Mommy To Be

So my bff is going to have a baby boy soon.  Sometimes I can't believe we're in 'motherhood' age.  I still feel like a young 20 year old ... I mean, I am still a young 20 year old... The point being, after growing up with her for the last XX years, it's hard to believe she's having a baby and soon going to be called mom.  It's already pretty sad that our lives are so busy now that it's hard to get together and talk (in high school and university, she called me daily!).  Now with a baby, it's going to be even harder!  Well, she will be having a baby shower soon, but I might not make it (see, busy life).  So as a gift, I started the kid's future education fund in this piggy bank and paired it with a homemade card.  Since I was in Calgary, and decided to make a card last minute, I hardly had any supplies with me.  That means: shopping!  Haha.  I have to say, everything I got was 25% + another 25% off to 70% off.  I paid $48 for my stuff (not just on card stuff, if so, I would have just bought a Hallmark for $4).  Can you imagine if all my stuff were regular priced?  OMG.  Nuts.

Paper: Core'dination, Simple Stories, and something else...
Techniques: Paper tearing
Embellishments: Button, rub-on

Cookie Valentine

Well. my 'cookie' isn't the most romantic kind of guy. If he can skip over Valentine's Day, he so would (in his dreams!) I am totally opposite. So to balance it out, I made him an atypical Valentine's Day card. Not too mushy and something fun. The best part, I got to use my Sesame Street Font Cricut cartridge (which I got on sale for $30 CAD during Christmas and thought it would go to waste since I had no clue what to do with Sesame Street). Happy Valentine's Day, baby!

Face (left), Inside (right)

Paper: Recollections, DCWV, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Sesame Street Font, From My Kitchen, Wild Card

Another Wedding

Seriously, more than 1/2 of my girl friends are married. Sigh. What is up with that? Anyways, I couldn't make it to my childhood friend's wedding in Toronto. So all I can give is a card. I think I'm really lacking creativity lately. My swap cards seem kind of bland. This wedding card seem kind of plain. However, I do like this one. It's simple and pure - just like my friend. I wish her all the best... thousands of miles away.

Paper: The Paper Company

Stamps: Penny Black - Every Which Way, Basic Grey - Two Scoops/Sweet Sentiments

Embellishments: self adhesive pearls and gems

September Swap

I am working hard to get this swap over with. Not like I don't like the swap, but I really want to work on my scrapbook pages! For September's theme, it's Thanksgiving. I wanted to stay away from the turkey theme. So a cornucopia of fruits it is! Happy Early Thanksgiving!

Paper: The Paper Company, K&Company

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Paper Doll Dress Up

August Swap

This is my first creation in Edmonton. Funny enough it's a Halloween card. I thought I was so ahead of schedule in my swap, I wanted to be lazy. Good thing I checked that I haven't done my August creation homework yet. I think while I'm up here, I'm going to get all my swap cards done and out of the way, and then onto my long delayed scrapbook. Sigh.

Paper: The Paper Company

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Wildcards, Friskar circle cutter

Lace Up Thank You Card

There has been some drama going on with my maid of honor dress. After I took my measurements, I saw the size chart she was using to put in my dress order. The dress she ordered for me had a waist-size 2 sizes too small. So I asked her, "Are you sure?!" She said since the dress is empire waist style, I don't have to worry. 

When I went for my fitting after the dress came in, it didn't fit. It zipped up, but only if I was to stand all day and not breathe! Due to the dress style, not a lot of fabric can be 'let go'. Therefore, they have to change the zipper up to a lace up back. I was so pissed. To try to make it 'not as bad', the dress lady was saying it's the trend, it's more elegant, and a lot of girls like it. 

I am not like 'a lot of girls'. I bought this $187 dress so that I can wear it more than once. Now with a lace up, it will be tougher. Plus, they were going to charge me $120 in alterations, but then discounted to $80. But my friend's mom (aka mother of the bride) helped me lower the alteration cost to $60, and offered to pay for my alterations. So therefore, I made a card for them. Obviously, its design is based on the dress.

 

Paper: Bazzill, Me and My Big Ideas, scraps

Stamps: Katie & Co

Techniques/Tools: Cuttlebug Stylized Flowers

Embellishments: eyelets, ribbon

Happy Bridal Shower!

