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Thursday, May 31, 2012

retrosketches - a flower tag

I was playing at a friend's house yesterday (the only person I know that has MORE stamps than I do!).  Every time that I am there I pull out her Stampin' Up Creative Elements flower - I'm thinking I should get my own (but I always know where to find hers!)

The idea of the flower on this tag is not original to me.  I first saw it done on a beautiful pink birthday card by LeAnne at Wee Inklings - I just went through all 81 birthday cards she had on her blog (and oohed and aahed all the way) - but couldn't find this one so you could see how pretty it is.  (LeAnne, I know you sometimes pop into my blog - if you see this, leave us a link!!)

Here's my take on this tag...


retrosketches blog sketch

I knew that I wanted to finally use this tag when I saw this week's sketch at retrosketches.


  • Stamps: Stampin' Up Creative Elements, Very Versatile
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Timeless Portrait dsp, Indigo, Red and Vanilla CS
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Red and Indigo
  • Accessories: All Stampin' Up: Butterfly embosslit, Indigo ribbon, embossing folder, border punch, two tags die


Wednesday, May 30, 2012

Snowflakes in May

I am a cold-weather person and I am already tired of summer (yes, I know it's only May and summer hasn't even really begun - but we've already set heat records!).  So when I saw this week's sketch at Splitcoaststampers - while others thought of beautiful butterflies - I saw snowflakes!!


Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

This was actually quite an easy card to put together.  With the beautiful stamp set and gorgeous paper - I'm happily in the middle of a snowstorm!!

Here's today's sketch:

  • Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Snowflake Flourish
  • Paper: Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium Collection, Papertrey Enchanted Evening, 
  • Ink: Papertrey Enchanted Evening,  Colorbox Frost White (sponged on the edges)
  • Accessories: Sparkle White Detail Embossing Powder, Spellbinders die, Creative Impressions snowflakes brads (they are white, but I did heat them and dip them in the sparkle embossing powder, then heated again), Stampin' Up silver cord and gems

Monday, May 28, 2012

Tree-MEN-dous Annabelle Stamps!

A few weeks ago, I had the great honor of winning a prize from CAS-ual Fridays - a gift card from Annabelle Stamps.  I had seen and bookmarked cards using Annabelle Stamps but had never ordered anything because it is an Australian company, and after all, I figured I have a lot of options that don't require international postage!! But my prize caused me to look closer and I AM IMPRESSED!  I ordered well more than my prize amount and I already have a second order planned when a few of their sets are back in stock.

Check out this tree (I've used it as a branch).  I love the curves of the branches and I love the variety of solid and outlined leaves.  As I browsed all of the stamp sets at Annabelle stamps, they each had this touch of uniqueness.


Tree-MEN-dous

The other sets that I got are holiday related but I do hope to show you more soon.

FYI - it's hard to see, but the clear button is backed by a piece of the same dsp but in green.

I did this card for this week's CAS-ual Fridays challenge.  (Wasn't it perfect that I ordered a set called "Tree-MEN-dous - and the CAS-ual Friday challenge was masculine cards??!!)



But...this is not the first card that I did for this week's challenge.  I had a card up and ready to go on Friday but then I read the fine print of the challenge and it requires using designer paper.  No designer paper on this card!  (But I did use my new addiction - my hexagon dies!)


Tree-MEN-dous

  • Stamps: Annabelle Stamps Tree-MEN-dous
  • Paper: first card: Papertrey Ink Vintage Cream, Green Tea Leaves dsp, Ripe Avocado
  • Ink: first card: Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate, Ripe Avocado; second card: Stampin' UP Chocolate Chip, Gumball Green, Basic Gray
  • Accessories: Papertrey Ink woodgrain impression plate, misc buttons and twine

Saturday, May 26, 2012

Dynamic Duos - Monochromatic Blues

It's the fourth week of Dynamic Duos Color Challenges and the fourth week of the month means "monochromatic".  This month we are focusing on blues with Marina Mist and Bashful Blue.

