Racey Birthday

 THIS is the card that I made for Geoffrey for his birthday this year. And no, he did not get a car for his birthday :) He will get to drive a family vehicle until he can buy his own :) Inside the card, I wrote "Sorry Geoffrey, you are not getting a sports car for your birthday, but I know if you want one, you will get one someday!" There was some other mushy mom and dad stuff in there too that I won't bore you all with. I just figured this would be a good theme for a 17 year old.

There are a couple of new/returning things on this card, along with a retiring set... sad. I just got this set a couple months ago and am just getting around to using it! The yellow paper is Crushed Curry, and I like it much better this time around than I did when it was an In-Color a few years ago. I don't know why I didn't like it back then! And the punch with the sentiment is new, called Artisan Label.

• Stamps: Need For Speed (retiring), Pennant Parade
• Ink: Illuminate, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler, Crushed Curry
• Paper: Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler
• Other: Big Shot with Honeycomb and Chevrons embossing folders, Artisan Label punch, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper PIercer and Mat, Signo white gel pen, White Baker's Twine, dimensionals, Blender Pen, Embossing Buddy, Heat Gun, Early Espresso embossing powder (retired), needle, buttons

Are you tempted to get this set? You can Shop Now with me here!

Special News, the Stampin' Addicts gang is having a Retiring Sets Blog Hop May 10-12, 2013! Be sure to come back to check out all the fun!

Happy Birthday Geoffrey!

My baby turns 17 today! I cannot believe it!!! I will try to refrain from the usual mom speeches about how it was just yesterday that I was changing his diapers, or watching him run around the house with just a towel around his shoulders yelling "Nakie-boy to the rescue!", or the time when his collar bone got broken on Mother's Day when he was 5 after he and his oldest brother fought over a Bionicles piece.... or just how sweet he is, except to his brother Dakota... and the fact that he has an adorable girlfriend now! OK, I tried, but I am a mother! Geoffrey just makes me smile, or shake my head, sometimes both at the same time :) I love my Geoffrey.
All of my babies have been happy accidents, never good timing but a baby is a good thing! I had my first three by the time I was 20. I stayed home after having #2, and decided it was time for me to go back to school for nursing when they were 6,5, and 3½. I started classes, and 4 days in, found out I was pregnant with #4. I cried, oh, did I cry! But I did not stop school. I remember returning to classes 5 days after he was born, bringing him with me, and a week later taking finals with Geoffrey on my lap. He actually got more one-on-one time with me than any of the other kids as I got an evening shift job when I finished school and he was still only about a year old then.
OK, enough about the boy! If you made it through all of that, I applaud you! I am sure it is a bit boring to anyone but me and mine :)

 Geoffrey's girlfriend, Keely, was over last week and saw my stamping area and some of the cards that I have stashed. She then wanted to make a card for his birthday. Incidentally, her birthday is the day before Geoffrey's :) So I had her pick out a stamp set, and then she showed me a fancy fold she wanted to try. She picked out the colors, and away we went! I loved how it turned out so much, I had to make my own version of it. I was not able to get a picture of hers before she left. She already shows enormous talent :)

• Stamps: Great Sport, Teeny Tiny Wishes, Words of Courage, Grunge Rock
• Ink: Basic Gray, Illuminate
• Paper: Basic Black, Basic Gray, Real Red, Whisper White
• Other: Big Shot with Apothecary Accents and Bitty Banner framelits, Essentials Paper Piercing Pack, Paper Piercer and Mat, Signo white gel pen, Simply Scored, 1-3/8" Circle punch, Heat Gun, Embossing Buddy, Black embossing powder

The red panel opens on a hinge to the right of the card, and inside the card there is a white panel to put your message on. I tried stamping the stars in Basic Black on the Basic Black paper, but they did not show up, so I went back with the Illuminate ink and added the stars again.

I would love to hear stories about your "babies"!

Birthday Wings

 Ok, I just realized how much I have neglected my blog in the last month or so. I have been out having fun in the summer sun. Yes, I took some vacation and did not bring my stampin' stuff. Can you believe it?

I have also started working out with a personal trainer in some small classes. Look out world, Tanya has started Kick Boxing! Papercrafting is a wonderful outlet, but I need to make my butt shrink and improve my health, so I am practicing more moderation in my crafting time. It is taking me a little time to get my balance of activities down, but have no fear, I will get there soon :)

In the mean time, I have yet to post my Holiday Mini Swap projects, so here is the first one I will share with you.

 This is a really fun card to make. I love all the banners out there right now, and they are so easy to do with minimal supplies :) The Affection Collection set has this awesome winged heart image that i used to make the birthday sentiment at the top. This makes a great card for tweens and some teens, and I know just who I am sending this to this year ;) 

• Stamps: Affection Collection, Bring on the Cake
• Ink: Basic Gray, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Baja Breeze
• Paper: Naturals White, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, First Edition DSP
• Other: Big Shot with Apothecary Accents framelits & Fancy Fans EF, 1” Square punch, Signo white gel pen, Rhinestones, Dimensionals, Color Spritzer, sponge, paper snips

 A certain niece of mine loves bling so I had to put lots of rhinestones on this card. I think they make all the difference :)

And how about some more banners? Makes me think of a party!

Stamps: Affection Collection, Bring on the Cake

Ink: Basic Gray, Primrose Petals, Summer Starfruit, Baja Breeze

Paper: Naturals White, Baja Breeze, Whisper White, First Edition DSP

Other: Big Shot with Apothecary Accents framelits & Fancy Fans EF, 1” Square punch, Signo white gel pen, Rhinestones, Dimensionals, Color Spritzer, sponge, paper snips