Friends Forever

Ok, the other card like this was so much fun to make, I had to make another one. These Bellas just crack me up. I think I'm gonna buy up all the Bellas that have that wild hair, just so I can sit and laugh at them. It really helps that I love my Copics, too. I am getting better at shading with them, it's just that part doesn't always photograph so hot. But I see my Stickles are hard to miss. Such a fabulous thing, Stickles. I just think how bare my cards would be without them, especially since I make really simple cards. I love my white space, I love symmetry (altho, something is usually crooked, so things aren't really evenly spaced. I said I love symmetry, not I've perfected symmetry). I have found myself moving away from that whole "even space" thing. That's probably cuz I couldn't get it right. But, in my defense, the fact that I don't redo the whole card just cuz something is a millimeter off shows more growth on my part, right?

Stamps: Huggybellas (Stamping Bella), Faux Ribbon (Papertrey), Ink: Memento Black (Tsukineko), Paper: Papertrey white, Close to Cocoa & Cool Caribbean (SU!), Accessories: Nestabilities, Dark Chocolate ribbon (Papertrey), Jumbo brad (Making Memories?), Primas, Stickles, Copics

Keepin' It Simple

Ok, first I really need to point out that in the picture, the flowers are not even, but here in my hand, they are...I swear. Why do my pictures always do weird things to my cards? Maybe because I have no idea what I'm doing. Hmmm. That is a possibility. Anyway, sometimes I just feel the need to do something incredibly simple. Sometimes I feel like creating something with just black & white. This time I did both. I also wanted to combine my white Primas with my pearly baubles. I think the baubles add a touch of elegance to these little paper flowers. Hmm, maybe I should talk to either my brother or my sister, who are both awesome photographers, to see if I can get some tips on how to take better pictures. Or, maybe I should just not obsess over it. I mean, you can see the card right? Eh, good enough.

Stamp: Birthday Basics (Papertrey), Ink: Versamark, Paper: Papertrey white & Basic Black (SU!), Accessories: Primas, String of Pearls Baubles (Stamping Bella), white embossing powder (Stampendous)

Friends Always

So, I guess with my newfound love of coloring, also comes loving certain images to color. I love my Bellas. I don't have that many, but the ones I do have just make me smile. I love this one especially because of that hair. That big, curly hair. That is so me. Well, it used to be. I've become quite the control freak in my old age (I know, you're shocked! And I think I just heard my mom snort), so I prefer to keep every little curl in place. But seeing as I'm a child of the 80's, I have been known to be guilty of the big hair. As if hair like mine really needed mousse and to be blown dry (blow dried?) upside down. Sadly, I don't think I have any pictures that show the true hilarity of the decade. Anyway, I would like to point out that I totally snatched this layout from this awesome lady. And, I love it so much that I already have a couple more cards using it. So I really hope you like it, too.

Stamps: Huggybellas (Stamping Bella), Faux Ribbon (Papertrey), Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Plum Pudding (Papertrey), Paper: White & Plum Pudding (Papertrey), Accessories: Plum Pudding ribbon (Papertrey), Nestibilities (Spellbinders), Copics, Stickles (Ranger)

Happy Birthday, You Teenage Boy

Ok, I just wanna say that teenage boys are officially the hardest to make cards for. I know, I do tend to grumble an awful lot about making certain cards, but this time I mean it. I had no idea where to even start for this one. I thought I would just find some boy-like paper for the background and slap 'Happy Birthday' on it and call it a day. I mean, it's not like he's gonna look at it, right? So, off to Michael's I went. I can't even begin to tell you how clever I thought I was when I found basketball paper. Darn right clever, because that's what we bought him - a basketball. It was on his list, so we did what we were told. But how in the world would I use paper with basketballs all over it? What color cardstock would I use? In case you hadn't noticed, I tend to be matchy-matchy with my cards (I'm working on breaking out of that mold) and I don't have that color orange. Plus, I just used orange! The world hasn't gone topsy-turvy, has it? So, as a back up, I thought I'd get this here denim paper, perhaps for future use. Mmhmm. So I got home and I was bound and determined to use that silly basketball paper. I sat & stared at it for, like, a gabillion hours. Then I just gave up & went to the denim. Well, you can't really just slap 'Happy Birthday' on that one. We don't need to get carried away with the boring. So, I thought, hey, a pocket would be cool. Of course, he's gettin' a basketball, so nothing's going in the pocket, but wouldn't that be cool? Um, but now I needed a prototype for a pocket...so I scoured Splitcoast and found this card. Why I didn't just go look at one of my 1000 pairs of jeans, I have no idea. Now Mensa will never let me in! Yeah, always thinkin' on my feet. Anyway, after all that, I end up with this. And, for you people who love to give me grief on my nearly perfected nit-pickiness, notice that I even left the boo-boo on the card. I think it lends to the realism. Ok, I just didn't feel like cutting it out again and piercing all those holes and then going over it with my Sharpie. Oh, and you can't see it, but I sponged the edges to make it look darker and slightly dirty. Ok, very slightly. I am still a girl, after all. Phew. And after all that, he opens the card, looks at it and says, "What's with all the pants cards?" Ok, for the record, I saw no other cards with pants on them. Am I missing a trend? *sigh* Teenagers.

