Happy Birthday, Billy:)

I'm so happy to have crafting time while I'm visiting PA.  This morning I've made a great BD card for my dear hubby whose birthday is tomorrow:)

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DEAR HUBBY!

For this card, I visited my good friend Gloria's blog and used one of her amazing card sketches.  You can visit her blog post showcasing this sketch here.  I've also posted a pic of the sketch below:

I decided to follow this one pretty closely because the papers I had matched well with her finished projects and I love how hers turned out.

Here is my "take" on it.  I'm so glad that this sketch made it easy to complete a card with a masculine feel.

Thanks for the inspiration, Gloria!  Your sketches ROCK!

enJOY:)

Happy Birthday, Mom:)

While we are visiting our family in PA, we wanted to celebrate my mother-in-law's birthday a bit early since we won't be here on her actual birthday this year.

My husband was going to buy a card for her, but I told him I had the perfect idea for a card for her.  I brought some of my October Afternoon pp with me which has this amazing vintag-y feel and was perfect for what I had in mind.  I also brought along some darling stamps I bought a while back...and here is the hard part...I forget who made them!  I tossed the packaging and just CANNOT remember who makes these stamps which is a REAL bummer since I like to give credit to the manufacturer whenever I can.

Needless to say, if any of you out in Blogland want to give an altered girl some help, please feel free to comment with the manufacturer of these stamps so I can give some credit....I just LOVE these stamps!

First of all, I have to say, I just LOVE this October Afternoon line.  The counted cross stitch pattern is such a throwback to my past.  I've always been a crafter and remember my grandmothers creating counted cross stitch projects that were AMAZING!.

These stamps were a perfect addition to this card, too.  (The birthday wishes stamp is another stamp from my "stash).  I stamped the lamp and telephone onto the pp background, and then again on another piece of paper (for the lamp, a yellow background; for the telephone, an aqua background) so I could fussy cut around parts of the lamp and phone to pop them off the page.  I also cut around the patterned paper and made my own handcut scalloped edge across the top of this card.  KEWL, huh?

The inside of the card is really kewl, too!  I just LOVE finishing the insides of my cards now...and the bonus is...when I give them away, the recipients just LOVE these cards...I don't know about you, but I just LOVE the compliments I get when I give away one of my homemade cards:)

The sentiment on the inside of this card is from Cloud 9 design.  I just love these "simple thoughts" kind of stamps...they are SOOOOOO inspiring!  This quote is perfect for my MIL...she is such an inspiration and DEFINITELY has MORE beginnings than endings!

Happy Birthday to the BEST MIL!

Wedding Card....Take 2:)

Before I show my creations for the day, I want to take a moment to say THANK YOU to all of our military personnel that are risking their lives (and for some, giving their lives) to make the UNITED STATES of AMERICA continue to be the LAND OF THE FREE...

THANK YOU ALL FOR ALL YOU DO FOR OUR COUNTRY!

I'm visiting family this week in PA and we are having a wonderful time!  I knew I'd have some "down" time while I'm here, so I did bring a few of my scrappin' favs to make a few creations while I"m here.  I had made a card for my niece's wedding, but although I was very happy with it, I realized it seemed more appropriate for someone buying a house...good news...the next person that buys a house is going to get an AWESOME card from me:)

So, back to the drawing board I went, and came up with this instead:

I decided to stick with my Bo-Bunny 6 x 6 paper pack (which, yes, I brought with me) to make this card that I have to say, came out really great.  The best part is that my stepmother (who I'm staying with) is also a paper crafter, so I "borrowed" a few of her supplies to complete this card (specifically the red cardstock and the red/white ribbon).

Initially, the red wasn't exactly the shade I was looking for, so I used some Red Barn distress ink (that I DID bring with me) to richen the red paper up to what I was looking for.

I really love the way this turned out and can't wait until I get to give it away to my niece and new nephew-in-law next week.  The stamps I used for this card are from Inkadinkado.

Feel free to leave a comment:)

Happy Memorial Day!



Happy Birthday, Sean!

My "middle" child turns 30 tomorrow...so, I ask...what does that mean to me?  Well, it definitely means that I now have 2...yes, I said 2 children in their 30's...now HOW did THAT happen?

It seems like only yesterday....yes, I'm sure you know how the story goes, lol...

Well...HAPPY 30th BIRTHDAY, SEAN!

And here's the card I made especially for you:)

and of course, the inside...

hmmmm. the inside pic looks a bit brighter than the front pic...and I used the same functions in Photoshop for both...interesting, very interesting...

Supplies:

Some REALLY old paper from my stash...some Bohemia from My Mind's Eye (yes, I still love the Bohemia papers) and some Blue Raspberry Paisley from Deja Views...and of course some Bazzill Cardstock.

The stamps are from a set I've also had forever and don't have the packaging for anymore...sorry.

The HB is a sizzix alphabet die cut.  I bet I've had these for 8-10 years...AND I still go to them from time to time.

I added a little stickles and some homemade embellies and some ribbon from my stash...and voila, my card was complete.

enJOY:)

And so the story goes...

