Happy Saturday

 Good day everyone and happy Saturday:

I actually created a card this week to wish someone a very happy birthday.  I have made the decision, I think a lot of crafters are doing this same thing, to only make cards and scrapbook pages using the supplies I already have and am excited about finding out what all I still have.  

I believe the paper I used is from American Crafts, but am not 100% sure, but it is so very pretty.  I do know the ribbon and enamel dots are from Stampin Up.  The birthday greeting is from pre-made greetings from Simon Says Stamp.

I hope you all have a great Saturday and will enjoy the rest of the weekend.

Janet

It's been way too long

 Hi everyone:

I pray this post finds everyone doing well.  I have gone way too long and am happy to get back to blogging.  Over the last few years, I haven't been very creative, but over the past few months, a few things have happened to make me get back into it, so why not start my blog back up? So here we go.

I have updated my neglected Etsy shop recently and hope you will stop by to take a look.  

LifeFullofSunflowers - Etsy

I am going to try and upload new creations at least once a week.  So far, I have uploaded cards for Mother's Day, Teacher Thank You and Father's Day since those are the upcoming holidays.  I am currently working on something birthday cards and will have them up by the end of the week.

I hope all is well with you all and can't wait to catch up with everyone.

Janet

Praying all is well

My word, it has been such a long time since I have blogged and am not really sure if I will continue, but am going to give it another go.  So much has been happening since I last blogged and not just the pandemic we are all going through.  I am praying everyone is doing well and staying safe.

I really having been creating that much.  I get started on some things and then just loose my mojo again, but am really trying to get more motivated.  

We just celebrated thanksgiving here in the US and oh my, I'm still full :)  It was a great time with our children and to be thankful we are all together for another day.

Today, I'm going to share one of my all time favorite thankful cards.  I made this card a while back, but still have it because I just love this card because of not just the sentiment, but the colors are just saying, welcome to fall, which is my favorite time of year.  I can't seem to part with it and it is on a shelf so I can see it daily.

I hope you have a great day and I'll hopefully be back soon.

 Janet

It's been a roller coaster month

Hey everyone:

Hope all is well.  It's been a crazy month, but that's how life works, isn't it :)  I have been creating a lot, but just haven't had a chance to blog like I had hoped; however, I may have a solution to this problem, but am going to see if it works first.

I thought the name of my post today was perfect because not only has it been an up and down month, I had to create a roller coaster themed card for a friend whose son is celebrating his 10th birthday with a roller coaster themed birthday party.

I have been creating birthday cards for Nina for 10 years now and have been having so much fun.  She recently sent me a picture of all the cards I have made for her over the past years and will have that up soon.  It's amazing to see how my card making has changed over the years :)

I used a new tool for me to blend between the sky and grass - snot tape :)  Koren Wiskman showed us how to use it during the On The Make retreat I attended over the summer and it is amazing to use.

 

I have glossy accents on the balloons and the wheels of the coasters (Jim even said the 10 looks like it was coming out of the coaster at the bottom of the tracks).  This was such a fun card to create and always enjoy making cards for Nina and her children each year.

Hope you have a great day

Janet

Supplies:

Stamp Set:  Lawn Fawn Coaster Critters/Lawn Fawn Rileys ABCs
Die Set:  Lawn Fawn Coaster Critters/Lawn Fawn grassy hill/1-2-3 (I can't remember the company, sorry)
Miscellaneous:  Faber Castel Polychromo pencils:  red, yellow, blue, orange, pink, brown, black & gray/Taylored Expressions blender brushes/Snot Tape/Gina K adhesive runner/Stampin Up dimensionals/glossy assents
Ink:  Tim Holtz Distress ink:  mowed lawn/tumbled glass; Stampin Up Night of Navy

We make the difference

Hi everyone:

I hope everyone had a great week and looking forward to a new one.  Our daughter, Elizabeth, asked me to create some cards for her this past weekend so she could write a note to the 7th grade teachers at the school she teaches.  Elizabeth was given the honor of be being named "lead teacher" for the 7th grade at her middle school and we are so proud of her.  She had gotten so discouraged a few years back and had almost stopped teaching, but she put in an application at the last minute (and last minute means 5 days before the 2018-2019 school season started) at the school she is at now and got it.  She has now informed us that this is the place she is going to retired from.  She loves it and I'm so excited for her.  

