Pretty Flowers

Hello Friends 
I hope you are all enjoying a wonderful week. 

Sorry I’ve been MIA. I’ve been spending a great deal of time in the garden, sadly the closet is still in disarray and my Internet has been sporadic at best.

Tonight I thought I’d share a card I made a very long time ago. Except for the Love stamp and the head and feet of the tiny fairy on top of the mushroom hiding at the bottom center everything else on this card are pressed and dried flowers from my garden.

Although I don’t do it any longer there was a time I used pressed flowers on most of my cards. It’s far to long and time consuming a process. The flowers are so delicate many fall apart at the slightest touch others are distorted when glued. While some did, most people didn’t appreciate the work that went into it. I was often called and asked to make a card only to have the person get upset that I needed weeks not hours to get it done.

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you comments.

Have an Amazing Day
Blessings
Bernie

Blue Sympathy

Yesterday I got to play with my 10 yr. old grandson Sean. No time in the closet but I did enjoy my time with him. I don’t get to have him to myself very often anymore.

I wish I had no need for sympathy cards, but I often do. My dear friend lost her mother so I made this rather simple card to convey my sympathy.

I ran some white card stock through my Cuttlebug in a lattice EF. I cut a diagonal strip out of the center and adhered the two pieces to a blue base. I used an EK Success scalloped border punch on both edges of a blue strip of card stock and added my lace on top of it. The sentiment was generated with Word then cut and embossed with Spellbinders Classic Ovals Lg., highlighted with a little chalk and layered on Classic Scalloped Ovals Lg. I finished with some pearls and a MS butterfly.

“Cheap Trick” of the day. If you don’t own a Cuttlebug or other embossing machine, you can placed your card stock in an embossing folder and run it through your pasta machine. I did this for a long time and can say it works quite well. If you don’t have a pasta machine, I’ve heard you will be able to emboss your card stock by sprizting it with water, placing it inside an embossing folder and rolling with a rolling pin. I’ve heard this works but I think it would take a lot of muscle. I haven’t tried it myself.

Thanks for stopping by. I appreciate your comments.
Have an Amazing Day.
Blessings
Bernie

Candy

Cindy is celebrating her 3^rd blog anniversary and her birthday with a huge giveaway.  She says "I just cleaned out my closet and found literally tons of stamps that I have never used or used once!" and she is giving them all away!
Go check it out (the link is on my side bar) and while you are there check out her fun scrapbook pages and lovely cards. Good Luck! There will be five winners so maybe you and I will both win.
Have an Amazing Day!
Blessings  Bernie

Ape About You

This card is for my grandson Hanali’s birthday.

The picture came from a sadly abused children’s book found in the free box at a yard sale. I do wish parents would teach their children to respect books. This is the last of a number of wonderful animal pictures rescued from a once beautiful book. The frame is a Provo Craft die I’ve lost the name of. The sentiment was printed on Word and placed ‘just so’ to cover a crayon mark. The studs in the corners are an iron on product called jean-e-ology. I adhered them to the card with a dot of Tombow Momo Multi glue. I found these studs in my stash. I have no memory of ever seeing them before and there are four sheets of them! I have a bad case of CRS, you know Can’t Remember Stuff.

“Cheap Trick” Recycle whatever you can. Old greeting cards, damaged books, magazines, junk mail even clothing often offers something you can use on a card. Before you toss anything in the trash look at it for a second and see if there is a way you can reuse it or repurpose recycling center rather then the land field.

Thanks for stopping by and thank you for your lovely comments.

Have an Amazing Pink Day. Yes, Di today is National Pink Day. I know Di will be happy to celebrate. Will you? Come on, do something in a pink way, wear something pink, eat something pink, drink something pink and please click the pink ribbon on my side bar.

Blessings
Bernie

Baker’s Twine

I hope this finds you well and enjoying beautiful summer weather.   It is HOT here today so I was out in the garden at 5:30 this morning, fighting the good fight against the weeks.   I think they are winning.   It is supposed to cool down in a few days so we are looking forward to that.

