Back to card making

So now the summer is here I've been making a few cards. The one above is using a sketch mojo459 from mojomonday. I'll be adding a few more Christmas ones, as I go along. I wanted to post this one, as a test since I'm trying to make a blog post from my phone. Let's see if it works.

Sympathy in Kind

When I stared working at Bruce school in 2004, I had just returned from the funeral of my mother in England, and had to start at a new school. I was greeted by a few staff, but one in particular stood out.

Blair was the French Teacher, whose parents were originally from Scotland. He is the best at accents, and he loves English comedy TV shows. We have that in common, (comedy, not accents). We became friends, and he made me laugh on a daily basis. He didn't know about my mum dying, but his humour made me happy, and that was how he unknowingly helped me with my grief.

Blair left Bruce school to teach at another school, and I missed him. However, I always stayed in touch, and if I ever go to England, I pick him up some Thornton's toffee and some Fortnum and Mason Lemon Curd. It gives me an excuse to see him.

This past summer I had to go home for my dad's funeral and again I picked up both goodies for Blair. We got together, grabbed a coffee and went down to Sugar Beach, where we found a couple of Muskoka chairs and sat and caught up on each other's lives. He had a scare last year with a heart concern, but he looked good and he made me laugh with his always very funny stories. Even though we don't see each other very often, I consider him a good friend and we can pick up wherever we left off.

I saw a Facebook posting from him letting his friends know that his father had passed away. It made me feel sad, initially remembering my dad's recent death, but then for Blair. He was very close with his dad, and I know he must be suffering the pain of losing him.  What can I do to bring him comfort? Well I will do what I know, I have made him a card, and I will be there for him when he needs to talk. I don't think I can make him laugh, but for sure I will try.

My deepest condolences Blair, I know the pain of losing a parent, and can only say to hold your memories close and your family closer.

Congratulations

I made this card for my friend who just found she is pregnant. She doesn't subscribe to typical pink and blue for boys and girls, and so I made this card as nontraditional as I could. 

With it being Spring, and knowing that all things nature are born/reborn in Spring, I thought this one appropriate. I saw this card fold on another site, and I can't remember where I saw it, sorry I can't give credit, but I did adjust the measurements a little. I also used my Cricut die cutting machine and the Give A Hoot cartridge

Valentines Day Celebration Space

Sorry, I'm over a week late with this post, but I'm posting it anyway!

I'm not really a huge Valentine's Day fan. It's always hard to realise you don't have a 'special' man in your life, and makes you missed what you once had. So coming up with this display was difficult, hence it's simplicity.

I reused the wreath from the Winter theme, and added red tulle to the 3 candle sticks. The only thing I bought was the hearts that I added to the wreath, $1. The card on the right is the one I made for my son, Thomas.

I was planning on making a "Family day" Celebration Space, but I never got to it. Perhaps next year. I don't think I will get to my next planned one either. I was thinking of doing a birthday space for my celebration. My birthday falls on February 29, but this year it isn't on the calendar, so I don't think I'll bother. The next one is St. Patrick's Day. I'm not Irish, just an Irish Wannabe on March 17!

Valentines for the Sweet

I wanted to enter My Pink Stamper's challenge so I decided to make these sweet little Valentines cards for the kids at school. They look good enough to eat!

I used brown card stock, some Martha Stewart Christmas paper from a couple of years ago, pink ribbon, glitter covered Styrofoam hearts from the dollar store, some punches and some Stamps of Life stamps. I got the idea from something I saw on dollar store crafts last year.
First I cut the Styrofoam hearts

I used a serrated bread knife to slice them in half

Then I punched out the circles and labels and stamped them.

I added red ink to the edges

I added brown ink to the edges

I tied small bows and cut thin strips for the stick, then assembled it all together.

Admit it, you want to eat them!

No Valentine stamp, so I combined 3 stamps to make this

The perfect stamp for the back of the card

Thanks for looking.

Stephanie Barnard Stamps

I am a member of The Stamps of Life, have been for over a year. That means I get a new stamp set each month. I got the owls2love set and loved the little owl, but wasn't sure what I would do with it. I was checking out the gallery on Stephanie's site and suddenly had the funniest idea for this set.

So after working it a bit, I ended up using 5 of the sets from her collection, and here is the end product...

That large fish is actually the owl's body!

Anyway go check out the site and see if there are any stamps you like. They are very reasonably priced, and fun to use.

Using my Cricut

Since I am home with bronchitis I figured that between coughing and sleeping I should make an attempt to create some cards.

I seldom use my Cricut for cards, so I am making an effort to do more with it. The first one is a child's birthday card, the dog image is from Everyday Paper Dolls.  The flower in the card is an idea from Creations with Christina, but I only used a single flower.  The flower was cut from the George and Basic Shapes cartridge.

This one was an idea I saw on Posh Designs Scrapbook Store.  As soon as I saw it I knew I had to try it.  I used the birds and love word from Home Decor.  I love the way it opens out to reveal a different look. I have posted a few angles that the card was taken from.

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.

Card Sketches.

I got the idea for this sketch book from Kristina's blog. I used the PDF files she offers and and decorated the front with fall colours. I've already added some sketches some of which are ideas from Kristina's blog.

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

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.