Again.. been awhile.

I haven't made many cards in the last few months... it's been due to many things, but I hope that will change very soon.  I remembered I HAD a blog yesterday, and so here I am.  Let's get to it.

(The description to each card will appear underneath the photo)

This card was created for Tom's mom's friend/neighbor, who I found out later is a woman, not a man, named Billy.  I tried to stay within the manly colors of blue, brown, red, etc... I guess it all worked out, because I put glitter on it, ha!  I got into a bookmark making phase there for a minute, and now all the readers close to me have new ones.  Oh well.

Here's a card I made using the Everyday Pop Up Cards cartridge.  I like it, no mystery there, but I do have to say: the cartridge as a whole was sorta disappointing.  I have NO idea how to actually USE the pop-up feature, and so I haven't yet.  It's nice to have something new and challenging to work on, but this is sort of silly, it's so confusing.  Anyway, I like this card.  I have to admit, the simpler ones are ALWAYS my favorites.  The scalloped circle was made from a Spellbinders Nestibilities die, and I definitely need more of those, so much fun.  Plus, I get to use my Vagabond more... win-win.  (Uh-oh, just realized I posted two cards in a row that I used the same polka dots paper for... well, it's a pattern I liked, sue me!)

Now, this card is another one that really made me smile... it's for Tom's sister-in-law, and since I haven't met her, and only know OF her, I had to guess as what she might like.  You're thinking girl=flowers, right?  No, not really how I meant it.  I just found those jars (on a patterned paper) and was dying to use one... the dots were lonely all by themselves, and so... well, so what if we like flowers?! :)  I am also realizing I need to utilize more of my Sew Easy stitching heads, and not just that boring one (above).  Again, simple is best, I think.

Again with the Pop Up cartridge that I claimed not to have had any fun with... am I losing credibility here?  I guess it's not so bad. :)  I used colors on the text and the sewing machine that matched with the stitching that I had done FIRST.  I think I stitched that little square about five months ago... so much has changed since then...

That's all I have today!  I'm going to face my first day without a job and not much to do... YIKES! :/  I guess that means: expect more cards! :)

It's Been A While...

Well, what can I say?  Things happen and one forgets she has a blog at all.  What are you gonna do?  I have only a few cards to share from over the last couple months... well, I guess since right before Valentine's Day.  Lots going on, busy busy busy and the cards have taken the back seat for a moment.  I will be back at it very soon once I'm home from work (May 4th - woohoo!) and I'll be sure to share at least once a week then. 

For Valentine's Day, I made these cards for my three BFF's here at the office:

After I got my Sew Easy tool and lots of cute baker's twine, I sorta went crazy with the stitched edging, and it was on EVERYthing for a minute, there.  I got every attachment head that goes with it (unless there are more now, sheesh) when my local scrapbook store had a 40% off sale.  I ended up buying each for about 1.50.  What a steal!  But, I'd still rather have a little sewing machine... we'll see. :)

Here's a birthday card that I made for one of Tom's friends who he hadn't seen in many, many years.  I asked him what the guy liked, and Star Wars it was!  Here it is:

The inside reads, "He'd say, Happy Birthday!".  I had fun making this card, because it was like the old days when I didn't have a Cricut, and I had to make all my dies by hand, free form.  I seem to feel more proud of those cards than the ones where all I had to do is glue the pieces together.  Whateves, I still adore my Cricut!  (FYI: the Silhouette is pretty freakin' cool... is that something I should get?)

This next card is what I made for my sister's 32nd birthday, which just passed.  We celebrated at Benihana, and I am STILL thinking about all that rice and meat.  MMMMMM!  Here it is:

I made the cupcake die from my new Cricut cartridge, Everyday Pop-Up Cards.  I have yet to understand the dynamics of the pop up element, but I'll figure it out.  I have occasion to send out many thank you cards very soon, and I'd love to do a pop up for that... at least for some. 

I'm going to sign off now since I really need to get down to business at work.  I'd much rather watch You Tube videos and play in my craft room, but somebody needs to make a little money!  The way things are going, I'll surely be back after the beginning of May.

xooxoxoxoo

Valentine's Day Already?

I have begun making my Valentine's Day cards for this year's fiasco. I love Valentine's Day, but only because I get to tell the people I love that I love them, and not seem like a maniac.  I grew up in a home that those words were given freely, often, and I miss that.  One day, I'll give my own kid that kind of love. :)  For now, I'll just make cards so that other people can get the point across in a tasteful manner.  Here's what I've come up with so far:

This little card is a remake of one I made last week, the one I said would be perfect for duplicating.  It was easy enough, and if it sells fast, I'll make more.  I can use different paper, colors, etc.  I like the simplicity, and can see it being given to a person who isn't super mushy, like a guy.

Now, this is an idea I got off Martha Stewart's site, I think... she had the lollipops on birthday invites, or something and I couldn't resist knowing I had lollipop sticks from Christmas.  I used my glue gun to adhere the bow, and dimension dots to make the hearts pop. 

Here's a card I made in about one minute.  I used most of that minute trimming the frayed edges off the cut strips of paper, too.  I like the raw look of this card, it just might be another duplicated card made in bulk.  What a hustler I am! :)

After Valentine's Day, we have a little break from holidays, until Mother's and Father's Day, and this will give me time to work on the new website and get my arsenal built up again.  I've been thinking of making better use of my space in our shared office, and have some really good ideas. I need to organize my paper and have a better storage plan.  I found some paper the other day at the bottom of my pile(s) that I haven't seen in a year, so I'm thinking vertical files of some sort.  Separate them by size, color and pattern.  Project time.

