Longing for Spring

Well I know the groundhog saw his shadow yesterday, so were going to get 6 more weeks of winter, but here in Wisconsin we would have gotten 6 more weeks of winter anyway, so it makes no difference if the groundhog saw his shadow or not! LOL! Yesterday at work I was absolutely freezing. They keep it so cold in the place to save costs, even the customers complain and they have winter coats on! I wore two undershirts, plus my work shirt, and I couldn't stop shaking. Today, I will wear a sweater too! And then in the summer, we sweat at work, because they don't cool the place. UGH! Anyway, I'm tired of being cold and longing for spring. Spring is my favorite time of the year because there are no bugs and my garden looks it best with all the blooming trees, and before heat, disease, and insects arrive to wreck havoc on my garden. I always try and get friends and family to come and see my garden in the spring, but everyone always puts it off, and puts it off, and usually shows up in July and August after everything is done blooming, looks fried, and is full of weeds. Its a good thing my daughter's wedding is in the spring, because then everyone will be FORCED to come then! LOL!

Anyway, I haven't scrap booked in probably a year, which is pretty funny because I originally began my paper-crafting adventure as a scrap booker. But, being on design teams, and selling my creations, forces me to mostly make cards and projects, and not scrap book pages. I really need to FINISH my son's high school scrap book before he graduates this May, but I fear, that may never happen with my daughter's wedding preparations taking priority. That's so sad, he may not have a scrap book to display at his graduation party. Oh well, only so much time in a day.

Anyway, since I was longing for spring, I was looking through some old photos of my garden last spring. Oh, I tell you, my garden is like heaven on earth in the spring! I hate to brag but, it really is. Between the scent of the flowering crab apple trees, the lilacs, peonies, iris, etc., the air is just filled with perfume. You can smell it the second you step out the door. And everything is just so perfect because the insects, heat, and drought haven't arrived yet to destroy it yet. The birds are chirping like crazy, having lots of babies, and building their nests. The weather is absolutely perfect, not humid, not to hot, not to cold. I just LOVE, LOVE, LOVE spring. There is no place I would rather be than in my own yard at springtime.

So in honor of that, I made this page. My garden is mostly pink in the spring, and then changes to all the 'hot' colors of yellow, orange, and red in midsummer. The top picture is an overview of just the west side of my garden, the second picture is a close up of a peony, and the bottom picture is a close up of a bleeding heart. The pictures were placed on white card stock and I sponged the edges with green ink. I made the flowers with the Peony Dies from Spellbinders Nestabilities. I cut each layer out of a different shade of pink and sponged the edges. I hand stitched the stem with floss. The title was made with Cuttlebug Alphabet Dies.

Here is a close up of the butterflies that were made from 'Flying Beauties' from Spellbinders. I colored them with chalk to bring out more detail and added dew drops for their heads.

I hope I've 'warmed you up' a little today. Have a great day! Amy

JustRite Challenge 003 'Valentine Love'

First of all, I apologize to everyone who's blogs I have not been visiting this week. I've been working extra long hours trying to get our store ready for inventory. I'm absolutely exhausted. And when I am home, its a challenge just to read all the emails I receive, much less visit and comment on blogs. But I promise, I will get to all your blogs soon.

For today's card, I did the JustRite Challenge 'Valentine Love'. The company just started doing challenges, this is their third one, but the first one I've been able to participate in. I think they actually wanted to see a Valentine 'Project', but I've already made all of those because I have to work a month in advance since I sell my creations at a consignment store, so I decided to make a card that could be used for an anniversary or wedding.

I wish you could see this card in person. It is so much prettier in real life. The entire card just SPARKLES! I used the gorgeous new DCWV 'Maribosa' designer paper. The green background paper is 'glitter paper', and the ribbon has a gold sparkly edge, and the butterfly designer paper has gold glitter on it, and I put Stickles on the frame of the sentiment. Its so pretty! So, since you can't see the shimmer, just use your imaginations.

The sentiment and decorative frame are from JustRite, and the sentiment is embossed in clear embossing powder and is up on dimensionals. Do you remember this card HERE? I just found out that it won this week on Paper Craft Planet and is featured in their Newsletter. I am once again their 'Shooting Star'. I was excited to hear that news.

Have a great day! Amy

Digital Tuesday Challenge 'A Different Fold'

Hello, and welcome to another Digital Tuesday Challenge. This week's challenge is to make a card that has a different fold. Our sponsor this week is the fabulous Bee Crafty! They have the CUTEST bunny images!

For my card I used the Bee Crafty Digital Image 'Fluffy Bunny Birthday'. I never made an easel card before, so I decided to try one. They are quite easy to make, but my only issue with it is that if you send it in the mail, you have to include a little note on how to open it and set it up. LOL!

Anyway, onto the details of my card. I used DCWV 'Nana's Nursery, Baby Boy' designer paper, and Bashful Blue and White Card Stock. The balloon is cut out separately, covered with Crystal Effects to make it shiny, and then popped up on dimensional. I also popped the cake up on dimensionals and added some Stickles to the flame. The sentiment is a Cuttlebug Die Cut, and the border punch is Stampin Up!

Here is a close up so you can see the dimension, the Crystal Effects, and my coloring with Copics.
Here are a couple of side views.

If you'd like to play along with us this week, simply click on the Digital Tuesday Challenge Blinkie in my sidebar and it will take you directly to the Challenge Site with further instructions.

Have a great day! Amy