Carter's Card

Here's the card I just whipped up for a little boy's first b'day. His party is this afternoon. I work with his grandma. The paper is from Reminisce. The balloons are 3-dimensional and from a pack of confetti. They were the perfect size for the front of the card. 3-d --- what fun!

18 Random Things mini-book

Make a Smilebox slideshow

If only getting this project into a viewable format was as easy as the project itself!! Augh!!! Anyway, here's the details about this project. I completed it in one day, with interruptions. The pages are slid into sturdy, top-loading trading card sleeves. There is a thin layer of cardstock between the two papers to make it easier to slide in and out. I used a 4"x6" package of Dollar Tree paper for the entire project. (No 12" x 12" papers were harmed.) I also used 4 colors of coordinating paper from my scrap collection. My goal was to keep it simple - no inking, ribbon, or froo-froo. For one thing, there isn't room, unless you adhere the embellishments on the outside of the sleeve. I also forced myself to use my own handwriting - something I rarely do. The letters on the cover were cut free-hand. I should have mixed up my papers - you know, been a little more RANDOM. Don't know what I was thinkin' there. I used my Big Bite to punch the holes. I used a strip of torn brown fabric tied in a knot to "bind" it together. I could have easily put the question and answer on the same page and only done 20 pages instead of 40! Oh, the things we learn when doing something for the first time. I hope you had a good time learning some of my little "quirks"!!

Halloween Card Class

I am on a blogging BINGE today!! 2 posts in one day??!!! CRAZY!

I made these ADORABLE cards at a class last weekend, taught by papercraft queen, Lynn Warner. It was easy, but allowed me to work with some products I hadn't worked with before. This experience with acrylic was MUCH more enjoyable than my last. And I LOVED the primitive stickers by Cosmo Cricket we got to use. I would have liked to ink the edges of the acrylic, but I didn't have any Staz-On with me. I'm curious as to what would happen if I applied a quick, light coat of stain get over the surface of the sticker. Would it cut that "sticker look"? I may try that this weekend. Stay tuned for the results of that experiment...........(nothing should explode, so it should be safe)!

Frankie (draft)

I saw these cute little candy bar wrappers at Memory Bound and couldn't wait to make them. There's a mummy and a Frankenstein, but I've only got Frankie done. I think he needs "bolts" coming out of his neck. What do you think?? I'm open for suggestions!! This is only a draft. I'm going to make these for the gals at work for Halloween. Hy-Vee has the "full size" (as opposed to fun size or king size) candy bars for $.50 right now, by the way.

AGE is just a number.........

I'm basking in the idea that someone thinks I'm 11 years younger than I really am. How cool is that?? One of the programs I do at the library requires me to work with someone from the local extention office. I love this gal. She's young, sweet, pretty, tall and thin -- basically everything I'm not. But I love her more for her determination and desire to be successful. Anyway, as we were waiting for a meeting to start, we started talking about exercise. She has started running. I said that I was trying to get back into my cardio-kickboxing class. (She was impressed that I did this, I might add.) I mentioned that when I was going to class regularly, I wasn't skinny, but I was in great shape. (Being "uncomfortable" after hiking up ALL of the stairs at Carver-Hawkey Arena last Sunday brought the reality of exactly how out of shape I really am. Ugh.) I went on to say that my cardiologist had made the comment that I was in better physical shape than most women my age, even in my condition. (That was quite a surprise to hear, let me tell you!!) This caused her to scrunch up her face and say, "Why would he say that? You're not old?" Really??? I asked her how old she thought I was - and to be honest. I promised her my feelings would not be hurt. She said 35? (See, isn't she the greatest???) After I told her how old I really was, she said she would have never guessed that because I didn't look it. Now, I 've never had a big hang-up about my age, so I always laugh when someone is that far off. I'm thankful that I am being well preserved for the time being, but fear for the future. I'm afraid that someday, someone will look at me and whisper to a friend or family member, "Oh my God!!!! Is that Susan????? She really aged quickly!!!! She didn't look that old last Thursday!!!" Now, if someone would just say, "Hey! You look taller!" Not going to happen. I'm going to be happy with whatever my age is. Age is, after all, just a number. I really believe that.

Thank You card

When we took our trip to Milwaukee for the motorcycle rally we overnighted at a cousin's house in Rocklin. They were a wonderful host and hostess and we enjoyed having the opportunity to spend some time with their children. Here is the thank you I'm sending to them.

I'm not a big sticker fan, but this one did the trick. The motorcycle doesn't look anything like ours, but that's okay. I used the "rule of 3" on the front. The letters were cut using my Sidekick. The remaining sticker was used on the inside. The trim on the inside is from the fabric dept. It's a "faux leather" set with eyelets. I used it on a scrapbook layout years ago.

A Little Fruit Humor

I am fortunate to share my birthday with two wonderful people. One is my husband's Uncle Randy, the other, a fellow children's librarian, Tami Finley.

What prompts one to buy pear paper? More importantly, why would someone manufacture pear paper. Anyway, I saw it yesterday at the new scrapbook store in Fairfield. It's from Reminisce and double-sided. For some reason, I was challenged to create something with it. The result was this birthday card. I actually made two - one for Randy and one for Tami.

If anyone has anymore "pear" humor, let me know. I have most of a sheet left!!