Smile

Happy Saturday! 

I am up on the Technique Junkies blog with this card using a new release, Stencil Rings. Be sure to head over for the details on how I created it. but continue to read here as I have a discount code and the story behind my card.

You can save 10% off your entire order  at Technique Junkie Stamps (excluding a couple categories) 

you can use my code TJ10Ceal

The story behind my card.

I have a Facebook group, Because Kindness and there was a request to send a card to someone who was going to be away from home and it would be a hard time for them, no details were given which is fine I do not need details but this song by Harry Connick Jr  "Smile" came to mind and this card was created. I love this song and have included the lyrics below.

"Smile"

Smile tho' your heart is aching,
Smile
Even though it's breaking,
When there are clouds in the sky
You'll get by,
If you
Smile through your fear and sorrow,
Smile and maybe tomorrow
You'll see the sun come shining through- For you.
Light up your face with gladness,
Hide ev'ry trace of sadness,
Altho' a tear may be ever so near,
That's the time you must keep on trying,
Smile- What's the use of crying,
You'll find that life is still worthwhile,
If you just smile.

I hp my card brought a smile to her  face. 

Michele's 50th Birthday Celebration Blog Hop

Happy Birthday Michele!

Welcome to Michele's 50th birthday bash! you should have arrived here from Amy's blog but if not or you lose your way you can start at the CAS-UAL Fridays blog.

Michele will be the big 5-0 on Monday, so she is giving away 5 $50 gift codes how generous!

 One will be given away from the company blog to a random commenter and then 4 random from the hop so you will want to comment on all the participating blogs to increase your chances. You will have until April 23rd at 11:59pm EST to leave comments.

Your next stop is Lisa's blog. Have fun and enjoy the hop, there is lots of birthday inspiration. 

To create my card I started with a watercolor card base and panel . I stamped the birdies from the Little Birdies set using Versafine Clair on the panel and then watercolored them using Daniel Smith watercolors. After I finish coloring them I let them dry naturally and then used the Birdie Fri-dies to cut them out. I put together the greeting by using both the Little Birdies and the WTF2 sets. 

To finish the card I popped up the birds using foam tape and added them to the front of the card.

Doodle Flowers

We are having a Mother's day event over on the Joy Clair blog, There is also a giveaway for leaving comments on all the participating blogs, you have until Saturday the 21st to leave your comments. I hope you will join us.  I usually make a lot of Mothers day cards. I come from a large family so I have cards to make for my sisters and nieces but since losing my mom at a young age sending out cards to my friends who have recently lost their mother kinda became a ministry for me and helps me cope with the loss of my own mom even though it was so many years ago. Moms are special and there still isn't a day that goes by that I wish she were still here. 
To create my card I started with a white top folding card base and a white panel cut down with a stitches die. I used a couple of sets, the jar of flowers is from the set Doodle Flowers and the greeting is from the Hello Sentiments set. I stamped the images and colored them using Copic markers, I used a stencil and some distress oxide ink to create the background behind the jar. 

My Friend

It is time for another encouragement challenge at Calling All Sistahs

Our challenge is to use the inspiration photo below to create a card to send someone a word of encouragement as they go through a struggle. It doesn't have to be cancer it can be for someone who has lost someone, lost a job, or just needs a word of encouragement. The real challenge is will you mail it? I love to go to the mailbox and find happy mail instead of or with the bills, always makes my heart happy.
oh and 
There is a prize involved as well, a $25 voucher to CAS-ual Fridays Stamps and if you use CAS-ual Fridays products and are the winner it will increase to $50
Here is the inspiration Photo

To make my card I started with a white top folding card base and a plaid panel cut down with a stitched die. I took my inspiration from the colors and colored the flowers from the Mon Ami set  using Zig Clean Color Real Brush pens and then cut them out using the Mon Ami Fleur Fri- Dies.  Next using the MISTI I stamped the greeting on the plaid panel and them popped up the floral images with foam tape.

Colorful Coffee Cups

I am up on the Joy Clair blog today sharing this card using this fabulous Coffee to go Background and Coffee Quotes.

For all the details on how I created this card, head over to the Joy Clair blog.

April Reminder

It's the 17 and that means it's time to Call All Sistahs to check your girls!

Mammograms are important but so are self checks and we are reminding you to do that today. I have had several of my friends battle this horrible disease and have lost friends and my mom to breast cancer so please heed our reminder and check yourself.

Cancer can be beaten if caught early so please do self exams and get your mammograms once a year if thats what the doctor suggests. You can also help find a cure by purchasing products from the Calling All Sistahs line where 50% of the profits go towards breast cancer research.

To make my card I started with a white top folding card base and a piece of watercolor paper cut down with a stitched die. To create the background I shared some distress oxide ink in Worn Lipstick and Picked Raspberry on the craft mat and spritzed with water then laid the watercolor paper in it, I repeated this several times until I achieved the look I wanted. To finish the card I added the greeting from the set Hope Ribbon and cut of the ribbon using the Ruffled Ribbon Fri-Die and patterned paper.

Perfect Day

It's time for a new challenge at AAA Cards, our sponsor this week is Precious Remembrance Shop with a free stamp set given to the winner. 

Our challenge is Perfect Day and that could be a wide variety of days like a wedding, birthday, or just a sunny day at the beach. What's your perfect day?

To create my card I started with a white top folding card base and a white panel cut down with a stitched die. The stamp set I used is Always & Forever by Stampin Up. I also used the Stampin Blends to color the image. I added the small flowers from the Heart Happiness set.