A Father's Love...

Hello, my dear friends! I hope everyone had a blessed weekend. :o)

Today I'm happy to share a Father's Day pocket card that I made for a very special dad named Reggie, who is the recipient of May's I Feel the Love Project. Each month the amazing and talented Madison highlights a particular person, family, or organization in need of some extra love and sunshine.

This month we are honoring an amazing father who strengthens and encourages his family during heartbreaking tribulation. He has faced a parent's nightmare not only once, but twice. For the second time he is helping a beloved daughter battle cancer.

I had no sentiment stamp that expressed what was on my heart, so I typed up my own. Since his beautiful children are in on this Father's Day surprise, I wanted them included in the sentiment.

"A Father's love shines through the hearts of his children." In their family, that couldn't be more true.

A closer peek:

After printing the sentiment, I cut it out with a Spellbinders Classic Circle. I used Dried Marigold distress ink to create a small nature scene with a stamp from the Tim Holtz Artful Flight set. I sponged around the circle's perimeter to surround it (and him!) in heavenly warmth. The circle is set upon a scallop base that I cut out with my Cameo, using one of the scallops in a Lori Whitlock Nested Shapes Set.

The patterned papers are from Pebbles and Basic Grey, which I thought worked well for a masculine card. I fussy-cut extra leaves to layer them with foam tape in the corners for extra dimension. The satin polka dot ribbon is from Papertrey Ink.

A little surprise is tucked in the pocket. This card is not only from me, but it will be from Reggie's children, too!

I cut out eight Spellbinders Nested Hearts, layering the small and medium ones to create four main hearts... one for each of his children. They are heavily inked with Barn Door distress ink and secured together with a jump ring. I get the feeling their hearts always beat as one. To avoid difficulty in fitting them in the pocket, only the first heart is adorned with red sparkles.

The four hearts don't merely represent the loving hearts of Ashley, Andrew, Raelynn, and Ryan, but they are also a personalized gift! I lined the backs with a filigree patterned paper, light enough to beautifully showcase handwritten messages. The fronts are bursting with red love, while the backs will be filled with heartfelt words from each kid. I realize the rhinestone one will be a wee bit tricky to write on... but a touch of sparkling love overrides a few sloppily-written words. ;)

The love they have for their father is truly tangible. That's why I wanted to incorporate them into my creation via sentiment and a special little surprise that Reggie can keep wherever he wishes. It will always remind him that his gorgeous love is shining brightly through his family... and that our heavenly Father's love is shining through HIM.

The family, in their Ashley's Angels shirts:

His daughter Ashley is currently battling cancer. She successfully defeated it as a child... but in January, 15 years later, she was diagnosed with a completely unrelated cancer. This month we also have the option of creating for her. While I work on that, my little blog may be quiet for a bit. Although I'll be visiting you all regularly, of course. :o) I have something special in mind for her, but it will take some time as I've never done it before. Cue panic. But the Lord will help me bless her with this special gift. :o)

Thank you for fluttering on by! Have a blessed and beautiful day. :o)

Challenges entered:
 *Crafty Catz~ Anything Goes
 *Crazy 4 Challenges~ Photo Inspiration (The orange stamped central focal point)
 *Creative Cutting Challenge~ Father's Day (The scallop base file was cut with my Cameo)
 *Cupcake Craft~ Lots of Layers
 *DL. Art~ Thankful Thursday May Linky Party (Anything Goes)
 *Fussy and Fancy~ Anything Goes
 *Make It Monday~ Anything Goes
 *Pause Dream Enjoy~ Happy ______ (I chose Father's Day)

Sew Special: Mother's Day Card

Happy Wednesday, my talented friends! I hope you're having a beautiful week! :o)

I took advantage of some crafty time to make a Mother's Day card for my dear mom. :o) She loves fashion, pearls, and all things textural. I've long wanted to make her a dress form card, so I went that route. :o)

"Sew Special"

She loves a pun and she is sew very special to me. The background paper is a favorite from the Glitz French Kiss collection.. the fabric appearance is spectacular in person. This design began with the dress form, which is a cut file from a Ladies' Accessories collection in the Silhouette Online Store. The top was made from a gorgeous design from the My Mind's Eye Blush collection, which you may need to enlarge to see the prettiness. I used my favorite American Crafts crochet lace trim for the skirt, to which I added a Wild Orchid Crafts pearl strand for extra femininity.

