#GrandmaToAKindergartener (eeek, where has the time gone!?)

It's funny with kids. Turn your head away for just a few seconds, and they've grown up from an infant to heading off to school, and the next thing you know, they'll be heading to college and getting married ....

Darling Charlotte, my first grandbaby, started kindergarten today. I swear it feels like just yesterday that she was taking her first steps, saying her first words.  So now I am officially a #GrandmaToAKindergartener.

To celebrate this occasion, her Mom Emily and I collaborated on a few crafting goodies that will help her, and us, remember this day and other first days in the years ahead.

First, I made a card. It's a side-step card, and the paper I used is Close To My Heart's new "Swan Lake" suite, available beginning September 1. I added stamped images from the CTMH stamp set "School Kids", as well as some text cut using my Cricut Explore.

Next, Emily dropped off a very large pink shirt, and asked if I could make a "Class of 2029" to affix to the shirt. I used heat transfer vinyl and designed the cut, again, with the Cricut Explore. The idea behind the shirt is to have Charlotte pose in it every year until she fills it out, in 2029.

The most time-consuming project was making a chalkboard sign for Emily and Charlotte to complete annually, to pose with in their yard.

Emily bought the simple framed chalkboard at Michael's for about $10.  In my stash, I had hoarded a lot of vinyl (both matte and glossy) in a variety of colors. Again, using the Cricut Explore, I set the text in a selection of fun fonts; where the information would change annually, Emily wrote that information in chalkboard markers that she also purchased at Michael's.  Here's the finished project; please don't mind some of the privacy edits. We can never be too safe with our special kiddos.

And today the big day came:

 

 

 

(Baby brother, Evan)

 

...and just for kicks, let's compare Charlotte's mom Emily (left) on her first day of kindergarten (age 5) with Charlotte on her first day of kindergarten (age 5.5):

 

 

 

 

 

Give Thanks -- for Thanksgiving!

As we head into the week in which we celebrate our gratitude, allow me to share a very personal bit of my life with you.

 

Thirty-two years ago, on Thanksgiving, I suffered a miscarriage, losing my first baby suddenly. It was heartbreaking, and for years, it was very hard for me to show my gratitude for much of anything. I'd lost hopes and dreams.  The first loss even made it hard to invest a piece of my heart into my pregnancy a year later. I was so worried! 

 

I still remembered that loss and linked it to Thanksgiving every year for more than a decade. Then in 1994, just a few months after I left my husband of 17 years, my entire feeling about Thanksgiving changed forever...

 

My husband had my daughter for visitation that Thanksgiving, and I could have been in the dumps as a result. Instead, there was a guy I had just started talking to, on the phone, for hours. We met online (yes! In 1994!! Before cyber-dating, Google, eBay, or Match.com) in September. And he wanted to know if I'd meet him for dinner on Thanksgiving Eve, our first date, our first meeting. That's John. We met, and it was kismet....we've been together ever since -- 21 years! 

 

I am forever filled with gratitude for so much! Thanksgiving is now "my" holiday. May yours next week be as stuffed.

"Cupcake Wars" at St. Mary Medical Center, Langhorne PA.  My daughter Emily is pictured at left, along with the fellow members of the "Swirls and Pearls" ER Night staff.  The team took 3rd place out of 33 competitors!

 

 

I made the banner above using my Cricut Explore and a Cricut subscription for it. For the base, I used cereal box cardboard. I covered it in Close To My Heart cardstocks (Whisper and Blush), and cut the letters from Bazzill silver metallic cardstock. The banner is to decorate a table full of cupcakes at my daughter Emily's workplace -- there's "Cupcake Wars" later this week, and Emily is using my family's Carrot Cake recipe in cupcakes as one of her entries. Her team name is "Swirls and Pearls" so this banner is heavily embellished in rhinestone swirls and adhesive pearls. The banner in the middle is stamped (using CTMH's new "Jennifer's Hand" stamps) with the competition's slogan. It's all tied together with grey organza ribbon from Wild Orchid Crafts.

Last day of four -- Hanukkah cards galore!

Hanukkah continues, and so I will show you the last of my 12 cards I made for friends and neighbors celebrating this special holiday. If you missed Cards 1-9, please scroll down.

