Awning Card for a Special Little Girl

Happy Saturday, my crafty friends! I hope you're having a gorgeous weekend. In lieu of the Sweet Saturday recipe I had lined up to post, I'm sharing a card that is far sweeter. (And a wee bit difficult for me to write about.)

See these lovely people?

This is Olivia (now 9 years old) and her mom Erika... they mean the world to me. Erika and I met on the first day of kindergarten. The first day of a lifelong friendship. We gravitated to each other and I'm pretty sure the HUGE 5th graders felt our fear as we huddled in the kindergartner hallway. As it turned out, we lived in the same small neighborhood. The memories we shared from that day forward are permanently etched upon my heart. It is a blessing to grow up with someone and never lose track of each other.

Over the years we shared everything from school desks to dreams, from first crushes to forever loves. Sometimes when we were little my mom would have to send us to my room when we'd get in trouble with my older brother, scheming around the house... but it was fun punishment because his room was next to mine, so we sent notes back and forth through the register vent thingy. Ha! Kids can always find a way. ;)

I'll never forget the day Erika shared the news of her cancer diagnosis. I didn't know how to handle it. She was not expected to live long, but she is a fighter. Against all odds, she battled that wretched disease for years to make memories for Olivia and in the process showed us all what inspiration truly is.

Erika passed away last year. I was devastated, angry, and sadder than I'd ever been in my life. Sweet little Olivia has had a hard time, but she is a fighter like her mom. Shortly after our dear Erika passed away, Olivia founded Kids Involved in Cancer Research. At merely 8 years old, she was determined to do all she could to fight the disease that took her mother at such a young age. She is strong, loving, and inspiring... just like Erika.

Many of you know Madison of Funky Cards, the creator of the I Feel the Love Project of which I faithfully participate. Each month she highlights a particular person, family, or organization in need of some extra love and sunshine. This month she is honoring someone in my life... and words still fail me at that incredible blessing. Olivia is the new recipient for August and it fills my heart with indescribable joy that cards will be created just for her. Knowing that people are thinking of her will be such an encouragement when she opens that box of crafty love (and long after).

I certainly will be using some Create a Critter cuteness on another card for her.. those critters are magical. But I had it on my heart to create a new-to-me card style first. I made her an awning card, as if she and I are strolling downtown, enjoying the summery sunshine, and stumble upon a sweet bakery for cupcakes and hot cocoa. (It's never too hot outside for any form of chocolate.)

The interior and a peek at the "shelf/counter" that sticks out below the goodies, as well as the love I tucked below the awning:

The creative process was extra special and I pray that Olivia feels healing love in every millimeter of it. My heart was even sappier than usual. Since the story behind this took quite a bit of space, I'll only give the bare minimum in terms of details here. The images in the 'bakery' are from Whimsical Designs sentiment stamp sets, which I colored with Copics. I made the cupcake stand with pretty pink rhinestones, used glittery SnowTex for the cocoa's marshmallows, and sparklified the cupcake hearts because my love for her and Erika will forever sparkle.

I used a Spellbinders Fancy Tags Three die for the Whimsical Designs sentiment and added some cute Blossom twine from My Craft Spot. The bottom is lined with Wild Orchid Crafts sweetheart blossoms, as though the flowers are along the walkway of the bakery. The final touch was the little butterfly resting atop the awning... clearly drawn to the beautiful heart and fighting spirit found in Olivia.

Challenges entered:

 * Crafty Catz~ Use Pink

 * Die Cuttin' Divas~ Anything Goes

 * Divas by Design~ Flowers

 * DL.ART~ Happy Birthday Linky Party and a chance to win Pretty Pennants. Happy Birthday, Diana! :o)

 * I Feel the Love~ Cards for Olivia

 * Make It Monday~ Anything Goes

 * Moving Along with the Times~ Summer (downtown walks in the sunshine!)

Thank you for fluttering on by! I hope your day is filled with love and blessings. :o)

Rosette Wands: I Feel the Love

Happy Monday, my dear friends! I hope your weekend was beautiful. :o)

Today's creations are extra special, as they're for the cherished I Feel the Love Project, hosted by the sweet and talented Madison of Funky Cards. Each month she highlights a particular person, family, or organization in need of extra love and sunshine. In turn, we have the honor of being a blessing by using our passion to serve others. This ministry brings me inexpressible joy, as you well know by now! :o)

This month's collection is for Sheffield Place, which is a homeless shelter for mothers and their children. The difference they make for these families is something to behold. We were asked to make cards and decorations for the monthly birthday parties for the kids at the shelter. Due to an incredibly busy month, I was only able to complete a fraction of what I envisioned nearly four weeks ago. It breaks my heart, but I hope they feel every tidbit of love that went into these decorations.

