Just like the card from yesterday, this one is created from bits and pieces, but my favorite part is a copy of the old stamp from Laos. I won't spend a lot of time explaining how it was made since there isn't much new on it. The pieces are: three different scrapbook papers, lettering from QuicKutz font Sunshine, flourish from Autumn Leaves, stamps and postmarks from an old letter, buttons tied with string, typewriter key labels from stash, a ready made tag that says "favorite things", and a vellum stamp from stash.

Make a card for some you love and include on the front something they will remember. Maybe an old ticket stub, a photograph, a copy of a report card, a bit of fluff or flower from a bouquet, etc.

I think one of the most fun ways to make cards is to incorporate into the making something from your past.

When I was about 10, I collected stamps. Money was in short supply, but my Mom occasionally let me have enough to send off for packets of "free" stamps. Back then, 52 years ago, free really meant free. So, I would get a 6 cent stamp, cut out the ad from a magazine, fill out my address, etc., and send it off in one of Mom's envelopes.

It was an exciting day when the mail carrier left me a big packet of free stamps. Now, I must admit, along with the free stamps were several packets that I could buy for just a small amount. And, occasionally, I had enough pennies saved to buy a packet or two. I probably spent less than a dollar at the most. One time I received a packet with four stamps from Laos. They were all of elephants, and were the most beautiful I had ever seen. I bought them for a few pennies and treasured them from that day to this.

For this card (5in x 7in), I made a photocopy of those stamps. You can see how I cut out one stamp (now I have a stamp border pair of sizzors, but not then), and mounted it on complimentary paper. The background paper is scrapbooking paper. The paper on right is torn and glued on top of that. A rub-on, letters, brads and ribbon completes this card. Make your own "Dare to Dream" card and send me a picture. I'll put in on this blog.

As always, hoping to hear from lots of you.

B

A Brother is a Blessing

Since cards using vintage photographs are among my very favorites, I thought you might enjoy this one created especially for a brother.

The cardstock is white and is A2 size. I cut a piece of my own "homemade" paper 1/4 of an inch smaller than the stock and adhered to the front. I squared off the photo and matted it on a piece of brown cardstock and adhered it at a bit of an angle. Then I rubber stamped several postmarks, added a few old stamps, used a simple flower rub-on and glued on buttons. I always use a heavy string or beadspread cotton to tie through the holes on buttons. After all, buttons should be secured with thread. Right? The comment was created on my computer with a free Internet font called 1942 report.

I found the old photo at a yard sale and had some prints made at the local "Quick Print" on their color copier. Actually, I positioned 9 pictures on a page with a little bit of double stick tape and made several copies, all for around a dollar each.

The background paper is made with old postcards, family letters, and wills, layered and laid at interesting angles. Almost any old documents will work. The more faded, stained, yellowed, and worn the better. Only a color copier will give you really good results. Experiment and send me a picture of your designer paper and I'll post it on my site for others to be inspired.

This could be a wonderful way to surprise a brother with a card. Find an old picture of him or perhaps one of some of your ancestors and go on from there. If you have questons, please email me.
B

Last of the Laos Stamp Cards - Dream

O.K. I promise this will be the last of the Laos Stamp Cards, although there is another one lurking around somewhere. This one was a lot of fun because of all the exotic oriental images I found to use on it.

On the Internet there is a site with pictures of bank notes from every country. Some of them are beautiful works of art. I copied and pasted this one, being careful to use only part of it and also made it a bit smaller than the real one would have been. I don't want to be a counterfeiter. Whew! Also, I covered the picture of a man at the center of the note with a postmark. I chose navy, hot pink, and gold for the color scheme. You can see I pulled it from the peacock stamp. The ginko and dragonfly were rubber stamped, colored and cut out before being added. The buttons are from my stash and the flower is a silk flower, pulled apart and glued on with a tiny gold brad in the center.

Look around and use what you have on hand. I believe it is Jenni Bowlin that says "re-use, and re-purpose". She is the queen of that.

Another Sister Card

I love to make "sister" cards! Maybe that is because I never had a sister. Well, I didn't have a brother either, but those cards aren't as much fun to create - no flowers, frills, no fuss.

This one is similar to yesterday's card in several ways - the photo is the same - just trimmed into a square instead of an oval, and I used another fabric swatch on the left. The sentiment is the same - "sisters are different flowers from the same garden". The background is again from the one-of-a-kind paper I made by copying old letters and documents. The embellishment is bits and pieces from here and there. I crocheted the light colored flower and pulled the two reddish blooms from a bouquet of silk flowers. I threw away all the little plastic pieces and anchored the three flowers together with a large French knot of crochet thread. The leaves are from a fall arrangement that I no longer use. The black photo corners turned up in a bin of sale goods at a local business supply store.

Even though there are literally thousands of beautiful embellishments on the market, I find a lot of pleasure in using items from around my home and craft room. I've been collecting little "treasures" for a very long time, so now it's great to use them to decorate my cards. I try to look at a piece and see what can be done with it other than the intended or expected purpose. Take a look around your home; you'll find lots of great little treasures just waiting to become a part of a very special card.

Day One

This is my first day in the weblog world. I couldn't think of a great name for my blog so I called it "Just Me....B". That will work for now. If you've stumbled on this by some twist of the keyboard, please say "hello" and let me know you are out there.

Today I am sharing a card I designed last year, because it is one of my all time favorites. It features a copy of a 70+ year old photograph of my mother and her two younger sisters.

It is created on white cardstock that has been distressed around the edges with brown ink. The background paper was made by photocopying several very old letters and papers that belonged to my family. The colorful piece of fabric on the left is from a discontinued swatch book for upholstery fabrics, button from mom's button box, and flower from Prima. It's really amazing what you can do with what you find around your grandmother's attic.

Thanks for stopping by. Hope to "see" you again.

B