Merry Christmas Tent Card

I can't believe Christmas is almost here!  It doesn't help that we have NO snow here..at least in Southern Maine.  The forecast is for warmer weather!  Ah well, it will still be fun to get together with the family and celebrate the holiday!  I am really looking forward to seeing everyone!

I saw this card on Pinterest- where else ?   I love this easy basic Tent Card.  I am a little nervous about how my friends and family will like it since I gave this card to a couple of friends and was with them when they opened it.  It took them a minute to realize you don't open the card you stand it up.

The sentiment is on the back of the card-

 

It folds perfectly flat for mailing-

 

 

 

 

I made not quite 30 cards to mail.  I got a little bored with making the same card so I used different paper- even changed out the piece that hangs.  I made an Angel and also used my new Stampin Up Wonderous Wreath stamp and die set!  The snowflake above is also from Stampin Up.

 

 

 

Here is a great tutorial from Beate from Splitcoast Stampers.  I changed the dimensions on mine to make more room for my snowflake to hang but the instructions are the same-

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/tentcard/

 

I am going to be busy wrapping gifts and cooking for the next few days as I am sure you are too!   I wanted to make sure I wished everyone a very Merry Christmas! 

 

 

 

Tote Bag Birthday!

Look what my sister, Rochelle, made for me!  So adorable!  She even used Graphic 45 paper to make it!  Since I know I hoard Graphic 45 paper - I know what a sacrifice she made to use it to make my gift! And it's one of my favorite collections - By the Sea!!  Not only that- but I have a twin sister and she made one for her too!  I am speechless!

 

She even gives a link to the  instructions on her blog.  I have her as a link on my side bar but you can click on the link below if you want to give it a try-

 

 

http://creativecornerstudio.blogspot.com/search?updated-max=2015-08-21T10:52:00-07:00&max-results=7&start=7&by-date=false

 

Another angle

 

 

Not only did she make this cute bag - she added a gift too!  I love the saying on the charm! I will wear it often!  Thank you, Rochelle!    I wish the same for all who read my blog!

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving!

 

The turkey is in the oven, the ham and chicken (yes, chicken) are in the crock pots!  We have 18 family members coming today to celebrate and give thanks for all our blessings!  The centerpiece above is new this year and I can't wait to turn the candles on.  Yup, all the candles are battery operated- so cool!  We don't have to worry about a fire!!

 

 

This is the view looking into the kitchen. I can't believe we had enough room for 18 guests!  But they all will fit!  I hope!

Here is the view from the kitchen into the living room!  Good thing we are a close family!  As I type this, I can smell the turkey!  Yum!

 I have been working on several ideas for our Christmas cards this year!  Also, I have the cards ready to assemble for the office get together next week.  We make about 30 cards to give to co-workers at other offices.  The picture below is going to be the front of the card. When we are finished making the cards- I will post pictures!

Here are several more cards that I worked on for our Christmas giving but may not use them due the level of detail required and the fact that I need to make 30 of them!  These are Diarama cards!  I love making them!  I saw some on Pinterest and have fallen in love with them!  Here is a tutorial on how to make them from Linda Higgins. She does a fabulous job with her instructions.

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/256564509997564538/




Manger Diarama card

Here is one I made using Elizabeth Craft Designs ( Karen Burniston cute animals) mice.  I just love this cute critters! 




Well, the smell of turkey is calling me to the kitchen!  I hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving!  This Thanksgiving is the first one since my Mom died but I know we all will be thinking of her and Dad the whole day.  I am so thankful to have had such wonderful parents and thankful that they gave me such wonderful siblings.  Today, I am sharing Thanksgiving with a lot of love in my heart.   I want to thank my heavenly father for all the blessing in my life!  Have a fabulous day!

Post Halloween 2015

I hope everyone had a fun Halloween!  We had about 18 kids come Trick or Treating to our house!  We saw some great costumes!  When a button is pressed on the Witch above- she twirls and laughs...a really spooky laugh!   The kids loved her!   I love Halloween!  Now onward to work on Christmas cards and treat boxes!

These boxes are the Self closing boxes that I saw on Pinterest! I think they are adorable.   I used the tutorial from Stamping with Dawn located here:

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/188940146844559914/

 

I love making these boxes since they are really easy!  Dawn's instructions are great!  The picture above shows how you can put a sentiment on the back of the box. I made 2 different Santa boxes but not sure which one I like best.

 

 

 

The picture below shows a visitor we had in our back yard on Saturday!  Hope you can see her- she was very brave to come so close to our back porch.  I could have watched her forever!  They are so beautiful!  When she ran off - she looked so light on her feet - like she was prancing thru the woods.  We have seen so many deer around our house - especially in the morning on our way to work.  Fall is my favorite time of  year- except I know what is to come.....

 

 

 

 

 

 

Happy Halloween!

