February 26, 2026

Paradise Garden

Today I am showing you a sneak peek at a new stamp set, Paradise Garden.  This will be available with the March On-Line Exclusives.

This is a fun fold card with the opening being off center about an inch.  The circles hold the card closed.  Their is a normal 4" X. 5.25" piece of white cardstock for you to write your message on.  I love how bright and cheery the Lovely and Beautiful Designer Series Paper is.  I am hoping it gets this bright and cheery here and melts all of the snow that fell last night.

I started working on my swaps for the next two events last night while watching an excellent Hawkeye Basketball game.  I am hoping to get them done today or at the very least tomorrow.  We have no appointments until tomorrow afternoon so I have a good chick of time to work on the,  Wish me luck!

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

Happy Stamping!!

February 25, 2006

Fabulous Sayings

Today's card is using the February Product of the Month . . . Painted Illusions.  It is a Designer Series Paper collection characterized by soft, artistic watercolor gradients and whimsical patterns.  You are going to want to be sure and get yours before the end of the month.

My card starts with a Lost Lagoon with a layer of Basic White on that.  I took three equal pieces of the Painted Illusions Designer Series Paper and placed them on the top part of the white.  I took another piece of designer series paper and placed it on the bottom.  I added a ribbon and some embellishment next.  The sentiment goes on the circle and is popped up on dimensionals.

 

Today has been a lazy day again.  I was typing this post and fell asleep and believe it or not slept for a couple of hours.  Hopefully, I can stay awake for the Hawkeye Basketball game tonight.

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

Happy Stamping!!

February 24, 2026

Good Luck

Today I am sharing a card that everyone made last night.  My friend, Susie, posted a card with this layout and different paper and shamrock.  I didn't have the paper she used and I could not find my shamrock stamp, so I improvised.

The dots are from the Stripes anad Dots stamp set and the shamrock is a retired punch.  I am glad I did not get rid of that one!!  Garden Green is the perfect color for a St. Patrick's Day card.

Today has been a lazy day again.  I have sat in my recliner and visited and watched the gal that cleans my house work.  Tonight I am meeting a friend for supper and then going to bed early.

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

Happy Stamping!!

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!!