Card Swap

After Laredo's ONLY scrapbooking store closed some faithful scrapbookers and I wanted to continue getting together to...what else? SCRAPBOOK! We've been doing pretty good since the start of the new year. We've been meeting every month and taking turns at each other's houses doing so. At one of our crops, one of the members suggested and wanted to start a "Card Swap". It sounded like a wonderful idea and for that month's crop we managed to swap 4 cards each with each other. I can't wait for our next "Card Swap" since I've already used the ones I received!! Here's a look at the cards we all created.

It's been a while...

 I can't believe how long it's been since my last post....the truth is that I have been pretty busy creating and designing projects since I came back from my native country of Honduras. Immediately upon my return I made three scrapbook frames for my relatives in Honduras as a memento in loving memory of my father. I mailed it to them and they were elated and touched by the gesture. I know it will be a present reminder of the love they shared together. It also served (me) as self therapy as I started the healing process of his loss. I will cherish our short time together forever.

To show my appreciation during this difficult time, I also gave my Malakoff Family at school a big "Thank you" with this card. I hope they know how grateful I was to have received a downpour of support. I was truly blessed to have their support and prayers miles and miles away.



...and when one life parts this world, another one is born. This has been the gift I have been surrounded by recently. Starting with the birth of my niece, Karina on Christmas Day (how blessed is that?!). Unfortunately, I haven't had the pleasure of meeting her (yet), but I'm hoping to do so during the summer. Before I left however, I did make some cute little boxes for her big sisters, Elena and Marisa. I had to send them with Charlie during a trip to Austin recently since I ran out of time to mail them in time for Christmas. I selected colors to coordinate with their adorable bedrooms and personalized them using charms with the letters of their first name. 

I also made one for my niece, Yvette





 The second was that of my sister's baby shower invitations. I was able to make her invitations just in time for a shower her husband gave in her honor. Considering we were tight on time, I think they came out cute. I also made her a money holder card to place the deposit inside. Yvette loved her invitations and the baby shower was a hit.

Shortly after her baby shower, my cousin Laurita asked me to design Susie's (her daughter-in-law) baby shower invitations. I was honored by her request! Susie will be a first time mom in the summer and we are so happy for her and Johnny on the forthcoming of their little girl. Seems only yesterday that I made their wedding gift card....click here to see it.

And most recently, the surprising announcement of my colleague and good friend, Norma-who is also expecting and due this summer!!! I am so happy for her! Her son Joshua and Charlie have been friends since the first grade and as they finish their elementary school years together this May, her new baby boy will certainly be the beginning of a new chapter in their lives. Next month we will be honoring her with a baby shower. I was sooo happy when she gave the news that I was inspired to make her invitations for this joyous event.

As you can see....I have been PRETTY busy with all kinds of projects. I have other projects lined up and some that I have already completed so stay tuned for more pictures!!

Harley-Davidson Gift Card

This is the third card I made using the ideas presented on the Card Making with Cricut book. As you can see I used a Harley-Davidson theme to create it using the gift card template. I then finished the project by placing a gift card also by H-D inside.

Accordion Album

It took me two days to make this little project. My idea for this project was to showcase and highlight parts and events of our vacation. I created it as gift for my husband's cousin family as a token of our appreciation for their unconditional hospitality. Thanks for the inspiration to create this album!

Front Cover

The velum pocket stores a tag with a special message for our gratitude.

Front View-opened

Back View-opened

Showing accordion effect
Back View

Thank You Card

Here is a diferrent take on thanking somone. The reason behind this creation is that I wanted to depict the reason why I was thanking the person. In this case, the recipient had helped in building the girls' playhouse. To show our appreciation, we gave him a gift card from Lowe's. I choose a theme paper that resembled a real blue print and found the cutest stickers to go with it. I just loved the letters in the shape of nuts and bolts. Don't you think so? The best feauture about this gift card is the brads in the shape of a screw. When I first saw them at Cropper's Corner- I just had to buy them. It looks as if I had actually used a screwdriver to put them on the corners! Click on the picture to view it up close.


A different variation you could use this card for would be for Father's Day. Or a just because to your "Handy Man" or Mr. Fix It".

Fold out Thank You card

This one I am proud of. It took some tactful planning and precise measurements to create. I am happy to say that I like the way it turned out.




I had seen a fold out card on a Disney book and I thought it was definitely one I'd had to try to make. I thought to myself-"I can do this!" With the picture in my mind I vizualized what I had seen on the book.

It didn't come out right on my first attempt, but it was not a total loss. The first template I made came out short for the card to fold all the way from the front. Using that same cardstock I traced the sections that came out right and then scored the paper closer in length to allow it to "close" correctly. It did! So here's what I did.

Supplies used:
1 4x6 photo - cut to size
1 12x12 colored cardstock
2 patterned papers (that coordinate)
Stickers
Flowers
Ribbon
Chipboard flowers
Brads
Photo Corners
1 A7 Envelope (fits 5x7 card)

Basic Instructions:
Cut your 12x12 paper to size (kind of like a fat "T")to make the fold out from the bottom and score. Fold and iron out with hand or tool. Measure paper to cover middle section only. Use other paper to cut two pieces for top and bottom and glue. Place 4x6 picture on the bottom portion of the card- where the fold will occur and fold up before you close your card. Embellish with ribbon, chipboard, stickers, flowers and dedicate your thank you card by hand or type it- and print!