Bring on the Easter Eggs!

I must be on a roll.  This is my fifth Easter card using a vintage image.  There are so many cute ones to choose from.  Again, this little hen image was too narrow in height; and therefore, it needed a lot of work in PaintShop Pro to add size above and below the hen image in order to fit it into a rectangular frame.  I added size to the sky and the path at the bottom, making sure to get the shading just right.  I learned a lot, and I am happy with the finished product.

My first step in all my Easter card has been to decide on the image I was going to use and the type of frame or background mat best suited to the size and dimension of the image.  My second step was to choose papers that would enhance the image without taking away from it.  In this case, my image was pretty colorful and bold, so I was able to pick up those vibrant colors from the cart and the Easter eggs to use in the papers.  Again, I used the frosted glitter adhesive technique over the image, but because it was such a colorful image, it really didn't tone down much as this technique often does to softer color shades.  

I've decided that even though it is a female hen, this card is bold enough that it takes on a masculine feel; therefore, I will reserve it for one of the fellows on my Easter list.  This was definitely a delightfully fun card to make.

The last step to complete the card and be able to say it is definitely finished is the inside coordinating design with a little verse.  I usually look at the picture or image and imagine a story based around the image.  Then, I try to choose just the right message to bring home the picture's story.  Indeed, those Easter bunnies need lots of eggs to color.  I see Mrs. Hen as part of the egg coloring production cres.  She is very busy, just as those bunnies are, making sure Easter is a joyful occasion for every little boy and girl! 

Recipe:  Papers:  Stampin' Up-Early Espresso cs (card base), Tangerine Tango cs; My Minds' Eye-Stella Rose: Hattie/ Happy, Gertie/ Friends & Delightful, Forever/ Dots.  Vintage online image.  Elmer's Craft Adhesive Spray.  JoAnn's Iridescent Fine Glitter.  Spellbinders die: Lattice Rectangles; Rectangles SM.  MFT dies: Accent It Labels & Tags.  PTI stamps: Scrambled Eggs-sentiment.  Michael's: Song of Springtime Trims.  Favorite Finding Buttons (mini).  May Arts: Jute Twine.  (Size: 6" x 5-1/8").

Top Hat Rabbit Gets Ready for Easter!

I am again using a vintage image as my focal point, and I envision this top hat rabbit in his apron going to an egg decorating party.  Don't you think he got all dressed up because he was trying to impress a certain lady bunny, whom he knew would be at the party as well.  Notice he has a bouquet of flowers that I envision he picked along the way  How's that for an imagination!

To start, I picked some possible papers that complimented my vintage image, and I was ready to go to work.  I had a 6 x 6 pad of canvas that I had used on another card recently to make a big canvas flower, and I thought that might make an interesting frame for my image rather than a traditional paper frame.  I adhered it to a piece of lightweight chipboard to give it stability, and then I ran it through my Big Shop using my Lifestyles Eyelet Square die.  It didn't cut it; it actually acted more like an embossing folder and imprinted on the canvas rather than cutting it, but I liked what I saw.  You know, one of those happy accidents, because I thought it would make an interesting mat background for my image rather than framing it!  (I'm thinking the thin wafer dies are not sharp enough to cut through a canvas and chipboard combination.)

With it now going to be a background for my image, I decided to pink the edge of the canvas with my pinking shears (old ones I keep in my tool stash).  To finish it off, I sponged and distressed the edges of the vintage image and the entire background of the embossed canvas in a combination of Baja Breeze and Pear Pizzaz Stampin' Up inks.  I so very much like the way the image and its canvas background turned out.  I was stoked!  Below is the finished product of my happy accident.

I decided this card would be for my husband, so I needed a verse that he would be pleased with...it needed to have a religious tone.  I typed it up and printed it out onto Very Vanilla cardstock, matted it with the Old Olive Words paper, and finished off the corners with the vine paper from the front.

