Creative Grace

Nautical love

I've been completely obsessed with all things nautical lately.  I feel like I've hit the crafty jackpot as there are so many fun products that have come out this year to feed the addiction!  

I was just tinkering around last week and this card came together:

I wanted to try making a special knot on the card (no easy task for me, I had to learn knot tying as a teen and pretty much stunk at it).  I also wanted an excuse to use this fun wooden sail boat.  I'm pretty happy with this card - works for the gents and works for the ladies.  

Why yes, I think I will enjoy the ride!

Hello Camp

Wow - it's been a while, hasn't it? :)  Summer is finally here meaning I have a little more time to play!

Speaking of which, camp is calling my name!

What about you?  Any fun plans for the summer?

Washi-wonderful

How could I possibly resist a washi tape challenge??? 

Love the Moxie Fab World and their fun challenges, including the current washi tape challenge.  I made this card as a thank you for some wonderful support a friend extened toward me.  

Washi and a stache - it was a fun card to make! :)  

Chemistry LuV

Hello Internet friends!  I am so grateful that over the past few weeks I've actually had time to craft for fun. I've even gotten a jump start on my Valentines, *gasp*.  I'm sure it also helped that I had a sick day this week which forced me to stay home (and, apparently, I don't know how to stay down and relax... crafting is relaxing, right????)  I was so ambitious, I actally made a card for the Moxie Fab World challenge: Make a card with a window.  

I feel in love with this die and stamp set by Papertrey Ink.  A perfect Valentine for my hubby, who is a chemist.  So cute! I used the round-bottomed flask as my "window" and broke up the sentiment, stamping the left half on the card front, and the right half on the inside.  I think he will LuV it!

Smile Dad

Happy father's day to all you Dad's out there!  Several friends in my life have become father's this year and are celebrating their very first Father's Day - it's very cool to see them in that role and I imagine they must be enjoying their very first Father's Day - Cheers Jesse, Michael, Hugh, and Brett!  

Today we will get to spend time with my hubby's Dad so I whipped up a quick card for him:

He likes to take photos, so I thought this would be a fun card for him. 

Today is one of those days, though, that makes me miss my Dad more than usual.  Inspired by my friend Jenn's video she posted on her blog today, I thought I'd send my Dad this fun collage.

Love you Dad :) 

Summer!

I've slept in for 2 DAYS STRAIGHT!!!! Hello summer break - I'm a happy girl (well, at least for a couple weeks until the summer jobs kick in).  I've been busy tackling some projects around the house I've been meaning to get to since about {forever ago} which also feels great.  

Before school got out, however, I was in a frantic state trying to acknowledge all those awesome folks who make my job a million times easier.  Besides my fabulous 8th grade TA's (see their card here) I wanted to give a huge shout out to a few other amazing people too.  I did a variation of the TA card for my awesome custodians:

I also made several thank you's for the awesome teachers and awesome volunteer Mom's who helped me run our character building program this year:

I just printed our logo onto cardstock (designed by our student's with the help of a volunteer graphic designer), added some washi and bling, piece-o-cake!

Finally, I made some personalized stationary card sets for our fabulous office staff:

Again, I kept it REALLY EASY {thank you washi tape} so it didn't take me too long, but yes, I've appreciated the extra sleep these past couple days :)

For all my friends still teaching - I do feel your pain.  I've felt it all year long when you got that extra few days at Thanksgiving or that extra Spring Break week or those snow days.  It's all a wash in the end right? A break from the norm at any time of the year is appreciated.  I wish you a speedy race to the end and students who take mercy on you in your fragile-almost-summer state.  

Wild About You

Happy Monday everyone!  I have a cute little card to share with you today, perfect for anyone you are wild about.  

I had a lot of fun yesterday having a crafty day with some friends including a couple new ones, and this was one of the cards we made.  I certainly need to put the pause button on life and do that more often! :)

I was, of course, anticipating this card would be a fun non-red/pink valentintes card, but it certainly would work at any time of year.  Isn't that monkey adorable?

We were, of course, practicing our mad-Copic skills!  Along with cutting skills... he was a tricky one but I think he's super cute swinging down on that branch.

a•muse|studio is gearing up for their new 2012 catalogue (debuting soon!) and this adorable set (called, "The Mighty Jungle") didn't make the cut.  So if you are interested in it and others that are officially retiring, shoot me an email and I can give you the 411.