Internet, cards and busy stuff

I want to start by saying that I have recently had internet issues.  We lost our DSL for 4 days.  Apparently 65 people in my area were on this DSL box and something happened to it.  Once it was working again, it only took two calls to get everything completely back in order.  The tech department at AT&T was helpful and friendly.  And their help as well as their attitude, was very much appreciated!

The first card I want to tell you about today is for my best friend Brenda's daughter-in-law.  She's expecting a baby girl in mid-July, but decided to have an early shower.  I wanted to be sure to make a quilled card to include with the gift.  The baby buggy seemed like it would be a bit of a challenge, so that's what I went for.  The card is pink card stock with a second card stock on top.  It has the word "baby" written in multiple colors which I thought made a nice background.  I used a MS punch to create the scalloped top.  I then used shades of pink to create the buggy.  I made a pink heart with a smaller white heart for the center of the buggy body, then used "s" curls and small circles to fill in the interior of the body.  For the top I used small tight circles, V scrolls and "S" curls to fill in.  The handle is an uneven "S" and the wheels are white open circles.  Overall I like the way it turned out.


My second card is a birthday card that I like the way it turned out.  This one is being listed for sale, but I thought I would show it here anyhow.  This card is on white linen card stock and has green swiss dot card stock with a yellow patterned paper on top of white linen.  The smaller message is a pop up with the square foam pieces.  Happy Birthday is stamped in black ink.  I like the way it pops off of the yellow when you use black.  Three daisies are quilled and I added the "S" scrolls to match the print pattern in the yellow paper.

This weekend is the Isle of Eight Flags Shrimp Festival.  Some of you may know of it, others probably don't.  Its a huge weekend long affair held on Amelia Island each first weekend of May.  Many artists and local clubs take the opportunity to show their wares and make some money.  It is a long running festival that used to be mainly for the local people to celebrate the beginning of the shrimping season.  But it has grown and is very popular and visited by people from all over the place now.  So it is going to be a busy weekend!

I hope all of you have a great week and weekend.

Mother's Day and Something Abstract

Well, as we all know, Mother's Day is coming in just a couple of weeks and I really needed to get a card made for the moms.  I had an idea of what I wanted it to look like, but alas, I couldn't find the stamps I wanted.  But I did find this one and I like it. It has an element of fun about it!
I started with my new white linen cardstock and cut an oval for the stamp to show through.  The text sheet behind is a very pale yellow.  I used the Design Runner for the wording.  That worked very well, but took a test run to get it right.  Then I added the quilled flowers and shapes.  Behold, a very personalized Mother's Day card.

 And, while I had the time, I made this abstract piece.  I'm trying to incorporate more elements into my cards.  This uses layering (white linen, peach and printed papers), quilling (royal blue, carmel, coral, red and white 1/16 inch) and embossing powder.

Both cards turned out really well and I'm glad that I took the time to play with some new ideas and elements.  I hope that you enjoy looking at them!

Birthday card and holding boxes

I didn't want anyone to think I had been lazy the last few days.  I have been creating.  I have played with the stamping a bit more and I've been showing off everything I have created.  I visited my old friend Marilyn yesterday.  She loved my work, which I greatly appreciate.  If I'm ever going to turn this into a business, I've got to understand what people want and need.  I bought some boxes with clear covers to hold the cards that are quilled so that they don't get messed up.  If too many cards sit on top of each other the very thin quilled paper may get pushed to one side by the weight of the others.

The card I have pictured here is going to be for a niece.  Just a single beautiful flower with a simple message.  I think she will like it!

It's Spring Break here and I've been busy with my grand-daughter.  Keeping her entertained is a full time occupation!  But it's fun.  I wish everyone reading this a pleasant week and weekend.

Shelly

My new punch works great!

