Bride of Franken-Owl!

Still on a roll making these cute little mini album cards.  Well, I made Mr. Franken-Owl, so why not a mate for him?  I thought I'd help out with a bride for him.  

Off I went designing a little lady Franken-Owl.  I decided she must be dressed in purple, with a pinked skirt and a bow in her hair.  Unfortunately, her creator was just as bad at finding her a matched pair of eyes, and thus, she has a mini googlie eye and a small googlie eye just like her beau! 

I pretty much followed the same theme as the first Franken-Owl, but with different papers for this little book.  I was truly liking her when I was done.  I planned this one for a cardmaking buddy, and I hope she likes her Bride of Franken-Owl as much as I heard that Franken does.  I heard they are already engaged and ready to tie the knot!

Front Cover with Bride of Franken-Owl's graveyard scene.

This is the centerfold of the feminine version of my card book.  I added a tag with a Halloween verse and Martha Stewart bat stickers.  I also added a little drill to the edge of the verse pocket, fitting for a female card!

Back cover, adding Beware by using the Sizzlits Halloween Set #2.  Dazzling Diamonds-Silver glitter adhesive also added to letters for a little bling!

Recipe:  Papers:  SU Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Black, Whisper White; SU Core'dinations - Black, Basic Gray.  DCWV--Halloween & Fall (2011/ 2012), Bewitched Mat Stack; stripe/ argyle (pocket).  Core'dinations - Black Tie Glitter (bats).  White paper sack: 9" x 4-3/4" (Michaels).  SU Stamps: Best of Halloween.  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Dies: MFT--Spooky Scene (gravestones); Sizzlits--Halloween Set #2 (Beware); Sizzix TH Alterations--On the Fence; Spellbinders Labels 11 (tag).  Punches: Studio G--Mini Bat; EK Pointed Flower Border; SU Owl Builder, Bird Builder (owl wings).  Die-cuts: Martha Stewart Bat stickers.  Other:  SU-Dazzling Details/ Silver, 3/8" Dotted Grograin; Ki Memories--rhinestones; Online jpeg--Spooky Tree.  Stash: Googlie eyes--mini/ small, Black pearls (buttons)

Scary Mr. Franken-Owl Mini Album Card!

I am on a roll. . .lovin' those little mini album cards, so I just had to do another.  I had in mind to use the Owl Builder Punch to do Halloween punch art image and found several ideas on Pinterest to get a start.  Love that Pinterest!  I decided my little guy would be a Franken-Owl.  First to decide on green for owl's body. . .aren't all Frankenstein's green?  He got a shaggy hair-do with jagged bangs.

Next, he needed a tree to sit in, and I didn't have a die that would cut me a large enough tree, so I Goggled Spooky tree images to see if I could find just the right one.  To my pleasure, I found one that would do nicely.  I saved it to my computer and dropped it into Microsoft Word to resize.  I fussy cut it out and changed and/or eliminated a few limb points to look just right on my card front.  I sponged all the edges and the surface a bit with browns and charcoal.

While working on my little owl and tree, I decided the scene for Mr. Franken-Owl would be a graveyard.  Perhaps, he is revisiting the site of his body parts or looking for a eyes that match a bit better?  Whoooo knows why he sits in that spooky tree.

Front Cover with Mr. Franken-Owl's graveyard scene.

This is the centerfold of my card book.  I added a tag with a Halloween verse and Martha Stewart bat stickers and large rickrac (Papertrey die) to the pocket's outside for added decoration.  I moved the Spooky circle from the pocket side and placed it on the witch's hat panel. The Trick or Treat panel lifts up a bit, and I placed my personal Created by Chatterbox Creations below.

Back cover with the Sizzlits Halloween Set #2 Beware used.  Dazzling Diamonds glitter adhesive added to letter for a little glitz!

