Friday, August 26, 2011

HONEY BD

Yesterday was my honey's birthday.  Well here's my card, and a picture of my honey with his brand new GPS, which he has appropriately named "Penelope Nosoeewe."  If you haven't figured out the last name, it stands for North, South, East and West, pretty cleaver, but understandable for an engineer/surveyor.


Cute coordinating paper with lavendar rick rack for an accent and 3 little mismatched buttons added to the bottom.  I cut the Happy Birthday using the Cricut cartridge "George and Basic Shapes."  This cartridge is always my fall back cartridge, because it has so many things that you can use.

Tuesday, August 23, 2011

WISHES FOR A HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!

Donna and Jamie, our friends, actually more like family than friends are celebrating their anniversary this weekend, and I wanted to make a pretty card for them.

Pretty purple and lavender paper for the background.  Instead of ribbon, I even used a gingham lavender paper that I cut with the fancy scissors and then chalked the edges.  I used my "George and Basic Shapes" cartridge to cut out the flower.  Love that chalk, more chalk around the edges of the flower petals (I used different colors, black on the bottom, purple, matching lavender print as in the background and then dark purple for the top.  I free-handed the green leaves.  Attached the whole flower to the card using a lavender brad.  Added a couple of pretty little lavender pearls as my finishing touch.  I like it!

BON APPETITE

We have a friend that loves to cook, and his birthday is August 25th, the same day as my husbands.  He and his wife purchased an outdoor pizza oven a few years back and from that point on, he has cooked some outrageous things, as well as inviting his friends to share in some of the delicious things that he makes.  YUMMMMO!

Love the paper, red gingham for the top, kind of makes me think of a picnic, but without the ants, and green strips for the bottom.  Funky polka dots for the back of the circle and then a plain green to tie in with the bottom stripes.  Cut out the apron using my Cricut cartridge, "Block Party" and then added a fancy do-dad with brads on the bottom and cut out "Mike" using the "George and Basic Shapes" cartridge.  Fancy little ribbon and there you have it.  Sometimes I have a hard time coming up with a card that is a little more masculine, I seem to lean the other direction, but I think this one came out pretty cute.  It goes out in the mail to day, "Bon Appetite!"

Saturday, August 20, 2011

LUGGAGE TAGS FOR THE BRIDE AND GROOM

I actually saw these luggage tags on someone else's Blog, and couldn't resist making some for Jenna and Dan to have for their upcoming honeymoon in October to Maui.


Bought Self-Laminating Luggage Tags at Target (4 per box).  Measured the tag and cut the black paper slightly smaller so there was bonding space around the entire tag.  Used my corner punch to round the edges.  Using a white pen, I drew on the stitching all the way around the tag and then wrote the words.  On the back side, using the computer, I typed out their name, address and cell phone number and attached.  Positioned the black tag onto the sticky portion of the plastic tag, and carefully closed the front rubbing towards the end to get a good seal.  I then attached some cute little ribbons just as an added touch.  I am going to attach these tags to the top of Jenna's shower gift.  Something a little different, but fun.  Just think of all the different tags I can make.

BRIDAL SHOWER FOR JENNA

Getting ready for Jenna's (just like another one of our kids) Bridal Shower tomorrow. One of her colors happens to be plum, which of course, I didn't have plum paper, however, I did have purple, so went with this color scheme (close enough) for her card.


The base is just a plain white card.  I cut a piece of white paper, used fancy scissors for the edge and then chalked it with purple.  Then I added the cute lavendar gigham paper on the top and the darker purple paper on the bottom, both of which came from JoAnn Fabrics topping it off with some ribbon that I have had (white with silver linking hearts).  Attached it all to the front of the card then added the embelishments, flowers with rhinestones (Paradise Scrapbook Store), diamond ring sticker and big white "J" for Jenna.

Can't let the envelope be a plain Jane, so I added the corresponding purple paper from the card to the back outside of the envelope, cut the fancy edge with the same scissors I used for the card.  Use my purple caligraphy marker and wrote "Jenna," and then added a fancy little flower sticker.  Tomorrow's the big day, can't wait to see all the nice things she and her soon to be hubby are going to get.

Thursday, August 18, 2011

AN APPLE FOR THE TEACHER!

Good friend, Phyllis, went in for surgery today on her shoulder, a repair of the repair work that failed the first time.  I wanted to send her a little note letting her know that we were thinking about her, and decided once a teacher, always a teacher, so the apple paper was perfect.

Found the cute apple paper at JoAnn Fabrics, backed it with some plain green paper that I cut with the fancy scissors "Colonial" cut.  Added the cute red gingham ribbon topped with the apple, which I cut out by hand, added the center in white, added a few little details with a brown marker.  I cut out a second red apple, attached it to the card and then used 3-D dots to add the detailed apple, just to give it a little added dimension.  Cut out the leaf, and then added the brown gingham ribbon for a stem.  Chalked most of the edges, I think this gives things some character.  Chalked the edge of the card in green, and done.  As they say, "An Apple A Day Helps to Keep the Doctor Away."  Well maybe not in Phyllis's case, but I think the apple always hits a home run with a teacher.

Monday, August 15, 2011

WELCOME BABY!

Had to make a card to go along with the baby blanket.  Love making baby cards, so much fun, and so many cute ideas that I could come up with.  This one I decided should match the blankie.

