Hand Made Cards

With our tight budget, and being on such a limited amount of spending money each month; I found I could spend almost $10 on just two cards. Seriously, when did cards turn into this extremely expensive piece of paper we give each other and then throw away? I remember buying cards that were .99 cents. I mean, where did those all go?

Well, thats when I started to think, maybe I should just MAKE the cards. That way I could personalize each card for each person. How fun would that be!? I was so excited, so I set off to do some research, check out all the unique stuff I could attempt, and began using what I had, instead of buying a bunch of cards.

I have a ton of scrapbooking product that I have slowly been using for birthday parties and small projects around the house or for family and friends. I had pretty much everything I needed in my craft room. I even had stickers for most occasions and if I didn't, I could find tons of cut outs online.

The first card I made was for my Mother, for Mother's Day (sorry Mom, I know it was horrible). The next one I made was another Mother's Day card. I had more time to make my Mother-in-laws card as I was sending her card with my Father-in laws card for Father's Day. I looked all over the internet for just anything and everything. I then tried my hand at a flower in a pot... yeah, let me just show you:

I cut out each piece and used a small gem for the center of the flower.

I then added "Happy Mother's Day" with stickers I had on hand.

For my Father-in-law and my husband they both got these adorable cards:

This card opens from the bottom. I used brads for the buttons on the collar.

My husband and Father-in law both LOVED the cards, and they both said that it was pretty cool. Like father like son right? Even my oldest son was like "cool, shirt".

My Brother-in-laws birthday is the day after mine, and my sons birthday is late June. The last few posts have been about my sons birthday party and all the items I made for it. However, I didn't show off the card or show you the card I gave to my Brother-in-law for his birthday. Check the out:

This is the card I gave to my Brother-in-law. I felt it was fun, and classic for a California guy.

The inside, I wrote "Happy Birthday", but wished I had done it with stickers.

For my son, his party was nautical themed, so I just matched the theme.

The inside, so cute.

The back, with the "hand made by: Sarah Pitcher". Feels great to make a card for someone special.

I just loved how everyone who has received their cards, has mentioned how great they are, and how personal they seem. Which is why I like making them, but hey, my wallet is liking it too. I have spent zero dollars on these cards so far. I have used stickers, paper, scissors, brads, glue and sticky tape from my scrapbooking supplies. Its just great to finally be putting it all to use.

In July my sister and my brother both have birthdays. I was so excited to do one for my family! I wanted to see what they thought of my card making skills.

My sisters card, I wanted it to be colorful, and seem fun and full of cheer for her birthday. I always hate the fact that I can't be there to celebrate with them, because were military and we rarely can be in town for those events. However, now that I can make cards more personal, I felt like maybe it will make her feel like I am giving her a hug when she opens it. Sure enough, my sister said she LOVED the card.

It says "Happy Birthday Rachel!"

The triangles are only glued at the top, so they are loose and flip up on the end, which gives them that movement, and makes them feel more alive.

This card opened from the bottom and I added a few strips of colored paper.

I added some stickers to add a little visual accent, and I wrote a personal message inside.

 My brothers card, I again used those vintage cars, and cut each one out. I then cut out banners in two different paper colors, and glued them all together. I then alternated the directions and the card really came out masculine but super cute. I could totally change the colors to pink purple and maybe a soft yellow, and find flowers or something they like; and then it would be a perfect female card as well.

The cars are from fabric I had used for a project awhile back.

The inside quote went well with the idea of riding in a car.

Like all my other cards I have been adding this too the backs.

I made two more birthday cards in August for my Mother-in-law and my Father-in-law. I am starting to get better at this card making stuff, and really wanted to do some fun bold cards. I went with a little more modern style and also went with clean lines and a simple design. I mean, how do you not like this card:

This card is a lot more pink and purple then the colors show. I believe its the lighting.

 The idea was to make a cupcake. I hope everyone can see it?

I had some birthday stickers, which I loved the cake, because it matched the colors of this card perfectly.

The back, of course, had its touch.

