UPDATE

I posted yesterday about a card inspired by my Mom's kindness and based on this week's sketch challenge over at Mojo Monday's.  In looking at the photos, it occurred to me that something was missing...too much of the same color?...not enough texture?...too big of an empty space in the middle?  I wasn't sure exactly what it was, but it just didn't seem finished to me.  It happens...more often than not, and so I made some changes.

Before:

After:  

 I added some glitter to the 'white' in the spiral background as well as a sprig of metal leaves.

I'm happy with it now.  What do you think?  Was I on the mark or just being picky?  

Have a wonderful day, my friends!

M.

Kindness

You'll never believe it, but I'm telling you the truth....the proof is in the card (and this early post)!









I had a couple hours to myself the other day because my lovely mother took the girls school shopping. Guess what I did?

I hopped on over to Mojo Monday's and played a little with their weekly sketch challenge #357.  

My mother's kindness was inspiration for the design.  It's not nearly enough thank you though. Purchasing school clothes for three GIRLS (two are teens!) isn't an easy feat nor is it cheap.  My Mom helping lifts a lot of the financial strain on my little family this time of year.  

The paper is mostly Prima as is the resin bird and pearls.  Some crinkle seam binding, a vintage button and Webster's Pages and K&Company journaling cards finish it off.  You can purchase this card in my Etsy shop:  Reverie Creations.

Kindness goes a long way,

M.

Heart & Soul

It's been a busy week...

I created a couple of cards (listed for sale in my Etsy shop) based on the sketch over at Mojo Monday's.  I'm really loving this size...tall & skinny.  It's a lot smaller than the size I typically use for the cards designed for Reverie Creations, but I think it offers my customers a variety.  Same quality but smaller in scale; therefore, less cost.

I used quite a bit of my vintage stash for both cards.  This first one has vintage lace, and the flower is fashioned out of stained vintage atlas pages.  The center of the flower is a painted mini bell...left over from a holiday project.  

This is the first time I've used Prima's chalkboard cards.  I really love the feel they add to a project.  BTW the leaves of the flower were created using a paperclip.

I have to admit to loving this next card a lot.

The washi tape, crinkle seam binding and coloring are repeated, but I found this distressed metal piece in my stash and HAD to use it.  It's proportions worked perfectly on this tall & skinny size (3.5" x 5.5").

The 'heart & soul' metal sentiment tag is by Making Memories.

I typically leave the inside blank for personal messages, but because I used DCWV's Silky Smooth card stock in black I had to add a space for writing.  Both these cards fit into a standard envelope.

I was also asked to design and create a custom card by my very first customer on Fiverr.com (a site where you can enlist just about any thing - product or service - for $5.00).  I joined in hopes that it might generate some additional income during the slow summer months.

Her son is turning 4 and LOVES Superman.

Addressed and signed by Superman with a 'badge' for the birthday boy.

I hope it's a hit with Caleb.  I often wish I could see the reactions my creations give others since I put so much of myself into each one...my heart & soul.

Find some time for yourself today,

M.

Surrounded By Inspiration

I don't know about y'all, but I have a hard time keeping myself focused on the task at hand during the summer months.  And by 'task at hand' I mean work.  The season is so short lived here in the North East that we do all we can to take advantage of the warmer weather, and for me that means 'playing' all day with my girls and using the late evenings for business and chores.  It works for the most part but with only 24 hours in a day something has to give...sleep or 'me time'.

It was sleep this week.  ;)

I stopped by Mojo Monday's for their weekly sketch challenge and ended up on a 'me time' card making roll.  I created three in one night.

The design of the first card came immediately and was inspired by the loooong awaited arrival of TWO beautiful babies to my cousin.  These types of joyous cards are sometimes more difficult than the every day types.

I find that I second guess my creativity....are the colors right or the image proper... and no matter how many times I do and redo, they never feel quite 'right' enough.

I've said it a bazillion times and I'm going to pathetically say it again...I love the ocean!  It provides me with so much inspiration, but truth be told, it's too cold to swim in and I get sea sick on boats.

The image was one that I found while cleaning out my stash.  I'm not sure why I originally sealed it leaving brush marks, but I thought it worked nicely with the design of this card...almost like a painting.

The sentiment is simple yet says so much and can be used for almost any occasion.  Bonus:  It's a masculine design!

My last card was inspired by the same simple sentiment:  happy.  I wanted to create something that emanated that feeling and could also be used for any occasion.

I absolutely love this floral paper by Webster's...the colors are perfect and it wasn't hard to figure out that I wanted to use it for this card.  

Nothing but feminine here...with the vintage lace trim and glitter everywhere.  The border punch is Fiskars and honestly I forgot I had the darn thing until I was cleaning out some of my drawers.

All these cards will be listed in my Etsy shop soon, but for now I'm going to look for more inspiration while taking the girls on a hike this afternoon.  It's easy to find here in the beautiful state of Maine...we're surrounded by it.

Take some time for yourself today!

Enjoy...

M.