Hi Everyone!

It has been a long summer and I haven't gotten half the things done that I wanted to -- mainly greeting cards!

I did manage to spend some time in my craft room a couple weekends ago to work on a card for my husband's upcoming 53rd birthday. He likes Owls, so I was planning something related.  I don't know about you, but when I'm planning a new design, I lay it out in my head first, then lay out all my paper, stamps, bling, etc., and lastly, stamp, color and adhere it all together. After two days of going through all my stash and laying it out, this is what I came up with:

Front of the tri-fold card.  All paper on this card is Rugged designer prints from Creative Memories. The Owl rubber stamps are from various manufacturers that we've picked up over the years. Notice the Maple Leaf brad to the lower left of the Owl.

Inside front cover. Notice the Pine Cone brad.

Inside short flap of tri-fold card. Love the Owl ribbon! The blue frame around these Owls are done with the Cricut using the Fancy Frames cartridge.

Inside of the short flap. Sentiments are leftover stock from other projects. The blue edging is created by Tim Holtz' Distressing Ink pads, color Peacock Feathers.

Center inside of tri-fold card.  I used Copic coloring pens for coloring all the Owls. Again, used Tim Holtz distressing ink pads for the edging.

This was fun to put together, but a lot of work.  Only special people in my life will get this kind of card.  I will try simpler designs using this layout for greeting cards I want to sell, in order to make it more affordable.


Do you know what new products are coming out over the next few months?  Our local scrapbook store, Urban Scrapbooker, recently had their CHA preview night.  If you do not know what CHA is, it is the United States' premier expo for manufacturers to show off their upcoming new items to retail stores and websites.  Brooke, owner of Urban Scrapbooker, goes to each CHA (two times a year) and then holds a CHA preview night.  This is the first one my husband and I have been able to attend.  Oh boy!  Did we pre-order a bunch of stuff.  Good thing these items will come in over time over the next several months, as I would hate to get that bill all at once!  So stay tuned -- I will be using new goodies in my card making.

Let me know if you discover a new scrapbooking store or website so I can list it here.

Well, time to get my Creative Memories order in (special offer to save on shipping if I get it in by a certain time today!).  Have a great week everyone!