Anniversaries, Birthdays means Cardmaking Galore!

The other night we were discussing how there were so many kids birthdays this week which lead to the insight that these were probably to do with holiday celebrations leading up to New Year’s Eve. In glancing at my calendar I saw how far behind I am on cardmaking. My fastest solution? Use some ready made digitals or pull out some digi brushes to create fast, beautiful backgrounds in the colors of my choosing. With cooler temps promised this weekend in Florida, I chose a fall theme palette and my Au Naturale digital brushes as the basis for these designs. I also incorporated a fairly recent frame set called Frilly Frames that is so wonderful to add text and photos to. One of the birthday cards also incorporates svg diecuts from my Swirly QZs set.Here are some examples of my card creations...

Belated Anniversary Wishes

Frilly Framed Photo Anniversary Card

Masculine 40th Birthday Card

inside view of Masculine Birthday Card

70th Birthday Natural Swirls Card

inside view of 70th Birthday Card

Project 365 Challenge - Days 136 - 146

Photos, Cards & Sketches ...these are just some of what I accomplished during days 136 - 146 of my Project 365 challenge. Some days are filled with multiple projects, others creativity is invaded by life. Here is an update of what happened, creatively speaking, between May 15 and May 25th.

Day 136 - Pictures with Family
Leading up to graduation, we were lucky enough to have her grandparents in town to celebrate with us Ashley's Baccalaureate mass. And I got to get a rare photo since someone else took some photos of us. This time, Dan unfortunately was left out of the photos since we were pushed for time.

Day 137 - Endeavor Launch Photos

Fortunately our house faces the right direction for watching the shuttle from right outside our front door. We can look over our neighbors roof once we hear the countdown on t.v. and watch to see it lift off. My favorite shuttle launch was on the 4th of July where we watched from a point on the beach.

Day 138 - Mod Linear Florals Collection & Project Sample

It is time to switch back to my design hat. I just love this new Mod Linear Florals collection!

Combine the shadows and linear overlays to create lots of fun, contemporary flowers.

Here is a digital card created using art created from this set.

A colorful sweet 16 card to have on hand for one of my daughter's friends who will be turning 16!

Day 139 - 12 x 12 MLF Paper Design (with copyright)

This is a digital paper design created using the Mod Linear Florals set.

You just may be seeing this in a new set in the future!

Day 140 - Graduation Photos

Ashley’s graduation brought our family to town for the special event, allowing for plenty of great photo opportunities starting with a celebratory dinner and the graduation ceremony.

Day 141 - Princess Grad Cards

Framed Grad Princess hybrid card created with art from my Grad Princess collection

Princess Grad Bling hybrid card using similar art printout created using this same set.

For those of you who don't know what a hybrid card is, it is one created using traditional and digital techniques. In this case, the art was created on computer, printed out, mounted onto cardstock with layers, embellishments and bling added to complete the finished cards.

Day 142 - Birthday Party Pics

While family was in town we celebrated a belated Sweet 16th birthday for our other daughter, Kylie. It was a fun event with a giant water slide. Great fun was had by all who ventured down the steep slide.

Here are a few of our candid photos.

Day 143 - More Princess Grad Cards

Girly Grad Hybrid Card

A simple pink and black theme. The circle graphic was printed and layered with punched CS and the cap with tassel is matted as the focal point. For a little sparkle, the verse was embossed in silver. I used the artwork from my Grad Princess collection.

Pop Princess Hybrid Card

Yes, you can tell there is a lot of grad action in this house. I have been busy making graduation cards for Ashley and her friends. For this design, I created a patterned design to print and mount on the left side of this card and matted the tiara on black as the main design element. The Grad Princess art was used as my verse on the card front. It is easy to print out multiple graphics and store in a folder for making cards on demand when you need them in a hurry. And as you can see, without even changing the colors, there are so many possibilities for creating different card designs. Scaling art allows you to be even more creative.

Day 144 - Wildcat Graduation Card Idea

Blue and silver was the theme for this card done in school colors. A pawprint wheeled stamp was used to create a pattern on the background. I drug the edges of the lighter blue cardstock over a versamark pad before pouring silver embossing powder on top. This creates a shimmery edge and makes it pop off the background. Also did the verse in silver emboss and finished with a silvery ribbon.

Day 145 - Rose Sketch for future set

Many of my illustrations and digi art collections begin in the form of a pencil sketch.

