Hugs for Kandie!

An SCS Alpha friend recently lost her husband, and we are sending her well wishes and thoughts via the Splitcoaststampers' (SCS) Teapot Challenge, 7/5/22..."In A Word!"  Each of us is challenged to choose a WORD theme for our cards that represents what we want to say to Kandie.  Mine is "Hugs" and goes along with my inside verse of sending along thoughts, prayers and hugs to let her know I care.

My card is made with a stencil and blender brush inking. I made the stencil from the lacy flower die, Artistic Dies, by Stampin' Up, deliberately using white cardstock so that the leftover stencil would finish with lots of inks and could be converted into another card, which can be seen here: [URL=https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2022/06/my-daughter-grows-beautiful-flowers.html][COLOR=#6A5ACD]Hugs to Kandie![/COLOR][/URL]

The idea for my design came from a card class (by Luci Kirschbaum) that taught this clever die-cut stencil and two-card idea! I've cased the original cards with changes to both to make them more me. I love larger than A2 cards, more color mat layers, added embellishments, and often a sentiment change as well. For these cards, my tweaking involves all of those listed changes above. Take a peek below at my finished card and its inside verse:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up: Cardstock--Basic White, Polished Pink, Starry Night, Parakeet Party. Glimmer--2022-245 In-Color 6x6 Ombre Glimmer (butterflies), White Glimmer (Hugs). Dies--Artistic Die (Artistically Inked), Butterfly Wings (Butterfly Brilliance). Inks--Orchid Oasis, Polished Pink, Parakeet Party. Banners Pick-A-Punch. Ribbon--1/8" Metallic Woven-Orchid Oasis. Basic Pearls. Other: Dies--Cottage Cutz Expressions (Hugs). Copic markers (pearl coloring).  EK Punch--Victorian Medium (inside corners). Chatterbox verse. Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

My Daughter Grows Beautiful Flowers

 In the middle of thinking about and making Father's Day cards, I realized I also needed to be thinking about my oldest daughter's birthday card! I attended a June card class where we learned to make two cards in one by die-cutting a lacey floral die out of white cardstock to use as a stencil on another white card front panel, creating a negative inked floral bouquet. We were to use our blender brushes to ink and colorize our blossoms with three lovely ink colors, but I decided to use four: Polished Pink, Orchid Oasis, Starry Night, and Parakeet Party for the leaves.  What gorgeous colors these are together.  Our white cardstock stencil ended up very prettily ink blended as well and became the focal die-cut for the second card.  This is the card I decided to finish for my daughter! 

I adhered four 1/2" black paper strips spaced 1/2" apart and horizontally across the white cardstock front panel, starting in the middle...find the card front middle before starting.  Next, adhere two 1/4" black strips at the top and bottom, but also leaving 1/2" of the white cardstock showing. I adhered this card front panel to a black mat layer with a narrow 1/8" border. I add two more base layers...the 4-3/4" x 6" black card base and a Gorgeous Grape cardstock cut to 4-3/8" x 5-5/8". I positioned the inked Artistic lacy flower die-cut where I liked it, allowing for my sentiment strip toward the bottom and offset to the left. 

To finish, I added a 1/4" x 1" tiny black strip to host three medium rhinestones colored with Copic markers to match the Parakeet Party ink and positioned the strip toward the upper right corner of the card front. I punch my white cardstock sentiment strip with the Lovely Label Pick-A-Punch and popped two rhinestones beside the stamped "Happy Birthday".  I also added two Glitter Enamel Gems to the flower centers, coloring them with Copics to accent the inked blooms.

I was super pleased with the look...black and white always dresses up any card...such a classic combination!  Take a peek below and my finished card and my inside Chatterbox verse:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up products: Cardstock--Basic White, Basic Black, Gorgeous Grape. Stamp/ Dies--Artistically Inked (sentiment)/ Artistic Dies (lacy floral). Inks--Polished Pink, Parakeet Party, Orchid Oasis, Starry Night. Punch--Lovely Labels Pick-A-Punch (sentiment label). Glitter Enamel Gems (flower centers). Basic Rhinestones--medium & small. Other: Copic marker (Rhinestone & Glitter Gems coloring). Blender Brushes. Chatterbox verse. Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Being A Dad is Whiskey Business

 I went to a card party a few months ago, and my Stampin' Up demonstrator duo (Daralee Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum) had a card design using the new "Whiskey Business" stamp set.  I loved their card design idea, but decided to enlarge it and tweak it here and there to make it more mine.  