Is there such a greeting? I was invited to Jing's bridal shower. Due to my stupid hotmail hack, I didn't get any notification until this week. These girls are so creative compare to me. They made it a 24h theme. Every invitee got an hour, and the invitee has to buy a present for Jing to use at this hour. I got 10 am. Since Jing's a teacher, 10 am = recess time. I really don't want to give the typical coffee mug. BORING. So to me, what can a teacher do (besides coffee) during recess? Initially, I wanted to get her a travel spa kit. It's a good way to do a short spa treatment while the kids are playing outside. However, they are very hard to find, unless you want to compile one together for $100+. No thanks! So while looking around, I found this: Love Handler by Bliss. Hahaha. I found this absolutely hilarious. I'm not saying Jing is fat and she needs this to reduce cellulite and any fatty appearance. The title and the idea of her using this during recess time are too funny. I love it! Jing is a person who can take a joke. Plus, you'll never know, she might one day use it. She does love chocolate. This may be able to get rid of the chocolate's 'side effects'. Hehe.

Here is the card I made along with the gift. Seriously, this card took me so fast. I never made a card and packed a present in 45 minutes! WOW! It's a pretty simple card. Quick and elegant - I like!

Paper: Bazzill, Me and My Big Ideas

Embellishments: lace, ribbon, scrap die cut tag, clear dot things (on the flowers)

July Swap

Yay, got another set of my swap cards done. This is the July set with the theme "Sympathy". I think I am on this butterfly thing (see previous post), but butterflies and sympathy cards just go. I like this set. They're very pretty and elegant.

Paper: Paper Reflections, The Paper Company, Me and My Big Ideas
Stamps: Inkadinkado (inside, see below)
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Wild Card, Indie Art, Martha Stewart border punch
Embellishments: eyelets

This is the inside. On the left hand side, I made a little pocket for two reasons:
1. To hide the eyelet backing. Never a big fan to see the back of those eyelets, brads, etc.
2. A convenient pocket to put condolences.

Happy Birthday, Eunice

Although I have TONS of scrapbooking to do, I still take some 'timeout' and make a card for a friend's birthday. Eunice is a pretty cheery girl. Therefore, I want her birthday card to be bright. When I saw the mushrooms, they made me smile. So I hope this card will make her smile as well. To make it girly, I had to add a butterfly with a trail of pearls. WHEN DID I BECOME SO GIRLY? 

Paper: The Paper Company, K & Company, scraps

Stamps: Penny Black Critter Party

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Indie Art

Embellishments: Self adhesive pearls

A side view so you can see the dimensions. 

I like decorating the inside. Sometimes I'm just too lazy to do it, but I wanted to do it for this one. The inside:

Happy Birthday, Teresa

Original Post: June 13, 2009

Despite of all the drama going on lately, I still have the mood to make a card for my dear friend's birthday. Tomorrow... more like in 8 hours, we're going hiking to go celebrate it. It's a pretty simple one, since I made it so last minute. I hope she likes green. This card is REALLY green. Haha. Too bad you can't see the green foil on the paper.

Paper: SEI, Me and My Big Ideas

Stamps: Studio G, Gel-a-Tins - Happy Birthday

Embellishments: ribbons, gem stickers

June Swap

Original Post: May 29, 2009

I still haven't sent out my May swap yet. I wanted to be a keener like last time and send out the next month's swap as well. However, I procrastinated until now. Nonetheless, they are done and ready to be sent out along with the May swap.

The theme for June's swap is 'Birthday'. For this theme, I wanted it to be fun. Therefore, I wanted the colors to clash as much as possible. As shown below, each card is different (only the swap host and whoever checks this blog out will know). One reason is because I was running low on a single color cardstock. The other is because I wanted to use up some leftover scraps - they were nice scraps too: Core'dination paper! All the mats were from my scrap paper box!

This one caught my eye the most. Hence, I chose it for the close up picture!

Paper: The Paper Company, DCWV, Core'dination (scraps)

Stamps: Studio G, Gel-a-tins Happy Birthday (inside of the card, no picture; just says Enjoy with a cupcake beside it)

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Doodlecharms, Cuttlebug Happy Birthday, Divine Swirls

Embellishments: ribbon

Berry Birthday Card

Original Post: May 28, 2009

Ok, this is something I would have never made a year ago. I'm not a really cutsie person. I don't know what happened! I got this berry paper I really wanted to use. So what the heck?! It's my friend's birthday, and I think she would think this is cute! Cute cute cute, that's what most girls want, right?!

I usually like to add something different to my creations. For this one, I somehow 'discovered' a new way to use those Prima flowers that I went crazy buying! Can you find it? =)

Paper: Core'dination, K & Company, SEI, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Indie Art, Paper Pups

Embellishment: eyelets, Prima flower, green staple

This is the inside. I didn't want to waste the strawberry top from the Indie Art cut, so I used it on the inside. It's cute, right? In a way, it looks like a present ribbon bow, which fits with the birthday theme. So, whatever! Strawberry top/present ribbon bow is in the eye of the beholder!

