She's a Little Black & Blue!

My Mom decided to stub her shoe against the planter curb at the local grocery store.  She had been a "good girl" and returned her grocery cart to the allocated cart area (something a lot of people do not do), and was returning to get into her car when she and the curb next to her car decided to have an argument.  Guess who won...well, it wasn't Mom.  She fell, and it was so quick and unexpected that she was not able to block her fall.  She went right down onto the curb, face first!  She broke her nose in three places and pretty much took the skin off the entire nose from her brow to the nose base.  

The good news it that after a week, the thick scabs on her nose exterior have finally all fallen off.  More good news is that it is nice and straight and will heal just fine, and the swelling has subsided to the point where she looks more like herself.  Meanwhile, she is very black and blue from her brow clear down her face and down her neck to the collar bones.  The doctor says that it will probably take a full six weeks for all the bruising to completely disappear.

There is one thing about Mom you should know. When she does something, she doesn't fool around!  It is always very thorough and leaves nothing undone.  This, apparently, includes hurting herself!  She assures me she is doing fine and does not need me to make a trip down to help out.  So, in the meantime, I wanted to make her a feel better card to let her know I'm thinking about her and hoping her recovery is speedier than the doctor's forecast.

I wanted to play around with hexagons and embossing paste, but I didn't have any paste, nor all of the ingredients to make some of the homemade varieties on Pinterest.  In addition, I have ordered a hexagon stencil from a scrapbook store online, but it has not yet arrived.  I do have some little hexagon dies made by Sizzix and larger ones made by Spellbinders, so I decided that is what I would use.  At least, I'd get hexagons onto my card!  I have a DCWV stack called Collage Art, and the papers take on the quality of being layered with Gesso paint or Embossing Paste that is smeared over a colored cardstock or patterned paper using a stencil.  This paper will be the mainstay of my card, and this is how it turned out.  I hope Mom enjoys her card and it makes her feel better.  I'm thinking about you Mom and hoping for a speedy recovery!

Recipe:  Paper - Darise kraft cardbase; Iralamija Postcards cursive-colorized; DCWV stack: Art Collage; Stampin' Up Blushing Bride pink; Core'dinations Core Couture String of Pearls (pale yellow glitter).  Dies - Spellbinders Hexagons; Sizzix Triplets Hexagons.  Punch - EK Arrow Edger.  Accessories - Pearls: Recollections Large & Medium. Button: Stampin' Up Very Vintage. Pearl Corsage Pins (Michaels). Wilton 4" Doily (Michaels). Sparkle Netting: Vintage Pink (Joanns). Stampin' Up: Dazzling Details (adhesive glitter).  Sentiment - Computer-made - Malihini Cuban BTN font.  Size: 5-3/8" x 6-1/2".

Under the Weather???

One of my husband's cousins had an accident that turned into quite an ordeal about three months ago, and we just heard about it a few weeks ago.  While mowing his lawn, a small stick flew up from under the mower, hit his eye, and lodged in his cornea.  Because of the intense flair-up and swelling, they were unable to tell the extent of his injury for quite some time.  Eventually, it was determined that he had cornea damage, and would have to have a cornea transplant to repair his eye sight.  This surgery took place about four weeks ago, and now it is a wait and see situation, hoping the body does not reject the transplant.  John and I are really sorry that we did not know of this situation sooner, but I guess word travels slowly when you are not on Facebook (as my husband is not)!

I wanted to make a card for John Kerry letting him know we are both thinking about him and praying for his full and speedy recovery.  So, with the thought in mind that it is not a sickness, my card evolved into sentiments of feeling under the weather and hoping he would be feeling up to par very soon.  My creative mind turned to gray clouds with the sun shining through as it would soon burst through in glorious sunshine.  This is how my finished card looked that we sent out to John Kerry in the mail!

Recipe: SU cardstock: Smoky Slate (base), So Saffron, Pool Party, Whisper White, Hello Honey.  SU DSP stack: 2012-2013 (Basic Gray dots). Paper Co. Victorinia Lt. Gray. Stash: misc. yellow patterns.  SU Ink distressing: Smoky Slate. Cloud dies: My Favorite Things/ Papertrey Ink. SU punches: 1-3/4" Circle, Bitty Banner. Ribbon: 5/8" Smoky Slate Satin. SU Dazzling Details-Silver. Computer sentiment: Shelley/ DaddyO fonts. Inside - EK Scallop Corner; WRMK Corner Chomper-Scallop. (Size: 5-1/4" x 6-1/2"). 

Thinking of a Friend...Feel Better Soon!

A good friend has been under the weather for over a week, and I wanted to send her a little pick-me-up card to let her know I was thinking about her and wishing her well.  

