A Spooktacular Birthday! ("Spooky Treats" Sept. 2022 Paper Pumpkin Alternative)

Believe it or not, this card started with the thought that I needed to make a birthday card for my son-in-law, which falls in mid-October. I began by perusing my Splitcoaststamper challenge list to see which challenges might spark ideas for my card design. I happened on a spider card in the Featured Stamper challenge that gave me the idea to do something about Halloween for his card as he loves really getting into Halloween and finding spooky places to visit to celebrate this holiday. This got me started with all kinds of other ideas about using the new September Paper Pumpkin Spooky Treats kit and making an alternative design card, etc. All ideas gathered from selected challenges eventually jelled into this Halloween card for his birthday: 

                              

Ingredients: Stampin' Up: Cardstock--Basic Black, Pacific Point, Crushed Curry, Whisper White scraps. September 2022 Paper Pumpkin (plaid, spider, ghost, stars). Punch: 2" Circle. Embossing Folder--Square Lattice. Other: Core'dinations Core Couture--Black Tie glitter paper. Dies--Spellbinders Petite Scallop. Ink--ColorBox Cat Eye-Charcoal (edge distressing). Punch--EK Medium--Victorian Corner; Copic Markers--Spider re-color. Chatterbox sentiment & verse (computer-generated/ Font-Phantom Fingers). Size--Slimline = 3.75 x  8.75-inches.       

PAPER PUMPKIN SEPT. 2022 - SPOOKY TREATS - ALTERNATIVE DESIGN

This kit is all about Halloween treat boxes, but I decided my alternative would be a card instead. I used the plaid intended as a treat box and trimmed it for the slimline card front. To the plaid, I added a Pacific Point cardbase and a Black Glitter cs mat layer. I replicated a larger version of the white w/black scalloped edge sentiment circle, included in the kit, with a Black Glitter scalloped die-cut overlayed with a 2" white punched circle to host the kit's spider, web, and ghost die-cuts on my card. After adhering my three scalloped circles to the plaid card front, I embedded them by embossing the entire plaid card front plaid and circles with a retired Square Lattice EF. I adhered the spider, web, and ghost onto card front circles. I adhere the Black Glitter mat layer to the Pacific Point cardbase, and added my plaid card front on top. I printed my sentiment "We've Arrived!" onto Crushed Curry cardstock and fussy cut each words into a rickety, weathered, and distressed sign. Voila...there is my alternative design for the new Paper Pumpkin...definitely not a treat box!

Let's Party with Dinosaurs!

My oldest son is newly engaged, and they intend to tie the knot in June 2023 if everything goes according to plan.  Through this union, I have acquired what would be a great granddaughter.  She will be  three years old on her birthday in a few weeks...the same age range as are my three natural granddaughters, which is 2-1/2 to 5 years.  Her Mom and grandmother (who is my son's fiancé) planned a dinosaur-themed birthday party.  So, needless to say, I needed a birthday card and wanted to try my hand at the dinosaur theme.

I found a darling little cartoon line-art baby dinosaur, who had just hatched from his uniquely designed egg.  I thought this would be a good place to start.  Next, I found some pink, white, and green digital dinosaur  paper to add to the plan.  My next task was to search out some Splitcoaststamper challenges to fit this card into my "challenge catch-up" goal.  With all these thoughts in mind, I came with up my card design, which started with the Standing Pop-Up card fold technique. 

 

The face of Amara's card got so heavy, the card wouldn't stand up, so I invented a little paper fold "hinge" to insert into the hollow box-like rectangular front platform that allows the card to fold down flat to insert it into an envelope for mailing and also to pop-up and open to allow the card to stand on a flat surface.(1)  My "hinge" isn't a terribly difficult addition if you can do it before you form the box and while the cardbase is still flat, but it becomes much more tedious  to insert the "hinge" with the attachment flat covered in glue after the box is formed! 

With all that was said above, take a look below at Amara's finished baby dinosaur Standing Pop-Up card when finished.  I think she will love it, as well as Mommy and her grandmother!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Papers--Garden Green, Basic White cardstocks, Subtles & Brights Patterned DSP Stacks (Garden Green + Wild Washi--pattern years unknown);  Stamps/Dies--Dino Days(4), Little Letters Framelit dies; Cloudy Day EF--retired(5); Ink--Smoky Slate, Garden Green; Other: White Metallic Shimmer cs (Amazon), Digital paper(2): Cute Baby Dinosaur Dinosaurs s & Confetti Rain-Pink(2) (source unknown--computer stash); Dies--Spellbinders Grand Labels Eleven (retired); Lawn Fawn Grassy Hillsides; Copic Markers; Fussy-cutting; Verse--Chatterbox design(6); Card Size--4-3/4" x 6".

