Dearest Dad

Me @ Arlington Cemetery

Dearest Dad, I miss you. But, today I am going to celebrate your life. Thank you for being a great father who exemplified strength like no other.

My dad, a retired USAF veteran served as a military member and made the U.S. a safe place for me and you. Unfortunately, his life ended after fighting Multiple Sclerosis for over twenty years. My dad exemplified strength like no other.

Arlington Cemetery

Below, is a photo of my dad when he was stationed in the far east during his military career. I made this canvas altered project in honor of my dad a couple of years ago. I removed that polka dotted ribbon and it sits in my office at work. I love it. You can see the original post here.


My dad LOVED sweets! So, in his memory I made pecan turtles. You can find the recipe here. I used PTI's egg box and created a matching card. Hopefully, this project will give you a few ideas for a father/dad in your life to celebrate. So, who will I give mine to? My mom! She was my dad's caretaker for over 20 years. Although I had a dad for a long time, my mom was in many was like a dad too since my dad was ill most of my childhood. I'm sure she'll just take the candy and run! :) Don't get mad mommy when you read that part! *giggles*

My mom @ my wedding

Card + Chocolate Box Ensemble

Box Details

Box Top Details

Box Inside Details

Instructions

1. Paint egg box and lid with brown acrylic paint.
2. Stamp wood grain pattern on box using vintage cream ink.
3. Cut felt strip and adhere to box.
4. Die cut square from brown felt and pop off box lid center.
5. Die cut circles from kraft and cream cardstocks.
6. Stamp sentiments, layer and pop off felt square.
7. Add buttons.
8. On inside, cut cardstock to fit inside the box. Adhere wax paper to cardstock and punch half circles on each side to be able to lift each chocolate layer up. Add chocolates.

Supplies

Stamps :: background basics (woodgrain), just for you
Ink :: vintage cream, simply chartreuse; SU! - chocolate chip; Ranger - old paper
Cardstock :: kraft, vintage cream
Embellishments :: simply chartreuse, dark chocolate felt, dark chocolate buttons
Tools :: Making Memories - chocolate acrylic paint; Ranger - Claudine Hellmuth brushes; Helmar - craft glue; Spellbinders - standard circles large nestabilities (S4-114), classic squares large nestabilities (S4-126), wizard

Card

Inside Card

Instructions

1. Trim dark chocolate cardstock to 2.5" x 5" and stamp woodgrain pattern in vintage cream ink.
2. Pop woodgrain stamped cardstock off a 3" x 5.5" dark chocolate card base.
3. Die cut circle from kraft cardstock and adhere to card front center.
4. Stamp leaf on ripe avocado cardstock, cut out and pop off card front.
5. Stamp sentiment on rustic cream cardstock, trip and pop off card front.
6. Add buttons with twine.
7. On inside, stamp world with watermark ink and sentiment in vintage cream ink.
   

Supplies

• Simply Chartreuse and Ripe Avocado pair well together! Don't be afraid to mix hues!
  

Supplies

Stamps :: background basics (woodgrain), masculine motifs (sentiment, leaf)
Ink :: ripe avocado, vintage cream; SU! - chocolate chip; Versamark
Cardstock :: dark chocolate, rustic cream, kraft
Embellishments :: simply chartreuse buttons, twine
Tools :: Spellbinders - standard circles large nestabilities (S4-114), wizard

Make sure you check out what the other PTI Designers created for their "Dearest Dad!"

Betsy Veldman
Dawn McVey
Heather Nichols
Michelle Wooderson
Lisa Johnson

This is my last project as a guest for Papertrey Ink. I had a great time and am so grateful for designing along with those great girls! Thanks so much!
Thanks for visiting!

Hero :: Independence Day

Happy Independence Day! Do you have any plans? Food, Fireworks, and Fun are what the 4th of July is to me summed up in three words! I thought I'd share a 'star' card with you. I hope you enjoy yours. I am excited about returning home and eating some crabs. I am originally from Maryland and eating crabs is a must during summer months, especially on holidays. If I could find good some in the winter, I'd eat them then too. Yes, I am talking about the entire crab. I really do not like crab legs because I am so used to eating the entire crab. Most people who are not from the area do not have an appreciation for crabs. It does take a lot of time to get just a little bit of meat, but it's fun, tasty, and a social gathering food. I could eat crabs alone, but it's much more fun outside with newspaper on the table and family and friends digging in. There is definitely a technique to eating crabs and I have my own. I've been eating them since a child, so I prefer my hands. The tools slow me down! I may post a picture of it so you all can get an idea of what it's like! Look for that tomorrow. It may be a twitpic.