I decided on a card I made a few weeks ago that has been waiting to be chosen for the perfect person it was surely meant for.  The bones of this card are from a lovely design of my sister's, Heidi Gonzales/ My Lil' Scrap Corner.  While putting it together, of course, I had to make a few adjustments to make it more me.  I added two base layers, changing the card base from white to navy and adding a little aqua layer in-between it and the first patterned-paper layer.  I also decided to add a corner design to the navy pattern so it was not just a plain square by using my WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  It also sports a navy ribbon with a double bow instead of an indigo blue single layer bow. 

I hope my friend enjoys her very colorful little card, and it perks her up, and she knows she is thought about often!

Recipe: Stamp: PTI Mini Blooms (sentiment/ mini flowers). Papers - SU cs: Night of Navy, Pool Party, Whisper White. WRMK Yellow cs.  DSP: WRMK-Feelin’ Groovy: Harmony (diamonds), Stripes (back: scroll print).  Memento Tuxedo Black ink. Spellbinders die: Scalloped Squares. PTI die: Happy Day. WRMK Deco Corner Chomper. Colorbox Chestnut Roan (edge distressing). Hug Snug Skipper Blue seam binding ribbon. Recollections mini rhinestones. 

A Nursing Graduation with High Honors!

As many of you may have read, my youngest daughter complete her R.N. degree back in December, 2013 and passed her R.N. NCLEX licensing test in early February, 2014.  We are, as we should be, extremely proud of her.  She gave her all in the pursuit of this goal, working only part-time, and living at home again.  The results were graduation with high honors of a 4.0 GPA and a Presidential Medal Nominee.  As she says, I may never "walk" for a degree again with high honors and two gold cords, so she plans to do just that.  Her next goal is to complete her B.S.N. at the University of Washington, and I'll be greatly surprised if she isn't just as successful with that course of study.  But, as she says, "I'll be working full-time as an R.N. and going to school part-time, so I may not have as much time to focus just on school work."  She laughs and adds, "And besides, I'm not getting any younger!"

To commemorate achieving this goal with such success, I wanted to make her a special card.  I made several "owl" graduation cards a few years ago and decided to use owls again for Jackie's card, but there would be two owls on her card, one with a cap and gown (and gold cords, of course), and one transforming into nurse scrubs.  I hope Jackie likes her little owl graduation card, as it was a lot of fun making it for her.

Recipe:  Papers: Recollections Navy cs (cardbase); SU Lucky Limeade; SU Soft Suede cs (tree/sponged); SU Always Artichoke (sponged); DCWV Collage Art Stack; MME Everyday Tango Collection; Recollections Essentials Distressed (blue inside); DCWV Shimmer Stack; October Afternoon: Cakewalk/ Hula Hoop (stripe); SU Red Glimmer paper.  SU stamps: A Dozen Thoughts.  SU Punches: Owl Builder, Itty Bitty Circle (cap)/ Flower (nurse cross) punches.  EK Punches: 3/4" Square (hat-cut to diamond), Fancy Photo Corners (inside). Dies:  Lifestyles-Eyelet Ovals; Nesting Ovals (modified smaller). Sizzix Sizizlit: Little Leaves.  SU Woograin EF.  Lion Gold Metallic fine yarn. May Arts: Hemp Twine.  Uni-ball Signo White Gel pen.   (Size: 6" square). 

Whoo's Under the Weather?

A very, long-time friend of my husband just had spinal surgery.  He will have a long recovery and therapy process, which will probably run into months.  My husband wanted me to make a card to send back East to let him know he was thinking about him and wishes every good thought for his complete and speedy recovery.

I remembered an owl card designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Stamp Corner), that I made several years ago in one of her Stampin' Up classes that I thought I would work really well as a Get Well card by using "whoo" in the sentiment.  I then designed the inside to coordinate with the front of the card and composed a get well verse to suit the occasion.  Here is my little card that I re-created.  My sentiment and its shape is my own choice.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers: Pumpkin Pie cs (base), Baja Breeze cs, Everyday Enchantment dsp (SAB 2012).  Stampin' Up stamps: Aviary.  Stampin' Up Ink:  Lucky Limeade, Chococate Chip.  Everyday Enchantment Ribbon: Calypso Coral/ Lucky Limeade. Stampin' Up Punches: 1-1/2" circle; 1-3/4" Scallop Circle, Dotted Scallop Ribbon border.  EK punch: Medium scallop photo corner, Journal Plate (modified). WRMK Corner Chomper: Deco.  Colorbox Chestnut Roan distressing.

Get Well!

A lovely, elderly lady, who happens to be my daughter-in-laws grandmother, has taken a fall and broken her hip, some ribs, and has some serious bruising, all of which caused her to be admitted to the hospital and then to a therapy/recovery care center.  I wanted to send her a little get well and thinking about you card so she would know that she is not forgotten and is in our thoughts and prayers for her speedy recovery.  

