Hugs for Kandie!

An SCS Alpha friend recently lost her husband, and we are sending her well wishes and thoughts via the Splitcoaststampers' (SCS) Teapot Challenge, 7/5/22..."In A Word!"  Each of us is challenged to choose a WORD theme for our cards that represents what we want to say to Kandie.  Mine is "Hugs" and goes along with my inside verse of sending along thoughts, prayers and hugs to let her know I care.

My card is made with a stencil and blender brush inking. I made the stencil from the lacy flower die, Artistic Dies, by Stampin' Up, deliberately using white cardstock so that the leftover stencil would finish with lots of inks and could be converted into another card, which can be seen here: [URL=https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2022/06/my-daughter-grows-beautiful-flowers.html][COLOR=#6A5ACD]Hugs to Kandie![/COLOR][/URL]

The idea for my design came from a card class (by Luci Kirschbaum) that taught this clever die-cut stencil and two-card idea! I've cased the original cards with changes to both to make them more me. I love larger than A2 cards, more color mat layers, added embellishments, and often a sentiment change as well. For these cards, my tweaking involves all of those listed changes above. Take a peek below at my finished card and its inside verse:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up: Cardstock--Basic White, Polished Pink, Starry Night, Parakeet Party. Glimmer--2022-245 In-Color 6x6 Ombre Glimmer (butterflies), White Glimmer (Hugs). Dies--Artistic Die (Artistically Inked), Butterfly Wings (Butterfly Brilliance). Inks--Orchid Oasis, Polished Pink, Parakeet Party. Banners Pick-A-Punch. Ribbon--1/8" Metallic Woven-Orchid Oasis. Basic Pearls. Other: Dies--Cottage Cutz Expressions (Hugs). Copic markers (pearl coloring).  EK Punch--Victorian Medium (inside corners). Chatterbox verse. Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

A Snowflake Merry Christmas!

This is another of my January New Year's resolution Christmas cards.  It was also another 2019 card kit from my Stampin' Up mentors, Dar Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum.  Its original design was presented by  Luci, and again I did quite a bit of modifications that came to mind and to make the card more me, plus fitting some Splitcoaststamper challenges along the way!

First, turned my cardbase from horizontal to portrait, and I added more cardbase layers, one in Balmy Blue to add more color to the card front's framing.  I kept the white snowflake embossed layer to host the geometric card front shapes.   For this geometric card front, I  re-arranged, re-located, re-sized, and added to the patterned geometric shapes.  I used the same dsp patterned paper supplied in the kit, and when I cut and added to the number of these shapes.  My geometric placements were a lot more uniform and balanced and not quite so random.  I also centered up the sentiment layer and positioned only one glitter snowflake at its upper left corner, eliminating the second snowflake all together.  In addition, I added a few more sequins to finish.  Take a peek below at my finished card:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Balmy Blue.  Pattern dsp--Snowflake Splendor.  Balmy Blue Glimmer (glitter paper).  Stamps--Itty Bitty Christmas (sentiment).  Dies--Stitched Nested dies (sentiment layers); So Many Snowflakes dies.  Ink--Balmy Blue.  Embossing Folder--Winter Snow EF.  Ribbon--1/4" Snowflake Splendor (2020 Holiday).  Gems--Blue Adhesive Gems (sentiment/ glitter snowflake).  Sequins--Artistry Blooms.  Size--4-3/4 x 6 inches. 

Love & Prayers Bring Healing & Comfort

I needed two sympathy cards right after Christmas and the New Year, and my sympathy stash is ZERO!  I was in the middle of fulfilling my New Year's resolution to make at least 60 Christmas cards by the end of January before putting my Christmas materials away.  I had just finished a card design idea a  few days ago, based on a My Favorite Things sketch from April 2018...MFTWSC382.  I felt my new design would actually make an excellent sympathy card made exactly like I was planning to make the Christmas card.  

The cards are made from the Stampin' Up Feels Like Frost paper scraps, which was carried over from the 2019 Holiday mini catalog to the 2020 catalog. I got busy and changed my new card design yet again to use up all the leftover kit pieces, plus cutting a few more in order to make two cards the same.  One would be given locally and the other mailed to Denver, Colorado, so neither would ever know they received cards with the sames style.  

