Valentine for My Hubby!

MORE HAPPINESS!  ANOTHER CARD NAMED AS

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - FEBRUARY 19, 2017!!

Valentine's Day is in a few days, and I finally finished my husband's card.  He is getting a second hot air balloon card in a matter of just a few weeks to make sure this Bucket List item is complete.  I made his first air balloon card for his birthday just a few week's, which shows just how versatile this new stamp/die bundle, "Lift Me Up," from Stampin' Up is. 

I wanted my color combination to be black, red, and white.  I had in mind to make my night sky in black, and I also wanted it to be a bit glossy so I tired something I was not sure was going to work, but it worked wonderfully.  I covered the entire black cardstock layer with Versamark ink, making sure is was thoroughly and evenly cover by pressing the stamp pad down over the entire area of the cardstock and then wiping the pad in long strokes over the entire surface again..  I sprinkled it with clear embossing powder and heat set it, making it glossy.  I pressed it overnight in a cardstock paper stack with several few books on top to make sure it was flat and level.

I envisioned puffy clouds in my night sky and decided to use the retired SU embossing folder Cloudy Day, because it has tiny embossing dots that make the cloud forms.  For some reason, this folder has the clouds positioned vertically rather than horizontally on the folder.  As I wanted to cover the entire paper with clouds, I placed the paper in the folder so the clouds would cover from side to side.  This left the bottom half of the paper outside the folder, so I made sure it didn't run all the way through the rollers and over the edge of the folder, which would cause the folder edge to crease my paper midway cross.  Next, I turned my black paper and re-positioned the unembossed side into the folder.  I tried to match the cloud impressions as closely as I could to those already embossed, and then I ran it through the Big Shop, again, just to the edge of the folder, but not over it to prevent a crease.  It turned out surprisingly well, and as my air balloon would cover a great deal of the mid-section of the embossed clouds, I did not feel it would show at all where the clouds were not formed quite right!

I decided on a patterned paper for my red color.  I chose a white mini dot on a red background, and I decided on Shimmery White for my card base.  I dressed up the corners with rounded corners and used the eyelet Curvy Corners punch on my black glossy top piece for the red to peek through.  I used the same papers for the balloon colors under the black patterned balloon die-cut overlay.  I colored the black balloon die-cut with Black Wink of Stella to give it a bit of sparkle. 

 

After roughly laying out my pieces, I decided to add some vellum clouds.  With my chosen sentiment being "love is in the air," I thought a large red glitter heart on my air balloon and smaller ones on each vellum cloud would finish off my card very nicely.

Take a peek below at my finished Valentine air balloon card, both inside and out.  I think my husband will be well pleased.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Shimmery White (cardbase), Basic Black, Real Red, Vellum.  DSP Stack-Brights.  Stamps-Lift Me Up (front sentiment), Sealed with Love (inside sentiment), Valentine's Love (hearts-inside/ retired).  Die:  Up & Away framelits (balloon, clouds). Punch: Curvy Corners (retired). Embossing Folder: Cloudy Day (retired). Embossing Powder: Real Red Glitter.  Other:  Zutter Corner Rounder punch.  Recollections: Foam Glitter Hearts; Charcoal Anthracite Embossing Powder,  Dies:  Papertrey Ink-Clouds/ Hero Arts-Cloud.

Belated Birthday Wishes for a Girl Friend!

My oldest son's girl friend has a birthday in early November, which I just found out the actual date.  Hmm....could this possibly mean I'm late?  So, into my card stash I went hoping to find one completed that might be turned into a belated birthday card, and I found a little gem that I thought would work (see my story and assembly instructions at the bottom).  Take a peek below at my finished card.  I think Katrina will like her birthday card even though it will be much belated!

 Ingredients:   Stampin' Up products: Stamp--Bloomin' Marvelous (2013 SAB).  Cardstocks--Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Primrose Petals-inside (ret.).  Ink--Primrose Petals, Always Artichoke, Soft Suede-distressing.  Embossing Folder--Lacy Brocade (ret.).  Punches--Modern Label, Word Window (ret.).   Ribbon--3/8" Primrose Petals Stitched Satin (ret.).  Pearls.  Martha Stewart punch: 3-in-1 Butterflies.  Computer sentiment/ verse.  Size: 5-1/4" square.

