Happy Mother's Day

Today, holds a special meaning to all women who are mothers.  It's an exclusive 'club'.  The price of admission is becoming a mother.  You notice, that I didn't say, 'have a child'.  It's not that easy.  You need to be a mother; to nurture, care for, teach, love unconditionally, and give your whole heart away to the smallest of 'people'.  And not a mother to a chicken, a dog, a cat, a bird, or a tank full of fish.  A human baby.  A mother, to a human child.  

I am truly blessed to have two children.  They are both grown now.  And yes, they have children of their own.  My son has 3 children.  My daughter has 4 children.  (no, there was no contest)

And they have wonderful relationships with their children.  It makes my heart happy! {smile}

I got to spend some time with some of my grandchildren before this glorious day.  I thought about a 'gift' that they could give their mom, and I had (I think) a great idea.

Have each child make a picture.  Take a picture of the picture and make it the front of their Mother's Day card.

The picture 'canvas' is a 6" x 6" white heavy weight card stock.  I inked my granddaughters hand in Old Olive classic ink and had her place her hand on the paper.  These 'fingers' are the stems to flowers.  

I then inked her thumb in strawberry slush classic ink.  Her thumb 'prints' are the petals to flowers.  I inked her finger in crushed curry classic ink, to create the blossom center.  

I inked her thumb in old olive classic ink to create leave on the stems.

The random 'petal's are her doing.  I figured it gave her masterpiece an unique and original 'touch' [no pun intended {smile}].

The banner piece I found HERE.  It says, 'Mom, thank you for helping me grow'.  I thought it was perfect.  (There is also a download for teachers.)

So, mom has an original masterpiece to hang, and a matching card {smile}.

Thank you for looking.  I'm so happy that you had a chance to swing by.  Stay tuned for more creative crafts!  A little hint: I went to a home improvement store and I think I have a clever craft for you.

Analogous Birthday

I am so happy that it is Saturday.  This has been a brutal week at work, and the thought of not dealing with all that, is calming.  And so, with this renewed mind set, I have created a Birthday card!  The super talented Sue, from Our Creative Corner is our hostess this week.  This small group of wonderful ladies, who make up the design team @ Our Creative Corner will surely inspire you with their creations.  

For this week's challenge, Sue, has asked us to, to create a 4-sided regular polygon with all sides equal! Commonly known as a square.  And you must only use Analogous colors in your design.  These colors are in close proximity to each other on the color wheel that share similar hue and saturation.

Ok, I have to admit, when I first read the challenge, I was at a lost of what to create.  But, I quickly remembered that I need a few Birthday cards to create, so that is my goal.  Now, colors.  I had alot of fun creating a green-blue and copper card last week, so I gravitated to a green-blue combos.  I added a green and a blue.  Then a darker blue.  And a richer green.  Here is what I ended up with:  

I used five different card stocks: Lucky Limeade (Stampin' Up!), Old Olive (Stampin' Up!), Juniper (CTMH), Aqua Mist (Paper Trey Ink), and Twilight (CTMH).  I also used four different pattern papers, from four different design companies: SAB 2012 - Stampin' Up!, Cosmo Cricket, Victoria Gardens by Echo Park, and Crate Paper.  I used two different trims: seam binding and crocket trim by Stampin' Up!.  A button by Paper Trey Ink.  A metal button brad by Stampin' Up!, and a metallic paper clip by Basic Grey.  Along with several pearls, cream twine, and some machine stitching.

   a few close-up photos:

close-up of the layered trims and machine stitching

close-up of the sentiment panel and  more machine stitching

a new angle of this card

This card was alot of fun to create.  I am still working with just scraps to complete cards.  I took me about 50 minutes to find papers that worked together.  I know that sounds like alot of time, spent mixing and matching.  But, I didn't have to cut any whole sheet of pattern paper or card stock.   I did use my paper trimmer to cut down a scrap, but not to add to my scrap boxes. Yes, I have two.  They are empty boxes that hold a dozen reams of printer paper.   I organize my scraps into color families: blue, green, red, brown, and black/white.

The tiny blossom is actually a stamp and die set.  I first stamped the blossom base in Pool Party classic ink, and then stamped the veins in Twilight classic ink.  I used the die to cut the two blossoms out, and one foam square separates the two blossoms, so it has height.  I brushed some picket fence distress paint along the petal ends and then dunked each blossom into dazzling diamonds glitter.  For the leaves, I punched out the leaves from Lucky Limeade card stock with my two-step bird punch by Stampin' Up!. I sponged the leaf edges with old olive classic ink. Then I brushed picket fence distress paint on the leaf tips and then dunked the leaves in dazzling diamond glitter.

I hope that we have inspired you to play along with us this week @ OCC.  Who knows, you may be our next Top Talent {smile}!

Mojo Monday Challenge #114

Its Black Friday, and I hope all of you are having fun shopping! Me, I'm not so big on crowds, so I have decided to stay home today, and 'play' with my paper craft supplies. Here is my entry to the Mojo Challenge #114. The thing I absolutely love about Mojo Challenges, is all you have to do is select one thing: a stamp set to use, a color of card stock, or an embellishment, and from the layout, everything falls into place. That is exactly how all of my Mojo Challenges occur.

I used eskimo kisses pattern paper. For the solid card stock I used Old Olive (SU!), Rain, & Glass Slipper. I only used two colors of ink (to match the cardstock) Old Olive (SU!) & Rain. I used the check ribbon in Rain. I tied the bow separately and adhered with a glue dot. (gotta love those glue dots!) The snowman is from a retired stamp set 'happy winter' from Stampin' Up!. I used my SU! blender pen to color the stripes in his scarf in Old Olive, and his buttons in Rain. I used my SU! glue pen to 'color' his body, and applied SU! Dazzling Diamonds. (I am a firm believer that most cards need bling! - and a ribbon, and a button!) For the scalloped edge, I tried something new. I didn't like how the scallops came out with either of my edge punches from SU!. So, I took the guard off of my SU! corner rounder and made the scallop edge. Not too bad for my first time. (I know, I should have practiced first, but what the heck.)

Thank you for looking. Happy shopping. And don't forget the important things this season: your Lord, and your family & friends!