Recipe:  Papers:  SU Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie, Black, Whisper White; SU Core'inations - Black, Basic Gray.  DCWV--Halloween & Fall (2011/ 2012), Bewitched Mat Stack (pocket stripe).  Martha Stewart Haunted Mat Stack (owl/raven).  Core'dinations - Black Tie Glitter;   White paper sack: 9" x 4-3/4" (Michaels).  SU Stamps: Best of Halloween.  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Dies: MFT--Spooky Scene; Sizzlits--Halloween Set #2 (Beware); Sizzix TH Alterations--On the Fence; Papertrey LG RickRac; Spellbinders Labels 11 (tag); Studio G--Mini Bat  Die-cuts: Martha Stewart Bat stickers.  Other:  SU--Baker's Twine, Candy Dots (buttons), Dazzling Diamonds; Celebrate - 3/8" Stitched Grograin; Ki Memories--rhinestones; Online jpeg--Spooky Tree.  Stash: Goodly eyes--mini/ small.

Houses in a Scary Neighborhood!

I love so many of the products in the new Stampin' Up 2014 Holiday catalog!  I feel my pockets emptying as we speak!  One of the bundled sets that I love because of their versatility is the Holiday Home stamp set with coordinating Homemade Holiday framelits (dies).  This set can be used for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Valentine's Day, and even moving or missing you.  Creative juices begin to flow just thinking about all the possibilities.

I attended a cardmaking class with Liz Thayer in late August, and it was such fun to get together with my cardmaking buddies and enjoy using the items from this catalog that would be available at the very end of that month.  Liz had a card kit to put together with a darling Halloween use of the Holiday Home house stamps/dies.  I changed it up just a bit by adding another mat layer and forming a black base.  I thought it added just a bit more color to the card by making the orange Tangerine Tango (previously the card base) POP more.  I was very pleased with my little houses in the scary neighborhood!  I decided this was the perfect card to send to my Mom for this Halloween holiday.  I think she will like it, and it will give her creative food on just how she might use those same stamps and dies from Stampin' Up that I know she bought earlier this month!

The last touch for all my cards is to complete a complimentary and coordinating creations for the inside.  I found this little poem that I adjust just a bit to fit my card theme, and below is the finished product:

Recipe:   Papers:  SU cardstocks:  Black (base), Tangerine Tango, Smoky Slate, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White.  SU Ink: Basic Gray (+distressing).  Memento: Tuxedo Black.  SU stamps: Holiday Home. SU Dies: Homemade Holiday framelits.  SU Punch:  Word Window.  SU Blendabilities: Smoky Slate Asst, Daffodil Delight Asst.  SU Dizzling Details-Silver.  SU Baker's Twine: Black.   SU 3/8" Stitched Satin ribbon-Tangelo Twist.  Inside-MFT Dies: Photo Corners.

Spooky Halloween Mini Album Card!

I so enjoyed finished my little witch's accessories mini album card for my friend Liz, that I thought I'd make another for my friend, Sandy.  One of Stampin' Up's stamp sets for Halloween that I've always thought were very, very cute was the Spooky Bingo Bits, which retired after the 2011-12 annual catalog.  I made a Halloween inchies card using this stamp set several years ago, but used four different bits.  I really wanted to use it again, and thought an inchies cover would make a cute mini album card.  This time, I thought I would be focused on the little witch and spooky things related to her, so I chose the witch, her black cat, her haunted house, and her friend, Mr. Bat.  I wanted to double mat my inchies to set them off more and to add more color interest.  I used the Spellbinders Inverted Scallop Squares for the mat, which remind me a lot of the postage stamp effect, but more pointy, and maybe more apropos for Halloween???

After I made the decision to do red-orange and black mats for the inchies, I went ahead and put them together because I thought it would make it easier to decide on paper patterns that I thought would coordinate and blend well together.  I went back to my stash of old papers, feeling I should really use some of this stuff that I have had around for three or four years now.  There are so many patterns in the DCWV Halloween/Fall stacks, and I have two: the 2011 and 2012 versions!  I found five patterns that I thought went well together and also worked with my inchies.

