Sweet Belated Birthday Wishes!

Several of my crafting friends have birthdays in October, and I needed to get to my crafting table.  With so many cards to do, time was of the essence, I decided to CASE one of my own cards that I ran across recently while browsing my own blog.  I found my gumdrop card from 2018 that made me smile then and again when I revisited it now after three years!

Even though I got my friend's card started early enough, I did not quite get the sentiment attached and the inside finished so still missed her birthday.  I was unhappy that I couldn't get her card done in time, but unfortunately, my youngest granddaughter decided to pass me her nasty cold and flu on to me after one day of taking care of her.  I was down and out for over 10 days!  I even got a Covid test to be sure I wasn't even sicker than I thought, but fortunately, that was negative!  

When I was better, I was up against organizing and packing things I needed for a crafting event with nine of my super-close crafting friends.  We have all been looking forward to this fun time after a two-year hiatus due to Covid!  We have waited until we were all vaccinated and able to make reservations and be able meet King/ Snohomish County Covid restrictions/ requirements!  I really wanted to get the gumdrop card finished so I could at least take it with me as a belated offering!

When finally finished, I was super pleased with it even though it was the second time around.  It is such a cute, super happy card... so colorful and festive!  Here is a look at the repeat rendition of this card that I hope my friend will enjoy as much as I did when I spot it in my picture gallery once again and while making it a second time around!

Ingredients: Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock-Crushed Curry, Lemon-Lime Twist, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White; 2011-2012 DSP Stack (Bashful Blue Dots).  Stamps: Goody Goody Gumdrops.  Spellbinders Dies: Venise Lace Rectangles; Octagon Classic Nestabilities; Octagon Scallop Nestabilities.  Copic Markers.  Stash: Gold Iridescent Glitter; Gold Rhinestones; 3/8" Offray Plaid Stitched ribbon; Horizon Friendship Thread (Harlequin).  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse.  Size: 6" x 4-3/4". 

A Cardmaking Birthday Buddy to Celebrate!

One of my cardmaking buddies had a birthday in mid-October, and we finally got to celebrate with her a few days past a month overdue!  She made a wonderful week-long trip to Hawaii for her birthday, which delayed our original plan to celebrate in October.  Then, you know how it is...first their was my daughter's baby shower, then another friend's son went hunting and his sick dog needed babysitting, then my trip to visit my Mom...and on, and on, and on, it went!  But, we were determined and finally got it done with lots of fun and laughter to make the day special!

This was a card I made while visiting my Mom in California.  I got a card kit designed by Darla Watson, Mom's Stampin' Up lady, from her October card class. I put them together while visiting in Redding.  Of course, I always have to add a little personal pizzazz to make them more me, first by enlarging them, as I always like cards bigger than the traditional A2 sizing most commonly used.

For this card, I change its sentiment focus from thank you card to a birthday card.  I ink-distressed all edges to add a bit of a vintage flair.  I added an Early Espresso cardbase and a gold glitter mat layer and embossed the background of the front layer.  I framed the tree square with more layers and switched from Soft Suede to Early Espresso, plus a gold glitter mat layer between.  Instead of stamping the sentiment directly on the card front, I popped it up on a three-layer rectangle, which included the same Early Espresso and gold glitter paper.  I brayered my sentiment paper to match the brayering in the tree picture and stamped it with a sentiment befitting a birthday and added copper brads to finish.  I was super happy with the results and pretty sure my cardmaking buddy would enjoy it as well.  Take a peek below at the finished design inside and out.

Ingredients:   Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Early Espresso, Mint Macaron, Whisper White, Pear Pizzaz.  Stamps--Snow Front (2019 Holiday), Express Yourself (sentiment).  Inks--Early Espresso, Pear Pizzaz, Mango Melody, Merry Merlot, Crushed Curry, Mint Macaron.  Embossing Folder--Square Lattice (retired).  Linen Thread.  Sponge Brayer.  Other:  Recollections Antique Gold Glimmer paper.  Copic markers to add extra fall leaves to trees/ ground.  Recollection mini brads--Copper.  EK Punch--Victorian Corners.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

Birthday Wishes for a DIL Who Brings Sunshine!

My daughter-in-law celebrates her birthday in mid-August, but we will be celebrating her a little bit late this year during our family camping trip coming next week.  Actually, we will be celebrating three birthdays in one celebration while camping:  my daughter-in-law, my youngest daughter's mother-in-law, and my own.  The menu includes barbecued baby back ribs, barbecued chicken, honey baked beans, corn on the cob, and strawberries and cheesecake.  Boy does that sound like a gourmet meal or what?

Well back to the card.  I decided to do a bit of coloring and fussy-cutting on this card, and since it's summertime, a little Magnolia Tilda stamp in a summer sundress and bare feet seemed the perfect image to choose.  Of course, I had to color her hair milk chocolate brown because that is my daughter-in-law's hair color, and that, plus adding some other "M" colors, makes the card a perfect fit for the Splitcoaststampers Alphabet Challenge, Letter M!  Tilda's sundress dress will be pink tones, and I will also add a double layered background frame and a bit of lace, all things that will fit other challenges in keeping with my challenge keep-up and catch-up goals!

After compiling all my thoughts from five different challenges and my mojo going full steam ahead, I finished the birthday card, and also created the perfect inside design and verse to fit the fact that we'll be celebrating her day just a little bit late.  Composing the birthday verse brought to mind the perfect sentiment for the card front as well!  Take a peek below at my finished card for my daughter-in-law who brings sunshine to our lives!

INSIDE VIEW
UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Ingredients:  Paper products:  SU Cardstock--Whisper White, Pool Party.  Papertrey Ink: Bitty Dots/ Brown.  Pattern:  Unknown/ stash.  Stamps: Magnolia/ Sundress Tilda.  Copic coloring.  Dies: Spellbinders Labels 9 Nestabilities.  Punch: EK-Victorian Photo Corners Medium (inside).  Colorbox Chestnut Roan: Edge distressing.  Stash: 3/8" Cotton Lace; Rose Pink button; Embroidery string.  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse.  Size: 4-3/4' x 6".  

