It's the BIG 50!

During March, we have several birthdays to celebrate.  One of special significance is to mark my oldest son's half-century birthday...the BIG FIVE-O!  Yes, his 50th birthday.  His fiancé, oldest sister, and I got together to make a day-long adventure out of preparing for the BIG party.  We shopped for many, many balloons...rubber ones in black, metallic gold, white, and clear confetti and Mylar ones in black & brightly colored splatters with CELEBRATE and candles featured, gold 5-0 numbers, plus metallic stars in black, gold, and white!  We bought party supplies for the cake and eating, and LOTS of food.  On the menu was BBQ'd pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, homemade baked beans, pasta salad, and beverages!  It was a wonderful day full of fun and laughter and the weather even cooperated with a sunny, balmy 53 degrees.  We were able to play outside with a little help from two patio heaters and some warm sweaters!

To help celebrate this noteworthy halfway mark, I needed a card.  I have long contemplated a woodgrain card using some SU companion papers that I bought back in 2017, Wood Textures. Somehow, I just have never got around to opening the package and making the wonderful masculine patterns into a card. This was the time and the event to make good on this card idea that has been lurking in the recesses of my mind for over five years!  Take a peek below at the completed results both inside and out.  I think David will be thrilled with its final outcome!

Ingredients-- Papers: Cardstock--SU-Basic Black, Copper Foil. Kraft-paper bag recycled. Patterned Paper--SU-Wood Textures (2017-2019). SU Stamps--Picture Perfect Birthday. SU Dies--Seasonal Layers (Scrap stash copper leaves--smaller modified from larger). SU-Embossing Powder/ Black. Colorbox-Chestnut Roan (Ink Distress-Edges). Fold--Front Flap Overlay Fold.  Size--4-3/4 x 6-inches.

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".

Let's Have Cattail Weather for a January Birthday!

My husband's brother has an early, early January birthday, and I wanted to make a card for him this year since I've missed several birthdays during Covid!  Masculine cards are more difficult for me, so I need lots of inspiration to get my creative mojo brewing, and I'm already running out of time in order to beat the lengthy out-of-state mailing time. 

The weather here and in northern California has been really cold for the last several weeks, and I know the family has all been talking about...let's bring on the warmth!  Ultimately, I decided to case a card I made over two years ago so that I could use its wonderful cattail scenery dies again and speed up my finishing time with the idea of let's bring on that warm cattail weather and a lovely sunset sky!  We sure need some gold rays and are already getting tired of winter!

My husband has decided to send his brother an email picture of his card inside and out on his birthday just in case it does not arrive on time!  Now that's being proactive!  Take a peek below at the repeat version of my own old card and the inside design with my BIL's birthday verse!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstocks--Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Naturals-Ivory (retired).  Inks--Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Real Red (sky sponging/ stamping).  Stamps--Friend Like You (sentiment/ dragonflies).  Dies--Friendly Silhouettes (cattails/ dragonflies).  Punch: Tailored Tag.  Marker: Early Espresso (pussywillows).  Mini Pearls (Copic colored).  Other:  EK Victorian corner punch (inside).  Chatterbox Verse--computer made.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6". 

October Birthday with Paper Pumpkin--March 2021--Here's to You Alternative #2!

 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Products-- Cardstock/ Papers: Old Olive, Pretty Peacock, Basic White, Paper Pumpkin March 2021 - Here's to You--envelope inserts used as dsp. Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays. Ink: Pretty Peacock, Early Espresso. Other-- Punch: EK Medium Victorian Corners. Chatterbox verse (computer). Technique: Front Flap Fold. Size: 4-3/4x6-1/4-inches.

THE CONSTRUCTION STORY

This will be my second alternative card for the Paper Pumpkin March 2021 kit, Here's To You.  You might remember that alternative cards are my goal and personal challenge when making up my Paper Pumpkin kits.

Once again, I fussy-cut, layered, and sponged to get more depth, color, shadowing, texture and definition from the flat scenic papers provided in the kit.  I used the sunset scene again and coordinating cardstock colors in greens, blues, and blue-green to give my card a more masculine look.  This card will be for my son-in-law's October birthday.  Instructions for building your card follow.

1. I planned a Front Side Overlay Flap Fold (aka Front Flap Fold) design with a square flap and three layers, using the mountain sunrise scene from the kit. (Note: Use the finished card picture as your guide throughout the construction process).

2. Here are the cutting dimensions for my card paper, which is for a 4-3/4 x 6-inches finished size:

--Cardbase = Old Olive = 9-1/2" x 4-3/4".  Score at 3-1/2" to form the Front Fold, which leaves a 6" Inside base.

