February 21, 2026

Best Ever Kit

Today I am sharing the second of the kits for February.  This is a non-stamping kit and the six cards go together very quickly.

There are three basic designs and you will make two of each one.

This first one makes one for mom and one for dad to celebrate their day!  Trophies for everyone filled with flowers or stars!

The next set is for use any day of the year . . . any time you want to let mom or dad know they are the best!  There is a lot of dimension to the ribbons and rosettes making them a fun card.

The last two will let you tell anyone that they are Number One in Your book.  The fun die cut starbursts are a great compliment to the #1 fingers!

Their are coordinating envelopes in pink and blue.  This would be a great kit to introduce kids to cardmaking or to have kids make cards for mom and dad.  This kit is only $13 plus tax and shipping.  That is just over $2 a card . . . much more reasonable than Hallmark!!

Today is another stay at home day.  I am planning on getting ready for Make-It-Monday and hopefully getting more cross stitching done.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

February 20, 2026

Exploring Nature

Today I am sharing a card that was made at the Demo Make-and-Take that I did not go to when John was in the hospital.  My friend stamped the greeting and brought me all of the pieces to assemble the cards that were made that day.  I think this is actually a stamp set that goes with some of the scrapbooking paper, but it just goes to show how versatile the stamps can be.

I can't wait till we can say "hello, sunshine" everyday!!  This card started with some Daffodil Delight for the card base.  The card base measures 5.5" X 7.5" and is scored at 4.25". I adhered a piece of designer series paper to the smaller card front and then die cut a circle out of both layers.  I did not use the designer series paper circle.  The sentiment is stamped on a Basic White circle and adhered to the Daffodil Delight circle and then added to the card with dimensionals. 

 

After the last three weeks it sure feels good to have a day at home with nothing to do.  I have been relaxing making a few cards and cross stitching.  I am hoping to do the same thing for the next two days.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

February 19, 2026

Happy Happenings

Today I am sharing one of the two kits for February . . . Happy Happenings.

There are three options for sentiments in the kit.  I made this one as called for in the directions, but am going to order a couple more and make them all thank you cards as that is what I use the most.  They would also make cool birthday cards.  The kit makes nine cards with coordinating envelopes and they were all very easy to make.

The kit includes the exclusive Happy Happenings stamp set and a Mossy Meadow Stampin' Spot as well as an acrylic block and all of the adhesives needed to make the cards.

I love the colors of this card and the layered sentiment.

This card has a pretty plaid background.  I love the die cut flowers on this card!

The daisies on this card are fantastic!  Some are popped up on dimensionals and some are adhered with glue dots.  I love the dimension it gives the card.  They really stand out against the blue background too!

Look at that . . . I’ve got 9 pretty cards and coordinating envelopes done speedy fast and ready to mail out!  If you would like to join me to make either these or change them into a type of card you need let me know and I will get you a kit ordered for only $30 and that includes shipping and tax.  We can find a time to kit together to make some pretty cards.

Today brings yet another doctor's appointment for John this afternoon so there will be no crafting for me today.  Tonight is book club so I may try to get a little bit more of it read but I know I will not gt it finished.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!! 

 Happy Stamping!!

February 18, 2026

Delicate Framing

Today's card is one of the ones they made at Demo Day the Saturday I was at the hospital with John.  My friend picked up everything for me and mailed it to me.

It is a pretty basic layout and one that is perfect for Cards in the Mail.  We started with a card base of Fresh Freesia and added a layer of Old Olive.  The next layer is a piece of designer series paper and an embossed piece of Basic White with a tiny Gold Foil strip.  The sentiment piece is a Fresh Freesia circle layered with a gold foil piece and finally a Basic White circle with the sentiment on it.  Add some embellishments and you are done.  A super easy card.

Both Monday and Tuesday were consumed with doctor's appointments and by the time I got home I was wiped.  I hope we are done with those for a while!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

February 15, 2026

Fabulous Sayings

I have one more Valentine's Day card that I did not get posted yesterday because I decided to take advantage of the nice weather and my energy and go shopping in Amana.  It uses the product of the month from January, Fabulous Sayings.

I don't actually remember where I found this card as it was in my picture stash and I loved that it combined the product of the month stamp set with the current holiday.  Actually, you could send this anytime, just to let someone know you care about them.   The tiny little envelopes are from the Loose Valentine's Assortment.  You might need your Tombow glue and a pair of tweezers to get them on your card.   I think this is such a fun card that anyone would love to receive.

