A Simple Sympathy Card

This week the Whimsical Wednesday Challenge is to go "Back to Basics".  Create a project without using the Cricut.  Well, I do my Cricut and all the wonderful things I can do with it.  But, there are also many more ways to create something beautiful.

I have a friend who's dad died earlier this week.  Due to not being able to leave school to go to the funeral, I have been anxious to get her a card in the mail.  This is what I made.  And I did it without the Cricut.

I used a Martha Stewart border punch with the beige paper.  The bird border strip is from K & Company.  At the top of the card I stamped "You're in my thoughts".   This is from a Scrappy Mom's Stamps set.  This is truly a very simple card.  And yet I think it is beautiful, elegant and thoughtful.  

Challenge

Whimsical Wednesday   Back to Basics

Merci

I am so fortunate to teach such wonderful children who have such great parents.  All schools should be like  mine.  Parents expect only the best of their children and of their school.  They are so involved in our school.  The parents really do respect and love our staff and are quite generous.

Today, a little boy in my class brought me a large basket full of goodies of all kinds.  As I was looking through it, I found a card from his mom.  It was lovely with many kind words for the great year her child had had in kindergarten.  But, also in the card was a $100.00 American Express gift card.  How exciting is that.  I see some great shopping in the near future.

He brought the basket to me this week because Friday will be his last day in school.  He will be missing next week because he and his family are leaving Friday for France.  They will be there for a month.  What a great end of the school year trip!  I wanted to make a special card to say thank you for the wonderful basket of goodies and gift card.   So, here it is.

The front of the card has a french blue background that I embossed and then inked.  The Eiffel Tower was cut from the FRENCH MANOR cartridge, and the Merci was cut from the BEYOND BIRTHDAYS cartridge.  The stamp on the left says "perfect vacation" and the one on the right is a post mark from Paris.  The label at the bottom of the card is from K&Company.

The Arc de Triomphe is cut from the SUMMER IN PARIS cartridge.  The K&Company label at the top is stamped with the sentiment, "May your travels lead you to some amazing places".   I also added to the page a hot air ballon and Eiffel Tower stamp, just to create a little more interest.  The righthand side of the page has a paper border also from K&Company.  

Now I have a pretty place to write my note to such a sweet child and his great parents.  I wish them fun travels.    

Bring on the Sunshine!

I have 1 & 1/2 week of school left and before summer vacation.  Each year on the last day of school 18 of us who have taught together for years leave school and go to the beach.  It is so much fun!  We live about 4  hours away so it is not too far to go.  This has been a tradition for 22 years.  And a great tradition it is.  So I have made cards for everyone to get them in the mood.  (Not that anyone is not in the mood to be out of school and at the beach)  Here is my card.

The card base is from the WILD CARD cartridge.  I added a circle of dark aqua to the center of the card and ran a sea-foam green ribbon around the edge and tied a bow.  The sunglasses are cut from the FOREVER YOUNG cartridge  in an orange and hot pink polka dot.  I then added a couple of glittered and rhinestone flowers to the glasses to give them a little style.  The sun is cut from the CREATE A CRITTER cartridge and stamped with a Peachy Keen stamp.The papers I used for the sun are from the My Minds Eye Summer Song stack.  I cut the VW from the SUMMER VACATION cartridge. And I used papers from the My Mind's Eye Penny Lane stack.

I created the sentiment on the computer. And inked around the edges with an aqua ink pad.  It says...

Bring on the sunshine,

Bring on the sand.

Let's go to the beach,

And all get tan!

Challenges

My Sheri Crafts   Transportation Week

Bitten By the Bug2   Forever Young Sunglasses

Ruby's First Week

Ruby has been here in her forever home a week now.  We had a little scare one day last week and I took her to the vet.  She was coughing a good bit and that is about the worst thing to happen when going through heart worm treatment.  I took her to the vet on my way to school and needless to say that was a very long day for me.  I could not wait for the school day to end so I could get to the vet to check on her.  Well, the the coughing had nothing to do with the heart worms.  I got new meds for her and a new plan of care and took her home.  She seems to be doing great now.  She has a great appetite, takes her meds and seems to feel right at home.

Ruby is just the sweetest little dog I have ever known.  She is so polite, and calm.  She does not bark, even when Jack and Magnolia and barking their heads off.  She comes when she is called and has not had any potty accidents.  I still cannot understand how anyone would have mistreated her and neglected her so.  I still am so thankful and grateful to Laurie Shaw at the Jackson County SPCA. She got Ruby the best of medical treatment and took such good care of her.  I credit her with saving Ruby's life.  These couple of pictures of her are really not the best.  But that is my fault, because I woke her up to take the pictures.  She is a sleepy girl now.  

Here she is in the middle of the sofa with Jack to her right and Magnolia to her left.   So far, they are getting a long.  So after a week, I would say, all is great!  Ruby, I am so glad I found you.  You are just a doll.

Monochromatic

This week, The Shabby Tea Room has a new challenge with this lovely photo as inspiration.

The challenge is to take a neutral color from the photo and use one other color to create a project.   I chose to use cream as the neutral and gold as the color to create my card. 

The frame and butterfly were cut from the HOME ACCENTS cartridge.  I embossed the inside of the frame and the base of the card for some texture.  I added some vintage lace to the card.  I really think it gives the card a little something special.  The "dream" stamp is from Whimsy Stamps. And the flower, pearl and gold stickers, and ribbon all came from Hobby Lobby.  

The card may be a little busy and over the top, but, I am happy with the results.

Challenges

The Shabby Tea Room   Monochromatic

The Sisterhood Of Crafters   Let It Shine

Sewing With Buttons and Bows

Here is a card I made using the NIFTY FIFTIES cartridge.  I just love the sewing machine on that cartridge.

I recently got some new stamps with a sewing theme that I have been eager to use.  The stamps are from Clear Art Stamps.  This set is of stamps is just adorable, and I look forward to using all of them.

The two little buttons on the card are from my grandmother's button tin.  She kept all her buttons in a big round tin container.  I think assorted cookies may have been packaged in the tin.   The two little pearl cluster stickers I purchased at Hobby Lobby.  I feel the need to buy some more.  I also threaded the sewing machine with DMC embroidery thread.  

The butterfly, corner punch, and patterned paper are from K&Company.  The base paper and sewing machine are made with Recollections paper.  And the gold paper on the sewing machine is from AC Specialties.  The sheer rose pink ribbon is from Hobby Lobby.  

Challenges

Getting Cricky Simply Sunday Challenge    sewing theme 

The Kraft Journal  buttons and bows

More Than Favors   Anything goes

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