Working on the backlog...

this time I was working on Dad's birthday card only half a month late. I hate it when work gets in the way. I originally saw this while digging through PInterest, and it was only a matter of time before I decided it was worth doing.

I`m pretty tired these days so classy and simple is my favorite style lately. Today`s inspiration : http://www.mamamostamps.com/2013/08/case-study-3rd-anniversary-blog-hop.html by Maureen Merritt.

I just realized I forgot to add fancy borders on these photos... oh well, guess that is for next time. I went through my scrap heap and pulled out the funky little pigment cube sets to use on these stamps. I also brought back Enjoy Life`s clock and added a few embellishments.

And of course, I couldn`t resist using the bicycle once again teamed with some fancy yellow swirls and the same colors into the inside.

Other:
* Solid cardstock
* Orange patterned cardstock

CTMH:
* Enjoy Life (retired)
* Just A Number (retired)
* Saddle Pigment cube from Basic set
* Buttercup Pigment cube from Whimsy set
* Twilight Pigment cube from Whimsy set
* Avalon Level 2 Paper Pack (retired)
* Dreamin`Level 2 Paper Pack (retired)
* Mocha Adhesive Pearls (retired)
* Blue and Green Adhesive Rhinestones (retired)

What a crazy set of ridiculously cold days, hope you are staying warm!

You and Me Themed 2012 Calendar

This was a unique challenge for me. I wanted to stay solely with the colors that were in the You and Me Kit: Creme Brulee, Olive, Smoothie, Garden Green, and Chocolate which meant that I did not have free reign with colors like I normally have. However, I didn't mind; it was actually less stressful to work with four colors (I did not end up purchasing the Creme Brulee ink) and it came out looking fantastic.

As you can see I ended up using You and Me patterned cardstock for the front and back only. The rest of the inside pages were the brownish/cream colored cardstock from Michael's Spice Market cardstock and the quote pages were white cardstock that I distressed with chocolate ink.

Each of the stamped corners on both sides were done with the curly stamp from You and Me, three times per corner and then all squares were distressed with chocolate ink. I thought it would be lovely to have a little quotation on the back of each square. Each quotation is matched with some "pictures" of course, all second generation stamping. In the case of September and December, the months actually span over six weeks so I needed to do some masking in order to stretch the weeks.

I wish I could keep this calendar for myself as it came out looking so gorgeous but it is a present that I'm sure my Mom will love this year for Christmas. I am glad that this project is done - I can finally put all my stuff away properly :) but no shortage of stamp sets were used.

All in all this being my first time, I will definetly use the My Creations chipboard items again. Next time I will be using their triangle banner.

Michaels:
* Cardstock from 'Spice Market' set

CTMH:
* You and Me Kit
* Creme Brulee, Smoothie, Olive, Garden Green cardstock from Autumn set
* Bohemian Alphabet
* Classmate Alphabet
* Month By Month
* Enjoy Life
* Find Your Style - Jan 2011 Stamp of the Month
* Horizons
* Chairs To You - April 2011 Stamp of the Month
* Pair-A-Phrase - August Constant Campaign
* Angel Sent
* Sensational Season - March 2011 Stamp of the Month
* Wings Workshop kit stamp - retired
* Dreams Come True
* Baby Love
* Snowflakes
* Wonderful Friend - retired
* Olive Ink
* Chocolate Ink
* Garden Green Ink
* Sorbet Ink

Cute and Simple

I saw this template in Wishes and was inspired to try it out. It's a tiny little 3x3 card but sometimes the smallest things are the most precious. On the inside, it says 'Father's Day' as the Happy in my 'A Little Everything' set was too big! Today's idea is inspired by Heart 2 Heart's latest challenge, background stamping.



I'm not sure which one of my Dads (my FIL or my Dad) will get this, but next year they will :)

Cardstock:
* Local craft stores

CTMH:
* You and Me (June promotion)
* Enjoy Life (C1439)
* Spring 2011 Petite Perks
* Chocolate Ink (Z2111)
* Olive Ink (Z2137)

A new neighbour

I was talking with my neighbour last weekend when it came out that she had welcomed a little boy into the world back in January! We talk when we bump into the backyard but given that weather had to cooperate before that happened, it was May before I found out.

What better occasion than that to create a card?

Today's inspiration is SSC13 from Random Acts of Creativity



The designs for Baby Love (B1368) were so cute I had to use it on the inside, too:



Cardstock & Button Sticker:
Local craft stores

Inside stamp for card:
Oh Baby - local craft store

CTMH:
Wooden Designer Buttons (Z1387)
Natural Hemp (Z280)
A Game Stamp (A1113)
You & Me (D1495) - May Promotion
Enjoy Life (C1439)
Baby Love (B1368)
Moonstruck Ink,
Ponderosa Pine Ink,
Grey Flannel Ink,
Bamboo Ink,
Spring Iris Ink