Back to work...

Here and there I've been able to do a couple of cards and other projects. We've been pretty busy playing with Charlie, so I've not been too focused on creative things. We've been having so much fun with our kid...enjoying him while he's little! You know, these are the most important times in a "kid's" life. According to our research, a 50% of a dog's personality is shaped by its owners. Therefore, we are trying very hard to work with him early on, so he will be a good grownup later. We are working hard to be good parents!

But...I did have a few minutes to work on a couple of cards.



I wanted a special thank you card that was unique, so I decided to paint my version of a camellia. No, they aren't normally purple, but my friend likes purple! And...no, it probably doesn't look like the camellias you are used to, but it's my version. The best part about art is that it can be anything you want it to be. I draw what I see to my eyes when I look at something. I do tend to simplify.

The other day I took Charlie upstairs for the first time to the craft room. I let him sniff around and inspect all of the chaos. He was really good and didn't chew anything. This room has lots of stuff in it, on the floors, on shelves, in stacks...so, he needs to learn early on what he can and cannot touch. He did great! He was a little wiggly while I made this card...



But, he was really patient for a 9 week old puppy. So, I was glad I could make my friend a birthday card this past week! Hope you have a great day!

Some artwork...

Before the storm kicked in I had some time to finish up a journal and card for a friend whose birthday was yesterday.



I think it turned out nice!



Her name starts with a "C" so that's why I used that Scrabble letter. I wanted it to close so it served as the clasp.

Here's a view from the back...



Sorry that the photos aren't the usual. I had to take them outside since the power was out.

Here's her card...





Hope you have a great weekend!

Craigie Baby's Birthday Card

Dynamo's baby brother, Craigie Baby, had a birthday a few days ago and here was his card...



I wanted it to be boyish and comical! So, I pulled out these old monopoly "Chance" cards. The "Go directly to jail" card was perfect especially for his 39th birthday.

Grungy Cardmaking

I haven't posted any creative projects in a while, so I thought I'd share a couple of cards I did recently!

After taking Dina Wakley's Art Journaling 101 class some time ago, I've really been experimenting with the messy grungy style! I really like it because there's no need to be perfect. Just throw the colors on the paper and it looks beautiful!

Here are a couple of cards in that style...



Some free motion stitching and vintage lace make the card complete!



And, a thank you card...





Hope you have a great Thursday!

Vintage birds

I love vintage looking birds!



Don't you?



I wanted to send a hello card and a birthday card last week. I think they turned out nice and vintage!





The birds are from Stampin' Up! as is the most of the paper! The others are from various places!

Happy Tuesday!

Some birthday stitching

I decided that I wanted to do something a little different for my friend's birthday card. I wanted to practice my random stitching along with some collage. Here was the result...

I really love the black, purple, and red together. I already had pink thread on my machine, so I went with that. The card is a tri-fold, so I only decorated the front top flap.

This was a great way to use up fabric scraps. I had fun putting it together and layering it all while not knowing what the final product would look like. The pic below is what it looks like opened up!

I hope she likes it! I'm pretty pleased.

Pacific Point Birthday

Cards for guys can be really tough for me, but what makes it easier is to go straight for the "boy" colors. I dug out my stash of Pacific Point cardstock, ink, and designer series paper.

I really love having a reason to use my star punches from Stampin' Up! They are fantastic!! I also used the Happy Everything Stamp Set, which is another very versatile set.

Bermuda Bay Birthday

I made this card for a friend. We celebrated her birthday today at work. I really love the colors on this card and they definitely remind me of her, so that's why I chose them!

The Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp Set from Stampin' Up! is my current favorite (in case you didn't notice), and I really love the Bermuda Bay cardstock and ink. The sentiment is from Close to My Heart!

Here's a closeup...

Happy Thursday!

march is full of celebrations

This month is filled with good things! Here's a birthday card I recently made...

This was for our adopted niece and I forgot to post it! Sorry!
I wanted it to be colorful and fun! Notice that the envelope is decorated too!

