New patterns posted!

Here's a free new paper embroidery pattern I've designed for Spring! Right click on the image and save it to your computer. This pattern fits a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 inch note card.

I've also designed 11 other patterns that are perfect for Graduation, All Occasion and Mother's Day! My daughter will be putting them up on my website, "A Stitcher's Dream" tonight or tomorrow! I will email those on my Paper Embroidery mailing list as soon as they are up! If you'd like to be added to this list, please email me!

For those that are looking for some new pretty cotton threads, here's a great site for Sassa Lynne Perle Cotton Variegated threads! I, of course, have to have them all! You'll find them on Maureen's Vintage Acquisitions, and you'll get a glimpse of what I used to do before Paper Embroidery. Maureen makes beautiful Crazy Quilts and if you click on "My Blog" on her website, you'll see some of her work.

had fun today...

Here's a touch of spring for you today! It's been chilly this week, and this pretty stamp from Sweet Stamps it just what I needed to remind me that spring is on it's way!

I used Marvy Black ink on white Bazzill for this unmounted stamp. I punched the corners from a punch/embosser from Ecstasy Crafts, then colored the image with glitter markers from Marvy. They have such a shimmer to them! Then I attached the piece to a nice shimmery paper I got from a cardstock stack from Michael's, and then mounted both pieces to a polished stone cardstock by Murdock Papers.

I added gold peel off borders, corner stickers and a sentiment to finish the card. Card size 4 3/4 x 4 1/2 inches.

This next card is simple yet elegant. Unfortunately, my scanner didn't pick up the silver well enough in the swirls on the background paper. This would be a great card for Graduation, I think!

The background paper is black with shiny silver swirls which I adhered to a white card. I stamped the tree image by Inkadinkado (one of my favorite stamp companies) using Marvy Black ink onto white Bazzill cardstock. I mounted the stamped image to a piece of black Bazzill cardstock, then added it to the card.

I wrapped pretty silver ribbon around the tree image (as shown above), added a silver bow, and silver peel off sentiment and it's done! Card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

New Cards finally...

Here's a pretty card I made for my good friend, Sue Iven, for her birthday! We had a lovely evening celebrating at the Olive Garden with great food, wine, and friendship. I used one of the new Stampin' Up Textured plates in the Cuttlebug for this card.

I love these new plates, and you get 6 designs for under $10! You can't beat it, and they are so diverse! You do need a silicone mat to emboss these plates in the Cuttlebug. You'll need your A plate, C plate, cardstock and the silicone mat. Here is how to make the sandwich: A Plate, Texture Plate, Cardstock, Silicone Mat and C Plate. It will be a bit tough to put it through the machine, and you can always try the B plate if it won't go through no matter what you do. If you do have to use your B plate, use cardboard as shims to make it work.

I used a pretty double-sided floral paper from a paper stack I got at Michael's by K & Company and Brenda Walton. One side is the green floral, and the other side is the pink floral. I punched the edge of my embossed white cardstock with one of the new EK Success punches (from Michael's). Next, I mounted a pink strip of paper on the inside of the card, where the punched edge would show.

I punched both ends of the green floral strip with the Fleur-de-lis border punch from EK Success and threaded a pretty pink and gold ribbon through it, then tied a bow. I glittered the embossed white cardstock, added a "Happy Birthday" gold peel-off greeting and it was ready for Sue. She loved it, too! Card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

This next card is a favorite of mine. I love the color combination and I adore the dandelion rubber stamp by Hero Arts. The mottled background paper is by Murdock papers, and comes in a wide variety of colors. I used the Martha Stewart Lace punch on the background paper and mounted two punched pieces to a white card. Next I tied a black gingham ribbon to the card then stamped "thanks so much" in the white space between the two background pieces. This stamp is from Hero Arts as well.

Lastly, I stamped the dandelion onto white cardstock, adhered it to black cardstock, then mounted it to my card with foam dots. A simple yet elegant card! Card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

Here's a sweet baby card that would work for either a girl or a boy. I used background papers from the "Nursery" stack from Die Cuts with a View that I purchased from JoAnn Fabrics. I cut one strip at 5 1/4 x 2 inches of the words paper, and the same from a green gingham print and adhered them to an olive green card.

I tied a pretty satin lavender ribbon around the card and added a sweet button for fun. I stamped the "baby shoes" from Stampendous on white cardstock and used colored pencils for a touch of color. I glued this piece to darker purple cardstock, then mounted it to the card with foam dots. Card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

and something new.... I've been playing with glass these past two months!! I've been learning lampworking and am making my own glass beads. I absolutely love this medium. It is so challenging and so much to learn! I've been fortunate to have already sold some of my beads and several bracelets, a necklace and earrings. It's so exciting and I'm having a lot of fun! Stay tuned for more information about my glassmaking!

I haven't posted in a while....

As you can see, I haven't posted in quite a while. I am still alive and kicking, but there are lots of changes going on in my life. I hope you'll be patient with me, as I work out these changes, and get back to creating cards and other fun projects for all of you.

I am currently working on some new Paper Embroidery Patterns, and will be posting a free pattern to Circle of Crafters soon.

Thanks so much for your continued encouragement and friendship.