Cards for Special Occasions!

From a special birthday to an out-of-the ordinary thank you to an adventurous congratulations/farewell/good luck and sincere sympathy for the loss of a nephew, August was a busy month of events worthy of a hand-stamped card!

A congratulations & farewell card for a friend I will OWLways miss! I love the way the quiet Hexagon background and the stardust finishing spray (AMuse Studio) add visual interest without taking away from my owl (SU!) and saying (The Stamps of Life). I had so many things to say in this card -- for a colleague undertaking a major adventure with a library position in Doha, Qatar -- that there are sentiments on all 4 panels of this card, with a very personal one (from Winnie the Pooh) on the back.

One of the month's Spotlight sets put to good use thanking some friends for a favor "above and beyond." I love how easy this set is to use, and again the understated hexagon background and stardust finishing spray really added the right finishing touch to make this card far from plain, as simple as it is.

I LOVE the coordinating colors of AMuse Studio -- here Mermaid -- and I love the Eat Cake set, which was meant for chalkboard art, but works well in a variety of colors. This card helped celebrate a very special friend that I don't get to see often enough!

 

A Stampin'Up set on Mermaid paper and ink, for a time when there really aren't many words.

 

The hexagon background is one one of the September Spotlight sets -- I think I will use it on some cards I'm making this weekend. Not only is it "on trend," it's a lot of fun, and very versatile!

Don't forget the holiday catalog is out and Holiday Hoopla is on NOW -- with increased hostess benefits starting with a $250 order/workshop. Let me know if I can help you get free stuff!

I'm nearly finished assembling a Summer 2013 mini-album that was last week's free cut on the Cricut Craft Room software -- I'll share that next (and hopefully I'll have my husband's birthday card done to share -- since tomorrow is the big day!) But, until then,

Happy Stamping!
Christina

Owl Grown Up!

This week my son turned 14. I make a good number of owl cards -- because I think they are so cute -- to the point that my son has picked up on the owl sayings, so I simply had to incorporate that into his birthday card!

The background is from the You Rock stamp set from A|Muse, the owl punch from SU! and saying from the Stamps of Life.

I recently started adding googlie eyes on occasion -- I love the added movement and the expression they give to the owls.

We let him choose a restaurant for his birthday dinner, but we ate so much that none of us was up for birthday cake after! He was happy with his presents, -- most had a music theme (from CDs to headphones and a mixing board) so you might want to be happy you don't live next door to us as he continues to explore (and experiment with) his love of music!

Happy stamping!
Christina

Owl Miss You

I took my son to college this week! He's taking a 3 week class, with other incoming 8th graders, at University of Kansas (Lawrence) as part of the Duke Talent Identification Program. He was willing to fly in as an "unaccompanied minor" -- meaning he is fine on his own and didn't see the need for me to waste my time getting him there. I explained that I wasn't going for him, but so I could see the campus and meet his roommates. I sent a note before leaving Kansas City, and am sending his first "care package" -- the 2 books he requested from his bookshelf, and of course a hand-stamped card:

Stampin' Up Owl & Bird punches, wood-grain washi tape, and  sentiment from  The {stamps} of Life

He'll probably use the card as a bookmark, but at least he'll know his mom misses him! The daily schedule is really packed, but he's texted with his dad and with me a couple of times, so we know he's having a blast and enjoying learning more about computer programming (and life on a college campus)!

Happy stamping!
Christina

Hoot Hoot Hooray!

This week my friend unexpectedly* received the Teacher of the Year award, so I made her a quick card:

Inside: Owl that hard work paid off!

(*unexpected only because this is her first year AND she teaches math (bleh) to first year students -- so for her to beat out the rest of the faculty means there was an overwhelming student response in her favor!)

I love how this came out -- and how quick it was. I have 2 owl sets and this Stampin' Up! owl punch, and can't wait to add the set from A*Muse to my (growing) owl collection . . .

It's owl good!
Christina