Nature's Elements: Moss

Green is my absolute favorite color. I live in the Pacific Northwest where it's quite rainy in the fall and winter months but there's never a shortage of green. Evergreens, perennials, and yes, moss. I fell in love with the beauty of moss long ago; the different textures, the varying colors of dark and light green, and even the smell of it. Did you know that there's even a type of moss that glows in the dark? As campers, we called it Nature's Flashlight. Okay, so wasn't that bright, but it glowed and it was beautiful. This card is a tribute to moss and it's varying hues of yellow and green. I like the shape of the focal design element; in an abstract way, it reminds me of a vine or the way certain types of ground-moss grows, reaching out and covering whatever surface it's on. The background is on dark green mulberry, again, it's fuzzy texture adding a special treat for your fingertips. The card measures 6 1/2" x 5" and includes envelope.

Nature's Elements: Poppy Field

This card is dirt! Well, actually, this card is inspired by dirt...Mother Nature provides us with copious amounts of dirt, mud, soil, "earth"...whatever you want to call it. Dirt provides nutrients for the food that is planted and harvested, and for the brilliant spectacle of floral life that we take for granted. I love the brilliance of poppies, and the image of a poppy field is always in my mind's-eye; the image I conjure up when I think of something peaceful and happy. Using the same color scheme as Sunset, I mounted the design onto a backdrop made of brown mulberry paper, The fibrous texture of mulberry and it's own natural imperfections make this card delighting for your senses of touch and sight. Card measures 6 1/2" x 5" and includes envelope.

Nature's Elements: Sunset

When I think of a brilliant sunset, I think of a fusion of various shades of red, yellow and orange. They constantly change and provide us with a light show better than any thing humans could dare to produce. This is my homage to just one of Mother Nature's gifts to mere mortals. I combined a hand-painted blend of reds, yellows and oranges on a simple design before adhering it to a bold red, yellow and orange backdrop. The colors of the backdrop and the design are very, very close but I wanted them to blend a bit, using the main design element as an enhancement rather than a standalone piece. As with the other cards in the Nature's Elements line, the color scheme and painting may vary as this is painted by hand. Card measures 6 1/2" x 5" and includes envelope.

Nature's Elements: Oasis

The Nature's Elements series is inspired by none other than Mother Nature. The dark blue background has been distressed and chalked to add depth. The lacy overlay has also been chalked with various shades of blue as you would see if you were looking at a beautiful oasis. Hand-chalking is a non-scientific method, therefore each card will be slightly different. Card measures 6 1/2" x 5" and includes envelope.

Thanks: Green & Pink

Another Thank You card for a friend, this time inspired by the combination of Sour Apple and Fruity Punch flavored candy I was nibbling at the time. Bad for the teeth, good for the creative juices!! This card features a delicate apple green background featuring white flowers and has slight distressing/inking on the outer portions. I added "fruit punch" colored text and a whimsical flourish on the bottom left, and embellished both with bubble-gum sparkles. Other color options and background styles are available. Card measures 6 1/2" x 5" and includes envelope.

Friendship Garden

How does your garden grow? It could grow on a delightful background of brightly colored and whimsical flowers! Complementary shade of yellow and orange paper was used to create the garden fence with the word Friendship. Bright green grass alternates between the posts of the fence to create the appearance of the fence nestled in the grass. A watering can created from fuchsia paper with enameled daisy brad add another element of texture. The watering can is further decorated with sparkles and appears to be showering the garden with a delicate shower of water, also created with sparkles. The sparkle effect for the water catches the light wonderfully. Excellent for a garden party invitation or as a card for a friend who enjoys gardening. Due to paper availability, the background for this card may vary. Card measures 6 1/2" x 5" and includes envelope.

Animal Crackers: Fishy Kisses

Yet another one I adore! The inspiration for this one came from trying to teach my friend's 3 year old daughter how to give fishy kisses. This pocket card was also donated to the Cards For Kids project.
Goldy's pocket card is created from ocean blue paper with the same circle pattern as Frog Prince. The words "Fishy Kisses" are cut and chalked onto the pocket of the card.
Goldy features hand-embossed scales and is chalked to add depth and goldfish-like coloring. Her fins are layered to create a 3D effect and like Frog Prince, she features a googly eye.
This card would also make a great party invitation, as Goldy can be taken out and played with. Goldy is approximately 3/16" thick and 4 1/2" wide, and is quite sturdy. The inside of the card is blank for your sentiments. Card measures 6 1/2" x 5" and includes envelope.

Animal Crackers: Frog Prince

I adore this card! It was originally created for a fundraiser for St. Jude's Children's Hospital in which card makers worldwide created and donate their handmade creations to the families of the young patients at St. Jude's. The cards were collected with the thought in mind that the families can give them to one another at the hospital or send them to other friends and families, since many of them may not have the time or resources to "just run out and pick up a card" due to their situations.
The inspiration for this card came to me on Mother's Day. I had just given my husband a peck and told him what a "prince" of a guy he was. The word prince kindled fond memories of fairy tales I read as a little girl and needless to say, the card was born.
Frog Prince is a pocket card on a green background with circle prints. The circles have always reminded me of bubbles...green, bubbles, frog swamp! Prince is double sided and embossed with a dot texture, creating a bumpy texture. He was then chalked to add depth and also to smooth out the bumpy texture to make it feel more natural. A bubble-gum pink tongue appears to be catching the handmade 3D dragonfly. No Prince is complete, of course, without a bejeweled gold crown (jeweling is featured on both sides) and googly eyes. The Frog Prince is removable from the fold, but the dragonfly is adhered to the card. The inside of the card is blank for your sentiments. This would be a great invitation for a kid party as the frog is quite sturdy and can be taken out and played with (approximately 3/16" thick and 4 1/2" wide). Card measures 6 1/2" x 5" and includes envelope.

