Bookmarks for Improved Readers

My SBS8 Sister Kelly, http://kelleast.blogspot.com/, needs bookmarks to reward students who have improved their reading skills, so I made some brown/pink flowered ones for the girls. I used Making Memories Cosmoplitan Collection cardstock and patterned them after tutorials on http://technostamper.blogspot.com/by Mary Jo and by Dawn @

http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/ using flowered eyelets instead. Hope the girls like them!

For the boys I used their school colors of red & blue, but instead of white I cut silver holographic sticker paper on my Wishblade to read, "Way to Go!" and made an arrow at the top. I was trying to find something that they'd hopefully like and actually use!

Reading well is truly one important key to success in life, so I hope these teens will continue to improve their skills for a brighter future!

Papers: Making Memories Cosmopolitan Collection; Red/Navy Linen cardstocks

Embellishments: Flower Eyelets from my stash

Tools: COD; Xyron Wishblade

Black/White + One Challenge Birdie Card

Found this darling stamp set by Wordsworth and "had to have it". I decided that I'd use it for the Black/White + One challenge @ http://www.caardvarks.blogspot.com/ that Gwen had posted about on her blog. This set is acrylic which made it easy to add the border along the right edge. It's also fun to add the two different leaves wherever you want them on the branch! All the stamps I used are included in the set, plus another solid larger bird and the greeting, "You make my heart sing" in the same flourishy script as Thinking of you!

A really fun spring set, which would certainly make awesome cards for summer, fall & winter as well. Hmmm, a red bird with some glistening snow on the branch. Oh, that would work for our latest SBS8 challenge from Kim over at http://www.impressyourself.typepad.com/ who needs Christmas cards for heroes to be received by a friend by May 12th! Yikes, I'll be quite busy if I manage to make that deadline!

Paper: Solar White Classic Columns Cover cardstock; black cardstock

Stamp Set: Wordsworth's Heart Sing Clear Acrylic

Ink: Tsukineko's Lime Versacolor

Embellishments: Metal Dots from Joanns $1 aisle

Retiree/Golfer/Cards for Heroes

This old duffer is just great, isn't he? I'm hoping some hero overseas will have a relative he/she can send him to, along with a treasured handwritten note letting the recipient not only know they're thought of, but that the sender is doing well!

My sweet BBGF Gwen gave me this stamped image when she came to my house for our Designing Divas group recently. I'd love to give stamp credit, but I don't have that information, nor do I have any for the papers I used, as all are from the stacks I've had for years. I just remember thinking this striped paper would be great some day for a guy card. I sanded it to distress it & like the way it turned out.

I have a couple other cards I'm anxiously waiting to post here as soon as I know they've been received by the ladies I've forwarded them to -- hurry up USPS!!! ;-)

Embellishments: Generals Watercolor Pencils; small brads

Diamond Father's Day Card for Heroes

I thought the geometrical designs of this paper and this card shape would complement each other. I'd also purchased these expoxy letters at Target's Dollar Spot a while back, thinking they may work on a male card. Hopefully the little bit of a swirl on the letters won't offend anyone's masculinity!

Papers: DCWV's Extreme Paper Stack; black and grey cardstocks
Embelllishments: WeRMemoryKeepers Eyelet, Noteworthy Stickers

Another Father's Day Card for Heroes

Another quick, simple Dad's Day card from the DP I used yesterday. I really like this paper & think it's manly, but had trouble finding papers to match up with it. Would have liked more layers here, but not having much luck finding the right shades to do that. You'd think I don't have a lot of paper, but that's kind of like saying I don't have a lot of ribbon. . . !

Papers: Speckled cardstock; DCWV Extreme Paper Stack

Ink: Tsukineko's Vintage Sepia Versafine

Embellishments: Making Memories Staples; JoAnn Craft Essentials Rub-Ons

Father's Day Card for Cards for Heroes

You know how they say, "The road to hell is paved with good intentions"? Well all I can tell you is it's really nice to know that I'll be traveling on a well-paved road in my future!!! ;-}
I promised my SBS8 sister, Kim, that I'd send Mother's Day and Father's Day cards to Cards for Heroes, which I think is a fabulous idea, until I realized that I'd procrastinated so long I'm way too late to get any to the folks who then have to get them overseas to the troops so that they can mail them back to the USA for Mother's Day. Why such a terrible procrastinator would even think she would do that in a timely fashion is beyond me -- oh wait, that procrastinator is ME . . . .
Okay, I'm going to at least fulfill the 1/2 of my promise I can still get done in time. I'm making myself feel less awful (at least a teeny bit) by reminding myself that "guy" cards are way harder and thus more time-consuming to do than girly cards. Therefore, they'll probably receive less of them and all will be "almost" right in the world! Hey, if I try hard enough, maybe I can travel a different road in my future -- hope springs eternal!!!
For this manly card I used DCWV DP on speckled cardstock and simply added "Dad".
Paper: Speckled cardstock; DCWV Extreme Paper Stack
Embellishments: Sizzix Wingo Zingo Alphabet Decorative Strip; Ranger Perfect Pearls (Perfect Bronze); Hero Arts Swirly Wire Accents
"Ink": Superior's Palette Stamp & Stick Gluepad

