Mother'Day Designs 2011

One day soon I will not feel rushed to create the cards that are my gifts to friends and family. Right now I don't feel I am at my best because I rush to make something to send out because everyone knows I make cards, and may be offended if they don't get a handmade one for their specific event or occasion. Of course I still enjoy it, but I want to be able to take my time and get more creative, try different fun techniques. Soon, and one day soon... : )

Because this is a post filled with Mother's Day Cards I will post another poem about Mothers.

Mother-Love

The love of a mother is exhausted.

It never changes, it never tires;

It endures all; in good repute, in bad repute,

In the face of the world's condemnation,

A mother's love still lives on.

~Washington Irving

Although many of these cards may look the same at first glance, there are varied subtle changes if I placed them here. With the first two below-the card on the right is missing the silver leaves. It was intentional because I wanted to see how it would look without them. I think I liked it better with the leaves. Also the centers of the felt flowers are different. Can you guess what I used for the centers? I wonder if you can?! lol I LOVE that soft yellow rick rack trim; the soft color and the soft feel of it. I also loved the soft blue felt flowers on this one. I also LOVE this paper stack. It is called Lemon Flower Stack by DCWV. I so love paper! (one day I will show you just how much! Susan, Bethann, Karen and Helen already know!) This card was actually developed because of a challenge on Moxie Fab that I never made the post. But it's all good....

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So you can see these are the very similar design, but a different orientation.

three different centers, again. Did you figure it out yet? lol

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New design. This card was designed around this fabulous paper that I found at Papyrus, where they sell the most fabulous paper and cards! I will be making some more cards using paper from there and The Paper Source! The paper is quite expensive if you think about only making one or two cards. But if you like to make cards in bulk (3,6,12 of a similar design) like I do, you can make a lot of cards from one sheet which sells from $4 to $12 a sheet. When you consider that you can get 48-180 sheets of different papers for about $10-$20. It does seem expensive. But let's face it...the paper makes the card. The nicer it is, the nicer your card has a chance of looking. : ) I usually gage my recipient's response on what my son thinks of a finished project, and he didn't like these- so I was a little worried. But after spending several weeks working on them, of course, I ran out of time and had to send them out. I was pleasantly and happily surprised with my friend's and families responses. So that let me know that I can not always use my son as a judge. You never know sometimes what really appeals to people. Anyway, long story longer...it started with the paper, and went from there...the die cuts are K and Company. I fell in love with the birds and butterflies. So...birds...butterflies...flowers...beauty...Mothers!

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I LOVE how this card turned out. I think it was the color combination. I love that soft blue in the background of this fabulously embossed paper by DCWV (they really know what they are doing when they create these paper stacks!)...

The butterfly is black and felty; wonderfully textured- by Colorbok. Then I punched a butterfly from Martha Stewarts punch out of vellum paper, then added a rhinestone. I think the Thinking of you came from a M.S.E. (My Sentiments Exactly) set. I'm in the process of cataloging all my sets so I can't tell you this moment.

Still can't get the full effect of that butterfly...

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These are the same design as I posted earlier, only I used the wonderful butterflies from that K and Company set.

I did not send all of these cards out for Mother's Day, either. Once I started making them, I just made several so I might have some extra on hand for another occasion.

Again, this is a tip that I use frequently. I make my cards 75 % and I complete them when I need them. That way the design is usually customizable. I think this card could be used for Get Well, birthday or a simple Thinking of you. The inside stays blank, and sometimes there is even room on the front to customize.

Well I must say this is the most I have typed in probably months of blogging. I still have a couple more posts to put together. I have been working on several cards that again may be put to use for multi-purpose. Birthday, congratulations, thinking of you, get well, etc... Sometimes I need a card to send out, and my head isn't in the card making space I need it to be in to get it done. I also have to post my Stamp Camp adventure a month or so ago. I want to show those projects. And last I must say that this is the first time in 5 years that I have missed every single Spring craft convention! It is normally what I do for me, but alas and alack...there has been too many other things going on, and I just haven't made it to any. I am registered for the Valley Forge Scrapbooking Convention that will be here in July, 2011. So at least I know I'll be there!

Thanks for hanging out with me for a spell....I really appreciate you for it!

HUGS!,