My Card Story and Assembly Instructions

I started this card at a Stampin' Up card event hosted by Liz Thayer in early 2013.  When I looked at the kit picture, I knew it would be perfect!  This card was the last of two cards that were to made with the same design, and though this second card was not complete, it was doable in my short timeline.  (I thank Liz Thayer for the original card design used as a jumping off point for my card.)

As I favor cards that are larger than the standard A2 size (4-1/2" x 5-1/2"), I decided to enlarge my card parts before I assembled the card.  I also decided to change its orientation from a top-fold landscape card to a side-fold portrait card and to make my cardbase a 5-1/4" square with five layers.  I proceeded to make each card layer larger than the original design to fit my new and larger square cardbase.  Another decision was to add a Chocolate Chip brown mat layer between the vanilla cardbase and the vanilla embossed layer, sizing them as follows:  vanilla cardbase = 5-1/4" square; Chocolate Chip mat = 5" square, and vanilla embossed layer = 4-3/4" square.  I planned to "picture framed" the top two layers, and their sizes are as follows:  Chocolate Chip bottom mat = 4-1/4" square and top vanilla layer = 4" square.

After cutting my papers to size, I embossed the 4-3/4" vanilla layer with the Lacy Brocade folder and my Big Shot.  I heavily sponged and distressed its top embossed surface of with Soft Suede ink, followed by distressing and sponging the edges of all card layers, including the edges of the cardbase front.  The 4" top vanilla layer is also sponged on its surface around the edges, leaving the center unsponged (see picture).  Now, I was ready to adhere the bottom three layers in this order:  5" square Chocolate Chip mat adhered to vanilla cardbase; 4-3/4" embossed layer adhered to Chocolate Chip mat.  Set aside.

My top 4" vanilla layer will host three popped, fussy-cut flowers instead of two, as I think combinations of odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye than even numbers.  I also decided the flower placement would be more top-centered because of the change in the card orientation and its square dimension.  My next step was to stamp my leaves onto my top vanilla layer (see picture for placement), After stamping, I adhered my top two card front layers together: the 4" vanilla and the 4-1/4" Chocolate Chip.

Onto a scrap of vanilla cardstock, I stamped seven Bloomin' Marvelous flowers with Primrose Petals ink, fussy-cut each, and topped each with a pearl.  I will use three flowers on the card front and four inside as verse embellishments.  Before finishing the layout and assembly of the flowers onto the card face, I needed to decide on the placement of the ribbon knot.  With my finished design in mind, I decided the knot should be toward the left side, allowing space for my sentiment, which would be popped up toward the right side just below the flowers and above the ribbon.  I adhered the ribbon to the top two card front layers, which allows the ribbon's raw ends to be "buried" behind the brown mat so they are hidden underneath.  Now, it was time to pop this layer onto my three adhered bottom layers that I had set aside in paragraph three of my "story" above.  Now that all layers are completely adhered together, I can finish the card face, adding all the remaining elements to its top surface.  I arranged the fussy-cut flowers in a threesome and popped them up around the already stamped leaves.

For additional interest, I decided to add tiny layered butterflies.  On a piece of scrap vanilla, I stamped various designs, using various patterned flowers and butterfly stamps in my stash with Primrose Petals (ret.) and Always Artichoke ink.  I allowed the ink to dry, and then punched out six tiny butterflies from these stamped patterns.  I made three sets of two-layered butterflies, using alternate colors and patterns.  I adhered them together down their narrow centers only, leaving their wings free, and added two tiny seed pearls down this center for their bodies (see picture above).  These butterflies were popped up around the flowers, allowing room for my popped sentiment, which I would add after I printed it from my computer and Chocolate Chip matted layer punched with Stampin' Up's Modern Labels punch (retired).

My final step was to create an interior design that complimented the card front, and to create a sentiment and verse using my computer that were suitable for the occasion at hand.

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 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.)

Valentine Key to Love!

