Merry Christmas 2010!

Amazingly, I got the "kids" to cooperate for photos. I had picked up some of the Post-It note photo cards in a 4x8 size a couple of years ago on clearance. Not bad for 20 cards with envelopes. They also have double-adhesive post-it strips on the back so receipients can peel them off and stick them wherever - if they're those type of people.

These card kits also come with software, but it was a little too restrictive for me. I ended up finding another software by Hallmark that had the 4x8 printing structure - sometimes hard to find, but I always check for. I was able to score the software on a serious clearance at a Ross' in NC over the summer. I scoured the internet saving any image that I liked that I thought I could possibly use for the background of the card. I also didn't want something that took away from the photos especially knowing I was going to have to cram four of them on there. Admittedly, I did hit some snags and learned to print off in grayscale and on plain paper before loading up the good stuff. Every software and printer has some quirks!

It ended up being one of the more popular cards that I've sent out. The greatest thing was only having to print off the amount of cards I needed and then I could zip off one more when I suddenly remembered someone else. For those that I didn't have mailing addresses on, I had created an electronic card that I simply emailed off or posted like this! Update: Just recently scored some more 20-packs of the cards and envelopes for $1.00! I went back to the store a week or two later and they'd already sold out of them. Great sale!

Halloween Pumpkin

I finally got my pumpkin carved for Halloween. I know, it's really late. I haven't done one in a long long long while. WalMart had them on sale about 1 week and a half ago for $2 though and couldn't resist the price! A few days later, another store had the same pumpkins for $3.88. So I guess it's when and where you go!

Since I didn't have a lot of time, I just pulled out one of my pattern books and had a few copies made. Decided on the kitty. Very similar to the one laying on my arm while I type this - and no it's not that easy to type with him sleeping on my arm!

I do still need to carve out a trap door to put my light in and scoop out the gross stuff. But here is a daylight photo for now.

Card - Walking with Friend

The brown has a hard time showing up on my little "staging mat" but it is a brown background card with a circle of red instead of the hot pink that it appears to be.

Supply list:

Paper - Colorbok (card); Keepsake Essentials (red cardstock)

Martha Stewart Circle Cutter

Pencils: KOH-I-NOOR Woodless Color Pencils
Klean-Strip Odorless Mineral Spirits

Card - Hyacinth Flowers

This was the main card to be done for the May 2009 MCPT Card Challenge. I only followed through with three of the five - just couldn't come up with anything "different" enough for the other two. Inside this card, I have a larger version of the "fallen flower" adhered in about the same spot just as an accent.

Supply list:

• Paper - Colorbok (card); Keepsake Essentials (yellow cardstock); Bazzill white cardstock
• Border - EK Success Plan-A-Page Template
• Cuttlebug Embossing Folder - Swirls (just the green and the yellow)
• Pencils: KOH-I-NOOR Woodless Color Pencils
  Klean-Strip Odorless Mineral Spirits
  

Card - Busy Mom

Honestly, I was a little fearful when I layered a second droplet of Paper Glaze on top of the bubbles. It remained milky in color until a day or two later. I literally let it sit for three days just to make sure it was completely dry after that! I did mean to run it through with the Cuttlebug Embossing Bubbles Folder, but just forgot until after the fact.

Supply list:

• Paper: Paper Reflections; Ampad Cardstock
• Aleene's Paper Glaze
• Pencils: KOH-I-NOOR Woodless Color Pencils
• Klean-Strip Odorless Mineral Spirits

Place Cards - Valentine's Day / Be Mine

Another of the MCPT projects for this month. I went a little different with this one and made them into place cards. These didn't really take as long as I would've thought. Just a little assistance from the computer with the names, a little Valentine's Day ribbon, some plain red paper and plain pink cardstock both accented with white stamped Martha Stewart stamps. The white is a little hard to see in the photos, but has a nice effect in person.

Candy Bar Wrapper - Mice with candy bar & heart design

They're actually phasing out the old paper covered foil wrappers on candy bars and going to an all plastic material so you don't have the two wrappers. Guessing it's cheaper for them to produce this way, but for those that rewrap bars like this, it could be a problem. I was able to find one of the few in the store that still had foil, but had to go up to the 4.4 oz bar instead of the 1.55 oz. - like that's a problem! Even the 4.4 oz bars are going to the one-wrapper system though. Oddly, some are going with a retro design on the new wrappers! The paper is actually shiny like the paper candy bar wrappers - got lucky to already have it in my stash.

Scrapbook - Mini - Friends 2008

This was my first actual project....even though I did start one a while back and never completed it. Our local library has classes from time-to-time. Last October, they had one set up for "Scrapbooking 101" headed up by a representative from Creative Memories. All we were told when we signed up was to bring x number of photographs to use in a page. We didn't know what kind of project, just kind of assumed that it would be 12x12 page. What we ended up with was a folder with three small sample packs with various patterned and colored papers and a 6x6 inch (when folded) card. I assume it is a regular kit for Creative Memories parties. I knew eventually I would do something with the animals, so I took several photos of them and then some others. When I saw what we were going to be doing, I went with the "friends" theme so I could include even the neighbor's cat - which is how Grascal came to live here a year ago when I was taking care of theirs. Anyway, we were somewhat limited to supplies there - since she didn't want to move to the library for the day - and time. We had the CM Circle Cutters, a small CM paper trimmer and then of course our paper, cards and pictures.

I went with decorating the inside of the card first with putting their photos together as well as some of the accents. I had a lot of what I felt was bare space, some I was going to use for journaling later and some I wanted accent paper for but I had run out of what matched. Several of the things I did wait until after the class. I'd run out of the green with dots and wanted to use it for more accents as I had with the blue. I had some similar, but not identical, green paper from a 1-lb. paper pack purchased at Dollar General (for a dollar) and just punched mini holes in it to use as an accent. The circle around Grascal & Taylor's photo was cut using a Martha Stewart Circle Cutter I had at home - I think it lends itself to that type circle. The stamps, for the names of for each, are from a clear stamp set that I already had. It was either from Target or Michael's - can't recall which right now. And of course the children helped out with their paw prints. I did it mainly to document the size of little Taylor's paws - while he's still little. Oddly, he was the most cooperative and came out with the best print!

Each of their photos for the inside was done at regular wallet-size. The ones for the front of the card were done in size between index print and wallet size. The paper for the front was also from that same Dollar General pack of paper. I found a font on the computer I liked and printed it off in a periwinkle type color with FRIENDS 2008 spaced out enough to work with the Scalloped Circle paper punch (also Martha Stewart) and then opted to punch the photos out with the same punch. Went with the order that they came into each others lives.

Unfortunately, since that was done the one I call "Baby" (and the neighbors call "Mama Cat" - it was accidental that she started responding to my just saying baby, not as her name) has disappeared. We think she's hiding out every now and then in the carport over here, but not sure.