Pssst. . .Missed It!

Sister-in-law #4, one of my husband's sisters, had a birthday toward the end of July.  It totally snuck up on me and slipped on by before it even came to mind.  It took me almost an entire month to remember and that was only because her sister's came in August.  That's when I rememeber I had forgotten to make a card for the sister in July!  Of course, had I looked at my Cardmaking Date calendar this would not have happened, but I think our extremely hot summer has fried my brain!  So, I really needed to get to work fast!

I thought I would do a sweet little belated card with a bit of humor and use a gumdrop stamp that I borrowed from a friend.  My gumdrops would come in a myriad of colors in all shades of the rainbow with a little gold glitter to give them a bit of sparkle.  I used several mat layers all in different colors to coordinate with my colored gumdrops.  I popped a little hexagon tag with a sentiment "pssst. . .missed it" and tweaked the tag with a little red glittery heart just because I thought it needed a little embellishment to perk it up.

I finished my gumdrop card front and also the inside design with a little belated birthday apology verse, and it's ready for the mail.  Take a peel below. . .it's pretty "sweet!"

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock-Crushed Curry, Lemon-Lime Twist, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White; 2011-2012 DSP Paper Stack (Bashful Blue Dots).  Stamps:  Goody Goody Gumdrops.  Spellbinders Dies: Venise Lace Rectangles; Octagon Classic Nestabilities; Octagon Scallop Nestabilities.  Copic Markers.  Stash: Gold Iridescent Glitter; Gold Rhinestones; 3/8" Offray Plaid Stitched ribbon; Horizon Friendship Thread (Harlequin).  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse.  Size: 6" x 4-3/4".  

Belated Birthday Wishes - Sister-in-Law #2!

I am trying to play catch-up with a few of the birthdays that I missed.  This one's for sister-in-law #2 of 8, who celebrated her birthday at the end of June.

Checking out possible Splitcoaststampers (SCS) challenges, reminded me of some MME papers I used on a friend's card last fall, and a card design from my sister several years ago using this same paper.  This, in turn, led me to two challenge possibilities, involving using recycled products and distressing.  It was time to get started and see where all these thoughts led.

I used a sheet of recycled cork from an accessory pack I won at a stamp gathering several years ago now.   I didn't really care for the flowers and symbols already printed on one side of the cork, so decided I could turn over the sheet and use dies to cut my own designs for my flowers.  My distressing would involve ink distressing, so I liberally inked the edges of all my layers:  mats, sentiment die-cuts, banners, flowers. doily and even the felt leaves (which doesn't show up well on the picture).  

See the finished card below (inside and out).  I think my sister-in-law will be pleased, but I do wish it was not a belated birthday wish!

Ingredients:  Papers:  Stampin' Up Cardstock: Old Olive, Island Indigo, Very Vanilla.  Patterned Papers:  MME-Miss Caroline--Dilly Dally/ Dolled Up/ Fiddlesticks, plus miscellaneous scraps.  SU Punches: Stampin' Up--Circles--1-1/4-inch, Scallop Circles--1-3/4-inch, 7/8-inch, Boho Blossoms (ret.-cork flowers), Itty Bitty Shapes (smallest scallop); WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  Dies: Spellbinders--Nested Leaves (traced/ cut w-pinking shears); Sizzix Labels-Ornate #2 (sentiment).  Fishtail Flags: Hand-cut.  Wilton 3-1/2" Doily.  Ink Distressing: ColorBox: Chestnut Roan.  Pearls: Recollection (Copic RV-14 colored).  Stash: Dark Celery felt.  Recycle: Cork. Chatterbox sentiment/ inside verse.  Size: 4-1/2" x 5-5/8".  (Thank you Heidi Gonzales for your card design that I cased with some modification to the layering and sentiment.)

Let It All Hang Out Birthday!

OVER THE MOON!!!

THIS WAS ONE OF TEN

OF MY 2017 CARDS RECEIVING

A 2017 SCS BEST OF FAVORITES!!

GOOD NEWS!  THIS CARD IS NAMED A SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS 

FAVORITE OF THE WEEK ENDING - SEPTEMBER 2, 2017!!

We are celebrating my daughter-in-law's birthday a little late this year, because we were camping when her birthday arrived.  It seemed only fitting to celebrate her and my birthday celebration together since we are only two weeks apart.

I made her a special card with my new Penny Black kitty stamp called an Uplifting Occasion!  I thought I'd add a little humor by doing a play on words in the birthday verse I composed.  I also like the idea of livening up the card with the Starburst Background technique.  Here is a Splitcoaststampers link to their tutorial: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/starburstbackground/

Take a peek below at Ginger's finished card, inside and out.  I think she will be delighted and get a laugh as well!

I thought I would enter my card into several Splitcoasterstamper's challenges:  Free for All: FA392 - choose your own "National Day".  My day will be National "Let It All Hang Out" Day; Dirty Girls' Monthly July Themes:  "Time to Relax."  Mine will me three challenges provided: CT0717 - make your showing how you Relax; WORD0717: make your card using things that fit NAPS - N=Nestablities, A= Aroma, P= Penny Black stamp, and S=Sponging; DINSP0717 - inspiration photo: a hammock.  Now, that was fun!

Ingredients:   Cardstocks:  Recollections--Essentials (Violet), Soft Side (Lt. Orchid)-inside; SU Sweet Sugarplum. Patterns: Recollections: Purple Ditsy Floral; K&Co.-Watercolor Bouquet-Purple; Floral Bouquet; Lang-West Plaza (damask/ sponged); DCWV Collage Art Stack (words/ sponged).  Darice: Foam Sheet.  Stamp: Penny Black-Uplifting Occasion.  Ink: Memento--Tuxedo Black; Copic Marker coloring.  Die: SU-Oval Framelits (lrg scallop).  Punch: EK Scallop corner-inside.  SU: Glimmer Enamel Dots. Bath & Body Works-Magic in the Air/ Diamond Shimmer Mist. Computer-verse. Technique: Starburst Background. Size: 5" x 6-1/4".

