Wednesday, February 27, 2013

Party Popper Birthday Greeting

My mom's birthday was yesterday and I made her a birthday greeting using PaperTrey Ink's Movers & Shakers die and the corresponding stamp set featuring a party popper.































Since I wanted the front to say a little more than just "Birthday," I combined the "Birthday" sentiment with the "wishes" sentiment from another stamp set.  And, I even added a spot for how many years she is celebrating this year.






























Inside, there is a riddle - "What goes up and never comes down?"















The party popper is cut with a corresponding die and then it is assembled in a "channel" so that both ends can separate and reveal and message behind.

















Ta-Da!

















Happy Wednesday!
natalie

Friday, February 15, 2013

Age Is Just A Number

I'm really enjoying my new PaperTrey Ink Movers and Shakers Sentiment stamp set (you can buy it here.)  They are so wonderful, I even use the sentiments by themselves on a card - without the movers and shakers die.
This card was created for my aunt who recently celebrated her 65th birthday.  















Most of the numbers pictured are low...10, 11, 12, 18, 19, 24....I hope she feels this young.  Afterall, age is just a number!
















The envelope is lined with a corresponding paper.  I love lining envelopes.  It gives the card an extra special touch.  I used the envelope lining template from Paper Source and corresponding envelopes in superfine soft white.















Speaking of age, I had a dr.'s appointment yesterday and there were a couple of questions that I had about some issues...My doctor asked, "well, how old are you?"  And I had to think about it!  And then for a second, when my brain arrived at the right answer and I uttered the number aloud, I thought to myself, "Really?  That can't be right."  But, I guess it is.  And I have to remind myself again, age is just a number.  Seems like the phrase is easier to swallow when you're telling it to someone else.
Happy Friday!
natalie
ps. - can anyone tell me why a pacifier can stay in a baby's mouth for an extended amount of time (20, 30, 40 minutes!) while they are being held, but the minute they hit the crib, they can't seem to hold onto it?  It's a mystery to me.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day - Card #2

Happy Valentine's Day to all of you!  Hope you have something special planned.  This year, our day will be a little less than last year's.  Hard to believe that almost 1 year ago, after 1 failed IVF round, we were just weeks away from finding out that our dreams of having a family were going to come true!  And, a little over a month after that, we would find out that we were going to be doubly blessed with two beautiful babies!
Yep, our romantic dinner may include a trip to Red Robin, where screaming children aren't frowned upon.  Or maybe, a fabulous Pioneer Woman bacon wrapped filet.  I vote for the second...cooking, even with clean-up, always trumps a anxious trip to the outside.
As promised, here is the 2nd Valentine's Day greeting that I made.  
















Still using that new Movers & Shakers Zipper die from PaperTrey Ink.  You can purchase it here.
















The heart was cut out and stamped using Hero Arts stamping and die combo.  Then, I embossed the chevron with clear embossing powder.  Red and white bakers twine from The Twinery came in handy to dress up the plain cardstock.  The patterned cardstock is by Authentique.
















On the inside, I made a pop-up sentiment and adhered another heart to the corner.

Have a love-filled day!
xo
natalie

Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Happy Valentine's Day - Card #1

Valentine's Day is almost here!  Hard to believe that on this romantic holiday, 12 years ago, a 26-ish young man got down on his knee in a local pizza parlor and asked a 23-ish something girl to marry him.  That young man of course, was my husband.  And, that girl was me!  Nearly 11 years of marriage later, we are still hitched!  So, you see, it is a very memorable and sentimental holiday for me.

Sneaking away from the girls for a little creative time, I was able to make some valentines to send.  This card was inspired by Betsy Veldman's chalkboard technique.  The way she does this is totally awesome, and since the chalkboard thing is so "in" right now, I decided to use it on this card.  (If you have any questions about how to do this, her tutorial is wonderful - just follow the link!)

First I cut some hearts out of red and craft cardstock.  Hero Arts has some great new stamping sets that include a cutting die - so you can cut out the shape and then stamp on it.  After I cut out the hearts, I used the cardstock piece that was left as a stencil to make my heart pattern as a background on my card.  I love using a foam makeup sponge to blend different shades of red together.  The variegated hearts look so pretty.



















After I made the background, I stamped the black piece of cardstock with frost white ink and then embossed it with white Zing embossing powder.  Then, I stamped the same image again moving my stamp to the right ever so slightly to give it a "shadow" effect.  Then, I used a dry paper towel and rubbed the cardstock lightly to create a dusty, chalky kind of look.
















Then I used my white Signo pen (the best!) to embellish the stamp and draw so lines around my sentiment.

 For the inside, I used a Movers & Shakers Zipper die from PaperTrey Ink.  You can purchase it here.  I love "interactive cards."  When someone receives this, they can "pull here" on the little zipper tab to reveal a special message.  PaperTrey Ink has a variety of stamps that can be used to stamp under the zipper part - but I decided to write my own message.
I wrote - "Happy Valentine's Day!"...I know, very original.
Next, I took one of the hearts that I cut out with the Hero Arts die and I rolled it through my Cuttlebug using the swiss dots embossing folder.  That's what makes the raised dots.  Then, for added detail, I lightly brushed over the dots with some red ink.  Then, I adhered it to the red cardstock on the inside of the card.
















Hope you are looking forward to tomorrow and you get everything your heart desires!
xo
natalie
ps- come back tomorrow for Happy Valentine's Day - Card #2

Monday, February 4, 2013

Card #17 - Thank You with a little sparkle

Card #17- Thank You with a little sparkle

Using that good old circle punch again!  The paper is by Authentique.  The sentiment is a letterpressed card from Paper Source.  Then I ran a little line of stickles around the outside for added detail.
















I'm missing my creative job at Paper Source.  But, I wouldn't trade the time with the girls for anything right now.  There will be a time when I can get back to being creative on a more regular basis.  

Happy Monday!
natalie
ps - if you don't already know, you can click on any card picture to enlarge it and see the detail!

Friday, February 1, 2013

Card #16 - Thank You with circles

Card #16 - Thank You with Circles
A circle punch can be a very hand tool - especially when you are trying to make a fast card.  The small circles were cut out using a punch, the larger circle was cut using a nestability.  I ran the small circles through my baby x to adhere them and used foam squares to really make my scalloped circle pop.  Then, I just ran a little ink around the edge of the card to dress up the plain white cardstock. The paper is by Bo Bunny.
























Happy weekend to you!
natalie