Zinnia Birthday Cards

 Good Morning & Happy Thursday, Friends!

Another busy day ahead so I'm going to try to make this short & sweet!

If you have been following my blog for awhile now you know that my card lady, Audrey, is crazy over the Zinnia paper we had last year from the Stampin Up! Online Exclusives list. I purchased 2 packs of this paper because she was requesting cards at an alarming rate (LOL) for almost every occasion. Last time I visited her she requested another pack of birthday cards with the Flowering Zinnia paper! Lucky for her I still have a good bit left. I kept these very simple because that is how she likes them.

I will admit, this paper is very delightful! 

The colors are fun & bright, guaranteed to make you smile!

Card Details:

Stamps: Unbounded Beauty

Ink: Melon Mambo

Cardstock: Melon Mambo, Basic White, Flowering Zinnia's DSP (retired)

Accessories: Unbounded Beauty Dies, Adhesive Backed Shiny Sequins (retired), Dimensionals, Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue

I still have a few sheets of this paper left that I am slowly working on using up. I feel like at times I am hoarding it because it is so pretty. I made another card with this suite of products recently that I will share tomorrow.  That is one thing Stampin Up! does...they always give us some beautiful floral papers!

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My thoughts today...

Yep!

Thanks for stopping by & have a wonderful day!
~Wendy

Celebrate July 4th

 Happy Wednesday, Everyone!

Just a quick post today then I have a list a mile long of things I need to get done today!

Over the weekend I sat and made a pack of July 4th cards and had a few leftover pieces of patterned paper that came from Hobby Lobby, so I made 4 extra cards for myself. I loved how these turned out and hope you will too!

Card Details:

Stamps: Light the Sky (retired)

Ink: Blueberry Bushel, Real Red

Cardstock: Blueberry Bushel, Real Red, Basic White, The Paper Studio (Hobby Lobby)

Accessories: Stitched Stars Dies (retired), Starstruck EF (retired SAB 25), Give It A Whirl Dies (retired), Rhinestones, Mini Dimensionals, Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue

I would have made more if I had more of the patterned paper.

I usually try to make cards to send out for the July 4th holiday and so far this is the only ones I made this year. If time allows maybe today I can get a few more made! LOL

Hard to believe we are nearing the end of June already and next Friday is July 4th! It only time would slow down just a little!!!

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My thoughts today...

Do you make cards for the July 4th holiday?

That's all I have for today!

Thanks for taking a bit of time out of your day to visit!

Have a great day & stay cool!

~Wendy

Happy Belated Birthday

 Happy Tuesday, Friends!

It's another day of soaring temps & high humidity here in PA and most of the east coast for that matter! Last evening we went out for a walk right before the sun went down which wasn't too bad. Today I have a belated birthday card to show you. I already have several belated birthday cards on my card rack so this one will go into the bin. I used the Floral Wishes DSP which I absolutely love! 

Card Details:

Stamps: Something Fancy (retired)

Ink: Old Olive

Cardstock: Daffodil Delight, Basic White, Old Olive, Floral Wishes DSP

Accessories: Something Fancy Dies (retired), Distressed Tiles 3D EF, Low Profile Gold Dots, Daffodil Delight Ribbon, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Again, I just used a bunch of scraps from the pack of Floral Wishes DSP and made it work!

I just love this pack of DSP! It's so pretty!

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My thoughts today...

That is what is on the menu for dinner tonight!

LOL

Thanks for stopping by & stay cool, my friends!

~Wendy

A Day of Just Playing

 Good Morning & Happy Monday, Friends!

I hope you had an enjoyable weekend!

It went by so quickly as they usually do!

Saturday, I spend a few hours at my stamp table. I finished up Audrey's order and put it aside. Then I started on a bunch of other cards that I had stuff stamped off in a bin. I have been wanting to use them up. I am working my way thru that currently. Then around 3 pm Shawn came downstairs and asked if I wanted to go to a pool party? The invite was from a guy he works with.

Well, this girl has no swimsuit since losing 103 pounds and at this point I was horrified what I'd even look like in one. So, I agreed to go but I was not going swimming. We had a good time, so we were glad we went and made some new friends along the way!

Sunday, Mr. Shady arrived to stay with us a few days while Kelsey is on her mini vacation. I think he is a bit homesick and missing his mom but doing great! He loves to be out in the yard barking at the birds but it's just entirely too hot & humid to let him out there longer than 10 minutes at a time. 