Recipe:  Papers:  SU-Baja Breeze cs (card base), SU Brights Stack/ Old Olive words; K&Co.-Studio K: Meadow/ Breeze; Angel Co.-Country Cottage/ gold dot; Recollections: Canvas Stack; Grafix Lightweight Chipboard.  Lifestyles die: Eyelet Squares.  Vintage image (online freebie).  SU stamps: Delightful Dozen-sentiment.  SU Ink: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Perar Pizzaz.  SU punch: Modern Labels.  SU buttons.  Offray ribbons.  Stash: Embroidery floss/ doubled; Pinking shears.  (Size: 5" x 6").

Little Easter Girl Bunny Delivers Eggs!

My next Easter card uses a vintage little girl bunny all dressed up and delivering eggs.  This vintage image was not really "built" to make a square image so I had to do a bit of doctoring in PaintShop Pro to add to the background areas of sky, bushes and path.  I was pretty pleased with the way it turned out.  I framed her in a glittered frame made with my Lifestyles Eyelet Squares dies.

I found the perfect paper aqua background paper with pink flowers in the same pink shade as my bunny's dress.  From there, the lace, ribbon and vintage embellishments just fell into place without any hard work.  I love it when that happens!

Once again, creating an inside coordinating design and just the right verse has finished off my card.

Recipe:  Papers:  Stampin' Up-Whisper Whiter cs (card base), Pretty-In-Pink cs; Subtles DSP Stack-Pool Party Chevron; Jillibean-Southern Chicken Dumping Soup: Celery Stocks (back); Making Memories-Garden Party Stripe (back/ check).  Lifestyles die: Eyelet Squares (frame).  Stampin' Up dies:  Finishing Touches Edgelets; Bitty Banner framelits.  Elmer's Craft Adhesive Spray.  JoAnn's Iridescent Fine Glitter.  PTI stamps: Scrambled Eggs (sentiment).  Stampin' Up ink: Cajun Craze.  Recollections: Vintage Resin flowers.  Prima Vintage Wood embellishments.  Stash: Lace; Ribbon.  (Size: 5-1/2" square).

Easter Bunny Takes Tea!

On  a roll, here is card number two for my Easter Stash.  This cute little Easter vintage image several years ago and stashed her on my computer for future use.  Do you ever find you are surfacing the web and find freebie images and put them away for a rainy day?  Along with Pinterest, this is another of my favorite past times.  I, of course, at this stage have more images than I'll ever use, I'm sure!

I thought this little bunny would be very cute with pastel Easter paper to add color to my card as there weren't many colors depicted in the image itself.  What better way than to do a ray card with multiple design paper patterns.  My next step was to address my little teatime bunny.  I sprayed my little image with adhesive spray and then dipped it into iridescent crystal fine glitter to make an almost frosted look to its surface.  I don't think the photograph really shows that detail much, and I apologize.  I then cut a circle frame using my Spellbinders Eyelet Circle die.  I also decided I wanted to use colored tickets for the sentiment, so I stamped up several different colors of cardstock with Easter sentiments, die-cut them with my Tim Holtz Ticket Strip, inked decorative lines around the edges, and added ink distressing.  Voila. . .three tickets just perfect for my card.   I think someone will be please when they receive this little bunny card!

Again, the final touch to complete the card is to decide on the inside creative design and the verse.  When that is finished, I know the card is totally done.

Recipe: Papers:  Stampin' Up - Pretty in Pink cs (card base), Pear Pizzaz cs.  Ray papers:  Imaginesce-For Peep's Sake: Spring Fling & Hot Chicks; WRMK-Cottontails 6x6 pad; Angel Co.-Country Cottage/ yellow; Authentique-Promise/ Four.  Spellbinders die: Eyelet Circles.  Sizzix/Tim Holtz die: Ticket Strip.  PTI stamps fr tickets.  Recollections: pink pearls.  Elmer's Craft Adhesdive Spray.  JoAnn's Iridescent Fine Glitter.  Stash: Lace, Organdy Glitter ribbon, vintage bunny image.  (Size: 5-1/2" square).  

Easter is Coming!

Yes, Easter is less than a month away!  Time to get out the Easter mojo and get my cards done.  Since I didn't get my Valentine's card done and sent due to my mouth surgery, I really must get with it for Easter!  What I also needed was to find that darn Easter bunny, and I think I found him lurking behind that watering can, peeking out among the flowers.