Next, I had to decide on embellishments to accents each of the four pages.  It is surprising that even with oodles of Hall0ween embellishments, papers, punches, etc., it's still a challenge to make choices.  I'm pretty happy with my little card-book, and I think my friend, Sandy, will enjoy it as well, letting her know that she is well thought of!

Inchie Front Cover

Middle - Page 2/ Page 3

Back Cover

Recipe:  Papers:  SU Black/ Whisper White cs; Bazzill Navel cs;  DCWV Halloween & Fall (2011/ 2012); Core'dinations - Black Tie Glitter; Making Memories Halloween Journaling Book (houses pinked pocket).  White paper sack: 9" x 4-3/4" (Michaels).  SU stamps:  Spooky Bingo Bits.  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Copic: 100/Black.  Dies:  Spellbinders - Inversted Scallop Squares #3/#4; Labels 11 (tag); Sizzix - Wingo Dingo Alphabet.  Die-cuts:  K&Company (Spooky); Martha Stewart--Haunted (raven); Creatology foam cat.   Punches:  WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  Other:  SU - Baker's Twine; Celebrate - 3/8" solid-sheet ribbon; Recollections - charcoal rhinestones.

Mr. Mummy Returns!

Last year I made a punch art mummy card from the Stampin' Up Top Note Die.  He turned out pretty cute, and I named him Otzi the Mummy after the oldest European mumy found between Austria and Italy, dating back to 3,300 BCE.  I also learned how to make another mummy card without using one of the punch art methods from my Stampin' Up mentor, Liz Thayer.

For this year's mummy card, I decided to case this design and to re-created my own mummy card for my oldest son, David.  My mummy get a few more ragged bandages than the original design and several more base layers to add interest and more color.  The bandages are created by tearing paper to fit your rectangle card shape and leaving an opening between bandages for his eyes.  After the bandage strips are overlapped, randomly applied and adhered, the aged bandage look is created by using your Stampin' Up Basic Gray ink pad on its edges and corners and daubing the torn paper in a somewhat haphazard fashion until you achieve the look that you like.  I have to admit this made me a bit nervous because if you screw up at this point, you pretty much screw up the card, and have to start all over!  But all was well, and and I had cut and layer my mummy onto the bottom two layers, I was pretty happy with the way he turned out.  I think David will like him as well.

My final creative addition to Mr. Mummy was to find or create a verse to compliment the theme of the card and to embellishment the inside to coordinate with the outside design.  Below is my verse creation to fit this card:

Recipe:  SU cardstocks: Black, Basic Gray, Pumpkin, Whisper White, Naturals Ivory; DCWV 2011 Halloween & Fall Stack.  SU Ink: Basic Gray.  SU Stamp: That's the Ticket.  SU Punches:  1-3/8" Circle, 1-1/4" Circle, 3/4" Circle.  Other: SU Chalkmarker, SU Large Rhinestones.

Witch's Accessories Mini Album Card!

I started this little mini album a few years ago at a Make 'N Take event while visiting in Redding, CA that fall.  The design of the original version was by Cammi Crandall, a member of the design team for a little scrapbook store located there, which has now closed.  Since I had never finished my little book, I decided this was the year to do so and give it away as a Halloween card.  Though I did not have a picture of the original book, I had the background papers adhered and the front cover almost completed.  I still had a lot pieces leftover over that were not yet place.  From my memory of the original design, I decided to make some changes from where I thought things were placed.  I believe my book still retains the flavor of the original by Cammi, but with added embellishments and switching of some items around.

This is the front cover.  I dropped my shoe label down on my book to balance the negative space and added rhinestones to each left corner of the shoe's black base.

  

This is the centerfold of my book.  I added a bat tag with a Halloween verse and Martha Stewart bat stickers to the pocket's outside for added decoration.  I moved the Spooky circle from the pocket side and placed it on the witch's hat panel.  I colored the hat band with purple and lime Copic markers and added the purple rhinestones.  I also added the rhinestones to the corner of the orange panel.  The Spooky panel lifts up a bit, and I placed my personal Handcrafted by Chatterbox Creations below.

