Birthday Blooms to Cheer You!

It was my daughter's birthday in early April, and she and her husband went off into the wilds to do a little quad riding in the sand dunes of eastern Washington.  As we would not be seeing them with their mini vacation and social distancing going on, I had a bit of time beyond her birthday to complete her card.  This was great for me, because I just had no creative mojo...social distancing seemed to take every creative bone in my body to some distance beyond my reach.  But, I had the new Stampin' Up Painted Poppies paper and dies, and I thought I'd see what I could come up with.

I attended a class card several months ago, and we made a card using some these materials, including a fishtail banner.  I liked that look so well, I thought I'd do a wee bit of casing of our hostess, Luci Kirschenbaum's design.  But, I decided my new card would be a larger horizontal card rather than vertical and with a lot more color layering.  Take a look at my finished card for daughter, Jackie:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Basic Black, Mossy Meadow, Flirty Flamingo, Poppy Parade, Whisper White.  Pattern--Peaceful Poppies dsp (2019 Jan-June Mini).  Stamps--Seaside Notions (sentiment)(2019-20).  Dies--Poppy Moments dies.  Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black.  Peaceful Poppies Sequins.  Other:  Pink Posh Evergreen Sparkle sequins.  Chatterbox verse.  Size A6: 4-1/2 x 6-1/4 inches.

A 2018 Valentine for Mom!

It's time to make a Valentine card for my Mom!  I sure miss her...with all my knee and hand issues starting over two years ago, I've missed three of my traditional semi-annual trips to visit her.  I will not be able to go until this coming fall due to my second knee replacement in March!  Mom will be a spry 93-years old in August, 2018.  We always spend lots of time cardmaking together on my visits, along with my sister who lives in the same town in California!  We usually schedule a week-long girls' get-away to Mt. Shasta...what wonderful memories!

I pulled out some of my old unfinished Liz Thayer card kits and their pictures to see what I might use and get them out of my too full "To Do" box.  I found this little gem that I never put together during my knees "hiatus."  I love the paper colors and Liz's design, so my plan was to keep it quite similar, but add a little here or there to put a little "me" into it.  Then, I would design a complimentary inside and verse to finish it off.

I re-cut and enlarged the white cardbase and added a Crisp Cantaloupe layer between the base and the black layer to add more color.  (I saved the old cardbase to cut and use for the inside card verse).  I added rhinestone gems to the four corners, the banner points, hearts, and sentiment circle, but the bones of the design still shine through.

Now that Mom's card is finished, it really reminded me how much I loved the Valentine Stampin' Up products I bought in 2015 and 2016 but never had the opportunity to use.  I will check out some Splitcoaststamper challenges to see if any of them fit, as I already had the colors, papers, and design ideas before beginning my card.  Take a look below at the finished card inside and out.  I think Mom will be pleased!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up papers:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Basic Black, Crisp Cantaloupe (retired); Patterned dsp--Stacked with Love.  SU stamps: Hello Life (2016-retired).  SU: Happy Heart EF.  SU punches: Itty Bitty Accents Pack (2016-retired); 1/2" Circle; 2" Circle; 2-1/4" Scallop Circle.  SU-Rhinestones.  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Computer-composed verse.  Size: 4-1/2' x 5-5/8".

Getting Better After Surgery. . .

A long-time friend has had surgery, and I am sure she is not feeling her best; therefore, I wanted to send her a little card to let her know that my husband and I are thinking about her and hoping for a speedy recovery.  I thought I would use a card that I made several years ago at a card class given by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, because I thought its sentiment was perfect....simply...."My Friend."  Inside I dressed it up with a little verse I composed and created a design that compliments the front.  It is made with such a bright and cheerful paper, I thought it would bring a smile to her face.

Ingredient:  Stampin Up products.  Cardstock:  Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Yellow.  Pattern:  Summer Smooches (retired).  Stamps: Perfect Punches (retired).  Ink: Rich Razzleberry.  Punches:  Curly Label (retired), 1/2" Circle; 1" Circle, Curvy Corners (inside/ retired).  Embossing Folder: Square Lattice (retired).  Regals Mini Brads (retired).  Technique: Embedded Embossing.  Size:  4-1/4" x 5-1/4"

Puddles & Puddles of Birthday Wishes!