Tweeting a Belated Happy Birthday to a Dear Sister-in-Law!

WOW!  I'M EVEN MORE GIDDY!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - JULY 16, 2017!!

Take a peek below at the card that I designed and sent off as a belated birthday for one of my sister-in-laws on my husband's side of the family.  Also included below is the verse and complimentary design I created as well.  Then, follows The Story behind the creation.

The Story

With the slow recovery from my knee replacement surgery, I am so far behind, and I have missed so many birthdays and other events with my inability to climb stairs to my craft room.  Some are so far back, I will just have to let them go this year and concentrate on keeping up to date in the future.  Yet, I have several sister-in-laws' birthdays that I've missed, and I would really like to send them belated wishes if I can without getting behind with upcoming celebrations.

My sister-in-law, Dianne, is the wife of one of my husband's younger brothers.  They were married within a year of our marriage, and we spent a lot of time together as couples in the early years of our marriages.  This was before we each began a round of transfers around the country due to career promotions, etc.  We have never ended up residing in the same state in more than 30 years.  Just a few years ago, this younger brother passed away from a heart attack, but Dianne is still very much a part of the family, and she is always included in every reunion and get-together!

Since I have a new goal in cardmaking to try to enter more Splitcoaststampers' challenges, I thought I would focus my card design around at least one challenge's requirements.  I chose the Inspiration Challenge IC605 - Dessert Bies: Macaroons & Meringues, but ended up being able to use it in the Alphabet Challenge as well from its tag.   For the Inspiration Challenge, I went to the Pinterest inspiration board set up for the challenge.  Oh my, I learned a lot about macaroons.  While my stomach realized it was hungry and began growling loudly the longer I looked over those delicious-looking, beautifully, colorful morsels that can be any color in God’s Earth from soft pastels to bold and vibrant dark splashes of color!!  Below are the three particular pictures that inspired my card:

    

When I first start creating a card design, if I don't have a particular idea already in my mind, I check out my leftover, partial card pieces to see if there is anything that inspiring me to use it.  I found a yellow tag with pink ribbon and an uncolored birdie stamp tacked to a patterned dsp.  It was pretty bright and cheerful, but had a thanks sentiment stamped at the bottom of the birdies, which was actually part of the original stamp.  I thought...hmmm...trim off the sentiment and make the tag shorter to fit the shorter image.  Then, I separate sentiment tag with belated birthday might fit below the tag...I was in business and started rolling right along!

The little dsp attached had a bit of navy in the flowers; therefore, navy had to be the cardbase after seeing those lovely navy macarons (see above).  I switched out the pink tag ribbon for navy, and then I chose mat layer colors to add to the tag and dsp and layers to add to my cardbase.  Daffodil yellow would be my top layer and I decided embossing it would dress it up and make it more interesting and even better, crop the layer corners with my WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  

When I began assembling, I popped up the tag and its layers on the yellow layer,  and then decided to pop up the yellow and Melon Mambo on the cardbase.  Before reattaching the stamped birdies to the tag, I colored them with Copic markers and finished with Clear Wink of Stella to add sparkle.  Because my tag was pretty small, I decided to use the Washi punch (SU retired) and modify it by shortening it and only used a one-word sentiment to keep its size in balance with the tag.  I'm pretty satisfied with my card for Dianne...take another peek above!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks-Night of Navy, Melon Mamo, Daffodil Yellow.  DP: Gingham Garden.  Stamp-For the Birds (retired), Happy Birthday Gorgeous (sentiment).  Ink: Memento-Tuxedo Black, Wink of Stella-Clear.  Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots (retired).  Punches: Washi Label,    1/4" Circle punch.  Ribbon: 3/8" Denim.  White Baker's Twine.  Other products:  Copic Markers; Darice: Foam Sheets.  Computer-verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Happy Birthday to a Lover of Cars & Racing

My daughter's new father-in-law has a fast-moving hobby. . .racing cars, thus the reason, I am sure, that my new son-in-law loves to race as well!  I usually like to do a hobby birthday card at least once, but I was not able to come up with a 1993 Chevy Camaro black and white image to color.  I even had my patterned paper all picked out; so, I did the next best thing.  He is getting a gatefold vintage car card, colored in purples, as I understand his race car is purple.  This color will go nicely with the vintage license plate patterned paper and gears that I had all picked out to use.  Take a peek below at my finished design both inside and out.

Ingredients: SU cardstock: Basic Black, Recollections Cardstock Pack: Cool What (dark purple), Tim Holtz Idea-ology Stash: Lost and Found (pattern + distressed purple solids).  Dies:  Spellbinders-Sprightly Sprockets, QuicKutz Nesting Pinking Rectangles (modified).  Stamp: Stampendous: Birthday Wish.  Vintage Auto: online freebie.  SU Ink: Sahara Sand, Wisteria Wonder (sponging); Memento Ink: Grape Jelly (sentiment).  Copic Markers: coloring.  Wink of Stella: Clear.  Computer-made sentiment/ verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Belated Birthday Wishes for a Girl Friend!

My oldest son's girl friend has a birthday in early November, which I just found out the actual date.  Hmm....could this possibly mean I'm late?  So, into my card stash I went hoping to find one completed that might be turned into a belated birthday card, and I found a little gem that I thought would work (see my story and assembly instructions at the bottom).  Take a peek below at my finished card.  I think Katrina will like her birthday card even though it will be much belated!

 Ingredients:   Stampin' Up products: Stamp--Bloomin' Marvelous (2013 SAB).  Cardstocks--Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Primrose Petals-inside (ret.).  Ink--Primrose Petals, Always Artichoke, Soft Suede-distressing.  Embossing Folder--Lacy Brocade (ret.).  Punches--Modern Label, Word Window (ret.).   Ribbon--3/8" Primrose Petals Stitched Satin (ret.).  Pearls.  Martha Stewart punch: 3-in-1 Butterflies.  Computer sentiment/ verse.  Size: 5-1/4" square.