My design change involved using an envelope flap at the top of the card where I would place the sentiment.  It is actually adhered not a flap.  I used white cardstock and sponged it with Balmy Blue ink.  I added the sentiment with the computer/ printer and then measured and cut the triangle-shaped envelope flap to fit the card top.  On these two sympathy cards, unfortunately, I measured wrong, and the flap ended up too short to go all the way to the top of the card according to my design.  Not to worry, I placed it an inch lower from the top and added the planned ribbon band and bow onto the cardstock layer above instead on the flap.  Though I think I'll like it better almost all the way to the top as I will do on the Christmas cards, I decided it really didn't look too bad this way.  I used Stampin' Up's Snowflake Splendor Holiday ribbon, which is a sparkly iridescent white normally, but I colored blue it with the broad nib of a blue shade  of Copic Marker to coordinate with the blue shades in the card.  I randomly popped on some rhinestone sparkly gems, made a little sympathy verse for inside, and the card was done.

Take a peek below at both my modified Christmas card design made into a Sympathy card and the inside design and verse below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Balmy Blue, Night of Navy, Silver Glimmer; Patterned paper--Feels Like Frost 6x6 dsp; Ink--Balmy Blue; Ribbon--1/4" Snowflake Splendor.  Basic Rhinestones.  Other:  Punch--EK Victorian Corners; Copic Markers (color ribbon); Chatterbox computer sentiment/ verse; Size--4-3/4" x 6".

My Sister-In-Law July...Number Two's Birthday!

My second sister-in-law birthday in July's card is due.  This one is for my husband's sister, Jeanie, who lives in Colorado.  Her card was one that I decided upon and set aside after I finished it at my Mt. Shasta Cardmaking Girls' Get-Away.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Blackberry Bliss, Old Olive, Whisper White, Gold Glimmer.  Pattern: Wildflower Fields dsp (2016 SAB).  Stamps--Friends & Flowers (2016 Occasions); Perfect Pairings (2016 SAB).  Inks--Blackberry Bliss, Old Olive.  Punches--Festive Flower Builder; Curvy Corner Trio (inside/ modified).  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Metallics Sequins.  (Thank you to Luci Kirschbaum for her original design inspiration).  Size: 4-5/8" x 5-3/4".

The Card's Story & Other Tidbits

The original card design belongs to Luci Kirschbaum and was presented at a cardmaking event in January of this year, sponsored by Luci and her side-kick, Dara Peterson.  It was a delight to be able to take a look at the new Occasions mini catalog and the Sale-A-Bration Freebie brochure.  Luci's card design uses stamp sets from both of these publications, and though simple, it is eye-catching and very appealing.  I just love the color Blackberry Bliss, and I am so sorry to see its two-year availability culminate at the end of May.

I finished off this card at my Mt. Shasta get-away in May and decided it would be ear-marked for Jeanie's birthday.  I had not finished it at the card event in January, because I wanted to add a bit more color as it just seemed too white for me.  My solution was to add two mat color layers:  the new Blackberry Bliss cardbase instead of white, and an Old Olive layer.  I also wanted to add some Old Olive leaves to my flower.  

When I added Wink of Stella-Clear to my flower petals to add some sparkle and shine, my stamping ink was evidently not quite dry, so it smeared and filled in the stark white petals with a light, blackberry-sponged look.  I rather liked it; therefore, I did not feel the need to re-make my flower again.  This was one of those moments where a mistake was not a mistake at all, but a happy event.  On that note, I think Jeanie will be very pleased with her homemade birthday card.

A Visit That Was Special...!

A card to let my brother and his wife know just how glad I was to visit with them while vacationing in California.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake.  Red Glimmer paper.  Stamps--Gorgeous Grunge, Chalk Talk (sentiment).  Ink--Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler.  Punches:  Small Heart; Heart To Heart-small (retired).  Other products:  Dies--Spellbinders Nested Hearts-smallest.  EK Slot punch.  Zutter Corner Rounder.  May Arts: Twine.  3/8" Striped Ribbon.  Washi Tape.  Size: 4-5/8" x 5-3/4".

The Card's Story & Other Tidbits

My Mom and I traveled to Nevada City, California to visit my brother Mike and his wife, Diane.  I wanted to send a homemade thank you to let them know just how much I enjoyed my visit.  I chose a card for them that Liz Thayer presented at a card class over two years ago.  I made a few changes to Liz's original design, as I thought it needed more color and a bit more embellishing.  I added a new cardbase color layer and tag layer in Chocolate Chip, and to the Cherry Cobbler Gorgeous Grunge lines, I also added Early Espresso stamped lines to the Cherry Cobbler stamped lines.  I popped on a few extra red glitter hearts.  I liked my additions and think Mike and Diane will be surprised and happy to receive their card.

I had not seen Mike for over two years, and because of Diane's illness and recovery, they were not able to make their planned trip to Redding early on in my visit.  So, what to do. . .we went to them with clear instructions. . .no elaborate planning for meals. . .a pizza, a late lunch out after church, leftovers, and a good-bye brunch out at the Humpty Dumpty, my treat would do very nicely.