I gave it a new, enlarged and ink-distressed white card base, a new, ink-distressed punch size panel to host my changed sentiment, re-positioned brads, plus a pale blue decanter, glass, and ice shaded with Copic Markers.  I also used Copics to color my whiskey and highball drink, getting better shading, blending, and highlights than could be achieved with the water-base markers provided.  My finished card, inside and out, can be seen below:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up: Cardstock--Basic White, Early Espresso. Patterned dsp--In Good Taste (retired). Stamp--Whiskey Business. Dies--Stitched Recentangles. Inks--Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze; Memento--Tuxedo Black; Versamark. Punch--Lovely Labels (sentiment label). Embossing Powder--White. Round Brads (colored with Cajun Craze Dark Blender). Other--Copic markers. Brilliance Gingerbread ink (edge distressing). Chatterbox verse. Size: 4-5/8" x 5-7/8".

A Colorful Unicorn & Rainbow Birthday!

My last granddaughter, who was five just two days after the three-year old, needed a birthday card as well.  As I said for the three-year old birthday card, all three of my granddaughter's love unicorns!  Not to disappoint any of my granddaughters, this Grandma needed to make a unicorn pop-up box for Callie as well!  Callie's favorite color is purple, so a purple rainbow unicorn card was an absolute MUST!  Finding purple rainbow paper was a challenge, but I finally found one stashed in my computer digital paper downloads, and I was ready to get it done!

Since this was my third rainbow unicorn card, and I did not need to create a new design, this card went together very fast.  I know that Callie will be delighted with her card, especially since both girls will be celebrating their birthdays together.   Take a peek below at my third rainbow unicorn pop-up box card:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up products: Papers--Tempting Turquoise, Gorgeous Grape, Basic White cs; White Glimmer (unicorn). Punches--2-1/2" Circle, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, 2" Circle. Other: Papers--Dandelionery (Etsy)-Watercolor Unicorns Digital Paper Pack #081 (background color depth enhanced) + April 2021 Paper Pumpkin "So Cool" sun sticker (color enhanced). Dies--Cottage Cutz/ Sweet Unicorns; Savvy happy birthday die; Lawn Fawn--Grassy Hillside Borders, Party Balloons. Rainbow Duct Tape; Copic marker (color sun); Impress Cards & Crafts: fine white glitter. Glimmer scraps (unicorn, carrot, sentiment). Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

Under the Weather?

My youngest son has been quite sick for going on his second week.  I thought I'd make a fun card to get a little smile and give some encouragement to get well.  I've been wanting to finish off some OLD Alphabet Challenge Rounds using the letter Z for Zany, so I purposeful sought out a zany, quirky digital image to color with my Copics.  I think I found the perfect image to make a fun card and to fulfill zany all rolled into one!  Take a look below at the finished card inside and out!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up:  Cardstock--Real Red. DSP--2012-2014 In-Color Stack (Midnight Muse Stripe, Summer Starfruit Dots). Dies: Reverse Confetti Lacy Scallop Frame; Lawn Fawn--Grassy Hillside.  Digital image: source unknown.  Copic Markers.  Journal Black Pen.  White Gel pen. 

My Lovely Mother!

Mother's Day will be here before I blink, and I needed time to get a card made and mailed to my Mom you lives several states away!  I went to a card-making class, hosted by Dar Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum, a few weeks ago to try out my new knee and see if it would withstand several hours in the sitting position.  It didn't like it much, but managed to survive until I could get home and elevate it in my recliner, where I promptly fell asleep!

While at class, I started a card from a very nice design, but visions of things I wanted to add or change kept interfering, plus the desire to color the daffodil stamped image with my Copic markers rather than the pens our hostesses were providing, prompted me to gather its parts and bring it home for completion.

I think I'm pretty pleased with my totally remodeled card...it is surely more my cardmaking style, and, I think, worthy to be a Mother's Day card for my Mom.  I thinks she will be delighted with it!  I found I will also be able to enter it into several SCS Challenges that I checked out before starting my finishing project. 

Take a peek below at the card front, as well as my interior design and Chatterbox verse!  Check out the modification story below the ingredients list if interested.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks--Daffodil Yellow, Whisper White, Old Olive; Patterned paper:  Delightful Daisy dsp; Stamp--You're Inspiring (2018 Occ); Ink: Old Olive; Twine: Crushed Curry Solid; Pearls; Washi tape--Basic Pack #2.  Dies: Reverse Confetti Lacy Scallop Frame (yellow mat layer); Spellbinders Lattice Rectangle (daffodil frame); MFT First Place Ribbon (double fishtails).  Punches: Martha Stewart--Butterfly Trio; EK--Medium Scallop Photo Corners (inside).  Copic Sketch markers.  Computer printed sentiment/ verse.  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

The Modification Story

Several days ago, I finished coloring my daffodil image, I was really pleased with it...such a pretty stamp set!  Next, I began with my own design ideas to finish off the card.  