I added a scallop circle mat under the orange have a WICKED halloween circle to finish off my back cover.  I am happy with my results, honoring Cammi's original design, yet adding a little bit of Me with a few more interesting details and embellishments.

Recipe:  Papers:  Bazzill cs: Raven, Navel; Authentique - Enchanted: Haunted (front/back covers/p. 3)/ Spooked (p. 2/3).  White paper sack: 9" x 4-3/4" (Michaels).  SU stamp: Wicked Cool (Annual 2011-12).  Dies:  Spellbinders--Circles LG #2/3, Scallop Circles LG #1, Petite Scallop Circles LG #2, Labels 11 (modified to tag). Cricuit: Web Silhouettes.  Martha Stewart Bat stickers.  3/8" Black Satin ribbon.  Stash:  Rhinestones LG/ petite; button.  Copic markers: witch hat, shoes.  Colorbox Chestnut Roan distressing.

Witch's Boot Spinner!

I learned the spinner card technique last year in a class given by my Stampin' Up mentor, Liz Thayer.  I love these little tidibits of knowledge that we learn each time we do a card class with Liz.  Thanks, Liz!

I decided to use this spinner technique on one of my Halloween cards this year by using the witch's boot in Stampin' Up's Bootiful Occasin stamp set.  I colored my witch's boot using Copic markers, plus I added a band of gold glimmer paper to my shoe to add some glitz.  For my spinner card, I added a bit more embellishing when attaching my spinner item by using a double set of layered scalloped circle punches under my shoe.  I used pennies to make my spinner base, though I have seen nickels used as well.  I am pretty happy with my little polka dot witch's shoe, after all every outfit is all about the shoes, right!

And the finished inside created to coordinate with the card front pretties:

Recipe:  Papers:  SU cardstocks: Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip, Crumb Case, Soft Suede.  SU stamps:  Bootiful Occasions, Woodgrain.  SU Ink: Early Espresso; Colorbox Chestnut Roan distressing.  SU Punches:  Word Window, Large Oval (1-3/4"), 1-1/2" Scallop Circle, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle, Decorative Label (gold modified).  EK Punch: Journal Bracket (sides used on gold).  SU Candy Dots.  Stash: Gold Grommet base used under Candy Dots.  Other: 2 pennies; 3-D foam.  (Size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4").

A Halloween Boo!

I bought the Sizzix die. . .Phrase Boo. . . a least a year ago now, and I have not had the opportunity to use it.  For this year's Halloween cards, I vowed I would make myself design a card that could use it.  This was one of those cards where I started with a whole different color scheme in mind.  I was going to do oranges and blacks and whatever else came up as I searched for just the right papers.  Somehow, it turned into a lime green, black, and saffron yellow colored card.  This was all because I decided I should try to use some of my old stash of papers, and thus decided on the lime green spider paper from a 2011 DCWV stack.  I switched my BOO from an orange glitter paper to a black glitter paper, and I switched my circle underlay from black to a saffron yellow to match one of the spider bellies on the lime spider paper, though I did such a good job adding layers and die-cuts that eventually most of the spiders on the paper have been covered up.  They are a little easier to see when you see the actual card and not just a photo. 

After playing with the layout of the BOO, I decided the card would be a horizontal rectangle opening at the base, and it would have to be at least 6-1/4" x 5".  I also decided I would pop the second layer set of papers up onto the two paper layers that make of the base.  I don't think this actually shows in the photo.  Ultimately, my card had to have glittery spider webs and a little black spider as well.  One of the last ideas was to use the web netting that I bought from JoAnn's Fabrics to use this Halloween.  I arrived at a final decision on placement of the BOO letters and web embellishments, and this is how my card turned out.  I'm thinking I will probably give it to one of my children, but I'll make the decision of who closer to Halloween.

