Monday, August 13, 2007

happy birthday, kathleen!

My buddy Kathleen and her twin celebrated their birthday this past Saturday. She's a chocolate chip cookie nut so I dropped off some cookies along with this card at her desk after lunch today.

The card includes one of my fav Basic Grey papers from their LilyKate collection, green and blue cardstock I had on hand, Stampin' Up!'s Small Sayings and Polka Dots & Petals stamp sets, and Katie & Co for studio g's Sweetie cupcake stamp.

I stamped the background on green cardstock with VersaMagic's Cloud White ink, then the cupcake on white cardstock and again on alunimum foil, trimmed the foil and adhered it on top of the cardstock. After coloring the cupcake toppings, I used some Stampin' Up! Liquid Glass to make the top glisteny.

Friends are the family you pick yourself!

Friday, August 10, 2007

another welcome baby

I made another baby shower card for Susan the other day. This one's made with one of my favorite paper collections from Basic Grey - Stella Ruby - and the coordinating cardstock from Bazzil, and I picked up a couple sheets of the kewlest patterned velum from The Paper Co - called Starburst Translucent, in a pretty cream color. The rub-on's from QuicKutz, the dimensional two-sided embellishment is from making memories' "sweets" tags line, and the ribbon was from stock on hand. I used the same "welcome baby" poem as in an earlier example, just printed landscape on the starburst velum and attached at the top with a gold organdy ribbon.

I scanned this at my workplace and gave the card to Susan - the color's not a true representation, but it'll have to do. Rather than pink it was actually a beige cardstock - go figure!

Thursday, August 9, 2007

would you believe ...

Christmas in August?! I should've loaded this in July, eh?!

This is the card I sent to my family this past Christmas. I made it with Stampin' Up!'s Loads of Love stamp set and some red and green cardstock I had on hand. I used a cute Hero Arts snowflake stamp in VersaMark on the green cardstock, then mounted the tree and verse to the front.

Using some stock cards/envelopes I picked up at Jo-Ann's, glued a red strip down the inside edge, I mounted the sentiment and truck/tree stamps on green cardstock and glued it to the outside front of the card. Then I opened up the card and, holding a lunch plate down on just the front of the card, cut along the plate to form the rounded card front.

I've gotta pick up some of those Copic markers - it's on my wish list!

Wednesday, August 8, 2007

cookout invite

Well, we needed a cookout invite after having picked up a new grill, right?

I picked up some cute The Paper Patch's tablecloth ants paper from a LSS the other day and finally used ProvoCraft's Summer Party stamps that I got last month, then colored it using some inexpensive markers, matted and mounted the design and paper on some misc cardstock I had on hand.

I'm impressed with these ProvoCraft stamp sets - this particular stamp set includes sentiments to create invites to a barbeque, dinner party, picnic, or pool party with accompanying pics ... more than 30 stamps in all for under $10! I ordered 'em online from Creative Xpress. If you decide you shouldn't have to live another day without this stamp set, tell 'em Sue sent you!

Tuesday, August 7, 2007

welcome baby

At work things come up that - how shall we put this? - are outside of my regular work duties ... I call 'em "other duties as assigned." My boss knows I'm into scrapping and card-making, and has been known to pick up things she thinks may be useful to me (keep it up, Susan ... hint, hint ;-) wink)! I, on the other hand, reciprocate when she needs cards for special occasions.

I made this card for her neice's baby shower earlier this summer - outside of regular work hours, 'natch! I used a Jolee's 3D baby carriage, some Mrs Grossman's laser stickers, Karen Foster ricrac, Suzy's Zoo patterned paper, Stampin' Up! brads and asst'd velum, ribbon and cardstock.

A gal at work (hi Jeanette!) taught Susan how to transform a pretty hankie into a baby bonnet with just a few quick stitches ... hence the kewl poem on the inside of the card. It's now Susan's stock baby gift - and a pretty kewl one at that, eh?!

recipe for friendship

I went to a class the other day at a LSS with a few buddies of mine ... and this card is one of the projects we completed. It was CASEd from a magazine that the gal who taught the class had seen it in, and she liked the recipe. I do too!

We used a few of the QuicKutz diecuts that I don't presently own ... but I'm pretty sure I can create a similar effect using either my silverware punch or stickers too, so I'll have to save the "recipe."

Sunday, August 5, 2007

on growing old

The other day a young person asked me how I felt about being old. I was taken aback, for I do not think of myself as old. Upon seeing my reaction, she was immediately embarrassed, but I explained that it was an interesting question, and I would ponder it, and let her know.

Old age, I decided, is a gift. I am now, probably for the first time in my life, the person I have always wanted to be. Oh, not my body! I sometime despair over my body, the wrinkles, the baggy eyes, and the sagging butt. And often I am taken aback by that old person that lives in my mirror (who looks like my mother!), but I don't agonize over those things for long.

I would never trade my amazing friends, my wonderful life, or my loving family for less gray hair or a flatter belly. As I've aged, I've become kinder to myself, and less critical of myself. I've become my own friend.

I don't chide myself for eating that extra cookie, or for not making my bed, or for buying that silly cement gecko that I didn't need, but looks so avante garde on my patio. I am entitled to a treat, to be messy, to be extravagant.

I have seen too many leave this world too soon, before they understood the great freedom that comes with aging.

Whose business is it if I choose to read or play on the computer until 4 a.m. and sleep until noon?

I will dance with myself to those wonderful tunes of the 60 &70's, and if I, at the same time, wish to weep over a lost love ... I will.

I will walk the beach in a swim suit that is stretched over a bulging body, and will dive into the waves with abandon if I choose to, despite the pitying glances from the jet set. They, too, will get old.

I know I am sometimes forgetful. But there again, some of life is just as well forgotten. And I eventually remember the important things.

Sure, over the years my heart has been broken. How can your heart not break when you lose a loved one, or when a child suffers, or even when somebody's beloved pet gets hit by a car? But broken hearts are what give us strength and understanding and compassion. A heart never broken is pristine and sterile and will never know the joy of being imperfect.

I am so blessed to have lived long enough to have my hair turning gray, and to have my youthful laughs be forever etched into deep grooves on my face. So many have never laughed, and so many have died before their hair could turn silver.

As you get older, it is easier to be positive. You care less about what other people think. I don't question myself anymore. I've even earned the right to be wrong.

So, to answer your question, I like being old. It has set me free. I like the person I have become. I am not going to live forever, but while I am still here, I will not waste time lamenting what could have been, or worrying about what will be. And I shall eat dessert every single day (if I feel like it).

- Unknown

thinking of Murray

Our next-door neighbors have had three cats that we'd pretty much adopted into our family ... so think of us as Uncle Paul and Aunt Sue. We (mainly PB) care for them when Rick and Maria are away, and I left this welcome home card for them from "the boys" after an extended outing.

Murray had to be put down this past Wednesday after an extended illness - he was the softest grey - and he'll be dearly missed. There surely must be pets in Heaven.

an elegant retirement

My buddy Sue retired last month.

To commemorate the event, I sent her this kewl card that I'd made at the Open House that Crystal held recently to celebrate the new CATY. We used the new soft sky and blue bayou "In Colors," then the baroque motifs and elegant inspirations stamps. Turned out nice, don't 'cha think?!

Wednesday, August 1, 2007

Blog Surfing ...

While checking the status of an eyelet order from Heidi of Hedgehog Ink, I happened upon Kristina Lewis' blog ... so, run, don't walk, to leave a comment at Kristina's blog for a chance at winning some Blog Candy she's offering!