Construction Notes:  1)See "hinge" note for Standing Pop-up fold in dialogue above.  2)Digital papers printed on Amazon White Metallic Shimmer cardstock .  3) Confetti Rain-Pink die-cut letters Copic colored to change to a Rose color.  4)Palm trees from Dino Days stamp/dies; leaves die-cut from SU DSP Patterned Stacks listed & then overstamped with palm stamp.  5)Embossed Clouds: inked raised or positive side of folder to give clouds a gray outline for a typical northwest cloudy day.  Added additional very light brushed ink blending to add more grey to background and edges as well.  6 )Inside "verse" with computer = Chatterbox design (that's me);

So Cool...It's Your Birthday!

 It's birthday time again for another crafter, and I needed to finish a past due challenge.  Ideas had been mulling around in my head of how to meet the challenge requirements of using lots of color, yet making a fun birthday card as well.  I also wanted to throw in as many other new or make-up challenges as I could.

I also had some Paper Pumpkin kits that I had not even opened the packages, much less given them any thought to doing something with them.  I decided this would be where I started by looking for one that used a lot of color.  I found that the "So Cool" April 2021 would probably work really well. Then, true to my usual mode, I did not want to make one of the kit designs, so I needed to keep that in mind as I search for challenge ideas. 

I did a bit of modifying of the kit pieces I used to make my card.  The envelopes were lined with the striped design.  I cut one open and used it for my striped pattern paper.  I took one of the popsicle stickers and made it into a jpeg image and printed it on the White Metallic paper to give it a sheen...so pretty in RIL!  I took the sentiment stamp You Are So Cool and careful cut it in half for my So Cool sentiment.  Take a peek below at my "So Cool" alternative birthday design, plus my inside design and Chatterbox verse:

Ingredients: SU cs: Coastal Cabana; White Metallic Shimmer cs (Amazon); SU Paper Pumpkin April 2021--So Cool stripe paper (envelope inside design), Popsicle sticker (size modified), "So Cool" sentiment (modified); SU Ink: Melon Mambo (splattering), Bermuda Bay (sentiment), Burnt Brown Sugar (ink-edge distressing; Reverse Confetti die: Cuttlebug EF: Happy Birthday; Recollections: Aqua Pearls; Chatterbox verse; Size: 4-3/4 x 6-inches.

A Shower of Wishes for Your Birthday!

 I needed another February birthday card for a cardmaking friend. In looking over my Splitcoaststamper Challenge Catch-up List, I decided I needed to make a card that had something to do with rain showers and umbrellas.  I pulled out an old but never used die by Elizabeth Craft Designs, Rainy Day, and I began to create my design with this umbrella in mind.  

I thought it would be fun to dress up my umbrella card front by using the Basket Weave edging technique.  It is a technique that looks difficult and classy when complete, but is actually quite easy to do.  I've used it on five or six cards in the past, but the last time was way back in 2018!  It's definitely time to dust it off and use it again!

I've finished my card with my design evolving as I sorted through and chose multiple SCS challenges to include.  I think my cardmaking buddy will enjoy her birthday card!  Take a peek below:

Ingredients:  SU Cardstock--Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral, Basic White. Elizabeth Craft die--Rainy Day. SU Embossing Folder--Perfect Polka Dots (retired). EK Punch--Victorian Corners. K&Co. Butterfly Stickers. SU Rhinestones. SU Glitter--Dazzling Diamonds. Stash--1/4" satin ribbon (Copic colored-R14). SU sequins--Iridescent Sequins-Asst. Wink of Stella/Clear (umbrella & inside corners). Technique--Basket Weave (aka Braided Edge; aka Lattice Edge). Chatterbox sentiment/verse. Size--4-3/4" x 6".

A Birthday Walk Celebration!

My husband's birthday is in early February.  He is an avid walker, but has not been able to walk as often or as long since his last knee surgery in late June.  It was a difficult recovery, even down to falling and splitting the stitches three weeks after surgery.  This, of course, required an emergency trip to the hospital, another in-patient stay, debriding and re-stitching.  Fortunately, none of the kneecap and joint replacement area below was invaded, only the skin layers down to the knee cap (yes, they replace the knee cap after the joint replacement).

