Friends Are .....

... the chocolate chips in the cookies of life!!!

I came across this saying in a card making magazine

and HAD to use it!  Then I found the cutest cookies and milk

image on Pintrest and BAM...

best friendship cards I have ever made!!!

I love making tags!  So simple and such a great embellishment to have on hand. 

Great to attach to a gift or to adhere to a blank card!   

I altered a simple clothes pin and notepad!  What a fun little gift to leave on your work besties desk!  I know mine loved his little friendship gift, especially since it was out of the blue!

And of course CARDS!!!  Great way to use scraps of paper and ribbon!

Don't forget to accent with ink and unique border punches!

You can find the free printable milk and cookie image on my Pintrest :

http://pinterest.com/pin/185280972139277784/

Have a great day!

Rachel

Go fly a KITE (cards)

My scrappy pal Laura made a beautiful card with a kite paper pierced on it and I knew I was in love, with the idea ;)   So I scoured the web for the perfect kite template for my paper piercing and made a series of fun kite cards.

I love the warm tons with the cool blue sky on this card.

Lora taught me her little kite string trick... she cut the ends off of a tooth pick then wrapped string around it as well as gluing it to the kite.  I think this just adds to the kites charm!  So realistic! 

I am excited to say that I used a Cuttle Bug to emboss for the first time with the yellow card stock background on this card!  I never had an interest in one until I played with my friend, Misti's during our last craft night!  I love the texture it adds!!! 

My cute little kite string! 

And this card is a little blah and boring but I love the quote I made for it :)

Thanks for stopping by, don't forget to let me know you were here!!!
~Rachel

Something Fishy Goin' On!

 I was browsing thru my Cricut Paper Dolls cartridge the other day and thought about the adorable cards the little fishbowl and goldfish would make! 

Then I started browsing through my paper scraps (you here that MISTI!  Paper scraps come in VERY handy!  Wink*Wink!!!!) and came across this cutie patootie fishy paper.  I vaguely recall using it for an aquarium layout for one of my boys field trips a few years ago!  

I decided to Stickle up the fishbowl as well as out lining the fish.  I like the dimension it added.

And I carried out the outline idea for this card as well .  I punched out little holes with my hole punch to make fishy bubbles, then I Stickled them.  My Pop Dots added the extra pop the fishy needed to stand out!

Thanks for stopping by!
Rachel

Pink Vintage Typewriter Cards

I was overjoyed when I found the pink vintage typewriter image on the web last week!  I was inspired to make a few new cards for my collection! 

I used one of my layered crepe paper medallions, cream gross grain ribbon, tickets, a journaling die cut, pearl beads, vintage buttons and the millinery rose.  I think it's perfect! 

And then I used the same typewriter for a more basic card!

Linking up with :

and

Thanks for stopping by!

~Rachel

Cupcake Cards (for my swap partners)

I made a few cards to match my recipe cards for the swap I wrote about a few days ago.  One is for the hostess and the other is for my swap partner.  I just love my Martha Stewart cupcake punch ... http://www.hsn.com/martha-stewart/martha-stewart-crafts-cupcake-craft-punch_p-6082499_xp.aspx?cmsstr=958744&webm_id=6082499&web_id=6082499&sz=31&sf=CT&dept=CT0012&cat=CT0085&o=&ocm=seis ...I highly recommend it!
Linking up with some weekend fun :

and
Hodgepodge Friday @ http://itsahodgepodgelife.blogspot.com/

Thanks for visiting!

~Rachel

{Happy} St Patrick's Day Card

I am a card making addict.  Sad.  I know.  But really what is sadder is that I make them and keep them without ever giving them out.  I think it maybe a combination of forgetfulness (out of site- out of mind... off to the Hallmark store!) and craft hoarding!  I love having a collection of cards for every occasion.  I can admit that.  But I also love seeing the smile my card put on the recipients face.

It may be past resolution time but I resolve to giving up and giving out my homemade cards starting... NOW!

{My favorite poem, that is actually an Irish Blessing}

Happy St Patty's Day!

Linking Up With :

http://www.passionatelyartistic.com/

and

Rachel

Card-Attack!

After a craft sabbatical for a few months, I found my grove this past week!  I LOVE Valentine's Day and enjoy making simple and happy cards! 

 My favorite new embellishment is vintage book pages!  You can't beat the cost, $.50 for a 70's edition of the Wind in the Willow!!!

 Heart punch, Martha Stewart, OF COURSE!!!!

