Thank You Twice

I copied this from a good friend of mine because it was too fun not to copy. If you ask me, it's the paper that makes it. Or maybe the colors. Or maybe the design. Yeah....

The Fine Print: Stamps and designer paper by Stampin' Up (retired).

Thank Yous

A coworker of mine (not that one) asked me some thank you cards for her kids to use. She said they didn't have to be all that because you know kids. They'll look at it once and toss it aside.

I whipped up multiples of these two note cards. They were fun and easy to make and had the added bonus of getting me to use of some of these patterned note cards I have lying around. I seemed to have collected a ton of them during my A Muse days.

The Fine Print: Kitty stamp by DeNami Designs, Puppy by DOTS I think, various thank yous from my stash, card bases by A Muse. 

Bark Less, Wag More

I sent this cute little doggy card to a friend recently. I know you are questioning why a cat person would send a doggy card.

Why indeed, Mom?!

It is because doggy stamps are cute. They don't pant on you, they don't shed on you, they don't chew your shoes or ask you to take you on a walk. Doggy stamps are cool, especially silly ones like this.

The Fine Print: Card base and parts by Basic Gray and dog stamp by Tim Holtz. 

Houseplants

Remember when people used to give houseplants as gifts? I don't think that happens so much anymore because it is like handing someone a great big steaming pile of responsibility and that ain't cool.

But here's a plant to brighten someone's day and it doesn't require watering, sunlight or fertilizer.

The Fine Print: All products by A Muse Studio. Stamps--Today and Always (greeting) and Houseplants; Cardstock-Bermuda polka dot (retired) and Apricot; Other products-Houseplant matching dies. Flowers die set, and clear Twinkle Stickers.

Monday Musings

Last night when I was puttering around my desk making a big mess in the name of organization (reveal on Wednesday), I suddenly thought of a former coworker.  Kelsey was known for preaching unconditional love for your family--they are your family ergo you must love them no matter what. I, of course, don't agree with her.

Both Kelsey and I have unlikable awful family members.  She even has more than me since she comes from a bigger family.  Over the years her family has mellowed out while mine just keeps ramping up the crazy so maybe that explains her 'thou must love' view on families.

My thoughts are, why should your family get a free pass?  Why aren't they held to the same standards you hold other people to? I mean I know that you let your family treat you way worse than you anyone else because we've all been there and all done that. I don't see why we have to love them.  Heck, I don't even see why we have to like them. In fact, why do we even tolerate them? These are questions for the ages.

The Fine Print: Another question is why did I suddenly think of Kelsey? Perhaps my family is plotting something completely crazy.... now I'm a'scared!  Kitty stamp and die by Taylored Expressions, greeting stamp by Hero Arts, and paw print punch by EK Success.

CAS Thank You

I've had this card in my pending file for quite a long time now and since I don't have anything else to share with you today (shocking, I know), I thought I'd share this.

Part of why I haven't shared it sooner is I made a birthday card pretty much just like it and I may or may not have shared that on my blog.  I always meant to see if I did so I could link to it but that sounded like too much work.

If you want to go hunt it down, more power to you, but don't feel slighted if you search my whole blog and then find out I never put it up here.

The Fine Print: It's all by A Muse Studio. Stamps used-Thank You Mix and Mini Blooms, inks used--grapefruit, ocean, sage and papaya, and cardsotck used--grapefruit and sugar.

Vintage Romantic Butterflies

Have you ever seen Pink Paislee's London Market designer paper?  It has sort of a vintage romantic feel to it.  I found some sheets of it whilst poking around my desk and decided that since this is the season of flowers and romance I could easily use it all up.  I sat down and whipped out this card.

While making it I realized it qualified for Mrs. A's Butterfly Challenge which is to make a card with butterflies on it (natch) along with ribbon.  Now don't be saying you don't see the ribbon--it is right there masquerading as the butterfly's body.  I wanted something more dimensional than paper but not as dimensional as pearls so I used a small piece of ribbon.

Since that came so easily I started on another card.  Seven and half hours later I came up with this one.  I struggled with everything about it and I'm still not that happy with it.  I'm sticking a fork in it and calling it done though.  For this card the ribbon is much more obvious.

And now I don't ever want to see the rest of this paper again.  Pfft!

The Fine Print: Top Card--designer paper by Pink Paislee "London Market," Thank You greeting by Simon Says Stamps "Beautiful Words," butterfly die and pearls by A Muse Studio, vellum, doily and brads from my stash. Bottom Card--designer paper by Pink Paislee "London Market," washi tape by Tim Holtz, heart die by Spellbinders, butterfly dies by Stampin' Up, ribbon, flowers, and brads from my stash.

Week Old Leftovers

This weekend I decided to poke around in some of the random boxes I have lying around and came upon some kit leftovers.  They are definitely much older than a week, or even a month, and possibly even a year.  At first I found them very inspiring and made this card.

I was impressed with the bold graphic feel to this card and couldn't wait to make another one.  I tried this and that and that and this and the other and then that thing and then some patterned paper and then back to that first thing and... eventually this card was born.

I didn't particularly like it at first but it grew on me, like mold, over the weekend.  It did, however, sour me on playing with the leftovers.  They really are mostly the kind dregs I should just add into my stash instead of keeping separate.  There are still several of these pre-printed silver and black card toppers left and I think that's why I haven't totally broken up the set yet.

The Fine Print: Top Card everything by Club Scrap "Big City, Bright Lights" kit; bottom card toppers by Club Scrap, absolutely die by Simon Says Stamp, other stuff from my stash.

