A little Fishing never hurt anyone...

...and if it did, then I don't really want to hear about it.

This fish inspired card is great...if I do say so myself. I love all the different aspects of it: vellum, brads, piercing, crystal effects, and utilizing my CraftRobo! Click on the picture to learn more.

Purple Paradise

These types of cards seem to be everywhere...and then they go away for a while, but resurface when another "flower" holiday rolls around. I had never made one before, nor did I have any desire to make one, but found the pattern for these roses and was looking for a reason to use it. I love the way they look; they are a bit tricky, but well worth it if it is for someone/something you love. Click on the picture to learn more about this card and the reason behind making it.

He's the Man....

Father's Day Time!

As with my previous post about Mother's Day, I think Father's Day Cards are/can be taylored for specific types of fathers: simple, a little fancy, or over the top.

This card by my sister is great. What do I love about it? What gets me everytime is the image itself: that little bear cub thinks he is so clever and sneeky - and what is usually a Kick Me sign is actually a cute appreciation sign. Adorable.

I was able to make this card in my W'ink club. I love the monochromatic design and its simple lines and style (and sponging, embossing, and a little ribbon really helps to put it high on my list).

Revisiting the Woods

This card just makes me happy.

Once in a while I make a card which makes me stop and reflect: I think about the recipiant and the purpose of the card. On many occasions I realize that the card "works" for it's purpose, but once in a while I cannot get over myself - as is the case with this card. Even now, over a year later, I can't even believe that I made this card let alone how perfect is was for the recipiant. Click on the picture to learn all about this card and the purpose behind it.

Summer in Fall

We have reached the Summer in our review of the year and what says "summer" like a vase of fragrant flowers? I really enjoyed this card from my W'ink Club; I like how the patterned paper works with the image. With this card I also learned a technique using water color crayons differently than I had previously.

Hello Summer!

[Insert paper cutter/embosser brand name here.]

Regardless of what brand you use, don't you just love how there are so many options available for creating texture, pattern, shapes, and design? I do, but that is probably because I am a succor for it all: a little bumpy here, some shapes over there, something I didn't have to cut out myself in front, and some punches to top it all off!

I made this mini note card box and coordinating note card at a recent event and think it is adorable. The lattice paper was embossed, the flowers were cut and embossed, the sentiment was cut and embossed, and the circles were punched - add some ribbon and a bit of layering and ta-da...an adorable little gift box and card.

As I mentioned, it doesn't really matter what you use (I have a Cuttlebug and a CraftRobo, but who's keeping track) as long as it works for you. Enjoy them (And if you ever want a demonstration, then let me know and I will show you why I think they are amazing!)

A third of the way through...

Can you believe that we have made it a third of the way through the year already? That's right; in our trip through the year we have come to May - Mother's Day to be exact. Here are a couple cards which help celebrate mothers.

This first card is adorable. I think that it is fun and whimsical and would be perfect for any mother - especially those who may not be your 'cookie cutter' type of mother. The pearls on this little lady have a bit of glitter in them and I love how a typically masculine color palate is transformed to make this a successful card.

Switching gears, this Mother's day card is completely different in both style and target audience; it is more your typical occasion card with some flowers and such. I have to admit, it was a challenge to get it made (how it resulted in looked was a far cry than the idea at the begining), but I think that it was a great card to give to my mother and to my mother-in-law.

Click on the larger two photos to learn more about these two projects.

Arbor Day!

I feel that this has become a lost holiday. I don't do much to celebrat it, but I am going to take this opportunity to share a few tree-inspired cards.

I just love this stamp set; it is simple and basic, but it is relatable to so many different occasions. In this example, this set is used in a Spring setting with this bird and house. What else do I love about his card? Soft Suede...do you love it too? I think this is one of the better new colors that Stampin' Up! has introduced in a while. With this card I learned a new technique: stamping with bleach (the flowers on the back moss piece). I think it turned out rather nicely; click on the picture to learn more.

Here is another use for that same tree stamp; this time it is more of an early Spring or Fall setting. In this example, it is used in its bare form which I feel adds to the misty/foggy feel of this card. What else do I love about this card? Well, I am glad that you asked. The front panel of this card (the landscape scene) is a plain white pice of paper. That's right! Through sponging and the help of some carefully shaped stencils, this scene came to life. Click on the large picture to lean more about this exciting process. I have been tossing around the idea of putting together a tutorial on this card; if you are interested, then leave me a comment. If I get some interest, then I will create one.