I added a new daffodil yellow mat layer die-cut with one of my favorite rectangle edging, and I adhered it to a new and enlarged white cardbase (cut 9-1/2" x 6" and scored at 4-3/4").  I cut the green patterned paper layer provided in the card class smaller to allow my new yellow mat layer's edging show.  I adhered this green patterned paper to the yellow mat.  I also cut my daffodil image smaller to fit onto a new yellow lattice-work rectangle frame, where the lattice curves peeks out around the edges of the daffodil image.  

I decided to center my lattice-framed daffodil image from side to side and center my double fishtail sentiment below.  I added criss-crossed golden-yellow twine to the olive green one-inch wide horizontal strip, and centered the strip from top to bottom beneath image frame.  

To finished, I plunked a bitty butterfly hovering along the edge of my daffodil flowering image.  The butterfly is punched from a lemon-lime and white striped washi tape adhered to a piece of Daffodil Yellow cardstock with a bitty pearl added for its body.  I prepared my sentiment using my computer and composed a versed to added to the inside, which I colorized to match Old Olive green.  I added punched scallop photo corners, using the olive patterned paper, and more bitty butterflies punched from the same washi-covered cardstock and body pearls.

Miss Callie's First Birthday!

My granddaughter is having her first birthday!  Oh, how exciting and so much fun to make her a one-year old birthday card!  I've been busy making ice-cream cakes for the birthday party event, so have left myself little time to get her birthday card finished!  I did start on it because I wanted to try a technique that I've been eyeing for more than a year called Faux Tile Sponging, which is similar to Delft Tiling, except you don't stamp a pattern on the tiles to get a similar look to Delft pottery.  The two techniques are similar in that you do make a diagonal grid scored background on both and sponge ink onto scored grid by using a mask over your score lines and sponging color onto the edges of your tiles. 

Before I figured out what cute focal point I wanted to use or planned my layout design, I visited the Splitcoaststamper challenges forum to see what inspiration I might find.  I planned to use the Alphabet Challenge, Round 8, Letter Y for yellow, but when mojo arrived from the Inspiration Challenge, I decided to go with Letter G for giraffe!  I found the foundation for my layout by visiting the Featured Stamper's gallery of Bronwyn Eastley.  I did modified Bronwyn's original layout quite a bit to make it fit my baby theme for my card!   Take a look below at granddaughter Callie's birthday card, plus the inside design with Grandma's created verse.  I'm thinking she will like it, especially when she's around four to five years old!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Lemon-Lime Twist.  Stampin' Up Ink: Daffodil Yellow, Lemon-Lime Twist.  Precious Moments Coloring Pages digital image.  Copic Markers.  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Die: unknown/ gift.  Ribbon: stash.  Stampin' Up Pearls.  Technique: Faux Tile Sponging.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

A Floral Birthday Bouquet!

I needed another birthday card, and of course, I seem to work best under stress, so I allowed myself little time to complete my card.  I checked out Splitcoaststamper challenges for a bit of inspiration.

The Inspiration Challenge helped me with my color choices and several card layouts from the Featured Stamper Challenge helped me decide on my layout and some embellishing elements.  My inspiration Featured Stamper cards also gave me the idea to include the Alphabet Challenge, Round 8, Letter "F" + the double challenge within that challenge of needing something on my card with swirls. 

My card also took on some features from a card presented at a card class I attended several weeks ago.  That card was presented by one of our hostess, Luci Kirschenbaum, so I want to give her some thanks for inspiration as well.  Take a peek at my finished card for my friend's birthday, plus the inside coordinated design with my composed verse:

Ingredients:  Papers:  Stampin' Up CS--Kraft, Whisper White; Recollections CS--Essentials (Violet).  SU Stamp: Lots of Lavender (2018-SAB), Happy Birthday Gorgeous.  Ink:  SU--Wisteria Wonder, Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake; Memento--Tuxedo Black.  Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Birds and Swirls.  Pretty Pink Posh: Gold Sequins.  SU: 5/8" Burlpa Ribbon.  Copic Markers.  Size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4".

Best of 2017 Favorites @ Splitcoaststampers!

