Happy Birthday Dad

Making a birthday card for my Dad brought to light a card making dilemma that I have had before (and will likely have again): it is so difficult to make a card for a man, especially when so many of my papers and embellishments are pink, floral, and to be honest, very girly.

It was a struggle, and I spent a great deal of time rummaging through my supplies, but in the end I came up with something that I really liked (and my Dad did too):

I think the key to making a 'man' card is to keep the patterned paper very basic: stripes, dots...in this case a wood grain, and then really layer things up. Layers, like Paris, are always a good idea.

For embellishments I added some stars and a heart - which I cut out using my Quickutz Squeeze (what??? I can't remember the last time I used that). I also tied on some twine.

Do you have trouble creating cards for the men in your life?

Happy Birthday Claire-Bear

On the weekend we celebrated this sweet girl of ours:

Our Claire-Bear is six years old.

Turning six was a very big deal for her. She has spent the last few months counting down to her birthday, to "when she is six". And whenever she talked about her friends who already had a sixth birthday, she was sure to remind me that her friend was already six and that she would be soon. She even made grand speeches at the dinner table saying that she had to eat her supper or she would stop growing and not turn six. Six is a big deal.

So of course, when I made her a birthday card I was sure to include more than one six.

She had so much fun at her birthday party: playing in the pool, eating Cheesies, laughing with her sister and her cousins, and happy to be the "special girl" for the day.

Happy 6th Birthday Claire-Bear. We love you so much.

Huh?

I made this card in less than five minutes.

All the pieces just sort of came together.

The numbers are an entire sheet of rub-ons that I have had forever. I love the font but have never had the right project to use them on, that is until I had the brilliant idea to put them all on the front of this card.

The patterned papers are just scraps...that happened to coordinate perfectly with the numbers.

The “Huh?” journaling sprout is from Jillibean Soup. The perfect addition.

I think you could use this card for any occasion – birthday, congratulations, thank you, thinking of you – the lack of a traditional sentiment on the front really leaves it wide open.

What do you think?

Happy Birthday Mom

This weekend was my Mom's birthday. We got together with her on Sunday afternoon for coffee and cake and then had a simple and delicious dinner. I feel very blessed to have my parents live so close to me, making celebrating these days together possible.

Of course I made my Mom a birthday card. Using flowered paper, because everyone who has a birthday in the dead of winter deserves a flower birthday card.

The patterned paper is from the Beautiful Life line by Echo Park.

I inked the edges on this card, which is something I have not done in a while, and I love how it makes the papers pop against each other.

After I was done my Mom's card, I had a few paper scraps left on my table so I quickly put together this card, which I will keep on hand for my Oma's birthday in March.

Making cards for the special people in my life makes me so happy, especially when I see how happy it makes them to receive a handmade card. Sharing my love of the handmade and seeing the joy it brings to others is one of the many reasons I craft.

Have you made cards for anyone lately? Or anything else?

Thank you for reading and have a fantastic day.

Autumn Birthday Card

Good Morning! I hope everyone had a great weekend.

Today I have another card to show you - an autumn birthday card inspired by the season and the latest sketch challenge at The Memory Nest. 

Here is the sketch that I was working with. 

And here is my card.

I used paper and embellishments from the Happy Harvest line by Doodlebug Designs. I have a lot of this paper - I just love the bright, bold colors - and made a few cards with it last fall as well. 

Head on over to The Memory Nest to see what the other Design Team ladies came up with for this challenge - their work is always so inspirational - and link up your own creation if you'd like.

Happy Scrapping!

Paper from the Past

Back when I started scrapbooking, about ten years ago now, I was absolutely in love with the paper from 'ki memories' Do you remember them? Their papers were so cheerful and fun, and I bought many, many lines.

Well, a few weeks ago, overwhelmed by the total mess at my craft table, I got cleaning up and happened upon a folder of old 'ki' paper. In looking at the paper, I was amazed that I could remember exactly the layouts I had done using it: Steve and I at the pool and the beach while on vacation in Mexico. Sitting back in my chair, I remembered the fantastic trip we had - the sun, the white sand, the food, the margaritas, our adventures at the Mayan ruins...isn't it incredible that just looking at this paper brought back so many memories? I put the paper aside, knowing that I wanted to use it again sometime soon.

