Now all the cards for Halloween and Birthdays are really finished. I've added the "verses" to the insides, taken the pictures and they are ready to mail.
I discovered that I had forgotten a 1st Birthday for Briley, one of my grand neices. I will get that done this weekend. Haven't decided on a theme (other than 1st b.day) yet.
Then I will get back to the calendars for a bit before I'll need to start Thanksgiving.

More Halloween

The spider and cat cards spin to change the eye
expressions.


















The cut out jack-o-lanterns I mentioned in an earlier post.
I made one of these for Sebastian's birthday last year.
The little ghost trick-or-treater is my own design.

Promised October cards

This is one of the birthday cards that has already been delivered. More will be posted as soon as they have been mailed.










HALLOWEEN


These were FUN to make!
The hat lifts up to reveal the message
and the hair lifts for treats.

Halloween

October and November cards are done.
Started Halloween yesterday. I am working on a witch template that will be a card with "treats" hidden under the hair. I'm looking at doing a couple of the cut out pumpkins that I did last year for Sebastian's birthday and the 2005 calendars. I was also comtemplating a spider or black cat that has a spinning portion attached that changes the expressions of eyes.
These will be posted before Halloween since they are not specifically for any one person.

I made Christopher's card this morning. Then I started something new for Lacy and Rob's anniversary card. This is so cool.....and fun....can't wait to post this new style! It is something I will be doing again!
All the cards I've been working on lately that I say are "finished".....really just the outsides are completed. I still have to find the sentiment for the inside. This is sometimes the most time consuming part! I want it to fit the person and the theme. I keep records of the card theme and sentiment in a file box so that I don't send duplicates to anyone.
On that note... I'm off to the "workshop"

This weekends progress

I finished Katherine's card. I started Ryleigh's purse card I had mentioned. I finished it up this morning....it is so cute!
I won't be able to "show" these until after the 11th and 19th of October. Melanie's will be here after the 25th. I still need to work on Christopher's b.day and Lacy and Rob's anniversary to finish out October. Sebastian's b.day also for Nov.2.
I might get some Halloween ones up shortly.

Went shopping yesterday.
I finally got the applicator to my roll on adhesive that I bought about 2 months ago. When I bought the stuff I thought the applicator was included. When it came in the mail I realized that I had ordered 6 refills and no applicator!!??!! I'm glad that I can actually use them now! I tried it out yesterday on Katherine's (my neice)b.day card. What a GREAT tool and no more sticky fingers like from the glue stick.
I also came across a couple of fantastic deals on paper. I got 2 packages, one textured solid colors and the other one cordinated prints. In total I got 238 sheets of 12x12 paper for 30.00!
I'll be adding some links to some of my favorite craft places and other opportunities that might be of intrest soon.
Now I'm off to create. More photos soon.

*Click on photos for larger view*


Okay......now for the last of what I have......note cards

These are blank note cards that I made for Mom. This was her birthday present. She moved away to Missouri earlier this month and I thought she could use them to keep in touch with friends and family. The flowers were cut from a calendar. I mixed and matched with various scraps of patterned papers. I then added a "theme" phrase on front to some of them.

I wish that the posts could be listed in reverse order .....since they can not .....you will have to scroll down to the end and work your way back up to start with the beginning of this days posts. I just set this up today and have been adding as I go. I am unable to post more than 5 pictures at a time. I have also had trouble with getting these last cards to post correctly.....so I will add them in 2 seperate posts....here goes....*fingers crossed*

The one on the left is Tony's ( my husband ) birthday card. It is a "3D" card with 3 different levels of the scene.

The other two are for Lacy's ( my neice ) and Tristen's ( another grandson ) birthdays. These were actually ideas taken from ads with my own touches added using various stickers, papers and cardboard "add-ons".

More cards

These are from Mother's day, Father's day and M&J anniversary

The flowers on the Mother's day cards were from the hankies of Momma Kate ( my grandmother, who left behind much love last September ) which makes them very special!

The card with the doves was for my sister ( Melanie ) and her husbands anniversary. This card has holes poked into the cardstock in a pattern and then stitched with floss.

The Father's day cards were made to match personalities: Sean, my son loves golf and my Dad has a thing for birds and fish...the birdcage was for his birthday and the other one for f.day...the two dates are within a week from each other.

I am currently working on October birthdays. I have started one for my sister and have ideas for my neice. I still need to come up with one for my nephew. Another neice's daughter ( I guess that would be my "grand-neice" ) will be getting a cute purse card. Her older sister got one last year and really liked it. Her Mother said that she carried it around with her for several days.
I won't be sharing any of these until after they have been given to the family in case any of them come here and look!
I'll have one anniversary card also.If I do any Halloween cards ( probably just for the "little-ones" ), I'll be quite busy!!!!
One of my Grand-sons birthdays is Nov.2...so he is usually counted in the Oct. schedule.
I will be doing Thanksgiving and of course Christmas....BUSY....BUSY....BUSY!
I made a couple of calendars last year for Christmas gifts and they went over BIG! I have already started some for this year and have been working on them a little here and there for about 6 months now. A lot of work involved in these....first cutting all the pages and covers...adding the calendar pages...."binding" together....and then start on the "personalizations" and "decorations". Some will be fancier than others depending on who they are intended for. I try to make them go with the recipients style.

CARDS by ME

*Click on photos for larger view*

examples of "tea bag" folding
This is Courtney's Birthday cake
"tea bag" folding
Sean's Birthday
Lori's Birthday - Caleb's 1st Birthday

Lori's ( my daughter ) card was made with various memories from the past....the yellow duckie button is from when she was only 1 or 2 ( she is now 31 ) and was originally purchased to use on some of the clothing I used to make for her. The button on the first bag was aquired from Momma Kate's button collection. The sunflower bag...... because she likes the flower...... the black lace with burgundy ribbon....because that is her. I hope she enjoys it as much as I did making it for her.
Caleb's card was made from various papers, buttons and "fibers".
This was another FUN card to create!

This will be a blog about all the many cards and other projects that I am currently working on.
I will also include some of the ones from the past. I have been taking some pictures for about a year now so I will have some of those posted for all to see.
I really enjoy making cards and find it a way to unwind. I started making Birthday cards for family a couple of years ago. I purchased books and subscribed to magazines about cardmaking. I go thru magazines and mailings all the time and tear out either "ideas" for future cards or keep pictures of this and that. I often find pretty papers, etc. in ads.
My family has commented several times that I should sell my creations. I have thought about it off and on for about a year now. I don't want to get to the point where it is no longer satisfying or relaxing. This is going to be a "start" to see what kind of reaction I can get before trying to venture out further.