My youngest daughter has an April birthday, and she loves umbrellas and goulashes.  Several months ago, I bought a cute little ladybug digital image with the cutest polka dot umbrella and goulashes through my 2 Cute Ink Stamp Club's 75% off coupon.  When I saw it, I just had to have it, because take a look at the picture below and you will fully understand!  It is one of my daughter's engagement pictures, and true to her style, she brought an umbrella and her roses for props! 

I was really anxious and excited to get started on her card, but several holidays and earlier birthdays intervened and kept me from jumping right in after downloading the image!  I knew I had to wait. . .I just had to be patient!   Bummer, I just had too many others cards to finish first!  Meanwhile, my creative juices were flowing on the back burner while waiting, and my layout plan has been all set way back when.

Finally, the day arrived allowing me to get started. . .I just couldn't wait any longer!  My first task was to find the perfect red, black, and white patterned papers and red cardstock to use according to my "back burner" layout plan, and then I could begin my coloring.  Once the papers were chosen, I was able to begin selecting the perfect Copic marker shades of red needed to match my paper reds and begin coloring my little bug.  She colored up really nicely, and the rest of my card just fell together very quickly.  I'm pretty please with the outcome, so take a look at my little Puddle Bug card below:

I finished off this little bug card with a bit of inside decorating and a verse to coordinate with the front design.

Recipe:  Paper:  Stampin' Up/ Real Red cardstock; Bazzill/ Basics Patterned Stack (black); Echo Park/ Love Story (red banner).  X-Press It Blending Card/ White (for Copics).  Royal Lace 5" Doily.  Dies: PrettyPinkPosh/ Stitched Borders 4; My Favorite Things/ Stitched Square STAX.  Pretty Pink Posh: Metallic Silver sequins.  Stampin' Up Silver Cording Trim.  Ribbon: stash (Copic colored).  Copic Markers:  Background: C0, BG0000.  Puddles/Raindrops: BG01.  Umbrella/ Ladybug Shell/ Goulashes:  R22, R24, R27, R29, R46.  Ladybug Face/ Body:  C0, C01, C02, C03.  Polka Dots: C0, C01, C02, C03, C04, C05.   Goulashes soles: C04, C08.  Sentiment: Computer Font/ Penshurst 16 Bold.  Fishtail Flags/ Banner: handcut.  Banner stitch: PPP Stitched Borders 4 (straight).  Size: 5-1/4" X 5-7/8".

Friendly Valentine Card #2

I'm on to my next friend Valentine card.  I thought I would try the same layout design, but eliminate the embedded embossing and use one of the cute little journal tags that I found in my Valentine stash.  The sentiment is perfect for one of my friends, "I Like Hangin' Out With You."  

Next, I began to search for the perfect patterned paper companions that would work well together and with my tag.  When I found the Little Yellow Bicycle foil hearts hanging from a curly while clothes line, I thought it was the perfect base.  I soon found the other two patterned papers that would work for the banner and its half-circle topper.  I decided on the rose-pink cardstock I had used in my first friend card and decided to pair it up with red for the tag and the banner underlays.  I used larger brads on this card and I think I like them as well, but the jury may still be out on that one.  Take a peek at my finish card and see what you think.

Following my traditional cardmaking routine, I now turned my attention to designing an inside that compliments the outside, finishing it off with my own idea for a verse, using the Be My Valentine stamp from the Stampin' Up Delightful Dozens stamp set, which has unfortunately, been retired.  I made my verse using the computer and added the stamp at the bottom in Cherry Cobbler ink.  I also decided to color in my stamp heart with the Stampin' Up Rose Red marker.

Recipe:  Paper products:  Recollections 200 Sheet Pack: Red, Rose pink; K&Co.  Little Yellow Bicycle--Heart Strings with Foil; PaperMania--Mini Hearts; WRMK--Love Struck-Forever Yours.  SU stamp: Delightful Dozen.  SU Ink: Cherry Cobbler (inside).  SU Punches: 1-3/8" Circle.  EK Stickos: Red Bubble Hearts.  SU 1/4" Brads (retired).  Computer-made verse.  Size: 5" x 6".

