Sunday, March 29, 2009

Thank you neighbor!

My neighbor spent most of February at their condo in the Caribbean, and I was keeping an eye on things for them...you know, take in any packages, make sure the trash cans were taken out, keep an eye out for dead animals left by the hawk or the cats who love their yard, turn off the sprinklers when it rained. Normal neighbor stuff. Well, Catherine brought back from the Caribbean this lovely silver hook bracelet, which she gave to me yesterday. She even got the perfect size for my tiny wrist. So today I made her a thank you card (since we went out for a fabulous dinner last night, after which I was too stuffed to scrap). While bloghopping today, I found a new (to me) weekly challenge at Mojo Monday. This is made from the week 78 challenge (tomorrow will be week 80). I made this in standard A2 size, using the CTMH Perfect Day paper pack, Tulip cardstock which was ink distressed with Tulip ink, Colonial White cardstock which was ink distressed with Bamboo ink, and Cocoa cardstock. The stamps used were CTMH Butterfly Wings (March Stamp of the Month) for the flourish, which was second-generation stamped in Juniper ink and Say it in Style (which was a SOTM last year, and I'm hoping that it will be brought back in the Summer Idea Book). I also used CTMH Cocoa ribbon.

Happy Birthday Jen!




I used the great pattern from this week's OCC Challenge to create BB Jen's birthday card. Her birthday is Sunday, and she is a fiesty 27 (but let's keep that our little secret)! I made this card in a 6X6, using some more pretty papers from my stash (Making Memories Brooke Narrow Stripe and Brooke Paisley). I used CTMH Blush and Garden Green cardstocks, white organdy ribbon from my stash and stamped the flower from the March Word Puzzle stamp set. Since I broke my Cuttlebug while making this card (that is a rant for another day), the scalloped ovals were punched using Marvy Uchida punches (the pink and purple--is that Mega and Giga?). The scalloped ovals were layered and then mounted using 3-D Mounting Squares. I think for Jen's birthday, I will get myself a new Cuttlebug! Happy Birthday, Jen!

Saturday, March 28, 2009

The last March birthday



The final March birthday belongs to our silent BB Debbie. Her birthday is on Tuesday, so I don't think her card will arrive in time for her birthday (since it doesn't appear that Jen's arrived on time either). I don't think she reads my blog, so I think it is safe to post early. I made this card following the SCS sketch challenge SC221. Papers used are CTMH Creative Basics Emporium, Sweet Leaf, Cocoa and Colonial White cardstock. The sentiment is from CTMH Happy Birthday stamp set, and the image is from the CTMH March Word Puzzle stamp set, stamped in Sweet Leaf and Vineyard Berry. The sentiment is emboss resist technique, sponged with Twilight ink. The dragonfly brads (aren't they awesome?) are from my stash. The Vineyard Berry ribbon is included in the Creative Basics Emporium package.

Saturday, March 21, 2009

Happy Birthday Janelle!



It's Janelle's birthday (she's 25, but don't tell anyone!), and I am amazed that I actually got her card completed and in the mail early enough that she will have received it before her birthday. I followed the OCC Challenge from February 28th for this card. I also made a point of using some pretty paper that I'd bought and had been saving instead of using. The cardstock is CTMH Goldrush and Black, and the paper is 7 Gypsies Requiem. CTMH ribbon and "Happy Birthday" and "Butterfly Wings" (March Stamp of the Month) stamp sets were used, as well as the Fiskars Threading Water punch and EK Success corner rounder. "Happy Birthday" and the butterfly were heat-embossed using CTMH black embossing powder and versamark ink. Ovals were cut out with Nestabilities Classic Ovals Large and my Cuttlebug. The button is from my stash. I was worried about using Black and Goldrush together, but I think the combination works great with the Requiem paper. Hope J loves it! Happy Birthday Janelle.

Sunday, March 15, 2009

Birthday card

It seems that all of the cool kids have their birthdays this month, so I am trying to keep up and actually get everyone's cards made and mailed before their birthday. I made this card for my neighbor, whose birthday is next week.



I actually began planning to use SCS Challenge 218, but I ending up dropping the top panel and then making a few adjustments. Papers are CTMH Perfect Day, CTMH Juniper and Tulip cardstock, Juniper and Tulip ink, CTMH Colonial White ricrac ribbon, CTMH "Happy Birthday" stamp set. Brads are from Making Memories, and flowers are from my stash. The Tulip panels were mounted with 3D foam squares, and the flowers/brads were attached to the panels before mounting. Needless to say, the envelope is very thick.

This card doesn't look so washed-out in person. I have been taking my pictures under my Ott Lite with a white background cloth. I have tried various settings on my camera, including High Sensitivity and Party. If you have some suggestions of how I can take pictures that aren't so grainy and washed-out, PLEASE share them with me! Thanks.