Wanna Play Cards?

I got on a card kick last night. Well, that's not exactly true. I had a need for cards. Sadly, a need for support/sympathy cards. Several I know have suffered loss lately. Yet another reminder to hold those we love close and truly live and value our time.

Shaker Cards

supplies: PAPER: Echo Park Paper; VELLUM: Stampin' Up!; "Thinking of You" STRIP, VELLUM ACCENTS: Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper; WOOD HEARTS: ummmm... I think they're Freckled Fawn.

Throw kindness around like confetti.

This quote holds extra meaning for our family and reminds us of someone special we lost, so I put confetti pockets on several of my cards.

supplies: Exact same as previous card :) Except the pre-made heart in the circle, which is part of the confetti mix. It's from Simple Stories.

The confetti is a mixture of crepe paper scraps, foil bits, wood veneer pieces, and pre-made paper bits. 

supplies: Same as first card. Additions are: SEQUINS: Doodlebug; ROSE: Pink Paislee (I think); "I'll be there" STICKER: Simple Stories

I stitched vellum to my card fronts to hold the confetti bundles in place. This is a fairly quick way to create a card. And I love that stitching adds such reinforcement to my cards. I don't' feel like there's room for concern about the cards coming apart in the mail or anything. Phew!

Rub-Ons

supplies: PAPER: My Mind's Eye; VELLUM: Stampin' Up!; RUB-ONS: BoBunny; CORK HEART: Pink Paislee; ENAMEL HEART: My Mind's Eye

For my second set of cards, I used the foil rub-ons from BoBunny. I adore these, because the finish is such that it looks like the cards have been heat embossed, even though they have not. Hooray for shortcuts.

supplies: PAPER: Crate Paper; VELLUM: Stampin' Up!; RUB-ONS: BoBunny; HEART: Simple Stories

These particular rub-ons apply with little effort, too, which is so nice. You simply trim around the letter, peel away its backing, position it on the card, and rub. The letter then transfers to the paper. I wish rub-ons were more of a "thing" again. I always enjoy using them. Especially when they're as easy to use as these are.

A Few Extras

I need to mail nine cards today or tomorrow, so this isn't even all that I need, but sleep started to get the best of me around 3:00 AM, so I made a few more quickies and hit the hay.

supplies: PAPER: Crate Paper (black/white), Fancy Pants Designs (gold stripe); BUTTERFLY AND ROSE: Simple Stories; VELLUM SHAPES: Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper

supplies: PAPER: Fancy Pants Designs; ALPHA STICKERS: Elle's Studio (small gray), Fancy Pants Designs (floral); CORK HEART: Pink Paislee; VELLUM FLOWER: Maggie Holmes for Crate Paper; ENAMEL DOT: My Mind's Eye; ADHESIVE: Scrapbook Adhesives by 3L (red permanent runner)

A common theme throughout is that these designs are fairly simplistic. No fancy techniques or tools needed. They also require minimal products. A few sheets of paper and a few extra bits was all it took.

Life is short. Take time to hug those babies, hold someone special's hand, and eat that sweet treat you've had your eye on. (Orange rolls, here I come!) Call a friend. You know, actually dial a number and speak into a phone. (Say whaaaat!?) Tell your parents thank you. And, for pete's sake, exhale. I tell you this as a way of also reminding myself. It's too easy to get caught up in the crazy. Breathe. It will be okay. The crazy can wait. How about I leave you with a sweet pic of Lulu I just snapped? Because babies sure are a wonderful piece of it all, and I kind of adore this one. ;)

Thanks for your visit!

"Uh uh uh ohhhh!" Even though her throwing everything out of her crib and onto the floor was in no way an accident. But I sure do love the way she almost grunts uh-oh at such times. And the more recent development of throwing her hands over her mouth as she says it only adds to the cute. ----> Lulu, 11 months