Mike has just finished his 1951 Chevy coupe, which is a beautiful car.  But for Diane's illness, he would have been showing it off at Redding's Cool April Nights.  Here is a quick peek at a lot of hard work. . .no wonder he has arthritis in his hands!

 

Mike provided us with a quick trip up Hwy. 49 to visit the area my father grew up in, Pike, which has a population of about ten if that.  The property is still there with a family-owned trailor, but the old homestead burned down several years ago.  I remember visiting the old homestead as a little girl when Dad's family went deer hunting—dirt logging roads, no lights, and no plumbing—quite the adventure!

My Mom and I were able to make a trip to the Folsom Premium Outlets to visit the Sketchers Store, which Mom had been wanting to do for over three years.  From Mike's house, it was only an hour drive each direction, rather than the three-hour trip each direction from Redding.  We both found several pairs of Sketchers we absolutely could not do without. . .shoes, give me more shoes!  We had a delicious late lunch at Chili's, which neither of us had eaten at since Mom left Arizona about ten years ago!  All in all, it was a great day, the weather was balmy in the mid-80s,  and we enjoyed ourselves a lot.

Our nights were filled with playing Mexican Train, our family game that my Mom enjoys a lot.  She generally wins for some reason, but this time Mike took it home!  The leisurely pace of this game allows time for lots of catching up, great conversations, and a lot of joking around as well.   It was a great visit, and I hope to do it again on my next trip down to visit Mom.

XOXO Valentine!

I recently purchased the Bloomin' Hearts die from the Stampin' Up 2016 Occasions mini catalog, and I was determined I was going to make a card with it this year.  It seems I usually buy new products during a holiday time, and I don't end up using it until the next year (or even after)!  I was also determined I would use it with a black, white and red color scheme. . .but read on. . .it didn't turn out to be black, white and red!

Making the Card---

While going through my stash of Valentine papers to use for my two friendly cards, which you will see posted at some point in February, I came across what I thought was patterned paper that matched my color idea with white and black mini checks and red hearts on alternate checks.  So, I pulled it out of the stash box and set it aside to make later, because I needed to finish any cards I had to mail, or like my two friendly card that I would be seeing the recipients soon.  

Today, I was all excited, because this was the day I got to use my Bloomin' Hearts die and my black, white, and red color scheme.  All this while the checked paper had been patiently waiting, and my subconscious creative mojo had been stewing over this paper.  Before I even started, I had decided who would receive this card and the style and design I would use.  I was going to make a gatefold card using a black cardstock base and red glimmer paper for its middle layer and for the die-cut heart with a doily underneath my heart.  Lo and behold, this paper was NOT black, white and red, but dark brown, white and red!  "OMGosh, what to do now!"  I had the card layout all visualized, all I had to do was plan the cutting sizes and get to work cutting!  Not to fear, I easily decided an Early Espresso, red and white card would be just as pleasing. . .problem solved.

The paper is double-sided and had a red foil heart border on the back pattern.  I thought this would be kind of cute to add instead of having only the checked pattern, so I planned accordingly.  After I glued the delicate filigree heart die-cut onto my doily, I still felt it was a little flimsy to be the piece you grabbed to open the card, so I thought a large, red cardstock scalloped heart cut with my Scalloped Circle dies would add to its sturdiness and look nice on the backside when the card was opened as well.  This idea worked very well.  

Next, because I decided the white in my paper pattern was actually more of a pale cream and the border was definitely a darker cream, I made my popped flowers on my red filigree heart of a pale cream glitter paper that I had in my stash.  NOTE:  the filigree heart die comes with two little flower dies, one larger than the other, to add where the filigreed heart has these flower shapes in the its pattern.  I finished adding these, the other embellishments, and the sentiment, and satisfied with its look, I proclaimed it done.

For those of you who have viewed and read my blog before, you know what comes next. . .creating and finishing an inside design and verse that compliments my card's, hopefully, creative front.  

Recipe:  Papers:  Cardstock-Stampin' Up Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Red Glimmer; DCWV-Glitter Cardstock Stack; Pattern-TPC Studio--The Reasons I Love You/ Little Lovin'.  Stampin' Up Stamps: Bloomin' Love.  Stampin' Up Ink: Cherry Cobbler.  Stampin' Up Thinlit die: Bloomin' Heart.  Spellbinders: Scallop Circles.  Stampin' Up punch: Word Window (shortened).  Wilton 4" Doily (Michaels).  Queen & Co. Twinkle Goosebumps-Red.  Size:  5-1/2" x 6".

