #377 Anything Goes Challenge

It is hard to believe the month of March is just around the bend.  In our neck of the woods it has been cold and WET!  I am looking forward to seeing the crocus, daffodils and muscari that mark the beginnings of warmer weather.  In the meantime, I have a fun card to share featuring a few items from my ever growing stash.  I am pleased as punch to have been a part of the Word Art Wednesday crew this month.  I know I am looking forward to what they have to share next month.

And the items you see -

Carta Bella - Welcome Home paper pad
Stampin Up - Poppy Parade, Old Olive and Sahara Sand Card Stock
Recollections - White & Black Card Stock
Gina K. Designs - Card Stock (Dog Image)
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black and Copics
Stampin Up - Rectangle Stitched and Be Mine Stitched Framelits
SU Happy Tails stamp set and coordinating punch
Flower - Unknown
Punches - Martha Stewart

Thanks for stopping by!

Word Art Wednesday - God is Love

How many of you have Valentine's Day shopping on your list of things to do today?  We often spend unlimited time and boundless money on finding just the perfect gift to impress that special someone.  But that kind of love can be fleeting.  I have been known to say I "love" a blouse or I "love" my dogs.  **OK...  I really do LOVE my dogs**  But seriously, love is a word that suffers from being used too loosely.  If you look at today's scripture from the 1st book of John, it plainly says that God is love.  So that is definitely a high standard to adhere to.  He loved us so much that he sent his only son to die a painful, torturous and humiliating death.  Jesus was the Son of God and was pinned to a cross like a common thief!  He died a hideous death because of his LOVE for us.  He wanted to save us from eternal separation from God the Father.  That kind of love is worth more than any card or box of chocolates!  I pray you have a wonderful and blessed Valentine's Day!

Blessings...

Items used today

Stampin' Up - Be Mine Stitched Framelits Dies
Stampin' Up - Tufted Dynamic Textured Impressions Embossing Folder
Stampin' Up - Real Red, Blushing Bride, Old Olive Card Stocks
Martha Stewart - Paper Punches
The Paper Studio - Silver Poster Board
Our Daily Bread Designs - Rectangles Die
Sentiment - Word Art Wednesday

I'm BACK!!!

For better or worse....  after a lengthy sabbatical, I am finally back home.  When preparing today's post, I realized it has been nearly 7 months since my last entry!  I thought it was only fair to share a bit of what I have been up to over the spring, summer and now fall.  I have checked quite a few things of my to do list, including organizing my kitchen.  I have actually cooked in said kitchen.  (And my hubs IS SO happy about that!)  And I have spent almost zero time in my craft room....  and I do mean ZERO.  I was a bit worn out...  physically and emotionally.  It was time for a break... a chance to get the creative juices flowing again.  I needed time for me!  And I took it!  I highly encourage everyone to recognize when they are burned out and need to refuel.   

For the foreseeable future, I will be posting things I have on my crafting table.  I will give credit but will not be providing links.  I hope you understand.  I really want to simplify the crafting process for ME and make it enjoyable again.  

Here is my first project using a few items I picked up from Stampin' Up...

Thanks for popping in!  And have a wonderful day!

Stamps - Stampin' Up - Country Home
Card Stock - SU - Early Espresso, Crushed Curry, Galvanized Metal Paper
Embossing Folder - SU - Tin Tile Dynamic Textured Impressions
Dies - Our Daily Bread Designs - Double Stitched Rectangles, Rectangles, Double Stitched Pennant Flags
Copics - CO, C1, C2, C3, C5, 0, YR09, YR14, YG91, YG93, Y17, E37, E57
Yellow Stickles
Hemp String

Blessings, Lori