I just finished another Valentine card that I want to show you.  On a whim, I decided to try to make as many cards with different styles as I could using the checked heart brown, white, and red paper until I ran out.  I have to say, so far this is my favorite card using this paper.

I thought my checked heart paper would lend itself well to the layout idea of a card I made at a Liz Thayer cardmaking event about a month ago, which was also similar to Sweet & Sassy Layout #09 that I had saved to my Pinterest Layout Ideas board a few weeks ago.  Both are shown below:

             

I used a Darice embossing folder on the Early Espresso layer, plus I enlarged my left-hand rectangle larger than both layout design samples.  I added little key charm to the rectangle layer tied with sparkly red yarn to match the sparkly sheer ribbon.  Since I like sparkly, I decided I should use red glitter paper for my popped flowers to coordinate well with the sparkly ribbon.  

Though Liz's design popped both the patterned rectangle piece off the card front and the square heart-stamped piece off the rectangle (thus, the square was double popped on the right-hand side), I decided to only pop my layers once.  I adhered the left side of my heart-stamped square directly onto the patterned rectangle layer and only popped it on the right to match the rectangles elevation from the card front.  

Recipe:  Paper:  SU Cardstock--Very Vanilla, Real Red, Early Espresso, Red Glimmer; Pattern--TCP Studio--The Reasons I Love You/ Little Lovin'.  SU Stamps--Bloomin' Love.  SU Ink--Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler.  SU Dies:  Bloomin' Heart (flowers).  Darice Embossing Folder--Heart-Coeur.  SU Pearls.  Stash--5/8" Sheer Sparkly Ribbon; Brass key; Sparkly Red Fine Yarn.  Distressed.  Size--4-5/8" x 5-3/4". 

Friendly Valentine Card #1

I have several cardmaking friends with whom I exchange Valentine cards just for the fun of it.  We usually plan a friends-lunch-out adventure and meet at one of our favorite restaurants.  Our luncheon is coming up soon, so I needed to get my cards finished pronto.  I wanted to use a technique that I learned probably going on four years ago now, and that is embedding patterns with the use of an embossing folder.

I chose a bright and colorful patterned paper that incorporates almost a horizontal stripe collage of patterns with many different colors of pinks, reds, and a few other pastels as well.  From many of these patterns, I punch small and medium-sized hearts, which I adhered to a white cardstock rectangle.  I then embedded them into this rectangle by using the Square Lattice embossing folder by Stampin' Up that is now retired.  This is my favorite embossing folder to use for this technique because it has a tightly woven pattern that really works well for embedding.  Next I decided to incorporate a banner using one of the paper patterns as a focal point and to also use it as the anchor for my planned sentiment.  I finished it off by adding mini brads in coordinating colors for an embellishment interest.  This is my little embedded Valentine pattern card. . .take a peek below!

To finish my card, I turned my attention to designing a coordinating design and Valentine verse that compliments with the front of my card creation.  I decided to incorporate the front sentiment into the inside card verse.  I must say there is certainly a LOT of PINK!  Take a look see at the finished product below:

Recipe:  Paper products:  Recollections 200 Sheet Pack: Red, Hot Pink, Rose pink; Darice Core'dinations Cardstock: Soft Side-mint; K&Co. Valentine Stack (retired).  SU stamp: Delightful Dozen.  SU Ink: Rose Red, Cherry Cobbler (inside).  SU Embossing Folder: Square Lattice.  SU Punches: Heart to Heart (retired), 1-3/8" Circle, Decorative Label, Itty Bitty Accents-Heart.  EK punch: Graceful Heart Corner.  SU Mini brads (retired).  Technique: Embedded Embossing. Computer-made verse.  Size: 5" x 6". 

Taylor Gets a #7 Birthday Balloon!

My great-niece turned seven this month just before my daughter's wedding. . .so she was among those who did not receive a timely birthday card from me.  Aunt Carlene's cardmaking hobby got shut down big time!  Now the wedding is over, so I am trying to play catch up.  Taylor has a little sister whose birthday is at the end of the month, and I didn't dare get sister Paisley's card done on time without at least finishing a belated one for Taylor too.  I have actually finished Paisley's card and have already scheduled my post, so I really must get busy with Taylor's!

