Flowing flowers on a simple card

While browsing pinterest recently, a card from Lin's Another 1-Layer Card post caught my eye and I scooped out my stamps for similar stamps that I could use to create a card like it. I love how simple this card is to make.

First I masked off a strip across the card around the middle. Then I used one of the stamps from the Mother's Love stamp set and used some of the colours from the Brights Colour Collection (Bermuda Bay, Tempting Turquoise, Melon Mambo, and Pumpkin Pie). After that I inked up just a small part of another one of the stamps in the set with Old Olive and stamped here and there to give the idea of leaves scattered through the flowers. When I removed the mask, I stamped one flower part way in the stamped area and part way in the previous masked area. The greeting was stamped, using Memento, with a stamp from the All Shook Up Paper Pumpkin kit.

Mother's Love stamp set

All Shook Up stamp set

If you are interested in learning how to make a similar card, let me know. I'd love to teach you how to do it.

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Mother's Day Wiper Card

Card closed

Card opened

Here's a very short video showing how it works:





I never heard of wiper cards until I came across the Wiper Card with Dawn You Tube video. I had to try it. Check it out. The instructions are easy to follow.

I used the stamps from A Mother's Love stamp set with Baked Brown Sugar and Strawberry Slush inks. I coloured the flower on the left using Blender Pens and Strawberry Slush and Pistachio Pudding. The card base is made with Whisper White Cardstock. The pop-up greeting was stamped with Whisper White Craft Ink using a stamp from the *Good Greetings stamp set, and then sprinkled with white embossing powder and heat embossed using the heat tool.

Yes, I know there is a smudge in the upper left hand side of the card. I'm so sad about that. It happend just as I was putting the finishing touches on the card. I decided to post it anyway because it happens, and mom's would love a card even if it did have a smudge on it.  :-)

The Mother's Love Stamp set is on sale right now, so it's a good time to grab it up.

Don't forget to check out the Jac's Stampin' Points page before you order to find out how you can earn points towards free product.

*The Good Greetings stamp set was a limited time stamp set and is no longer available.

When things don't work out the way you thought they would

I wanted to make an Easter Card, but I don't have any Easter specific stamps, so I put on my thinking cap. I experimented a bit and came up with a plan. But things didn't work out as I planned. I thought I had it all figured out, but when I went to put it together, it just didn't work, so I had to come up with another plan.

The cross made using one of the stamps from the Mother's Love stamp set was part of my plan. I thought it made an interesting, artsy cross. My plan was to have a wreath hanging on the cross, but it just didn't look right, so I ended up putting the wreath inside.

The wreath was made using stamps from the Wondrous Wreath stamp set and die cuts from the Wonderful Wreath Framelits dies. The banner was made using a die cut from the Mini Treat Bag Thinlits dies. I printed the words with a Stampin' Write Marker and also went around the edge of the banner with the markers.

Not what I planned, but I think it turned out okay. I like how the front of the card is plain, symbolic of the darkness of the death of Jesus on the cross, while the inside of the card is more colourful, symbolic of the light and hope his resurrection brought.

Which got me thinking...

It's kind of like how Jesus followers must have felt. They never dreamed that Jesus dying on the cross was part of the plan to bring His kingdom on earth, but there was a higher plan that they didn't know anything about. The day Jesus died on the cross was a dark, dreary day, but it wasn't the end. A few days later things brightened up in a way they never would have imagined, and there's still more to come! We look forward to the day that is coming!

Something to Use...For Whatever you Choose!

This is a special card. It is made to hold a gift card and to fit in a letter size envelope.

See the little slit that holds a gift card? Isn't that neat?

I used stamps from the B.Y.O.P. and the Mother's Love stamp sets on this card. The colour combination was inspired by this week's colour challenge at Splitcoaststampers. The challenge was to use Crisp Cantaloupe, Strawberry Slush, and a yellow that I didn't have so I used a yellow I did have, Daffodil Delight. The card base was made from Calypso Coral.

Stampin' Up! made an exciting announcement today! They are offering free shipping on all orders for five days, April 6 - 10! Whatever you choose - free shipping for five days! What will you choose?

A challenge for Autism Awareness Day

Today is Autism Awareness Day and blue is showing up all over the place. I wanted to show my support and help spread awareness some how.

I know some moms with autistic children that have taught me a lot about how special their children are and how much they learn from them. When I was wondering what I could do for autism awareness my eyes fell on the card I made the other day with the Mother's Love stamp set. If ever there were moms that this set applies to it is these moms, so I decided to make a card especially for these moms, using the colour that is recognized as supporting Autism Awareness.

I don't think anybody loves their children like these moms do.

And, as the inside of the card says...

... no moms deserve more love than they do for all that they do to try to help others understand their children. So I'm sending big hugs to all you moms! You deserve that and so much more.

As a suggestion from one of my friends who I've watched love her children and work at helping others understand them, I am inviting all you moms with autistic children to leave a comment and share something that your autistic child has taught you.

For the rest of us, I challenge you with a quote from Kim Stagliano's post in the Washington Post today:

I suggest you make a donation to a local organization that is actively helping families in your area. Instead of attending pep rallies and wearing blue bracelets, give to an organization that provides service dogs for autistic children or volunteer as an autism buddy. If your child has a classmate on the spectrum, invite that classmate to your child’s next birthday party. You know that cashier at the grocery store who doesn’t look at you as she takes care of your order? Smile at her, even if she does not smile back. The best way we can support Autism Awareness Month is to turn it into AutismAction Month. People with autism deserve a bright – not just a blue – future.

Mother's Day is Coming...

I know it's couple of months away yet, but if you're like me, it's never too soon to start thinking about it and preparing.

I have a confession to make. I am a terrible card giver. I never give cards. I'm really, really horrible at it. I'm hoping to get better, especially now that I have all these cards on hand that I could give.

My sister recently bought the Mother's Love stamp set for me.

I'm thinking she did that in part hoping that I might finally get my act together and send our mother a Mother's Day card. I do have good intentions, but I seldom follow through on them.

This card, however, is really a card my mother deserves, because there really is no mother that deserves more love than her. She is so loving and generous and thoughtful. Maybe that's what happened - she got my share of thoughtfulness.  :-)

Here's the inside of the card

So, Mom, if you're reading this, this one is for you, unless I come up with a better one before Mother's Day.  We'll see.

If you'd like to use the Mother's Love stamp set to make a card for your mom, you have plenty of time to order it and get it in time to do so. If you'd rather not order the set for yourself, you are welcome to come use my set at one of my Whatever You Want Wednesday stamp sessions. If you'd like more info, use the contact form at the right to contact me.