#35: I love this card, if I do say so myself.

Although the scan is crooked and I should have photographed it to prevent all the weird shadows, I still love this card. It's pretty simple and all I did was put together "premade" things, but there's just something about how it all came together that makes me happy.

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Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Textile

Ribbon: Michael's

Dimensional Sticker: K&Company

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#34: Simple Stamping

I am a very, very simple stamper, but I get a great deal of enjoyment from doing just that. I love embellishments and other types of "add-ons" to make my cards fit the recipient.

One of my aunts has a birthday this week and this card is exactly her style. Luckily, it's mine, too!

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~Flower image is from Lisa Vollrath's 2008 March Countdown (St. Patrick's Day & Easter images; linkware for personal use only. The calendar's images are only available for a very brief time after the countdown ends, so they may not be there when you read this. Sorry!)

~White flowers are from the "Brides" collection at Michael's; a can of about 300 flowers for $4.99-- what a deal! The centers are colored with Copic Atyou Spica Pink Glitter Pen.

~Happy Birthday stamp from My Sentiments Exactly! Stamped in Brilliance Ink (Pearlescent Orchid).

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#33: Baby Shower Invitations

Ooooh! I had so much fun creating and making invitations for our niece's baby shower! Our other niece is hosting it and I was honored to bits to be asked. I made three samples from which she could choose:

Although she really liked the bunny (choice #3), we decided that at this time of year it looked too much like Easter. It was then a split decision between #1 and #2, so in the end, I made 15 of each of them.

I've never really had to make duplicates of a card before and was a little worried about churning out any kind of volume. However, once I got going, it wasn't a problem at all. The information regarding the shower (inside) was computer generated, so that part was a breeze.

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•All stamps: Studio G (from Michael's & AC Moore)

•Bunny: Sizzix Die

•Small white embossed frame (baby bottle invitation) and white embossed folder ("It's A Shower!" invitation) are Wilton wedding supplies. The frame is for placecards and the folder is part of a kit for making wedding programs.

•Pink & Blue velvet ribbon (glued back-to-back to form one doubled-sided ribbon) by Berwick ... I've had for about a million years

•White ribbon with pastel dots by Offray (from Wal-Mart)

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#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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#31: Best Wishes

There has been a lot of behind-the-scenes activity around here, but not a lot to show for it! I'm in the process of making a stack of baby shower invitations for the dear niece and her husband previously mentioned. I made way more samples than I probably needed, but for someone so special, you want everything perfect, you know?

Then there was this project... a wonderful friend and co-worker who is leaving her position. She's such a great person, and she deserved the best card we could come up with. However, there are enough of us who wanted to write something meaningful, and a regular-sized card just wouldn't do. I came up with a three page, 12" x 18" card (booklet) that allowed everyone to put down their thoughts, and not just be limited to a scribbled name. It was nearly impossible to come up with any stamping on that scale, so the use of laser-cut and metallic papers filled the void.

The "envelope" was a sheet of gold mat-board (for framing)-- I cut it to a size slightly larger than the card. The card was placed on top of the gold board and the whole thing tied together like a present with wide grosgrain ribbon.

#30: Organizational Efficiency, Part Two

There have been several recent posts on GW about various stampers' organizational methods. I sometimes think I love organizing more than stamping! Since I have pretty limited space, I tend to go vertically rather than horizontally.

This person's wonderfully inventive answer to the "Clip It Up" system (http://outtathisfunk.blogspot.com/2008/01/sticker-gripper.html) is similar to what I finally ended up with, although I use a much smaller space. Mine are simply tiny, short café rods attached to the front of one of my cabinets. I just slip on the rolls of stickers and use binder rings to hold packages of embellishments.

All of my decorative edge scissors are hung an jumbo pushpins hammered into the side of the cabinet, right next to my desk.

#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!