paper roses...

I have been spending so much time in the garden lately...

that  hadn't realized how much I miss my craft room.

So last night I spent some time cutting out paper roses from this beautiful K & Company paper that I found at Michael's.

I used this beautiful inspiration challenge from Melissa Phillips charming blog as my starting point. 

She challenges us every week or two with stunning pictures from Leslie over at a Creative Mint.

I thought this was the perfect time to share this sweet card, too. 

A few weeks ago I had a request from my mom for a "sewing card" for her ladies quilt group giveaway...

Of course I had the perfect paper in my stash...

this is Cosmo Cricket's Material Girl.

Aren't the measuring tapes adorable and that sewing machine is such a hoot!

And I thought this sentiment was just perfect for the inside...

Don't you just hate it when one wonderful obsession crowds out another?  Oh, for one more day in the week or even a few more hours in the day!  What a blessed life this is...

Do something you love today...

Blessings,

Patty

I'm linking up to Melissa Phillips and Unscripted Sketches...

a song in your heart...FWF

Welcome to Unity Stamps Friends with Flair Friday...

I went to HomeGoods today looking for a couple of accessories for my cottage bedroom redo...

Always on the lookout for inspiration...I found these great plates on clearance...

I got to thinking how great they would pair with Cosmo Cricket's - garden variety paper...

I started flipping through my Unity stamps and came upon this adorable bird with a song in his heart from the February KOM...

I just love red and yellow together...

It's a shame my bedroom is green and white...

sidetracked again...

Blessings,

Patty

plant a seed...FWF

Happy Friday...

It seems like I tend to gravitate to paper I really love no matter what new wonders come along.  Do you do that, too?

Take this Cosmo Cricket - Early Bird...it's like an old, trusty friend...it seems to be fresh everytime I use it.  I better check my stock and start hoarding it cuz I know I'll be sad when it's gone.

I teamed it this time with this adorable potted seedling and sentiment from the Unity January 2010 KOM...

I did a combination of copics and paper piecing, plus a little stitching around the edges.  The card sketch is CPS 159.

Enjoy the rest of FWF journey and watch for the blinkie...

Blessings,

Patty

paper transformations...

It's Thursday and that means it's time for Treasures and Trinkets over at  My Cottage Charm.  I can't believe we flew through March already...where does time go?

I have two super simple transformations to share that will end up in my new cottage kitchen very soon.

    

Do you remember when I shared this from my Goodwill shopping excursion a couple of weeks ago?  I knew the size and soft green color were perfect but the "friends" sentiment would limit what I wanted to use it for.  I went through my stash of designer paper and found this Girl Friday paper by cosmo cricket and simply cut strips to place over the sentiment, being careful to leave some of the green exposed.  I inked and sanded all the edges to give it a more worn look.  The addition of a paper flower was all it needed and wa..la...perfect for what I have in mind.  (That's my dog bear in my garden last year as a temporary place holder.)

For my second super simple project...I was in need of a kitchen towel bar beside our sink but the space on the cabinet is kind of akward and an actual bar would be too long...so I found this peg hook in the garage that I must have bought for some other project long ago...

A coat of celery spray paint and the addition of some paper piecing of the same Girl Friday paper and I now have the perfect size towel holder.

I can't wait to show you what they look like in their proper place...

I should have a little time to play today so hopefully they'll be up and ready to show you soon.

Go over and take a look at the other transformations...I'm sure you'll find something to inspire you.

Blessings,

Patty

hang in there...FWF

Welcome again to Friends with Flair Friday...

Hope you're all enjoying the Olympics.  I just finished watching the Women's Figure Skating.  Wasn't it amazing!

Just a couple of quick cards to share today.

Cosmo Cricket paper with Unity's August 2009 KOM...

More Cosmo Cricket this time paired with Unity's February 2010 KOM.

Have a wonderful weekend,

Patty

Friends with Flair Friday...mushroom love

I've just spent the last half hour or so...okay, maybe it was a squish over that...browsing the most glorious, inspirational blog sites.  It's hard to believe that less than a year ago I didn't even know this world existed.  If you had told me there was a host of women who loved the same things I did, I would have thought you lost your mind or at least were living in the wrong era.

  But they're out there...doing what they love...dancing to the beat of their own drum, inspite of what pop-culture dictates.  I am thrilled to have joined their ranks...

With that said...I just received my January KOM from Unity...it was hard to choose which image to start with but when I saw the mushrooms and remembered my Cosmo Cricket Earth Love paper...the decision was made for me.

Aren't these the most adorable mushrooms?  I colored them with my Copics...did some fussy cutting of the sweet little birds from the Earth Love paper and added a pop dot to the snail back to add some dimension.