--Inside Middle Layer/ Middle Fold Layer = Pretty Peacock:.  Inside Middle:  Cut to 5-3/4" x 4-1/2".  Front Middle Fold: Cut to 3-1/4" x 4-1/2".

--DSP Layers--Inside /  DSP Front Top Fold:  DSP Inside: Cut to 5-1/2" x 4-1/4".  DSP Front Top Fold: Cut to 3" x 4-14".

--Overlay Flap Square Layers:  Bottom Overlay Flap = Old Olive: Cut to 3-1/2" x 3-1/2".

--Middle Overlay Flap (layer) = Pretty Peacock: : 3-1/4" x 3-1/4" square. 

 

--Top Overlay Flap (mountain-sunrise scene in this card):  Cut two to a 3" x 3" square, removing all the the Petal Pink cardstock framing from arount the scene.

3.  From one mountain-sunrise scene, fussy-cut the sun and its background to remove the lower half of the scene at the mountains.  With Pretty Peakcock ink, ink-distress and sponge lightly along the top edges of the mountains.  This gives the mountains more color, shadowing, and depth.  Set aside.

4. From the second mountain-sunrise scene that is still untouched, carefully fussy-cut off the Old Olive trees from the bottom of the scene.  Working with the Old Olive fussy-cut treets, ink-distress the edges and sponge the surfaces with Old Olive ink.  Set the remaining scene, from which you removed these trees, and the fussy-cut trees.

5. Glue the fussy-cut mountains, created in #3 above, onto the mountain-sunrise scene, created in #4 above, so the top mountains are slightly lower than the bottom layer of mountains. This will give the mountains more texture and definition.  When the gluing is complete, you will have one mountain-sunrise scene unit.

6. Glue the Old Olive fussy-cut trees, created and sponged in #4 above, to the scene completed in #5 above.  (Note: This completed unit will be used for form the 3-1/2" square Front Overlay Flap.)

7. From the kit, sponged one set of die-cut evergreen trees and their land base with Pretty Peacock ink to add texture and depth.  Glue them, starting at the left side, across the bottom of the scene.  They will overlay part of the Olive Green trees (see card picture).  Finally, with Early Espresso ink, stamp a set birds flying near the mountains.

Just an FYI, here is the kit design version using this sunrise-mountain scene:

October Birthday with Paper Pumpkin--March 2021--Here's to You Alternative #1!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Products--  Cardstock/ Papers: Old Olive, Pretty Peacock, Basic White, Copper Foil, Paper Pumpkin March 2021 - Here's to You--envelope inserts used as dsp.  Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays.  Dies:  Layering Circles Framelits (circles/ scallops).  Ink: Pretty Peacock, Early Espresso.   Embossing Folder: Coastal Weave 3D.   Other--  Trim: Maya Arts Hemp Twine.  Punch: EK Medium Scallop Corners.  Chatterbox verse (computer).  Size: 4-3/4x6-1/4-inches.

THE CARD STORY WITH CONSTRUCTION NOTES!

I have many October birthdays and time has marched along at quite a steady pace, so I must get started before I'm late!  My plan is to make a series of Alternative Paper Pumpkin cards, based on the March 2021 kit, Here's To You.  Early on when I subscribed to Paper Pumpkin, my purpose and focus was to get myself back into my craft room by challenging myself to make alternative designs rather than those provided in the kit instructions. 

Though I was not enamored with this kit when it first came, it grew on me as ideas began to percolate.  I was gifted refill kit, which would help with those ideas.  I've fussy-cutting parts of kits in the past to add layering and depth and I've loved the look it gave.  I realized that with kits, what was missing for me was that depth which many kits to not give because flat pictures that are many times part of kit designs.  

I decided that this particular kit's mountain-sunrise scene could make a nice masculine card, but without the Petal Pink edging!  Ugh!  As I wrestled with design thoughts, I pulled cardstocks of the prescribed companion colors.  I really loved the greens, blues, and blue-greens with both scenes provided in the kit.  I also found Copper foil looked absolute marvelous with these color combinations and the kit elements.  I would definitely include them all!  Here is what I did:

1.  Use two mountain-sunrise scenes to accomplish the layering I used.  On both mountain-sunrise scenes, I chopped off the Petal Pink cardstock surrounding the scenes in order to work with just the scenes alone.

2.  On one scene, I fussy-cut and removed the sunrise from the mountains, preserving the mountains and below as the top layer of scene.  I ink distressed and sponged these mountains lightly with Pretty Peacock near the top and edges only.  This brought more color, shadowing, and depth, plus when I used to offset layering for the mountains, it would give the whole scene more texture, depth, and definition.  We'll call these "#2 mountains" when referring to them below.

