A Just Right Day!

My daughter-in-law's birthday falls in mid-August two days after my Mom's birthday. I went to a card class back in March or April and several of those cards remained unfinished because I wanted to change them a bit rather than follow the original design exactly. As Ginger loves flowers, and I think she would love to have a greenhouse added to her backyard, I decided one particular unfinished card lent itself well to Ginger, as well as several challenges I wanted to enter.

First, I add a few more flowers and extra foliage inside my greenhouse, plus one more blossom outside as I like the look of an odd number of blooms rather than just two, which is an even number. I finished the greenhouse and attached it to the planned white stitched rectangle panel.

The original cardbase design used the same Just Jade cardstock color under the Just Jade embossed brick layer. I wanted to add larger underlying layers and more color. I decided on a Pale Papaya cardbase to match the sentiment die-cut and to use this new cardbase in a picture frame look with an added white mat, and then the Just Jade Brick & Mortar 3D embossed layer. 

I trimmed brick embossed layer about an 1/8" smaller all the way around. I decided to add Clear heat embossing over the 3D bricks to give them a bit of sheen and bring out the texture. I added a little sponged Pale Papaya ink to a recycled scalloped doily for the edging that peeks out just below the greenhouse white stitched panel.  I shaped the doily into a double fan look.  

Next, I offset this same white mat panel quite a bit more to the right than in the original card design to accommodate for the sentiment overlap, which was placed in this location with a specific challenge requirement in mind. I really like my changes and additions to the larger card size, the new Pale Papaya cardbase, the white mat layer, the Clear heat embossing over the 3D brick dry embossing, the extra blooms, and the fan-like doily as I think they all added and enhanced the original card design, which was presented by Luci Kirschbaum!  Take a peak below at my newly-made finished card inside and out:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up: Cardstock--Pale Papaya, Whisper White, Just Jade, Soft Succulent, Vellum. Stamps/Dies--Garden Greenhouse/ Greenhouse Dies. Dies--Stitched Rectangles, Message Dies. Ink: Just Jade, Pale Papaya, Versamark. EF--Brick & Mortar 3D. Elegant Faceted Gems. Other: WOW Clear Matt Embossing Powder. Rectangle doily from stash. Chatterbox verse. Size-4-3/4" x 6".

Father's Day at the Beach!

Being raised in the Pacific Northwest near the ocean, spending at day at the beach, means the ocean is definitely the scenery.  I thought I'd give my youngest son a day off to enjoy some ocean scenery; after all, he was the only one of the four children who never lived in Hawaii where ocean beaches were very much a part of everyday life!

I used the Stampin' Up Waves of Inspiration stamps and the coordinating Waves Dies with Balmy Blue, Pacific Point, and Night of Navy inks.  I brushed and ink-blended the white cardstock top panel with Balmy Blue giving it a filtered blue sky look (a light blue sky with wispy white clouds blended into the blue).   

My wave was next, which I built with the Balmy Blue, Pacific Point, and Night of Navy inks.  I stamped my colors in layers using these three inks one on top the other...over-stamping...but stamped-off with the two darker colors.  I kept adding over-stamping until I got the look I wanted. I used my Misti to aid me in this process. My last stamping was done by applying Night of Navy on the lower portion of the waves only by using a Stamp Write marker inked onto the bottom of the stamp surface.  After it was completely dry, I ink blended with Balmy Blue until I was satisfied with this lighter color mixed into my waves. 

Then, I had an accident...while trying to stamp my seagulls where I wanted them (before popping on the clouds), my stamp block got ink on its edge, which transferred to my card front next to two of my seagulls!  Whoa as me...not the first time I've had this problem with tiny stamped objects!  So not to lose all my carefully ink waves, which I thought turned out rather spectacular, I fussy-cut the wave off and after preparing a new card front with my Balmy Blue brushed ink blending, I glued my waves to the bottom of my new card front.

I decided not to re-stamp my seagulls, as I just didn't want to chance the same problem, so I practice a little of drawing my own seagulls with a fine mechanical pencil and then flicking over with Copic markers in T5, T4, T2.  It worked so well, and I could make them larger or smaller as desired! I found adding them with Copic markers works best for me! I die cut the clouds and cloud edges, which give the clouds more texture and dimension; I popped the clouds off the card surface; and overlapped two the smaller clouds and popped them off each other.

