Mini Scrapbooks

A few weeks ago I showed you a mini Special Delivery Scrapbook I made.  Well, here are a 'few' of the other books I've been making.  All from the tutorials off Following the Paper Trail by Laura.  I think I have made over 6 different books, all with different bindings and page layouts. If interested, the mini scrapbooks start at $20 and they are ready for you to add pictures and journaling. Give me a fun alternative to the card making.

Cross your fingers... the temp job agency called me today.... they are going to submit my resume... more details if something comes about.

Happy 17th Birthday Bubba!!!!

FlowerPower to the people

Paper flowers are the rage.  Tons of tutorials on You Tube.  So, I had to try my hand at creating them.  This first picture from the thumbnail on my Kodak Easy Share download page, almost looked like water lilies in a pond.  But, they are pansy's. Little hearts cut out with the edges turned up, inking a bit to give a cast of color.

Next up are Paper Roses!  Only if I could combine technology and put in the 1973 Marie Osmond hit serenading you as you look at this post.  Although these are quite cute, a little involved to make... I don't think they'd work on a card you were trying to send through the mail.  Some of these card tutorials with the big 'stuff' hanging off... you never see them trying to stuff it in an envelope. Added glitter to give it a bit of bling and dimension.

And finally, a Just a note card with a grunge {Grunge is about realism, organic shapes and distorted patterns, sometimes beautiful, sometimes aged and ugly. I think a good analogy to explain Grunge is the way jeans are marketed. The spotless, clean jeans cost 50$. The damaged, bleached, torn jeans cost 150$.} flower on it.The inked edges of the paper and the slightly worn/torn look to it.

Okay, enough with the clouds... it's still humid and hot.... why don't you just rain!!!!!

I could be a contender

A few weeks ago I mentioned, while in Florida, I stopped in a stationary card shop and saw these really cute hand made cards by Tumbalina.  I copied her name down, and should have bit the bullet and bought the card for $6.95 plus tax, then I'd get all the marketing/packaging/wording info correct.  But if you click on this link here, it will take you to her website and the card, the very simple card that I recreated (CASed.... Copy And Share Everything) . Scroll down a bit on that page to find the 3 buttons with twine. 

So, now it's a matter of what to do in trying to sell & market my cards.  Although you, my friends and family and those you give my cards to, think they are UNIQUE, whimsical and a party on a card... that doesn't go very far if your inventory is high and sales are low. 

 Now, some of you have suggested I go to my local downtown and 'sell' myself to these 'cute' store owners who sell eclectic fun things.... like homemade cards....don't wanna say "can't do it".... just that I've done it twice and there was no further interest after that the initial visit.  (Well, I must admit it's a good thing I'm not in this 'hobby' to make a living, because I'd be on the streets)  Others have suggested going to craft fairs.  And not that I have a denial for ALL things.... but to buy the packaging (slip covers) to put my cards into so that sticky fingers don't leave my cards amuck is a great investment.  Having been to craft fairs (and hearing about those from card making bloggers) some kind person will buy 1 or two cards (often times to copy and see how the card was made) and it really isn't worth the money down payment for the table to sit and see everyone walk on by.

I don't want to mass produce my cards, ... the whole point, at least I think... Is that I have tons of UNIQUE one of a kind cards in stock... (for $2.50 ea) I'm happy to fill special orders, I have cards for all occasions (really CUTE cards) .... it's simple to look through my blog... I even created a card blog creative greetings!! too ---->here,  where you can check out cards by categories.  Unique and whimsical cards, these are for special family and friends who deserve more than just a last minute grocery store card like 10,000 others. Thank you honey for letting me have such a fun 'hobby'.

For Every Season, turn, turn

Along with the fun and whimsy of card making and paper crafts, there is a serious and heartfelt side.  As a card maker you should make all different kinds of cards, and with that comes the comfort of sympathy.  Here are two examples.  I'm loving the butterfly stamp... they can be used on any type of card.  Same stamp, different colors, different layout... but very sincere.

I love the dimension of a popped up butterfly.... cutting out another stamped image and using pop dots!

Shortly, I will be showing you my progression in this new endeavor... the Sketchbook Project 2011.  You can check it

out here---->

http://arthousecoop.com/projects/sketchbookproject

I got my sketchbook in the mail yesterday, they are saying

 It's like a  concert tour with Sketchbooks.

The theme I am working with is A View from Up Here.  I'm looking forward to altering the sketchbook a bit and adding a few tags, fibers, pockets and tags.  Stay tuned.

Bubba and I gave blood today.  My fourth time this year.  His first time ever! I'm a bit tired.  Yay, it's the weekend!

Tweet

The 'operator', according to my DH, is having some technical difficulties.  Yesterday I took some sweet pictures ( with my tiny Kodak Sure Shot) of Bubba before and after his Senior Picture session, and only the outside pics turned out. Aargh..... so, here is my handsome first born, the summer before his senior year.... before he flies the coop!!! I never had problems before, really, but then a lot of my pictures are just the close ups of my cards... speaking of....

Here is a sweet little tweeter.  I was watching a web show, and they were talking about how much 'tabs' were in... so I added the 'hello' tab. Added stickles to the eye and wing, to give it a little bling.

One of those lazy dayz of summer.  I think we are going to get rain today.  Good thing I washed my car last night!!! You should see Tucker.... just imagine your cutest stuffed animal that weighs 10 lbs, sprawled out on your lap, feet up in the air (think animal road kill), head hanging off the side.  All this as I type.  Too cute, too funny!!

Be Marvelous

Sissy thought this looked like an actual card!  I asked her what she meant by that (of course knowing what she would say)... what has all my other work look like?  Fake, faux, non cards I guess!!!  This card's tutorial was on Stamp TV  and was so easy to make and looks very cool in real life, like a REAL card.  Using Versa Mark ink and embossing powder to get the stamped butterflies, when that is heat dried I used a sponge with ink in  3 different colors and  pounced the ink randomly.  Making sure a dark ink was surrounding the embossed image itself.  Then wipe off the embossed image from any excess ink, mount card, add a sentiment... and voila~

Mid July, the dog days of summer.  The kind of day you wish you had a pool.  Or you wish you had a friend who had a pool.  Got info in the mail that school starts August 20.  Graduation for my senior is Saturday, May 28, 2011... so mark your calendars people. Sissy has been at summer volleyball camp all week through the high school... can you believe their gym is not air conditioned?  Today, Bubba goes in for his Senior photos.  Had yummy turkey potstickers for dinner last night.  I think I will tackle the 'piles' today. 

It's hump day!!! I really need a part time job, just a little job, please?

Simple & Clean, Cute & Adorable

This I thought was a very simple card layout.  The lines are crisp and clean and it was very easy to do.  I actually made three cards with this similar layout.  Wow! If all cards were like this I could whip out10-15 an hour!  Now it's the matter of selling the cards or giving them away, that is the challenge.

What I 'love' about card making is that you can easily make Simple and clean cards, or you can painstakingly take hours to put a  lot of color and detail into a little piece of artwork.  The reward and the challenge!!

 

Here are Sissy & Bubba before the wedding reception last Saturday.  The Holiday Inn had a beautiful lobby!  Can't say too much about the rooms, all four of us together, snug!  Bubba even found the last tenants food still in the tiny fridge!  ugh!!!  Sissy just turned 15 and Bubba turns 17 next Tuesday.