I bought a stamp set called Build A Birthday last June when the new Stampin' Up annual catalog was first published, and I have never had a chance to use it. . .I decided now was the time as I have an idea running around in my head that involves a birthday cake, candles, and the number seven.  Unfortunately, there is no die set with this stamp, so I had to fussy-cut all the pieces of the cake, candles, and flames in order to assemble them as a unit and then pop this unit onto the front of the card.  

I decided that I would make what I am calling an off-center double folded flap card, because I have no idea if it has an official name, as I had already decided I would pop my birthday cake onto this flap.  I also bought an Avery Elle stamp and die combination set called Numbered Balloons, and I used these stamps and dies to marked Taylor's seventh birthday with a die-cut number balloon.

I love the Stampin' Up Cherry On Top paper stack, also found in the June 2015 Annual catalog, which is full of brightly colored papers just right for a birthday card.  I used the multi-colored balloons and polka dot papers, which feature some of the new Stampin' Up In-Colors for 2015 through 2017 of Watermelon Wonder and Cucumber Crush.  I think Taylor's card is just right for a seven-year-old, and I hope she thinks so too!

According to my usual posting fashion, below is a peek at my inside coordinating design creation, plus my little composed verse suited to a seven-year-old, which I accomplished with the use of my computer.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks/ Paper--Watermelon Wonder, Bermuda Bay, Whisper White; Cherry On Top DSP Stack.  Stamp--Build A Birthday.  Inks:  Watermelon Wonder, Bermuda Bay, Cucumber Crush, Pool Party, Crushed Curry, Coastal Cabana, Tip-Top Taupe.  Punch--1/2" Circle.  Other products:  Cuttlebug-Birthday Embossing Folder.  Avery Elle Stamp/ Die Combination:  Numbered Balloons.  Doodlebug Baker's Twine--Green/ White.  (Size: 5" x 5-1/2")

Thank You for Officiating!

I felt another card was needed as a thank you involving my daughter's wedding.  This one goes to the priest who will perform the ceremony this Saturday.  He is now retired, but was our parish priest for more than 30 years, and he agreed to come out of retirement to officiate at the barn wedding/ reception site venue.  We are very thankful that he agreed to marry our second daughter, although this one is after he retired.

The card I chose to use is a re-creation of one we made at a class given by Liz Thayer, who by now, if you read my blog, should be a very familiar name.  She is my upline in Stampin' Up (though I am just a demonstrator for myself and I'm not pursuing it as a business venture), but I so love to socialize and make cards with the many great gals who are invited to her events. 

This card uses the Baby Wipes stamping technique which is lots of fun.  If you are interested in trying it there are many places where tutorials can be found:  YouTube, Splitcoaststampers, and Pinterest to name a few.  

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Blackberry Bliss, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Tangelo Twist cardstocks.  Sweet Li'l Thing dotted Washi tape.  Seasonally Scattered stamps (Holiday 2014).  Blackberry Bliss, Old Olive, Tangelo Twist Inks.  Versamark Watermark Ink.  Clear Embossing Powder,  Apothecary Accents framelit dies.  Tiny Triangles Embossing Folder.  Gold Basic Metal Buttons,  Gold Metallic Baker's Twine.  Inside: EK Fancy Photo Corners. (Re-creation of Liz Thayer design). 

Mixing the Old & the New @ Christmas!

As Christmas is looming every closer, I'm still working on Christmas cards, but  wanted a change of pace.  For the fun of it, I decided I wanted to do a card using some of my many old cardmaking Stampin' Up products instead of using those that are currently on sale, plus I wanted to maybe mix them with a few of my newest items.  This led me down memory lane where I remembered a few cards I had seen with a Christmas wreath made by using an embossed scalloped circle.  I am sure this was before the plethora of wreath coordinating stamps and dies were available from numerous cardmaking companies.  I thought it was a clever idea at the time, but never got around to trying one myself.  I was feeling my creative juices flowing, so this seemed like a good project to use my "mixing the old & the new" idea.