I originally started this card thinking to make a birthday card for my stash, as I never have enough birthday cards. I pulled out my Teeny Tiny Wishes stamp set (retired) and stamped with Night of Navy ink onto Balmy Blue cs and die-cut it with the narrow die that I knew would work well for sentiments.  I attached Linen Twine through the open ends to the sentiment strip and added it to the middle of the card.  Taking a look, I realized it would be a great masculine card, and I still needed another Father's Day card for our delayed family Father's Day get together, which would be taking place next week-end.  I didn't want to re-do the die-cut with the twine, so I carefully made a new sentiment on the computer that I could carefully cut and paste over the happy birthday stamping.  It worked perfect...take a look below:

(NOTE: When I say spatulated off, I used an OLD Cricut spatula, which is irreplaceable and works wonders when for this purpose because of its narrow, thin blade,  Unfortunately, Cricut re-designed their spatula over 10 years ago so these old ones are almost impossible to come by!!)

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up:  Night of Navy, Balmy Blue, Basic White cardstocks. Stamp/ Dies--Waves of Inspiration/ Wave Dies; Teeny Tiny Sentiments (retired). Inks--Night of Navy, Pacific Blue, Balmy Blue, *Basic Gray (seagulls). Linen Twine.  Other: Copic markers--T5, T4, T2 (*Handmade seagulls, rather than stamped). Fussy-cutting. Chatterbox sentiment/ verse. Size--4-3/4" x 6."

My Daughter Grows Beautiful Flowers

 In the middle of thinking about and making Father's Day cards, I realized I also needed to be thinking about my oldest daughter's birthday card! I attended a June card class where we learned to make two cards in one by die-cutting a lacey floral die out of white cardstock to use as a stencil on another white card front panel, creating a negative inked floral bouquet. We were to use our blender brushes to ink and colorize our blossoms with three lovely ink colors, but I decided to use four: Polished Pink, Orchid Oasis, Starry Night, and Parakeet Party for the leaves.  What gorgeous colors these are together.  Our white cardstock stencil ended up very prettily ink blended as well and became the focal die-cut for the second card.  This is the card I decided to finish for my daughter! 

I adhered four 1/2" black paper strips spaced 1/2" apart and horizontally across the white cardstock front panel, starting in the middle...find the card front middle before starting.  Next, adhere two 1/4" black strips at the top and bottom, but also leaving 1/2" of the white cardstock showing. I adhered this card front panel to a black mat layer with a narrow 1/8" border. I add two more base layers...the 4-3/4" x 6" black card base and a Gorgeous Grape cardstock cut to 4-3/8" x 5-5/8". I positioned the inked Artistic lacy flower die-cut where I liked it, allowing for my sentiment strip toward the bottom and offset to the left. 

To finish, I added a 1/4" x 1" tiny black strip to host three medium rhinestones colored with Copic markers to match the Parakeet Party ink and positioned the strip toward the upper right corner of the card front. I punch my white cardstock sentiment strip with the Lovely Label Pick-A-Punch and popped two rhinestones beside the stamped "Happy Birthday".  I also added two Glitter Enamel Gems to the flower centers, coloring them with Copics to accent the inked blooms.

I was super pleased with the look...black and white always dresses up any card...such a classic combination!  Take a peek below and my finished card and my inside Chatterbox verse:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up products: Cardstock--Basic White, Basic Black, Gorgeous Grape. Stamp/ Dies--Artistically Inked (sentiment)/ Artistic Dies (lacy floral). Inks--Polished Pink, Parakeet Party, Orchid Oasis, Starry Night. Punch--Lovely Labels Pick-A-Punch (sentiment label). Glitter Enamel Gems (flower centers). Basic Rhinestones--medium & small. Other: Copic marker (Rhinestone & Glitter Gems coloring). Blender Brushes. Chatterbox verse. Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

A Happy Day Birthday! (Paper Pumpkin--March 2021--"Here's to You" Alternative #3)