I am deep into a major reorganization of my craft closet and at the moment can’t even find the top of my work table so no new card today.

“Cheap Trick” Make your own Baker’s Twine.   I found this video on you tube and just had to share it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=syg39CoWiNI&feature=related

Isn’t that a great idea!   I can’t afford to buy all the colors of bakers twine and if I could I’d have to find space in my tiny closet to store it.   Besides, I doubt I would use enough of it to warrant the expense anyway.   Now I can make just what I need with minimal expense and no storage concerns.

Tomorrow is National Pink Day!   What fun!   I think I’ll wear pink, have a pink lemonade and of course click on the pink button on my side bar.

Thanks for stopping by.
Have an Amazing Day!
Blessings Bernie

Happy Birthday Norma

This card is for my dear sister in law Norma. She and I are like twins from a different mother and have the most wonderful times together. Yard sales are always a must. She has driven cross country to visit and stopped at a yard sale in every state coming and going. A gal after my own heart. I dearly wish she lived closer.

The papers and lace were found during my most recent yard sale-ing adventure. I ran my red paper through the Cuttlebug in a Swirls EF then lightly sanded. Sizzix Leafy Branch die and MS punch were used for the greenery. I stamped the sentiment on a Spellbinders Oval Lg. with a stamp found in a thrift shop.

At a local craft shop this winter, one of the girls was sweeping up after having set out a new shipment of silk flowers. She was about to toss the loose flowers into the trash. When I asked if I could have them she looked at me as though I had two heads but let me have them. Can you imagine tossing out these beauties! Not I! I happily filled the pockets of my winter coat with an array of lovely flowers and was on my way. I added some tiny half pearls to the centers of these.

‘Cheap Trick’ or word for the day is ASK.  How often do you see someone tossing something you could make use of in the trash?  If you keep your eyes open you will be amazed at how often you will.  You may get an odd look but you’ve got nothing to lose.  The worst that can happen is the answer will be no.

Thanks for stopping by. I’d love it if you’d leave a comment.
Have an Amazing Day!
Blessings
Bernie

Pink Ribbon

Some you know that my daughter Donna is fighting breast cancer.   She had her last Chemo treatment last Wednesday and will soon start on a six and a half week regiment of daily radiation treatments.  We are hopeful that by the Grace of our Heavenly Father and early detection she will be completely healed.

Please click on the pink ribbon on my side bar each time you visit my blog.   It will quickly take you to the breast cancer site where you can simply click on the pink bar and give another woman the chance at early detection.   Literally two clicks and you could save a life.

　

Please take care of yourselves and get your mammograms regularly.

Literally thousands of women's lives have been saved through early detection. - J. Hail, NBCF CEO

Thank you to all of you who have kept Donna in your thoughts and prayers.

Blessings
Bernie

Gift Wrapped Father’s Day Shirts

Both of these cards were made using inexpensive Gift Wrap. The craft paper is the reverse of the patterned gift wrap. I’ve had the instructions for both shirts in my files for years and have no idea where I got them.

 This Father's Day card is for my Jim, a wonderful Dad to 5, Papa to 12 and Greatgrand Papa to 3.   I creased my denim paper for a little dimension, pierced a double seam then faux stitched with white gel pen and distressed by sanding the fold for that worn look. I used an origami shirt with some tiny brads for buttons. I believe you can Google this and find several tutorials. I printed the sentiment with Word using a free font called appropriately ‘Rope’. Some Jewelry hemp for a lariat to finish.

This card was made for my friend George’s birthday. The sentiment in the pocket says Celebrate. I pierced the ‘seams’ and faux stitched with a fine tip brown marker. I didn’t have a single button in my stash that would work with this paper so I colored some white buttons with my Sharpie markers. I rather like the tortoise shell effect.

