ABC Baby Ablum

My DIL is have a baby shower tomorrow. This will be her first child, my 4th grandchild. I special ordered her gifts on the web and was assured they would be here is 3-5 days. But when I got home from school yesterday, I still had not received the packages. I was assuming it was being shipped UPS, so now I'm think what am I going to give her? I had the little handmade note cards and the onsie bottle, but that just didn't seem enough. Then an idea hit me! Why not make her a baby album. I love making the ABC albums, they are quick and cute. I happened to have this Rusty Pickle kit that I got last year at the Creating Keepsakes convention when it came to Houston. I pulled that sucker out and in 4 hours I had it completed. Now all she has to do is add the photos!

Another Award! You're too kind!

Imagine my surprise when I received this award from my wonderful blogger sister, Laura P, at Lil' Inker. I love her cards and she leaves me the nicest comments about my work too. Be sure to check out her blog, she is one of the Creatively Cute Bloggers.

Now,along with this award comes the responsibility to nominate 5 other gals and their blogs with the same award.

Here is my list:

Lori

Jackie

LeeAnn

Julie

Amy

So here's how it works:

1. The winner may put the logo on their blog.

2. Put a link to the person who sent you the award.

3. Nominate 5 blogs.

4. Put links to their blogs.

5. Leave a message for your nominees.

Clear cards with roses

I received the sizzix die called Flower Layers in my last SU order, so I pulled it out to see just how this flower works. The first one I made looked so flat, so I cut between the petals to make them stand up some. I also wanted to make a clear acrylic card like ones I've seen others do.
I used the Raspberry Tart paper, such pretty colors, and after assembling them, I thought they looked pretty good. Then, later as I was visiting blogs on my blog list, I came across a card that looked almost exactly like the ones I had just finished, with one big exception. I had assembled the flowers incorrectly (or at least not the best way). I found out that they look better if you sponge the edges of the petals with some ink to give them dimension AND pop up the layers with dimensionals. So I went back to my card and tore the flowers off, sent new paper through the big shot and made new flowers. THIS time I sponged the edges and added dimensionals. I have to say, it really did make a difference. Oh yes, I also curled the edges with the side of my piecing tool. A pencil would work just as good.( I should have taken before and after shots but didn't)

Bunny basket tutorial

I received many wonderful comments about the bunny basket. I am sooo glad you like it. The link I had posted turned out to be bad so I have removedit and will show you myself how to make the basket. You will need to cut your designer paper into 6x6 squares and score at 2 and 4", rotate and score at 2 and 4 again so that it looks like a tic-tac-toe board.

Cut on two opposites sides to the center score line.

Apply mono to the inside corners of the outside squares. Its hard to see in this photo, but I wrote "mono" and then drew arrows to the corners I put the mono on. Look closely.

Fold up the edges and secure. To finish, add the handle, securing first with mono and then with brads.

Bunny Basket

Last Saturday, the SASSSC group met. This stands for Simple and Serious Stampers Swap Club. We meet once a month and swap cards according to a predetermined theme. Someone is responsible for a make and take. This month, Annie showed us how to make cute baskets from a 9 x 9 square of designer paper. I decided this would be a great project for the stamp club to make at the March meeting. I had several pieces of leftover Raspberry Tart, the pieces I didn't like for card marking. But I didn't have enough for 20 baskets, so I decided to make them smaller. I actually like the smaller size better as a party favor or Easter treat. I cut the designer paper 6 x 6. That way I could get four out of each sheet. I also cut 1 x 12" strips and then cut them in half to measure 1 x 6" for the handles. I used my score pal to score at 2" and 4" and then rotated the square and scored at 2 and 4" again. Then I made the punched bunny from yesterday's post to decorate the side. I used the boho blossom punch and punched out three of the largest blossom. I left the bottom one whole and cut the other two between every two petals. I layered them and attached it to the back side of the basket with a vanilla brad to make a bunny tail.

Here is a photo of the punched pieces I used to make the bunny.

