A little note of THANKS!

Teacher Appreciation

Hi! Happy May.

Why is it that life continually interrupts my project plans...LOL?

The first week of May is always "Teacher Appreciation Week".  For months, I have had all these wonderful, cute ideas inside my head...but that just didn't pan out this year.  I managed to pull together a cute metal vase with the teachers' names in vinyl, and filled those with chocolates, new "grown-up" scissors (tag attached: "you're a cut above the rest") and "flower" pens. Unfortunately, there are no photos of the actual gifts.

And of course, those little tokens don't say near enough "thanks" for the wonderful things my kids' teachers do each and every day.

But, I did want to send a heart-felt "THANK YOU" and I managed to photograph the cute (IMHO) thank you cards that accompanied the small tokens of appreciation...albeit seconds before they went out the door.

Can I just say how much I LOVE my Cameo??

It makes me look much more talented than my abilities really are.

This adorable cutting file can be found on the Silhouette Online store here.

I just used the offset feature to add a simple blue insert for the inside of the card.



And of course, the DARLING images are some of Sassy Cheryl's Colored illustration digis.

Sassy Cheryl to the rescue AGAIN.
Her wonderful art has saved me from boring cards once more.

When I want to relax and create, I love coloring Sassy Cheryl's digi stamps myself with copic markers or pencils.

At other times, when I am harried and hurried, The colored illustration versions are just the time-saving help I need.

I just use the "print and cut" feature in the Silhouette Design studio... and Voila... Instant cards....CLEAN and SIMPLE!


Since my 5th grader is a boy, I used the Noah- Freedom image for his teacher.

I used the Sally- Ladybug Tales image for my 3rd grade daughter's card.

Both of the images I used capture my kids' personalities.
Another one of the many reasons that I adore Sassy Cheryl digi stamps!!

 
Like most of my projects, these were finished over a week ago but I am posting them (barely) in time for Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #208- "Clean & Simple with/ a Sassy Cheryl image".  :)





I think the cards were a perfect fit for both this challenge and my personal style.

Well, now that posting these cards is checked off my list, I guess I'll go tackle the next "to do" item.

Have a fun, creative, thankful week!!

Challenges entered with these cards:
Sassy Cheryl Challenge #208- Clean and Simple
Sassy Cheryl's Show Me Thursday Challenge-SMT #144

Spring is Here

Well, it's another end-of-the month post...LOL.
Spring is definitely here and this week we are even enjoying a taste of summer for a few warm (hot for PNW) days.
Soooo nice!
Of course, I could have done without the phone call from the school nurse yesterday when my ds got sick from dehydration.
Rest, water, and he's completely fine today. HURRAY.

Back to Projects:
I have been working on several projects around the house lately, but nothing that I have photographed. Except today's entry...

My card for the April "stamp of the month" challenge at From the Heart Stamps.








Faith has a progressive "Stamp of the Month" challenge each month on the From the Heart blog (participation earns you a free stamp for the next month's challenge).


The darling "Spring Medley" stamp was April's freebie for those who participated in the past month's challenge. It is also available in the shop.



 I cropped just the  sentiment part of the image, but it comes with some adorable tulips and another crocus.


This digi stamp was such wonderful food for thought earlier this month as rain cascaded almost daily.


The digi stamp was printed on kraft paper and colored with Prisma Pencils.


I was inspired to try coloring on the kraft paper by a FTH sketch challenge early in the month. I like the result and will certainly do it again.  

Besides the stamps, I got inspiration from this week's FTHS' I {heart} Sketches- sketch064 challenge.


 I used just the sketch this time...but they also had a fun "twist" this week. I LOVE their weekly sketch challenges. They're fun and inspire my card-making...




All the papers were from my "scrap bins"...I loved using up pieces.  :)

Entry for the following Challenges:
From the Heart blog- Stamp of the Month April 2014  *Just in the nick of time.
From the Heart Sketch Challenge #64

Spring Cheer

Hello!

I grabbed a few moments to put together a card this weekend. We've been busy working on many other "creations" around the house lately (like kids' school projects, garage organization, etc.), so card-making took a back seat for a while.

Front (closed) view of my swing card

The digi stamp was colored with both
Copics and prisma Pencils.  

