First, the card for my mother. Because it’s my blog. As always, click images to enlarge.

front

Since this card was an odd size, I made a coordinating envelope. And because I was delivering it in-person (a week early), that left me free to decorate the envelope in ways I couldn’t if I had to mail it. My mom likes blue so I chose a pretty blue patterned paper and a coordinating scrap of navy for accents. Inside, a custom verse.

My mother-in-law is a big fan of purples so I went nuts with two purples and two pinks on her card.

MIL card

MIL card

inside

I sent my husband a link to a page with an assortment of verses. He chose:

Here’s wishing you a Mother’s Day
That’s filled with every pleasure,
And a future that’s as happy
As the memories you treasure!

Yay for my color printer! Unfortunately our trip home was cut short so we were unable to deliver his mom’s card in-person, making me glad I hadn’t decorated the envelope since he had to mail it.

While I made these cards for Mother’s Day, the sentiments on the inside could easily be switched out and the designs used for other occasions. I’m not a big fan of sending flowers because they die so I wanted cards that were full of paper flowers that keep forever.

CRAFTINESS: I’m happy to report a steady flow of projects. This has turned into a very full time of year for me with Mother’s Day, birthdays, the arrival of a friend’s ADORABLE little man… Lots of cards and a couple of gifts happening. I also bought fabric over the weekend to make a cape for my niece and it’s going to be adorable. I can’t wait to give it to her.

WRITING: I’m working on two writing projects right now. One I can’t share much about but it’s a fun project that is challenging my (lack of) illustration skills. The other is my novel. I’ve completed (for now) research and though I’m still struggling a bit with the outline, I’m pleased with the progress I’ve been making overall. I actually did some writing for it last week and that felt amazing. I’m thinking of participating in Camp NaNoWriMo during June to try finishing up my draft. My work won’t be completely from scratch so I suppose my participation will be unofficial but it will still be a great push for 50k words and finishing my draft.

OTHER STUFF:

• I’m still trying to determine the future of Girlyfight.
• The freelance editing contract I finished earlier this month not only wants to hire me back for future events but has also decided to bring me on to do some other duties on a regular basis, starting tomorrow. After so many one-offs, it feels great to have my first on-going contract.
• I’m thinking I really need to resurrect the webchicky blog.
• I’ve been reading The Artist’s Way by Julie Cameron and if you’re struggling with your creativity, I’d highly recommend it. I put off reading it for a long time because of all the hype but I’ve found it very helpful. I’m about halfway through and plan to write more about it once I reach the end but so far it has been an amazing experience.

Also, I’m VERY close (I hope) to having a big announcement here. I’ve been hard at work on a new project relating to chickyscratch that I plan to launch by Memorial Day. Stay tuned – I’m excited!

But first, I wanted to share this simple Thank You card I made for my father-in-law recently.

click to enlarge

The inside is blank so I could write him a note. The outside is a simple piece of patterned paper, a band of solid blue, and a scallop punch for the “thank you” sentiment. Simple but to me, especially when thanking someone for thinking of you, it’s worth taking the time to create the card.

I found a pattern for a cape on Pinterest (DIY cape from All For The Boys) and ran the idea by all my Twitter pals with boys in that same age range. They all assured me that yes, this was age appropriate and a lot of fun. Sweet!

Next up, finding the fabric. I spent quite a bit of time wandering around Joann’s before deciding on a solid aqua blue (blue to go with the nephew’s amazing eyes) for the top of the cape and an adorable monkey face fabric for the bottom.

monkey fabric

First, I wanted to make his card. Mostly because I’m still terrified of my sewing machine after my injury last Christmas. I got the bright idea to run the fabric through my scanner so I could enlarge it to use as a template for the card.

enlarged template

The end result:

outside

And the inside:

"Happy birthday Corbin, our favorite little monkey!"

Finally, Brigitte’s birthday owl card has some competition for that #1 spot!

Then, the cape. The pattern didn’t have exact measurements. Or, at least, I couldn’t quite figure them out. I ended up improvising, mainly around the neck area.

Looks like a cape to me!

"C" is for Corbin. And Carly. And Cookie!

My sister conveniently chose names starting with “C” for both of her kids, making the customization on the back easy. If Corbin outgrows it or loses interest (or shares!), Carly can wear it too!

velcro neck closure

I used velcro for the neck straps, thinking if they snag it on something, the velcro will give up before their necks. Such a caring aunty!

