Card Kitchen "Celebrate" Card

Our family has an awful lot of occasions to celebrate this month. 

In our immediate family, we have three birthdays (my hubby, son-in-law and Dad)

... Mothers' Day for our three living Moms (me, my Mom and my daughter), 

... plus graduations: my niece Nicole and nephew Max graduate from high school; and my oldest niece graduates from Franklin & Marshall University (Lancaster, PA) with a music degree. 

I bet you're just as busy! This cute card could be used as an invitation, a congratulations card or a birthday card.

To make it, I used a design from May's Card Kitchen kit from Jillibean Soup. I removed one element from atop the tag, and cut the word "Party!" using a design from Silhouette America's online store. I popped it up in red (which photographs as pink) to give a little more zing. What do you think?  

Happy celebrations, whatever is on your calendar!!
  

Feels like Summer Today

Has summer started where you live?  Spring?  I've noticed as I've aged that my Pennsylvania springs are much shorter, and air conditioning season starts well before the Summer Solstice. 

This card makes me think of summer memories of my youth, when I'd ride with bicycles with friends, and we'd decorate our bikes for summer holidays' parades.

The base of this card is made from May's Card Kitchen kit from Jillibean Soup. I swapped out the sentiment sticker with one that honors "Memories", and used Really Reasonable Ribbon in red instead of the planned navy binding. 

This card makes me long for picnic days. How about you?

Trendy Color Combo: Green, Gray and Yellow

I'm loving this color combination: yellow, yellow green, white and light gray. And I found it in the Jillibean Soup Card Kitchen card kit for April, well, at least in part. 

The kit called for a cream-colored bow and a "Hello" sentiment in yellow that just didn't do it for me. Remember: You're always encouraged to change up these kits to make them your own!  

I swapped out the cream ribbon for Lovebug Creations' Rumple Ribbon in "Green Goddess." Yummy! Then, using one of the Pink By Designs stamps I recently received as part of my work on the Lovebug Creations Creative Team, I instead used the sentiment: "You really made my day."  A heart sticker from the kit was changed up for a sweet yellow butterfly that complemented the Jillibean Bite Sized Bit.  

Rumple Ribbon Thursday - Thank you!

Hi, friends ... It's Ellen CardMonkey here, and it's Rumple Ribbon Thursday.

 

I'm excited to show you this card for several reasons.

 

First of all, I was able to use several different techniques and supplies on this card that just made me smile.  And secondly, I'm writing this post WAY ahead of time because I'll be on vacation when this is posting ... and that it's up means that I'm enjoying myself in Disney World with my hubby, daughter/son-in-law and granddaughter Charlotte!

 

Let me tell you how I made this card. I used Jillibean Soup papers and patterns found in the April Card Kitchen kit. Do you like kits?  I do because it gets my Mojo going, and I usually can change it up to suit my own style.

 

In this case, instead of using the "ordinary" ribbon, I substituted Lovebug Creations' Rumple Ribbon in Caddy Blue. Isn't it just perfect!? 

 

The kit provided a simple kraft die cut butterfly to use. I wanted something with a little more zing, so I pulled out my Copics ABS (Air Brush System) and airbrushed the butterfly in turquoise, purple, yellow, brown and green.  I then used a white gel pen to add definition.  Can you see the cute antennae?  They're turquoise electrical wire topped with Swarovski beads.

I hope you try these techniques and enjoy them!
 

Rumple Ribbon on a Masculine Card -- Really!!

Hi Rumple Ribbon friends!  It's Ellen CardMonkey back with another card that features one of my very favorite accents: Lovebug Creations' Rumple Ribbon -- this one in "Eyes of Blue".

Do you have as much difficulty as I do coming up with masculine cards?  I usually cop out and buy those cards -- the guys never seem to appreciate the time put into custom cards anyway.  Or is it just my guys??  Well I have a friend who rides a Hog (Harley-Davidson), and I thought maybe he would like this ...

The outside of the card is fairly simple; that elegant blue edge is the Rumple Ribbon. I love how it blends with the Close To My Heart "Later Sk8r" paper.  Inside, the motorcycle on the move actually pops up from the card when it's opened.  

