Warm Holiday Wishes

I like this card, it is a simpleton. ;)  The most difficult part about it is the die cut, the owl... It probably took me about 15 minutes to make it, but when you think about it, that isn't that long... I've spent two hours on a card, you get me?  I can make a whole bunch of these babies and get some help (ahem, T) to put them together... that'll make things easier, maybe.  Anyway, I have to get my butt moving, I have a 20 Christmas card order that I need to get going, and that doesn't count the two (?) stores that I may be able to sell at.  I've GOT to stop sitting on my butt after work, and start working some more, on cards!  Once it becomes a second job, maybe I can go part time at the salt mine... we'll see. ;)

Oh, here's the table centerpiece I made for Thanksgiving, I actually made two, I think they are okay... could've been much nicer with more greens in there. 

I like the green berry things, whatever they are.  My parents brought a centerpiece, also, so we had three!  :)  How pretty are the roses?  Sigh...

That's all for now.

Three Card Long Weekend

This card is just a regular piece of cardstock, I used my score pal to make it a trifold and there you have it. I got this cute little snowman from a new Cricut cartridge and did the border with the Sew Easy thingy.  I keep trying to make a simple card, but I just can't do it!  The middle is just space for the greeting, and the last fold is where the gift card sits.  I like this one. :)

I made this card on Friday night... I was alone, so I took my time, and lots of it!  Took me two hours, now WHAT the heck is so complicated???  I guess it just isn't really coming so easy anymore... I'm not sure why. :(  Anyway, I stamped the greeting and used some real sheet music paper for the border, the bottom of the tag is stitched, as well.  Hmm, I like it, but it's not simple enough to mass produce -- rats!

Now, if you've followed Card Core from the beginning, you'll know that this is a throwback; yep, I made this card before, but this time I just used some different paper and threw on that snowflake.  I also stamped the To and From so that whoever gets this card (before Christmas) can actually USE the darn things on gifts.  Why not add utility to the things when you can?  Tonight I will attempt (again) to make a simple card... a simpleton, if you will. 

Happy Birthday x's 2

Happy birthday, right?!  Yes, this card is for a man, this is why it's so... dark.  I try to make them not girly, but jeez, it's tough.  I began this card a few times and just couldn't get it right; I'm even a little iffy about this.  Anyway, I finally got to use my new "Sew Easy" tool to stitch a bottom border.  I used some floss I already had -- it was a pack rat moment, I had that saved for a few years now!  I had some striped floss, but the black is better, don't you think?  I cut out the sentiment on a paint chip, I'm so sneaky! 

Now, this card I LOVE.  I have been really feeling lighter colors, a la Studio Calico, but felt the need to brighten it a bit with some red.  This card is also for a man, what are you gonna do?  I found that cute little placard from a Nantucket themed die cut set, LOVE it.  I should have distressed the edges of the alphabet paper, maybe ripped the sides a bit and inked the edges... next time.  These two cards took me about an hour for both! That isn't bad, I can take up an hour just planning a color scheme!  I have to get going on my holiday cards for the stores I may be selling at, plus, will we send out handmade cards this Christmas?  Many decisions to make.  I'm always nervous about showing my work to others; will they like it, will they think it's silly?  I guess what matters is that I'm having a lot of fun doing it, so hopefully that shows.

Thanksgiving coming up, I am planning on making two centerpieces for our table, and maybe some name cards for place settings, that's if I have time.  I have been combing the 'net looking for ideas, but I think hollowed out pumpkins with flowers in them is the way to go, for the centerpieces.  Plus, I think I have some fake cranberries that I can work with , as well... hmm.  We'll see what happens. ;)

XO

Soft colors, who knew?

Happy Birthday to Barb, my boyfriend's aunt... she's a cardmaker, so I felt like this one had to be good.  I am so pleased with it!  I looked around the Studio Calico blog for awhile before I even began, and got inspiration with all their soft colors and monochromatic themes... I don't usually favor pastels or soft colors, not that I don't like them, but I am loving them here.  I used all new paper for this card, and some of the colored baker's twine.  I have to say, the scraps I used for the top and bottom accents were from a project I did about a year ago, and can you believe I finally got to use some?!  I am such a pack rat, but I justify it with the fact that I'm saving money, how can you mess with that?  I went through my paper bin yesterday, also, and found that I have lots of stuff I just forgot about, their being buried under all the newer stuff.  I want to go through it this week and sort stuff out, maybe get over to a storage store and find a rack for paper.  My craft room/boyfriend's office is slowly changing, I hope I can keep it under control. ;)  BUT, the good thing about paper racks is that it'll keep my paper out of those bins and where I can see them, making them more accessible for projects.  I'll buy less paper!  (I should be a lawyer.)

My next project, after one last card for an order I have to fill, will be a small batch of holiday cards for a friend's parent's store.  I may try to sell my stuff again, and get my little side piece business going once more.  It's always good to have a little backup, don't you think?  It could very well be a second job, which I'm super okay with, being that the holidays are right around the corner.  I think it's a photo store, of some sort, so I'll play on that theme making cards with slots to slide Christmas photos in, or a window on the front for display.  I'll have to keep it simple so that I can make them in bulk; that's going to be my biggest challenge.  Good luck to me.

XO

21st Birthday

I can still remember my 21st birthday, matter of fact, I think I had about five of them. ;)  I wanted to stay 21, sue me.  I guess I'm glad that I'm not the same jerk I was then; maybe that's the only advantage to aging (besides eventually getting the senior specials at Denny's): not being foolish forever, that kind of recklessness shouldn't last.
Ah, but I digress... this card is for Stephanie's nephew, Bradford; he's going to be 21, bless his heart.  I got the cute paper at this new store on Brookhurst ("The" OC) called Scrapbook Heaven, or something, on Sunday.  The owner had a pretty nice setup, small but packed with cute stuff.  Prices were so-so, but she makes up for it in her taste.  I got paper, a new clear stamp, some colored baker's twine and a die cut packet with a Nantucket theme.  Very cute.  I inked the edges of the paper blue, and chalk inked the "B" so it'd stand out a bit.  I used my separate letter alphabet stamp set to do the "happy birthday" part; I think it looks nice.  Hopefully the ribbon doesn't give it a feminine feeling... I worry about that everytime I make a card for a man. 

Tonight I'll make the last card on my birthdays list and then begin a scrapbook page; I printed out a bunch of photos from my vacation and from T's blockparty show to do that... no more excuses!  I have lots of new stuff to use, so I'm antsy to get home and start.

That's all folks!  It's nice to be back.
XO

Black Swan Update

Well, our little Black Swan wore her costume very well!  Her tutu was a bit too big on her, but that's okay, she'll be able to wear it again.  Her toe shoes were too cute for words!  I'm so glad I got to be a part of her first costume ever, and am already thinking about next year... hmm, A Clockwork Orange, perhaps? ;)

Here's some more:

And here's Bella with her bestie, Isla:

I think they had a good time, even if they don't even know what Halloween is!  We passed out candy and watched Twilight Zone.  A kid dressed up as a juice box (or something) fell down on our doorstep... hil-fuckin'-larious.  I laugh at children falling EVERY TIME.

XO

Sweet Fifteen

This card is for Charnae, my friend Stephanie's daughter who will be 15 tomorrow.  Happy Birthday, Charnae!