The weather was so nice yesterday and I had not been anywhere except the hospital, doctor's office's or the local grocery store in two weeks so I decided to take advantage of the warmer temps and go to Amana to get some more cross stitching material.  I have a warm and sunny beach project that I want to get started on as soon as the pattern and floss arrive.  After Amana I stopped in Iowa City and picked up the few things we needed and still made it home in time to see the Hawkeyes lose their basketball game.  Oh well, there is always another game!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

February 13, 2026

Greenery Lane

Today I am sharing one of the sample cards from Stampin' Up!©.  It uses the Greenery lane stamp set and the Painted Illusions designer Series paper which is the Featured Product for February.

I started with a card base of Lost Lagoon and cut some of the designr series paper along the white lines and laid them on the card base.  before adhering I stamped the sentiment with Versamark.  I removed the designer series paper and embossed the sentiment with Wow Basic White Embossing Powder.  I stamped the little flowers using Flirty Flamingo, Darling Duckling, and Granny Apple Green inks.  I then adhered the designer series paper to the card front.  I used Moody Palette Glass Dots as an embellishments.

John was supposed to have an early morning follow-up doctor's appointment yesterday morning.  We were just getting ready to walk out the door when the phone rang cancelling our appointment because the doctor was sick.  We turned around, laid down, and took naps.    The rest of the day was equally as mixed up so there was no blog post.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

February 11, 2026

Endless Love

How about another simple Valentine card using the Endless Love stamp set?

For this card I have combines three shades of reds and pinks.  I wasn't sure how I would like it but I took the inspiration from the designer series paper.  I think it turned out pretty good.  Again, there is minimal stamping on this card so it wouwld be easy to make a bunch of them in a hurry.

Again, I am sorry for the lack of consistent posting, but by the time I get John situated and myself cleaned up it is time for a nap and I forget all about posting.  We have an early morning appointment again tomorrow morning.  It was originally scheduled for the 19th, but his doctor thought that was too long to wait to check up on him so tomorrow it is.  He tried to go without his oxygen but by evening he was coughing a ton and very wheezy again so I told him to put it back on.  He says he didn't feel short of breath but he sure so sounded like it.  I hope I did the right thing.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

February 7, 2026

Endless Love

This seems like it has been an endless week so this card seems pretty fitting.  It is the card I was supposed to take to Demo Make and Take last weekend.  More about that later.

I started with a Thick Basic White card base and added a layer of Basic Black to it.  I embossed another layer of Basic White with the Hearts of Love Embossing Folder and adhered it to the card front.  I die cut a heart using the Endless Love dies out of Gold Foil and adhered it to the cardd front with dimensionals.  I punched a banner  with the Three Banner Punch, stamped my sentiment and adhered wit to the heart with dimensionals.  I used some embellishments that I had left and added three of them and my card was done.

I was supposed to take John to the eye doctor last Friday early in the morning and then my friend and I were going to head to Illinois for a Demo Make and Take.  When I got John up there the eye doctor took one look at him, checked his blood pressure, and oxygen, and listened to his chest.  He advised me to take John to the ER so away we went.  After chest x-rays and numerous other tests it was decided that John should be admitted to the main hospital campus for either pneumonia, heart failure or respiratory failure.  It took all day for them to find a bed, but they finally had an opening at 7:00 in the evening.  We had excellent care while we were waiting in the ER in North Liberty (can't say enough good about them).  He spent a week in the hospital on two kinds of IV antibiotics, steroids, and supplemental oxygen.   He finally got home yesterday afternoon with the supplemental oxygen.  Needless to say it has been a long week with daily trips to the hospital.  I ended up mailing my swaps for the event last weekend.  I really hated to miss it but knew my place was with John in the hospital.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

January 29, 2026

Endless Love

Back again with another quick Valentine card.  This one has very little stamping on it.  Only an XO.

This card starts with a Flirty Flamingo card base and is built using different designer series papers, a lace doily, and a couple of hearts.  The sentiment is stamped in Real Red Ink.  A super simple card if you need to make a LOT of Valentines.

I thought I posted this yesterday but ust have forgotten when I got home from my nail appointment.  Once again, I was so cold I sat down in my recliner with my heating pad and fell asleep.  I am hoping I can stay awake today because I have to get my swaps done for this weekend.  They are close but there is still some to do.  Stay tuned and I will share it on Saturday.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

January 27, 2026

Nature's Symphony

Today's card is one we should have made yesterday at Make-It-Monday, but since we cancelled it we will make it next time.  It uses one of the stamp sets from the mini catalog.

I started with a Pretty Peacock card base and added a piece of Basic White cardstock that has been embossed with Stone & Vine 3D Embossing Folder.  I die cut the leaves out of Pretty Peacock and added them to the card front.  The sentiment was stamped with Pretty Peacock ink on a circle die cut with the Spotlight on Nature Dies and added to the card from with dimensionals.  I added some Iridescent Foil Gems for a little added interest.  I love the way it came out.

