My New Favorite

EEEP!!!!

This card, which evolved slowly from the ombre panel of blues I didn’t know how to use, is now my favorite. 

The boldness of the blue practically glows off the white background. The ink is Hero Arts ombre blues, and the butterfly dies are from Poppy Stamps. The crisp clean style of this card warms the cockles of my heart. 

Then, I made another card using the scraps of the blue panel. It doesn’t make me quite as happy because it’s a little busy, I like the way the leaves hug the sentiment about hugs. That’s pretty cool. 

A fun day overall crafting!

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

Variations

One of my favorite crafty self-challenges is “variations on a theme.” It makes me feel better about having so many products because, let’s face it, I have a problem addiction passion for products. 

I keep a bin under my desk for products I’ve used to death or can’t quite like anymore. A few months ago, all my Hero Arts ombre inks went into that bin. I already have over a dozen Kaleidacolor ink pads, and they seem to work better anyway. 

Yesterday, I pulled one of those Hero pads out of the Bin of Doom and applied the ink direct to paper. It looked stunning! So I made this card.

The thinking of you die and sentiment stamp are from Hero Arts, and the butterfly dies are from Poppy Stamps. I liked the effect so much that I pulled all the ink pads out and made samples with them. Some looked better than others…the darker color combos went back into the Bin of Doom. 

Then, I applied the same concept to a very different color scheme. 

The black card stock is speckled with iridescent watercolor in gold and pink. It reminds me a bit of the 1980s. 

For a third variation, I tried something other than butterflies with the tide pool ombre ink. It looks a little cramped but fun, nevertheless.

Stamps and dies from Hero Arts. It’s been a Hero-Arts-intensive variation. 

___________________

On a completely different note, my hair grows fast, and the chemo curl is completely gone (yay), leaving me with very straight, coarse locks. My hairdresser, Tracey, had an accident, was hospitalized for 5 days, had three surgeries, and still has broken ribs. I’d intended to get my hair cut two months ago, but she was (obviously) unavailable. Several people, including my husband who does NOT like long hair, suggested I try a different hairdresser. 

Please tell me I’m not the only one who feels that would be cheating on Tracey. No way! 

So Tracey is now back at work, limited in that she cannot comfortably wash hair right now, but she can cut it. She took about three inches off mine. 

The curls didn’t last long, despite the fact Tracey used half a bottle of setting spray. Like I said, my hair is naturally straight, sort of like the rest of me, LOL! But this length suits me better anyway. George still thinks it’s too long, but he’s wrong. 

Men.

Mercy, grace, peace, and love, 

Susan 

Thanks to Eddie and Donna!

Eddie and Donna sent boxes of cards for Karen’s Card Shop. Many, many thanks! Even with their generous donations, we are still in need of sympathy and get well cards, if anyone has some of those to contribute. Otherwise, we should be good for a while.

I am blown over by the generosity of so many of you. I take every opportunity to sing your praises when I get positive feedback about the shop…which is just about every time I’m at church!

Today’s cards showcase some of the embossing folders I bought from Simon Says Stamp during their recent sale. Love these folders so much because they add just the right amount of interest for the white-on-white designs I favor. 

White on white benefits from texture! 

Mercy, grace, peace, and love, 

Susan

Thanks So Much to Pat, Lisa, and Charlotte!

Pat, Lisa, and Charlotte sent cards for Karen’s card shop, and I’m both thrilled and impressed! What kindness and generosity these ladies have shown. I’ve already got them packaged and ready to take to church!

We still need more birthday, sympathy, and thinking of you cards…if you have them to spare and are willing to share!

Today’s card—a masculine birthday card—made me so happy when it came together!

The background stamps are from Simon Says Stamp, the sentiment is from Papertrey, and the row of hearts is from Hero Arts. The dark red and warm gray inks are from Simon Says. I added small gray rhinestones to the dots that appear between the hearts on the border stamp. The result is simple and chic!

That’s all I have to say about stamping at the moment.

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan 

A Birthday Card Emergency

Two weeks ago, I restocked Karen’s Card shop and encountered an emergency! Hardly any birthday cards! How did that happen!

And then I went on a cruise to the Bahamas with my friend and fellow breast cancer survivor Kim, and forgot all about it. 

I can’t remember what alcohol was in that fancy chocolate drink, but it was delicious!

‘80s Dance Party

But then I returned from paradise, restocked the store again, and was reminded how low we are on birthday cards, sympathy cards, and get well cards.

This basket used to be all birthday. 

So I got busy. The first card was made with a Gina K posey set and colored with metallic watercolors. Very shimmery!

The second card was made with a small Hero Arts set from probably 10 years ago. The colors make me so happy!

If you would like to help out with this birthday card emergency—or if you can help with sympathy, get well, and thinking of you cards—shoot me an email at susanraihala at roadrunner dot com. I’ll send you my snail mail address. 

I get so much positive feedback from the shop. People love the cards, and they love having a variety to choose from. My cards generally look like I made them, and that limits the variety. When I tell people who sends the cards—people from all over the U.S.—they are amazed and grateful. And so am I.

If you donate, please remember to leave the insides blank since buyers can’t open the cello bags before buying. Also, I provide the envelopes, so unless you get fancy and stamp coordinating envelopes, don’t worry about sending envelopes. 

And thank you in advance. Stampers are the best!

Mercy, grace, peace, and love,

Susan

Happy New Year

The season is almost over, and I pray each one of you reading this little intermittent blog will carry the beauty of the season over into the bleaker months of the new year. 

Back in early November, I was invited to go on a cruise with a friend. Her husband, very much like mine, is an introvert and hates cruising, but my friend, an extrovert, will check the box of her twentieth cruise this time. I was so grateful to be asked, so next week, I’ll be cruising with Carnival for five days in the Bahamas. 

Yay, me! And muchas gracias to Kim and Joe for such a wonderful start to the new year. We will be leaving shortly before a massive winter storm is supposed to hit Ohio. Talk about making spirits bright!

Mercy, grace, peace, love, and sunshine!

Susan

Christmas Abundance

Well, FOMO may cause us crafters to have supplies in abundance, but Christmas is all about abundance…an abundance of hope, an abundance of peace, an abundance of joy, and an abundance of love. 

Christmas cards, especially handmade cards, are expressions of that abundance. I haven’t been posting, but I have been stamping, and here are some of the cards I’ve made…some inspired by Pinterest.

I pray that your holiday season is filled with the hope, peace, joy, and love that are the whole reason for the season. 

And that you have a little time to be creative for your soul, as well!

Merry Christmas,

Susan