I just love Stampin' Up's Party Hearty set! It's probably the best birthday set I own. The paper is from a Simply Scrappin' kit. The ribbon is pumpkin pie. Of course I love the scallop circle punch and the 2 and 1/2 inch circle punch! Those are must have's if you ask me!

Happy Wednesday!

Lindsey's Birthday Card

My cousin, Lindsey Marie, had a birthday on Tuesday! I'm not going to reveal her age, but I will show you the card I sent her!

Now, I don't normally send her pink cards because I don't really see her as a pink kind of person, but once I started creating I just thought the colors were too pretty to resist and knew she'd love them!! And...she did! She called me and told me so! I thought that was so sweet of her!

Inside the card I also included a copy of a  pic from 1984! It is my absolute favorite pic of us together! Don't you think so?

We were spending the night with Grams and saying our prayers together before bedtime! I'm the one in the red gown on the right. Lindsey is on the left!

Hope your birthday was fabulous, Lindsey Marie! I love you!!

Here are the materials for the card:
Stampin' Up! - melon mambo cardstock and polka dot ribbon; cherry cobbler and old olive classic stampin pads; circle circus stamp set; happy everything stamp set; very vanilla cardstock; jolly holiday DSP; 1 and 3/8" circle punch; and wild wasabi textured cardstock

Another birthday or two...

One of my mom's best friends, Pauline (AKA "Mole"), had a birthday this week! Here was the card I made for her! We're celebrating early next week. She requested a chocolate cake of some sort for dessert! Humm....what could I make? I'll let you know what I decided on next week!

For the card above I used Stampin' Up!'s Playdate Designers Series paper, old olive cardstock, marina mist cardstock, and melon mambo classic ink. Cancelled check and other DSP from JBS Mercantile. Vintage Bingo card and button were found items. Birthday sentiment is from Close to My Heart.

My college roommate recently had a birthday too! Here was the card I made for her!

See that beautiful butterfly? Well, that's a Melody Ross embellishment! I was so excited to discover those.
Here's a closeup...

Notice I used the sewing machine! Remember...It's National Sewing Month!
Other items used: Clock embellishment from Tim Holtz, Bingo Card and blue ribbon from JBS Mercantile, Elegant Eggplant cardstock, Kraft cardstock, old olive classic ink, and Big Shot Polka Dot embossing folder from Stampin' Up! Birthday sentiment from Close to My Heart.

We're all turning 30!

This year is a big year for many of my classmates/friends and myself. We're all turning 30! I'm at the tail end of the group, being the December baby (back when they let you start school at a super early age 4). It's so hard to believe that time flies just that fast! One of my very hilarious friends...we were in school together from elementary up through high school...had a birthday recently! She can always crack a joke! Whenever you're around her your stomach hurts because she makes you laugh constantly! She's always been that way, and I love that about her. I don't see her very much, but I wanted to send her a super funny card to celebrate her big day! So, I pulled out the vintage Dr. Seuss books and Bingo cards. I ripped out an image I thought appropriate! Here was the result...

Notice the kids' mouths are wide open looking at the big 30! Here's a closeup....

The sentiments, tiny type letters, and "30" chipboard numbers are from JBS Mercantile. The word "birthday" is from Stampin' Up!'s Birthday's Count stamp set. I also used Not Quite Navy Classic ink and brocade blue cardstock from SU.

And...I just had to decorate the envelope...

Cheers to 30 great years!

A Fifth Avenue Floral Birthday Card

This was a card I made for my friend's birthday yesterday! Sorry the image quality isn't that great...had to use my camera phone!

I was experimenting with the hodgepodge hardware from Stampin' Up! It is sometimes a challenge for me to use embellishments of this type. I'm not sure why. Maybe it's because the center of the frame can only fit small words. I think the card turned out nice after much effort.

Materials used (Stampin' Up!): Fifth Avenue Floral Stamp Set (I LOVE this set), Brocade Blue Cardstock and Classic Stampin Pad, Certainly Celery Cardstock and Classic Stampin Pad, Very Vanilla Cardstock, Chocolate Chip Classic Stampin Pad, Sending Happy Thoughts Stamp Set, Hodgepodge Hardware, Twine, and Floral Designer Series Paper (I can't remember the exact paper right now)