 

I had attended a stamping retreat given by my friend Hattie a few months back and we created a card like this as part of the make n take and when she saw it, she was like, "YES, that's what I want".  I took what I had created before and changed up the colors and designer paper - she asked me to make 7 in total. 

I really love this card because not only is it a great card for a group of teachers or any type of work team, but it's also great for all types of crafters, because when we all work together, we DO make a difference and a great one at that.

 Have a great week

Janet

Supplies:

Cardstock - Stampin UP thick whisper white, night of navy, calypso coral, mint macaroon, granny green apple, daffodil delight and rich razzleberry.

Designer Series Paper:  Stampin Up come sail away, bird ballad, perennial essence, garden lane, botanical butterfly

Stamp Set - Stampin Up Artfully Aware

Embossing Folders - Stampin Up Tufted Dynamic; Stampin Up Tin Tile Dynamic; Stampin Up Subtle Dynamic

Miscellaneous - Hero Arts oval die cut; Gina K Designs connect glue; Gina K Designs tape runner; Stampin Up dimensionals; varies twine & ribbon from Stampin Up; Tim Holtz Trimmer; Teflon bone folder; Cuttlebug die cutting machine

Goodbye to a co-worker

Good day everyone:

We said goodbye to a co-worker yesterday and was asked to create a card for him to say good luck.  If you know me, you know I have trouble making masculine cards, but the more I do them, the more comfortable I get.  This one turned out great because it is calming and I think signifies strength, which is something Paul has - strength and determination.

When I was putting the images together, I wasn't happy with the background as I thought it was too bare, so decided to take the smaller tree in this stamp set and make my own background - I enjoy doing that.  I even decorated the inside of the card, even though the strip along the bottom is not straight 😢, but oh well, that's okay

This is a short post because since it's so hot outside here in SC, I'm going to stay indoors and create all day long😀

See you soon

Janet

Supplies:

paper - Stampin Up crumb cake, Stampin Up very vanilla; Stampin Up early espresso
ink - Catherine Pooler Icing on the Cake; Simon Says Khaki
stamp sets - Stampin Up Itty Bitty Greetings, Verve Stamps Kind Words, Stampin Up Golden Afternoon
miscellaneous - Taylor Expressions ink blending brushes; Stampin Up button brads; Gina K Connect Glue; fun foam;

Very special birthday cards

Good day everyone:

Today, I'm going to share 3 very special birthday cards with you.  My wonderful friend, Nina, has been asking me to create birthday cards for her family for the past several years now and I have enjoyed it so much every year.  She started off by asking me to make her oldest son a card and then when she had her twins, I started creating theirs.  Nina gives the children a themed birthday party each year and she lets me know ahead of time what the theme is going to be and I create a card surrounding that theme.  This year, she has asked me to create a card for her husband as well, so I created an extra one.  

Her daughter, Ani, is having a beach themed party in pink and purple.  I made this card into a shaker card and had so much fun creating this card - I haven't created many beach themed cards and have to make more for sure.

Her son, Hamilton, is having a party at Dave and Buster's, which is an arcade place here in Columbia, and the birthday theme is tennis against baseball (fun theme, I thought).  Now, I had to get a little creative with this one because I didn't have an arcade theme stamp so Patrick helped me find some images online and did some fancy Photoshop editing to change the color and add the year.  I stamped the happy birthday on there and fussy cut it out (should have used my scan n cut, but didn't think of it until later).  I found some tennis ball and baseball equipment clip art to create the background.  The game viewer is covered with glossy accents to give it that window effect.  This was such a fun one to come up with.

