At 18 the world is your Passport

Hi everyone! I am here today to share a bitter sweet event in my life. It is my son's 18th birthday. And while I am very proud of the young man he has grown into, It is difficult to see my baby boy as an adult. The vintage balloon is a new release from So Suzy stamps and the other embellishments and stamps are from my other "LOVE" Tim Holtz collections.

I wanted to create a card that basically said...the world is yours and here is your passport to adventure.  Soon enough he will be graduating and going off to college. And while I know he will always be my son, he is his own man and no longer my baby boy. 

I am not sure how it is for Father's, but it definitely is a tough one for Mothers. These young ones are so anxious to leave the nest and it is difficult to let go. While I know it will be hard to see him leave, he knows and I know (in my heart) the time is coming.

This sentiment is from So Suzy Stamps and when I saw it, I knew it was perfect for a 18 year birthday card. She also carries these fantastic Post Mark stamps that works perfect for my passport cards as well. 

All of my Passport cards I stamp with Limited Edition on the back, as they are all one of a kind. If you want to see any of my other ones, feel free to search with the word "Passport" on my blog search tool.

So I will leave you with this picture of this nice young man. Get ready world...here he comes!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

• Aliciabel Challenge Blog - No.4 - February - Anything Goes or Love is in the Air
• Brown Sugar –  No. 132 - Anything Goes
• Crafts 4 Eternity Recipe Challenge - No. 212 - With Love
• Crafty Catz - #265 - Birthdays
• A vintage Journey - Tic Tac Toe (texture fades,ephemera,sprays)
• Fussy and Fancy - It's All About Love
• Sister Act Card Challenge - No. 91  - Anything Goes
• Artist Trading Post Exchange - #9 Love Is In The Air
• Moo-Mania & More - Masculine (2nd week)
• Penny's Paper-Crafty - #213 Favorite card fold or tehnique
• Inspiration Journal - Love is in the Air

The Impossible is often THE Untried

How many pieces of card stock does it take to make a Passport Book card...? Well if you are me and it is the first time the answer is several and all day.

I saw this design over at a blog called "That's Life. The image caught my eye as I was perusing the blogs I subscribe to so I thought I would take a closer look. Lately I feel I have been swaying away from my style..vintage grunge. I have been busy traveling and trying to stay on top of my DT cards, that I have not had time to play with all my little toys and design the way I LOVE to. Well today was about me. I took a vacation day and played off and on all day. In between cleaning the house and going to the dentist...

Now the blog that I saw this design on had an explanation of all she did to make her card. But no directions on how to put it together. Once I figured that out It was just a mater of putting together the pages.

I had stamped this image using my alcohol inks a while ago. The image is not too clear in this shot due to the glare, but I have another one down a bit farther

I used rub on's stamps and print outs from the web to make these two pages. You can see I from all the embellishments I pulled out my TIM TOYS!

Here is a better image of the stamped image. I love the way the alcohol inks give it a shine.

I had a great day today creating. My husband asked what I was going to do with my card and I told him that I think I am going to keep it for myself. It will be a reminder that The Impossible is often the Untried and to keep true to myself in my crafting. I think I had more fun today creating than I have in a while..After all, isn't that what it is all about?

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

• Simon Says - Monday Challenge - J is for...JOURNEY
• Card Mania -  Vacation or Travel
• Crafting from the Heart -  Always Anything Goes
• Imagination Crafts -  Anything Goes
• Make it Monday with Kraft Outlet - Kraft cardstock  - Funky Junk
• Ooh La La Creations -  Vintage 
• The Paper Girls -  Old Time Photos
• Vintage Journey - Just Stain it
• Suzy Bee's Bloomin Challenge - Anything Goes
• Sugar Creek Hollow  -  #91 Vintage or Shabby Chic On the Road

A Vintage Journey down Route 66

When I saw that there was a new challenge starting called A Vintage Journey I was ecstatic. This challenge will center around Vintage/Shabby projects which have been Tim Holtz inspired. This is right up my alley! I have played in Tim Holt'z sandbox as he has a tag challenge monthly, but I don't always have all the items he uses to play along with his techniques. There are not any other challenges like this one, (that I know of) and I was so excited to see it starting up.

They have room for one more DT member, and while I would love to be part of this team, I am not sure I can fit it in to my full DT schedule that I have now. So this one will just have to be on my wish list for a later date. I have a few challenges and artists that I love, so they will have to be on my "To Do" list for future design teams.

So for their first challenge, it is anything goes. I have a birthday card that I created for a friends father that I thought would be perfect for this challenge.

The alcohol ink, word band and stamps are all Tim Holtz products. I got an idea to do a Route 66 card. I found both maps on the internet and used card stock from DCWV Rustic Stack. This is one of my favorite stacks and the paper is all vintage looking.

Here is a closer look:

Here is the Route 66 map. You are welcome to it and works great for background.

So if you like making Vintage style cards and using Tim Holtz products, you must check out this new Challenge. I am sure it is going to be lots of fun!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Ends March 20 - A Vintage Journey - Anything Tim
Ends March 12 - Paper Crafting Journey - Male/Manly
Ends March 12 - Seize the Birthday - Anything Goes
Ends March 18 - Nutcrackers - Boys Boys Boys
Ends March 10 - Sisterhood of Crafting - One for the Boys

Route 66 - Enjoy the Journey

For all my American friends out there, I hope you are enjoying President's day! It has been a great 3 day weekend. Took a nice hike today at one of the many mountain paths we have out here in Phoenix and getting ready to put my turkey in the oven.

Sounds strange? Well, we did not have Thanksgiving at our house last November, so I promised my husband a Turkey dinner and this weekend seemed like a good time to pay up on that promise. I made homemade stuffing last night and we will have homemade gravy and mashed potatoes. Not the full on Thanksgiving meal, but some of the favorites.

Here is a closer look

Well, the main reason for my post is to share a card I made this morning. I found this stamped image in my stash that I had not used and thought it would be a great male card. I wanted to do a a travel theme, so I went on line and found these great map images.  The stamp and sentiment's are from Tim Holt'z collection, twine and brads are from my stash and the card stock is from DCWV - The Rustic Stack." I use paper from this stack a lot, so much that I bought 2 of these sets when they were on sale for $6.

This was very simple and fast to put together since I had pre printed the image some time ago. I got an order for 12 birthday cards, so I need to come up with 12 different styles, all ages, male/female. I think this will work for a father or husband. So at least I have 1 down.

Well, I think I hear a Turkey calling me, so I better head out. Hope everyone enjoys the rest of their day!

I would like to enter my card into the following challenges:

Ends Feb 18 - Try it on Tuesday - Travel 
Ends Feb 28 - My Sheri Crafts - Vintage Guy
Ends Feb 20 - DL Art Thankful Thursday - Vintage
Ends Feb 26 - A little bit Crafty - Man Up
Ends Feb 28 - Sandee & Amelia's Challenge - Time Machine