I hope you are enjoying your holiday weekend! Thanks for taking time out of your day to take a peek here!

Card Instructions

1. Trim kraft cardstock into an A2 card.
2. Using a word processor, type sentiment and print.Trim dark chocolate cardstock and patterned paper into matted squares.
   
3. Distress edges of patterned paper, add faux stitching, and adhere to dark chocolate cardstock.
4. Adhere chipboard letters to patterned paper.
5. Paper piece chipboard stars with cardstock. Stamp design on some stars, ink the edges, then adhere.
6. Tie twine around cardstock and add buttons.
7. Adhere cardstock to card front.
8. Stamp stars on inside of card and add faux stitching.

:: My Goodies {Hero...That's what you are to me} ::
Stamps: Papertrey Ink - background basics (retro); Art Warehouse - journal; Verve Visual - seeing stars
Ink: Close to My Heart - cranberry; Stampin' Up! - chocolate chip; Quick Quotes - amaretto powder puff
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - kraft + dark chocolate + pure poppy + spring rain + ripe avocado

Patterned Paper: Melissa Frances - alma
Accessories: Martha Stewart - baker's twine; Heidi Swapp - chipboard stars; Stampin' Up! - real red marker; Basic Grey - milk chocolate chipboard letters; Craft Suppy - buttons; Tim Holtz - paper distresser
Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

Father

To buy this card, click here.

Here's an easy one for you! A simple one-layer father's day card. This card was inspired by Dawn's color challenge.

The inside reads:

the love of a
FATHER
is one of nature's
greatest
MASTERPIECES

We received great news yesterday! Mac and I were commissioned to photograph Susan G. Komen's Circle of Life presence at the Essence festival in New Orleans in a couple of weeks! How great is that? You should have seen us when we got off the phone. Oh those times are when you wish someone was recording to see our joy, laughter, and excitement because it was darn right funny! So, remember those Race for the Cure pictures we took on the National Mall a couple of weeks ago? Well, they are the reasons we will be able to photograph them at the Essence festival. We hope to see/photograph/meet some celebrities too!

Want to look at more of McArthur's pictures? Click here for some new creative (story-telling) shots. Also, he appreciates all of the comments he has received from you all regarding his pictures. He gets all happy when you all go to see them!

Thanks so much for stoppin by and enjoy your day!

Card Instructions

1. Trim vintage cream cardstock into an A2 card.
2. Stamp trees.
3. Draw border frame.
4. Add buttons.
5. Stamp sentiment.
   

:: My Goodies {Father} ::
Stamps: Stampin' Up! - trendy trees; Papertrey Ink - mixed messages
Ink: Papertrey Ink - new moon; Close to My Heart - black; Copic black marker
Cardstock: Papertrey Ink - cream
Accessories: Papertrey Ink - black buttons
Card Size: 5.5" x 4.25"

Father's Day Color Inspiration Challenge

I'm posting tonight for K. Werner's color challenge. When I saw the inspiration photo, my jaw dropped! I really like Anthropologie, so I was not surprised when I found out the sweater was from there! That store is so comfortable and unique. They have everything from accessories to home goods. I walked passed the store on Saturday and just glared in the windows vowing not to enter because it is the holiday season and I was trying to refrain from buying stuff for myself, which is very difficult to do when you're out and about shopping in the stores. Does anyone else have that problem too? So, if I don't know anyone who shops there or would like something from that store, my holiday shopping rule is "DO NOT ENTER!"

These colors as so cute, but reminded me of a masculine look, well in my head at the moment because now I'm thinking of other 'looks'! I know it's a week until Christmas and I'm posting a Father's Day card, but it's just what came to me when I saw the colors. Oh yeah, and don't ask me why everything is on the bottom of the card either! Sometimes I don't realize what I'm doing until it's all done and over!


Here is how you can make this same card:

1. Trim cardstock to 11" x 4.25", then score at 5.5".
2. Stamp sailboat on cream cardstock, then cut out.
3. Trim a rectangle using the blue cardstock.
4. With dimensionals, adhere the sailboat to the blue cardstock and set aside.
5. Tie twine around card base into a bow.
6. Stamp sentiment on yellow cardstock and trim.
7. Adhere to the corner of the blue cardstock with a brad.
8. Adhere the blue cardstock to the card base using dimensionals.

Take some time today and...enjoy yourself!

