Simple and Clean

We've been very lucky this year and have already visited Florida, Myrtle Beach and are taking off for Massachusetts next month. Very lucky to travel, but well not so good for crafting. The good news is that between making thoughtful thank you notes for friends (for taking care of things here) and the fact that we have had several nice sunny days...I've actually been crafting again.

I seriously apologize for the pink backgrounds...my 'white' set-up was cannibalized to make cards...LOL. So I just grabbed the first plain piece of something to take photos of before I gave out the gifts!

I've been seriously stuck in no-mojo land, but when I saw these simple and creative creations by Nicole Heady I had an idea for a set of cards to gift. To me these colors are so FALL...but well when you come back from Florida and the sun and sunshine...to everything gray and bleak...it really felt like fall here.

This is the set of four cards...green and yellow...packaged in one of those trusty clear boxes...if you haven't found out about clearbags.com...YOU need to go there!

I tried to make them simple...and they might even be too simple. The base is a 4.25X4.25 white cardstock card and the earthy green layer is a cuttlebugged with Textile. I think this is my #1 CB folder...it works for any style. I then used my MM handheld Notch punch (I don't have a SU! slit punch) and frankly I probably prefer this because I can put my slot ANYWHERE I want it! And finished off my little semi circle area with Offray Iridescent White ribbon and a Lavender button from Oriental Trading Company (I got a button pack a long while ago...first time I'm using it...so cathartic).

The sentiment is a TAC sentiment "One Liners" and is finished off with a Black Brad.

This card is pretty much the same as the green card except I used a black button...and a different sentiment from the same TAC set. I think they fit very well with the size of this card! I included a set of 4 in each plastic case...mostly because with the buttons that is all that would fit!

My initial idea was to make two of each color until I realized that they wouldn't fit and well purple was my friend Shelby's favorite color and I wasn't even making a set for her...but she was SOO in my thoughts that day I just started designing for her. Hmm...she reads my blog I better go gather up the extras and make her 'her set' now...LOL.

So I realized that the green/yellow sets were probably the preferred colors for the people that I needed to thank!

But I needed a BD card that coordinated with the Princess Coloring Book I made here. So I used my pre-cute purple supplies and cuttlebugged it with the Swiss Dots folder (#2 Folder for me!) and a lavender button and purple scrappers floss! And viola...quick and easy BD card. The sentiment is a mix...the "Happy B-day!" is from TAC Tag Tidbits and the Princess is from...my Target Princess Stamp Set.

Oh yeah...I just want to make one observation...when I first started stamping I bought a bunch of the thinner Paper Company Cardstock before 'gasp' I knew better! It is WAY too thin to use as a card base although I'm sure people do...BUT it is REALLY awesome to cuttlebug and/or layer because it doesn't add a lot of weight. It can be a bit of a challenge to coordinate the colors sometimes but well that is part of the fun for me...

Card Supplies:

• Stamps: TAC Tag Tidbits; TAC One Liners; Target Disney Princess
• Ink: Palette Noir
• Cardstock: White (Walmart); Paper Company Vintage Green and Yellow, Primary Purple
• Accessories: Offray White Irradescent Ribbon; Oriental Trading Company Box of Buttons Neutral and Bright; TAC Scrappers Floss - Beige; TAC Scrappers Floss - Dark Purple
• Tools: MM Punch Kit; Cuttlebug Embossing Folders Textile and Swiss Dots

Pretty as a Princess...

Coloring Book that is. I like to include something handmade if possible with every gift I give. I ALWAYS try to make a card, but something useful that can be used after the event is even better!

We had a Birthday Party to attend, my very best friend's daughter and son...they are like my very own kids. I've seen them grow up, I babysit for them...the works. So remember that AWESOME Princess Stamp set I bragged about snagging? I finally put it to good use.

I first saw this design in a project created by StampwithGwen, she used it as a mini-Easter Scrapbook. I liked how it opened so decided to use it as a holder for, some blank cardstock pics and color pencils. Note that I scored the cardstock to make it easy to cut (and help me with where I was stamping)...so once colored these images can be used on scrapbook layouts, cards (or course)...all with that little bit of personalization from the child.

I always am striving to involve my kids in the gift giving process...so that they 'get' that well 1) you should show appreciation to those that impact your life 2) handmade is JUST as good as bought and it REALLY is the thought that counts and 3) and this is probably the most important....to quote my friend, "They don't show up with their arms swinging".

While I make/buy most of their presents I always make them sign the card (or stamp it if they don't write yet), carry the gift to the person, hand it to them...and most of all say Happy 'occasion' and Thank You!

Okay on to the project...

I took some Lavender DCWV Textured paper and made a gatefold card. I then punched out the border using a Fiskars punch. and tied a white organza ribbon around the lower edge to hold it shut. The image is the smaller Cinderella I think, matted with DCWV Primary Purple...and it is Purple because Purple is "C's" favorite color. Not please do not make fun of my coloring...I know her face looks like it needs a good washing! I was using Aqua Crayons and a blender pen BUT my blender pen was dry and I recently discovered if you just use a bit of water, miracles of miracles it works just as well...I just used WAY too much water and soaked the paper! My bad...

Inside....

I simple stamped various large and small images with Palette Noir so that they can be colored, water colored...crayoned...whatever her little heart desires! Most importantly, I scored the cardstock to ensure I stamped the image in the right place so later it could be matted if desired.

So the images just slip under the flap and the whole thing closes...viola! A cute AND handmade gift. I packaged it in a glassine envelope with a set of mini color pencils.

Supplies Used:

• Paper: DCWV Textured Lavender; Paper Company Primary Purple; White Cardstock
• Accessories: Offray White Iridescent Organza ribbon
• Tools: Fiskars Threading Water Punch