A Lovable Birthday Zebra for Evie!

Ingredients:  Stampin'Up: Cardstock--Lucky Limeaide, Pacific Point Blue, So Saffron; Patterned Papers--2013-14 Subtles Dsp Stack-Pool Party, 2016-17 Subtles Dsp Stack-Wild Wasabi, 2012-13 Subtles Dsp Stack-Certainly Celery; Ribbon--Gold Metallic Cord; Gems--Gold Metallic.  Other--Dies:

Marianne Collectables--Zebra-Donkey; Cottage Cutz Sun & Clouds; My Favorite Things--Frightful Fence; Lawn Fawn Party Balloons; IO Dies--Small Grass die, Insect Set (butterflies); Lawn Fawn--Grassy Hillside; Memory Box--Varsity Numbers; Poppystamp--Happy Birthday Banner Flags (Letters); Glitter--Impress Sparkle;  Wink of Stella/ Clear. Chatterbox verse--computer. Size: 4-3/4 x 6-inches.

CARD STORY & CONSTRUCTION NOTES

My youngest granddaughter will be turning two in mid-November, and I wanted to get her card finished early so I would be absolutely sure to have it on time!  Her birthday party theme this year will be butterflies.  

I had been fiddling around with my Marianne cute little zebra die many months ago when I was making last year's granddaughter birthday cards.  At that time, I die-cut the parts for several  zebras and though this little zebra girl turned out just as cute as I thought she would, I decided to go for 3D ballerina girls instead!  I got side-tracked and never quite decided what I was going to do with the little zebra, so she's been lurking around my craft for all this long while!  

I recently came upon a challenge that basically said to use up those items in your stash (or laying around) that were finished or partially finished or just throw them out.  I spotted the little zebra, and I knew I did not want to throw her out; therefore I was motivated to find her a home! 

 

Though a zebra did not exactly fit the butterfly theme, I thought I'd be able to fix that if I incorporated some butterflies flitting around a zebra card scene.  I even recycled a rainbow foil birthday party hat that this same birthday granddaughter had previously worn at a party.  Though it was torn a little, I'd been saving it as the perfect recycle paper to somehow use on a card for her.  The balloons and flitting butterflies I planned were the perfect thing!  Take a look at Evie's finished card below.  I'm pretty pleased with the results and think she will LOVE it!

Feel Better Soon!

A good friend is under the weather and needs a little card to perk her up.  I decided to pull an old, but very well liked paper collection to use: Stella Rose by My Mind's Eye.  I like the blues and yellows, which makes it just the right combination for this time of year in the Northwest.  Sometimes, its a bit gloomy and rainy and sometimes the sun is shining with a 75-degree day.  Each day tells a new weather story, and I'm sure, from past history, there's still some wintery weather left for Mother Nature to bring, but today we'll throw in a little spring to remind us of what's coming!

I decided to case a little card made several years ago by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, (My Lil' Scrap Corner), but change it up a bit by enlarging it and adding a navy mat layer for a bit more color.  Enlarging the card allowed the card elements to be spaced apart more, becoming more visible.  I also wanted to make sure my flowered paper layer presented lots of the yellow flowers to coordinate with the golden-yellow polka dot paper.  My handmade paper flower is a bit different, as I added blue-green felt as an under layer, making the blues in my hand-dyed crochet lace pop.  (The lace was colored with Copic markers).

A number of Stampin' Up demonstrators and cardmakers are going on a little Girls' Get-Away Cardmaking retreat, and my friend (and my Stampin' Up upline) is busy preparing all kinds of yummy foods and crafting ideas for us to take part in, but is also feeling a bit under the weather.  I chose a Here For You sentiment to let my friend know that if she needs any help preparing before we go, or whatever, I am ready to pitch in, as we want her to spend time recuperating and not wearing herself out.  I think she will enjoy her little card from me.

Below is the finished inside of the card, designed to coordinate with the outside, with a little feel better soon verse made from me.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up (SU) cardstocks: Very Vanilla (base), Night of Navy.  Patterned: My Mind's Eye: Stella Rose - Hattie Boy Tapestry, Hattie Happy Bouquet, Hattie Buddies Argyle Dots.  SU stamps: And Many More (sentiment).  My Favorite Things dies: Poinsettia (blue-green felt), Photo Corners (inside).  Papertrey Ink die: Delightful Dahlia (leaf).  SU die: Flower Fold BigZ (newsprint - 2 sizes), Windows Frames (modified).  SU punch: 7/8" Scallop punch (flower center).  SU ribbon: Very Vanilla seam binding.  May Arts: twine.  Stash: 3/4" Crochet lace (Copic-colored), buttons.  Computer verse.  Size: 5" square.