Oodles to Share--Day 2: Aviary Background 2

When I created this patterned paper using a trio of birdcages from the Aviary stamp set, I ended up with enough for two cards. For this one, I chose Marina Mist as the coordinating color to the Very Vanilla card stock, a Crumb Cake mat, and Crumb Cake ink. I stamped the popped up birdcage in Early Espresso this time, and I like the boldness of the contrast. I added a little 1/8" Very Vanilla taffeta ribbon because it was laying on my desk, begging to be used.

The tiny word "friends" is from the Tiny Tags that was designed to scale for the Simply Adorned jewelry line (see my post on this here). I'm happy I found a use for it with cards as well. I copied my layout from my other card I made, but when I mounted it on MM, the wheels began to turn again. I had seen a card that had what looked like a bookmark as a design element on it, and I mimicked that a bit on my card.

I added some 5/8" Victoria Crochet Trim and used one of the stamps from You're A Gem, currently offered in the Occasions Mini, and had the look I wanted. I love that the coordinating Stampin' Write Markers that SU! offers make it easy to create elements that are two-toned and match the color scheme of the card.

Just because cards are fun to make, and I'm glad I have these in my stash for when the occasion arises to encourage a friend.

Oodles to Share--Day 1: Aviary Background

Today's card is my take on a card I saw on another stamp company's blog. The creator had used a birdcage to make a background paper. As soon as I saw it, I thought to myself, "I can do that!" I pulled out Aviary and positioned three of the cages together on one acrylic block. I used Crumb Cake classic ink and Very Vanilla card stock and had a sheet of patterned paper in a matter of a minute!

Then I inked up the smallest of the three I'd used and stamped it in Soft Suede classic ink. I stamped the owl--so cute!--in Cherry Cobbler classic ink and cut out the image and popped it up on dimensionals. Actually before I mounted it, I took the tiny phrase "thinking of you" from Silhouette Sentiments (Level 1 Hostess) and stamped it in CC ink in a small space left after I'd created the background.

I mounted the entire piece on a mat of CC cardstock and then mounted that on a base of Crumb Cake. Then I began to ponder what else I could do with it, because it seemed just a little bare. I eyed my retired Mark the Date set with its months stamps and I knew what I would do. Using my Stamp-A-Ma-Jig, I stamped each month on the sides. Now whoever receives this will know that I'm thinking of them every month of the year! Check in tomorrow to see the other card I made using this background paper.

Cards for a Blogger Friend

Two and a half years ago, I met Robin of All Things Heart & Home. We both were followers of a woman's blog and that woman had organized a get-together of all those who followed her so that we could get acquainted with each other. Fast forward to 2 weeks ago. Robin and I met again for only the second time face to face, and shared lunch. I love it when friends I make online become IRL (In Real Life) friends too!

I wanted to share a little something with her from my world of paper crafting, since I knew she'd appreciate something handmade. (The woman is crazy talented in home decorating, and I'd love to have her opinion on how to repaint our interior spaces!)

Robin's blog logo (which isn't on her blog right now for some reason) features a birdcage and bird and I thought I could use Aviary and take my lead from her color scheme to craft some cards. I used Baja Breeze, Wild Wasabi, Pretty in Pink, and So Saffron.

The Scallop Trim Border Punch created a nice complementary border to the scallop circle that contains the focal image. It was super fun to put a little grouping of buttons together, each tied with linen thread. The corduroy Baja Breeze button originally was a brad, but I cut off the brad prongs and adhered it to the card front with a glue dot. The rest of the buttons are from the Soft Subtles collection.

The little saying is from You're a Gem, a stamp set in the current Occasions Mini catalog, and it features 8 tiny sized greetings. I used 2 of these and made 4 cards total. She loved them so much she said she'd have to be really moved to actually send them out. I told her I could always make her more.

I hope you're finding ways to incite friendship with those God has placed in your life. Robin and I have slowly nurtured a relationship through exchanged blog comments and emails over the past few years, so feel free to think outside the normal constraints. You may find yourself in possession of a true friend!

Today is all about ME!

I am 44 today. I have had the entire day to myself, and I'm lovin' it! I ate what my wonderful neighbor, Lisa Barr, brought to the front door at 7:30 this morning--red velvet cupcakes! I was wondering what I was going to have for my birthday dessert.

I cleaned the bathroom this morning, first thing. I know that sounds like the last thing any sane person would do on her birthday, but it was long overdue and I knew I'd be happier if it was just done. So it was done before 7a and I have been free to enjoy the day since.

I am going to have my favorite lunch--Publix's ham salad and pretzels, with another cupcake for dessert. I'm going to go to the library when it opens at 1p and pick out another book by Sandra Dallas, since I enjoyed Tallgrass so much the past week.

I've also been in the craft room this morning, and here's a card I made with this birdcage full of birdies that has been sitting on my table for weeks, waiting for a card to go with it.

It turned out well, I think. I enjoyed creating a mat that mimics the colors of the birds. I wish SU! would make a sentiment to go with every stamp set, because I'm not sure what I'd pair with these tweeters if I didn't have "just a note" from the Apple Blossoms Hostess Level 1 set! Are you listening, SU!? It's my birthday, and that is my wish. I'll even write the sentiments FOR YOU, if you ask me!

I'm going to fix this recipe for my birthday dinner, and I may rent a movie to enjoy this evening.

While I was in the craft room today, I worked on a project that I think will make a GREAT teacher gift this Christmas. Here's a sneak peek. Stay tuned. You don't even have to be a teacher to like this!

Just a Note from the Aviary

Aviary is my favorite new set from the 2010-2011 Big Idea Book & Catalog, and Friday afternoon I had a chance to ink it up. My inspiration was this card by Twila Mooneyham, but once I started more ideas came to me!

There are four birds and four cages (aviaries) in the set, as well as a stand stamp to make some of them taller. It's just so whimsical and FUN that I can't stop using exclamation points at the end of my sentences when I describe it! Okay, I'll try to refrain going forward.

I inked up the cages in Staz-On black and followed Twila's suggestion of using the Stamp-a-ma-jig to place them, even though I purchased the acrylic clear mount option. When I was done putting the birdies in their places, I had one cage left uninked. Well, that wouldn't do!

So I created a z-fold, scoring a 5.5"x11" piece of Whisper White at 4" and 6.75", which resulted in a 5.5" square card with a nice sized interior for writing a short letter.

I also spied the rhinestones (Basic Rhinestone Jewel Accents, if you want to be technical) I'd purchased and thought they'd add some nice bling to this card. These babies come in three sizes and there are 150 for $5.

Now to figure out who I want to jot a note to. Oh, that reminds me! The only thing this set is missing is a sentiment. I have a non-SU! stamp that has some musical notes on it, and I inked that up and added it to the card, and used the "just a little note" (get it?) from the Level 2 Apple Blossoms Hostess Set. YAY!

One last non-bird-related thing: does this happen to you when you're using your laptop? My poochers are jealous and not subtle about telling me they'd like me to be doing something else, like playing fetch!

Hope you're liking all these cards using the new products. I'd love to help you get your hands inky and let you try the Big Shot! Let me know if you'd like to partner together to have a fantastic get-together before summer's over and we're back in the routine of school. I'm still looking for hostesses who want to have a great time with their friends and get FREE stamps...could that be you? Contact me!