And so the month of May comes to a close ...

I cannot believe how quickly the month has flown by. Several birthdays this month ... school activities winding down ... graduations ... cookouts / bbq's ... 80 degree weather followed by 40 degree weather ... (seriously, what is the deal with that????) a brand new puppy for D&P ... a brand new baby for the neighbors next door ... who can keep up with all this activity!?! And of course these events all merit some sort of papercrafting, whether cards or gifts or scrapbook layouts! Well I need to get the camera out and document some of the creations which have resulted - I have a lot of catching up to do!
So here's a card I made for a very kind teacher who gave of her talent and time to make a CD of the music Olivia will use for her Jazz Choir audition. It holds a Starbucks Gift Card inside, hence (who still says 'hence', besides me???) the title "Thank You ... a Latte" 5x5 card
Twilight, Bamboo, Cocoa inks; B&T paper from Simple Pleasures pack, Cocoa, non-CTMH beige CS, vellum; May08 Stamp of the Month "Say It In Style", Coffee Shop, Spot On Backgrounds, Simple Stitches Stamp Sets; Scalloped Oval Nestabilities; Brown polkadot organdy RibbonFX. Steaming coffee cup mounted on scalloped oval is pop-dotted for dimension. And the inside has a little pocket to hold the Starbucks Card.
*inky hugs* Ava

Sweet Sixteen Birthday

My niece is turning 16 next week! She's the second-youngest of the 9 cousins and this only makes me realize how quickly they've all grown up! I sent her this birthday card, and I hope she doesn't get a peek at my blog before the card arrives in her mail! Oops I think the photo is kind of crooked... I do seriously lack in the photographic skills department :-/

I used my Cuttlebug to emboss the Pink Carnation CS, ran the heart block paper thru my corrugator (after stamping the 16's in the blank squares), hand cut the cupcake base and frosting shapes, painted the frosting with CTMH Pearl Create-A-Shade paint, added colored rhinestones with a dab of crystal Stickles, the cherry on top is a larger acrylic rhinestone with a stick of black CS. 'Sweet' sentiment from Girly Girl, '16' from Doodle Alpha My Acrylix™ stamped in Crystal Blue ink. Precious Paisley background paper, mounted on a generic orange piece of CS, clear sparkles at the corners, all mounted on a 5 x 6.5 White Daisy card base.

Off to make some baby cards for my neighbor who just delivered a girl last week! Busting out the Petite Scalloped Circle Nestabilities that just arrived! YAY! Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

*inky hugs*

Ava

New Close To My Heart Catalog/Idea Book!!

Yay! It's time to share the new book with you! There are many wonderful new papers, stamp sets, and embellishments - I've been playing already! You can see the whole catalog online from the company website http://www.closetomyheart.com/ (then click on 'products')
The May Stamp of the Month "Say It In Style" is a must-have set of over 40 sentiments (yes, forty!) all in one set perfect especially for card-makers! http://www.closetomyheart.com/stamp_of_the_month.aspx