Another Sister-in-Law to Celebrate!

Another of my husband's sisters is having a birthday, and a card needs to be sent sooner rather than later.  I checked out Splitcoaststamper's challenges and got some great ideas to work with.  One of these challenges inspired an exact color that I needed to use, a second inspired the use of lots of colors, another inspired the layout (with a few changes), and yet another inspired the paper designs that I chose.  

With the paper choices I decided to use and my layout inspiration, I remembered a card class I attended and a card design by Luci Kirschenbaum that used the same papers.  Luci's card used a similar layout to the SCS layout inspiration; therefore, I decided to CASE Luci's card with some of my own changes.   I added two more color layers, one of which was a new cardbase color and an inbetween layer using the lime green color that I needed.  I also added a lime eyelet die-cut mat underneath my sentiment circle so that it was not quite so plain, and I added sequins and Wink of Stella liquid sparkle to the candle flame. 

I was really please with my finished card and the changes I made.  It turned out to be a very colorful and cheerful birthday card, and I think hubby's sister will enjoy it.  Take a peak below for the final card designs both inside and out.

Inside Under Construction

Ingredients: Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Lemon Lime Twist, Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight.  Pattern Paper--Bubbles & Fizz (2018 SAB).  Ink--Bermuda Bay, Lemon Lime Twist, Daffodil Yellow.  Stamps--Picture Perfect Birthday sentiment + confetti).   Dies--2-3/8" Stitched Circles.  Ribbon--1/8" Satin Bermuda Bay (2018 SAB Shimmer ribbon pack).  Other products:  Dies--Lifestyles Eyelet Circles.  Pretty Pink Posh--sequins.  Chatterbox verse/ computer.  Size:  4-3/4" x 6". Note: html color: Key Lime = #e8f48c.

A Wedding Story Weaves a Fabulous Quilt!

My husband's youngest sister's son is getting married in a few weeks, and a wedding card is needed.  I bought the Stampin' Up Quilt Builder stamps and dies last fall, but have not had a chance to use them.  I've had several ideas from Christmas to baby cards, but after thinking about it, I decided it might make up into a pretty wedding card.  This would also fit right in to help finish one of my last two stragglers in the Splitcoaststamper Alphabet Challenge, Round 8.  One of the stragglers is for letter Q, and using the quilt die would be perfect!  My mind was already working on thoughts for the card's wedding verse inside. . .something involving marriage, the fabric of two lives woven together to make a fabulous quilt!

The newest Splitcoaststamper Inspiration Challenge is to visit the OPI nail polish website, and I saw some pretty nail art while browsing using cream and gold metallic nail art, which reminded me I could probably meet the Letter Q bonus challenge of Joss paper, which is a gold foil paper used in Chinese ancestral worship ceremonies.

After checking out several other Splitcoaststamper challenges, I had some great ideas and inspiration, and I was more than ready to begin.  I thought a white or cream card using gold metallic papers in the quilt would make a really pretty wedding card and my possible verse running around in my head would pull it all together.  Check out my finished card below, showing the outside and inside creations.  I'm pretty happy with the results!

Recipe:  SU Papers: Shimmery White cs; Bundle of Love Specialty dsp (2018 Occ).  Recollections Shimmer Gold cs.  SU Dies: Quilt Builder Framelits; Layering Squares Framelits; Layering Ovals Framelits.  SU Stamps: Rose Wonder (sentiment).  SU Embossing Folder: Quilt Top.  SU Embossing Powder: Gold.  Recollections Embossing Powder: Gold Tinsel.  SU Ribbon: 3/8" Metallic Gold (2017 Holiday).  Stash: Champagne Rhinestones.  EK Punch: Scallop Photo Corners Medium (inside).  Chatterbox verse.  Size:  4-3/4" x 6".  

A Birthday with Lots of Technique!

My oldest daughter is celebrating her birthday today!  I've been working on her card for a couple of days trying to work out its design.  I knew only one thing for sure when I started, my daughter's favorite color is turquoise, so it would have turquoise in it somehow, somewhere.  A couple of other things I knew were that I wanted to enter the finished card into some Splitcoaststamper challenges, and if it could somehow fit one of my remaining three Round 8, Letters, I'd be pleased!

My usual plan, as most of you who read my blog might know by now, is that I check out all SCS challenges for inspiration and ideas before I begin, which I did with this card.  I am happy to say that with my mojo, which started with the SCS Inspiration Challenge, which led to my being able to enter into Alphabet Challenge, Round 8, and others!  

See "The Story" below my card for more details.  Meanwhile, take a peek at my daughter, Michele's, card below (plus the inside design and verse).  I am truly excited about her card, how it evolved, and how it turned out, and I think she will be thrilled!