I know a lot of card makers use punches and stamps.  And I'm probably excited over something many others have enjoyed doing for a good while now.  But I don't care!  I'm excited about how this card turned out!  I made it for a friend to give to one of her friends, but I wanted to share it here.  The stamp is Happy Birthday with a really fancy font for the H and B.  The punch is a MS lattice fence.   I chose to space it so that it appears to have posts as well.  Then I quilled and put tulips, a pink daisy and a sunflower in front of the fence.  The inside says "Bouquets of Birthday Wishes."  So now that I've had fun using a stamp and a punch I think I'll incorporate them more often.  They go well with my quilled flowers, don't you think?  
Have a wonderful Easter Sunday everyone!
Shelly

I'm a featured artist!

I'm so excited and honored to be the featured artist for the Giddy Greetings blog! Monica of Giddy Greetings has been a quiller for 30 years and has a fabulous web site that shares designs and lots of how to videos. Please take a minute to check her out at www.giddygreetings.com. Today I'm sharing my new congratulations card. It was designed to give to either a wedding couple or an anniversary couple. It has gold bells and royal blue, deep blue and white accents. The sentiment on the inside says "to love is one of the greatest joys in this life." I used 1/16 in. quilling paper this time and I really like the results.

Thanks for stopping by!

Shelly

Adorable ducks

Well, as most of you know, when you are looking for inspiration, it can be found in some of the most unexpected places. I recently saw some art prints that caught my eye and I decided to recreate them. This one, with the ducks on a pond, was in a bathroom. I found the "i adore you" print on my Xyron Design Runner and needed something to finish the thought. When I saw the print, I knew I had a match!

This was a fun project. Mainly teardrop shapes and the leaves and large butterfly wing were combed. The water and flower are shaped marquise. For the butterfly's head, I left a piece hanging after I wound the end. Then shaped the teardrop and cut the middle from the hanging end so that I could create antennae.

Let me know what you think of it.

I'm quilling now!

Yeah, ok, I admit it! It's been a long time since I last posted. Didn't know what I was going to do. Not sure which direction to move in or whether I should give up everything. But just in that last month I've discovered quilling! I'm thrilled with it in fact. :O)

So here I'm sharing some of my newest work. And I hope to continue sharing it as new cards become available.

Recently I've been made aware how important bereavement cards can be. We all grow up knowing that some day our parents will pass on. But we never quite grasp the concept that our spouse or child may precede us. When it happens it is a devastating blow to our lives. If it happened to me, I want to know that I had people out there willing to help me get over it. I think most people have their family to turn to, but sometimes we need peers that can get us past that point in our lives. People who love us, but understand when it's time to move on. So I'm going to work on a few bereavement cards that people can use when needed to let that person who has suffered a loss know that they are cared about. Loved. I think a handmade card helps make that point, as well as a handwritten note inside.

Let me know if you have any comments or ideas. You can see this card and others on my Flickr page.

Warm regards,

Shelly

Sharing

Ohhh, I've been really bad.  Sorry.  I truly didn't realize how long it has been since I made an entry.  I've been busy.  Busy looking at other webs and blogs, following up on Twitter followers, I've made some purses and totes, I am currently putting together gift tags for a local business that wants them on hand for patrons, not to mention a ton of family drama.  But I'm still here and still creating!  A couple of people who have hearted my Etsy shop lately caught my attention and I want to share their creations with you.  Today's guest artist is BerryliciousButtons!  She makes a lot of products from buttons, of course, but the magnetic clips are just too cool.  They are strong, magnetic and beautiful.  Great not only for yourself but as a gift to others.  Check her out on Etsy (berryliciousbuttons.etsy.com).

So please forgive me for going so long without an entry and then know that it is because I am still learning and growing!

Learning and Doing

Well, as usual I've been hard headed and remiss in keeping up with all that I should have.  I have been busy.  I have taken the photos that I was asked to take.  I have been to my grand-daughter's pre-k graduation (that was fun!), I have been working on my bag orders and I've been keeping up with the house (for the most part).  