This is such a peaceful color combo, I chose to make a get well card featuring a simple little window scene...


Dynamic Duos Color Challenge


If you didn't start here, be sure to check out the Dynamic Duos blog - you will see amazing cards from the rest of the design team - there are baby cards and teacups, flower gardens and butterflies, and even a few tears!  Then...when you create your card, head back there to link it up.

Here are all of the design team members in case you would like to hop to each blog...




  • Stamps: Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags 
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Marina Mist, Bashful Blue
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Marina Mist, Bashful Blue (sponged for the sky)
  • Accessories: Stampin' Up Striped folder, Memory Box small window die, Papertrey Ink Tiny Tags die, Martha Stewart bird border punch (cut down to fit inside the window), Sweet 'n Sassy Cloud die, crochet thread

Friday, May 25, 2012

A Very Quick Gift Set

I went to bed last night feeling like I was forgetting something.  I woke up this morning with the panicked realization that I needed a gift for a thank you party for my son's long-term 6th grade substitute.  Obvious answer - a box of handcrafted cards.

So...I couldn't use multiple layers because I couldn't cut them all in time.  Embossing folders to the rescue.  I needed an embossing folder that added all of the interest on its own - I went with Stampin' Up's Elegant Lines.  It's not been my favorite - but this morning it saved me!

Then...a variety of sentiments - fairly big-sized to take up some of the front.  I wanted a punch or die for those sentiments and I used Stampin' Up's Decorative Labels.  I have other dies that I could have used, but it's must faster to punch multiple labels.

Then...embellishments - whatever I could easily reach...it varies by card.

Finally...colors - I used this week's colourq color challenge.  Obviously, I can't submit this because one color per card really isn't the challenge(!) - but I did want to give them credit.



Teacher Gift Set




Teacher Gift Set



Teacher Gift Set



Teacher Gift Set

Time was up at this point, so I couldn't get a nice little folder made, but I did have some appropriately sized plastic boxes and I quickly put together a coordinating tag.

Teacher Gift Set

Very, very, VERY simple - but I think it works!!

Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Clean & Simple with Summer Starfruit

Our local Hobby Lobby has a half price ribbon sale this week, so I took my swatches of the new Stampin' Up in colors to stock up on ribbon.  I didn't find anything basic - the colors must be too new for Hobby Lobby -  but I did find this wide patterned ribbon...


Merci

To put the focus on the ribbon, I found a great layout at clean&simple's Fall to Layout.  I made a 3 1/4" x 6 1/4" card so the ribbon fit nicely down the center.

The butterfly is Summer Starfruit.  It's an interesting color because on its own it looks goldish, next to green it looks yellowish and next to yellow it looks greenish.
  • Stamps: Clearly Wordsworth Thanks set
  • Paper: Stampin' Up black and Summer Starfruit
  • Ink: black
  • Accessories: Hobby Lobby brand ribbon, square punch to make the banner, Martha Stewart butterfly punch, misc gems

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Splitcoast Colors: A Farewell

This week's color challenge at Splitcoaststampers is "A Farewell".  They have called it "A Blushing Peach Crush Pizzazz Parade" - FIVE colors!!  If you read on a little, the dessert option is to only use 3 or 4...but I got 'em all - although the Blushing Bride is a bit of a stretch...


Sweet 'n Sassy

The Blushing Bride is just a little Copic color on the flower petals.

I am NOT a five color person.  Two colors makes me happy - I can usually work with three - but five??!!  I had to find a sketch challenge to help and this sketch from Card Patterns gave me lots of blocks to fill in with color...


BIG NEWS: The downloadable Stampin' Up Copic Chart on my sidebar
has been updated for Copic matches to the brand new in-colors!!!

  • Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Treasured, sentiment from Oh Happy Day
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Concord Crush CS, Pear Pizzazz CS and dsp, Poppy Parade dsp, Peach Parfait dsp
  • Ink: Memento black, copics
  • Accessories: Nestabilities labels, misc gems, 1 3/4" circle punch, Stampin' baker's twine (yes, it's Lucky Limeade but I think it works!)

