Happy Birthday!

Birthday cards are so much fun to make; but I find that if they're for little kids, they are a particular joy to create! My son is now in preschool and slowly, but surely, birthday party invitations are starting to come in. I completely missed the chance to make a card for the very first birthday boy, who invited us, but this second one, I was sure I didn't want to miss. Possibly one of the easiest, most inspired cards I've ever done. Here's what I created:

Cardstock: Bella Blvd
Stamps: Hero Arts
Ink: Adirondack in Red Pepper
Embellishments: Train sticker by Reminisce, Cricut, Mini Pom Poms, Spica pen

I saw those tickets and knew I had to use them. The pom poms were awesome to use and so easy to glue to cardstock. That was fun! I wonder whose birthday is next!

Have a wonderful evening!

On This First Day of Spring...

...I wish all the best to a very special co-worker and friend, who is retiring. We will stay in touch, of course, but there is something to be said and done about the fact that we will no longer work together. The end of an era, what else can I say.

One thing that's very exciting (to me) about my friend retiring is her intention to rekindle her love affair with stamping. She says that about 10-15 years ago she was really into it and has quite the collection of stamps still. I know I'm dying to see it. I'm sure it has quite a few rare gems.

To wish her well in her retirement, I put together a spring themed bag as a gift and made sure some cute acrylic stamps (new technology) were part of it. This gift called for a spring themed card, too, and here's what I created:

Supplies:

Cardstock

Embellishments: Sizzix Embossing Folder, MS border punch, Pearls in Sunshine Yellow, Felt Butterflies by Creative Cafe

Ink: Adirondack in Wild Plum

Stamp: Hero Arts

I specifically didn't crop any of the picture, just so you could see how gorgeous the blue sky was in my neck o' the woods today. :)

Have a gorgeous day!

Leaving So Soon?

My (now former) co-worker is moving on to a new position at a different company in the part of the state that I don't visit very often, if ever. Who will supply me now with fresh farm eggs and entertain with stories of her favorite hen Henrietta, I really don't know. I will miss her, though, that's for sure! This, of course called for a card - I couldn't let her get away without one.

I remember seeing a picture of her somewhere (facebook?) riding a bike, so this Mimi stamp seemed just prefect, especially since it symbolized the whole idea of leaving.
Now, you can accuse me of having a passionate love affair with Penny Black stamps, and I say you're right. Even my husband commented and said something along the lines of "This little girl is everywhere!" Yes, she is...
I also had some DCWV cardstock, which I knew I *had to* use, the happy polka dot-y kind.
As a matter of fact, the vision of this entire card was dancing around in my head, ever since I heard my co-worker was leaving:

Supplies

Cardstock: DCWV (Birthday stack)

Ink: Memento in Tuxedo Black

Stamp: Penny Black - Mimi "Easy Rider"

Embellishments: COPIC, Doodlebug Inc button, MS border punch, EK Success border punch, pearls

Have a sparkling evening!

Happy Birthday, My Friend - or - Possibly the Coolest Card I've Ever Made (part 2)

Birthdays are such fun times, especially if your friends are involved. In this case, a very dear friend was involved, plus a desire to present her with an uber cool pop art card.

Since birthdays are one of world's best excuses to get cupcakes involved, too (not that I ever need an excuse), the card had to contain cupcakes.

Here's what I came up with:

Supplies:

Cardstock: DCWV Birthday Stack, Inky Antics Honey POP paper

Embellishments: EK Success punches, pearls in red, twine, Doodlebugs Inc button, Spica pen in pink

Stamps: Inky Antics

Ink: Memento in Tuxedo Black

Have sweet dreams tonight!

Possibly the coolest card I've ever made (part 1)

This is possibly the coolest card I've ever made, if I do say so myself. I made it to welcome a brand new baby girl my co-worker recently welcomed.

And I say this not because of the outside...it's the inside that makes you go oooh! Take a look:

Yup, that balloon in the middle is a pop-up, a 3D balloon...squee! Don't you just love it!? Oh, the things one can do with paper...Now that I discovered Pop-Up paper, the possibilities are virtually endless. So, stay tuned for possibly the coolest card I've ever made (part 2) :)!

Supplies:

Stamps: Inky Antics, Hero Arts

Ink: Memento in Tuxedo Black

Embellishments: Honeycomb Pop-Up paper, COPIC, Doodlebug Inc buttons, EK Success and MS punches

Have an outstanding evening!