Masculine birthday card and some packing.

Looking through my stamps, for inspiration, my eyes fell upon this stamp from Club Scrap.

What would I ever think of to use this stamp?  Looking through my notebook of birthday sentiments I found this one.

So this is what I came up with for a birthday card for a boy.

I have some Club Scrap card stock that has been embossed.  This is an old, very old, set of paper that I’ve had for years.  The card stock is in both dark blue and brown.  I’ll show you the embossed brown card stock.

I’ve covered the front of the card with a piece of card stock, not sure who it is from.  See the photo above.

For this project, I’ve used….

• Paper:  Club Scrap and Stampin’ Up!
• Stamp:  Club Scrap Sun/Moon; Stampin’ Up! Fundamental Phrases (birthday), and All Night Media’s Jive Alphabet (A).
• Ribbon:  My stash.
• Ink:  Ranger Archival Ink (black on tag); Stampin’ Up! Summer Sun (Sun/Moon); Walnut Stain Distress Ink around the paper edges.
• Punches:  Stampin’ Up! Word Window and Curly Label; EK Success 1-3/4″ Circle; Coluzzle Circle template (blue card stock behind the Sun/Moon image)
• Pen:  Gold Kodak gel pen to enhance some of the sun’s rays.
• Foam Squares:  Recollections dimensional foam squares behind the Sun/Moon and the tag.

These super dark card stock papers are difficult to apply my little “signature”.

I have some 1″ x 3/4″ labels.   I just keep finding really old stuff in my craft room and getting to use it.  I stamped my little “bee” on a sheet of labels and left the ink to dry.

Once the ink was dry I colored the image with Stampin’ Up! markers and a silver gel pen.  I’ve cut the bee out using a 1/2″ circle punch from Stampin’ Up!

The packing has been an on and off thing since yesterday.  I spent 12 hours of my day being totally indecisive.  Take this?  No.  Wait, YES!  No, maybe not.  I’ve got it down to this for now.  There is still time for me to change my mind :-}

The Martha Stewart Portable Work Station gets packed first 😀  Bling, rulers, and stickers will go here….

In the outside pocket.

Tools from my craft tote will go here.  I have the new tool kit from Maureen in the big tote.

Perfect Pearls and glitter glue in this little pocket.

Adhesives in this pocket.

Glitter and Mica water colors to take along with go……

In this pocket.

 

My big tote has been packed and repacked.

 

 

 

Punches in the top pockets.  I’d cram more in there if I could….and I have tried.

The fantastic gift from Jann Gray of What You Make It holds multiple colors of Cat’s Eye ink pads, brads, and all manner of goodies.  That is in the brown cigar box.

 

Stampin’ Up! markers in another cigar box I had stashed away.  Then it is tucked in a Tyvek envelope to keep the lid closed.

My little embossing machine, acrylic stamp blocks, embossing folders, and the awesome tool kit from Maureen.

The embossing folders.  I wonder if I can get more in here?  Hmmmm.

I’m working on getting packets made to work on while away.  I’ve got some “girly” birthday cards to make.  I will be using an old Stampin’ Up! Hostess set – Birthday Bakery – for these cards.  I’ve selected the colors of card stock and ribbon to use.

I can’t decide on which sentiment to use so I stamped both of them three times.  I also stamped three of the multi cake images from the stamp set.

I did a “trial run” with coloring.  The paper I’m using for the birthday cakes is some LetterPress stuff that was in the clearance bin at Hobby Lobby.  I’ve used Copic markers, Stampin’ Up! markers, and Mica water colors to test which I like.  The Mica water colors are getting my vote.

Okay, now that I’ve tied you up for most of the day I’ll let you get about your business.  Hope you have a wonderful day.  Enjoy the festivities of the New Year tonight and be careful out there if you will be driving.  Weather and inebriated people will try to mess with you.

Leslie

I miss your smile.

Using my IBM Selectric typewriter I made several card inserts.  Some of them I knew exactly what I would do with the outside of the card, while others have been a challenge.  These two cards were the challenge for me.  The first card is using the Operation Write Home sketch challenge #1.

• Paper:  Stampin’ Up! and Club Scrap
• Stamped image:  Hero Arts “Variety & Quality”
• Ribbon:  Stampin’ Up! Apricot Appeal 1/4″ grossgrain
• Half back pearls:  My stash
• Twinkling H2O in yellow over stamped image

I have it on good authority – Joe – that purple is a masculine color. The second card is from Operation Write Home Sketch Challenge #3.

• Paper:  Stampin’ Up! and Club Scrap
• Stamped images:  Hero Arts “Travel Journal” and Studio G dollar stamp set
• VersaMark and black embossing powder:  My stash
• Gold brads:  My stash
• Vellum heart:  My stash
• Words on tags:  IBM Selectric typewiter

Vellum is the most trickiest of papers to attach to a card or scrapbook layout.  The adhesive always shows through and you have to figure out how to attach the vellum and hide the evidence.  I have some Vellum Glue Dots…..I’ve had them for many years.  I don’t know if they are still sold in this kind of a package or if there is a different variety now available.