'Cheap Trick' for the day is to look for alternative paper sources. Gift wrap is inexpensive and comes in a large array of colors and patterns. When giving a gift I like to use the same gift wrap on my card as I do to wrap my gift. There are many sources of paper, most of it ends up in the recycle bin but you could give it a longer life by using it on your cards. I find paper in magazines, junk mail, the insides of envelops, calendars and more.
Thanks for stopping by. I’d love it if you left a comment.
Have an Amazing Day
Blessings
Bernie

My Second Love

Is my garden. If I’m not in my closet creating I can be found here.

These are called Tipsy Pots. Aren’t they fun! 
When I first added them to the garden people came by and puzzled over how they stayed in place. Being naughty, for quite some time, I would say it was magic.

I didn’t invent this but I will tell you how it‘s done. I got an eight foot length of rebar from the hardware store. I climbed on a ladder and drove it into the ground until it wouldn’t go any further. Three feet is the recommended dept but mine hit a rock and didn't quite make it that deep.
The secret is the drain hole must be in the center of each pot. Thread an empty pot over the rebar then tip so the lip of the pot rests against the rebar. Partially fill with soil. The bottom of the next pot should sit on the lip of the pot below it. Plant each pot once they are all in the position you want them.  My rebar wasn't tall enough to add another pot so I topped it off with a child’s watering can to hide the remaining portion of rebar. 
It gets quite hot here in the Yakima Valley during the summer, in order to keep from going out to water  several time a day I  threaded drip irrigation through the drain holes before filling the pots.

Have An Amazing Day!
Blessings
Bernie

I've Won!!!

I am quite excited to have won 12 Double sided sheets of 'Girls Paperie' Card Stock from the remarkably talented Becca Feeken of Amazing Paper Grace. Thank you ever so much Becca they truly are absolutely beautiful.

Becca does magical things with paper, ribbon, Spellbinders, punches and more. She constantly comes up with fresh new ideas and is always willing to share them with well done, clear cut and to the point tutorials she calls Becca Bits. She has even designed her own bow making devices and several delightful bows and flowers which she also shares.


If you aren’t acquainted with Becca you simply must head over to her blog and see for yourself the beautiful work she does.
http://www.amazingpapergrace.com/

I am sure you will not be disappointed.
Have an Amazing Day!
Blessings
Bernie

RRR Blogoversary Giveaway

Really Reasonable Ribbon is having a fantastic Blogaversary Giveaway. 

Go Check It Out. Click on my side bar. Go! Now! Good Luck!

Blessings

Bernie



Thank You Card Set

All newly weds need to send out Thank You cards so I made this set of cards as a gift for our June bride Nikki and her prince charming Chris.

This set of six cards, two of each color, is all about fast and using scraps. I did this assembly line fashion. I printed the Thank Yous on Word cut to size, rounded the corners and attached to card base. I cut strips of scrap card stock and attached them to card fronts. I used a MS punch for a little green and an EK Success punch for some sweet little flowers. A dot of Crayola glitter glue on each flower center and a rhinestone at the opposite end of each strip of cardstock and they’re done.

To create this little card portfolio I used a template from Mirkwood designs at

http://www.ruthannzaroff.com/mirkwooddesigns/portfolio.htm

An EF in my Cuttlebug created the background.  I cut the ovals with Spellbinders Classic Scalloped Ovals Large and Classic Ovals Large. Repeat the flowers used on the cards an a little banner printed on Word. All tied up with a pretty white Organdy ribbon.

‘Cheap Trick’ for today is to use your scarps in your printer. Simply tape your scrap of card stock to the top edge of a sheet of printer paper with some low tack double sided tape and print. Taping card stock to card stock can get caught up the printer. Ask me how I know. Using printer paper lined up with the top edge always works best for me.

Thanks for coming to visit. I’d appreciate it if you leave me a comment.

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings

Bernie

HUGE BLOG CANDY!!!

In honor of getting published Kristin is celebrating with some HUGE BLOG CANDY!!! There is so much stuff here it isn't even funny.




Check it out at http://lilsweetpeasplace.blogspot.com/ 
Good Luck
Bernie

Sweet Sixteen

Happy Birthday Maggie!

