Teacher Appreciation

Next week is Teacher Appreciation Week, and as a teacher myself, I know that kind words and gestures, yummy treats, and little gifts are very meaningful. Sydney is blessed to have a WONDERFUL kindergarten teacher and aide. To show our appreciation for all they do, I made them these cute little gift card holders. No amount of gift card is "too cheap." Even $5 will buy your favorite teacher a couple of cups of coffee or a new shade of lipstick. I was thrilled to get $5 here or $5 there...it really adds up in the end. And honestly, the best gift you can give is FREE. Write a letter to the principal and superintendent letting them know what an exceptional job your child's teacher does. A nice letter of recommendation is a welcome addition to anyone's credential file. Taking time out of your busy schedule to write a letter of recommendation shows true appreciation for a job well done.

Welcome Baby Hannah!

My dear friends, Rachel, Carl and little Carl, just welcomed a beautiful baby girl, Hannah Marie, into their family. I wanted to make them a baby card to match their nursery bedding, and just happened to have the perfect stamp sets to do so, Close to My Heart's Bird Basics and SU's Garden

Silhouettes. (Thank goodness for spell check!) Isn't the cherry blossom ribbon from Michael's a perfect accent? Everyone in our house is a bit under the weather with colds and flus, so we will have to wait a few days before we get to meet the bundle of joy.

Denami Design Theme Challenge #1

This weekend my mom hosted me and three of my stamping and scrapping friends for a "scrapover" to celebrate my birthday. No kids, no husbands, no cooking, no cleaning...absolute Heaven! She provided all of our meals, even had favor bags stuffed with crafting supplies, and offered make and takes. Thanks, Mom! As if the scrapover wasn't a great gift in itself, she also loaded me up with Denami Design stamps, pads, and punches. I was especially excited to get the large hydrangea. As soon as I got home I started creating my birthday thank you cards with it. Then I saw that the next challenge was a spring theme. Perfect! I used my SU markers and aqua painters to water color my hydrangea (and my water coloring skills could use a little refining!) I added pretty pearls to accent each bloom. I used the SU French Script background stamp and Merci stamp (ironic considering I don't speak a lick of French.) It didn't show up great in the photo, but I highlighted the torn edges of my Ballet Blue card stock with Denami Design's Sparklets and a little help from my glue pad. The base color of my card is SU Lavender Lace. The hemp and beads were leftover from a project I worked on years ago. Enjoy!

Embellish Parties Color Challenge

When I learned that the Embellish Color Challenge was party-themed, I instantly thought of someone near and dear to my heart...Great Grandma Pearl. Pearl will celebrate her 90th birthday this July. One of Great Grandma's favorite activities is feeding the neighborhood birds. She will probably never win any popularity contests with her neighbors due to the large amount of squirrels she attracts as well as her feathered friends. In honor of my favorite bird lover, I chose to use the bird stamps and embossing folders I love. My mom always uses test tubes to make various favors. Hers usually contain a delectable treat fit for human consumption. For mine however, I chose to go with something for the birds...bird food. I must admit, one reason for doing so was that the bird seeds and sunflower seeds match the kraft paper and black so well! I used my geometry skills (and my beloved Scor-Pal) to create a cube based template for my birdhouse. See, Mom and Dad, you didn't waste money on all of the college tuition! In the photos it is difficult to see, but the black cardstock on the card, place card, and birdhouse roof and door were all embossed with the Cuttle Bug Birds and Swirls folder. Pretty appropriate, huh? My images were all stamped with one of my favorite Stampin' Up sets, Always. The images were embellished with Stickles and rhinestones. Speaking of SU, all of my cardstock and ink was SU. My letters and numbers were from the Close to My Heart Small Chocolate Alphabet (absolutely delicious!) The ribbon was from the Ribbon Boutique, and the super-elegant metal pendant was from the Metal Gallery. All I have to say is that I am glad that I only have to make 12 invites, favors, and place cards for the party. My love to you ALWAYS Great Grandma Pearl! Happy 90th Birthday!

Denami Designs Product Challenge #1 – Party Penguin

When I purchased Denami Designs Penguin with a Balloon stamp, I had my two precious godsons in mind. Kevin will be three in June, and Jonathan will be two in May. I wanted a fun, versatile birthday stamp, and considering how adorable this guy is, I couldn’t pass him up. As far as the design inspiration, I wanted to create something bold, eye catching and primary for my little guys. I used a color combination that I don’t usually use, and I am happy with how it turned out. As usual, I used Stampin’ Up cardstock, stamp pads and markers in Brocade Blue, Going Grey, Real Red and Old Olive. I love how the button balloons really seem to pop (no pun intended!) as some are raised with pop dots and others aren’t. I used jewelry wire for my balloon strings. The wire added a neat dimension to my card. Even if the toddlers don’t appreciate the hard work I put into this card, I know their mommies will!

That Time of Year

It is that time of year when First Holy Communions and Confirmations abound. I made this card for a special blessing in my life, Emily, who will celebrate her First Holy Communion and Confirmation next weekend. Sadly enough, I do not have a cross in my entire stamp collection. Hard to believe, I know. Anyhow, I got creative and made my own cross with Stampin' Up's Simply Said set. Doesn't it look so dainty, especially on the SU shimmery white paper? I also used the SU Elegant Bouquet embossing folder - on my Cuttle Bug (I cheated!) For a finishing touch, I placed delicate pearls in the center of each flower. Do you want to hear the most adorable part? For Emily's gift, we got her a pink Bible cover that is decorated with large daises. How is that for a theme? Now comes the difficult part...writing a nice sentiment inside without screwing up my whole card! I guess I had better go purchase a cross stamp before I need to make a religious card for a boy!