Early riser...

What a morning so far I've had! Never enough time in the day to complete one's chores, tasks, wish list, crafts...I truly hope to be able to enter a card in this weeks Card Pattern challenge. However, I am having my family over this afternoon for a lasagna dinner in celebration of my daughter's birthday and graduation which was earlier this month.
I have always been an early riser and this morning was no different! By 6:00 a.m. my pasta was boiling, and gravy was simmering. Finished reading James Patterson's "Private Games" as it is due back to my local library in 2 days! I have saved the chore of vacuuming for last - we have a hairy cat. Need I say more?

I do have a card to show you today. Another birthday in the family! I made several ahead of time! Here is the one I chose to give her:


This is the same pattern I followed when making my niece and nephew's birthday cards a few weeks ago. I love the sketch. I don't remember where I found it but I'm sure I'll use it over and over again.

My daughter's birthday was the 16th of this month. All her friends took her out to dinner and followed up with an evening of dancing and a few cocktails! Oh, to be 24 again!! Here is the card I made for her:

Again, same pattern I used for my sister's card above, and same patten papers and card stock. Just replaced the flowers with buttons and bling!
Thats all for this morning. I need to check on the 'gravy' that is simmering on the stove, vacuum, and hopefully get in my craft room to make the card for the challenge over at Card Patterns!
Have a great Sunday,
Nancy

Card Patterns - Sketch 153

Wow - can't believe I finally found time to make a card and enter a challenge! I've been super busy making birthday cards for family and friends! February alone has 5 birthdays and they all were within the last 2 weeks! I will show them later but first here is a picture of the sketch over at Card Patterns:

Looked pretty easy until I had to cut out 10 squares to fit along the width of the card. I am not good at measuring and fitting and piecing things together. But it's the attempt that counts, right?! Here is what I attempted to put together:

All ten of those tiny little images are from the Crafty Secrets Vintage images. Card stock and pattern paper are from Close To My Heart.

Ribbon, button and pearls are from my stash. Sentiment is also from Crafty Secrets, the tag and trim are die cuts from Papertrey Ink.

I'm off to post this card over at Card Patterns. I'll be back to show some of the birthday cards I made for the February birthdays!

Enjoy this beautiful Sunday!
Nancy

Be Mine?

Happy Saturday! I was really looking forward to getting out this weekend to do some shopping for my vacation cruise. Did I say cruise? Yippee!! Never have been on a cruise before. My friend won a 3 night, 4 day cruise for two and asked me to go with! We set sail May 3rd to the Bahama's. Never been there either. I am so excited. But I'm getting off track here. As I was saying, I was looking forward to getting out this weekend but I have had the worse cold ever. I finally forced myself to call the doctor after 2 days of not being able to breathe through not just one nostril but both nostrils. I have not tasted food for 2 days either. Then I woke up yesterday to a very hacky cough. Come to find out I have a nasty sinus infection. The doctor put me on some strong antibiotics and cough medicine.

In addition to wanting to shop this weekend, I wanted to jump over to the Papertrey Ink blog and join in their festivities! They are celebrating their 5 year anniversary with lots of fun challenges. And the prizes are fantastic! Hopefully later tonight or tomorrow I'll feel more like a human being and get into the mood!

I was able to make a couple of valentine day cards last weekend
.

I love this ribbon - see how it sparkles and shimmers? I wish I knew where I got it from! I have a plastic bin that I keep scraps of ribbons, papers, and cardstock images for valentines day. It is here where I found the ribbon and these sweet images of the cute, little girl and boy.

That is it for today. I am working my way over to the couch, propped up with some pillows, a cup of hot tea, and a good book.....and a nap.
Nancy

Double the Birthday...

Today is my great niece and nephew's birthday. They are officially teenagers today - woohoo! My late sister would be so proud today to share with the twins, her grandchildren!
I found a sketch of a card that I replicated for their birthday cards. One is geared toward the female gender, the other - male. This one I made for Camryn-lots of flowers, lace doily - very feminine!

And here is Brendan's card. I replaced the flowerrs with punched out stars and used an argyle print pattern paper and kraft card stock.

Any plans for the big day tomorrow? Super Bowl Sunday!! I do plan on going to my sisters house early afternoon to start making valentine cards and such. The men folk will be in another part of the house watching the game. Us women folk will be at the other end of the house!
I sure hope the team you are rooting for wins!
...night - Nancy

Me and you...

My baby girl did it - she stuck it out and graduated with an associates degree. I am one proud mama!

I never gave her the graduation card I made for her the night of commencement. But I did leave it for her on the table the next morning when I left for work along with this little shadow box I altered.

Once again, I apologize for the lousy photographs. The shadow box is 7 Gypsies, flowers are Prima, white scroll  and lock are from Melissa Frances. Papers are from Bo Bunny. Button and the heart bling were in my stash so I don't know who the mfg. was - sorry!
I have been getting estimates on replacing the bow window in my living room. The darn thing is only 10 years old and it is rotting. Now I need to make a decision on whom to go with. I have narrowed it down to two contracters. I never realized how expensive one window could be - ouch. Thank goodness I filed my 2010 taxes already!
I have been trying to make valentine cards and gifts all day but nothing is working for me. Maybe I need to walk out of my craft room and watch a movie or something. Or take a ride to my local craft store for some inspiration! There are a few lines of valentine papers I've seen that I want. That might help get the mojo back!
Enjoy your weekend
Nancy

Giveaway at the Scrap Cake...

"The Scrap Cake" New Release & Giveaway

The new collections of TSC...are so awesome!!  Check out the Scrapcake Blog, they are having a give-away to celebrate the new releases!


Enjoy your Sunday!

Nancy

Graduation

Hi all!
How is your Saturday going? Mine has been a bit lazy. With 8 inches of snow outside, I really don't want to venture outdoors! Most of the laundry is finished, my house is clean, so what's left to do but get crafty! Or at least try. After Christmas I just kind of petered out and lost my mojo...

I have been organizing my craft space...very slowly. Sorting through each drawer and cubby hole takes time!
Right now it is a mess - looks like a tornado swept through here. Maybe that's why I can't seem to get creative...you think?

My daughter is graduating from college in February but the school is having its ceremonies on Tuesday. I thought I would surprise her with a hand made card from her mama! Maybe I'll stuff it with something green ($$$)!

The school colors are maroon and gold. I dug out my colored pencils and mixed red and brown together to color in the cap and gown. I have not used a stamp on a card in so long - it felt good. The stamp of the sweet graduate is by Inkadinkado.

The sentament is a stamp by Hero Arts. Ribbon is from Michaels. And that little do-dad on top of the bow is a Webster Sparkler - they are gorgeous in person...my photography is terrible!

Well that's it for now. Back to sorting through and organizing my craft room. Hopefully my mojo comes back soon! I have so many projects I want to start and finish!
Nancy