Handmade card: A Marine hero!

As promised this is the complete view of a commissioned card for a coworker's daughter. She safely returned home from Afghanistan recently, and with a promotion to Sergeant to boot. I was honored to be able to give back to one of our women in uniform, proud Marine and beloved daughter. Her mother was so impressed with the card!

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Handmade card: Conguero birthday

Today was my co-worker's birthday. He is a talented conga player who counts Ray Barretto and Tito Puente as his idols.  I had quite a bit of fun creating a unique personalized birthday card. He had admired one of my previous cards, that was a sympathy card though. He mentioned how beautiful it was and how he could not afford a card that detailed. I made it a point to ask him specific questions about his passion, playing the congas. That information helped me to create this card. Enjoy!!!

Handmade envelope: French inspired

This envelope was created for a friend's birthday. Her third child is 'King' and he is a French poodle. I gifted her one of my favorite cards.

Handmade card: Camila's 22nd birthday

My family is celebrating my niece's 22nd birthday today. We have been through so many stages with her. There were the Barney years (can still hear that song in my head, you know the one I mean), the Harry Potter saga (complete with standing in lines to be the first to see each movie), and who could forget the Goth years (with black everything). I am here on behalf we survived all of the stages with Camila and as a reward now have the cool chick portrayed on this card. NOTE: She has now received the card in Florida and loved it!

Mini Album: Tags aplenty

Bling detail

I'll admit I have been guilty of not seeing creative opportunities everywhere. Incorporating past clothing tags was an idea I have been mulling over for awhile and just now set it to paper. 

 

The different colors and textures looked good together. They are the tags for some of my favorite clothes.

 

Distress stains are my go-to supply recently. You can apply them directly or paint with them. In this case I used them directly to paper.

 

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Handmade tag: Merry and Bright

Happy Saturday All!!!

My latest handmade tag was inspired by the wintry temperatures we have been experiencing here in Central Texas. The sheer real estate on the #12 tag was perfect for the extra large glittery MAMBI chipboard snowman.

Even though I had no snowflake stamps to use, I substituted a flower stamp I got in my Faber Castell gelatos set. The distress stain directly on the stamp worked like a charm.

I trust you enjoy this tag as much as I did making it.

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snowflake and stamp detail

Sneak peek: Chill in the air

In the past few weeks there has been a noticeable CHILL in the air. That has inspired to create something with a little winter feel to it.

I could hardly wait to use Tim Holtz' new winter/christmas embellishments. This snowflake had such gorgeous scrollwork detail I used my gesso and picket fence distress stain to go to town.

Stay tuned for some  more goodies in the coming days!

Mini Album: Worth every minute - Part 6

 Back cover

Heart punch

Mini Album: Worth every minute - Part 4

 The airplane in the picture is an embellishment from KI Memories Puffies line.

 The wood veneer camera was a perfect addition to a pocket full of tags ready to be written in.

 The globe is also a part of the KI Puffies line. Heidi Swapp's calendar printables and some Tim Holtz washi tape complete the picture.

Mini Album: Worth every minute - Part 3

 I would like my creation to speak for itself when words fail me.

 Tags are a perfect way to allow the receiver to add their thoughts and/or photos. Little pockets can hold all kinds of memorabilia.

Mini Album: Worth every minute - Part 1

 This is a very special project dedicated to the newest addition to our family. The cover may look a little different just because I changed the red-dyed twine for ribbon.

I decided to define the love in this album with hearts on the cover. The word sticker I found was perfect for what I wanted to convey (Worth Every Minute).

My collection of Tim Holtz distress stains came in handy, especially the new metallic one in Bronze.

 The flower was from Amy Tangerine's line but I did embellish it with a gold pearl pen.

 The distressed look came out perfectly since I did not want it to look perfect. I want it to be like an heirloom that they can treasure for a long time.

The inside front cover is a vibrant heart behind the words 'It's all about YOU'. I used some Heidi Swapp calendar printables to make extra memorabilia pockets throughout the album.

I gesso'd the back of said heart and colored it with Dyan Reaveley's  Dylusions pure sunshine mist.

Many more pages follow, so stay tuned!

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 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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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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