I made rosette wands with flowy ribbon and all types of happiness for festive centerpieces on the tables... or to be joyously twirled by sweet little kiddos! (I wouldn't blame them.. I mean, these sparkle something fierce!)

I made sixteen of them. Indeed it took eons, but it was worth every required day of work. The "wands" are bamboo skewers, which I painted with two coats of turquoise glitter acrylic paint and a layer of sealer for protection. They're all turquoise because it's cheery, bright, and just such a gorgeous color. I made the rosettes in three sizes for variety. The biggest one is made with 12x2.5-inch strips, the medium ones used 2-inch wide strips, and the smallest rosettes came from 1.5-inch wide strips. For extra festive fun, each wand has two lengths of ribbon attached in the back.

I took a few pictures for a closer look at the varied designs. Some have added rhinestones to the center designs, some of the rosettes are trimmed in Stickles, and some have various inking. Most are different in some way to (hopefully) appeal to lots of kiddo favorites.

I made multiples of a few, like the butterfly paper rosettes and the colorful flower ones above. The purple stripes have different centers, but the back one wasn't cooperating during picture time.

This set is less frilly and somewhat more gender neutral. (I know it has the same flowyness... but on these ones, that's not ribbon cascading down. They're streamers. Hehe.) The sun and frog are from Create a Critter, with Peachy Keen faces for each and googly eyes for the froggies. (Do you see the froggie paper?! It's so cute!) There are two different baseball ones for sporty types. The blue/green plaid one is a fave. I just love how the plaid looks in a rosette. (And the ribbon isn't actually that spunky. The things you notice after the pictures are done...)

Lastly, these sweet ones. I couldn't send a box of decorations without having hearts somewhere, so I used a Spellbinders Fanciful Holiday heart in the same paper as the rosettes. 

The big purple one certainly doesn't look like a kid one... and that is for a reason. I wanted to make one in honor of the mothers that are fighting so hard to right their lives. Each birthday party for the children at the shelter is a celebration for their moms, too. They could give up. But these ones are determined to return to self-sufficiency and certainly deserve a fancy rosette of their own. :o) I used my Martha Stewart Doily Lace punch around the outside as well as the interior. If you look closely, you'll see a punched design just outside of the scallop center decoration.

I hope with all of my heart that these bring some birthday joy to everyone at the shelter. Isn't this picture adorable? Such radiant smiles. There's only one day left for this current collection, but the good news is that a new one starts Wednesday! :o)

Challenges entered:

 * Make It Monday~ Anything Goes

 * Paper Playtime~ Anything Goes

 * Simon Says Stamp~ Anything Goes

Thank you for twirling on by! I wish you a day sparkling with love and sunshine. :o)

Wishing You a Beautiful Day

Happy Friday, my sweet friends! I hope everyone had a lovely week! :o)

A quick post today to share my new card that was such a joy to create. :o) I had never used so much blue in one non-winter project, but these papers and ribbon were calling to me!

The interior, finished off to coordinate with the front:

I was inspired by colors for this project, wishing to make a 'just because' card that was summery, peaceful, girly, and filled with nature's beauty. :o) I normally gravitate to pinks wish that type of wish list, so it was fun to embrace a less-used color palette. The sweetheart is Little Rapunzel from Elisabeth Bell's digital collection, colored with Copics. Every time I tried to add pearls and corner decor, it felt a bit out of place. I guess this card is meant to be a touch on the simpler side.