Made the background baby blue, it is for a boy.  Had some scraps of the gingham yellow that I used for accents.  I found the cute little monkey sticker at Michael's in a bin for a $1, and this was the first time that I had an opportunity to use it, how perfect.  I cut out the leaves on my Cricut using the "Give A Hoot" cartridge, and then chalked the edges with a darker green and drew the vein down the center.  I cut out the coconuts using the "George and Basic" cartridge, as well as the "BABY."  Added a cute little brown gingham ribbon and there you have it.  Welcome Baby!

BLANKIE FOR A NEW BABY

A friend is getting ready to have a baby boy, and I have been trying to come up with something cute for the second little addition to their family.  I happened to be at JoAnn Fabrics yesterday and found the cutest blanket top, so couldn't resist.

I am not the best when it comes to using a sewing machine, plus mine is hidden somewhere out in the garage, so I put this together by hand.  Found cute coordinating brown fabric for the back, and added some cushy batting in the middle.  Tied the blanket in a few spots to keep the batting from shifting.  I love it, of course, how can you go wrong with cute little animals, and so easy.

Sunday, August 14, 2011

POST-IT-NOTE CLIPBOARD

Saw this idea on someone's blog and thought what a great idea for a hostess gift or just a little something to surprise someone.


ITEMS NEEDED FOR PROJECT:
Chipboard restaurant coasters, free
medium size binder clip
scrapbook paper scraps
ribbon scraps
 
Base Directions:
1) I didn't have a coaster on hand, but I had some chipboard, so I cut that to 3-1/2" x 3-1/2" square.
2) Glued a patterned piece of paper to the front and then chalked the edges.
Binder Clip Directions:
1) Cut a piece of coordinating paper 1-1/4" wide by 2" long
2) Fold your piece of paper over the binder clip, just to kind of get it to mold to the shape
3) Glue the backside of the paper and then form it around the clip (you might have to hold it a second, and as you press, wipe off the excess glue that comes out on the sides)
4) Add an embellishment if you like
5) Tie a coordinating piece of ribbon to the top of the clip
Place your Post-It-Note onto the chipboard (I did not glue or attach, just laid it on top)
Attach with your binder clip
You could write something cute on the front note, if you like to personalize it.

JAZZED UP COMPOSITION BOOK

Love these plain little old black and white composition books, but they are just plain boring.  Now days they are actually starting to come out with some better looking designs, but why not create your own personalized book.  Finished it just in time for the beginning of school.



Love this pink leopard paper that I found at Michael's the other night and so I decided to use it along with coming up with some other combinations of what I had.  I also used paper from the "Rock Star" collection, love the rock star look with the skull and stars on the black background.  I then added a cute bow of zebra print that I had purchased from the Paradise Scrapbook store ages ago, but hadn't come up with the right project to use it on until now.  Tied a bow, attached it to the front sheets with a brad and then glued a pink sparkle onto the front.  I then attached my completed front sheet to the book front using tape.  Using sandpaper, I smoothed the edges and then chalked them with charcoal to finish it off.  Found some cute pictures from the summer, good times, good memories to get you through the beginning of the fall semester.  Make it fun, lots of blank pages to fill in.

PERSONALIZED POST-IT-NOTE COVER

I have bought these as gifts over the years, and I thought to myself, I know I can make this, but of course, it was just taking the time to figure out the dimensions and create myself a template.





Post-It-Note Holder Directions:
What you will need:
Paper (double sided works best)
Scoring board
Post It Note Pad
Double sided tape or glue
Velcro
Cute sticker or embelishment for the front cover
* Cut a strip of paper 3" wide x 8" long (double sided is cute because you will see the inside when you open it.
 
Scoring:
First fold is at 2 5/8"
Second fold add another 3/8", which makes it at 3"
Third fold is an additional 3-1/8", which makes it at 6-1/8"
Fourth fold is another 3/8", which makes it at 61/2"
You should have 1-7/8" remaining
 
Attach your Post-It-Note pad with either tape or glue. I took off about 10 sheets, because you will see that it is a little too thick otherwise.
Add velcro to the top and bottom with glue, and let dry throughly; see my photo.
Add your embelishment as your finishing touch.

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

Thinking of You!

I have a good friend that is having surgery tomorrow and I wanted to send her a special card to let her know that I was thinking about her.


Started with a background of red gingham paper covering the full card top.  Found this very, very cute double sided paper with flowers on one side and polka dots on the reverse.  I put the two together doing them in reverse and then added a ecru colored edging down the right hand side and then added a sassy red and white ribbon across the middle where the two papers came together.  Cut a rectangle out of a embossed off-white paper on my Cricut using the George and Basic cartridge, and then added the words "Thinking of You," which was also done on my Cricut.  Attached it altogether and then added a couple of snappy little ladybugs.  For the back of my envelope I added the matching polka dot paper, cut the edge with my fancy scissors "Arabian" cut, chalked the edges and then added the ladybug stickers and leaf.  There you have it.  I think this will brighten her day and let her know that I am thinking about her while she is recovering.

Wednesday, August 3, 2011

Happy Anniversary

Well, it was our 36th anniversary on August 2nd, and I needed a card for the occasion.  We just returned from our week up at the Lair (family camp in the Sierras), and I thought what better theme then chipmunks.



I started with a cute background of baby blue paper with brown polka dots and then added a cute brown and beige checkered ribbon.  I then used my Cricut "Give A Hoot" cartridge to cut out the cute little chipmunks, and then added a flower brad to the little girl and then gave them an eye and little noses.  I then cut out a couple of acorns and added them to the card.  The "Nuts 4 U" was done using my "George and Basics" cartridge, which always seems to have just the perfect plain font that I am looking for.  I think it came out pretty cute, if I don't say so.