*Note to self: Turn on some lights before you start trying to color...Then you'll get these lovely results on the first try instead of the 2nd...LOL.  :)

   It's time to post my card for the  March Stamp of the Month challenge at From the Heart Stamps.

Faith has a progressive "Stamp of the Month" challenge each month on the From the Heart blog (participation earns you a free stamp for the next month's challenge).
The darling "Hamlet PigWit Think Spring" stamp is was March's freebie for those who participated in the past month's challenge. It is also available in the shop. This digi stamp set comes with 2 versions of Hamlet plus a few sentiments.


 


Besides the stamps, I got inspiration from this last week's FTHS' I {heart} Sketches- sketch059 challenge.


 I used both the sketch and the "twist", which was "Interactive Cards".

inside view of swing card

 I cut this swing card with my Cameo.
Super easy and such a fun card design.
Unfortunately, I was a little bit slow this week, so it wasn't finished in time for the sketch challenge.
That doesn't matter...It was the perfect inspiration anyways.  :)


The wonderful sentiment was in my files from Paulette at Create with TLC.  Nine times out of ten, my sentiments come from the amazing Paulette. I love her talent of combining just the right phrases into an interesting graphic.

This sentiment and card is perfect for a loved one of mine that could use a "we're thinking of you" and "take care" kind of lift/reminder right now.  :)


The papers were from my latest trip to Hobby Lobby. Since I was there anyways (buying supplies for ds' science fair project), I stopped by the 50% paper sale and picked up the cute "Eat Cake" and "Birthday Extravaganza" paper packs by the Paper Studio. I'm loving the little 4.5x 6.5 inch packs...Just the right size to add variety to my cards without having  HUGE paper stash guilt.  LOL.


This card is now ready for the mail...on it's way to spread some Spring Cheer and brighten a worrisome day.  :)


Entry for the following Challenges:
From the Heart blog- Stamp of the Month March 2014  *Just in the nick of time.


Sassy Cheryl's "Show Me" Thursday Challenge  **Because this is the only project I actually have photos of.  :)

Happy Bird-day

It's time to post my card for the February Stamp of the Month challenge at From the Heart Stamps.

    Faith has a progressive "Stamp of the Month" challenge each month on the From the Heart blog (participation earns you a free stamp for the next month's challenge).
The funny "Birthday Candle Birdbrain" stamp is this month's freebie for those who participated in last month's challenge. It is also available in the shop.


Besides the stamps and sentiment (included with the digi stamp), I got inspiration this week from the FTHS' I {heart} Sketches- sketch055 challenge.



I think it was serendipitous that the BoBunny Back-to-Basic papers ("Pincushion" collection) I had just purchased also contained a scallop element. I just needed to do some fussy cutting.
 I had bought the papers after a brief "inspiration" trip to my local, small craft store.  I was trying to make something for a green/grey challenge, but nothing worked out in time...
So they stayed in my stash waiting to make this card.
*note: The Grey/white polka dot paper is by My Mind's Eye... "Chalk Talk" paper.

It's so fun when things pull together.
I had originally tried coloring the bird in varying shades of green (all w-r-o-n-g), but love the finished birdy now...all sweet and persimmon-y. :)
It was colored with both Copics and prisma Pencils.

This card is now ready for the mail...and it's even on time.

Entry for the following Challenges:
From the Heart blog- Stamp of the Month February 2014
FTHS' I {heart} Sketches- sketch055 challenge.

SMT #139- Nifty 50 birthday

Here is my SMT post...Just for you, Cheryl.
Thanks again for helping me out with your FABULOUS talents!!! 

 "...And Now...The Rest of the Story"  (Do you know that reference??)
________________________________________________
I have two very cool big brothers.  My oldest brother celebrated a milestone birthday a few weeks ago... 50 years of his awesome-ness on the earth.  :)

I started the process of making this card a month before the actual date. However, life interrupted and now this card is a month belated.  YIKES!!

Here are the details for it's l-o-n-g creation process. (Please ignore the poor grammar, sentence fragments, etc. This is more of a "list" than a well-crafted piece of writing).

1.  The genesis of this creation: My brother owns a comic book store.  This just about solidifies his status as "coolest uncle ever" in the eyes of his nephews...and also his nieces.  :)

*I wanted to create a personalized card for this momentous birthday that reflected him.