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Products--Cardstocks/ Papers: Old Olvie, Pretty Peacock, Basic White, Copper Foil; Paper Pumpkin March 2021--Here's To You (scenes, die-cuts, dsp=envelope inserts, fussy-cut scene pieces). Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays. Die: Stitched Nested Labels. Ink: Early Espresso, Pretty Peacock, Old Olive, Seaside Spray. Embossing Folder: Subtle Dynamic Textured. Sequins: Artistry Blooms.  Other-- Colorbox Chestnut Roan pigment ink (inked edge distressing); Maya Arts Hemp Twine; Copic Markers (sky, water enhancement); Chatterbox verse (inside); Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

CARD STORY & CONSTRUCTION NOTES

My friend's birthday was yesterday while I am away at a crafting get-away with my long-time group of crafting buddies.  This hobby event has been a long time coming as the last was pre-COVID (over two years ago)!  Now that we've all been vaccinated, we've been anxiously awaiting getting together again! So, while I am here, my primary project was to make this needed birthday card.  I wanted to keep my crafting supplies to a minimum, so I've decided to take Paper Pumpkin kits that either were not finished or ones not started, along with their coordinating papers, inks, extra sentiment stamps, ribbon, and other embellishments that I might need.

For this first project, I decided to use a kit I had already made two alternative cards from...the Paper Pumpkin--March 2021 - Here's To You. It, of course, is Alternative Card #3.  I used the cloud-meadow scene that I have not yet used.  Like I did previously, I fussy-cut scenery parts to double layer these areas in the scene in order to add more depth, texture, and color. For this Alternative #3 card, I focused on the clouds, lake shadows, green trees, and meadow with flowers leading to the lake.  

Onto the fussy-cut pieces, I sponged on more ink for color depth, plus I ink-distressed the edges with the Colorbox Chestnut Roan ink that I loved to use when I want ink edge distressed this effect.  Notice that I sponged Pretty Peacock on several of the cloud formations and Old Olive onto the green trees before double layering them onto the scene.  I Copic-colored the fussy-cut lake shadows as I did not have an appropriate ink color to use and double layered them as well.  

Next, I embossed the card base front and the copper foil layer with the SU Subtle 3D embossing folder.  I really like the copper foil with this particular kit as it enriches and brightens the entire look of the completed card.  To finish, I added my trio of twines and adhered all layers including the card front together.  I stamped the sentiment, added the copper die-cut layer pieces, attached the sentiment layering, and finished with sequin embellishments.

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:

A Sea Life Birthday to You!

 My daughter-in-law's birthday is in a few days, so I needed to get busy with a card.  My son built her a fish pond in their backyard a few years ago, so I thought a card using the new Stampin' Up Seascape stamps and Sea Life dies, which includes a koi-style fish, would make a great card!  I saw two cards that gave me great ideas for using this stamp and die set.

I borrowed some of the colors and card design from Luci Kirschbaum's Sea Life card from a card class from several months ago, plus from SCS Featured Stamper ksenzak1/ Karen Ksenzakovic's Sparkly Fish Birthday card.  Here is a link to my card with a link in challenge #7 to Karen's card: (under construction).

I used the school of fish stamp, bubbles, and the small fish and sparkly goldfish dies from idea cards.  My card changed up the fish and bubble layout, plus I added a gold foil die-cut mat, and  grassy overlays for more texture and dimension.  I wanted depth and texture in my card without using the diorama dies, so I added a wonky stitching gold foil mat layer and two-layer sea grass to the card front.  I accomplished the grass overlays by stamping the first layer onto the card front with a very light stamp-off technique.   I also stamped my fish schools and water bubbles at this point as well.  Then, I  stamped a second set of sea grass onto scrap cardstock and fussy-cut each blade overlaying with a slight offset onto those already stamped on the card front.  Now I was ready to add the die-cut fish, my goldfish, the bubble gems and the happy birthday sentiment.  Take a peak below at the finished card plus the inside design and verse.  I think Ginger will be pleased with her pond-life card!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Mint Macaron, Just Jade, Bumblebee, Gold Foil, Very Vanilla.  Stamps--Seascape, Peaceful Moments (sentiment).  Dies--Sea Life, Stitched So Sweetly (sentiment).  Ink--Mint Macaron (fish/ bubbles), Tranquil Tide (grasses--stamped off, sentiment).  Genial Gems--mint macaron, pale papaya.  Other:  EK Punch--Victorian Corners.  Reverse Confetti--All Framed Up Confetti Dies.

