A Reason to Act...

This week I had an unexpected death in my family.  My uncle had been struggling in a few different areas of his life recently, health included, but we did not guess that it would end this way, at least not so quickly.  All of us in the family have been struck by this, in some way or another.  One thing that I most hope to take away from this, is to not put things off.  I had been thinking of my uncle, with the intention of sending him a cheerful card.  But I didn't; I put it off, and now it's too late.  So I am going to try to send out at least 2 cards each week, to friends, family, or whoever comes to mind.  Perhaps I will look for a ministry that could use this type of encouragement.  But in the mean-time, I will just work at getting better at sending birthday cards, and encouragement cards to friends and family.

Cards for Wanda - Gift Card

Today's card is a fun little project, if you have some time to dedicate to making a special card.

This was one of the Make and Take cards that we made at Regionals, for Stampin' Up!.  I was fortunate to be able to attend 2 Regional events, and they were similar in presentation, and had the same Make and Takes.  So I now have 2 of this same card.  I don't know if you have trouble with this, but when I have a special card, especially if it took a while to make, I am less than eager to part with it.  But since I have 2, giving one away was easier. 

There are lots of details to this card.  The dots are made by laying the Mat Pack template down and then using it with the Stampin' Write Markers.

Are you wondering what that little piece of  white is sticking out of the side of the card?  Well, it has a purpose....it is a circle, under the larger white panel.  It is attached to the Basic Gray card base with a mini brad so that it can be moved in a circle.  We had a template to follow, and knew where to punch the hole, so the kites could show through.

 We stamped the kites last, so they could be placed perfectly with the tail of the kite.  Here are the 3 kites that I chose to use from the stamp set, Send Me Soaring, in the current Occasions Mini Catalog.  A little of the new Baker's Twine, in Lucky Limeade accents the kite's tail.

Below, you can see the detail for the envelope.  Isn't that cute?  We punched 2 Pool Party hearts, pierced them with the Paper Piercing Tool, and then attached a white brad to each.  A foot or so of Baker's Twine, in Calypso Coral, holds the envelope closed.  Of course you can't mail this type of envelope, which makes it perfect to use as a gift card to go with Wanda's box of cards.

Recipe:
Stamps:  Send Me Soaring
Cardstock:  Basic Gray (base), Whisper White, Pool Party, Calypso Coral, Lucky Limeade, Beerry Blossoms DSP
Accessories:  Small Heart Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Circles #2 Originals Die, Big Shot, Scallop Border Punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack (template), Stampin' Write Markers (Calypso Coral and Lucky Limeade), Baker's Twine (Lucky Limeade and Calypso Coral), Neutrals Brads, Mini Brads

I hope you've enjoyed Wanda's cards!  This one was for her daughter to write in as the gift card to go along with the box.  I do have one more pack of cards that I sent along in the same package, that were from me to Wanda, so I'll show those tomorrow.  If you are the praying kind, and these cards come to mind, I hope they remind you of Wanda, and that you say a prayer of healing and comfort for her.

Cards for Wanda....part 6

Today is the last day for Wanda's cards.  I hope that you have enjoyed them.  It was an honor and a blessing to do something nice for such a wonderful lady.  I have a few more Wanda posts with the extra little goodies I included in her package, but for now let's see today's cards.  Pretty in pastels.

 Recipe:  Stamps:  2012 Sale-a-Bration set -  Fresh Vintage
Cardstock/Ink:  Regal Rose, Melon Mambo, Whisper White
Accessories:  Basic Rhinestones Jewels, Melon Mambo Ribbon, Big Shot, Snowburst Embossing Folder

Recipe:  Stamp:  Well Scripted (retired)

Cardstock/Inks:  So Saffron, Pink Pirouette, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Bashful Blue

Accessories:  Scallop Trim Border Punch, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Bird Builder Punch

A little explanation for how to get this effect, is to punch the branch and bird from a scrap of cardstock.  Use the frame and sponge the inside carefully with sponge daubers.  Do the same with the bird.  **Tip** use different frames for the 2 images.  Otherwise you might get ink bleed onto your card from the frame when you flip it over.

 Recipe:  Stamps:  Circle Circus, the Wonderful is retired
Colors:  Daffodil Delight, Early Espresso, Whisper White
Accessories:  5/8" grossgrain ribbon, Clear Rhinestone Brad, 1 3/4" Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch

 Isn't this one darling?  I was very impressed with the dedication to cut out those pieces from the fence.  I love both Clean And Simple Cards, as well as Intricate cards.  But I don't think I would have been willing to make many of these.  The fence is clear embossed and then cut out with a hobby blade.
Recipe:  All in a Row wheel?
Colors:  Creamy Caramel, Bordering Blue, Always Artichoke, Old Olive, Whisper White
Accessories:  Blender Pens

Cards for Wanda...Part 5

Today's cards are in the Red family.  The first card is one that I made; the others are more swaps.  I love the layout of this first card; by switching up the colors and stamps, you can get a completely different look and feel to the card.  I will have to revisit this layout with lots of variations for another blog post. 