My wreath idea could be made by using a scallop circle die or a punch, but I decided to go with punches.  I chose the 2-3/8" Scalloped Circle punch, which was first introduced in the Stampin' Up 2008 annual catalog, and is still in the current annual catalog!  I decided that the 1-3/8" plain circle would be perfect to cut out the center of the scallop circle, and thus, the beginnings of my wreath was born.

To get a leafy look on the wreath, I used the Petals-A-Plenty Embossing Folder, which retired at the end of the 2013-2014 annual catalog.  Another punch that was around for many years before it retired two years ago was the Scallop Trim Border punch, and I chose that to embellish my card. With a little bit of Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Diamonds glitter adhesive for holly berries and a small wreath bow created from a narrow red stitched ribbon, and I was true finished with my wreath and ready to pop it onto my card front.  The Rejoicing with you. . . sentiment takes center stage at the top of the card, coming from the brand new 2015 Holiday stamp set: Versatile Christmas.  I like the way it came together, and I'm done. . .take a peek below:

  Recipe:  Stampin' Up current products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Real Red;. Stamps--Versatile Christmas; Ink--Real Red; Dazzling Diamonds glitter glue--Cherry Cobbler.  Stampin' Up 2014 retired products:  Cardstock--Gumball Green; Birthday Basics dsp; Embossing Folder--Petals-A-Plenty; Punch--Scallop Trim Border; 1/8" Stitched Grograin ribbon.

Live the Life You've Imagined!

I needed a quick card to go along with a little gift for my bride-to-be daughter.  I thought I would use some of the Stampin' Up tools and stamps that I have had lurking around my crafting area, but somehow never actually used.  Shame on me!  

I remembered this Really Good Greetings sentiment stamp set, and have always love the idea it conveyed...just the idea I wanted.  The message to my daughter is to go into her marriage and "live the life she has always imagined," and I chose the butterfly embellishment to represent my daughter, who has always brought beauty to our lives and a smile in our hearts, just as butterflies do when we see them in our gardens.

This little butterfly is actually fashioned from a flower stamp that is punch out with its coordinating Blossom punch and then fashioned into a butterfly by trimming away two of its petals.  I have seen samples of this done before on Pinterest, Splitcoast Stampers, and on Stampin' Connections.  I revisited samples before making my card to be sure my memory served me correctly.

My butterfly black antennae are trimmed from the curve of the flower punch as well.  My little butterfly also needed a bit of sparkle and bling to bring it to life, so I added some rhinestones...so very elegant when finished!  I am pretty please with the result.

Recipe:  Stampin Up products:  Cardstocks - Basic Black, Primrose Petals, Whisper White.  Ink - Primrose Petals.  Stamps: Really Good Greetings, Mixed Bunch (butterfly) (both retired).  Punch:  Blossom (retired).  Embossing Folder - Snowburst (retired).  Ribbon - 3/8" Primrose Petals Stitched Satin.  Rhinestones.  (cased/ modified from ideas on Pinterest, Splitcoast Stampers, etc.)

Christmas is Coming!

I've been attending several fun cardmaking events and have made about 20 of my Christmas cards so far.  Tonight, I went to a great event at the new Running Scissors scrapbooking store in East Hill Kent.  Darcy Christensen, Regional Manager for American Crafts, was visiting the store to give a card class and demonstrate two new American Craft tools, the WRMK Photo Fuse Tool (which makes wonderful shaker card envelopes) and the Mini Minc Machine using the Minc transfer foils.  Note: There are other brands of heat transfer foils on the market as well, such as: Therm O Web Deco Foil, iCraft Deco Transfer Foil, etc.

We were given six white card bases, envelopes, embossed gold foil paper, vellum foil, Minc Tags to use with the Minc foil and the Minc Heat Transfer machine, Photo Fuse sleeves to use with the WRMK Photo Fuse Tool to make clear shaker envelopes, sequins, white cake sprinkles (for snow), washi tape, and American Crafts Holiday dimensional sentiment tags.  We also received paper cutting instructions for the six samples cards Darcy had created for the class.  We started with mostly different Minc tags than Darcy used plus a few that were the same.  She challenged us to come up with six cards that were different than hers.