I'm in 7th Heaven!!!!  I've had nine of my 2017 cards chosen in the Splitcoaststampers' Favorites - Best of 2017 recently, and three of these were chosen twice!   I also had one card chosen in the CAS Favorites - Best of 2017.  Now that was really a surprise, because rarely do I make a clean and simple card!  I'm speechless and so grateful to the wonderful and crafty multitudes at Splitcoaststampers for giving me so many honors.  

As I have had my cardmaking curtailed in mid-December due some severe hand problems, especially the left, and a right knee flair up, I've been kind of down a bit without my hobby to entertain me.  I've also been absentee blog posting as some may have noticed.  With that said, I thought I would post those cards BESTed again for your browsing!  

Favorites - Best of 2017 Cards

Let It All Hang Out Birthday - posted 8/28/17

 Blog link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/08/let-it-all-hang-out-birthday.html

 First Christmas for a Little Husky Named Zhanna! - posted 9/4/17 (chose 2 times)

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/first-christmas-for-little-husky-named.html

Christmas Card from an Oldie But Goodie! - posted 9/8/17 (chosen 2 times)

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/christmas-card-from-oldie-but-goodie.html

Improving on the Christmas Oldie But Goodie! - posted 9/12/17 (chosen 2 times)

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/improving-on-christmas-oldie-but-goodie.html

A Dedicated 12th Woman Seahawks Fan Birthday! - posted 11/5/17.

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/11/a-dedicated-12th-woman-seahawks-fan.html

My Son's First Father's Day! - posted 6/18/17.  (inspiration from Dar Peterson).

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/06/my-sons-first-fathers-day.html 

Anniversary Twosome Sail with the Breeze! - posted 7/31/18

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/07/an-anniversary-twosome-sail-with-breeze.html

Birthday Jazz for Youngest Son! - posted 9/15/17

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/birthday-jazz-for-youngest-son.html

A Peek at Fall! - posted 9/20/17
Blog Link:  https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/a-peek-at-fall.html

CAS Favorites - Best of 2017 Cards

New Hat for Spooky Kitty! - posted 10/27/17

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2015/10/new-kitty-face-card.html

Christmas is Snow Much Fun!

NEWS THAT IS SNOW MUCH FUN!

THIS CARD IS NAMED A 

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS' FAVORITE 

OF THE WEEK ENDING - DECEMBER 2, 2017

I seem to be challenging myself for the past couple of months to make a card that will fit as many Splitcoaststamper challenges as possible.  After looking over the challenge possibilities, I was actually able to meet seven challenges.  YES! I did say seven.  I am thrilled that I am getting Christmas cards done as well.

I did have in mind to use more of my leftover re-cycled gift wrap; therefore, my first thought was to check out the Inspiration Challenge to see if anything jumped out at me to give me ideas to start with.  I found a cute little wool Toolies' sheep (see picture in The Story below) that reminded me of a specific re-cycled paper waiting to be used.  His little orange nose gave me the idea to use a snowman with an orange carrot nose, incorporating the Toolies' colors in my snowman's top hat, scarf, and boots, along with the recycled gift paper, which were a perfect match!  I am really thrilled with the way this card turned out, and I plan to make several somewhat similar for other Christmas cards I need for family and friends.  Take a peek below at my finished card.

Ingredients:  Papers:  Stampin' Up cs--Pacific Point, Whisper White.  Express It Blending Cardstock (use with Copic Markers).  DCWV White and Silver Glitter paper.  Stash--Recycled Silver & Dot gift wrap.  Stamps--SU: Snow Much Fun (retired).  Ink: Memento--Tuxedo Black.  Dies: Memory Box: Snow Burst.  Punch: Recollections Mini Snowflake.  Embossing Powder: SU: Iridescent (retired). Stash ribbons:  1-1/2" White Mesh; 1/2" Satin Snowflake.  Copic Markers.  Computer sentiment. 

The Story 

(come back later...UNDER CONSTRUCTION)!

First Christmas for a Little Husky Named Zhanna!

OVER THE MOON!!!

THIS WAS ONE OF TEN OF MY 2017 CARDS 

RECEIVING A 2017 SCS BEST OF FAVORITES!!

HAPPY MAIL TIDINGS!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - SEPTEMBER 9, 2017!!

You would not believe how long this card has been in the making!  I colored the image at my Girls' Craft Get-Away in late May!  I only brought coloring with me because it was so soon after my knee replacement surgery, and I knew I wouldn't be getting up and down a lot.  See my first Christmas 2017 card below.  The "story" follows.

