A Special Anniversary

Life is what happens when you are busy making other plans, said John Lennon. So true. I've been busy outside of the craft room until recently so finally I have some projects to share.

My in-laws are an amazing couple. At 88 and 89, they are still vibrant and active and enjoying themselves. They just marked their 68th wedding anniversary so that called for more than just a card. I put together a small accordion album with just 4 photos to illustrate the fact that I think they are still the glamourous couple they've always been. I used photos from their early years and a recent one as well to prove that. I had a K&Co paper pad with lovely embossed patterns to use for the outside (squares of paper glued to cereal box cardboard) and a different pattern for the insides. Black pages folded and glued together formed the accordion pages for the photos. Seam binding, a pocket embellishment and some acrylic numbers added the final touches. They loved it!

So easy. I hope it inspires you to try one.

Thanks for visiting. I do have a few cards to share with you in the next few days, so check back....

*smile*

Do a Good Deed Day

I received a card in the mail from a friend who never fails to send Holiday greetings at Rosh Hashanah (the Jewish New Year). In the past, there were times that I'd labor over almost 100 intricate cards for friends and family but rarely receive more than a handful in return. I've become disenchanted with the process. I'd decided that I would only send my labors of love to those that sent to me first.

But, in honor of the memory of the 9-11 tragedy, a group called Do A Good Deed is asking people to do  just that today. So, my good deed is to reconsider my decision. Instead of waiting to see who will send a card my way, I'll make some to send before. There are family members that enjoy them so I'll be good. And on that list will be my friend who never forgets.

I played around with text boxes and used an old font called CK Becky (designed by Becky Higgins) to computer generate a sentiment to coordinate with a Stampin Up banner punch. Add some cute patterned papers, bling and a Unity bird stamp that I adore and there you have a cute card with a lot of love but not a lot of labor.

Thanks for coming by. Who can you do a good deed for today?

*smile*

Speed Limit 65

Wow. Long time, no post. Sorry. Went off on vacation. Came back to a pile of mail and a pile of scrapbook goodies from my CKC trip to still deal with. Then, wanting to continue working on some scrapbooking that I started on the trip, I just wasn't making cards.

But my b-i-l's birthday is next week so I had to crank one out. He's facing a milestone that I just couldn't resist turning into a play on a traffic sign. I hand wrote the details on the sign out of sheer laziness but I like the look, as a result. At first I thought that I'd have to find numbers to fit within the sign but settled for larger ones and I like that outcome too. The Paper Loft patterned paper was sitting out, I have no idea why so it became part of the card. The sentiment is from Sentiment Sampler by Paper Smooches. Oh, and my dh looked at the card and said, "I like the grass." Uh, thanks dear, that come from a die. Lol.

Thanks for dropping in. I'm not worthy. (hee hee)

Our Daily Bread meets Memory Box

When I was at CKC Lancaster last week, I won lots of drawings. CK really aims to keep you happy. There are drawings in classes, at the crops and on the vendor floor. I won this blingy necklace at the Friday night crop. It has a ring and lobster clasp on the end so I use it when I'm crafting so that my readers are always nearby. (Sad, but true.)

Luckily, that night, I sat at a table with a friend I hadn't seen in a while and her co-workers who worked for a week on the sea theme decorations for the table. They were vying for the Grand Prize for best table.  Well, wouldn't you know they won? So I won, too, because there were prizes for the whole table. A big bag of SEI goodies. I'm telling you, CKCs are a ton of fun.

Anyway, the prize that was even more fun was a vendor door prize I won that gave me a gift certificate to shop at Our Daily Bread's (ODB) booth. I had a tough time deciding on what to get so I just had to pick up more than what I had to spend (that's what they are hoping for, right? Lol.) I settled on a Butterfly Branch stamp that is normally part of a set called Faith and it's accompanying ODB die. Then, of course, since they carry Memory Box dies, I gave in to a set I've been wanting for awhile. The Grand Madison window, shutters and flower box dies. They are all starring in today's card. I can imagine so many different window scenes to do with these dies. The only problem is that when they are placed side by side, the card size required is at least 6"x6". There is a smaller version I might have to go looking for in order to fit a standard sized card base.

Before I show you the card, I have to tell you that I was blown away by the intricacy of the branch die. I don't think I'd ever have the patience to cut the detail that it does. See for yourself below. I'm sold on dies that coordinate with stamps!

So here it is. I made it with Stampin Up paper for a friend of the family who's birthday is coming up. I preferred the Hero Arts greeting I chose over a traditional Happy Birthday because it matches the special glittery butterfly that I popped up.

Here's a closer look at the dimension I gave the window and butterfly.

Thanks for sticking it out to the end of my rambling. I just want to tell you it all!

Oh, and I have a tip for you that I learned from the people in the ODB booth. Let's call it Crafty Tip #70. Place a sheet of wax paper between your die and your paper before you cut it and it will slide off the die much easier. Can't wait to try it on a doily die!

Til next time.... *smile*

Hero Arts Scramble

I've never done one of these over on Hero Arts Flickr page so I used up a good chunk of the alloted time. I think I was the last to post! Lol. I also didn't realize that I didn't need to make a blog post about it, just a URL link to my Flickr upload. I learned that lesson.

Anyway, the challenge was to make a card in 90 minutes that combined two different sentiments or created a custom sentiment. I don't have many Hero Arts stamps but luckily enough to put together this card. The sheep are from Happy Day Animals, the snoozing cat from I Love My Cat (I don't even have a cat....) and the sentiments are a combination of "Seize the Cake" from a birthday greeting set that only calls itself CL139 and letters to form the word "nap" from A Happy Hello.

See the cat? Under that paper pieced cat is a very badly colored first cat. Don't tell, okay? Lol.

Thanks for checking in. That was a fun way to avoid all the other projects I have to get back to!

*smile*

Collage #1

I've always admired Claudine Hellmuth's work so when I saw that she was conducting an online Composition for Collage class over at Big Picture Scrapbooking, I had to jump in. Learn from the best, they say.

So we started with week one yesterday and this is what I came up with. She gave us images to work with so that was a start. As in my cards, I tend to like to tell stories so I combined some images that worked well with a story in mind. (The word "Stuff" comes from a Smashbook pocket folder. Loved the retro feel.)

I've got a card idea germinating so maybe you'll see it here soon. Thanks for dropping by and have a nice weekend!

What's on Your Workspace today?

All around my workspace is the treasure trove of goodies that I brought back from CKC Lancaster on Sunday. I have so many unfinished projects that my muse will be on duty for a while, but that's okay. It's gonna be fun to get them done.

Here's the top of the workspace though.

Closer, closer....

You'll find a spur-of-the-moment project I had to do with a new Spellbinders die that I picked up. It's Spiral Blossom One. Cut it, roll it and it looks like a flower. I thought I try my hand at making a flower to sit on top of a pen for my desk. A friend inspired me to Shop My Stash (a challenge to use what we have!) So this flower is for the Shopping Our Stash #62. I used some old Stampin Up Petals and Paisleys paper, butterfly and dragonfly charms and stem wrapping tape... all gathering dust in my stash.

And the result of forming the flower, perching it on top of a pen, then taping a wire with charms on it to the pen.

Now, I'll have a pretty pen on my desk. Back to the unfinished projects....
Check out Julia's blog if you want to visit other desks of the world. Enjoy!