Thursday, May 5, 2011

A Special Birthday + Many RAKs

Wow, I thought I would've posted this much earlier but I'm sure you'll understand since it was my husband's birthday today. :) You would be shocked if I didn't use at least one bike on his card, right? I thought I'd make more use out of the three Hero Arts bike sets that I do have. Yup, I said three. Well, it's actually two sets, plus a single. ;) I love one-layer cards because they are the easiest for me to make and this 3.25" x 6.5" size is a new favourite of mine.

Today, I received a big box of goodies from Donna (see her RAK below) and one of the sets was Sassafras' Stitchery. I was so excited to have my first faux-stitching stamps so I put one of them to use immediately. I never use new stuff immediately. I usually have to admire them for days and think about how I want to use them. I've never used Sassafras anything before (I sense a new addiction) and I love these! Even my husband thought they were real stitches. He ran his finger along it and said, "Wow, cool ground!" and double-checked that it wasn't real thread. I wonder if he'll use it on my Mother's Day card? LOL

This next card is one that I helped my son make. For those of you who are new followers, Baba is the word for "Dad" in more than a dozen languages around the world including Chinese (many dialects included). We didn't intend on him using Baba but when he learned to talk, he said Baba instead of Dada and it stuck. In fact, I may have mentioned that my husband thinks it's really cool and wants to be called Baba so he can be in on that bit of my heritage. Also, my son bursts out laughing whenever I say the word "Daddy" in reference to my husband!

My son picked out all the cardstock and ink colours. I helped him do the die cutting and stamping of the vehicles but he used the track wheel all by himself. I love his attention to all the little details like colouring in the lights and buffers. Actually, he was very upset that the trains didn't have front and back buffers like his trains! I continue to be amazed by his fine motor skills. I asked him where he wanted the 'happy birthday' sentiment and he told me it also had to say 'to you, Baba!" He recently learned about exclamation marks and finds them fascinating. He told me I had to curve the sentiment up and down, up and down. It was so funny. My husband thinks it's so cute how he coloured in the 'B'.

Now I have a bunch of cards from blogland to share. I love getting cards in the mail! It's one of those little things that means so much and there's nothing like holding a card I've admired on the computer in my own hands.

Lindsey's embossed bunny is adorable and I love the clean and simple design of her card (blogged HERE). She included some stamped squirrel images and my first (squirrel) stamp from A Muse!

Angela's card is covered in gorgeous embroidery patterns and A Muse stamps (and a die) that I would love to own!

Erin sent me the most beautiful card using Core'dinations cardstock (blogged HERE). Her package of goodies included a bunch of Papertrey Ink's Tiny Tags die cuts as well as some beautiful Core'dinations cardstock just because I'd been admiring her use of it!

As mentioned above, I received Donna's blog candy as well as the most beautiful Lawn Fawn card (blogged HERE). The box was big, there's so much for me to play with and she even included a box of Hawaiian chocolates!! Oh my, are they ever delicious! Donna is the sweetest!!

Thank you, ladies, for all of your beautiful cards and goodies! I wish I had 48 hours in a day so I can play, play and play some more!! Speaking of mail, I need to get a few RAKs in the mail myself. ;)

Sources my card: Gina K Designs 120lb pure luxury white cardstock; Sassafras Stitchery; Hero Arts Joy Ride, Bicycles, Classic Bike & Essential Messages; SU Old Olive, Basic Gray & Night of Navy inks; Vivid! ButterScotch ink

Sources for my son's card: SU Tempting Turquoise & Bashful Blue cardstock; SU Right on Track; Papertrey Ink Train Tracks (and coordinating dies) & Boy Basics: Truckin' It (and coordinating dies); Hero Arts Essential Messages & Typewriter Letters; Memento Tuxedo Black ink; SU Summer Sun ink; QuicKutz Epic Six; pencil crayons; Stampin' Dimensionals

33 comments:

~Tammy~ said...

Wow, lucky girl! Receiving handmade cards is the best when you are a cardmaker yourself! I just have to say that I LOVE your sons card! It's so precious and adorable! My son loves trains to pieces! This is just to stinkin' cute! (Along with the other transportation items he has fabulously selected) :-)

Pauline said...

Love your bicycle card, the colours are perfect for a masculine feel! And what a lovely collection of cards from your friend, they are all super sweet.

Helle said...

awsome card!! love colors on white background,- and that fake stitch stamp im gonne buy immediatly!:)

Wendy ten Hove said...

Hi Emily!

Luuuuuv your bike card! And that stitching really does like like real stitching, perfect!! And the bikes are just great!! Wow, your RAK cards are wonderful as well, great surprises in your mailbox there!!! Fun!

Hugs, Wendy

Jessi Fogan said...

I love that your husband checked out the stitching - happy birthday to him, by the way! Your son's card is far too precious. How cool that you blog his creations :) He's got such attention to detail already for a wee man!

Lynn said...

Happy Birthday to Chris! Love your card for him from you and especially your little guy's card for him. Absolutely adorable!

Isha Gupta said...

Happy B'day wishes to your hubby. Lovely card. I really like your little boys work. Its just how my daughter does...lol sweet.
Hope you got my Email.

Emily Keaton said...