Recipe:  Papers:  Stampin' Up Black (base); BoBunny Double Dot--Avocado; DCWV 2011 Hallowenn & Fall Stack; Core'dinations Glitter-String of Pearls (saffron); Recollections Black Glitter S[ecialty.  Die:  Sizzix BigZ--Boo Phrase; Spellbinders Circles (3-3/4")' Little B--Halloween (corner webs); MFT--Spooky Window (spider).  Stash:  Web netting (JoAnns); Recollections pumpkin.  (Size: 5" x 6-1/4").

An Anniversary. . .Celebrating 50 Years!

What can I say. . .I was a child bride!  It is our anniversary this month, and I made a little anniversary card for my husband.  The original card was a designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner) a few years ago.  I just had to steal it, because it fit the occasion so well, and the colors fit the fall season so perfectly.  

I did enlarge my card, making it square and added the ribbon embellishment for a bit more flair!  I hope my sometimes nutty husband enjoys it!  I made a little verse, which I thought fit my husband to a "tee" at least most of the time! LOL

Recipe: Cream cardbase, BoBunny Double dot cs; Echo Park pattern dsp. Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade 3/8" Ruffled ribbon (retired). MayArts twine.  EK Punch: Fancy Photo Corner.

A Superhero for My Great Nephew's 11th!

My grand nephew turns 11 in October.  I purchased a stamp set from Stampin' Up several months ago that was intended to be used on Landon's birthday, Calling All Heros.  It is a cool stamp set with different kinds of hair-dos, masks, and mouths, including a city scape, lightning bolt, word bubbles, letters, etc.  I had such a myriad of choices. . .where to begin?

This was a card that evolved as it got built, even changing out some of the papers I was going to use for others as I went along.  The scene is set in the dark of night and I made my city skyline very 3-D looking by layering it three deep.  I also had to extend my buildings because my card size was larger than this stamp set was built for and I trimmed their height/ shape to suit the skyline.  That turned out to be relatively easy, and I stamped on yellow cardstock to make the windows lit up. 

I decided I would use the full head mask that covers the nose---kind of Batman looking.  I was not happy with the stamped blue on my superhero's head as it was not opaque enough to suit me.  I found the Copic marker B28 was a perfect match to the ink that I used, so I over-colored it to fill it all in.  This also allowed me to add the Batman ears, which the stamp set did not come with (copyright rules, I'm sure).  This stamp set comes with letters, so I made my own sentiment using  the jagged word bubble provided.  My birthday fishtail flag is cut with paper cutter/ scissors.  I made my own batman search light oval and a bat from another die set as the stamp set did not provide these either. . .again, copyright issues I'm guessing.  I'm pretty happy with my little superhero guy, and I hope Landon likes him as well.

My next usual step is to find or build an inside verse that fits the theme of the card and the occasion, and then, to create an interior that compliments the front design.  Here is what I came up with, and I think it meets all the criteria!

Recipe:

Papers:  Stampin' Up -  Black cardbase, Real Red cs, Hello Honey cs; BoBunny - Double Dot:  Denim Vintage Dot, Harvest Dot, Buttercup Dot; DCWV - The Glitter Stack.  SU stamps: Calling All Heros.  Ink: SU Real Red; Memento Danube Blue, Tuxedo Black; StazOn Black.  Dies: Spellbinders - Circles, Pinking Circles.  Sizzix - Bats #3.  Punch: Stampin' Up Large Oval.  Other:  Copics: 100 (Black), B28.  Technique: Fussy-cut.  Size:  6-3/8" x 5-1/4".

#8 is My LAST Sister-in-Law Birthday for 2014!

The last of my sister-in-law birthdays is in October and is also a sister of my husband!  As I said on the previous post these two cards would be arriving a tad bit belated due to all our family activities and celebrations the last few weeks of September and the first week of October!  For this last card, I decided to use another kit from my Magnolia Tilda card set designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner), and with a few changes to suit my use of the card and sentiment placement.  Once again, I revisited using woodless-coloring pencils set with Mineral Spirits.  This plump little Tilda is called Swirling Leaf Tilda, and she is adorable with her windswept braids, swirling leaves, and what look like stylish Doc Martin boots---once again perfect with fall colors.

