Pyjama Birthday Girls

This is a birthday card for my neice Lindsay --- who is not really a little girl anymore, but likely wishes she were every now and then as she is now a professor in her first year of teaching at Niagara College --- tremenous workload -- poor thing.  I'm hoping the card makes her think of simpler times!  Her birthday is on the 7th, and since she never looks at my blog, I'm likely safe in posting it before I actually "post" it - which will be on February 1!  I've entered this in Paper Sundae's Contest - and High Hopes Stamps- and The ABC Challenge can't win if you don't enter, right?
Materials:  Stamp:  High Hopes; Sentiment: SU: Spellbinders Dies; Prima Flowers; DP: Trimcraft; Colour by Copic

Birthday Best Wishes

A friend of mine asked me to make a card for her to give to one of her colleagues for her birthday.  This is attempt number 3!  I think I've got mental problems - as soon as somebody asks me to make a card for them I flip out and put totally unrealistic demands on myself, so am never happy with anything I produce.  So, while I like this card, all I can see are the flaws --- but I can't keep working on just one order because Valentine's Day is coming and I have all those cards to do!  But enough whining!
Materials:  Stamp:  Clear Art Stamps; DP and CS: SU: Colour by Copic; Glitter by Stickles

RUFF DAY?

One of my friends/colleagues I just found out has been off work for the past 2 months (he works in another city) --- I believe it is stress as he is quite high-strung and involved in a lot of things so I can't say I'm surprised. Nonetheless, I do feel quite bad for him as he is a really nice guy.  His partner is a very talented artist, so I'm usually a nervous wreck when I send him a card - worried that his partner will be critiquing my colouring --- but, there's only so much obsession one individual can endure without allowing paralysis to set in - so here it is.  I must confess that I pretty much lifted one of Elaine Hughes designs, using one of Kraftin' Kimmie's new releases!  All in all, I'm happy with how it turned out.
Materials:  Stamp and Sentiment: Kraftin' Kimmie; DP: K&Company; Ribbon and Bling from my drawer; Colour by Copic.

PEACEFUL FAIRY

One of the women I used to work with in Thunder Bay and who retired just 2 years ago just lost her husband.  What a crumby break - work all your life to enjoy your retirement, then lose your partner.  My heart goes out to her. I wanted to make a special card for her that wasn't a typical sympathy card.  I just got this new stamp today so decided to use this beautiful fairy.  I hope Mary likes it.
Materials:  Stamp:  Lily of the Valley; DP: K&Company; Flowers by Prima; Colour by Copic

Beautiful Day

Although I try to get my cards made in advance, I am frequently scrambling at the last minute.  This card is for a February 3 friend's birthday and I think she may be in Florida so even if it were late she might never know!  This is the first time I've used these images, and I'm not sure if I like it or not --- it remains to be seen if I send her the card or not or make a new one!
Materials:  Flourishes; DP: CTMH; Colour by Copic; Spellbinder Die Cut

It's My Party

One of the women I work closely with had a birthday on Monday, and not seeing her that day, I delayed in making the card - then felt overwhelmed with guilt for delaying - hence the perhaps over-judicious use of glitter and bling.  Oh well - I do like the overall effect.  And although the recipient isn't grumpy at all, unlike the image, I frequently am, so it kind of fits!  I've entered this in Paper Sundae's Contest for the February 14 week.
Materials:  Stamp:  Lily of the Valley; DP: Prima Fairy Flora; Glitter: Stickles; Flower: Prima; Colour by Copic. Bow by Bow Easy

BEST FISHES

One of my former colleague's birthday is on Ground Hog Day -- and that's too obvious a choice, so I always choose something fishing related because he loves to fish.  And even though this is a little boy fishing, let's face it - how many men actually growup!?!  Anyway, I think he'll like it.  I've also entered this card in the Cards For Men Contest - Challenge No. 4
Stamp:  Flower-Soft; DP: Echo Park Paper Co; Spellbinder Grand Calibre circles - which I bought from the lovely Sheila at Scrapping Great Deals; Colour by Copic!  The little frog brad is from the Eyelet Outlet

BICYCLING TILDA

One of the guys I work with asked me to make a card for one of his employees who is leaving for another job.  I really like the departing employee so I wanted to make sure it looked nice and pretty.  The inside sentiment is:  Go confidently in the direction of your dreams --- appropriate I think.  I was going to add some glitz and glitter but realized I was getting carried away so stopped.  I had to put the 2 flowers on the right because the ribbon edge looked kind of crappy so I had to disguise it -- then I had to put 2 more at the botton left to sort of balance it --- ah, the trials and tribulations of creation!
Materials:  Stamp:  Magnolia; DP: SU; Flowers: Prima:  Spellbinder cut-out; SU Texture template; Colour by Copic

HI! CARD TO BARB

My friend Barb has a rough life -- hangs around the golf course here in the summer then heads down to Florida early December and hangs around golf courses there!  This year she desperately needed the break and I hope the weather is holding up for her.  After all, I understand that Florida is the only one of the 50 states that hasn't had snow this year. The little flower beside the Hi had to be drawn in by me because the edge of my stamp touched the paper!!!  Regardless, this card will let her know I'm thinking of her -- fondly!
Materials:  Stamp:  Whippersnapper; Sentiment: Kraftin' Kimmie; DP: Martha Stewart; Oval by Spellbinders Grand Calibre; Colour by Copic; Flowers from my flower drawer!