Ingredients:  Stampin Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise, Basic Gray.  Patterned Paper: 2012-2013 DSP Stack--Brights/ Pacific Point (umbrella).  Stamp--Marbling (background).  Inks--So Saffron, Pear Pizzaz, Tempting Turquoise.  Stencil--Pattern Party Decorative Masks (clouds).  SU White Embossing Paste.  Glitter--Dazzling Diamonds.  Other products:  Cardstock--Recollections Pack/ Punchy Florals.  Colourcraft Brushos--Turquoise, Grey.  MFT Stencil--Raindrops.  Stamps/Dies--Crazy Birds; Crazy Things (bird/hat).  Savvy Dies--Cityscape; Small Space Needle.  Elizabeth Dies:  Rainy Day (umbrella).  EK Punch: Med. Victorian Corner.  Techniques: Coloring Texture Paste; Copic Coloring; Marbling; Glitter Texture.  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse (computer/ Xiomara font).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

THE STORY:

EVOLVING A CARD TO FIT NUMEROUS CHALLENGES

By now, a lot of you who are also on the Splitcoaststamper (SCS) site know that I love to find inspiration from several SCS challenges. You might wonder how I do this.  So here goes an explanation:

I keep a running computer document with all SCS challenges listed chronologically by weekdays and dates within each challenge, then the monthly, annual, etc. challenges follow.  I check each week and add the challenge updates as the week progresses.  If I actually enter a challenge, I place a red check mark in front of the challenge number.  It makes it pretty easy to spot what I've entered and what I haven't, plus checking to see what inspiration I can get to decide what I might want to do to my card to fit the challenges I decide to enter.  It is often a work in progress as I create, and I may add or subtract a challenge as I work and possibly make changes to my original plan.

Almost everything on this Crazy Bird card started first by browsing the June 23, 2018 Inspiration Challenge/ Hayneedle online site for art work with blues and greens as I knew for sure I wanted to use turquoise.  This Inspiration Challenge led to seven other challenges.

#1.  Inspiration Challenge - IC655 - 6/23/18.  In my browsing through Hayneedle, several blue and green three wall art items led me to my card design:  a marbled background, though eliminating the browns shown and adding pear pizzaz and soft yellow to the turquoise; 2) a silhouetted Seattle skyline; and an aqua raindrops canvas led me to add rain and clouds. . .after all, it will be a Seattle scene!

#2. Free for All - F4A432: Baby It's Cold Outside - 6/1/18.  Since I was going to use rain and it was to be Seattle, I decided to use embossing paste and add color and glitter to my rain and clouds to evoke a cool feel to the card.

#3. Ways to Use It - WT680: World Water Day - 3/22/18. . .with all this talk about rain in Seattle, I remember a older WT challenge that talked about rain and umbrellas that I missed because it was issued just a few days before being AWOL with my knee surgery.  I re-checked and sure enough the rain and an umbrella worked for this challenge.

#4. Alphabet Challenge, Round 8 - DD8ABC21U - 1/3/18.  Letter U = UMBRELLA. . .one of my final three missing letters for Round 8!!! The BONUS challenge for using a faux finish fit my plan for a marbled background mentioned above. I was stoked!! 

#5. Mix-Ability - MIX280: Losing My Marbles - 6/8/18.  Marbling led me to think of the mix-ability challenges.  I was sure there was bound to be something about marbling.  In my searched through this challenge and found this one, which gave suggestions on making a marbled background, but it also mentioned that a marbling stamp could be used.  I decided to possibly invent my own marbling by using my SU Marbling BG stamp.  To get three colors in my marbling, I used my MISTI and shifted my paper about 1/8" with each of three colors: So Saffron, Pear Pizzaz, and Tempting Turquoise and blew it dry to set the ink.  I watercolor brushed more turquoise ink as the final coat to add more turquoise and to fill in any white areas, and blew it dry.  Next, I "painted" the entire marbled surface with glitter glue and sprinkled Dazzling Diamonds all over, lightly brushed off excess glitter, and blew it dry.  It looked like a HOT MESS during the process, but I was pretty pleased with the final result.

#6. Colored Texture Paste Technique. I colored my White Embossing Paste and stirred in a bit of Dazzling Diamonds glitter and Brushos Turquoise to stencil on my raindrops and blew them dry.  I also mixed a batch of light grey with a few sprinkles of Brushos Grey and glitter to stencil on my clouds.

#7. Teapot Challenge - MMTPT515: TPT Tic Tac Toe - 6/5/18.  I'd been watching out for using this one, because I love Tic Tac Toe challenges.  My diagonal Tic Tac Toe is: Stitching, Die-Cuts, and Patterned Paper.  I also added Watercoloring and Embossing (if the Embossing applies to Embossing Paste rather than just dry embossing).  My umbrella is a die-cut, and it became covered in patterned paper with hand-stitching. My bg uses watercoloring and Embossing Paste in the raindrops and clouds.

8. USEIT2018 - ongoing :  My new but dusty and never stuff:  the Crazy Birds stamps and dies and my Small Space Needle die.  I bought both at least two years ago and had not used them yet!  Also both stencils are new and have been languishing in their packages.  My used oldie is my CityScape die, which I have not used for 2-1/2 years! 

So, there's the explanation of my development of a card utilizing numerous challenges. I find this great fun, and a challenge in and of itself for me! Usually I start with a bit of an idea from a challenge then embellish upon the idea to fit other challenges, but as I mentioned before its a work in progress and challenges to be entered can change as the card evolves.

Thinking of You, Dear Friend!

The month of May has been filled with lots of not so happy news from illnesses to those who have gone to their final resting place.  I need another card for a dear friend, who had serious surgery within a few days of my niece, which I noted in my last post.  My friend will also be looking toward a lengthy recovery until she feels "normal" is a word she can use in her vocabulary again!

Besides flowers, I've been wanting to send her one of my handcrafted cards, which she always enjoys for her birthday!  While making my niece's card, I was keeping in mind card ideas for my dear friend using a modified card kit design as well.  Another thing I was keeping in mind was that I wanted to complete another SCS Alphabet Challenge, because I am so far behind (comes from being crafting AWOL with knee surgery!!).  Here is my second card kit re-design, using parts from one original design and parts from another.  Take a peek below...I think my friend will be pleased.

