Mini album for Mom

Who has an amazing mom? I do! I do! Ever feel as an adult, that there is absolutely nothing that you could do to repay your mother for all the mess she put up with when you were young? I was the type of kid that makes mothers snap and kill their children and then themselves. No, I'm serious. In kindergarten, my mom got called to the principals office because I told the teacher my name was Damnit Jennifer. This is not a line from Bill Cosby's stand up. "These are the facts of the case, and they are undisputed." These cases of homicide/suicide are not unrealistic to me. In fact, I'm surprised I'm not one of those statistics. BUT, I'm not....BECAUSE my mother is one of the strongest, caring, most patient, caring and beautiful women (did I mention caring?) I have ever known. Pacing in front of the bay window waiting for her children to come home safely. Remember, those were the days before cell phones. I can still hear her calling me by my full name..."Jennifer Lyn". 

That being said, I thought I would make my mother a mini album for her birthday. A drop in the bucket of IOUs, I know. But, I remember her words as a kid....."I would rather have a hand made gift from you than ANYTHING at the store." I think she just said that cause all I could afford was a blow pop. And she didn't want to have to come get me from Kmart for stealing AGAIN!!!

Seeing as she turns 60 this year..... What the wocka??!!??!! I thought I would do a little handbag/beach bag hybrid album. As handbags and cruises are what makes my mom giddy. So, I found this tutorial from Kathy Orta at paper phenomenon and it is amazing!!!! check out her website here http://paperphenomenon.blogspot.com/ for tutorials and inspiration GALORE!!!! I used Graphic 45 Botanical 12x12 paper pack and some random embellishments from my local craft store.







This is the album lying flat. I added the handles with some twill ribbon I found in the sewing section of hobby lobby. The handles are functional, and you can carry the album by them.

This is a close up of the front cover. I hung some fish that I got in the jewel section of hobby lobby from the handles. I fussy cut the fish from the paper and covered it in stickles.

All of the inserts fit a standard 4x6 photo and I have cut photo corners in the tags for easy insertion for my mom.

Most of the images are just tags that came with the 12x12 paper pack. Some are just pieces of the whole 12x12 sheet that I have fussy cut and adhered directly to the pages.

The border on the left page was created using an EK success border punch. The lace is some trim I found at hobby lobby as well.

I created a pocket by fussy cutting one of the images from the paper and adhering just the left and bottom of it with scor tape so it would hold the photo mat.

These are 3 of the tags from the 12x12 tag page from the pack. I just adhered them with my ATG gun and then added pearls to the top and bottom of each of them.

This adorable little starfish is hanging from a large green brad. I got these from the jewel section of Hobby Lobby as well.

This is a close up of the straps. I used a craft knife to create a slit in the cover and threaded the trim through the slot. I used a hot glue gun to adhere the strips together. Then I added 2 silver brads to the front. It is more for decoration than functionality.

Close up of the hanging fish.

Mom, I hope you like this album. I love you so much! Can't wait to see it all full!!!!



I love you Mommy!!!!

Cards and such

Ok, so I'm not really sure how this has happened, but apparently, I have a blog now. LOL. Thanks Lauren and Kirsten!! So I figure, since I have this place now, I might as well use it. To quote Lauren..."It's just like your journal book, but in web format.....And the whole world can read it." Soooo, off to let the whole world see what I've been up to over the last few months. I figure I should just upload some pics of cards and such that I have made lately, so there is at least something more than an Iris to look at here. :-) So, here they are.

For my grandmother.... the reason for everything I do.... (wait a minute.....) for everything GOOD I do!!! I am soley responsible for everything bad I do!!


Paper:
SU Lovely Lilac
Papertrey Ink stampers select white cardstock
Die cuts with a view Latte Stack


Ranger Liquid Pearls in Pearl


Uniball Signo White Gel Pen for the dash lines


Paper Studio Pastel Ribbon Scrap Pack


The image was from a swap and it didn't have the company on the back, so I have no clue who to credit for it. If anyone knows where I can find it, please let me know.

Supplies used:


Stamps:
Lawn Fawn - Banneriffic
Simon Says Stamp - You can do anything




Paper:
Authentique "Blissful" 6x6 paper pad
SU! So Saffron


Ink:
SU! So Saffron and Going Gray


Random Flowers and button

This is an invitation for a co-worker's son's bowling birthday party. I have a hard time with boy cards since I have 3 girls. But she was happy with them, so I suppose it worked.


Supplies used:


Bowling pins and ball cut out with my silhouette. Image purchased from the silhouette store.


