Don't Give Up!

I thought I had better leave a short note for my friends who check the blog daily explaining why they haven't seen much the past few days.  Mom has Alzheimers as many of you know, and this has not been a good week.  For the first time, we are talking seriously of a nursing home. As soon as I can, however, I will be back to post something. 

A short post!

There aren't enough hours in the day.  Although I've been making cards this week, they are all for family so I don't dare post any of them.  This fast wedding card will have to do for tonight. Hopefully, tomorrow I will have time to do more.

A little chuckle never hurts!

We spend so much time making & sending all the flowery sentimental cards that sometimes it is nice to just send a good belly laugh.  Especially if the birthday is a dreaded milestone one! I've been doing the "silly" cards this afternoon.

I LOVE this stamp!  Don't we all feel like this most mornings?  Especially Mondays! 

The message inside is "Happy Birthday from one glamorous babe to another!"

Quite fitting don't you think!

This is another of my favorites.  She shares the same message.  Hopefully, they will bring a smile to the recipient.  I guess we just have to be sure the birthday girl can laugh at herself!

Off to do another one before Desperate Housewives comes on. 

Baby Bunnies

Well, between doing 25 M & M treat bags I also managed to do 2 baby cards this afternoon.  I had to try out the new Martha punch that jumped in my cart & begged to go home with me!  I hope my daughter has invested my retirement in some Martha stock!  I'm sure I have made it soar since her punches came out.

I'm not sure why this shows up so aqua when it is really a true baby blue, but don't you love the "lace" made by the new punch?   I am a sucker for anything with lace on it.

I had planned on posting the 2nd card, but after scanning it 3 times & getting the same white card when it is really a pale pink, I'm not going to bother.

Off to make more cards.

Just for Shirley!

I have to post at least one card tonite just for my friend Shirley.  She told me today that she checks my blog daily & is really bummed out if there is nothing new added.  So, Shirley, this is just for you!


This is my little boy version of my baby bear.  He is such a cute little guy.

I've been on a roll tonite with baby cards.  I have two "drying" now so they can't be scanned yet.

This is the "girl" version, although the pink is so light it may not show up at all.

I'll be hitting it hard tomorrow making M & M cards. Or, at least that is my plan if the M & M's hold out!  I've already had to "test" their quality.  

Let's try again.

Hopefuly, I have figured a way around my scanning problem.  I almost gave up!  It wasn't working this time either, but I am resourceful, if nothing else.  Apparently, a folder can become too large.  At least that is my guess, since nothing I scanned would go into it, so I opened a new folder & plopped this there.  When I get my mind set on something, I just keep working on it until I'm satisfied.   I'm going to try one more scan just to be sure I have figured this new version out.

Well, it took me 3 passes to get it dragged to the new file, but it finally went in. Life shouldn't be this complicated!  ha ha

time to stop & watch a bit of Leno before I call it a day.

I'm back!

Well, 2 days of my 3 vacation days are already gone & the list of things I need to do is growing longer instead of shorter. Here are a few of the cards I made this morning. 

It's hard to see on the scanner, but it says "An udder year older?"  Inside, of course, says "Have an udderly wonderful birthday!"

Well, scratch the "few" cards I was going to post.  Another problem with the scanner.  At least I got one posted. It hasn't been my day!

"Stay-cation" vacation

I am taking 3 days off to work on cards so I may be posting a bit more frequently the rest of this week. Here are a couple of cards from this morning.


This is actually going to go to a gal at work who has a birthday coming up & is a big dog fan.  Although I love dogs too (and all critters) as anyone who knows will will verify, cats will always have my heart. 

I'm still in love with this lacey flower die.  It was the best purchase I have made in a long time!

Per my daughter's request, I am trying to add more dimensional things to my cards.  I used to use a lot of them, but sometimes it just gets too complicated trying to mail something that sticks up from the card. Hopefully, these buttons will be no problem. And since I line the envelopes too, it should protect the card when it's mailed as well.

Back to the stamps.  Feel another one calling my name.

Texture

A magazine article using flower soft on a hedgehog gave me this idea.  I thought I would start with a little image to see how it worked.  It works great!  I'm going to use it on some of the bigger ones tomorrow & see what I come up with. I have to admit, he kind of reminds me of a chia pet!  But a cute one!

For Melissa

Here you go, Melissa.  You will be proud of me.  Not only did I finish 10 anniversary cards, but I managed to color up the Thanksgiving image you gave me last time you were up.  It;s a beautiful stamp, but takes a lot of coloring and because of the size, needed a larger square card. Since I haven't finished my Halloween cards yet, I may not get to a lot of these this year. I need about 30 hours in my 24 hour days!

It's been a busy, but productive day.  Only one more card to work on & I can call it a day.

Anniversary time

My daughter informed me I need to make 6 anniversary cards. I'm almost to the end, but since these 2 are the only 2 that aren't "drying" they got chosen to post. The rest either have "Stickles" (glitter glue) or "Flower Soft" ( a fuzzy material you glue on for texture).  I'm trying to make sure they don't all turn out the same even when I may use the same stamp.

The bottom card appears to be green, but the paper is actually a beautiful light almost gray-blue color. When I finally get some time, I have to figure out a better way to scan these so the colors are more accurate. Looking at the huge mess I have managed to make while doing cards tonight, I can see it is going to take me a long time to clean it all up again.  Once I get started making cards, I have the unfortunate habit of forgetting to put things away as I work.  Which results in a desk heaped high with stamps, papers, punches, glue, pencils & copic markers.  It resembles a mini tornado at the end of the day. Off to clean the debris field!

It's a flower thing!

I only managed one card last night, but, of couse, it had to be one that I could use the new flower die on. I am in total love with this flower cut out.  I've already warned everyone at work that the birthday cards they get on their birthdays will be covered in flowers for awhile. At least until I have a new favorite toy.
Again, the scanner doesn't pick up the embossed pattern in the background or the colors on the top butterfly but you can get the idea.

Better get busy.  I hear a flower calling my name!

Love those dies!

Ok, I know I have a "thing:" for punches & dies.  I freely admit it.  I LOVE them all! These are my newest "favorites" and I had to try them out with a couple of sympathy cards. I couldn't post the get well card I made tonite for my poor son-in-law who has chicken pox so decided on these.
This is my favorite of the two.  I love lacey things! And these flowers are beautiful either alone or layered.





This one turned out ok too. Not a lot of work is involved either.

Time to get going. Castle is on & I LOVE that show!

More babies

Still plugging away at baby cards.  The bad thing about them is the colors are so soft & subtle, they don't scan well. 

I also did the train border on the envelope & there is a single train inside with the message.  It looks like the blue is scanning much darker than the actual card.

This one is much cuter in person.  ha ha   You can't see the embossed swiss dots on the background with the scanner.  At least you get the idea.

Time to break for some dinner.  I'm starving & so is the cat.  Oops!  Good thing I have him to remind me to stop once I get busy making cards.  It is easy for time to get away from you.

Baby Time

I haven't been able to post much this week as it has been a busy week.  The cards I did get done were all for family so I couldn't post them.  Darn. 

After working on Halloween cards all week, I have to take a break this weekend to work on some baby cards I need. Here are a couple I've finished so far.

The color of the background paper isn't coming through clearly here, but you can get an idea at least.

I'm trying to do a mix of boy & girl cards for November & it sure makes a nice break from birthday & holiday cards. Baby cards are always so much fun to make.

I'm hoping once I post this, the background will show. Right now it is pretty invisible.  One day I'll get the hang of this posting thing! 

Better get back to babies.  I've only gotten 4 of them done so far.