I used Close to My Heart stamp sets: "Born to Ride" and "Card Chatter - Birthday", along with CTMH stamp pads in the ink colors: Lagoon and Outdoor Denim Blue. If you're interested in purchasing any CTMH products, please be in touch with your favorite consultant (and I hope that's me!). You can check out the latest Idea Book by going to http://cardmonkey.ctmh.com.
 
 

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

"Be A Blessing" Blog Hop - April 27

Felicity -- the precious daughter of a dear scrapping friend, Shawnee -- has turned one, and in her honor Shawnee has organized the "Be A Blessing Blog Hop".  

What a wonderful way to celebrate the life of this darling baby!   

Felicity, the youngest of 10 children, has special needs and so her first year has been a challenging one for her and her family.

Yet every day, Felicity has brought smiles to her family, doctor and therapists who work with her to help her live her life fully and with joy.

The purpose of this blog hop is to have crafters -- and that includes YOU! -- "Be a Blessing" to those around you, bring a smile with your touch of humanity. Perhaps you might make a card for a neighbor in need, or bring cookies to a shut-in?  Whatever it is, join us today ... and make it a habit.

For my project today, and my ongoing commitment, I have volunteered with Operation Birthday Box, a local organization that provides a box of birthday goodies to children living in shelters. 

 
For this month, I have decorated a gift box and have made a party banner (shown above).

Gift boxes prepared by the OBB are loaded with goodies purchased by the volunteers (like that at right) or by the OBB Founder's daughters, Jonna and Eva. 

Each box also gets a book donated by a local bookstore; and each recipient gets a decorated cookie made by a local

bakery. OBB has just started this month. They're hoping that with time and continued generosity of individuals and businesses, more children can be served in our local community. 


Update:  I've spoken to the wonderful and enthusiastic founder of Operation Birthday Box, Christa Nielsen, to get a drop-off/mailing address for this month's box. I hope to be of service to her organization in the future, helping in any way I can and/or is needed to serve our community's less fortunate children. Other volunteers are always welcome -- at OBB or in a similar organization in your own community. Please help!

The cake I bought and show in this picture will be given today to another birthday girl -- my dogs' groomer, Mindy!  I'm sure it will make her Smile, too!

Incidentally, Mindy herself is a warm and generous soul who not only makes my two Bichons look their best, but she gives generously of herself to make others look great, too.  

See this gorgeous, long hair of Mindy's at the picture, above left, (shown with her niece, Juliana)?  Today, when I had my dogs groomed and dropped off the cake, I noticed Mindy has a cute, short bob now. Mindy told me that she'd shorn off 12" just yesterday for Locks of Love -- "I had fun! I hope someone can use it," she said. 

12-year old Georgia has Alopecia Areata

Locks of Love, a national nonprofit organization, takes donated human hair and crafts it into beautiful hairpieces for disadvantaged children suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis (e.g., alopecia areata). The prostheses provided by Locks of Love help restore a child's self-esteem and confidence.


It is my honor to know such beautiful people as Mindy, Felicity and Shawnee!

OK, now that I hope I've inspired you to "Be A Blessing" by sharing your talent. Please do leave a little comment/love below for a chance to win blog candy. Felicity's Mom Shawnee will be giving some out, and more has been donated. For an extra chance at the Candy, do a good deed (or "Mitzvah"), and Tweet or post on Facebook about it. 

Now, it's time to move on to see other projects by other crafters participating in this hop.  Your next stop is RACHELLE

In case you get lost on the blog hop, here is your full list of participants:

1. Shawnee - http://www.quiverofangels.blogspot.com/
2. Beth ~ http://thecraftyscrapyard.blogspot.com/
3. Lisa ~ http://bitbythecricutbug.blogspot.com
4. Janis ~ http://pausedreamenjoy.blogspot.com/
5. Amanda ~ http://craftsbyamanda.blogspot.com
6. Ellen ~ http://cardmonkeyspaperjungle.com/
7. Rachelle ~ http://creationsbyrachelle.blogspot.com
8. Lori ~ http://www.scrappinmystressaway.blogspot.com/
9. Julie ~ http://www.readysetstamp.com
10. Lucy ~ http://love2createitall.com
11. Stacey ~ http://staceyscreativecorner.blogspot.com
12. Michele ~ http://michelescraftroom.blogspot.com/
  

Rumple Ribbon on a Triple Stamped Card

Welcome back for another Rumple Ribbon Thursday!  Today, I'll show a fun stamping technique called "Triple Stamping", and the cute card I made that includes one of my favorite Rumple Ribbon colors, "Sugar Plum".