Monday, May 21, 2012

Birthday Birdie: New Stuff!!

I got to play at a friend's house and she has her pre-order from Stampin' Up!!  I didn't have much time so I found this fun bird (actually it was the hat for the bird that caught my eye) and threw together this card.  Although it has new Stampin' Up dsp, new stamps, new dies and a new button - when I got home, I realized I didn't use any new colors!!??  What was I thinking??  I'm at the point in my "collection" that I have a stamp(s) for every occasion, holiday and in every possible style - but new colors are always welcome!



Happy Birthday Bird
 

I used the sketch from Pals Paper Arts and the birthday theme from Crazy 4 Challenges.

BIG NEWS: The downloadable Stampin' Up Copic Chart on my sidebar
has been updated for Copic matches to the brand new in-colors!!!

  • Stamps: Stampin' Up Papaya Collage (pre-order), Teeny Tiny Wishes
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Comfort Cafe (pre-order), Cajun Craze, Soft Suede and Very Vanilla
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Cajun Craze, Soft Suede and Creamy Caramel (edges and sprinkles)
  • Accessories: Stampin' Up Bitty Banners Framelits (pre-order), Natural Designer Buttons (pre-order), misc ribbon and gems

Sunday, May 20, 2012

The Lord bless you and keep you.

I have one last card that I made for the church card racks for confirmation, although this card could really work for any time.




The Lord Bless You

I particularly love two things about this card:

1. Love that sentiment set - I just got the set Faith by Unity - and I love it.  It's full of classic Bible verses but done in a slightly more contemporary font.

2. Love the bird - without a doubt this is the best purchase from Joanns $1 bin that I have ever made.  Here's the entire set. Can you see the sparkles?  Of course, every time that I make a card, I make at least four of them for the church card racks - so I spent $4 on the birds.  And...if you live in the Denver area and shop at Joanns at E470 and Gartrell - I bought all that they had...sorry!



BIG NEWS: The downloadable Stampin' Up Copic Chart on my sidebar
has been updated for Copic matches to the brand new in-colors!!!



  • Stamps: Unity Faith
  • Ink: Papertrey Ink Classic Kraft and Pinefeather
  • Paper: Papertrey Ink Classic Kraft, Pinefeather, White
  • Accessories: Papertrey Ink Kraft ribbon, EK Success border punch, Crafts-Too Embossing Folder, Studio112 Adhesive Chipboard. misc gems

Saturday, May 19, 2012

Less Is More: Baby Cards

This morning, when I read that the Less Is More challenge was cards for a baby or a child, I was thrilled because I had a beautiful new set of baby stamps on my desk.  Then I realized the flaw in the plan was that my baby stamps are for a new June stamp release at Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps so technically they aren't available yet and I shouldn't use them.  But I asked nicely, and Sweet 'n Sassy gave me the OK to give you a very early sneak peek!!

I have been looking for a beautiful vintage baby carriage and this set has it.  Because it's a vintage style, I went for a kraft background instead of white - but there is a lot of open space, so in my book, I'm still calling it CAS.



Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

I also wanted to play with a little pink...



Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps


So...if you like these...I'm afraid you're going to have to wait!  These stamps won't be available until June 7!

BIG NEWS: The downloadable Stampin' Up Copic Chart on my sidebar
has been updated for Copic matches to the brand new in-colors!!!

Black Tie Week at Dynamic Duos

It's the third week of the month, which means the theme for this week's Dynamic Duo is Black Tie.  Black Tie weeks mean that the pair of colors is black with one other color, plus a dessert.  For this week, the other color is Daffodil Delight and the dessert is embossing.

I took a fairly easy route and went with the obvious...a bumble bee...but from there, I had a lot of fun.  Hexagons seem to be a big thing right now and I just got a set of nested hexagons.  I used them to create a little hive - and then I tucked the bumble bee inside the hive.  Do you see him hiding inside there?


