A True Fish Tale

Many years ago, while at Sears waiting for the autodepartment to install a new battery on my car, I killed time by wanderingthrough their pet department. As I walked down the fish aisle I spotted onelone brown fish swimming in a huge tank. I found out it was a goldfish and itseemed because its color, or lack of, no one wanted him.

I left Sears with a new battery and a brown fish I named Pyrite –aka fool’s gold.  

 Every day I talked to Pyrite and told him (I had decided itwas a male) that I loved him no matter color he was. It didn’t happen overnightbut very slowly his color began to change. And, in a matter of months Pyritebecame a truly beautiful goldfish.

I like to think that it was my love for this ugly ducklingfish that made the difference. But in the end it really doesn’t matter. Ididn’t love him less when he was brown and I didn’t love him more because hewas now a beautiful golden color.

There is really no connection with my tale and the fish tagthat I made for this Blog Hop, except that they both received a lot of love.You be the judge if you think my tag turned out beautiful J

I received the lovely Fisherwoman Stamp from VLVS. My goal was to have fun with the oldie but goodie stamp. I added two other VLVS and went with a Sushi theme. I especially like that the gal is wearing heels while she fishes. Very classy, don't you think?

Supplies
Three stamps from VLVS -Fisherwoman , A fish out of water. , One man's sushi is another man's bait.
Manila Tag
7 Gypsies Epicurean Paper
Red Brocade Ribbon
Maya Road Black Ribbon
Mini Staple
Miracle Tape
A Bit of Black Bling
Silver Fish Charm
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Singin' in the Rain

The husband and I grew up on opposite sides of the country. He’s from California and I am from New Jersey. I enjoy cool weather, whereas he wants the heat on when it’s 73 in the house. I would sleep with the windows open every day and night while he wears sweats 365 days a year. There is however one type of weather that we both love – rain. We agree there is nothing nicer than staying in when the weather is damp and gloomy. A log in the fireplace, hot soup and grilled cheese sandwiches – the husband makes the best grilled cheese ever – and we are exactly where we want to be.

One of the things I love about being on the design team of VLVS is looking through their incredible variety of stamps. I went in search for stamps to make a card for the husband. I didn’t want it too cute, and it had to be meaningful for the two of us. When I saw these 2 stamps -Vintage Man With Umbrella and You make even the rainy days special. I knew I had found the perfect stamps to reflect what I feel.

This has to be one of the easiest cards I have ever made.
Got it completed in less than 10 minutes.
Who said the longer something takes the better it is? Not this gal.
 

Supplies

White Cardstock
Kraft Paper
Patterned Paper
MS Heart Punch and a scrap of red paper
Miracle Tape 
Vintage Man With Umbrella VLVS
You make even the rainy days special. VLVS

Directions
I took a 5 1/2" x 8" piece of cardstock, folded it in half and set aside. For the cover I cut a 2 1/2" x 3 1/4" piece of Kraft paper and stamped the Vintage Man With Umbrella. I layered this with a 2 3/4" x 3 1/2" piece of red paper on top of a 3" x 3 1/2" piece of patterned paper. I adhered to the cardstock using Miracle Tape. I then stamped the You make even the rainy days special.sentiment on the bottom of the card. For the inside I layered with Kraft paper and white cardstock. I topped the cover off by gluing on a handful of mini red hearts.  

The husband has my heart. Who has yours?

 

Sometimes a cigar is just a cigar.

My father was a real gentleman. He always carried a clean white cotton handkerchief in his pocket and every night after work he would listen to opera and drink a martini. He was passionate about good food and his family. I have a ton of wonderful memories but when I close my eyes and think of him, it’s his scents that I recall – Old Spice After Shave and fine Cuban cigars.

I recently purchased a stack of cigar boxes (25) to house my ever growing stamps and the shop owner threw in a couple of small cigar tins. When I got home I immediately went on Viva Las Vegastamp Website and found these two fabulous cigar themed stamps - HERE and HERE. A bit of Graphic 45 A Proper Gentleman and the rest was as easy as 1-2-3!

Without any further ado, let me introduce my latest project for the Viva Las Vegastamps Design Team. My plan is to fill this tiny album with pictures and memories of my dearly missed father.

 

 

 

Perhaps the most famous cigar quote ever!

 

The mini is overflowing with tags

 

 

I used downloads and miniature cigar bands

Supplies
VLVS Has anyone seen my cigar?
VLVS Tramp with cigar
Miracle Tape
Cigar Bands
Graphic 45 A Proper Gentleman
Cigar Tin
Misc. Ephemera

Directions
Using Miracle Tape I covered the top of the cigar tin first with Kraft paper and then with a pattered paper. I added the stamped images using a pop dot on the text to give it more dimension. For the inside of the box I chose a coordinating paper. The mini was made from 5 pieces of medium weight cardboard. I attached paper on each page and added downloaded images, cigar bands, tags and ephemera.

You are cordially invited to a showing of the world famous cigar video HERE.  I must warn you that there will be no-smoking during the viewing.