Rockin' Birthday

Ok, so masculine cards are not my strength. I think most of the men in my life have gotten a card with a deer on it because that's about the only stamp set I own that resembles masculine anything. But for my brother's upcoming birthday, I decided to attempt something outside the box.... I'm not too sure about it, but my little brother will know I'm thinking of him. I did, however, get two thumbs up and "that's so cool, Mommy" from my boys.

I used the Harley Davidson paper I've had in my stash for a very long time The backdrop paper and the outer edge of the star are Hot Wheels paper, probably purchased a fews years back as well. These matched well with Stampin Up Basic Gray and Basic Black. The letters and star are Quickutz.

So, here's to creating a little outside of your comfort zone.... Enjoy!

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Color Challenge #50

I'm playing along with Kristina this week for her 50th Color Challenge. To sweeten the challenge, she's offering some great prizes. It's always fun to be inspired by her, but I have to admit, the thought of winning a sweet prize makes it even better! If you'd like to play along, just stop by her blog to check out all the details....

I loved the colors she put together this time and it didn't take me long to get my card together. I'm happy to that she made the colors more generic, leaving me a little more room for personal creativity. For my colors, I chose Chocolate Chip, Riding Hood Red, Summer Sun, Pacific Point and Whisper White.

I created the background using the brayer. On glossy white paper, I first brayered on Summer Sun. Then I brayered Riding Hood Red on the bottom of the paper, overlapping and blending the colors. The colors do combine some to create the orange hue. The ribbon is from my stash; I think it came on a gift and I just tucked it away in my ribbon drawer. I'll leave you with a list of supplies.... Enjoy!

{Supplies Used ~ Color Challenge #50~ Sunset Friend}

Stamps: Upsy Daisy and Great Friend

Inks: Summer Sun, Riding Hood Red, Chocolate Chip, Pacific Point

Paper: Glossy White, Chocolate Chip, Pacific Point, Whisper White

Misc: Ribbon (from my stash), brayer, Scalloped Edge punch, Matchbook Bigz XL die, dimensionals

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Out of this World

Like I mentioned in an earlier post, we're double booked for birthday parties this weekend. For our first little buddy, I created Vintage Birthday; for our second birthday boy, I created this card.

I've been on a watercolor kick lately, and it continues. I used the set "Pun Fun" and stamped the rocket ship on watercolor paper. For coloring the image, I used the aqua painter and classic inks. (For anyone who may not know the secret to grabbing ink from the ink pads, just give them a firm squeeze in the middle while they are closed. When you open them up there will be a pool of ink inside the lid - perfect for blender pens or aqua painters.) I also used some pattern paper from my stash - it's called All Wound Up by Daisy Bucket Designs. It teamed up nicely with Pacific Point.

I'm really looking forward to this birthday party because it's a reunion of sorts. My dear friend is coming out from the East Coast with her husband and soon to be 4 year old. They are visiting for a few weeks and celebrating the birthday boy by reuniting friends who have all been separated by Navy moves. We are all Deep Sea Diver families that have moved from coast to coast, known each other for years, been there for babies, tough times, happy times and everything else. It will be a fun time.... lots of celebrating!

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Flowers for Mother

I am in my stamp room this afternoon, rather than at work. I got the call that my little guy was running a fever and needed to be picked up from childcare. Once I got him home and dosed up with Motrin, and after just one run of Stuart Little 2, he was good to go. Hopefully it's just a passing thing and not the beginning of something bigger! So once he was over the hump, I headed upstairs to play with a new stamp set ~ new to me at least. I'm really a loyal Stampin' Up gal, but I've seen the line of My Favorite Things stamps and I've always wanted to try them out. Well, I took the plunge and bought the set "Happy Mother's Day." Here's what I made.....

I stamped the image on watercolor paper using the Basic Black dye ink from Stampin' Up. Images like this are really a lot of fun to color in; I used the Watercolor Wonder crayons and my aqua painter. Then I stamped a second image, but I used a Brilliance pigment ink so I could emboss it with clear embossing powder. I colored it in and then cut it out to pop it from the main image using dimensionals. I like the look of the flowers really popping off the card. On the basic card base, I stamped the other little flower image from the stamp set and added a touch of ribbon I've had in my stash for a long time.

Here's a close up of the flower pot..... This was a lot of fun. I'm going to remain loyal to my Stampin Up stamps, though. I'll dabble with other images, but I think I prefer the deep images on the wood blocks. I can certainly see how the acrylic stamps take a lot less room to store, but they just don't feel the same to me. What do you prefer and why? I'd like to hear what others have to say.
Well, that's it for now. I'm going to tend to my young man again and watch some Scooby Doo with him.... nothing makes you feel better than some crackers and cuddling up with Mommy for some cartoons. Have a great weekend.... Enjoy!

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Gifty Box

Here's a little gift I put together today. I started with a visit to PaperTreyInk and downloaded one of their templates. I've wanted to create a box that fits a few cards for a while now and today I found the perfect pattern. First, a look at the card that's inside the box. I created 5 of these, but I think a couple more (with envelopes) would easily fit it there.
I made the box (which comes in two templates, one for the top and one for the bottom) from a transparency for the top and the bottom is from Kiwi Kiss cardstock.


I tied a ribbon around the finished and filled box and it's ready to give.... wouldn't you love getting a box of hand-made cards? I would, and I loved making it. Hmmm, Mother's Day is coming soon.... I might be on to something here. Enjoy!

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Vintage Birthday

Easter was great and I've had my fill of black jelly beans.... my favorite Easter treat. I know not everyone is a fan, but I really do like 'em. I'm sure glad the Easter Bunny left them in our basket; in fact I was happy about everything left by the Easter Bunny.... much happier than I usually am about what is left by rabbits around here. Our neighborhood is loaded with rabbits and they come and munch on our grass at night and leave their little droppings all over the driveway. I had to remind my boys that jelly beans are the only little round things left by rabbits that you eat! But we really did enjoy our Easter. A great service at chuch followed by lots of fun and lots of food. My idea of a great holiday. It's going on 4pm on Monday... the boys might possibly be coming down off the sugar high from yesterday. Nothing can send my boys through the roof faster than a few peeps!

Today I got a chance to work on a little birthday card. Next weekend we're double booked for little boy parties, so I thought I'd get a jump on one of the cards.



This card was made on a Kraft base and I used patterned paper from the Kazoo Kids Scrap Pad To Go from K and Company. I added the scallopped edge by using 3/4" circles of Riding Hood Red from Stampin Up!. I did some piercing and added the lined threaded button for a little extra detail. Just a fun little card with a vintage feel.... Enjoy!

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Color Challenge

Back for another great challenge with Kristina. I love this color combination.... great boy colors.
Here's a little square card I created that would be great for celebrating a new little bundle of joy.

I used the sets Best Yet and Classic Backgrounds by Stampin Up and incorporated the challenge colors Chocolate Chip, Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze. With this card being only 4 1/2" square, it would nicely hold a gift card or could also be tied onto a gift bag and used as a cute tag. Enjoy!

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