Bumble Bee Card open

You see him better when the card is closed...

Bumble Bee Card closed

I embossed the black hexagons to give it some added interest.

I hope you play along with us this week.  Just create a card using black, Daffodil Delight (yellow) and, if possible, a little dry embossing.  Head on over to the Dynamic Duos blog to link it up.  I am looking forward to seeing what you create.



For some amazing inspiration, be sure to check out the creations by the rest of the design team:

And...if you need another reason to enter the Dynamic Duos challenge...my card from last week (pool and saffron) won a $20 prize package from the CAS-ual Fridays challenge!!  Thanks to Dynamic Duos for the inspiration!



BIG NEWS: The downloadable Stampin' Up Copic Chart on my sidebar
has been updated for Copic matches to the brand new in-colors!!!


  • Stamps: the sentiment is a digi from The Wax Fruit Company.  They also have a wonderful bee, but I didn't think my digi skills would allow me to accurately line him up inside the hive.  I used an old Inkadinkado stamp for the bee.
  • Ink: Memento black, copics
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Black and white, Daffodil Delight CS and dsp
  • Accessories: Lifestyle Crafts Nested Hexagons, Papertrey Ink Sunshine Impression Plate, Smooch Pearlized Top Coat (on wings and the word "bee")

Friday, May 18, 2012

NEW Copic Charts for Stampin' Up and PTI

Just wanted to make sure you all knew that the downloadable Stampin' Up and Papertrey Ink charts on my sidebar have been updated.  They include all the new Stampin' Up 2012-2014 in-colors and the latest Papertrey colors.  I also revised a few matches based on the 2012 Copic release.



I'd welcome any feedback!

I'm on Fascinating Fridays!!

I have the honor and pleasure of being featured on Paperie Designs' Studio's Fascinating Fridays!!


I am doubly honored because Tenia from Jazzy Paper Designs was the person who selected me.  I have followed and been inspired by Tenia's blog for quite some time.  Her cards are simple, but incredibly bold.  You've never seen color combinations like hers - and it all works!  Check it!!  (That's a Tenia phrase!)

I do also have a card to share today.  The CAS-ual Friday challenge for this week is to use punches or dies on a CAS card.  Not really a problem for me - that's my style!!

I have so many options, I had to narrow it down - so I simply used new stuff that I had picked up at Archiver's yesterday or had arrived in the mail this week.  I also seem to be jumping on trends this week (see hexagons from a few days ago...and a new hexagon card coming tomorrow!) so today's trend is washi tape.



MME Indie Chic colors

Here's a close-up of the details on the die...

MME Indie Chic colors

The tape is kind of fun.  It also seems pricey, so I don't plan on going overboard with it.  But I fell for the colors in this tape - so not my usual colors but so fun!!




BIG NEWS: The downloadable Stampin' Up Copic Chart on my sidebar
has been updated for Copic matches to the brand new in-colors!!!


  • Stamps: Stampin' Up Tiny Tags
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Island Indigo, Crushed Curry (retired)
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Island Indigo
  • Accessories: Marianne Creatables tulip die, My Mind's Eye Indie Chic decorative tape, Stampin' Up Jewelry Tag punch, misc twine 

Thursday, May 17, 2012

Sometimes I worry about myself...

I used to have a career - a real career.  I traveled, I worked with clients, I have made presentations to auditoriums of hostile people, I out-earned my husband.  But that was a decade ago...now I'm "mom"...and I am beginning to worry about my brain...

Just a couple of days ago, I showed you a card that I was going to be making in bulk for our church youth who were being confirmed. There was really nothing wrong with the card except I had a lot of circles to punch.