I won the gorgeous satin ribbon from my dear friend Sherrie of Sherrie Scraps with Passion and it looks like it was made for this paper. Color me happy! :o) The Wild Orchid Crafts flowers are covered in Sparkle Shimmer Spritz. Although not a trace translated into the photograph, it is such an elegant shimmer in person. It is one of my favorite Copic cards and I hope the recipient feels the sunshiny love and happiness that went into it. :o)

Challenges entered:
 * Crafts and Me~ Ribbon and a Bow
 * Divas by Design~ Anything Goes
 * Jackson's Digital Expressions~ Anything Goes with a color media
 * Make It Monday~ Anything Goes
 * Papertake Weekly~ All Things Girlie
 * The Ribbon Girl~ Color Challenge: Aqua, Blue, and Terracota. My sky is aqua, although sadly it appears a bit washed out in the pictures.
 * Simon Says Stamp and Show~ No Rules!
 * Whimsy Stamps~ Punches and Edgers

Thank you for fluttering on by! If all goes as planned, I'll be back tomorrow with a sweet little treat. Have a sparkly day, my crafty friends! :o)

Key Recipe Components:
 * Spellbinders Nestabilities: Fleur de Lis Squares
 * Paper: Core'dinations, K and Company Watercolor Bouquet, Papertrey Ink
 * Sentiment stamp: Whimsical Designs~ Whimsical Fun, Volume 1
 * Image stamp: Elisabeth Bell~ Little Rapunzel
 * Copics: E000, E00 (skin); E23, E25, E31, E50 (hair); YR000, YR01 (shirt and shawl); B91, B93, B95, B97 (jeans); YG17, YG23, G28 (grass)
 * Flowers: Wild Orchid Crafts
 * Border punch: Martha Stewart Lace Heart Edge
 * Distress Inks: Tumbled Glass (for the sky), Walnut Stain

Sprinkled with Love

Happy Monday, my crafty friends! I hope you had a beautiful weekend. :o)

One can never make too many cupcake projects, so I made a different take on the colorful card I posted on Saturday. The previous one was an explosion of whimsical color, while this one is bursting with sappy love. :o)

A peek inside, where even more heart sprinkles reside. (The sponged ink does not cover the entire circle, despite how it appears at this angle.)

I had it on my heart to make a card for either a profound lover of cupcakes or simply given to someone who is dearly loved. This card suits both purposes. :o) The SEI patterned papers on the front are amongst my favorites and seemed ideal for a cupcake creation. The card base is from Elegant Edges, with the frame popped up with foam tape for dimension. The chocolate frosting of the Art Philosophy cupcake is embossed for swirly texture and dotted with pearl "sprinkles." The wrapper paper is pearlescent, with a beautiful satiny embossed design. It's so pretty in person. :o) If enlarged you'll see the tiny pearls sprinkling down upon (and around) the cupcake, placed at sporadic intersections of the background design.

"Sprinkled with Love" is a Whimsical Designs sentiment, from Stephanie's With Love stamp set. It is stamped upon a Spellbinders Labels Four tag and inked with Spun Sugar distress ink. Blossom twine from My Craft Spot forms a sweet little bow, adorned with a Little Yellow Bicycle heart button because the best cupcakes showcase the baker's heart. :o)

The fluttering hearts paper that lines the interior is from Me and My Big Ideas. A Spellbinders Picot Edge Circle provides the base for the personal message, which is the same textured pink cardstock as the frame background on the front. I don't yet own any Spellbinders circles but I love being able to ink the embossed sections, so I cut out a picot circle in white and cut off the design, leaving only the center. The heart and white circle layers are inked in Spun Sugar. I can't seem to go too long without making a cupcake creation filled with sugary pink and sweet hearts. :o)

Challenges entered:
Cupcake Inspirations~ Photo Inspiration (Brown, pink, swirly chocolate frosting!)
Jaihart: Sundays are Lovely
Made Especially for You~ Three Colors, plus black/white as accent if desired; Brown, pink, and a touch of red for me!
Secret Crafter~ Food and Drink

Thank you for dancing on by today! I wish you a beautiful day, sparkling with love and cupcakes. :o)

A Little Treat for Someone So Sweet

Happy Saturday, my dear friends! I hope you're in the midst of a beautiful weekend. :o)

I had no time in the kitchen this week, but I do have a paper treat for a little kiddo to share today! (Or even someone young-at-heart.) A colorful card for a sweet occasion, inspired by a little girl who simultaneously warmed my heart and made me giggle. :o)

Interior: "A little treat for someone so sweet"

The best shot of the colorful holographic embossing powder: a rainbow of blossoming love:

The quick story that inspired this creation: I was sitting in the car and noticed an energetic little girl waiting not-so-patiently while her father was on his cell phone. When he finally started walking, she burst ahead of him to the door of my local cupcake bakery. She had a death-grip on the door handle and watched in horror as her dad walked right on by. She was so disheartened! But he was simply tossing something in the nearby trash can, so when he turned around and headed back to her, all trace of despair vanished in a heartbeat. All was right with the world as she hopped inside to the waiting world of sweet confections. She cracked me right up and I thought how sweet it would be to surprise a little girl with a bright card and a cupcake. :o)