And then along came the current sketch challenge at The Memory Nest. Here is the sketch:

And get this, the twist is to use old paper from your stash and lots of layers.

Could it get any better? I made this card:

Old paper - check. Lots of layers - check

I had so much fun making this card and loved that so many memories came flooding back when I saw this paper. Thanks to Katie - one of our sketch designers - for another fantastic dose of inspiration.

So what about you? Got any old scrapbooking paper lying around that is just shouting for a chance to be used again. This challenge is the perfect thing for that. The work of the Design Team can be found here (see if you can recognize any of the older papers) and the link up is here as well.

Happy Scrapping!

Make a Wish

Does anyone else find it hard to do paper crafting in the summer? I do. With the weather being so nice and the garden work to be done, not to mention all the family activities that fill up the weekends, I find it very hard to go downstairs to my craft table and work with my paper. And with all the supplies I need, I can not very well bring my paper crafting to the beach...so needless to say my paper crafting slows down considerably in the summer.

But every two weeks, armed with a new sketch challenge from The Memory Nest, I do get something done. And last week, thanks to a couple rainy days that forced me indoors, I made two cards.

Here is the latest sketch:

This card was for Claire (who turned 5 on the weekend...how can my baby be 5?) and it is very close to the sketch - blocks of paper, circles in the corners, diagonal lines as part of the background. Claire loved her card, but then it has a fairy on the front, so what is not to love?

This card is more loosely based on the sketch. I think it is really pretty though and love the patterned squares against the patterned background. 

Are you able to tear yourself away from the beautiful summer weather and play with your paper? Are you inspired to create with this sketch? You can link up your layouts or cards at The Memory Nest. 

Now I am off to spend a little more time outside, soaking up the sun and the warmth. Have a lovely day.

Happy Birthday

Just a few days before my daughter's 7th birthday party, I finished this layout of her and her friends celebrating her 6th birthday.

As I worked with these photos, I was struck by the huge amount of growing and maturing that Bridget has done in the last year. I am sure all you mothers know what I mean. Time, could you please slow down.....

I love the paper that I used for this layout - RSVP by Basic Grey. The paper and the coordinating embellishment pack were actually picked out by my girls. Steve took them to the local scrapbook store to choose paper and supplies for me for Christmas - how I wish I could have been a fly on the wall while they were running about the store picking things out, how cute they would have been.

Using some of my paper scraps and some coordinating die cuts, I also made this birthday card.

I am slowly finishing up my 2013 album. I am proud to say that because this is probably the most caught up I have ever been when in comes to scrapbooking. So while the cold and the snow are not my most favorite things, it has given me many evenings perfectly suited to a cup of tea and some serious scrapbooking - and there is absolutely nothing wrong with that.

I Love this Guy

Today I am so excited to be featured as the Guest Designer over at The Memory Nest. Here is what I created using the Cut and Paste line by My Mind's Eye.  

What a great line of paper - the colors are very neutral and would coordinate with a variety of photos, and there are so many great patterns. For my layout I chose to use a photo of my husband and I that we took while we were on a weekend getaway to celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary. Notice how I am happily smiling in this photo, well that was not the case shortly after we snapped this shot – I had a rather spectacular fall while we were hiking down the mountain. Thankfully I walked away with just my pride and my tailbone a tad bruised.

The 'I love this guy' arrow was just perfect for my page and even though it is small, I decided to use it as my title. I am always trying to find new ways to add titles to my pages and thought that in this case a smaller title would keep the focus on the picture; who says a title has to take up lots of space on the page?

Adorable chipboard flowers – I love how they look on the same colored background paper. And did you notice the ombre effect on the background paper?

Of course I really layered the paper on this page, using as many of the different patterned papers from the collection as possible.  I love this layered look.

In addition to my layout I also made this card. Again, I layered the papers and used some of the coordinating stickers and chipboard.