Ingredients:   Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Dapper Denim, Flirty Flamingo.  Stamps--Heartfelt Blooms (2018 SAB).  Ink--Dapper Denim, Baked Brown Sugar (ink distressing).  Dies--Lots of Labels framelits.  Embossing Folder: Fancy Dots (2016 AC).  Perennial Birthday Kit (2018 Occ):  materials from two different card designs:  floral disp + white/floral shaped tag + ribbon/ twine.  Other: Spellbinder die: Labels 10 (sentiment).  Punch:  EK Victorian Medium Photo Corner.  5/8" Gold Glitter Washi Tape.  Pretty Pink Posh sequins.  Chatterbox verse (Bob Marley quote modified).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

THE CARDMAKING STORY

UNDER CONSTRUCTION

Kind Thoughts Sent Your Way!

Just a few weeks ago, we received the heart-wrenching news that my niece just had major surgery and is looking toward a long and tedious recovery.  She is just nine months younger than my oldest daughter, and they were great pals growing up, flying back and forth each summer to spend a few weeks with one another to keep in touch.

We, of course, sent flowers right away. alternating weeks sent so she would always have a fresh bouquet, but my daughter and I wanted to each send a special card, made from the heart, to remind her we are keeping her in our thoughts and prayers.  About two months ago, we bought card kits from Stampin' Up that would make four each of four different card designs, and this last week-end was the time to get it out and spend time making the cards we needed.  We, of course, did not want to follow the four design samples exactly, because we did not want four sets of four designs exactly the same.  With this in mind, we went to work finding our own design deviations and remodels.

I like to participate in Splitcoaststampers challenges, so I did a little research before getting started.  I decided to start with the Old Olive green card parts from the card kit from my research.  Take a peek below at my change-up, alternate-design for the "green card," which I think my niece will enjoy.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Old Olive, Dapper Denim, Whisper White, Flirty Flamingo, So Saffron, Myths & Magic Glimmer paper.  Stamps--You're Inspiring.  Ink--Dapper Denim, Baked Brown Sugar (ink distressing).  Dies--Pretty Pines framelits.  Punches--Leaf, Boho Blossoms (ret.), Petite Petals (ret.); Heart Confetti Border (ret.).  Glitter Enamel Dots (Copic colored).  Blue Fishtail Curvy Banner: Hand-drawn/ Fussy-cut.  Perennial Birthday Kit: materials from two card designs: green bg + white diagonal die-cut + white curvy banner + ribbon/ twine).  Other: Punch: EK Victorian Medium Photo Corners. Wink of Stella/ Clear (flowers).  Chatterbox verse (Bob Marley quote modified).  Size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4".

THE CARD-MAKING STORY

The papers and patterned papers provided in the card kit coordinate with Dapper Denim, Old Olive, Flirty Flamingo, Whisper White, and Gold Foil colors. My first step with my kit was to cut the front and the back of the folded card base into two separate pieces, because I planned to add new cardbases and layers using one of the coordinating cardstock colors to supplement where needed.  This actually gave me the potential of 32 different cards instead of just 16, though I would probably use some of the solids for inside layers to host my verses, so ultimately, I will not create 32 different cards. 

I decide to start with the "green card" materials.  This card was supposed to have balloons layered onto of the white diagonal lattice.  I used the solid olive paper that came with the kit and added it to a white cardbase.  I added an olive glitter layer under my white diagonal lattice, and flowers below.  I borrowed the curvy double fishtail banner from another of the card design and hand traced and enlarged its curvy shape on Dapper Denim cardstock to add the under mat.  I finished with Dapper Denim photo corners to add more blue, seeking to eliminate quite so much olive.  I added a different sentiment from a another stamp set than that recommended for the kit cards.  

Traveling Teapot Challenge...Sympathy Card #2!

Splitcoaststamper's Teapot Challenge for May 15, 2018 is for the mother and grandmother of our SCS friend's great niece, who has left us and gone to her final resting place with God.  I wanted to participate in this challenge and send my card on the way to this family, who are so grief stricken.  I am praying that all of our SCS cards will help bring solace to their wounded hearts.  It is always difficult to deal with losing loved ones, but when they are young as well, it makes it doubly difficult.  Take a peek at my card below, which is bright and cheerful, and I hope it bring a small smile to their faces.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Bermuda Bay, Lemon-Lime Twist, Whisper White.  Pattern Paper--Eastern Palace DSP.  Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers, Christmas Quilt (stamped bg).  Ink--Bermuda Bay, Lemon-Lime Twist.  Dies--Quilt Builder Framelits, Layering Ovals Framelits (plain/ scallop), Stitched Shapes Framelits.  Pearls.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Hugs & Prayers for SCS Friend. . .

A wonderful Splitcoaststamper friend has lost her young, great niece, and I wanted to join the Teapot Party to let her know we are so sorry for her family's loss.  To lose someone is always difficult, but that much more so when they are very young!  I am sending our friend hugs and prayers in a card, sealed with a kiss.