What a PERFECT time for an "and the story goes..." card:)  It's that time of year when WEDDING BELLS are ringing and buying NEW HOMES are on many FAMILIES minds...

So, I've been in a "NESTING" mood lately...ya know the kind that put you in the mood for buying a place of your own to call home?  BTW, heavens NO, I'm not thinking of nesting in the traditional way, lol...no more babies for this FRUGAL Scrapper...unless they are more grand babies of course:)  (hint, hint, Dan and Stephanie)...I'm just saying that my love of having NO maintenance issues by renting a condo are being upstaged by my need to FINALLY hang something on the walls AND to let go of the feeling that things aren't PERMANENT.

Anyway...I have a VERY SPECIAL niece who is getting married in two weeks, so I thought I'd work on a card for her...due to my "nesting" mood, I decided to use some of my favorite Studio 490 stamps...now I know I've had these for a while, but they ARE exactly what I just had to use for this card.

So onto the card (oh, and THANK YOU, Karen for your inspiration).

In addition to the theme, I decided I wanted to limit the colors on my card to natural colors.  Since BUILDING a life together starts with a VISION, I like to think that the color comes LATER.

and so the story goes...

Of course, I'm continuing with my decision to ALWAYS finish the insides of my cards...sooooo...

and they lived happily ever after...THE END

I made sure to leave some space on my card for a personal message to my niece and my new nephew-in-law.

Supplies:
Studio 490 Stamps SCS031
Studio 490 Stamps LCS018
Random stamps from the Carson Stamp Show (measuring tape and buttons stamp)
Bazzill Cardstock
K & Company patterned paper
Ranger Archival Ink - Coffee
Ranter Distress Ink - Wild Honey
Buttons from my stash

enJOY:)

Goin' Masculine...with CARDS:)

Hello out there, blogland:)

Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire here with a VERY IMPORTANT announcement...after 2 straight years of Frugal Scrappin' monthly classes at Ever After Scrapbooks, this Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire is taking some time off...yes, it's time to regroup, refocus, and rejuvenate over the summer....but WAIT a MINUTE!

There's ONE more chance to JOIN the Frugal Scrapper Extraordinaire (aka Lori) and here awesome sidekick, Karen for our LAST class of the season!

What better way to sign off for now, you may ask?  How about some AMAZING masculine themed cards?

We will USE SCRAPS as we complete 4 masculine themed cards.  In addition, as my friends Gloria and Melody have taught me...it is REALLY IMPORTANT to finish the insides of our cards.  It's amazing to me to see what a difference it makes in my cards when I finish the inside of a card.  Now you will get a chance to do so, too.

Please join Karen and I for our LAST CLASS on Thursday, May 26th from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.  This class, like all Frugal Scrappin' classes is sure to be a HIT!

Below are the class samples:

We will use some awesome papers from Graphic 45, Little Yellow Bicycle, and Paper Loft.  Also included will be Tim's Sizzix die cuts, distress inks, paint dabbers, archival inks and more!

Here is the supply list:

Frugal Scrappin’ 5/26 Supply List

Ranger Archival Ink-Coffee (or some other brown ink)
Distress Ink – Corduroy Brown, Scattered Straw, Forest Moss (or other similar colors)
Gold Paint Dabber
Tape Runner
Glue Dots
Pop Dots
Paper Trimmer
Scissors

Now, go on and give Ever After a call at 760-630-2767 and sign up soon!  As you may know, our classes have been known to sell out fast!

I look forward to seeing you in class:)

Two Peas Card Challenges

Two Peas in a Bucket ran a month long event called 30 Days of Stamping & Cardmaking for the month of April.  There was alot of inspiration and tuturials and I wish I had the time to play along every day, but alas, life sometimes gets in the way.

I did, however, get a set of cards done that embraced a few of the challenges throughout the month.  I'm so happy with these cards that I have already sent them out to loved ones.  As part of my "word of the year", CHALLENGE, I am trying to share my love of all things altered by actually sending my cards out.  No longer will I have boxes and boxes of completed projects under my crafting table!

What is the purpose of creating all of these beautiful cards, if I don't plan to share them, right?

So here is the card set I made over the last few weeks (you'll notice you've already seen one of the cards).

I consider these cards a set because I used the same patterned papers on all of them.  On the first card, I used the paper strip technique that is great for using all of those scraps we all have around.  I was able to also use some of the flowers I've had for "years".

The card in the middle is the one I already posted about.  If you scroll down, you will see it in more detail.

The last card I made especially for my friend, Denise.  Denise and I have been friends for YEARS and I don't see her much anymore since we now live almost 3000 miles away from each other.  I do want her to know, though, that I do still CHERISH our friendship. 

On this last card, I used one of my favorite Tim Holtz Alterations Dies and layered my patterned paper similar to the first card, as paper strips...with a twist:)  I also used the CHERISH stamp that I've had for YEARS and never even opened!  (shame on this Frugal Scrapper, lol)  I finished off by using these really cute "typed" letter stickers that Cosmo Cricket makes.  They are soooo much fun and are the PERFECT size for use on cards.

Enjoy!