Mojo Monday - Boy's Birthday

Today's Mojo Monday Sketch came in handy for a boys birthday card. I took the star element literally and distressed most of the items to get a vintage almost circus feel for the card.

Stamps - Engraved Greetings
Ink - Early Espresso
Paper - BG Max and Wiskers, early espresso, poppy parade, marina mist and very vanilla card stock
Accessories - 1" , 1/2", 1 1/4", 1 3/8" circle punches, Big Shot Stars #2 die, dimensionals

Back to Stamping with a Birthday Card

It seems that my time to stamp is in short supply theses days with the kid's schedules and my volunteer activities. Today is my sister's birthday so I HAD TO STAMP. (m m must st st stamp!)

I made this card and just had a quick moment to post. My big sister lives in Washington state on a fairly large piece of property and I swear her garden is at least an acre. She preserves and makes jam from the fruits and vegetables she grows. In the early fall she usually calls laughing about how many tomatoes or zucchini she has in her kitchen ( sometimes she posts a picture on facebook) or how exacting it can be to get the sweetness of a jam just right. 

I thought this beautiful paper with the preserves was just fitting for her card. I wanted a very country kitchen look and added some checks with a little lace perhaps suggesting a country curtain. Of course a little flower and ribbon to top it off. 

I really, really wish I could be with my sister on her birthday for a little cake, a little wine, LOTS of laughter and maybe a little home made jam.

Stamps - Afterthoughts, Because I Care

Ink - early espresso, cherry cobbler, so saffron

Paper - Webster's Pages Spring Market, cherry cobbler, early espresso, very vanilla card stock

Accessories - vintage trinkets, paper daisies, linen thread, red button, cherry cobbler seam binding, victoria lace trim, corner rounder, 3/4", 1" and 1 1/4" circle punch, dimensionals, sticky strip, 

A Day of Blogging Silence

March 18th,  I will be observing a day of blogging silence along with my fellow bloggers.  If you are as touched by the news of the devestation in Japan as I am, then please participate and pass on the word.  Donate and help.  You can donate at http://www.forjapanwithlove.com/ or you can donate to your local Red Cross. 

A Girl's Dress in the Park to a Card - Hand Stamped Sentiments Challenge

OK, you know you have it bad for paper crafting when you see a myriad of colors and designs everyday and think to yourself - "Oh I have to remember that combination, design, layout - that would make a great card". A little girl's dress with a brown background and pink and teal flowers  at the softball field prompted that phrase in my head. I almost wanted to take a picture of her dress so I would remember the combination but thought that would look "stalkerish". It may have also had orange flowers  - if only I had taken the picture - mmmm no,  bad idea.

Here is the card that the dress translated into. I wanted something very feminine and my daughter needs thank you cards  - this is the end result. I am going to make more cards using this color combo but I am also going to include orange (ah, the picture could have verified the orange). Since she needs quite a few, I am going to use flower punches and try for a more contemporary look and simpler card. Hopefully I will get that posted tomorrow.

I think I am going to have to put a notepad in my purse for future run ins with inspiration so I don't get arrested:)

Stamps - Artistic Etchings, Chic Boutique
Ink - early espresso, soft suede, melon mambo
Paper - melon mambo, tempting turquoise, early espresso, old olive, pink pirouette, very vanilla
Accessories - little leaves die, finial press embossing folder, label dies, victoria crochet trim, early espresso satin ribbon, dimensionals, glue dots

My Beautiful Megan's Digital VB Page

This is Megan's first year in club volleyball and we are learning not only about volleyball but all the other fun elements in club sports. Her association has each family create a black and white page for the yearbook.  I created this digital page keeping elements clean and simple. I wanted to show off my daughter and not necessarily a digital stamp or paper. She was very pleased with this simple page and I think it shows her beauty and her funny sense of humor. Don't you like the "over the shoulder" picture? She always laughs and strikes this pose when I want to take her picture. I just love the goofy jump I captured as she and her friend Brittany were clowning around. What a funny, beautiful pair they make.

Digital Paper - Summer Home ( My Digital Studio)

Display for Auction

Here is the display board that I will be placing at our school auction. I wanted to have a sample of all the elements that one can make for a party. I still have yet to create a little favor box, but will do so late tonight. I have so many other jobs to do for the auction by tomorrow in addition to football, volleyball and softball that I will squeeze in tasks until the last minute. I can't wait for Sunday!

The Butterfly and the Bee

I have been on a bit of a romantic kick lately with all the flowers, ribbon, pearls, bees and butterflies. I am creating samples of my work for our school auction this Saturday and will be adding a thank you note, banner ( just one) and a party favor to this card. My donation is hand crafted paper items for parties so I wanted to provide a visual. I think next week I am going to have to revisit clean and simple.

Stamps - Nature Walk, Friends 24/7, French Foliage,  En Francais, Sincere Salutations

Ink - basic grey, so saffron, pink pirouette, baja breeze

Paper - Newsprint DSP, very vanilla, craft and blushing bride card stock

Accessories - very vanilla seam binding, Beautiful Butterflies die, decorative label punch, pearl jewels, rosettes