Almost here!!!

I love the fireworks of fourth of July. I love lighting sparklers and waving them in the air to make a lighted path that spells my name. I loved it when I was younger and I still love it. I especially enjoy how my son reacts... Oh... and I also love when my little sister gets hit smack-dab in the middle of the forehead with a bottle rocket. (Long story-- it happened last year.)

From Summer

I found out about cardsforheros.org. It is a program where you make greeting/birthday/holiday cards and send them out to the military so that the soldiers overseas are able to send something home to their family. I think it is great! I am going to participate by sending some of my cards over. Go over to www.cardsforheros.org and check it out.

Three cards.

Oh hello there, didn't hear you come in!

So I don't have colored ribbon. I bought a few rolls of the skinny white ribbon because they were on sale for a quarter each. I do not use ribbon in my cards because, well, picking the exact color, size, etc., is just overwhelming. HOWEVER... I dyed my thin white ribbon for this card. I did stamp "You're Sweet" on the card after I uploaded this photo-- It completes this. But I was too lazy to take another photo of it.

From Summer

Another Card:

From Summer

Enjoy your day!

From Summer

So this is all I've done this week-- not much, I know. I have been lacking inspiration.

Rainy days and... what? The sun is out now?!?!

So today started out incredibly atrocious. It was wet, windy, and ugly. Thomas hasn't been feeling good and Isaias was bumming around watching T.V. so I decided to take some time for myself and head to A.C. Moore. I do not go there often, in fact, I think the last time I was there was before Christmas last year. But I am a collector, if you will, of the Studio G stamps by hampton art. I call myself a collecter because I have only used about 40% of the studio g stamps I have... but they do come in handy often! I have heard that A.C. Moore has a lot more Studio G stamps than michaels. Anywho, I went online and printed out a 50% off coupon and went on my merry way.

I bought these:

From Summer

I spent a total of $7.39 with the coupon. The colored pencils are actually old, but new in a sense that I haven't opened them in two and half years! I bought a large set of stamps from Hampton Arts and three sets of stamps from studio G. I didn't want to go all out because I really want to only buy what I will use. I think I am going to try to use each stamp once, now because I have so darn many! JUSTIFICATION FOR PURCHASE: I like the little squares--they are excellent for patterns, I bought the one with the two circles that say "Hi" and "Hello" because they had little stem/branch/flower things that I have been looking for. Then I bought the the birdies and flowers because, well, I love birds. As for the large set of clear stamps, I have been looking for tree/branches/leaves and this fulfills my need and it even has owls and birds! (except now, I want the branch I saw at Angela's happy stamper, but this will come later.)

This is what I made with them:

From Summer

...yeah yeah, I stamped hello crooked... it's okay.

Father's Day

So, yesterday, my son (Thomas) and I made Isaias a father's day card but I will not post a picture because there is always a chance he might stumble across this. He will have to wait until father's day.

HOWEVER-- I had to make a card for my father-- I hardly see him. In fact, it's been four years since I last saw him. Lucky for me, he is coming down here to NoVA to visit in July. We won't be staying in NoVA... we are going with him to West Virginia to stay with my grandfather for the week. Back to business-- my father lives in Caribou, Maine, which is why I don't see him often. Unfortunately, I waited until last minute to pop a card together. I do not know what he likes (keep in mind, I don't see him often and when we do talk to each other, it's a lot of catch up that we play so there is little to no conversation on hobbies and what we do in our spare time. It is more or less conversations about how thomas is doing, how is work, ect.) So I decided the golf theme is appropriate. Most gentleman enjoy a nice round of eighteen holes, so I think I am safe.

I am not safe, however, with the time frame from now until fathers day. Mail typically takes a week to get up there. I was thinking UPS next day sat. delivery from work, but then that would be naughty of me. I will figure out a way to get it to him. If not, then I will simply explain that I was unwillingly procrastinating. I think he will forgive me.

From Summer

Mini-Card attachment

So... I decided to make a layered card. I don't do this often. I wanted to make a card for my friend/co-worker, Sandi. She is thinking about opening up a dog-washing franchise (Bark-n-Bubbles) but, in all her enthusiasm, she is still in this cloud of doubt. I have faith that she will be successful. I think that once all her questions are answered on this matter, she will feel sound.

Anywho-- so I made her this card. I will give it to her friday because I did not have time to fill out any sentiment on the inside. I don't have any sentimental quote stamps at all... just the plain 'ol happy birthday, thank you, thinking of you, friend, best wishes, congratulations, ect. I make it a point to treat myself to card making goodies every two weeks on pay day, so maybe I will make it a point to look for these types of stams-- but I've outdone myself this pay period and Isaias is looking for a new job, so I might have to hold out this upcoming pay day.

I really like this card. It took me a second to figure out the closure of the mini card. Obviously, going around the center was not an option... After a few dummy's and quick thinking, I found the solution I liked.

outside of card:

From Summer

Outside of card with mini card open:

From Summer

Fun Cards

Last night- I went to town with a set of clearance flower stamps I bought from Target. Couldn't tell you the brand because my memory fails me. I think it's simple and effective. I saw a card similar to this by impress rubber stamps so it's using the same general idea, nothing original... just used different stamps.

From Summer

Then I pulled my studio G stamps out (I have a million of them, it seems!) and also my 'stitch, doodle, dot' template and played a little... literally! I think it's simple. I want to put a "hello" underneath there.. but I didn't. Maybe when the time comes, I will. See, I like to keep generic cards that way, if a birthday, event, or thank you card is deemed nessecary, I can quickly pull out my sentiment stamps and ink and customize it for that. You know?

From Summer

This is all for today. I will return tomorrow, maybe.