Happy Birthday Card For a Granddaughter!

Hi, guys! Today I am sharing a birthday card I made for an eight-year-old girl.  I was asked by her grandma to make one with long brown hair.  I thought about it some and decided to use this fun image by Stampavie Suzi Blu.  The other request was to make it a "large" card.  The stamp I used is very, very large, so it was perfect.  One of the reasons I don't like to make large cards is there is so much space to fill, and I can't emboss the backgrounds with my A2 size folders.  So, after some thought, I decided to use some patterned paper for the background.

Supplies:
Stamps:Stampavie Suzi Blu
Paper: Gina K Designs, DCWV
Ink: Memento Black, Copics
Misc.: Stampin' Up Circle Punches, Ribbon, Glitter Pen, Corner Rounder, Computer Generated Letters/Number

I was trying to figure a fun way to put the birthday girl's name on the card and decided to mimic the paper and put the letters in individual circles in matching colors.

Here's wishing Jenna has a fun-filled birthday!

Until next time!

47 Years And Going Strong!

Hi, guys! Today my parents are celebrating their 47th wedding anniversary. I am blessed to have such loving parents.  They raised six children and have managed to keep all their hair intact. Mom may have wanted to pull hers out by the roots at times! 

This is the card I made for them for this occasion.  I had this adorable mouse couple that I have had for ages that I thought would be fun to use. 

Supplies:
Stamps: Town Mouse (Inkadinkado)
Paper: The Ink Pad NYC Green Apple, Stampin' Up 
Ink: Memento Black, Copics
Misc.: Cuttlebug Embossing folder, Hero Arts Gems


I wish them many more years of wedded bliss!  They are truly an inspiration on how a good marriage can stand the test of time.

Love you guys!

Hope each of you has a great day and spends some part of it with someone special in your lives.

Happy 5th Birthday, Isabella!

Hi, guys! Today I am sharing a card I made for a friend to give to her granddaughter for her 5th birthday. My friend emailed me Isabella's picture and I saw she loved to dress up like a princess.  I thought this fun stamp by Suzi Blu would be perfect for her.

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampavie/Suzi Blu
Paper: Stampin' Up, Core-dinations
Ink: Memento Black
Misc.: Copics, Ribbon, Oval punch, Circle Punches, Gems, Dazzling Diamonds

I thought the use of the Dazzling Diamonds on the wings would be a great touch and add to the sparkle of the card.

Hope Isabella has a very happy birthday and a fun-filled 5th year!

Until next time!

Happy 1st Birthday Card & My Blog is 3 Months old today!

Hi, guys!  Hope you are having a great day!  Today my blog is 3 months old!  I just realized it this morning and it made me happy.  I am having a blast and am enjoying the blogging community.  People have been so gracious, kind, and, most of all, supportive. I can't wait to see how my blog develops with time.

I thought I would share a card I made for a friend's grandson's first birthday.  I pulled out my Crafty Secrets stamp set again but used one of the boy images this time.  I used a computer to print out his name to personalize the card for him.

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Supplies:
Stamps: Crafty Secrets
Paper: Stampin' Up
Ink: Memento Black, Copics
Misc.: Oval Punch

I think this is one of the most fun child birthday stamp sets I own.  I love to be able to customize cards by switching up these images.

Wishing Wyatt Joseph a very happy birthday!

This weekend is going to be packed with activities.  I am heading to a stamp show in MA tomorrow for the day. I will share the details with you next week.  My husband is doing his monthly show in the city as well.  I am hoping to catch the second half of it if I am lucky with traffic.  On Sunday, I will be attending my niece Amanda's dance recital followed by a shopping spree at Ikea for furniture for my new stamp room.  I'd better take some vitamins!

Have a great weekend!

A 1st Birthday Card, Campfire Potatoes and Bourbon Glazed Pork Chops

Hi, guys!  Hope your weekend is going well.  The weather here is so beautiful this weekend.  We were able to spend time today having a barbecue and relaxing in our garden.  It was such a wonderful way to relax before work begins tomorrow!

By the subject of my post, you can see I want to share a few things with you today.  The first is another birthday card for my friend's daughter Victoria who is turning 1. You will remember I shared one I made for her parents last week.  After seeing that card at work on Friday, I had a request from another friend to make one for Victoria for her.   So I wanted it to be cute and fun but look different than the other one.  I think I was successful!