Celebrating his ability to now be out walking in our wooded country scenery, I have decided on a woodland embossed card with a cascade leaf "bouquet" for his card.  I really like the peek-a-boo sentiment area...my first time trying that idea, and I always love ink distressed embossed backgrounds, particular with the woodland embossing folder!  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks--Mossy Meadow, Island Indigo, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla. Stamps/dies--Vintage Leaves/ Leaflets Framelits. Inks--Mossy, Meadow, Island Indigo, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede. Punch--Washi Label. Embossing Folder--Woodland. 1/4" Cotton Ribbon--Island Indigo. Metallic Baker's Twine. Wink of Stella--Gold. Chatterbox Verse. Size--4-3/4" x 6".

Minnie Mouse Visits for Birthday TWO!

I am finally getting around to posting the first granddaughter birthday for 2021, which was celebrated in late February, and I heard that her birthday party theme was to be Mickey & Minnie Mouse, using their traditional colors of red, black, and white.  I also heard that little Sienna would be dressed in her own Minnie dress in those same colors.  She would be TWO, so I needed to put on my creative thinking cap and find a card design that was appropriate. 

First,  I decided that I would stick to just a Minnie Mouse on the card so that it could be a big mouse with a big bow for her head.  I ended up deciding on a large Minnie punch-art head instead of a full-bodied Minnie.  Since the party theme was to be red, black, and white, I decided that would be my card colors as well!  Next, I needed some patterned papers, and I found a red with multi-sized white polka dots in my stash that I thought would be perfect.  I had some other red and black prints on standby just in case I needed a second pattern.

The card sort of evolved adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  I decided the white "head" background panel needed dressing up so I used a happy birthday embossing folder to add texture before adhering Minnie's head.  It occurred to me that it would be "cool" if the head parts looked like fur, so I used the Stampin' Up Subtle Dynamic folder to emboss the head and ear pieces.  I wanted the card to feature that it was her birthday number TWO, so I added a shimmery red number 2 to coordinate with the sweet, shimmery red and white diagonal striped ribbon that I found and thought I would use for Minnie's head bow.  

I continued adding background layering and popped the "head" panel onto the layered card base.  I was thrilled with the look and how well it worked to use the ribbon for the horizontal strip to host the die-cut birthday sentiment, as well as for Minnie's perky head bow.   Take a peek below at the finished card.  I was really quite happy with the results.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstock:  Poppy Parade, Basic Black, Whisper White.  Recollections pattern:  Red Dots.  Recollections Foil/ Brilliant (red).   Dies:  Cottage Cutz Expressions--Birthday, Girl; Sizzlits--Mango Tango Alphabet/ Numbers.  EK Punches:  2-1/2" circle, 1-3/8" circle, Arrow Slim Edger (SU: Pinking Hearts retired), Victorner corners.  Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug--Happy Birthday; SU--Subtles Dynamic.  Ribbon Stash: 7/8" Metallic Diagonal Strip.  Size: 4-3/4x6 inches.

Christmas Wrapped in Holiday Spirit!

I'm onto my third Totally Lovin' Christmas modification...a cute little present snowman.  This one was a bit too plain for me, and the Soft Sea Foam green didn't do much for me with the blue.  I put my re-designing thinking cap on, and my soft green became a pinked white glitter paper center panel, my little snowman got a lot of fussy-cutting, and he changed his hat color too.   I decided he needed a navy cardbase with a silver foil mat layer between the Seaside Spray front panel, which surely need a bit of snowflake embossing to bring out some lovely texture.  My sentiment needed a pick-me up with a navy matting to coordinate with the new cardbase color.

I kept the layout with modifications, added new papers, dry emboss texturing, some glitter, foil, and a popped up fussy-cut snowman...it's done, and I am pleased.  This card surely must go to my snowman-loving friend! 

