Sweet Christmas

Hello, treasured friends! Thank you for the endless love and well-wishes. I remain in the midst of this healing journey, so I am not yet back as I'd like. With all of my heart, I pray to be soon!

I'm posting today on the Wild Orchid Crafts blog, sharing a wee bit of sweet Christmas. I have a beautiful stash of red WOC goodies which had sadly been neglected. They inspired this festive creation using darling papers from Pion Design's The Night Before Christmas. ♥️

I especially love the deep reds, which are perfectly rich for traditional holiday colors. The red bead berry sprays are delightful accents, while the cherry blossoms remind me of warm-centered poinsettias. (That's my excuse for using these sweet blossoms in a Christmas card.) ;) ♥️

The Cruise Beige vintage seam binding is centered with one of my favorite embellishments: Flat-back Pearls in a Diamond Circle. How stunning is the deep red, bursting with Christmas love.♥️ My sentiment is trimmed with the ever-versatile White Net Lace. The sweet scene is framed with a Wycinanka Blueberry Swirls chippie.

Oh the beauty of Wild Orchid Craft flowers.♥️ Some lovely pearl snowflakes are also nestled within.

My card base and coordinating filigree layer are from Sue Wilson's Delicate Garden set. Thank you for visiting and I wish you a blessed day!♥️

Wild Orchid Crafts products used:

DEEP RED OPEN ROSES 25mm~ MKX-002

DEEP RED ASTER DAISIES~ GST-220

RED CHERRY BLOSSOMS~ MKX-038

RED BEAD BERRY SPRAYS~ GST-152

WHITE WILD ROSES~ QVR-014

WHITE COTTAGE ROSES 25mm~ MKX-683

WHITE OPEN ROSE 10mm~ MKX-013

WHITE NET LACE~ MKX-584

CRUISE BEIGE VINTAGE SEAM BINDING~ MKX-475

FLAT-BACK PEARLS IN DIAMOND CIRCLE~ MKX-657

PEARL SNOWFLAKES~ MKX-423

Shine Like the Stars

Hello, dear friends! This will be short and sweet today, as my weekend began in the hospital and I am quite sleepy! I am grateful to share that I am on the proper path to finally heal. Thank you for sticking with me.♥︎

I am posting on the Wild Orchid Crafts blog today, where I combined a simpler card design with my first use of 'cookie cutter' metal dies. The gorgeous Crafter's Companion Flutterby frame cuts from within, which caused me to pause a few times to situate myself. ;)

My encouragement card features stunning Autumn Blossoms, fluttering atop the prettiest leaves and ruffles of seam binding.♥︎ The papers are from Maja Design's Vintage Romance.

The amazing Anna Griffin sentiment granted me another opportunity to use the pearl stars I love so much! Aren't they beautiful?♥︎

White embellishments are pure magic in their sweet elegance.♥︎

Thank you for visiting and I wish you a sparkly day!♥︎

Wild Orchid Crafts products used:

WHITE AUTUMN BLOSSOMS

WHITE OPEN ROSES 10mm and 15mm~ MKX-013

MIXED PAPER LEAVES~ MKX-435

WHITE VINTAGE SEAM BINDING~ MKX-472

WHITE STAR PEARLS~ GST-030

FLAT-BACK PEARL IN DIAMOND CIRCLE~ MKX-657

WHITE SELF-ADHESIVE PEARLS 3mm~ MKX-506

Starry Christmas

Happy July, sweet friends! Thank you for your endless love. I'm posting today on the Wild Orchid Crafts blog, where the designers were asked to step outside of our comfy zones and create in styles different than our typical. There are two I will be frolicking in and up first is my take on Clean and Simple! Say what?! ♥️

For true CAS crafters, this may be viewed as too much... but coming from all out shabby chic with oodles of layering and texture, even *this* was challenging for me.

I created a Christmas bauble card, featuring pretty pearls, lace, and of course a few gorgeous flowers. Red and white aster daisies nestle beneath a sparkling Christmas rose. ♥️ My snowy accents are Snow Writer topped with Glamour Dust. The festive papers are Pion Design's The Night Before Christmas.

My chipboard Scrapiniec Starry Bauble hangs from a pearl string, which dangles from a white net lace border. I was super excited to see that the two largest stars on my bauble were the perfect match for WOC's pearl stars. I happy danced while adhering them! It was a nice way to incorporate texture without adding layers to the open card space.