My Card Story and Assembly Instructions

I started this card at a Stampin' Up card event hosted by Liz Thayer in early 2013.  When I looked at the kit picture, I knew it would be perfect!  This card was the last of two cards that were to made with the same design, and though this second card was not complete, it was doable in my short timeline.  (I thank Liz Thayer for the original card design used as a jumping off point for my card.)

As I favor cards that are larger than the standard A2 size (4-1/2" x 5-1/2"), I decided to enlarge my card parts before I assembled the card.  I also decided to change its orientation from a top-fold landscape card to a side-fold portrait card and to make my cardbase a 5-1/4" square with five layers.  I proceeded to make each card layer larger than the original design to fit my new and larger square cardbase.  Another decision was to add a Chocolate Chip brown mat layer between the vanilla cardbase and the vanilla embossed layer, sizing them as follows:  vanilla cardbase = 5-1/4" square; Chocolate Chip mat = 5" square, and vanilla embossed layer = 4-3/4" square.  I planned to "picture framed" the top two layers, and their sizes are as follows:  Chocolate Chip bottom mat = 4-1/4" square and top vanilla layer = 4" square.

After cutting my papers to size, I embossed the 4-3/4" vanilla layer with the Lacy Brocade folder and my Big Shot.  I heavily sponged and distressed its top embossed surface of with Soft Suede ink, followed by distressing and sponging the edges of all card layers, including the edges of the cardbase front.  The 4" top vanilla layer is also sponged on its surface around the edges, leaving the center unsponged (see picture).  Now, I was ready to adhere the bottom three layers in this order:  5" square Chocolate Chip mat adhered to vanilla cardbase; 4-3/4" embossed layer adhered to Chocolate Chip mat.  Set aside.

My top 4" vanilla layer will host three popped, fussy-cut flowers instead of two, as I think combinations of odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye than even numbers.  I also decided the flower placement would be more top-centered because of the change in the card orientation and its square dimension.  My next step was to stamp my leaves onto my top vanilla layer (see picture for placement), After stamping, I adhered my top two card front layers together: the 4" vanilla and the 4-1/4" Chocolate Chip.

Onto a scrap of vanilla cardstock, I stamped seven Bloomin' Marvelous flowers with Primrose Petals ink, fussy-cut each, and topped each with a pearl.  I will use three flowers on the card front and four inside as verse embellishments.  Before finishing the layout and assembly of the flowers onto the card face, I needed to decide on the placement of the ribbon knot.  With my finished design in mind, I decided the knot should be toward the left side, allowing space for my sentiment, which would be popped up toward the right side just below the flowers and above the ribbon.  I adhered the ribbon to the top two card front layers, which allows the ribbon's raw ends to be "buried" behind the brown mat so they are hidden underneath.  Now, it was time to pop this layer onto my three adhered bottom layers that I had set aside in paragraph three of my "story" above.  Now that all layers are completely adhered together, I can finish the card face, adding all the remaining elements to its top surface.  I arranged the fussy-cut flowers in a threesome and popped them up around the already stamped leaves.

For additional interest, I decided to add tiny layered butterflies.  On a piece of scrap vanilla, I stamped various designs, using various patterned flowers and butterfly stamps in my stash with Primrose Petals (ret.) and Always Artichoke ink.  I allowed the ink to dry, and then punched out six tiny butterflies from these stamped patterns.  I made three sets of two-layered butterflies, using alternate colors and patterns.  I adhered them together down their narrow centers only, leaving their wings free, and added two tiny seed pearls down this center for their bodies (see picture above).  These butterflies were popped up around the flowers, allowing room for my popped sentiment, which I would add after I printed it from my computer and Chocolate Chip matted layer punched with Stampin' Up's Modern Labels punch (retired).

My final step was to create an interior design that complimented the card front, and to create a sentiment and verse using my computer that were suitable for the occasion at hand.

Belated Birthday Sentiments for a Long-Time Friend

So, I'm under the eight-ball AGAIN!  What seems to be news about that, I say.  Yes, I am late for birthday wishes for a long-time friend of more than 50 years. . .shame on me!  I decided to send her a card that I made last spring while visiting in California at a card event hosted by Stampin' Up demonstrator, Darla Watson.   This card will be perfect, because it is for sending belated birthday wishes! 

I really liked Darla's card design, but as I always seem to like lots of color layers, I decided to add a new black cardbase under the original Cajun Craze one.  To do this, I cut off the back of the base, making it ready to become a mat layer between the patterned card front and the new black cardbase.  I liked this additional color mat for all the usual reasons. . .it complimented the black sentiment tag and the black flower stamens in the patterned paper.  Now, all I needed to add was a suitable inside design and verse befitting the outside design and the card occasion, and voilá, my card is done.  Take a peek below to see the finished product, which will be on its way in tomorrow's mail! 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Basic Black, Cajun Craze, Mint Macaron. Corrugated Kraft (retired).  White Emobssing powder.  Botanical Gardens Jewels (2016 Occasions).  White Baker's Twine.  Daffodil Yellow button (retired).  Rhinestones.  Papertrey stamps: Inside & Out: Birthdays.  EK punch: Victorian Corner.  Memento: Black Tuxedo ink.  Size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4".  (Thank you Darla Watson for the original design idea).

A Minion Birthday is LATE!

My nephew had a birthday in the early part of April, and I blew it all to smithereens!   In other words, I did not get his card made and sent on time.  It was not just a little late but a LOT LATE!  I was totally distracted getting ready for my trip to California to visit my Mom right around the time of his birthday.  I had not been down in two years, and it seemed I was just totally out of sync trying to complete my personal packing, my cardmaking packing (now that's a chore), plus finishing up personal business before leaving, i.e, Mr. Tax Man!  I'm sure it doesn't make my nine-year old nephew feel any better, but I missed making his mother's birthday card as well, as her birthday falls six days after his.  Note:  I finished her card a few days ago and both were hand-delivered together today!  Whew! Now I'm all caught up with by late cards.

