Happy Mail!

Hello!   Today I'm sharing three wonderful cards I've received recently.  I know you're going to love them as much as I do! 

The first yummy card was created by my friend Gail Slagle at What a Load of Scrap and More!  Gail has used the cute little cupcake punch, embossing folder and ribbon from Stampin' Up!  Doesn't it look good enough to eat?!  

Next up is a beauty by my friend Debbie Fisher at The Paper Garden.   Debbie is the one who crochets the lovely little flowers you've been seeing on my cards recently.  Oh, I wish I could learn how!  You'll notice that under the crocheted flower, she has layered a light pink die cut felt flower.  Brilliant!  And now I need a flower die! : /

Last, but certainly not least, is this beauty from my sweet DIL Jami!   Jami used to stamp with me quite often and even had her own blog, but now that she's teaching full time her life is busy, busy!   But, she knows I love receiving handmade cards so she took time to make this for my birthday.  Don't you love the designer paper she's used?  The photo doesn't show the glossy accents it has.  And she has even paper pieced the birthday cake!  Notice too...the faux stitching she's added around the dp.  Creative!    

Well, I hope you've enjoyed seeing these!  It was so fun to receive them and just as much fun to share them with all of you.   Receiving a handmade card is like opening a {{HUG}} in an envelope. 

Perhaps I've given you some inspiration for your own cardmaking today.  I hope so!  Thank you so much for stopping by and do come back again soon!

Smiles!

Quote for Today ~

Everybody needs a hug. It changes your metabolism. ~Leo Buscaglia

Friendly Challenge Brings Happy Mail!

Today I'm happy to share some lovely creations by a dear friend, stamping buddy, and fellow Nebraskan ~Gail Slagle.   We became acquainted a couple years ago through my blog and now I'm excited that Gail has finally decided to start her own blog ~ What a Load of Scraps & More!  

Gail and I really enjoy exchanging cards and "goodies" and when I sent her a Valentine card last month, I enclosed these little white paper doilies and challenged her to see what she could do with them.  Well, would you look at this!  WoW!   She certainly rose to the challenge, didn't she?!  They are both such beautiful cards.  The funny thing is that she forgot to take photos before she sent them to me, so I get to be the first to show them to you!  hee hee  :)

The designer paper on this baby card has a touch of glittery sparkle to it which makes it even more special. And of course, the stitching adds such a sweet touch too!  Love it!

the inside is as pretty as the outside!

And this is the card she created to send me a little note.  Oh my!  Can you say "gorgeous"?!  You know I adore the shabby chic distressed look.  When I see this, I wish I had the stamp set and those beautiful butterfly punches from Stampin' Up! 

Oh by the way, I also want to mention that Gail is a Stampin' Up demonstrator.  I'm sure if you need any products, she would be more than happy to place an order for you.  Will you please stop by her blog and leave her some stampin' love?   I know it would make her *smile*!  :)

Thanks so much for blogging by!    Have a happy day!

Quote for Today ~
All glory comes from daring to begin. ~ Eugene F. Ware

Happy Mail!

Happy Hi Y'all!  

Today I want to share some Happy Mail that I just received from my Nebraska stampin' buddy ~ Gail Slagle.   Isn't this a beautiful friendship card?  I love her layout and the way she's done the satin ribbon.  It would be perfect when you want to mail the card and don't want the added bulk of a tied bow.  I'm going to have to 'case' this card!   But first, I've got to get this Stampin' Up! label punch!  Swoon!

And that was just the card, wait until you see all this!! ... 

These darling little goodies really put me in the mood for creating Valentine's!  Aren't they all so SWEET?!

yummmo ...one of my FAVORITES!  Ghirardelli Peppermint Bark! 

Just for You...so you don't have to share!

Sorry, I won't be sharing my peppermint bark, but I did want to share all these awesome ideas with all of YOU!! 

Happy Stamping!  and Thanks so much for stopping by today!

Quote for Today ~
In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. ~Albert Schweitzer

Sharing Cards from Friends Today

Isn't it FUN and so exciting to get real snail mail from a friend?!  

It makes me *SMILE* and I appreciate it so much!

Today, I'm going to share some of my recent mail . . . fabulous creations by a few of my dear cardmaking friends!   This first one was created by Dori who I met online a few years ago at Papercrafts and then had the ultimate pleasure of meeting her in person in Hawaii three years ago!  What a thrill!   She sent me this bright and cheery Happy New Year card in January.  The colors are great and I love how she's sponged and layered the scalloped circles!  