Supplies:
Stamps: Stampin' Up
Paper: Stampin' Up
Ink: Distress ink (can't keep my hands off that for some reason!), Memento Black, Copics
Misc.: Scalloped Marvy Punch

I was mentioning before the great day my husband and I had barbecuing in the garden.  I thought I would share a few pictures and recipes.   The first up is Campfire Potatoes.  These are so easy to make and are delicious!  I used to camp with my late husband and we would make these at each camping trip.  My young nephews had them for their first time when we took them camping.

You take a large cleaned potato, cut slits into the potato and stuff in thin slices of onion.  Drizzle with olive oil and sprinkle on salt and pepper.  Wrap them in tin foil (I use two layers of foil).

Please directly on the coals of your grill.  Close grill and cook.  Depending on the size of your potatoes, they will take 1 hr to 1 hr and half. Turn them half way through cooking.   If you are at camp, you can do the same thing with a campfire.  Put the wrapped potatoes in the fire.  Make sure the fire is NOT blazing anymore.   This is what you will have when they are done.

I love these!  I love to make them while we are eating our dinner and I will have them for the next morning (fried up as home fries with eggs).

The other yummy thing I thought I would share with you was our main dish tonight.  It was Bourbon Glazed Pork Chops.  I adapted this from a recipe I found on www.allrecipes.com.
http://allrecipes.com/recipe/pork-tenderloin-in-bourbon/detail.aspx?event8=1&prop24=SR_Title&e11=pork%20tenderloin%20in%20bourbon&e8=Quick%20Search&event10=1&e7=Home%20Page

The recipe called for pork tenderloin, but I used very thick boneless pork chops instead.  They were on sale and looked great.  They came out delicious.  I would highly recommend you give them a try.  We used Maker's Mark bourbon as it is what we have on hand here.

I know this isn't a cooking blog, but thought with the summer bbq season upon us, you may like to give these a try.

I will be sharing my submissions for the design team of The Inkpad NYC this week sometime.  I have been having a blast trying new stamps and other supplies.  I can't wait to share them with you.

Have a great week!  Until next time!

Mother's Day Cards - Part II

Hi, guys!  I thought I would share a few more Mother's Day Cards with you.  I listed the stamp companies under each card.  I made the first one for a friend's mom, and the other 3 I made for a friend to give to her family and friends.

Stamps: Hero Arts, Studio G

Stamps: Stampin' Up, Studio G

Sentiment inside: Time to relax!

Stamps: Stampin' Up, Studio G

Stamps: Papertrey Ink

This weekend is going to be a crazy busy one for me.  I have my niece's communion, and my husband's show tomorrow in the city.  I hope to be sharing the communion cards I made on Sunday (after my niece  receives them.)

Have a great weekend!

(First) First Holy Communion Card of the Season

Hi, guys!  Hope you are having a good day.  The weather here in NYC is turning nice and warm, a sure sign that Communion, Confirmation and Graduation season is upon us.  I was asked to make a card for a co-worker's nephew's First Holy Communion.  I was asked to personalize it for the boy and add his name.   It was a lot of fun to make and I hope Franco has a beautiful day.  Here is the card:

Supplies:
Paper: Papertrey Ink
Stamps: Catholic Rubber Stamps, Stampin' Up
Ink: Memento Black Ink, Copic Markers
Misc.: Small hole punch, Pop Dots, Large Scallop Nestabilities


This year my family has 3 First Holy Communions we will be celebrating.  My twin nephews in Ohio, and a niece here on Long Island will be receiving the sacrament in the upcoming weeks.  I can't wait to start making cards for each of them.

Hope you have a great day, and hope you find some time in the day to do something you love.

Crocus - Spring Is Almost Here!

Hi, guys! Spring is on its way! I have spotted 2 crocuses sprouting up in my front flower bed. Each year when I see them, I become very happy knowing the cold is nearly behind us. I thought I would share a card I did which celebrates this happy flower.

Supplies:
Stamps: House Mouse
Ink: Memento Tuxedo black
Paper: Stampin' Up, Gina K White
Misc. Copic markers


I really enjoyed making this card, as I love to color. It brings out the inner child in me. Why don't you pick up a marker, crayon or colored pencil, and give it a try? I bet it will make you smile.

Have a great day! Hope you find a few moments in your day to do what you love!