Believe it or not, at one point I had enough time in the day to make handcrafted cards for several holidays throughout the year, even though I was teaching full time. I still consider myself employeed full time,
within our home, but since that also means I'm
always at work my down time has been reduced to the ever shortening naptime and when ER is in bed for the night.
I'm afraid I have become reaquainted with Hallmark! Card making was unfortunately one of the crafts that kind of got left by the wayside. It's all I can do to keep up with my scrapbooks and sometimes I feel like that's a losing battle.
I started scrapbooking in 2004 after our "honeymoon" to Hawaii, the quote marks are due to the fact our honeymoon was actually four years after we got married. Then I branched out into cards to help use up the paper scraps I'd accumulated.
Here are the first Easter cards I made back in my childfree days in California. All were made with purchased card forms and are simple designs probably inspired by Papercrafts Magazine or one of their special issues on cards. Looking at them now, I think maybe they look a little empty in spots but I remember thinking I pretty great when I made them!
I'm glad I started taking photos of my cards and projects before I sent them off, it's fun to look back and see them!
I remember really liking this one because little yellow ducklings are one of my favorite motifs and I have, or rather
had a big collection of rubber duckies and stuffed ones too. Guess who laid claim to them?
My Grandma was quite impressed with this one. I made her's with flowers and pastels on purpose, that's the kinda thing she likes a lot.
These flowers were in the card section of Target on clearance and I think I still have one yellow and one pink one left. I made several versions with different color combinations.
The Procrastinator Crafter sent us the cutest Easter pillowcase dress. It is so bright and cheery, perfect for twirling in as it billows out. The ribbon straps add the perfect touch. I just love a big bow on anything! She had some for sale as of last week. I'd jump at the chance to get one if I were you! I already pestered her about making some more out of a nonholiday pillowcase so I can get ER one for the summer. I think it'll be real cool and breezy, prefect for hot MI days.
I won this fabulous tiered apron from Ella at Jam Jar Boogie. "Oh! FANCY," was the reaction from ER. Then she promptly put it on like a cape and ran around the couch, guess she's training to have domestic diva super powers, LOL! Unfortunatly I was laughing too hard to get a photo of that. But yesterday when I saw my friend Jenn she ever so nicely modeled it for me. It's so bright and springy I'll probably need another apron to wear over it to keep it from getting dirty! 
Michaela from Kindergarten's 3 R's recently had her 500th blog post, isn't that impressive! She makes the cutest banners and sells them on Etsy. Go check them out, you won't be disappointed they are so nicely made; I didn't realize they're double sided until I got mine so I may move it to our archway and enjoy it twice as much. Plus mine has glittery bunnies and button embellishments AND it's all done up in one of my favorite color combos: pink and green, so it's extra special. I've got it hanging on our fireplace mantle but someone is already harrassing me to let her have it in her room. "Oh mommy, mommy...I NEED bunnies, please!" Wonder how long I'll be able to hold out against that!
Didn't she do a great job packaging it? I don't know if this was on purpose or not but even the sweet card she sent along with it coordinated. That carrot button has been hidden from little fingers, no muffin tin sorting in it's future! The Mama wants to use that one!
Noelle is such a sweetie that she even included a little Easter package for ER. She sent her a necklace, bunny socks - love the little pom pom at the heel, a wind up bunny, ring sucker, and egg with chocolates inside. 