3.  With the second trimmed mountain-sunrise scene, stamped a set of birds from the kit stamp set with Early Espresso ink.  Let dry!!  Using a sponging brush, add a little color to the edge of the mountains with the Pretty Peacock ink.  (This can be difficult on a flat surface.)  Let dry!! 

4.  Now, it is time to glue your "#2 mountains" onto this new scene by positioning the "#2 mountains" about 1/16" below the ones on the newly sponged scene.  Whoa is me, and then I made a mistake!  When trying to glue the mountain layering, I accidentally ink-smudged the sun!  I had to use a new bottom scene, and once again, position my mountain layering.  Be sure to let all inks dry before working with the piece.

5.  Die-cut the double layer scene, created in #4 above, with a 2-7/8" circle die making sure to position the die so the sunrise and rays are preserved at the top.  Remember it is thicker than one piece of cardstock so you may have to work with your die-cutting sandwich if you cannot just use your regular 2 cutting plates.

6.  Take one of the evergreen tree die-cuts provided in the kit and fussy-cut off the three trees removing them from their land base.  Sponge Pretty Peacock ink onto the tree edges and surfaces (again for texture and depth).  Let the ink dry.

7.  Glue the trees to the left of the sunrise circle and trimmed their bottoms to fit the circle curve.  With Early Espresso ink, stamp a set birds flying near the mountains using the kit's stamp set. 

8.   Die-cut a 3-1/16" scalloped circle from copper foil to use as a border layer underneath.  Attached the copper scalloped circle underneath.  I was stoked with the results!  I really loved the look the foil gave!

9.  For your cardstock layers, cut an Old Olive card base, plus Pretty Peacock and Copper Foil pieces for added background layers.  My card base is 4-3/4 x 6-inches.  The other two layers are cut according to the amount of edge you want to shown between each layer.

10. For your patterned paper (dsp) card front layer, my card uses the kit's multi-colored rectangles envelope inserts.  

11. Next, cut a 1-1/4-inch wide Pretty Peacock band (length will be determined by your card front horizontal width).  Emboss with the Coastal Weave 3D embossing folder.  Adhere it to the card front dsp (see card picture for positioning). 

12. String three strands of hemp twine across Coastal Weave approximately 1/4-inch apart (see card picture for positioning).  Tie in the middle with a piece of twine to create the criss-cross configuration and then add more tied twine to make a thick knot for visual appeal. 

13.  Adhere all your layers on top of each other in this order:  layer 1 = Old Olive card base; layer 2 = Pretty Peacock; layer 3 = Copper foil; layer 4 = Dsp card front.

14.  With Pretty Peacock ink, stamp sentiment; let dry!  Add to a Pretty Peacock under layer. 

15. Finish the card by positioning and popping up the mountain-sunrise circle and the layered sentiment.  

 

I was super enthusiastic about my son's finished card made from a kit that I was originally super unenthusiastic about when I first received it in the mail!!  My son was super pleased with his card, but I wasn't super pleased that it ended up a little late!

Just an FYI, below is the kit's design version, using what I call the sunrise-mountain scene:

No Cake for David?

My oldest of four will be celebrating his birthday in the first week of March.  He is on the KETO diet, so he wants to say, "NO," to cake...can you imagine?!  I found it is now possible to purchase KETO ice cream, so we will be making an ice cream cake for his birthday.  He won't have to say NO to cake and he can have candles!  Now, I just had to get busy on a birthday card.

When I was last visiting my Mom, pre-COVID, I saw a card she made at her Stampin' Up demonstrator workshop.  I remember its sentiment from the stamp set, Amazing Life, and thought it would be perfect for my dieting son's card.  It also used the very masculine papers, In Good Taste, which I have, and thought one of the patterns might work nicely as well.  I decided to add a little black and a some recycle coppery foil (saved from an envelope insert...just too pretty to throw away!), plus a cupcake all work together.  Take a peek below at how my project evolved into David's finished card inside and out:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Papers--Basic Black cs, Very Vanilla cs, In Good Taste dsp.  Copper Foil (saved from an envelope insert).  Stamps--Amazing Life (sentiment); Dies--Call Me Cupcake (framelits), Stitched Rectangles; Inks (sponging)--Bermuda Bay, Call Me Clover, Cherry Cobbler, Melon Mango; Clear Embossing Powder; 3/8" Black Shimmer ribbon; Metallic Brads.  Other:  Copic Markers.  Inside--Chatterbox verse.  EK Victorian Corner punch.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6."

Great Father's Make the World a Better Place!