Stamps: Lexicon of Love (SU!), Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Paper: Wouldn't you know, I used the part with the maker on the back? But it's at Michael's, and Papertrey white, Accessories: brads (Making Memories), paper piercer, Black Sharpie, clear embossing powder (SU!)

Happy Birthday Wyatt

Boy do I struggle with the guys. But I have to say, this one just kinda came to me. I think it's easier to make cards for younger boys cuz it can still be cute. It's the manly/masculine aspect of it that I just have the hardest time with. But the biggest dilemma I had here was which colors to use. See, when I plan far enough ahead of time, things tend to work out. I knew that Wyatt's birthday was coming up, and I thought this stamp would be perfect for him. But I had to order it well in advance since this is a Bella Stamp, which means it comes all the way from Canada. Then once I had it, I stamped it and stared at it for a couple of days until I figured out what to do with it. And here we are. Oh! And this is Pacific Point cardstock. That probably isn't the color you thought I was gonna use next, is it? See, I'm full of surprises. Ok, not really, but it sounded good.

Stamps: Little Johnny Depster (Stamping Bella), Birthday Basics (Papertrey), Canvas Backgrounder (CHF), Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Close to Cocoa (SU!), Paper: Papertrey white, Pacific Point & Close to Cocoa (SU!), Accessories: Trusty ol' Copics

You Say You Want An Evolution

Yeah, I know that's not how it goes. But that's what came to me while I was in the shower thinking about this post. It's just so strange. If you had asked me, even a few days ago, which of the new In-Colors I was gonna use first, there was no way I would have said Tangerine Tango. In case you hadn't noticed, that's orange. I don't use orange. I was coloring my flowers and they just looked like they wanted to be colored orange. Well, what color cardstock was I going to use to mount my orange flowers? Orange. Wait, wait. Not just any orange. Tangerine Tango. Wow. This, people, is what we call evolving. When you are not only okay with using a color you formerly considered yucky and impossible to work with, but you also enjoy it. Yes, downright enjoyable. Oh, wanna guess which color I used next? Yeah, you've got a couple of days to pool your bets on that one. Don't know what the colors are? Here ya go.

Card: Stamps: Artfully Asian (SU!), Out on a Limb (Papertrey), Ink: Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Tangerine Tango (SU!), Paper: Papertrey white, Basic Black & Tangerine Tango (SU!), Accessories: Copics - Color Chart: Baroque Motifs, 2008/2009 In-Colors (SU!), Marvy scallop punch

Button, Button...

Who's got the button? Isn't that how it goes? I'm so tired right now, I'm not even sure where that came from in my brain. I was looking at the card trying to come up with a title for this post and that just popped into my head. We had Tia's birthday party today, and as low-key and tame as it was, it still took a lot out of me. I'm just not one of those birthday moms. Gee, wonder where I got that? Anyway, if you know me, you know that this little tiny event semi-stressed me out. Hey, I've gotten waaaaay better when it comes to things like this, so it wasn't so much stressing me out as it was wearing me out. So, did you know Build-A-Bear had this online community and you can register your friend/pet/animal thing and do stuff? Man, I had no idea. A lot has happened in a year. And, yeah, we did do this just last year for her birthday. She's not the most imaginative child. In fact, I think my first or second post ever was about Tia's birthday party last year. I'm sure it was riveting stuff and I believe it mentioned how cake was a little slice of heaven on earth or something along those lines. Well, I didn't even have any today, and it was a Tinkerbell cake!

And I would just like to point out to those doubting Thomasinas (you know who you are!) that this is indeed the one and the same card with the little smudgie-pooh on it that I tried to cover up with an eraser, paper piercer and white pen. (Go ahead, click on it. You can still see it.) So there. I did not toss it and redo it like you thought I would. I am not that picky and I have grown some in my card making. Yeah, sure, the card I pulled out of the garbage and showed you just went in there Friday night, but still. This is growth. Baby steps, people. Alright, I'm just really tired and didn't really care enough to do it over. But I won't do it over and I'm ok with that. Really. Ok, why are you laughing?