This is the cutest darn digi image...I just had to color this little bunny up with my Copics and start my Easter card with him.  After I decided to use the Stampin' Up Watercolor Wonder dsp from last year's Occasions catalog, the colors for the digi image (from an unknown source) and the card just fell together very quickly.  I spritzed my doily with my homemade spritzers in just the right shades to match the designer paper.  I even had some shaded ribbon in my stash that was a perfect match, is that serendipity, or what??!!

For me, to complete inside design to coordinate with the outside look of my card and to compose or find just the right verse is to actually finish the card in its entirety.  I compose most of my verses myself and print them out using my computer. 

Recipe:  Papers: Darice Kraft cs; Stampin' Up: Calypso Coral cs, Blushing Bride cs, Watercolor Wonder dsp.  Digital image: unknown source.  Copic Markers.  Wilton 4" doily.  Spritzers: SU ink: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Yellow.  Spellbinder die: Eyelet Squares.  SU framelit: Bitty Banners.  SU Finishing Touches Edgelits (petite pinking).  PTI sentiment stamp: Scrambled Eggs.  Prima flowers and roses.  SU: Dazzling Deails Glitter Glue (image flower centers).  Inside:  SU Labels framelit.  (Size: 5-1/2" x 6").

Mom Deserves a Beautiful Birthday Card!

My mother's birthday is coming up in mid-August, and with the title of this post in my mind, I wanted to do something really special for her, while venturing into new cardmaking realms that I had not traveled before.  Foil seems all the rage right now, so I decided I would try using foil paper for her card.

Stampin' Up has a beautiful set of papers out in their new catalog, named "Gold Soiree," that I recently purchased and absolute loved the look of it...gold metallic with a creamy white petite rose print.   I thought it would be fun to try and make my own patterned paper using an embossing folder and brayering white over top.  My first learning experience:  white Craft ink pads do NOT work on foil papers, because they never dry!  My next thought was white StazOn, which worked really well and dried in less than 30 minutes!  But, it was a bit messy to clean the brayer when finished.

Here we go back to my same dilemma, I like cards that are at least 5-1/4" x 5-1/4," and am not overly fond of the basic A2 sized card (4-1/4" x 5-1/2"), because they just seem too small.  Embossing folders are generally about A2 sized; therefore, I realized right off the bat this was going to be a problem to emboss my entire 5" by 5-1/2" card front layer.  The embossing folder I chose, was not a repetitive pattern like wallpapers, so I could not place the paper back in the folder and match up the already emboss image along its edges.  Fortunately, to solve my problem, I was able to turn my embossing folder sideways as its pattern could be used either way.  I then used a border embossing folder to finish off this unembossed area bottom at the bottom and planned to use a vanilla cream satin ribbon to cover the area where the two types of embossing met cover up the seam and any "messy and unbeautiful stuff."

I also had not worked a lot with vellum and embossed sentiments.  That was pretty easy, but adhering it to my frame was a little tricky as the vellum wanted to pucker with the glue...I probably should have used a tape runner or only attached the top and possibly the bottom, but not the sides as that is where the puckering happened.  Also, anything below the vellum showed right through, making it very "busy," and thus, the sentiment didn't stand out.  To solve this issue, I adhered a piece of vanilla cardstock beneath the vellum...this worked really well.  The rest of the card went together very quickly once I finished the embossing texture, white brayering, heat embossed sentiment, and die-cut its frame.  

I am pretty pleased with the results, considering the cardmaking process was not at ALL smooth, but it was certainly a "learning lesson."  I finished the card off by creating a birthday verse for inside and decorations to compliment the outside design.  I hope my mother loves her card and knows it was made especially for her with love in my heart.

