Favorite Cousin’s Birthday

My hubby has a very large family. It doesn't matter how far your branch is from the trunk of the tree, everyone is family. I LOVE the feeling I get when I spend time with them and my heart is always full after a family event. There's not any formal shaking hands, hi how are yous; everyone is greeted with a warm hug and smile. When he invited me to a family reunion for his 'immediate' family on our second date; I thought it would be nice to meet his parents and siblings. I was thinking maybe 20 people total. Nope, this was a F-A-M-I-L-I-A reunion. The rented out the local hall and I was greeted with well over 100 warm hugs. One of his uncle's even asked me when he'd be invited for a free meal with drinks and dancing. I just smiled and looked at Eddie. He whispered in my ear that his uncle was asking when the wedding was! It's hard to believe that was just 8 years ago.

Anyway, one of the people who made an impression on me at the reunion was Erica (Eddie's first cousin). She introduced herself as Eddie's Favorite Cousin, an on-going joke between them. The moniker remains and always makes me smile. At the reunion I got to keep an eye on her baby girl during the large photo shoot. That little baby just celebrated her First Communion last weekend (I need to get the card posted that I made). For once, I'm ahead of the game and made Erica's birthday card early! Her special day is May 19th so the challenge is to not lose the card or let the kitties destroy the ribbon flower! I don't think Erica checks my craft blog so it should be safe to post.

Sketch Inspiration ~ 365 Cards Day 42 ~ Super Sketchy Sunday

 Color Inspiration ~ Color Chef Challenge #49 ~ Kraft, Violet, and light green

Inspiration

 Simon Says Challenge ~ Birthdays/Celebrations

The Corrosive Challenge #62 ~ Birthday

Totally Stampalicious Challenge ~ Flower Power

365 Cards Day 61 ~ Circles 3 Ways

We were to use at least 3 circles in three different ways. My ribbon flower is supposed to be a circle, the personalize brad at the center of the flower is a circle, the verse is stamped on a scalloped circle and I added freehanded gold circle 'dots' for good measure.

My Creation

Flower Detail

Organza ribbon really lends to a very shabby looking flower. It was a bit tricky to get tied, but I love the final effect.

Inside

Have I mentioned how much I love my Cuttlebug? I get so carried away I don't leave enough room to sign the card! LOL

Ins & Outs ~ Favorite Cousin’s Birthday
Stamps: Well Scripted (Stampin Up)
Paper: Kraft, DCWV Shimmer, SU Whisper White
Ink: Memento Lilac Posies, Gold Pen
Accessories: Elegant Bouquet Embossing Folder (Stamping Up), Misc Ribbon, Inspirations Alpha Brad
Techniques: Dry Embossing

Pins, Pearls & Pink Mother's Day Card

I always admire crafters who use Kraft paper in their cards. I’m a bit intimidated by it and am facing my fears head on. I really like how this turned out. The faux stiched flourishes are a bit hard to see in the photos, but they add the perfect extra touch. I drew the ‘thread’ with a spica pen so it’s even sparkly.

This Mother’s Day card is dedicated to Sue (Susan’s mom) and Mary (Amy’s mom). It’s an honor for me to watch my friends parent their daughters in a manner I know their mother’s would be proud of. I am thrilled to be part of all their lives and can’t wait to see the girls develop their own circle of girlfriends.

Sketch Inspiration ~ My Grafico Challenge

Color Inspiration ~ Basic Grey Challenge Week 19 ~ Photo Inspiration

Inspiration
CCEE Stampers Challenge ~ Mother’s Day
Stamp Simply Challenge #138 ~ Mother’s Day
PaperPlay Challenge ~ Digi Image and Bling I hope my pearls and pin can count as 'bling'. I liked them better than rhinestones on the card.
365 Cards Day 55 ~ On Pins and Needles (incorporate pins as a decoration and needles for the purpose of stitching)

My Creation

Image Detail

Can you see the delicate lines creating my faux sewn flourishes? A very subtle feature. If you used a white or black ink for the lines, they'd be more dramatic. I wanted a 'soft' look. I know, kind of silly to think soft when I stuck a sharp pin on the card! LOL

Inside

Envelope

I used my scrap paper and another stamp from the PTI set to make a matching envelope.

Ins & Outs ~ Pins, Pearls & Pink Mother's Day Card
Stamps: Mum (Sarah Paris – My Grafico), Women of Life (PaperTrey Ink)
Paper: Kraft, Basic Grey Two Scoops, DCWV
Ink: Laser printer, Memento Tuxedo Black, Copics (R000, 00; G12), Peach Spica
Accessories: Ribbon, Martha Stewart Pearls, Misc Pin & Beads
Techniques: Paper Piercing 

Mother’s Day Card for Grandma

Grandma’s need a little love on Mother’s Day as well. I had fun trying to use ‘boyish’ colors to make a female card. I like the simplicity of it and am becoming addicted to my Cuttlebug. So much easier to use than the Wizard. My Nesties and embossing folders might actually get used more often!

Sketch Inspiration ~  Sketch Saturday #101

Color Inspiration ~ Stamping 411 Color Inspiration #122

Pile it On Challenge #17 ~ Boyish Colors

Inspiration

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #57 ~ A Celebration for Mom’s
The Pink Elephant Challenge #65~ Mother’s Day

My Creation

Image Detail

Inside

Ins & Outs ~ Mother’s Day Card for Grandma
Stamps: Women of Life (PaperTrey Ink)
Paper: DCWV Mediterranean, SU Whisper White
Ink: Memento’s Paris Dusk
Accessories: Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder, Ribbon, Making Memories Butterfly, Nesties Labels 8

Mom-a-Sparkle

I had a few great ideas for ‘quick’ cards last night, based on various sketches I’d seen. For some reason, it still took me almost 5 hours to make the 4 cards I’m posting today. I’m already sleep deprived and should have just gone to bed, but oh no, I can crank out a few quick and easy cards. Hah! A completely rested person would have been successful; I was not.

