Out of This World!

This is my afternoon off. The first afternoon off since my birthday almost exactly one month ago. All my other afternoons (and evenings, and then the next mornings) for the past 6 weeks have been filled with books, and facts, and medical school stuff. Lots and lots of basic science medicine. But this afternoon, I'm done. Because tomorrow is it: my Step 1 US Medical Licensing Exam. So to celebrate, and to put good karma out into the universe, I wanted to post about a card that I sent to my sister last week.

I have sent a card to my sister before in congratulations of her work, but usually she is behind the camera. On this occasion, my sister was acting and singing in a community theatre production. Not being able to be there myself because of my affliction (read: studying until the cows, all of them, came home), I sent her my congratulations with this little guy:

Out of this World

This basic card was made with the following supplies:

• SandyLion stamps (my first real stamps, not just the digital ones I've been using!)
• Ink from Versa Magic (Mediterranean Blue and Silver)
• Text was printed on my computer using fonts from Kevin&Amanda
• Papers were from a block of paper scraps (that I bought centuries ago)

Scribble This! Week 2

I saw this challenge on one of the [many] blogs that I follow, and I felt like someone had finally addressed my card photography woes: the grey blahs. Unfortunately, we have very limited natural lighting in our apartment, and the rainy days seem more numerous than the sunny ones. I have often lamented that my cards look pale and blah in my photos. This challenge from Lisa Spangler at sideoats + scribbles, doesn't just focus on producing great cards, but also how to showcase them with great photography [or great editing tips]! So I had to jump right in and played with the levels on this simple card that I made quickly over the week during one of my [necessary] study breaks.

Just by playing with the levels, you can completely change the cards, and [finally!] make them look like they do in person! This is going to be my new trick -- used on all of my future photography! Bye bye blahs!

Cupcake Birthday: Before

Cupcake Birthday: After

On a personal note: this Friday, June 19, I will be taking Step 1 of the United States Medical Licensing Exam. I have been studying for the past 5 weeks, and my cards have helped to keep me sane during this time. Long days and endless time in the library will hopefully all have been worth it! Congrats and Good Luck to all of my classmates!

Happy Birthday Pink Persimmon!

A blog that's relatively new to me (found through Keepsakes by Melissa, see her amazing giveaway, posted below), is the wonderful Pink Persimmon. This month, in celebration of their 1 year anniversary, they've given a great (and appropriate) challenge: Pink and Orange (Persimmon).

To be honest, I shied away from this one at first. I didn't think that I could "pull it off", until I was looking through my paper selection and found a pink and orange argyle-print paper. And then I was off! So here it is...

Pink & Persimmon

caardvarks challenge: Depth Perception

The current challenge at caardvarks is Depth Perception! We are asked to create a paper crafting project that is 3D, whether a card, gift wrapping, home decor -- anything goes!

[You can skip the story and just look at the pictures... it is a little lengthy.]

My project this week is inspired by my Gram (she's really my GIL, but like my own Gram in many ways). She told once told me this story: Who's Packing Your Parachute [adapted from this website]? Captain Charles Plumb was a US Navy jet pilot during the Vietnam War. On a mission, his plane was shot down, he ejected from his jet and fell into enemy hands. He survived imprisonment for 6 years. He survived and frequently spoke about the lessons that he learned.

One day, he was approached by a strange man who said: "You're Captain Plumb!" Yet, Plumb did not recognize him. The man said, "You were shot down. I packed your parachute. I guess it worked." And Captain Plumb agreed, "If the chute didn't work, I wouldn't be here today."

Now as Captain Plumb lectures, he asks to think of those who pack our parachutes. Those who you may not say Thank You to everyday, yet who save our lives in small gestures or in big ways. When Gram told me this story, we discussed how we all need to pack each others parachutes. And thus the inspiration for this card.

I Packed Your Parachute

I made the "parachute design" by cutting out white card stock with tabs on the side (for gluing together during assembly). I made the parachute a little thicker than my note so that she could place notes, affirmations, or prayers inside of it. I covered the front and back in the polka dot patterned paper, drawing in the stitching on the borders with markers. On the reverse side, I added two pieces of ribbon to represent the straps for the parachute, and I used the same ribbon (bought for only $1 at Michaels!) to make a tab on the front pocket and the tab on the note inside. I used a matching striped pattern for the sides of the parachute and for the front panel. A few buttons details and this is ready to ship to Gram!

2S4Y 1st Annual Ultimate Card Challenge

One of my absolute favorite blogs, 2 Sketches 4 You (2S4Y), is celebrating their 1 Year Blog Birthday! In true creative fashion of 2S4Y, they are celebrating this milestone with the 1st Annual Ultimate Card Showdown. Even the name sounds exciting! The prizes are great, the inspiration is greater and the products that are sure to come out of this challenge are going to be stunning. This is going to run all month long, and while there will be an "elimination style" competition to find the Ultimate Card, the challenges and prizes for Fab 5's will continue, so you can keep participating -- I LOVE that. And that's why one of the many reasons I love 2S4Y.

Ok, onto the sketch for Week 1:

Welcome Baby

I used a wide variety of products for this including digital stamps of the baby carriage and baby rattle and a wide variety of papers for which I cannot find the original manufacturers.

A subtle detail, in efforts to follow the sketch, I hand-sewed a scalloped pattern to the left of the floral stripe (enlarged seen below).

Thanks to 2S4Y -- of course to Laura & Kazan for making this all possible -- but also to the wonderful community that participates, inspires, comments and encouragement. I have learned so much in just the 3 months that I've been making cards, and much of that comes from the beautiful creations that you all share!

More Blog Candy to Share...

Melissa at Creating from the Heart has a knack for selecting the most ultimate, amazing, exciting, finger-crossing, please-please-please-pick-me-praying blog candy! And she's done it again! She's offering up:

• 1 Queen & Co Bucket Full of Summer
• 5 different Basic Grey Rhinestone Stickters
• 1 Basic Grey 6x6 Lime Rickey Pad

And as if that wasn't enough:

• A Sissix Big Shot

[image from Melissa's blog]

She's giving away a Sizzix BIG SHOT! Wowzers! Told you she was the best!

Don't believe me, check it out at Melissa's blog: Creating from the Heart!