Valentine's Day is Imminent!

Valentine's Day has been creeping ever closer, and here it is now in the imminent category!  I few weeks ago, I decided I should try to use up some of my old Valentine paper and embellishment stashes.  Then again, I also wanted to use some of the new products in the 2016 Stampin' Up Occasions mini catalog, so now I knew I was going to be pulled in both direction.  I decided to start with my stash so I wouldn't feel so guilty if I ended up using more new than old.

The first stash idea that popped into my mind was My Mind's Eye's original Lost & Found Union Square papers that I have had for six LONG years now!  It was first published in 2010 and I bought my first pieces then.  Over the next several years, I stocked up on a more and more each year if I saw them on sale, as they were a little pricey because most pieces had glitter on them.  Now, I even have the 6"x 6" paper pad that came out a few years after the original 12" x 12" collection was published.

The piece of paper from this collection that came to mind was what I called the red glitter LOVE paper.  Now, this 12" x 12" paper, of course, is made with scrapbooking in mind, so it has rather large patterns to deal with.  I measured the lower right-hand corner of this paper where the glittery red LOVE word was imprinted, and decided a horizontal card with the big LOVE word in the center would work really well.  My mind evidentally chewed around on this idea subconsciously for several days, and one day in the middle of the night, I woke with an image of the LOVE word fussy-cut out and popped up in the center with some layers involved, of course.

After several days of completing my errand lists, doctor appointments, and celebrating my husband's birthday were finally over and done with, I was able to get to my craft table around noon today.  By this time, I had actually pulled out the paper I was thinking of and had decided to use SU's Early Espresso as my cardstock base.  Today, I actually began working on this LOVE word card that had been fermenting for going on two weeks.  In the meantime, I had received my most current Stampin' Up order, and there were some of the things I had ordered that had also been popping in and out of my mind to use as well!  

My first step was to fussy-cut the LOVE word and its surrounding design.  I decided to underlayer it with Early Espresso cardstock, so I traced its shape onto the cardstock and fussy-cut it about 1/8" out from my trace line.  I wanted use my new corner punch from Stampin' Up; thus, I ended up using both the eyelet corner and the 2-scallop corner as well.  I was really please with this effect.  I adhered a layer of the pattern paper to my espresso cardbase, and I popped up the set of red glimmer and the top patterned paper from this base set of papers.  I then adhered my espresso, fussy-cut underlayer to my LOVE word and popped this set up as well.  I added some small and mini red gumdrop glitter gems to the front, and I was done! Below is the final version of my LOVE word card, which I think I am well satisfied with!

As is my tradition in cardmaking, my finishing job is to create an inside that coordinates and compliments the outside design that I have created, so I turned my focus to accomplishing just that.  I had the idea to use my new SU stamp set, Bloomin' Love as I liked the flourishing My Valentine stamp in this set.  I built a verse around using this very stamp, and voilá here is my completed inside:

Recipe:  Papers:  SU cardstock: Early Espresso, Red Glimmer, Very Vanilla (inside); MME patterned: Lost & Found--Union Square: Home Sweet Home-LOVE; Darice Kraft cs (inside).  Stamps: SU-Bloomin' Love (inside).  Ink: SU-Cherry Cobbler.  Punch:  SU-Curvy Corner Trio; EK-Scroll & Hearts Edger.  MultiCraft: Gumdrop Glitter Gems.  Computer-made verse (w/stamped My Valentine). Size: 4-1/2" x 6".

And Paisley is Three!

One of my great-nieces turned three yesterday!  I've been so bad about getting birthday cards made and sent off starting as long ago as last summer. . .and I didn't even finished my Christmas cards for my immediate family. . .yikes!  I really need to do something about this.  One of my top-ranked New Year's resolutions is to do something about this in the coming year!  So now that life has settled back into some semblance of order after my daughter's wedding, my first goal was to get this resolution successfully started by finishing a birthday card for Paisley and get it mailed on time!  I did it!  I finishing her card about 10 days before her birthday. 

But, then, there was another problem. . .her sister turned seven at the beginning of January just before the wedding, and so far I hadn't even gotten her belated birthday card started.  When I finished Paisley's birthday card, I reaslized I really need to get Taylor's birthday card finished as well and mailed at the same time.  After all, it is well past due by now, and not getting this late card there at the same time as her sister;s might cause hard feelings.  AND, Aunty Carlene certainly wouldn't blame Taylor!

