Yum Yum

One of my dearest friends is a cat person, so when I saw this image of a very contented feline, I had to get it and use him on her card . . .

I thought that one explanation for his happy expression could be due to a nearby stash of fish . . . hence the tasty garland overhead!  For some added fun, I decided that a pair of tassels would add a little touch of whimsy.  

Bon appétit! 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Desert Sun, Chiffon, Strathmore #100 Bristol Vellum,

                     Generic scrap Dull Silver  

Stamps:       Rubbernecker Cat

Inks:             Distress Antique Linen, Wild Honey, Fossilized Amber,

                     Tea Dye

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:            Rubbernecker Cat, Impression Obsession Mid-size Frame,

                     Elizabeth Craft Ribbons 1, Memory Box Aquarium Fish,

                     Spellbinder Banner Basics Three, DieVersions

                     Hint of Lime (text)            

A Weed

As with yours truly, my next door neighbor is a passionate gardener.  Bob does beautiful work in his condo-limited space, so a horticulturally-themed design is just right for his birthday card . . .

A rainbow of flower colors is crisply anchored by white, black, and green, and the fun sentiment pretty much says it all:  "A weed is a plant that has mastered every survival skill except for learning how to grow in rows. Doug Larson"

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rain Forest, Strathmore Ultimate White, Nicole Black

Stamps:       The Artful Stamper Field Flower, Motivet A Weed is a

                     Plant, Stampin’ Up Itty Bitty Backgrounds

Inks:             ColorBox Black, Frost White

Colorants:    Inktense Pencils Poppy Red, Tangerine, Golden Yellow,

                     Apple Green, Dark Aquamarine, Red Violet

Waterclrs:    Zig Real Brush Carmine Red, Peach Pink,  Orange,

                     Yellow, Deep Green, Cobalt Blue, Violet

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black, Hero White

Dies:            Lil Inkers Stitched Mats: Rectangles, Simon Says

                     Sentiment Labels            

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents Black        

Happy Birthday

As my stash contains no sports images that would appeal to a 12 year old boy, I figured a sparkly cake might be a good stand-in for my favorite pre-teener . . .

I die cut the cake in three different colors and covered the back with tape so that I could easily add the inlays taken from the two other die cuts.  Inlaying the design went faster than you might think.  The sentiment was stamped onto a little flag and mounted on a silvered toothpick.  A few sparkly bits and I think we're done . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Generic Blue, Yellow, White, Orange     

Stamps:       Stampin Up Happy Birthday

Inks:             Distress Stormy Sky

Colorants:    Pilot Marker Silver

Dies:            Lil Inker Stitched Mats: Rectangles, DieVersions Cut the

                     Cake, Savvy Cake Plates, Impress Candle, Impression

                     Obsession Flags                 

Doo Dads:    Metalix Glitter Moondust    

Cheers

Another in a series of Guy Cards . . . it's my nephew's birthday tomorrow and this is his card . . .

I know he'll be raising a celebratory mug of suds, so the "Cheers" sentiment should fit right in.  Happy birthday, Steve - here's to many more!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Strathmore Ultimate White 

Stamps:       Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy, Forest Moss,  Archival

                     Fern Green

Waterclrs:    Zig Real Brush Olive Green, Mid-Green

Dies:            Impression Obsession Deckled Tag, Dragonfly Set,

                     Spellbinders Cattails  

Emb Fldr:    Crafter’s Companion Ship Deck

Doo Dads:   Hemp Natural, Green, Nuvo Glitter Gloss           

Peace

My friend David is celebrating 33 years of incredible sobriety, so this card is in honor of that remarkable achievement . . .

Some evergreens in a tall, marble-patterned vase, an offset gold and green 'Peace', and my favorite new stitched frame die seems to cover his journey 

very well.

Happy Anniversary, David!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Rain Forest, Marcos Jute, Hanko Echizen Gold

Stamps:       KaiserCraft Marble

Inks:             Hero Shadow Soft Brown, Ranger Archival Fern Green,

                     Gina K Charcoal Brown, ColorBox Gold

Emb Pwdr:   Ranger Gold

Dies:            Impression Obsession Large Frame, Altenew Under the

                     Cherry Blossom Tree, Papertrey Ink Mega Gracious Vases,

                     Avery Elle Peace, Memory Box Branching Out, E-Scenery

                     Idyllic (evergreen spray)

Emb Fldr:     Stampin Up Ruffled Dynamic

Doo Dads:    Viva Paper Pen Gold

With Sympathy

With the loss of my neighbor's brother, a quick sympathy card was needed . . .

I don't like rushing my card designs - especially those with condolence themes - but sometimes, it's just necessary.  I think the subtle coloring and the calming simplicity of this card conveys the message very well and it actually may not need anything further . . .

Cardstock:   Nicole 100 Bristol    

Stamps:       Endless Creations “With Sympathy”

Inks:             Hero Black

Waterclrs:    Distress Shabby Shutters, Scattered Straw,

                     Squeezed Lemonade

Dies:            Simon Says Fresh Daisies, Impression Obsession

                     Mid-size Frame             

Doo Dads:   Viva Pearl Pen Ice White   

What Happened?

The sentiment on this one cracked me up and I had to get it immediately . . .

This birthday card goes to my brother Don who's undoubtedly as baffled as I am about having reached our Golden Years so quickly.  Along with my youngest brother Gordy, we were born and raised in sunny Southern California where youth is worshipped and growing up is pretty much considered an option.  It's a real shock to look in the mirror and realize that we didn't beat the rap . . . we're seniors now!

To tie in the passage of time, I used clock face images and embellished them with real clock and watch gears.   I have collected these over the years by cannibalizing cheap timepieces that have outlived their usefulness and aren't worth fixing.   I attach them with flat glue dots and then sprinkle glitter over them to cover the exposed stickiness.

Happy Birthday, dear Bro!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Strathmore  Ultimate White            

Stamps:       Treasure Cay “Time”, PSX Pocket Watch, Impression

                     Obsession Are We Adults?

Inks:             Distress Dusty Concord, Faded Jeans, Hero Black

Waterclrs:    FineTec Arabic Gold

Dies:            Spellbinders Ribbon Tags Trio                

Emb Fldr:     Taylored Expressions Weathered

Doo Dads:    Perfect Pearls Mist Gold, Brass clock parts, ¼" black/gold

                     fiber, Stampin’ Around Glitter Gold Dust