Blues for Birthday

The friend that this birthday card for is one of my oldest friends and she has always had a penchant for blue. So, that defined my color choices, with one small diversion. She likes flowers too, you see - and paper flowers do not require any sort of watering nor will they die. I was hoping to get a bunny or two on her card but it just wouldn't fit.

Today's inspiration is another MOJO Monday: MOJO231 with a little help from Debbie Carriere: Scrappin' My Heart Out.

As you can tell, by putting the red 3D flower against all that blue it definetly pops right out of the card! I saw the flourishes on Debbie's card under the flower and I just had to borrow the idea. The background umbrella stamp I used to give my background a pattern says "live in sunshine, it can't rain all the time".

I thought I'd bring the theme inside the card - I continued the background stamp along the bottom and added the second flourish I'd cut with my Cricut to gussy up the inside. If I haven't mentioned it before, the flower and half moon is also from the Art Expression cartridge. I've come to rely on it quite a bit.

Michaels, etc:
* Solid cardstock
* Blue patterned paper (CM)

CTMH:
* Dream Big
* Chairs To You (May 2011 SOTM)
* Lilac Mist Ink
* Outdoor Denim Ink

Hope it's just as sunny for all of you as it is for me today!

Every card has a story...

I find that each card is tailored in some way to the recipients, but usually I take inspiration from who I'm giving it to. And sometimes a background paper or a color or some part of a stamp set jumps out at me. In this case, because it's a housewarming card for both my friends, I decided to stick with a neutral color. I've never been out to their house in Airdrie, and I'm looking forward to seeing it when they have time!

This naturally calls for a card, and the past Mojo Monday: MOJO230. (I actually had it complete but never got around to posting until today) was perfect for this.

Instead of flowers I opted to do three chairs and for some reason, the chair stamped in brown always cries out to me for paper piecing. I don't think I've ever stamped that chair without piecing the cushions, now that I think of it. And I wanted some sparkle in the border, so out came the rhinestones.

I love saving scraps, since sometimes they come in really handy for that last little embellishment you want to do on a card without cutting a huge 12 x 12 piece of paper.

Michaels etc:
* Solid cardstock
* Ribbon
* Fiskars edging scissors

CTMH:
* Around the Block
* Chairs to You - May 2011 SOTM
* Clear Sparkles
* Lucky Level 2 Paper Pack - retired
* Outdoor Denim Ink
* Spring Iris Ink

I'm looking forward to spring! Are you?

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

Come drink my rum... and Cherish the Day Nov SOTM

The housewarming invitation read something along the lines of 'come help me drink my rum...' We helped a friend move back in January when the wind was whipping around us with cold flurries. And although it's almost close to winter again, her new little home is ready for a party, and she apparently has some rum to share.

I thought she deserved a card and a little present. After all, what is a housewarming without a bit of celebration? This card actually (for once) did not follow any templates at all!

I used Lucky Level 2 embellishments and canvas buttons to help me embellish this lovely card! Strangely enough this became a SOTM card. If you look closely, can you identify the three months featured on this card? If you guessed March, September, and more importantly November you are correct! The stamp of the month for November is called Cherish the Day.

With every purchase over $55 CAD this can be yours for $5.50; which would also qualify you for the Holiday Wishes campaign.

Michaels:
* Cardstock from "Spice Market" set
* Cardstock from "Primary" set

CTMH:
* Grace Level 2 Paper Pack (retired)
* Chairs To You (March SOTM)
* Limited Edition (September SOTM)
* Cherish The Day (November SOTM)
* Cherished Flourishes
* Chocolate Ink
* Cranberry Ink
* Tulip Ink
* Juniper Ink
* Canvas Badge Buttons

New House New Beginnings

A friend who originally was a coworker of mine back in the day 7 years prior, recently bought a new home. I know that he has been dying to move out of the basement suite he has been living in since he moved into Vancouver.

I had acquired Chairs to You without realizing what I'd use them for, but they were just perfect for this occasion. Today's inspiration comes from a previous Teneal Williams post: Creative Elements Case Study 50 Hop.

As the middle chair needed to stand out, I used a technique known as paper piecing. What you do is stamp the image onto two sheets of paper, one is your base image, and the other you cut pieces out of. In this case I used plain brown cardstock, but you could do this with patterned cardstock to really 'pop' the image. As well, the sentiment on the front is embossed in black.

I seem to have a real habit of decorating the inside as well, but I find that it helps to balance out the card weight if it's a card with the fold on top. This time I opted to stay simple, to keep in theme with the rest of the card.

Michaels:
- Cardstock
- Embossing Inks

CTMH:
- Chairs To You (May 2011 Stamp of the Month)
- Lucky Level 2 Chipboard accents
- Chocolate Shades Collection Mini Medley
- Black embossing powder
- Chocolate Ink
- Smokey Plum Ink