BUGGY BIRTHDAY CARD FOR MALENA

My great-niece, Malena, is having a birthday next Friday, and I wanted to make a special card for her. I don't get to see her very often--and miss her a LOT. While her mother was deployed, she lived with my sister and got to come visit from time to time, and she really enjoyed coming to my house! For one thing, Chadrick and my nephew, Bryson, were here for her to play with (or annoy), but she enjoyed stamping (she has her own stamps here) and playing with the die cut machines (with me, of course). So, I had to make a special card for her! Malena enjoys bugs, so I had to get in her Nana's (who is my sister, Renee) stash of stamps and pull out the "Bugs & Kisses" stamp set. I couldn't just make a plain buggy card for Malena. Oh no! She deserves something special, so I decided to make a Waterfall card. They're not hard to make, and they're very fun to receive! SU products used to create this card include Pretty in Pink, Purely Pomegranate, and Close to Cocoa card stock, Berry Bliss designer paper, Chocolate Chip Craft ink, Clear embossing powder, heat tool, Pretty in Pink eyelets, Crop-a-Dile, Slit punch (to create the inverted corners), and "Bugs & Kisses" stamp set.

MAGNETIC BOOKMARK

I'm supposed to be cleaning--and I have done some cleaning on my desk--but I had to CASE this cute little bookmark! It's a strip of Only Orange card stock (1-3/8" x 3-1/4" folded in half). Two small magnetic squares are adhered to the card stock on the inside. The floral image is from "Time Well Spent" (level 3 hostess set), and I stamped it with black StazOn ink onto Whisper White card stock. To color the image, I used SU's watercolor pencils, Gamsol, and a "stump." FYI . . . a stump is tightly compressed paper that's shaped like a pencil with a formed tip, on at least one end, and is used to color/blend, I suppose, with a variety of art mediums. I used the pencils to put some color on the stamped image and then blended with Gamsol and the stump. Doodles and dots were added, and then I used SU's small tag punch on the white card stock, which was adhered to the Only Orange card stock. I then used scissors to trim the top corners to shape, punched a 1/4" square hole for the ribbon, and called this project "complete." Why use Gamsol to color/blend? I don't really know. I honestly don't see the significance of it. Yes, the colors are vivid, but I personally think this same look can be achieved with an aqua painter and/or blender pen with, particularly, SU's watercolor pencils or Stampin' Pastels.

AN ACCIDENTAL SIMILARITY

This dragonfly card is one I made to send to one of my Demonstrator friends whom I swap with each week. You'll notice there isn't a lot of stamping on this card; instead, it's pretty much made up of doodles, punches, and bling. Whenever I reach for a punch, my mind just seems to relax because the "work" is being done for me. Love that! The second card is one that I made to send to my grandmother. She hasn't been feeling well since the first of the year, so I try to send a card to her from time to time. You know what a nice feeling it is when you send someone a card and then when you visit, you find the card on display in their home? Well, that's what it's like when I go to mamaw's! She doesn't just have the most recent card out where she can see it, she has a lot of my cards sitting around. Sometimes cards can take a lot of time and product, and you really don't mind that "investment" when you know that your creation will be appreciated--and kept. For mamaw's card, I used a non-SU stamp and a design that was 99.9% CASE'd. I know . . . shame on me . . . but I made someone's day a little brighter, so that makes it okay. Isn't it odd that these two cards--made for two special people at two different times--both have the same shades of color? Purely accidental!

WHAT'S A COOTIE CATCHER?

Do you remember making "cootie catchers" when you were in school? I can't remember ever calling these things cootie catchers--seems to me they were fortune tellers or something like that. Anyway, each little pocket had something written on it that was the answer to your question or a prediction for the future. Truth be told, I don't think I was ever able to fold one of these things. Back then, notes from friends were even cleverly made! I had friends who would pass funky-folded notes to me, and I always enjoyed getting those little parcels, but dang if I could ever fold them! Just like those little yarn tricks! Remember how girls would take a piece of yarn and just go to town winding it around fingers, in and out, up and down, taking it from this finger and moving it to that finger, making all kinds of nifty creations? I could never do those either! BUT . . . these little centerpieces are being called Cootie Catchers, and I was finally able to make one! I wasn't sure if I should add a skewer decoration for height, and I kind of think I shouldn't have added one. The skewer wants to fall over, and that disappoints me. When it's upright, though, it looks pretty cool, huh? SU products used in the making of this project include Berry Bliss DSP, 5-Petal Flower punch, Boho Blossoms punch, Trio Flower punch, On Board Blossoms & Basics (chipboard flowers), various ribbons, Mini Glue Dots, and Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, and Purely Pomegranate card stock.

AN EASIER BASKET AND A SNEAK PEEK, TOO!

I was all ready to go to bed, and then it happened . . . I found another basket to try! This one was much easier, although a process in and of itself. I couldn't walk away, though. So, at least one hour later, here it is. You'll notice it doesn't have much decoration, but what you see is actually a sneak peek (I think). Die cut flower pieces (cut from textured card stock) are layered on both handle sides of the basket, and these little gems, if I'm not mistaken, will be available March 1 from the "Occasions" mini catalog. I've ordered so many new products lately that I can't keep them straight, so forgive me if I'm mistaken. They're quite awesome! I laid them all out this afternoon and took a picture, so I'll try to remember to post it on March 1st. Feel free to remind me, though. This basket was created with So Saffron Textured card stock, metallic brads, Chocolate Chip Classic ink (sponged on the strips of card stock), and Die Cut Blooms.

