Birthdays, Birthdays, Birthdays

Hi! Last month was full of birthdays, including my own. Here are some cards I sent to others birthday celebrities and thank yous to those who helped me celebrate. BTW, my last post showed a card that I was so excited to send my mom for her birthday. Well, good thing I at least posted it, because that's the only sight of it she's seen. In a month's time, it has not appeared in her mailbox nor in mine. Not only had I put extra postage on in it, but I took it into a post office to have it hand stamped as well. Such a bummer!

More posts to follow soon. I have the most unusual inspiration to share with you, Easter projects, and numerous layouts that I have come out of my craft room.

Enjoy and THANKS for visiting!
Chris

Happy Birthday to my wonderful Mom!

Hi everyone! I've been holding off on posting this card until my mother received it. Today's her birthday and unfortunately, it didn't arrive in time. I should have mailed it sooner since I actually had it done a few weeks ago. Maybe I wanted to keep looking at it?! I'm posting it now anyway, so she can get a peek at it and so can you. Some of you have seen it at a crop since I was proud to show it off. I was excited for stretching myself beyond my typical style. I know my mother will appreciate my efforts, and I'm sure you all know oh so well, that if your recipient values your work, you work that much more on your creation. 
Well mom, I hope you have it in your hands on Monday, and...Happy Birthday!

Enjoy and THANKS for visiting!

Chris

Each day is Valentine's Day

Hi! A few weeks back I believe I promised a look-see at a valentine I made for several friends. I wish I could have made more, because there are others I would have liked to have included in my mailing. I am fortunate to have many wonderful friends. Of course this is "card-lifted" (with minor tweaks) from a great consultant. (Sometimes, it just doesn't make sense to reinvent the wheel!)

The inside read "a real friend listens with their heart." So true. Now if only I had remembered to snap a pic of the cards I sent to my nieces/nephews. It was "card-lifted" also (with minor tweaks) and very cute.

Enjoy and THANKS for visiting!
Chris

Mark Your Page Valentine

Valentine's Day. It really is a cute holiday for primary school children. They love opening all the little, corny cards they exchange with each other and it's just as much fun to watch them. As a second grade teacher, I feel it's even that much better for second graders because for most of them, it's the first year they can really read their cards and "get" the humor of them. Over the years however, the valentine "mailboxes" we prepare have had to become larger in size. The reason? All the candy that now accompany valentines. Now don't get me wrong. I'm an admitted chocoholic, but, this is Valentine's Day, not Halloween. So, you can bet, the kids won't be getting any candy from me, not even chocolate (BTW, it didn't happen on Halloween either.) I prefer to do something for them that is useful. So, my class of avid readers, is getting special, handmade bookmarks. Given the time I spent cutting and assembling, I hope they get used. I think they will because the kids will probably like the unique way the bookmark goes over the top corner of the page rather than your typical rectangular, paper strip. (It was also a great way for me to use up some paper scraps.)
Check back mid-week and I'll share a valentine I made for friends. They just need to receive them first!

Enjoy and THANKS for visiting!
Chris

Everything old is new again!

I recently spent a long weekend in the Chicago area visiting my parents and other family members. I found out that my dear mother has been saving every single handmade card I have ever sent. (somebody loves me!) Many of them I had forgotten about, so to remember the techniques, I took pictures. Here are a couple for old times sake:

Enjoy & THANKS for visiting! (and hope I can remember how those ribbon roses were done!)
Chris

Thank you for the inspiration Mike!

My husband Mike knows how important cards are to me. Therefore buying a card for me, becomes a real challenge for him. He tells me the time it takes him to find a card that I would find not only creatively interesting but also says just the right things. I tell him that he does a wonderful job of being successful each time. Below is  the Christmas card Mike gave me and the a thank you note I created based on it. So, thank you Mike for the inspiration!

Enjoy and THANKS for visiting!
Chris

It was Christmas!

Hello! Merry Christmas! Happy New Year! "Was it good for you too?!" All I wonder is how come I know I want to make a few projects for others and I wait until the very end to create them? Such is the case with the projects pictured below. Despite the pressure I put on myself for doing them, I did enjoy the process and the results. And more than likely, history will repeat itself next year too!

Enjoy and THANKS for visiting!
Chris