For all you do

It's Top Tip Tuesday and this week your challenge is to create a "thanks" kinda card.  I've been trying to stockpile these this summer so I have them on hand during the school year to thank parents and students for gifts 'n such.

Some of my friends can't believe I give my students cards that I have made, but why not?!?  It shows the kids how much I care about what they have given me and it lets them see that I am a "real person" too. LOL!

This is a lotsa layers card!  Don't be afraid of using those layers- although I can say that sometimes I can be intimidated when it comes to using layers.  Which papers to use?  What is too much?  Which layer gets popped?  Geesh such tough decisions!  When finished these layer cards usually end up being my favorites- guess I need to make more then. :)

What kinda crafty struggle do you have?  How are you pushing through?  I'd love to hear your thoughts 'cause I'm sure they will be encouraging!  I'd love to see your entry at Top Tip Tuesday and you'll love the tutorial this week from Maggie!  It's a step card tut and it is fab!

Latest in Corgi Fashion

Doesn't he look thrilled (either "he")?!?  This is the latest in fashion accessories- The Corgi Purse.  My DH really wanted me to take this pic and post it for folks to see how we safely cart the corgi around.  He has a harness in the front and a sling for the back.  The vets showed us how to do it, although I can't manage the "purse" version without hurting myself.  Cad is more of a front duffel for me. :) The corgi really doesn't mind and has gotten to the point where he tries to help us get his sling on!  Good dog. :)

Good News Update!!!! Cad can sit up all by himself, is rolling himself over to sleep on his back like a human (he loves that!) and can move his back legs.  Last night he even scratched his nose with his front paws while he rolled on his back.  He stretches his body and moves all but one leg in his sleep. When we hold him up by his harness and the base of his tail (the vet told us to do that and reassured us that it is safe) and "walk" him (we are supposed to do this as part of his PT) he can totally move his hind legs and is trying to paddle with his front.  He can't quite get the front feet adjusted if they get turned just yet, but all of it is very encouraging. 

Thinking of others

Here's another card I made using the goody bag from the PTI convention.  I *heart* BG as much as I *heart* PTI, so it was fun to combine the two!

The BG paper parts have been sitting waiting for me to use them for like a year.  They were left over from other projects, but the colors are one of my fav combos so I couldn't bear to toss them.

Another sympathy card, so I kept it CAS.  The doily die is from MFT and I think it really gives a nice focal point for this kind of card.   Hope I don't have to use it anytime soon.

Things are going well for the corgi and I'll post an update in Cad tomorrow!

Better Than Mail

I've been on a mini album kick lately.  This one seems a perfect launch for today since we are headed for our vaca in ME!  Cad is coming with us, but Amy is staying home with the sitter. :)

It's just a little bitty album, fun for sharing a couple shots of summer beach fun. :)

Aren't summer papers so yummy!!!!

This could be your album!  I'm loading it into my Etsy store soon. Be sure to stop by! :)

Got Gifts?

There was so much going on in July that I missed all the "Christmas in July" goings-on.  I dug these out of the stash and put them together 'cause you can never have enough tags for gifts! 

Here are the lovelies all together. :)  This is a nice quick set using punches/dies and a stamp from Hero Arts Happy Holidays cling set. 

 pinterest

Can't you just see these on packages wrapped in kraft paper and tied with burgundy ribbon or some rustic twine?!?!  Fabulous- and here before we can blink I tell ya.

I've put these little loves under the tree here:
ABC Christmas Challenge- P is for packaging
Simon Says- Christmas in August Challenge
Craft Your Passion- Anything Goes
Sweet Stampin' Challenge- Christmas in July

Colorful Thanks

Since I couldn't make it to Stamp-a-Faire on the 23rd Suzanne, over at The Card Yard, picked up my goodie bag for me.  She stopped by my favorite store, Ink About It, to give it to me and all I can say is EEEK!  What a boatload of goodness!

PTI gave us 3 stamp sets!  One of the sets had this great sentiment and it was perfect using with some die-cuts I had leftover from other projects.

The various dies used come from PTI and MFT and the card base is a trimmed down Memory Box card.  A summer goal of mine is to get a bunch of thank you cards made to send to the families of my students.  A teacher can never have enough thank you cards on hand! :)

It's a Color Challenge!

Today at Top Tip Tuesday we are challenging you to use color, but just certain colors. :)  Any shade, but your challenge is to use green, blue, and brown.  Here's what I came up with...

It's a soft and simple sympathy card.  None of us enjoy having to give these cards, but I try to have a couple on hand when they are needed.

This was a quick card to assemble since I had the punched papers already cut.  Playing around with a variety of pre-cut papers in the shades we were calling for in the color challenge, these had just the comforting feel I was looking for in this card.

I conned talked my in-laws into helping punch a bunch of old paper a while back (mentioned it here in the studio tour) and it really pays off 'cause I just pull out the color(s) I am looking to use and play around 'til it looks just right. :)

So what can you do with green, blue, and brown????  Come join us in the fun!

I'm paying a call at these lovely spots:
The Shabby Tea Room- Mix and Match 3 pattern papers (I made the pattern on the kraft base)
Papertake Weekly- Anything Goes
The Kraft Journal- Walk in my garden