I just received the new Stampin' Up Beautiful World stamp and die set, and I was anxious to use it.  I had a sentiment and verse percolating in my head, and I wanted to use them with this new set.  I also went in search of some Splitcoaststamper challenges that might work well with my card as well.

Next, I tried out my sentiment on vanilla cardstock and found a font I liked with the look of the stamps.  I printed it out, die-cut it and used the layered sentiment to build my card from using the SCS challenges to help me decide on the look and design.  Take a peek below at the final design both inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Copper Foil.  Stamps/ Dies--Beautiful World/ World Maps Dies.  Embossing Folder--Hammered Metal.  Other products:  Patterned Paper--DCWV Maps, Text & Ledgers Stack.  Colorbox Ink--Chestnut Roan (ink distressed edges).  EK punch--Victorian Corner.  Pattern:  DCWV Maps, Text & Ledgers Stack.  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse.  A6 Size: 4-1/2 x 6-1/4 inches.

Memories to Remember a Milestone Birthday!

A card for my husband's February birthday, which was a BIG milestone achievement this year.  Take a peak at his card below:

Unfortunately several family members were ill on my husband's birthday weekend, so it ended a small, home dinner gathering.  As each of our children, their spouses, or their children got better, they celebrated him in separate festivities which included dinner and breakfast outings.  Unfortunately, I was absentee all of the extended celebrations as I made another trip south to California for a female four-generation pre-planned get-together with our newest three-month old granddaughter.   We got a few casual shots of the four-generations...my 94-year old Mom, myself, my oldest daughter, and three-month old Evie.  Take a peak below...

But, I digress...back to my husband's birthday card!  For me, masculine cards are always more difficult to design, but Stampin' Up's new Mountain Air scenery stamp was a perfect time to recreate our first cross-country trip in our motorhome where one of the major highlights was our week-long stay around Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.  That was quite the memorable trip, traveling from Washington State mostly along the I-90 corridor.  We made several stops along the way, including Milwaukee for a wedding, and on eastward to the Richmond, Virginia area to visit my husband's brother and wife, returning the southern route and angling north going to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons and back home to Washington.  What a marvelous trip and such beautiful mountain scenery...as I remember we were gone for almost four weeks!

The interesting thing about this new Mountain Air stamp is that it is a two-sided stamp...one side with a detailed stamp image and the other with a muted shadowy look.  I cut my center white panel 3-3/8" x 4-3/8", allowing me to trim it to a perfect size after I finished all my scenery stamping.  I also cut 3 white strips 1-3/4" x 3-3/8" to stamp my detailed navy mountains and my two green tree-line overlays.  I also cut a 3-1/4" x 4-1/4" Balmy Blue panel to mat my scenery panel when finished with its stamping.

I made my mountains in the background using the reverse side of the stamp to give them that muted shadowy look that mountains seem to have when seen from a distance.  I applied my Night of Navy mountains first about 2" down from the top of my white panel, stamping off once before inking on my white panel.  My Balmy Blue top mountain range was inked and stamped off once before applied over the Night of Navy range and just above it.  You can do this because the Balmy Blue is lighter and its inking does not show where applied over the navy.  My third mountain stamping was done using the detailed side and was fully inked before stamping on one of the narrow white strips.  It was then die-cut out and adhered below the other two rows of mountains.  See the card for placement ideas.

Next I stamped the tree lines, using Garden Green ink, on the two remaining white strips (1-3/4" x 3-3/8").  The first tree-line is fully inked and stamped on a strip, and the second tree-line is stamped off once before stamping on the final white strip.  I adhered the stamped-off tree strip first because it seemed it would appear lighter in the distance and finally adhered the fully-inked tree strips to finish my panel.

I used the reverse side of the clouds and sun to stamp these onto the top portion above the mountains.  I used Balmy Blue for the clouds and Crushed Curry for the sun.  I used Memento Tuxedo Black for the birds.  Both the clouds and the sun were stamped off once before stamping on the scenery panel.  Be sure you stamp the sun far enough in on the right to allow for trimming your scenery panel to fit your Balmy Blue mat layer when done.  The final step is to trim your scenery panel and adhere it to the blue mat layer, and voilà, I was done.   Take a peek below at the ingredients below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--So Saffron, Night of Navy, Balmy Blue.  Stamps--Mountain Air, Itty Bitty Birthdays (sentiment).  Dies--Majestic Mountain, Stitched Rectangles (1/2" x 2-1/2".  Inks--Night of Navy, Balmy Blue, Garden Green, Crushed Curry.  Other products:  Patterned paper--Basic Grey "Adrift" paper pack.  Die--Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Borders #1 (stitched zigzags).  Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black (birds).  Chatterbox verse (inside).  A6 Size: 4-1/2' x 6-1/4."  