Meanwhile, when I saw the "square" snowman, I was thinking about a Splitcoaststamper challenge I was sure I'd seen requiring using things with squares.  My geometric snowman would surely fit!  Take a peek at the finished card below, both inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Balmy Blue, Silver Foil, Whisper White.  Stamp: Lots of Cheer (snowman/ sentiment).  Dies: Finishing Touches Edger (pinked).  Embossing Folder: Snow Burst (2011 Holiday).  1/4" Metallic Seaside Spray ribbon (2019 Holiday).  Other:  Colorbox Glitter paper--Fresh Snow.  Inks--Memento Tuxedo Black.   Colorbox Charcoal Cat Eye (ink distressing).  Punch--EK Victorian Corners.  Copic markers--Snowman/ B000, B21, B32, O; Hat/ B91, B95, B97; Ribbon/ R00, RV23, R83.  Scarf/ YG13.  Carrot/ YR18.  Wink of Stella-Clear (ribbons).  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.   (Thanks to Liz Thayer for original design idea that I took the liberty of modifying).

A Thank You Needed for a Wonderful Gesture!

In late August, my daughter and I wanted to go on a mini-vacation for my birthday.  A long-time friend offered her Long Beach, oceanside condo for our use, insisting we take it for the cost of the cleaning fees only.  I really tried to get her to let us contribute some or part of the rental fees she would ordinarily receive, but she firmly refused.  Right then and there, I decided I would make her a thank you card and enclosed a dining gift card to one of her favorite restaurants in the Long Beach area.

Though I purchased the gift certificate while in Long Beach, I was not able to get to that thank you card immediately, because I was still recuperating from my right hand surgery.  I attended a Stampin' Up card class in late September when I was able to start a little cardmaking, and with the help of a friend, I was able to get whatever embossing and die-cutting I needed done.  I planned to finish at home if my hand got too tired.  I was delighted that one of the card designs was a thank you card, which I very much needed to fulfill my plan to thank my good friend.

The thank you card sample had a basic good design and a pretty color palette, but my creative mojo came up with changes I wanted to make, which I completed at home later.  I also wanted to check out some Splitcoaststamper challenges, to see what I needed to meet some requirements, and I was delighted to see if I completed the card using the same basic design and colors, that it would work well with several.  Now, it was time I got to work.

To start, I enlarged the card to my favorite size 4-3/4 in. x 6 in. by adding a new white cardbase and Early Espresso mat layer beneath the top embossed layer.  Then, I applied my thoughts to make the card reflect my creative mojo.  I shifted the sentiment rectangle layers more to the center both to the top and left, as the original was placed very far to the right and to the bottom.  I added three more mini leaves in Pretty Peacock, Old Olive, and Early Espresso to fill in my desired leaf layers.  I added sparkle with Wink of Stella to the added espresso little leaf and the thanks die-cut.  I also added the sequins to add a bit more pizzazz.  I am pretty happy with my modifications and thank Dar Peterson for letting me elaborate upon her original design.

I hope my friend will love her card and thank you gift card.  I know she will enjoy the dinner for two and dessert upon her next visit to the coast. 

I designed an inside layout and composed a little verse to send along in my friend's thank you card.  Take a peek below.

Ingredients List:

Stampin' Up products... Cardstock:  Whisper White, Early Espresso, Pool Party, Pretty Peacock, Old Olive.  Patterned paper:  Come to Gather dsp (Holiday 2019).  Stamps: Colorful Seasons (leaf vein stamp).  Dies:  Seasonal Layers (leaves); Well Written (thanks).  Embossing Folder: Subtle 3D (background).  5/8" white flax ribbon (sponged w/ Pool Party ink).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

A Birthday Marquee Message!

One of my cardmaking besties has a Spring birthday.  I am determined to make her a card totally from scratch using nothing that is semi-prepared as a test to see how well my left hand will do post-surgery.  I did stamping, die-cutting, dry embossing, fussy-cutting, Copic coloring, and a shaker card.  A pretty great test, and I'd say I'm pretty pleased with the results.  The hand is a little tired, a little achy, and a bit swollen, but fabulous compared to pre-surgery swelling and pain!

I was also determined to get back into the Splitcoaststamper (SCS) challenges, and I have accomplished that with a vengeance!  I found eleven challenges that I can enter by tweaking my design idea here and there.  That is a new RECORD!  I can usually get in seven to nine, but have never even done ten before!  It all started with a card by cdimick (aka Catherine).   Catherine is an SCS Alpha sister, who is the current Featured Stamper at Splitcoaststampers.  I browsed her gallery and chose a card to "case" as the challenge requires, which featured a stamp set that caught my eye.  I browsed the inspiration challenge photos for some ideas, which led to the color challenge with the exact blues and greens I wanted to use, and on and on it went!