Friendly Valentine Card #1

I have several cardmaking friends with whom I exchange Valentine cards just for the fun of it.  We usually plan a friends-lunch-out adventure and meet at one of our favorite restaurants.  Our luncheon is coming up soon, so I needed to get my cards finished pronto.  I wanted to use a technique that I learned probably going on four years ago now, and that is embedding patterns with the use of an embossing folder.

I chose a bright and colorful patterned paper that incorporates almost a horizontal stripe collage of patterns with many different colors of pinks, reds, and a few other pastels as well.  From many of these patterns, I punch small and medium-sized hearts, which I adhered to a white cardstock rectangle.  I then embedded them into this rectangle by using the Square Lattice embossing folder by Stampin' Up that is now retired.  This is my favorite embossing folder to use for this technique because it has a tightly woven pattern that really works well for embedding.  Next I decided to incorporate a banner using one of the paper patterns as a focal point and to also use it as the anchor for my planned sentiment.  I finished it off by adding mini brads in coordinating colors for an embellishment interest.  This is my little embedded Valentine pattern card. . .take a peek below!

To finish my card, I turned my attention to designing a coordinating design and Valentine verse that compliments with the front of my card creation.  I decided to incorporate the front sentiment into the inside card verse.  I must say there is certainly a LOT of PINK!  Take a look see at the finished product below:

Recipe:  Paper products:  Recollections 200 Sheet Pack: Red, Hot Pink, Rose pink; Darice Core'dinations Cardstock: Soft Side-mint; K&Co. Valentine Stack (retired).  SU stamp: Delightful Dozen.  SU Ink: Rose Red, Cherry Cobbler (inside).  SU Embossing Folder: Square Lattice.  SU Punches: Heart to Heart (retired), 1-3/8" Circle, Decorative Label, Itty Bitty Accents-Heart.  EK punch: Graceful Heart Corner.  SU Mini brads (retired).  Technique: Embedded Embossing. Computer-made verse.  Size: 5" x 6". 

Happy New Home!

My Stampin' Up Upline and cardmaking mentor has just moved into her first new home. . . a cause for celebration!  Having moved a number of times in my married life, I know what an exhausting, though joyous, undertaking it is; therefore, I wanted to make a new home blessings card, sending along a little pizza gift card as well.  Finding enough time in the day to work, unpack, and find the perfect place for everything unpack, pretty much fills up a 24-hour day.  I remember there is barely time to sleep let alone cook, so the pizza gift card should come in handy any night in the near future, right!

I have to say I procrastinated a lot on this card, changing my mind numerous times.  Even when I decided on my general idea of the card's creative design, I struggled with what papers to use. . .one with houses on it, flowers...hmmm???  I finally threw out the idea of any flowers on the paper since this card would be for Liz and her husband.  When I finally decided on the paper with the cute houses, I thought, "Great, not too feminine."  But then as my design changed and evolved to fit the colors in the paper, etc. and I just couldn't throw out the pink.  I did try to stick with a border punch that wasn't too frilly, but the layout screamed for a more pizzazz, like a spritzed doily and 3D flowers.  You'd think I could have stuck to the blues, reds, and greens in the paper, which would have made the card a bit more masculine, but they just weren't as pretty as the pink. . .sorry Pat!

I spritzed the white doily with my homemade spritzing formula:  water and acrylic metallic paint.  I didn't have any shades of pink mixed up, nor did I have a pink metallic paint.  I had to get creative and mixed a combination of Metallic Bright Red and Metallic Pearl White metallic acrylic paint to come up with my Shimmery Rose-Pink color.  I was pleased with the outcome, as it made a  perfectly lovely shimmery rose-pink spritzed doily.  (The picture does not show off the shimmery quality of the spritz, though it is quite apparent when you see the card in real life.)  I do hope Liz enjoys her home blessings card and her pizza!  Now, all she needs is a wee little glass of wine to go with!