The wavy border at the bottom is a Marianne Design die. As terrifying as this challenge was, I'm very excited about it! Who knew I could get this close to CAS? It may help during the Christmas rush that will be here before we know it. Thank you for visiting and I wish you a beautiful day! ♥️

Wild Orchid Crafts products used:

WHITE OPEN ROSE 20mm~ MKX-013

WHITE ASTER DAISIES~ GST-216

DEEP RED ASTER DAISIES~ GST-220

ROSE LEAVES 15mm~ MKX-441

WHITE NET LACE~ MKX-584

WHITE FLAT-BACK PEARL STRING 4mm~ MKX-612

WHITE STAR PEARLS~ GST-030

WHITE SELF-ADHESIVE PEARLS 3mm~ MKX-506

SaveSave

SaveSave

I Hold You in My Heart

Hello, friends! Always know how much I treasure you.♥︎ I am posting today on the Wild Orchid Crafts blog, sharing a shabby encouragement card.

It has been a difficult week grieving the loss of the sparkliest cancer warrior. At only 9 years old, Tessa inspired and loved beyond measure. She lived down the road from me, filling my heart with her light. ♥︎

This card is for one of the many people whose heart has been shattered. I want to remind her that even though we feel broken, we are being held by the ultimate healing love. I adore Wild Orchid Crafts pastels, which made it easy to add pops of sweet pink love (roses/leaves) and sunshiny yellow (cherry blossom). Tessa is everything beautiful... pure love and sunshine.

Vintage Seam Binding and Lace are knotted together for shabby bunting, while gorgeous Autumn Blossoms ruffle atop it. Each knot is placed between the pearls of WOC's lovely Pearl String, which is very pretty in person. A few pink and yellow ribbons were added to reflect Tessa's sweet little self. ♥︎

Flat-back Pearl String adorns my Wycinanka chipboard frame for added elegance. The sentiment is from JustRite. For a touch of sparkle, Bead Berry Clusters are nestled alongside the cherry blossoms. The clusters are one of my favorite WOC embellishments to sprinkle in my creations. ♥︎ The beautiful papers are from Pion Design's Where the Roses Grow. 

Tessa's love will forever blossom within all who cherish her. ♥︎

Thank you for fluttering on by and I wish you a beautiful day! ♥︎

 Wild Orchid Crafts products used:

WHITE AUTUMN BLOSSOMS

MIXED VINTAGE COLOUR OPEN ROSES 20mm~ MKX-043

MIXED PASTEL CHERRY BLOSSOMS~ MKX-247

WHITE BEAD BERRY SPRAYS~ GST-155

2-TONE GREEN/PINK LEAVES~ MKX-248

WHITE NET LACE~ MKX-584

WHITE VINTAGE SEAM BINDING~ MKX-472

WHITE FLAT-BACK PEARL STRING 4mm~ MKX-612

WHITE PEARL STRING 4mm~ MKX-533

WHITE SELF-ADHESIVE PEARLS 3mm~ MKX-506

You Are Amazing ♥︎

Hello, precious friends! I have some wonderful news: I will begin sprinkling your blogs with love today, for which I am grateful! I dearly miss you and am thankful for your endless love and prayers during tribulation. ♥︎

I'm posting on the Wild Orchid Crafts blog today, sharing some sweet and sparkly inspiration. ♥︎ This is also my DT contribution for Deep Ocean, where we are playing with a fun Bingo Board! This card is to bring nature's beauty to a cancer warrior who is unable to enjoy the outdoors.

Amongst my pink and white flowers are pops of sunshine with pastel yellow cherry blossoms and mini sweetheart blossoms. I couldn't resist using the lovely organza rose trimming, as it pairs so beautifully with LemonCraft's Tiny Miracles collection. ♥︎ Plus, it's just gorgeous!

Atop my crackled Wycinanka birdhouses are sparkling embellishments: Rhinestone flowers with diamond centers. They are so darling that I sprinkled a few extras throughout my card. ♥︎ WOC pearls serve as my birdhouse hangers and also line the sentiment nestled within the bouquet. For pretty texture, I lined the back of the birdhouse openings with vintage seam binding.