On the 10th Day of CardMonkey's Hanukkah celebration, my true love sent to me:

10. Sarita makes its return visit

If you are following along, you'll recognize the CTMH Sarita paper used here, from the Spinner Card I showed you yesterday.  

This time, I made a gatefold card -- it opens in the center -- that is held shut with a Star of David at the top, and a sentiment at the bottom.

I cut the Star of David using my Silhouette Cameo, a Design Studio file, and matte silver stock by Bazzill, available at Scrapbook.com.  I backed the cut silver star with CTMH's Lagoon cardstock, and a center piece cut from Gypsy cardstock.  

The sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp, stamped in Lagoon Exclusive Ink from CTMH, on a Colonial White piece of CTMH cardstock that has been lined with Lagoon cardstock. I LOVE that CTMH sells papers and inks to match exactly!  I put two sparkly bits on either side of the sentiment, and it's done!

On the 11th Day of CardMonkey's Hanukkah celebration, my true love sent to me:

11. A peaceful dove and a golden Star of David

I found this beautiful dove in the Cricut Design Space files and so cut (using my Cricut Explore) "him" out using Crystal Blue cardstock from CTMH. While that was cutting, I found the swirled word "Peace" in a Silhouette Design Studio file, and cut that out using my Cameo, using White Daisy CTMH cardstock.  

You can never have enough metallic gold in my world, so this lovely paper from Bazzill is a staple in my craft room. I cut the Stars of David out using my Silhouette Cameo and one of Silhouette's files. 

Once everything was cut, I grouped all of the cut pieces on a backing of Outdoor Denim blue cardstock. I toyed around with some border scribbles, using a Sakura white gel pen. I like the casual feel to the scribbles, though I think I'd lighten up a bit on the pen when making this again.

I added three Sparkle Gems from CTMH in the lower right hand corner to call this complete!

...and last but not least ... 

On the FINAL day of CardMonkey's Hanukkah celebration, my true love sent to me:

12. A pretty Festival of Lights card 


Pretty "Frosted" paper from CTMH (now retired) was used for the backdrop of a tableau for a fussy-cut menorah that had been stamped in Pacifica ink onto Lagoon paper by CTMH. The flames, stamped separately in a stamp set by CTMH, were gold embossed. 

The Star of David is from a Papertrey Ink stamp set, stamped in Outdoor Denim ink (CTMH) onto Goldrush cardstock (CTMH) and fussy cut, and raised with pop-dots.  

The sentiment is from a CTMH stamp set, stamped in Outdoor Denim ink, onto Frosted paper that has been layered with a bit of Goldrush and Sarita papers by CTMH. For a pop of color, I added a lower layer of Lagoon paper peeking out behind the Frosted paper. 

I hope you have enjoyed these Hanukkah cards. Season's Greetings to you and yours!

DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Happy Hanukkah

To my dear Jewish friends, my wish for you is a holiday season full of light and joy. 

One of my dearest friends, Star, is not Jewish herself but is married to the most wonderful mensch, Bernie. As a result, Star has many observant friends and family members for whom she makes cards. Over the years, she has asked where to get paper, stamps, and other embellishments for the cards she creates. 

As I've shopped with her in mind, I've also made some cards -- not just for her and Bernie, but also for friends and neighbors in my predominantly Jewish community. The cards are also very popular at the gift stores and shows where I sell my cards, because "nice Hanukkah cards are so hard to find."

This year, I've created quite an assortment of Hanukkah cards that I've added to my CardMonkey catalog. Without further ado, I present to you my "12 Days of Hanukkah". (Yes, I know there are really only 8 days of Hanukkah, but let's throw in 4 more for the fun of it...)

I'll be presenting three cards a day over the next four days, so do stop back and visit.... 

On the first day of Hanukkah, my true love sent to me:

1. A Glittered Iris-folded Star of David: 

To make this card, I cut the Star of David in the center of a white piece of cardstock, using my Cricut Explore and a pattern from their Design Space subscription. 