To get my mojo moving for Paisley's card, I remembered seeing a card at one of Liz Thayer's events.  I think it was one Liz received as a trade at convention or some other Stampin' Up event.  (Liz is almost like have a mini-Pinterest on hand. . .LOL!)  The card I remembered featured three big birthday candles, and in searching through my card sample pictures on my computer, I found a picture of it, and just as I thought when I originally saw it, it was quite cute.  

I went to work casing and re-creating this card, with just a minor change.  I added another color layer by making the cardbase white, rather than ending with the Early Espresso layer for the card base.  I thought this brightened the card and brought out the white candle, the cupcake frosting, and the sentiment, and it seemed to cut down on it looking quite so dark with its 99% brown with pink coloring.   I'm pretty happy with that little change, and I'm pretty sure this card will go over very well with my three-year old great-niece with a gift certificate for a movie and snacks coming right along with it!

Below is a quick peek at the inside design and verse I created keeping the front design in mind.  My little verse, a little creation of my own was accomplished on my computer matching the font ink with the stamping ink on the front!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Early Espresso, Pink Pirouette, Champagne Glimmer paper.  Stamps:  Express Yourself (retired).  Ink--Early Espresso, Strawberry Slush.  Punches--Cupcake Builder, 3/4" Circle, Modern Label (retired), Blossom Petal Builder (retired) (candle flames; alternate: Bird Builder wing).  Dies--Ovals Collection framelits; Top Note Bigz (retired).  Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots.  (Thank you to unknown card designer. . .a really cute design).

Silent Night!

I attended a mini card class in late August this past year where the Stampin' Up 2015 Holiday catalog was first introduced to me.  There is a darling stamp and coordinating die set that is shown off in this catalog, using both the stamps and dies together, and also using them separately as well.   Our class sample card was designed by Dar Peterson, and she used the coordinating stamps and die sets together.

This was such a pretty card, I made it exactly like our sample card presented during class.  The background is sponged on with Night of Navy ink onto Whisper White cardstock, trying to leave white streaks in the sky.  I think mine ended up more opague than the sample.  To get the white splatter effect, we mixed about 1/2 cup of water with with 3 to 4 drops of Stampin' Up's White Craft Re-inker.  Then using a small paint brush we dipped it in the water/ ink solutiom and tapped it against our forefinger over the sponged navy background.  Check it out below:

I finished my inside coordinating design and verse, and I thought I'd show that  off to you as well.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer, Gold Glimmer.  Stamps:  Jingle All the Way (sentiment: silent night).  Ink: Night of Navy, White Craft Re-Inker.  Edgelit Dies:  Sleigh Ride (houses and snow slope).  Punch: Itty Bitty Accents-Star (larger Gold Glimmer star); Confetti Stars Border (smaller silver stars).  Rhinestones (colored with Copic Markers).  EK punch: Victorian corner.  Computer verse. (Thank you Dar Peterson for card design sample).

Wishing You Joy in the New Year (Christmas X 10 - Card #9)!

I'm onto Card #9 from the Christmas X 10 card event that I attend in October. . .almost at the end of the tunnel.  This particular card design had great potential, but it just didn't sit quite right with me.  It was pretty, but just needed more.  Creative thoughts jumped right on out at me. . .what if I added a three-dimensional layer snowflake and just left off the little fishtail flag, and that is just what I did.

I decided that my snowflake needed to be delicate to compliment the really pretty dainty snowflake vellum.  I decided to use two different Memory Box snowflake dies, creating larger and smaller snowflakes to layer on top of one another.  It occurred to me, as well, that if I incorporated the two shades of purple cardstock into my snowflake it might be better than just a white or silver snowflake.  I added both the Wisteria Wonder lavender and the Elegant Eggplant deep purple along with a silver and white designer paper and a little silver glimmer flake to finish off the center along with a rhinestone.  Next, I added another layer below the pale Wisteria Wonder lavender layer, repeating the rich dark purple as a new cardbase.  

I have to say, I am totally in love with my revamped card, and I thank Luci Kirschbaum for the original card design as a jumping off point to help me come up with my finished card.  Take a look and see what you think.  I'll add the original design below my card so you can see what I changed.

Here is a peek below of the original card design.  You can see that it had good "bones" and maybe what I mean by it just need more!  Of course, I do realize that many times in a "class" card, it can not be too elaborate or the participants would never get them all done, especially on a ten-card event!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White, Winter Wonderland Vellum (2015 Holiday), All is Calm (snowflake); Silver Glimmer.  Dies--Wonderful Wreath Framelits. 5/8" Silver Satin ribbon.  Rhinestones.  Memory Box Dies:  Telluride Snowflake (large); Snow Burst (medium).  Recollections: 5/8" Snowflake (small).  (Thank you Luci Kirschbaum for the beautiful original design, which I took the liberty of modifying and making it mine!)