To make Parker's birthday card, I tossed around several ideas before leaving home,  and I even had a plan to color a cowboy crab at the beach. . .even down to getting the digi printed, with papers for paper-piecing and dies chosen, but I left home without them, so I had to start planning from the beginning all over again.  I was peeking at Pinterest a few days ago and saw another Minion card.  I've seen quite a few on Pinterest some with the whole card a Minion head, some with one Minion and a birthday sentiment, and several with balloons featured in some manner.  Balloons are my favorite birthday thing. . .I love to give them; I love to receive them; and, I also love to put them on cards for birthdays that I make.  My mind was made up. . .Parker's card would feature a Minion and balloons!

I was in luck. . .I had put in an order while here purchased the Stampin' Up Brights designer paper stack.  The Minion colors seem to be Pacific Point Blue and Daffodil Yellow, both from the Brights Color Collections.  I wanted to feature a layered frame look, so my new paper stack would work just great.  The first two layers of the Pacific Point blue cardbase and the patterned Daffodil Delight diagonal stripe are adhere together.  Then, smaller layers of the blue plus white embossed with Cuttlebug's Birthday embossing folder are adhered together and popped up off the cardbase layers.  I was thankful I brought along all my embossing folders from home, because I dearly love Cuttlebug's Birthday folder. 

My Mom just purchased the SU's Balloon Celebration stamps and punch, so I decided those would work in my card as well.  I searched for stamps sets in Mom's stamp stash to use on my balloons to indicate they were birthday balloons and found several to my liking.  I was also able to use stamps from Mom's stash for the inside "verse" as well.  SU's Owl punch is used to make the Minion.  Once I decided on my design and gathered all my tools, inks, and stamps, my card went together really fast.  Take a peek below. . .isn't it just too cute!

I finished my interior design in record tme as well.  I love the large birthday sentiment from Stampin' Up's Age Awareness.  I added a little BELATED from one of her Papertrey Ink stamp sets, a punched balloon out of patterned paper and a few starts from SU's Balloon Celebration stamp set.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Pacific Point Blue, Daffodil Delight.  Pattern--Color Collections DSP Stack--Brights-Daffodil Delight.  Stamps--Balloon Celebration, Pretty Petites (retired), Age Awareness (inside).  Ink--Pacific Point Blue, Daffodil Delight.  Punches--Balloon Bouquet, Owl Builder (Minion), Itty Bitty Pack-Circle.  Other:  Cuddlebug Embossing Folder--Birthday.  Papertrey Ink stamps--Inside & Out-Birthday (BELATED).  Size:  4-3/4" x 6".  (Thank you to Patty Bennett for her tutorial on how to build a Minion using the Stampin' Up Owl punch.)

Hello There. . .Seems I Missed Your Birthday!

I must say this traveling does not help me keep up on getting my cards finished and mailed in a timely manner.  Come to think of it, this seems to happen to me now and then, even when I'm not traveling. . .so, guess that excuse doesn't really work too well! 

The card I am in need of is for the principal of the school where I worked before I retired, and my former boss, who has a late May birthday.  I really like to make him a card and get it to him on time to show him that I'm not a total reprobate now that I'm retired.  But, ho-hum, that's not the case this year.  

With the attitude "better late than never, I dove into my "To Do stash" that I brought along with me on my travels to try to get some work done in my spare time.  Surely, there would be the perfect "need to finish" masculine card for me to work on hidden away in the stash.  I found this wonderful Open Seas ship card that was partially made with pieces of paper in its envelope for completion.  The ship and its port hole where already finished, as well as the self-stamped patterned paper made with The Open Seas stamps.  

To finish the card, I, of course, could not seem to follow directions exactly, a problem that seems to plague me frequently.  So, my card is just a bit different than the original by Liz Thayer in that I changed the card base color to a darker gray and made it a belated birthday card rather than just a "hello" card, and I added copper porthole brads all around.  Liz's original card was featured in one of her card classes I took over two years ago!  I am super pleased to say that I have another card finished and out of my "To Do Stash," and I think it is perfect for Scott.

Next up, was finishing my nautical masculine card with an appropriate interior design to compliment the card front.  I wanted my "Hello There" greeting on the front to be the intro into missing Scott's birthday by a few days and sending him belated birthday wishes to exonerate my seemingly reprobate behavior. . .LOL.  

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Basic Gray (cardbase), Bermuda Bay, Very Vanilla, Smokey Slate (porthole).  Pattern paper--self-stamped using The Open Seas stamps w/Crumb Cake).  SU stamps:  The Open Sea (all things nautical-retired 2016); Happy Days (sentiment-retired 2014).   Ink--Crumb Cake.  Die--Deco Label Framelit.  Punch:  2-1/2" Circle.  Essentials Paper Piercing Pack (porthole circle).  Acrylic Clear Sheet.  Staz-on Black Ink (ship).  Memento Tuxedo black (sentiment).  Other:  EK Punch:  Victorian Corners.  Recollections mini copper brads.  Computer verse.  Size:  4-1/2" x 5-3/4".

Oh Dear. . .Another Belated Birthday Card!

My niece had a birthday way back in April!!!  WOW...I am LATE!  But, I did want her to know I really did think about her on her birthday.  To save total face, I did send her a Facebook note with a birthday image on her day. . .but let's face it, that's not like getting a handmade card in the mail!  So, I am catching up.

I chose a card I started at a Stampin' Up cardmaking event hosted by the dynamic duo. . .Dara Peterson & Luci Kirschbaum.  This card was createded by Luci and uses a Splitcoast tutorial called the folded skirt as part of its design.  I re-created the card with a few modifications as follows:  I added a third layer for more color, using Melon Mambo, and I reversed my sentiment cut-out to the right side of the card and my flowers to the left.  Luci's design idea is really lovely. . .don't you just love that skirt design.  Since starting this card at the event, I have now seen other cards with the skirt design and some even have three pleats instead of just two.  You should try one. . .it's fun.

