Happy Birthday John!

Well, the love of my life turns 56 on the 28th -- exactly double I just noticed!  John is a talented musician, artist, golfer, pool player .. in short, talented at everything he does.  He is very modest as well so he would never acknowledge his many accomplishments.  I bought this stamp with him in mind because he's a guitar player --and now that I've done it I think it looks like a guy singing happy birthday to him!  Oh well. I think he'll like it anyway he's pretty complimentary and supportive of my work!
Materials:  Stamp:  Magnolia; DP: old stuff and SU; Colour by Copic; Guitar bling by Eyeletoutlet.

Baking Tilda

I have made this card for one of my friends who runs a catering business on the side.  I figured this Tilda was perfect for her.  I'm also entering this card into the Magnolia weekly contest at Just Magnolia. 
Materials:  Stamp:  Magnolia; Sentiment: SU: DP: K&Company; Flowers from my stash; Colour by Copic

Fairy Thank You

One of the women I work with (yes it's you Maria) is a fabulous friend, generous to a fault, and always there making sure people are looked after.  So I, selfishly, decided to make this card to thank her for the beautiful bouquet of flowers, but to also enter it into a couple of contests.  I used the template/sketch from Cute Card Thursdays and then incorporated a Lili of the Valley image to enter their contest at LIli of the Valley Challenge, which required the use of circles.  Even if I don't win the contest, I did strike it rich with a friend like Maria!
Materials:  Stamp: Lili of the Valley; Sentiment: SU: CS: SU: Spellbinders Beaded Scallop; DP: K&Company; Colour by Copic; Glitter by Stickles

Especially Fore You

By brother-in-law's birthday is on March 5, and since he's an avid golfer, this Kraftin' Kimmie image was perfect.  He's off on a golfing trip in March, so hopefully he can look as dapper as this guy!
Materials:  Stamp:  Kraftin' Kimmie; DP - Provocraft; Colour by Copic; Sentiment: Kraftin' Kimmie; Golf ball brad: Eyeletoutlet

A Biking We Will Go!

And, yes I certainly do make a lot of cards!  Thank heavens I have some stockpiled in my draft posts so I can post some when life gets too hectic.  But, I do find that making the cards cuts back on the hecticness - unless it's because I have to make a card.  Lots of birthdays in March -- and I'm up to March 5th, so I have a ways to go.  This one is for a friend (guy) in Toronto.  He rides to work, in seasonable weather, on his bike.  I hope he realizes that's why I've picked this image!
Materials:  Stamp:  Magnolia; CS - SU: DP: Provo Craft; Sentiment: SU: Colour by Copic

Happy Birthday Sweet Nicholas

It is incredible that my handsome grandson Nicholas is going to be 6 on the 3rd of March!  Where does the time go?  As a typical little boy Nick is fascinated with dragons and dinosaurs - what's not to love?  Inside the card I cut out a picture of a T-Rex (Nick's favourite) and put a picture of him on the inside where he was goofing around with 2 pieces of celery sticking out of his mouth, imitating some kind of monster!  Under the mushroom is a "twoonie"  - I include money somewhere on the front of every card for the kids - makes it more fun I think!  I'm entering this card into Paper Sundae's #57 Challenge - Masculine Colours.
Materials:  Stamp:  High Hopes; Mushroom - Ippity; Dinosaur Brads: Eyeletoutlet; DP: Smirk for Him

Balloon Journey

These little characters are so darn cute, and so much fun to colour!  This one is called Balloon Journey, and is a Happy Hopper stamp by House Mouse Designs Inc.  Thank heavens Stephanie had lent me a bunch one day and I stamped my brains out!  This card is for one of my work colleagues who's birthday is the same day as John's -- although she's a tad younger!  I don't know if it will show well in the picture but the balloons are highlighted with Copic's Atyou Spica's so they have a nice glitter in real life!
Materials:  Balloon Journey stamp by House Mouse Designs; DP: K&Company; Flowers by Prima; Balloons by Copic Atyou Spica; Glitter by Stickles

Happy Anniversary Stephanie and Joe

February 14 anniversary - what a romantic day to pick to get married!  My good friend Stephanie (who is a talented card maker and seamstress) will have been married for 5 or 6 years (sorry Steph) this Valentine's Day and while she is ridiculously young, I thought this image was too cute and sort of symbolized the enduring nature of a marriage.  She has a ways to go before she gets there though!
Materials:  Stamp:  Mo Manning; DP: SU: Heart by Sizzix; Colour by Copic