This card will travel to Utah to wish Judy a very happy belated birthday, and let her know we were thinking about her on her actual birthday.  Though her card was made before her birthday, it could not possibly arrive with snail mail until a few days later.  Happy Birthday Judy!  Enjoy your little Tilda card.

Next, I created the interior design to compliment the front and composed a little story verse for a belated birthday card.

Recipe:

Paper:  Georgia-Pacific White cs; Bazzill: Tangelo/ Lagoon. Basic Grey: Pyrus-Perry 2.  Stamps:  Magnolia Swirling Leaf Tilda.  Dies:  Spellbinders Circles/ Scallop Circles.  Punches: EK Medium Scallop Corners (inside).  Other:  Progresso Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored pencils (Michaels).  Mineral spirits (WalMart).  3/8" Two-tone double-sided satin (Offray). Twine (May Arts). Computer sentiment. Stash: buttons.

A Niece Has A Birthday to Celebrate!

One of my sister's girls has an October birthday.  In fact, it is on the same day as my son, Mark's, birthday and my husband's youngest sister.  I also have yet to make a card for my great nephew who celebrates on the exact same day.  What a busy day!  I guess in some ways it's good that we don't all live close enough to visit or it could be a problem!

I'm into making fall cards...just love the color combinations of autumn!  Our dinner-plate-sized Maple leaves are beginning to fall, but as it has been a lovely and warmer fall than usual, the leaves were slower to get ready to abandon their high perches. Though by Halloween, we should be wading in them knee deep!

With falling leaves in mind, I thought I'd make my niece a colorful leaf birthday card in the shape of our Maple leaves to remind her of her brief time living in Washington.    My next step was to design an interior that coordinated with the card front, and then compose a verse that fit the occasion.  Shauna's card would another that would arrive a bit late due to all my fast-paced family activities during the past three weeks.  I hope she enjoys her fall leaves card as much as I enjoyed putting it together!

Recipe:

Paper:  SU Natural Ivory (base), Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla, Pool Party; Echo Park Fall Fever-Journaling Leaves.  MME-So Sophie: Celebrate (grid).  Basic Grey-Pattern Paper:  Archaic Ancient.  Dies: SU Autumn Accents Bigz; Spellbinders Labels 12.  Punches: Scallop Edge Border; (Inside: EK: Medium Scallop Corner).  Other: SU: Button.  May Arts Twine.

Sister-in-Law Birthday Celebrations!

October is a BIG cardmaking month for me with numerous family and friend birthdays and my anniversary card to my husband!  With two birthday cards under my belt, I now turn to my last two sister-in-law birthdays this month only one day apart.  My first card is for my husband's youngest of four sisters.  I had a little card kit designed by my sister, Heidi, Gonzales (My Lil' Stamp Corner), and decided to put it together with just a few changes to suit my needs.  I revisited  the use of woodless colored pencils on the Patch Tilda stamp by Magnolia.  She is fussy-cut and popped up off her Spellbinders Labels 9 frame.  Isn't she a cutie in her patched coveralls---perfect for a fall-colored card.  

I am pretty happy with the way my coloring job turned out after not using this technique for over three years after converting to Copic markers as my coloring tool of choice.  I even remember how to use the Mineral Spirits to set the color between shades.  I think June will like her card, though it will be a few days late due to so many activities and celebrations within our own immediate family in the early days of October.

I finished off the inside of the card to coordinate with the outside design and made up a little verse to fit with belated birthday greetings.

Recipe:

Paper:  Georgia-Pacific White cs; Bazzill: Tangelo/ Simon. Basic Grey: Pyrus-Pyrinae/ Pirum.; BoBunny Shiitake DoubleDot.  Stamps:  Magnolia Sitting Patch Tilda.  Dies:  Spellbinders Labels 9.  Punches: EK Medium Scallop Corners (inside).  Other:  Progresso Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored pencils (Michaels).  Mineral spirits (WalMart).  Twine (May Arts). Computer sentiment. Stash: Crochet lace, buttons.