Below is my niece's finished card with my few modifications, and following the card is a picture of my interior design with its verse to compliment the occasion.  I think my niece will be pleased with her card even though it is a whole bunch LATE!

And the inside: 

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Mint Macaron, Delightful Dijon.  Pattern:  It's My Party DSP Stack (2016 Occasions).  Stamps--Grateful Bunch.  Inks--Mint Macaron, Delightful Dijon, Soft Suede.  Rhinestones.  Other products:  Papertrey stamps: Inside & Out: Birthday (sentiment/ verse).  Spellbinders: Labels 4 die.  Skirt Fold Technique (Splitcoast Stampers).

Belated Birthday for Long-Time Friend

A long-time and good friend of mine had a birthday early in May.  With all of the doings down here during my visit to my Mom's in California, I am late with everything.  I do have to give myself credit for at least getting the three celebrations in my brother's household off to them in a timely manner:  my brother's birthday, his wife's birthday and their anniversary.  All of those celebrations happen within one week in early May.  

Unfortunately, my friend's birthday got missed and is now belated.  You might have experience what happens then. . .it is difficult to find sentiments and verses that fit a belated birthday (or at least, ones that I am happy with).  Not to give up though, as one day while my mother was gone taking care of appointments and errands, I went through her stash of birthday stamps and verses from Papertrey Ink that she had added since my last trip down to visit.  Yeah, she had several that I really liked.

Now for my friend's card. . .I took a partially completed card from a stamping event with my favorite cardmaking hostess, Liz Thayer.  I had not finished this partcular card because it had some off-stamping along the edge of the sentiment layer.  I was very disappointed to find that I could not perform this particular technique with my new MISTI stamping tool (Most Incredible Stamping Tool Invented) that I had brought along to try out.  Me being me, I was determined to find a way to do this so I set the card aside to finish later.

Several months later, I was introduced to a Maureen Wong YouTube video by a fellow-cardmaking friend who had been using a MISTI for quite a while.  In this video, Maureen demonstrates a technique to make the MISTI more versatile.  She uses 8-1/2" x 11" grid printed acrylic sheets used to make templates for quilting patterns.  Maureen cuts an acrylic sheet into different width strips, which become new bumper corners for use in the middle of your MISTI pad.  This allows over-stamping where parts of a stamp are stamped along an edge of your paper and the rest of the stamp hangs beyond your paper edge.  She recommends using a piece of scrap paper to "catch" any stamping ink on the "overhanging" part of the stamp.  When using the MISTI in the traditional manner that overhanging stamp hits the MISTI's ruler edge and does not allow its top "door" to close; thus the stamp can not reach your paper to ink the stamp's image onto it.  Here is a link to Maureen's YouTube video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=95OldeznYdY.

I loved this card's design just as Liz presented it for us to re-create.  I did make a few minor changes, such as the sentiment, which I changed to a belated birthday greeting.  I used Stampin' Up ink and an Aqua Painter to color my flowers and leaves rather than a Blender Pen with markers.  I also added soft gold rhinestones and Wink of Stella-clear to add a little sheen to my flower petals.  Unfortunately, the picture does now show this detail to any degree.  Below is my friend's card showing my successful use of my MISTI to off-stamp my flowers and leaves along the paper edge. 

My last task was to design a complimentary inside where I used one of those sentiment and birthday verses I found in my Mom's stash.

Recipe:  SU products:  Cardstock--Old Olive, Elegant Eggplant, Whisper White.  Pattern--Wildflower Fields (2016 SAB).  Stamp--Grateful Bunch.  Ink:  Memento--Black Tuxedo; Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder, Old Olive, Pear Pizzazz.  Punch--Blossoms; Curvy Corners.  3/8" Crumb Cake Stitched Satin Ribbon.  Metallic Gold Cord.  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Stash: Gold Rhinestones.  Fiskars stamps:  Make A Wish.  Papertrey Ink stamps: Birthday Basics, Inside & Out: Birthdays.  Size:  4-3/8" x 5-5/8".

Taylor Gets a #7 Birthday Balloon!

My great-niece turned seven this month just before my daughter's wedding. . .so she was among those who did not receive a timely birthday card from me.  Aunt Carlene's cardmaking hobby got shut down big time!  Now the wedding is over, so I am trying to play catch up.  Taylor has a little sister whose birthday is at the end of the month, and I didn't dare get sister Paisley's card done on time without at least finishing a belated one for Taylor too.  I have actually finished Paisley's card and have already scheduled my post, so I really must get busy with Taylor's!

I bought a stamp set called Build A Birthday last June when the new Stampin' Up annual catalog was first published, and I have never had a chance to use it. . .I decided now was the time as I have an idea running around in my head that involves a birthday cake, candles, and the number seven.  Unfortunately, there is no die set with this stamp, so I had to fussy-cut all the pieces of the cake, candles, and flames in order to assemble them as a unit and then pop this unit onto the front of the card.  

I decided that I would make what I am calling an off-center double folded flap card, because I have no idea if it has an official name, as I had already decided I would pop my birthday cake onto this flap.  I also bought an Avery Elle stamp and die combination set called Numbered Balloons, and I used these stamps and dies to marked Taylor's seventh birthday with a die-cut number balloon.

I love the Stampin' Up Cherry On Top paper stack, also found in the June 2015 Annual catalog, which is full of brightly colored papers just right for a birthday card.  I used the multi-colored balloons and polka dot papers, which feature some of the new Stampin' Up In-Colors for 2015 through 2017 of Watermelon Wonder and Cucumber Crush.  I think Taylor's card is just right for a seven-year-old, and I hope she thinks so too!