Next, using the sentiment stamp I purchased from Simon Says Stamp and Versamark Embossing Ink I purchased from Close To My Heart (CTMH), I stamped the "Happy Hanukkah" below the cut star. I used gold embossing powder (also from CTMH) and a craft heater gun (CTMH) to imprint the sentiment.

I then cut strips of glittered cardstock each 1/2" wide and 3" long. Using a traditional Iris-pattern within the open space on the back, I arranged alternating colors of the paper, taping each of the pieces in place to fill the opening. 

Once done, I backed the card with Thistle cardstock from CTMH, and adhered to a value-pack card (CTMH), and voila, Card #1 is done!

On the second day of Hanukkah, my true love sent to me:

2. A colorful Candle card:

To make this card, I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut colorful candles from a variety of 6x6" papers that I had collected over the years -- no rhyme or reason for the color choices, just as long as they were colorful.  I cut the flames from gold metallic paper from Bazzill (www.scrapbook.com), also using my Cameo. 

I cut 8 candles that were one length, and made the center candle (called the shamash, or helper/servant candle) a little longer.  I placed the shamash first in the center onto white cardstock (CTMH), and then arranged in fun and intentionally crooked ways the other eight candles. I used a fine-line black pen from CTMH to draw the wicks. 

I affixed the flames using a glue pen (I prefer the one from Martha Stewart) and stamped the sentiment, which is from Close To My Heart, using Outdoor Denim Exclusive Ink (CTMH). I backed the card onto Outdoor Denim Cardstock (CTMH) and then onto a handmade card using White Daisy cardstock (CTMH). Voila, Card #2 done.

On the third day of Hanukkah, my true love sent to me:

3. A Dreidel-shaped card for all to see!

This was probably the easiest card I've made. It is a shaped card that was designed fully by the Silhouette Online Store and cut with my Cameo -- all I had to do was cut and embellish.  

I cut the backdrop of the Dreidel using Crystal Blue cardstock (CTMH), and the overlaid pieces using Pacifica cardstock (CTMH).  I glued the layers together using a Bonding Memories gluestick (CTMH) and stamped the sentiment inside using the same stamp set I used on Day 2, from CTMH, and Pacifica Exclusive Ink (CTMH).  

After I thought I was done, I wanted some glitz, so I added silver Stickles (from Ranger) over the Hebrew letters (Shin on the left, Hei on the right) and at the top of the Dreidel. It would have been easier to layer some silver glitter paper under the layer, had I not glued it down first -- live and learn! -- but I think it is just as pretty, don't you?

Stop back tomorrow to see Days 4, 5 and 6!


DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,

Crafting with "My" Charlotte

It's hard to believe this picture of Charlotte was taken
almost exactly a year ago, when she was 2.5 y/o. 
Of course, I only scrapped it recently!  :)

I have a new crafting buddy in The Paper Jungle -- granddaughter Charlotte has taken quite a shine to spending time "making things" in what she calls the "Art Project Room." 

She especially enjoys learning the Cricut Explore.

Yes, if SHE can do it, so can you -- she's only three! 
When she comes to play every week, she decides what animal she's making, whether it's a yellow giraffe, a blue-polka dotted rhino, a lion with a hot-pink mane, or a red flying bird. Then she selects her Cricut cuts, pats the paper on the mat, and pushes the "blinky lights."  Her tiny fingers and fingernails work great to peel the cuts off the mat. Then she cuts objects using her round-tipped scissors and the off-cuts from the colored paper the Cricut has cut. And then she makes a card.

It takes a hard swallow and an open mind to let a three-year old into my inner sanctuary. It must be love!  I've come upstairs to straighten up last night's "party" here with "Gii and Me."

Here is the card Charlotte made to welcome her baby brother, Evan (coming soon!):

Here is her crafting aftermath. Not bad -- could be worse!

She works from her "Art Project Box" that she put together from "shopping" from Gii's craft drawers. Her favorite thing in the "whole world" is Washi tape.

It's only paper. The joy she (AND *I*) gets from the time we spend together is worth the whole lot of paper from which she can choose here. 

Have you crafted with your kiddies today?  I miss "my" Charlotte already!  Until the next time, baby girl...


DeFiaNtLy DiFfeReNt & CreAtiVeLy Yours,