 This card is a light pink with sage green diamonds. However, the colors are just not that bold in the photo... use your imagination. Bad lighting, next time Ill try to get better photos.

For my Father-in-law, I went with a fun tiered cake.

I just used different paper with different themed designs on them, and cut them into a cake.

I then used a velum quote and added the brown frame around it.

I cut out 3 curved pieces of paper, stacked and glued them together, added some stickers and it all came together nicely.

Had to add the detail to the back.

I wanted to make a few cards for the future, but only got around to one. Hey, I had some sewing projects I wanted to work on more so. Anyways, with everyone graduating this summer, I thought Ill make a graduation card.

I kept it blank on the inside for now, who knows when I will use it, but I sure do love it.

The tassel on the hat is made from embroidery floss. I again, have tons of that on hand.

Well, thats all the cards for now. I have a few more birthdays, and of course some holiday cards to make; so keep an eye out for those too. If you want to see a TUTORIAL or a few HOW TO photos, feel free to leave a comment and I'll do my best to make a few.


Give Your Next Gift a Handmade Touch,
Sarah

July Give Thanks, Week 5

July 29:
     Today we celebrate my little brothers birthday!!! Happy Birthday David. Thankful that you are my brother and that you have taught me so much about life, family, and friendships. I love you!

July 30:
     The twenty or so minutes that my wonderful neighbor chatted with me, outside our houses (after the kids went to bed), and let me vent and discuss whatever; thank you so much. I am so thankful for those moments of adult conversation and interaction. They may be few and far in between, but they are well needed and deserved.

July 31:
     Thankful for nap time, where my wonderful kids nap together for a few hours while I sew and finish up projects. Yes, yes, yes!

Give Thanks,
Sarah

Our Little Man is Here!

Jared has arrived! We are so excited to finally be a family of 4 and can not wait to see what our two boys grow up to be! I did want to take a second and say thank you to everyone who supported us and helped us through the entire pregnancy and also the last few days! And now, I won't keep you waiting heres my birth story of Jared!

Last week on the 19th of June, I had my 38 week appointment with my doctor. He pretty much gave me two options; when he realized in a week I had only gone one more cm (putting me at 2cm); his first option was to come back Monday and get checked, and see where I was and decide on an induce date, or two, get induced on Monday. My due date fell on a weekend (June 30), and I honestly was so miserable I could barely sleep at night. I pretty much jumped at the chance to be induced on Monday! My doctor made the phone call and our induction was set! I was going in on Monday and I was going to have this baby one way or another.

38 Weeks Pregnant

 The hubby and I spent the entire weekend walking, cleaning, and enjoying our Brian man! We really wanted to have Jared naturally, so we tried a few small things during the weekend to induce labor but nothing worked. Mango-kiwi-blueberry smoothie was delicious, but does not induce labor. I tried the spicy food by pouring packet after packet of hot sauce from Taco Bell all over my food, and that did not induce labor. We tried walking and galloping and bouncing on the ball, all without any luck of inducing labor. So, sadly, but yet excitingly Monday was here, and we were headed to the hospital at 7am!

39 Weeks Pregnant, last day being pregnant!

When we reached the hospital my nerves were at an all time high. I was so nervous about being induced, and what it would feel like, and how quick or slow it would work... I was ready, so ready; that, I did know. Once we got our room, Labor and Delivery room #4, we were set and in for the ride! I had a friend, Aida, who is also working on getting her midwife license, who was there to support me and also observe the birth of our little guy. The induction started at 10am with cervadil, which is a small applicator that is inserted behind the cervix to help it dilate and soften. I was thinking that it would start some seriously painful contractions right away, but it was totally the opposite. We sat and waited while I was monitored on the computer for awhile, then we walked, then we were monitored, then we walked... we had lunch, and when I was checked late in the afternoon I was only 3 1/2cm. I was devastated.

At the hospital getting the party started!

Just getting comfortable.