I find orange the most difficult color to work with but green and orange are Maggie’s favorite colors and it was her special day.

I cut my green card stock to size then punched a lacy lower edge. Next I stamped the little fern with versa mark and embossed with Sparkle EP for a subtle background. I adhered this to a bit of orange DP then topped with a bit of lace, and adhered it to my card base. A bow topped with a flower and a half pearl with a sentiment printed with Word then cut by hand and tucked under the flower finished it off.  I stamped two dragonflies on velum again with versa mark and embossed with Sparkle EP. I fussy cut them, colored the body with a marker and lightly dusted the back of the wings with chalk. I made the antennas with some wire glued it between the two dragonflies and mounted it on the card. I am pleased with the results, what do you think?

‘Cheap Trick’ for today.  If you don't have a stamp use Word to print your sentiments. There are lots of wonderful fonts you can download off the web for free. This one is called Baroque Script from:
www.1001freefonts.com
Have an Amazing Day!
Blessings
Bernie

Thank You

I made this is a card for the lovely Di of Pixie’s Crafty Workshop who set up my blog and is still holding my hand as I find my way.

The inspiration for this card came from Michey. Go to http://www.parchmentpaperie.com/2011/04/butterfly-easel-card-tutorial.html for a full tutorial.

Michey used the Beautiful Butterfly Bigz Die to make her lovely card. I do not have this die but I really wanted to make this easel card. As an alternative to the die I traced a template of a butterfly I had in my stash and fussy cut. It worked beautifully but didn‘t leave me much space for my message. I positioned my butterfly template so the tips of the wings overlapped the fold of my card stock, traced it and cut only the top layer. This left me with my hinge and a nice surface for my butterfly to sit on with plenty of space for my message on the back. I followed Michey’s directions to finish.

I stamped the wings with a flourish using versa mark, and embossed with Sparkle EP. The thank you banner was stamped, hand cut then the edges lightly chalked as were the butterfly wings. I added a feather, two white flowers from my stash, some sweet little punched flowers and greens. Finished with some half pearls from Michael’s.

After I sent it off to Di I realized I’d forgotten the brads I’d intended to use to hold the banner in place. Oops!

I am madly in love with that little EK Success flower punch. I found it in a thrift shop for fifty cents a few months ago!

Cheap Trick for today: Until you can afford to buy a die find a template or if you are talented enough draw one yourself then cut it out by hand.

See you soon. Until then happy crafting.
Have an Amazing Day
Blessings
Bernie

Spring!

Hi There!
Hooray Spring has finally arrived in the Pacific Northwest! That means I have been spending a great deal of time in the garden, trying to make up for lost time.

I hope everyone is having a fabulous week. I am and I had an incredible weekend.

Spring also means yard sales and garage sales here. I don’t think I’ve ever seen as many sales on one weekend as I did this weekend. Everyone was so happy to finally see the sun and have the cold winds subside they came spilling out of their homes. Seemed selling wasn’t as important as just getting out and chatting with people. Some of the churches held impromptu sales. Elderly couples sat in their lawn chairs on their front lawns just to be part of the comings and goings. People brought out their grills and sold hot dogs, cold drinks and others sold snow cones. It was like going from one street fair to the other. Such fun. Exhausting but fun.

I was so excited to see so much crafty goodness, I was like a kid in a candy shop. Look what I found.

 

Card stock, patterned papers, ribbons, ink pads, buttons, cuticle scissors (great for fussy cutting) and stamps! Not pictured were some adhesives, several paper trimmer blades, a few more rolls of ribbon, some paper doilies, a bit of lace and even some storage.

Yes I did stand on a chair to get everything in the picture.

‘Cheap Trick’ for the day is get out and take advantage of those yard and garage sales. I believe our friends in the UK call them Boot Sales. It’s amazing how many people buy things, never even take them out of the packages then sell them for ridiculously low prices. Besides it makes for a fun day out and great exercise.

Have an Amazing Day!

Blessings

Bernie