Summer Birthdays

I was always jealous of summer birthdays as a kid. I mean, they get to have outdoor parties - the pool! - and the weather isn't cold and during school they get a special day even though it ISN'T their birthday. Much nicer than fall birthdays. Half the time it's snowing on my Nov. 7 birthday. Yuck!!

Anyway, end-of-June sent 2 birthdays my way: Mother-in-Law and friend Andrea. Here are the cards I made for them.

Mother-in-Law
Stamp Set: Upsy Daisy
Cardstock: Kraft, Rose Red, Pink Pirouette, Whisper White
DSP: Raspberry Tart
Stamp Pads (Classic): Rose Red, Pink Pirouette
Accessories/Tools: Scallop Oval Punch, Wide Oval Punch, Whisper White Organza Ribbon

I love Upsy Daisy and I tried some "rock and roll" technique on it this time. I'm not 100% crazy about how it turned out... I think generally it looks better when the colors are closer together in shade. Maybe if I did Regal Rose and Pink Pirouette, then it'd look more blended...? Anyway, I love how the sentiment in Upsy Daisy fits right in there above the flowers. :)

Friend Andrea
Stamp Set: The More The Merrier, On Your Birthay
Cardstock: Kraft, Rich Razzelberry, Crushed Curry, Whisper White
DSP: None! Can you believe it?
Stamp Pads (Classic): None, but I did use a Stazon and the new In-Color markers
Accessories/Tools: In-Color markers, Large Oval Punch, Dimensionals

Finally! I got to use my Sneak Peek items. I ordered them a while ago, and rush-shipped them for some reason, but only just got to use them now. I am still considering the new In-Colors. I like them, don't love them. IMO, nothing will be as good as Baja Breeze, Kiwi Kiss, Riding Hood Red, and Pink Pirouette! I'm sure I'll use those colors even in their retirement. Anyway, Andrea loves cupcakes, so I thought it only fitting to use this stamp for her birthday card. And who doesn't love the fact that there are now In-Color markers? Sure made coloring in these babies easier!

I'm off to Kansas this weekend... hope I don't melt!

For a friend

I had lunch with one of my oldest and dearest friends yesterday. He told me his father is gravely ill with cancer & it has spread to many places throughout his body. I was so shocked to hear it!! I never know what to say or to do in these situations, so I made a card. The simple sentiment "you're on my mind" fits perfectly with how I feel. I hope the card at least lets my friend know I'm here for him if he needs me.

Stamp Set: Upsy Daisy
Cardstock: Real Red, More Mustard, Very Vanilla
Stamp Pads (Classic): Always Artichoke, More Mustard (for sponging)
Accessories/Tools: Vintage brads

Thanks for looking. And please add all those who suffer from cancer & its effects to your prayers.

Thank Yous for Christmas Presents

I always send thank you cards for the Christmas presents I receive. It's thoughtful, it's polite, and frankly I think it's the reason why I'm nearly 30 and still get presents from my aunts and uncles & grandparents! Someday I hope to pass this trait on to my kids. Getting a thank you card is such a nice treat these days.

So, this year I made 4 different designs. Well, I have made 4 so far, but one I am going to change a bit to make it not so girly. You'll see what I mean.

#1 Silhouette Thank You
This design is straight off the cover of the Jan. 2009 Stampin' Success! Oh well, who cares if I cased it, it is cute! I just wish I had my Sweet Stems set, but since it is back-ordered (like most of everything I ordered lately!), I had to make due with Pocket Silhouettes.

Stamp Set: Pocket Silhouettes
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Kiwi Kiss, Pink Passion, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Pink Passion, Pink Pirouette
DSP: Bella Rose
Accessories/Tools: 1/4" white ribbon, dimensionals

#2 Upsy Daisy Thank You
This card is made following this week's Mojo Monday layout. I love, love, love this layout and will probably make many more cards with this design. I think it's easy, but interesting to the eye. anyway, as you are beginning to see, there is a pink theme going on ...