According to my usual posting fashion, below is a peek at my inside coordinating design creation, plus my little composed verse suited to a seven-year-old, which I accomplished with the use of my computer.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks/ Paper--Watermelon Wonder, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White; Cherry On Top DSP Stack.  Stamp--Build A Birthday.  Inks:  Watermelon Wonder, Bermuda Bay, Cucumber Crush, Pool Party, Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana, Tip-Top Taupe.  Punch--1/2" Circle.  Other products:  Cuttlebug-Birthday Embossing Folder.  Avery Elle Stamp/ Die Combination:  Numbered Balloons.  Doodlebug Baker's Twine--Green/ White.  (Size: 5" x 5-1/2")

Cycling On To A Belated Birthday. . .

It's past time to honor a long-time friend's early January birthday!  This year, it will be a belated birthday wish, I'm sorry so say!  If you've been reading my blog, you have already read that my daughter was married on January 9th, as she continued to work as a nurse and maintain her 4.0 grade point in her university classes to achieve her Bachelor's in Nursing degree.  Ultiminately, it fell to me, and thus, my entire life was taken over after I became aware that she needed a wedding planner, big time!  I instantly became a one-man wedding oversight committee to make sure things that had slipped through the cracks were fixed and to assure that nothing else followed down the wrong path (or no path)!  Thus, I missed finishing Christmas cards, and getting any of my January cards made that I usually like to do.  

As I mentioned last year in the post for this friend's birthday card, she loves to bicycle, and I would often see a Facebook bicycling adventure entry, along with wonderful pictures she always took while out cycling along scenic bicycle trails.  If you saw last year's post, I will add, "No I have not yet joined her on one of these jaunts. . .maybe after I have my knee replacement surgery.  Oh, wait, that won't be until next fall!  Sorry, Holly, really it's not just an excuse. . .LOL."

Again, I decided her birthday card should reflect this cycling passion, but this time instead of a normal bicycle, I would to venture way back into history, and throw in a vintage penny-farthing bicycle as the feature point of her card.  Did you know that the first penny-farthing or high wheeler was invented by a Frenchman, Eugêne Meyer in 1869?  Around 1870, English inventor James Starley, who is described as the father of the bicycle industry, began to produce bicycles based on the French high wheeler, which became a symbol of the late Victorian era and also coincided with the birth of cycling as a sport.  Excuse my getting side-tracked, but I love tidbits of historical information. . .hope you do too!

For my card, I used the retired 2013 Sale-A-Bration stamp, Feeling Sentimental, which boasts a very vintage penny-farthing bicycle stamp.  The lacy background is made by first determining the center size desired or needed.  The Feeling Sentiment penny-farthing stamp needed approximately a 2-3/4" square in order to accommodate the stamp and the background layers I wanted add.  Next, you will need to determine the width needed for whatever border punch you choose.  In this case, I used the Stampin' Up retired Lace Ribbon border punch, which needs 1-1/4" on all sides.  I added the center plus 2 sides:  2-3/4" + 1-1/4" =1-1/4" = 5-1/4"; therefore, I cut my square patterned paper to a 5-1/4" square.  I centered my border punch on each side and punch once, and thus the pattern was developed!

I stamped my penny-farthing stamp onto a piece of Very Vanilla cardstock.  Next, I determined the exact sizes of my black and red cardstock layers to overlay the center of my patterned paper and to go under my penny-farthing.  I then cut the penny-farthing Very Vanilla cardstock to fit over these finished  layers, and decided on a little corner punch to spruce it up and a little Modern Label punch with brad for a corner embellishment.  I threw in a little ribbon, more brads and flowers, to which I added some Iridescent Glitter adhesive for some sparkly shine, and I was done.

My next step was to create an inside design that would compliment the outside design, compose a little belated birthday verse to finish it off!

Recipe:  SU Stamp: Feeling Sentimental (SAB 2013) – penny farthing bicycle.  SU papers: Very Vannila base, Basic Black cs, Cherry Cobbler cs. Pattern: AdornIt-Happy Holidays.  SU Ink: Basic Black.  SU Punches: Lace Ribbon (ret.), Modern Label (ret.).  WRMK Deco corner punch. EK punch: Fancy Corners (inside).  SU 3/8” and mini glimmer brads.  SU ribbon: 1/2” Cherry Cobbler Scallop Dots ribbon (reverse side), Offray 3/8” Picot Edge Satin-Black.  Recollections Florals.  Stickles-Lace (glitter adhesive).

A Birthday Boy Card!

One of my nephew's has a birthday in April.  I can't believe he is already going to be eight!  For some reason making little boy cards throws my creative juices into a panic.  Probably, because I find making masculine cards much more difficult whether they be for men or boys!  It's also probably because I have had far less experience with this cardmaking genre than with feminine cards!  I need to force myself to make several masculine cards in a row, so I can feel what the masculine cardmaking groove feels like!  Maybe, I can learn to enjoy it right from the get go, and not start with that, "Oh no. . .a masculine card, what will I do!"

I saw recently saw a card by Diana Eichfeld using Stampin' Up's Boys Will Be Boys stamp set and the sponging/ burnishing effect using the Sale-A-Bration Irresistibly Yours designer paper in a rainbow array of colors.  I loved the look of it so much that I decided to CASE her card.  Thank you Diana for your ideas using this stamp set.

I did change my card some by adding a zigzag punch border around my card front before adhering it to the double mat layers of white and red cardstocks.  I also double matted my image using the Spellbinder's Pinked Circles, which look very much like Stampin' Up Starburst framelits, but there are many more sizes to choose from with the Spellbinders dies.  Color choices on my little robot are my own, and my sentiment is double matted and uses the Apothecary framelits as well, but I did modified my die cuts considerably to achieve the double mat effect.  I also used gears from the Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets instead of modifying the Starburst framelits.  I think my little nephew will be excited about his little robot card.

Below is the inside created to coordinate with the outside design, and my little robot's birthday message explaining his late arrival.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up: cardstocks--Real Red, Pacific Point, Whisper White, Daffodil Yellow, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Brushed Silver; dsp--SAB/ Irresistibly Yours; stamp--Boys Will Be Boys; inks--Real Red, Pacific Point, Daffodil Yellow, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive; framelits--Apothecary Arts (modified); 3/4" circle; 1-1/4" circle.  Spellbinder dies: Circles SM, Pinking Circles, Sprightly Sprockets,  Punch: EK Zig Zag border.  Copic markers.