May Swap

Original Post: April 30, 2009

I really want to be ahead of the ball game, and therefore, I got May's card swap completed today! Woohoo. The theme for May is 'Patriotic'. I believe I'm the only Canadian on the swap. So why not give my American swappers a Canadian card. However, I have no idea what to do with the 10 American patriotic card that I will be receiving. Suggestions?

Paper: The Paper Company, DCWV, watercolor

Stamps: High Hopes

Techniques/Tools: Cuttlebug Border Just My Type, old skool marker coloring skills!

Embellishments: ribbon, maple leaf brad

Birthday Card for...

Original Post: April 2, 2009

I made this birthday card for someone (not saying who...) but I just never got to them. Hahaha. Therefore, I'll just add to my collection of "Ready to Use" homemade cards.

Paper: Core'dinations, scraps

Stamps: Hero Arts Four Dolls

Techniques: Watercolor pencils, chalking

Embellishments: ribbon, sparkly gemstone stickers

April Swap

Original Post: April 2, 2009

I decided to be a keener, and got my April's card swap done ahead of time. For April's theme, it's "Thinking of You". So instead of doing a typical "Thinking of You" card, I kind of went outside of that:

Paper: Paper Company, scraps

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Walk in My Garden & Stretch Your Imagination, my own handwriting

Embellishments: Sparkly gemstone stickers

These cards were sent along with the wedding ones (March Swap). Hopefully, they won't get lost in the mail.

Free...

Original Post: March 26, 2009

Due to the recession and lack of projects, I was laid off, and today was my last day of work. In a way I'm glad because there will be another round of stressing "Will it be me?" Now that's out of the way, I will have to plan out what I should do next.

I love my team. They were just a bunch of awesome people. I will miss them dearly. I made cards for those who were still around (contractors were gone a few months ago). So in total, 37 cards were made. I made them all within two nights. I seriously should consider a handmade card business.

Only 35 are shown here, because I already gave out two without taking the picture.

Twins' Birthday

Original Post: March 11, 2009

This was a challenge for me. This is my first card that I made for kids. My boyfriend's friend is throwing a little party for his precious twins' 2nd birthday. The gift was easy, but not the card! Good thing I bought some cute stamps recently. Although they are only 2 (and probably don't know what the card is for), a cute and kiddy card is still essential!

Paper: Stampin' Up, watercolor, scraps

Stamps: MSE Party Animals

Techniques/Tools: watercolor pencil crayons, chalk

Embellishments: ribbon

March Swap

Original Post: March 11, 2009

This month's swap theme is Wedding.

Paper: Bazzill, The Paper Company

Techniques/Tools: Design Studio, Cricut Stretch Your Imagination, Cuttlebug Divine Swirls

Embellishments: Bell sticker

I really like this card. It's so elegant. It's initial purpose is for a wedding card, but then the more I look at it, it can also be used as a Christmas card (due to the bell). Therefore, I left out the sentiment and let my fellow swappers decide what they want to do with it. Before I could make 10 of these, my DS gave up cutting on me, and so I had to come up with another design for my remaining 6 cards.

Paper: The Paper Company

Stamps: Stampin' Up - Happy Everything

Techniques/Tools: Cricut Stretch Your Imagination, Martha Stewart border punch

Embellishments: ribbon

This one is nice, but kind of typical and simple. It's ok. I still like my bell one more - it's multipurpose. Very practical! =)

Happy Birthday, Ang

Original Post: February 21, 2009

My first trifold card is for my good friend, Angie. She loves dogs and I believe her favorite colors are blue and red - cuz she seems to wear those colors most of the time...

Opened up:

Paper: DCWV
Stamps: Penny Black - Critter Party
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Zooballoo, Cuttlebug - Happy Birthday Embossing Folder, heat embossing

It's been a while...

Original Post: February 21, 2009

... since I last blogged and made cards. A lot went on in the past few weeks:

1. Grandma passed away
   
2. I got the most horrible flu
3. Worrying about the security of my job

My grandma's final arrangements are all dealt with. I recovered from my flu. But #3 will be ongoing until this recession is over.

Life goes on - and so does my crafting!

Joined a card swap and the first card package is themed "Easter". I had to keep it simple because I have to make 10 of them. So here they are:



There's three variations (honest reason: I don't have enough paper!)



Paper: Coredinations, The Paper Company, Provo Craft
Stamps: Stampin' Up - Happy Everything, EK Success - Antique Alphabet
Techniques/Tools: Cricut Doodlecharms, Walk in My Garden