Card for my sister

My older sister Tina turned 65 in November.  She retired on Dec. 31st.  On Jan. 2nd, her husband had a heart attack.  The main artery to his heart was 80% blocked and he had a stent put in.  He is OK but on a lot of meds.  A week or so ago, Tina had a stroke.  It affected her left side but not her speech.  She faces a long road to recovery and will be undergoing physiotherapy and rehabilitation for the next 10 - 12 weeks.  I'm not sure if she will be in the hospital that long.  I went to see her on Sunday and she was in good spirits.  I gave her a get well card that I will post here along with the card that I mailed to her house yesterday.

When I was in nursing school in 1967; Tina and I lived together for about 6 months.  As kids at home, we used to fight all the time.  We shared a bedroom for a number of years.When she got married in 1968, I was her Maid of Honour.  I wanted her to be my Matron of Honour at my wedding, but she was 8 mos. pregnant with her son when Opa and I got married so my younger sister was my Maid of Honour.

Tina and I live about 1 1/2 hours away from each other and we don't see each other very often.  I often wished we lived closer as now we get along very well together and our hubbies do as well.  Tina & her husband love golfing and golf every weekend.  This year because of the mild weather she and her hubby managed to golf 4 times but only 9 holes each outing because of her hubby's heart condition.

Here is the get well card I gave her on Sunday which she loved:

This card was very easy to make.  Some punched out squares, a butterfly punch, some bling and a crochet flower and Hey, Badda Boom, Badda Bing and you have a nice card!

Here is the card I mailed to her yesterday.  I'm sure she will really like it.

Here is the inside of the card.

The pink paper is from Bazill and came already embossed.  The black card stock is from Stampin Up.  I used my MS Butterfly Punch as well as a square scallop punch.  The inside butterflies were punched with a Creative Memories punch and I also used an EK Success punch for the swirl.  The 2 small flowers on front of the card on the ribbon are the negatives of this punch.  The crochet flower is from my stash which I enhanced with a Stampin Up brad which my Stampin Up rep gave to me as a thank you for placing an order with her.  The flat back pearls and pink crystals are from my stash.  This card took a little longer to make but I really like it.  I feel it is one of the best cards I have made.  The sentiment is from Class Act - a Canadian Stamp Company and I used CTMH's Hollyhock ink.

I hope this card will cheer her up and let her know that I love her and am thinking of her and hoping and praying that she gets well soon.

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Mojo Monday 233 & Happy Easter!!

I decided to play along again this week with the Mojo Monday sketch challenge.

Here is the sketch:

Here is my card:

The pink card stock & design paper is from Michaels.  I used a Martha Stewart edge punch.  The butterflies  were punched with a Creating Memories punch.  The sentiment (from YNS - a Canadian Stamp Co) was stamped with CTMH Hollyhock onto the pink cardstock which was punched with an EK Success punch.  The crochet flowers are from my stash.  The leaves were cut with a Spellbinders die using my Cuttlebug.  I really like this card and had fun making it.
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Mojo Monday 232

I really like this week's sketch challenge on the Mojo Monday site so I decided to play along.

Here is the sketch:

And here is my card:

I wanted to make a spring like card and I think I succeeded.  Punch is from Recollections.  Butterfly punch is from making memories.  Paper, ribbon, and the crochet flowers are from my stash.  The sentiment is punched on an EK Success punch and it was further embellished with the same ink colour as my sentiment.  I am happy with how this card turned out.

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Mojo Monday 230

When I saw the sketch, I knew I wanted to play along.  Here is the blog post with the sketch.  I chose to do a square card

Here is my card:

The paper is from imaginisce.  I heat embossed the sentiment with white embossing powder.  The crochet flowers were embellished with pink flat back pearls. The crochet flowers were bought at Pointers which I sometimes visit on my lunch hour.  The edge punch from Recollections was also embellished with pink flat back pearls.  I also added 3 white flat back pearls under the sentiment.  I added a cream coloured sheer ribbon which was layered with the pink ribbon.  I then added a pink flourescent butterfly as well.  I am very pleased with this card.
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She shoots! She Scores!

About 2 weeks ago, Sierra, my 6 yr. old granddaughter scored a goal in her hockey game.  Naturally this proud Oma had to make a card for her!

Here is the card I made:

Here is the inside of the card:

I love the stars on the paper and I also love the punched out stars.  The Sentiment was heat embossed and is   from the set Soccer Cutie from Your Next Stamp, a Canadian Stamp Co.  The image is also from Your Next Stamp.