At the same time this was going on - I have another project.  Our church secretary has been quite ill so a number of us have volunteered to help out with parts of her job.  One of the things that I am doing is the visual presentation for the service.  It's quite simple - we simply project words for the hymns, the readings and then a series of graphics/photos for the sermon, the prayers, etc.  I try to match all of the graphics to the sermon theme.  For confirmation weekend, our youth each read their faith statement.  Most of them are incredibly nervous - so I have been pondering for weeks what I could do as a graphic that they would enjoy and would have meaning.

The light bulb came on for the visual presentation.  I have had this card technique pinned on Pinterest - it's a simple and very fun thank you card that includes instructions for making a word cloud on Tagxedo.com. I used her instructions and have been working on a word cloud including the first names of our confirmation kids - AND I have done it in the shape of a dove.  I have been practically giddy with excitement over it...that this dove would be projected over their heads as they read their faith statements.

Here's the worrisome part...I had that great card pinned on Pinterest, it gave me an idea for a visual presentation, but I never went full circle and realized that I could also use the word cloud as card.  I am so disappointed in myself - it's a perfect idea.  First of all, it's themed and I'm very, very big on themes.  Second, it's easy - print the word cloud and trim to fit a card.  Third, the kids will like it so much more than a generic card put together by a mom.

Where did my brain go????

So, after all of that, here's the card that I have created for each confirmand...


Confirmation word cloud


I used all of the instructions included with the card that I linked to above, except:

  • Color Theme: Ocean
  • Max Word Count: 100 (for the visual presentation, I used 250 - this squeezes a lot more smaller names and helps define the shape)
  • Emphasis: 40%, this decreases the large size of some of the names, which helped me make sure that each confirmand had their name large at least once.
Tagxedo.com is an incredible place to create word clouds.  It is totally flexible.  The downside to the flexibility is that is isn't particularly easy to use - lots and lots of options.  But it does allow you to play with the options and it does keep your history, so if you get somewhere you don't like...just click back.


(Now, I just have to figure out what to do with all of the circles that I punched for the first card.)

Wednesday, May 16, 2012

A Wise Owl for Teacher

Today's sketch challenge at Splitcoaststampers includes an angled panel.  I am not an angled panel person.  But...all that more reason to play along...after all, it's a challenge!!  Angled panels say "fun" to me.  (Having said that, there are some beautiful cards in the gallery for this challenge.  I've been studying each of them trying to change my fear of angled panels!!)

I am very behind on teacher thank you cards for our church card racks - only one style so far - and some school are already done for the year!  So I decided to pull out this big-eyed owl and use him on a bright and cheerful and "fun" thank you card...


Sweet 'n Sassy


  • Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Owl Be There, sentiment is from Autumn Bounty
  • Paper: K&Co Carolyn Gavin Greenhouse and the coordinating pinks are a blast from the past - Stampin' Up's Pixie Pink and Pink Passion
  • Ink: Memento black and copics
  • Accessories: Stampin' Up Word Window and Modern Label punches, Pink Sorbet twine from The Twinery, Ranger Glossy Accents (on his big eyes!)


Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Confirmation Cards...In Bulk

I am on my last "bulk card" requirement for May.  If you read my blog, you have seen bulk cards for Evening of Honor invites, Servant Day (birthday cards for Family Services) and graduation cards.  In each of these case, my family was drafted (NOT optional) into helping me with cutting, gluing and assembling.  I think I have used up all my good will with them - so I had to make these bulk cards very, very, VERY simple so I could get them done this morning.  These are for our church to give to our youth who are being confirmed this weekend...


Confirmation

Just two stamps, a swipe of a red Copic, three circle punches (cutting them in half is the hardest part) and a few black nailhead stickers.

I used the colors from The Paper Players because they are so cheerful and they can work for boys or girls.

  • Stamps: Stampendous cross, Paper Inspirations sentiment
  • Paper: Poppy Parade (and I'll do some backed in Baja and Daffodil, because as much as I love my church - I am NOT happy about using up my retiring Poppy Parade!!), dsp in all colors (the Poppy is from Sunny Garden)
  • Ink: black and R08 Copic
  • Accessories: Mark Richards black nailheads


Sunday, May 13, 2012

Jumping on the Hexagon Trend!