Meanwhile, I was keeping in mind that this card is for a very special friend, and I wanted it to be special for her with a huge focus on her birthday.  The Stampin' Up Marquee Messages stamp set was perfect!  I made it into a shaker to fit the Fan Club April Monthly challenge, and it really set off the marquee stamp perfectly.  First, I dry embossed a confetti pattern onto my Coastal Cabana cardstock and added sparkles by "painting" on glitter glaze with a foam brush. Love that sheen!  My finishing touches to dress up the shaker marque frame was to pop on some flowers, leaves, and oodles of pearls.  I must say I was pretty please with the results, and I am pretty sure my friend will like it as well!  Take a peek below.

Ingredients:  Stampin Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Tranquil Tide, Coastal Cabana, Balmy Blue.  Stamps--Marquee Messages (shaker frame/ sentiments), Vibrant Vases (flowers), Happy Birthday Gorgeous (leaf). Embossing Folder--Confetti.  Pearls.  Metallic Sequins Asst.  Other:  Sargernt Art Acrylic Glitter Glaze.  Copic markers.  Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black.  Buttons Galore--Aquamarine Party Mix.  Wink of Stella/ Clear.  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Thank You for the Delightful Gift!

I received a fairly unique gift quite unexpectedly...a cedar, chainsaw-made Christmas tree.  We had a family gathering a few weeks ago to celebrate two birthdays, and my son-in-law's mother was in attendance.  She is a collector of chainsaw wood art, and she brought a gift for me and my two daughters plus my daughter-in-law.  They were "carved" Christmas trees using a chainsaw to cut and form them from cedar logs.  The tree's branches were painted green with a bit of white snow gracing their tips and the trunks were the natural bark from the small cedar logs from which they was cut.  She had decorated each with miniature Christmas lights that could be all white or multi-colored by changing the remote settings.  What delightful gifts!

I needed a thank you card desperately and immediately.  I scoured some of the Splitcoaststamper challenges to find some ideas.  I used the Inspiration Challenge for an autumn color inspiration and found a Featured Stamper Challenge with a pretty autumn leaf card.  My mind was made up to do an autumn leaf card of my own.  I found some other challenges that would fit as well, and if I added green, I could finish Color Letter Z in the Round 9 Alphabet challenge.  

At this point, I remember a card by Liz Thayer that also had a leaf design, so I "borrowed" elements from her card to add to my card as well.  This is my finished card, a bit of a modified Liz design than from the Featured Stamper with two more added layers.  I finished the card off with an interior design to fit the outside and added a Chatterbox verse printed by my computer.

Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out.  I think my friend will enjoy her thank you card and also know just how appreciative I am of her lovely gift!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Papers:  Cardstocks--Mossy Meadow, Blackberry Bliss, Gold Foil, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede, So Saffron;  Patterned--Color Me Autumn (2014 Holiday), Typeset (2014-5 Annual).  Stamps: Holiday Cheer, Project Life (sentiment/ 2014 Holiday).  Dies:  Autumn Accents BigZ.  SU Embossing Folder: Hardwood.  SU Other:  Gold Basic Metal buttons; Washi Tape (names unknown); Dazzling Diamonds Gold Glitz.  Ink: Soft Suede ink distressing.  Size: 4-3/4x6-inches.

Cute Skeleton Bones for Halloween

It's that time of year where I get to make Halloween cards.  I just really enjoy putting together interesting and offbeat cards, and my four adult children and their spouses enjoy receiving them.  For my DD#1 (darling daughter), I found two challenges at Splitcoasters that spurred along my imagination and my creative mojo began to rumble!

I wanted to use skeleton bones on my card, and I pulled out an old 2015 Stampin' Up set that I had not ever inked up.  Being that this card would be for my oldest daughter, I thought a few feminine touches might be nice, so my skeleton ends up being a wee girl skeleton but not so terribly scary.  I am really happy with the results that morphed as I put it together.  I completed the inside with my very own Chatterbox verse and added some embellishments to coordinate with the card front.  Take a peek below. . .I think DD#1 will be delight!

Ingredients:  Papers:  Stampin' Up Basic Black, Shimmer White, Whisper White, Happy Haunting dsp (stars); Darice Core'dinations Glitter Silk--Silver Mist. Stamp/Die set: Howl-O-Ween Treat/ Boo To You dies (2015 Holiday).  Dies:  Pierced Scallop Background.  SU Punch:  Ornate Tag Topper.  SU: Lucky Stars EF.  SU Embellishments:  3/8" Glitter Ribbon-White, Metallic Thread-Silver, Iced Rhinestone.  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse (handwritten/ computer printed).  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

A Wedding Story Weaves a Fabulous Quilt!

