Happy Valentines.....

Hi All,
So glad that you could stop by.  It's been a while again but I've been dealing with a  health issue, nothing new but my back and SI joint (pelvis) have been giving me a lot more pain so I decided that I should have a check up with my orthopedic surgeon. He told me that due to the delay in fixing my problem (because my idiot insurance company won't cover the surgery costs) the issue has gotten worse and the additional pain I am having is not being caused by a soft tissue injury as I had hoped.  Due to the increased pain I've had to reduce the hours I work to just 10 per week and file for disability...ugh!!! I haven't really felt like blogging & blogging takes time away from my paper crafting so when it's hard for me to do either I just choose to do paper crafting. As I have also decided that since I can't really change a lot of what I'm going through right now I can do some stamping and paper crafting, both of which are great therapy and I can be better at blogging on a regular schedule, so I am going to try to get something posted 2 times a week for the rest of 2016 and well see where that takes us.  Ok enough chatting lets get on with the crafting as that is what you stopped by to see.  So at Stampin' UP there is a new movement afoot started by the brilliant Shannon West she calls it "#imbringingbirthdaysback". Stampin' Up is a great company to work with as they are always encouraging their employees & demonstrators to lead from their heart. I think that Shannon is doing just that with her new movement, so I thought I'd support her efforts and I'd share with you all the birthday cards I've made recently.

These two cards where made for a couple of cute soon to be 13 year olds using the Stampin' Up "Hey Girl" stamp set and the Designer Series Paper "Cherry on Top." I colored the stamped image using colored pencils blended with some odorless mineral spirits. I used Watermelon wonder and Bermuda Bay cardstock for the card bases. I stamped the image with the Archival black ink and to add some bling I used the new Blushing Bride glimmer paper on one of the balloons. I used a few blushing bride sequins that where left over from my January Paper Pumpkin kit.  If you look real close you might catch a glimpse of the "wink of stella" a new glitter brush at Stampin' Up that  I used on the shoes.  I used thick baker's twine for the bow and the Project life corner rounder on opposite corners to add a touch of flair. The balloons are from a punch in the new Occasion's catalog and I fussy cut the dress after I stamped it on the leftover designer series paper.  I think these both came out soooooo cute & I know the girls will enjoy them. The next two birthday cards were made for my mother-in-law and a co-worker. Again I used the Wink of Stella glitter brush, did I mention I love that new tool from Stampin' Up???? I used the Timeless Elegance Designer Series paper and a technique I call chalk painting.  You use a dauber to apply the ink right to the paper.  As this paper is hand painted by one of the artists at Stampin' Up it already has shading done so it makes it a breeze to color these cards.

 

    

The next 2 cards are for my boys, they are grown men but as they're my sons they will always be my boys, once a mom always a mom. The card on the left is made using Lovely as a Tree and a Sale-A-Bration stamp set that will not be available after February 15th. It's called Sky's the Limit and I love the vintage biplane in that set. It's a masculine stamp set but with a touch of whimsy. Look closely and you'll see Stampin' Ups shimmer white cardstock. I used a blender pen to get the soft look around the trees and for good measure I used wink of stella again.  You can never have to much bling..... The card on the right is made using Stampin' Up new "Going Places" embossing folder. This new embossing folder is called world traveler and the stamps I used are from the "Guy Greetings" stamp set. I used Lost Lagoon cardstock and the striped ribbon is also in Lost Lagoon.  I love how all the items in a color with Stampin' Up always coordinate.  Stampin' Up takes the guess work out of finding things to go with a designer paper.   

These last cards are for my up coming Birthday Card Class.  It is on February 21st & the cost is $25.   If you live in the Idaho Falls Idaho area and want to come make 12 of your own birthday cards get in touch with me so we can work out the details. If you and a  guest of yours sign up for this class you'll both get to make this cute bonus card. That's less than $2 per card even Walmart can't beat that price. 

   

The bonus card can be either masculine or feminine... you just leave the flowers off and turn the crushed curry Regals Designer Series paper over to reveal stripes and you have a masculine card. I just love navy and yellow combined. So about now your probably wondering why so many birthday cards???? I love sending Birthday cards and have been doing it for years. I think a person's birthday is so special and it needs to be celebrated every year.  I want to do something else to support Shannon's movement so if you leave me a comment below with the date of your birthday & address, I will send you a handmade birthday card this year. If you want to buy any of the products I used in my cards just  click the shop now button in the upper right side of my blog just under the catalog or visit my online 24/7 Stampin' Up store at www.skybowcreations.stampinup.com.  Remember that until March 31st there are 11 items available in the Sale-A-Bration catalog. For every $50 dollars you spend before taxes & shipping you are can choose 1 free limited addition Stampin' Up Sale-A- Bration product.  Let me know if you need a catalog. You can just leave  a comment below and I'll get the catalogs right out to you. 

Well that was a looooooong post so I'll close as I'm sure you have loads of things to do.  Until we visit again.... Take care of you and take time to enjoy the moments and seasons that our Awesome God has given each of us. 

P. S. I will be entering both the Global Design Project challenge and the SUO challenge. So very talented folks at both of these websites....check them out.