Magic & Wonder At Christmas!

This is another card fashioned during my January New Year's resolution binge cardmaking marathon.  I was so happy with the end result that I resolved to go back and make more of this design at a later date.  I just finished a total of four more replicas for my card stash, but I still want to make at least three more!  I did add some Copic-colored sequins for the poinsettia stamin to add even more dimension on several versions. 

My card is a modified CASE of a card originally designed by Dar Peterson, a friend and one-half of my Stampin' Up demonstrator duo, plus side-kick Luci Kirschbaum.  Because of COVID-19, they were not able to host card classes for well over 15 months; therefore, they issued card kits from time to time for their friends and followers to purchase and complete in their homes.  This CASE original was from their Christmas kit issued in late October 2020.  Take a peek at the beautiful results of this truly elegant card and read below for the particulars on the modifications that I made.

One of my favorite Christmas card themes is poinsettia blooms that come in a myriad of colors and usually make elegant cards.  This  card uses the Poinsettia Petals and coordinating die set, which is still available in the 2021-22 Annual catalog.  I was so happy with the end results of my January CASE that I just finished a total of seven replicas for my card stash!  I did add some Copic-colored sequins for more dimension of several versions. 

I modified Dar's design by enlarging my card and changing the sizing on the kit papers to fit.  I added two more color layers to the base layering in So Saffron and Garden Green to bring out the beautiful color shades in the Poinsettia Place dsp paper.  Garden Green became my card's new card base and I built the card's layering from this base instead of white as in the original design.   The original design used the gold oval background layer in the sentiment as in my card, but I added it as a background layer behind the horizontal ribbon band as well.  I added some Acrylic Glitter Glaze to the poinsettia's petals to add sparkle and sheen, but kept the rest of the card similar to the original design.  

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Garden Green, So Saffron, Whisper White. Specialty Papers--Translucent Vellum, Gold Foil. Patterned paper--Poinsettia Place dsp (2020 Holiday).  Stamps--Poinsettia Petals.  Dies--Poinsettia Dies, Layering Ovals, Stitched Shapes.  Ink--Garden Green.  Ribbon--3/8" Metallic Gold Edged--Vanilla.  Other:  Copic-colored sequins, EK Victorian Corner punch, Acrylic Glitter Glaze (Sargent Art), Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

Christmas Dove Brings An Olive Branch!

This is another Christmas card for my 2021 stash!  I do love this Stampin' Up dove stamp and die set that I used, which I'm surprised wasn't carried over into the annual catalog.  

I wanted to use vellum for the dove, which I underlaid with Tempting Turquoise and added silvery wreath. I thought a night sky would be pretty, and I found a pretty piece of dsp with deep to mid-range blue tones.  To complete the look of my night sky, I embossed the dsp with the SU Winter Snow embossing folder and then sprinkle/ splattered it with white acrylic paint.  It was just the look I wanted.  

I used a silver heat-embossed sentiment on vellum with the Tempting Turquoise as an underlay mat as I did with the dove.  I modified this die-cut mat, cutting it down narrower to fit the width I wanted.  Take a look below at the finished card:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise (ret.), Silver Foil, Translucent Vellum.  Stamps/ Dies--Dove of Hope/ Detailed Dove dies; Wreath Builder dies, Ornate Frames dies (sentiment underlay/ modified).  Ink:  Shaded Spruce (sponged Shimmer cardstock).  Embossing Powder--Silver.  Embossing Folder--Winter Snow (SU-2020 Holiday).  Other:   Paper--Recollections Bold Brushstrokes 12x12 paper pad; DCWV Shimmer cardstock--white.  Folk Art--White acrylic paint.  Size--4-3/4 x 6-inches.