 Nina also wanted me to create a card for her husband with the world on the front.  Well, I thought I had this wonderful world stamp, but come to find out I had given it away, but again, the world wide web helped me out 😀 here.  I took an image and used several green, blue, yellow and gold gansi tambi watercolors to give it some depth.  I really like this one.

These were just so much fun and am so excited for next year to create more fun and creative cards.  She gave me possibilities for her oldest son, so I'll be sharing that when finished.

Thanks Nina for asking me to do these for you, I truly enjoy doing these for you and your wonderful family.

Janet

Belated Happy Birthday

Happy Sunday everyone:

I hope everyone is having a great weekend.  I haven't been able to do much creating this weekend, but that's okay, because sometimes we all need a day to recharge :)

I had a friend who celebrated her birthday last week but I was out of town and didn't get a card made for her until I returned.  I have been do a lot of alcohol inks lately and love this color combo so thought it would be perfect to create a belated birthday card for her.

I'm going to keep this short because I'm off to start a new day of my weekend.  Enjoy

Janet

Supplies:

Paper - Stampin Up Thick whisper white; YUPO paper; Gina K black onxy

Alocholol Ink - watermelon; pink sherbet; shell pink; gold; blending solution

die cut - Simon Says stamp sweet tulip die; Avery Elle Custom Panels Die Set

miscellaneous - Tim Holtz glass mat; versamark ink; NUVO crystal glaze; Brutus Monroe alabaster embossing power; WOW embossing heat gun; cuttlebug die cutting machine; Gina K connect glue

"Three times a charm"

Well, this is my 3rd post this week and the post title meaning gives me the encouragement to keep on going (as well as the card hop we participated in yesterday).  Let's keep our fingers crossed that this saying will bring us luck in keeping me going.  So far, so good with these 3 posts 😃

For my card today, I'm using inspiration from my good friend Debbie Henderson.  She shared a card she made a few days ago that made my light bulb go off because this is such a beautiful card.

I have a friend from work whose birthday was yesterday, but I went off and forgot it at home (I was letting the nuvo drops dry), which I was so sad about, but luckily I did have one at work to send her.  

I am usually one that likes to add a lot to my cards, but I really enjoyed the simplicity of this card and the colors are so pretty together.  I will be using this combo more often, I'm sure.

I hope you have enjoyed my come back this week and I'm going to be working this weekend to have more to come next week.

Have a great weekend.

Janet

Supplies:

Paper - Stampin Up thick very vanilla card stock; gray granite card stock; terracotta tile card stock

Ink - gray granite; terracotta tile

Stamp sets - Stampin Up Itty Bitty Greetings; Stampin Up All Adorned

Nuvo - Strawberry jewel drops; silver lining crystal drops

Miscellaneous - Fun foam to give dimension; Tim Holtz trimmer; Gina K connect glue

 

Encouragement Card Hop

Well hello everyone:

I hope all is well with everyone.  I am back for a second post in one week and am so excited to be because I am part of a fun "ENCOURAGEMENT" card hop.

I recently went to an On The Make Crafty Event hosted by Koren Wiskman and Mary Polanco in Morehead City, NC and had such a wonderful time (I'm sure people are tired of me talking about it by now, but I just can't because it was such a great time).  These two wonderful and beautiful ladies are a true inspiration to me and was just so excited to meet them and make new friends while I was there as well. 

Not only was it a great time, but it started up my creating mojo 😍

The other aspect of getting my mojo back is participating in this Encouragement Card Hop hosted by Courtney Keebler, Mary Polanco and Jenn from Scrapbena Creations.  It's not the typical blog or video hop, but a card hop.  It is an event for ALL crafters regardless of whether you blog, YouTube or no social media at all.  The three ways to participate is by a YouTube video, a blog post or you could have mailed in a card that will be featured in a video coming up soon.  Isn't that wonderful, especially for those that don't do any type of social media.  I still haven't gotten the courage up to do a YouTube video, so am doing this blog post instead 😊.