Inspire

Victorian wallpaper flower motif in purple on lavender inspired the design element on this card. Using a similar Victorian flower pattern in rose-tinted gold and mounted on violet paper brings the design to the forefront. The word "Inspire" makes a bold statement at the bottom. Both the floral design and "Inspire" have been hand-glittered to add a little bling. The picture of this card does not do it justice as the glitter really sparkles when the light hits it! Color options may vary.Card measures 6 1/2" X 5" and includes envelope.

Tapestry

This card features a lavender metallic cardstock plate mounted on a black background to provide contrast. The front has been embossed with an Indian tapestry style theme. I so love this design that I am actively seeking the same design in silk to use as a decorative element in my dining room! As this card is black, I suggest using a bright colored or metallic pen for creating your sentiment. The card can also be created on a white or ivory card, but the contrast has better impact on a black background. A variety of color options are available. Card measures 6 1/2" x 5" and includes envelope.

Filigree Swirls

I love these swirls! They are so delicate but bold at the same time. The swirls are embossed on hand-distressed, chocolate-brown cardstock and delicately chalked to add depth to the pattern. The chocolate brown cardstock is mounted onto another piece of cardstock in the matching color of chalk used. Please click on the image of the swirl pattern to see the detailing. Wide variety of color options available. Cards measure 6 1/2" x 5" and include envelope.

Ladies' Dress (and history lesson!)

This card was inspired by Miss Anne Lowe and Mrs. Ruth Alexander. Strange names to you, but to me, they meant the world. Miss Anne and "Nan" were the two women who created the wedding gown for Miss Jacqueline Bouvier when she married a young senator named John F. Kennedy. As an African-American designer, it shocked the fashion world that a young social-elite would have the most important gown of her life (and as it later turns out, one of the most popular wedding gowns in history) created by a black woman. By the time I came to know Miss Anne and Nan, they lived in a modest house in Queens, NY. Nan was my babysitter and she was also caretaker to Miss Anne who had by then gone blind in both eyes. I have very fond memories of playing with my Godsister and Godbrother (grandchildren of Nan, hence the nickname) and their cousin on and around Miss Anne. We played on her bed, cuddled with her, talked to her, etc. and she knew each of us by voice and footsteps in the hall. You can find more information on Miss Anne Lowe at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ann_Lowe or http://societyweddingsonlinemagazine.blogspot.com/2008/02/its-february-and-black-history-month.html

This card reminds me of their place in history, although not widely known or appreciated for the accomplishment. It features a dress on an old-fashioned dress form, along with matching shoe, purse and hatbox. The purse is embellished with a heart "clasp." The squiggles on the pink background remind me of thread in a sewing machine or needle. Done in all white, the card would make an ideal wedding shower invitation or wedding-day card. Other color options are also available. This card measures 6 1/2" x 5" and includes envelope.

Thank You Cards

This Thank You card features a colonial blue and yellow leaf theme with a matching blue band and the word "Thanks" attached to the center. "Thanks" is embellished with clear sparkles and small, layered blue and yellow paper flowers on either side, affixed with small silver brads. This card was created for a friend whose house is decorated in colonial blue and yellow. Other thank you cards can be created with a similar idea but background paper may vary, depending on paper supply and availability. Card measures 6 1/2"x 5" and includes envelope.

Floral Fantasy

This card features a negative-embossed floral plate created on white cardstock and is hand-colored using a combination of bold and pastel colors. The white cardstock is mounted on a black background, providing a bold yet delicate contrast of colors. As the card is black, the best option for creating your own sentiment(s) on the inner portion of the card would be to use a bright or metallic colored pen (most stores with a pen or stationery section will carry these types of pens). Card measures 6 1/2" x 5" and includes envelope.

Friendship Cards

These Friendship cards feature layered flowers in gradual sizes and complementary colors with a clear gem in the middle and the word "friends" at the bottom. Other color palates available per your request. Darker colors can often be more suitable for a male recipient and brighter, bold colors are often more suitable for female recipients. Card measures 6 1/2" x 5" and includes envelope.

So Sweet

Confection-Inspired Card featuring an ice cream cone and a cupcake with pink-on-pink frosting and glitter-swirls on a swirl-embossed, hot fudge-colored background. Card measures 6 1/2"x 5" and includes the envelope.

The Wisdom Collection

These pocket-cards are made to impart words of wisdom to friends, family and loved-ones. The pocket-folds are embellished with various elements such as paper accents, charms, chalk or marker. The quotes are printed on vellum and have an accent element that makes it possible for them to be used as bookmarks or suitable for framing. Like most of my other cards, the inside is left blank for you to write a personal sentiment to the recipient. Wisdom sentiments may vary by theme, or you can request your own personal sentiment to be printed. Paper will also vary due to theme (masculine or feminine, florals, etc.) and availability. Cards are 6 1/2" x 5" and come with envelope.