Chevron frame card...

A few days ago we celebrated my stepson's birthday, and I turned to my Cameo and Design ID #82527 from the Silhouette Online Store to make him a birthday card.

I cut the Chevron frame out of black CS and backed all four sides with some blue CS.

Then I backed the entire front of my card with a piece of white cardstock on which I had printed my sentiment. Well, I guess I should say most of my sentiment. The "B" was actually cut out with an old Cuttlebug die several times and glued together for dimension before adhering it to my card. The colon was made with a single-hole punch.

Did you notice that I printed all my capital "Bs" in blue?

On the inside of my card, I used another computer-generated sentiment on white CS. You can see the white CS on both sides of my card's interior in the photo above.

We arrived home from Oregon last night. Even though there is only a 2-hour time difference, I feel like I have jet lag. I'd just like to lay down and have a long nap. Maybe tomorrow...

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.
Cheryl

Another baby girl card...

When I was making my last baby card, which was featured in this post, I decided that it only made sense to make two cards. After all, my desk was filled with girly papers and baby stamps, so why not?

I decided to use a swing-card die set by Sizzix for my card base.

I found some pretty pastel heart-patterned paper in my stash that was perfect for my background panels. The flowers were cut with a set of graduated flower dies (not sure of the brand, and I'm half-way across the country so can't run down to my craft room to check), and the leafy flourish is a Cheery Lynn die.

The little bird came from a Sizzix stamp and die set. It was the perfect size for my card!

The stamps used on this card are all from My Craft Spot. It's the only set of baby stamps that I have, so if I want something different, I have to create it on my Cameo or the computer.

The scalloped and pierced circle dies were all part of my swing card die set.

On the back side of my swinging circle, I added another stamped sentiment and a couple of flowers. I felt they needed a little leaf, so I cut another flourish (Cheery Lynn), cut off a couple of the larger leaves and nestled them next to my little flowers. I thought this added a nice touch to an otherwise plain-looking area of my card.

We are currently having a grand time in Oregon. We went with my son and daughter and their families on a 10-mile bike ride yesterday and then went out for a yummy Mexican meal (my favorite!).

Today we are enjoying the beautiful weather in our son's gorgeous back yard.

I hope you're having as much fun this week as I am. Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.
Cheryl

Girly birthday card...

As I have mentioned in past posts, I've been making several birthday cards for boys for my daughter to have in her stash. While I was making those cards, I decided to also make a rather girly card. Even though my daughter had specifically said she needed "boy" cards, I figured I may as well make a feminine one, too, for my granddaughter to give to a friend.

I've had this image colored up for some time now, and have just been waiting for the opportunity to use it. I had cut it out with a Lifestyle Crafts scalloped rectangle. So I inked around the edges of that and added my sentiment. Then I backed it with some pretty paper (from a craft magazine) and put it all onto a pale green card base.

This sweet image is from Cuddlebug Cuties. I've used her images before, and just love coloring them up! I always use my ProMarkers for these, because they blend so nicely

I've added some Glossy Accents to the balloon, along with a sequin for a tiny spot of bling.

I was in a bit of a hurry while making this card, so my inside is very plain--just a stamped sentiment. I think it will do for my young granddaughter to give to a friend, though.

Today we are heading off to the northwest area of the U.S. to visit a daughter and son and their families. I'm so excited! I love that part of the country. It'll be a short visit--just five days--so I'm sure it will be jam-packed with fun.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.
Cheryl

You deserve a break today...

Do you remember the classic McDonald's TV ad with the jingle, "You deserve a break today...?" If not, you can listen to a 1970s version here and a 1980s version here.

For some reason, that jingle came to mind when I was thinking about what kind of card I'd like to make my grandson for his 11th birthday. This is what I came up with:

The "full meal deal" was another old advertising campaign, but I think it might have actually been Dairy Queen that used that one.

The soda bottle and burger were cut with my Cricut using the Nifty Fifties cartridge. I cut the bottle from a piece of vellum cardstock and tinged it with a bit of green using a ProMarker.

The burger was cut from white cardstock and each layering piece was colored with ProMarkers. I love how it turned out doing that. It enabled me to add some shading to all the pieces and make it look more realistic.





This time the inside of my card is pretty plain, with just a computer-generated sentiment. I left lots of room to write a personal note.

I told my grandson he'd need his mom to sing the jingle for him (I just hope she remembers it!), so he would know what it's suppose to sound like.

I think this card would work for all ages, don't you? The soda bottle and burger were really fun to put together. It was also fun to cut with my Cricut again. It's been a looooooong time since I've done that. I've been too enamored with the Silhouette Cameo to even think about using my Cricut. I'm going to try to use it a bit more in the future, though. What's the use of having a machine if you don't use it???

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.
Cheryl

Skateboarder birthday cards...

Here are a couple more cards I made for my daughter to have in her stash. She has two boys who regularly attend birthday parties for their buddies, and she needed some cards on  hand for those occasions.

I started with a blue card base and added a black mat. Then I cut a piece of white CS that was rounded on one side (with a circle die). I used my score board to add some rays that all started from the centerpoint of the rounded side. Once my scoring was done, I inked it up with some distress ink. The rays absorbed more of the ink so became more prominent, which was perfect! I added a sparkly star border, a couple of single stars and some silver metal dots to complete my card.

For the next card I used the same process but different colors. Instead of stars, I added a simple border made with a Paper Smooches dots border die.

My skateboarder silhouettes were from a cutting file that I purchased in the Silhouette Online Store (Design ID #83811). I think they work great for these pre-teen boy birthday cards.

The HB2U were black glittery number/letter stickers from my stash.