Still, that neck… The whole cape looked huge to me, even though the basic dimensions were from the pattern and said they would work for a 4yo. I figured my sister would find a way to make the neck work – she’s smart like that. And she did – she tied a loose knot in the neck for now but plans to adjust the velcro soon.

Carly rockin' Corbin's cape - hopefully picture of Corbin coming soon

Come on, look at that face… I just want to gobble her up.

Monkeys!

And so, for my favorite little monkey, a cape and coordinating card. The cape is actually large enough he can use it as a makeshift blanket if he wants and he shouldn’t outgrow it any time soon.

Happy birthday, Corbin!

This is the card I made for my grandmother’s birthday this weekend. It’s based on this card I found on Pinterest from a blog called My Simple Escape. (As always, click images to enlarge.)

My Simple Escape - inspiration!

I liked the multiple layers and the simple line border detail on the front. Here’s my version:

front of card

The card itself is white cardstock. It’s followed with a decorative sheet of scrapbook paper in colors my grandmother likes. The third layer is a piece of light lavender cardstock. I used a cutting template for the large flower and a punch for the smaller ones. I then used a green marker for the stems and added the black border and flower centers with a black pen. I like it, but it doesn’t have quite the contrast of the tiny pattern and white top layer from the inspiration piece.

And the inside:

inside

I always struggle with the inner sentiments. I found one that talked about what a great grandmother she had been and always would be – it sounded more like a eulogy so I kept looking.

Of all the Grandmas in the world that ever there could be, you’ll never know how glad I am that God gave you to me.

Again I went with layers. The white background, some of the patterned paper, then the lavender, then the printed sentiment layer with a few punches for good measure.

I’m pleased overall. I really like that simple border on the front – I intended to do the same on the inside and forgot. Oops. But it’s too late now – it’s already in the mail and on its way over the river and through the woods (and up the east coast) to grandmother’s house to wish her a happy birthday.

Click the images below to enlarge.

May your birthday bring you
as much happiness
As you give those who know you.

It’s the perfect birthday wish for a wonderful lady. The family tree may be complicated and we’ve only met Donna recently but she makes us feel like we’ve been part of family forever. Happy birthday, Donna!

image from crimescenetape.org

There’s a certain subset of folks who will appreciate this exchange that took place while my husband and I both worked on our laptops earlier in the week.

me: What are you doing?
Mike: Reading today’s Wall Street Journal. You?
me: Researching dissociative identity disorder.
Mike: Why?
me: I think my character has it.
Mike: Oh.

The odd assortment of books on my shelves (not to mention the Google searches I’ve conducted) may someday play into the case built against me by the prosecution for some crime I did not commit. But surely I can’t be the only writer creating an interesting paper trail, right?

By the time I realized this, it didn’t leave me much time to plan so I made a very simple card to tuck into his suitcase.

click to enlarge

I used a small heart paper punch and glued them on in a random manner. Inside, just a hand-written note that I copied from online:

You know I love you
And you must know too
That my happiest moments
Are those spent with you
For when we’re together
Or when we’re apart
You’re first in my thoughts
And first in my heart.

A quick card with an appropriate message to let him know I was thinking of him on Valentine’s Day even though he was spending it half-way across the world.

click to enlarge

First, the personalized tree. I found the inspiration on Pinterest. It was a link to an Etsy shop owned by Amy at Domestic Notions.

Original From Amy @ Domestic Notions Etsy Shop

I bought a black frame with a white matte and created something similar using the lyrics to the words playing when Mike proposed.

click to enlarge

While shopping for the frame, I found a very inexpensive ($1.99) white wooden “R” and picked that up to go with the tree. I thought it needed a little fancying up so I used adhesive spray to add a decorative paper to the front. Modpodge or even other glues would probably work just as well.

click to enlarge

They are currently displayed together in our living room but I didn’t get a photo of them there. The walls in that room are very similar to the red in the hearts and I’m thrilled with the results.

front

inside

I adore the verse I found to put inside – it is SO very Carly to me:

A two-year-old is so many things–
A tiny discoverer of butterfly wings.
A hugger of Teddies.
A sweet sleepyhead.
And someone to dream for in bright years ahead…

Happy birthday, Carly!