JAMSquared

Six years ago today, James and I exchanged our wedding vows. He is the world’s best husband. He makes me smile when I am sad. He makes me laugh pretty much everyday. He holds me close and I feel loved.

It may only be six years of marriage, but we’ve been together for a lot longer. We started dating in June 1997, the summer before his senior year of high school and my junior year of high school. My friend Jillan was hosting an end-of-school pool party and she invited some of her boyfriend-at-the-time’s friends, James being one of them. We started talking and really hit if off.

Robert E. Lee HS Homecoming, Fall 1997

Except for about 9 months starting the second semester of my senior year of high school, we dated from the time we first met until James proposed September 26, 2003. I would have liked a fall wedding (my favorite season), but I didn’t want to wait a whole year to get married, so we were married February 28, 2004.

Cutting the Cake at our Wedding Reception

On Our Honeymoon

We have tried to take a trip every year since we were married. Typically, a picture from that year’s trip accompanied our Christmas card. We splurged in 2008 and went to the French Polynesian islands of Moorea and Bora Bora. It is my favorite trip so far.

Moorea Lagoon, Nov. 2008

I’m really pleased with how the card I made for James turned out. He got a big smile on his face when I gave it to him. It uses the Memories of Time sketch challenge. I printed the sentiment out with my computer. I’ve been doing a lot of coloring lately on my cards and I want to get some high-quality colored pencils.

We Make a DINO-MITE Pair!

Stamps: C.C. Designs Eric and Chrissy Go Prehistoric
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Really Rust, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Stampin’ Up Bashful Blue, Wild Wasabi, Basic Brown; Stazon Jet Black
Markers: Stampin’ Up Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Really Rust, Blush Blossom, Barely Banana, Regal Rose, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Stampin’ Up twill ribbon; dimensionals
Tools/Techniques: cotton ball sponged background

I’m trying to increase the number of birthday cards in my stash. That is part of why I typically make 2 of the same card when I make cards. One to use now (in this case my BIL’s birthday) and one to use later. I think this card turned out pretty cute and will be perfect for male birthdays. I used Jen del Muro’s Sketch for You to Try and The Cat’s Pajamas color challenge of olive, light blue and ivory.

Eat More Cake Card

Stamps: The Cat’s Pajamas
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Very Vanilla, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Ski Slope
Ink: Stazon Jet Black
Markers: Stampin’ Up Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie; atYou Spica Clear
Accessories: Stickles Frosted Lace, dimensional
Tools: Nestabilites Standard Circles Large, Classic Scalloped Circles Large

My parents have a great marriage. They show affection for one another. They talk with each other, not to each other (big difference). They even work together in their own accounting practice. I’d like to think that James and I have the kind of marriage they do. Happy 30th Anniversary Mom & Dad! Here’s to another 30 years.

Cutting the Cake at their Wedding Reception

Attending a Wedding in 2006

My sister, brother and I surprised them by going to Midland last weekend. We really got them good. Jason called them up and said he was planning to stop by on his way to Santa Fe for a work function, a total fib. He was the decoy to make sure they would be home. Sarah took care of finding a collage picture frame that she put photos of the grandkids in and I ordered a cake and some food for dinner Saturday night. Friday, Sarah and I coordinated arriving in Midland at about the same time. Jason arrived earlier and then went to visit a friend. We all met at a nearby parking lot so we could then arrive at the house at the same time. Jason knocked on the door. My Mom came to answer it and tell Jason she  had left it unlocked for him. When she opened the door, she kinda got this dumbfounded expression on her face. My Dad then walked up and he had the same expression. The surprise was a total success. Saturday night after the grandkids went to bed, we brought out the cake, which I had picked up earlier (I was impressed with how it turned out considering I ordered it over the phone), and the gift. I think we succeeded in making my parents feel pretty special.

The Happy Couple

Cake from HEB

Opening Card and Gift

Here’s the card I made for them. I used the previous Saturday’s Sketch for You to Try. It also meets the Hero Arts flower challenge.

Anniversary Card

Stamps: Hero Arts Clear Design May (images in 3 circles), Clear Design Number Seven (30 in exterior sentiment); Stampin’ Up Congrats, In My Thoughts (inside message), All-Year Cheer III (inside message)
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Garden Green, So Saffron
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Prints Certainly Celery
Ink: Stampin’ Up Garden Green, Certainly Celery
Markers: Stampin’ Up Chocolate Chip, Garden Green, Rose Red, Ballet Blue, So Saffron; atYou Spice Clear
Accessories: Stampin’ Up So Saffron grosgrain ribbon; dimensionals (center circle)
Tools: colored pencils; Stampin’ Up scallop border punch; Nestabilites Standard Circles Large, Classic Scalloped Circles Large

I apparently can’t count and so I had extra little red pick-ups from making my Christmas cards. I decided to use them to make Valentines for our immediate family and a few friends. These cards are 3.5″ x 5.5″ in dimensions.

Valentine's Day 2010 Card

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Loads of Love
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Real Red
Ink: Stampin’ Up Pretty in Pink, Rose Red; Stazon Jet Black
Accessories: Stampin’ Up Pretty in Pink 3/8″ Taffeta ribbon; heart brad; dimensionals (tag)
Punches: Stampin’ Up Tag, Small Tag, Tag; Martha Stewart Sweet Hearts border and corner punch

We received a beautiful tri-shutter card from Diane when Jessica was born. I thought it was a really neat card and I wanted to make one sometime. I thought a Valentine’s Day card for James would be a good opportunity. I search Split Coast Stampers and found this tutorial for a tri-shutter card. I decided to watercolor the bear, which caused the cardstock to curl up, so to get it to lay flat, I ran it through my 5″ Xyron machine, cut it out and stuck to another piece of cardstock and cut it out again. I had a hard time deciding on the embellishments since this is a card for a guy, but I think even with the flowers and bow, it is still okay for a guy. I hope *fingers crossed*.

This card was initially made for the ATS Weekly Wednesday Challenge 16, but I misread the challenge and it didn’t meet the requirements. I’m not sure how I missed the part that it needed to be a Valentine package, not a card. However, Challenge 17 was to make a tri-fold card. Since I finished my card a day before the challenge came out, I’m not sure I technically qualify, but the card was made with an ATS challenge in mind, so I’m going to submit anyway.

Front of Tri-Fold Card

Stamps: Chubby Pencil Valentino; Stampin’ Up Wonderful Favorites, Tags So Much; Stamp Affair I Love You
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Taken with Teal, Pretty in Pink; DCWV textured brown scrapbook paper
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Loves MeInk: Stampin’ Up Basic Brown, Taken with Teal, Close to Cocoa
Ink Used to Watercolor: Stampin’ Up Real Red, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: Inkssentials Glossy Accents (bear nose and eyes and heart bubble); Hobby Lobby pink Valentine’s ribbon; Stampin’ Up Pretty in Pink brad; Maya Road velvet blossoms; glittered teal brad; Stampin’ Up Pretty in Pink 3/8″ Tafetta ribbon
Tools: aquabrush; Xyron 5″
Punches: Stampin’ Up Tag, Small Tag, Ticket Corner; Marvy Uchida Mega Heart, Giga Scallop Heart

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