Etsy Treasury - LOTUS FLOWERS

I finally took some time to make another Treasury on Etsy. I love how you can spend hours on end just checking out all the awesome products... You can click HERE to go directly to the etsy site and to purchase from these artists!

Treasuries are the perfect way to share the things that catch my eye!

This time my theme is LOTUS FLOWERS. 

I am amazed at this mysterious plant. It starts in the murkiest mud and as it roots, & has the power to clarify it! It reaches towards the surface of the water with this extremely tough and flexible stem and finally blooms into a perfect flower!

It is the only flower that has a 90 degree temperature (which can warm everything around it) and each night it closes and descends into the water. When the sun rises, it too rises out of the water untouched by the impurity!

It blossoms for 3 days and then produces a seed to start the whole process over!

I really never knew how amazing these flowers were! 

The lotus symbolizes the purity of heart and mind.

  I hope you enjoy this collection~ And had a great weekend! See you soon...

Encouraging Swift!

I've always loved the Swift! They are found a lot in artists' collages... I did a little research and the symbolism of the swallow is very encouraging.
"Swifts were seen as a symbol of good luck. Since they flew close to land then a sailor would know he was close to land once he saw a sparrow flying by the ship. This was a good sign as it meant a safe end to a dangerous journey."
I decided to use this encouraging bird in my newest card...

The stamp is from clear art stamps and the sentiment is Tim Holtz. The paper is Daisy D's. I did some machine sewing on four corners and raised the layer onto a Kraft cardstock which I dry embossed: Fleur De Lis.

I am battling a little cold this week and have been so slow on making cards. Mainly I am in the designing phase and will crank out the final choices soon. Tomorrow we get to play at Stacie's for our monthly meet! I'm hoping to get back to 100% next week.

See you soon!

PS. Good luck, Emily, at the Tech Fair tonight!  YEA!

**Update**

Em and her partner placed 4th in the Design Challenge. It was a great experience for all of us. So proud of the girls for having the courage to get up in front of so many people and try their best in designing a marshmallow launcher! Great  Job GIRLS!

Giraffes are sooo CUTE!

Another baby card. This one is a little different in size. I thought it would match the length and shape of the giraffe's long neck :)

Stamped, distressed and raised on dimensionals... swarovski crystals and beautiful Basic Grey paper. Two corners of the layer are tucked into the brown layer.
Envelope is whisper white.

New Wedding Card

Tis the season of love... mmmm Spring...!

So I am inspired by the new blossoms that will be breaking through in the coming months...
I made this wedding card with prima flowers and hand glittered them with ulta fine glitter. Jewels and dimensionals make this card pop! Elegant with clean lines and basic white layers.

I will be delivering cards to the stores soon! Baby and wedding and hopefully some birthday!
Hope you have a great week!

Young Authors County Entry ... My Emily!

Emily wrote this winning poem as her entry for this year's Young Authors contest.

Tonight we celebrate with her teacher, Ms. Corridon at the new BOE building. We are so excited for and proud of Emily!

On a separate note... my friend posted this music video on facebook this morning and I think the tune is really catchy!

 Enjoy your day and HAPPY WEEKEND! (a little early *wink!)

The White Rabbit...

I have always loved Alice in Wonderland...
The story book and the movies are all such fun to read and watch!

This White Rabbit card is stamped in blk  and colored with alcohol markers. The clock image is from a decorative wrapping sheet. Layered onto Basic Grey paper.

Sentiment says, "Why, sometimes I've believed in as many as six impossible things before breakfast.  - Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There."

I have one more work day left this week... and then it's the weekend! YEA!
I hope you are enjoying your week as well!

It's SHOWER Time!

Tomorrow is my sister's baby shower! Little Jacob is due in just over one month... I can't wait to meet him.
I am busy today getting ready for the shower. We have close friends, good food andgreat fun planned for the day.

Quick Baby Girl card

Hi... just passing thru today!

Had a baby girl card to share that I made last week... a onesie is stamped on to polka dot paper and then cut out. The bunny is stamped onto the front and flocked with white flocking and glue. I made a wire hanger out of 22 gauge copper wire in silver and put everything together on dimensionals. Stamped more polka dots on the yellow layer and raised that layer as well.
Stamped sentiment.


Love baby cards!

Fortune Cookie Valentines

Valentine's Day is almost here!!! Yea! We just love this holiday around here.
This year Abby wanted to be a little different with her valentines. She requested these cute felt fortune cookies so she could write and tuck a special message into each one for her classmates. They were so simple to make! I watched a quick tutorial on youtube and got straight to work.
If you can not view the video, you can click on this link

Just a tip... the higher wool content in your felt, the better they will stand up and keep shape. I happen to have 35% wool available to me... but I would've preferred 100% wool.

Anyway, I will be able to finally slow down after this weekend. Baby shower, school party, out of town guests this week/end... all very fun things! I promise to get crackin' on new cards and have them delivered soon!
PS. the new tags are available both at Art Partners and the Muse!

I'm here... plugging away! Hope you have a great week too!