A Birthday Card for Josh, the Family Hiker!

October is full of birthdays in our family.  This week's family birthday celebration is for my son-in-law, Josh, who is my youngest daughter's husband!  He is away on a camping trip, so I had time to be late with his card!  (Love it when it's okay to be late!)  

Per my usual cardmaking style, I began searching for a theme ideas that might fit him.  I checked out Splitcoaststamper challenges to give me ideas, which brought to mind a card made by my friend, Luci Kirschbaum, featuring an outdoor afternoon sunset scene that you might see on an outdoor hike.  Since Josh loves to hike and my daughter and their 7-month old granddaughter often accompany him, I decided an outdoor scenery card would be the perfect theme for Josh.  

I decided to use Luci's card as inspiration for my card, along with some other ideas from the challenges I reviewed.  Of course, I had to add my own modifications and ideas to make the card more "me."   Take a look below at my finished card and inside coordinated design.  Josh really seemed to be thrilled with his card and had a big appreciative hug for me!

Ingredients:

Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstocks--Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Naturals-Ivory (retired).  Inks--Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Real Red (sky sponging/ stamping).  Stamps--Friend Like You (sentiment/ dragonflies).  Dies--Friendly Silhouettes (pussywillows/ dragonflies).  Punch: Tailored Tag.  Marker: Early Espresso (pussywillows).  Mini Pearls (Copic colored).  Other:  EK Victorian corner punch (inside).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6". 

A Birthday Card All About the Past!

I was looking for some mojo for a theme idea to make my son, Mark, a birthday card.  I checked out my Splitcoaststamper Challenge List, which got my juices flowing.  I found a fun card theme from the Free 4 All Challenge... all about the little things that make life fun.  I started reminiscing  about all the fun times and events in Mark's life while he was growing up, which led to this memory.  One year I made him a treasure chest birthday cake, and we had a Pirates Treasure Hunt around the neighborhood to look for pirate booty.  That was the same year that he and his sister became the cutest pirates ever on Halloween. 

I had some old October Afternoon patterned papers featuring a pirate theme and I thought the paper and the challenge would go well together. . .a pirate theme it would be!   I got further inspiration for the layout from a Sketch Challenge and a Featured Stamper card, and several other challenges lent me ideas as well.  Take a peek at my finished pirate/ treasure card below with its inside card design and the birthday treasure verse that I composed to keep up with the theme!

Ingredients List:

Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Kraft.   Mini Gold Tinsel Trim (2018 Holiday).  Silver stars (Copic colored red).  Ink: Baked Brown Sugar (edge distressing).  Other:  Patterned papers:  October Afternoon Treasure Map Collection/ X Marks the Spot.  Echo Park: Kate Lowercase Alphabet dies.  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Reaching Classic "Old" Age!

My brother's birthday is in early May and yet another card was needed, especially as this is a milestone birthday well into retirement!  I'm so far behind in cardmaking with the hand recovery that I'll never catch up, it seems! 

I had an unfinished card hidden away in my To Do Stash that I came across when looking for a previous unfinished card.  The initial basic design layout was by Liz Thayer on this one as well.  All the pieces were there to finish, except just a notation of the stamp set used.  I particularly liked the Acetate Foil gold patterned paper and gold foil included in the kit with the navy blue.  I used all the paper pieces provided, but I also decided to add a black cardstock layer as the cardbase and as another image mat layer. 

To start, I masked the image paper with the car outline, and watercolored the background around it with the idea of sky and landscape color tones and dried it with my heat tool.  I then stamped the image and sentiment from the Stampin' Up Guy Greetings stamp set with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, using my MISTI to line up the stamp images on my small piece of watercoloring.  Next, I colored the vintage car with my Copic markers.  Finally, I assembled all the paper layers and popped the acetate pattern off the gold foil.  I added some Glitter Enamel Dots, and voila, I was finished! 

As my brother has restored vintage and classic vehicles for many years, I am pretty sure he will like this card...even more so if it were a Chevy.  Take a peek below inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Basic Black, Night of Navy, Gold Foil, Shimmer White.  Patterned Paper--Fabulous Foil Designer Acetate (retired 2018).  Stamps:  Guy Greetings (retired 2018).  Glitter Enamel Dots (retired 2018).  Other:  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  Copic Markers.  Artist Loft Watercolor Pan Set (Michaels).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Let's Celebrate in Epic Style!

My oldest son is having a birthday this week, and I needed to get a birthday card completed.  This will be my third card in a month because of my left hand surgery, and it is a slow and methodical process!  I am still in a cast that covers my left thumb and extends 3/4 of the way to my elbow.  This Friday is removal day, and I can't even express how glad I am!  I digress...back to my son's birthday card.