Following my tried and true method of cardmaking from beginning to end, it was time to tackle the inside design so it would compliment the card front.  This would, of course, include a verse or poem befitting the card's occasion theme.  I had a couple of strips of the ZigZag punched pink gingham plaid left over, so I decided I should certainly use those and not waste the extras.  I really like how it sets off my chosen verse.  Voila, the card is done and ready to show off!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstocks: Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride, Wild Wasabi.  Echo Park dsp: Life is Good/The Neighborhood (both sides).  My Mind's Eye: The Sweetest Thing/ Honey 'Love' (check).  Stampin' Up stamps: You Brighten My Day (2015 SAB).  Martha Stewart punch: ZigZag border.. Stampin' Up punches: Bird Builder; What's Up (house).  Spellbinders dies: Labels 4; Labels LG.  MFT dies: Photo Corners (inside/modified).  Wilton: 4-1/2" Doily.  Prima: Mini roses.  Recollections: pink flower.  Spritzer (homemade): Shimmery Rose-Pink (doily).  Copic Markers (house).  Computer sentiment/ verse (font = Santas Sleigh Full Bold: 26/18 sentiment; 20 verse).  Size: 5-3/8" x 6-1/4".  

Father's Day to Celebrate!

We are celebrating my husband this weekend for Father's Day.  He got a new gas grill barbecuer and wants to cook for the family on his special day, so we are hosting a potluck at our house with our four children and their husbands, wives, and significant other joining in.  We plan to play some lawn games if the weather holds, as you never know in the Northwest and a little gambling game I learned of at my Girls' Get-Away!

For John's card, I made almost the same coffee shaker card previously posted on May 31st.  This card suits him to a "tee," as he is a six-to-eight cups of coffee a day person.  His coffee shaker card is the first version I made of this card, and my former boss's card (and elementary school principal), was the second version.  That version was the simplified version to avoid the pleated ribbon edging on my husband's card, which I found a bit of a challenge to adhere and thought it too tedious to use for my Girls' Get-Away shoebox card (as I planned to use this design for the Get-Away ladies to make from my card kits.  My husband's card, as shown below, is the first and larger version.  Even though the ribbon was time-consuming and tedious, I do love the finished product!  I think John will be please as well.

A little Father's Day verse to come up with, a little design to coordinate with the outside, and voila, John's card is complete!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks -  Early Espresso (card base), Real Red, Very Vanilla, Gold Glimmer paper; stamps - Perfect Blend (retired 6/1/15), Guy Greetings (2015 Occasions); inks - Soft Suede & Early Espresso; punches - Confetti Stars (2015 Occasions/ 2015-16 Annual); Dotted Scallop Ribbon (retired 6/1/15); framelits - Striped Scallop; largest Stars (banner fishtail pattern); smallest Banner (pattern for sentiment fishtail); Circle (3-3/4" & 3"); embossing folder - Lucky Stars (2015 Occasions/ 2015-16 Annual); cardboard from designer paper packaging (10-layer shaker frame); ribbon - Early Espresso 1/8" cotton (retired).  TomBow Glue.  Memento Tuxedo Black stamp pad.  Offray 1/4" Early Espresso Grosgrain ribbon.  Darice Dark Brown Seed Beads (coffee grounds).  Stash: Clear acyrlic sheet.  Large gold rhinestone.  Gold star brads.
(Note: I wanted to give credit to the person who originally came up with the idea for this card and the picture in my mind.  With lots of computer searching, I finally found the card I cased. . .boy do I have a good memory. . .thank you Ellen Taylor, who made the original over three years ago.) 

Enjoy Your Birthday Day!

One of my cardmaking buddies will be celebrating her birthday in April.  I wanted to make a card that conveyed how much I wanted her birthday to be super enjoyable, so I chose to make a card from a card kit designed by my sister and my first cardmaking mentor, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner.blogspot), because the planned sentiment was perfect. . .Enjoy Your Day!  (Of course, she will enjoy her day. . .fellow cardmaking buddies are taking her to lunch!)

