Back to School Time

This was the "Back to School" gift I made for my friend Sherry. After teaching Kindergarten for the past 23 years, she is moving up to First Grade this year, so I wanted to make her a little something to set on her desk. I found the cute little green basket at Michael's. I added a mini clipboard, some "school" monkey cards and some little mechanical pencils tied together. The tag was made with one of the new Papertrey Ink sets (School Time).

Monkey Birthday Cards

I was going through my pattern paper and came across this jungle glitter paper pad I had. Of course, the Changito monkeys (by Stampendous) were the perfect choice for my "jungle" theme. I used Copic markers to color the monkeys (and the tree). You could easily change the sentiments on these cards (but since I am low on birthday cards, so I went with these). I wanted to add some extra dimension to the tree, soI stamped the top part a second time and cut it out. I added dimensional dots to make it "pop" out.

Chunky Glitter Flower

There is not a lot of stamping involved in this card. I used "white core" textured paper for this card. I embossed it with the flower cuddlebug folder and then sanded over the flower (so the white shows through). The center of the flower is stamped with "Thinking Happpy Thoughts" (Stampin' Up), so you could choose any sentiment for this card. I used chunky glitter from Stampin' Up and a sticker flower gem to add sparkle to this card. The orange daisy ribbon and white core paper are both from Walmart.

If you are what you eat...

Isn't this a cute saying?? This is from the new hostess set "Birthday Bakery" (Stampin' Up). The cake stamp is from the set "How Sweet It Is" by Gina K Stamps. I just happened to have some of this pattern paper (from a huge paper pack). After I stamped the cake I masked over it (with a post it note piece of paper)to stamp the polka dot background "Dot, Dot, Dot" (Stampin' Up). This card will be offered at the Stamp-a-Stack tonight. Thanks for stopping by!

Dreams really do come true...

This is probably one of my favorite cards now! I love these colors (and this paper)! Unfortunately, it is retired from Stampin' Up (Slumber Party). I happened to find it this spring on the clearance website, so I bought a two more packs (now I wish I had gotten more!). This cardstock is nice and heavy and it is textured. The flowers are from the set "One of a Kind" (Stampin' Up). I used the colors Riding Hood Red and Baja Breeze. The dream sentiment was created on the computer, but this card works with any sentiment. I used the marvy oval punch (pink) and marvy scallop oval punch (purple). On one card I used sticker gems for the centers of the flowers, the other card has button centers (you could also use stickles glitter glue for the centers). This card will be offered at the Stamp-a-Stack tomorrow.

Stamp-a-Stack Time

I am going to squeeze one more "stamping" workshop in before I go back to work next week. If you are available and interested it is Friday, August 27 at 5:00 PM. This is one of the cards that will be available Friday night. This cute owl is from "Little Forest Friends" (My Cute Stamps). I found this cute clear set at CHA from the Custom Crops booth. I colored the base of the owl in with a copic marker and the center of the owl is paper pieced on using kraft colored paper. The branch and sentiment are from the same set. The leaves are also paper pieced on using bright green. The clouds are cut from a die from Papertrey Ink. Thanks for checking in.

Card Class

Well, I am home from a long and well rested vacation in Ludington. It is good to be home, but now it is time to get my home organinzed and my card stuff organized (it has been all packed up from the craft show). It will take me a day or two to get back on track. Plus I need to get back into the classroom and organize that as well. This week will be a little hectic (before I go back to work next week). Allie (my senior) has orientation tomorrow and senior pictures on Tuesday. Tomorrow is also Tori's 20th birthday (dinner out to celebrate). Busy, busy, busy! As promised, I said I would show you the cards I made at the card class at the Scrapbook Nook. It was a nice variety of designs and techniques, something cute, something challenging (the origami) and something using new "mediums" ("rub and buff" to antique the bird cage and beads with jump rings). These cards were very detailed, but most of the work was already done for us, she had all the pieces stamped, die cut and embossed - she even had the little curlers made for us! All we had to do was ink, color and assemble. (I like this kind of class!) The origami crane card was based on a story "Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes". Based on the true story of a young Japanese girl who contracts leukemia as a result of the atom bomb that was dropped on Hiroshima, the story follows Sadako as a healthy schoolgirl winning relay races, through her diagnosis with the atom bomb sickness, to her long stay in the hospital. It is in the hospital that she first begins making origami cranes to pass the time. Her ultimate goal is to make 1000, but she dies with only 644 completed. Sadako's classmates finish making the remaining cranes, and all 1000 are buried with her. It was a very touching story. I don't think I would be able to fold another crane - it was a bit difficult! Well, I hope to be creating some new stuff soon! Thanks for stopping by!