40 or 50?

Happy Monday!  Hope you had a great weekend.  Today I am sharing with you a birthday card made for a co-worker. There's a funny story behind this card.  I was told that this co-worker was turning 40.  So, I made her card with a "40" on the front.  When I gave it to her, she said she loved it and then she said, "But, you do know that I am not 40."  Of course I didn't.  She was turning 50!  I believe it made her day.  She told everyone about it and said it was the best gift she had received.  And I really didn't think she was 50!  What a way to give a gift, huh?!?  Here are the details of the card:

Size 4" x 5 1/4"
Patterned papers: K and Company and Unknown (pink polka dots)
Card stock:  Bazzill and Core'dinations
40:  Storybook cartridge cut at 1 1/2"
Scalloped oval frame:  Elegant Edges cut at 3 1/4"
Roses:  I am Roses
Leaves:  Martha Stewart punch
Butterflies:  Martha Stewart punch
Sentiment:  Sticker from my stash
Border punch:  Martha Stewart
Bow:  Thanks to Joy over at the Cricut message board for posting about these bows.  She found the link to this video and gave me the inspiration to try to design my own using my Cricut.  I welded two ovals and three rectangles from the George cartridge to make my own bow template.  I love, love, love this bow! As you can see, I embossed it with a hearts Cuttlebug folder after cutting it.
Pearl strand:  Unknown

Thanks for your comments.  Be inspired!

You're a Lucky Duck

Today I am sharing with you another guy card, this one for my son-in-law's birthday.  He is an avid duck hunter, so when I saw the ducks on Campin' Critters, I was happy!  And I wanted to make him laugh, and that is the reason for the silly sentiment.  Here are the details:

Card size:  5 1/4" x 5 1/4"
Card stock:  Recollections, Wausau, Bazzill, DCWV
Patterned paper:  Unknown
Duck:  Campin' Critters Cricut cartridge cut at 3"
Clouds and Sun:  Pooh and Friends Cricut cartridge
Green scalloped border:  EKSuccess border punch
Sentiment:  Computer generated and punched with a Stampin' Up Paper Savers punch
Embossing on sun, clouds and water:  Cuttlebug
Inside sentiment:  Not only do you have the best mother-in-law in the world, but you share a birthday with some pretty famous people.  (This is a reference to the fact that he shares a birthday with my Mom.)  LOL.

Thanks for your comments.  Be inspired!

Guy Birthday Card

I am sharing with you today the birthday card I made recently for my husband.  It can definitely be classified as clean and simple.  It is not one of my favorites for sure, but I like the shape.  Here are details:

Size:  5 x 5"
Card shape:  Campin' Critters Cricut cartridge using the sign feature cut at 5" - very cool feature for cards.
Card stock:  Bazzill
Patterned paper:  Unknown (mayber DCWV?)
Stars:  George Cricut cartridge cut at 1 3/4" and 3" (I think)
I also used a Fiskars border punch.
Sentiment was computer generated and then punched with a 1" circle punch and layered on a 1 1/2" scalloped circle.  I then just tied a ribbon into a knot and glued it on.

Very simple!  Thanks for your comments and be inspired!

The Tie That Binds Is Love

I am excited to share with you another layout that I found time to create.  I didn't realize how much I missed doing layouts.  This layout is part of the current die cut challenge over at Stuck On U Sketches.  We were to make something using a heart.  I used a Nestabilities heart, which I love.  And I love the pictures on this layout.  They were taken in 2008 at the local fair.  My husband and our granddaughter have a special bond, and I wanted this layout to emphasize that bond.  Here are details about the layout:

Card stock:  Bazzill and American Crafts
Patterned papers:  My Mind's Eye
Black scalloped edge:  Bazzill Just the Edge
Background label: Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge cut using the Fit to Page feature.  I think it ended up cutting at 10 1/2".  I also cut a shadow for this cut.
Frame:  Elegant Edges
Hearts:  Martha Stewart punch and Nestabilities heart dies
The:  Computer generated and punched with a heart punch
Tie & Binds:  Lyrical Letters Cricut cartridge -- welded and cut using Cricut Craft Room
That & Is:  Cuttlebug Olivia font
Love:  Sweethearts Cricut cartridge cut at 1 1/4"
Green scalloped circle border:  Bazzill Just the Edge
Flowers:  I Am Roses, and Recollections
Also, I hid my journaling behind the framed picture, attaching ribbon to the top so it could be pulled out and viewed.