Peaceful Pines @ Christmas (Totally Lovin' Christmas #7)!

Totally Lovin' Christmas card #7. . .OMGosh, I'm within three of finishing!  Have I said this before, but I'm saying it again. . .I love this card.  It has that homespun Christmas feel to it with the rustic Hardwood background in a weathered cedar look, and the cutest little Christmas tree ever!  It so reminds me of Christmas along the coast of the Pacific Northwest while growing up with the fog rolling in on Christmas Eve and hanging around until late morning, except I would have been looking at Redwood trees, not cedars, pines, or firs!

I only made two very little changes to the original design, and one was to add another layer, making a new cardbase in Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  The second was to just add a gold cording thread to my button rather than leave the holes empty of thread; just gave it a more finished look I think.  Just got to say again that I love, love that rustic weathered wood for the background.  I also have to say that seeing the Peaceful Pines stamp set actually used and in color makes it even more appealing than I thought just looking at it on the catalog page or the stamp case.  Take a look below at this little gem of a card.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Cherry Cobbler, Basic Gray, Old Olive, Very Vanilla; Farmer's Market dsp; Gold Glimmer.  Stamps--Peaceful Pines (2015 Holiday); Hardwood background.  Ink--Cherry Cobbler, Old Olive, Basic Gray.  Punches--1-1/4" Scallop Circle; Itty Bitty Accents-Star.  Regals Designer Buttons.  1/8" Gold Metallic ribbon.  Gold Metallic Cording.  (Thank you Liz Thayer for the marvelous original design).

  

Candles Flickering - Christmas X10 - Card #4

We are on to card #4 from the Christmas X10 card event, which features a lovely trio of candles.  This one could be classified as punch art, much like the first angel card, as the composition of the card is composed by using a variety punches.  The candles themselves are cut in varying lengths of 3-1/2 inches, 3 inches, and 2-3/4 inches and all one inch wide, the wing of the Bird Builder punches out the glimmery candle flames, and a shallow punch with the 1-1/4 inch circle defines the wick's "well."   The background is textured with the Brick embossing folder, which reminds me of candles displayed on your fireplace mantel with a bower of pine branches to create that wonderful piney smell of Christmas!   

Again, I loved this card just the way it was created by Dara & Luci, and I find when this happens, no creative editing juice flow to make me want to tweak it in any way.  Christmas X10 card #4 can be seen below.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Gold Glimmer;  Merry Moments dsp (Holiday 2015).  Stamps--Festive Fireplace (Holiday 2015), Teeny Tiny Wishes (sentiment).  Ink--Old Olive.  Brick Embossing Folder.  Punches--1-1/4" Circle, Bird Builder-wing (flames), Itty Bitty Accents-flowers. Pearls.  

   

Punch Art Angel - Christmas X10 - Card #1!

October was a busy month.  I went to another Christmas cardmaking event, Christmas X10, which was hosted by two great ladies and Stampin' Up demonstrators, Dara Peterson and Luci Kirchenbaum.  This is the first time I have been invited to one of their annual events, and I was thrilled with the ten card designs presented by these two wonderful ladies.  What a great and fun way to teach and demonstrator Stampin' Up products. . .a partnership where everything is shared.  I am sure these two have a great time together.  I met several new cardmaking ladies who love to craft as much as I do.  It surely was a fun-filled and enjoyable event.

Our first card was made from products featured in the annual catalog rather than the new 2015 Holiday mini catalog.  I so loved this card's design that in making my own card, I stuck to an exact replica of the class sample.  The cute little punch art angel and the tree were formed by using the Tree punch, and the angel's wings were formed by using the smaller round-winged butterfly from the Bold Butterfly framelit die set.  This was such a lovely card, presented in a beautifully simplistic style.  Please take a peek. . .you'll like what you see!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Shimmery White, Dazzling Diamonds & Silver Glimmer paper.  Merry Moments dsp,  Stamps: Merry Everything.  Ink: Cherry Cobbler.  Punches:  2-1/2" Circle, 3/4" Circle, Tree, Itty Bitty Accent-Star.  Framelit dies: Bold Butterflies.  (Thank you Dara & Luci for the wonderful card design).

A Delicate Ornament Merry Christmas! (Totally Lovin' Christmas #9)

This will be Card #9 from the Thayer Totally Lovin' Christmas event early in the Fall.  I have to admit that I did a little doctoring on this one.  I wanted my ornament to be as though it were hanging from the tree, so I added a narrow silver ribbon to the top, plus I raised my ornament up toward the top of the card considerably, because I very much wanted to add a sentiment under my ornament.  Because of the sentiment that I wanted to use, I decided I needed my card to be larger so that all of the elements would all fit much better.  