The glue dots are very small, almost microscopic, over a sheet of acetate.  Press the vellum back onto the glue dots then adhere to your project.  They do stick very well and you can also add a bit of extra adhesive to an area that will be covered if you are not fully confident of the vellum dots.

I am, now, in the process of putting together several card kits to take along with me.  My good friend, Maureen, left a comment on my post of yesterday with some fantastic suggestions that will help in my traveling card making.

I think I’d put together 8 or 10 “kits” with patterned papers, matching cardstock, a yard each of a couple of coordinating ribbons, a few stickers and embellishments. Take half now, and have the others ready for your next “dump and run” when you come home for a day in between jobs. I’d also prepare a set of sentiments for adhering to the outside and inside of the cards, stamped on both white and ivory cardstock. For each kit, since you know the colors of the PP and cardstock, you can go ahead and stamp (in coordinating ink colors) onto a full sheet of paper, some images and sentiments for cutting later. For your tool kit, make sure to bring Distress inks to possibly change the color of the sentiment cards to match your project, and bring a corner rounder, one feminine edge punch, one “non feminine” edge punch, a few label punches. It’s a lot of prep work, I know, but if you do the stamping beforehand, you won’t have to drag stamps and inks all over the country, and it will cut down on your supplies to pack.

I think this is an awesome suggestion and I appreciate it very much.  Maureen teaches all kinds of paper crafting at a Michaels near her in Austin, Texas.  If you live near Austin and are looking for someone to teach you how to make cards, scrapbook layouts, and the cutest boxes or bags to give as gifts feel free to reply to her comment on my blog post of yesterday by clicking on the link here —>  Maureen’s Comment.

I will not give out Maureen’s email address since I don’t have her permission to do so.  That is why I am leaving you the link.  She will get notification of  your interest in learning from her.

Okay, no more cards to share.  I’m back off to spend the day cramming my tote over full of stuff and digging it all back out again.  Probably several times.

Leslie

Missing You cards.

I have three “Missing You” cards to share that I created yesterday.  The inside message has been typed, by me, on my IBM Selectric.  That old girl still works!  This old girl…..is used to computers and the backspace key and the spell check feature 😦

I received a blog notice from Operation Write Home recently.  There has been a “Mid Week Throw Down” with a challenge to make “Miss You” cards.

Card #1:

• Papers:  Club Scrap
• Background stamp:  Large Hand Writing – Hampton Arts
• Embossing folder:  Cuttlebug Swirls
• Ink:  Stampin’ Up! Chocolate Chip for background stamp and Antique Linen Distress Ink to highlight Swirls
• Sentiment:  Stampin’ Up! – Word Play
• Ink:  Ranger Archival black
• Ribbon:  from my stash
• Pop Dots:  Recollections Foam Squares (under the “You Mean The World To Me” piece)

Card #2:

• Papers:  Club Scrap
• Vintage Image:  my stash
• Ribbon:  my stash
• Corner Punch:  Stampin’ Up! Corner Rounder

Card #3

• Papers:  Club Scrap, Graphic 45 Steam Punk
• Embossing Folder:  Cuttlebug Gears
• Chipboard Gears:  Maya Road covered with Club Scrap paper
• Border Punch:  Stampin’ Up! Lace Border punch
• Outside Sentiment:  Stampin’ Up! Fundamental Phrases
• Punches:  Stampin’ Up! Word Window and Stampin’ Up! Curly Label (I think)

The “Perfectionist” in me sees all the glaring flaws.  I’ll let you hunt them up cause I’m not telling.  I don’t think I will have to worry over much about these being returned as “Undeliverable”.  (Hope, hope, hope)

Okey Dokey.  I’m off to get back in my craft room.  I’m tussling with a little problem.  Should I spend some time in stamping sentiments and images on white card stock to have ready, and at hand, while I’m on the road?  Or should I just make as many cards as I can during my remaining days home?  Choices, choices, choices.

What would  you do were you faced with leaving home for an indefinite amount of time?  Have a limited amount of space for loved tools?  Creating cards atop ironing boards or beds in hotel rooms?

Leslie

Getting reacquainted with my typewriter.

Do you know what this is?

It is my old IBM Selectric typewriter that I have loved for thousands of years.  Well….maybe not that long but it has been with me forever.

Having gone to computers and printers this wonderful, and HEAVY, machine has been neglected for way too long.  It is time to put this old girl to use.  That is if I can remember how it works 😉

Split Coast Stampers has a library of sentiments to include in cards.  At least they used to have, it has been so many years since I have delved into their site.  I printed out a gazillion of the sentiments and made a notebook with categories separated by tabs.  This was done way back in 2006.  I’ve just been to their site and can’t find a “SEARCH” button.  If there is someone out there that knows how to get to this library please leave a link.  I, and others, would appreciate it.

I’m trying to make some cards for Operation Write Home.   One of the “No-No’s” is to hand write anything on the cards.  There have been several military wives that have been concerned their husband’s have gone astray.