Ingredients:  Papers:  Recollections--Punchy Florals Pack (card base); Core'dinations Silk Glitter Opulent Oval cs; Stampin' Up--Silver Glimmer; Stampin' Up--Winter Frost dsp (retired).  Digital image/ Copic coloring.  Dies: Spellbinders--Floral Ovals; MFT--Stitched Oval Scalloped Frame; MemoryBox--Snow Burst (snowflakes).  Punch: Recollections--5/8" Snowflake.  SU: Glitter Enamel Dots.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

The Story!

I was about half way through coloring my little image and was putting finishing touches on my little girl before moving onto her shoes and the puppy, when I applied the wrong color of Wink of Stella (gold instead of clear) onto her furry coat bottom.  After getting back from my craft retreat at the end of May, it took two weeks before I could get into my craft room...the knee was just too painful to sit and twist in and out from under a table.  The get-away kind of took a tole on me and my recovery.

In the second week of June, I re-colored my little image once again.  I used some mojo and came up with a pretty clear idea of my layout, and completed the white oval glittery frame for her, which is actually two dies together.  See Ingredients below for die names.  That's when I came to a screeching halt! I wasn't able to do much crafting yet, and I had two get well cards, two graduations, five birthdays (that I got done), two Father's Day cards, an anniversary, and an award card that interfered with finishing this card.  Three months later, I've actually finished the card!  (Theatrical bow being done!)

I worked on this cute little image so long that I gave my little Eskimo girl and her little female Siberian Husky puppy names.  The little girl is Lara and little husky's name is Zhanna, which is a Russian name.  This puppy will grow up to be a sled dog, and I wanted her to have a strong name, because she will be a glorious sled dog, probably a lead dog, and her name needs to fit her heritage and who is is!  Because of Zhanna, I will be able to enter my card into the Splitcoaststamper's Alphabet Challenge, Round 7, Letter Z.

I will also enter this card into two other Splitcoaststamper challenges.  To finalize my card, I used the colors from a fellow Splitcoaster in the Featured Stamper Challenge, and Christmas in July, because that was my original intended time to finish this card.  Alas, that did not happened, but I'm entering late.

In addition, she will be entered into a fourth challenge that was her original purpose when I first got started on the idea for the card, which is the very first Christmas 2017 for January with the theme of making a card using a sled, snow tube, snowboard, or skiing.  We have all the themes for the year, and we can make them whenever we want, BUT, I think I can safely say I am way behind!  My challenge to myself was to make 24 cards/ two each for each month's challenges, and here we are in September and this is my first!  Shame on me!

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".

Birthday Greetings to the Tournament Fisherman!

My nephew, Adam, has a July birthday, and I have never made him a birthday card. . .shame on me!!!  I got busy and created one depicting his favorite hobby. . .fishing.

Ingredients:  Recollections Cardstock: Spice Market collection.  The Paper Studio: Wood Fence.  BoBunny-A Gift of Love: Flutter Butter Solid.  Hot Off the Press: Rust/ Black Plaid.  Spellbinders dies:  Labels Three/ #7 (largest).  My Favorite Things: Stitched Circle STAX.  EK Punch: Arrows.  Ink: Memento Desert Sand (fish sponging).  Stampin' Up Dazzling Diamonds Glitter Adhesive.  Fishest free digital image (Google).  Copic Markers.  Recollections: Brads.  Bag O' Buttons: Wood.  May Arts: Fine Twine.  Stash: 1-1/2" Fringed Burlap Ribbon.  Size: 4-3/4" x 5-3/4".

The Card's Story & Other Tidbits

Adam is the oldest of my nieces and nephews, and therefore, my very first nephew.  I remember how excited I was that I would soon be an auntie when my sister announced she was expecting her first child.  Unfortunately, I haven't been such a good auntie, because so far he has never received a personally made birthday card from me.  As I said before. . .shame on me!  So, this one had to be extra special.

Adam's favorite pastime is fishing, a sport he started when he was just a little boy.  Through the years, he has become quite proficient at fishing, so much so that he enters and wins tournaments.  He fishes "catch and release" so those fish will be there another day for him to reel in, and they will be even bigger!  With this in mind, I knew his first card should be all about fishing.

I found quite a funny, big fish digital image that looks like he stole a fisherman's hat and pole, and now he's trying them out for size. . .he would be perfect.  I immediately got all my Copic Markers out, and I set to work coloring him so that he would look something like a rainbow trout.  Though the picture, disappointingly, does not show it off, I added iridescent glitter to my fish to replicate scales, and so that he would sparkle just like a fish just reeled in out of the water.  

