Time Does Fly...

Well... Its been a while since my last post...

Things have changed a bit...

It is November 2012,

The store has new owners... and I work longer hours,
helping out, to make it a success...

But I wouldn't change it... Except maybe get a but more sleep!

Twin Birth Announcements

~
My sister, Melissa, lives in Amsterdam with her Dutch husband Peter, her American son, Hans (3), and now almost 9 month old Dutch twins Benjamin and Elianna ~ pronounced [ae-lee-anna].

The quick story of how she came to live in The Netherlands and marry Peter all began with an European vacation and a love-at-first-sight meeting at the Lowlands Festival in The Netherlands.

The quote that I used in their guestbook, {a handmade book that had a quote and black & white photos of them on the left side of the page} it is also my favourite, and best sums up their whole relationship, courtship and marriage, even to this day...

"Once in awhile,
right in the middle of an ordinary life,
love gives us a fairy tale."
~ Unknown ~

Before Hans was born, Melissa asked me if I could make birth announcements, of course I said, "YES!"

For her wedding in Amsterdam in August 2005, I (along with my"Team" {Mom, SIL, Aunts and others depending on time...}) made her wedding invitations. We did the same thing again for her reception party here in Abbotsford (BC) later in October.

So when Melissa found out that she was having twins, she naturally asked me if I would do the announcements for them. I said "YES", again , because I wouldn't trust another to do a good job, nor would I want them to pay to get a printer to just "print" them.

Here is what I came up with...

This is the first rough cut:

When I emailed Melissa, she loved it ...

... Me? Not so happy ... It didn't look right. The carriage was floating and it looked bare, there was no ribbon ... { Everything I create needs some sort of ribbon } ... I was just not happy with the whole thing ...

So I played some more and then came up with this draft ...

... I was happy!

The Tim Holtz Baroque Die was the perfect background that grounded the carriage.

The flower, pearls, and bits of ribbon added that touch that I knew was missing ... I loved the results!

... The only thing that could make this announcement perfect ... but would add more time to the process ... more weight to the envelopes (many these would be mailed overseas) ... and more expense overall ...

... would be another carriage!

But it only made sense to add another carriage because there were 2 babies! So unbeknown to Melissa and Peter, I added another carriage and this was the final birth announcement!

You don't want to know how many had to be made ... Really ...

... Let me just tell you how many hours it took to cut up all the cardstock and pattern papers ... and they were all simple cuts! { Twenty four hours }

... The actual work bee with a team of 4 plus myself and another who work did all the technical/tricky stuff { seven hours }

But I'd do it all over again ... those babies are really cute ...

Take Care,
Tanya

Card Notes: Pattern Paper - Graphic 45 (Baby to Bride), Cardstock/Bling - Bazzill, Ribbon - May Arts, Tim Holtz Distressing Ink (Vintage Photo) - Ranger Industries, Flowers - Prima, Pearls - Kaiser, Tim Holtz Alterations (Baroque Die) Sizzix

Create, Record, Upload, Share...

.... I have the creating part under control ...

{Mostly} I have the recording part down pat.
(I make sure that I have my camera with me when I'm designing)

... What I seem to really have a problem with the UPload and Share department...

I have good intentions, however, I do realize that good intentions mean nothing without the follow-through.

Actions speak louder than mere words... and with that, I shall continue to Upload and Share but with more frequency!

... I do have much to show and share since June 2010 ...

I have a new Nephew and Niece!

Here is Benjamin ...

(6 1/2 months old here)

and here is his twin sister Elianna ...

(Photos taken December 2010)

They were born on July 20th, in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.


... I have a new {older} cat Sooti ...

She is a rescued kitty who hasn't had any urge to step outside since I brought her home in August. Her job, it seems, is to make sure that she can sleep curled up at my hip since the first day she came home. She is a very talkative and a great big cat! She was pretty skinny when I got her and she starts panicking when her dish gets a bit low so I make sure and keep her dish fairly full. Well, now she really big ... Sooti may have to get a 'light' catfood.

Here's a simple Graphic 45 "Man" card to end the first post.

This was part of a "Manly Men" Card Class that I taught in June of 2010.

It's a card with clean, crisp lines, except for the postage stamp cuts around the image.

Is it me, or do most men seem to appreciate the simplicity of clean crisp lines, and the less-is-more look?

And with that ... Tomorrow is another day ~ and I'll share more then!


Card Notes: Photo Corners - 3L, All Pattern Papers - Graphic 45 (A Proper Gentleman), Cardstock - Bazzill (Raven, Cream Puff), Ribbon - May Arts, Tim Holtz Distressing Ink (Vintage Photo) - Ranger Industries

Baking Made Easy

If only it were so....

... Baking made easy ...

Baking requires a certain amount of skill ... some practice ... a touch of magic, and lots of ...

{LOVE}



I really love how this image looks against the background paper!

When I first started playing, I wondered what I was going to do.

My friend Rebecca immediately said, "cut away the green "Good Pies" portion, adhere that directly to the card base"

... I finished her idea by saying "then I can create a pocket and recipe tag with 3-d foam tape!"

... {Rebecca and I work really well together - sometimes we talk more than work, but that's another topic for another posting!} ...

