Andrew's Birthday Card

Andrew is a dear friend of mine and he's also my SIL's boyfriend as well so I really enjoy making cards for the two of them.  They both seem to really appreciate all the work that goes into each card I make for them.  So I always try to do something a little special for their cards.  This one is no exception, I used the Tim Holtz Blended Batik technique for the background.  The technique is where you stamp a stamp such as the script background that I've done here and then use clear embossing powder on it, then you color the background with your coloring agents, I used distress ink here.  Once you have the background the color you desire then you take a hot iron and a piece of absorbent paper, I used a paper towel, and put that over your paper and you iron the embossing powder back off the paper as the paper towel soaks it up.  I found the paper towel didn't soak it up right away so I just ended up wiping it away once I had the paper good and hot, no problem.  I then used a Micheal's dollar stamp to stamp the bicycle in the lower corner with archival ink in black.  The banner and the circle pieces were cut out with the cricut using the Art Philosophy cartridge and I used a stamp set from Close to My Heart for the Happy.  I then glued it down using foam dots for the letters and I just used the string from the shipping tag to "hang" my banner.  I added black twine tied in bows to the ends.  I layered a piece of ribbon made of jute and then the shipping tag.  I used a stamp from Inkadinkado and heat embossed it with some clear embossing powder that I colored with mica powders, then added the bling and I was done.  I sure hope Andrew was happy with his birthday card. That's all I really want back from this hobby, for someone to appreciate and find beauty in the same things I do and thus make.  I want to make people happy, that's all... Oh, and make pretty art. lol.

Masculine handmade birthday card for Husband

Every year I struggle with making the card for my Husband more than any other.  I thing that's due to the fact that he sees most of the other cards that I make throughout the year and In my mind I feel he must be comparing them to the one I make for him.  Yeah, I know, most of that is probably all in my mind but none the less it's there and I struggle to make his card to be something that I think he will really like.  He said he really did like this one.  I knew putting the pocket watch on there would make the card heavy but it wasn't going in the mail as I was hand delivering it to him myself. So for the background paper I used the coredinations card stock in the Tim Holtz distress ink colors.  I distressed the edges of both sheets and for the reddish one I used a Tim Hotlz embossing folder, (not sure the name of it). For the designer paper I used a sheet from the Timeless Type Stack by DCWV.  The label shape for the sentiment is from Sizzix and the stamps are from Hot off the press stamped with colorbox chalk ink. That's all I have for now, I'll be back in a couple of days with some more cards.  I have just mailed them and I like to give the person receiving the card a chance to see it first in person before I go and post it online.  I don't want to be a spoiler like that. lol.  Thanks for stopping by my blog today, hope you have a great one!

Happy Anniversary card with the Art Philosophy cartridge

I made this card for my cousin, Nicole, and her husband, Jeff.  Their anniversary is tomorrow on March 1st.  They are such a sweet couple and they have a new baby in the house now too.  To make this card I first used papers from the "Love and Wedding" stack from DCWV.  This set even included the solid papers in matching colors.  The three paper flowers are from Prima and I just used some glimmer sprays on them to get the color and shine.  I then added the jem brad in the center to finish off the flower.  The bling flourish is from Recollections.  The dollie heart die cut was made using the Art Philosophy cartridge for the cricut cutting machine and sold by Close to My Heart.  I then used my gypsy electronic designing device and sized the banner.  I got the banner cut from a cricut craftroom exclusive die called "banners".  I think every thing came together just right for this card and I hope Nicole and Jeff like it. I think she keeps every card I've ever made for them.  They just don't get any sweeter than that now do they? lol  Thanks for stopping by my blog today and peepin at my card.  I would love  hear from you so feel free to leave me a comment. thanks;)