I have had this fantastic stamp set that I know it has flooded Splitcoasterstampers and Pinterest with oodles of card, but I have never inked it up myself.  I thought this lovely tree and scenery would be just right for a sympathy card.  I'm hoping it bring comfort to our SCS friend.  Time will eventually help heal and allow her and her family to remember wonderful memories of this sweet little girl who has gone too early to a peaceful and loving place.  Take a peek below at my finished card inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstocks--Blushing Bride, Lucky Limeaide (ret.), Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla; Stamps--Sheltering Tree; Inks--Chocolate Chip, Pear Pizzaz, Strawberry Slush, Pink Pirouette, Memento Tuxedo Black, Burnt Brown Sugar (ink edge distressing); Embossing Folder--Petal Pair (2018 Occ); 1/2" Pink Pirouette seam binding ribbon (ret.).  Other:  Stash--Metal Leaf; Chatterbox sentiment/ verse (computer printed); Size--4-3/4" x 6".

My Lovely Mother!

Mother's Day will be here before I blink, and I needed time to get a card made and mailed to my Mom you lives several states away!  I went to a card-making class, hosted by Dar Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum, a few weeks ago to try out my new knee and see if it would withstand several hours in the sitting position.  It didn't like it much, but managed to survive until I could get home and elevate it in my recliner, where I promptly fell asleep!

While at class, I started a card from a very nice design, but visions of things I wanted to add or change kept interfering, plus the desire to color the daffodil stamped image with my Copic markers rather than the pens our hostesses were providing, prompted me to gather its parts and bring it home for completion.

I think I'm pretty pleased with my totally remodeled card...it is surely more my cardmaking style, and, I think, worthy to be a Mother's Day card for my Mom.  I thinks she will be delighted with it!  I found I will also be able to enter it into several SCS Challenges that I checked out before starting my finishing project. 

Take a peek below at the card front, as well as my interior design and Chatterbox verse!  Check out the modification story below the ingredients list if interested.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks--Daffodil Yellow, Whisper White, Old Olive; Patterned paper:  Delightful Daisy dsp; Stamp--You're Inspiring (2018 Occ); Ink: Old Olive; Twine: Crushed Curry Solid; Pearls; Washi tape--Basic Pack #2.  Dies: Reverse Confetti Lacy Scallop Frame (yellow mat layer); Spellbinders Lattice Rectangle (daffodil frame); MFT First Place Ribbon (double fishtails).  Punches: Martha Stewart--Butterfly Trio; EK--Medium Scallop Photo Corners (inside).  Copic Sketch markers.  Computer printed sentiment/ verse.  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

The Modification Story

Several days ago, I finished coloring my daffodil image, I was really pleased with it...such a pretty stamp set!  Next, I began with my own design ideas to finish off the card.  

I added a new daffodil yellow mat layer die-cut with one of my favorite rectangle edging, and I adhered it to a new and enlarged white cardbase (cut 9-1/2" x 6" and scored at 4-3/4").  I cut the green patterned paper layer provided in the card class smaller to allow my new yellow mat layer's edging show.  I adhered this green patterned paper to the yellow mat.  I also cut my daffodil image smaller to fit onto a new yellow lattice-work rectangle frame, where the lattice curves peeks out around the edges of the daffodil image.  

I decided to center my lattice-framed daffodil image from side to side and center my double fishtail sentiment below.  I added criss-crossed golden-yellow twine to the olive green one-inch wide horizontal strip, and centered the strip from top to bottom beneath image frame.  

To finished, I plunked a bitty butterfly hovering along the edge of my daffodil flowering image.  The butterfly is punched from a lemon-lime and white striped washi tape adhered to a piece of Daffodil Yellow cardstock with a bitty pearl added for its body.  I prepared my sentiment using my computer and composed a versed to added to the inside, which I colorized to match Old Olive green.  I added punched scallop photo corners, using the olive patterned paper, and more bitty butterflies punched from the same washi-covered cardstock and body pearls.

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".

Merry Christmas Tag Card Travels to the East Coast!

I went to a Christmas tag-making event last year hosted by the Stampin' Up duo, Dar Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum, where we made ten different Christmas tags.  As I do not need Christmas tags for many package, I have developed a method to turn the tags into cards, and this was my plan for these tags.

Sometimes, because of size or dimension, the tags will need some sort of modification in order to make them into cards.  The merry Christmas tag designed by Luci was modified just a pinch before I designed a card for it.  First, I shortened its length to 4-1/2" long.  Next, the top corners of the tag were punched with the Curvy Corners punch, and I decided to add the same feature to the bottom two corners.  The remainder of the tag remains the same as the original design, and it is ready for my card.

I incorporated red foil, also used for the tag star, as straight border edges along my printed paper middle panel.  This middle panel is paper from the This Christmas Specialty dsp from the 2016 Holiday catalog.  I used an additional center strip of red foil bordered by scalloped edges, using one of the patterns in the three trees, which came from the Cherry on Top paper stack.

My tag card is finished and ready to send to my cousin who lives all the way across the United States on the East Coast.  I am sure she and her family will be pleased with their homemade card sent from Washington State.  Take a peek below at the finished front and inside designs.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Cucumber Crush, Real Red, Red Foil.  Patterned--Cherry on Top stack; 2016-2018 Brights Backgrounds stack/ Real Red diagonal stripe; This Christmas Specialty dsp.  Dies--Perfect Pines framelits; Christmas Greetings thinlits.  Punches--Itty Bitty Accents-Star; Curvy Corner Trio (retired); Scalloped Edge Border (retired); Top Note BigZ (retired).  Gold Metallic Cording.  (Thank you Luci Kirschbaum for the tag inspiration).

A Delicate Ornament for My Cousin!

I am barely getting started with my 2016 Christmas card needs.  I am starting with the cards that I have to mail long distance and out of state.  This one is for my cousin who lives midway across the United States in Colorado.

