Not posting lately ...

Sorry for not posting lately ... my older daughter Lana is very sick and we've spent last week and half worrying and praying.
We ended up in the ER and after many blood tests, x-rays, CT scan - we still have no definitive answer...
We are going to the doctor today (again) for some more blood work to be done.
Please, keep us in your thoughts & prayers.
Although, I think she is finally starting to get tiny bit better (she asked to eat! hurray!!!) - there are still many questions that need to be answered.

Thank you!!!

Card no. 54 - You make me happy

Oh, my! Check out this gorgeous stamp by Elisabeth Bell - that I've got from Susana's Custom Art & Card Design (SCACD). Juuuust beautiful... in fact, her little face reminds me of my newest family addition - my sweet (almost) 3 month old daughter Hannah Rebecca. She is a true sunshine to my day - she always smiles...

My Sweet Little Sunshine

And now here goes the card:
I used Anna Griffin papers & (I believe) Bazzill Basics Pearlescent paper. The image is embossed, of course, and colored with my ProMarkers & ShinHan Markers. I added a tiny KeiserCrafts rhinestone to her headband. The sentiment stamp is from Stampology (Talking Circles Girl) - just adorable! The Flowers are by Prima, with added branches punched out with my MS Branch punch. The tiny Pearls are also from KeiserCrafts. I used a piece of my American Crafts ribbon and punched out scalloped circles with Marvy Uchida's 2", 3" & 3 1/2" punches. I distressed almost all my papers with Ranger's Tattered Rose distress ink.
Oh, yes... almost forgot - the border punch is from Fiskars - not sure about its name, though.
What do you think? Cute! Right?

The Front View

The Detail

The Inside View

I think I am having a good week - yeah! I think it must be because my baby has learned to sleep without me holding her - wooo hooo!!! :) Although, I loooove love love holding her, I sometimes would like to do some other hobbies - as she is my primary hobby at the moment :)

I hope you enjoy this card and please, don't forget to leave me a comment, so I can visit your blog too.

Off to bed now... getting up early - possibly in few hours to feed my bebe ...
Night, night.

Stationery Box Tutorial

Here is a little tutorial, that I designed to make a simple Stationery Box. This box should hold few cards & envelopes sized at 6" x 6". However, I personally use 51/2" x 51/2", so this box gives me a little extra room on the side.


Here it goes.
You will need: cardstock or designer paper, MS score board (or Scor-Pal), scissors (or sharp blade), permanent sticky double-sided tape, 3 1/2" circle punch or MS "Circle maker", border punch, embelishments, stamped & colored image, anything else your heart desires to decorate this thing :)

1. Start with a cardstock size 12" x 12" - Score it at 3" and 9"
(Just a thought - didn't try it yet: to accommodate card sized: 51/2" x 51/2" - score instead at 31/4" & 8 3/4" - this should work, I hope - not sure if you'd have to cut out that extra 1/2'' someplace else - shouldn't, though)
2. Turn it around and score it again at 5" & 7"

Step 1 & 2

3. Cut into the cardstock to create two flaps on both sides (view picture below)

Step 3

4. Cut off 1" on one of the sides and I think the picture doesn't show it, but also score 1" on the bottom part

Step 4

Yup, I think the previous picture doesn't show - score at 1'' on the bottom part.
5. Add permanent tape to the middle part - or I guess you could use glue - but I think this would hold better.

Step 5.

6. Close the flaps & press firmly - try to be even - I missed that (see picture?) and then I had hard time folding it ... oops!

Step 6

7. Using your 3 1/2" circle punch or Martha Stewart's "Circle Maker", cut out a half circle on one side.

Step 7

8. Add tape to all sides (as viewed on the picture below), fold and close together.

Step 8

Ta dah! All done. This is how it should look like when you close it.

Easy! Right? If you have any trouble using this guide, please, feel free to email me at cardheaven@gmail.com and I can send you additional instructions and/or pictures.

And here is the final product all decorated - my daughter likes a lot of color (and hearts, of course!) :)

Feel free to use this little guide and if you do, please, I would appreciate if you could credit me with a back link.

Thank so much! Have a faaaabulous day!

Card no. 53 - Happy accidents happen ...

So this card was supposed to be just a regular, normal sized card ... little did I know, that sleep deprivation and poor concentration can cause taking a different path - not worse necessarily :)

OK, I originally wanted to be 5 1/4*5 1/4 card and I don't even remember the measurements but I think it is 4 3/4 x 1/2 x 5 1/4 (WxDxL). I added a little pouch for a bookmark that I magically thought of - I think I might switch it for a gift card & chocolate and send it to my fantastic friend Lily for her upcoming birthday :)

The image is from SugarNellie, colored with the brand new distress inks (bundled sage & tumbled glass), ProMarkers & ShinHan Markers. Papers are DCWV (Mediterranean Collection with combination of Linen Closet Collection). I used MS's Lace Border Punch and the Branch Punch to add few little branches to the Flowers, which are from Prima and I added a little stems inside them that I found at a local hideaway treasure chest (Impressive Ideas). I added a little ribbon (American Crafts) to tie the sides together. The bookmark was super easy to make - just cut out the edges, punched out little circle, using Cricut I cut out letter spelling "Spring" and using MS punch I added a little heart & ribbon. Done :) Quick & easy - didn't take me a whole week to make - perfect! Getting better over here ... he he he ... time-wise, anyways.