Because I decided to make all of these changes, I need to re-emboss top white layer under the ornament.  I was stoked because, though I did not currently have the embossing folder needed, I had already ordered it and knew that it was on its way.  I prepared all the elements I could, and then put the pieces aside until the embossing folder arrived.   I was sad to see that it was the smaller A2 size folder and not the new 6-inch size that Stampin' Up is currently offering their folder in.  This required me to emboss once, and then change the location of the folder on the paper by re-positioning and matching it very carefully and ultimately, making a second pass through the Big Shot.  It did leave a bit of a mark where the new and old embossing met, but it was well hidden by the sentiment layers.

I took my silver foil layer and adhered my newly prepared embossed layer and popped this unit up onto the pre-prepared white and red layers.  I added my prepared ornament and sentiment and voila, it was done.  I was very please with my new version of this card, and I thank Liz Thayer for the original design to use as a jump-start to my card.  I am going to attached my card and then the original so perhaps you can better understand my ramblings!

Recipe:  All Stampin' Up products.  Cardstock--Whisper White, Real Red, Silver Foil, Red Foil, Silver Glimmer. Stamps: Greetings of the Season.  Ink:  Real Red.  Embossing folder: Elegant Dots.  Framelit dies:  Delicate Ornaments.  Silver Cording.  Iced Irridescent Rhinestone.  Size: 5-1/2-inch square.

Home for Christmas (Totally Lovin' Christmas #3)!

Here is another bedazzling card design by Liz Thayer from her Totally Lovin' Christmas card event, which was held in October of this year.  All parts of the card are from products in the Stampin' Up 2015 Holiday mini catalog, if you are interested in trying to order them.

I made this card exactly as Liz designed it, except I added another layer, creating a new Real Red cardbase.  The card just seemed to call out for a little more of the red featured in the Home for Christmas designer papers and the little red ribbon.  I also added a red rhinestone on one of the little deer that was more centered on my card...just a bit more of my own flair.  Feast your eyes on this cuteness!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up:  cardstock--Real Red, Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Gold Glimmer.  Home for Christmas dsp (deer, music & red stripe).  Stamps: Endless Birthday Wishes.  SU Ink: Soft Suede.  Punch: Washi Label.  7/8" Sahara Sand lace, 1/4" Real Red Cotton ribbon.  Wood Snowflake Elements (2015 Holiday - colored with marker).  Rhinestones.  (Thank you Liz Thayer for the very cute card design).

Christmas - To You & Yours Re-design #2

I looked at the calendar and my heart took a big pitter patter...OMG..osh, it is only 21 days to Christmas and I am no where near even half way through making my Christmas cards!  I need to get BUSY, BUSY!!!

I brought out my Stampin' Up To You & Yours Card Kit again, and decided to fiddle with it just to see what creative mojo might seep into my being.  If you recall, I had cut all my cardbases in half, as one Pinterest video suggested, thus increasing my foil card fronts to 36 instead of the 18 if the kit was put together exactly as designed.  You know me, I can never follow directions exactly as it seems my creative mojo always tempts in lots of different directions other than what is right in front of me!  LOL

I love the paper with the diagonal red foil and white stripes, and decided to use it with one of the star window cutouts.  Next, I remembered the flat plastic glitter ornaments that I purchased at WalMart a month or more ago thinking they could be incorporated as an embellishment with Christmas cards.  I thought, "Gee, those white glittery snowflakes might be pretty peeking through my star window."

Then, I thought the star window needed to be framed as it is in the kit itself, but the kit provides a gold star frame, and I wanted red.  So, I pulled out by star dies, and found that if I used one of my Spellbinder Stars with one from the Stampin' Up Star framelits, I could replicate almost the exact cutout that the kit provided in any color I wanted.  Thumbs up...am I excited!  

I cut the height of the white star window layer smaller at both the top and the bottom, because I wanted to fit a separated Christmas sentiment underneath.  I added white glitter paper as a trim next to the foil stripe at the sides and adhered it all to a Real Red cardbase.   And thus, with NO shaker on this one, my very modified To You & Yours card was created!!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstock: Real Red, Whisper White; Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer; Red Foil (2015 Holiday); To You & Yours kit: Red Foil stripe.  SU Stamps: Versatile Christmas (2015 Holiday).  SU Ink: Real Red.  Holiday Time: Glitter Ornaments (WalMart).  Craft Medley: red sequins.

A Knot of Christmas Trees!