I was late placing my order for this year's Stampin' Up Christmas products; therefore, none have yet arrived.  So, I am using products from last year's stash, starting with the Delicate Ornaments die set and the Oh, What Fun! stamp set.  After choosing the Merry Moments plaid paper, it was easy to choose the rest of the papers I wanted to use: Old Olive and Real Red cardstock, Red Foil and Gold Glimmer papers, and a mini red print from Merry Moments as well.

I placed my red foil ornament onto a Lots of Labels die-cut of the Merry Moments plaid matted with a Gold Glimmer layer.  To achieve the gold layer, I die-cut the glimmer paper with the next larger framelit than that used for the plaid.  Then, I re-cut the gold piece smaller, using the same die, to fit more closely around the plaid die-cut, leaving only a 1/16" bordered edge all the way around (see card picture below).

I used the same mat idea under my sentiment by first stamping the sentiment with Always Artichoke ink onto Old Olive cardstock, and then cutting it with the label die from the Project Life Cards & Labels framelit set.  Next, I measured and cut a matching piece of Gold Glimmer using my paper cutter so that it was slightly larger than my sentiment die-cut (see card picture below).  I finished off the card using the red mini print as a center panel dressed up with Gold Glimmer scalloped edges.

I am pretty happy with my results, and now I'm ready to send it off on its long trip across the U.S.A.  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Old Olive, Real Red, Gold Glimmer.  Pattern Paper--Merry Moments dsp.  Stamps--Oh, What Fun!  Ink--Always Artichoke.  Dies--Delicate Ornaments; Lots of Labels framelits; Project Life Cards & Labels framelits; Top Note BigZ die (retired).  1/8" Red Stripe Ribbon.  Scallop Edge punch (retired).  Other products:  EK punch--Victorian Photo Corner.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6."

Detailed Santa Die-Cut for Mom!

I went to Stampin' Up demonstrator, Liz Thayer's, annual Totally Loving Christmas cardmaking event earlier this fall where we had the opportunity to make ten Christmas cards designed her this lovely lady.   One of her designed cards used Stampin' Up's new Detailed Santa thinlit, which was featured in their 2016 Holiday mini catalog.  This die is quite intricate, and with these types of dies unless you have a helping-hand with a specialized die-cutting metal plate or even wax paper, loosening your die-cut paper from the die is almost impossible without tearing it.  Thus was the case with my die-cut...I tore the paper while trying to remove it.  Without this paper die-cut, the card could not be completed.  As I had already purchased this die myself, I decided to take all the paper pieces and embellishments home and finished the card later.

Because I like larger cards than the standard A2 size (4-1/4" x 5-1/2"), and I also like using more than one or two color layers, I sometimes feel the urge to do a bit of my own re-designing before completing the card.  I used Liz's design as a jumping off point and englared my card to 4-3/4" x 6" and added a Dazzling Diamond Glimmer layer (a silver glitter paper, but more to the white side than the gray).  I added black Santa glasses, black eyes with a twinkle in his eye made with a white ink pen and a little red mouth.  I fishtail flagged my ribbon instead of burying its ends behind layers and added red rhinestones to the flags.  I decided to mat my sentiment with the same silvery glimmer paper and pop it up on the fishtail flag ribbon instead of stamping it onto the white background below the ribbon.

I am earmarking this card for my mother for Christmas because I think she will love the look of this die-cut card, which is so easy to do.  Take a peek below at my redesigned card front and my finished interior designed to fit the look of its front.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Pool Party, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer.  Stamps--Glamper Greetings (2016 Holiday).  Ink--Pool Party.  Dies--Detailed Santa Thinlits; Top Note BigZ die (retired/ inside).  5/8" Mint Macaron Striped Ribbon.  White Mica Flakes (2016 Holiday).  Other products: Offray Red Rhinestones.  White Uni-ball pen.  Punch--Recollections 5/8"  Snowflake (inside).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".  (Thank you Liz Thayer for design inspiration).

Birthday Balloons for a Sister-in-Law Birthday!

Now for my last female family birthday card for early days in October.  This next card is for my husband's sister who lives in Utah.  I chose a card that I made at a girls' get-together given by my Stampin' Up upline, Liz Thayer, for a few of us back in March of this year.  I know I say this a lot, but it's true every time. . .I absolutely loved this card. . .everything about it.  These Stampin' Up shades of aqua blues are my very favorite:  Pool Party and Bermuda Bay.  If Liz had thrown in Coastal Cabana, then I would have been over the moon!  LOL

I finished every part of this card's assembly at our fun little get-together with Liz.  I was thrilled she used the Irresistibly Yours dsp, which is a white pre-embossed paper to be sponge colored whatever shade you wish.  We, of course, sponged ours with Pool Party ink.  The only thing left to finish my card completely was to create a suitable inside design and birthday verse, and these I was able to do in May while in Mt. Shasta, California.  It is ready to be sent off to Judy for her birthday, and I think she will be delighted with her card.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Pool Party, Bermuda Bay.  Pattern--Irresistibly Yours dsp.  Stamps--Kinda Eclectic (sun), Balloon Celebration.  Ink--Pool Party (balloons/ sun/ distressing), Bermuda Bay (birthday/ balloon sprinkles/ verse).  Punch:  Balloon Bouquet, Curvy Corners (inside/ retired).  Dazzling Diamonds Glitter adhesive.  Metallic Silver cord (2015 Holiday).  Sequins--2013-2015 In-Color Asst. (2014-15 Annual).  Papertrey Ink stamps:  Tuck In Birthday (verse).  Size:  4-1/4" x 5-1/2".