My final tribute to Arbor Day comes in the form of a birthday card. I was inspired by a similar idea in the Stampin' Up! catalog, but pt a little "Nichole" twist on it. I utilized some colors which I felt matched the recipiant of this card as well as didn't make it too girly (which is good since it was for my brother-in-law). I used a hodgepodge of the Circle Circus stamps heat embossed with white on various colors and then punched with coordinating circles. A strategic tree trunk makes this tree "so freakin' cute' if I do say so myself (Suzanne, that's just for you). And to top it off, a creative fold and closure makes this card one of my favorites!

Happy Arbor Day everyone!

Who is in the mood for something free?

What would be better to celebrate the end of Spring in our review of the year then with some free and exciting crafting supplies? Um...nothing!

So, without further delay, here is what you need to do to be entered into the drawing for a wonderful crafting package (paper, accents, stamps, accents, ribbon, and some other items I want to keep a surprise):

1. Become a follower of my blog (over on the left side) if you are not already...and if you are then yippee: one less thing for you to do!

2. Leave a comment to this post with the answer to the following question: As I posted before, daisies are my favorite flower; from what movie is the following conversation:

Person #1: I love dasies.

Person #2: You told me.

Person #1: They're so friendly.

That is all you have to do: two little things...be a follower and identify a movie quote. I will draw a name from the correct responses on Saturday, October 16th.

Good Luck (especially to all you fellow daisy lovers)!

Spring is in the air...

I have a very large Mulberry tree in my front yard which means I know exactly when it is Spring; I get to be woken up by the "lovely" sound of birds chirping! All joking aside, I do love the sprintime: lighter coats, sunnier days, and the possibility of open-toed shoes. And ot make it even better, Spring brings the arrival of my favorite flower: the daisy. It is true - dasies come in all sorts of colors, sizes, and types, but my favorite is the "vanilla" version: the simple, basic, "Plain Jane," white daisy. Give me a yellow center with long white petals and I am in heaven.

I was so excited when I got to make this daisy card in my Stampede Card Club. It utilizes a custom debossed daisy pattern which is accented by a little sponging (daisies and sponging...I am in heaven)! Click on the card to see how Sharon, the designer, describes this project.

The other card features another sprintime flower: the tulip. I think this card is a double-spring-wammie since the tulip is formed by utilizing a wing from a bird punch - see, double springtime! Click on the card to learn more about this card.

Variety

Just as the world is filled will people of various styles and types, the same is true for cards (or anything else for that matter). Though I love receiving an thoughtful handmade card, I am not "anti-store-bought-card" by any means. This card was given to me by my sister-in-law and I think that it is wonderful (both the card and what was written inside). The card is a textured cardstock with a debossed image of a dandelion filled with celery green and a simple message; you can't ask for anything better than that.

On more of a Springtime note:

How exciting is this? We have made it to Easter in our trip down memory lane. One doesn't see many non-Easter Bunny Easter cards circulating out there; lucky for me, I have one of my own. Again, this is from my sister, Rachel, and I just love it! As I mentioned before, it is as though this card was made just for me because it utilizes so many of my favorite techniques:

Color: So Saffron (oh, I just love it, love it, love it), moss, black, and white. As a "yellow fan," this pairing helps to show the lightness of the yellow without it being too overpowering.

Texture: Embossing is such a simple way to add depth and dimention to any project and I just love the way the flower pattern offsets the sharp edges of this card.

Accents: It doesn't take much, but just a few brads helps to both ground the front of this card and add a little extra touch to elevate it to the next level.

Simple: The best projects always are; I don't mean "simple" in easy, but as in clean and uncluttered. I enjoy the simple and straightforward saying, the reservation used in the tulips, and the overall crispness of the card.

I love it all. Thanks for this "just for me" card, Rach.

A little retrosection.

I saw a freind of mine the other day and was so happy to finally meet-up with her and catch-up on all that has been happening. Her daughter, Sydney, is a little over six months old and she is growing up so quickly. I was able to make her birth announcements and loved being able to lend a hand. It was a challenge: I wanted to coordinate the announcement with the invite and thank you card I received without being too matchy-matchy. I decided to stick with the same color palate, but to put my own spin on the layout and style. If you are a follower of mine, then you will know: I love waterfall cards! What a great opportunity to utilize one of my favorite card templates for one of my favorite friends. Click on the picture to read more.

And then it was green....

A little further down the "Holiday Brick Road" is St. Patrick's Day. Here is another example of a card from my sister, Rachel. When it comes to holiday cards, I think she does the best: her cards are clearly for a specific holiday, but they don't ever seem too "holiday-holiday." For example, regarding this card, if you took off the leprechaun and the sentiment and replaced them with a different combination (perhaps "Happy Birthday"), the card would still be appropriate and enjoyable. I so enjoy this about her cards; click on the picture to see what other treats came with this card.

