Happy Valentine's Day!

Lately I've been creating some mixed media Valentine's Day cards to send off to Cards For Kindness. Here are a few of my latest designs... I think they came out pretty cute!

All my cards are A2 size (4.25"x5.50") because that's what Cards For Kindness prefers. I usually start out with a white cardstock base and add another cardstock layer (3.75"x5.0") on top of that one using double-sided tape to prevent my cards from warping. This gives me a nice white border around my design. From there, anything goes! 

I like to use my own original illustrations on my cards. I draw the designs on heavy white cardstock and ink them with Micron pens. Then I paint them with acrylic paints and add details to my illustrations with colored pencils (I like Prismacolor pencils the best!). Next I "fussy cut" each design and adhere them to the card base using a UHU glue stick. Sometimes I add Modge Podge Sparkle to my lettering or other small parts of the design, which gives the card a nice glittery finish. I've even been experimenting with sewing on my cards with my sewing machine!

 

Cards For Kindness prefers that all the cards they receive are left blank on the inside... but sometimes I just can't help myself, so I like to add a cute border and a tiny handpainted embellishment on the inside of the card, just for fun! I also add a tiny colorful punched paper heart of the back of the card. So far I haven't been signing my cards... but I think it's OK to initial them on the back if you'd like.

My hope is that my silly designs will bring a smile to someone's day! Cards For Kindness sends cards to all kinds of different organizations... from hospitals to Ronald McDonald House charities to nursing homes, and everything in between! If you'd like to see a list of Cards For Kindness' partner organizations, you can find it HERE.

Wishing you a very Happy Valentine's Day wherever you are! 

XOXO

 

Snowbound in North Carolina

 

I live in the Piedmont of North Carolina where the winters are usually very mild. Rarely do we get any measurable snow... and when it does snow, it doesn't hang around very long. To be honest, I'm really OK with that! I prefer to enjoy our occasional brief snowfalls from inside my warm house while sipping a cup of hot tea!

But this past week we had a winter storm that brought two inches of sleet and ice, along with several days of  arctic air which made it impossible for the ice to melt. To make it even more challenging, a second snowstorm added between 6 and 8 inches of fresh snow on top of the ice. Here in the South, we're just not equipped to handle the winter weather... so in the end, most of North Carolina came to an abrupt standstill.

 So, what did I do during our unexpected snow days?...

• I listened to music that was brand new to me and so uplifting! (Praise by Genevieve Linkowski)
• I tried a new casserole recipe (Kidney-Friendly Dump Meal - it was a winner!)
• I made silly Valentines for Cards For Kindness
• I read the fourth book in a mystery series (Mailbox Mysteries by Melanie Lageschulte - Who done it?!)
• I enjoyed watching the birds at our bird feeders (mostly blue birds, gold finches, snowbirds, cardinals and a huge flock of robins)
• I spent time drawing just for the fun of it!
• And I gave thanks to God for my loving husband who worked so hard shoveling snow, for power in the snowstorm, for plenty of food to eat, and for the warm, safe home we share together.