Another April Birthday to Celebrate!

I needed another April birthday card, and time was running short.  So, what else is new in my world. . .time is always running out!  I went searching in my finished card stash, which is running rather low at the moment. . .and found nothing there that I thought was just right person I needed the card for.  Then, I scurried to my "To Do" box of cards, which held card kits to make and half finished cards that I just hadn't seemed to get around to finishing.  Much to my pleasure, I found a Liz Thayer card design started last year at one of her cardmaking events but never finished.  The black lattice layer on vanilla, matted in black was complete, along with the little Petite Petals flowers with pearls.  The small striped paper with ribbon layered over was also in place, but there was no sentiment and no other pieces to add to the card in the ziploc bag, except a vanilla cardbase.  It looked like it just needed more, but I had no picture to see what it's original completed design was meant to be.  So, I thought I would finish it off with some ideas of my own to make it the birthday card that I needed.  

I added a Coastal Cabana aqua mat layer beneath the black layer and cut a larger vanilla cardbase to fit.  I added a Coastal Cabana paper bow on top of the ribbon with my new Stampin' Up Bow Builder punch (2015 Occasions catalog) and a little scalloped circle birthday sentiment tag to hang underneath.  I really liked the look it, and it looked like a finished card now.  It was ready to send off in the mail tomorrow as soon as I finished the inside!

Below is my finished inside design to coordinate with the card front creation.  In making my birthday verse, I used the same computer font for the front birthday tag.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up: cardstock--Very Vanilla, Coastal Cabana, Basic Black; dsp--Retro Fresh (2014 Occasions-retired); stamps--Petite Petals; punches--Petite Petals, Bow Builder, 1" Circle, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle; die: Sizzix Lattice BigZ; ribbon--3/8" Ruffled Trim-Coastal Cabana; Pearls.  Sentiment: computer-made (Gisele Script Bold/ 24.  Finished size:  4-1/2" x 5-5/8"

Birthday Belatedly!

I've been under the weather a bit with mouth and sinus surgery, and my time management skills have flown out the window.  Had I been able to be more organized, I would have this birthday card made and off in the mail before this birthday arrived, as my surgery was actually on the date of the birthday.  Time seemed to get away from me prior to the surgery getting things done (or not), so here I am sending this card off very late.  

With time a limitation, I used a card kit developed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner blog).  I did manage to almost finish the card front the day before my friends birthday.  I ran out of time to complete the inside decorations and verse, having no idea I was going to be feeling under the weather for as long as I have, thus making the card sent so very late.  I am posting Fran's card on her birthday even though I know she doesn't look at card blogs.  (You get to see it on time, but she does not. . . is that fair?)

Added post: So now that I am feeling better, the debate began, will this be really strange to send a card this late.  I want our friend to know she was thought of before her birthday, during her birthday,  and then after, as her card sat unfinished on my crafting table.  I decided to finish it, send it, and give her that message.  I hope she enjoys her card.  I did check to make sure there was no mold growing on it!

And here is the completed inside with the message of a belated birthday apology and a dash of Iffy humor thrown in, I hope!

Recipe:  Paper:  Stampin' Up-Whisper White cs (card base), Night of Navy cs, Cherry Cobbler cs.  Pinkpaislee-Starlight/ Glow (back).  Paper Loft-Old Towne Tavern/ Franklin (stars).  Magnolia stamp: Tilda Sailor Girl.  Spellbinders dies:  Circles; Scalloped Circles.  Sentiment: handmade.  Progresso Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored pencils with mineral spirits.  Stash: 5/8" Grograin ribbon, red button, blue netting, twine.  (Size: 5-1/2" square). 

Belated Wishes Little Niece #1's January Birthday!

Two of my nieces, who are sisters, have birthdays in January.  The oldest is first, and she celebrated her sixth birthday.  I had in mind to make a birthday card with balloons on it.  I don't have any dies to cut out balloons, so I decided to use my Spellbinder Ovals to imitate a balloon and found a good idea on Pinterest of using the owl's feet from the Stampin' Up Owl Builder Punch for the balloons "blow-up valve."  What a great idea. . .it worked perfectly!

I have seen numerous cards that have tied balloons to a bicycle die cut.  I thought it would be a great idea to tie my birthday balloons to the handle bars of the old-fashioned, penny-farthing bicycle from Stampin' Up's 2014 SAB Feeling Sentimental stamp set.  For some reason, finding just the right papers for my card became my next challenge.  After much indecision, I finally settled on October Afternoon's Cakewalk birthday papers for the major portion of the card's designer papers.  

I am pretty happy with the way this little card turned out, but just after I finished creating the card front, I realized the card will be late.  Evidentally, I entered the wrong date for Taylor's birthday in my date book.  This forced me to come up with just the right inside birthday verse acknowledging and sending belated birthday wishes.  I hope Taylor likes her finished card inside and out!  (Hmmm...do you suppose that's where the phrase better late than never came from?)

Recipe:  DCWV 12x12 Cardstock Stack (kraft).  DCWV Glitter Red.  October Afternoon: Cakewalk-Paper Straws (diag. stripe)/ Sugar Stix (ray collage).  BoBunny Double Dot: Buttercup Dot.  Carta Bella: It's A Celebration/ Candles (backside).  Pinecone Press: Sweet Plaid.  Stampin' Up Very Vanilla cs.  SU stamps:  Feeling Sentimental (2014 SAB); Happiest Birthday Wishes.  SU Ink:  Mossy Meadow.  Dies:  Lifestyle Nesting Scallop Squares ;  Spellbinders Ovals (balloons);  SU Stars Framelits.  SU Owl Builder punch: feet.  Stash:  Gold Metallic Twine; Glitter Brads.  Distressing: Colorbox Chestnut Roan.  EK Corner Punch: Medium Scallops.  Size: 5-3/4" square.