I am entering this card in the following challenge which just happens to be sponsored by Your Next Stamp.


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A card inspired by Pinterest

Ever since I saw this card on Pinterest; I've wanted to copy it.  Kathy has some lovely creations on her blog:

http://stampingstill.blogspot.com/

Here is the card I cased:

Here is my version:

The base is red cardstock, I also used a cuttlebug embossing folder, designer paper is from Yours truly by Echo Park. Pearls, ribbon & lace are from my stash and the flower is from Prima.  I am very pleased with how this card turned out and will probably case it again using different paper and colours.  I haven't decided as yet as to how I will be finishing the inside.  I think it would be perfect as a Birthday or Mother's Day card.

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Tooth Fairy tin

I found out via facebook last night that my eldest granddaughter Sierra lost 2 teeth yesterday.  I had emptied 3 small round tins with flowers the other day and kept the tins (the flowers are going to Brooke and Sierra for their cardmaking stash).

I rummaged through my nestibilities and found a circle die that was just the right size to adhere to the tins to decorate.  I also used some pink and white ribbon, some rhinestones and silk roses from my stash and came up with this:

The tins are 1 3/4 " across at the widest point.  I have since added Sierra's initial to the top.  The initial is a light blue sticker.

I will need to make 2 more of these for Brooke and Amber.  I'm not sure if I'll use the same colours.  I'm thinking of using light blue for Brooke with a pink initial, light blue and white ribbon. It will be at least 2 more years before Brooke loses a tooth and about 4 years before Amber does.

This tin came together fairly quickly and I had a blast making it for Sierra.  I'm sure she will like it.

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Birthday card

I love butterflies and I love the Cherry Cobbler cardstock from Stampin Up.  I also love glitter, ribbon, crochet flowers, flat back pearls and punches.  I incorporated all the above in this card:

I used a scallop punch, square punch, edge punch and my favourite butterfly punch.  The white cardstock from Best Creations has glittery butterflies.

Here is how I finished the inside:

I heat embossed the sentiment on a white oval shape and reversed the colours from the front of the card.
If you click on the pictures, you will also notice that the white squares and white butterflies were punched out of white glitter cardstock also from Best Creations.  I am really pleased with this card and have not made up my mind as yet as to who I will be sending it to.

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Fantastic Customer Service

It seems to me that we are very quick to criticize when we are not treated well and we do not hesitate to tell people of how unhappy we are.   Well, I'm happy to report that I have received excellent customer service from EK Success.  I bought one of their punches, used it once (with a bit of difficulty) and put it away.  For the life of me, I could not remember where I had put it (the joys of growing older) and found it again a few days ago.  As luck would have it, I could not get it to punch.  It only partially punched out the paper.  I used tin foil to sharpen it; had no luck; wax paper to lubricate it and again with no luck.  In desperation, I went to the EK Success web site and contacted them.  I was told to put it in the freezer to constrict the metal and then using the tin foil and wax paper again.  I put the punch in the freezer over night but it still was not working.  My husband looked at it and said that it appeared to be misaligned.  I contacted EK Success again.  I was told to take a picture of the punch and email it to them which I did.  Long story short; they will be sending me a replacement punch.  I have several of their punches and have never had a problem with them.  Moral of this story is, if you buy a product and have thrown out or lost the receipt, contact the manufacturer.  Most companies are more than happy to help you out by sending out a replacement.  On the plus side as well, I don't think I need to send the defective punch back to them.  I just needed to provide a picture of the punch as proof of purchase.

Here is a picture of the punch they are replacing:

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Valentine cards & boxes & Mojo 226

Here are 2 more valentine cards and boxes I made for my granddaughters.

The 1st card I made was inspired by the Mojo Monday Challenge blog.  Here is the sketch:

And here is my card:

I chose to make the square card.  Papers are by Heidi Grace and the striped paper is on the reverse side of the paper on top. I punched the sentiment (SU) on a scallop square which was popped up.  The crocheted flowers are from my stash as is the ribbon, heart charm (made with love) and the flat maroon pearls.  I heat embossed the SU heart and punched it out with a heart punch from Marvy which is just the right size for the heart stamp.  My card size is 4 1/2 x 4 1/2.  This card will be going to one of my granddaughters.

