The Dean's Christmas Gift

I have started a tradition (perhaps inadvertently) of giving the Dean of the pharmacy school hand stamped cards for Christmas and her birthday (to fill the hand stamped card holder I gave her). This year I stamped 25 for her, mostly with a butterfly theme, but I always try to include some masculine and "generic" cards, as well. Here are a few:

I included dividers for the box this year, so now I just have to keep the box full -- I'd better start creating for her again, her birthday is in May! :-)

Happy stamping, and happy New Year!
Christina

Where did May go??

May is the month of end of school activities, graduation (at work) and other Spring activities. This weekend one of my dear work colleagues is getting married, and while I wasn't able to make the bridal shower I sent along a glass teapot (perfect because we "talk tea" in the staff kitchen) and this card:

AMuse Studio:Pennant Die & Contemporary Greetings. Bride & Groom from Cricut (Art Philosophy)
 

As my son ends his days as a middle schooler I wanted to show his teachers how much we appreciate them -- but was "not allowed" to make homemade gifts. I did manage to sneak in handmade cards, though, and my son was fine with them. We added Starbucks cards in each -- except for one teacher that he specifically wanted to get a giftcard to REI. I love how he considered each teacher's personality before agreeing to the gift.

The card from the dollar section at Michaels made me think of my circus elephant from Under the Big Top (AMuse Studio) -- part of this month's Spotlight, you might notice. I placed him in a ring from the Vintage Labels 1 die set (AMuse Studio) and added some liquid pearl toe nails -- how fun! The inside sentiment: You're unforgettable! (Get it? Elephants never forget . . .{grin})

 
And then there is always time to think about my dear grandma in California.

All supplies AMuse Studio: Marvelous Marigolds, Contemporary Greetings (Thinking of you), Essential Sentiments (with love), butterfly trio die, tuxedo black, papaya, bubblegum and orange ink, and some twinkle stickers

We finally got carpet installed so I can begin the process of fully unpacking and getting settled. I can't wait to get my craft room back together, so I can use it on a more regular basis, and have some crafting friends over! Next month will be perfect, for AMuse Camp Wanna Stamp (details coming soon!)

Happy Stamping!
Christina

The last couple of months have been unbelievably full, with the return of students, the end of basketball season for my son, a business trip to Dallas, and, of course, the "big move!"

Unfortunately, I have had the opportunity to make more sympathy and get well (from a serious illness/surgery) cards already this year than I do most years! Fortunately I've also gotten some birthday and thank you cards out, as well! I already posted the silver lining card I made for my Dean, but here are some of the other cards I've managed to squeeze in:



A dear friend lost her father in January



An administrator at my son's school suffered a massive stroke -- this card is appropriate because he is known for being FUN!

The screenprint background on the butterflies really tie this card together

 

A quick thank you for our realtor on the day of closing

 

Happy birthday to my cousin -- I love the versatility of the marvelous marigolds set!

 

Washi tape madness for a friend far away!

Thanks for letting me share my recent projects -- seeing them again makes me eager to finish unpacking the craft room. I've already found some really great things that I'd forgotten about -- I wonder what else is in those boxes?!

Happy stamping!
Christina

Cards of the Week

I got a FUN order from the A|Muse Studio holiday catalog in on Monday -- but since orientation began at work on Tuesday I haven't had much time to play with all of the things from the Holiday catalog. I had a couple of thank you cards to send out this week, though so I recycled an unfinished project and dug out some of the chevron paper for another:

Bermuda chevron on a bermuda base, with the thank you from hand scripted on sugar cardstock, french roast ribbon and butterfly trio and vintage label 1 dies

Recycled: vintage labels 2 & hand scripted on vanilla c/s with some random washi tape.

The saying on the inside, for both of these, is the same as the outer saying on this card, made with the scraps from the others . . . Gratitude can transform common days into Thanksgivings. This is also the first card I tried stardust finishing spray on . . . I got it since I had heard such good things about it and wanted to see what all the fuss was about. Now I am only sorry I didn't discover it sooner!

And, finally, I ordered a few of the sets meant to be Hostess Booking incentives, or rewards or  . . . but at least 2 were destined for my collection from the time I set eyes on them, especially this one:

Unfortunately, I've had to send this one already -- a dear friend had a stent put in over the weekend. And since he is one of the MOST fun septuagenarians I know this was just the right thing to say!

 

I've since spent some time scrapbooking, since my son just ranked up to Life Scout I have to get caught up with his Boy Scout album in time to add all the things he'll do to earn Eagle (projected: next summer, so he has it going into high school), and worked on the pages I am doing for an A|Muse Studio calendar swap -- I'll post that when I send it off to the swap coordinator!

 

Happy Stamping,

Christina

Summer Wedding

The daughter of a friend is getting married next month. We won't travel to the event, but I wanted to let the happy couple know that we are thinking of them so I made this bright and happy card to send.

Marvelous marigolds & that's the ticket sets, papaya & orange paper and ink,  butterfly trio die and a  vanilla pearl sticker  -- simple and summery! I ran the butterfly through my Cuttlebug for some texture.

Best wishes, Nadia & Clifton!

Happy Stamping,

Christina

Thinking of You

I needed a quick card this weekend to put in some mail to my mom. I wanted a CAS card, to highlight the simplicity of A|Muse Studio, and came up with this (which is now on its way to Oregon):

A Muse supplies: essential sentiments set, onyx gingham and sugar paper, cherry ribbon, vintage labels 1 and butterfly trio die sets, twinkle stickers (clear dot), tuxedo memento ink pad

Here are a couple of cards I made to try to recreate things I had done at some recent SU! classes, with my A|Muse Studio supplies:

A|Muse supplies: hand scripted (thank you) and  lots of dots sets, vanilla & gingham ( bubblegum, sky and  grass)  cardstock, butterfly trio die, tuxedo memento, bubblegum, sky and  grass ink

A|Muse supplies: that's the ticket and script background stamps, vanilla &  bubblegum petite polka dot cardstock, butterfly trio and scallop border die sets, twinkle stickers (clear dot), tuxedo memento & bubblegum ink. Also: American Crafts pink cardstock, corner rounder

Tomorrow I'll share the card I made for my grandmother, to send with a new photo of my son. She is 90 years young and too far to visit on a regular basis (although the first question she asks on EVERY phone call is when we are coming to California . . .) so the best way for her to "see" my son grow up are the pictures we send of him in various events and hobbies. This time we were smart enough to put the photo (of him with his trombone) in a refrigerator magnet frame -- so she can see him every day!

Happy stamping,
Christina