Stamp Sets: Upsy Daisy and... um... I can't remember this hostess set from a few years ago!
Cardstock: Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip
DSP: Candy Lane
Accessories/Tools: Wide Oval punch, 1/4" Chocolate Chip ribbon, dimensionals

#3 Autumn Vine Thank you
This design I took from the November Stampin' Success. I was not all that creative with the ideas this time around. It's rare for me to have such a small image and lots of blank background. I love how it looks. I shall remember that when designing cards! White space (even if it is Sage Shadow) is a good thing.

Stamp Sets: Pocket Silhouettes, Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: Sage Shadow, Really Rust, More Mustard, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Sage Shadow, Really Rust
DSP:Autumn Vine
Accessories/Tools: Scallop circle punch, silver brads, dimensionals

#4 Love You Much Thank you
This is the card, that while I love it and think it's super cute, I am going to redesign. It is cute, it is pretty, but it is really girly. I already have 2 pink thank yous, I need another masculine-ish one to send to Dad, brother, etc. So, I think I will keep the layout (which may have come from an issue of SS), but use Pun Fun instead and use DSP that is brighter, and not pink (like Washington Apple). Anyway... those are my plans. Too bad. I like this card a lot!

Stamp Sets: Love You Much, Flight of the Butterfly
Cardstock: SPink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White
Stamp Pads (Classic): Riding Hood Red, Pink Pirouette, Chocolate Chip
DSP: Candy Lane
Accessories/Tools: Blender Pens, 1/4" Chocolate Chip ribbon

So, there it is! I hope my family and friends appreciate these thank yous as much I as appreciate their gifts! :)

OH! I notice I'm close to 1,000 hits. This is so awesome!! Thanks to people who check out my blog. I really appreciate it. :)

My 2nd post of the day = cute cards made while DH is away!

Oh my gosh, I totally didn't mean for my blog title to rhyme. Sometimes I'm such a dork.

Anyway, as promised, I'm posting again with some of the cute cards I yesterday while watching my favorite movie, "Inventing the Abbotts" (a movie I can only watch while DH is gone because he thinks is "so boring." I don't think he understand the allure of Joaquin Phoenix!)

This first card is one I made for a swap I'm hosting (that is mailing out this week... nothing like the hostess waiting till the last minute!) The design is a CASE from a birthday card I got from my upline, but I love this layout (which you will see in future posts, I'm sure.... I made quite a few similar to this yesterday. Does anyone else fall in love with a layout and then beat it to death??)

I used:
Upsy Daisy & Best Yet stamp sets
Riding Hood Red & Not Quite Navy Classic Stampin' Pads
Washington Apple DSP
Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White, & Not Quite Navy cardstock
and some white ribbon I had from Michael's (shhhh, don't tell!)

I love it. I hope the gals in my swap like it.






My other card is for my good friend Betsy who had a little girl last Monday. I was so busy with my classes this weekend that I didn't have time until yesterday to make her a card. I love this card because it suits Betsy to a tee! But I also love it because it's not traditional "baby" images or colors. In a workshop or class, this would be a good set (Always) to demo its versatility! --- side note: I made Christmas cards with this set, too! Anyway, The it's a top-open card, another trend I'm stuck on right now, maybe because it's so easy to cut the cardstock in 1/2 that way... :) The only thing I wish I had done differently in this card is stamp the sentiment on a sheet of cardstock & glue it to the DSP. It gets kinda lost (and is kinda crooked, like all my sentiments... I should change the name of my blog to "crooked stamper.")

I used:
Always& Best Yet stamp sets
Pink Pirouette, Regal Rose, & Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin' Pads
Sweet Always DSP
Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, & Chocolate Chip cardstock
and, again,some white ribbon I had from Michael's

I mailed it off today, so the picture is all I have left. Sometimes I have that empty nest feeling with my cards! I hope Betsy invites me over to see the baby (Brynn) soon. Of course, that will just feed my baby fever that is burning out of control right now! If only DH was ready for kids like I am. Sigh.......

I made some really cute cards that I'm going to demo & make-and-take at Molly's workshop on Friday. But the light in my house is bad for nighttime photos, so I'll have to post them up tomorrow morning. I'll just give a tease that my favorite layout makes an appearance!