 

I have been working on making this year's  Halloween card for the kids!  I love it when I can pull out my Halloween dies and use them!  This year I am using the Sizzix Accordion card to display little scenes on each panel.   I love how this card opens and then can collapse to mail.  

 

I even used some of my Graphic 45 paper to decorate the card!  Here 's few close ups of the card sections. 

 

 

I love the little red gems I used for the cat's eyes - the spider and the bat have them too!  Really gives them a eerie quality- Don't ya think?  The skeleton seems to dance on this card .... creepy....

 

 

 

Here's another view- I actually made 2 of these cards - one for each Grandchild!  I spent the day making them and I can't believe how the time flew by!  It was fun!  I have started working on Christmas Cards !  Can you believe it?  I am doing some sample cards to determine which ones I want to use and which ones we will use for the office!  I will post some pictures when I have narrowed the selection down.

 

 

I did want to thank everyone for the kind messages that were sent to me after my Mom died.  It was so very comforting to read those e-mails.  Thank you for thinking of me.  I hope everyone has a fabulous Halloween!!

 

Laughing with Angels

I am sorry to have been away from my blog and the only posting I have today are pictures of my Mom.   Even though this is a well worn, scratchy photo of her- it is one of my favorite!  We lost Mom on September 2nd.  It is the first time I have been able to write about her without crying.  It never ceases to amaze me that she raised 8 children!  I raised only one and I know it is a very tough job!   I know my parents were strict parents when we were growing up ( I think they had to be) but I always knew they loved us!  My Dad died 5 years ago and I know Mom missed him so much.  

The picture above is Mom and Dad on their wedding day!  Another favorite picture of them both!  They look so young!

This last picture is of them both when my sister, Connie, got married.  I miss them both very much!  The title of this post is "Laughing with Angels" - that is how I want to picture them.   They are both together now with my older sister, Terri.  Knowing I will see them again someday helps too.  Time is a healer and just being able to type this is a sign of that healing.  I have started to work in my Craft room again - being busy does seem to help.  As I talk to people - I know lots of us have to go thru this loss.  I am not alone. My siblings and I were so fortunate to have them as parents.  We do have lots of wonderful memories too! 

By the Sea Slider Card

 

I love this Pop Up Slider card!  It is fun, fun to make!  I found the tutorial for this card on Pinterest! Check out Anne Rostad's beautiful Slider cards here and it's a tutorial!

 

https://www.pinterest.com/pin/48835977186724144/

 

I followed Anne's directions except I didn't use a frame that was already cut out.  I made my own frame but cutting a 4" x 6" piece of card stock or decorative paper and then cutting in from 3 sides about 3/4 inch. Instead of cutting the top at 3/4 inch - I scored it - not all the way across - just inside the frame area- See below.  It creates a flap!  Along the bottom of the flap- I made a score line at  1/2 inch in.  You will fold this flap in half from that score line not the end of the flap- You can see how it works below.

 

 

I used Graphic 45's By the Sea collection to decorate the card.  I did some fussy cutting of the Sea Shells and used some foam tape to add some dimension.  The video below shows how the card works!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

My Crib Card Tutorial

I haven't done a video in quite a while so I felt a little rusty doing this one!  I had a little camera trouble but I am hoping you can get the idea of how I made my Crib cards!  I would recommend watching the video all the way thru first!! Here are the written dimensions of the elements of this fun card:

Base:  1- Cardstock 9  1/2 inch  x 4 1/2 inch   Score each end at 2 1/4 inches

Turn vertically and score at 1 1/4 inch just to the first score line. 


Railings:    2 - 5 3/4 inch  x 1/4 inch    Score at 3/8 inch

Mattress:   2- 7 inch x 1 inch     Score both ends at 1 inch

Inserts:  2-  2 1/2 inch x 3/8 inch   


Please let me know if you should have any questions!  Hope your weekend has been fun!

Baby Crib Cards

Hooray!  I have been on vacation for a week now- with one more week to go!  The weather has been great!  It has been hard to play in my craft room with all the outside work that I wanted to get done.  But this morning I decided to finish these 2 cards that I have been working on a little bit at a time.  I was inspired by a bunch of crib cards I saw on Pinterest.  It seems they have all been made by "cut files".  I don't have one of those ( not sure I know what that is) but I do have Tim Holtz's bird cage die.  I took 2 of those and overlapped them a bit to make the crib part of the card. 

 

I bought the ribbon on the bottom of the girl crib from Joann's.  I am thrilled to use it since I have had it for some time.  The giraffe, bear, baby, bottles and pacifier are all Sizzix dies. 

 

 

Now I have to admit I used a Jolee sticker for the mobile on the Boy card.  It was so adorable!  I decided to make my own mobile for the girl card.  That is a Spellbinder umbrella die. 

 

 

The cards do fold so you can mail them.  I am sure the postage will be greater since I added so much stuff to them.