I pulled out the kit paper pieces provided and the picture of the original card.  After mulling it over, I decided I wanted to liven up it up even more by adding more colored layers, which is much more my style than a single cardbase + front layer.  To do this, I added two more layers of colored cardstock that accomplished not only adding more color (the original design had a single-layer vanilla base + front), but it also enlarged the card size from the standard A2 size.  Those of you who have read my blog before have probably noted that I have mentioned several times in past posts that I like cards larger than the A2 size.  I added a new gold card base (Crushed Curry), cut a larger vanilla layer to use between the gold base and my new dark teal layer (Island Indigo).  I also punched the corners of the patterned top layer and the new teal layer with the WRMK "Stub" Corner Chomper.  On the whole, I think the whole card is even more eye-appealing than it already was in its original lovely design.  I think my friend will be please with her Enjoy Your Day birthday card.

My next step was to create an inside design that coordinated with the finished outside.  I added dark teal scalloped trim to my birthday card verse, which I composed and printed from my computer.  Next, a added some little cork flowers with pink Goosebumps---incorporating the flower idea from the front.

Recipe:  SU cardstocks:  Crushed Curry (base), Island Indigo, Very Vanilla.  Pattern Papers: DCWV: Adhesive Cork; MME--Miss Caroline-Dilly Dally/ Dolled Up/ Fiddlesticks.  Papertrey:  Stamps-Mini Blooms (sentiment); Dies-Delightful Dahlia (leaves), Tag Sale #6.  MFT dies: Fishtail Flags. SU punches: 5-Petal Flower (ret.), Boho Blossoms (inside), 1" Circle, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, Scallop Border (inside).  SU Sizzlits: Lots of Tags.  WRMK Corner Chomper: Stub.  Queen & Co.: Goosebumps Twinkles.  Stash: Dark Celery felt, Embroidery Floss, button.  (Size: 4-3/4" x 6").

Husband Has a Birthday Coming Up!

My husband celebrates his birthday on Groundhog's Day.  Last year, I made him a cute little Copic-colored groundhog card.  I have covered a lot of his hobbies for birthdays and Father's Day in years past, so, I had to put on my thinking cap to come up with a theme I had not used before.  I do realize that some year, I will have used them all, but in the meantime. . .  

I've had several Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous stamp sets involving Retro transportation themes, and I've wanted to use them for a long time.  I thought this was the year to do it!  Before I began really focusing on John's card, I happened to see a really feminine card on Pinterest using a little piece of "notebook" paper torn from a spiral tablet with butterflies and flowers.  Those lovely nature items, though beautiful on this card, would not do for a man, of course, but the torn notebook paper stuck in my mind, and my creative juices began to flow.

Throughout our long married life (we celebrated our 50th this year!) whenever we travel, whether it be via car or our motorhome, John always keeps track of his mileage, how many miles to the gallon he's getting, what's the cost in one area of the country vs. others, etc.  First, I thought I'd do a notebook page entitled Travel Log with gas mileage calculations jotted down.  Then, last night in a half-awake state, I thought, "I know, his log will be a entitled, Road Trip to a Birthday! and its notes would involve the use of 365, as in 365 days in a year to each birthday, traveling one mile per day, gas mileage for the car, etc.  My stamps chosen had a retro 1950's gas attendant, a Route 66 road sign, and it also had a tire tread stamp that I thought would dress up my notebook page.  

Next, came the search for just the right paper.  I, of course, wanted paper that would lean toward a masculine look, and I wanted it to be colorful.  After a bit of time, and making quite a mess, I chose the star paper in dark charcoal, red, golden yellow, and white, and the rest of the design flowed easily from there.  I hope John likes his card. . .it looks like it came from a late 1940's or early 1950's magazine!

And, the inside view:

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstocks: Basic Black, Real Red, Crushed Curry, Whisper White.  Pattern:  Queen & Co. - Magic Film-Stars.  Stamps: Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous: Road Trip.  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Stampin' Up punch: Spiral Border. Size: 5-1/2" x 6".  Inside: EK Corner Pumch: Victorian Frame Corner Slot (modified). 

July 2014 Anniversary #8!

