Graduation Cards

It's that exciting time of year again when we watch our friends and families move on to a different stage in life. Here are a couple of cards celebrating a momentous day for some friends.

 Black paper is from Recollections, patterned cardstock is the K and Company Graduation pack, numbers are cut with the Wild Card cartridge at 3.5.

 Sentiment is from Stampin' Up and punch is an OLD Martha Stewart border punch.  Ink is SU Basic Black.

This next card is for a very special graduate from the Naval Academy (Go Air Force, Sink Navy!).  We wish him all the best as he starts his career in the Navy!  

 Paper is from Recollections, outside sentiment, carrier, and waves are cut from Stand and Salute.  Inside sentiment, ink (Basic Black) and Oval Scallop punch are from Stampin' Up.

Since it is the end of the school year, I am often reminded of this quote from Dr Seuss... and I have my bat, which is prayer, ready to go!

“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind. But I've bought a big bat. I'm all ready you see. Now my troubles are going to have troubles with me!”

Get Well Soon!

It's no fun having surgery, but it is fun getting cards in the mail!  I justify the large amount of time I spend crafting with the thought that the time I spend in prayer for the person while making their card couldn't be better spent doing anything else.  This card is for my mom, who is having a small procedure next week. Of course, nothing is small when you are the one having the procedure!  Hopefully, this will bring a smile to her face.

 The paper is DSP from Stampin' Up, the markers are also SU, the ribbon is from Michael's, the punch is EK Success, and the sentiment is from an SU set called Curvy Verses.

I received a note from China Baroque a little while ago.  They are the neatest company-- they make jewelry out of broken bits of pottery (like that special family heirloom cup which didn't bounce) and sterling silver.  If you are looking for something unique, or you have butterfingers with a family treasure, check them out HERE  A couple of years ago 2 of our Spode Blue Italian cups jumped off a shelf to their demise.  

I feel a little embarrassed to say that I really enjoyed the result... Have a lovely weekend!

Paper Bag Album

We had a wonderful retreat a few weeks ago led by local author Siri Mitchell.  It was a refreshing and renewing time, and they gave us Saturday afternoon off.  One of the ladies (who is very creative) led a scrapbooking workshop for us that was fabulous. Here are some pictures of the one I made... haven't decided what pictures to put in it yet.

Supplies:  Making Memories Card Stack, white paper lunch bags, ribbons from Michaels and Making Memories, 1 inch binder clips, EK Success and Stampin' Up Punches.

By the way, the retreat was about finding your own voice... which is different from the roles that you must fulfill each day.  It was a great opportunity to reflect on what God has planned for each of us!  

Teacher Gift

I love having a chance to say thanks to the teachers in our lives.  Although they may have a luncheon or time set aside for appreciating the educational professionals who spend so much time with our kids, I feel like it is not nearly enough.  Here's a small token that I sent in to school today, completely copied and inspired by Larelyn from Handmade From the Heart .  You can follow the link to it right here...Teacher Gift Template

There are enough Hershey's Nuggets in a bag to make several of these, if you don't get hungry along the way!

“The mediocre teacher tells. The good teacher explains. The superior teacher demonstrates. The great teacher inspires.”

William Arthur Ward

Birthday Boy

Every year, I try to improve on getting cards to family and friends on time.  Or, at least in the right month.  This one would have made it, except that it has to go to the land Far, Far Away.  That's my excuse, anyway, and I'm sticking to it.  

 I started off with an A2 size card (8 1/2 by 5 1/2, scored and folded in half to make a 4 1/4 by 5 1/2 card.  The blue cardstock is Recollections, and the rest came out of my scrap stash.  The stamp is from Stampin' Up Birthday Banter in SU Basic Black ink.  I stamped it again on blue to make the cake, and then cut it out.  The candle has Stickles on the flame (crystal), with a white 1/4 ribbon by Offray.  The border punch is Fiskars, and the white pen is a .7 Marvy Gel Excel.

I bought this set specifically because I love the bad puns (and I am often late...oops, did I say that out loud?). I really can't wait to use the one that says, "I know how much women your age enjoy a new floral moo-moo!" and has a picture of a flowered cow with a balloon tied to its tail.  


The circles on the front (2 1/2 and 3 inches), and the scalloped square (3 inches) were cut with Mini Monograms.  It's an oldie but a goody for those type of shapes.


We are going through The Purpose Driven Life again with our family.  So many good lessons for me, and lots of encouragement as well.  If you haven't read it, or it has been a few years, I definitely recommend a "rewind." These are my rewinds so far for 2011...books I read and enjoyed, but needed to pull out and dust off again-  Blue Like Jazz, The Hiding Place, The Naked Gospel, The Secrets of a Buccaneer Scholar, The No. 1 Ladies' Detective Agency, Jackdaws, and The Purpose Driven Life.  Let me know what's on your bookshelf!

Mother's Day Presents

Two very creative young ladies surprised me with some special gifts on Sunday.  I just had to show them to you! 

You may not be able to tell from the photo, but the flowers are made out of mini marshmallows cut, shaped, and pressed into colored sugar.  What a work of heart :-) The licorice was yummy watermelon.  I am sad to say that these are all gone...

The letters on this are wood, painted with an acrylic.  Love, love, love the way she made the edges darker, just like I do when making a card.  The flowers and hearts are chipboard.  Corners on the poem are rounded with a Corner Chomper before being matted on red.  

Hope your day is super.  We are enjoying the Spring weather and hoping that it will stay here for a while before Summer shows up.  Maybe if we just enjoy it sneakily, Summer will sleep in for a while!

Anniversary Card

We have a very special anniversary in the family today, so I made a card to send for the occasion.  It is amazing to think of how quickly the time has gone by since this couple was married!  

 This is a typical A2 sized card (5.5 x 4.25 inches).  I loved this word art from the Tie the Knot Cartridge.  I used the blackout (shift) and regular, and cut it at two inches.  The champagne glasses and their blackout are cut at 4 inches.  I cut off the stem of the blackout so I wouldn't have to worry about it showing.  The paper is from Recollections and the ribbon is a 5/8 inch satin from my stash.  The corners are rounded with a Corner Chomper.  In hindsight, I wish I had embossed the word, but I didn't think about it until after it was glued on.  Next time...

The sentiment is from Stampin' Up Lots of Thoughts, stamped in SU Basic Black, and heat embossed with Stampendous Detail Clear.  Paper is from Recollections.  I hope they will enjoy the card and their special day! 

I saw this poster today and thought it was fantastic! You can check it out at http://shop.holstee.com/products/holstee-manifesto-poster

Hope you have a wonderful day-- live it loud!