Today, Miss Bailee goes to get groomed so Mr. Shady will be here by himself all afternoon. 

Ok, let's get to some cards shall we....

Card Details:

Stamps: Unbounded Beauty

Ink: Early Espresso

Cardstock: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Timeless Plaid DSP

Accessories: Something Fancy Dies (retired), Twisted Rope 3D EF (retired), Unknown Deer Diecut, Very Vanilla/Pecan Pie Ribbon, Linen Thread, Very Vanilla Enamel Dots, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Stampin Seal

Card Details:

Stamps: Unbounded Beauty

Ink: Early Espresso

Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Calypso Coral, Timeless Plaid DSP

Accessories: Unbounded Beauty Dies, Linen Thread, Neutrals Adhesive Backed Sequins, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Stampin Seal

I was just playing around with some scraps of paper that was in my package. These went into my birthday bin that I've been working on. Guess I will be doing alot of card making during these hot summer days! I also got my July 4th cards created on Saturday so I'll be sharing those soon!

Anyways, hope your finding some crafty ways to stay cool during this heatwave! I feel like we went from cool spring weather right into an oppressive heatwave! 

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My thoughts today...

Thanks for stopping by!

~Wendy

The Right Words Birthday Card

 Good Morning & Happy Fri-YAY!

I've been up since 5am and it's been crazy busy so far!

I'm finally getting a few minutes to get an update for you!

I made a really quick card yesterday using the Florals In Bloom DSP. I only have the paper from the suite of products because I loved the prints in it. Wasn't too crazy over the 2 stamp sets but who knows down the road. LOL

Card Details:

Stamps: The Right Words

Ink: Summer Splash

Cardstock: Secret Sea, Petunia Pop, Summer Splash, Basic White, Florals In Bloom DSP

Accessories: Nested Essentials Dies, Secret Sea Ribbon, Secret Sea In Color Flat Pearls, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue

This pack of paper is gorgeous with the different florals. I was most excited to use the Secret Sea color since it is a new In Color this year. It almost looks black but it is definitely a deep blue....deeper than Night of Navy. I wasn't too sure about putting it with Petunia Pop & Summer Splash but I think the paper really helps to pull it all together.

This card went into my bin of cards I am building. They will go on my card rack eventually. I have 2 bins already filled with extra cards. I have also been working on lots of Christmas cards. I did get Audrey's order caught up yesterday so I'm not sure what I am going to get into today! LOL Our weather this morning is gorgeous after thunderstorms & heavy rains moved thru last evening. I have laundry on my list of things to do today and maybe I will sit outside with Bailee this afternoon and soak up the nice weather. We have a major heatwave on the horizon starting tomorrow and lasting all week so outside time will most likely be limited. Plus on Sunday, Mr. Shady will be coming and staying with us a few days as Kelsey is going on a mini vacation. Next week will be crazy with the heat & 2 dogs. 

That's my update for today!

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My thoughts today...

Looks just like Mr. Shady! 💗

Thanks for stopping by & have a terrific day ahead!

~Wendy

Kintsugi Inspirations

 Good Morning & Happy Thursday, Friends!

A quick post today then I am going to get my day started a bit earlier than usual. I have some cards to work on for Audrey which I want to get finished up and put aside for her. Today I have 3 Thank You cards to show you that I made from the 2025-2026 Stampin Up Annual Catalog called Kintsugi Inspirations. That is the name of the suite of products which I instantly fell in love with the moment I saw it in the new catalog! I love the colors in the paper, the embossing folder is beautiful and the stamp set is awesome (which I have not used yet)!

Audrey always orders Thank You cards so these will be put aside for her...

Card Details:

Stamps: Inspiring Imperfections, Simply Said

Ink: Misty Moonlight

Cardstock: Misty Moonlight, Cloud Cover, Petal Pink, Basic White, Kintsugi Inspirations DSP

Accessories: Inspiring Imperfections Dies, Stylish Shapes Dies, Nested Essentials Dies, Joined Together 3D EF, Gold Flower Accents, Gold Ribbon (Online Exclusives), Cloud Cover In Color Ribbon, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Stampin Seal, Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Love, love, love how these turned out and I really do love the entire suite! 

The vases used on my cards were diecut directly from the paper which I love that Stampin Up! does this...it makes creating cards so much quicker!

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My thoughts today...

Thanks for stopping by & have a wonderful day!
~Wendy

Gallery Blooms & An Update

 Good Morning & Happy Wednesday, Friends!