Fun Birthday Splatters For A Niece!

One of my sister's girls has a birthday in my birthday month of August.  I thought I would like to try out the Splatter Technique that I was briefly introduced to just about a year ago in late August at a cardmaking/ teaching class given by the Stampin' Up duo. . .Dara Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum.  This first try was on a Christmas card, and it seemed a simple enough technique and quite effective so I thought I would try it again.  Take a look at my niece's finished card, which I cased using a card design by Darla Watson, a California Stampin' Up demonstrator that I visited during my trip south this past spring. 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Bermuda Bay, Whisper White.  Sponging Ink--Pear Pizzazz, Bermuda Bay.  Stamp--Sassy Salutations (retired).  Stamp Ink: Old Olive.  Sequins--Metallics.  Splattering: Bermuda Bay Ink.  White Emobssing Powder.  Papertrey Ink stamp--Inside & Out: Birthday I.  Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".  (Thanks Darla Watson for your lovely original design).

The Story & Tidbits

Darla's card that I chose to case was definitely a clean and simple style, of which I am not generally a fan, but this particular card used one of my favorite color combination: teal and pear green; thus, it really caught my eye.  The original card had a less splatters on the front, as it was achieved by stamping the splatters with Stampin' Up's Gorgeous Grunge stamp set.  For me, it didn't have enough splatters, thus the idea came to mind to use the Splatter Technique that I had learned and used that one time.  It achieves a similar look to spritzing as well, but I find it much more controllable and your splatters do not end up as large, which is what I wanted in this case. 

First, I heat-embossed my sentiment with white embossing ink.  Next, I sponged my ink colors onto the front area as shown on the card.  I sponged until I achieved the color depth I desired.  The final step is to add your splatters either by stamping with an appropriate stamp, such as Stampin' Up's Gorgeous Grunge, or by using the Splatter Technique, which I describe below.

The Splatter Technique is achieved by using a water brush, (in Stampin' Up lingo, it's called an Aqua Painter), which has its hollow barrel filled with water, stamping ink, and the flicking motion.  For your color, you can use a bottle of stamp re-inker by dropping a few droplets onto the inside lid of its matching stamp ink pad, or by squishing your stamping ink onto its box lid, or dropping your ink onto a large acrylic stamping block (because it cleans up easily).  There are other ideas out there as well.  For the flicking motion: gently squeeze the water brush barrel to load your brush tip with water, dip the wet water brush into the re-inker drops, lay the barrel of the water brush across your pointer finger about one inch below its bristles, and finally, flick (or snap) the brush barrel below the bristles with your other hand.  Reload your brush with water as needed and with ink, and repeat the flicking motion until you get enough splatters to suit.  The distance the brush is away from your paper will change the splatter effect.  So, practice with it, achieve the color intensity desired, you feel comfortable with the flicking motion, and you achieve the look you like.  

If you do not have a water brush, you can also use a regular paint brush (like one that comes in a children's paint set),  dip and wet its brush well into a small container of water and then into your ink drops and flick.  For the most intense color, you can use a regular paint brush, dampening it just to moisten, wipe off excess water on a paper towel, and dip directly into your ink drops and flick.  You can also mix your ink color and water prior to flicking.  The formula I was told to use for this method was approximately one tablespoon of water to one to three drops of re-inker, depending on how dark you want your ink splatters to be.

As you can see, there are a variety of Splatter Techniques and even more than I have mentioned.  Check it out on Pinterest or YouTube videos. . .enjoy Splattering!!!

Birthday Rose for a Beautiful Daughter-in-Law

My youngest son's wife has an August birthday, and she became a special addition to our family ten years ago last month.  I wanted to make and send a special birthday card that jumped right out and said, "That's for Ginger!"  As I made this particular card that I chose several months ago at a Liz Thayer card gathering, I loved it right off, and I thought it would be perfect for Ginger because she loves flowers and gardening.  

I finished the stamping, heat embossing, and watercolor painting on the card front at the card event, I decided not to completely finish everything that day, because I knew I wanted to make a few additions and some small changes.  Take a peak at my finished version of the card front, which included adding some iridescent sparkly glitter to the rose petals, as well as my inside design creation below:

Ingredients:  SU products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Shimmery White (front), Hello Honey, Blackberry Bliss; Stamps--You've Got This; Inks--Blackberry Bliss, Melon Mambo, So Saffron (rose)/ Old Olive, Mint Macaroon (leaves); Dies--Deco Label framelit (inside); White Embossing powder; Silver Metallic Thread; Metal-Rimmed Pearl; Basic Pearls; Dazzling Diamonds glitter; Wink of Stella-Clear; Aqua Painter.  Papertrey stamp: Inside & Out II (inside verse).  Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2". 

What a Nice Visit. . .Thank Yous are Needed!

I recently returned from a nice long visit in California with my mother and occasionally with my sister, my brother and his wife, and a few nieces and nephews as well.  It was such a lovely visit and thankfully the weather was with me.  You see, those of us from the Northwest just don't get along with weather in the 90s and 100s.  Typically, Redding, CA has had many days over 100-degree days by the third week in June and many more in the 90s, but Mother Nature was looking down and smiling upon me.  In the seven weeks I was there, we only had two days over 100 and two days over 90.  There were many days in the mid- to high 70s and the low to mid-80s and even several cloudy and rainy days with thunder and lightening. . .at least eight to nine days of those days!  My gosh, I felt almost like I was at home!  But, I got out of there just in time, because since I left ten days ago, they have had weather in the high 90s almost every day and even over 100 at all times!

