With deep sadness...

Today has been a very emotional day for me.  For starters, it's my last Monday ever at my current job.  I only have 2 1/2 more days to go.  I work at an elementary school with students who have special needs.  I am going back to school to finish my degree to be a SpEd teacher and so I know it will be worth it, but I will really miss those kids.

And then I come home to see the news about Oklahoma.  That could've been the school I work at.  Seriously. Hit. Home. Hard.  I cried.  I prayed.  I still felt so sad.  So then I thought today would be a good day to share a card just because.  It's one that I sent to a dear friend after a great loss recently.

Here's the card~

Details~

I've used silhouette stamps by Close to My Heart and all other supplies are by Stampin' Up!.  I'm not entering this into any challenges, I just needed to share.  I hope that you all are having a good day and that maybe you'll take time to tell your loved ones how much you care.  You never know what could happen to you.

Here's my baby on Mother's Day~

Thanks so much for stopping by to take a peek at my card.  I hope that you've been inspired to create something today! HUGS and happy stamping! :)

MMM: Yellow & Green

Hi, friends!  It's another new week and that means another challenge at Make My Monday!  This week we want to see your amazing projects featuring the colors YELLOW AND GREEN! :)

Here's my CAS take on this challenge~

Details~

I've used stamps by Close to My Heart, and all other supplies are by Stampin' Up!.  I kept it CAS because I really wanted to focus on the simplicity of the image and the zen-ness of the sentiment. ;)  A one layer card seemed appropriate.

Thanks for stopping by to see my card!  I LOVE all the sweet words you leave me and I do read each and every comment!  I hope you'll join us this week for our challenge and that you'll take a peek and leave some love with the other amazing DT gals, too! HUGS and happy stamping! :)

52CCT: May Theme Challenge

Is there anything better than FOOD at the holidays?  Okay, family, but let's just be real for a little bit.  We only gather as families to eat the FOOD, am I right?! ;)  Just kidding, but I LOVE holiday food and so that's the theme I chose for this weeks challenge over at 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown!

Here's some inspiration~

My card~

Details~

I've used two darling Imaginesce gingerbread cookie stamps, a sentiment by Close to My Heart, glitter gel pens by Sakura, and all other supplies are by Stampin' Up!.

Hopefully you think my creation is good enough to eat--I rather think it's scrumptious!  Thanks for popping by and taking a peek!  Do come and join in the fun this week and also leave some words of encouragement with the other gals on the DT.  Hugs and Merry stamping! :)

FYI: Birch Lane

Hello, friends!  It's time for another fabulous challenge over at For Your Inspiration and this time around we have got the most gorgeous photo inspiration for you!

Here it is~

What I made~

Details~

I've used a birch tree image by Clarity, a sentiment by Close to My Heart, a leafy stamp by Stampin' Up!, gold glimmer mist by Tattered Angels, a blending tool by Ranger, and all other supplies are by Stampin' Up!.

I just love the gorgeous birch trees in this photo and wanted to show some of the shine from the photo, hence the glimmer mist.  It's very subtle by when the light catches it, it is fabulous!

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peek at my creation!  I hope you've been inspired to create something for our challenge!  Don't forget to leave some love with the other DT gals as well!  HUGS and happy stamping! :)

Inkspirational: May CASE Challenge

Welcome to another week at Inkspirational!  I LOVED seeing all your amazing photo inkspired creations last week and can't wait to see what you make for us this week, too!  Don't forget to play along each week this month for a chance to win a fabulous prize from this month's sponsor-- Tammy from Creatively Me!

With this fabulous prize~

One lucky winner will get 

ALL of these amazing goodies!

So, what's this week's challenge?  Well, since it's the third week, we've got a fabulous CASE inkspiration for you to play around with.  It's an absolutely stunning creation by Lee Conrey of Stampinglee Yours!

Here it is~

Original artwork found HERE.

Here's my CASE~

Details~

I've used patterned paper by DCWV, liquid pearls by Ranger, lace from my stash, and all other supplies are by Stampin' Up!.  I LOVED the way that Lee colored the flowers on her card and tried to mimic it.  I colored the image with markers and then after I colored the flower parts with a pink ink, I went lightly around the edges of them with red.  I LOVE the stenciled and soft look it lends!

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at my card!  I hope you'll join us this week and that you'll leave some love with Lee and the amazing gals on my DT!  HUGS and happy stamping, friends! :)

MMM: Mid Week Motivation: Literary Inspiration: Jane Eyre

Hi, friends!  I hope that you've been having fun making creations based on the novel Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte for our challenge this week at Make My Monday!  I've got a little bit of Mid Week Motivation for you today featuring more silhouettes!

Here's what I've created for you~

Details~

I've used stamps by Close to My Heart, liquid pearls by Ranger, and paper and ink and glitter by Stampin' Up!.

A lot of people think that silhouettes are usually black black, but I've found that doing some tone on tone stamping creates a very lovely silhouette effect that is more subtle.  This is what I've done for my MWM card.  I stamped the silhouette flowers on the kraft cardstock with a Versamark pad to create a watermark effect.  This same effect can be done without a Versamark pad as well.  You just need ink and paper that are the same color!

I was inspired by the silhouette on the cover again, but I was also inspired by the book itself when I chose this sentiment.  I think that this is something Jane would wish to all her family and friends.  She had such a hard life, but in the end it was worth it!

Thanks for taking time out of your busy day to come and visit my blog!  I hope you join in the fun this week and create something for our challenge!  HUGS and happy stamping, friends! :)

MMM: Literary Inspiration: Jane Eyre

Welcome to another fabulous weekly challenge over at Make My Monday!  This week we have another literary inspiration challenge for you.  I'm the hostess this week and I've chosen another one of my favorite books--Jane Eyre by Charlotte Bronte.  Choose to be inspired by the book cover or the story line or both!

Here's the cover~

A little bit about this book:  Jane is an orphan dependent upon unloving relatives for a living.  At a young age, she is forced out of her aunt's house and into a school where she learns to become a teacher or governess.  Her only friend there dies as a child and she suffers many hardships.  After growing up sufficiently, she accepts a governess position at Thronfield Hall.  Her new master is broody and seemingly unkind.  The child she is responsible for is starved for love and just a tad spoiled.  Will Jane ever find happiness in her new life?  I won't tell you--you'll have to read the book!

Here's my card~

Details~

I've used stamps by Papertrey Ink, mulberry paper from my stash, and all other supplies are by Stampin' Up!.  I was inspired by this gorgeous CAS book cover--I LOVE silhouettes and so I just had to create a silhouette card! :)  This card is going to be given to a friend for her birthday and I think it's just her style, too! :)

Thanks for stopping by to take a peek at my creation--I do hope you'll join in the fun this week and that you'll take a peek at what the other gals have made!  It's such a fabulously talented DT and I know you won't be disappointed!  HUGS and happy stamping! :)