Celebrate...

Today is a special day for me y'all!  When I woke up from my mastectomy on May 30th, I had EIGHT drains.  They're painful, uncomfortable, unsightly and a whole bunch of other unpleasant adjectives.  However, today, I got rid of Big Boi and Andre 3000, my two remaining drains (yes, I named them...like a boss. LOL!)

A celebration card is definitely in order!  That's why the Simon Say Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Embossing is perfect for me to express my happiness!  I used the Simon Says Stamp set Cupcake Party to create this card.

I used my Fri-Dies from Cas-ual Fridays Stamps for the foliage.  This is a gourmet cupcake y'all!

It's so hard to capture an embossed surface sometimes!  Here you can see that I embossed, the swiss dotted circle behind the cupcake.  I also embossed the cupcake wrapper and frosting.  I even embossed the sentiment!  I used all Zing! powders.

When is the last time you celebrated yourself?  Food for thought!

Snappy...

Cameras have revolutionized the way we preserve our memories.  They evolve over the years producing sharp, high-definition photos. In the craft world, we include these memory keepers in our craft projects.  They're perfect for puns such as this one below:

I love these resin letters.  I scored them at Michael's for only a buck!

I'm entering this card into the Paper Smooches Sparks challenge.

CHEESE!

I Believe in Unicorns...

I sat in my studio with the intention of making a very sophisticated card.  I wanted it to be elegant...stately even.  Then, I took a look at one of my new Paper Smooches purchases, Spectrum, and I instantly knew I was making an ultra girly unicorn card.

Hell, I believe in unicorns.  Metaphorically speaking.  I believe in the impossible, the unfathomable...  So, this is a tribute card to my inner 10 year old, magic believing, Lisa Frank loving, friendship bracelet making, singing into the hairbrush, wedding dress sketching, down-down baby, down by the roller coaster chanting self.

I'm entering this beaut into the Virginia's View Die Cut challenge.  I used the coordinating Spectrum Icon dies and I LOVE the outcome!

Details...

I believe.

Balloons, A Monkey and 3D Buildings...

If you look through the posts on this blog, you'll see that I use Paper Smooches Stamps more than any other brand.  I think it's because they're versatile yet whimsical.  They truly tickle my crafty bone.  Since I've been on a paper crafting hiatus, I'm behind on the new releases.  I don't even have any PS dies yet!  Until I can update my stash, I'm going to continue to use my fave sets.

I've got another card for the Paper Smooches Sparks Challenge - Anything Goes.

Here is my card:

Details, details:

Exactly like I said, versatile and whimsical.  I love my Paper Smooches!

Succulents on my mind...

I think succulents are beautiful, elegant, dreamy even.  They're super trendy right now because they're affordable (somewhat anyway) and they're hard to kill.  However, they're so ingrained in my mind that it has spilled over into my paper crafting.

I used THIS leaf die and coordinating stamp set from Verve to create this card for the Case This Sketch Challenge.  Even though nothing on this card resembles a succulent, I still love the green leaves and the natural feel of it.

Here is the sketch:

Here is my card:

Okay, so, I may or may not have broken the little loop at the top of the cameo and colored it in with a gold metallic Sharpie.  I did use said Sharpie to make some golden berries on the leaves.  That's GOT to count for something! LOL!

Making this card lifted my spirits today!

Shake It...

I'll be the first to admit that shaker cards have never been on my crafting radar.  I think because largely, I'm a lazy crafter and there are lots and lots of steps that go into make a good shaker card.  However, I've decided to stop being so lazy and to step outside of my comfort zone.

I'm participating in the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge.  Which is, you guessed it...to create a shaker/confetti card!

Here is my first one...ever...don't judge! LOL!

Kraft paper: Paper Source, Grid Cards, Washi Tape: American Crafts, Twine Thread: Stampin' Up, Sequins: Studio Calico, Stamps: Cupcake Party Simon Says Stamp

I proud of this one guys!

All These Hearts...

Hey y'all!  Recently, I had a Prophylactic Bilateral Mastectomy (I dish all about it on my lifestyle blog HERE).  I have received a deluge of love and support from family, friends as well as people from social media.  It has been beyond humbling.

Life has kept me away from paper crafting.  However, while I'm recovering, paper crafting and I have been reunited!

When I read the CAS-ual Fridays "Summertime Colors Heart" challenge (CFC133), I had to play!  Since I've been on such a long paper crafting hiatus, I don't own any Casual Fridays stamp sets.  So, I used a stamp set from one of my most favorite stamp companies, Paper Smooches.  I am also linking up with the Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes Challenge.

Kraft cardstock: Paper Source, Chipboard hearts: Studio Calico, Stamps: Squeaky Clean Paper Smooches

This is what I feel like...a love machine!  I couldn't be more grateful and appreciative for the love I've received.  Feels good to be back!