My husband's youngest sister's son is getting married in a few weeks, and a wedding card is needed.  I bought the Stampin' Up Quilt Builder stamps and dies last fall, but have not had a chance to use them.  I've had several ideas from Christmas to baby cards, but after thinking about it, I decided it might make up into a pretty wedding card.  This would also fit right in to help finish one of my last two stragglers in the Splitcoaststamper Alphabet Challenge, Round 8.  One of the stragglers is for letter Q, and using the quilt die would be perfect!  My mind was already working on thoughts for the card's wedding verse inside. . .something involving marriage, the fabric of two lives woven together to make a fabulous quilt!

The newest Splitcoaststamper Inspiration Challenge is to visit the OPI nail polish website, and I saw some pretty nail art while browsing using cream and gold metallic nail art, which reminded me I could probably meet the Letter Q bonus challenge of Joss paper, which is a gold foil paper used in Chinese ancestral worship ceremonies.

After checking out several other Splitcoaststamper challenges, I had some great ideas and inspiration, and I was more than ready to begin.  I thought a white or cream card using gold metallic papers in the quilt would make a really pretty wedding card and my possible verse running around in my head would pull it all together.  Check out my finished card below, showing the outside and inside creations.  I'm pretty happy with the results!

Recipe:  SU Papers: Shimmery White cs; Bundle of Love Specialty dsp (2018 Occ).  Recollections Shimmer Gold cs.  SU Dies: Quilt Builder Framelits; Layering Squares Framelits; Layering Ovals Framelits.  SU Stamps: Rose Wonder (sentiment).  SU Embossing Folder: Quilt Top.  SU Embossing Powder: Gold.  Recollections Embossing Powder: Gold Tinsel.  SU Ribbon: 3/8" Metallic Gold (2017 Holiday).  Stash: Champagne Rhinestones.  EK Punch: Scallop Photo Corners Medium (inside).  Chatterbox verse.  Size:  4-3/4" x 6".  

Thinking of You, Dear Friend!

The month of May has been filled with lots of not so happy news from illnesses to those who have gone to their final resting place.  I need another card for a dear friend, who had serious surgery within a few days of my niece, which I noted in my last post.  My friend will also be looking toward a lengthy recovery until she feels "normal" is a word she can use in her vocabulary again!

Besides flowers, I've been wanting to send her one of my handcrafted cards, which she always enjoys for her birthday!  While making my niece's card, I was keeping in mind card ideas for my dear friend using a modified card kit design as well.  Another thing I was keeping in mind was that I wanted to complete another SCS Alphabet Challenge, because I am so far behind (comes from being crafting AWOL with knee surgery!!).  Here is my second card kit re-design, using parts from one original design and parts from another.  Take a peek below...I think my friend will be pleased.

Ingredients:   Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Dapper Denim, Flirty Flamingo.  Stamps--Heartfelt Blooms (2018 SAB).  Ink--Dapper Denim, Baked Brown Sugar (ink distressing).  Dies--Lots of Labels framelits.  Embossing Folder: Fancy Dots (2016 AC).  Perennial Birthday Kit (2018 Occ):  materials from two different card designs:  floral disp + white/floral shaped tag + ribbon/ twine.  Other: Spellbinder die: Labels 10 (sentiment).  Punch:  EK Victorian Medium Photo Corner.  5/8" Gold Glitter Washi Tape.  Pretty Pink Posh sequins.  Chatterbox verse (Bob Marley quote modified).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

THE CARDMAKING STORY

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Thinking of You, Friend!

I have several Thinking of You cards that I need to make and get in the mail, yesterday!  One is for a friend who always have me over for tea when visiting in her seaside town.  I saw a challenge where we were to make a card around a song, and as soon as this, I thought about her and the song, I'm a Little Teapot, came to mind, and I couldn't get it out of my head.  With tea in mind, a search through my To Do box and brought forth pieces of an unfinished card that I started in a class about 4-1/2 years ago.  

