I'm Back! I'm Back!

I can't believe I haven't been here since May!  I had a total knee replacement done on May 26 and it's taken me a while to recover and get back in the swing of things.  Exercises became a full time job along with physiotherapy appointments and doctor's appointments.  But I seem to be on the mend now.  I am finally at the point where I can sit long enough to create something.  Before it hurt too much to have my knee bent for such a long period.  The physiotherapist that came to my house was excellent.  She was kind but firm, showed me a ton of exercises to strengthen and to be able to bend that knee more and more.  She was also full of tips and tricks that helped me a great deal.  When she mentioned that she was getting married in November I thought that the perfect little thank you gift for her would be for me to make her a wedding mini album in her wedding colours.  I am proud of the way it turned out.  I really tried to watch a ton of YouTube videos to see how to do various flips, flaps, flops LOL!  When I gave it to her, she told me she got goosebumps and that it was the most thoughtful gift anyone has ever given her.  She kept hugging me and thanking me and telling me she would drop by to show me the filled out version once she had her wedding photos.  Here are some pics showing the different pages in it.  For the first time I tried to do Kathy Orta's Hidden Hinge system and I'm a little embarrassed to say that I mucked it up a little.  It looked so easy!  I used red line tape and maybe that was my mistake.  I wanted it to hold like nothing else but the problem was when I tried to attach my page.  I didn't get it quite down far enough before it stuck and I had a bugger of a time getting it back off again.  I managed to stick it back down but not before I had a few choice words at my misfortune!  I topped off the front with some handmade flowers.  I finally got to use the flower shaping kit that I purchased from Heartfelt Creations and it worked beautifully!   LOL  As always, your comments are welcome, good or bad.  Just be kind!  Oh and if anyone has any hints about getting the page slipped onto the hinge all the way before it sticks, please let me know.  I would really appreciate it! 

This is one of the YouTube videos with Kathy Orta explaining her hidden hinge binding system.  I had watched several of her videos but here's one you can watch in case you'd like to try it. 

Here's the link for the flower shaping tool. 

Wedding Card Order; I DO!

I was commissioned in the summer to make some wedding cards.  I was given colours and subject matter and from there was allowed to take off and sail with them.  That was fun but also a little scary because I didn't know the people they were being made for.  A wedding is such an important event and you want to make sure you get it right for them.  Well I guess I got it right because they loved them!  Once I got going on the special order cards I couldn't stop.  I thought it might be a good way to stock up on them since I didn't have any on hand.  I hope you enjoy seeing the cards as much as I enjoyed making them. 

I made this into a shaker card; my very first one!  I'm happy with the way it turned out. 

 I love this one with the embossed golden seashells.  This one needed a special envelope to handle all of the dimension. 

 I made about 6 different variations of each of the following cards.  I used the same papers with different embellishments and sentiments.

Wedding Layout for Anniversary Month

There's just never enough hours in the day are there? LOL I seem to have the best of intentions to get certain things done but stuff happens to get in the way that I never even imagined. July is our anniversary month and I always like to try and do a few layouts for my scrapbook using our wedding photos from way back way. Hard to believe that we got married back in July of 1983, some 32 years ago. Even harder to believe that we've been together for 37 years. I will try to make a few more layouts this month if possible but in the meantime I hope you enjoy this one.

My 'coming out' card

I've been making cards for a while now and for the most part I can see that I'm getting better.  When I look back to the some of the early cards that I made and the reaction of the recipients it makes me wonder if they were acting as the Mother who gets that first hand made gift from school.  It looks dorky and lopsided but the sheer joy on the kid's face when they give it you makes you gush about how beautiful it is.  I always tell people that I appreciate constructive critism.  Hey it's the only way to get better right?  Practise, practise, practise and sometimes you have to go outside of your comfort zone.  I've seen cards on people's blogs, websites, Pinterest etc that have dimension to them.  You know they're not just flat cards, they have bits and pieces that stick out here and there and definitely have a more interesting and appealing look to them.  I've shied away from doing those types of cards because I kept thinking 'what do I do for an envelope?' 

My sister asked me the other day if I could make a card for her for a wedding that she's attending in September.  She didn't want anything specific and said she would just leave it up to me.  The only thing she wondered if I could incorporate into the card were some accordian type pages so that the bride could maybe slip in a few photographs.  I had made a card like that for my daughter's 21st birthday so that she could have a little memory/keepsake of her celebration in Nashville for the event.   I decided that this was going to be my opportunity to try making a dimensional card.  After all it wouldn't be mailed, my sister would be hand delivering it and I could easily make up a little box for it.  So I guess you could say that I was 'coming out' of the one dimension that I've been stuck in.  LOL

My sister emails me yesterday and says "Oh I found out that the girls dresses are red and the bride really likes butterflies.  Does that help with any ideas for the card?"

So back to the drawing board I go because the card I made is wedgewood blue and has flowers and a bird on it.  But I thought it turned out really well so I'm posting it.  So I'm asking for honest opinions.  Leave a comment telling me what you think and if there's anything missing or whatnot.  I'd love for any of you to sign up as a follower...I could use the support.  All that means is that when I post new cards/projects on here, you'll be alerted that there's new stuff to check out. 

Thanks, I appreciate it. 
Marianne