Birthday Cupcakes

I replicated the card that I forgot to photograph from the Christmas gift set. This one got rave reviews, and I must say that it's pretty snazzy. Such a happy color combo.

Cardstock: SU - riding hood red, kiwi kiss, baja breeze; DCWV - Mi Casa stack; watercolor paper
Stamps: SU - The More the Merrier
Ink: VF - onyx
Misc: MM - green eyelets; SU - watercolor pencils, blender pen; pop dots
Inspiration card

It's a Boy

I had to make a quick card before attending a baby shower this weekend. I'm pleased with the design and how quickly it came together (for a change). Not to mention it's my own design. Go me!

Cardstock/Paper: SU - Parisian Breeze; kraft
Stamps: SU - Office Accoutrement; VV - Practically Perfect
Ink: SO - timber brown
Misc: EK - binding edge punch; SU - choc. chip clip, choc. chip brad, baja breeze buttons, linen thread; pop dots; Zots

Eat Cake

I have lots of birthdays to send cards for in the next week. This one came out pretty darn cute, assuming you like pink. *wink*

Cardstock: TM - queen's diner; SU - pretty in pink, cameo coral, pale plum

Ink: VF - onyx

Stamps: TCP - smells like cake, you say it's your birthday

Misc: zips; MM - dk. pink eyelets; Sizzix - circles #2; SU - watercolor pencils, blender pen; crystal stickles; silver glitter pen; pop dots; raspberry satin ribbon; raspberry fiber

Inspiration

Owl Be Yours

'Tis the time to begin thinking about that special someone. Have you bought a card yet? Since I'm home sick and feeling a little more human today, I decided to get a jump on Valentine's Day.

Once I've chosen a set of stamps for my card (Wise Owl by PaperTrey Ink in this case), I, unlike most of you talented people out there, do not begin sketching but instead go in search of a design to inspire me. Today, however, I just didn't find anything. And I actually had an idea spring to mind. So I got out my pad of paper and began with a rough design {pictured top left} - two snuggling owls holding hands with eyes closed in contentment.

Because I don't have a tree limb in my vast array of stamps, I knew I was going to have to either draw one or create one somehow. I sketched it first but didn't really like where that was going. I'm a pitiful doodler. I ultimately decided I could come back to that quandry later and decided to get started on the card instead. I could at least get the paper cut, base down, and my owls going.

As I began laying everything out, it dawned on me that I might be able to use some of my fiber stash to create the tree branches. And I was pretty sure I had just the thing. Sure enough, two strands side-by-side sufficed to create the illusion of a tree branch. Voila! Since this is intended as a valentine, I opted for small hearts as leaves. All in all, I'm quite pleased with the result.

The inside sentiment is also from Wise Owl. A few years ago I wouldn't have really understood this verse. But it means a lot to me now.

Incidentally, how do you like my watermark? I couldn't decide between having it in color or not. My mom really liked it in color best, and so do I. Hopefully it's not distracting? Anyway, I figure I should put my stamp, so to speak, on my custom card designs since they're so few & far between.

Cardstock: SU - mellow moss, chocolate chip, windsor knot; kraft; white

Stamps: PTI - wise owl, around & about sentiments; SU - happy hearts

Ink: SU - chocolate chip, really rust, mellow moss, real red

Misc: SU - alpine ribbon, hodgepodge hardware, watercolor pencils, blender pen; SU/Sizzix - top note; pop dots; Zips; Zots; Crop-a-dile; brown felt fiber; Paper Adventure - punch wheel: heart

Gift Set No. 14

I was drawn to this card for its unusual color scheme - definitely way outside my usual box. But it really worked for me in this instance.

Base: white pre-scored card

Paper: TLC - dill thin line plaid

Cardstock: white; SU - perfect plum

Ink: SU - mellow moss, perfect plum

Misc: MM - brads; SU - ticket corner punch; Crop-a-dile

Inspiration here

Gift Set No. 13

I hope you're enjoying the gift set thus far. We only have a few more cards to go & then ... well, I'll have to get to work on something new. *grin*

Base: white pre-scored card

Cardstock: DCWV - luxury stack; SU - brocade blue; black; lt. grey

Ink: VF - onyx; SU - brocade blue

Stamps: SU - Close as a Memory

Misc: MM - black brads; SU - black grossgrain, ticket corner punch; Zips; Crop-a-dile 

Inspiration here

Gift Set No. 11

Today's card is the last of the five cards that are in the Blank section of the gift box. It's good to have a few cards on hand when you just want to say "hi" or "I'm thinking of you."

