February Birthday Happiness!

 I have another friend and cardmaking buddy whose birthday is in mid-February, so yet another birthday card is needed.  I was in the mood for flowers, so I thought I'd look for a Splitcoaststamper Inspiration Challenge to get me started.

While in my E - F stamp set boxes back in January, I ran across a wonderful flower stamp set, Field Flowers, that I had used for its flourish in the past but not the flower.  I pulled it just in case I found that I could use it in the near future and here was my chance.  After finding the SCS Inspiration Challenge, I was delighted to know that this stamp set would work, but I would be able to add other challenges if I added butterflies and glitter as well.  Take a look at the finished card inside and out below:

Ingredients: SU Cardstock--Sahara Sand; Retired: Always Artichoke, Lucky Limeaide, Tempting Turquoise. Stamps (retired)--Field Flowers, Elements of Style. Dies--Sizzlits Embosslit/ Beautiful Wings. Inks--Sahara Sand (over-the-edge stamping/ distressing), Old Olive (distress L. Limeaide cs), Early Espresso (distress T. Turquoise).  SU White Embossing Powder.  SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter. 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon--Gumball Green. Punch (retired)--Scallop Trim Border.

Stepping To Church for Christmas!

Here is my first center-step card that I've made from start to finish with my own template design for a larger 4-3/4 x 6-inch card.  To help me redesign the dimensions, it is a remake of a card I made at my Stampin' Up demonstrator duo's card event back in the fall of 2017, which I loved!  What can I say, I'm not very adventuresome, especially since it involved refiguring the template dimensions in order to remake it into the larger size.  I kept the original card to use as a guide, which helped me figure it all out much easier. 

Because the card was larger, I was able to add a third layer.  I ended up with a black cardbase, followed by a white mat layer, followed by the card front layer with the die-cut pieces.  I really like the white on black look.  The original design just started off with the white cardbase, which didn't allow for as much contrast.  I really like my added contrast by having three layers, and starting with the black first, then white, then black again.  I stuck to the original card design, and I thank Luci Kirschbaum for always allowing us to CASE our class cards and modify them as we like.  Here is my enlarged, finished card below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Basic Black, Whisper White, Gold foil.  Patterned paper--Merry Music Specialty (2017 Holiday).  Stamps--Hearts Come Home/ Dies--Home Town Greeting.  Punch--Confetti Stars Border.  Embossing Powder: Gold.  Size:  4-3/4 x 6-inches.

Birthday Card for Cousin Junie!

My oldest cousin will be having a birthday in July, and I wanted to make her a birthday card, which meant I had to get busy because of my looming motorhome vacation.  I was pretty sure we might still be traveling when her card needed to be mailed, so I needed to complete it and take it with me.  I decided to case a design from another little card I made at one of Liz Thayer's card classes and add a few modifications to see how it turned out.  I added a third flower to its original design and a few more leaves.  I also changed the sentiment to a birthday theme and stamped it on a separate pieced of white cardstock instead of directly onto the card front.  I tweaked its location  and popped up with two decorative punched layers peeking out behind.  I tried a little punch creativity by using the Blossom flower punch to punch out the bottom green layer of the sentiment. 

I then went to work creating a decorative design for the inside to coordinate with the front.  I decided the little Boho punch flowers and rhinestones that I used on the front Flower Shop flower centers would be a nice touch on each of the verse corners and, maybe, I'd throw in a few tiny leaves under each flower and it would be just right.  I was pleased with the additions I made to the original card design, my birthday verse,  and the coordinating inside design.  I think my cousin will enjoy her birthday card.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstocks:  Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Gumball Green.  SU stamps:  Flower Shop. SU Ink: Primrose Petals.  SU Modern Mosac EF.  SU Adorning Accents Edgelit.  SU punches: Bird Builder (leaves); Boho Blossoms; Modern Labels; Pansy; Blossom punch (modified for green sentiment back).  SU rhinestones. Computer-made sentiment/ verse (Xiorama font).  (Size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4").