All day we had walked, we had talked, I had relaxed, I breathed, and it wasn't getting me very far. At this point I was only having front contractions which for me were super easy to handle. I eventually sat on the ball and did a lot of moving, and swaying; and thats when the back contractions started to slowly creep in. I was so frustrated at that point, because thats all I asked not to have, and here they were... When the back contractions started to get worse, I had to climb back into the bed and sit on the monitor. It was around 11:45pm that I just could not handle the pain in the bed and sitting, so I asked for something to help the pain. I received fentonal, which was awesome!

Fentonal is just a drug they slip into your IV and shortly after your feel warm and fuzzy inside. I was so loopy feeling and after a short few minutes I closed my eyes, and everyone got some rest.

6-25-2013

1AM rolled around and the contractions were back and I was in pain again. I received another round of fentonal, but this time it did NOT seem to do anything. All the nurses, and Aida warned me that the second time you get it, it probably wont work as well as the first time. The nurses let me labor for another hour with the fentonal and came back to check in on me around 2am. By 2:13am I had the nurse setting up my IV flush so I could receive an epidural. I labored for another hour with the IV flush and by 3:01am the anesthesiologist was in the room and walking me through the procedure. I had received an epidural with my first, so I knew what to expect, but for some reason this one hurt a lot more. By 3:06am the epidural was in and I was laying on my back waiting for the pain to subside.With an epidural you have to have a catheter placed so you don't go off peeing the bed.I had mine placed and I was off to sleep!

Contractions!

Once everything was a green light, I went back to sleep, with very very little pain! I slept extremely well from 3am to about 8am. The nurse came in to do the morning checks and let us know what the plan was for the morning. They had two c-sections scheduled and after the doctor was done with those then they would come back to us and get the pitocin in my IV started. We waited around for a little while and shortly after the nurse came in with my bag of pitocin. This was around 10am or so. We all hungout, had lunch, watched the contractions on the monitor as they got stronger and stronger.

Noon the doctor and nurse came in and checked to see how my progress was, which was now at 5cm. Not great but after all that pain during the night I had only progressed a few cm. I was crushed, but the doctor had a way to get things going. She decided we would pop my water and see where that took us. So, noon my water was broken, the pitocin was pushed up a little more and I was set off to enjoy the ride.

Around 12:30pm I was asking Aida and my husband to call the nurse because the contractions were so painful and I was sure my epidural ran out. When the nurse came in to check on me I begged her for more medicine to be placed in my epidural, but to do so we had to see where I was at. I was in so much pain, and I could move both legs without any help. I could feel the catheter and also the internal monitor they placed at noon. I knew this epidural was gone. I just didn't realize how painful this was about to get. The nurse checked me and I asked if I could have more pain medicine, and she said "nope, you need to push, your at 10cm!" I looked at her like she was crazy! My contractions felt like someone was placing bricks on my tailbone and pelvic bone and pushing them with all their strength outward. It hurt like hell. The doctor was called in at 12:39pm and I was told to push. I pushed, and struggled to stick with it because the pain was so extreme. I screamed a few times "I can't do this anymore," as if I was just going to get up and walk away, yeah right! I pushed for only 24 minutes, and Jared was born at 1:04pm! Yes, it only took me an hour to go from 5cm, to fully dilated, to delivering my son!

First sight!

 I was just shocked how fast that last hour went. I was out of my mind. However, it was real, he was in my arms and I was looking at this chubby cheeked boy who was so dang cute. Our Jared was born of June 25, 2013 at 1:04pm, weighing in at 8lbs even, and a short little 20 1/4in baby boy! He seemed very happy to be here in the world, and we were so happy to have him here with us. Aida, headed out shortly after I was stitched up and Jared was cleaned off! I have to say a big thank you to both my amazing husband and Aida for making me laugh, and helping me through some of the most painful moments of my life. I am so lucky to have had such support around me. I wanted to thank the nurse Espy, and my midwife who helped me through those last few moments of pain and really pushed me that extra mile.

 I can not believe he is here, even to this moment as I look at him sitting here beside me. I am a happy mother of two and I hope Brian is an awesome big brother!

Our sweet little Jared!

Hope you all have a wonderful weekend,
Sarah