For the middle of the card, I layered Wild Orchid Crafts cream Guipure lace with the same lace as the skirt. I wanted lots of texture on this one!

A little bit closer view to show the dress form and the pearls that accent the entire lower half. (I had serious photography issues with this one.)

The frame beneath the dress form is a cut file from a Princess Silhouette collection. I love everything in that little set! The musical paper is from the Glitz Pretty in Pink pad, while the exterior is the same as the outfit top. Everything throughout this project is inked with Walnut Stain distress ink. The frame and dress form are popped up with two layers each of foam tape for a lot of dimension. I really wish I had a picture from the side... I was too rushed.

A peek at the sentiment and spool of thread:

The computer-generated sentiment is cut out with a Tiny Tag metal die from My Craft Spot. I circled the hole with tiny pearls and threaded it with the floss I wrapped around a Spool of Thread cut file. For the needle, I used a fancy Wild Orchid Crafts pearl crown pin.

Lastly, I created a corner flourish of sorts with Recollections pearls, attempting to mimic some pretty Prima ones I've seen online. I sewed around the card's exterior, which I always love but especially wanted to incorporate given the theme. I hope my mom loves her card. :o)

Thank you for fluttering on by! I wish you a sparkly day of sunbeams and blessings. :o)

Challenges entered:
 *Celebrate the Occasion~ Mother's Day
 *Craftin' Desert Divas~ Linky Party: Puns!
 *Created With Love~ Mother's Day
 *Cut It Up~ Mother's Day
 *Love to Create~ For Mom or a Special Lady
 *Make It Monday~ Anything Goes
 *My Craft Spot~ For Mom
 *Papertake Weekly~ Anything Goes
 *Pretty Little Ribbons~ Lace
 *Silhouette Challenges~ Anything Goes

Sweet Saturday: 1 XXL Chocolate Cookie

Happy Saturday, my dear friends! I hope you have a wonderful weekend planned. :o)

Chocolate cookies are innately amazing... but sometimes you want one that's massive in size. Massive as in *just* under six inches in diameter:

This is pure decadence. The first time I shared it with my mom... the second time, with my sweetheart. Everyone is wild about this cookie. I love giant cookies because there's so much gooey interior to enjoy. The inside of this one just so happens to taste like a fudgy brownie. :o)

With such a small amount of each ingredient, this comes together quickly (NO mixer required), and before long you can satisfy that persistent chocolate craving. It also makes for an impressive treat without hours of invested time. Sometimes you need these types of recipes. :o)

Plus, this treat is simply fun. Especially when topped with bright sprinkles of happiness. :o) There's something so beautifully sweet about sharing a dessert with someone you love... soon I'll be sharing this with my niece. :o)

Thank you for stopping by! Have a sweet weekend! :o)
*****

1 XXL Chocolate Cookie
Yield: 1 large cookie (or four smaller cookies, if desired)

Ingredients:
2 Tablespoons unsalted butter, softened to room temperature
2 Tablespoons granulated sugar
2 Tablespoons light brown sugar (or dark brown)
2 Tablespoons beaten egg (crack an egg, beat it, and use 2 Tablespoons)
½ teaspoon vanilla extract
¼ cup all-purpose flour
2 Tablespoons unsweetened cocoa powder
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon salt
¼ cup dark or semi-sweet chocolate chips + 1 Tablespoon, divided
Sprinkles (optional)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350º F. Line a cookie sheet with parchment paper or a silicone baking mat. Set aside.

In a medium size bowl, mix the softened butter and sugars together with a spoon or fork until creamed. Mix in the egg and vanilla.

In a separate small bowl, mix the flour, cocoa powder, baking soda, and salt. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients and mix to combine. Fold in ¼ cup chocolate chips.

Place the dough in the center of the baking sheet and mold into a tall ball using a spoon. (Dough will be sticky.) Dot the top of the cookie with 1 Tablespoon of chocolate chips. Add sprinkles on top, if desired.

Bake for 14-15 minutes, or up to 16 minutes. (Mine is always perfect at 14... do not overbake this beauty!) The cookie will appear very soft, but will firm as it cools. Allow to cool completely on baking sheet.

Note:
You may make four smaller cookies using this recipe. Simply divide the dough into 4 smaller mounds on the cookie sheet and bake for 8-10 minutes.

Source: Sally's Baking Addiction