I have decided to try and set two new goals for myself.  The first being to create at least one card or project a day, and the second being to share them with you.  I have loved being in my stamp studio and look forward everyday to making my cup of tea and heading downstairs to see what I feel like creating.  The past few days have been quite productive and I would like to share a peek of what I accomplished!  I have SO MUCH patterned paper and love using it in my cards.  This first project I used a sheet of Bazzill cardstock to create the base of the cute card holder and inside there are five coordinating cards.  With some coordinating papers, a few stamps and embellishments and you have a great gift for anyone, any occasion.  I love how it turned out, I hope you do too.

Going to try and upload some pics today of some of the projects I have been working on.  I am going to be spending the entire day in my stamp studio so hopefully I will have lots to share with you over the next few days. Here are a couple close ups of the project I showed the other day.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Inks, a few Tim Holtz stamps, some Ranger UTEE (Ultra Thick Embossing Enamel), a page out of an old poem book that I had in my ephemera bin, as well as a Prima flower, a few mica tiles and some scrap ribbon I had.  

I can't believe I haven't posted since August.  I had such good intentions to keep up with my blog and time just seems to pass me by before I know it.  In some cases, as with my dear husband Ronnie being in Afghanistan, I want the time to fly by so he can come home to us again.  But in other cases, I look back and realize that time ran out on the things I had hoped to do.  Visiting my Aunts & Uncles, cousins and friends is one of those things.

My Uncle Francis passed away today.  I hadn't seen him in years and I regret the time lost.  Even though I know I am much older, I still feel like that young girl that couldn't wait to visit my Aunt Dalene and Uncle Francis in Cedar Rapids for a week during the summer!  I always had so much fun and truth be told - usually got whatever I asked for.  :)  (Like wanting to go rollerskating even though my cousin Lorie was grounded - we got to go, of course!)   Unfortunately, when we were home for Christmas we didn't get a chance to see much of the extended family.  I had hoped a visit this summer would correct that.

In my mind, as crazy as it sounds, I still see my Aunts and Uncles as they age they were then.  I don't think of them as being older now, more fragile, less resilient.  Truth be told, I see my parents that way as well.  It's easier that way.  My parents are so full of life and hopefully I have many, MANY years before I have to feel the sorrow that a few of my cousins have had to feel.  I cannot imagine and I am in no way prepared to start.

If there is a silver lining, today's news got me back into my stamp studio.  I felt a great need to get inky fingers and create mindlessly, with no idea of where my journey would take me.  Earlier today I had visited an enormous flea market in Nashville and found a huge bundle of shipping tags that were calling my name.  I grabbed those, my Tim Holtz distress inks and started to play.  The tag below is the result of a couple hours of soul comforting creativity.

Before, a blank shipping tag...                                      and now......with a bit more soul.

Okay here are a few new cards that I designed using some of my new (well new to me) cartridges. :) Hope you enjoy them. Happy Stamping!!
`

This one uses the Paper Pups cartridge. I just love the brown and pink combination! :)



For this card I used the Serenade cartridge. I love the flourish design on the butterfly!



I had so much fun using the Stretch your Imagination cartrige for this birthday card. I also used the Textile Cuttlebug Embossing Folder for the white 'frosting' layer.



I was so excited to get the new Stand and Salute cartridge. With July 4th just around the corner I decided to make this card to not only celebrate our great nation's independence, but pay tribute as well to those who have made that possible. God Bless America, Land of the Free and.....

Well, I have had quite a bit of time off from creating and from blogging. I think it's time that I get back into it as I have my craft room set up now in my new home. All my goodies are calling my name and I think I need to listen to them.

Hopefully I will have some cards to show you later today or tomorrow!

Here are a couple of the cards we did last night in my One Page Wonder Class. We used a single sheet of double-sided designer paper from the Stampin' Up! collection - Raspberry Tart.

If you are interetsed in taking this class, you may comment here or email me at happilystamping@gmail.com

I hope you enjoy them.