:: My Goodies {happy father's day}::
Stamps: PTI-men of life
Ink: lemon tart; chocolate
Paper: Cardstocks: PTI-lemon tart; vintage cream; dark chocolate
Accessories: dimensionals; CTMH-brad; Martha Stewart-baker's twine
Technique: Stamped
Card Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Happy Father's Day

I got my only request to do a Father's Day card. I guess men do not care for cards like women! I have plenty of stamp sets for countless ideas, but this is what I came up with. This card is cased from Carolyn's card. I had to have the sanded stamp because of her card! I changed the four square stamps and added brown waxy flaxy.

The brown cardstock is stamped with a "sanded" stamp in white ink. The cream cardstock is stamped with the same sanded stamp in brown ink. Then, I die-cut four squares using my Square Nestabilities and matted on green cardstock.







Here is the inside of the card!

My Goodies
Stamp: CTMH Just Like You (father's day sentiments); PTI Father Knows Best (tree & compass; inside sentiment)
Ink: Chocolate Chip; CTMH Topiary
Paper: Chocolate Chip; Very Vanilla; CTMH Green cardstock
Accessories: Brown Waxy Flaxy
Technique: Stamped

Did You Ever Know that You're My Hero?

While stamping this card, I could not help but to sing Bette Midler's Wing Beneath My Wings! I stamped the background of the card with the 'swirl' stamp in orange ink. I added the yellow and orange card stock. Next, I cut strips of pattern paper. I stamped the tree and the sentiment on a circle yellow card stock. I popped some swirls off of the tree for dimension. This card can be given to anyone who inspires you. Given the season, it would be great for Mother's or Father's Day!









Supplies

Stamp: PTI Father Knows Best
Ink: PTI Summer Sunrise (orange), SU! Chocolate Chip (brown)
Paper: PTI Summer Sunrise (orange), Lemon Tart (yellow); Card Base: Recollections Pre-Scored Card
Accessories: Creative Memories Custom Circle Cutting System
Technique: Stamped
Card Size: 5" x 7"

Paper Source: A Review

Sorry I did not post anything yesterday, but I was having a 'fun day.' Among a few other things, I visited Paper Source in Georgetown (picture courtesy of Paper Source). I've heard so much about the store and probably walked passed it hundreds of times since I frequently visit Georgetown having grown up about 30 minutes away. I'm sure I looked into the storefront and probably thought, "they have nothing for me." Little did I know, it would be one of the most fascinating paper art stores I've ever visited! It is located right off of M Street, near 3oth Street. They have another location in Alexandria too! Click here for a list of their locations.

The handmade paper they carry is absolutely fabulous! I purchased a couple of sheets and tried to limit myself since it was my first visit! Their ribbon and its packaging is great! On the upper level, they carry a wide variety of envelopes and paper/pre-scored cards. I really like this feature since Recollections closed. As opposed to Recollections, they offer a broader selection of colors and styles of envelopes/paper. I tend to stick with the neutrals (white, cream, khaki) or light colors because sometimes mailing a black envelope is not the best idea! On darker color envelopes, you would have to use a light mailing sticker, which may take away from the color. If I am hand delivering a card, I may use a darker color because it allows me to use a white or metallic marker to address the outer envelope. Speaking of envelopes, their designs are cute and allow you to line the inner envelope, perhaps to match the card! They offer a tutorial of this process, along with numerous others, on their web site!!

The staff was helpful, but apprehensive about customers destroying the paper. There were signs everywhere about handling the handmade paper. So, I warn you, handle the handmade paper carefully and ask for help if you are short like me and can't reach the top! They offer a wide selection of rubber stamps. Many of the stamps are unique; whereas, some are the typical alphabet or numbers for the bride-to-be who makes everything with her new initials! This store also includes many creative ideas for the mom-to-be. Their selection of embossing powders is grand! They offer every color imaginable.

Paper Source offers great inspiration and creative ideas for those who want to create and design their own handmade invitations or use their special printing service. During my visit, I noticed a couple visiting with a Paper Source representative. So, they provide special attention, so your invitation is something creative.

On another note, I am currently working on Mother's Day projects, so please e-mail me early if you are interested! I just got a new shipment of stamps for Mother's and Father's Day, as well as great new embellishments and other bold and new ideas to add to my paper creations! As an update on my web site, it is due to start at the end of the month. Hopefully, it will be complete in May or at the latest, June! I'll provide updates as it is coming along. This week, I'll post some great shots of our fun weekend from a scholarship gala to the cherry blossoms, along with some inspirational cards! Enjoy the remainder of the weekend and I'll 'see' you tomorrow!