Hope you can join us for this awesome challenge!

Thanks for looking, and for your kind words.  Be inspired!

A Felt Flower Wreath

I have fallen in love with felt for making flowers -- they are so easy!  Thank you to Lauren at Lauren's Creative for making an absolutely beautiful wreath that inspired me to make one as well.  Here is a link to Lauren's gorgeous fall wreath, along with tutorials.  I went to Hobby Lobby on Saturday with my daughter and bought everything I needed to make this wreath.  I used a Styrofoam wreath and covered it with ribbon instead of a straw wreath covered with yarn.  It only took me two hours or so to make it!  Hope you like it.  Thanks in advance for your kind words.  Be inspired!

And a closeup --

A Few More Thank You Cards

I am sharing with you today two more simple thank you cards I made for friends and family that were wonderful to us when my husband had surgery last month.  The first is for a dear friend who gave him a two month subscription to Netflix (perfect for someone who is in a cast and needs to be sitting in a chair with his foot propped up), and the other is for our daughter who brought a week's worth of food so that I didn't have to come home from work and cook (as well as take care of him).  I am blessed!

The cards are A2 size.  I used DCWV and Bazzill papers, my Cuttlebug (embossing and "thanks"), K and Co. flowers, a Martha Stewart punch (under the mini roses), a border punch, and lace.  If you would like any specific details, just let me know!

Thanks for looking.  Be inspired!

A Few Thank You Cards

After my hubby had surgery last month, lots of people did nice things for us.  I needed to make several thank you cards, so instead of making several different ones, I made several that were similar and simple.  I am sharing a set with you today.

I absolutely love, love, love my Cuttlebug.  I love how you can take a piece of white card stock and make it into a nice card.  It doesn't have to be really fancy to be pretty (in my humble opinion).

Here are the details:

Size:  A2
Card Stock:  American Crafts and Bazzill
I used different Cuttlebug embossing folders for each of these cards.  I also used a Cuttlebug thank you set of dies.  I also love my Cuttlebug alphabets and dies.  They are great when you're in a pinch!  And of course I used my handy dandy punches, which as you know if you visit here often, I use all of the time.  They can't be beat!

Hope you like them.  Click on the photo for a better look.  Thanks for your comments.  Be inspired!

Birthday Wishes

I am sharing with you today the birthday card I made for my mother's birthday.  I was pleased with the way the card turned out.  It really was more elegant than it photographed.  I made it with today's die cut challenge over at Stuck On U Sketches in mind.  We were challenged to use a flower on our creations.  And flowers are my very favorite things ever to put on a card or layout!  So, I was a happy design team member.  LOL.  Click here to go directly to the challenge.  Come play along with us!

Here are the details:

Size:  5" x 5"
Card stock:  Bazzill
Patterned papers:  DCWV
Flower:  Paisley Cricut cartridge cut at sizes from 2 1/2" down to 1 1/4".  To get the dimension on the flower, I curled the leaves around a embossing tool.  I learned this several months ago on the Cricut message board, but I can't remember to whom I should give credit.  I added a large glass bead to the center from my stash.
Scalloped squares:  I used the Elegant Edges Cricut cartridge for the scalloped squares cut at 3" and 3 1/2" and also added shadows for the cuts.
Bow:  Unknown satin ribbon -- bow made with my Bow Easy.
Sentiment:  Computer generated and punched with a 1" circle punch and a 1 1/2" scalloped circle punch.
Pearls:  Queen and Company

Here are a few pictures.   Click on the pictures for a better look.  I hope you like it, and thanks for your comments.  Be inspired!