Happy Hump Day to you!

This morning we have a bit of sunshine so that's a good thing! We had rain overnight and everything this morning is pretty soaked. More rain/storms are expected this evening, again. Warmer temps are on the way today and the humidity is to jump up. It will start feeling like summer even though the first day of summer arrives on Friday.

Today I have a card to share with you from the new Gallery Blooms bundle from the 2025-2025 Stampin Up Annual Catalog. This was one of the 1st purchases I made when the catalog went live. I love the flower images in it!

Card Details:

Stamps: Gallery Blooms, Beautiful Motifs

Ink: Memento Black, Strawberry Slush, Stampin Blends-Granny Apple Green, Daffodil Delight & Strawberry Slush

Cardstock: Strawberry Slush, Basic White

Accessories: Exposed Brick 3D EF, Stitched Rectangle Framelits (retired), Stylish Shapes Dies, Gallery Blooms Dies, Strawberry Slush Gems, Dimensionals, Stampin Seal

I'm not usually a big flower person but the flowers in the bundle are so pretty that I could not resist! I got both the Gallery Blooms & the Beautiful Motifs bundles but not the paper. It hasn't grown on me yet but maybe down the road I will grab it. For now I am happy with the stamp sets! Just beautiful and there will be more cards to come!

UPDATE:

I told you yesterday that I had my 4 month check up on Monday evening. I got bloodwork results back yesterday. I am shocked and elated that everything was within range and all is normal for the 1st time in my life! It's just so hard to believe! My doctor said "everything looked beautiful"! I am so proud of the work I put into myself and getting the results that I had never dreamed would come to light. I'm SO thankful for my doctor's guidance and this medication for changing my health and my life! 

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My thoughts today...

Indeed!

Thanks for stopping by & make it a great day!

~Wendy

Hot Dog, It's Your Birthday!

 Good Morning & Happy Tuesday!

Another dreary day is on tap as well as the humidity is on the rise. It's very foggy looking out the window this morning with not much change happening today. 

Last evening I had my 4 month check up for my diabetes. All went great! I have lost well over 100 pounds (103.3 pds to be exact) in 16 month, have gone off my blood pressure medicine and cut back on my thyroid medication. I did start a low dose cholesterol medication back in February since I am diabetic and heart disease is a huge factor in diabetics. I feel really good and walk everyday if not twice a day! I have learned so much in the last 16 months on getting healthy and have conquered one big goal...which was to get 100 pounds off. I had blood work done last evening to check my sugars, cholesterol, thyroid and kidney function. Afterwards I treated myself to Thai food! It was so worth the wait! 😋

Today I have a cute birthday card to share with you!

I have been pulling out lots of the older, retired stuff and making cards with it then putting these cards in a bin for when my card rack gets emptied. I used the set called Hot Dog which has the cutest doggies in! I paired this set with some Rock & Roll paper which is also retired.

Card Details:

Stamps: Hot Dog (retired)

Ink: Memento Black, Versamark, Stampin Blends- Smoky Slate & Starry Sky (retired In Color)

Cardstock: Starry Sky (retired), Basic White, Rock & Roll DSP (retired)

Accessories: Circle Layering Framelits (retired), Stylish Shapes Dies, Starry Sky In Color Twine (retired), White Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Rhinestones, Glue Dots, Dimensionals, Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue

Perfect card for that dog loving person!

I am headed down to play at my stamp table a bit this afternoon. I need to get working on a few July 4th cards because that occasion will be here before we know it. I also have a card order to start for Audrey eventually. She really keeps me busy!

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My thoughts today...

Thanks for stopping by & have a great day....even if it is raining!

~Wendy

Thanks Snow Much

 Good Morning & Happy Monday, Friends!

Yes, it's yet another rainy, dreary morning in Pennsylvania!

I feel alittle unmotivated this morning with all this gloominess.

It's been dreary here since Saturday, almost to the point of depressing. Yesterday we took a walk and I had to wear a sweater. Totally unheard of for June 15th! I think today will be another sweater kind of day as I have to go out in this later today for a doctor appointment. I hope by then the rain/drizzle stops. 

Anyways, I did get some stamping in over the weekend. I went thru some of my slots on the card rack and realized I only had 2 Christmas Thank You cards there. I thought while I have the time I better get more made. I went thru my image box and found a bunch of these stamped off snowmen and just ran with it! This snowman is from a retired stamp set called Thanks Snow Much that I borrowed from my friend, Deb, years & years ago. It's time to use these images up!