Paper:


SU! Bordering Blue for the base and border of pins.
The Paper Studio Tattered and Worn Paper Pack


The sentiment is from Whimsy Stamps Party Pony


Ribbon is random roll from hobby lobby - double stitched white and black.

Since wedding season seems to be upon us, I made this quick and simple card for a thank you for a bridal shower or wedding gift.


Supplies used:


Paper:
Papertrey Ink Stampers select white cardstock
SU! Going Gray


Stamps:
Prima flowers - Fairy Belle Cling set
Simon Says Stamp - Beautiful words


Silver embossing powder and silver ribbon from my local craft store.

This is card #1 that I did for an asian elegance card swap over on SCS.


Products used:


Stamps:
Kraftin Kimmie - Natsuko - stamped with Momento Tuxedo Black ink and colored in with prismacolor pencils.


Paper:
DCWV Cafe Mediterranean
SU! Only Orange
SU! Taken with Teal


Uniball Signo White Gel Pen

This is card #2 that I did for the asian elegance card swap. It is a gatefold standard A2 size card.


Supplies Used:


Stamps:
Kraftin Kimmie Sakura inked with Momento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Prismacolor Pencils
Gina K Designs Lovely Shelf
Inkadinkado Dot Flourishes


Paper:
SU! Orchid Opulence
SU! Basic Black


Ink:
Momento Tuxedo Black
SU! Orchid Opulence
SU! White Craft ink


Punch:
The Paper Studio Multi Shaper Punch - Lace

This is the #3 card I made for the asian elegance swap on scs.




Products Used:


Stamps:
Stampin Bella - Wasabi Ketto stamped in tuxedo black and colored with copics
Kraftin Kimmie - Sakura (sentiment)




Paper:
DCWV Cafe Mediterranean
Papertrey Ink Stampers Select White Cardstock
The Paper Studio Tattered and Worn


Sew Easy Bakers Twine


Sakura Stardust Glitter Pen - Clear

Who doesn't love Tilda stamps??? Got this sweet sitting Tilda in an image swap that I participated in not too long ago. So just HAD to use her!



Stamps:
Magnolia - Sitting Tilda With Tulips
Printworks - Thank you with love (just inked the Thank you and the heart)



Paper:
My Minds Eye Lost and Found Paper Collection
Papertrey Ink Stampers Select White Cardstock



Paper Studio Silk Flowers in white - misted with some real rose reinker and water mix.



Stardust Stickles



Die cut is a Penny Duncan file that I cut with my silhouette. She no longer has them available to the public. :-( But, she is amazing, so if you get a chance to check her out, please do.



Random Bling and Ribbon from Hobby Lobby, I think.

My daughter, Illyannah, is really into Anime right now. And I saw this little digi at the greeting farm and thought I would try a little bit of a different style of card. (At least for me)


Stamps:
The Greeting Farm - Drummer Digi - Printed on my printer and then colored with copics
Gina K Designs - Gleefully Yours


Paper:
SU! Basic Black
DVCW All About Boys
Papertrey Ink Stampers Select White Cardstock


Ink:
Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Faded Jeans


Sakura Stardust Glitter Pen - Clear

I always have a tough time doing masculine cards. So any chance I have to make a little boy birthday card, I jump on it! This is just a very simple card with not much more than stamping and some basic copic coloring.

Paper:

The Paper Studio - Affinity

SU! Very Vanilla

Stamps: The Greeting Farm - Oliver and Amelia Buddies - stamped in Momento Tuxedo Black Ink and colored with Copics
Stamps: Gina K Designs: Enjoy the sunshine

The die cuts are again, some of the ones that Penny Duncan had on her site for a while. But unfortunately, they are unavailable to the public any longer. So very glad I got them when I did!!!!!








 

I absolutely adore this stamp set!!! It makes me laugh every time I look at it!!! I don't have many Paper smooches sets because I tend to lean toward the feminine and even vintage stamps. But these guys are enough to make me go get some more! Paper smooches here I come!!!

Stamps:

Paper Smooches - Little Fella - stamped with Momento Tuxedo Black ink and colored with copics. I used the colorless blender to add some polka dots to the little green guy.

Paper:

Papertrey Ink Stampers Select White Cardstock

DCWV - All about boys

Nestabilities - long scalloped rectangle

And that's it folks. PLENTY of stuff for the very first post. Now, off to make some more cards for my "I'm sorry you're pissed off" collection!! Buwahahahahaha.Never seem to have enough of those cards to go around.