This is probably the first time I have colored my digital image before I found the perfect papers to complete my card design.  I always choose my papers first so I know what colors to incorporate in coloring my digital image.  But, in this case, I pretty much knew I wanted to use a weathered brown or grayish woodgrain background.  Maybe like a weathered fence and then some patterned paper to add color and also compliment the woodgrain. . .definitely some masculine-looking paper.  Subconsciously, I think I knew that by coloring my fish resemble a species in the trout family, it would more than likely go with woodgrain paper.

I easily found the perfect brown, weathered-fence paper, and I found the rest of my coordinating papers right away.  Fortunately, they were all in the same are from my California trip.  I love it when it only takes a  minutes to figure out what I want to use.  The idea of using a burlap-type trim popped into my "idea bank" as soon as I chose the papers, and I immediately remembered I had the particular style I used in my stash and that it would be perfect.  

I've used the Spellbinders Labels Three with a masculine digi card before, so thought I would repeat that, but added the idea of cutting out the digi itself with a stitched circle and then using the Labels Three as a mat frame.   I decided on a little tag for the sentiment so that my card design would not be overwhelmed by the sentiment, but yet it would have one.  Since I don't have any little tag dies the right size, I handcrafted my own.  I am so pleased with how it all came together, and I think Adam will really like his first handcrafted card from his auntie!

A Friend's Birthday Has Arrived!

While in Mt. Shasta on our week-long Girls' Crafting Get-Away, with my Mom and my sister, my goal was to get ahead of my cardmaking needs.  I had lots of ready-to-finish cards in my stash that I brought with me from Washington to work on while gone.  I finished over 15 card completely, inside and out, but it didn't even put a dent in my stash. . .woe is me!  One of the cards that I did complete is this cute little flower card, and I thought it would be perfect for Liz, my cardmaking buddy and Stampin' Up upline. 

I cannot claim the accolades for the original design as that honor and my thanks belong to Darla Watson, another Stampin' Up demonstrator that I know in California.  As I re-created her card, I took the liberty of making a few modifications to make it more mine.  I raised the ribbon tie to allow for a sentiment fishtail flag to be stamped and popped up at the bottom as there was no front sentiment, which I prefer.  I also enlarged my Early Espresso cardbase to make it more of a picture frame background.  Even with these changes, my card retains the flavor of the original design.

To complete my card, I followed my usual cardmaking plan, which is to create an interior design that compliments the card front and to choose or create a verse that coordinates with the occasion for which my card is intended.  Take a look at my finished product below.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight Whisper White.  Dot paper--stamped with Dots for Days background stamp.  Stamps--Flower Patch (flower/ sentiment), Remembering Your Birthday (verse), Dots for Days (background).  Ink--Early Espresso.  Memento Black.  Dies--Flower Fair Framelits.  Punch--Curvy Corners.  Ribbon--1/4" Cotton-Daffodil Delight.  Pearls--Copic colored.  Other:  Zutter--Curved Corner punch.

I Come With Birthday Tidings!

One of my very favorite people is having a birthday this month, and I was still in the mood for more coloring.  In searching through my stash, I ran across this little Precious Moments - Bringing Gifts digital image, which I've had for over five years.  I had wanted to color it up and make a vintage birthday card, so almost give years ago, I sized it, printed it, and put it in my stash to take to a three-day cropping event with my Mom and sister.  Lo and behold, Mom saw it and whined until I had to let her steal it to make a little birthday card for one of her great granddaughters.  Well. . .how dare she. . .this meant I could never use it on a card for any of my nieces or grand-nieces on that side of the family, because it had been seen by all!

Well, guess what, with Bringing Gifts once again in my hands, I decided I could use it for my dear friend and cardmaking buddy's birthday.  I was stoked!  I already had a piece of vintage tiny rose  patterned paper that I was itching to use.  Of course, with the layering I like to do, I needed several other companion patterns that would go with it, and some coordinating cardstock.  That done, I started coloring.  Red is a challenge to work with, but I finally managed to get my image to a point where I was satisfied with it.  Meanwhile as I colored, I came up with the layout ideas, and the card was done in no time.  I'm pretty happy, and I would like to share it with you below:

My final challenge to completely finish every card is to create an inside design and verse that compliments my recipient's personality and the occasion for giving the card.  Here is a look-see at my finished inside:

