Create your own background

 The 1st time I created a background using stamps was in Christmas card class I took that was taught by Caroline Lebel in her studio.  The only other times I have created my own background using stamps was during some of the card classes I took with Nicky at Pointer's.  When I was at Pointer's taking a class with Nicky, I saw a card she had made for one of her other classes where she had used a stamp to create a background.  I love the stamp she used and couldn't resist buying it after my class.  I actually bought 2 of them - the negative and the positive.  It is a rose and it is beautiful.  I don't know who made it.

While I was blog surfing earlier this week, I came across this challenge and I knew that the rose stamps would be perfect for this challenge.  I actually had in mind to do a Christmas card for this challenge but I changed my mind when I saw the card that Nicky had made.

Here is  my card:

I was quite pleased with the way this card turned out.  I couldn't resist adding a few yellow butterflies - the butterfly stamp is from Martha Stewart.  I used my Cuttlebug to cut and emboss the sentiment which was stamped on Hollyhock card stock from CTMH.  The sentiment stamp is from Magenta, a Canadian Stamp Co.  I still need to finish the inside.  The pink rose ribbon embellishments are from Michaels.

I hope you like this card as much as I do!

Thanks for stopping by!

Mojo Monday 200 - Soccer Star!

I started making a card for the current Mojo Monday sketch challenge earlier this week.  I didn't realize it at the time that I would be mailing it out so soon!  I had asked Karen who owns Your Next Stamp if a girl soccer player stamp could be made.  She listened and of course I had to order the Soccer Cutie from her store.  I started planning and making the card and last night when we were at my daughter's house she showed me a picture of my 4 yr. old granddaughter, Brooke with the medal she was awarded by her coach for scoring a goal yesterday during her soccer game.  I got my daughter to email it to me.

Here is Brooke with her medal:

Don't you just love the pink soccer shoes!?!

Here is the Mojo Monday sketch:

Here is the card which will be mailed to Brooke tomorrow:

Card stock & paper from CTMH.  Ribbon and soccer ball brad from my stash.  Image from YNS which was coloured with Prisma colour pencils. Edge punch from EK Success.

I think she will like this card.  She can be such a little stinker sometimes.  She was sent to bed for not listening to her father last night and was upset when we left as she did not say goodbye to us.  Hopefully, next time her father asks her to do something, she won't be quite so defiant and will listen to him.  (She refused to give Amber back her toy that Amber had been playing with).
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Anniversary card for Herb

Here is the anniversary card I made for Herb.  I used the sketch challenge from Stamp TV.

Here is my card:

I used a navy blue card stock for the card.  The stamped butterfly is a clear stamp from Martha Stewart which was coloured with my Sikura Glitter pens.  The sentiment is from CTMH and I applied some yellow liquid pearls.  The yellow butterflies were cut with a Creative Memories Punch.  I also applied some white liquid pearls.  The yellow butterflies were cut from yellow paper after I had applied glitter with some double sided tape.  The designer paper is also from CTMH.  Herb likes the card and has it displayed on the bookcase in the living room.

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July 15, 1972

Is the day that I married my best friend.  39 years later, he is still my best friend and I love him more now than I did then.  He is an amazing father, opa (grandfather) and husband.  He is loving, caring, compassionate, and easy going.  He loves sports and in his heyday played basketball, softball, slow pitch and bowled.  He still golfs and enjoys curling in the winter time.  He is a sports fanatic and enjoys watching almost any kind of sport on TV.

The greatest joy in his life are his 3 adorable granddaughters.  Brooke, the 4 yr. old calls him best friend Opa.  She loves to grab his hat and run away with it.

Here are some photos of my husband and family:

Taken in Royal Botanical Gardens in Hamilton ON - Summer 1979 - Mike was almost 2 & Janice was 4.  Herb had hair & my hair was longer and I was a lot slimmer!  LOL  Janice & Mike both had white blond hair when they were very young.

Herb & I in Banff  AB- 1991 - Herb's hair is thinning and I'm just a bit heavier!

With Janice & Mike in Alberta - 1991.

Taken in the mid 90's - With our best friends - Bert & Jeanine Damen.

