Invite: Happy Halloween!

A personal invitation to shop and save.... Gives a new meaning to trick or treat (Simply click on the image below to save and enjoy)

Handmade tag: Enjoy today

 This is the result of my texture play. I created a tribute to a co-worker whose mother is a strong breast cancer survivor. Her story inspired me to create this tag that she could display at her desk.

Many times I have been guilty of waiting for a special occasion to create something for someone. This friend has taught me how to do my job in a more efficient way. Even though thank you is something I can say in a card, I decided saying it through a tag would be more fitting. She was flattered and impressed when I incorporated her favorite color into this tag. The back of the tag reinforces how she inspired me.


It is a small tribute to all those strong women who battle breast cancer only to emerge as beautiful butterflies from a cocoon of pain. Thank you for inspiring me with your strength.

Sneak peek: You inspire me

Playing with textures is one of my favorite things. This sneak peek shows a detail of a recently created tag. 

Stay tuned for the remainder of the tag!

Handmade envelope: Home away from home

 

 The stitched brad I used on this envelope was almost tailor made. I don't think any other brad could echo the look of a hibiscus flower the same way. The jewel brad was my attempt at adding a little more decadence.

 

The recipient of this envelope considers Hawaii her home away from home so I wanted to allude to that. The alphabet letter I used is actually a combination of an "L" and an "I" to represent a Tiki motif. Again I used a Prima paper leaf cut up to look like a palm frond.

 

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Handmade card: Aloha birthday

 

Hawaii was the inspiration for this one-of-a-kind birthday card. I was commissioned to create this card for a lady who loves to travel to Hawaii. She loves the history, look and feel of the place. I did not want to just get a hawaiian landscape and call it DONE. The vintage poster I found was the perfect image that screams Polynesian escape.

 

The fake palm frond was created by trimming a prima paper leaf from my stash. Heidi Swapp bling and Invisibles polka dot patterned paper completed the look. The color on the paper was from several shades of Tim Holtz distress ink.

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Handmade envelope: Mexican souvenir

This envelope is one of my favorites that I've created, not just because of who it was going to, but because it has a little bit of everything on it. Excusing the run on sentences that I am famous for. I have collected a wide variety of Tim Holtz paper that I like to use A LOT!!!

 

I brought back the love of all things MEXICO with this vivid sticker... Don't worry the stones were just props!

 

The brads reminded of things I saw in Mexico. The red is a bright color you see everywhere there. 

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Yoshi card: Tropical birthday

All cards are created equal, with love and attention, but there are some that lie closer to the heart. The idea behind this one was to be whimsical and tropical at the same time. The recipient adores Mexico, so he was a little understanding about the Hawaiian shirt.

 

In my defense hibiscus flowers also grow in Mexico, just saying. The coconut drink was my idea since I could not get a coconut cocktail (for my birthday) on my one and only trip to Mexico. At least Yoshi enjoyed one for me on this card.

 

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Handmade envelope: Vintage blessings for Aunt Shirley

This envelope was created to celebrate our dear Aunt Shirley's birthday recently.

 

Even though we live miles apart each of these envelopes have the ability to bridge that gap and touch Aunt Shirley's heart. Each year we have known her has been celebrated in such a unique way. I can only hope the cards we send her are as valuable to her as she is to us.

 

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Yoshi card: Celebrating Shirley

Yet another unique Yoshi card was created for his Aunt Shirley (his grandpa's mommy). It is amazing how much I have learned about pugs since I got to Texas. She is a close friend and supporter, so her satisfaction is one of my goals when I make her cards.

She loves the cute tricks he can do, like sitting up when he wants a treat or just to watch his favorite western on TV.

The photo I used may have been indoors but the card is all about the great Texas scenery.

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Handmade envelope: Auntie Marie's b-day

 Yoshi's Auntie Marie is a very special lady, so that required a very special envelope. The closure was made up of some of my favorite brads (wood flower and corduroy). The patterned paper may look like the previous ones, but I chose this one because of the doilies embellishing the edges.

 

I echoed the wildflowers from the card and added a little gingham ribbon to a Jenni Bowlin milk cap chipboard button. Heidi Swapp's mistable letter and label matched the look perfectly. Where there are flowers here in Texas you will undoubtedly find butterflies, so Martha Stewart's butterfly punch came in handy.

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Yoshi card: Better late than never

Yoshi's Auntie Marie is one of his favorite people  to cuddle with at any time. His photos are more than just an inspiration. He is a larger than life character so it is always a challenge to outdo the last card. Marie lives in the Texas Hill Country so I always like to add wildflowers since they are her favorite.

 

I used some ribbon that I distressed with some of Tim Holtz' distress stain, just love the STUFF! It adds that little something that finishes everything like nothing else. Jenni Bowlin's star stickers is another must have for me. It helps me personalize any card or envelope. The Prima bling needs no explanation, LOL.

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Handmade envelope: Nana Kathi's birthday

When you take the separate items I use to create these handmade envelopes, it's pretty crazy how they all come out so differently. I can't say I really had a clear cut idea when I started this one. It just evolved!

 

Nana Kathi loves the weathered wood look (that you see alot of here in Texas) so that was clear cut as the background of this envelope. The rest was more based on eclectic vintage pieces, like the jean button brad ('New & Improved') and the wood flower brad. One of my recent influences is Junk Gypsy and I channeled their style in this envelope.

Thank you for following my blog! I welcome your comments and suggestions.

Yoshi card: Belated Birthday Nana

In many ways I hate to forget anyone's birthday, but due to having a day job now, time is at a premium. Our dear friend Kathi loves receiving cards for any occasion. When the card includes her favorite pug, Yoshi, she is even happier.

 

I just recently found a great deal on some Heidi Swapp fabric ribbon and knew I wanted to transform it with Tim Holtz distress inks. Add a couple of hearts and a brad/button combo, VOILA!

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Handmade envelope: Dream Big & Laugh Hard

Some cards/envelopes I try to downplay the celebration and bling, but let's just say this envelope was not one of them. The recipient is a BIG character inside and out. The idea for this envelope fit her to a "T".

 

The brads that make up the closure are super blingy and the baker's twine is a perfectly vivid color. I loved the contrast between the turquoise baker's twine against the lavender patterned paper. The circles in the paper echoed by the circular brads.

 

This envelope was just a measure of decadence I wanted to project to the birthday girl. She repeatedly thanked my sister for the beautiful card and envelope. She proudly showed it off on her desk for days.

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Handmade card: Crocheted celebration

This card was created with scraps and bling. The flower was actually the cut out center of a crocheted doily embellished with red bling.

My sister commissioned this card for a co-worker who loves to party. Her birthday was a big affair this year and this card echoes the color scheme of the party invitation.

On the inside of the card I added one of my favorite stickers, since it is hers as well, a yummy margarita.

Thank you for following my blog! I welcome your comments and suggestions on any challenge or request you  may have.

Handmade envelope:Freshly caught

 

The envelope for yesterday's highlighted handmade card had to be as masculine as I could make it. The above closure brad was a plain brown mega brad when I decided to add a star sticker in the middle of it. The recipient is a proud retired veteran and (current) correctional officer/mentor. He is a proud member of the unit where I work.

 

Despite not knowing him for a long time I could tell he is a PROUD American who is making the most of his beautiful life. He enjoys  every aspect of fishing, from enjoying the outdoors to bringing back that perfect catch.

Looking forward to your comments and/or suggestions... Thank you for following my blog!