As is my usual process, I checked Splitcoaststamper challenges to get some inspiration on where to start.  None of the current challenges spurred any masculine card thoughts, so I branched out to play challenge catch-up, and I found some ideas that sparked my creative mojo!  An old December  inspiration challenge that I was not able to play in when introduced had me deciding on using a guitar for my card.  I did some collage grunge stamping to replicate the look of the guitar poster as seen on this website:  Watercolor Guitar Abstract.  I am pretty happy with my results and I think David will be as well!  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Papers~ Cardstock--Basic Black, Whisper White.  Pattern:  Pick A Pattern dsp (stripe); Wood Textures Paper Stack.  Stamp--Epic Celebrations (2018 SAB); Timeless Textures (2019).  Ink--Crushed Curry; Smoky Slate.  Washi Tape--Myths & Magic/ silver glittery (Copics Gold colored)(2018 Occ).  Embellishments--Hearts & Stars Wood Elements (star-Copic colored center); Metallic Enamel Shapes (stars-silver/ Copic Goldcolored)(2018 ret). Other:  Paper--Recollections Gold Frosted Shimmer.  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  Dies--CraftsSuppliesForU/ Vertical Happy Birthday.  Punch--WRMK Stub Corners.  Wink of Stella/ Clear (black circle mat, HB sentiment die-cut, edge of Gold Shimmer paper to add more sheen.).  Copic Markers--Guitar coloring. Stars and glimmer star washi (silver to gold) + Wood star center to dark brown.  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4" X 6".

A Birthday Journey!

It's my husband's birthday this coming week-end, and I needed to get his card made this past week.  I was anxious to begin, because I had a new Tim Holtz die...the Globe, and ideas were beginning to come fast and furious, especially after I reviewed possible Splitcoaststamper challenges to catch up on.  This will be my last card for a while, as my hand surgery is scheduled for Monday, and it will be about a six-week recovery.

One challenge needed some shine, another die-cut word(s), another some spritzing and/or splattering, another to use up something set aside to maybe use later, another to be inspired by color, and then there was the one that needed something natural and not man-made...what could be more natural than Mother Earth...a planet!  

I had printed a vintage map, which didn't print quite right and ended up with some purple splotches, but I loved the vintage look of it and decided to keep it to see if it would fit somewhere...somehow.  I decided to re-color the map with my Copics to enrich its color and cover up the wonky purple areas.  Then, I added some metallic antique copper spritzing and splattering for even more eye-appeal and/or cover-up!  Since my Globe die has longitude and latitude lines, it will work for the Alphabet challenge, letter L.  To add depth, I die-cut four globes and four Happy Birthday die-cut sentiments so they would pop up off the card front.  I also spritzed the top gold matte foil layers of both with antique copper spritzing and splattering to add even more interest.  I had some little tiny metallic gold stars in a cup on my craft tape since early December and decided to scatter those randomly on the card front as well.  I was really please with how they looked, so I painstakingly glued each down.

My last step was to decorate the card inside to coordinate with the front design and to compose a birthday verse.  I am really pleased with how my husband's birthday card turned out.  I love the vintage flair, and I think he will be please.  He decided he only wanted one card for his birthday and that was mine, because the store-bought cards are a waste of money he says.  He added that he would rather have a candy bar for a card, and it would be okay if the children need to add a happy birthday paper taped to the bar.  I told him perhaps a handwritten tag tied with a string would work!  I promised I would pass the word to the klds!  I also let them know he was doing his "baa-hum-bug" birthday dance, which he does each year!  

Here is his one and only birthday card below with the inside design pictured as well!

Ingredients:  Papers:  Cardstocks--SU Early Espresso, Darice Timeless Pack (tan), Vintage North America Map (printed from Pinterest); DCWV Solid Golds Stack/ Matte Foil.  Dies: Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations: Globe; Dee's Distinctively Dies: Happy Birthday, Small.  Punch: EK-Victorian Corner.  Homemade Sprtizer: Folk Art Metallic Antique Copper diluted w/ water.  Copic Markers (map coloring).  Recollection: Large Copper Rhinestones.  Stash: bitty gold metallic stars.  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Sunshine on a Serene Scene!

One of my husband's best friends has a birthday at the end of November, and he wanted me to make him a nice birthday card.  Masculine cards sometimes play havoc with my mojo.  To get started, I focused on the current Splitcoaststamper Alphabet Challenge.  I am several weeks behind, so I had a variety of letters to work with.  When I saw Letter S/ theme: sunshine, I thought of a scenic card that I made back in January at a card class, using a new Stampin' Up stamp: Waterfront.  Our hostess-designer was Luci Kirschenbaum, and I decided to CASE her card design, because I loved it and the stamp set so much.  It fits the alpha letter/ theme perfectly as a lovely scene with its sun.