Below is a peak at the inside verse and coordinating design, where I used a gold metallic spritz before printing the verse.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers:  Very Vanilla cs, Foil Sheets, White Vellum.  Stampin' Up stamps:  Happiest Birthday Wishes (ret.), Flower Shop, Petite Petals.  Ink:  Encore Gold Metallic; StazOn White (brayered).  Stampin' Up punches:  Pansy, Petite Flower.  Sixxiz Sizzlit:  Little Leaves (ret.).  Martha Stewart Butterfly Double Punch. Lifestyles die: Eyelet Squres.  Stampin' Up Folder:  Lovely Lace, Delicate Designs borders.  Other Stampin' Up: 5/8" Vanilla Satin ribbon;  Half pearls; Gold Embossing Powder.  Stash:  Metallic Inca Gold Spritz (homemade). (Card size: 5-1/2" x 6".)

Easter Bunny Ready to Travel!

Late last night, I finally finished my last Easter card.  I have been on a roll using my newly invented stash of vintage Easter images that you have heard me talking about off and one for the last three weeks.  I needed another masculine Easter card and selected this cute little bunny with spectacles, who looks like he's ready to make a journey.  My guess is he is making his annual journey to color Easter eggs, and I surmise that the big egg in his basket backpack is his egg-coloring kit.  How's that for some imagination!

I found a wonderful stripe in my paper stash by Fancy Pants that matches my bunny image colors just right.  I decided all stripe was just too much, and since I seem to be using combinations of geometric paper patterns in the background of most of my Easter card so far, I might as well stick to my groove, right?  I framed this little rabbit by re-enforcing the thickness of one of the background papers, cut it out with the Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles, which had to be modified so all edges would be the same thickness, sprayed it with adhesive glue, and added a thin coat of fine crystal glitter.  I was satisfied with my results, but wished I had taken time to sewing machine a straight stitch on the striped segments and entirely around the outer edge of as well, but time was limited, so here is my finished card, which will be for my husband:

Recipe:  Papers:  Stampin' Up Very Vanilla cs (base); Fancy Pants Beach Bum-Hawaiian Stripes; AdornIt Vintage Groove-Polka Dot Green; Recollections Basics-Blue Pinstripe.  Spellbinders dies: Deckled Rectangles LG, Rectangles LG.  Vintage online Easter image.  HugSnug seam binding: Blue Jay, Moss Green.  Queen&Co.: Twinkle Goosebumps.

My husbad's striped Easter card fits the Shabby Tea Room's Week #214 Challenge, which requires the use of polka dots or stripes, so I thought I put it into the challenge as my second entry.  The challenge's inspiration photo tells you your card should be Easter-oriented as well.

Don't forget to visit The Shabby Tea Room at the link below to take a look-see at all the wonderful entries:

http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/2014/04/week-214-easter-sweetness.html

Easter Bunny Rays!

I just finished another Easter card using my newly acquired stash of vintage Easter digital images that I have been finding online and sprucing up in PaintShop Pro.  I just love this little "top hat" Easter bunny.  He looks so cheerful as he goes about the business of painting and decorating Easter eggs.  I thought he would make a perfect card for the masculine members of my family, yet he is so whimsical that I think the female members would enjoy him as well.

Finding papers that would go with his colorful clothing meant not using traditional Easter paper that's for sure.  I decided a "coat of many colors" card would be appropriate and that would best be achieved by making a sunburst ray card.  I ended up using some old My Mind's Eye Stella Rose papers I have had around for over three years...their colors were perfect.  I added a few pieces of Stampin' Up papers as well to achieve the mix I was looking for.  Here is the card I ended up with:

Recipe:  Darice Kraft cardstock (base); MME Stella Rose: Gertie, Hazel, Hattie/ So Sophie: Brothers & Sisters; Adornit Vintage Groove: Polka Dot Green (back); Stampin' Up Print Poetry: red flower, green quatrefoil.  Spellbinders die: Big Scallop Ovals SM, Ovals SM.  Vintage online digital image.  Elmer's Adhesive Spray.  Stash: crystal fine glitter.  Stampin' Up Ink: Baja Breez (lightly sponged image background).  HugSnug seam binding: Serbin Brown (olive), Goldenrod (colored w-Copic: YR23).  Stampin' Up button.  Stash:  tan scrapbooking floss.  Faux stitching (fine brown pen).  Inside: EK Scallop Corner punch.