A TISKET, A TASKET, A PAIN OF A BASKET

My "mission" today was to try weaving a basket with strips of card stock. I saw one on a blog last week, and I loved it! It didn't look too complicated. [inner child ROFL] I saw those ladies at the Southern Christmas Show making baskets, and they looked as if they could make them while blindfolded. My grandmother learned to make them years ago--real ones--and she made some gorgeous baskets--all sizes--and I still have the ones she gave to me. And I shall surely treasure them more than ever! OMG! What a royal pain this basket was! Mamaw, thank you for every basket you ever GAVE to me. I will never understand how you forced yourself to make basket after basket OR how you could give them away. Mine, as loosely woven and crooked as it is, shall not leave this room! I'm pleased that it does, indeed, look like a basket, and it will surely hold some things (if they're not too small to fall through the loose weaving). I figure this basket is perfect for holding cotton balls. I apologize for the poor quality of the photo, but I guess I'm too adled to even take a decent picture.

THE LAUGH IS ON DAD . . . AGAIN

DRIVING WITH DAD
A father, who worked away from home all week, always made a special effort with his family on the weekends. Every Sunday morning, he would take his 7-year old daughter out for a drive for some bonding time. One particular Sunday, however, he had a bad cold and he really didn't feel like being up at all. Luckily, his wife came to the rescue and said that she would take their daughter out. When they returned, the little girl anxiously ran upstairs to see her father. Well," the father asked, "did you enjoy your ride with mommy?" "Oh yes, Daddy" the girl replied, "and do you know what? We didn't see a single dumb bastard or lousy shit head!"

LAUGHING OUT LOUD

This is just too funny not to share!

DAD AT THE MALL
I took my dad to the mall the other day to buy some new shoes. We decided to grab a bite at the food court. I noticed he was watching a teenager sitting next to him. The teenager had spiked hair in all different colors: green, red, orange and blue. My dad kept staring at him. The teenager would look and find him staring every time. When the teenager had enough, he sarcastically asked, 'What's the matter old man, never done anything wild in your life?' Knowing my Dad, I quickly swallowed my food so that I would not choke on his response, knowing he would have a good one. And in classic style, he did not bat an eye in his response . . . "Got drunk once and had sex with a peacock. I was just wondering if you were my son."

Arlene wins the award today for making me look like an idiot, laughing out loud--alone in this room--as I read this joke she sent to me.

THINKING AHEAD TO EASTER

It seems that by the time holidays arrive, I'm surprised they haven't already passed because I start working on them so far in advance. Easter, I'm sure, will be no exception, plus it's really early this year! This morning, I decided to make a little Easter treat! You can probably tell from the picture that I used textured card stock . . . I think it makes stamped images appear as though they're stamped on canvas. Of course, I had to use some glitter on my project, but this time I used Heat & Stick powder to hold it. Heat & Stick is a tricky product but, when used correctly, it works like a charm! The glitter, in real life, isn't as dark as it appears in the photo, and it is SO SPARKLY!!!! I had a bear of a time getting a decent picture today. Where is the sun when you need it???? How to make this cute project? I used a 4" x 11.5" strip of Pretty in Pink textured card stock, scored at 4-1/2" and 6-1/2". On the 4-1/2" panel, I used the Coluzzle to cut the oval window. A small cello bag (which SU sells) was used to hold the Hershey's Kisses, and the bag was stapled to the back panel of the project. The topper is a piece of 3" x 4" Old Olive card stock, folded in half, and I used the Corner Rounder punch to create the scalloped edge. The butterfly and "Easter Blessings" images were stamped with VersaMark ink, Heat & Stick powder was sprinkled on top, and then I heated the powder just until it melted. A Q-tip was used to apply the glitter, and I then re-heated to set the glitter. The tulips and stems ("Never-Ending Joy" stamp set) were stamped with Pink Passion and Old Olive Classic ink. I used the Crop-a-Dile to punch two holes in the topper, which was glued onto the top of the treat holder, and then put the Pretty in Pink 1/4" grosgrain ribbon into place. This project was finished off with a cross charm!

MORE "BOHO BACKGROUNDS"

This is a rather large card . . . 5.5" x 5.5" and, as you can see, I used the medallion image from "Boho Backgrounds" and, again, layered it by using a couple of punches. Aren't you LOVING this set????? Two other images from Boho Backgrounds were used on this card . . . the dotted background (they're actually tiny flowers, not dots) on the bottom of the Bashful Blue card stock and the floral background on the Wild Wasabi "carousel." Speaking of carousel, the semi-circle on the left side of this card is from a product that will be available in the "Occasions" mini catalog next month . . . "Carousel Notes." SU products used to create this card include Scallop Punch, 1-1/4" Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, "Smarty Pants" stamp set, Bashful Blue Striped Grosgrain Ribbon, 1/8" Circle Punch, Celery Glitter, Stampin' Dimensionals, Mini Glue Dots, Bashful Blue card stock, and Carousel Notes (Wild Wasabi).