New Hat for Spooky Kitty!

HAPPY MAIL RECEIVED!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - OCTOBER 28, 2017!!

I need to make some Halloween cards, but I also wanted to enter some challenges on Splitcoasters this week.  I found several challenges to inspire me and give me ideas, and ended up with four challenges to enter.  I found my actual idea through this week's Inspiration Challenge, and a Halloween pumpkin pillow (see below).   Knowing what I needed to meet the requirements for the other three challenges made it easy to fit each one as I created my card. 

The Inspiration Challenge brought to mind a card I made several years ago, and I so loved that Poppystamp Kitty Cat Face die that I knew just what I wanted to do.  I decided to take my original card and re-design it, adding to it and dress it up a bit more.  My first card was done super quick because I needed to have it ready in just a few hours to send it along with the Halloween Witch Deco Wreath my daughter and I made for the younger daughter/ sister.  I was motivated to try my hand at a little more intricate version of the same card with new colors and added embellishments.

I came upon a Cottage Cutz Witch Hat die that I bought last year and didn't get a chance to use it.  I thought it would make a darling hat for my little kitty's head.  This time I decided to use lime green glitter paper for the cat's eyes and the moon, star, and brim of my witch hat.  I added two layers of glitter paper to my card base before adding the card front, and then added a few sequins to dress it up even more.  I am much more pleased with this second version, though the first was still cute!  What's not to like about the cute cat's face!

Finished the instead design and verse and now it ready to be sent off to my Mom in California.  I think she will enjoy her sparkly Halloween card.  Take a peek below:

Recipe:  Darice cardstock: Midnight Black.  The Paper Company cardstock: Victoriana 5-pack (tan).  Recollections Glitter Pad: Haunted (orange/ lime).  SU: Seasonal framelit dies (spooky - Holiday 2015).  Poppystamps die: Kitty Cat Face.  Cottage Cutz dies: Witch Hat.  Pretty Pink Posh: sequins. Size 5" x 6-1/4".

A 12th Year AA Birthday

My oldest son celebrates his 12th year of sobriety, and he credits his recovery for all the help he has received through attending Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and events.  He values the message in the Serenity Prayer and incorporates its words into his life on a daily basis.  I always like to honor his hard work and mark this special milestone in his life by making him one of my handmade cards.

I had just finished a birthday card for his younger brother, in which I chose to use the Mariners baseball team as the theme of his card design.  I made him a birthday cupcake of Mariners baseballs (which will be posted on October 6th), and thought it would be clever to use a cupcake on David's card as well.  I would use the birthday coins received each year to mark how many years of sobriety the person as achieved.  

I went online to search for images of 12-year coins and found a gold and red one that would go nicely with the color scheme of black, red, and gold foil, on which I had already decided.  I would use the back of the coin with the Serenity Prayer as the cupcake's frosting and the front of the red coin to represent the cherry on top.  Take a look below at my finished card inside and out.  I think David will be very pleased with his 12-Year AA birthday card.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstock: Basic Black, Gold Foil.  Pattern: Graphic 45 Renaissance Faire/ Enlightened.  Google online images:  Red AA birthday coin-front and back, cupcake liner.  Cottage Cutz Expressions die: Birthday; Sugar & Cream Alphabet/ Numbers.  Stampin' Up punch: Curvy Corners (retired).  Cuttlebug EF: Happy Birthday.  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Computer-made verse.  Size: 5" x 6".

Birthday Niece #2 is a BIG Two!

This is my second great niece with a late September birthday, and she will be a GREAT big two-years old.  I had the chance to spend a little time this spring getting acquainted with Addie, and she is a delight!  She has such a funny little personality, and she is just as cute as she can be with her big blue eyes and her gigantic smile.  

I just love making children's cards because they are so much fun, and it gives me a feeling of  joyfulness during the entire process.  It allows the years to slip away and brings back fun childhood memories.  While in this nostalgic mood, I reminisced about how my brother and I used to look forward to Saturday morning cartoons, where one of our favorites was Mickey and Minnie Mouse and their adventures.  

Thinking about Addie with her adventuresome personality, I thought it would be fun to make her a really cute, little, girly Minnie Mouse card, but I needed a little help getting my children's cardmaking  mojo going after being on a sympathy card binge of late.  I went on line to check out Minnie cards on Pinterest, but found there weren't a whole bunch to choose from.  A few used embossing folder texturing and I like that idea, as it reminded me of my "happy birthday" embossing folder that I had used earlier this year on my young boy "Minion" card.  With mojo arriving, I decided on a pink Minnie rather than the traditional red, adding to my desired girly look.  Take a look below at my finished Minnie card inside and out!  I think it will bring smiles and giggles of delight when viewed by its recipient.

Ingredients: Stampin' Up cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo.  Dies: MemoryBox Stitched Scalloped Circles; Spellbinders Classic Circles; Cottage Cutz Expressions-Birthday, Girl. EK Punches:  Circles-2-1/2," 1-3/4," 1," Victorian Corner (modified).  Cuttlebug Happy Birthday Embossing Folder.  Ribbon:  Stampin' Up 1/2" Scallop Dots-Melon Mambo (retired); 1/8" Taffeta-Melon Mambo; Offray 3/8" Black & White Dot.  Uni-ball White Gel Pen.  Stash: Button, Rose Embroidery Floss.  Size:  5-3/8" x 6".