The stitched heart (minus the wings) is from Unity's August KOM...the buttons and ric rac are from my stash.

Thanks for stopping by...

Blessings,

Patty

thankful...

Emily's surgery to remove the scar tissue and separate the muscle tear was this morning and I am happy to tell you that all went well. There was more scar tissue than originally expected but the surgeon was able to remove all of it with the exception of a small portion attached to the collar bone because it was too close to a large artery. She is not concerned because she says that portion should repair itself. Thank you all for your prayers. The recovery time is minimal because little ones heal at such a fast rate. She should be good as new in a few days. Thank you Lord.

I guess I didn't realize how nervous I was about this procedure until this morning. Even though you hear the words, "minor...outpatient...routine", when it's your little one, you still worry.

With that good news...I have a few more pages of my recipe book to share...

A vintage kitchen fabric swatch and a retro clock...Don't you love the "lace" curtains?

More fabric scraps and some Cosmo Cricket paper...a handmade embellishment of gathered fabric, a couple of flowers and a button.

The cherry stamp from Unity is colored with copic markers...the cute bird is Cosmo Cricket.

More Cosmo Cricket, Early Bird paper and a piece of tea stained twill...

I'm half way through and I think it's going to be tough giving this one away.

With a thankful heart,

Patty

family memories...

Just a quick post tonight...I am off to spend the day with my mom and sister, who is visiting from Texas. It will be a day for just us girls...Before I go, I wanted to share with you the plaque I made for my SIL...

These adorable little ones are her son and new baby granddaughter...

The paper is from Cosmo Cricket, the lace is a tea-dyed piece from Melissa Phillips, the sentiment is from tattered angels and the rest of the embellishments are from my stash.

I was lucky enough to get a new camera from my DH for Christmas but have yet to figure out how to use it...be patient with me as I learn to edit photos. I know I'm gonna love it in the long run.

Blessings,

Patty

oh, wow...

We made a trip to Sam's Club today to order Emily's first birthday cake. I was in gramma heaven with both Emily and Andrew in the extra wide shopping cart. Since it's no fun for little ones to wait around while a cake is being ordered, I took them for a stroll around the store. Of course, we ended up in the Christmas section...eyes grew wide as we turned up the aisle with all the twinkling lights and Christmas trees...eyes grew even wider as we headed down the aisle with Thomas the train and dollies with strollers..."Oh, wow!" echoed throughout the store as we came upon a three foot high pony..."Oh, wow!" as we passed a dump truck full of building blocks..."Oh, wow!" as we passed a race car track. The pure joy of a child seeing things for the first time and not holding back...not asking for...just totally...amazed. I tell you, it was enough to bring a smile to any scrooges face.

It's been a while since my children were little enough to still be mesmerized by the wonder of it all...it warmed my heart and made me realize that pop pop better bring his wallet next time we head to Sam's Club.

vintage santa picture frame ornaments...

all glittered up...

and tied with a big red bow...

I used my silhouette to cut out the picture frames, distressed them with Aquatic Splash versa magic and vintage photo distress ink, then gave them a dusting of Martha Stewart glitter in green agate. The background paper is Cosmo Cricket and the images are from Crafty Secret.

It's beginning to look alot like Christmas. "Oh, wow!"

Blessings,

Patty

moments...

I received the most beautiful email from my sister in law yesterday and it really touched a cord in my heart. We just celebrated my brother's (her husband's) 5oth birthday, they married as high school sweethearts, so that means we have a lotta history between us. She spoke of how she feels the Lord gently reminding her to slow down and enjoy the everyday moments in life. To be still and watch his blessings happen in tender moments, expressions given, thoughtful gestures...


What a wonderful attitude to choose. Life goes by so quickly, we can't go back and capture a memory. We need to appreciate the moment now before the moment is gone.

More Earth Love paper...

Some October Afternoon...

Just a few tags I am stockpiling getting ready for my Christmas Tea and Boutique...a new twist on an old tradition. I will share more on this soon.

Blessings,

Patty

earth love...

Earth love paper from Cosmo Cricket...don't you love it!

Isn't it amazing how feeling "normal" after being sick, is so wonderful. I have been down and out with a nasty cold bug for the last week and all I wanted was to feel normal again...we really take for granted not being in pain or stuffed up or queasy. I have new respect and admiration for those who live with chronic conditions and just do life with joy. I get a lousy head cold and my world is rocked.

While I was in Houston I got a small taste of what my mom and dad do everyday just to stay alive. My dad has several serious, chronic conditions and the amount of discipline and effort it takes every single day was overwhelming to me. The fact that they just do it...let's just say my love, respect and admiration for them grew even more...if that's even possible. I was truly blessed in the parent's department.

You have my permission to kick me the next time you hear me complain about my life!

Do life with joy,

Patty