Birthday Girl

Hard to believe our little Princess is 8. If you know her, then you are WELL AWARE of her love for the cupcake! In fact, I think her nickname should BE "Cupcake" instead of Carly. My friend Debbie tells a GREAT story about the time she took Carly to her son's school with her on the day that happened to be his bday and she was passing out cupcakes to all the kids. Carly's eyes followed each cupcake longingly as she PATIENTLY waited her turn to be served. HA! sounds about right.

Of course, Cupcake need a cupcake card. And I've been wanting to try making a Spinner Card for a while now, and it seemed the PERFECT occasion. Turns out, they are pretty easy and fun to make. Instructions are on Splitcoaststampers under the resource tab. Yup, that glittery cupcake SPINS. You should have seen her face when it MOVED! Hilarious.

Patterned paper from a little stack from DCWV (die cuts with a view). Cupcake stamp from the dollar bin at Michael's... covered with clear lacquer, then sprinkled with glittery snow glitter. The cherry on top was made Stickles.

Yes, she tried to eat it. Cupcake. Told ya.

Advent Calendar

If you follow our family blog, then you know that Advent is a big deal to us. I made this Advent calendar for our nephew, Eli. His Mama fancies herself a baker (actually, WE fancy her a baker!) so making it on a cookie sheet seemed like the PERFECT idea for their calendar! This idea is not original to me, someone over at Splitcoaststampers.com came up with it, and I'm a copier.

The watch boxes can be found at Michael's or JoAnns in the wedding favors section. I put magnets on the back of them, but I'm going to have to replace them because they are falling off... I think they weren't strong enough once you put something in the boxes because of the background paper I put on the inside of the cookie sheet... lesson learned. (the REAL lesson was, "don't-give-your-magnet-roll-to-Ryan-to-use-at-school) Paper is from K&Company.... ribbons from Michael's.... and the number stamps are a hodge-podge of every number stamp I own, all mixed together. Clever, huh?!

When I was over Rochel's today, I see she has displayed the calendar beside her Famous Refrigerator (a place of honor, really). Which is really handy since she put the tins that were already used onto the frig. Hmmm, turns out SHE'S pretty clever, too!

Nuts for the Squirrel

Love this set from TAC... inside says "I missed your birthday". Paper from K&Company... Platinum stickles on the scallops. That's all...

Under the Weather?

I'm back! Well, never went anywhere, just never post any cards! Ugh. I do take pictures of everything I make (because my memory is so very bad) so I will try to post... mostly so my mom can see what I do instead of watching her grandchildren. And cleaning.

A month or so ago, my friend THOUGHT she had the swine flu. Doesn't EVERYONE think they have it when they THINK their throat hurts, MIGHT have a fever, PERHAPS a headache?! It's getting out of control. But she was really sick. For Real. Not just THOUGHT she might be.... and since these are some of my favorite stamps to use (sadly Farm Fever is now retired! Boo on you, SU!) I couldn't resist... plus, it seemed too good an opportunity to pass up.

Inside view... you know, since there was extra paper sitting on my desk, thought I'd use it up! I would have made one of these for our little nephew, also afflicted with the dreaded swine fever, but he got well much too quickly for his very slow aunt. Sorry, Caleb... but REALLY glad you bounced back so quickly! And glad you are better too... BETSY!

SU kraft and chocolate chip cardstock

SU button

SU Farm Fever stamps

TAC Rustic Chic patterned paper

Post It Notes

Idea NOT original to me.... yes, I'm a copy-cat and I'm OK with that. I look at other card makers blogs to see what THEY are making and when I see something I like, I copy their picture into a file for later re-creating. Isn't that blogs are for? To get ideas and INSPIRATION? I visit my brother-in-law's blog for dinner tricks all the time.

Anyways, we recently became members of BJ's Wholesale Club, which is where I purchased 18 packs of Post It Notes (you know, telling Ryan I was going to make all his co-workers Christmas presents with them...) and hoped fiercely that these came out cute. I'd recommend you buy ONE single pack, just to be sure. It just seems smarter:) Although, I will be making many of these, they were fun and easy. Plus, who doesn't need a Post It Note?