Yes, I love to go to classes and socialize, and I usually don't get all the design samples completed.  To give me some credit (rolling my eyes), sometimes that is deliberate, because an idea comes to mind where I want to change something little or big about the card.  I don't complete the card at class in order to make the changes at home with my own supplies.  This one, I have kept near the original design, but made the original Melon Mambo card base into a layer.  I re-sized most pieces smaller, plus I added two more layers. . .a white cardbase and a die-cut decorative Old Olive layer.  I also popped up all the layers above the Old Olive layer from those first two added layers.  As a finishing touch, I ink distressed all my edges for a bit of a vintage flair, but I see this does show up well in my picture.

I think my friend will like her card, with its little teacup and happy colors, and be pleased to know I've been thinking about her.  Take a peek below at my finished card inside and out.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Whisper White.  Patterned dsp:  Gingham Garden (2013 AC).  Stamps: Kind & Cozy (2013-14 AC).  Ink: Old Olive, Melon Mambo; Ink Distressed: Soft Suede.  Punches: 2-1/4" Scallop, 2-3/8" Circle. Scallop Trim Border (ret.).  Embossing Folder: Stripes (ret.).  Ribbon: 3/8" Old Olive Striped Organdy. Rhinestones.  EK Punch: Scallop Photo Corners.  Die:  Reverse Confetti Die: Lacy Scallop Frame.  Fussy-cut teacup.  Chatterbox verse.  Size:  4-1/2" x 5-3/4".

Hugs & Prayers for SCS Friend. . .

A wonderful Splitcoaststamper friend has lost her young, great niece, and I wanted to join the Teapot Party to let her know we are so sorry for her family's loss.  To lose someone is always difficult, but that much more so when they are very young!  I am sending our friend hugs and prayers in a card, sealed with a kiss.

I have had this fantastic stamp set that I know it has flooded Splitcoasterstampers and Pinterest with oodles of card, but I have never inked it up myself.  I thought this lovely tree and scenery would be just right for a sympathy card.  I'm hoping it bring comfort to our SCS friend.  Time will eventually help heal and allow her and her family to remember wonderful memories of this sweet little girl who has gone too early to a peaceful and loving place.  Take a peek below at my finished card inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstocks--Blushing Bride, Lucky Limeaide (ret.), Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla; Stamps--Sheltering Tree; Inks--Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzaz, Strawberry Slush, Pink Pirouette, Memento Tuxedo Black, Burnt Brown Sugar (ink edge distressing); Embossing Folder--Petal Pair (2018 Occ); 1/2" Pink Pirouette seam binding ribbon (ret.).  Other:  Stash--Metal Leaf; Chatterbox sentiment/ verse (computer printed); Size--4-3/4" x 6".

Sorrow for Our Alpha Sister!

It is with sadness that I must make another sympathy card for a dear friend that I've gotten to know through Splitcoaststampers.  She is a fellow Alpha Challenge sister, Art Deco Diva, and after a long struggle, she has lost her mother to the battle.  We are all so saddened to hear this, but want our friend to know how much we are thinking of her and praying for her and her family.

The Splitcoaststampers Traveling Teapot Challenge, which chooses someone each week that we want to honor in some manner and for different reasons.  Unfortunately, some of those reasons involving losing someone near and dear to us.  Art Deco Diva's SCS galley is filled with lovely cards that can only be described as eclectic.  We are choosing to honor Art Deco Diva with cards that feature the shabby chic style and are challenge hostess wants us to include lots of detail.

I love shabby chic, one of my favorite styles, but I prefer it not to be too over the top, but for sure it must include ribbon, lace, flowers, and definitely be feminine.  I am using all of those things, plus some layering and dry embossing to add texture.  Of course, it has to have some sparkle, so I added a flower rhinestone medallion for the center of my flowers.  Take a peek below at my finished card inside and out.  I'm hoping it will bring solace to ADD's sorrowful heart and let her know that we are thinking of her and keeping her and her family in our prayers during this trying time.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Sahara Sand, Lost Lagoon, Very Vanilla.  Stamp--Petal Potpourri (2015 Occ).  Markers--Lost Lagoon, Sahara Sand.  Dies--Stitched Shape Framelits/ Ovals.  Punch--Flower Medallion (ret.).  Embellishment--Something Borrowed (Occ-2015).  Ribbon--3/8" Stitched Satin-Lost Lagoon (ret.).  Lace--7/8" Lace Trim-Sahara Sand (ret.).  Other:  Cuttlebug EF-Summer Set/ Floral.  Dies--Spellbinder Petite Scallop Oval SM.  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse (computer printed).  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".

Love You Much Valentine!

