Wedded Bliss

I had big plans of spending time poolside today, but was run inside by the rain and thunderstorms. So, I decided to work on some crafty things.  I haven't done that in a while, so it's been nice to be creative.  Pool time was almost four hours ago and the sun is out and shining brightly now... wouldn't you know it?

This next Thursday, July 1st, will be my parents' 44th wedding anniversary.  We should all be so fortunate! I was able to spend some time with them last night.  My hometown, which is where they still live, had their Independence Day celebration last night.  I picked Mom and Dad up early and the three of us went out to dinner and then met up with one of my brothers and his family at the fairgrounds for the festivities.  I enjoyed the time spent with everyone, but my time alone with Mom and Dad is always extra special.  They're just SO cute together.  Ok... I'm not going to get mushy, although I could VERY easily.  I made a card for them today.  I don't know what it is about the "Vintage Vogue" stamp set that makes me want to use purples and pearls.  I think I've done that EVERY time I've used this stamp set, though.  I've loved the results so why change now, huh?

This is what was born from "Vintage Vogue" this time.  I used Elegant Eggplant cardstock for my base.  The whisper white panel was embossed using a Cuttlebug embossing folder in my Sizzix BigShot.  The sentiments came from the "Congrats" stamp set (Sale-A-Bration 2009) and were stamped in Elegant Eggplant classic ink.  Each flower was stamped in Elegant Eggplant and Lavender Lace and then cut out by hand.  I added a rhinestone brad to the center of the largest flower and half-pearls to each of the smaller flowers. The ribbon is an organza ribbon that was purchased at Hobby Lobby.  The card turned out to be beautiful, so I hope they like it.

I have a couple of other projects I hope to get to work on this weekend.  I'm working on an apron, chef's hat, and oven mitt for my 2 1/2 year old niece, Emily.  I've got it started, but haven't made much progress on it.  I think it will go very quickly once I sit down to work on it.  I also need to get a baby quilt made for a friend of mine who's due in July.  Right now, though, I think I'm due for a short nap.  Think I'll rent a couple of movies for the evening and get some takeout.  Sounds like a relaxing evening...

Toodles,

A Father's Day Test Run

I've had this stamp set (King of the Grill) for a while and haven't had a chance to use it yet, so spent a little time in the "woman cave" today trying to come up with some ideas for Father's Day cards.  I LOVE the way this turned out, even though it took quite a while.  I used the East Coast Prep Designer Series Paper with coordinating cardstock.  The image was stamped in Jet Black StazOn and then I used watercolor crayons, watercolor pencils, and metallic pencils to color it.  I used a glue pen with Dazzling Diamonds on the smoke from the wheels (I COULDN'T leave the glitter out!!) and Crystal Effects on the apron and hat to give them some dimension.  A jumbo eyelet was set in the upper left-hand corner and I knotted (that sounds better than "tied a bow" for a manly card) a piece of Real Red Striped Grosgrain ribbon through it.  Super cute card, if you ask me!!  (To view larger images, click on the photos below.)

Toodles,

Vintage Elegance

I have to admit that I got this card design from a fellow stamper.  As soon as I saw it, I fell in love with it and had to re-create it, so here it is.  It would be perfect for someone who's name begins with an "M", don't you think?  I'm still trying to come up with the perfect card for a friend who has requested a card.  This is part of the problem with being a perfectionist... any normal person would make one card and it would be just right.  Me??  NNNNOOOO... I have to make card after card after card after card in an effort to get it JUST RIGHT when the recipient would probably be happy with the first thing I made.  I know... I need to get some help for this... or maybe I just need to accept that that's who I am! :)  This card uses the "Vintage Vogue" stamp set and I used Mellow Moss, Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, and Whisper White cardstock and ink.  The butterflies were cut from vellum using the "Beautiful Wings" Embosslit die and I added half pearls for their bodies.  The monogram is from the "Lovely Letters Alphabet" stamp set and was added to the card using Hodgepodge Hardware in Styled Silver.  The flowers were stamped and then cut out by hand. The center of each flower was made by knotting ribbon, punching a hole in the flower center, and running the tails of the ribbon through to the back.  The edges of all layers were sponged and distressed, with the exception of the base layer.  I LOVE, LOVE this card!!!  The dimension is just amazing and the pics really don't do it justice.  To view larger images, just click on the pics. 

Toodles,

Blingalicious!!