My youngest son, and youngest child, is having his eighth wedding anniversary in the month of July.  It is difficult to believe that eight years have gone since this wonderful occasion.  His bride was as lovely at the wedding as she is a person, and we are all so happy to have her as part of the family!

For their anniversary, I wanted to convey this note of happiness, so I chose a card from a kit designed by my sister/ card mentor, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner @ blogspot), and completed it with my own tweaks and changes to make it more me.  To do this, I added two more layers of colored cardstock that accomplish three things:  it added more color to the card (which originally only had a vanilla base); it added more layering; and it enlarged the card size from the standard A2 size.  I also added a little twine bow to the front embellishments and rounded the corners of the vanilla layer.  I decided to add decorative corner cutouts to my new blue layer, to add more detail, and then after trimming the vanilla sides a sliver, I attached the top vanilla unit to my blue layer.  I finished by popping this entire unit off the base card.  I think the additional colored cardstock layers enhanced the front banners and made them pop more.  I also think the whole card is even more eye-appealing than it already was in its original lovely design.  I think Mark and Ginger will be please with their So Happy for You anniversary card.

Recipe:  SU cardstocks: Crushed Curry (base), Island Indigo, Very Vanilla.  Pattern Papers: DCWV: Adhesive Cork; MME--Miss Caroline-Dilly Dally/ Dolled Up/ Fiddlesticks.  Papertrey: Stamps-Mini Blooms (sentiment); Dies-Delightful Dahlia (leaves).  MFT dies: Fishtail Flags.  SU punches: 5-Petal Flower (ret.), Boho Blossoms, 1" Circle, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, Scallop Border (inside).   Spellbinders: Labels 1.  WRMK Corner Chomper: Scallop.  American Crafts: Corner Rounder (small).  Queen & Co. Goosebumps (some colored w/ Copics).  May Arts Hemp Twine.  Stash: Sage felt.  (Size: 4-3/4" x 6").

A Coast Guard Retirement...Congratulations!

My son-in-law has decided to retire after 27 years of service in the Coast Guard.  His last duty station was at the USCG Operations Center in Kearneysville, West Virginia - the software development center for the Coast Guard and Homeland Security.  His first question upon receiving this assignment was:  West Virginia! Is there any water or boats in West Virginia?  And, the answer was, "No!"  For a man used to being on a boat in the ocean, I would say this was disconcerting to say the least! 

I am a lover of U.S. history, and I found the Coast Guard's history very interesting.  Here are a few of those items I found to be interesting tidbits:

• The Coast Guard is the oldest continuous seagoing service of the United States, and its original purpose was to collect customs duties in the nation's seaports under the U.S. Treasury Department, starting in 1790.
• It has changed the department that it reports to seven times in its history, as follows:  U.S. Dept. of Treasury (1790-1917); U.S. Dept. of Navy (1917-1919: World War I); U.S. Dept. of Treasury (1919-1946); U.S. Dept. of Navy (1941-1946: World War II); U.S. Dept. of Treasury (1946-1967); U.S. Dept. of Transportation (1967-2003); Dept. of Homeland Security (2003-present).
• It can be transferred to the U.S. Dept. of Navy by the President at any time or by Congress during times of war; therefore, its motto is Always Ready.
• It is a maritime, military, multi-mission service unique among the military branches for having a maritime law enforcement mission with jurisdiction in domestic and international water, and also a federal regulatory agency as well.
• In terms of size, the Coast Guard, by itself, is the world's 12th largest naval force.

For Don's retirement, effective July 1st, I made this card with a few photos of "boats" and/or duty stations to which he has been assigned throughout his 27-year career to commemorate and thank him for his years of service to our country.

Recipe:  Bazzil cs (cardbase): Admiral; DCWV: Glitzy Glitter Stack/ The Corrugated Stack; Authentique: Pride/ Unified/ Amend; BoBunny: Dark Denim Dot; Recollections: Photo Burlap.  Recollections Essentials Distressed.  Dies:  Sizzix Tim Holtz Picture Reel BigZ; Spellbinders Labels 15/ Stars.  WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  Zutter Corner Rounder.  Recollections Star brads.  Stash:  Button, Scrapper's Floss.  (Size: 5-3/4" square).