I always enjoy coloring these snowman and turning them into cards!

Card Details:

Stamps: Thanks Snow Much (retired), Snowman Magic (retired)

Ink: Memento Black, Mossy Meadow, Stampin Blends-Cherry Cobbler, Pumpkin Pie, Pool Party, Mossy Meadow

Cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow, Whisper White & Basic White, Iconic Celebrations DSP (retired Online Exclusives)

Accessories: Snowman Magic Dies (retired), Tasteful Textile 3D EF (retired), Stylish Shapes Dies, Cherry Cobbler Holiday Rhinestones (retired), Dimensionals, Stampin Seal

I know it's quite early to be thinking about the holidays but I was reminded to get started on holiday cards early as Christmas in July is just right around the corner! Usually the whole month of July I do Christmas stuff but i'm not sure if I can get that accomplished this year although I am gonna try! 

Atleast now there is one more Christmas Thank You card added to my card slot. Hoping I can get maybe 2 more made. 

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My thoughts today...

Yep, i'm SO over this depressing weather and that little emoji dude is exactly how I am feeling! 

Anyways, thanks for stopping by & enjoy your day!

~Wendy

Fright Night Awaits

 Good Morning & Happy Fri-YAY, Friends!!

The weekend is here although they are saying more rainy weather all weekend but not a total washout. I am hoping to do some stamping but we'll see. 

Before I get into today's post I wanted to share that I recently celebrated my 5th year anniversary with Stampin Up!. This is my 3rd go around as being a demonstrator with Stampin Up! and the longest I've ever stayed in it. I love Stampin Up! as I have quite the collection of rubber stamps from 2001 on. Lots of wood mounted, red rubber & photopolymer stamps....I love them all! 

I use to say that I was my biggest customer but I can't say that anymore as I have some pretty terrific customers who order each & every month. I would not be where I am today without their friendship & support...so a huge Thank You to each of them!

Ok, now on to some fun stuff!!

I recently received my stamp order from the Online Exclusives preorder. They had a variety of holidays available this early in the year and of course, Halloween always excites me! I played with the 1st bundle called Fright Night. 

Card Details:

Stamps: Fright Night (Online Exclusives)

Ink: Versamark

Cardstock: Petunia Pop, Granny Apple Green, Pumpkin Pie, Spooky Sweet DSP (Online Exclusives)

Accessories: Fright Night Dies (Online Exclusives), Black Embossing Powder, Heat Gun, Shimmer Foam Star Stickers (Online Exclusives), Petunia Pop Iridescent Ribbon (Online Exclusives), Dimensionals, Stampin Seal

I am really happy that Stampin Up! gave us some pretty Halloween papers this year! YAY! The colors and prints and adorable! They also gave us Iridescent Cello Bags for treats, too! They will be so fun to decorate for Halloween sweets & treats this upcoming season! I'm so excited to play more with all the cool things they gave us so stay tuned for that as it gets closer to the Fall season!

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My thoughts today...

Thanks for stopping by & have a terrific day!

~Wendy

Pets & More HB

 Good Morning & Happy Thursday!

Today I have a sweet little birthday card to share that is for the cat lover in your life.

I was going thru my card rack recently and noticed that my "cat & dog birthday" slot was empty. I decided to grab my Pets & More stamp set and got busy on refilling that slot. This card uses the cat stamp and I paired it with some A Little Latte paper. It turned out so cute!

Card Details:

Stamps: Pets & More (retired Online Exclusives), Turtle & Friends (retired sentiment)

Ink: Pecan Pie, Calypso Coral

Cardstock: Pecan Pie, Calypso Coral, Basic White, A Little Latte DSP (retired Online Exclusives)

Accessories: Stylish Shapes Dies, Circle Layering Framelits (retired), Dotted Circles 3D EF, Corrugated Elements (retired), Calypso Coral Shimmer Gems (retired), Dimensionals, Tombow Multipurpose Liquid Glue

The Pets & More stamp set is no longer available but it was on the Online Exclusives list last year. It is a reversable stamp which means you can stamp one side in a light solid color then flip it over for a more detailed image that gets stamped overtop of the solid image. So fun and what a neat idea! Plus I love that this set is photopolymer so you can see where your stamping with it! Win win!

This card is now on my card rack for sale. 

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My thoughts today...

Thanks for stopping by & have a wonderful day!
~Wendy