#53: And now for something completely different...(Finally!)

It's a card made with a napkin, and every time I look at the cartoon, it makes me laugh... Poor St. Patrick! Just look at those big circles under his eyes. Every Mom and Dad in the world can relate!

#52: I love snowflakes!

I have an awful lot of snowflake and snowflake-themed stamps, but since I don't make my own Christmas cards, they don't see as much use as they should. I love to incorporate them into other types of cards, like this get-well card for a co-worker.
Here's the cover: .... and then a small scan of the inside:


The card is 6"x6" and I think all the stamps are from various $1.00 bins.

The round snowflake punch is an old one from All Night Media, and the snowflake border punch on either side of the "Get Well Soon" is Martha Stewart's embossing border punch. (Note to self: The embossing shows on the underside of the cardstock, so put the cardstock into the punch upside down....)

The wonderful sparkly chipboard letters are from the Dollar Spot at Target-- some of the prettiest I've ever seen! I only got two packages, so I'll definitely need to make a return trip for more, now that I've seen what a nice touch they add.

Hope all your holiday plans are coming together. Try not to stress, OK?

#51: Why is it...?

The more stuff I have, the less stuff I create? Sheesh, I don't think my hobby is stamping/card-making anymore....I think it's collecting stamping/cardmaking stuff.

Do I love all my stuff? Yep, unreservedly! Do I use my stuff? Er....not so much. I should be ashamed. Should be, mind you, but I'm not. Every once in a while, I go into a flurry of creating and then I'm so happy with myself, I remember why I started all this!

I've also realized that my favorite creations never make it to the blog because I am a card-carrying crappy photographer. If it doesn't scan, it doesn't appear here. And even if it does appear here, it's a little pathetic. But pathetic can be kinda cute, too! (example follows...)

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Penguin & Happy Birthday stamps from various dollar bins. My expensive stamps are carefully stored and I have a hard time remembering where... which is why I use my dollar stamps, mostly.

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#50: Impulsive Bunnies

I love this teeny, little stamp (1"x¾"). I've had it for years and have no idea where I bought it. However, the information from the side of the wood mount says "Noteworthy™, Chatsworth, CA." When I put Google to work on that, it turns out it isn't a stamp company, but a "...company highly focused on providing front end, value oriented, impulse merchandise programs..." (The bold underline is mine.)

Yup, the word impulse describes my shopping habits perfectly!

These bunnies have graced lots of birthday, thank you, get well and thinking-of-you cards-- and every single time I add them to something, I have to laugh!

#49: I'm baaa-aack!

Oh, boy. Has it been a busy/nuts/frustrating couple of months! No gory details, but besides not keeping up my blog, I don't even think I've posted on GW in weeks. That's like saying "I don't even think I've eaten any chocolate in weeks." Unbelievable.

That's the problem with inertia-- you know, the old "Body at rest tends to remain at rest" thing? I found each day away from stamping, blogging, and crafting made it harder and harder to resume. Throughout the time, dear becky-with-a-little-"b" commiserated and sent several lovely, uplifting messages of support and empathy which touched my very soul and for that I can never thank her enough.

Quick post and a quick card, but now that the body is moving, I'll be back soon!

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Stamp: Sandra Boyton "Keep Smiling" (#915) by Kidstamps

Background paper is actually a glossy file folder; design by Mary Engelbreit

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#48: Faith & Emily Dickinson

I really enjoy some of Emily Dickinson's poetry, so when I found these beautiful stickers on close-out at Serendipity Stamps, I knew I had to have them. They work so well for a variety of occasions, such as get well, encouragement, or congratulations, especially when I need a card quickly.

The passage reads:
"We never know how high we are
Till we are called to rise
And then, if we are true to plan
Our statures touch the skies."

#47: Thank You Cards

I've had a lot to be thankful for in the past few weeks, which meant I went on a card-making frenzy this weekend. My dear friends at work had a lovely, impromptu birthday party for me last Friday that I thoroughly enjoyed: take out Chinese food and an elegant Chocolate Mousse Cake that almost put the entire place into a coma-- Yum!

Here's just one of the many cards I worked on over the weekend, and its sentiment is meant with all my heart!

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~Thanks embossed with a Sizzix Simple Impressions Folder and lightly highlighted with a Color Box Cat's Eye Chalk Pad in Alabaster.

~Martha Stewart's Border Punches: Doily Lace and Small Ribbon Threader

~The gold embossed card edge is actually the trimmed front of a Christmas Photo Card (adhesive strips already attached!) from a box purchased in an after-Christmas sale. Included gold-foil lined envelopes, too!

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