Showing posts with label cards. Show all posts

Wednesday, October 5, 2011

52 weeks of mail


It is really sad to hear that according to a new report the average American receives a handwritten letter only once every 7 weeks! Well, there's something that every one of us can help with! Who doesn't like to get a handwritten note? I love to get snail mail! I'm still like a kid when I get home! I love to check the mailbox hoping for a note or card! My Nannie (grandma) has always written notes to me. They are the notes that you used to get as a kid. She writes about what she's been up to. It's really a letter. Sometimes there are multiple pages. Who writes like that anymore? Certainly not me! Dynamo's mom always writes in the cards she sends too. She always talks about the weather and what they've been up to.

And...my Mom is the ultimate card sender. She is so dedicated to sending notes and cards to family and friends. She always taught me to send thank you notes and cards just to let someone know they were thought of. The rule in our house growing up was that any gift you receive you couldn't use until you had written a thank you note to the person that gave it to you. I try to hold true to that today.

I know that cards are expensive, but they do have a 99 cent section. Or...make your own! When I saw this post over at Paper Crave, I decided that I would share this project with you! I am going to make an effort to send a card, note, or something every week. The project begins this Sunday, October 9, and runs for 52 weeks! Won't you join in with me?

Don't know who to send a card to? Well, here's an idea. Someone once told me that they take their Christmas cards every year and throw them into a basket. Once a week they randomly pull a card out of the basket and send a little thinking of you card to that person. It keeps you in touch with people that you really only normally send cards to once a year. Plus, it will brighten someone's day to get a card when it's unexpected.

Here's the excerpt from Paper Crave:

The new 52 Weeks of Mail project from Kimberly Costa of Honizukle Press, the graphic designer for this awesome new project and a member of the Etsy Greetings Team, who created said awesome project.


52 Weeks of Mail is “all about getting back to sending cards and letters to loved ones and fostering relationships that way”, and participants are encouraged to be more intentional about keeping in touch with friends and family by sending out a card or letter each week for the next year. I know that this is something that I’ve personally been trying to do recently, and though I love my computer and the interwebs, it’s so nice to unplug sometimes and to actually sit down and write a note or letter by hand.


52 Weeks of Mail begins on October 9, 2011 (appropriately, World Post Day) and continues through October 7, 2012. A free printable enclosure notecard with an explanation of the project will be available when the project launches, so you can help spread the word via the cards and letters that you send and encourage others to take part.


Get more details and stay up to date on what’s happening on the 52 Weeks of Mail Facebook page.
image by Kimberly Costa




Friday, September 2, 2011

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.

C Journal Front

I think it turned out nice!

C Journal Closeup

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...

C Journal Back

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

Here's her card...

Birthday Floral

Birthday Floral

Hope you have a great weekend!



Wednesday, May 18, 2011

Fabric Collage for Baby

I attended a baby shower on Sunday and wanted to bring a handmade gift that would be unique and special. So, I decided that every baby girl needs a little blanket...

Blanket Collage

Here's a closeup...

Blanket Collage

When I was little I had a little blanket that was soft, but had a silky part too! So, on this blanket I added a strip of satin ribbon. The backing is a very soft minkie type material. The collage on the front creates texture for the baby's little fingers to rub as well.

Blanket Collage

It was a tiny blanket. Little ones just need something to hold onto, suck on, or tote around everywhere. So, it just needs to be soft and lovable. The Amy Butler base fabric was so soft! I just love her stuff! And, the baby's room is going to be green and pink, so I tried to stick with the theme!

And, every mom needs a few burp cloths to match of course...

Burp Cloth Collage

Burp Cloth Collage

Burp Cloth

Collage gift set

And, the gift bag tag matched too...

Gift tag

Mom seemed pleased with the gift. This will be her 3rd baby, but first little girl!!



Friday, May 6, 2011

some free motion stitching

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The best part of free motion stitching is that you can let your machine go wild! Dynamo said he heard me upstairs using the sewing machine and wasn't sure what was going on. Sometimes it feels a little out of control with this type of stitching! But, you can never really make a mistake. It's meant to look "not perfect."
mother's day_0026_edited-1
It does take some practice to "control" the needle and make it go where you want it to go. Each time I try, I get better. I do like the idea of the mixed textures of the paper, lace, and fabric. It's very different and artistic.