My card base and floral frame are from Sue Wilson's Delicate Garden die set. The delightful birdies are from Resting Birds by Memory Box. How dreamy it is to play with Wild Orchid Crafts goodies.... I pray it delivers healing love, engulfing her in everything beautiful. Thank you for visiting and I wish you a blessed day. ♥︎

Wild Orchid Crafts products used:

PINK MIST COTTAGE ROSES 25mm~ MKX-666

PINK MIST OPEN ROSES 20mm~ MKX-028

MIXED PINK HIP ROSEBUDS~ GST-O14

MIXED PASTEL CHERRY BLOSSOMS~ MKX-247

MIXED PASTEL MINIATURE SWEETHEART BLOSSOMS~ MKX-265

WHITE APPLE BLOSSOMS~ MKX-625

WHITE SWEETHEART BLOSSOMS~ MKX-336

MAGNOLIAS~ QVR-029

MIXED PINK FLOWERS AND EMBELLISHMENTS STARTER PACK~ MKX-327

MIXED LEAVES~ MKX-435

WHITE BEAD BERRY SPRAY CLUSTERS~ GST-155

WHITE SMALL ORGANZA ROSE TRIM~ MKX-462

SIAM PINK VINTAGE SEAM BINDING~ MKX-485

RHINESTONE FLOWERS WITH DIAMOND CENTER~ GST-168

WHITE FLATBACK PEARL STRING 4mm~ MKX-612

WHITE SELF-ADHESIVE PEARLS 3mm~ MKX-506

SaveSave

A Piece of My Heart: Whispers of Rest

Hello, treasured friends! I hope you're having a beautiful week. ♥︎ As you know, my crafting schedule has been scaled back to allow healing. This unexpected season of rest aligned with Bonnie Gray's new book Whispers of Rest, which releases TODAY! ♥︎

(Yes, my coffee was long gone upon remembering to take a photo!)

I am thrilled to be a part of Bonnie's launch team, which came with the blessing of an advanced copy of her book. I have long-adored her gentle heart, which brightly sparkles throughout her writing. If anyone could convince me to rest, it would be her. ;) Like so many, I was living at a hectic pace and my joy was diminishing. Chronic pain was not helping matters. I was beginning to hide my heart.

Whispers of Rest engages far deeper than the title implies. I learned and received the value of resting in God, but even more it brought me to a closer relationship with the One I dearly love. The One who beckons us to come to Him and live through Him. She invites us to set our hearts free by the gentle touch of Jesus. Bonnie reminds us that God has placed a beautiful, natural light in us that cannot be destroyed.... His perfect love. I am determined to let go of fear and cling to Jesus instead. ♥︎

This book is a treasure trove of encouragement that deepens our faith. One of my favorite morsels is tucked within Day 7:

"Jesus didn't shut down his heart. He opened his heart to love and brokenness, so that he could one day make your heart his home."

During this Whispers of Rest journey, I unexpectedly was emboldened. Instead of shutting down my heart that felt it could take no more despair, I am once again seeking out shattered hearts that need hope. Instead of feeling irreparably broken, I'm refueled with God's love and light.. along with an urgency to shine it into lives overcome with darkness. ♥︎

Bonnie's heart is beautiful and she has a passion for resting in quiet love. I am grateful for her vulnerability as she steps out again to encourage us to care for our souls. You can learn more about her and Whispers of Rest on her blog.

Thank you for fluttering on by and I wish you a blessed day! 🌷

Birthday Love

Hello, precious friends! This year has been unlike any other but I am valiantly fighting to regularly craft once again and sprinkle your work with sweetness... thank you for the continual love. I am forever thankful for you. ♥︎

I am posting today on the Wild Orchid Crafts blog, sharing a wee bit of birthday inspiration. ♥︎ This is also for our new delightful challenge at Deep Ocean, where we are playing with furry/fuzzy friends! Pure sweetness.

My darling mother's birthday is fast approaching! To celebrate, I've combined vintage pink with classic white and soft green. My papers are from Maja Design's Vintage Romance.

Along with gorgeous flowers, I've layered lovely trims and elegant pearls. I love the combination of the fabric babies breath with vintage seam binding... the softness and wispiness make my heart flutter. Wild Orchid Crafts is a treasure trove of sweet beauty. ♥︎

My chipboard elements are from Wycinanka, two of which have been painted with Crackle Paste. Thank you for fluttering on by and I wish you a blessed day! ♥︎

Wild Orchid Crafts products used:

WHITE TRELLIS ROSES 35mm~ MKX-682

MIXED VINTAGE COLOUR OPEN ROSES 15mm and 20mm~ MKX-043

PALE PINK HIP ROSEBUDS~ GST-060

WHITE SWEETHEART BLOSSOMS~ MKX-336

WHITE BABIES BREATH

MIXED LEAVES~ MKX-435

WHITE VINTAGE SEAM BINDING

WHITE NET LACE~ MKX-584

IVORY DECORATIVE GALOON LACE~ MKX-404

WHITE FLATBACK PEARL STRING 4mm~ MKX-612

WHITE FLOWER SHAPE PEARL~ MKX-254

WHITE SELF-ADHESIVE PEARLS 3mm~ MKX-506

SaveSave