I made a quick trip to Washington this morning to get a cool mist vaporizer and a pulse oximeter for John.  Hopefully the vaporizer will make it easier for him to breath.  I am anxious for his appointment next Tuesday and hope they can come up with something else to help him breath.

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

January 26, 2026

Fabulous Sayings

Today's card is made with the product of the month, the stamp set Fabulous Sayings.  You have 5 more days to earn this fabulous stamp set for only $5.  

I started with a base of Secret Sea and then added a layer of white.  I cut 5 strips from the Lovely Blossom Designer Series Paper and adhered them to the card front.  Using Secret Sea ink I stamped the sentiment.  I used the Secret Sea Bordered Ribbon and the Moody Palette Glossy Dots for embellishments and my card was done.  

I started the day with a hair appointment and was planning on a stamp afternoon.  I received three texts from people that could not come this afternoon which only left two.  I decided it was too cold to be out and about for stamping so cancelled this afternoon's class.  Since I have been dragging and am tired I think I will take a nap instead!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

January 25, 2026

Fabulous Sayings

Today I am sharing one of the cards everyone will be making this week that stamps with me.  This is from a website I look at called Embellish.

She started with a card base of Thick Basic White and added a layer of Coastal Cabana.  Happy Birthday was stamped continually over a piece of Basic White without reinking in between.  Clean the stamp and stamp it again using Melon Mambo ink and fussy cut around the words.  Stamp a couple of hearts and the word "Fabulous Friend" and adhere it all to the card front.  Add am embellishment and you card is done.

Wow!!!  It is 8° already. It is nice not to see the negative sign at least for a while.  I think we are scheduled to go back into the deep freeze this week sometime.  Be sure to have everything you will need so you do not need to go out in the bitter cold!!  It looks like it should "warm" up a bit after tonight!!

 

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

January 24, 2026

Banner Sayings

Today's card uses the Banner Sayings stamp set and the coordinating punch.  The punch makes it so much easier.  I love stamp sets that have coordinating punches,

I started with a Fresh Freesia card base and added a layer of Basic White that had been embossed with the All In A Row Embossing Folder.  I layered a couople of pieces of Fresh Freesia cardstock and the Lovely and Beautiful Designer Series Paper.  I finished off the card with some RainbowAdhesive Dots.

Once again I am staying home and trying to keep warm.  I am looking forward to warmer temperatures tomorrow and the rest of the week.  It will seem like a heat wave.  At least I have several things to keep me busy . . . stamping, stitching, reading, and watching basketball!  What do you do when it is this cold?

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

January 23, 2026

Beautiful Butterfly Kit

Stampin' Up has three new kits this month.  I shared one of them a couple of weeks ago and am sharing another one today. . . . .

This kit makes nine beautiful cards.

It includes everything you need . . . a stamp set, an ink spot and even a clear block!

If you are a butterfly lover, you will love this stamp set.

This card is the easiest to make . . . just stamp the sentiment and add some dimensionals to the sentiment and the butterfly, adhere them to the card front, and you are done.

One thing I really liked about this kit are the butterfly images in the set and the fact that the instructions have you decorating the envelope a well.

My favorite card has two beautiful yellow flowers and two equally beautiful butterflies which are adhered with Stampin' Dimensionals and also a butterfly stamped onto the back of the envelope.

The last design is equally as beautiful.  They give you the orange butterfly cutouts and all you have to do is stamp the detailed butterflies using the Mosty Moonlight Stampin' Spot.  The sentiment is also stamped with the Misty Moonlight.  Check out the result with all of these beautiful butterflies.  Once again I stamped some butterflies on the envelopes.

Here is the whole collection of butteflies that you too can make with the stampin' kit.

What are you doing on this super cold day? I slept in and have been just relaxing and intend to spend the rest of the day doing the same thing!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!

January 21, 2026

Lovely Arrangements

Today's card is one I found on a blog I follow, Stamp With Tracy.  I love the color combination.

This card uses one of my favorite color combinations, purple and green, and a piece of the Lovely & Beautiful Specialty Designer Series Paper.  The piece of Fresh Freesia has been embossed with the All in a Row embossing folder and the sentiment piece has been die cut with one of the dies from the Lovely Arrangements die set.  I also added a couple of dots from the Moody Glassy Dots Assortment.  I love the way this card turned out.

There was no blog post yesterday as i had to take John to an impromptu doctor's appointment.  He was wheezing and coughing so much I was afraaid he had pneumonia.  We have ruled out several things but we still don't know what is causing it.  He is trying an inhaler for a couple of weeks and then we have to go back.  Always something!!!

Every day is a gift . . . make the most of the gift you have been given today!!

Happy Stamping!!