Just a Whisper ...

The beauty of crocus blooms ...

 

it is a time of rebirth, of new beginnings.

 

 

Today, as we celebrate Easter, I hope you will join me for a cup of tea.

 

 

A beautiful prairie crocus teacup was a pleasant surprise ...

 

tucked away in my Easter basket!

 

 

Elegant Montrose style cup.

 

 

Please help yourself to a sugar cookie decorated with pink and purple sanding sugar.

 

 

I think they are too cute to eat  :-)

 

 

We saw our first Robins this week.

 

 

  Spring is in the air ...

 

Easter blessings to you and your family!

 

Today I am joining ...

 

Macro Monday @ Lisa's Chaos

Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage

Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations

Tuesday Cuppa Tea @ Antiques and Teacups

Friends Sharing Tea @ Bernideen's Tea Time

Time Travel Thursday @ The Brambleberry Cottage

Thursday Favorite Things @ Katherine's Corner

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a daily cup from Mrs. Olson

Show Off Friday @ What About

Vintage Easter Cards

Today I have a few vintage Easter cards to share with you.  I usually stamp all my images, but since I don't really have too many Easter images I decided to go digital for this holiday.  I hope the recipients won't be too disappointed.

My first project was created using the French Notes and Easter Bunny Collages from Iralamija.  Aren't these bunnies adorable?  I added some Stardust Stickles to the roses.

I used the Spellbinders Floral Doily Accents die on the side of the card.  The bunny image was then layered onto a piece of Sky Blue paper.  Happy Easter was stamped in StazOn Stone Gray on a Shimmery White banner.  All the edges were sponged with Distress Antique Linen ink.  The flower was cut twice (once with Sky Blue paper and again with Shimmery White).  An ivory pearl brad fit perfectly in the center.   

This next card was for my friend Veronica.

I ran a piece of Pale Plum paper through the Big Shot using a Cuttlebug Textile embossing folder.  A piece of tea stained seam binding was wrapped around it with a triple loop bow.  An antique brad embellishes the center.  A 4" doily was added then I layered a vintage Easter chicks image from Cottage Rose Graphics.  Stardust Stickles were added to the eggs.  Everything was mounted to a pastel blue card.  

The last card features a darling bunny drinking tea.  Perfect for Easter or a tea party.

This image didn't need anything, but a piece of vintage lace with a teapot charm.

I'm very pleased with how these cards turned out.  It was fun using the digital images.  I hope you find your Easter basket filled with sweet treats!

Today I am joining ...

Easter Parade @ Cute Card Thursday

Easter Cards @ 'ABC' Challenges

From Our Nest ...

Happy Saturday! I'm just dropping by to show you a card I created for my brother and sister-in-law for the first day of spring.

 

After cutting a Framelits Labels die from Shimmery White paper the nest was stamped in StazOn Timber Brown and colored with Stampin' Up markers. The cute eggs were done in VersaMagic Sea Breeze with a blender pen.  The image was then layered onto a piece of True Thyme.  The background paper is from Prima Marketing called "Annalee".  A few ivy pearls embellish the card.

 

It's so nice to hear the birds chirping outside the window.  Spring is definitely on the way! 

Have a great weekend and thank you for your kind comments!

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Nest by Our Daily Bread Designs
Paper:  Desert Storm, True Thyme, Prima Marketing Annalee Designer Paper, Shimmery White
Ink:  StazOn Timber Brown, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Certainly Celery, VersaMagic Sea Breeze, Brilliance Pearlescent Beige
Accessories:  SU Framelits Labels #3 & #4, Papertrey Ink Double Ended Banner Die, Opaline Pearls in Ivy
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging, Blender Pen
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Spring is Sprung

It was exciting to see the early crocus open the other day.

Majestic purple ...

The cheery colors of spring!

Have you started feathering your nest yet?

I've put out my cabbage patch wreath.

Adorable straw bunnies popping out of cabbage heads!

A pink crochet basket has been decorated with silk ribbon, lace and vintage millinery flowers.

Glittered hand painted eggs are nestled inside.

