Sweet 16

This week, we are celebrating our youngest daughter's birthday.  It seems impossible that 16 years have passed.  Terry and I were so excited for our second child to arrive.  She must have been excited too.  My water broke 7 weeks early and after 2 weeks of bed rest at Meriter Hospital in Madison WI, Riley Kate arrived. She was pretty little weighing in at 5# 10 oz., but she was strong and healthy. She amazed everyone that she required no extra care.  In fact, Terry and I  left the hospital less than 48 hours later with this beautiful  and oh so sweet little red headed baby girl.   

Happy Birthday, Riley Kate! 

Riley Kate is still my beautiful red headed girl.  

She's smart.  She's sweet.  She's passionate. She really is a joy.

I am so blessed. 

Today, I made some quick and cute 16th birthday invites. 

I just downloaded MDS onto my laptop.  I haven't created anything using MDS for a couple of years.  I have missed it.  I forgot how fun it is to use and how easy it is create beautiful projects.  

A Little Thank You!

I found the perfect use for the pretty Sweet Sorbet paper that was a Sale a bration freebie...TAGS!  

Here is a simple little tag just to say Thank You to my SU! customers.  I really do appreciate their support. 

These were simple and fast tags, but I like the way they turned out.  Then again, can you ever go wrong when you use crumb cake?  ;) 

I could see these being used on cards.... Hmmmmm.....  maybe I will have to work on that.

Making Something Old New Again....

Lovely as a Tree.  This is set has definitely proven itself as the best of the best.  The stickers on my wooden blocks say 2001.  Seriously, what stamp set in the history of SU! has been around for 13 years!  I think one of reasons that this set has been in catalog after catalog is that is great for almost every type of card.  It has been my go to set especially for the masculine card.  

Here's a close up of the card.  I used the masking tape technique to make the background.  It's such an easy, but beautiful technique for making horizons.  This particular background was made using Soft Sky, So Saffron, and Pear Pizzazz.  

And of course, none of my cards would be complete w/o a little embossing (woodgrain TIEF) and a few layers.  :) 

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Butterfly Watercolor Card

I think spring is finally starting in Southwestern Wisconsin.  It isn't warm by any means, but we haven't had any snow in a week or so.  That must mean something, right? Now that my fingers aren't frozen, I decided it was time to stamp again.  I plan on doing many more events this year so I have a good excuse to create again.  

I took a card that I saw on Pinterest and I changed it up.  I wanted it to be bright and cheery, but mostly, I wanted it add butterflies that were watercolored.  I like that out of the dozen cards I made like this none of the butterflies were alike.  

I used watercolor paper, an aqua painter and Marina Mist, Perfect Plum, Wild Wasabi and Daffodil Delight ink. 

I just colored on some ink.  How bright or subtle your color is depends on how much water you use. If it is too light use less water...too dark use more.

Here's my piece of watercolor paper after adding the ink.  It looks like quite the mess doesn't it?  LOL

Using my Bitty Butterfly and Elegant Butterfly punches, I'm going to transform that somewhat ugly watercoloring into something  FANTASTIC!  :)

Here are my butterflies.  I liked them so much that I added a little bling to them.  I love rhinestones.  They just make everything fancy.  

Here's a couple of my finished cards.  They make me happy... they definitely are not winter cards.

Happy Spring!