Happy New Year

Happy 2013 everyone.  I hope that all my friends had a wonderful Christmas and a safe and blessed New Year.  We were bombarded with about 8 inches of snow right around Christmas so we had a White Christmas.  My mother was afraid she was going to be trapped up here in NE PA until the Spring Thaw.  She went home on the 28th.  I am so thankful for her visit because it sure was a big help.  Being unable to lift over 5 pounds, no stretching, bending, reaching, and having to wear this neck brace sure puts a damper on things.  

I was a little depressed when I had to send out, "gulp", store bought cards this year.  Everyone totally understands the situation, but for the past four years I have made my cards for friends and family.  But, I was able to focus more on my family and the true meaning of Christmas this year instead of how many cards I needed to get done.  So, all in all,  it was good.

I have been able to get a card done for the first Teapot Tuesday of the new year.  I have to be careful about how long I sit at my scrap desk and the movements I make, but I finished it and I thought I would share it with you. 

This card is going to Erik and Andrea who, after 19 years of marriage and some miscarriages, welcomed their baby twins, Theo and Sopris, into this world on December 19.  What a blessing and a Christmas miracle this family experienced just a few short weeks ago.  Their story touched my heart and I knew I had to try to complete this card for them.

I made a gate fold card which I thought was appropriate considering we have two babies.  I used all DP from my stash.  The ribbon was white and I used Tim Holtz Alcohol Inks to color one blue and one pink.  I attached little diaper pins to the bottoms of the ribbon.  The embellishments are from Recollections and the pink one says BABY GIRL and the blue one says BABY BOY.  I added blue and pink pearls for a little bling.

 The inside is done with the colors on the opposite flap just for a little variations.  I fussy cut the bows and the stuffed animal border from a baby paper pack I got a few years ago on clearance at AC Moore.  I used Memento Inks to stamp the sentiments which are from SU and Recollections.  I inked all the DP and Card stock with DI Vintage Photo.  The middle DP background paper has both pink and blue letters to tie both colors together.  I sure hope is brings joy to Erik and Andrea when they open it.

I hope to try and post at least once a week until I am free of this collar.  I am going to try my best to try and make some cards to encourage and bring joy to people.  I did go through the stash of cards I already have from my own creating as well as swaps and I think I could get away with not crafting for a couple of months, but it's like breathing.  I have to do it.  It's in my blood and my soul and I consider the cards I make a talent that God has given me to bless other people.  When I am not able to do so, I feel like I am missing out on my own blessing.

Thank you so much for stopping in and taking a gander.  I hope that you will continue to keep up with me as I plug along.  Thanks again for all the thoughts and prayers that have been said on my behalf.  I will also keep you posted on my progress.  God bless you all.

Wedding Card

Hi guys.  I am sharing another card that I made for the Teapot Tuesday Challenge two weeks ago.  I tried to add it to my album on SCS but it said that the pic was too big and wouldn't let me add it.  I can't take another picture because the card is already on it's way to Alan and Ellen.  So, I am going to link my blog with a post on SCS Teapot Tuesday so you guys can see it from there.  Oh well, such is life...:)

I used Stampin' Up Crumb Cake for my base.  It's a typical size A2 card.  I then used a piece of chocolate brown cardstock for a mat.  The patterned paper is from the Lost and Found Collection from My Mind's Eye.  I love the Eiffel Tower and the French wording.  I rounded the two right hand corners on the brown cardstock and the patterned paper.  I used a set of silver edged stickers from Recollections for the sentiment and the little hearts.  I tied a piece of satin ribbon around the middle and tied a knot.  On the bottom I added three pink pearls.  Congratulations Alan and Ellen.  May God richly bless your marriage.

Shabby Chic Birthday Card

Hi everyone.  I just wanted to show you guys a card that I made for a friend of mine for her birthday.  I am really diggin' this whole shabby chic thing.  I wanted to make a feminine card, but I am tired of pink.  I wanted something different and special because the person who received this card is special and unique.  So, here's what I did...

The card base is A2 size (5 1/2 x 4 1/4) and is Stampin' Up Very Vanilla.  I rounded all four corners.  The background patterned paper is from DCWV Heritage Collection.  I love this collection.  It has some fabulous images.  I didn't like the whole sheet because the pattern included a measuring tape stripe, so I used my trimmer and cut the paper to remove that strip and meshed the paper to get the pattern I wanted.  I then rounded the images and inked the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  I took a piece of vellum and tore each side, inked it with Vintage Photo and attatched it to the left side.  I then added a piece of chocolate brown ribbon tied to the right side.  I used a birthday sentiment from Stampin' Up, inked the edges and attatched with a pop dot to the vellum.  I used a pearl spray from Michael's that I found in the bridal section.  The little fabric flowers are from AC Moore.  They have a little pearl attatched to the middle. I thought it turned out pretty cute.  I hope my friend thinks it's as special as she is.  Thanks for checking out my post.

Shabby Chic Birthday Card

Shabby Chic card

This was my first attempt at a shabby chic card.  I had been wanting to try this style because I fell in love with this type of look a while back.  I wasn't sure how it was going to turn out, but I really liked the outcome.  The cardbase is a beautiful shade of blue (but I don't remember the exact name) from Stampin' Up.  I cut a piece of patterned paper from DCWV to 4x5 1/4 and used it as my background paper.  I then pulled out my scrap box and found 5 cooridinating pieces.  I inked all the edges with Vintage Photo Distress Ink.  The one square that is sticking out to the right I balled up, straightened out and with a direct to paper technique added some walnut stain ink.  The image is called Small Paris and is from Hot Off the Press.  I inked it in Newspaper Brown.   I matted the image on the same blue as the cardbase.  I attatched them with ATG.  I added cream lace around the two blue roses from Prima.  The cream and pearl flower is from Recollections.  I added  some turquoise rhinestones from Recollections and three cream colored pearls, also from Recollections.  So, all in all, I think it turned out pretty good.