There are cards all over blogland right now using hexagons - and I love them!  They look like a comfie quilt - yet most of what I am seeing is still very clean and simple.  Of course, I jumped right on that bandwagon and my hexagon dies arrived yesterday...


Get Well Quilt

I went with this week's very cheerful colors from colourq.  Then, I needed a little help with the idea of a clean and simple quilt - so I went with this week's sketch from clean&simple.


  • Stamps: Stampin' Up Perfectly Penned
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Always Artichoke and Tangerine CS, Daffodil and Pear dsp
  • Ink: Versamark
  • Accessories: detail white embossing powder, Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Hexagon dies, Stampin' Up dotted embossing folder, misc twine

Saturday, May 12, 2012

You Are a Classic!

This is my second post today.  If you are looking 
for Dynamic Duos just scroll down!!

One of the new May releases from Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps was a masculine set with a vintage car and a truck and a number of sentiments in a classic font.  I tend to be a very simple cardmaker and the joy of this set is that it can work either way - you can do a wonderful, detailed vintage collage - or a simple embossed background and a strip of real cherry wood paper!  I HAD to include the wood on this card - I don't know much about old cars but I know that I LOVE the combination of rich polished wood and metal.


Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps

  • Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Timeless Classics
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Cajun Craze, Black, Naturals White, Creative Imaginations Real Wood Paper in Cherry
  • Accessories: EK Success border punch, Stampin' Up copper twine, Tim Holtz embossing folder, misc buttons and brads

Dynamic Duo #2 - Subtly Yours

What is the definition of a card-making addiction?  For me, it was buying an entire $19 set of stamps just to get a line for a little bird to sit on.

But, you have to admit...it's a pretty cute line!!


WPlus9 stamps and dies


I love the colors for this week's Dynamic Duos - so gentle...and when the mail came this week with my brand new $19 bird line - I knew instantly what I was going to do.  (Mind you, the bird is from a different set, as is the sun - I literally mean that I bought the set for the bird line!  OK..it also had the cute heart and the sentiment.)



This is the second week of the month for Dynamic Duos and on the second week, we do subtle combinations.  Just use those two colors, plus any neutrals on a craft project - and join us!  You can link your card/project on the Duos blog.  Then come back next week for...Black Tie week!

One of the fun things about being on a design team is that I get to see everybody else's cards in advance!!  And, as always, I have to tell you that each design team blog is well worth checking out!


  • Stamps: WPlus9 Heartfelt Mix (THE BIRD LINE and the heart and sentiment), Love Birds (the bird), A Pocketful (the sun)
  • Paper: Stampin' Up So Saffron and Pool Party
  • Ink: Stampin' Up So Saffron, Pool Party and Basic Gray
  • Accessories: Stampin' Up Pool Party twine, WPlus 9 dies for Heartfelt Mix and Love Birds
And...the challenge CAS-ual Fridays is Feathered Friends - I think this little bird is a perfect fit!


Wednesday, May 9, 2012

Amazing You - even more yellow!!

I hadn't intend to post twice today - let alone two posts about YELLOW!  I was happily putting away all of the yellow that I had out for my last card - and I realized that it could be the perfect color for a card that I have been intending to make.

A few weeks ago I talked about a big benefit concert at our church.  The benefit was for a wonderful family with a very sick little girl.  One of the highlights of this show was the little girl's big sister.  Big sister is only in 4th grade herself, so she's really not so very big.  But in the concert she performed with the Youth String Ensemble and the Youth Chime Group AND she sang a solo.  I have wanted to make a card just to tell her that she was amazing...


Amazing You

  • Stamps: Daisy Bucket sentiment, Papertrey Ink Framed Out #1, Hero Arts Christmas Dots (the star)
  • Paper: Papertrey Ink Lemon Tart, Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight
  • Ink: Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight and Basic Gray
  • Accessories: Papertrey Ink Framed Out die and Sunshine Impression Plate, Fiskars punch (for the award), Tattered Angels glimmer mist (on the tails), misc gem

Grace Be With You - all in yellow!