I finished a half-made Valentine card that I started several years ago when I thought I was going to need a quick card for a short notice invitation, but it turned out to be a false alarm.  It has been residing in my "To Do" Stash ever since.  I needed two cards for my cardmaking buddies, and further motivation came from seeing some Splitcoaststamper Challenges I wanted to enter as well!

After seeing the  Splitcoaststampers' Dirty Dozen February Monthly Themes MORE is MORE challenge, I thought this would be the perfect card to finish and then do a more elaborate version to meet the challenge requirements, which requires a simple card be modified and elaborated upon to make a more complex version.  I will also use it to start the new Alphabet Challenge Round 9. . .pre-alphabet card, which is to make a Valentine card.  I am making two of the stepped up version #2 for my two cardmaking buddies.

My first and simple version is the card front with several mat layers and a cardbase.  My second, and more elaborate version sports an embossed heart and places the card front and two matted layers on a Basket Weave Edged card base.  Take a look below at Version #1 and Version #2.  Version #2 also has a finished inside with a created verse.

Version #1

Version #2

Version #2 with completed inside

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Coastal Cabana, Melon Mambo, Very Vanilla.  Washi Tape--Retro Fresh (2014-15 Annual/ retired).  Stamp--Best of Love (2013 Anniversary celebration Best of... stamps).  Ink--Melon Mambo.  Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots (retired). Punchs:  Full-Heart (retired); Boho Blossoms (smallest blossom- retired); What's Up? (arrow-retired).  Essentials Punch Pack (heart piercing).  Rhinestones.  Stash: crochet ribbon.  Punch: EK Medium Scallop Photo Corner.  Technique: Basket Weave edge (aka Braided Edge; aka Lattice Edge). Chatterbox verse.  Size: 5: x 5-1/2".  

A 2018 Valentine for Mom!

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

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

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

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

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

Tool Time Waterfall Birthday!

It is my husband's birthday in a few days, and as he's quite the handyman; therefoe, I decided on a tool card for him.  I had been itching to do another waterfall card, and I thought this technique would work well with tools for each stage of the waterfall.  This will be my third waterfall card, but it's been almost two years since the last one, which was for Easter 2016.

I have three stamps sets that have carpentry tools on them.  Two of them are about four years old, and the other is just about a year old.  I have made cards with all three, but I wanted my tools to be a bit more realistic and not so cutesy or toy looking, so I surfed the web for Google blackline images and found several that I liked.  I did use the nuts, bolts, screws, and nails from one of my stamp sets.

I wanted to enter a few Splitcoaststampers' challenges, so I looked up what was available before getting started to see if I could fit parts of one thing or another into one or more challenges.  I ended up being able to enter these five challenges...Alphabet Challenge/ Letter W for waterfall/ Extra Double = use decorative scissors (I used old pinking shears); Ways to Use It - Give Me a Second Chance (use old stamps/ tools/ old pinking shears); Inspiration Challenge...something from Needlepoint website to inspire you (colors came from here...serendipity...the kitty even had tools); Use It 2018 (bring out unused or never used crafting items; and the Technique gallery for Waterfall card.  I entered one more...Free 4  All/ F4A415, but I might be fudging a bit......create a pop-up card or use things with a popping theme, i.e., popcorn.  In my Waterfall technique...the waterfall items "pop up" one by one when you pull the ribbon.  There is interaction, but not quite like a "pop up" card, but it still seems like it might fit!

I'm thinking my husband will be very please with his card.  Take a peek below to see what you think.  There will be four views as a waterfall card is interactive and you'll need to see it in each of its stages as it flips up through the layers.

Ingredients:  Solid Papers:  Stampin' Up cardstock - Basic Black, Real Red, Hello Honey, Silver Foil (embossed).  Patterned Papers:  Michaels Open Stock: Golden Grid; Joanns Open-Stock: Silver Check Designer.  Google Search Digital images: tools + 6" ruler (from stash).  Copic Marker colored.  Stampin' Up stamps: Nailed It (bolts, nuts, screws, nails, only).  Dies:  Spellbinders: Circles LG, Pinking Circles LG, Lifestyles Circles (retired).  Punches: 1/2" Circle; 1/8" Hole punch; Zutter Corner Rounder.    Decorative Scissors: Pinking shears.  SU Embossing Folder: Argyle (retired).  Recollections: Screw Brads.  Stampin' Up Ribbon: 1/8" Black w/silver grosgrain.  Fussy-cutting.  Waterfall Technique.  Computer verse/ sentiment.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".