2 chipboard coasters, which my friend Betsy and I bought together in bulk last year... cover with your favorite paper. I just used double sided tape and that worked pretty well. Sand off the corners... Here's a HINT: Go ahead and put the binding on NOW (at least 5/8") with the Bind It All. I did not, and had to remove my embellishment because then the already-thick-chipboard didn't fit in the machine. THEN add your stuff to the front...

That bunny stamp is theangelcompany, and one that I got from my Grab Bag... I think it is so very cute! And the "sentiment" is off the SU! Jumbo Roller that I took apart last spring... Nestabilities Label One for the paper that it is all mounted on... and the patterned paper is from a paper pad from Michael's, by Amanda Blu (Mohawk Lane).

Here's how the inside looks, but you get it, right?? :)

And finally, because I know where it is... the LINK to the blog I enjoy for ideas. Rats... I forgot to stamp each paper inside. I will have to remember that for next time because that is cute. As you can see, the more Post It Notes you add, the larger diameter Bind It All wire you need...

Photography at it's Finest

Remember when I eluded to THIS card back in June? You know, when my sister's birthday is celebrated by the OTHER members of my family. I chose to celebrate in August, when I finally sent her the gift I purchased for her in March. Great planning. In my defense, she did mention the week before her birthday that she could use some Thank You cards, and I happily got-to making them for her... IMMEDIATELY. Then the box sat on the side couch in the living room for the remainder of the summer, until we were getting ready for vacation and Ryan said, "Hey, do you want me to mail this?" Oh, THAT. Yes, that would be a very good idea.

I made this card from a "leftover" picture I had from our Sister Trip to Savannah, July 2008. For Christmas last year, I made each of my sisters and my mom a mini-album to remember our very fun trip by. I loved making those albums and poring over the pictures... it just brought a bunch of really great memories flooding back. Made me happy. I was hoping to inspire my darling sister in the same way, when she looked at her birthday card. You know, in August, even though her bday is June. Admittedly, it's the 29th, so I'm certain that is like ALMOST July, so August really isn't THAT bad.

I kind of really enjoyed this look, even though it's NON-STAMPING... so when I went on vacation this summer to the INCREDIBLE Oregon Coast and Amazing Alaska, I took over 3000 pictures, which will "end up" on some cards, too! Promise not to make 3000 posts about THAT:)

Oh, and the post title is NOT in celebration of my fine photography (actually, there's a very good chance that TRACY took that picture, anyways! HA!)... Ryan's youngest sister RANDEE now has a photography website, and you know, she's pretty talented. So click and visit... there's a permanent link on our family blog, too!

Happy Birthday, Laurie!

Whhhoooooo R YOOOOOOOOuuuuuuu?

I feel like I need to reintroduce myself to my card blog. But since there are only a select few who cherish their time here, and you all know WHO I am, I will refrain. But seriously? It's been a while...

Pretty happy to have time to make a few things again (read: the kids are back in school). I have a few things to share, it's just a matter of whether they make it to the blog or not. My mom's living in a foreign land, so I guess if she's going to see what I'm up to, it BETTER make it here, right? (Hi Mom... How are the filafels?)

Right... the card. My sweet friend/co-worker/mother-of-my-God-child, Ashlie, had surgery last month and this card was for her... I say WAS because, of course, I already gave it to her. It would be so silly to post a card here before it makes it to the person, right? Ok, I will post some tomorrow before they get to their intended seeing how you don't care so much. ANYWAYS, The Co-Workers and I (mostly them) made a goodie basket for Ashlie and this is the card that went along with it... with a clever greeting inside "From Owl of Us". Before you think I'M that clever, it's a stamp set (or two, I should say) from theangelcompany: "be square", and "what a hoot", respectively. This card also features the much loved and now retired paper from SU! (Parisian Breeze, and Baja Breeze). The "Feel better" stamp is TAC and also now retired, a hostess set. Hey, I'm not trying to SELL this stuff, just show you, right?

And lastly, the funky shaped card is due to the fact that I made it to fit the cool envelope I had (business sized)... and because several people were going to be signing it. HOWEVER, I forgot to bring it into work in time for said people to sign, so it got the very formal "Love, Inpatient Nursing" jot at the bottom. Really. It's the thought that counts, and how many times does Ashlie need to read our creative re-wording of "Hope you are feeling better... get back here soon because we are tired of working for you"? I'm just saying.

*Sigh* I've missed this place.