Oh!  I will be making my niece's first birthday invitations next month, I just remembered.  I'd also like to do some party favors, or a banner... Anabella will be one year old, I just can't believe how time flies.  She is walking now, and wearing shoes regularly, look:

Look at those cool shoes!  I heard that over the last few days she began walking... YES! :)  I can't wait to see her, see her walking...

Here's Bella playing with the hippo that Auntie and Thomas got her for Christmas:

My sweetiepie!  Her smile is so sweet, I swear I could just scream.  It looks like she just woke up, or is ready to go down for a nap. 

That's all for now, as if I haven't rambled on for long enough. 
XO

Thank GOD it's Monday! Not.

Happy birthday, Lily!  My bf's niece turns 9 on Thursday, so we sang to her yesterday and gave her this card (and another, older one).  She rides horses, so it's quite fitting.  I am in love with my Vagabond, and now that I have a few embossing folders and some dies to use with it, it's even more fun.  So, I used the tiny dots folder to emboss the white cardstock that the horsey is standing on, and the patterned paper's edges were inked in glue and then dipped in brown glitter.  It's really subtle, but I think in person it pops more.  The grass was an afterthought, and now that I look at this card, I realize I should've added a little carrot for the horse -- rats!  Next time.

I have been trying to get more stuff to go with my Vagabond and use it more, so this weekend, I raided a Michael's sale and (with my 40% off coupon) got myself a Nestibilities (scalloped circles).  I brought it home and ran one through my Vag, but nothing happened!  I was SO confused, so I read the directions (durrrh) and found out that I'd need an extra shim, or whatever they're called, an adaptor shim (sounds like a tranny).  So, after I cursed Tim  Holtz, I decided I wasn't going to go out and buy another part, but I'd make it on my own.  I gathered all my cardboard (backs from paper pads, etc) and cut them into the shape of the shim, and made it the exact thickness of it, as well.  After gluing all the pieces together, I ran it through again and it worked!  SO, the moral of the story is: don't buy it if you can make it, ya big dummy!  I outsmarted old TH, and it feels pretty good.

Here's another card I made recently:

It's not such a great pic, but you get it, right?  I used my scallops cutter (Fiskars, I think, it's only broken down once) and then cut out each individual scallop to make little tags.  I used some yellow & white baker's twine to hang them on and that's it.  I think this is a good one to duplicate for Valentine's Day, coming up.  I need to supply the office with tasteful handmade cards. ;)

I made this sympathy card for a co-worker who just lost her brother... so sorry, Vilma! :(

I LOVE the paper on this card... it's double-sided, and the black newsprint banner is the backside.  I used my die to cut the little placard and inked the sentiment with individual letters.  These butterflies are from a LONG time ago... I've held onto these suckers for years, I'm sure.  Finally, I've used the last ones!  It's tough to make a sympathy card, you must be sincere, not too flashy or bright, but not so depressing that the point of the card is missed.  I think I shoudn't have used black on it, but next time I'll know that going in. 

That's all for now, folks.  I'm going to work on Valentine's cards this week, until the 14th and will post them as I go. :)

XO

Mama's back!

Here's something I made in about five minutes the other day.  I already had the yellow background and patterned paper ready to go (probably from an earlier project, abandoned).  I took one look at it and slapped it on a card, then saw the word "sweet" in my desktop paper stash and glued that on.  The icecream joined the party seconds later after I remembered I had that same green... and there you have it!  I like it.  I do think I need to make more of these types of cards, smaller, simple and not too complicated.

This little card here took a bit longer, but not much.  It began with a new embossing folder I got at Joann the other day.  By the way, those things are like $4, what a deal!  I embossed the front panel of this window card and then filled the window with those cute elephants.  Once I realized I had some similar green handy for the sides, I rememberd that I also had buttons too!  It came together quite effortlessly, and I was done with two cards in less than a half hour.  How awesome are those embossed dots?!  Love it, love my Vagabond.

Now, this is the corkboard in the hallway of my office - I decorated it last week to cheer the place up.  I used my Cricut (Plantin Schoolbook & Create A Critter) and listed all the programs in our building.  I think it's pretty darn cute. 

This day is CRAWLING by, and I'm so tired I can barely type... that's all for today, folks.  Let's try it again tomorrow.

XO

All I got today...

My baby girl has teeth!  I look at this photo and it just makes me so happy, I couldn't resist. :) 

Back to the grind

My holiday away from work was long!  I had a whole 12 days off, and I have to admit, I am ready to be back at work... it just got to be way too lazy a time!  I enjoyed it, though, and here are a few cards I made:

I got a new Sizzix Vagabond for Christmas (thanks, T!) and this is the first card that I actually got to use my embosser with -- I think it's nice!  I had to buy an embossing folder and a die, and I love it.  I can't wait to try out some more. 

I made this card for a friend who had her birthday on New Year's Eve... actually the wife of a friend.  Uhhh, anyway... I am getting a little obsessed with the stitched border lately, I've gotta be careful not to play it out.  I love this paper, though, with the little bikes!  The thing is, she got a bike for her birthday, a pink one, so this was quite fitting.

I just had to use my Sew Easy tool to try these flags, but I'm not sure I got the colors right.  I should have done the top line in brown or tan or something, but hey, I like it still.  I feel it is a bit of a simpleton, but that's okay. :)

Now, this was the first time I got to use a die in my Vagabond... I love that little die!  I sat for about an hour trying to find the right layout for this card, it was a challenge.  I like the weaving idea, but I think next time I'll do skinnier pieces of paper and see what happens.  I love all the new paper I'm finding at the scrapbook store down the street, and even though it's overpriced, it really is nice and inspiring.  I can't wait to get my Studio Calico sets every month!  Hopefully that'll begin soon. 

I am happy to be back at work, I have missed my co-workers, strangely enough.  I came back to a clean office, an empty voicemail and neat piles of phone messages... I am so appreciative of these folks! 

:)