Bags you ask???  Yep, I made myself a tote bag a few years ago and used it for a bit and laid it to the side.  The other day I found some material and had an idea for a purse.  So I modified the tote pattern and the purse turned out well.  My mom liked it so much she asked that I make her one, but orient it to the Jax Jaguars.  So I'm working on that.  Then through my best friend Brenda and a mutual friend, I have the possible opportunity to put some of my work into a local store.  This is am extremely excited about!  I had to create a portfolio for the store owner to look at which went through Brenda and our friend.  I put the portfolio in my original tote so that I could pass it to Brenda conveniently.  Brenda loved the tote and wants one of her own.  So that's the story of the bags!

The pictures were of Bean with the balloon barrettes in her hair, which I have taken and loaded on the Etsy sight.  I think it will help people realize the size of the barrette.  

So now you know what I've been up to.  Don't forget to check out my Etsy from time to time to see what I've created!  :o)

Marketing and Inspiration

Today I'm inspired to market myself!  I love reading the thoughts and information that Shannon Riffe of Rifferaff puts on her blog and shares with fellow Etsians.  She's successful.  She's intelligent.  And I want others to be able to look at my shop and say the same about me, knowing that they can come to me for help in making their shops more successful!  

Today is all about marketing!

Graduation time

Well it's been several days since I last let you know what was going on, but trust me, I was busy!  My friend Kathy needed graduation announcements made - 50 of them.  I'm not set up like a print shop, so it was a piecemill operation, but I did it!  And they looked pretty good.  Pictures are posted below.  I also have made congratulations cards for several graduates.  They are fun as I remember how important and emotional graduation was for me (all those many years ago!).  I also tried a new technique to make a wedding congrats card.  I embossed the front and then took chalks to color in here and there to give it an "old" feel.  I really liked the results and will probably do a few more cards like that.  

We're in our third day of a good old nor'easter and I've been wet more times than I care to mention, but it has forced me to stay inside and get some work done.  And moreover, it has caused everything outside to become so beautifully green!  So, I'm off to get a few more things done.  Everyone be safe out there and have a great Memorial Day weekend.

Starting to pick up business

Well, it was a great Mother's Day weekend.  Time with family was nice.  Food was great!  I'm just about to finish up the birth announcements and today I picked up a friend's grandson's graduation invites.  I'm really getting excited about the amount of work that is coming in lately.

Also, I have a purse order.  This is something I'm not putting on Etsy, just word of mouth stuff, but I'm excited to have the order none-the-less!

So I have a busy week ahead, but I'll try to keep a blurb here and there on Twitter!

I'm So Excited!

When I dropped off the Bean to school this morning, I was greeted with words of praise for my visit the day before.  I was pleased not only to hear that some of the mothers were checking out my web site and products, but Ms. Lisa had used the Cricut I left for her to play with to make a Thank You card for me that all of the children signed!  It was fantastic!  I was so pleased with it and with the experience.  Now I'm even happier that I did the project than I was yesterday!

I have another new follower on Twitter too.  This is shaping up to be a great day!

Have a great weekend and pleasant Mother's Day everyone!

Pre-K Craft Day

Well the Mother's Day card craft event at my grand-daughters pre-k was a big success!  It was so much fun!  The kids took the precut letters and spelled out Happy Mother's Day and glued them to the card.  Then added paper die cut decorations and signed the inside.  Every child did the card just a little differently and they all turned out very nice.  I think they will be proud to give it to their moms.  I've been invited back to do another craft on another day, so I'll have to think of something fun for the next round.

Staying busy!

I hope everyone reading this is doing fine.  The weather here in northeast Florida has warmed nicely and our average temps this week are in the 85 range.  Sunny too, so I have had to water the plants in the pots daily.  I have tomatoes on the vine and bellpeppers and the squash plants are growing fast.  