With Janice in Niagara-on-the Lake ON - getting ready to ride our bikes along the Niagara River bike/walking path which can be seen in the background.  Herb & I spent many hours there bike riding and having picnic lunches.  Best place in Ontario to ride a bike.

Herb & I taking a break from bike riding along the Niagara River.

Proud father of the bride - Herb & Janice - Caesar's Palace - Las Vegas Nevada - April 6, 2004.

Herb & I and our beautiful daughter on her wedding day.  Janice chose tulips for the bouquets and boutonnieres to pay tribute to her Dutch heritage.

Opa with best friend Brooke and Sierra - Summer 2010.

Playing Simon Says with Brooke and Sierra.  Sierra was Simon.

Last but certainly not the least, Opa with his newest granddaughter Amber - Dec. 2010.

Thanks for stopping by!

Mojo Monday 199

As soon as I saw the Mojo Monday sketch challenge on Monday; I knew I would be playing along.  I love this week's sketch.  Without further ado, here's the sketch:

 And here is my card:

I have several Birthday sentiments and I will pick one of them to finish the inside when I decide who the recipient of this card will be.

Stamps I used - image - Hampton House - got it from Michael's in their $1.00 bin.  The sentiment is from Magenta - a Canadian company.  I love the royal blue with the lighter blue.  The border punch is from Recollections.  White ribbon is from my stash and the ribbon flower is from Michaels.  The designer paper is also from my stash and I have no idea who made it.  I love the yellow flower with the pearl which adds a nice colour contrast to the rest of the card.  I coloured the image with my Sikura glitter pens.  Hopefully, if you click on the picture, you will be able to see the glitter.

Tomorrow, Opa and I will be celebrating 39 years of wedded bliss.  I have started to make a card for Opa - just need to put it all together.  I also received my Card kit of the month today and the theme is Christmas cards.  Methinks I will be a busy little craftin' beaver in the days ahead.  Stay tuned!

Edited to say that I finished the inside - This card will be mailed to my younger sister who will be celebrating her 57th birthday on July 27:

I just hope it gets there in time!  I think she will like it.
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Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #119 Birthday card.

I was surfing the blogs this morning when I saw this post.  I really liked the sketch so decided to make a card with some of the new designer papers that I bought at Joann's Fabric & Crafts when I was in Olean, NY last week.  Someone in my family has a birthday coming up soon so I made her a card using the sketch.

Here is the sketch:

And here is my card:

The tag on the card is from Martha Stewart which was stamped by me using CTMH Hollyhock.  Papers are from various companies.  Pearls are from Kaisercraft.

Here is a view of the inside of the card:

If you look closely; I used an embossing corner punch from Fiskars on the pink cardstock.  The sentiment was stamped with Rose Red ink from Versa Color.  The pearls are from Kaisercraft.  I've bought some liquid pearls but only have 2 colours so far - white and pale yellow.  I will have to get some more in different colours as the Kaisercraft pearls are kind of pricey.  The only drawback to using liquid pearls is the time it takes for it to dry.

This card will be mailed to a very close family member soon.

Thanks for stopping by!

Happy Birthday Janice!

Today is my daughter's 8th 29th birthday (she just turned 36)!  Where have all the years gone?  I still remember her birth so clearly!  I can't be old enough to have a 36 yr. old daughter who is the mother of my 3 adorable granddaughters!

Here is a picture of my daughter who truly is a modern techno lovin' gal and loves her IPHONE and IPAD.  This picture was taken on Monday when Opa & I had a picnic lunch with Janice and her 3 little munchkins at a park not too far from their house.  She was still dressed in her running outfit as she had gone on a run before we got there.

Here is a better picture of her:

Here is the card I made for her:

The butterfly image from CTMH was coloured using a technique that I learned on this video from Stamp TV. The card stock is navy blue but looks almost black in the pictures.  The sentiment inside the card is a digi image which I coloured using Sakura glitter pens.

Here is the inside of the card:

I think she will like this card.  I will be mailing it to her tomorrow.  I would have preferred giving it to her in person, but I have a summer head cold.  I did speak to her this morning on Skype and on the phone and Opa and I wished her a happy birthday.  I told her not to look at my blog as I did not want her to see the card until she receives it in the mail.  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JANICE!  I LOVE YOU!

Thanks for stopping by!