 Recipe:  Stamps:  Just Believe
Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso (ink), Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing folder

Recipe:  Stamps:  Friends Never Fade
Cardstock:  Sahara Sand, Cherry Cobbler (ink), Basic Gray, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Clear Embossing Folder, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Big Shot, Finial Press Embossing Folder

 Recipe:  Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Night of Navy
Accessories:  Flower Designer Brads, Big Shot, Lattice die, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder

Recipe:  Stamps:  Greenhouse Garden, ? (will update with sentiment stamp set)
Cardstock/Inks:  Marina Mist, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Cherry Cobbler, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Piercing Tool, Vintage Brads

Recipe:  Stamps:  Artistic Etchings
Cardstock/Inks:  Basic Black, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Fire Square Brads, Rhinestones Jewels, 1 3/4" circle punch, 2 1/2" scallop circle punch

I hope you enjoyed today's cards for Wanda!  Check back for a few more....

Cards for Wanda....Part 4

Today's cards are all in browns.....I love brown in cards, because it can be both feminine or masculine.  A few touches of color make it great, but are not always necessary.  Wanda likes to send cards for encouragement, so I wanted to send her cards that she can use however she wants to.  Most of the cards can be used to send a cheery note, and many are blank inside, as I know she likes to write  in the cards....  I hope you like today's bunch!!!

 Recipe:  Stamps:  Growing Green, Inspired by Nature
Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Irridescent Ice, Hemp Twine, Wide Oval Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Color Spritzer

Recipe:  Stamp Set:  ?  (I think this was in a mini - I will check and update)
Cardstock:  Sahara Sand, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Small Oval Punch (retired), Large Oval Punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing folder

Recipe:  In Wilderness
Cardstock:  Chocolate Chip, Sahara Sand
Accessories:  Hemp Twine, Eyelets (retired)

Recipe:  Stamps:  Medallion, Artistic Etchings

Cardstock:  Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso, Old Olive

Accessories:  Scallop Trim Border Punch, Vintage Brads, 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Smooch Spritz, Cutter Kit

Cards for Wanda....Part 3

Today, I am featuring more cards that I sent to Wanda.  Today's cards all have Baja Breeze in them somewhere.  Again, these are swaps I received (card fronts) and then mounted them onto a card base, after trimming them down a little so they fit.  Most have at least one little part (DSP usually) that is retired.... 

Recipe:  Stamp Set:  Artistic Etching
Cardstock/Ink:  Baja Breeze, Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Letterpress DSP (retired)
Accessories:   Satin Ribbon

 Recipe:  Stamp Set:  Morning Cup
Cardstock/Ink:  Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Elegant Soiree DSP (retired)
Accessories:  Scallop Border Punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, 1 3/4" Circle Punch, 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon, Stampin' Write Marker

Recipe:  Stamp Set: ? (perhaps it was a hostess set?  I don't recognize it)
Cardstock:  Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzazz, Marina Mist, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder, Top Note Big Shot die, Lots of Tags Sizzlit die

Recipe:  Stamp Set:  Hodgepodge Happiness (I think - retired), retired wheel
Cardstock:  Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Pear Pizzazz, Greenhouse Garden DSP
Accessories:  Big Shot, Top Note die, Daisy #2 die, Label Punch (retired), Versa Mark, Irridescent Ice Embossing Powder

Recipe: Stamp Set:  retired Sale-a-
Bration set from 2011.
Cardstock:  Melon Mambo, Baja Breeze, Naturals White
Accessories: Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Seam Binding Ribbon, Basic Pearls Jewels

Cards for Wanda...Part 2

I think that all of the rest of the cards I sent are cards that were swaps I received, and then mounted onto cardstock.....in case you don't know what a swap is, it is a fun part of stamping events.  You make card fronts, all the same (although most of us make a few different designs, because we either get bored making several of the same card, or are limited in supplies).  You then trade with other people, so you go home with several different ideas, and cards that you can display.  If you take 100 swaps, you then can go home with 100 different card fronts.

Recipe:  Stamps:  Inspired by Nature
Cardstock:  Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink:  Rich Razzleberry, Old Olive, Early Espresso
Accessories:  Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Embossing Folder

 Recipe:  Stamps:  Elements of Style
Cardstock/Inks:  Pear Pizzazz, Concord Crush, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White
Accessories:  2 1/2" Circle Punch, Scalloped Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, Big Shot, Square Lattice Embossing Folder, Beautiful Wings Embosslit, Lattice Big Shot die, 1/8" Taffeta Ribbon

Recipe:  Stamps:  Field Flowers
Cardstock/Inks:  Wisteria Wonder, Pear Pizzazz, Very Vanilla
Accessories:  Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, Crop-A-Dile (to punch the hole for the ribbon), Big Shot, Perfect Polka Dots Embossing Folder