Saving precious pictures onto a CD makes a great gift idea. Here's a simple way to identify the surprise inside!
A box of clear CD cases cost just a few dollars, and can be found at all office supply stores. Don't own a CD label maker, like me?? No problem. Making a insert does the trick.

I chose theme printed card stock paper with contrasting black paper for a nice edging. The overall measurements are 4 3/4 " by 4 11/16", or almost square. Lettering from the Storybook cartridge (use a GYPSY) were perfect for this look. These letters are 1" by 1/2".



There wasn't room on the front side to add specifics about the pictures. Again, no problem! The flip side of the insert gives additional space. Or, print a ledger and picture specific information to include inside. Mine was a simple message written with a white paint marker.

 

Now I'm on a roll to get more pictures onto a CD!







Accessories: Once Upon a Time card stock, black card stock, white paint marker, Cricut Storybook lettering, Provocraft Gypsy Designer, clear CD case.

Spring-break...a perfect time to explore the BIO Park and Zoo.        We struck out excitedly, map in hand, winding our way to board the train linking the zoo and aquarium. Wonderful wispy breezes cooled us and the warm sun lightened our hearts.

Once aboard, we sat back to take in the peaceful scenery and sites at Tinkly Park where fishing for all ages is fun. Any caught fish must be returned into three of the man-made lakes.

                                                                                                                                                                                                           
Once at the aquarium, our minds went, well, a little fishy! Trying to imagine why God made some creatures is a mystery! Like this giant fish...not the most attractive creature to find staring back at us...what could it be thinking?


                                     

The Moon Glow jelly fish gracefully floated around their cylinder world with nothing to hide, Oh My! Literally, they are completely see-through... hundreds of them! These small wonders validated the awesome variety of God's creation.

After exploring the aquatic variety of wonderful underwater creatures, we boarded the train to clank, clank, clank back to the zoo. Week-old double-humped camels, baby hippo's and even young zebra's delighted us. How many stripes are there on a zebra?

There were ducks and fish to be fed, and us too! After four hours of beating through jungles and wet-lands, we called it a day. Smiles,  memories and shared discoveries filled our hearts.

I am so thankful to have such fun grandchildren...Sequoia, Zac and Hannah. God Bless them everyday, and keep their hearts.

Do you dream of wide open spaces and a big sky to freely roam around? Close your eyes and dream a dream...then create your dream! This picture card is a cool Idea for your favorite kids to express their dream. A few simple animal stamps. a little imagination, color and voila!

The landscape is created with a variety of grassy type stamps with varying green & natural colors. Red filler added contrast along with layering partially inked flower stamps. Close your eyes and see where you drift off to.

Accessories: Rubber Stampede Farm Animal stamps, Stampin' Write markers & ink pads, card stock (white, brown & black), embellishment, varying grass & flower stamps.

I love LOVE! Valentine's Day is, well, a day to do the things for loved ones that we should be doing all year long anyway. The price tag means nothing. But the fact you take time to share a thankful heart for those wonderful special people is key. So, go ahead, be the first to say I Love You.
I did just that with a simple little card. Using glitter print paper, embelish with matching ribbon, brads and a special message.

Here is a close up of how the embellishement looked, just making a couple changes from one card to the next.

Here is the second version, with a slight change to the message background. I had so much fun making these...simple, effective and pretty too!

Accessories: Printed glitter paper, brads, cupid confetti, metal labels, white and red card stock.

I love getting pictures from friends and family. Last September our church updated their directory, and we received a few extra pictures.  Here are some finished cards showcasing a few.

There are a couple techniques to help cards "stand". Picture matting was used as one of the background layers. I find inexpensive scraps at the craft stores. Pictures & paper layers were reinforced with "corners". All the corners I used were made with a punch.

Plus, the cards have added card stock on the inside. I added a short piece of matching ribbon before gluing the inside card stock in place. The ribbon, fixed to both the "top" & "bottom" of the card stock prevents the card from opening too far, and "slouching" after time.

Using cut-out scrapes from various corner punches added contrast to corner pieces, coordinating the color scheme.  A variety of embellishments made each card unique. Don't ya love the hanging gold beads!  Recently I discovered elegant "Pearls" paper and loved the pretty effect. The paper is heavy and simmers nicely.

Accessories: papers - Auburn Pearl, Once Upon A Time mat, gold picture frame mat, red, black, blue & white card stock; punches -  Martha Stewart picture corner punch, Friskars corner punch, Nestabilities scalloped die cuts; stamps - Stepin Up 1997 butterflies & flowers stamp set; embellishments - Cloud 9 quotes, ribbon, gold beads, brads,etc.

Luke 2:11 sets the importance of Christmas, that central figure Who was born to die, granting the ultimate gift of salvation..."for unto you is born this day in the city of David, a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Our family took advantage of our time together, sharing memories, gifts and GREAT food (my son and daughter did the cooking). And new to our family this year is little Dillon!

There were four families that joined hearts to share the celebration of Christmas and the Father's gift to us, the Christ child.

The big boys joined in all the celebration after eating too. The table overflowed with prime rib, turkey, ham and all the fixings. There were plenty of sweets too. Everyone favored Aunt Susie's chocolate cream pie.

Mom and Dad had so much fun seeing 3 generations buzzing around, not to mention the cats and dogs who got into the fun.

By the end of the evening, with glad hearts and a storehouse of memories we cleaned up, packed up and shipped off kissing and hugging one another.

There is no end to the gracious favor of our Lord. This year brought challenges, testings, and more blessings than we can count.

Thanks to our heavenly Father and Lord Jesus for such an abundance.

We are getting close to the most wonderful time of year. It's a time when we lavish our family and friends with holiday cooking, gifts and most of all, our love. Our hearts seem more open to helping others, reaching out to the lonely and forgiving and forgetting past wrongs. You might say it's a bit of Jesus spread out to those around us. My Welcome Christmas Into Your Heart is a way of spreading a little love. The wreath is hand painted using pastel chalk and a blender pen.

This simple card speaks Christmas using traditional colors.  Leftover embossed card stock makes it frugal (spend your money on gifts instead!). Add a little clear gloss and bow to send your love all wrapped up.               May this Christmas fill your heart with the love of Jesus too.

Accessories: Christmas cardstock matstack, Red, Green & White paper, Cuttlebug Christmas Wreath, Stampin' Write Real Red pen, Studio G green ink pad, blender pen, Stampin "Old Olive" ink pad, chalk, green ribbon, clear embossing powder.