#9 I'm officially addicted

In just a few short days, I've become officially addicted to these wonderful little Square Pocket Cards! (See post from 6/23/07)

I needed a quick Get Well/Thinking of You card for an older gentleman who could use a bit of cheering. Once again, I used a sticker on the front, but had to alter it a little to fit the occasion. It's one of those delightful Mary Engelbreit dimensional stickers, but the rectangular background portion had a repeating sentiment of "Happy Birthday." I just trimmed the background off.

The patterned paper is actually wallpaper. I found the roll at the Dollar Store and I have enough to probably use forever. The sentiment is from one of the newer Studio G Clear Stamp Sets (also $1.00!) from Michael's.

I'm not sure whether it's my scanner or me, but I just can't seem to get my cards straight. Sorry about that.

#8 Binding treasures

A dear friend will be retiring from the Health Center at the end of the summer session-- Wendy is a physician who's been with us for many years and will certainly leave a gaping hole to be filled. She's originally from England, has the most charming accent, a melt-your-heart smile, and is a superb physician.


To celebrate her time with us, I put together a memory book with contributions from many staff members. It's one of the best uses of my Bind It All that I can imagine! However, even by using the 1-1/4" O-Wire, the largest available, the book was a little overstuffed... so many memories!

#7 Embossing and Chalking and Eyelets and Ribbon and Border Punches and.....

This card is one of those everything-but-the-kitchen-sink types, and I'm pretty sure that because of that, it doesn't want to scan or photograph very well.
The embossed and chalked rose is enclosed in a Sizzix diecut (one from the red die of the Rivet Frame Combo). I stippled the entire frame, but the color at the corners is really falsely accentuated-- maybe because of the pink eyelets???

Ah, who knows? I like what it looks like in real life and I guess that's what counts.

And, since I LOVE the look of embossing, I' m thrilled to pieces with the wonderful tutorial that Nancy Ward has posted on her blog, Paper Friendly. She's done all of the hard work of figuring out beautiful embossing results using our old red clunker Sizzix machines-- you've got to see it! It's a keeper-- as is her entire blog!
http://paperfriendly.blogspot.com/2007/06/make-it-easy_23.html

#6 Save the Boynton stamps!

There was a recent post on Gingerwood asking which rubber stamps you'd have the fireman save, once the baby and the dog were safe (tee-hee-hee!). Well, pretty much hands down, I'd ask to have my Sandra Boynton stamps rescued. They're getting hard to come by and her characters never fail to make me smile!

By the way, Gingerwood never fails to make me smile, either. Susan (AKA Gingerstamp) selflessly maintains the world's most wonderful rubber stamping bulletin board, visited by some of the most astonishingly kind, friendly, generous and talented crafters you will ever find. No day is complete for me without about 10 check-ins.

http://www.gingerstamp.com/bboard/board_home/index.html

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Stamp: "Heart Balloon" Sandra Boynton for Kidstamps

www.kidstamps.com

Colorstrip is a paintchip sample

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#5 Too darned cute!

I came across the tutorial for this fun little card on a blog called "Amusing Musings & Things"

(http://dawnmercedes.blogspot.com/)

-- it's found at her Thursday, March 29, 2007 post. She calls it a Small Pocket Card, but I just call it too darned cute!

Not a bit of stamping on my version yet (the front is a sticker), but I can see this as a quick thank-you or a thinking-of-you card, with the sentiment stamped on the little card inside the pocket.

I found Dawn's blog and tutorial via Colleen Shaan's blog, Distinctive Touches

(http://web.mac.com/cschaan1/iWeb/Site/Distinctive%20Touches/Distinctive%20Touches.html)

one of the few sites--other than Gingerwood!-- that I visit daily.

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Printed Paper: Lucy Riggs for Frances Meyer, Inc.

Veggie Stickers: Barbara Wilson for Frances Meyer, Inc.

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#4 Purple

Although you can't tell it from my blog, I seem to have a tendency to reach for purple when I'm trying to pull together a card that's a spur-of-the-moment creation. It's such a rich, happy color!

#3 Father's Day 2007

My darling husband, Mike, is a true outdoorsman and wildlife lover. When I found this stamp at Serendipity Stamps, I knew I had to have it for him.

www.serendipitystamps.com

Buck #116L

Sentiment is computer-generated (Font: Olive Oil)

#2 Now that I have it, I need to use it!

I was full of enthusiasm when I signed up and started with my blog idea, so after a month I guess it's time to get going, hmmm?

For me, the months of April and May are packed with occasions begging for cards (no less than 13 birthdays, with Mother's Day and a couple of anniversaries thrown in). I like the elegance and simplicity of this one for my Mom.