Gratitude Cards and a VERY Busy August!

Happy Saturday everyone!! I have not posted much this month. August has been busier then I predicted and since it was super hot, I didn't feel like crafting much. I also didn't buy any craft supplies, either. Now THAT is a miracle that needs to be repeated for the rest of the year!!

I spent all day in my craft room today. I had some cards I required myself to make to get out on Monday and I needed some regenerative time due to a memorial I went to today. A woman died unexpectedly that I worked with last week. Her kids (whom were 30 and 34) gave a eulogy that was just heart wrenching. It made me think about my own death and losing my mother at 23. Anytime someone loses a mother, it always makes me reflect.

One thing I learned from my mother dying young is to do the things I want to do now rather then waiting for "someday." We are not promised that someday. If you want to do something, do it. Laundry can wait. Your house can wait. Spend time with who you love and live your life to the fullest. Some can say they can not afford to do what they want but you don't have to have money to be present in others life and take pleasure in the little things.

That being said, I created some gratitude cards today. I totally CASEd Betsy Veldman's design she created ages ago using the PaperTrey Ink "Beautiful Butterflies" set. I really was not in the mood to think so copying Betsy's basic design helped me get what I needed to get done.

I stamped different butterflies in a sort of rainbow along the edge of the card of a white piece of card stock measuring 4 1/4" by 5 1/2." I then stamped the sentiment in black.

I die cut each panel using the My Favorite Things "Blueprints #13" die and mounted the stamped card front onto different colored A2 sized card stock.

I tried to match the colored card stock to a different corresponding butterfly for each card. 

I left the card rather plain and flat, very unlike me, because I just wanted something simple to send out. Sometimes flat cards are better. It kills me NOT to put sequins on it or add some mist spray but I talked myself out of it each time I was tempted to. 

I also stamped an envelope for each card with a red butterfly in the bottom left hand corner.

I created two other cards today as well but they are drying so I cannot photograph them yet. One was a challenge so I want to get it up before the challenge passes. Maybe tomorrow!!

Thank you for stopping by tonight. Have a fabulous night!!

Supplies:
Paper-PaperTrey Ink "Orange Zest" and "Aqua Mist,", My Favorite Things "Red Hot," Simon Says Stamp "Duckling," Recollections White Card Stock
Ink-My Favorite Things "Red Hot" PaperTrey Ink "Orange Zest," Simon Says Stamp "Duckling," Hero Arts "Soft Pool," Umbrella Crafts "Amethyst," and Ranger Archival Ink "Black"
Stamps-PaperTrey Ink "Beautiful Butterflies"
Dies-My Favorite Things "Blueprints 13"
Other-Big Shot, MISTI, Scotch ATG Gun

Freshly Made Sketches: Sketch #200

Happy Saturday!! I hope you are all enjoying your day off.

Today I am sharing two cards with you. First is a card I created was inspired by the sketch #200 from the Freshly Made Sketches blog. It is the blogs 200th celebration!!!

When I saw the sketch, I knew I wanted to crack open the "Rolling Cloud Dies" from Taylored Expressions that I just received, as well as the rainbow die I had in my stash from My Favorite Things. I used white card stock for the clouds and scraps for the rainbow.

I adhered the die cuts over a white card base that I had blended Tumbled Glass Distress Ink on to make a "sky." I then stamped a sentiment by Paper Trey Ink in blue.

My last step was to give the card a little sparkle by adhering clear sequins randomly around the card.

I really like how this came out and have enough pieces of rainbow left over to make another rainbow card. I will have to mix up the colors but I think that would be okay.

Here is the sketch that I used for the card:

In other news, I wanted to share a few photos from the fun wedding I went to last weekend. A lot of my photos did not come out that well because of bad lighting so forgive me.

This is me and my husband Chris. I cannot believe I am actually posting this because as a rule, I hate photos of myself. I am really trying to be better about it, though.

This one is my brother, Chuck, and his wife, Marlene. They don't live near us so it was really nice to see them!!

My sister Jen, Chuck and I. I have another sister that did not attend the wedding. Who looks the oldest here?

I thank you for stopping by today. Enjoy your weekend!!

Supplies:

Card Stock-Paper Trey Ink (white, red), Bazzill (orange, yellow and green), Basic Grey (Blue)

Ink-Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Tumbled Glass), Ranger (Blue Ribbon Dye Ink)

Dies-My Favorite Things (Rainbow) Taylored Expressions (Rolling Clouds)

Other-Ranger Ink Blending Tool, Sizzix Big Shot, Scotch Adhesive, Sequins, Ranger Multi Matte Medium, Paper Trey Ink stamp ((Beautiful Butterflies)