Base: white pre-scored card
Cardstock: SU - chocolate chip, barely banana, baja breeze, windsor knot; lt grey

Ink: SU - old olive, pretty in pink, perfect plum

Stamps: VV - Petals & Stems

Misc: MM - pewter brads; white satin ribbon; Zips; SU - scallop edge punch; pop dots; Crop-a-dile; corner rounder

Inspiration here

Gift Set No. 4

And today we're finishing up the Applause section of the gift box with the last of the five thank-you cards included in the set.

Base: white pre-scored card
Cardstock: white; stone; SU - chocolate chip, sage shadow, Windsor Knot

Stamps: SU - Thoroughly Thankful

Ink: SU - chocolate chip

Misc: SU - watercolor pencils, blender pen; MM - pewter brads; Zips; brown ribbon; pop dots; Crop-a-dile

Inspiration here

Gift Set No. 3

Today's card is the third in a two-week series from a gift set I gave to my grandmother for Christmas.

Base: white pre-scored card

Cardstock: navy; red; white; SU - bashful blue

Stamps: VV - Petals & Stems; SU - Framed Greetings

Ink: SU - old olive, more mustard, night of navy

Misc: Crop-a-Dile; red gem; Zots; MM - red brads; pop dots

Inspiration here

Sneak Peak No. 4

I don't know about you, but it's difficult to find really nice sympathy cards at the grocery store. Often you find a nice cover or a nice verse, but rarely do you find the two together in the same card. I suppose that's what got my card-making habit started in the first place.

Base: white pre-scored card

Cardstock: kraft; SU - chocolate chip, sage shadow

Ink: SU - blush blossom, sage shadow, chocolate chip

Stamps: SU - Close as a Memory

Misc: SU - scallop edge punch, ticket corner punch; MM - copper brads; Crop-a-Dile; sponge dobber

Inspiration here

Gift Card Holders

These are all part of the card assortment I'm making for my friend. I just loves these bases from Sheetload Shortcuts. It makes it soooo easy to whip up a super cute gift card! And since gift cards are becoming the gifts of choice these days, I thought it would be nice to have a few in her bundle.

Celebrations

Base: Sheetload - Gift Card Holder
Cardstock: SEI - Polka Party
Misc: MM - blue crystal brad; spiral

Holidays
Base: Sheetload - Gift Card Holder
Cardstock: SU - Wintergreen; white
Ink: Versamark
Stamps: So Many Scallops
Misc: SU - gold embossing powder; MM - green crystal brad; pop dots

Thanks
Base: Sheetload - Gift Card Holder
Paper/Cardstock: SU - Rebecca, rose red
Ink: Versamark
Stamps: So Many Scallops
Misc: Stampendous - white pearls embossing powder; brad; pop dots

Thanks
Base: Sheetload - Gift Card Holder
Paper: SU - Pool Party
Misc: SU - certainly celery grossgrain ribbon; lt. blue ribbon; Zips; MM - metal tag

Thanks

Base: white pre-scored card
Cardstock: SU - brocade blue, certainly celery; brown; white
Ink: SU - chocolate chip, certainly celery, brocade blue
Stamps: SU - Office Accoutrement, Cheery Chat, Background Basics
Misc: metal flower; buttons; ribbon; Zips; Zots; pop dots
Inspiration

Birthday Gift Card

I made this great gift card holder using a Sheetload Shortcut. I highly recommend these little jewels. They're super easy to put together & make the presentation so much nicer than what I've been able to come up with on my own! Just stick it together, decorate it, and *voila*!










Background: Sheetload Shortcut Gift Card Holder
Cardstock: SU - Western Sky; shimmery silver
Stamps: SU - Stars & Swirls; Papertrey Ink - Sample Alphabet
Ink: SU - Chocolate Chip; Verafine - onyx
Misc: star gems; MM - silver eyelet; tacky tape; twine; Crop-a-Dile; SU - tag punch