Scalloped circle, large and small oval, 1/2" circle punch, 5 petal flower punches used. The nose is just the tip of one flower petal. I used whisper white, pnk pirouette, and black cardstock.

Sour Cream Bunny

Hope everyone had a great weekend. The weather today in Houston was pretty near perfect. We dont get enough days like today here. It is ususally hot and humid most sunny days. But today was what I like to call California weather. I spent most of the afternoon finishing the set of onesies for my DIL that I posted earlier. Her shower is next Sunday. I made two sets of six cards and put them in a clear box from Papertrey Ink. I tied the two boxes together with organza ribbon and add a tags to match the ones on the cards.

Then once I finished them, I started thinking about the projects for March: stamp club, my MIL workshop, scrapbooking, and card class. Last October, I made these sour cream containers for club and everyone loved making them. I saw some that looked like bats and pumpkins. That gave me the idea to decorate one with a bunny. It is made from punches and finished off with hand drawing.

Card Class

I am getting ready for my card class tomorrow night. We are making 8 cards. I have posted them at various times this month on this blog. I needed to revamp one of the butterfly cards for the class so that we weren't making two of them, but I wanted to keep the paper and basic layout. Plus I needed to use new stamps. So I changed this card to the card posted here.

The image is Echoes of Kindness, level 2 hostess set

Paper: Bella Birds

Ribbon:Vallet ribbon originals

The flower is made from two scalloped circles, cut between every two scallops, with a fleurette attached with a large brad.

Scrap club

Tonight was scrap club. The girls made 3, 12x12, 2-page layouts using the Sweet Nothings Simply Scrappin' Kit from Stampin' Up! The paper and colors are really pretty. I have already posted two of the layouts previously here and here. I decided to make a third layout because there was plenty of cardstock, paper, and stickers left. Normally, we would only make two 2-page layouts.

I don't have pictures for the second page yet. Remember I told you that my computer crashed. Well all my photos were on it and i didn't have it backed up. We have a new computer now, so I am starting all over. I will have to ask my DIL to send me the photos I need. I plan to put a group photo of the grandkids on the second page. I will also add some journaling and maybe a title.

Here are pictures of the girls making their layouts.

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Heart Day! Hope everyone gets a little something from that "special someone". I'm sure my "sweetie" is planning a romantic dinner out, right honey?

I was working tonight on the last cards for my card class next weekend. I just recieved my order that had my SAB sets so I wanted to use one of them. I also wanted to try this new Rockabilly Specialty paper. I love the cherries and the textured elements. I saw a card today over at Inking Idaho that inspired the color combo for my card below. Since the sentiment makes you think of good food, I created a pocket on the inside of the card to hold a resturant gift card.

SASSSC swap

First I want to thank everyone for their kind words last week when I was home sick. I still have my cough, but I can work without it being a problem. This flu season has been a real bugger at the school where I teach. I have my 1oth case of flu in my class room right now, many of my colleagues have been sick; one even has pneumonia. My poor hubby got the cough too but he is also better.
Then my computer got sick and again many of you left words of sympathy. It's still sick, dont know if it will recover. My DH is planning to work on it tomorrow since he is off. Thank goodness for this laptop!
Now for some stamping. Next Saturday (21st) is my SASSSC (pronounced sass-c) group will be swapping easter cards. Here's mine. I really struggled with the layout and colors on this card, but I think the final product turned out nice.

Stamp sets: Serene Spring and A Good Egg
Paper: Pink Pirouette, Whisper White, Kiwi Kiss, Raspberry Tart, Rose Red
Markers:
Bunny-creamy caramel, blush blossom
Basket-caramel and cocoa
Bird- yoyo yellow, appricot, summer sun
Sky - aqua painter and bashful blue reinker
Grass- aqua painter and celery reinker, old olive marker.

Sweet little one

Something awful has happened!!!!My computer has crashed!!!! That means all my photos of my grandkids, vacations, holidays, ect are lost unless we can get it back up. My DH ahs tried but it only gets worse. He said, "Just use my laptop, but it is not the same as using my own desktop. Luckily, I had saved these photos in photobucket before the crash. So I wont have anything new to post until my computer problem is resolved.