This beauty was created by Marie in Montana who is another Papercrafts/Stamp Shack friend.  She won blog candy last month and sent me this *gorgeous* thank you card.  I love the colors, how she's stamped the background to look like a designer paper and how about those "faux" stamped buttons?!  Love it!

The sweet and colorful turtle card below is from my blog friend Debbie Fisher from The Paper Garden.  She's a designer for Inky Antics Rubber Stamps and has a *fantastic* blog!   Be sure to stop over and say Hi!  She's a Nebraskan too and we're hoping to meet someday soon...when the weather straightens out!  Debbie not only stamps, she crochets and last year sent me some beautiful little crocheted flowers.  That reminds me that I need to use those again! 

Last, but certainly not least, earlier this week I received a *wonderful* little surprise package in the mail from my blog friend Gail who lives in central Nebraska.  Her package was simply filled with all kinds of crafty treasures!  Oh my!   I want to share a few of them with you. This first one is so clever...a yummy little chocolate stir stick wrapped up in a cute little stamped friend folder. . .

I just adore this bright and sunny hello card with the polka dot ribbon and I will have to case this idea!  In fact, it would be perfect for the Color Throwdown challenge I want to participate in today!  hmmm, thinking out loud here...

And check out this beautiful heart mini card using kraft cardstock. . . with a tag to match!!  Yes!

And that's not all!  Below is another little mini card with a great layout...and I really like the Stampin' Up set she used too! ;)  THANK YOU SO MUCH Gail!!!   I don't have your email address so I'm hoping you read this and know how much fun I had opening your package and how much I appreciate your thoughfulness.   Let's plan to get together this spring or summer with Debbie too, ok?!   {please email me so I can save your addy and keep in touch}

Thanks so much for stopping by today and letting me share my mail with you.  Now I need to get busy and create a few blog challenge cards . . . and a "special order" for my BEST *ever* ETSY customer!

It should be a FUN day ahead for me and here's wishing you all the same~! ! !  :)

Smiles 2 U!

Quote for Today ~
The world is like a mirror, you see?
Smile, and your friends smile back.
~ Zen saying

Girls Just Want to Have FUN!

All Smiles ~ Terrific Mail Day ! ! !

Yesterday, I received the most adorable card from my friend Lesa in Massachusetts. It is a 4-1/4" square card with the cutest little image from Inkadinkado. She has colored the girls and added a sprinkle of glitter on their hair bows and on the pink scallops. I love it! And I'm so happy that Lesa is feeling creative, as it has been two week's since her first chemo treatment. If you have a minute, please stop by Lesa's blog, "One Voice, One Life, One Breast Cancer" and leave a comment or humorous quote to brighten her day and make her SMILE! :)

Last Friday, I received an email from my sister Judy in California titled "I'm a winner and so are you!" She was the lucky winner of a $20 gift certificate for a local scrapbooking shop and she asked what I wanted her to get for me. Seriously!? Obviously, I responded without hesitation and told her I could always use some Christmas papers. I'll be darn if she didn't go shopping right away, mailed them on Saturday and I had them already on Monday! Wooo Hooo! Check out this wonderful variety of beautiful papers...there is even one for "sisters" and a "30th" paper!(our daughter Katie turns 30 in December) How FUN! Now I can't wait to create something with them!


Also, I've received Suzi's holiday circle journal for Shuggy's swap and will be working on that this week. It's such fun to see how each person creates their two-page spread. Her theme is "holiday traditions" and we have several in our family so this will be a JOY to work on.


On a serious note, do you know anyone who lives in the southern California area where all these disastrous wild fires are burning out of control? My nephew is going to school in San Diego and told me last night that he is safe...about 15-20 miles away from the closest fire. My dear friend Tami at Dapple Designs lives by Lake Arrowhead and had to evacuate yesterday. I've been thinking of her all day and of all the others living in that area too. I cannot imagine going through this. How tragic to see the beautiful land around you burned to ashes, or even worse...your home and everything in it. Let's pray for them and their safety...and for all the firefighters too. God bless them!

I'm not feeling very creative tonight so may just browse a few cardmaking blogs for inspiration. Have you all heard of Google Reader? Am I the last to know about it? It is wonderful! And makes it much easier it is to keep up with new posts on all my favorite blogs. If you haven't already, do check it out. I promise, you'll be glad you did! :)

Have a terrific week everyone and Keep Smiling! ~ Pam :)

Quote for Today ~

"Happiness is not the absence of conflict, but the ability to cope with it." ~ unknown