Happy Birthday

Happy Birthday! Swing, swing!

This little swing card is for our granddaughter's 8th baptismal birthday anniversary. Doves and pearls are extra special because of biblical references.

I'll add a little handwritten note in cursive (yay, she's learning cursive this school year!) to remind her that God has made her His own dear child, and that He is ALWAYS with her!

I'm feeling like a Rumplestiltskin who has awakened after a long, long, non-creative nap (though I guarantee you I haven't been sleeping or napping). My life these past few years has been FULL of roadtrips and caregivings, grandchild care, and friend-care days. Now that school has begun full-time for a couple grands and childcare has become part-time, along with elder-care part-time, I am truly hoping and praying I can get back to using all the wonderful Close To My Heart and other paper stash products in my studio for awesome causes and events!

Thank you for stopping by and renewing your hellos and comments. I hope to stay back in the mojo and share more as time goes by!

The papers are inks are sweet leaf and crystal blue from CTMH packets. The Happy Birthday stamp is from the Party Banners set, and the bird stamp is from VERVE.

Remember to make your envelope pretty by stamping it too!

Blessings,

Jane

Base & Bling Bird & Believe Necklace

For my mom's "half-birthday" I made her a "bird and believe" themed necklace using the Close To My Heart Base & Bling chain and square pendant (page 80 of the Spring/Summer Idea Book).

In addition to the rhinestone gem, I added the Believe and the little wren birdhouse charm (both from from Hobby Lobby). Mom loves to feed and watch the birds and hear them sing in their yard. Her favorite is the little brown wren who sings so pretty. She loves blue too -- the bird under the square glass cover is from the Skylark CTMH paper packet.

Using the Skylark paper, I covered a dollar-store jewelry box to coordinate with the necklace. I paper pieced the dragonfly and "wings" to add to the top of the box.

The finished necklace! With many thanks to my DH for attaching the charms with his micro-pliers!

Tip: If you paper-piece something into your square or circle pendant under the window, use the Base & Bling Adhesive dots (cut to fit). Don't use Liquid Glass on the paper--it will ruin it. Liquid Glass works well if you use the Base & Bling Style Sheet stickers since they're sturdier material. On this necklace, I used small glue dots in each corner, which happen to show more in the photos than they do in real life.

Thanks for visiting my blog and leaving a comment while you're here!

Easter Journaling with PML Cards

 When I began to design this two-page layout of our granddaughters,

I wanted to hide my journaling

so that someday each of them could read my thoughts

about this very special Easter Day in 2011

when they were 3 1/2 and 1 1/2 years old.

I decided to use two cards from the Picture My Life Chantilly Scrapbook Program

to serve as the hidden journaling cards behind their photos.

A loop of shimmer tape provides a pull for each card.

I'll write on the pullout cards in my printing for Ella and Beatrice.

I think it's special to showcase our handwriting, don't you?

Here's a closer view:

I used CTMH products (except for the background papers, from my stash.
I chose them because the floral and chevron colors coordinated so well
with the Easter photos):

Dimensional elements banner shapes

Irresistables Letters inked in Pear Ink

Pink Sequins

Chantilly paper packet pink paper

CTMH ribbon

Other:  PaperStudio background papers

Thanks for stopping by my blog! Happy Spring!