A garland of cherry blossoms is wrapped around my lantern.

The other day I created a bunting banner from digital images.

I love the vintage bunnies ...

... and chicks

I hope you are enjoying your weekend!

Today I am joining ...

Make It Monday @ Make It Monday

Inspire Me Monday @ Create With Joy

Masterpiece Monday @ Boogieboard Cottage

Home Party @ Rose Chintz Cottage

Outdoor Wednesday @ A Southern Daydreamer

Wow Us Wednesday @ Savvy Southern Style

Share Your Cup Thursday @ Have a daily cup from Mrs. Olson

Open House Party @ Bernideen's Tea Time

Time Travel Thursday @ Brambleberry Cottage

Vintage Inspiration Friday @ Commond Ground

Gatherings Magazine

As spring approaches, I am excited to share some news with you.  I am honored to be given the chance to contribute to Heather Spriggs Thompson's magazine entitled Gatherings.  This is such a gorgeous magazine featuring vintage styles, interiors, crafts and food.

I'm thrilled to have my article "The Joy of Taking Tea" with photos of antique teawares in the spring 2013 edition (please see page 40).  Heather has a team of talented ladies who inspire me with their creativity and talent.

I would like to share a sneak peek with you.

  

You can read the current issue by visiting Heather's awesome site.  You can even download Gatherings to your ipad or tablet.

Thank you Heather for this wonderful opportunity.

20th Wedding Anniversary

 

Hi everyone,

 

Today my husband and I are celebrating our 20th wedding anniversary.  It seems just like yesterday that we were setting out on our honeymoon.  Over this period we have grown together.  We have so much to celebrate besides this milestone anniversary.  Both of us have been through so much over the past couple of years, but we were always there for one another.

 

 

There was no fancy wedding and no guests.  My dress came from the clearance rack at Macy's.  We just took a short drive to Town Hall to make it official.

 

It is time to look back at the good times and a time to look ahead to live our dreams together.

 

Happy Anniversary, Michael!

From My Heart

I finally put together the From My Heart stamp set.  The beautiful background paper is Chanteuse by Kaisercraft.  It was adhered to a piece of sand metallic shimmer paper.  I distressed the edges of both pieces.  The image was stamped in Soft Suede and embossed with clear embossing powder with a heat gun.  The banner and teapot were colored in Pretty in Pink and Regal Rose with a blender pen.  I also added some Candle Light Shimmerz Paint to the banner.  Sponging was done in Brilliance Pearlescent Beige and ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown.  Once cut out I adhered it to another piece of sand metallic shimmer paper punched from a 2 1/2" circle punch and then mounted it to a lacey circle from Primrose Petals paper.

The front was finished with tea stained lace, faux pearls and a brown rose.

Inside sentiment was stamped in Soft Suede with a teabag done in Basic Brown and Regal Rose.

Thank you for your friendship.  Wishing you a day filled with smiles!

 

Today I am joining ...

 

Make It Monday @ Make It Monday

Tea Time Tuesday @ Rose Chintz Cottage

Tea Cup Tuesday @ Martha's Favorites

Tea Cup Tuesday @ Artful Affirmations

Tuesday Cuppa Tea @ Antiques and Teacups

Friends Sharing Tea @ Bernideen's Tea Time 

 
Card Recipe:
Stamps:  From My Heart, Serendipity Stamps, Papertrey Ink Tea for Two Additions
Paper:  Natural White Linen, The Paper Company Metallic Shimmer Paper, Kaisercraft Chanteuse Designer Paper, Primrose Petals, Very Vanilla, Shimmery White
Ink:  Image - Soft Suede with Clear EP; Banner - Pretty in Pink & Regal Rose; Sponging - Brilliance Pearlescent Beige & ColorBox Chalk Creamy Brown; Teabag - Basic Brown & Regal Rose
Accessories:  Tea Stained Lace, Recollections Faux Pearls, The Paper Studio Rose, Candle Light Shimmerz Paint, Edge Distresser, Bow-Easy, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Spellbinders Lacey Circles #4
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging
Card Size:  A2 (4.25" x 5.5")