Vintage birthday card

For my birthday a friend gave me a heart-shaped box full of vintage embellishments.  I loved looking at the box full of beautiful things sitting on my shelf.  When I knew I'd be seeing a gal tomorrow who loves fashion, jewels, etc. I allowed myself to actually use an item from my little box!  I've had this pink embossed paper for quite some time and it went so beautifully with the color scheme (the pinks all really match well in real life!) and would add just the right vintage-type feel I knew she'd love.  Can't wait to give it to her!

Up, Up and Away!

< This project earned me "Spotlight Artist" recognition on the City Crafter Challenge Blog - thank you! >

While chatting with a friend yesterday, she mentioned that for her mom's birthday they were giving her a hot air balloon ride.  Somehow we got onto the subject of presentation and I said I'd make her a balloon to go with the gift certificate. 

After some trial and error, here is how it turned out.  My crafty friend had a paper lantern which I painted then hot glued narrow ribbon onto, cut a circle to cover the largest end of the lantern and punched small holes where I wanted my skewers to go.  (There were other ideas tried but this turned out to be the most stable and successful method!)  I trimmed the skewers to the length I needed and hot glued them into the basket (which I'd already decorated).  Then, pointy end up, put them through the circle to the height I wanted and they stay!  I think she'll be pleased.

I entered this into a 3D challenge at City Crafter (http://www.citycrafter.blogspot.com/) ...

The card I made to match ...

Birthday purse

Some weeks the mojo is just off and this is definitely one of them!  Despite the enormous mess I make for every project I embark on lately, the end results don't thrill me.  Fortunately the recipients love them nonetheless!  The stamp set and clear "purse" are from Taylored Expressions (the tag is attached to the handle).  There is a gift card and small bottle of lotion from Bath & Body Works inside.  Hope she likes it!

Birthday and Father's Day

My nephew turns 16 Sunday so I made a card from us (with the car) and one for my sister to give him (with the subway art phrases). 

When I gave my friend her "skull" card, she asked if I could make a Father's Day card for her husband with a picture of his WWII plane on it - yes, he owns and flies this plane!  Is that cool or what?! 

More for Craft Night

May's Craft Night theme for cards is Birthday and for my tags I chose some for guys. Have a few more to make but not sure yet what they will be!

A French birthday

Monday is a friend's birthday and we laugh all the time about "loving a theme"!  She loves Paris, French food, etc. so when I saw this container and notepad I knew it was for her.  Then of course had to find a special bottle of French wine to make the ensemble complete!  The tower in my stamp set was small so enlarged it via my scanner and it was perfect. 

Craft Night Creations

Once a month a couple friends and I get together and bring cards we've created based on a theme.  This allows us to build our stash and always have a card handy!  January's theme was "birthday" and the variety was amazing.

"Miss J's" were quite involved but we expected nothing less from her as her talents are amazing.  The cupcake card bottom is 3D and the vellum envelope made for a unique presentation (notice I haven't stamped the birthday sentiment yet - oops!).  The "gift card" card was her creation and incredibly clever.  Can't wait to make more of these and, of course, the matching envelope finished it off.

"Miss K's" cards used one of the PTI sets that I look at and debate about each time I order from them.  I love hot air balloons and was excited to see her card.  The largest balloon is 3D and I love how she made the clouds part of the background rather than separate.  As I was assemblying the last couple, I decided to see how white behind the cloud cutouts would be and I liked t that way too.  Then I had a button laying there so why not use that too!  May have to get this set ...  Her second card was clever and used small squares to create this pinwheel effect.  As you start assemblying you don't think it's going to come out right, but it does!  Very pretty end result.

My cards were to be masculine and general.  I'm not the best at doing guy cards but was happy with the end result.  I had the library card and folder set from PTI and found an example using both.  I made their kits with different coordinating paper sets so each card was different with some guys and some gals.  Love the butterfly cutout!  Now I need to get mine finished!

Next month's theme includes a "layered accents" challenge plus tags ... off to get inspired!

Calendar books

Wow - it's been SOOOO long since I posted on this site but I have been making things!  Need to get some of them posted!

I made some calendar books for a couple friends who I get together with each month.  Our theme for January was birthday cards so this was perfect.  All products are from Papertrey Ink with the exception of the flower stamp.  The inside has a pocket page for each month.  Love it!  Tomorrow I'll take some pictures of the cards we made that night.

Vintage Birthday Card for TESC132

Vintage is definitely a style out of my comfort zone! Maybe that's why it took me an hour to make this one...but I know my brother will love it! The inside says "Vintage never goes out of style - Happy 40th Birthday!"

Lots of birthdays!

Seems there have been lots of birthdays lately with ages ranging from 12 to 97!

The "groovy" card I made for Kelleigh's 12th birthday...

and for Grandma's 91st birthday...

and the card for her friend's 97th birthday...

And I still have two more to make!

Birthday gift basket

A very sweet friend of mine is turning 30 on Wednesday so to celebrate her day I put together a gift basket for her. She loves tea and flowers so that's the theme I went with...love a theme! A bright teacup determined the colors, three unusual packages of tea, a bright frame for her new kitchen, cozy socks to wear as she enjoys her tea, and some orange flowered notecards to write friends as she relaxes! When I saw Lynn Put's card on her blog using the teacup and flowers, I knew it was a perfect fit. I even parted with some flower-shaped buttons for her card! Love the finished product and I know she will too.

Birthday card

Grandma placed an "order" for a birthday card for a friend so it gave me an excuse to try the new felt from PTI that I got last week! I love the cream and sage colors together with gray - unusual but so pretty together. I think she'll like it!

Summertime!

Ever since I saw this card on Niki Estes' site I knew I had to make one like it and it was a great way to put my new box of laces to use! Everything but the lace is from Papertrey Ink...love that company!

Teen birthday card

I ordered this stamp not too long ago and thought it would be good for a teenage guy's birthday card. I find it hard to create something masculine but think this worked great!

SSSC #57 Challenge

I love this layout and it was perfect for a masculine birthday card that I needed for March. Even though it's for a guy, I couldn't resist using the matching rhinestones on the birthday circle!