Oh thank heavens....

It's Friday! You have NO idea how much I am looking forward to sleeping in tomorrow morning, and maybe seeing some friends Saturday. I am exhausted. It has been a draining week, with exams and some other crisis going on at school. I THINK everything is settled, but I still have 20 exams to grade (and then all the grades to enter on Monday). Can you believe I am actually hoping we do NOT have a snow day Monday? I have too much to do!

Back when Heidi, Nancy, Tracy, and I got together, I worked on (and have already sent) Valentines. Here's this year's card! Happy early Valentine's Day!

My card

I can't take credit for this, although I would love to-- I completely cased it! The only problem is, I am not sure from whom (if any of you out there recognize this, please let me know!). I think it was Amy Celona or Andrea Wolford, but that is just a vague memory. This card was the reason I bought all that Afternoon Tea paper, but this is the first time I have made it. I do love it, but I will pass on to you that having watercolor paper is a must so that the color doesn't get muddy. The poppies were cut out and popped with a dimensional. I love doing that!

Heidi's cards

These were supposed to be posted Thursday, using the photos she sent me via email, but for some reason I couldn't "pull" the photos into blogger. Finally this morning I just photographed the cards myself! Heidi used an adorable Cricut cartridge to make silhouette cards. I am so in love with the little girl holding the hearts, with the dog tugging at one? helping her carry it? I haven't quite decided. Also love the color scheme. Kudos, Heidi!

Still smiling!

Yep, I am still smiling from stamping cards with friends yesterday. And, um, a wee bit of my good cheer comes from the fact that #1 ranked Texas LOST last night to KC State! That should mean my beloved Cats (#2 last week) MAY get the #1 ranking, IF they do not lose (so far we are 18-0) this week......here's hoping, but truly, the only ranking that matters is the one at the end of the NCAA tournament......

Here is Nancy's card! Look at the detail in the wreath. I thought the shiny stuff was small crystals but it is glitter. Very elegant!

Stamping as therapy....

Truly, stamping is my therapy. I have TONS of stuff to do before heading into school tomorrow, but I am so glad I got to spend some time with some stamping friends today and get all inky. A lot cheaper than therapy, yes? And you actually have something to hold in your hands afterwards! We organized a quick swap-- we each made 12 cards (all the same design), 4 with a birthday sentiment, 4 that say Get Well Soon or Thinking of you, and 4 Thank You's. The ladies said I could share their cards with you on the blog, so we'll start with our hostess.......

Tracy's card! Bright and sunny. Look closely-- she sewed that layer onto the card (you can always get a close-up view by clicking on the photo to enlarge it). This is just the card to cheer someone up, don't you think?

more quick birthday cards

I hope your week is going well! I'm finally out from under that ton of paper and starting to come up with Mid-Terms. In some ways a chore, but I am laughing at myself at how some quickly old teaching tricks are coming back to me (after all, I last taught in 1996!) and at how much homework *I* am having to do to keep up with the higher level kids ( IB 1 and 2 classes). In some ways that is a pain, it others it does give me a fair amount of freedom. For example, DC just enacted a 5 cent charge on plastic grocery bags (environmental reasons). Since in IB2 we were reading about smaller merchants versus giants (Walmart vs Mom and Pop stores) and how "le cabas" (reusable tote bag) came about, I pulled a comparison of plastic bags versus paper bags off of Le Monde.FR (lots of good green vocab, but if YOU know what Eutriphication is-- yes that is in English-- you are one up on me!) and assigned that for reading. Tomorrow we'll talk about the DC law, the article, and then (gasp!) they will have to write a short essay in class, using lots of good debate phrases also pulled off the internet-- a lovely UK site that is devoted to getting students through A- and O- French (I think that is our AP or Honors classes). I must say the internet is a godsend right now!



Ok on to my very quick cards! These are fold-out cards-- the cupcake swings open to reveal "Happy Birthday!". One for a boy(Only Orange candle and mat), one for a girl (Pixie Pink candle and mat), Tempting Turquoise for both, retired SU DSP, and OF COURSE there had to be glitter!

Girlie Money Holder

Russell was invited to 2 birthday parties this weekend. As I am up to my ears in paperwork right now, I knew I'd have to do something quick for each of them. Fortunately, my WONDERFUL hubby gave me an electronic cutting system for Christmas, so I played with it and quickly came up with 2 projects (I'll post the other later in the week).

Maddie's birthday party was Saturday. Her mom told me she was saving for an iPod, so that made the gift selection easy-- money! I quickly measured a piece of retired SU Designer paper to wrap around my bill, and for a bib inside to hold the money in place. Maddie does not like pink, so I thought this soft Bashful Blue with tiny flowers was just the ticket. If you can't see the small flowers, just click on the picture itself and it should enlarge. The lace edge was punched with the Lace Edge punch (makes sense, yes?). "Maddie" I cut with Plantin Schoolbook.



On the back, Plantin again for the grass, but various SU punches for the flowers and circle centers. Quick and easy!






And most important-- the inside! I love that the double-sided paper saves me from having to do much with the inside. Happy Birthday, Maddie!

Happy First Day of 2010!

Here are the final designs of New Year's cards we sent out this year. All except one used designer paper from that Vintage Victorian pack I picked up at a going out of business sale and gold, Mellow Moss, and Purely Pomegranate paper. The lone exception matched Riding Hood Red paper and ribbon (the one with the bow). Only one had the gold dove because it just didn't look right!

Je vous souhaite "Bonne Année et bonne santé". Que tous vos rêves se réalisent !

I wish for you all a wonderful year and good health. May all your dreams come true!

(I'm doing lesson plans today, had to warm up the brain for French again!)