As I mentioned earlier this week, this is a tough Mother’s Day for me as my mom journeyed to heaven in September. My mom taught me the importance of strong friendships through the way she kept her circle of girlfriends (a very large circle I might add). I stand along several girlfriends who are also missing their moms. I dedicate this card to Mary Ann (Kris’s mom) and Paulette (Michele’s mom). Two beautiful women I am grateful too for raising such precious daughters.

Sketch Inspiration ~ 365 Cards Day 47 ~ White Space

Color Inspiration ~ TSG Color Challenge

Inspiration

OCC Challenge ~ Mother’s Day with No Flowers
Cuttlebug Challenge #78 ~ Mother’s Day
Your Next Stamp Challenge #15 ~ Going Dotty
Hand Full of Stamps #27 ~ Just a Little Dottie
365 Cards Day 26 ~ Recipe: 5x5 card, 3 circles, 2 squares, ribbon, and sentiment
365 Cards Day 57 ~ Ad Inspired I was mostly inspired by the framed letters above the cribs. They are such a neat idea for a nursery. I found it perfect for a mom as well.

My Creation

Image Detail

Inside

Ins & Outs ~ Mom-a-Sparkle
Stamps: None
Paper: SU Elegant Notes, DCWV Shimmer & Glitter
Ink: None
Accessories: Misc Ribbon, Chipboard Gilttered Letters, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder

Wahoo! I made the Top Three Scoops!

I'm THRILLED to have been chosen as one of the Three Scoops over at Pile It On. You can check out all the great artists for the challenge at Pile it On Challenge Blog. This is one of my favorite challenge sites because they encourage multi-tasking. Their DT amazes me at how many challenges they can pile into one card.

Thinking of You Sympathy

This is my second card using the same supplies/stamp. I'm tardy with a sympathy card for a friend who was an excellent support to my mom during her cancer journey as her husband was on a similar path. He passed away a few weeks ago and today would have been his earthly birthday. I know first hand how difficult the 'first' everything can be after a loved one journeys to heaven. I wanted to make a card for her to let her know she's still in many of our thoughts.

 Sketch Inspiration ~ Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #111

Color Inspiration ~ Stamping 411 Color Inspiration #121

Inspiration

Hand Full of Stamps #26 ~ Look What I Got We needed to use something we'd purchased in the past week. I snagged these cool DCWV stitching rubons at Michaels on CLEARANCE.

365 Cards Day 17 ~ Twinchies (2x2 piece)

365 Cards Day 60 ~ All that Glitters (use 3 different color glitters)

Flutter By Wednesday #108 ~ Anything Goes

My Creation

Image Detail
This was my first time using Stickles as more of an outline/highlight than to fill in a larger spot. I need some practice, but I like it.


Inside
This set has some great sentiments that can be personalized with Mom, Dad, Sister, etc. The only tricky part is to get things lined up since they are seperate stamps. I tend to use the 'free-fall' method instead of using a positioner. You can tell, I can't stamp a straight verse for the life of me.

INS AND OUTS ~ THINKING OF YOU SYMPATHY
Stamps: Inkadinkadoo image, Gink K Not Forgotten (Verse)
Paper: SU DP, Certainly Celery, DCWV Shimmer, Wedding Invitation
Ink: SU Poppin Pastels, Versamark
Accessories: Stickles (Cinnamon, Lime Green, Green, Yellow), Dew Drops (Beaches), DCWV rub-ons
Techniques: Popping Pastels

1st Mother's Day Card of the Week

Hmm, It's Wednesday; Mother's Day is Sunday; and I'm JUST starting my cards. While this will be my first mother's day without my mom (huge sad face); I have a wonderful mother-in-law and other incredible women in my life. Plus I make cards for my co-worker and she has a long list.

I'm not sure what I think of this one. I had supplies out and was trying to maximize my stamping time by using them for 2 cards. I think I spent more time futzing trying to give each card a different vibe (I'll try to post the other card soon). My friend gave me this GORGOUS pack of wedding invitations she snagged for a few bucks. It's the boxed set you see at Michael's, Target, and such with decorated paper, envelopes, name cards, etc. I thought the brown and silver swirl pattern was lovely and 'thought' I could turn them into easy cards. Well if these 2 are any indication, my shortcut is adding an hour onto my cards. LOL.

 Sketch Inspiration ~ 365 Cards Day 63 ~ Super Sketchy Sunday

Inspiration

Our Daily Bread Challenge #11 ~ Mother’s Day

S2G Twisted Thursday Challenge #54 ~ It’s All About Mother

Charisma Cardz #17 ~ Girly with Flowers

KL Stamping & Scrapping Challenge #28 ~ Inside Out (Decorate inside and outside of card)

365 Cards Day 50 ~ Digging Deep

1) Use an item that is more than a year old - SU pastels

2) Something that you were given that you have never used - Wedding invites

3) Something you forgot you had - Poor little stamp was LOST in my studio

My Creation
That's my sweet mom peeking from behind the card. She's never far from my thoughts or heart.

Image Detail

Inside

INS AND OUTS ~ 1ST MOTHER'S DAY CARD OF THE WEEK

Stamps: Inkadinkadoo, My Grafico Digi Verse

Paper: SU Wild Wasabi and Certainly Celery, Wedding invitation, SU DP

Ink: SU Pastels, Versamark

Accessories: Misc yarn, DCWV Rubons

Techniques: Popping Pastels