I've also been busy crafting.  I just completed a purse/tote bag of my own handiwork design that is large enough, has enough pockets, is summery and the straps are the right length.  I love it!  Also, I've been crafting barrettes and listed them on Etsy.  I've finished up a few new cards and I've etched a couple of glasses that I'm giving my daughter and her hubby as a gift.  

This Thursday I am working with the PreK kids to make a Mother's Day card.  I will have the letters cut out and let them decorate the card with other die cut designs I am bringing.  It will allow them to be creative and still have it be one of my cards.  I think it will be a ton of fun!

Stay tuned as my creative juices come up with more stuff for the Etsy store!  Have a great week!

I'm back!

Well, it's Friday.  I haven't written all week, mostly because I was quite ill.  Spent Tuesday with Mom, did a little shopping and looking around.   And that's about it.  I was really sick.

But today, I got up, was feeling better so I am working on a new idea!  I am creating a silk screen project that is an angel to be put on cards or tee shirts, that appeared to me from a few opaque green glass shards that my granddaughter had put on the bar.  As I passed by one day I saw the angel and tried to repeat it in drawing form, but couldn't get it right.  This morning, I got it right and put it in silk screen as well.  So I hope to be able to create some card sets from this.  Keep checking Etsy to see how it goes!

Birthdays

It's a beautiful Saturday morning and I'm on the way to the Post Office to mail birthday cards.  My niece is a young 20 something and my baby brother is officially a member of the older generation!  I just love it!  Steve is now 40!

Sarah will be receiving an assortment of cards I've made for her to use.  Thank you cards, gift tags, a note card and a book mark.  

Steve will be receiving a card, made to be not all flowery and feminine.  It simply conveys the message that he is welcome into the old people's category.  I can make fun as I am the oldest sibling and 10 years his senior!

So in the pictures section, please check out the cards for Sarah and Steve.  And remember, getting old is a privilege.  You don't get here being a fool!

Bereavement

This is a sad start for my readers, but not really if you think about it.  My best friend lost her mother-in-law Monday night.  Flossie was 90, she had 14 children and lots of grandchildren and even  two great-grandchildren.  She lived a full life until the last 7 or 8 years when her age and a bad burn in a fire took most of her health.  Now she's with our Lord and suffers no more - something to be happy about.  

I tell you this because it brings me to the card I made for my friend and her husband.  It was a flat card.  It simply had two red roses at the bottom and the words "With Sincere Sympathy" above the roses.  On the back I was able to add my sentiment.  They know I cared enough for them to make the card.  It helped me realize that I need to make up a few sympathy cards for those unexpected moments.  I pray that my friend and all of her family continue to see death as a part of life and that their sadness is overcome by the joy of the grandchild they are about to receive!

Expanding my ideas

I've been searching around a bit to find other crafters in my area.  And I have found a group call the North Florida Craft Revolution.  Some are even from Jacksonville, which is quite close to me.  I'm following their blog for a while in hopes of feeling comfortable enough to join their group.  I've also spoken with my granddaughter's preK teacher and for Mother's Day I am going to provide the kids with the means to make a card for their mom.  It will get my name out locally and I think it will be a ton of fun to see what these kids come up with when presented all of these paper cut outs!  I'll take pictures and post them when it is done.

Have a great weekend and don't forget to check the mirthfulmary.etsy.com page at least once a week - Buy Handmade!

Welcome!

Day 1 - The very beginning of blogging for MirthfulMary Creations.  I'm very excited!  I've just started sharing my love of creating with people outside of my immediate family and friends.  I created a shop on the Etsy web, which I just love by the way, and have had a couple of sales.  I find that I've been spending every waking moment thinking of something new to create or trying to put something I can see into a card.  Even driving around town, with all of the trees and flowers blooming, I want to put that beauty into a card!  My family is extremely supportive (and my best friend Brenda too!) and for the time being I am going from their advice.  Hopefully, as new people find me, I can get some new prospective on my shop and learn to sell what I have created.  So if you are new to MirthfulMary Creations, please let me know you are there and what you think of my work.