I have been avoiding this week's Less Is More challenge because it's "yellow" and I find yellow very hard to work with.  But I decided to full embrace it and use yellow along with today's Hump Day challenge which is "tantalizing tone on tone".


Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps 

There is a spritz of gold glimmer mist on the image panel.  (I think that is what is causing it to look so orange in the above photo!)

Sweet 'n Sassy Stamps



I also used today's Splitcoast Sketch Challenge.  The sketch is actually what started my entire card this morning as it seemed perfect to showcase a wonderful sentiment.


  • Stamps: Sweet 'n Sassy Nature Silhouettes and Graceful Calla Lilly (sentiment)
  • Paper: Papertrey Ink Lemon Tart and Harvest Gold
  • Ink: Papertrey Ink Lemon Tart, Harvest Gold and Stampin' Up Daffodil Delight
  • Accessories: Nestabilities label, Papertrey Ink Harvest Gold button, Tattered Angels Gold Glimmer Mist

Sunday, May 6, 2012

Cards for Lutheran Family Services

Here's a clean and simple birthday card for a kid.  What's special about it?  Nothing...except....


Birthday Cards for LFS

We made 200 of them yesterday!!!

My church as an annual servant day with projects in-house and around the community.  As the card-making group, we have done such things as cards for soldiers to send back home, and this year, we did birthday cards for Lutheran Family Services to send to their clients.  

Other projects include 
  • stuffing animals for Ronald McDonald House 
  • decorating priority mailing boxes that a group called Colorado Supporting Our Troops fills and sends overseas.  We have pictures from past years of groups of soldiers holding their glittered, painted, stamped, and stickered boxes!!
  • decorating brown paper bags that a group called Project Angel Heart uses to deliver meals to people with life-threatening illnesses
  • sewing prayer quilts
  • yard work at Girls Hope and Boys Hope
  • general handyman work at Praying Hands Ranch and at Sky Ranch Lutheran Camp
  • building handicap ramps for families in need
  • and many more this year and in past years!!
The key to making a lot of cards is keeping it very simple and being prepared in advance - because many of the people that come have never made a card and we also get lots of kids that want to serve.    Plus, if there's a crowd, I'm not always able to help each person individually.  

So, once again, I thank my family.  For the third time this week, my boys spent an evening cutting (see the confirmation and graduation posts in the last week).  They don't ask for much either.  My husband left yesterday for two days alone in our mountain place - with a stack of library books.  My boys are even easier - we are going to Garbanzo's for lunch today and then to see The Avengers

200 sheets of 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 paper AND
200 sheets of 5 1/4 x 4

I included a variety of embossing folders with instructions

My oldest son used the Stampin' Up BIGZ peekaboo die to
cut 200 little windows.  My husband cut appropriately sized
white squares and circles for under the window.  (I actually
stamped each one - I'm not a complete lump!!)

Here's some of the ladies and their cards!!  Hi, Carol!!!
Isn't card-making a wonderful hobby!!??

I played two challenges for my sample card - CAS-ual Fridays and Pals Paper Arts...



  • Stamps: none shown (I used a variety of stamps for insides the windows).  I also had the perfect stamp for inside each card...it says "Just thanking God for the day He made you." It's by MorningStar Stamps - a wonderful company with stamps to "encourage, cheer, thank, bless and celebrate.  But now that I have you all excited - I don't see this stamp there anymore...sorry...but there are lots of others!
  • Paper: Stampin' Up Calypso, Baja, Saffron
  • Ink: just black
  • Accessories: the sample includes a candle from Jolee's Boutique, but I had a wide variety of dimensional and glittered stickers for the cards - I watched sales for a month to get interesting stickers!, Stampin' Up Peekaboo die, the sample includes an embossing folder from Lifestyle Crafts