The 2014 Holiday Stampin' Up catalog has a new set of Christmas trees to make using the Festival of Trees stamps and the new Tree Punch, but I decided to resort to an old Stampin' Up stamp set, Pennant Parade, that I had never used and its coordinating Pennant Builder punch.  I gathered various green papers that would blend with Garden Green cardstock, which would be one of my layers. 

Notice the groupings of trees with the same paper.  I like to think each paper color represents a stand of the same species of tree, like Douglas firs, Scotch Pines, etc. as we often see in the forest.  My center tree represents the one that is to go home for the Christmas holiday!  I added a little sparkle to this tree with rhinestone ornaments and a little star to perch at its tip.  Then, of course, I needed to compliment this sparkle with a layer of Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper.  I also added an off-center ribbon knot at the top of my card to give it more color.  I had seen this ribbon idea used at a card class given by my Stampin' Up upline, Liz Thayer.  I liked the look of it and thought I would lift the idea to use on my card.  (Thanks, Liz).  

I chose the beautiful calligraphy sentiment Merry Christmas from the Stampin' Up Greetings of the Season stamp set (retired) and stamped it with Cherry Cobbler ink.  This card is probably the closest I'll ever get to clean and simple. . .LOL. . . as I'm just not a clean and simple gal, but I loved the look of it when I was all done.

I made a complimentary inside to fit the exterior design, and I decided this one would go to my husband's sister and her husband in Kansas.  I hope they enjoy their card as much as I enjoyed making it.

 Recipe:  SU Paper - Cherry Cobbler cs, Garden Green cs, Whisper White cs, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer.  Trees - SU Papers: Wild Wasabi cs, Polka Dot Parade dsp, Twitterpated dsp, Burthday Basics dsp, SU Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder, SU Petite Pennant Builder punch, SU Pennant Parade stamp (retired).  SU Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso.  SU sentiment: Greetings of the Season (2012 Holiday).  SU 1” Stitched-Edge Cherry Cobbler Grosgrain Ribbon.

Snowflake Theme!

I think I'm into snowflakes this year so far.  On my second Christmas card, I'm using the Festive Flurry framelits that were introduced in last year's Stampin' Up 2013 Holiday catalog.  I made a more simple purple snowflake card at a Liz Thayer Totally Lovin' Christmas camp last year, which I really liked.  I decided to make my own purple version, which turned out to have more snowflake embellishment and some pretty white and silver organdy simmery ribbon as well.  

This card starts out by using the Stampin' Up Northern Flurries embossing folder on white cardstock to which some Dazzlikng Details silver adhesive glitter is applied and spread a bit on the embossed snowflakes to dry.  I used the Festive Flurries framelits to create my large purple and silver snowflakes and the Frosted Finishes silver star embellishment, also found in that catalog.  I have several small snowflake punches by Recollections, and I used these for my silver glimmer and Perfect Plum layered snowflakes.  My card certainly has bling . . . no doubt about it!

I've decided this one will go to mt daughter's in-laws. . .a very nice couple indeed. We hope they have a wonderful Christmas season.

Recipe:  SU cardstocks: Perfect Plum, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer.  SU stamps: More Merry Messages (2013 Holiday).  SU Ink: Perfect Plum.  SU framelits: Festive Flurry.  SU Embossing Folder: Northern Flurry.  Punches:  SU 1" Circle; Recollections: Snowflake Mini/ 5/8" Snowflake. SU Other:  Dazzling Details-Silver; Frosted Finishes embellishment (silver star); Rhinestones. Ribbon:  Ribbon: Offray- Silver/Sheer Organdy.

Christmas is Coming! #1

Wow! It is certainly time to publish a few Christmas cards that have been in the making.  My first card is a remake of some pieces I had on hand that ended up being a really cute card.  I have never made a pink card before, but as the pieces were in pink. . .a pink card it must be.  There is no patterned papers with this card; it's all cardstocks and stamps.  

I have seen lots of papers made using stamps, and on this card, I used the Holiday 2013 Festive Flurry snowflake stamp to make my own dsp with Blushing Bride ink and to make the silver glimmer snowflake.  The Boho Blossom punch was used to create the little pink snowflake.   I was actually pretty please with my re-creation of pieces in my stash.  Below is my card design for the inside with my verse completed using my computer.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstocks: Blushing Bride, Very Vanilla, Brushed Silver, Silver Glimmer.  SU Stamps: Sassy Salutations, Festive Flurry.  SU Ink: Basic Gray.  SU Framelits: Festive Flurry.  SU Punch: Boho Blossoms.  SU Pearls.  Computer-made verse.