First Day

Well, my life just got a whole lot busier. School starts today and I am right back to the craziness. Here's hoping for a good year!
My son starts grade four this year...not sure how that happened! Here is a shot from his back-to-school photo shoot:

Every year I make a card to tuck in his backpack on the first day because, being a teacher, I can't be there to see him off. (I think that is one of the hardest things about this job...missing out on important stuff with my own kid!) Last night before he went to bed he asked if I had made him a card...I told him he'd just have to wait and see ;)

Now, it isn't often that I share a project that uses so much retired product, but there are some projects that require tried-and-true favourites. I used DSP from the School House pack from last year's catalogue for the background panels. That stuff is going to be hoarded safely stored away for years to come! I added the die-cut sentiments with the Hello You Thinlits cut from Real Red and Pacific Point card stock. The stamped sentiment is from the LONG-retired First Day stamp set...that's another one that won't be going anywhere anytime soon.

The die-cut number four is done with the Large Numbers Framelits. I added a mini paper clip from my stash and some Real Red Candy Cane Lane Baker's Twine from the Holiday catty.

The inside features more retired stamps. I used the Words of Truth stamp set for the sentiments and the A+ image at the bottom is from the First Day set. I know my boy will love his card...he is my biggest fan!

Don't forget to check out the new Special Offers...Week Two starts today!

Have a terrific Tuesday.


Product List

Pacific Point 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [111350] $10.00	Whisper White 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [100730] $11.25	Real Red 8-1/2" X 11" Card Stock [102482] $10.00	Schoolhouse Designer Series Paper [138187] $13.75
Pacific Point Classic Stampin' Pad [126951] $8.50	Basic Black Archival Stampin’ Pad [140931] $9.25	Real Red Classic Stampin' Pad [126949] $8.50	Big Shot [143263] $136.00
Hello You Thinlits Dies [137363] $33.00	Large Numbers Framelits Dies [140622] $41.00	Banner Triple Punch [138292] $30.00	Candy Cane Lane Baker's Twine [141983] $8.00
Basics Hodgepodge Clips [133765] $8.95

Happy First Day of School!

Today is the day students and teachers have been dreading all summer...the first day of the new school year. My baby boy is starting grade THREE today!

It seems like only yesterday he was heading to Kindergarten. Of course I had to make something special to tuck into his lunchbox today...

First-day-of-school card featuring the School House DSP, Hello You Thinlits and the (long-retired) First Day stamp set

For this project I cracked open my sadly neglected package of School House DSP...I'm ashamed to admit that it has been sitting untouched since my new catalogue order came in mid-June! Let me tell you, it is going to see some major attention in the next little while...I LOVE it! For this project I chose four patterns, making sure to cut a piece that featured the number three prominently so I could highlight it as part of my design.

The word "happy" is die cut twice using the Hello You Thinlits, once from Tangerine Tango and once from Daffodil Delight card stock. I layered them, offsetting the top layer slightly to create a shadow effect.  I adhered them with the new Fine Tip Glue Pen...where has that thing been all my life?!? I created a little flag for my sentiment using the Banners Framelits and a toothpick. The sentiment is from a long-retired set called First Day...so glad I held onto that one! To highlight the number three I punched a 3/4" circle and then punched around the hole with the 1" circle punch...easy and quick frame!  I added a bit of 1/8" Striped Ribbon in Garden Green from the Holiday Catalogue...it's not just for Christmas!

Inside view with sentiments from the Words of Truth stamp set.

In the inside of the card I stamped several sentiments from the Words of Truth stamp set in Daffodil Delight, Tangerine Tango, Basic Gray and Garden Green inks.

I know Max will love this little surprise.  He is my biggest fan! I love being able to make special little things for him...knowing he appreciates them makes my heart happy :)

In addition to the fact that today is the first day of school, it is also Tuesday, which means new Weekly Deals.  Be sure to check them out in the top right sidebar of this page.

In case you missed my big announcement yesterday, I am offering a special this week...

And now, here is the list of products I used to make today's project:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

It's the First Day of School!

Well...the inevitable has happened.  Summer is over and school starts today.  My sweet little boy is starting grade two at a brand new school.  Being a teacher myself, it is nearly impossible for me to take the day off to see him off to school...I'll be gone before he even gets up, so I made a special card to tuck in his backpack for him to find when he gets to school.  We are all a little nervous about the new school and all that it entails and I want him to know I'm thinking about him and hoping his day goes well.

If you've been around Stampin' Up! for a while you'll recognize the DSP and stamp set I used.  The DSP is from the long-retired Storytime pack.  I just love it, especially for occasions like today!  It has some fabulous school-themed prints that come in handy many times.  The good news is that it is still available on the Clearance Rack AND this paper is available as a digital download for My Digital Studio, so you can still get this great paper.  If you have kids or are a teacher (or both!) you should own this paper!

I used several different stamp sets, some current, some long-retired.  The word Happy comes from a retired Hostess set called Something to Celebrate.  The first day of grade and the A+ are from another retired set called First Day.  The little boy is from the still-current photopolymer set called Dear Heart.  I coloured him using the Skin Tone assortment and Daffodil Delight Blendabilities. 

On the inside I made some punch art textbooks using the Word Window punch.  The apple is die cut using the retired Cannery Framelits, which are also still available on the Clearance Rack.  The sentiment is from the Dear Heart set.

I hope this little card is a reminder to my sweet boy just how much his Mommy loves him and hopes he has a great year in grade two!

My Baby's Graduating!

My son is graduating from preschool today...ready for big-kid school in September.  To thank his wonderful teachers I made some cute little gifts (more on those later) and cards for each of them.  Today I have one of the two designs for you.  I based the layout on this week's sketch challenge over at Pals Paper Arts.  First, here is the sketch:



And here is my teacher-thank-you version:

Teacher Thank-you Card for PPA137 featuring the (retired) First Day stamp set, the new Storytime DSP and sentiment from the Family Reunion stamp set.

Fun, eh?  I have had this set since it was in the Summer Mini two years ago...I've been waiting to use it and this was the perfect occasion to ink it up!  I stamped the little bookworm and the apples in Staz-on and coloured them with my markers and blender pen.  I love that little worm...he's so cute!  The A+ is from the same set and looks fantastic stamped with my new edition Real Red ink pad...such awesome coverage!  What makes this card, however, is the DSP!  I fell in love with this paper as soon as I saw it in the catalogue. The images are so retro and fun and remind me of the Readers I had when I was in school.  Of course, the images also speak to the teacher in me, so how could I not snap up a pack with my first new catty order?!  Today I get to attend the little graduation ceremony..can't wait to watch my baby walk the across the stage to get his certificate!  Now to figure out how NOT to cry...*sniff*...