Bright and Happy

I'm not really feeling the Christmas vibe. The tree is up, the decorations are hung, presents are bought, cards are made... but somehow something feels off.

I don't want Christmas. I want summer! I want bright! I want happy!  I want to be as far away from Christmas as humanly possible!

These cards are what I came up with to achieve that goal.  They are bright, happy, and not at all Christmas-y.

The Fine Print: See that I said the Christmas cards are made but I did not note that they were mailed.  That's cuz they aren't and are nowhere near being so.  It's because I don't want to fuss with Christmas any more.  Card, parts, and stamps by Close to My Heart, Cloud 9 Card Making Kit.

Make Up Monday

I dragged out the same box that I used the last time I did a Make Up Monday post since I thought more fall cards were in order.

The one above was already made and just hanging out in the box. I think it's been waiting at least year to see the light.  The one below made me happy because it gave me an excuse to use one of those big fabric leaves I have in my stash.

This congratulations cards was way too easy; it almost felt like cheating.  I added the leaf brad to make it look like I was at least pretending to try.

This one felt like another cheat so I added in some multicolored twine and some brads.

All these are large 5" x 7" cards, not usually my thing but sometimes you just have to make them that way.  After I made this cards I realized that it really was too late to send fall cards, but that didn't stop me from making more from the box.  Stay tuned next Monday for some more of them.

The Fine Print:  Most items from Club Scrap's "Comfort Zone" kit.  The fabric leaves and leaf brads were from my stash 'o stuff.  I wonder if I'm the only crafty blog not showing Christmas cards today?

Make Up Monday

I know my Make Up Monday posts all seem to be Club Scrap but that is because that's the stuff I stash all over the place and discover later.  It is like Christmas only better because I didn't have to buy anything for anyone and plan family activities.

This time I went searching for some fall colored cardstock and accessories for a project I was working on.  Instead I found a box with some cards already made and a few that just needed assembling.

 It was bada bing, bada boom, instant cards!

 Of course, I did get distracted along the way and forgot about my original project...

...which I then stashed in the Club Scrap box to be discovered at a  later date. 

The Fine Print: Most everything by Club Scrap except the chevron stamp in the background of card #2 which is by A Muse Studio.

Make Up Monday: Lock, Stock, and Key

We resume Make Up Monday today where I show you some cards that have been languishing in my pending folder for far too long.  You'll notice that they tend to be Club Scrap cards. Well, no more dilly dallying--let's get to the cards, which have an offset fold this time.

The Fine Print: Yep, it's all from Club Scrap, the "Lock and Key" collection.  And that's all she wrote... I hope you are having a good Monday.

Make Up Monday: More Wild Flowers

I didn't exhaust my supply of these cards last week, so have some more to enjoy. I see this first card and wonder why I ever felt this kit was so card.  I glittered the greeting to make it sparkle.

 This card is basically just layering some of the items in the kit. I did add some punched circles so I felt like I was actually involved in the card making process.  The purple paper is shimmery.

These last two are note card sized. This is another one that was just layering so I stamped a sketched bouquet of flowers in the corner and added a twine bow.

To keep this card from being just another layering job I used a border die on one edge of the card, added a layered paper flower and brought out a greeting from another company.

The Fine Print: Cards and parts mostly by Club Scrap "Wild Flowers" kit, except for: paper flowers by Prima, glitter by Stickles, shimmer brad by unknown, photo corner and circle punches by EK Success, purple twine by May Arts, scallop border die by A Muse Studio, and birthday greeting by Hero Arts.

Primary Colors

Sometimes when you aren't sure what to do you should stick to the basics, or in this case with primary colors.

I added a touch of jazz by using sparkly black bards for the centers of the flowers.

The Fine Print: Greeting stamp by Penny Back, flowers by Prima, sparkly brads and reverse pattern pater by unknown. The fancy funky bottom edge was hand cut by me.

Make Up Monday: Wild Flowers

Some more oldie but goodie kit cards!  This kit put me off when I got it because it seemed so dark and dreary so I didn't use a lot out of it. I've since come around and made a batch of cards that I really liked.

I added a bright paper flower and a flourish die to this one:

 Some fancy shiny fiber, edge distressing, and a dragonfly brad brought this one out of the doldrums:

 A light layer, more fancy fibers and a snazzy photo corner brought out the best in this one:

Hmmm.... Did you notice a similarity between that top card and this bottom card?!   Yep, proof that if it works, duplicate it!

The Fine Print: Most everything from Club Scrap "Wild Flowers" kit except for: purple paper flowers by Prima, flourish die by Cheery Lynn, dragonfly brad by Recollections, photo corner and circle punches by EK Success.

Thanks Amiga!

In case you haven't been reading my blog the last couple of months, I'm quite enamored with the new A Muse Studio catalog. I really like the southwestern flair they've added with a few of their sets and their trendy "in" colors.

I like this bright happy mariachi man singing your praises and giving you thanks.  I made it to send to the ladies who attended my a|s workshop recently.  Many of them bought this set so now they have another idea of what to do with it.

The Fine Print: All products by A Muse Studio.  Stamps used-Hola Amigo, Fiesta, and Mod Backgrounds 1. Cardstock used-Margarita, habenero, grass, and sugar.  Inks used-margarita and Memento black.  Other products-lime organdy ribbon and onyx pearl sticker.

More Solstice Makeup Monday

I have some more of the Solstice kit cards that I shared last week.  Three of them are square, which is unusual for me, but that's what they gave me to play with.

The Fine Print: Most stuff by Club Scrap except the stuff that wasn't, of course.