We were asked to create an encouragement card and it comes at the perfect time because not only am I wanting to encourage other creators, but I have a friend who is going through a tough time and this is going to her to say don't give up on your dreams, to keep on pursuing them and that I'm here for you always.

So thanks Courtney, Mary and Jenn for putting this together because not only is it a great way to get ALL creators to come together and share our creations, but it gets us excited in participating and encouraging creators out there to go create💓😍.

The next person on this hop is Tanya Boser with a video. Head over and watch.  Enjoy !!

Talk soon

Janet

Supplies:

Stamp set - Unity Stamps Let Your Dreams Bloom
Paper - Dollar Tree poster board; Stampin Up Thick White; Gina K black onyx; Vellux Vellum; Clear Vision gold foil
Ink - Gina K. Amalgam Ink; Versamark Ink
Alcholo inks - Ranger Enchanted Alcohol Pearl; Intrique Alcohol Pearl; Gold Mixative
Coloring Mediums - Finetec gold paint; Zig Real Clean Brush Markers:  pale pink, pink, light pink, light carmine, mud green
Adhesive - Gina K connect glue; Tonic funky tape runner; Stampin Up dimensionals
Tools - teflon bone folder; Tim Holtz stamping platform; splatter box; black silver paint brushes #2; Azeilab tweezers
Miscellaneous - Spectrum Noir clear glitter pen; Stampin Up white satin ribbon; Nuvo Crystal clear drops; Finetec gold paint

Back on my blog

Hey everyone:

It's been so very long since I posted on my blog and am very excited to be back.

For my return, I'm showing you a birthday card I did for a friend from work, which was so much fun to create.

 

I have difficulty creating masculine cards, but am determined to create more because I seem to be needing more masculine birthday cards here lately.

I need to catch up with everyone, so please comment and let me know how you are all doing.  Missed you all.

Have a great day

Janet

Supplies:

paper - Stampin Up Come Sail Away DSP; Stampin Up Crumb Cake, Stampin Up Night 

            of Navy; Stampin Up Come Sail Away Memories and More

ink - Stampin Up Night of Navy, Gina K Amalgam Ink

stamp set - Stampin Up All That You are stamp set; Stampin Up Sailing Away

miscellaneous - Stampin Up twine; Stampin Up night of navy enamel dot

Hello and so happy to get back

Hello everyone:

It has been a while since I have been on my blog and am happy to get back at it.  I went through a horrible "no desire to create" time last year and at the beginning of this year, but a good friend told me I needed to get back at it and after much coaxing, I picked myself up and got to it.  I am doing baby steps and will continue to take them, but that's okay, I'll get to the end eventually :)  

The first step was to actually start creating again, which such a struggle, but am getting it back.  I actually got out in the community and got a booth in a antiques and craft market in our town.  You talk about getting my mojo back, wow, that sure did help.  I have also opened up an etsy store - etsy.com/shop/LifeFullofSunflowers, which is something I'm going to get more involved with at the beginning of the year, but it's a start.  

Now onto what I'm doing here.  I'm going to start posting, but only once a week for now - this way I'm getting back, but don't feel so overwhelmed with the feeling that it's something I have to do everyday.  I'm learning how to get myself organized a little better when it comes to work and home things, which has been a struggle because all I wanted to do when I got home was sit and do nothing until it was time to go to bed.  I'm not a big planner person, so that has been a hard thing to do, but I'm creating my own planner and so far it seems to be working to some degree.

I just wanted to drop by and say hello to everyone and I pray everyone is doing well.  Please let me know how you are.  I can't wait to catch up and see what all I have missed.  I'm sure there has been way too much I have.

Have a geat week.