Recipe:  Papers:  SU cardstock--Old Olive, Real Red, Very Vanilla; Cosmos Cricket/ Odds & Ends-Remnant; Pebbles Basics/ Gingham Check; DCWV Dots, Stripes, & Plaids stack.  Digital image:  Precious Moments/ Bringing Gifts.  Spellbinders die:  Big Scallop Oval SM.  MFT die: Stitched Oval STAX.  SU punches:  1" Circle, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle, Curvy Corners, Open Scallop Trim Border (retired).  SU ribbon: 3/8" Old Olive Stitched Grograin (retired); Stash ribbon: 5/8" cream metallic organza sheer.  Buttons: SU/ stash.  Pearl.  Computer sentiment/ verse: Font-Baroque Antique Script/ 12.  Copic Markers:  Face--E0000, R0000, E00, R000, R00.  Cheeks--R20, White Gel pen.  Golden Chestnut Brown Hair--Y21, 623, YR23, E35, E99, E18.  Hair Ribbon/ Package Ribbon/ Pantaloons--YG01, YG03, Y21, YG25.  Present--B0000, BG11, BG13, BG07.  Dress Collar/ Lace/ Lower Sleeve--RV01, RV21, RV11.  Dress Skirt, Pinafore Ruffle/ Upper Sleeve/ Bodice--R20, R21, R22, R24, R29, R46.  Shoes--C0, C1, C3, C5.  BackgroundBase--C0 feather lightly horizontally. Blend horizontal BG0000.  Sky--E40 feather horizontally, lightly (image cardstock white...needed to be vanilla).  Size: 5-1/4" square.

Hippity Hop to Easter with 2 Cute Ink!

I have just finished my final needed Easter card, and this one was made with another 2 Cute Ink digital stamp named Hippity Hop.  I think I will enter this final card into the 2 Cute Ink Challenge #133, which makes my second and final entry.  You can take a peek at my card, as well as all the other cards that have been entered into this challenge at the following link:   http://2cuteinkchallenges.blogspot.com/2016/03/challenge-133-easter-theme-new-digital.html.  Reading on below will given you more particulars about the making of this card, as well as a picture of my finished card inside and out.

This Easter card will need to lean a bit toward the masculine theme as it will be for my husband.  Since I wanted to continue to try my hand at more coloring and also use more of my 2 Cute Ink digital images, I chose 2 Cute's Hippity Hop image for this card.  I'm sure this digital bunny is a masculine bunny, because he is wearing pants and flexing his muscles while carrying such a big heavy egg!   

I had a picture lurking in my mind for my layout, so to start, I needed patterned papers that would be really colorful, with one blue as one color in them, and they needed to coordinate well together.  Blue was necessary for Hippity Hop's planned blue jeans and a number of other colors for my egg, flowers, and grass.  The striped pattern was perfect, and the word paper coordinated with it quite well.  I'm was excited and ready to begin coloring my bunny!

When Hippity Hop was finished, I moved on to choose by cardbase and mat layer cardstocks.  I settled on a grass green as the cardbase and a warm yellow for my contrast mat layers, but I changed my mind mid-stream.  My final decision was a yellow cardbase, because I liked the green as the mat layer for Hippity Hop and as the layer under the word patterned paper.  Somehow, the yellow didn't look quite right under either, but the green looked great, and the yellow was good under the striped pattern.  Once that was decided, the card went together very easily and quickly.  Take a look below at my finished Hippity Hop card.  Isn't that little bunny just too cute!

Following my longstanding tradition, I completed my card by finishing off the inside with a design and verse to coordinate with the outside creativity.

Recipe:  Papers:  Cardstocks--Paper Company pack/ In Full Bloom (green); Stampin' Up Daffodil Yellow; Patterns--DCWV/ Easter Words, Reminisce/ Happy Easter Stripe.  Digital image: 2 Cute Ink/ Hippity Hop.  Stamps: Stampin' Up--Indescribable Gift (sentiment), Suite Sayings (verse).  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Dies: MemoryBox--Cross Stitched Frame Borders.  Punch:  EK CardCreator-Basketweave Corner (inside).  Wink of Stella/ Clear.  Recollections: Pearls.  Colorbox: Chestnut Roan/ distressing.  Copic Markers:  Pants--B41, B32, B34. Shoes--T0, T1, T3, T5. Egg--R22, R24, R27, R29; Y11, Y13, Y15, Y35. Flowers/Grass--YR00, YR12, YR18; V000, V01, V05; YG01, YG03, YG17.  Bunny-- C0, 0 (Blender).  Nose--R22.  Size: 5-1/2" x 5-3/4".

Waterfall Lessons!