Mom and I (and my sister when available) did lots of things and had lots of fun.  The highlight was our week-long Cardmaking Get-Away to Mt. Shasta.  In addition, Mom and I went on several mini-trips to visit the coast and our old stomping grounds and to visit relatives.  We played numerous games of Mexican Train, Bunco and weekly Bingo games as Mom is the Bingo manager in her village.  In addition, we saw lots of movie with lunch dates and lady friends along, and we even did a bit of cardmaking when at home.  I got to meet some lovely new ladies in her village and renewed some old friendships made on other visits.  It was all quite a lovely time. . .too bad I live so far.  

I wanted to send my mother a thank you card for her wonderful hospitality and the lovely visit.  I found several thank you cards in my stash that seemed to fit the occasion just right, but the one I chose will suit Mom to a tee.  My card is derived from a kit designed by Liz Thayer for our 2015 May Girls' Get-Away.  I modified my version by not using the single white cardbase, but added two color mats instead: a Coastal Cabana cardbase with an overlay mat of Hello Honey and then the card front.  I also shifted by pom-pom ribbon knot to the left instead of centered and added glitter to my letters.  I love the design Liz provided for us to work with, and I think Mom will enjoy the card I chose as well.

Before my card could be sent off, I needed to complete the inside with a complimentary design and a verses that suited this thank you occasion.  After reviewing several ideas I had in mind, I decided on the following because it matched my needs:  a compliment to the card front and a verse that said everything I wanted to say:

Ingredients:  Stampin" Up products:  Cardstocks--Bermuda Bay, Hello Honey, Crumb Bake, Whisper White.  Stamps--For Being You (2015 SAB).  Ink--Early Espresso.  Stamp-Write Markers--Hello Honey, Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral.  Embossing Folder--Perfect Polka Dots.  Embellishments--Thick Baker's Twine-Hello Honey, Calypso Coral Pom-Poms, 1/4" Cotton Coastal Cabana ribbon.  Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.

A Day to Honor Fathers!

Our four children and spouses will arrive at our home on Father's Day bringing the goodies to make a magnificent barbecue dinner to celebrate my husband and myself.  You see...as I was traveling on Mother's Day to spend time with my 90-year old mother on her day, my day was planned to be celebrated with my husband on Father's Day.  We are willing to share our days with one another!

I wanted to make a special Father's Day card for my husband to not only celebrate him, but to thank him for allowing me a long vacation away to visit my family in California. ( I have to say, I was a busy gal, and enjoyed every minute of it!)  I have had the Stampin' Up Traveler stamp set for some time, and I have been itching to use it, but have never taken the opportunity.  I won a second copy of this very stamp set at a stamping event, which I brought down to share with my mother.  This was perfect. . .I'd use her set while visiting.

The stamp I wanted to use is the vintage locomotive, and I had in mind to emboss it to fit my black, white, and red card theme.  I used the Perpetual Birthday Calendar stamp set to form my background in Real Red and Smokey Slate. . . modifying it just a bit.  By using my MISTI stamping tool, I was able to wipe off half the red ink with a baby wipe and yet still be able to repeat-stamp to get a rich impression.  I was also able to re-position for the gray to enlarge that area.  I have to say, I just love my MISTI stamping tool.   Take a look at my finished train card below...it really is black, white and red in RIL...don't know why the picture picked up pink and charcoal)!  I think my husband will be very pleased with his Father's Day card.

I finished off my husband's Fathr's Day card by crafting an inside to coordinate ith the outside creation, and I fashioned a little verse fitting this special occasion.

Recipe:  Recollections cardstock: Black, Pewter.  Patterns: DCWV Bella Armoire Stack.  Stampin' Up products:  Red Glimmer Paper; Stamps--Traveler, Perpetual Birthday Calendar; Inks--Real Red, Smoky Slate; Embossing Powder--Black; Dies--Finishing Touches Edgelits-Pinked (retired).  Cottage Cutz dies: Expressions--Happy, Father's Day.  Recollections: Red Pearls.  EK punch: Scallop Corners-Medium (inside).

A Birthday for My Niece Who Turns 10!

It's time to celebrate my little niece, who lives here where I am visiting.  Another card that I finished on my Girls' Get-Away to Mt. Shasta was one I started at a cardmaking class hosted by Dara Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum, a partnership of two Stampin' Up demonstrators.  Their classes are always fun to go to, and the other cardmakers make it a fun gathering one doesn't want to miss!

This is what I would call a "clean and simple" card, which is not always my favorite style of card to make as I usually favor cards with lots more detail and fussiness, but I really like this card's color combinations, with the little balloons and the washi tape application so it moved to my "I'm likin' this one" category!  I did add another layer of color with the black cardbase under the Melon Mambo layer.  I just thought it needed just a bit more and made the other colors pop!  Thanks to Luci Kirschbaum for her design for us to make).

True to my cardmaking style, I set myself to design and inside to coordinate with the front card design.  I chose a retired stamp for the verse, as I wanted to color it with Copics to tie in the rich vibrant colors depicted on the card front. 