LILLIES

One of my dear colleagues recently lost her brother-in-law in a tragic highway accident.  Her family is very close to each other and the fact that he was fairly young (all things being relative) just makes the loss worse -- together with this having happened on December 22 - not that any time is good to lose a loved one, but Christmas seems a bit worse.  Regardless, I wanted to make something pretty and not too fussy.  I hope this fills the ticket.
Materials:  Stamps CTMH; DP: Me & My Big Ideas; Colour by Copic

ARTIST AT WORK

I have a friend who a few years ago discovered that she had latent artistic abilities, and since then has been producing some truly incredible work!  Nicole's birthday is at the end of this month, so obviously I've made her a card.   Kraftin' Kimmie's latest release included this cute little artist.  I did the artwork on the canvas myself!!  It was a lot of fun to colour, but since it was very finiky I didn't cut it out like I usually do.  Hence the cut out around the image which is supposed to be an artist's pallet (in case it wasn't obvious).
Materials:  Stamp:  Kraftin' Kimmie - likewise for the sentiment; DP: K&Company; Colour by Copic

Thank You Susan

One of my dear friends gave me a beautiful wallet for my birthday, and I am finally (!!) sending her a thank you card.  To know Susan is to be tremendously envious as she is gorgeous, hence my choice of a cute little girl holding flowers.  I just love the colours in this one!
Materials:  Stamp:  Lily of the Valley; Sentiment: SU: Flowers by Prima and Colour by Copic!

Happy Birthday Steve!

Lots of birthdays this month!   This one is for my son-in-law Steve (husband to Sarah) and an all-around nice guy.  Steve is an IT (Information Technology) guy and spends his free time - when he's not playing with Princess Emily, doing computer stuff.  Hence this Mo Manning image.  Now Steve isn't as bulky as the guy in the image because he's been working hard to get to a lean and mean body - but the image couldn't be dieted!
Materials:  Stamp:  Mo Manning; Sentiment:  Kraftin' Kimmie; Colour by Copic.

Hello Little One

One of my colleagues in Toronto has recently adopted her little cousin, a 9-month old little girl.  She joins their little family of newliweds!  What a brave and caring young woman she is.  I wanted, therefore, to make her a special card so chose this new stamp.  I think the little one on the front is just too cute!!  I've entered this in the My Partner in Crafting Crime's Contest #20 - All About Baby
Materials:  Stamp and stentiment: Lily of the Valley; DP: K&Company; Flowers: Prima; Colour by Copic

Happy Birthday Jenn!

Since you, Jenn, are pretty  much the only faitful follower I have, I have to make sure I don't post this before the 6th and hope that you have received the "live" card in the mail.  I had a lot of fun making this one, as it is the first time I've used this cute little stamp.  And, because you're such a pretty little thing I thought a real "girlie" card would be the ticket.  Hope you like it!  And, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!
Materials:  Stamp:  Lily of the Valley; DP: K&Company; Colour by Copic.

Happy Birthday Louise!

Louise is one of the women in our "Stamper's 7" club that my sister Debby runs.  She has only been stamping for about a year and is still at the stage where she thinks everybody's work is better than hers!  I'd like to tell her that will pass, but mine never has - I still feel like barfing when I have to send a birthday card or anything to an experienced stamper.  Oh well - I am my worst enemy.  I selected this image for Louise because I know she's a gardener, and because I like the stamp!  Hope she likes it too.  Her birthday is on the 7th - the day after Jenn's.  Hope she also gets her card in time for her birthday.
Materials:  Stamp:  Whippersnapper; DP: K&Company; Senitment:  Kraftin' Kimmie; Colour by Copic.

Happy Birthday Gaston!

One of my work colleagues also happens to be my 3rd cousin (or something like that, his mother and my grandmoter were first cousins - you can work it out).  I also quite like Gaston, so have made him this card using Kraftin' Kimmie's Miles on a Cake.  It is just too cute.  I'm a bit concerned that there's a bit too much yellow, but one can only fiddle so long with a card before it becomes redundant! 
Materials:  Stamp:  Kraftin' Kimmie; Colour by Copic; Paper - who knows!?! Sentiment: SU: Corner Punch by SU: Circle by Sizzix.

CONGRATULATIONS - NEW BABY

My eldest daughter and her husband are expecting their second child in August this year.  Unfortunately she lost a child (in pregnancy) last year and is a bit nervous, understandably, about this one, so I'm not going to mail it to her until she's at least 3 months pregnant.  Regardless, I have a good feeling about this one and trust that all will go well.  Princess  Emily will be a great big sister, although she has told me she'll be a "mom" not a big sister - we'll see!
Materials:  Mo Manning's Expectafellabella; Colour by Copic - DP - Martha Stewart; Spellbinders ovals and scallops; SU: punch; Congratulations by Kraftin' Kimmie