Cardtastic Friday!!! Two hand made cards.

Lola's been sick all week and hasn't been sleeping. I've had little creative time but I've really felt a NEED to make stuff. Rather than drive myself crazy trying to schedule pages in 20 minute intervals I've started making cards.
A master crafter can easily spend hours on a card using advanced techniques, check out Polka Cabana to see what that looks like, but I like to create a card in 30 minutes flat. Especially since I suspect many amy end up in the garbage anyway. But not best friend Gia- she's a keeper.

Gia's Birthday Card- I tried a new way of shooting this and really liked the result.
I placed the card directly in front of the light coming in the window and used a bounce card to light the front a bit more. I also over exposed this shot by 2 stops using my manual setting.
Materials: Gauche Alchemy ouchless corrugated board, Webster's Pages flower, Prima roses,
Elle's Studio banner, Canvas Corp burlap, Maya Road pins.

I made this card minutes before I met Gia for the first of 3 lectures on website design at Noble Desktop. Yup- I'm going pro people- blogging is awesome and I want to do it for bucks- maybe I'll finally land a paying gig too.

This shot shows more detail but it's flat.
I really need to invest in some photo staging material. 

Remember a million and  half years ago when I started my "Happy Mail" project and gathered all the real world addresses of my facebook friends? I haven't sent a single post card since!
I was talking to Cheryl the other day when she very politely pointed out she was still waiting for her card. OOOOOPS!
Here ya go sweets!

MATERIALS: Gauche Alchemy Scarlet Fever Red, Wedding Night White and Black Out color mixed
media kits , red punchinella, Fancy Pants filter doily, Paper Trunk Rockabilly paper (rose), Bazzill
Phoenix Swiss Dotted paper, Mister Huey in Plum and Schoolhouse, DCWV houndstooth paper.

This card will get mailed today- promise.
Cheryl got married recently. Swing by her blog, And Handmade Too, to check out her fabulous Rockabilly themed wedding. The wedding colors were red, black and cream which make for fantastic design.

Couple more scraps for the interior and we're done.
Hmmm- I need to fill in that receipt at some point...

I predict Cheryl will love the record shaped button on this card. I got it at a local thrift store here in Brooklyn called JUNK. It was the only one I saw that day but I'm going to go again to see if maybe I can dig a few more out of the huge bowls they are kept in.

How does Junk get away with charging 25 cents a button when
 they're displayed like this? Dave thinks I'm bananas for pointing this out as I wait
 in line to pay.  I stopped at 3 bucks- that's all the cash I had. 

It's now Midnight on the 28th of the month. I go check out Studio Calico as a regular schmo (dropped my subscription like I said I would)- you know what? I like this month's kit but I already have 90% of the products offered up and once again the only thing I wanted- AC woodgrain Thickers- are sold out 3 minutes into the game. NO regrets here!

Isn't this TOTAL awesomeness??? It's the Halftone app and I'm in LOOOVE!
I'm a  reformed comic book geek so this is reaching all KINDS of sweet spots!!

MuChOs SmOoChEs!

Stay positive!

Major changes coming for the Martinez finances and I just have to adjust and strap on my Super Momma boots. You know what I mean 'cause you have the same pair in your closet. Dave and I are trying not to panic because as my sister pointed out- we always seem to land on our feet.
So this week it's all about staying positive and being kind and extending a hand to those who need help-you never know when you'll join their ranks.

Cuca's Happy Mail Post Card
Materials: DCWV Fun In The Sun Adhesive Mat stack, Me and My Big Ideas
Debee Inspire chipboard album kit (butterfly), Crate Paper Emma's Shoppe alphas and
Martha Stewart multi butterfly punch.
Butterfly stitching idea credit to SASHA FARINA. Check out her original here

On that note.... Lola is just doing so many cute things lately! Yesterday I was telling Dave that Miss Thing's diaper looked like it was going to hit the floor with a SPLAT! Lola then lifts up her dress, takes a look at the diaper and walks over with this look on her face like- please DO something about it!

Sweet Survivor- Lola's First Week
Materials: Elle's Studio Handmade Layers Note Tags and penants (blank), GCD Studio No Worries collection burlap print paper, Sassafras Lass flower stickers, Martha Stewart scallop punch, Bazzill Kraft paper, UniBall white gel pen

That's my GIRL! I love that little chick!

Lola's having a hard time lately because she has so many things she wants to say but doesn't have the words- so she does a lot of pointing and babbling and she's VERY insistent. She stops complete strangers on the street to show them the squirrel she just spotted.  She gets very agitated if you don't stop and say something like YES I SEE the squirrel/dog/ flower/plastic bag flying through the air! I SEE it! There it IS! COOL!

It's getting where I sound like a Sesame Street character- I get looks but only from the clueless- Moms and Dads know where I'm coming from.

Lola's lesson- feel the wonder inspired by the little things- it's the little things that spin the world.

Seriously this is my favorite spot in NYC- I keep shooting it and it never gets old.

MuChoS SmOoChEs!
Michelle