Conserving Ribbon

I decided to post a tutorial on how to conserve ribbon when making a lot of the same card. Some of you may know this trick, but to me, I discovered it yesterday! The main reason why I did this is because I had to make 10 cards for a customer, but only had enough ribbon for about 5. I had wanted to tie the ribbon all the way around the card. But I realized that if it was only on the front, I'd be able to have the same look with the help of some sticky strip (I LOVE that stuff!).

This card (that I posted yesterday) uses the technique. Here's the steps and I promise to add detail tutorial photos by tomorrow:

STEP ONE
Run a piece of sticky strip across the area you want your ribbon.
STEP TWO
Cut a small piece of ribbon (for a fake bow) and lay it VERTICALLY across the sticky strip.
STEP THREE
Lay a piece of ribbon across the entire piece of sticky strip HORIZONTALLY, and on top of the smaller piece.
STEP FOUR
Trim your edges & tie the (fake) bow.

Sarcastic Cards

My sister is pretty sarcastic, and requested some special cards recently. So these sayings are totally from her & the designs are by me.








DETAILS: All cards use various SU cardstocks as well as the new designer series prints paper. The sayings were printed on the computer.

Some buggy cards . . .

It's time for some cards . . . . FINALLY! : ) I made these cards for a pest control service. The lady is in a networking group with me and asked for me to make 20 thank you notes for her customers.

This card is my thank you to her. (I also stamped all of her envelopes with the ants like this one.)

Details: Bugs & Kisses stamp set; Real Red & Basic Black cardstock & watercolor paper; Basic Black ink; SAB set; Giga scallop & 1/16" punch; Creative Memories oval cutter; b&w gingham; dimensionals.


This is card #1:
Details: Bugs & Kisses stamp set; Blue Bayou, Night of Navy, Very Vanilla, More Mustard cardstock; NIght of Navy & Wild Wasabi ink; crystal effects; "thank you" from Fave Teddy Bear; black organdy (thought I was using navy until I photographed it in good light!); crystal effects (on grasshopper's eye) dimensionals.



This is card #2: This card is almost a direct case from"ambouth" on SCS. Here's her card.
Details: Bugs & Kisses stamp set; Wild Wasabi, Purely Pomegranate, Very Vanilla, Naturals Ivory; Cool Caribbean cardstock; Purely Pomegranate & Wild Wasabi ink; "thank you" from Favorite Greetings set; Dots wheel & close to cocoa ink cartridge; celery grosgrain; deckle scissors; dimensionals; sticky strip; crystal effects (on ladybug head).


This is the bag I packaged the 20 cards in. I just love this set.

Details: Bugs & Kisses stamp set; white lunch bag; Garden Green, Creamy Caramel & Sahara Sand ink; rectangle punch; yellow wide organdy.

I'm back! FYI: This post will be mostly non-stamping related since I have only been able to stamp ONCE since I left! :)

My family (hubby & 3 kids) and I went on a weeklong trip to visit friends and family. First, we traveled to Greenville, SC for a memorial for a dear missionary friend of ours who passed away. She's the person who first introduced me and my husband. What an inspiration she was -- after 30 years of teaching, she "retired" to do missionary work for about another 20 in Haiti (that's where my hubby and I met her when we were missionaries in Haiti). She had recenly "retired" again to the states, and after a short time, became ill and passed away. We will miss her dearly.

Then we travelled over to St. Louis to spend time with family. The kids loved seeing all their relatives and going to the zoo, Grant's Farm, etc. It really was a great trip -- exhausting, but wonderful.

After a 15+ hour drive home last Friday, I've been "vegging out" with the kids (and avoiding the pile of laundry, cleaning, etc. that needs to be done!). This morning we head off to church, so after that maybe I can post some cards.

So what do you do for your vacations? Do you sightsee/go to amusement parks? Do you visit family? Do humanitarian work? Do you work on house projects? Do you do "nothing"? I'd love to hear what you all do if you'll post it here.