Shaker Cards

Last week I decided to make some shaker cards using some shaker pouches, made by Impression Obsession, that I had purchased in July 2010 at a Paper Cut Warehouse Sale. I had also purchased pre-cut card stock panels that were die cut to fit the pouches perfectly. I had round pouches and square pouches. And I had lots of mini beads to fill the pouches... you don't need many beads in the pouch.
I also wanted to make some 'specialty' cards for certain people. I decided to start with scuba diving themed cards for Terri.
After making all the cards seen in this post I found that the round shaker pouches were easier to work with than the square pouches. I love how these turned out! I know Terri will love them too!

The swirls embossing folder I used on the front panel of this card is a good match for the underwater theme.
On all of the underwater themed cards, except one, I created a background called faux bleach. There are two faux bleach techniques and I used both of them on these cards. I have two background stamps that are wonderful for creating the illusion of underwater. One of the faux bleach methods is done by stamping with versa mark, drying with a heat gun, and then sponging on dye inks. The versa mark resists the ink resulting in a bleached look. The other method is done by stamping with versa mark or embossing ink, applying clear embossing powder, and heating the powder to melt. Then alcohol inks are applied and using a hot iron and a sheet of copy paper, the piece is ironed so that the embossing powder melts into the copy paper.


The ribbon I used on this card and one of the others is one of my favorites. I think I saved it from a gift I had once received.. and I used the last of it on these cards. Oh well, I have been trying to use many of the items I have in my stash rather than hang on to them.
The background under the shaker pouch on this card is different from the other underwater themed cards. I just sponged on some ink in blues and greens.


I really love bright colors and this card is definitely bright!! Like the others I used the same underwater and scuba diving stamps. I really like the cuttlebug embossing folder I used; it is called bubbles. I think it really goes well with the underwater theme.
The multicolored rick rack is a fun addition. I had several types of underwater themed charms I was able to use with this set of cards.


I had fun with these underwater themed shaker cards using various color card stock, ribbons, charms, and embossing folders. Each of the cards is a little different.
I can't wait to give some, or all, of these cards to Terri as part of her birthday gift in July. Each year I give her a packet of hand made cards. She is a diving fanatic and has many friends that also enjoy the sport. I just wish I could find a few more rubber stamps that are relevant to scuba diving.


I also bought some of the square shaped shaker pouches. Along with the pouches I bought a packet of pre-cut card panels that fit the shaker pouch exactly, but are set on a diagonal.
I love making dog cards!! I ran the dark brown panel through the cuttlebug with a Tim Holtz embossing folder. I used spellbinders nestabilities (rectangle and label) to create the label across the bottom of the card.
I placed tiny beads, some larger beads, and a bone shaped embellishment into the pouch. If I make another dog card I'll leave out the larger beads as they are a little too big for the pouch and don't shake as freely as I'd like.


I had a chance to use some of the stamps from a set I just purchased... all coffee and tea themed stamps. I used my twinkling H2O's to color the coffee cup; they've been so neglected!
I'm not a coffee drinker, but many people are so it won't be difficult to find someone who will enjoy this card.
I even used coffee grounds in the shaker pouch rather than beads!





This card will be great for someone who likes to golf... and I know quite a few of them.
I used a cuttlebug embossing folder on the kraft colored top layer after stamping the golf bag in the lower left corner. The card looked too plain without the texture that resulted from using the embossing folder.






I've had a Stampin' Up set including this cute frog for a long time... and it has been a long time since I've used any of the stamps from that set. I was happy to see that this little guy fit well inside the square shaker.
It was fun to make these and I think they'll be fun to receive. I have more of the shake it pouches so I'll be making more of these types of cards. I'm curious to see how well they stand up going through the US Mail.

Kathy's 60th birthday book

I have a group of very close girlfriends that are very special. We are all close in age.. a couple have turned 60, and 5 of us will be turning 60 within the next year. I started making birthday booklets for each as she turns 60. Since I have so many to make for this year I thought I'd get going on the projects. This book is for Kathy. I started with a book that my friend Maggi had given me. The pages were all blank sheets of basic grey papers. A couple of years ago I asked my group of girlfriends to give me photos they had taken of our group over the many years. I had scanned all of them and used some of them in Kathy's book.
Most of this group knew each other because they all worked at Bucyrus-Erie in South Milwaukee. I was a friend of Bert's and when they decided to join a bowling league they needed another player and Bert knew that I bowled. My life was never the same after that... it became much more fun and richer because of the friends I made.
I am so fortunate to have such a great group of girlfriends. It doesn't matter that we may not see each other as often as we like; we just pick up where we left off.
There isn't a better group of friends in the world.
Our group has evolved just a little over the many years we've been together. Joyce and Donna were with us in the early years... especially during our bowling years. And several years ago Nancy has joined our crazy bunch.
We had great times going to WI state bowling tournaments... never a dull moment. We didn't really care how we bowled; we just went to have fun!


One of the activities that became an annual tradition with our group of friends is a "christmas time gathering". I think we started by just getting together at some one's house, then we moved on to making and exchanging cookies, and now we either visit local craft fairs or just get together to eat, drink, talk, and most importantly laugh.
With every one's busy schedule, not all can make it each year so we just pick a date that most are free. By the end of this get together we're usually exhausted from laughing so much.


Kathy and her husband Ken didn't have a 'wedding', therefore she really never had a shower. I think around her 20th wedding anniversary we decided to throw her a wedding shower. What a hoot!!! Some of us dressed in previously used bridesmaids dresses we still had hanging in our closets... just goes to show, you never know when you'll need them again! We had a decorated cake; I think that Mary made that. And we had shower gifts, of course. It was a blast... one of the most memorable things we did.

Here is the last page I'll post; there are too many to include all in this blog posting. There are 44 pages!!
I did a great job incorporating things I've had in my stash for years.... scraps of paper, stickers, vellum words, and pieces from a book of sayings and phrases.
This is another picture of our annual Christmas get together. It usually occurs in early Dec and almost always at Cara's house in Rochester.
I know Kathy will love this book... and so will the rest of our gang.
I'm way ahead of myself, since Kathy's birthday isn't until August!!! Now, I need to start thinking about Nancy, Bert, and Laura!!! Then I get a year off before I need to think about a book for Mary, the 'baby' of the group.