Stamps: Women of Life, Birthday Basics and Wedding Day (Papertrey), Ink: Lavender Lace, Pretty in Pink, Certainly Celery (SU!), Aqua Mist (Papertrey), Onyx Versafine, Paper: Papertrey white, Pretty in Pink (SU!), Accessories: Certainly Celery ribbon (SU!), Buttons (Doodlebug)

Happy Birthday Tiara

Ok, so today is my baby's 9th birthday. I cannot believe that she's 9 already. It really does fly by. So, her card. Yeah, this was such a struggle. Remember when I said that as soon as I got a card made, I'd let you people know? Yeah, be glad you didn't see the first draft. I liked it, but then I didn't really. I actually pulled this button off of her other card to use on this one. I don't know why I struggle so much to make cards for my own girls, but I do. And the blue thing. Her favorite color is light blue. Well! Really? Not brown or pink or even green, colors I'm good at using. Nope. Blue. And then I couldn't think of a single color that goes with blue. Who can't think of a color that goes with blue? That's right folks, me. And then the card, with the blue, had to be girly. Ack! So here is a simple, light blue card for my baby girl. Phew. And apparently, that's what was blocking my mojo, cuz I made a card after this one that I actually like. Yeah, yeah. Have a little patience. I can't be rollin' out all my stuff at once. Then you could be going weeks without something new to look at.

Stamps: swirl (Heidi Grace), Birthday Basics (Papertrey), Priceless & Looks Like Spring (SU!), Ink: Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue (Tsukineko), Paper: Papertrey white, Bashful Blue & Basic Black (SU!), Accessories: butterfly punch (Martha Stewart), Scor-Pal, button (Doodlebug), Baby Blue Stickles (Ranger)

Happy Birthday Cayden

Hey, kids. Alrighty, first I want to say really enjoy this card. I haven't posted in a few days (ok, so that's my normal pattern, but still) because this was the last card that I made. Almost a week ago. It would seem that I have misplaced my mojo and I haven't been able to crank out a single card. Nope, not even any stinkers. Nothing, zero, el zilcho. And I have had people request ever so politely that I post more frequently *coughcoughDanacough*, but it's hard to post what you ain't got. And I had this, but I certainly couldn't post it before I gave it to Cayden. Ok, so she's 8 and no she doesn't read my blog, but her mom is a big, nay HUGE, fan - ok, hang on, I'm cracking myself up here...k, I'm good - and I didn't want to ruin it for her. Anyway, the point is, as soon as I get something made - anything - you'll be the first to know.

Ok, now. Yes, that adorable Lily strikes again. I thought she'd be just perfect for my card for Cayden. The thought of flowers falling from the sky just seemed so happy, so I went for it. Of course, being the weirdo freakazoid that I am, it took me oodles of flower combinations to get just the right mix of flowers. I don't know what's wrong with me. They're just flowers. Anyway, I love the colors used here, which is funny, cuz I am so not a fan of yellow. But I had heard that Papertrey's Lemon Tart was "just the right" yellow. Those darn enablers. Then I thought, hmmm, you never know when you might need a yellow. Like my life wouldn't go on if I didn't have a yellow. So sad. So here we are, with pink, yellow and orange (?!) flowers, with yellow ribbon and yellow paper. Look ma, I'm growing!

Stamps: Boxes, Bags & Tags and Beautiful Blooms (Papertrey), Baroque Motifs (SU!), Sentiment & Lily (Pink Cat Studio), Ink: Berry Sorbet, Summer Sunrise, Lemon Tart (Papertrey), Brilliance Graphite Black (Tsukineko), Paper: White, Berry Sorbet & Lemon Tart (Papertrey), Accessories: Copics, Stickles, scallop punch (Marvy), circle punches (SU!), Lemon Tart ribbon (Papertrey)

Sweet Guide Lines

Ooh, look, more Guide Lines! This time I was just eyeballing the stamp to line it up, no grids. I think I got better at it as I went up the paper. I really think I may be having too much fun with this set, like on a totally unhealthy level. Eh, who cares? I think part of that reason may be that I find it really versatile. When you use one stamp, you get (to my eye, anyways) two looks in your design and I find that soo super easy, kinda like a two for one. Something else I noticed while I was adding finishing touches to this card - the Petal Pink Liquid Pearls is the same color as PTI's Sweet Blush. How 'bout that? This is my first time using my poor, neglected liquid pearls that have been sitting here begging to be used. And jinkies, they're fun!

Stamps: Guide Lines, Birthday Basics and Wedding Day (Papertrey), Ink: Sweet Blush (Papertrey), Onyx Black Versafine, Paper: White & Sweet Blush (Papertrey), Basic Black (SU!), Accessories: Scallop punches (Marvy), Sweet Blush ribbon (Papertrey), Liquid Pearls (Ranger)