Valentines's Day in October

I suppose it isn't too far-fetched since I love Fall!

I woke up this morning and there was a bit of a nip in the air and I loved it. Though I do not like to wait for the car to hear-up in the morning on the way to work, I do like the way the crispness helps to wake me up and get me ready for the day.

Here are a couple Valentine's Day items:

The first is from Sharon; what I like the most about this is that it is very non-traditional V-Day: colors, pattern, textures, etc...that's me: non-traditional! The second is from my sister, Rachel; this holds some sweet candies and is so cheery - I still haven't eaten the candies because I don't want to take it apart to get to them. Thanks gals!

This One's for You...

At the end of the day, I really like this card. Have you been in the process of making a card/project and thought, "this is not looking well at all," but when it is all finished you think, "I really like the way this looks"? Case and point: this card. It was a tough challenge for me for my Card Club: masculine birthday with no ribbon, buttons, brads, etc...now those are all my favorites...what was I to do? Click on the picture to see what else I thought.

So, what do I specifically like about this card? I love the heat embossing - I am utilizing this technique more and more and the more I use it the less cumbersome it seems. I also love the colors: Soft Suede...I can't say it enough: LOVE IT! I think it serves as a nice back-drop to the crispness of the celery, navy, and pale blue. Finally, I really like the shape of this card: it was a first for me, but since using it here, I have enjoyed playing with rounding only some of the corners of a card/project: sometimes just one...sometimes all but one...whatever I feel like doing at that time.

Why, you may be wondering, a masculine birthday card right after New Year's? I am glad you asked: the beginning of February is my wonderful husband's birthday; this one's for you babe (the post...not the card)!

Not all Glitz and Glam

Here is another New Year card that I received; this card is from my mother, Susan. As you will soon realize, if you don't already know, I like shapes, color blocking, and punches of color (among other things) when it comes to cards. I think this card hits so many different points on my "I like this card check-list." I enjoy how the circles offset the sharp edges of the blocks as well as how the So Saffron (one of my favorite Stampin' Up! colors of all time) circle pops against the purple and blue.

I am not sure if she did, but it seems that she created this card just for me (and Mom, if you didn't, well, let's just say that you did); I may just CASE this card in the future for other occasions.

Thanks, Mom!

Up, up, and Away!

As promised, here is a little more inspired by the Albuquerque International Balloon Fiesta which kicked-off its 39th season yesterday. There is something amazing which occurs when you see the sky filled with hot air balloons of all shapes, sizes, and colors: you are automatically eight years old again.

Do I attend the Fiesta every year? No. Why not? Well, for one, I am not what you would call "an early person" by any stretch of the imagination and, for two, being in the midst of large crowds is not what I would consider to be a fantastic time. Lucky for me I have been able to view the Fiesta without actually attending it: since the office in which I work is about a block from Balloon Fiesta Park, from my desk I have a panoramic view toward the West which serves as either the "we are just taking off and getting on our way" avenue or the "we are coming in for a landing" avenue. For the entire week the sky will be full of balloons; it is beautiful!

Here are two cards, both inspired by hot air balloons. They both utilize the Sweet Centers stamp set by Stampin' Up!, but in a different way. The first, designed by Anne, creates the balloon portion utilizing iris folding; this is a difficult and labor intensive technique, but the result is great. The second, designed by Sharon, creates the balloon portion utilizing a Sweet Treat Cup which, in this case, is filled with purple skittles...my favorite. They both are so unique - just like each ofthe balloons in the sky. Click on each picture to learn more.

And we're off...

Happy New Year!

Oh, I just love this card...I loved it when I first made it at my W'ink Club and I love it still today. It is clean, crisp, bold - all the things you want in a fresh start. Click on the picture to see what I had to say about it before.

Coming at you...

Just in case you didn't know, home sweet home to me is Albuquerque, New Mexico and has been for quite some time. During which time, I have grown to appreciate "New Mexican" food, however I have to admit (...and I almost cringe to say) I am not in love with it. I enjoy a nice plate of Carne Adovada, but as a whole, well, I'd rather have a salad or pizza or...well, almost anything else. I can hear the lynch mob congregating on my front porch already, but just think of it this way: I am leaving more of it out there for everyone else to enjoy!

All joking aside, I do enjoy being here in New Mexico...especially in the fall: the nights are cooling down, the smell of green chile roasting, exciting breezes, and the International Balloon Fiesta (that starts tomorrow...how exciting...maybe I'll talk more about that later). I decided to start out my return to blogging with this New Mexico card...I really love it. Click on it to see what else I have to say about it!