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Sunday 21 September 2014

it is a rough road that leads to the heights of greatness - lucius annaeus seneca

New Heights Stamp Set by Simply Gorjuss Urban Stamps was the inspiration for this birthday card for my mother-in-law.  We all know someone in our lives who pushes us to be better versions of ourselves.  My mother-in-law is one of those people, in my life, who pushes me to new heights.
From 130-lb white cardstock I cut out a triangle (math folks look away; it's not really a triangle.  Yes, I know triangles only have three sides.  I took creative liberty) quadrangle (is that really a word?) and layered on strips of washi tape.  I picked out the little ms. heights colours before I started my washi layering and selected my washi tape with those colours in mind, so that the card was pulled together and had continuity.  I also slipped in some tribute washi: music and Paris.  My mother-in-law loves music and traveling.

The little butterfly and sign are both from this seven-piece set. Can you believe the level of cuteness?  I know most of you have gasped at the complete disconnect with my usual more intense style (I can be cute.  I own a smiling frog and a fox) but seriously how can you not love the Gorjuss series?  I plan on getting many many more (look away mr. everythingshetouches).  And if you live in the greater Edmonton area you too can find many of these darling stamp sets at The Inked Stamper.  

I embossed the sign with my wood embossing folder and distressed the raised image with vintage photo distress ink.  The butterfly was coloured using coloured pencils and highlighted with bronze stickles.

 

ms. heights was coloured using colour pencils.  I chose coloured pencils as the medium because I wanted to give her a bit of an airy feeling, to keep the card light and bright.  And I added a few pieces of sequence because, quite frankly, who doesn't love a bit of good sequence?

Little ms. heights will be one of my very first Etsy Shoppe posts next month.  She will come in a four card pack in different colours, made to order.  Check it out.

Friday 19 September 2014

when a man retires and time is no longer a matter of urgent importance, his colleagues generally present him with a watch - r.c. sherriff

One of my work colleagues, ms. giraffe, retired this summer and in lieu of a card or photo album I created, with some assistance, a memory book.  What is the difference, you ask?   A memory book is a card and photo album rolled into one, including photos of ms. giraffe and colleagues through her years at the office, co-worker salutations and some brilliant work done by the graphic artists.  And all was supported by my bestest enabler/amazing friend.  Thank you, I could not have retained any sanity without you.

WARNING: There are several photos in this post of the eleven page memory book.  I suggest a coffee, tea or apple cider, sit back and review at your leisure.

Every page has at least one pocket to hold photos and/or colleague greetings and/or well wishes and signatures.

Cover:  I cut out the follow your dreams: transform your life quote and layered it on top of a self-made paper and photo collage.  One of our graphic artists at work took the photos of the boots and birdcages at Fort Edmonton Park which, if you recall, is one of my favourite Edmonton sites.  It never disappoints.  For photographer fans, it really is a great find.  The dress form and bike die cuts are from Memory Box.






Page One:




This little envelope was created with my envelope maker.  Thought it added a sweet touch especially with the hat pin as a faux closure.


Page two: Developed friendships




Page three: Group events



Using Dina Wakley techniques, I transformed this image of settlers into a playful moustachioed group.  I was inspired by the fun and playful photos of the group events included in the pocket of this page.



Page four: This is one of my favourite pages.  I love the colour combination, the little Memory Box clouds, the mini red clips and the wood chipboard birds which I distressed with vintage photo distress ink.







Page five:  This was a super fun page to create using tissue paper, Dina Wakley stencils and book pages.






Page six: Last page of photo memories.




Page seven:  I wanted to create a retirement book that included both memories as well as ms. giraffe's interests.  Pages seven to eleven reflect ms. giraffe's love for reading, traveling, camping, biking, gardening and giraffes starting with a tongue-in-cheek photo of our team.  All of the photos on pages seven through to eleven were created by the graphic artists.


I made a little comic book out of some internet images I found.


Page eight: 


Page nine:




Page ten:



Page eleven:  I love this page.  The artists did a remarkable job superimposing ms. giraffe's face onto a person hugging a giraffe.  I built three gift card-sized envelopes for memory tokens and the gift card.



Back cover:  Image taken by one of the artists at Fort Edmonton Park.


Finished book:


I had a great time putting this book together.  Are memory books something you would like to see in my Etsy Shoppe?  What is a reasonable price?

Next up:  Retirement book number two for mr. chemistry.

Monday 1 September 2014

window hunting: father's day part two

My father-in-law loves hunting and looks forward to his hunting trip every year starting from the last day of being out in the field.  I focused on the anticipation of hunting for this Father's Day card (see geek is new sexy fathers day part one for my Father's-Day-in-August/September explanation), gazing out the window, watching the ducks swim by, dreaming of deer and moose ..



I stamped my Impression Obsession cover-a-card distressed brick stamp using antique linen distress ink and embossed it with clear powder.  I am obsessed with IO.  Seriously.  Quality stamps and fabulous images.

I cut the Memory Box grand madison french doors from white cardstock and clear distressed crackle painted (Ranger: clear rock candy) it to create a white-painted-wood texture.

I found the binocular embellishments at R&R Scrapbooking.  R&R is a phenomenon every crafter must experience.  If you're in the Edmonton area add this wonder to your list of things to see.  But be sure to save about 2 or 3 hours and a ton of spending money.  I'm not kidding.




So many exciting projects to come: two retirement memory books, a thank you gift for teachers, daycare staff or family, a Gorjuss birthday card, my take on a graffiti birthday card and a Halloween double-sided tag swap.