I have really become a fan of buying an entire line of paper with the coordinating embellishments. It makes designing and completing a layout/card so much easier. Until recently, I rarely used to purchase an entire collection, preferring to buy the odd piece of patterned paper and then use something from my stash to embellish. And while I did get layouts finished using this approach, I spent a great deal of time rummaging through my supplies. Having everything coordinated from the get-go is such a time saver. I have not abandoned my stash completely – like that would ever happen – but when I do sift through it, I am most often looking for one odd thing rather than embellishments for the entire page.  The layout and card that I made here came together so easily and quickly because I had everything ready to go before I even started designing. Is buying an entire line of paper and embellishments something you do?

I want to thank Leslie for the opportunity to be the Guest Designer this month. I loved working with this paper line and appreciate the chance to showcase my work.....

Card of the Week: Cupcake Happy Birthday Cards

Today I have three fun cupcake birthday cards to show you. Same papers, but different designs.

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: Bella Blvd; Cardstock: Bazzill; Border Punch: Fiskars; Washi Tape: my stash; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives, 3D Foam Squares

I think they are so fun. Perfect for a child's birthday or for a cupcake loving adult.

Love these cards? I'll be listing them in my shop.

Card of the Week: The Same Yet Different

This week's card is the same as the card that I made my Dad for his birthday a few weeks back except that I used different paper. The paper is from Jillibean soup, of course.

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: Jillibean Soup; Butterfly: Jillibean Soup; Rub-On Sentiment: my stash; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives

Same design (which I really like), yet different paper, makes for a completely new card. A sweet little card that would be so simple to make multiples of.

Thanks for stopping by and have a lovely day!

Card of the Week: Happy Birthday Claire

On Saturday Claire turned four years old. How is it possible that my baby is four? How is she such a big girl already, a girl who is watching and learning from the world around her every day?

And she is watching, something I learned again to be true at her birthday party.

Rewind to Friday. I had spent the day chopping vegetables up for salads and for a veggie tray, making dips, and generally getting things ready for the party. After the girls were in bed, I was so tired….but I still had not made a birthday card for Claire. I should not have left it to the last minute, but it had been a busy week as well, and it just sort of happened that way. As I sat at my craft table trying to come up with a design, I thought to myself “Maybe I won’t bother making a card, she is only four, she won’t even notice.” But something, maybe knowing that I had made cards for her and her sister every other year and would be bothered by a missing year, made me press on and come up with this card for my sweet little girl.

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: Basic Grey; Cardstock: Bazzill; Buttons: Making Memories; Twine: We R Memory Keepers; Rhinestones: Recollections; Border Punch: Fiskars; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives, Glue Dots

When Claire opened up the envelope at the party and saw her card, her eyes widened and she exclaimed “Oh Mommy, did you make this card for me…thank you”. For me, it was the best moment of the afternoon.

Claire has seen me make and give cards to so many people and was so thrilled to have one made for her. She watched as others enjoyed the cards that I had made for them and now she had one of her own. And even though she quickly moved on to ripping the paper off her present, I saw a glimpse of her loving and appreciating the handmade, something that I have hoped to instill in my girls.

She is watching, she saw me create for others and her little heart was touched that I had made something for her. Precious.

Happy 4th Birthday Claire!

Card of the Week: Happy Birthday Dad

This weekend we celebrated my Dad's birthday. I made him this card.

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: Lily Bee Design; Cardstock: Bazzill; Rub-On Sentiment: my stash; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives

Like I did last week, I added some stitching to my card - such a fun detail, I am very glad that I rediscovered this technique.

My Dad had a great birthday. We had a BBQ, which he loves, and spent the afternoon together with the whole family chatting and laughing.

Happy Birthday Dad!

Card of the Week: Jillibean Soup Happy Birthday Card

Inspired by this sketch and using some of the awesome Jillibean Soup paper that I have in my stash, I created this card.

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: Jillibean Soup; Cardstock: Bazzill; Twine: We R Memory Keepers; Flower: Prima; Brad: Making Memories; Sentiment Rub-On: my stash; Border Punch: Fiskars; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives, Glue Dots

I added a little bit of sewing to this card, something I have not done in awhile. I love how it gives the tag some dimension - such a fun detail.