Since I don’t have very many rubber stamps but do have a lot to say 😀 I thought it was time to get my dear friend into the mix.

I’ll type the sentiment.  That will take care of my problem 😀  The ink ribbon has left some smudges but I think that only adds to the whole thing.

Alrighty now!  I have the inside done.  Not quite sure what I’m going to do with the outside 😦

Here is a card I finished a couple days ago.  I thought a father in the military might like to have a card to encourage a daughter.  Pink and gray.  I’m not very good with this card making thing but I’m giving it my best shot.  This card needs something up in the left corner.  It is going as it is.  If I start messing around then it will be “all over with but the crying”.

The man’s image and the sentiment are both from Club Scrap.  The “definition” is from a sticker set I have had for many years.  The pink papers are from Stampin’ Up! and the gray paper is from Club Scrap.  The card is blank inside.

I’m also in the process of figuring out what to take with me on the road.  We will be leaving on January 2nd so I had better get my butt in gear.

Later – Leslie

Neutral gender birthday card.

I was able to get two cards out of the papers I used yesterday.  This is the Operation Write Home sketch #53 from April of 2011.  The sketches are on their site for anyone to use at anytime and for anyone – not just for the military.

• Papers – Club Scrap and Stampin’ Up!
• Border Punch – Stampin’ Up!
• Ribbon – American Crafts
• Sentiment – Club Scrap

I don’t fancy myself a card maker so any help I can get for layout and proportions I take full advantage of.   How long does it take you to make a card?  Me, it seems to take forever with all the fussing I do in getting things aligned and straight, although I don’t manage to do that well sometimes.

Tomorrow is Christmas Day.  Yippy Skippy!  I hope you all are enjoying the holiday so far.

Leslie

Gearing up to get back out on the road.

Christmas Eve is only a day away, the New Year is a week away, getting back on the road is about 10 days away.  I can’t believe the amount of stuff I’ve managed to finish in a month’s time.  I’ve been focusing on my business bookkeeping and my house cleaning.  My how time flies when you’ve having fun 😉

Next big project is to get supplies ready for my craft tote I take on the road with me.  This year I will be taking along the awesome goodies Maureen sent me for Christmas.  You can see that post HERE.  I have set myself a goal to create cards for Operation Write Home while we are on the road.  I have downloaded and printed their sketches to use as reference.

• 8-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ card bases – Mixture of Club Scrap and Stampin’ Up!.  CHECK
• 5-1/2″ x 4-1/4″ card stock – Mixture of Club Scrap and Stampin’ Up!.  CHECK
• 6″ x 6″ patterned card stock and papers – Mostly Stampin’ Up! 12″ x 12″ papers, some from Club Scrap.  CHECK

For a test run on my new system I gave Operation Write Home’s sketch #52 a try.  A “masculine” birthday card is what I made with the papers from this newly cut stash.

• Striped paper – Stampin’ Up!
• Text paper – Stampin’ Up!
• Embossing folder – Stampin’ Up!
• Birthday Celebrations – Stampin’ Up! – Upsy Daisy
• Ribbon – American Crafts
• Die cuts – Nestabilities “Labels Six”

Next thing to accomplish, before we leave, is to create a stash of stamped images and sentiments.  Just exactly HOW I will get all that paper in my craft tote is beyond me.  Not to mention the envelopes I will also need to carry along.  Can you say “Bonkers”?  How about “Overkill”?  I will be paring down the stock of paper.  That might delay us getting back on the road for a while.  A girl can only hope 😀

Leslie

Check out the clearance bin at your office supply store.

A few years back I found some 3″ x 5-1/2″ journals in the clearance bin of an Office Depot.  I think near my home…but it could have been in Jacksonville, Florida; Baltimore, Maryland; Rancho Cucamonga, California; or some other place where we had to stop to get work related papers copied or replenish supplies.

These little notebooks have covered fronts and backs which are constructed from some heavy duty chipboard.  The binding is like the Bind-It-All but not exactly.  The holes are too close together.

I nearly passed up on these after taking a good look at the image.  There must be a “Super Shopper” that I am unaware of.  This masked woman might have super powers.  Or not, since many of these were in the clearance bin.

For 50 cents I can overlook the odd image on the front.

The inside has lined paper to write notes or use as a Password Journal.

I was in need of a Thank You gift for one of the people we do business with.  I had to make a rather large request for past documents.  Information dating back to June on through October of this year.  For some reason I have difficulty receiving these documents when they are mailed out to us.  I get some but not all, thus the request for old information.

Since the binding of these notebooks is not similar to my Bind-It-All I could not take the book apart without damaging the binding doo dads.  My option was to cover over the image.  Squares of orange, brown, pink, and beige all over the front of one notebook.

All items used to cover over the notebook front are from my paper scrap stash, seldom used ribbon stash, and newly found stamps from my rubber stamp stash.

Are you in need of a gift and find yourself short on time or money?  Maybe you just don’t know what to give someone.  Nearly everyone could use a small notebook that has been personalized by you.

Leslie