Again this week, I have decided to enter my son's Easter card in The Shabby Tea Room's Week #214 challenge: Easter Sweetness, which requires the use of stripes and/or polka dots.  The inspiration photo and the title of the challenge surely tell you it must be an Easter card:

Be sure to visit The Shabby Tea Room blog to see all the other exciting entries in this challenge.  Click on the link below to be transport to the tea room!

http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/2014/04/week-214-easter-sweetness.html

A Vintage Santa!

One of the style of cards that I dearly love is vintage simple.  This is a name I give to vintage cards that are not too over the top with too many frou-frou embellishments and details.  At Christmas, vintage Santas are one of my favorite images.  I have been collecting them in a file on my computer, but have never used one.  I decided this was the year that I had to try my hand at a card featuring a vintage Santa.  I love to frame vintage pictures, and I decided that would be what I would do with my lovely old guy!  Here is how my vintage Santa card evolved.

Recipe: Georgia Pacific White cs. Bazzill Blush Red Medium cs.  DCWV Christmas Stack (2011): green snowflakes. Authentique: Festive-Joyful stripe. DCWV Glitter paper: lime. Graphic Fairy: Old St. Nick color image. Wilton 6” Doily (modified). Colorbox Chestnut Roan distressing. Stampin’ Up Scallop Border punch. Spellbinders: Scallop Ovals LG, Ovals SM, Scallop Squares LG.  Petalloo Poinsettias. Recollections Rhinestones.

Another Family Birthday!

I have many female family birthday's in the month of August, including my own!  My cousin-in-law, Barbara, had her birthday a few days ago.  She lives in the Midwest, halfway across the United States from me, and it is a rare treat when we are able to renew our friendship in person.  I wanted to send her a birthday card to remind her that I was thinking of her on her birthday and love having Facebook time with her, keeping up with her and her lovely family through her pictures and comments.

I saw a card when I was last in California at one of my favorite scrapbook stores, Paradise Scrapbook Boutique, in Chico, California, and I took a quick snapshot of it with my phone.  I have to tell you, I love Karen's store and all her lovely products, and I usually spend a fortune while there.  So, if you are ever traveling in northern California down I-5, take a quick jaunt to Chico and visit her store.  Its decor is lovely and vintagey and makes you feel right at home.  I guess spending my money at this store might be fortunate, because it meant that I had most of the papers and embellishments to make this card in my stash.  I was excited and ready to go to work to make Barbara's card.  

I did enlarge the card just a bit by adding two more layers with a vanilla cardbase and a pink mat before beginning the patterned papers.  I decided to make my vertical papers just a little bit wider than I thought the original card was and to add a ribbon band and sentiment with a double layered trim.  I just love the soft colors of this Pink Paislee paper, and it is just right for Barbara, as I think she will like the soft vintagey look of it.

Recipe:  Cardstocks: SU Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Pool Party. Pattern: Pink Paislee/London Market-Mayfair & Curiosities (coordinating). Darice Transparent Vellum. Distressing: Colorbox Chestnut Roan. Martha Stewart 3-in-1 Butterfly punch. SU adhesive pearls, SU punches: Modern Label, Word Window. SU Pool Party seam binding ribbon. Stash: Chipboard frame, pearl hat pin, crystal bead, satin ribbon rose, rhinestone trim.

Birthday 2011 for Daughter Dear!

I'm was REALLY enjoy making those vintage cards about the time my daughter's birthday rolled around in June of 2011.  As I'd said previously, I think I love the nostalgia of it all...a reminder of a simple time and place.

As I was searching for vintage images for John's aunts card earlier in the month of June, I came across one with a purse full of Forget-Me-Nots that I absolute loved.  My daughter has always liked this weed as her Dad calls them.  We have them growing and increasing on the bank in the front yard, and he is not happy about that.  He is threatening to go out and use RoundUp on them.  I actually like them during the several months they are in bloom, but they are rather stringy when finished. . .so I understand his point of view as well.  But, thinking of them when in beautiful, blue blooming abundance, which they were at the time I made my daughter this card, it gave me inspiration, I think.  I know she will truly enjoy her card and may even see a little humor in it.

And, I made this little poem for her inside verse letting her know how much she is thought of and loved each and every day of the year.