Birthday Card

I've seen many of these double Z fold cards on Pinterest, so I thought it might be time to give it a try. All the tutorials on YouTube were so long, but in all honesty it's a pretty quick card to make. Having said that, I chose a stamp that needed coloring, so it took longer than necessary.
My friend Ida is celebrating her birthday and I've been invited to her party. It was hinted that she was looking to buy something from the Jays Shop since she is a huge Toronto Blue Jays fan. So a gift card is tucked into this card.

Hope you like it Ida

Cards

Over the Thanksgiving weekend, I didn't go out much due to a little annoying medical condition, that has now been corrected with medication. So it gave me some time to think about cards that I wanted to make.
First one is a Christmas card using Stephanie Barnards Framelits Flip it card die. I love it, as it is pretty easy to put together.

I got to use up some Martha Stewart Christmas papers, I've had for ages.
Then I saw a Happy Birthday card on Pinterest that I loved using the Cuttlebug Happy Birthday Embossing folder.

And finally a Fall card that I will be sending to some of the people on Papercraft Planet who are in a card swap group I am in. This was my own design, using a Fall stamp set that I have hardly used.

Faeries

Today's cards are from a couple of dies I bought in August, but only received a few weeks ago. First is a card that I am sending to my niece's daughter for her birthday. She is turning 4. I also enclosed some paper dolls that I cut out using my Cricut from the Everyday Paper Dolls cartridge, along with paper outfits with tabs, so that she can play and change the clothes.

This next card I made for a friend I made on PaperCraft Planet whose son's wife is about to have a baby.

I am sending this one to my nephew, whose birthday is in two days, so I know it will be a little late. A simple and masculine card.

And finally an idea I saw on someone's blog, but I forget which one, sorry. It is a bright spring card, that I absolutely love. I'm making lots of these to help welcome/encourage spring.

What cards have you made lately?

BIRTHDAY GIVEAWAY!!!!!

As mentioned in the previous post I have a stamp set to give away in celebration of my upcoming un-birthday (February 29!). My plan is to hopefully boost my followers that will in turn, encourage me to post more often!

Before the giveaway, I want to share something I whipped up early this morning.
I am a member of Paper Craft Planet, and one of the groups I signed up for last year was Secret Pal. Over a period of a year you are required to send your pal 6 cards. I sent many more and a gift here and there to my secret Pal Anne in Denmark. At the end of the year it was revealed who your secret pal was. This year I am signed up to Random Happies. I can send cards to whomever I want at any time. My birthday is coming up at the end of the week, and so Anne sent me a huge package in the mail.

2 packs of paper, a Christmas elf stamp, a Union Jack embossing envelope and 20, count 'em, 20 different bags of tea!

This morning when I got up I went to the kitchen and decided to have one of those teas. I chose the English Breakfast, because it was morning and, well, I am originally from England! As the kettle was boiling I realised I needed to put the teas away, but at the same time I wanted them out so that I will use them. For me out of sight really is out of mind!  As I poured the water onto the teabag I got an idea. While the tea steeped, I cut down a cracker box that was destined for the recycling bin, and covered it with a sheet from one of the paper packs Anne sent.  Then I added the milk, just a touch, to my tea. I took out a punch and found some Thickers and this is what I came up with.

Then I sat down to finish my tea! It really was that quick.

I am also a member of another group, Crafter's Tea Party. Each month there is a challenge and we send another member some tea. So the teas I have received will also go in this box that will sit on my counter, near the kettle.
Did you know tea solves most of the world's problems?

NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY

To be eligible just:

1. Follow me either through Google reader or email, (check the right panel)
2. Leave a comment about your favourite beverage (and a way I can contact you)
3. Share this giveaway on your blog, Facebook, Twitter, etc.

That's it.
I will make a random draw on March 3rd.

GOOD LUCK

Happy Family Day

In Ontario, Canada the 3rd Monday of February is Family Day. This is a relatively new holiday (2008), mainly, I think, because we need a holiday in the dreariest month of the year! There are a few other provinces that celebrate it, as well as a few other countries.

Other than my son, all my family live in England, Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and Ireland.  My son is busy at school, so this year I was my only family around. I decided to do what makes me happy and made some cards for family and friends.

I had gone to my favourite store, Home Sense/Winners and found a few paper craft bargains that I snapped up.  One of which was this stamp set.

There were 3 sets in the package, I didn't check them out, because it was a deal at $4.99, and I loved the bicycle. When I got home I saw that there were 2 of the same "Hello There" sets, so I am planning on a giveaway in exchange for more traffic to this blog.  Stay tuned!

After my trip to Home Sense, I went to another favourite store, Deserres. It is an art store, and I was given a bunch of gift cards, when I left my previous school at the end of July.  There I found 2 more stamp sets that took my fancy, and snapped them up quickly.

I have only used one set so far, but love these stamps.

For my friend in England who is about to get chemo

Another one for my friend about to have cancer treatment.

Adorable, right?
Here are a few others that I worked on this weekend:

I've had this embossing folder forever. My son bought it for me, this is the 2nd card I've used it for.

Found this idea on Pinterest, but mine is better! (of course)

I bought this die at Home Sense for $3, but I'm not in love with it.

Thinking about Spring!

I think this is the card I'm sending to a friend for her upcoming anniversary.

 

Don't forget to stay tuned for the giveaway coming soon!