Love

Janet

It's a birthday card

Hi everyone:

I just looked to see when the last post I placed on this blog and had to do a double take because I can't believe it has been since November of 2017.  Goodness, where has the time gone.  I am still struggling with finding the desire to create, but have to come understand that it's going to happen when it happens and will keep making cards as I need them and just pray that it will come back full force one day soon.

My sister-in-law is celebrating her birthday today and wanted to make a very special birthday card for her and knew the Rose Bouquet image from a Gina K Designs stamp set would be perfect.  Even though I haven't created much, I have been doing so water coloring as I watch TV with Jim and Patrick in the evening because I am really enjoying the color aspect of creating so that hasn't gone away, thanks goodness.  

I took the rose image and stamped it onto the card base before I placed the final panel onto the card and then took the same image and heat embossed the Hero Arts white embossing powder in the lower left corner.  I then use the Zig Clean Color real brushes and water colored them in.  The happy die cut was done by taking the ink and gradient them as shown to match the colors of my roses and I cut out 3 white pieces to put together to give them a little dimension.   I also took some pumice stone ink and lightly blended it onto the rose image to give it a soft aspect.

I hope you are all doing well and will enjoy this card.

Thanks

Janet

Supplies:

paper - Neenah solar white cardstock - 80lb; SU pink piroquette
ink - Tim Holtz Distress ink pumice stone; The Ton Rose Quartz; The Ton Red Sangira; Versamark
stamp sets - Gina K Designs Rose Bouquet; Mama Elephant Happy Everything
markers - Zig Clean Color Real Brush markers; light green, pale green, pale pink, light pink
accessories - Hero Arts fine white embossing powder; Pretty Pink Posh clear 4 mm/6mm/8mm sequins; Marvy Jewel picker; Tim Holtz stamp platform; Teflon bone folder; glossy accents; adhesive syringe by Koren Wiseman;  Arteza waterbrush; Spectrum Noir glitter pen; Gemini die cut machine; Imagine Crafts shimmer spray; Gina K tidy towel; 3M Scotch foam tape.

Well hello

Hey everyone:

It has been way too long since I have posted anything and I do hope everyone is doing well.  

I am so excited to pass on some exciting news with this post 😊.  I am now part of the The Merry Christmas Challenge design team and am so thankful and honored that Janis picked me to be a part of this fun team.  I'm also excited about the fact that I should have Christmas cards ready to go for next year.

This challenge is a "anything goes" Christmas card challenge and I really hope you come along and join in.

My card is relatively simple due to the fact that I have been off my creating mojo lately, but when I received word I was going to be a part of the design team, my mojo is coming back and it's amazing how much you loose when you're doing creating everyday.

Again, I hope you join in and can't wait to see all the AMAZING creations that will be shared.

Janet

supplies:

paper - Stampin Up old olive; Tim Holtz Ranger watercolor
ink:  Stampin up real red; Memento black
Stamp set:  Tim Holtz poinsettia stamp; Stampendous "Tis the Season sentiment
watercolor:  ZIG clean color real brush in red, green, brown, blue and pink
accessories:  pretty pink posh marshmallow and watermelon sequins, Multi Medium liquid adhesive; fun foam; wink of stella clear glimmer pen.

"Welcome Little Miss Croghan" blog hop

I am here today to help celebrate with Lesley and Corey Croghan, and other crafters who are so happy for them, on the upcoming bundle of joy being delivered in April.  I was asked by Lori Turner a while back to participate in this exciting blog hop and I, of course, couldn't say no.  I have known Lesley a few years now and not only is she a GREAT lady, I am blessed to have her as my friend. Lesley gave me the opportunity to be a part of one of the biggest and most important times since I've been crafting - I was part of the Dynamic Duos design team and have to say, it was so much fun and I learned a lot from my fellow design team members, along with making some WONDERFUL friends.

Lesley and Corey, I am so happy for you and know baby girl Croghan will bring you many years of happiness, laughter, and lots of LOVE.   CONGRATULATIONS.

Janet