Easter Bunny's Coming. . .Card #2!

This is a card that I made from a card kit design by my sister, Heidi Gonzales: My Lil' Scrap Corner.  The original card pieces were for an A2 size and I wanted my card to be larger.  To accomplish this, I cut a new card base 5-1/4" x 5-1/2", a new paper lace trim, added a new/ longer lace piece and added a striped paper to the bottom below the lace instead of using all one paper pattern.  I also spaced out my banner, corrugated label, and stamped circle embellishments.  I colored my little bunny with Copic markers, and I sponge distressed all my paper and embellishment edges with Chestnut Roan ink.  I love this card design and the pink and green combination.  I'm pretty happy with the end result.

Recipe:  Papers: Stampin'Up cardstocks - Pear Pizzazz (base), Very Vanilla; WRMK Cotton Tails 6x6 Pad; Cloud 9 Pink stripe; DCWV Corrugated Pastels Paper stack.  Stampin' Up stamp: Everybuuny (retired). EK Abstract Flower punch. Lifestyles Circles & Eyelet Circles. Spellbinders: Labels 17.  Hug Snug seam binding ribbons.  Offray lace.  Stash buttons.  Prima rose. SU rhinestone. Colorbox Chestnut Roan ink.

Time for a Birthday Hello!

One of my husband's good friend's wife had a birthday in February.  I first met Fran through my husband, who was friends with her husband through a working relationship.  After retirement, this couple graciously invited us to go out camping with them and taught us how to "clam" for Razor Clams on our Washington beaches.  These were fun and enjoyable times and her birthday afforded me the opportunity to wish her well on her special day by making her a card.

One of my Stampin' Up stamps from a set from SAB 2013 had remained in its box, and I really wanted to see what I could do with it.  It depicts the interesting red phone booths that you would find in London on a visit to the British Isles.  I am wondering if this English version of  a phone booth is still as plentiful as they once were or if they, too, have disappeared as ours have in the United States for lack of use with the advent of common place personal cell phone usage.  I hope Fran enjoyed her card and had a happy birthday!

Recipe:  Size–5-1/4” x 5-3/4.”  SU Stamp: Feeling Sentimental (2013 SAB)/phone booth.  SU cardstock: Cherry Cobbler, Night of Navy. Pattern: MME/American Made–Petticoat Plaid/ Celebration Banner. Copic white cardstock.  SU Basic Black Embossing powder. Copics markers: R46/ R29. SU Inks: Midnight Muse, Cherry Cobbler (sponging/distressing). Uni-ball Signo Gel Pen (windows/ very lightly)WRMK Deco Corner punch. Dies: Lifestyles 3/4” circle. Spellbinders Pinking Circles SM/ LG. Computer-made sentiment. SU Adhesive pearls (B99 Copic color). 3M foam tape, 3M tape runner. Hot glue. Stash: 5/8” Navy/ Red stitch ribbon; Pocket watch brad.

Valentine Love Across the Miles!

I pulled out my Valentine paper stash, and fell in love again with Echo Park's "Be Mine" paper.  It is such a pretty collection of pinks, grays, and charcoals.  I decided to use my Stampin' Up stash of Valentine stamps to create a card for my daughter and her husband.   As the card evolved, it became very pink!  I hope Michele's husband doesn't think this very pink card is too girlish...after all...it's Valentine's Day!  Banners are so popular right now, so naturally it became part of the card as well.  This one had to be mailed early to get it all the way across the U.S. to the East Coast.  Happy Valentine's Day from Mom and Dad!

Recipe:  Paper: Georgia Pacific White cs base; Echo Park-Be Mine.  Stampin' Up stamps: Easy Events, P.S. I Love You.  Stampin' Up Ink: Primrose Petals.  EK punches: 2-1/2" circle, 2-1/4" Scallop circle, 2" circle, Corner pumch.  Recollections pearls: Copic  colored.  Stash: sheer pink ribbon.

My Sister's Birthday in July!