It's been quite a while since I've used any glitter and I was LONG overdue!!  Some might say I overdid it a little on this card... I just call it "blingalicious"!!  I've had a request for a birthday/graduation card and it needs to have "girly flair".  This one definitely qualifies for "girly flair", but there's not one thing about it that even hints at graduation.  I'm sure this is just one of several that I'll complete in an effort to come up with the perfect card.  I REALLY like this one, though, so I may have a hard time creating something that I like better.  If any of my fellow stampers have any ideas for a birthday/graduation card, please feel free to leave your comments.  This card uses the "Razzle Dazzle" stamp set.  The card base is Whisper White and the ink and ribbon are Melon Mambo.  The sentiment is from the "Well Scripted" stamp set and the glitter is "Dazzling Diamonds".  To view larger images, just click on the photos.

 Toodles,

Graduation Gift

My cousin, Emily, graduated from Central Methodist University yesterday.  I made the trip there with my Aunt Annabelle, Aunt Fran, and my cousin, Treena.  We had an AWESOME day together I'm SO glad we were able to be there to help celebrate with Miss Emily.  She graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Magna Cum Laude.  I'm SO proud of her!!

This is the card and matching envelope that I made for her.  I LOVE the new "Go, Graduate" stamp set.  I used Handsome Hunter and Certainly Celery cardstock with coordinating Designer Series Paper in Certainly Celery.  That was about as close as I could get to the school colors based on what I saw on their website.

I also made this super cute gift set for her.  It was made using the Razzleberry Designer Series Paper and coordinating cardstocks and inks.  I was really pleased at how it all came together.  The gift box was designed after I realized that I didn't have any gift bags, but I'm happy with the way it turned out.  The ribbon at the top of the box/bag is actually attached to the clipboard.  I made the box the same length as the clipboard so the ribbon would stick out just above the top.  To view larger images, click on the photos.

Toodles,

Mother's Day is Quickly Approaching!

Mother's Day is quickly approaching, peeps!  Have you got your card(s)?  I've been playing in my craft room this afternoon and came up with several different designs.  I'm crunched for time right now, so won't go into details on each card.  If you have questions, please post a comment and I'll get back with you as quickly as possible.

Oh... and a new birthday card, too. This went together VERY quickly, but still turned out to be a very elegant card!!

Hope you've enjoyed your weekend as much as I have.  Have a great week!!

Toodles,

Craft Spasms

I've been having some SEVERE muscle spasms in my lower back.  It started last Saturday (not THIS last Saturday, but the one before) and didn't get REALLY bad until this last Friday evening.  I went to the doctor today.  He adjusted my back and prescribed some steroids to help reduce inflammation and some heavy-duty pain killers.  There's something about pain killers that makes me wanna get all crafty up in here, so that's what I did when I got off work today.  Before I get to all this craftiness, though, I have a picture I want to share.  When I go to my craft room, all three boys go with me (the dog, Ernie, and the cats, Smith & Wesson).  Ernie always takes a nap while the cats bird-watch from the window.  This one will probably wind up in a scrapbook and will be titled "Brothers"...

I just LOVE those boys!!

Well, this card is going to look familiar because it's nearly identical to one I made over the weekend.  I changed the sentiment, though, because I needed a card to go with a gift that I've made for a friend.  Besides stamping, I also enjoy sewing and crocheting.  Most of my crochet is thread crochet and I mostly make doilies.  I won't go into details about this card and bookmark since the information for products used is in a previous post.  I thought the bookmark turned out BEE-YOU-TEE-FUL and I made two matching doilies to send, as well.  I hope she likes everything!!

The doc said I probably wouldn't get much relief from these muscle spasms until about Thursday, so I'm not looking forward to the next couple of days very much.  I'm hoping and praying for some relief before then and am doing everything I can to make it happen.  Until then, maybe these pain killers will help me create some more "neato-mosquito" stuff!!

Toodles,

Lovin' The New Bird Punch!!

