Ode To Mary Lou

Sup!
This layout is for my Aunt Mary's album, of course. The photo itself is of her I would guess at the age of about 17 or 18. I swear she looks a lot like Madonna before she became "Madonna". So pretty. The quality of the photo was pretty bad so I did it in black and white except for Mary Lou and her beautiful blue dress she had on. Here you go:

The journaling says:

Miss Mary Lou
All Dressed In Blue
You Could Have Been A Model
But Instead You Were So Much More

The journaling came to me almost as soon as I decided to scrap this picture so you can see why, after I turned the photo to B&W I needed her dress to still be blue.

It does not come across in the photo but the papers, MME Lost & Found 3, are stunning. The base paper is embossed and is just such a pretty shade of blue. The gold dotted velum sheet is from AC Dear Lizzy , 5th & Frolic. The blue flowers are Jolee and the white one is Petaloo. The metal one up top is We Are Memory Keepers except for the bling in the middle which is generic bling from Michaels. The lace is Bo Bunny.

Well, there ya have it!

Look Ma! I Made This! Part 2

Sup! So while in my card making frenzy, I get a message from a friend who lives in New Orleans. She is pregnant and wanting to make her own birth announcements, thank you cards, etc. She is exceptionally crafty so this won't be an issue for her but there are literally NO scrapbooking stores in the Greater New Olreans Metropolitan Area. Sad. So she will not have the benefit of going into one of these shops and chatting cards.
So I am trying to give her web sites to visit and introduce her to products and everything long distance. I decided to make a few mock up baby announcement cards and if she likes one I can then give her specific directions on how to make them and what to buy. Here they are....
First is a flip it card. I love this concept. It is a hybrid between a full card (which baby announcements typically aren't) and a index card type style(which baby announcements typically are)

The front of the flip it part could be the baby's photo and the back could have the details (weight, height, etc).

Here is the back with the "deets" (this makes Keith laugh every time I say it). If I had this one to do again I would not ink the edges. Live and learn man. These papers are a mix of Graphic 45 Little Darlings and Crate Paper Little ....... shoot! The boy baby one.... I cant remember the name.

Plenty of decorating possibilities for this style card here is the backside.
Next is a one piece, index card style announcement. The onsie is a stamp I gave her that I fussy cut out and hung from some bakers twine to mimic a clothes line. The photo could be tucked into a pocket and the details could appear on the pocket.

Yes, that is a photo of my pooch in there. I have no baby photos apart from the one I used above so I put Elwood in there...... This is the back of this card.

The smaller stamp photos could be used as well and in the middle the words Special Delivery could be stamped.
Next is another flip it card because frankly, I love that concept.
This one has the same basic premise except that the photo would appear on the back of the flippy part and would be tucked into a pocket so it could be removed. The details would appear next to the photo on the main body of the card. I used a lot of the stamps from Graphic 45's Little Darling's collection.

Oh yeah, the background papers are Authentique's Renew Collection. Not baby related at all but very pretty. The construction on this card is just sad. I was trying to get the box off in the mail so I was slapping this bad boy together at the speed of light. The idea came to me while having a text conversation with her husband about unicorns farting glitter. Don't ask.

See! Those little stamp photos are so cute!

Yes, on this one I was plum out of photos so I drew in a theoretical baby. More importantly, I made that pocket myself. Measurements and all! Go me! Go me!
I also made her a thank you card but I did not take a picture of it so I can't show it. I am kinda bummed. I have photos of all my work. Oh well. Move on Mari!
Well, there ya have it!

Look Ma! I Made This! Part One

Sup! So remember back when I was askairt of makin cards? Well not any longer! I am in full on card makin mode!!!! I love them! Okay still not as much as layouts but it is a very close second. I haven't made any layouts in the past week because I was going to card classes and making cards at home.
First: A hello card I sent to Aleta. I way over embellished this card but I don't care. I loved it. I was stuffed full of bits and parts.

because the front was so done up I couldn't have a bare card inside so...

I even did up the back a bit...

I even sewed on this card and since I switched to heavy duty needles I am rockin it like nobodies business!

Next my friend Judy & I were out shopping and she needed a card for her grand daughters birthday. She perused the card aisle and as I look down upon that sad ass selection of crap cards I said, "Judy, screw these! Especially at $4.00 a card! I will make you one!" So I did...

and the inside...

But then once I made it, I no longer liked it so I made another one...

After I made the second one I liked the first one again.. Oh yeah I am a weirdo. Judy however, picked the second one, so, it turns out it was a good idea to make it.
Well, there ya have it!

Thanks Man!

So my friend Dawna sent me this in the mail:

I think it is awesome so it now is on my craft caddy where I can look at it every day. At any rate I need very little provocation to make a card now so this is the thank you card I sent her:

Here is the cute stamp I put on the back:

I actually made two of these cards, one I sent and the other I put into my cool card box that I made. I used Pebbles Walnut Grove collection for the papers and the tags.

Well, there ya have it!

Pretty Princess!

Sup! Another layout for my mother-in-laws album. This is of our pooch Lulu. She is 14 years old and still acts like a puppy. Keith has had her since she was a baby. I have taken more pictures of her than any of the other dogs yet I have fewer pics of her. The reason being, she is black and tends to move constantly the second I have any sort of camera type device in my hand. So she mostly just ends up looking like a black blur in most photos. Rare is the pic where you can see her features and she isn't moving away.

I used Dear Lizzy 5th & Frolic collection which I ADORE. I just love the colors. Some of the tags I had but most I cut using my Sizzix. The trim though is Websters Pages. 

The title I cut using my eCraft. I am in love with that font too. It rocks. 

Well, there ya have it. 

Mah First Birthday Cahd!

Sup! Okay so I needed a girls birthday card so I went to lookin and found this card.

I know! How flippin cute is that! Well, I just had to take that idea. Here is my version.

Okay, Here is how you do the candles. Spray the bills down with hairspray and iron them till they are crispy. Do the same thing with the twine that you will use as wicks. Roll the bills up tightly and wrap them in washi tape. Make sure its washi cause you want the person to be able to get the money out, or at least I think you do. Stick the twine down in the money but leave a piece sticking out as the wick. Tada! Money candle!
I used October Afternoon's Cakewalk collection since it lends itself to a birthday theme.
Well, there ya have it!

Thank You for The Foods!

I have begun making Thank you cards for any gifts for customers who brought us things. We are very lucky to have such wonderful customers so I want to make sure they get the thank you's they deserve. This one is for the Prentices' who made us a plate of yummy goodies.

The papers are AC Walnut Grove 6x6 and the card is 5.25" square. I got a cool new hand made stamp which adorns the back. 

Cool huh! 

There ya have it! 

Cutest In The West!

Sup! Happy New Year to all! This is another layout for my mother-in=law's album. Here I have showcased the cuteness that is Elwood Blues.

See that cool border that goes around the edge? I did that! Go me! Sorry, I am kinda proud of it. My sewing skills are coming along.
I used October Afternoon's Sasparilla collection which was perfect for this photo. I tossed in some embelishments from Jolee's, Industrial Chic and Maya Road to round it out.

Well, there ya have it!