#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?

#36: Happy Birthday to our baby!

Our daughter, Beth, turns 20 today! Happy Birthday, with all our love, sweetheart! You make us so happy and so proud.

#32: Great Minds

Boy, I'd say "Great minds think alike," but that would be an insult to Susan of Gingerwood.

A little while ago.... OK, OK! Four months ago! Susan did me an enormous favor when she sold me a wonderful set of punches (see this post), making certain that I received them quickly and with the cheapest possible shipping. She went to a great deal of trouble for me and just could not have been sweeter about the whole thing. I sent her a card to say thank you: Susan modestly told me it was no big deal (although it was!) and then further compounded her kindness by telling me that my card inspired her. Holy smokes... talk about the ultimate compliment! She sent me a photo of the card she made:
Is that not gorgeous??? I asked Susan if she would mind having me share this kind of circuitous route of how crafters inspire each other and she graciously said to go ahead.

So, I had meant to share this and completely forgot until I received my package of new Cuttlebug embossing folders from All That Scraps a few days ago. All this new embossing reminded me of some of my old embossing and there you go. As I said... four months ago. Sheesh.

Thanks for the re-inspiration, Susan!

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Susan's Card
Paper: Basic Grey
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: "Stylized Flowers"
My Card
Daffodil stamp from Stampin' Up! "Perfect Petals"
Cuttlebug Embossing Folder "Spots and Dots"
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#29: Organizational Efficiency

I love to heat emboss stamped images, but found I did it infrequently because I was too lazy to haul all the equipment out and put it back for each project. Whenever I have a vexing question about how to work through a crafting issue, I turned to the delightfully generous and helpful ladies of Gingerwood, who supply endless hints, tips, tricks, encouragement, photos and how-to-do-it detail! As a result, I now have a wonderful custom-made heat-gun holder, courtesy of my DH. It has a very small footprint, allowing me to leave my embossing equipment right at hand, ready to be used and to allow safe cooling, as well.

My husband was impressed by the thoughtfulness of the ideas offered and really happy with the safety factor associated with the holder, something that has always bothered him-- the biggest concern was that one (or both) of the "craft cats" would be in the middle of the project area offering personalized artistic direction and set the place on fire.

So I showed him all the photos, hints, recommendations and suggestions from fellow GWs, and he made me this:

Perfect!

Many thanks to becky with a little "b" (for the detailed photos of the overall design), Greta in NY (wonderful suggestion to add a heat-proof ceramic tile), Mrs. C. (the idea to add cup hooks to help control cords), Sue Nelson (for putting the thought in my head that the DH could make it for a few dollars, rather than have me buy it) and a number of others who offered their help. I've done more embossing in the past week than I have in the past year!

#19: The card that wouldn't upload Monday

I have no idea why my photo wouldn't upload on Monday, but will today.

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"Make A Wish" stamp by Gina K. Designs (purchase of the set benefits the Make-A-Wish Foundation, too!)
"Princess Chick" by Stampendous
Embossed background done with Cuttlebug's D'Vine Swirls folder
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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!