Fair Fun

I suppose it doesn't take much to excite me, since I was so excited to find the time this weekend to make a layout.  It's been almost 3 months since I've done a page, so this was a treat for me.  Of course the thrill was taken away a little when I went to pick the layout up from my coffee table yesterday, and obviously glue had been on the back of the layout, which made it stick to my coffee table!  AARRGGHH!!  I don't know how that happened!  Now I have three spots on the table with red card stock and Fabri-Tac glue!  I've tried UnDu, rubbing alcohol, and an oily furniture polish, but so far, it's only removed about 1/2 of the mess, and I can see that it is hurting the finish on the table.  If you know of a magical formula to remove the glue, please let me know!

I used a sketch from Sketch Support.  I just love their two page sketches!  Here are the details of the layout:

Card stock:  Bazzill, Bazzill Bling, DCWV Glitter
Patterned paper:  My Mind's Eye
Scalloped edging:  Doodlebug Designs Paper Frills
Carousel horse, ticket, and title:  Carousel Cricut Lite cartridge
Butterfly:  K and Co.
Flower-like punch outs (for lack of a better description):  EK Success punch
Stars:  McGill punch
Label for journaling:  Nestabilities
Laugh:  DCWV Chipboard piece

Click on the photo to get a better look!

Thanks for your comments.  Be inspired!

Best Wishes Bridal Shower Card

I am sharing with you today a bridal shower card I made for one of my daughter's best friends.  I made this card quickly because I didn't realize the shower was coming up until the day before it occurred!  Yikes.  The bride loves vintage stuff and wouldn't be caught wearing the color pink.  Ha.  So, I tried to make the card in the colors she likes -- tans and greens.  Here are the details:

Size:  A2
Card Stock:  DCWV and Recollections
Patterned Papers:  DCWV
Yarn flower:  Recollections
Hearts:  Martha Stewart punch
Best Wishes:  Cuttlebug folder
Ribbon:  Unknown - from my stash
Lacey scalloped circle and circle:  Nestabilities

Thanks for looking.  Be inspired!

I Still Love You Card

I am sharing with you today my husband's anniversary card from a few weeks ago.  It has been 33 years.  Believe it or not,  I still love him!  We spent our anniversary this year in the hospital.  If you've read my blog, you know that he had surgery on his foot to put in a stainless steel plate and 12-14 screws in his heel.  Ouch!  The morning of our anniversary (12:30 a.m. to be exact), a nurse came into the room to check on him.  I went over to his bed, gave him a kiss, and wished him a happy anniversary, and that's about all of the celebrating we did.  He was in a lot of pain that day.  It makes you appreciative of the anniversaries when you can go out to dinner and celebrate!  LOL.  I am entering this card into the Crazy 4 Challenges c4c102 "guy" challenge.  Check it out here.

Here are the details of the card:

Size:  4 x 8 1/2"
Card Stock:  Bazzill
Patterned Papers:  My Mind's Eye
"I" and "U":  Martha Stewart's Seasonal Cake Cricut Cartridge cut at 2 1/2" (embossed with Cuttlebug hearts folder)
Heart:  Same cartridge -- cut at 2" (embossed with Cuttlebug folder as well)
"Still":  Computer generated and punched
Lacy Scalloped Circle:  Nestabilities Die
Flower:  McGill punch
Little hearts:  Punch
Martha Stewart Double Edge punch in yellow behind words
Border along the bottom:  Fiskars border punch

Hope you like it enough to leave a comment.  Click on the photo for a better look.

 Be inspired!

Granddaughter's Birthday

TGIF!!!  I am so happy to share with you today the birthday card I made for our wonderfully sweet granddaughter.  I really had fun with this card.  It was my creation for today's die cut challenge over at Stuck On U Sketches.  We were to use the theme "sky" as our inspiration.  I used a cloud and a balloon.  Check out what the wonderful designers did here.

