My Nephew's Disney Cars' Themed Birthday Invitation Cards

This is what I have been busy doing during the Eid Holidays. I was asked by my sister-in-law to make few Disney Cars' themed birthday invitation cards for her son's 4th birthday party. Of course, I happily obliged and this is what I have come up with.

My nephew, Jacob, loves the characters of Disney's Cars too so an idea came up. I made a library-kind pouch as envelope and took some pictures from the internet of the Disney's Cars characters (Disney characters and other graphics credit: yahoo images, owned by Disney) and some other clip arts like the black and white checkered border and the race flags. I used my own cutting images for the name, number 4 and the envelope template.

So, here is the finished invitation and I'm very pleased. It's so cute!

25% Off on Shipping Cost at Handmade with Love

Update on 25 Jul. 2014 - I no longer make handmade cards. Thanks to everyone who supported me.

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It's too early to give out discounts but I am doing it anyway. I'm offering 25% off on shipping costs when you buy handmade cards from my Handmade with Love fanpage.

Please feel free to visit the site and take your pick. Make your someone special smile. Buy a Handmade with Love card today.

Handmade Wedding-Congratulations Card

I love customizing cards because it makes it more special since I am making it based on the recipient's preference and interests. This is one of my favorite commissioned cards that I have made. It is for my husband's colleague. He is engaged to be married soon so I made this card for everyone in their office to sign up and write their well-wishes.

It took me more than 2 hours to complete this easel card. I had to sketch it first, figure out where the embellishments would go, how I would arrange them and what shapes to cut for the project. Let's just say, I am very satisfied with the outcome and so are the colleagues of my hubby. As for the soon-to-be-wed, they loved it. And this is why I love making handmade cards. It warms my heart to know people appreciate the time, effort, thought and love I put into making a single card.

copyright www.riablahgs.com 

Free Travel Paper Piecing Patterns

Do you love crafts? How about scrapbooking or making handmade cards? Do you enjoy piecing papers together to create fun embellishments? If you do, then here are some free paper piecing patterns from BHG.com for you to enjoy and incorporate in your projects. You have to sign up first to be a member before you can get the patterns. Have fun!

All these photos are from BHG.com. Patterns can be downloaded from here:

Paper Patterns - Travel

Simple Card Tutorial With Flat-Back Pearl Embellishment

Hi everyone! This is my very first tutorial. I am going to show you how to make a simple blank handmade card for any occasion using easy to find materials and one of my favorite embellishments to use in my projects - flat-back pearls.

What you need:

• Plain card stock for the card, I used 4 x 6 inches cardstock
• Patterned papers cut in various sizes (my favorite brand is Bo Bunny and K & Company but there are a lot more with fancy designs in the craft mart)
• Matting papers (any solid or block colored card stock or art paper will do) for background and framing
• Cut-out letters - H E L L O or any greetings or sentiments you want to use
• Scissors
• Glue for the flat-back pearls
• Fine tip tweezers to pick up the small flat-back pearls
• Double-sided tape or roller adhesive tape
• 3-d foam with double adhesive
• Ribbon, about 8 to 10 inches long and folded for double-ribbon effect
• Embellishments: butterfly chipboard and flat-back pearls (about 3mm diameter) in pink and cream. I got the flat back pearls from Qrhinestones of Etsy. (You should check Emily's Qrhinestones for more beads and fancy gems to use on your projects. She ships very promptly too!)
• Optional: Pigment inkpads for side-inking effect (I used a pigment-based ink to ink the edge of the yellow matting paper)

(This project can be done in less than 15 minutes as long as you have everything you need within your reach.)

And here's how you do it:

1. Gather your materials.
2. Apply adhesive at the back of the matting and patterned paper .
3. Layer the papers together, arranging them in gradual decrease in size. Do not stick the papers on the cardstock yet at this point as we will add ribbon later. I always tuck the edge of my ribbon beneath the matting papers for a clean finish. I also inked the side of the yellow paper for some drama and emphasis.
4. Cut out some small strips of 3-D foam with adhesives and adhere to the cut-out letters.
5. Fold the ribbon in half and make a bow. This method will create a double ribbon in one knot. Tuck the edges under the biggest matting paper. Now, apply double-adhesive tape on the biggest matting. Peel off the protective film of the adhesive.
6. Stick the matting papers which is now your card topper on the card stock.
7. Stick a butterfly embellishment at the edge and dot some glue to stick the cream flat-back pearls.
8. Now dot an undulating line on top of the letters and stick the pink flat-back pearls.
9. And now,  you have your simple card done!

Easy, right?

Additional Art Stash From The Mail

One of the arts supplies I bought from Etsy came today and I am very happy to receive my flat-back pearls for my cards. It was shipped only 4 days ago and the shipping I paid for was not even more than $10!

I just love these gems! I am so eager for weekend so I can start with another card creation and hopefully be able to post a tutorial about my project. Just stay tuned folks!

Thanks to Emily of Qrhinestones for these wonderful stash. She handled my query very quickly and I am one satisfied customer. For sure, there will be a repeat transaction coming from me. Thanks again Emily! You rock! (No pun intended...smile!)

Here's my new stash and there are more to come!

Happy Father's Day 2013

It's not every day that I get to tell my hubby how much I appreciate everything that he has done for us. And it's not every day that I show him how I value those little things he has done for our family, even to my own family.

It's just fitting to give him this recognition for being the best dad, hubby and best bud a girl like me can ever have.

Happy Father's Day to you honey! Thank you for everything you have done and is still doing to give us the kind of life we deserve, the security, the comfort and most importantly, for the love.

And to all the great fathers out there who selflessly sacrifice their comfort over their family, their lives for the life of their own and for giving so much and getting so little in return, we all salute you for being the Fathers we all deserve.

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!