Here is the second layout using the Sweet Nothing kit. It features my grand baby girl again. Since she is the newest one, I don't have many layouts of her, and that is why I am scraping photos of her.

Sweet Nothing Simply Scrappin' Kit

Each month I meet with 5 special ladies to scrapbook. We mostly use Stampin' Up!'s simply scrappin' kits. There are several really nice ones in the new Spring/Summer catty that I am planning to use in the up coming months. This month we are using Sweet Nothing. I love the colors and the designer paper. My club thinks I make my layout with my photos in mind, but I honestly don't. I put the layouts together first and then find photos to fit. I think this kit is very romantic and will lend itself well to Valentine photo. I thought is would be perfect for my recent photos of my grand daughter. When I went to DC for Christmas, I was constantly taking pictures of her. I had to take a lot of pictures to get a few that were good! Here is the first layout. There will be two more coming.

Feeling Better

Just a quick note tonight to say that I am soooooo much better. I went back to school on Thursday and was able to make it through the rest of the school week, feeling better each day. Good thing because it was stamp club weekend. I had a great group of ladies on Friday night and Saturday morning. I missed Sharon, she was out with the flu! We made the coaster caddy that I posted earlier and a cute "top note tote" perfect for Valentine's Day. I am planning to make a bunch and fill with Hersey's Hugs and Kisses for the teachers at school. Now that I am on the road to recovery, I will have some scrapbook layouts to show you soon.

Petal Pizzaz

I'm home today, didn't go to school! I went yesterday, but by lunchtime I had had enough and came home. Put my pjs on and crawled into bed. Didn't wake up till 7 pm, had some soup and was back in bed by 9. I had already arranged for a sub today so I wouldn't have to get up early. I have this terrible cough that has made my throat raw and my voice hoarse. So my plan today is to stay very quiet and let my throat heal. The cough seems to have quieted down. I have a terrible back ache, that may be from laying in bed too much? Anyway, I plan to go back to work tomorrow. I am a Kindergarten teacher and the flu has been going through my room (9 cases so far) and the other Kinder classes as well. That is the risk we take to educate your children! lol.
We put our health at risk daily!
Before I got sick, I made this card and was saving it to post yesterday. But of course I never made it to the computer yesterday! It uses a wonderful set called Petal Pizazz. I have seen many cards made with the set, many a lot prettier than this one. But I am not willing to hand cut out the flowers!!!! This card uses Jan Tinks color combo ( Rose red, baja blue, apricot appeal, choc chip) and Lil Inkers paper choice ( Parisian Breeze Specialty dp). It's called "specialty dp" because it has a design like the designer paper, but is printed on textured cardstock to make it special. The "thanks" is from a set called Thank You Kindly, and I really like the swirls on the letters. I used another one of the jumbo brads, this time in chocolate chip.

Good to have Friends when feeling (Pacific Point) Blue!

This card was inspired by the one that Lil' Inker did here. As soon as I saw her's, I knew just what I was going to make! This Stampin' Up! new set called Good Friend. It coordinates with another set called Cheep Talk and some designer paper called Good Morning Sunshine, both of which I used on this card. The flowers are felt fusion and is held together with the new jumbo brad that comes in white, vanilla, chocolate chip, and silver. The cardstock is Pacific Point and Whisper White.

Coaster Caddy

Good Sunday afternoon.I woke up this morning with a deep cough, and maybe a low grade fever. There were five of my students out last week with the flu. I certainly hope this cough is not related. I had a flu shot this year!
Of course the cough did not keep me from planning my stamp club project for the coming weekend. Ever since I saw Becky Robert's coaster caddy on her blog Inking Idaho, I have wanted to make one. I used the new and beautiful Raspberry Tart designer paper. Soooooo pretty! It has a calendar, post-it notes, photo, and dry erase side. So clever!