Ma Belle Cherie -- La-Vie!

I made the base card at a Make-and-Take Dessert Party at a Stamp Scrap Art Tour's expo last month. There, I met (as planned) one of my Facebook besties, La-Vie, and several of her friends. (Click on the La-Vie's beautiful name to be taken to her post describing that fun evening!)  How wonderful it is to meet those with whom I've only had an Internet connection, and to get to craft with them is icing on the cake!

Here's the card:

To make this card, first cut and stack the top layer (here, white) at your desired sizes. Layer them together temporarily using a light touch of double-sided removable tape.  Stamp your background images (here, several different images of shells) in multiple, complementing colors.  Center your sentiment on what will be the top layer.

Next, separate the layers, removing the double-sided tape. Cut mats for each layer approximately 1/16" surrounding the top and middle layers. Adhere the white layers atop each of the mats, and then on top of the card. Wrap the upper layer in ribbon and tie into a bow.

I also added an inside panel to write a sentiment inside, because the card paper is so dark and not everyone has a white opaque pen.  

   

My Fancy Folds Treasure: STT Blog Hop, April 20

Welcome to the Scraps to Treasures Monthly Blog Hop. This month, we're featuring fancy folds -- those unique ways to fold your paper and create a card for extra "WOW!"  As usual, we're to use our scraps in making these projects.

I decided to do a "side-step" card.  This card folds flat to 4.25" high x 5.5" wide, with two extra "valleys" to decorate. There is no inside to this card, so the sentiment is printed on the outside of the card. You can use this style to highlight any layered message you'd like.

I used scraps of Close To My Heart's "Surf's Up" paper, focused on the pretty swirl/wave that was leftover after I cut a layout.  I found other waves in scraps that I liked for the second focal point, and used the center of a sunshine-looking piece for the third focal point. The flip flops and surfer were cut using 3 scraps no bigger than 3x4", and the card base was also a leftover piece of CTMH Colonial White paper that was 5.5" x 8.5". 

I hope you enjoyed seeing this card. If you'd like to be inspired by additional ideas, be sure to start at our hostess's site (Robin at http://create-a-latte.blogspot.com) and hop through our inspiring group.  Oh, wait! Before you GO!!  Don't forget to leave a comment here if you'd like to win the blog candy sponsored by our hostess, Robin!

Robin has a huge bundle of goodies to give away to one lucky person! The bundle (pictured here) is packed FULL of all kinds of goodies for you to make lots and lots of cards. In order for your chance to win you must be sure to visit each of the blogs in our hop today and show some love by leaving each of them a comment letting them know what you thought of their fancy fold card that they made to share with you. 

OK time to move on... be sure to hop on over NEXT to Camille who is never "Short on Ideas" to intrigue and inspire!! 

Here is the complete line-up in case you get lost:

Robin L. - http://create-a-latte.blogspot.com/
Lucy ~ http://love2createitall.com
Pam ~ http://mzlavr2.blogspot.com/
Robin S. - http://scrapandchat.blogspot.com/
LissaMarie ~ www.somanycrafts.com
Ellen  ~ http://cardmonkeyspaperjungle.com/
Camille ~ http://shortonideasaz.blogspot.com/
Kathryn ~ http://www.creationswithkathryn.blogspot.com/
Liz ~ http://tryin2craft.blogspot.com/
Jearise ~ http://lorbysworld.blogspot.com/
Cicily ~ http://pinkdalmationscrapper.blogspot.com/
Jessi ~ http://mylifeinartsncrafts.com