Happy Monday!  I did this card this weekend for my brother in law who is getting married next month.  Their colors are red and tan-ish, in my neices words.  Hopefully that tannish is close enough. 

The flowers are from a roll of lace flowers that I cut out.  Flourish die is Memory Box Valentia Border.  Background paper is Prima Almanac Collection 6x6 pack.  Stamps are Close to My Heart.  This is the first 6x6 card that I'v made.  I bought 50 6x6 envelopes for the birthday cards and then found out that the post office charges a  surcharge for square cards :(. 

I haven't posted for so long that I thought I would add something so that those that do follow my blog don't get entirely bored with coming here and having nothing to look at. I have been busy however.  I completed 25 Birthday cards for my company, and have started the next batch. The first one I used some handmade washi tape.  I've been wanting to try this for a long time, and finally got around to it.  Iused regular white tissue paper, and colored it with Distress Stains, then stamped it.  Then I turned it over and put score tape on it, then trim.  I really like the look and there are so many possibilities.

 Another technique I've been wanting to do, but I have done it before.  Stamping and then cutting apart and mounting like a mosaic.  The stamp and paper are a free gift from the British Paper Crafts magazine that I subscribe to.  The articles are "so-so", but I love their gifts that you get every month.

 The second time I have done this style with the frame cut with two dies.

 I have struggled and really had to stretch myself to get ideas for mens cards, and I have to have half of my order for the company for men.  I like this one though with the gears, the pocket watch and the Tim Holtz stamp behind.

 Also wanted to try this masking technique to get the trees behind the car.  I think it turned out pretty good.

On the other end of the spectrum of my life, I continue to manage the property here at Auburn Hills.  While winter is a little slower for me as I don't have gardening issues, it does always bring challenges with concerns of snow storms and freezing pipes and such in the community, but so far so good this year. 

I started a really great weight loss program last fall.  It is a Christ centered life style program called "Losing to Live" and I am really excited about it.  I did it for 3 months and then started a class at my church.  I am very anxious to see the changes it, and Christ can make in the lives of my friends as well as with myself.

Christmas Trees

No stamping in these as yet.  Will be on the inside later.  The tree is a sizzix die and the background paper and tags are from a colorbok 12x12 stack that I bought last year at a garage sale. I wanted a gold to match the start on the trees, though there are only two.  This one matched perfectly.

Green

I didn't even know what to call this one, since I have not made it a birthday, thank you etc.  I want to have some cards in case anybody  needs one so will add the label when it is needed.

I got the idea from a card I found somewhere, I'm sorry I can't give credit to the original artist.  Of course, mine has many variations from the original.  I cut the oval with two dies and used embroidery floss.   Have been working on Christmas and just needed a little diversion.

Pink Ornament

Had to do just one more today.  I've really been wanting to do a pink ornament though I have a limited amount of pink pattern paper.  

Again both the mat, background and the flourish of the top of the ornament are glitter paper.

Christmas Ornament

I love love love this die by Memory Box.  It is actually two dies, the top and the bottom.  The top was really hard to cut until I got a tip to use bubble wrap between the paper and the die, and now it works perfect.  The background on both dies are actually glitter paper, and the flourish front is a shiny cardstock.

 I finally figured out how to make tiny bows too, by using a fork (the tines) to wrap the ribbon around, and then sewing the center together.  It makes the perfect little size and they are always uniform in size.  I just have to make sure that I sew it exactly in the center or it will be lopsided.

I didn't know how well I would like the white background on a white card, so I mounted it on red glitter paper.  This cardstock is pretty expensive comparatively so didn't want to waste it, so I cut the center out and I can use it to cut more ornaments or something else.

Not a Creature was stirring

The only kid of mouse that will be allowed in my house!

I did three of these cute little stamps today and put one together.  Various papers from previous years, Spellbinders octogon label and Memory Box wreath.