A Nephew's Birthday to Celebrate!

One of my sister's boys has a birthday in October a few days after my own son, Mark's, birthday.  Well, why not...doesn't EVERYONE want a birthday in October!  I just counted up, and I have 12 birthdays in October with 9 of them before October 15th, plus an anniversary in mid-October as well, and not to mentioned, Halloween cards!  It's a very BUSY month!  I think I'm overwhelming myself just thinking about it!!! 

This post is about my sixth birthday card this month for my nephew, Davis.  My mojo was sending me to thinking about a card using owls as they just seem to go with fall and the month of October, in my mind anyhow!  I had a stash of paper by Echo Park called Fall Fever from a few years back loaded with leaves, owls, and trees, and the owl paper just spoke to me.  A friend of mine, Misty Bradley, made a card several years ago with this very same paper, and I thought I would borrow the theme of her layout with a repositioning and changes here and there to make it my own.  She gave me some Cricuit cut letters for the word fall that she used on her card, and I found them stored with the paper, so away I went.  My card will be a squat rectangle rather than the traditional 5" x 7", with a few more color layers added, and I thought the birthday sentiment, WHOO's BIRTHDAY??, would fit the bill.  What probably doesn't show in the picture is the little red owl that I decided to fussy-cut out of the paper, added googlie eyes, and popped him up on his own image from the paper below.  This is my card that evolved using a layout similar to Misty's and a bit of my mojo added for Davis's birthday.  I hope he enjoys his little fall owl card as much as I enjoyed making it!

Recipe:

Paper:  Bazzill Mono cardstocks: Brown (base), Saltillo (red-orange), Coastal, Glow, Pear, Dotted Swiss-Mud Puddle; Echo Park Fall Fever Owl/ Stripe.  Spellbinders dies: Circles/ Scallop Circles. May Arts Hemp Twine.  Stash: Googlie Eyes, Cricuit Letters.  Fishtail banners: hand-cut.  (Size: 5"x6-1/4").

Congrats! A 10-Year Accomplishment!

We are celebrating our son David in the early days of October with a family dinner and outing.  He set a goal 10 years ago that he is proud to say he has achieved, and the family wants to take time to tell him that we are proud of him for knowing he needed to set the goal, sticking to it, and achieving it!  He tells me he has set new goals for the years ahead. . .again, good for him!!

We should all take time just to say to our loved ones every now and then how proud we are of them and happy to have wonderful times to spend together as a family and just enjoy each others company.  It says loud and clear. . ."Hey, I love you, I enjoy you, and love to be in your company!  Thanks for being here for me, too!"

I decided I wanted to use the My Favorite Things t-shirt die again and settled on using a couple of stamps that are companions to this die; the saying, You Rock and a lightning bolt.  I embossed the stamp prints with gold and black and used a red shimmer cardstock for the T-shirt.  Various Graphic 45 patterned papers worked in beautiful with the masculine theme and the color combinations.  Below is the final design I came up with.  I know David will like his t-shirt card and probably wish he had a t-shirt just like it that he could actually wear!

Recipe:    Paper:  SU Black cs; American Crafts POW Glitter (gold); DCWV Shimmer cs (t-shirt); Graphic 45-Bird Song (stripe)/ Commuique-Photogenic (pattern); DCWV Gold Stag Star.

Dies:  MFT Masculine Graphic T-Shirt (+ stamps); Spellbinders Five Stars, Pinking Circles LG/ SM; Stampin' Up Framelits Stars; Sizzix Sizzlits Mango Tango Numbers.  Punches:  EK Notebook Border; WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  (Inside: EK Medium Scallop Corners.)  Other:  Stampin' Up Rhinestones (marker colored).  Size: 6-3/8" x 5-3/8."