JAMSquared

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 had grand intentions to make spring/Easter cards to send to an immediate portion of my large circle of family and friends. Considering, it is now July and you haven’t seen a spring card grace my blog with its presence, you would be correct in assuming my intention did not come to fruition.  I decided instead to make summer cards and save the spring card idea for next year. I made 14 of the following card. These were quick to come together and I made them the last time I stamped at my friend Lori’s. We’re getting together again this Sunday, so be on the lookout for a card or two Sunday evening or sometime next week.

Sending You Sunshine

Stamps: A Muse Clouds, Waves, Sending You Sunshine; Hero Arts Clear Design August (sun)
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Tempting Turquoise, Baja Breeze, Summer Sun
Ink:  Stampin’ Up Tempting Turquoise, Summer Sun
Accessories:  Inkssentials Glossy Accents

So Sunday, a week from yesterday, I got together with my friend Lori to make cards. I always enjoy getting together with Lori since we have a nice chat while stamping. Plus, this time she fed me chocolate chip cookies.

I made the following three father’s day cards plus one other design that I will show in a later post. The first two cards utilize the same concept, but different designer paper. One for my Dad in a blue color scheme and one for James’ Dad in a green color scheme. Lori was nice enough to hook me up with some designer paper when my original paper plan for one of them didn’t pan out. The 3rd card is the card I gave to James as the daddy-to-be. I also gave him some M&M Premiums Mint Chocolate candies that I picked up when I went to HEB on Saturday with my sister so she could get her HEB fix while she was in town.

Father's Day Card for my Dad

Stamps: Hero Arts Clear Design June (World’s Best Dad)
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Night of Navy
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up Prestwick
Ink:  Stampin’ Up Night of Navy
Accessories:  Inkssentials Glossy Accents, dimensionals

Father's Day Card for James' Dad

Stamps: Hero Arts Clear Design June (World’s Best Dad)
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Always Artichoke
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up To the Nines Speciality
Ink:  Stampin’ Up Always Artichoke
Accessories:  Inkssentials Glossy Accents, dimensionals

Father's Day Card for James

Stamps: Stampendous Cling Changito Piggback
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Night of Navy, Baja Breeze
Ink:  Stazon Jet Black, Stampin’ Up Night of Navy (edges of white cardstock)
Colored Pencils:  Stampin’ Up
Tools:  Cuttlebug Argyle Embossing Folder

I’ve been meaning to post the cards I made for Valentine’s Day for a while, but time has gotten away from me. The first picture shows the card I sent mine and James’s family and my friend Kristy. The ribbon matched perfectly.

Valentine's Day Card

Stamps: Hero Arts Clear Design February (sentiment)
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Rose Red
Designer Paper: Stampin’ Up  Loves Me
Ink:  Stampin’ Up Rose Red
Accessories:  Michael’s Megaroll 5/8″ polka dot ribbon
Tools:  QuickKutz Heart w/ Flourish set (Archiver’s exclusive)

This second picture shows the card I made for my sweet husband and the gift bag I decorated to wrap a little something I gave him.

James' Valentine's Day Card & Gift

Stamps: Stampin’ Up Riveting (sentiment on card), Love Matters (hearts on bag)
Cardstock: Stampin’ Up Whisper White, Real Red, Basic Black; Doodlebug Sugar Coated Cardstock Red
Ink:  Stampin’ Up Real Red, Rose Red, Regal Rose
Accessories:  Spica Red; dimensional
Tools:  QuickKutz Heart w/ Flourish set (Archiver’s exclusive)