And a treat.... just for you!
Have a fabulous day!
Rachel

You're so Hot ...

I have had this adorable popcicle embelishment in my jar of pink embellies for a few years! I think I crooked it off a greeting card and there it sat just waiting for the right occasion ... and I think I found it for my funny Valentine (thanks to Katy Perry!)

Thanks for stopping by and please come back tomorrow for a new card!!!
Rachel

Valentine's Week (of cards!)

Let the countdown begins!
One week until Valentine's Day!!!!
Time to hit the malls and card stores or the craft stores, in case of blog my readers! Time to create something magical and special to let the ones you love know what they mean to you. Time to celebrate the loves of your life. In my case, that would be my three children, my husband and my parents. I really try to make them all feel special everyday but I also want them to enjoy the day designated to showcase my love and affection! I put together this tray to inspire my week of crafts and fun! I cut up various ribbon and made a handful of tags to their teacher gifts and the candies are just yummy!

And I had a blast creating a stack of cards with my scraps!

My favorite part of this card is the vintage book page! I love buying books from the thrift store for fifty cents and creating something fresh and new with them!!!!

I will be back all week with a new card! Stay Tuned!!!!

~Rachel

A couple of quick Halloween cards

I love being able to use up my scraps! Now, the hard part- giving them away!
Happy Haunting!

Rachel

Fall Greeting Card That Doubles as a Recipe Card!

I think an apple cobbler is a unique gift idea to give in a pretty (new) ceramic baking dish with the recipe attached. What a fabulous pick-me-up or a thank you gift to a friend, teacher or neighbor! Here is the yummy Apple Cobbler recipe I 'borrowed' from the Land o' Lakes website! (Inside of the card)

And the directions in case any of my readers were in need of a fabulous way to use all their freshly harvested apples!

Have a great day!
Rachel

Altered Peet Cups and Card

My sister found this great deal on the 180 sheet stack from DCWV @ Joann's for $8 !!! It has the *CUTEST* patterns with gardening motifs, rainbows, polka dots and so much more. It is called the Flower Shower Stack but if you ask me, I say it is very summery! I totally adore these papers! I made this darling little card with the most inspiring colors and papers from DCWV and from Cosmo Cricket (the chipboard embellies on the card and the gift arrangement), Garden Variety. I was pleasantly surprised at what a great match the two brands!Look what I made from a stack of peet cups my hubby had in the garage, some staples, my new stack of paper and bbq skewers! A cute little giftable flower arrangement with the sweetest sentiment, Planting the Seeds of Kindness :)

TFL!
Rachel

Anna Griffin - In the Kitchen stamped cards!!!!

I bought the cutest arcylic stamp set from HSN a few months back when the lovely Miss Anna Griffin stoped by with her Today's Special. I have never been a stamping fan but fell in love with the vintage kitchen feel to the stamps. And let me tell, you I actually used them and even more exciting... I absolutely LOVE the set!!! Look at these cute cards I made....I, ironically, bought this bag of misc. corks as part of a Goodwill Craft Bag the day I made the cards. I actually had no plans until after I stamped the bottle opener! And i LOVE how simple and unique it turned out!!! http://crafts-sewing.hsn.com/anna-griffin-in-the-kitchen-clear-stamp-set_p-5858337_xp.aspx?webm_id=0&web_id=5858337&sf=ct&attr=7093&ocm=CT7093&prev=hp!sf!7093&ccm=CT7093 ----------> Just in case you want to take a peek and order these fabu stamps!

The utensils, are also my favorite stamps in the set!

The tea cup is quite cute too :)

TFL!

Hope you get a set for yourself!

Rachel

Girly Birthday Gift Basket

Today is our little friend, Hannah's birthday party. She is 9. You can spell her name backwards the same way you do forwards!!!

I made a fun poodle birthday card with the new acrylic stamp I bought this week! (sorry that the picture is blurry!) I decoupaged her initial and made it pop with some fun ribbon and a wooden rainbow star! A girly girl can never have too many polka dots!!!I decided to go complete girly nuts with her Justice gift card presentation since I rarely get a chance to go girly! I decided to personalize a tote so she can keep all her hair doo-dads in it and filled it with fun trinkets. Gum, Silly Bandz, Japanese erasers, headbands, bracelets, a necklace, an initial "H" hook for her towels or robe, scratch and sniff stickers and a few Hello Kitty stationary items.

And here it is all wrapped up in its colorful glory! I love the pinwheel sticking out of the cellophane!!!