Vintage Chic tip

Design Tip #6... Before using Glossy Accents, or Stickles on any vintage images or pattern papers, always adhere the papers with a good quality GLUE STICK specifically Tombow. As the glue stick dries it forms a bond with the 2 layers of paper and provides enough stability so the papers won't warp and distort as the glossy accents dries.

I added extra thick 3D foam tape around the bottom and two outside edges to create the pocket.

Here is a look at the the detail at the top...


... Glossy accents was used on the berries, the blue ribbon, the cherries and the leaves to give that {fresh} look.

What recipe would you write on the tag?

I would write my Gramma's Pie Dough Recipe... It's the best (even though I can't bake)


Until next time...


PS.... Thank you to Diane Schultz who made a mention of me (first and last name) and my "I Want it All" card on her FB page today.


Card Notes: Photo Corners - 3L. All Pattern Papers - Graphic 45 (Domestic Goddess) My Pretty Garden, Cardstock - Bazzill (Jacaranda, Cream Puff), Ribbon - May Arts, Vintage Photo Distressing Ink, Glossy Accents - Ranger Industries

The Gardener

Yesterday I showed one card from the Graphic 45 Domestic Goddess line ...


Today I want to show you another card I created ...


The Gardener


I used Love Me Tender, Endless Love papers from the Baby 2 Bride line.

Dimensional foam tape on three sides (bottom and both sides) was used to create a pocket ...

... A tag was created and decorated using the same paper tearing technique as on the card.

A daisy flower was used for a tag topper ...

{... A packet of seeds could be substituted instead of the tag ...}


... Here's a picture of the flower detail in the lower left hand corner ...


Card Notes: All Pattern Papers - Graphic 45 (Love Me Tender, Endless Love, Domestic Goddess) Cardstock - Bazzill, Photo Corners - 3L, Ribbon - May Arts (Velvet Ric Rac, 1/8" Sheer, Green Leaves), Flowers - Bazzill, Brads - Creative Impressions, Vintage Photo Distressing Ink, Glossy Accents, Stardust Stickles - Ranger Industries

I'll see you again tomorrow~

I Want it All ... and I Want it Delivered

Last week I posted cards using Crafty Secrets Summertime Journal Notes...

I still love the orange and teal colours of the last flower card. {... The teal is my "it" colour} and my niece Amelia says that {orange} is "my" colour!

when she was about 2 or 3 she assigned everybody colours in our family... I think her sister's was pink, hers was red and mine was orange...

Tonight I'm posting a card using a different set of vintage inspired images and papers ...

... Graphic 45 ...

"I Want it All... and I Want it Delivered"


When I created this card, I used this quote a little sarcastically!

I mean, she IS doing the laundry!

There is another stamp from the "Party Queen" Set (Crafty Secrets) that says ...

... "This isn't What I Imagined"

That is going on the inside of the card.

~

Here is a close up of the Safety Pin and Sentiment...



Here's a cool tip to create Vintage Red Photo Corners ...

{You'll notice that 2 of the Domestic Goddess images have red photo corners on them. When I trimmed the images most of the corners are cut off, and I really liked them. Finding the same red photo corners pre-packaged is nearly impossible. So making them is the only option! My friend Rebecca, who was dyeing flowers with reinkers, was the one who gave me the idea of using distressing inks to dye the photo corners.}

Here's how I did it, and its as easy as 1, 2, 3! Using the kraft coloured 3L Photo Corners (you need the base coat to be dark to give the vintage/distress feel), completely cover with Fired Brick Distressing Ink, and set aside to dry.

See you later...


Card Notes: Photo Corners - 3L, All Pattern Papers - Graphic 45 (Domestic Goddess), Cardstock - Bazzill, Ribbon - May Arts, Velvet - Lasting Impressions, Vintage Photo, Fired Brick, Glossy Accents - Ranger Industries, Sentiment Glamour Girls- Clear Arts Stamp (Crafty Secrets), Safety Pin, Kitchen Twine - Other

Floral Gems for 1896...

I've been away from the computer for a few days ...

And that has prevented me from posting my most favourite flower card,

I've saved it for last ...


I love the bright orange and teal colours.

You wouldn't think that those colours go together, but they do!

The orange and teal along with the vanilla coloured Bazzill cardstock work really well with the image.

... This picture gives a bit more detail with how I apply the Glossy Accents, to add dimension and shine to the roses.



As well, I've also shown you one of my favourite Vintage Chic Design Tips ... {Tip #4}

Using Deckle-Edged scissors to add the "old photograph" look to the image.

{... I love my Postage Stamp, Deckle-Edge, and Scallop, scissors ...}

....

... So there it is, 4 floral cards from the Summertime Image and Journal Notes.

You will see this Crafty Secrets booklet again soon!

The whole booklet is wonderful as there are great images for the hard to create MAN cards and fun BEACH cards too!

Have to go, see you soon!

Card Notes: Photo Corners - 3L, All Pattern Papers - My Mind's Eye (Bloom & Grow Lines), Cardstock - Bazzill, Teal Ribbon - May Arts, Orange Velvet - Lasting Impressions, Vintage Photo Inks, Glossy Accents - Ranger Industries, Pearls - Kaisercraft, Brushed Gold Brads - Creative Impressions