For Jaimie

Thank you for stopping by. If you are stopping by on the Spread the Love Blog Hop, since I'm pretty far down the list, you already know why you're here, and thank you so much for visiting me, and thank you to Denise and Erin - the wonderful women behind this.

If you came here another way, please click here for the first part of this story. I hope this hop inspires you to make a card and send it to Jaimie.

I chose a few things that might make a little girl happy. For the background, a reanimated Hardy Boys Mystery, which I was reading at about Jaimie's age. There's nothing like a good mystery to transport you to another place. Then, I added lots of pink, courtesy of Basic Grey's Indian Summer and Stampin' Up!'s Melon Mambo Ribbon.

The hedgie I chose for its symbolic contribution - most things that seem prickly on the outside can turn out to be sweet and soft and surprising on the inside. I hope that something awful turns into a positive and sweet life for little Jaimie.
This adorable image is from my new favorite Etsy seller - Niko Art. Nicole is an amazingly talented designer and her images are adorable and perfect. I hope it brings a smile.

If you want to help more, please visit the special blog that has been set up for this effort.

It's people like Denise and Erin that really put joy in creating art, and making sure that art connects us to people and not things.

Say your prayers for little Jaimie, and if you have time, send her a card.

Your next stop on the hop is the lovely and talented Amanda Newton.

If you'd like to start at the top of the hop, please click here to see Katharina's Card.

My, What Big White Teeth You Have...

Every weekend on my walk, I see a pair of coyotes that live in the woods near my house. They are probably 200 yards from me when I see them. They stand perfectly still and watch me until I pass.

They are as big as timberwolves. I have never seen coyotes this big, and I always see them together.

I fear for the small creatures.

It always makes me feel like Little Red Riding Hood - one of many terrifying childhood tales...

So here she is. On an old playing card. With her friend, the wolf.Supplies: Stampin' Up! greeting, rhinestone brad, ink and paper, Stamps by Niko Art, Playing Card by Bicycle

Hope you enjoy your day, and that it is free from wolves with big, shiny teeth..

Caturday - Purr Like a Pirate!

Tomorrow is not only Caturday, it's Talk Like a Pirate Day!

Splotchy finally said ARRRRRRRRRight... I'll dress up like a Pirate for ye!

Treemendous

Fine - you want to turn trees into books? No problem - I'll turn them right back into trees when I'm done :)

Stamps: Into the Woods (Doodle Factory) Ink: India Paper: Basic Grey,
Accessories: Tangerine TangoRhinestone Brad (Fire), Stampin' Dimensionals, Distressing Tool

Nesting!

I've been waiting and waiting and waiting and waiting to receive my Flower Folds Big Shot die so I could cut some nested foldy flowers and make 3D stuff!

When I saw these little birdies, I squealed because I knew I could punch them out and fit them down inside the flowers.

For the inside flower I thought it would be fun to use print - my original idea was newsprint, but I don't subscribe to any newspapers so I turned to my old friends, the print design magazines I have scads of. I found a cool one with a black background and white text! So I used it for the background and the inside flower. Hard to see the glittery nest in the photo, but it's sparkly and fun.

Stamps: Into the Woods Ink: India, Crushed Curry Accessories: Stickles, Blender Pen, Dimensionals,
Flower Folds Die, Big Shot Cardstock: Crushed Curry, DSP, Magazines

I really love these little guys. This would make a fun and different "we've moved" card.

Have a great evening!

Three Candles

Someone on Twitter suggested three candles to me for my birthday dessert - Past, Present and Future. Besides cutting down on the fire hazard we all present as we get older, I thought it was really sweet.

For my guests at a little gathering last night, I decided to use the Past, Present and Future idea a little differently.

I thought your birthdays are a nice time to look at the map. See where you've been, find where you are, and plan where you're going.So, for favors - the maps signifying all those things.
I took an atlas I bought used for 50 cents and used my Sizzix Big Shot Fancy Favor die to cut bags. This is very quick - you can do two sheets at a time. Then just fold them up.

The tags are made from the latitude and longitude tables in the back of the atlas, which I could use for all sorts of things. I love them with their small, precise print. I hand cut the tags.

Enjoy the route :)

I Once Was..

I once was an article someone read. In Food and Wine. I was about a summer place in Kennebunkport. I just wasn't destined for the trash.

I was destined to go into a Sizzix clear circle die, then to be clear embossed with a tiny bird, then brayered , because my special, matte Food and Wine pages absorb ink so nicely.

I'm better than I was.
Cardstock: Dusty Durango, Sahara Sand, Razzleberry Lemonade DSP, Magazine Page| Stamps: Autumn Days, Berry Christmas|Accessories: Autumn Harvest Rub-on, Soft Suede Ribbon| Ink: Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Soft Suede, Basic Black |
All supplies Stampin' Up!

I am reanimated :)