You know my adoration for shaped cards of any type... they just seem to bring extra spunk and beauty to even the simplest of designs. This is one of my favorite Elegant Edges shapes, which is adorned in graduating rhinestones and heat-embossed. Originally, the wide frame felt too contradictory to the interior that bursts with excitement, especially for a kid, so I was super excited when our great Lord reminded me of some forgotten supplies! The flower stamp is from a set of 3 stamps from JoAnn's dollar bin, which is stamped in VersaMark Dazzle for extra shimmer. I stamped them sporadically, ensuring none were a complete flower so it would look like they're dancing along the frame. The rainbow flowers that appeared after a blast of heat made me much happier. I don't know why I often forget about this beautiful technique!

The sprightly patterned paper is from DCWV, which I topped with a Cricut cut I have been so eager to use: the elegant cupcake from Art Philosophy! I could hug it. The wrapper is from a sheet of paper I've had forever and I couldn't resist adding a sparkling pink trail for the butterfly. The frosting is pearlescent gemstone cardstock, embossed with D'vine Swirls, and topped with pink and crystal rhinestone "sprinkles." The wrapper and frosting are lightly inked with Spun Sugar distress ink. Since this is a fancy cupcake, I added a pretty twine bow with Blossom twine from My Craft Spot.

I lined the interior with the same DCWV paper so it would be exploding with color from within and layered it with the petal-shaped cut-out from the exterior frame. The white circle has a trace of Spun Sugar for a touch of color. The sweet Whimsical Designs sentiment and mini cupcake stamps are from Stephanie's Whimsical Fun~ Volume 1 and With Love sets. The cupcake is colored with Copics and the decoration is covered in Star Dust... it wanted to be a sugared heart. :o)

Challenges entered:
 * The Cutie Pie Challenge Blog~ Glitter and Bling
 * Docerela Creations~ Anything Goes
 * Make It Monday~ Anything Goes
 * Tuesday Alchemy~ No Work, Just Play

Thank you for dancing on by! I'll be back soon after I make a different version of this fun little card! Going a week between projects makes me unsparkly. :o) Have a blessed and sunshiny day, friends!

Bring on the Flip Flops!

Happy Monday, my sweet friends! I hope your week is off to a sparkly start! :o)

At last, I have a crafty creation to share! I made this fun little card for my mom in celebration of the joyous summertime days we've been sharing lately. :o) Given the scary events just before Christmas, every moment feels extra special now. The last couple of weeks have been filled with so much laughter in her pool and fun times over our beloved coffee delights. We've swam so late that fireflies danced nearby as we floated and splashed to our heart's content. :o)

"Bring on the Flip Flops"

A better angle for the pretty peridot'ish rhinestones.

This was such fun to create! The gorgeous background, butterfly, and sentiment papers are from Kaisercraft Chapter One, which is a stunning collection. (The butterfly is the Martha Stewart Small Monarch punch.) The patterned paper for the Create a Critter sun is from My Mind's Eye Stella and Rose, and I do confess that it took me three tries to get the cut mostly centered on the design. A deep orange rhinestone brings a touch of sparkle to its core. The sand is sparkly Core Couture paper, embossed with Swiss Dots for texture.

The flip-flops and umbrella are from the Spellbinder's Surf's Up collection. How fun are they?! I've wanted them for quite some time and was pushed over the edge when this fantastic sentiment stamp came into my life. They were designed to be for me and my mom, tailored to some of our favorite things. The purple flip-flops are mine, with the pearlescent hue courtesy of Dew Drop Brilliance ink and the addition of heart-shaped rhinestones on the straps. (Sorry for the blur... it bums me out!) The pink ones are for my mom, inked up in Spun Sugar Distress Ink and accented with tiny peridot-green rhinestones. Each set is "burrowed" in a mound of sand, covered in iridescent microbeads to be like the sparkly sand on the beaches we pretend we're at. :o)

The umbrella is inked with the same pink and purple, trimmed with crystalline rhinestones, and given a touch of whimsy with Lilac and Blossom bows. The gorgeous twine is from My Craft Spot. We like things girly and sprightly, so I wanted to make a fun umbrella. :o)