The insides of my cards were pretty simple with a computer-generated sentiment.

Well, I am nearly to the end of my childcare stint with my grandkids. I will have a rest over the weekend, and then Monday is my last day on duty.

Yesterday, I brought my three grands (ages 13, 10 and 8) to my house for a couple of hours to craft a Father's Day gift for their dad. They had so much fun and did such a great job. I only wish there had been time for me to take pictures of what they created, but we were in a big rush.

They are at an age when they can really make some fabulous items, and they have such good ideas! I think I should have them around all the time, if only to help me brainstorm and plan my next project.

Have a wonderful weekend and thanks so much for stopping by. Remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.
Cheryl

Sweet baby girl card...

A while back I needed some baby girl cards, and this is one that I made.

The little baby elephant was cut with a mini die by Cottage Cutz. Isn't it so cute? I don't actually have this die, but my sister does, and she let me cut out a few to have on hand.

After cutting it out, I used some pink distress ink to add some shading. I also colored the heart with a marker and then covered it with Glossy Accents.

My fancy rectangle was cut with a Spellbinders die. My sentiment is from a stamp set by My Craft Spot, and the ribbon and background paper are from my stash.

I adhered the ribbon with some Glossy Accents, which works really well. I always put a little weight on the ribbon until the Glossy Accents is dry to make sure it stays in place and that I get good adhesion.



On the inside of my card is another sentiment from My Craft Spot and a little punched heart.

I matted both the front and inside panels with pink CS.

That was it! Easy peasy.




I was supposed to take my 8-year-old grandson to soccer practice tonight, but it was raining buckets!! We had some thunder and lightening, too. I love a good summer storm, as long as no one suffers any damage.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.
Cheryl

Pinterest-inspired Converse shoe card...

When I was poking around on Pinterest looking for ideas for "boy" cards for my daughter to keep in her stash, I came across this fun idea.

My photo is a tad out of focus, so please ignore that. I simply made some faux stitch lines on a piece of red CS with a white gel pen. Then I added some evenly spaced grommets (after matting my red onto black CS) and used some narrow twill tape for the laces. The star was cut with a die and centered onto a stitched circle die-cut and a plain circle die cut. I did a little inking (with black ink) on the white parts of my card front so that it didn't look so much like a brand new Converse tennis shoe.

The sentiment on the inside of my card was computer-generated.

This card was so quick and easy, that I made two of them for my daughter. She has two boys, so they can each use one of them when they're next invited to a birthday party for one of their buddies.

I continue to shuffle grandkids to swimming and soccer each day and supervise them at home while their dad is at work and my daughter is in Croatia. Believe me, it keeps me hopping!! I am actually quite shocked that I have found the time to post this.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.
Cheryl

Let's Craft and Create Challenge #114: Hearts and/or Flowers...

I was deeply saddened this past week when I learned of the untimely death of Eileen Dobson, the wonderful leader of our Design Team and owner of Let's Craft and Create Challenge Blog. Eileen has been an inspiration to the entire team with her amazing creativity and her brave fight against breast cancer.

To honor and remember this beautiful person, we will continue the blog and the challenges, as she had wished. Our challenge for the month of June--Hearts and/or Flowers--is dedicated to Eileen, and we truly hope you will join us in this special tribute to her.

As I set about to make my card, I thought about how Eileen would want us to continue to use our creativity to bolster the spirits of someone else who is going through difficulties with their health. In light of that, I was inspired to create a card filled with loving get well wishes.

I had a package of tiny lavender vellum envelope stickers by Sticko (in photo) in my stash. I've had these for a loooooong time, and have been thinking about how I'd like to use them.

I also had a gorgeous lavender paper with pink roses that had come with an issue of Cardmaking & Papercraft magazine. One of the lavender shades in the paper perfectly matched the color of these little envelopes.

With some pink ribbon--again from my stash--and some hearts cut with Darice dies, my card came together. As a finishing touch, I decided to add a few flat-backed gems in shades of pink.

For the inside of my card, I cut a plain lavender mat and used a couple of the die-cut hearts to adorn my sentiment, which was computer-generated.

Please visit Let's Craft and Create to see the outstanding designs from the rest of the Design Team. You will be blown away by what they have created! We would LOVE it if you would join us in this very special challenge and submit your own creation using hearts and/or flowers. You've got until the end of June to submit your card, layout, home décor or other items, and one of you will win this month's special prize (see the challenge blog for details).

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Your birthday it is, celebrate you must...

One of my daughters asked me to make her a few birthday cards for boys. She has two young boys who go to a lot of birthday parties, and they like to give cards along with their gifts.

This is one of the cards I made for her.

I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut the Star Wars LEGO figures (cut file was a free download from www.iammommahearmeroar.net). I inked around the edges of the Stormtrooper and Yoda figures and popped them all up with foam tape.

The rectangles that back each figure are actually cut from a shimmery gold cardstock. I know you can't see it in the photo, but it truly is gold. And shimmery.

The stars were cut from black glitter CS with one of my smallest star dies, and the sentiment was computer-generated.

I kept the inside pretty simple. Boys don't like lots of fluff or poetry, do they? This Happy Birthday stamp is super old - not sure of the maker. I only added a couple of stars for decoration.

This card was so much fun to make that I actually made two of them. I've got a couple more cards to share that I made for my daughter, but I'll save those for future posts.

Speaking of blog posts, mine may be a little scarce over the next couple of weeks as I am helping to care for three of my grandchildren while their mother (another daughter) is out of the country. She is leading a group of university students in Croatia and teaching classes there, as well. I hope she's having a great trip!



Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.
Cheryl