Queen of Hearts

Today I have this card that just came together because the sketch from Mojo Monday was so inspiring. I basically just copied it. But I knew the exact stamp I wanted to use for it. I bought a bunch of Alice in Wonderland stamps in the summer while I was in NY state at a stamping convention. They were unmounted, and I was told I didn't really need to mount them, I could use double sided tape. Well in the end I did mount them, as I felt they stamped better. So 6 months later I finally got to use this stamp.

I am using these cards, (I made 4) for birthday cards for my friends over at Paper Craft Planet on Anything Goes Group for Random Happies.

Inspiring Sketch from www.mojomonday.blogspot.com

 The inside sentiment is another stamp that I got at that convention says, "If I were queen everything would be different"

Cricut cards

I put together 2 cards with my cricut, one for my BIL whose birthday it is this month, the other for his daughter, my niece who just moved into a new home. Loved the way they turned out.

For Kev's birthday

For my niece Sophie and her daughter Talia

Both these cuts are from the Nifty Fifties cartridge.

Butterflies and Friends

This is a birthday card for my aunt in England. She is turning 85.

This one didn't quite turn out the way I planned, but it's okay anyway

Danny's 60th birthday

My cousin Marilyn is married to Danny. He is turning 60 in a few days and I heard from my sister that there is a party for him in England. She can't go because she is vacationing in Egypt. When I was talking to my aunt last week, I asked where the party was going to held, and she said she couldn't tell me because it was a secret. I told her I wouldn't tell anyone, because I'm not even in England. She said I'd probably post it on Facebook!!!
Anyway here is the card I made for Danny. He sells luxury cars, so I remembered there was a cut on the Nifty Fifties cart.

Pin It

Happy Birthday Beatriz

Due to reasons beyond my control I am not working at the present time.  So I have tried to keep busy with some paper crafts, exercising, walking and catching up with appointments.

My very good friend Beatriz is celebrating her birthday at the end of the week, and I wanted to make a card that shows her how important she is to me.  I found this stamp set on one of my many road trips with Keitha.  I thought it had a really good message.

Thanks to Dawn for the tutorial.

Dad's upcoming birthday

My dad will turn 83 in February.  He's doing well, even though he has Alzheimer's Disease.  He lives with his dog Lucy in a 3 bedroom house in England.  He has family that check in on him regularly and also 'carers' who visit 3 times a day to make sure he has eaten and gets his meds. 

My mum died 5 years ago and my sister and I thought that Dad would follow shortly thereafter because the two of them were hardly ever apart, and my mum was the head of the household.  We didn't think he could manage without her and would die of a 'broken heart'.  We were wrong!

I try to go home each year for a couple of weeks, to give family members a break, and to hang out with my dad.  Sometimes it gets a bit uncomfortable as the disease will affect his mood.  But for the most part I enjoy the trip.  I won't be going this year due to some debt that I have.  So hopefully he'll hold on for another year!

He used to be passionate about photography, but he seldom goes out to take pictures anymore.  He was always in his developing room being creative with his work.  But since the digital camera, he never does any developing anymore, except for printing on his computer.

He loves to fish, so for his birthday card I used my recently bought Cricut machine and made this card for him.  I know he'll like it.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAY

1st. Birthday

A friend of mine wanted a card for her friend whose baby just turned 1.  I wasn't fast enough getting it made, but this was the idea that I had. Just as well, I had made this for a boy and it turns out it was a girl!!

So now I am submitting this one to Posh Designs Scrapbook Store for their challenge.  Thanks Kim for the design.

The deadline is tomorrow.

I have at least 4 birthday cards to make this month, so I should get busy.

Cards for my nieces.

Dorothy's card

I made this card for a friend of mine who celebrated her 75th birthday yesterday. She really is a foxy lady!

Here she is with the delicious lemon birthday cake made by Daniel et Daniel

Back to card making

It's been a while since my last card, and March is a busy month for celebrations. I had completely forgotten that last month it was my brother's 25th wedding anniversary, so I made a belated card.Then on the 14th it's my nephew's birthday. It may very well be his 25th too. He is living with my dad at this time, because my dad is becoming more of a risk to himself. So James agreed, or perhaps even volunteered to live with him.Finally a card for my sister who loves frogs. Thomas bought me some embossing envelopes for my birthday and so it was perfect when I saw the froggy one. I knew I had to make something with it for her birthday.

Friend's birthday card

February 6 is my friend Jill's birthday. We went to boarding school together and we are the same age, but I'm pretty sure she's gonna be pissed at me for putting her age on the card!!
I don't remember the last we saw each other. She now lives in Malta and crews on sail boats for a living. She is never in England when I go to visit. But we stay in touch with MSN, email, Christmas and birthday cards, and the odd call here and there.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY JILL!

Happy Birthday Dad.

On February 3 my Dad will turn 82. He is the only one from his own family left. His parents, step mum and both sisters died many years ago. His wife of 51 years died 4 1/2 years ago, and he now shares his home with Lucy, his faithful dog. My 2 sisters visit him weekly, my brother makes it there when he can, and all that I can do is call him once a week. We talk for about an hour, and often he has very little to tell me about, but I try to fill in the gaps with memories of old times, or stories of my kids at work.

So I made a card for him and will put it in the mail tomorrow.

Happy Birthday, Dad.

My Card Creations

Recently I made some cards for a friend who was retiring and I was told that I should sell my work. I have always felt that if I started selling the I may loose the enjoyment if I have to have deadlines.

So I thought I would post my work and see if I get any feedback.

Also while in England recently I visited a medium who told me my mum says I should go into business with my creativeness!!