Oval Scalloped All-Occasion Card

My very first Nestabilities creation!!! I'm sooooo excited that I was finally able to get a few of the Spellbinders' Nestabilities dies. They are truly "to die for"!!! LOL

However, they came at a very sad cost -- by that I don't mean the price, but the fact that one of my all-time favorite craft suppliers is closing down it's craft department. I'm just in shock and so greatly disappointed. We've just lost Recollections and Annalis Scraptique here in the Phoenix area and now XpedX has decided to close their craft section down too. It's just heartbreaking!!! Knowing how horrible I feel makes me wonder how totally heartbroken the wonderful lady who set it all up must feel. My heart goes out to Jamie!

Okay, moving on -- for sharing with my Designing Divas this month, I came up with this purple card which uses the oval Nestie and Hero Arts stamp. Don't you just love the font on that stamp?!!! I couldn't resist putting a Hero Arts jewel on the loop of the "E"!!!

Paper: Textures Lavendar Cardstock; Mara-Mi's DP

Stamp: Hero Arts

Ink: Tsukineko's Grape Pigment

Embellishments: Hero Arts Crystals

Designing Diva's Stamp Group Creations

It was long past my turn to have our crafty group, now fondly known as the Designing Divas, to my house for our monthly get together. Sadly two
members were unable to attend, but we had a wonderful time and these talented ladies once again wowed me with their creations:
Ilene shared 2 spring flower cards found through Hero Arts, www.heroarts.com/, incorporating sayings and flower stamps. We used colored pencils on them and added Stickles for a little pizzaz. I also changed my pink card up slightly by off-centering the stamped piece and adding a border on the edges of the green layer with my Scor-It. Simple cards, yet simply adorable!

Deva's creations (yes, she shared 2 also!) both incorporated flourishes, which we all LOVE! Her brown and blue card's flourish is a sticker from Dollar Deals! The oval scallop and Stampendous stickers just finish it off beautifully! Her citrus-colored card makes me think of warm weather & tropical flowers with the limey jewels adding just the perfect touch!

Caryn couldn't join us, but sent along her unique postcard to share. It very cleverly says, "just wanted to say..." on the front and "thanks for being so kind" on the flip side. Her black/pink plaid paper, ribbon and jewels just make this simple postcard fabulous!

Gwen's shirt/tie creation is awesome and would make a great Father's Day or birthday card for a lucky man in your life! She previously posted this along with a matching gift card tin @ www.mycraftydaysoff.blogspot.com/ on March 24th so I'll refer you there to see it! You won't be disappointed -- her site rocks!!!

The Designing Divas are each uniquely creative and their sweetness, kindness and willingness to share makes me feel truly blessed to have them in my life!!!

Ribbon Storage - 10 Feet Plus!!!

I haven't posted much recently, so wanted to share one reason, which is my awesome new ribbon holder my husband so sweetly helped me install! I'd seen this on others' blogs and wanted so badly to be able to have all my ribbon sorted and in plain sight so I'll actually remember what I have and use it!
It's very simple to install & quite inexpensive. We purchased a 10' section of vinyl gutter from Lowe's for $4.65. We then cut it into three 40" sections, added the end caps, (1.99 ea.) then installed 2 curved brackets ($1.99 ea.) per section, which each require 1 screw to secure them to the wall (screws not included). Once your brackets are up, the section simply snaps in place. The whole 3-section unit totalled about $30 -- I LOVE IT!!!
My husband kept saying it wouldn't work because the spools would fall over without enough to "fill the row up"! Imagine his shock when he came in a few hours later & saw all 3 sections not only full, but overflowing! In my defense I reminded him I've been buying ribbon since even before 1995 when I started papercrafting! Now all I need is another 40" section (at least) or to create a LOT of projects using ribbon!!! ;-)

Architectural Male Birthday Card

Seeing this free Wishblade cutout card design by Mary (www.mamawslegacy.wordpress.com/) made me think of architectural elements -- a perfect fit for a masculine card. Since my husband's birthday is fast approaching, and it's always tough to come up with something non-feminine, but still classy, I think this worked well. Just cut the Wishblade file, add the rub-on, some mirrored cardstock, a few metal dots and I'm done!!!

Paper: Black Linen & Silver Fleck Cardstock; Dark Charcoal Grey Metallic; Silver Mirror Cardstock

Embelllishments: Karen Foster Rub-On; ColorBok Metal Drops

Tools: Xyron Wishblade Personal Media Cutter