Because I have quite a number of cards that I have made, but not shared with anyone, I dove into to my stash looking for a cheerful card to suit my purpose.  I found this little card that I made at a card class hosted by Misty Bradley over two years ago.  It was not originally a get well card, but I changed the sentiment and now it is just right.  I have always loved this paper by My Mind's Eye...it is so bright and cheerful. I am hoping my card brings her wonderful smile back to her normally cheerful face!

Recipe:  Georgia Pacific White cs, MME: Fine & Dandy-Tickled Pink. Core'inations: Gemstone-Turquoise. Spellbiners Labels LG. WRMK Deco Corner Chomper. Colorbox Chestnut Roan (distressing). Martha Stewart Deco Fan corner punch. May Arts 5/8" Twill-white. Petaloo Mulberry paper daisies. Recollections pearls. Computer-made sentiment/ verse.

Working on June Birthdays!

I have several birthdays in June, so I am diving into my stash of cards I made during the last month and tweaking them here and there to suit these special birthdays.  One of my signature traits is to always decorate the inside and compose a verse or poem to suit the person who will be receiving the card.  So far, here is what I've come up with. . .

This card will be for John's mother's birthday TODAY!

She IS 97 ...WOW!

This card was taught by Amy Muhly at a Stampin' Up workshop.  

I loved learning this embossed brayer technique...very elegant!

I tweaked my layout a bit and my sentiment ribbon is a birthday, 

but the flavor of Amy's design is retained.  Stampin' Up Beautiful Wings Embosslit (Sizzilit die) die-cuts the butterflies.

And now the inside decorations and a verse for a wonderful lady...

Happy Birthday Alice!

This little girl will be a birthday card for John's aunt...her 91st!
The card's techniques were taught by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner):  tri-fold card design, coloring with woodless-colored pencils and paper-piecing (skirt).  I enlarged the card from its original design.

And now its verse...Happy Birthday, Aunt Joanie!

I think this is the perfect card for my sister-in-law, 

who lives in warm and sunny California.  I'm sure they must be at least 20 degrees warmer than our northwest Washington location!

(Card class by Heidi Gonzales to introduce Stampin' Up Smooch papers.)

And now a verse for my newest sister-in-law...Happy Birthday Thelma!

Get Well Card for Niece./ Cheer Up to Niece!

My three-year-old great niece just had her tonsils and adenoids removed yesterday...a bit of surgery!  My family wanted to send her some get well wishes along with a DQ gift card for ice cream...what better way to get well!

Taylor's get well card

(sample card seen in a current card magazine)

And then a little verse inside to help with recovery!

I made a little card to let my niece know we are thinking about her during this bit of a stressful time. . .

Shauna, we have you and your family in our thoughts and prayers...
keep your chin up!
(Card made during Amy Muhly Stampin' Up card club.  I tweaked the "Thinking of You' sentiment from original design.)

My inside card design and sentiment (Stampin' Up products used: Top Note Die, Butterfly embosslits, Itty Bitty punch.)

Get Well Wishes in August 2010!

My daughter-in-law's mother had surgery in August, 2010.  She is a really sweet lady, just like her daughter, and I wanted to let her know I was thinking about her and hoping for a speedy recovery.  It's no fun to have surgery and especially when it is summer in the northwest. . .some of our very best days of the year it is especially not good.  As many know, we have more rain than sun, and August is the sunniest month of the year!  With this in mind, I thought a bright, cheerful card would be just the thing with a little butterfly to deliver my little get well poem that I composed for the inside.  I hope Marsha like her card and it brings a smile to her face!

Get Well Card for Sister-in-Law. . .

One of my husband's sister had neck and back surgery in April, 2010.  I thought it would be nice to send her a little get well card.  I found these really pretty silk butterflies at the Dollar Store, of all places, in their floral section.  I snatched it up for my cardmaking stash, which by the way, had begun to multiply somewhat abundantly.  I immediately knew these butterflies it would be even pretty with a little glitter glue on its wings to add sparkle.  They also brought to mind some open stock paper from Joanns in my paper stash that I knew would coordinate very well with them.  

I decided these were the items were what I would use to make Judy's card and brought them out to stare at them until my mojo went to work.  I was really happy with the outcome of my butterfly card.  As I looked at the finished product, I thought it would make a good Mother's Day or birthday card.  I'll tuck that idea away for the future, especially if I'm tight on time, then I could just make another.

Ingredients:  Bazzill cardstocks: white/ navy.  JoAnns: open-stock patterned paper.  BoBunny BoDot paper.   Zutter Corner Rounder, Martha Stewart Scallop Eyelet punch. BoBunny Sheer Dot ribbon, Michaels: Dimension butterfly.  Stickles Irresdescent Glitter glue (wings). Computer sentiment/ verse.