Here is another card I made today for another one of my granddaughters:

Needless to say, I love this SU stamp. I heat embossed it and the centre heart is on the inside.  I punched out a heart on the cover of the card, distressed the edges with rose red ink from Versa,  added some flat clear rhinestones and the heart ribbon is from Michaels.

I also made some treat boxes for the girls:  

I watched this tutorial on Splitcoast Stampers.  The boxes did not take very long to make.  I used a MS heart punch, ribbon and flat back pearls. The card stock is Cherry Cobbler from SU (love this colour!).  I plan to fill the boxes with some Hershey Kisses. 

Last but not least here is a picture of my 3 adorable granddaughters:

Brooke (4 1/2; Amber 15 mos. & Sierra 6 1/2)

This picture was taken in the summer. They sure keep their parents hopping! They were all sick last week but are all feeling better now.  I will be taking some paper craft supplies to their house on Saturday so the 2 oldest (Sierra & Brooke) can make some valentine cards.  I've got valentine stickers, glittery heart foam stickers and ink and sentiments.  I expect we will have loads of fun!

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Valentine cards 2012

Here are 3 valentine day cards I made using the Cardmaking Kit of the Month that I received in the mail a week or so ago:

This card called for brads to attach the sentiment piece but I chose to use some dark red rhinestones.  It also called for the grey seambinding but I chose to use some red velvet ribbon from my stash.  I also added the pink die cut butterfly which I blinged up with some flat back dark red rhinestones.

This is the card I made for hubby:

Inside of Hubby`s card:

The kits come complete with all the embellishments; stamps, ribbon, die cut elements and borders, designer paper; card stock, pre-folded cards and envelopes.  It also comes with a book showing each card and directions to make the cards and the sizes required to cut the card stock and paper for each card.  Most of the kits have been really good but I have received some that I didn`t care for too much but that`s the chance you take.  I really like this month`s kit and have had a blast making the cards.  In some instances, I have added or omitted certain elements.  Hubby`s card for instance called for a grey seam binding bow but I chose to use a sparkly grey ribbon from my stash. I also added the die cut butterfly to his card.
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Crafting with the granddaughters

A few weeks ago, Sierra & Brooke made some cards.  I subscribe to Cardmaker's Magazine Card Kit of the month club and thought that Sierra and Brooke would have a blast making some cards.  I gave Sierra a wooden box for Christmas that she painted and decorated that I filled with glitter, bling, blank cards and envelopes, an acrylic block, some black ink, lots of embellishments and we had a blast making 2 cards.  Sierra's card is in the shape of a snowflake and Brooke's card is in the shape of a mitten.  Without further ado, here are my 2 little munchkins proudly showing off their cards:

Sierra's rub on sentiment reads Snowflakes are winter butterflies. Brooke's sentiment reads When hands reach out in friendship, hearts are warmed with joy.   I had to keep a close eye on Brooke as she was starting to go a little crazy with the blue rhinestones!

 The inside of Sierra's card with a heart that she cut out by hand by herself.

I just love the fashion statement Brooke is making here with the scarf!  I think she was copying her mother!

I am looking forward to making more cards with the girls.  I plan to make up some card kits for them soon.

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Cards inspired by Pinterest

Here are 2 cards I made which were inspired by cards that I pinned to Pinterest.

Here is the original card:

And here is my version:

I made the thank you card for my daughter and son-in-law to thank them for the Christmas gift that they gave to us.  They bought us a romantic getaway in Niagara Falls.  We got a large room with a king-sized bed, jacuzzi tub, a bottle of wine, some chocolate truffles and dinner coupons.  Hubby and I elected to stay another night in the same room.  We had a lot of fun on our little "play date."  The sentiment stamp is from Verve and the ribbon is from my stash.

The original:

My version:

I used some pink glitter paper, punched out the hearts from designer paper and added the MS heart border punch which was punched out of paper that has a gorgeous sheen to it.  Inside the card I added some small white embossed hearts and the negatives from the heart border punch.  I'm sure one of my granddaughter will love it!

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This site is so neat!

I love reading Dutch blogs and since I don't read or write or for that matter, even understand Dutch all that well any more, I've been using this site to do the translations for me. I just copy and paste and have it translated into English. When I've left comments, I use the translator and then copy and paste the comments in Dutch.

http://ca.babelfish.yahoo.com/?fr=avbbf-ca

Christmas cards

Wow!  It's been a while since I last posted!  Blame Pinterest and Facebook.

Here, in no particular order are some Christmas cards I made and gave to family and friends:

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