Birthday Whimsy

I have quite a few birthdays coming up in the next few months, so I wanted to get ahead and make some birthday cards. I really like the 'Birthday Whimsy' stamp set. I think it's retired, but I bought it off eBay, and I love it! Here's what I've done so far:


The above card I did for the Mojo Monday sketch (which gives you a proposed layout, and you make the card approximately the way it's sketched). I didn't enter it in the contest or anything, I just liked the layout.

Father's Day Frenzy

Father's Day is coming up, and it is my husband's second year as a father. Last year, Alexander was only 2 weeks old, so I wasn't able to do something for Jeff on Father's Day. So I was resolved to do something special for Jeff this year.

To start off, I have made Jeff a Father's Day card:



The shirt is origami from this website. It shows you the directions for the shirt, and it also offers a free, printable shirt with the folding lines (which is what I used): www.tammyyee.com/origamishirt.html

And Jeff's birthday is going to be later that week (June 18), so I'd better get going with his birthday card!

Music Medley

I decided, since I successfully completed a ladybug card for my friend, I decided I could make more personalized cards for other people based on their interests. My older sister, Anne, is a pianist. She graduated from McMaster University for Performing Arts - Piano. She is brilliant. So I decided to make her a piano birthday card for her birthday in August:


Card Stock - Basic Black, Whisper White, Pink Pirouette

The Pink Pirouette is the inside of the card.

The card stock is 5 1/2" x 12", folded halfway. The space for the keys is 1". I drew lines for the keys at 1 cm each, and the black keys are just eyeballed; they might be 3/4" long and 1/4" wide - I'm not sure of the exact measurement. For the ribbon, I cut a slit at the crease of the card so the ribbon could go through. The inside of the card is empty so I can write what I want in it.

Ladybugs Galore

One of my closest friends, Heather, loves ladybugs. Her daughter Emma is dressed in ladybugs quite often, her coasters are ladybugs, her fridge magnets are ladybugs, her tattoo is a ladybug... you catch my drift. So for her birthday (which isn't until September), I decided to make her a ladybug card.

Now I don't have a template for this card, since I don't have a circle scissor or anything like that. So I simply used round objects that looked about the proper size. Here it is:



The wings are not attached initially, I used brads to attach them to the body so the wings would 'open and close'. I used Black Embossing powder for the caption. I'm thinking about adding some eyes, but I haven't given too much thought to that. I hope I can wait until September before showing her!

Correction of Commencement

Well, I was misinformed about the swap. I have to make only 35-40 card fronts (which is a relief), and the swap is held on Saturday, June 13, not June 6. So it also gives me some breathing room, because I am still waiting for an order for the paper and the 'Tearing Edge' (a ruler that creates a perfect tear). I have already stamped the flower and the caption on the Whisper White card stock (I have actually done 100 of them - yeesh), so I get to make 100 of those cards anyway!

I have also recently purchased expired stamp sets off eBay, and I got three Canada Post notifications today, so I will be picking them up later this afternoon. (excited!) I have ordered 2 background stamps (diamond and lace patterns), and 'Vogue Verses', 'Holiday Hello', and 'Fun Filled'. I can't wait to get them... lots of new ideas! Now I just have to get the Stampin' Up! family colour stamp sets, so I can coordinate my colours!

Last night I worked on a gift card holder. Robyn (my demonstrator) showed us the template this past Tuesday, so I got busy and made a few. I had some left over paper from Michaels, and I had been wondering what to do with it, so I made the gift card holders with that paper. Here is a picture of what we made on Tuesday:


The inside. I used a business card, but they're about the same size.



Here is my attempt at the directions for it:

4 1/4" x 11" size card stock (in the picture we used DSP).
Score the paper (you can use a bone folder and a ruler) at 3", 5 1/2", and 8".
Fold the paper so that it looks like a "w" or "m".
Using double sided tape, tape the edges of the card stock so that the middle is glued together (looks like "T").
Cut a slit down the edge, so the gift card will fit. We also used a tag punch to make an indent to get the gift card out easier.
You can decorate the front of it whichever way you like. We used birthday wishes because birthdays are a good excuse to buy someone a gift card!

I hope the directions make sense.

Beginning of a Blog

I will begin my blog with exciting news! My Stampin' Up! demonstrator, Robyn Stahls, is taking me to the next demonstrator card swap on Saturday, June 6! I hope I can get someone to babysit Alexander, since Jeff is working; I don't know how long the swaps go for. But I digress...

For the swap, I am required to make 100 cards!!!!! I am going to make just the front of the card, as to save card stock. Here is the card front I will be making for my swap:



Stamp Sets - Heartfelt Thanks, Simply Said
Card Stock - Kiwi Kiss, Pacific Point, Whisper White
Ink - Pacific Point, Kiwi Kiss

I'm not so thrilled about having to make 100 of this card, but I'm so excited about getting 100 cards back - 100 new possible ideas! Wish me luck!