Card of the Week: Big Flower Happy Birthday

I have a lot of chipboard in my cupboard...picked up over the years at sales here and there. It is quite the stash, let me tell you, and many of the pieces do not often work for me on layouts. So this week I thought I would try and use a large chipboard piece as the main feature on a card.

Here is what I came up with:

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: American Crafts; Cardstock: Bazzill Chipboard Flower: October Afternoon; Border Punch: Fiskars; Sentiment Rub-On: Bazzill; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives, 3D Foam Squares

Something about the gingham patterned paper and the large vintage looking flower on this card reminds me of a summer picnic.

And I love how the patterned paper and the chipboard flower are from two different manufacturers yet they coordinate so well together.

Card of the Week: May you Always Walk in Sunshine

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper; Cardstock: Bazzill; Quote Tag: My Mind's Eye; Twill Ribbon: my craft stash; Ink: Ranger Inks; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives, 3D Foam Squares

Isn't this sentiment beautiful?

As soon as I saw it I knew it would be perfect for the front of a card.

I think this card would work well for a birthday, a graduation, or to congratulate or encourage a friend.

May you always walk in sunshine: a wish for any occasion.

Card of the Week: Flowers & Swirls

This past weekend my entire family gathered together at a local Chinese restaurant to celebrate my grandparents' birthdays. Their birthdays are only days apart so we always combine the celebration.

To mark the occasion, I made them each a card...because that is what I do!

For my Oma, this floral patterned paper was perfect as she loves flowers and gardening. Since the pattern on this paper is so beautiful, I did not add many embellishments, just a few simple rhinestones, in order to let the pattern shine through.

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: SEI; Cardstock: Bazzill; Rub-On Sentiment: Bazzill; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives, 3D Foam Squares

For my Opa, I have to be honest, I struggled as I always do when it comes to making cards for men. With two girls, my scrapbooking supplies are overrun with pink and purple paper, ribbons, jewels, flowers; there is not much in there that would be suitable for an older man's card. I spent quite a bit of time rummaging through things in order to find supplies for this card. In the end, I went with this blue swirl paper, accenting it with a complimentary yellow and maroon...and I do think that it looks quite manly.

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: Making Memories; Cardstock: Bazzill; Rub-On Sentiment: Bazzill; Border Punch: Fiskars; Button: my craft stash; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives, 3D Foam Squares

My Oma and Opa loved their cards and loved celebrating their birthdays with the entire family together. It was a great evening.

How was your weekend? Celebrate any special occasions? Make any cards?

Card of the Week: Five Cards in One Week

I had a really great card making week!

I just love those times when the designs come easily, when the creative energy really flows, and when after a few hours spent crafting there are several completed projects to show. Oh, I love those times of overflowing creativity so much and lately I have had a few...resulting in a few scrapbook layouts, and these cards.

I made these five cards using one piece of patterned paper that I found in my stash (gotta love the stash). The coordinating cardstock was also on hand, as well as the various embellishments. What can I say, the card making stars aligned.

First a grid-style thank you card:

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper; Cardstock: Bazzill; Circle Punch: Fiskars; Rub-On: Pebbles Inc.; Butterfly: Studio Calico; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives

And these four birthday cards, after all you can never have too many birthday cards on hand.

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper; Cardstock: Bazzill; Circle Punch, Border Punch: Fiskars; Rub-On: Bazzill; Bird: Jillibean Soup; Flower: Prima; Button: my craft stash; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives, Glue Dots, 3D Foam Squares

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper; Cardstock: Bazzill; Rub-On: Bazzill; Flower: Prima; Button: my craft stash; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives, Glue Dots, 3D Foam Squares

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper; Cardstock: Bazzill; Border Punch: Fiskars; Rub-On: Bazzill; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives, 3D Foam Squares

Card Base: Recollections; Patterned Paper: Crate Paper; Cardstock: Bazzill; Circle Punch, Border Punch: Fiskars; Rub-On: Bazzill; Butterfly: Studio Calico; Adhesive: Scrapbook Adhesives, 3D Foam Squares

Like I said, a good week.

How has the creative energy been flowing for you?