2. Emailed dear friend and awesome artist (Sassy Cheryl) pleading/asking/begging her to create a custom digital stamp for me.  WooHOO...she created this FABULOUS image that totally reminded me of DB as a kid...He always had a ton of hair.  :)
Note: I did not give her any other details other than "a kid reading a bunch of comic books".
**You can purchase a similar digital stamp from Cheryl's store here (boy version) or here (girl version).

*** I've realized that I did not set a realistic deadline for this card...I take a long time to match the actual "creation" with the "vision/plan" in my head.   So I didn't give myself enough time to work her awesome stamp into a cohesive card design before his birthday. 



3. Found a Sketch I liked (Mojo Monday sketch #330).

Hem and haw over the paper choices....Finally settled on a bunch of  jillibean Soup  papers that have been in my stash for over a year now (Minestrone:Thin Zucchini, Homemade 6 bean:Red Beans, and Winter Tortellini:Fresh Basil collections).

I missed the challenge deadline for this sketch. Oh well.


4. While looking for the perfect word-art...I discovered one in my files from Paulette at Create With TLC that sparked a few new ideas.  I got distracted with ideas for another birthday project. (see below). 

I think this word-art is both clever and hilarious since our family is very competitive with board games!!






Waited 2-3 weeks before actually creating the printed transfer and adding it to a shirt.




 5.  Finally decided to create my own word-art that reflects both the event and the digital image. (Another 3-5 days of "brainstorming"). I designed the word-art in my Silhouette Design Studio software. I'm pretty happy with how it turned out.

---PAUSE a week because I volunteered for a  few school projects.   AND...I had library books from the "hold shelf" that were begging to be read. :) They all turned out fantastically.

6. Printed several copies of the digital stamp to try and color.   
*Good way to pass time in a doctor's office waiting room (nope, I was not the patient, just the patient's driver). I ended up with about 5 "rejected" versions...LOL.  Loving the final results.
(I colored the stamp with Copic markers as base colors and added pencils for detailed/shading parts) 

---PAUSE a few more days while I was sick with the nastiest virus I can remember in many years...Quality time with ginger ale and soda crackers...FUN- FUN- FUN

7. Put the card together...noticed it is crooked...Gently tore it apart, reglued, and repositioned.

8. Took a bazillion photos...lighting is yucky because it's winter in the Pacific NW...even with ott-lites, etc.  Used the photo anyways because it really needs to get in the mail.

****Now seriously, wasn't that the most ridiculously long, tangented route to a finished birthday card.

I hope my Bro likes the card and shirt. He's a wonderful person and I'm so glad to have him in our family!!! Love Ya T_______!

Every day Valentine

Hi!

So I didn't get this done in time for "Valentine's Day", but I figure that my DH is my "valentine" every day of the year...so It's All Good, right?!

It is finished (barely) in time for Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #202- "All about HEARTS".  :)


I used this cute digi stamp from Sassy Cheryl's shop titled "A Little Heart Balloon".  I quickly combined it in my Silhouette Design studio software with this clever wordart (valentine love eye chart) and  Lori Whitlock card base. Then it's ready for my Cameo to print & cut out...quick  and easy.

I colored it mostly with pencils, but used my copics for the skin tone areas.

I was inspired to use a mostly Black and White design scheme by the Outlawz CAS challenge (CAS021614 Black & White ONLY)...but technically, those touches of blue don't work for their challenge this week.  :)

Well, I'm off to clean up my messy desk...I am still several projects behind...and I hope to finish them/post later this afternoon.

Have a wonderful day!!

LR's Sassy Card- Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #201

HI there!

Occasionally, my youngest daughter, aged 8,  gets the bug to create cards for challenges. (which she always calls contests...LOL).

This is her creation for the current Sassy Cheryl's Challenge #201 "Anything but a Square"

The image is Sassy Cheryl's "A Good Read- Maddie".

She grabbed the elements from her stash of crafting supplies and got to work creating. She hand cut the card base into an oval based on the lacey oval frame. Of course, she added some bling.

*I asked if she wanted to type her description or name her creation...but she declined. LOL.   Obviously "blog posting" is not the fun part of card-making for challenges. :)