Birthday Presents

This was made for my co-worker's birthday.  The background paper has some of her favorite colors, so I went with that as my inspiration to color the packages.  The digi image is from The Wax Fruit Company.  I love the simplicity of the stamp and though it was probably meant to be a Christmas present stamp, I think it works PERFECTLY for an elegant birthday card!!!

Copic Colors Used:
Presents: V12, V15, V17; YUG61, YG63; E40, E41, E42, E43

Hambo Stamps Channel Surfing Blog Hop

Welcome to the "Channel Surfing" Blog Hop sponsored by Hambo Stamps! Today Hambo customers and the Bacon Bits Design Team are bringing you fun creations that depict TV show titles! It might be our favorite show, or just one that was fun to design. If you arrived here from Beverly's blog  you are in the right place! If not, you might want to start back at the beginning at the Hambo blog to make sure you are eligible for the hopper prize!

A prize will be awarded to one participant whose TV-themed creation tickles the Bacon Bits’ fancy in a hammin’ jammin’ way! Another prize will be awarded randomly to a hopper who comments on all the blogs along the way. The winners will be announced on the Hoedown blog, as well as on the Hambo company blog, Talk to the Ham, on Wednesday, May 23.

My creation is an homage to Bob Vila and the This Old House series.  I am a DIY woodworking junkie.  I don't actually DO any woodworking, but if I had my own place, I would love to try!  When you rent an apartment, the landlords typically don't approve of you renovating their property (even if it would make it better!).  Even though I feel like an expert after watching all of the shows on TV, I am sure I would make a royal mess of things.  I would LOVE to try though! For my entry into the TV themed card challenge, I used two digi stamps from Hambo: Carpenter and House.

Now I have to admit I ADORE the smell of fresh cut wood and varnish....before you send out the people with the little white jackets that tie in the back, bear with me.  When I was growing up, my paternal grandfather was a woodworker and master craftsman.  I spent many hours in his workshop and those smells remind me of the special times I spent with him as he worked on furniture, or whatever needed repairing.  They say that certain smells can bring back memories.  For me that is very true.  

While I am at it, I would like to share a picture I have of me with my grandfather many years ago.  We were messing around with something VERY important since he was in his Sunday suit!  You can see his shop in the background. 

Below is a photo of me and my "Pa Pa" in his shop.  I was the best helper EVER!

Okay...now that you have followed me down memory lane, you can get back to the reason you have stopped by today...A BLOG HOP!

Now dance on over to Judy's Blog for another great TV show!

Below is the list of the other blog particpants in case you are lost! I also have the usual list of Copic markers used.

Talk to the Ham - Hambo blog
Sandy
Paula
Carolyn
Deborah
Karin
Jenn
Pat
Dawn
Jan
Carolina
Mary
Beverly
Melissa (YOU ARE HERE)
Next up......Judy

Copic Colors Used:
Roof/Trim/Shirt: YG91, YG93, YG95
House/Trim/Jeans/Gloves/Suspenders: B60, B63, B66
Bushes: YG21, YG23, YG25
Sky: BG0000
Stone: No, N2, N4
Boots/Belt: YR20, YR21, YR23
Hat/Level: Y13, Y15, Y17
Hair: E44, E47, E49
Skin: E0000, E000, E00
Windows: Lemon Spica Marker

Froggy Birthday Wishes

This is the whimsical card I made for my youngest niece's birthday.  She can be such a goof-ball (I love it!), so I decided to go against the "sweet" girl card I might usually give her this year.  There were several images I wanted to use and couldn't make up my mind, so I continued the fun on the inside as well. 

All of the images are by Dustin Pike.  I added the "U" "R" at the top, but I guess my letter drawing skills need a bit of work!

Copic Colors Used:
Frogs: YG21, YG23, YG25
Tongues/Hammock/Letters: R22, R24, R27
Water: BG10, BG11
Cattails: E84, E87, E89; YG95
Sky: BG0000

Mother's Day Poppies

I made this pretty card for my mom to give to her mom for Mother's Day.  I decided to use this really pretty digi stamp from A Day For Daisies.  Such a simple, yet elegant stamp and I decided to deck it out all in pink!  I wanted it to be girly...

Copic Colors Used:
Poppies: RV23, RV25, RV29
Centers: RV19, RV69; W7
Leaves: YG93, YG95, YG97, YG99
Bottles: BG0000, BG000

Mother's Day Card for my Grandmother

This is the mother's day card I made for my grandmother. I used a digi stamp from A Day For Daisies that I love.  I also cased a layout done by Lori Boyd that spoke to me!  I just love her cards.  They are always so clean and simple, but elegant.  I have so much fun coloring images that I run out of creative juices by the time I get to the card layout part.  I tend to use the same layouts over and over, so I love it when I find something that takes that out of the equation!

Copic Colors Used:
Dress/Base: R30, R32, R43, R21
Grass/Trees: YG21, YG23, YG25
Tree Trunk: E33, E35, E37
Hair: Y23, YR23, E33
Skin: E0000, E000, E00
Sky: B0000, B000

Mother's Day Card for my Mom

My mom has always encouraged us to read and I still have that love today.  When I saw this image from A Day For Daisies, I thought it was perfect for my mom's Mother's Day card!  I had a pack of coordinating papers that I found in a bargain bin somewhere and used them on this card.  I loved the combination of pinks, greens and purples.

Oh how I would love to have a hammock to read in!

Copic Colors Used:
Hammock: RV91, RV93, RV95, RV99
Bar on Hammock: E53, E55
Collar/Socks/Book: YG91, YG93, YG95
Skin: E0000, E000, E00
Hair: Y23, YR23, E33
Pages/Book: E40, E41
Dress/Shoes: RV00, RV10, RV11
Sky: BG0000, BG000

Sympathy Card

This is the card I made for my co-worker and her husband.  They both love the ocean, so I thought I would try out the new Embossing Folder that my friend let me borrow from Spellbinders. I just love the shells in the background!  I embossed it and distressed it to bring out the design.  The shell is from a Stampin' Up set that I had not yet used.  I stamped it in a chocolate brown chalk ink on glossy white paper and once it was dry, I buffed it to make it shine!

The ribbon is some from my stash that I bought a long time ago at Michael's and the pearl discs are from a jewelry show an even LONGER time ago.  I love it when I finally get to use something that I have had for a while.  Actually...truth be told, I finally found them when I was cleaning out my "doo-dad" drawer....  On the inside I used a stamp from Inky Antics.  It reads....

The tide recedes but leaves behind
bright seashells on the sand,
The sun goes down, but gentle warmth
still lingers on the land,
The music stops, and yet it echoes
on in sweet refrain...
For every joy that passes,
something beautiful remains.