For my new card, I made my watercolor scene panel just a bit smaller so more of the deep green mat would show around the edges and contrast with the navy patterned paper background.  I watercolor-stamped my scene with less "stamping off" so that I would have darker and richer color hues...not quite so pastel as the design sample.  My changes to the scene were to position my trees closer to the mountain base rather than in the green meadow, and I moved the sun a bit higher in the sky to suggest more daylight and sunshine as though it was earlier in the afternoon.  I also added more splatters all the way down to the bottom of the panel...I just love splatters!  I also made my sentiment into a double fishtail flag instead of a rectangle.  

For the inside design, I also followed Luci's plan with changes.  I centered my birthday verse instead using her left offset.  I did stay with the left offset for my mountain and trees, but not as far off the edge, so my mountain range is longer. I also raised the images about 3/4-inch so the tree trunks did not sit right at the paper ege.  When I was done fussing with it, I was pleased with the end results.  Take a peek below, inside and out, I think my husband's friend will like his card.  It may remind him of some lovely camping spots he was visited throughout the years, as he and his wife loved to camp as well!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Tranquil Tide, Whisper White, Crumb Cake.  Patterned Paper--Delightful Daisy.  Stamps--Waterfront, Perennial Birthday (sentiment/ inside verse).  Ink--Night of Navy, Tranquil Tide, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzaz, Daffodil Yellow.  Water-base Marker: Black.  Size: 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 inches.

A Jalopy for My Brother!

My brother's birthday is coming up in May, and I wanted to get his card started early so I could take my time while still recovering, slow but sure, from knee replacement surgery.  It uses the stamp set I order in March from Stampin' Up named, Country Livin', which is perfect for my brother because his hobby is restores old jalopy cars and pickups into beautifully restored vehicles.  Take a peek below at the finish card both inside and out.

Ingredients:  Paper:  Stampin' Up cardstock--Dapper Denim, Soft Suede, watercolor paper; DCWV The Guy Stack (grid).  Stampin' Up stamps: Country Livin' (truck), Guy Greetings (sentiment), Hardwood (bg).  Stampin' Up Ink: Garden Green, Soft Suede).  Stampin ' Up Embossing Folder: Woodgrain (ret.).  Stampin' Up ribbon: 5/8" Burlap.  Copic Markers.  Hand-cut double fishtail.  Chatterbox verse/computer prepared.  Size:  4-1/2 x 5-3/4".  

"The Card Story"

This card started out in a Stampin' Up card class with the original design by one of our hostesses, Dar Peterson.  I did not finish the card, because I wanted to modify it a bit to fit the Round 8, Alphabet Challenge...Letter J for jalopy and also to use Copic markers to color the stamped image instead of Aqua Painter and inks.   

I also reviewed several other Splitcoaststamper challenges to see if I could glean any additional ideas, and I found I was on the right track to fit several others as well.  I even got affirmation from the current Inspiration Challenge at the Smithsonian Institute under the "America on the Move" collection discussing the history of vehicle transportation in the U.S.  Under pickup trucks, it features a nice blue 1949 GMC pickup.  My idea to have a blue truck color would work perfectly, though my truck depicts a jalopy truck in need of restoration.

Not only did I change the coloring medium to Copics from the original design, but I also ended up modifying the card's sentiment from Father's Day card to a birthday card.   In addition, the alpha challenge I planned to enter has a double challenge to add Quadrille (grid) paper, which I did in the form of the soft blue DCWV grid paper for the sentiment background.  I also added this grid as an extra mat layer as well.  In addition, I decided my woodgrain background would be even nicer if I embossed it with the Woodgrain embossing folder.  I'm really pleased with my end results, and I think Mike will be equally pleased to show off his sister's card on the mantel at home!

A "Warframe Game" Shutter Sentiment for David!

I am always looking for ideas for birthday cards that suit the recipient, such as hobbies, sports favorites, entertainment favorites (movies, Pokemon, video games, etc.), and even food.  My oldest son, David, is a video gaming hobbyist and that should be in capital letters!  He had a birthday this past week, thus, I needed a card for our celebration held this past Sunday.

His current video game favorite is Warframe, so I started my research campaign a few weeks ago to find out what this game was all about.  I Googled it, asked other members of the family who might know, etc., because  I wanted his card to be authentic.  It took a number of hours to gather enough knowledge to begin.  I resorted to downloading colored digital pictures from numerous searches, and then I was ready to begin.