The marvelous Docerela Creations sentiment is from her Summertime stamp set. I love this set and am so excited to own it. It is stamped on a Spellbinders banner from the Lacey Pennants set, which I connected with peridot rhinestones as though the butterfly is carrying the message. (Like a plane banner... only a flutterby!) This card was made not only to celebrate the fun we've had, but also for the incredible memories we'll be making all summer long. :o)

Challenge entered:
 * Bitten by the Bug 2~ Here Comes the Sun (Sun from Create a Critter)

Thank you for fluttering on by today! I wish you a day filled with blessings, sparkles, and all things beautiful. (Like No-Bake Cheesecake Cones.) :o)

Sweet Saturday: No-Bake Cheesecake Cones!

Happy Saturday, my dear friends! I hope you enjoyed a wonderful, festive week! I was away from Blogger for a few days of family fun, so I am excited to play catch-up today to see what you've been up to! :o)

There is a lot of love to be found with this week's delightful confection. After a few (unplanned) weeks away from this feature, it returns in a most colorful fashion. There are so many things to love about this treat. One of the best facets? I made this yesterday, as the temps rose to 100º F. An easy no-bake treat that is eons more special than the typical ones I've made to beat the heat... and an absolute blast to make! Cheesecake Cones!

I did have some piping issues, but who can be unhappy about that when surrounded by so many rainbow sprinkles? Our kids-at-heart selves even forgot the scorching heat when in the presence of these beauties. Ready for some tasty details? The cones are filled with a fluffy vanilla-bean no-bake cheesecake batter, which is piped with a pastry bag to resemble soft-serve ice cream. As the recipe creator correctly declared, it's almost like a cheesecake mousse. A sprinkling of rainbow nonpareils atop the swirls makes my heart flutter.

Did you notice the cones? Oh my... how fun and delicious! Before filling the cones, the rims are dipped in melted white chocolate and then dipped into a mix of rainbow jimmies and nonpareils. I was positively giddy making these sprightly treats and everyone loved them. (And I am absolutely making a red and green Christmas variation.) They were enjoyed soft when eaten the moment I finished piping the last cone... and equally loved straight from the freezer as a frosty treat after a long, hot summer day. This recipe is easy, yet delivers an impressive result. Make these colorful cheesecake cones and see the sweet joy in the eyes of everyone around you. :o)

Thank you for fluttering on by! Stay cool this weekend, my friends! You make me happy. :o)

Recipe notes! To ensure success (and avoid runny batter), take note of the following tips emphasized by the recipe creator:
 * Put your bowl and whisk in the refrigerator, getting them very cold before you begin.
 * Make sure you use heavy whipping cream. It should have a milk fat content of between 36 and 40 percent. It should be cold.
 * Do not soften the cream cheese in the microwave. Let it stand at room temperature until it loses some of its firmness. It should still be a little cold when you add it to the whipped heavy cream/sugar mixture. (For my sparkly self, it was ready before thirty minutes had passed.)
 * Add the sugar a little at a time.
 * Regarding storage: To avoid the cones getting soggy, it is not recommended to refrigerate for more than a few hours. If made well in advance, store in the freezer. Remove for an extra frosty treat or if you prefer the soft mousse-like texture, simply let it sit out for a little bit at room temperature.

Cheesecake Cones
Yield: 8-10 cones

Ingredients:
1 cup + 2 tablespoons heavy whipping cream
½ cup granulated sugar
4 ounces cream cheese, slightly softened (should still be a little cold)
Seeds of 1 vanilla bean OR 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
8-10 sugar cones (or other ice cream cones)
Multicolor nonpareils

Directions:
In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with the whisk attachment, beat heavy whipping cream on high speed. Gradually add in half of the granulated sugar and beat until soft peaks form. Add the cream cheese and beat again, gradually adding the rest of the granulated sugar. Add the vanilla bean seeds or extract and beat until stiff peaks form.

Transfer the mixture to a piping bag fitted with a large star tip. Pipe batter into cones and into a large swirl on top like soft-serve ice cream. Sprinkle with multicolor nonpareils. Refrigerate until read to serve. You can also freeze them for an extra frosty treat.

TIP: To make these extra colorful, dip the rims of the sugar cones in melted white chocolate and then into multicolor sprinkles. Place them on parchment paper and allow them to harden before filling with cheesecake batter.

Source: SprinkleBakes