Trees....

Its just been difficult when our trees look like sticks outside! Now they are starting to bud and my lilac bush is struggling (again)... Its a dwarf deep purple lilac. Each year it blooms early and we either get a late frost or a wind storm takes them. I have had this stamp set Trendy Trees by SU for a while... just never got around to using it. So with trees budding I thougth now was a great time!

On this card I wanted to use my in colors from SU! I love the baja breeze ridinghood red and kiwi kiss.... so I thought why not put them all together! I had to use my stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the trunks with the leafy parts! These are two step stamps and I have to admit I am a perfectionist when it comes to them. However if you look closely they are not perfect! My son woke up from his nap early so I only did them once. My friend Crystal gasped in shock that I hadn't used this ridinghood red taffeta ribbon.... so I am using it here for her!! Its strange... I make cards and I am not in love with them right away... after a few days of pondering on them and looking at them they grow on me.

TFL!
Nicole

Swap time!

Here is a swap I did for March. The topic was clearly clear. We were asked to use atleast one clear element from SU! For example clear embossing powder, velum, clear buttons, crystal effects, window sheets etc.

I used crystal effects and clear emossing powder!

Stamps: Bella's Bloom, mathing wheel

Cardstock: basic grey, lavendar lace, whisper white

inks: versamark, basic grey, stayzon black

Other: Grey tafeta ribbon, crystal effects, clear embossing powder, pastels, oval punch, oval scalloped punch, top note sizzix bigs die by SU.

I am doing two swaps this month so I am excited to get going! I will share those once they are swapped!

TFL!

Nicole

Got Mail?

My two daughters each had a friend over last night and I let them decorate the mailboxes I found at Target two years ago! I think I am becoming a collector instead of a crafter! I am producing much less then I seem to be buying! So my new challenge is use my stuff before I can buy anything more!

I got to say it was so much fun watching the girls decorate the mailboxes and decide on which materials to use and where.... children are absolutely free... they don't worry about perfectionism, everything matching just so... if they like it they use it and they do what they want! Maybe we should all take a day to be like this! I will have to learn how to let go and relax and just create freely! I am too much of a perfectionist when it comes to creating!

I promised the girls I would post these for them! Enjoy girls!