The Front View

The Detail

The Inside View

I hope ya'll have a fantastic weekend planned ahead, fingers crossed for a lovely weather. I think Atlanta should be renamed "the new Seattle" - it just keeps pouring and pouring .... bleeee....

Anyhoo, enjoy and don't forget to leave me a comment so I can visit your blog too.

Card no. 52 - Dance like no one is watching ...

Hello ladies, this little number took me a whole week to make, yet again. I think my little Hannah needs a schedule ;)
I just looove this gorgeous Whiff of Joy image! My husband says it reminds him of me when we've met. I think, I might have similar dress.
Anyhow this card will go to someone special, not sure who yet.

The papers are from DCWV called Linen Closet. The base paper is also DCWV paper, but from the Mediterranean Collection. I made the musical notepaper by using my newest stamp from wonderful local store: Impressive Ideas. I distressed the paper using Ranger's Tea Dye and "fluffed" the edges with my scissors. Also, I think I used the Tea Dye on every piece of designer paper attached to give it a little dimension. I cut out some letters that l downloaded from dafont.com - fantastic font resource. I cut out the letters on my Cricut using SCAL. I also sewed the edges - one of the newest techniques I've been using and totally lovin' it :) Flower is by Prima and extra leafs are punched out with Martha Stewart - Branch Punch. I printed the sentiment on my printer :) Easy peasy ... Oh, yeah! This card has A LOT of bling - Stickles (Turquoise). Of course, I colored the image using my ProMarkers and ShinHan Markers. I forgot to mention that I stamped and cut out Willow's dress out of DP (as I am sure you can tell).

The Front View

The Detail

I couldn't take a good picture of the inside, so sorry for the poor quality. I think the darkness of the paper and the darkness of my home (from cloudy skies) caused this - and not my awful photo skills :)

The Inside View

I hope you enjoyed this. This card for some reason makes me smile - it's just so happy :)
Have a happy Friday everyone!!!

Stationery Gift Box - Whiff of Joy Challenge #69

OK, sooo ... I have been looking for a Stationery Gift Box Template all over the Internet and could not find it, soooo I have decided to make it all by myself. I will post the tutorial - as soon as I can - right now I am feeding (as always) Hannah ... tee heee ....
UPDATE: you can find it here!
This box is great because it fits my 5 1/2" x 5 1/2" cards and I wanted to fit few in as a gift for my friend(s) + envelopes (of course).

Anyways ... Whiff of Joy Challenge Blog's theme for this week is "Coffee & Cream" (Yum!) and I am entering this project.

The Front View

The stamps are WoJ, of course, from the Happy Mail Collection. I colored the image with ProMarkers & ShinHan Markers. All used papers are DCWV (Linen Closet) and are distressed with Ranger's Tea Dye. I embellished the box with Prima Flowers and I cut up few green ones and used them as leafs. The pearls are from KaiserCrafts and the Ribbon is from JoAnne's Store. Lacy punch is made by Martha Stewart Crafts. I used my Cricut Design Studio (and Cricut Personal Cutter) to cut out the image and paper under it. It was quite a project, I tell ya, to make it fit juuust right ;)

The Detail

I hope you like it and come back soon to see the tutorial.

ENJOY!

Card no. 51 - Thank you + OCC + more ...

Hello ladies ... another card made this week ... woo hoo... I think I am getting better at using only one hand to do stuff. I like seriously did the whole thing with Hannah on my lap (including typing this) ;)

I made this card for one special mommy who is absolutely awesome and brought me delicious food for my whole family. YUMMY! She loves crafts and I can't wait to get together with her to do crafting :)

I am entering this card in the OCC Sketch Challenge. The layout was super cute and I needed an inspiration. I used my new DCWV Papers (Mediterrian) that were on super sale at JoAnns - oh, so gorgeous - just looove the bright colors. I used my never used stamp from Stampavie - what a pleasure coloring this one - I used my beloved ProMarkers a ShinHan Markers. I cut out the butterfly from the deco paper and sprayed the whole finished card with the Glimmer Mist. The rhinestones are from KaiserCrafts and Ribbon is from JoAnn's that I've got ages ago. I used Distress Ink (weathered wood) to do the shading around the image. Flowers are from Prima and I punched out few branch leafs with my Martha Stewart Punch.

I really like this card - it just screams "SUMMER"!

The Front View

The Detail

The Inside View

And now for the news:
I am celebrating my (over) 50th card, my birthday (on 13th) and over 13,000 visitors so I am putting together one special package, soooooo keep your eyes peeled for the next few posts - I might be giving it away :)

I hope you had a fantastic weekend and that your week will be a good one!

ENJOY!