 

 

Here is a picture of the back of the card.  These were fun to work on!  Now back to my gardening!  Oh, I am having a yard sale this weekend too!  Wow, I have forgotten how much work those can be.  But it is fun to meet and talk to people who come to the yard sale.  The weather is supposed to be great too!!  Have a great weekend!

 

 

 

Co-Worker Pop Up Book card birthday!

I have made another Pop Up Book Card for a Co-Worker -this time I used Graphic 45's Typography line of paper!  I have been hoarding my Graphic 45 paper and the new me is now not afraid to use it!  I even lined the inside of the envelope with some of this beautiful paper!  I don't know if you can see it but I layered the front of the card and put some Crystal effects on the "Joie De Vivre".  You might see it better if you click on the picture below. 

Here is the inside of the card.  I did some "fussy" cutting and added a few flowers.  I just love the bright, vibrant colors of this paper!

The Pop Up feature of this card makes it a different type of fold that is fun to make!  The last few cards I have made have used this type of fold for the card.  You can check out the last few posts I have done to see more examples of this type of fold for a card.

 

I didn't leave enough room for everyone to sign - so we will sign the back!  I love the sentiment from this paper line.  How true!  It's a Good Day to have a Good Day- especially on your birthday!  I hope you have a Good Day too!

Wedding Pop Up Book Card

I made another Pop Up Book card!  This time for my sister, Adrianne, who got married this past weekend!  It does not have a lot of embellishments but I think it says it all!   This is one sheet of paper that I cut to fit the Pop Book card.  I had another sheet that I cut the little angel out of- I don't remember where I got that...

In case you can't see the sentiment - it says ... Believe in Fairy Tales... the inside says... Rewrite your Destiny... Your ... Happily Ever After ....Begins now!!!

Here is a picture of the happy couple after the wedding on the Trolley!  They rented the Trolley to take the bride and her entourage to the church.  After the wedding it took them back to the Sebasco Lodge Resort for the reception.  It was beautiful...Congrats to Adrianne & Lennie!

Pop Up Book Birthday card!

I have fallen in love with the "Pop Up Book Card"!  The instructions are on Splitcoast Stampers located here - http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/popupbookcard/

Norma make is so easy to follow the instructions with the video that is provided.  It is my new thing to make these fun cards!  I used my Graphic 45 - Once Upon a Springtime collection.  I have known for sometime that I am a Paper Hoarder!   I just look at my Graphic 45 paper and it makes me happy but to use it...it's is hard.  But I have turned over a new leaf and if you can't use it to celebrate birthdays....what can you use it for???  Plus I love the way the card came out- that helps! 

Side shot

Here is a picture of the front of the card.  It's my sister, Rochelle's 60th birthday. Shhhh....!!!  I am not going to post this until after the surprise party starts today. She really doesn't turn 60 until August but we want to REALLY surprise her.  No, it doesn't mean she turns 60 earlier but I am sure it will feel that way...hehehe...

I did make some Pinwheels to help decorate for her party.  I love making these things!!!

Shhh!  This is the Pop Up Book card I make for my daughter's birthday tomorrow.  As you can see, I am nuts over this new type of fold card!  I used Graphic 45's Secret Garden collection for this card.  Again... so tough to cut into this paper!  It is sooo beautiful!  But I do love this card too!!  I hope my daughter loves it - I can post this because she never looks at my blog.  I think I am safe...

Side view

I have written this post but won't actually post it until the surprise party begins. I hope I can post it from my phone.   My whole family is here for my younger sister, Adrianne's wedding tomorrow.  It is such joy to have us all together again.   My daughter, Callie and her family will be arriving from the island tomorrow and Emily, our other daughter, and her family will be coming so we can go to the wedding together!   I can't wait.
Hope you day is fun too!!!

Mom's 86th Birthday!

It seems like forever since I have posted anything on my blog!  We moved into our new home this past December and I don't think we have slowed down since.   I am on vacation this week so I feel like I can do whatever I want.  Finally, I get to work in my Craft room!  I made this Card in a Box for my Mom!  We are celebrating her birthday today!  She is 86 years young.  I promised I wouldn't post any pictures of her - so I won't ....today...

 

I stamped these flowers on Vellum. I really like how they came out.  Mom loves flowers too!  My sisters and I went to Moose Crossing Greenhouse - which is on the way to Rockland.  Not sure I know which town it is in??...But I love it!  I bought shrubs and perennials galore!  I will have to post some pictures this week of the flower garden we have.  I have just added more to it. 

 

 

 

This will be a short post since I have to go and make a Wedding card for my sister, Adrianne.  Her wedding is just around the corner.  Back into my craft room for some fun!  I promise to post a video of my new craft room too.   I am just waiting for the sun to shine so you can see all the natural light. I love it after having my craft room in the basement of the condo!  Talk soon!