This game takes place in the future on Earth and in outer space with the players as representatives of the Tenno, descendants of an ancient and mystical civilization.  I wanted to make a galaxy night sky in watercolors inks, which I did using Stampin' Up re-inkers and spritzed watered-down metallic sapphire acrylic paint, which give it a pretty, almost silvery blue sheen.  I also wanted to try out the shutter technique for the inside sentiment area.  My card is larger than the typical A2 size, so I had to find my own measurements for the parts to make the shutter panel and lens.

The shutter technique is used with a gatefold card style and has a bellyband sleeve to hold the gatefold closed.  On my card, this bellyband hosts the Warframe game logo, which is an abstract lotus flower...quite pretty, I think.

When the bellyband sleeve is removed, a picture of Earth is visible where the inhabitants of the game reside at some time far into the future.  I added this element so the card front isn't so bare once the sleeve is removed.

The card inside features a picture gallery of a few of the characters one might run into while playing the game.  On the left panel at the top is The Lotus, the advisor of the Tenno, saviors of Earth, and below her is Alad V, who becomes an occasional ally when it best suits his interests.  At the top right is Captain Vor and below him is Vay Hek, who are leaders of the armies that the Tenno must defeat.  When the card is opened, the personalized birthday verse (made by Mom) is revealed as the eye of the shutter lens opens.

Ingredients:  Papers: Stampin' Up cs: Night of Navy, Rose Red; Recollections Seaside Cardstock Pack (Lt. blue); Ranger Watercolor Paper.  Warframe Colored Digital pictures.  Stampin' Up Inks: Night of Navy, Marine Mist, Rose Red.  Folk Art Acrylic Paint watered down for spritzing.  Dies:  Stampin' Up Starburst Framelits; Spellbinders Circles LG and Circles SM.  Recollections Opaque Marker: Snow.  Score-Buddy creasing tool.  Chatterbox verse/ computer prepared.  Size: 5" x 6-1/8"

Numbers for Valentines!

I found an old piece of XOXO Valentine patterned paper by My Minds' Eye from the Love Me collection.  It seemed like a good masculine piece, so I thought it would work for my oldest son's Valentines card.  

I am still working on finishing Splitcoasterstampers Alphabet Challenge, Round 8.  I have Letter N, Letter P, and Letter X for which I thought this paper might work. . .N=Numbers, P=Punches, and X=XOXO (the paper pattern).  For Letter P, I was thinking that might work if I used all punches to make the card.  I could not make up my mind, so I work with all three letters being a possibility, and I thought I'd figure out which challenge to go for at the end, based on what other Valentines I had yet to make that might fit one or the other of these letters.  I also checked out the current Featured Stamper's gallery (Michelery) and found several possible layout ideas that I thought would work, especially with my Numbers idea.

I decided to use primarily red and kraft cardstocks.  The flip side of the Numbers Grid paper is a grid of calendar numbers with a 2 ♥14 showing up on every two or three rows.  I decided to make a circle focal point of the 2 ♥14 numbers to fit Letter N for numbers.  I add a kraft circular layer under my top 2 ♥14 layer.  These first two punched layers were easy because I have lots of sizes of plain circle punches, but I wanted a final decorative red mat to finish this focal area.  I did not have a large enough scallop circle or a circular heart edged punch, so I built my own using a Martha Stewart lacy heart punch in my stash.  I punched four of these and overlapping their tips in the center to form a circle.  I was pretty please with the final effect and it was the perfect size.  

I used some additional old punches to make a scalloped decorative band across the card and added a red strip for color.  The band would host my punched sentiment and its under layer that I positioned on the left side of this band.  I then popped three large red pearls on the right to finish off the band.  In my mind's eye, the card needed a bit more, so I punch curved corners all around on the patterned dsp.

This is one of those cards that starts with a simple design idea that grows as it is put together.  When I was finally satisfied with the front, I moved on to designing the inside and adding my personalized verse that I completed on the computer that I planned to use on most of my family Valentines.  I think son, David, will be very please with the end result.  Take a peek below at the finished look inside and out!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstocks--Kraft, Real Red, and Very Vanilla.  Patterned paper: My Minds' Eye - Love Me/ Numbers Grid.  Stamps: P.S. I Love You.  Ink: Early Espresso.  Punches: Stampin' Up--1-1/4" Circle, 1-1/2," SU retired--Scallop Border, Modern Label, Word Window, Triple Corners (inside); Martha Stewart--Lace Scallop Heart LG; Zutter--Corner Rounder.  Recollections Pearl: LG - Copic colored.  Dovecraft Pearls--Christmas Basics--smaller pearls.  SCS Alphabet Challenge - Letter N!

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".

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