A Girl and Her Dog

My next door neighbour's birthday is on the 27th of February, and although this is a summer image, it is the only one I have of a girl and her dog -- and Barb has a cute little puppy who is kind of black and white - I couldn't do the curly fur though so didn't even try.  This is another of the Lily of the Valley stamps - which I just love. 
Materials:  Stamps:  Lily of the Valley; DP: K&Company; Colour by Copic. CS: SU

Golfin' Lady

Another in my Susan series.  I'm thinking this one can go to her Mom who is her best friend and also an avid golfer.  Although Pat is nowhere as "robust" as this lady, it was still fun to colour and I'm sure she'll think the image is funny.  The background paper was so nice, I really didn't need to do much to jazz the card up, so it was pretty quick to do - other than the colouring!  The Whippersnapper images are fairly large, so this is a 5x7 card.
Materials:  Stamp:  Whippersnapper DP: K&Company; Grand Calilbre Spellbinder Dies and Colour by Copic

Decision Miles

Initially I wasn't overly fond of Miles the Mouse, but now I just love him.  My friend's uncle had decided to move to somewhere warm and tropical -- but it didn't quite work out as he had hoped, so now he's back home in the frozen north - in February.  Oh well, hopefully he'll be on the mend soon and will like this card from his neice (not me, Susan!).  I decided to try out some different textures on this card and I think it turned out quite well!
Materials:  Stamps:  Miles the Mouse by Kraftin Kimmie; Colour by Copic; Sentiment by me; Cotton Balls and sand!  Elmer's spray glue; Sun and lotion by Jessie James & Co., Inc.

TIMES A DRAGON

Kraftin' Kimmie stamps are adorable, and allow you to tell little stories and display little vignettes with the images.  This card is for Susan's Dad.  I chose the princess for Susan because she is a bit of a princess -- in a good way!  I was a bit concerned there was too much green and the dragon wouldn't show, so I gave him a jewelled eye!
Materials:  Stamps:  Kraftin' Kimmie; Sentiment:  Kraftin' Kimmie; DP: Provocraft; Spellbinder dies; Colour by Copic.

Good Luck Maria

One of my colleagues in Toronto is going off on a secondment for the next 6 months.  She is a very sweet woman and is always appreciative of kindnesses, so a card is definitely in order.  I've used this Business Willow before, but the layout (I'm hoping) was somewhat different.  Regardless, I do like her!
Materials: Stamp: Wiff of Joy; DP:  Not Sure!; Flowers by Prima; Colour by Copic; Bow by Bow EZ!

I Miss You

My friend Susan (who you've read about before) has asked me to make a bunch of cards for her - the Wedding Wishes below is one of them.  This one is for her sister Adele.  I always think of Susan and her sister as kind of ethereal so fairies is  good theme I think!  This one here is so pretty, I was glad for the opportunity to use it!
Materials: Stamp:  Lily of the Valley; DP: Prima: Flowers: Prima; Bow by Bow Easy; CS: SU: Sentiment: SU: Glitter by Stickles; Colour by Copic

HOUSE MOUSE DAISIES

One of my friends in the Sault celebrates a birthday on the 10th, and although it is still winter, I chose these images because she is a talented gardener and who doesn't need a little cheer at the beginning of February.  These House Mouse images are John's favourites so he's always quite complimentary about cards using them!  I myself think they are super cute and love the yellows!
Materials:  Stamp:  House Mouse; DP: Provo Citrus Stacks; Flowers: Large ones  Heidi Swapp; Smaller ones Prima; Colour of course by Copic.  Bow by Bow-Easy

Get Well - Gentleman's Card

I've got to say that making cards for men is really tough!  Especially making them for men you only know a little through work.  One of our colleagues recently had a mild heart attack -- he is okay but will be off work for a while.  When people at work get sick, or if something good happens to them, my boss orders a card (from me) to send to them.  And, this is Bill's card!
Materials:  Stamp and Sentiment:  SU: DP: K&Company; Brads: SU: Colour by Copic

On Your Wedding Day

My friend Susan has commissioned me to make a bunch of cards, and this is the first that she needs for a wedding next weekend.  I love these Lily of the Valley stamps, so jump at the chance to use them.  Normally I'm not a pastel person, but they make me feel like I should be using a softer touch.  I quite like how this turned out!
Materials: Stamp and Sentiment:  Lily of the Valley; DP: K&Company; Flowers by Prima, Colour by Copic

Birthday Cake Mice

My boss turns the big 50 this year!  I don't think he's overly traumatized by it --- and he shouldn't be, especially as he's entering the best part of his life with most of that pesky growing up behind him -- and I've pointed out I'll always be older than him, so how bad can it be?!?  I love these Miles and Maisie mice so am always happy to get to use them.
Materials:  Stamp: Kraftin' Kimmie; Paper from my stash; Colour by Copic