I just LOVE that great bike card you made for your husband's birthday, Emily! You combined all the different bike styles beautifully. And I love how you overlapped them! Very cool. Your son's card is just the cutest. He did an awesome job with it! And lucky you to get so many lovely cards and surprise packages in the mail. They are all beautiful. :)

Jen W. said...

Those faux stitches are amazing! I really though they were real! Your little guy's card is fantastic! I think it's awesome you've got the men in your life hooked on cardmaking as well! :)
Gorgeous RAKs too. Love when you share. Have a great weekend and Happy (early) Mother's Day!

BabyBokChoy said...

Oh what a group of fun RAK cards you got! love them!!! And happy birthday to your DH and that card you helped your son make, too cute!!!

Marie-Pierre Capistran said...

Love your bike card!!!!!! Love it!

Jocelyn Olson said...

Love the bike card, and I could not believe that the stitching was a stamp (I actually clicked on it to enlarge it and that is the coolest stamp ever!). The card from your son is so sweet and he does have fantastic fine motor skills, and wow, what attention to detail! The RAKs are so sweet! Fun to see. :)

Jennifer said...

Loving that bike card Emily!!! Your making me want some bike stamps!! hehe (=

Tiffany Ervin said...

Your bike card is so awesome, how fun that you stamped layered them, such a fun look! Wonderful cards from your crafty buddies, love it!

scrapsnsuch@gmail.com said...

Ooooo, so much goodness! Lovin' that stitch stamp and your son's card is adorable. One of my sons likes to use my stamping stuff too :>)

Erin (Homemade Cards by Erin) said...

Yeah for many bicycles, you are definitely a bike gal and I thought that was real stitching too! Glad you got your goodies :)

Gina Lindsay said...

Both your cards are adorable, I love that you helped your son make one. I think I am going to have to go and look for those bike, I love them. Great colors too.

donna mikasa said...

Oh, Emily! I can just picture you tearing into your new stamps! How fun! Your hubby's birthday card is AWESOME! Love the bicycle theme and those stitches--wow! Who needs a sewing machine, huh?

Your son's card to his Baba is adorable, too! I know you're in Canada, but Happy Mother's Day!!

Brenda said...

Love how you stamped those bicycles, and I just adore blue, orange and green! Love the card your son made, so precious! Nice raks, great friends to have!

Lindsey said...

Oh man, do you really have to post my card amongst all that brilliance? :D
Your card: What a perfect one-layer card. Love the images, the colours, and I'm seriously coveting that stitching stamp! I'm sure the recipient loved it, too.
Small fry's card: He has a fine sense of colour, and is a pretty fine colourer, too! Such a talented kid, not that I'm surprised. :)

Amber said...

Emily! I loved reading about your son! I mean, it really doesn't get much cuter than that. His coloring is fantastic and I love that he gave you such specific directions about the sentiments. Kids are amazing and stories like this make me smile! Thanks for sharing it!

Savannah O'Gwynn said...

OH EMILY!! I just love that bicycle card! SOOOO cute! And that little card your son made--precious;) LOVE LOVE LOVE it! Beautiful cards from your friends--one day I might get around to sending you the card I have sitting around for you!! Sorry I'm so horrible!!

Anonymous said...

You sure know how to rock the bicycle cards! Your hubby's card is fantastic and I love how your little guy helped you make his card. Both are just wonderful.

lisa a.

kasia c. said...

FAB FAB & more FAB!
Happy Birthday to your hubby, and what a fantastic card by your little man. Looks like he's already taking after his fabulously creative momma. :)
You make the most AWESOME bicycle cards, I think I'm gonna commission you to make one for my hubby. ;) those stitches really do look pretty real. I am going to have to find that set.
I hope you have a great weekend.
{hugs}

G Peplow said...

Hi Emily, Happy Belated birthday to hubby:0) Love both your cards, yours and your son's:0)
Lucky you lots of wonderful RAK's but then you do deserve to be spoiled, hugs :0) xxx

Meg said...

1) Love your bike card!! That stitching stamp certainly fooled me, too. Happy birthday, Mr Art from the Heart!

2) Ok, your son is just adorable, as is his card!! He must get his attention to detail from his mama!

3) You have such talented and kind friends!!

Vicky Hayes said...

Do you remember me saying that I'd love to hang all your bicycle cards on a feature wall in my house? Well, this one definitely goes on that wall! Perfection! I love hearing about you and your son crafting together. It's such a lovely thing to do and you'll both have great memories of it. Vx

Scrapcollectr said...

Having been exposed to it at an early age, your son will definitely have an appreciation for art as he gets older....maybe he'll even make cards for his wife like his Baba!
*smile*

Alice said...

fabulous bike card! love the pretty stamping and the card that your boy made is waaaaaaaay cute!! love those new PTI dies!! you are so lucky to receive those pretty cards, too! wow! thanks for sharing, Emily!

Sunghee said...

Great birthday cards! Love both of them! I'm in love with bike stamps b/c of u! =) And look at all the cute cards you got!

walchowDesign said...

Awww... this is so creative, Emily! Love how you stamped all the bicycles together and love how you created the pathway!

walchowDesign said...

Awww... this is so creative, Emily! Love how you stamped all the bicycles together and love how you created the pathway!

Unknown said...

wow.. love your bicycle card!! very simple yet modern and fun~ i'm going to follow your blog :D