I have fallen in love with the new Extra Large Two-Step Bird Punch from Stampin' Up!  It makes elegant cards come together in a flash and the new style of punches are SO much easier to store and to find when they're stored.  The inspiration for this card came from the most current issue of Card Maker magazine.  I started with a card base of Soft Suede.  I used one of the Cuttlebug border embossing folders to emboss the scallops along the bottom edge.  The next thing I did was layer some of the Raspberry Tart DSP on Rose Red, Whisper White, and Bashful Blue Cardstock.  The sentiment was stamped in Soft Sueded classic ink and comes from the "Messages For Mom" stamp set.   Before punching the bird from Bashful Blue CS, I stamped one of the images from the "Vintage Vogue" stamp set in Bashful Blue classic ink.  I punched the bird and the wing (I didn't LITERALLY punch the bird) and then inked the edges of the wing to give it a little more definition. I used my Basic Black marker to give the bird an eye.  The branches were punched, using the same punch,  from Old Olive CS.  The flower image was stamped in Rose Red classic ink on Whisper White CS, from the "Vintage Vogue" stamp set and then cut out by hand.  A white half pearl from the "Pretties Kit" was added to the center of the flower.  The bird's wing and the flower were added to the card with Stampin' Dimensionals to give the card some depth.  I thought it turned out VERY elegant!

Toodles,
Jen

Ewes Are Sweet!!

If I'd known I could throw this card together so quickly, I'd have just added it to my last post.  This turned out just as adorable as the bunny card.  Which one do you like best?  I think I'm leanin' toward the bunny, but can't really decide.  SUPER fun and easy to make.  If you'd like to learn how to make cards like this, you should come by for a visit to my stamp room (AKA "The Woman Cave").  We'd have SO much fun!!

Toodles (again),
Jen

Hoppy Easter!!

Check out this little fella!  This card was made almost entirely using the punches from Stampin' Up!  The only stamped image is the sentiment and it came from the stamp set called "A Good Egg".  I used Whisper White, Lovely Lilac, Close To Cocoa, Pretty In Pink, Certainly Celery, Basic Black, and Tempting Turquoise cardstock.  Highlights were added to the eyes using the Signo White Gel Pen.  Whiskers and toes were added using the skinny end of a Basic Black marker.  Punches used include the scalloped border, 1/4" circle, 1/2" circle, 3/4" circle1 1/4" circle, 1 3/4" circle, Scalloped Oval, Small Oval, and Large Oval.  This card was super easy and turned out super-duper, neato-mosquito, cutie-patootie!!  Dontcha think??

Toodles,
Jen

Wasn't Sure I'd Be Back!!

It's been SO long since I posted that I was starting to wonder, myself, if I'd ever be back. For months, I wasn't quite myself and couldn't seem to muster the "mojo" or whatever it was that normally drives me to stamp. I have recently been re-organizing my stamp room, though, and I think that might be just what I needed to get my creative juices flowing again. I made eight cards today... two of each of the following.



This card started with a Chocolate Chip card base.  I stamped the background image in Chocolate Chip Classic Ink from the Baroque Motifs set.  "Celebrate" was stamped in Baja Breeze and "Your Day" was stamped in Chocolate Chip on Whisper White cardstock.  The dots were punched from So Saffron CS using the 1/4" Circle Punch.  I added that piece along with a strip of Real Red CS to my card base and added a piece of ribbon.  I didn't have any So Saffron ribbon, so this is "traitor" ribbon that I purchased at Hobby Lobby.

This card uses a Real Red card base with layers of Basic Black, Whisper White, and More Mustard.  The monkeys were stamped from the "Fox & Friends" stamp set in Tempting Turquoise, Real Red, and Wild Wasabi.  The sentiment was stamped in Basic Black ink and is from the "Happy Everything" stamp set.  The card was finished off with a piece of Real Red striped grosgrain ribbon.

This card started with a Pink Pirouette base and then I added a layer of Very Vanilla after punching the left edge and piercing the right-hand corners.  I added a strip of Olive Press DSP to the Very Vanilla layer.  The image was created using the new SU punch in Old Olive, Baja Breeze, and Pink Pirouette CS.  The sentiment was stamped in Old Olive.

This card started with a base of Old Olive.  The image was stamped in Old Olive ink from the "Thoughts & Prayers" stamp set.  The sentiment was stamped from the same set in Old Olive on Kraft CS.  I punched a flower using the "Flowers Three" punch in Baja Breeze CS and added it with a half pearl from the "Pretties Kit" and a piece of Old Olive grosgrain ribbon. Before adding that piece to the card, I added a strip of Baja Breeze CS that I scalloped using the scalloped edge punch.

Hopefully, I'm on a roll and won't stop here.  I'll try to do a MUCH better job of updating my blog and being creative!!