For those of you who look at my blog regularly, you will know that my sister, Heidi, has been my cardmaking teacher and mentor and is responsible for getting me involved in this fun hobby, which I thoroughly enjoy!  But, making her a card is always a challenge, because she is so artistic and the card must be worthy of all the hours she has spent teaching me, as well as just plain having fun going to crops and retreats, relaxing and spending time making cards together (and with our mother as well)!  

I LOVE Heidi's card designs and can't pass up getting kits from her with each of her new projects.  (If you want to see her artistic abilities, visit her blog:  www.mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com.)  Even though I am a "somewhat" seasoned cardmaker (I do not usually need a teacher to guide me step by step through the cardmaking process, but can refer to a picture or sketch to figure it out), I find making the card kits my sister designs is always a learning experience.  There is usually some new technique involved that I have never done, which teaches me something new or reinforces prior taught knowledge, and allows me to master it.  I also find my own creativity may challenge me to tweak the card or embellish upon it, adding a bit of my own flair.

Heidi recently redesigned her craft room with lots of cute wall decorations and interesting counter storage ideas.  She has about eight to ten very large three-gallon glass jars full of ribbons wound onto old-fashioned wood clothespins that make a colorful array on one of her counters. With this thought in mind, I really wanted to make a card that depicted this decorative, crafty storage idea that she loves.  It was challenging to make a clear jar without the glue showing and get all those bits of ribbon beneath the jar just right,  but it was great fun to make!  Here is the card and special birthday verse that I came up with.  I hope my very creative sister loves and enjoys it.

Recipe:  Stampin'Up stamp: Perfectly Preserved (jar/lid). Stampin' Up papers: Daffodil Delight cardbase, In Color-2010-2012 DSP: Pear Pizzaz (ret.), Peach Parfait (ret.); Sassafras Lass: Sweetly Smitten; Pinecone Press: Plaid; Recollections blue plaid; Clear acrylic. Ink: StazOn-Timber Brown; Colorbox-Chestnut Roan (distressing). Dies: SU Cannery framelit (jar); Lifestyles Labels 9, Spellbinders Labels 22 (inside).  SU Baker's Twine: Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo. K&Co.-Puffy butterflies. SU button: Sweet Stitches. Stash: 5/8" sage/blue variegated sheer ribbon, 1-3/4" white scalloped lace, 4" white doily (Michaels), Heart hat pins, ribbon pieces (in jar), Aqua rhinestones (inside), 3D foam tape. Scotch glider tape.

Thinking of You Card #2

As I mentioned on my previous post, my friend and relative by marriage received some unexpected news about her 90-year old mother's health just a few days ago.  I finished her Mom's card and got it ready to mail off, now I am working on one for Barbara.  It will also be from the "shoebox crop" I mentioned in her Mom's post.  This card was originally designed by Liz Thayer herself, but I did tweak it just a bit by adding a pink cardbase, thus also making it larger and adding another layer.  I like the way the pink frames the card.  While wearing my "inside" creative hat for Barbara's Mom's card, I came up with the idea for this one.  I decided to color-on-color stamp the inside verse paper like the front panel was done and computer-print my "hugs" verse directly on it with a matching font color, dressing it up with some pink corners and pearls.  I am pretty happy with the way it turned out.  I really hope Barbara likes her card and the verse brings her a measure of comfort.

Recipe:  Stampin'Up Products - Stamps: Flowering Flourishes, Teeny Tiny Wishes.  Paper: Crumb Cake cs, Very Vanilla cs, Pink Pirouette cs, Springtime Vintage dsp (ret.).  Ink: Crumb Cake (stamping/ distressing).  Other: Beautiful Wings Embosslit (sm. butterfly), Beautiful Butterflies Bigz die (lrg. butterfly), Apothecary Accents Framelits, Essentials Punch Pack, Antique Brad, Pearls, Very Vanilla seam binding ribbon. (Inside: Crumb Cake cs, Very Vanilla cs, Pink Pirouette cs, Flowering Flourishes stamp. EK Fancy Corners-Large, Pearls. Computer verse font: Harrington.)