Here are the details of the card:

I started out with an A2 size card that opens at the bottom.  I cut it down to 4" wide instead of 4 1/4".  I then took a piece of matching 12" card stock and scored it at 4" and 8".  I cut the wavy lines using my Creative Memories wavy cutter.  Then I glued the middle section to the back of my card.  That's the base of the card.
Card Stock:  Bazzill
Patterned Papers:  K and Company
Grass:  Fiskars grass border punch.  I cut small pieces and glued them to the wavy lines to give the appearance of little mounds of grass.
Bear:  Create A Critter Cricut cartridge cut at 2 1/2"
Balloon:  Create A Critter Cricut cartridge cut at 2 1/4"  (I embossed the balloon with a Cuttlebug hearts folder.)
Cloud:  Create A Critter Cricut cartridge cut at 1 1/4"
Flowers:  Small flower punch (Paper Shapers) and a Martha Stewart Leaf punch.  I used pearls for the flower centers.
Sentiment on the outside:  Computer generated and layered with a circle punch and a scalloped circle punch
Sentiment on the inside fold:  Computer generated and punched with an EK Success punch
Inside sentiment:  Just a happy birthday song that I printed on my computer, along with telling her how much we love her.


Here are pictures (click on them for a better look):

I hope you like it.  Be inspired!

Well, Owl'll Be Darned!

This was such a fun card to make for my great neighbor's birthday.  Believe me, he and his wife have been a huge blessing to us in the past month since my husband broke his heel bone and had to have surgery.  He has mowed our lawn several times, and I looked out the window one time to see her with the leaf blower blowing all of the grass off our driveway.  I pray God will bless them in return!
I am entering this card into the birthday challenge over at the Fantabulous Cricut Challenge Blog - challenge no. 74.  You can check it out here.

Anyway, here are the details of his birthday card:

Size:  Approx. 4 1/4" x 5 1/4" -- I cut the shape using the sign feature on the Campin' Critter Cricut cartridge.  I think I cut it at 5 1/4", but to be honest, I just don't remember.  It could be that I cut it at 4 1/4". This feature is really cool.  There are some fun shapes on the sign feature on this cartridge that can be made into cards.
Card Stock:  Recollections and Bazzill
Patterned Paper:  DCWV
Sentiment:  Computer generated and punched with a Stampin' Up Paper Shapers Punch.  I borrowed the sentiment from Jessie Adams on the Cricut messageboard -- thank you!!
Owl:  Campin' Critters Cricut Cartridge cut at 2 3/4"
Branch:  Straight from the Nest Cricut Cartridge
Label behind Owl:  Nestabilities
Sun:  1" circle punch
Green scallop behind label:  I used a scalloped oval punch, and cut the punch out in half and tucked it behind the label, just to add a little something.
Inside sentiment:  "Look who's having another birthday."

Thanks for looking, and I hope you like it.  Be inspired!

One Year Older

I am sharing with you today my brother-in-law's birthday card.  Guy cards are so hard for me.  I want to put flowers and flourishes on them.  So, I usually reach for stars instead as my go-to embellishment for cards for guys.  I am entering this card into sketch challenge no. 129 over at Card Patterns.  It was a really cool sketch.

Here is the sketch:

Here are the details:

Size:  4 1/2 x 5 1/2"
Card Stock:  American Crafts, DCWV (metallic paper) and Recollections
Patterned Paper:  DCWV
Stars:  McGill Punch
One Year Older:  Phrases Cricut Cartridge cut at 2 1/4"
Cog Like Circle:  Elegant Edges Cricut Cartridge cut at 3 3/4"
Yellow Border behind Circle:  Martha Stewart Deep Edge Punch
I tied baker's twine around it and made a small bow.
Also, I used an EK Success postage stamp border punch around 3 sides of the card.

Click on the picture for a better look:

Thanks for looking and for your comments.

So excited!

I was so excited when I popped onto the Birthday Sundaes blog today and saw that my card was one of the cards featured in their challenge no. 21.  You can click here to see the post.  If you have a blog, you know how much work it is to take the perfect picture of your creation, get it from the camera to your computer, edit it, upload it and create a post on your blog.  So, to have your work recognized, or to get comments, just makes your day!  I'm happy!

Thanks for reading my post and letting me share how happy this made me!