What's on your desk?

I knew it was time to clean up my stamping corner when my son came downstairs the other day and said "Mommy, what a mess!  You need to clean this up!"  You know it's bad when  a 5-year-old says it's time to clean up!  As I was digging through the pile of months' worth of scraps I found a piece of Whisper White I had embossed and then cast aside.  It became the foundation for today's project.  Have a look:

Baby Card featuring the  Baby Boutique and One in a Million stamp sets

Inside view with sentiment from Curly Cute.

Whaddya think?  It wasn't much of a leap to arrive at a baby card with all that embossing.  I added a scrap of Patio Party DSP and used a bit of pleated satin ribbon leftover  from the last Occasions Mini that I also found laying in the pile on my desk (that'll give you an idea how long it's been since I cleaned up!)  I love the new Baby Boutique stamp set...so sweet!  I'm sure I'll have plenty of opportunity to use this card this summer.  SO many gals I know are expecting...surely one of them will have a little boy!

Thank me Baby One More Time

Ok...today I want to show you the second set of baby thank you's for my Baby-Thank-You-Bonanza coming up this Thursday.  These ones are for the one gal who knows that she is having a little girl.  They are a bit more feminine, but not too frilly.  This mom is not a ruffles and lace kinda gal.  Have a look:

Another baby thank you card featuring the Baby Boutique stamp set with sentiment from Lovely Little Labels

Same layout, different theme with images from the retired Fox and Friends set and sentiment from Tiny Tags.

So, you'll notice both cards use essentially the same layout.  I kept the horizontal orientation because I find it easier to write in horizontal cards...anybody else find that?  Maybe I'm just weird!  Anyhow, the first card is a bit softer with a colour palette of  Crumb Cake and Pink Pirouette on the Whisper White card base.  The second is a bit bolder with Chocolate Chip and Pretty in Pink.  I think both will go together fairly quickly, though the first is certainly simpler.  We'll see what my mom-to-be thinks!  Tonight I'll be cutting up a storm as I prep for 80 cards!!  Thank goodness I'll be in the coolness of my basement...today is to be another scorcher!  Heat, humidity and teenagers do not mix...trust me on this one.

Thanks, Baby

Yesterday I mentioned that I've been working on designs for baby thank you cards for my Baby-Thank-You-Bonanaza that I am holding later this week.  The moms-to-be and I are getting together to make 80 thank you cards in one afternoon.  Impossible?  Maybe, but I think we'll get close.  As I've been designing I've been trying to keep the layouts as simple as possible while still keeping some of the "cute factor".  I'm using our fabulous little note cards...they're perfectly sized for thank you's...less room to write!  Here are a couple of the ones I've come up with that I like...

Baby Thank you card featuring the Aviary stamp set with sentiment from Fabulous Phrases.

Another option featuring the Baby Boutique and Lovely Little Labels stamp sets

Whaddya think?  My favourite is the little owls...love that little stamp!  I used the new Argyle embossing folder for the Pool Party panel...so love that pattern!  I added a little softness with a hint of ruffled ribbon peeking out from behind the panel.  The second card is a bit simpler in that there is less stamping involved.  I embossed the card base using the Stripes embossing folder and added a bit of babyness with the now-retired eyelet border punch.  I used the new Lovely Little Labels set and coordinating punch for the sentiment...kinda cute, no?  I got the idea for the placement of the label on the stamped bib from the catalogue...gotta love the inspiration in that wonderful book!  We'll see if my ladies like either of these designs.  I have a couple more girlie ones I'll show you tomorrow...in the meantime, stay cool....it is hot, hot, hot here in Cambridge!

Last of the XL Babies

Yesterday I finally finished the last of my XL Baby cards.  I am really glad to have that task behind me, as it proved to be a bigger challenge than I had expected.  I procrastinated more than I likely should have, but, now that they're done, I am relieved.  See what you think...

Another Over-sized baby card featuring the new Baby Boutique stamp set, as well as the Broadsheet Alphabet.  The DSP is from the Domestic Goddess pack from last year's catty.

So, is this gender-neutral??  It is for a gal who doesn't know what she is having, so I wanted to keep it as neutral as possible.  I figured the Pool Party and Calypso Coral were a good combo...bright, yet suitably babyish.  I love the new Baby Boutique stamp set in the new Annual Catalogue and especially love the way it works with the Broadsheet Alphabet set.  All of the squares are punched with the 1 1/4" square and then layered on the scalloped square.  Thankfully they filled up the card rather well, given that the base is 8-1/2" x 5-1/2"!  I finished these card none too soon...the shower for these moms-to-be is next week...on my birthday!  Don't know yet if I'll be able to make it to the actual shower...hubby has plans for my big day...but I sure hope these ladies like their cards.  Later this week I am holding a Baby-Thank-You-Card-Bonanza for the three moms-to-be.  They are all getting together with me to make 80 thank you cards!  I've been working on some designs that I'll show you tomorrow.  In the meantime, have a great day!