My insane obsession

I love making cards. I really wish I would have started taking pictures of all my cards when I started ... some were just so darn cute!

I have to admit, that rarely are any of my cards entirely of my own design. The flip side is that I also add personal touches to any "stolen" ideas and you will never find a complete reproduction of a card I've seen. This is for a few reasons:
(a) examples of cards show products and those products are usually overpriced and I'm not gonna run out to Hobby Lobby to pick up the latest gizmo or fancy paper. Thus, I take the general idea and usually use what I have on hand.
(b) I can usually make the card better than the original
(c) I like adding a creative touch of my own

I do, however, repeat fabulous card designs. Prime example is baby cards. I've got a few standard ideas that I just change to pink for the girls, blue for the boys, and neutral colors like yellow and green for the unknown babies. When it works, it works. I don't have a picture of any of these creations because I have given them all away, including one this week. I really should remember to take pictures.

The greatest undertaking I willingly perform every year is Christmas cards. Oh. My. Goodness. I make way too many cards to count, but the final product is really fun. The first year, my cards, were, uhm, pathetic. But I was just learning! This is what the next year produced....I actually think this is my favorite card.The following year, 2005, I made a button card. Unfortunately, I didn't really take into account that the buttons might fall off in between my post office and the recipient's mail box. I stupidly assumed that the "please hand cancel" on both the front and back of the card would actually mean it would be hand canceled. Oops. I believe the original used buttons that were all the same shape and size. I however, went to Wal-Mart and got a two or three packages of mixed red buttons. I also used florist wire for the hooks instead of the fancy hooks the card magazine recommended.The next year, I wanted to completely change colors and made a blue snowflake card - and even embossed the inside. That's probably the first and last time I actually do something time-consuming to both the inside and outside of the card. This design, I am proud to say, is my own design. There's not much creativity in it - it's just squares and rectangles with a couple of cheap snowflake decorations. Basic card making trends...
I actually don't have an extra "NOEL" card from this year...but I am sure someone does that I can snap a picture of it. I went back to red and green. But it was glittery!

Here's one I actually made for Mark and Keriann Weger after Mark's brother, Michael, was killed in Iraq. I stupidly never sent it - that was in 2004. I even wrote on the inside! I'm a do-do, I know. I copied the general idea for this one from a magazine, but I made quite a few minor changes. My star is 3-D and I added a thin white trim to the red and blue boxes. It really needed some white. I also added a great flag sticker that's got some type of glittery bumps one it. It's really cool, trust me. I sometimes also create invitations. This one was for a couple's shower for my sister, Kristina and her hubby, Jason. The theme was "Home Depot" - the bride and groom were requesting gift cards to the Home Depot. I had a TON of fun with this one! This design was also all on my lonesome. You might have to click on this one to make it bigger.

The reason my sister and brother-in-law wanted gift cards to Home Depot was because they have built a brand new home!!!!! I made them a card just for the event. It will go in the mail this week!