My friend and cardmaking buddy, Charlene,  held a little mini class at her home today.  Another friend was supposed to join us, but unfortunately she ran into car troubles so was not able make the trip.  We really missed you, Sandy, as we have such a fun time cardmaking together. . .like three peas in a pod!

Charlene taught two techniques, one card style was called the Waterfall technique and the other the Braided Edge technique.  She made several cards in the last year that have been absolutely adorable using these techinques.  One that really sticks in my mind is her Hello Kitty Waterfall card that she made for a friend's birthday, who collects all things Hello Kitty.  This card was just darling, and so, I, always wanting to try something new, whined that I thought she should invite us over and teach us how to do the technique.  You can always look up instructions and teach yourself, but when someone has mastered a technique, it's always nice, not to mention lots of fun, to learn from the expert!

Charlene had been working on her craft room during the past several months, and she recently announced that she had finally finished it, and in the same breath, proclaimed that we should should come over and see it.  I, of course, remembering the two cards she made that I loved the outcome of the techniques applied, piped up, and said, "Yes, you could invite us over and teach us how to make the Waterfall card and the Braided Edge cards."  Lo and behold, she did!

I'm posting my completed Waterfall card, because I am actually going to use it tomorrow for a friend's birthday.  Though the Waterfall card looks complicated, it really is not, especially when someone is showing you how to make it and knows what they are doing.  We completed all the basics of assembly at Charlene's house, and then I was able to bring the card front home to complete the coloring needed on the stamped images on the waterfall squares.  I finished my images using Copic markers and also decided to add a mini butterfly to the top layer opposite my cupcake to fill in a bit of its white space.  I am super pleased with my finished product and can't thank Charlene enough for designing the kits to complete the project during her instructions.  

The following pictures shows the card as the ribbon tab at the bottom is pulled to expose the hidden pictures one at a time to created the waterfall effect.  Isn't this card just too delightful!!

   

My final finished touch was to complete the inside to creatively coordinate with my card front.  I added a computer verse with a bit of humor that I found several months ago and used once before on another friend's birthday card.  I thought it would be great for this card as well as each of these ladies have a great sense of humor!

Recipe:  Papers: Bazzill Typhoon White & Typhoon Blue cs; DCWV 6x6 Foil Stack; Pattern: Stash--unknown.  SU stamps:  Party Wishes (2016 Occasions) (#1), #2/ #3 unknown stamps, Simply Sketched (#4).  SU: Curvy punch (inside).  Martha Stewart Butterflies 5-in-1 punch.  Copic Markers.  SU: Rhinestones.  Stash: 3/8" ribbon; mini flower brad.  Size: 4-3/4" x 5-5/8".  

A Shower of Cards As She Celebrates Her 95th!

My husband's Aunt Margaret has lived a long and lovely life, and she celebrates her 95th birthday this Saturday.  Her five children are hosting a lovely party at the local country club in Wichita, Kansas, where my husband grew up.  They have asked those who can not attend to "shower" her with oodles of cards by mail to mark this 95th birthday.  With all of her relatives, I think it might be more like a monsoon as my husband comes from a very large family, being the oldest of eight, who in turn also have large families. . .thus, I'm sure a monsoon!

This is an "almost" duplicate of a card I cased about two years ago and sent to my cousin for her birthday.  The original design was from one made at a Liz Thayer's card class, with a few modifications to see how it turned out.  I added a third flower to its original design and a few more leaves.  I also changed the sentiment to a birthday theme and stamped it on a separate pieced of white cardstock instead of directly onto the card front itself; I tweaked its location; and I popped it up.  On this second cased card, I decided to use different punches for my layering, and I tried a little punch creativity by using a different punch for each layer.  I decided I liked this idea.

Next, I went to work creating a decorative design for the inside to coordinate with the front.  I decided the little Boho punch flowers and the pink pearls that I used on the front Flower Shop flower centers would be a nice touch on each of the verse corners, and I even threw in a few tiny leaves under each flower to make it just right.  I was pleased with the additions I made to the original card design, my birthday verse,  and the coordinating inside design.  I think John's Aunt Margaret will enjoy her specially made birthday card with its flowers showing the promises of the coming spring.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstocks:  Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Gumball Green.  SU stamps:  Flower Shop.  SU Ink: Primrose Petals.  SU Modern Mosac EF.  SU punches: Pansy; Bird Builder (leaves); Scallop Oval; Word Window.  Retired SU punches: Modern Labels; Boho Blossoms; Scalloped Scallop Edger.  SU pearls (colored with Copics). Computer-made sentiment/ verse (Xiorama font).  (Size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4").