If you want some information on this technique, there's a great book by Bari J. Ackerman called Inspired to Sew you should check out!

I'll be posting more next week so you can see what else I've done with free motion stitching!



Thursday, April 28, 2011

Sending Wedding Congrats

I wanted the card that accompanied my cousin's gift to be lovey dovey, unique, and kinda shiny! I love using hearts and my gold gel pen! Those Unibal gel pens from Stampin' Up! are awesome!!

And, I had to use some of that lovely red glitter paper! No, it's not just for Valentine's Day!
I used chocolate chip cardstock along with old olive cardstock and ink. The designer paper is from JBS Mercantile.

Happy Thursday!



Friday, April 1, 2011

Pacific Point Birthday

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.
Pacific Point Birthday
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.



Thursday, March 31, 2011

Simply Said...thanks!

Simply Said Thanks
With a little soft suede cardstock and ink from Stampin' Up!, along with some cardboard out of my recycle bin, this card was born. I tore the top layer of the cardboard to give it a more vintage look and distressed the edges with the ink.
Simply Said Thanks
The Simply Said Stamp Set from Stampin' Up! contains this beautiful sentiment in a whimsical-like font. I used the En Francais Stamp Set and the heart-to-heart punch with some very vanilla hodgepodge hardware and twine. This card turned out lovely in its simplicity. I just wanted a little note to let our friends know how much we appreciate them.



Tuesday, March 29, 2011

Occasional Thinking of You

Occasional Quotes Thinking of You
Have you checked out Stampin' Up!'s Occasional Quotes Stamp Set? Well, the thing I love about that set is that there are many sentiments that say just what you need them to.

For this card I used some vintage ribbon and seam binding to make the rosettes! To make them simply get out your glue gun and start rolling and gluing until you have the flower the size you need.

Occasional Quotes Thinking of You

I used the En Francais Stamp Set for the background on the base of the card aloing with the Soft Suede Classic Stampin' Pad. The Soft Suede cardstock is a nice creamy brown. No card would be complete without a little vintage sheet music as an accent.



Friday, March 18, 2011

More thank yous...

Thank you vintage floral

I needed a few thank you cards, so I got to work. I really like the rich razzleberry, crushed curry combo!
Thank you vintage floral 2

Then, there was the rich razzleberry, dusty durango combo (another fun one)!

Thank you rich razzleberry
Thank you rich razzleberry

And, another of the first combo!

Thank you vintage floral
Thank you vintage floral

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!



Thursday, March 17, 2011

Thinking of you Thursday...

cards_2046_edited-1

Sometimes you just need to let someone know you're thinking of them. Sometimes, they need to be mellow, monochromatic, and peaceful like the above card.

Or, sometimes they need to be fun, upbeat, and cheerful like this one...

Cowboy Andy thinking of you

You know how I love the old children's books! Well, this is an illustration from Cowboy Andy, which is a super cute book. It's about a city boy who wants to be a cowboy, so his dad sends him off to the ranch to be with Cowboy Sam!

This card was created for a friend's husband who's having knee surgery! On the inside I wrote to him saying that soon he'd be up ridin' and ropin' with his wife after he got all of his new parts! :) I just know he will get a kick out of the image! (He used to ride many many years ago)

Happy St. Patrick's Day!



Wednesday, March 16, 2011

Order up

cards_2055_edited-1

I recently was asked to make some cards for a friend of my mom's. She really liked the card I made for Lindsey's bridal shower, so she wanted one for a wedding (blues with no shells and same paper), one general occasion blank yellow card, and one in pinks so that she could attach a lock of her grand-daughter's hair (instead of a hanky). She wanted to put her own hankies in the cards, so you will see they are without! I did cut the slots for them to slide through.
Thinking of you 2
Here's the yellow...

cards_2063

Yellow Fold Card

This pink one is simple, yet pretty. For a little girl's lock of hair, it need not be overbearing.

cards_2060_edited-1

cards_2061_edited-1

The final package...
Thank you wrapping



Tuesday, December 21, 2010

Been working on some Christmas cards

I thought I'd share some of the Christmas cards I've made! Hopefully, you've been handmaking your cards too!! Enjoy!!!