I started sketched this rose while waiting for Kylie to take her speak with a counselor about taking dual enrollment classes while in high school next fall. She will split her time between community college and high school. Now we have to look for a car so she can drive to both. Anyone need to hire a graphic designer or illustrator? I am for hire!!!

Day 146 - Joe & Ashley at the Beach

It was the perfect day of sunshine at the beach. Ashley and her boyfriend, Joe were full of smiles and surprises. Joe entertained us with his skimming and backflipping skills.

and this ends this session of Project 365 creative inspiration!

Project 365 - Days 98-109 Eleven Days of Spring & Easter Creativity

Day 98 - Bunny Hugs n’ Wishes Set

Alas, you get to see the final version of this set whose elements I have showed

you sneak peeks of in my daily challenges. To think this set started with some b&w sketches

and developed into a pastel colored set that isn't just for Easter use!

Day 99 - Love & Hugs Cards

I created thes card samples to show you how the Bunny Hugs n’ Wishes set can be used for creating cards to share your love for someone, send them a get well hug, send a comforting hug to a cancer patient or just let a friend or family member know that you love them. When working with any digital image, think outside the box and challenge yourself to use it creatively, and not just the obvious uses.

Sometimes it just involves changing out the paper colors or embellishments. 

Day 100 - Golf Tournament Pics

If you are looking to get more creative with your picture taking, try shooting from a different vantage point than straight on. While volunteering at the West Shore Jr./Sr. High annual Golf Tournament, I have the opportunity to take photos of the event and participants. Cocoa Beach Country Club provides wonderful scenery and wildlife to photograph, too. Here are just a couple photos I took today. You can try this challenge out for yourself the next time you pick up your camera. Shoot your children from a side angle, take a close up shot of something that commemorates the event, such as an invitation, ticket stub or an article of clothing that was worn. This tip can even work for team sports and sporting events!

Surprise everyone with that shot that no one else would think to take.

Day 101 - Casual Senior Portraits of Ashley

This Saturday morning photo shoot included a few outfit & location changes.

And a few more in b&w...

Day 102 - More Bunnies on the Loose!

You know the saying about putting bunnies together...they multiply! Well, that was the case when working with these digi files. The possibilities kept on multiplying and I will warn you that there may be even more bunny cards to come! These cards show how you can combine embossed layers, ribbons and cut out digital images to create fun cards.

Hop Dot Bunny Card

Peek-A-Boo Bunny Card

Day 103 - Easter Egg Cards

Cheerful Easter Basket Card

Easter Banner Card

Day 104 - 2 Birthday Cards

Who hasn't let a birthday slip by? Here is a perfect card to make up for being late.

The verse is from a retired Stampin’ Up! brithday set. I combined it with some Noteworthy flowers from Making Memories, cardstock embossed with dot embossing folder, a punched border and yummy papers and cardstock cut outs from the Home Tweet Home collection from My Little Shoebox.

I Forgot Birthday Card

An inside view of the card with stamped verse.

Sweet Melon Birds (16th Birthday Card)

For a momentous birthday try pairing patterned chipboard numbers with patterned papers and punch outs. Just add some ribbon and a few embellishments like buttons and flowers to complete this in a flash.

Day 105 - Soft Floral Thank You Card

Below is another card idea that you can create in a flash using paper strips, a stamped greeting/message, some layered elements like ribbons, sticker flowers and a punched heart. To complete the look, I added some mini adhesive pearls to give it more bling.

Day 106 - A Mom Senior Prank

You may have heard of kids doing Senior pranks as a graduating class, well why should kids have all the fun? My daughter and her best friend, Courtney were kidding with her mom about prom hairstyles. They posted some bizarre photos. This one was the one that Ashley joked she was going to have as her prom "do". I used my photoshop skills and one of her senior photo session pics to replace her face in the picture. It wasn't until she did a double take later in the day that she caught on to my mom prank.

All in good fun, ya know!!!? Sometimes, a girl just can’t help but live life creatively!

Day 107 - Senior Prom Portraits

It seems like these days I have spent more time as a photographer than a designer, but when it involves taking photos of my girls and their friends, it is pure enjoyment.

Day 108 - Easter Cards

I warned you that cardmaking with my Bunny Hugs n’ Wishes set became very addictive. I made more Easter cards than ever this year. Use these card ideas as sketches for creating other cards.

Easter Bunny Skies

Eggsactly Bunny Card

Happy Easter Surprise Card

Day 109 - More Easter Cards

Floral Eggs Card

Hideaway Bunny Card