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Black, Melon Mambo, Whisper White.  Stamps:  Party Wishes (balloons/ sentiment), Big Day (2015 SAB).  Ink--Melon Mambo, Crushed Curry, Mint Macaron; Memento-Tuxedo Black.  Punch--Party Punch Pack-balloon, Curvy Corners (inside).  Washi--It's My Party (2016 Occasions).  Twine: Thick-Blace/Melon Mambo.  Other: Goosebumps--Queen & Co.-Hot Pink Quartz (inside).

A Friend's Birthday Has Arrived!

While in Mt. Shasta on our week-long Girls' Crafting Get-Away, with my Mom and my sister, my goal was to get ahead of my cardmaking needs.  I had lots of ready-to-finish cards in my stash that I brought with me from Washington to work on while gone.  I finished over 15 card completely, inside and out, but it didn't even put a dent in my stash. . .woe is me!  One of the cards that I did complete is this cute little flower card, and I thought it would be perfect for Liz, my cardmaking buddy and Stampin' Up upline. 

I cannot claim the accolades for the original design as that honor and my thanks belong to Darla Watson, another Stampin' Up demonstrator that I know in California.  As I re-created her card, I took the liberty of making a few modifications to make it more mine.  I raised the ribbon tie to allow for a sentiment fishtail flag to be stamped and popped up at the bottom as there was no front sentiment, which I prefer.  I also enlarged my Early Espresso cardbase to make it more of a picture frame background.  Even with these changes, my card retains the flavor of the original design.

To complete my card, I followed my usual cardmaking plan, which is to create an interior design that compliments the card front and to choose or create a verse that coordinates with the occasion for which my card is intended.  Take a look at my finished product below.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight Whisper White.  Dot paper--stamped with Dots for Days background stamp.  Stamps--Flower Patch (flower/ sentiment), Remembering Your Birthday (verse), Dots for Days (background).  Ink--Early Espresso.  Memento Black.  Dies--Flower Fair Framelits.  Punch--Curvy Corners.  Ribbon--1/4" Cotton-Daffodil Delight.  Pearls--Copic colored.  Other:  Zutter--Curved Corner punch.

A Minion Birthday is LATE!

My nephew had a birthday in the early part of April, and I blew it all to smithereens!   In other words, I did not get his card made and sent on time.  It was not just a little late but a LOT LATE!  I was totally distracted getting ready for my trip to California to visit my Mom right around the time of his birthday.  I had not been down in two years, and it seemed I was just totally out of sync trying to complete my personal packing, my cardmaking packing (now that's a chore), plus finishing up personal business before leaving, i.e, Mr. Tax Man!  I'm sure it doesn't make my nine-year old nephew feel any better, but I missed making his mother's birthday card as well, as her birthday falls six days after his.  Note:  I finished her card a few days ago and both were hand-delivered together today!  Whew! Now I'm all caught up with by late cards.

To make Parker's birthday card, I tossed around several ideas before leaving home,  and I even had a plan to color a cowboy crab at the beach. . .even down to getting the digi printed, with papers for paper-piecing and dies chosen, but I left home without them, so I had to start planning from the beginning all over again.  I was peeking at Pinterest a few days ago and saw another Minion card.  I've seen quite a few on Pinterest some with the whole card a Minion head, some with one Minion and a birthday sentiment, and several with balloons featured in some manner.  Balloons are my favorite birthday thing. . .I love to give them; I love to receive them; and, I also love to put them on cards for birthdays that I make.  My mind was made up. . .Parker's card would feature a Minion and balloons!

I was in luck. . .I had put in an order while here purchased the Stampin' Up Brights designer paper stack.  The Minion colors seem to be Pacific Point Blue and Daffodil Yellow, both from the Brights Color Collections.  I wanted to feature a layered frame look, so my new paper stack would work just great.  The first two layers of the Pacific Point blue cardbase and the patterned Daffodil Delight diagonal stripe are adhere together.  Then, smaller layers of the blue plus white embossed with Cuttlebug's Birthday embossing folder are adhered together and popped up off the cardbase layers.  I was thankful I brought along all my embossing folders from home, because I dearly love Cuttlebug's Birthday folder. 

My Mom just purchased the SU's Balloon Celebration stamps and punch, so I decided those would work in my card as well.  I searched for stamps sets in Mom's stamp stash to use on my balloons to indicate they were birthday balloons and found several to my liking.  I was also able to use stamps from Mom's stash for the inside "verse" as well.  SU's Owl punch is used to make the Minion.  Once I decided on my design and gathered all my tools, inks, and stamps, my card went together really fast.  Take a peek below. . .isn't it just too cute!

I finished my interior design in record tme as well.  I love the large birthday sentiment from Stampin' Up's Age Awareness.  I added a little BELATED from one of her Papertrey Ink stamp sets, a punched balloon out of patterned paper and a few starts from SU's Balloon Celebration stamp set.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Pacific Point Blue, Daffodil Delight.  Pattern--Color Collections DSP Stack--Brights-Daffodil Delight.  Stamps--Balloon Celebration, Pretty Petites (retired), Age Awareness (inside).  Ink--Pacific Point Blue, Daffodil Delight.  Punches--Balloon Bouquet, Owl Builder (Minion), Itty Bitty Pack-Circle.  Other:  Cuddlebug Embossing Folder--Birthday.  Papertrey Ink stamps--Inside & Out-Birthday (BELATED).  Size:  4-3/4" x 6".  (Thank you to Patty Bennett for her tutorial on how to build a Minion using the Stampin' Up Owl punch.)