For my first card that I completed at the store, I chose to make my snowflake red with the red transfer foil.  I added not only white cake sprinkles for snow but some round red, green sequins with a few gold star sequins to coordinate with the gold foil dot background.  I added the kraft sentiment tag with holly berries and finished it off with holly berry washi tape at the top.

It was so much fun to use the new American Craft tools.  I have my own brand new WRMK Photo Fuse tool and have used it a few times in the past few weeks, and loved every moment.  I hard of applying foil via heat transfer, but had never seen the Minc Heat Machine in action.  It was impressive, and I love the results.

Recipe:  SU Whisper White cardstock.  DCWV Foiled Cardstock Stack.  Jen Hadfield Gold Dot Foil.  Heidi Swapp Minc Tags (snowflake).  Minc Reactive Foil: Red (used with Minc Heat Machine).  American Crafts: Remarks Holiday Dimensional sentiments.  American Crafts Christmas Sequins & Buttons.  Cake Sprinkles (snow).  WRMK Photo Fuse sleeve (made with WRMK Photo Fuse Tool).  (Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2").

Butterflies Celebrate Ginger's Birthday!

My lovely daughter-in-law celebrates her birthday just shortly after my Mom.  At our Girls' Getaway in May, our hostess, Liz Thayer, shared a lovely card, which I thought would make the perfect card for Ginger's birthday.  I decided to re-created this card, but on my version, I chose to branch out a bit and add a few more layers.  I liked the idea of a bit more color and bling to compliment the glittery little butterfly with its deeper shade of coral and to bring more attention to the rhinestones embedded in the embossed design.

To accomplish this idea, I added a layer of Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper, which did indeed bring out the sparkly rhinestones on the embossed lacy flowers, as well as those forming the bitty butterfly body.  I also added a fourth layer of a light coral for the cardbase, which is slightly darker than Stampin's Up's Crisp Cantaloupe used on the embossed card face.  This added color, though lighter than the bitty butterfly's wing, compliments the darker coloring.  With these additions and Liz's original card design, I was happy with my new card for Ginger's birthday!

The finishing touches for Ginger's card was to make a birthday verse for the inside and to create a complimentary design to coordinate with the card front.  It is now ready to show off.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks - Basic Black, Crisp Cantaloupe, Very Vanilla, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer; Stamps/ Framelits: - Butterfly Basics/ Butterflies; Embossing Folder - Lovely Lace; Punches - Open Scallop Border (retired), Bitty Butterfly; Ink - Crisp Cantaloupe, Tangelo Twist; Dazzling Details Glitter Glue; Rhinestones.  The Paper Company cardstock: Light Coral.  Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black.  (The original card design was created by our Getaway hostess, Liz Thayer. . . thanks Liz for sharing it with us).

My Son-in -Law's Special Birthday Card!

My son-in-law, as I've mentioned in a few posts in past years, has a great love of fishing, but it seems there has not been time in his life lately to do much about that; therefore, I thought a fishing card with the BIG CATCH depicted would be appropriate this year!  And, need I tell you, there is a bit of humor attached by using Karen's Doodles digital image: Who Caught Who?

I decided to use the diagonal quarter-panel paper layout that I have used in the past and always enjoyed the end results.  Please note that I do not know the official name for this type of layout, and maybe there isn't any, but I think my name suits it just right.  I wanted my background behind my popped up digital colored image to be a nature scene that one would see while out fishing.  I wanted the top panel for the sky, the side panels for a patterned paper of trees, and the bottom panel for a dock.  I have to tell you, I just love my finished dock with its roped pilings on each side.  I have seen this embellishment technique on Pinterest, and one of my cardmaking buddies used it as well several months ago on a get well card for my husband after his knee surgery.  My dock is a diagonal view, so I decided there would be pilings on both sides of the dock for balance.  

Once I decided on my papers to use, I was able to begin the coloring of my chosen digital image with Copic Markers. . .the poor guy was so successful in landing the BIG CATCH, but unfortunately, his aim in reeling him in was to land him on his head rather than in the boat!  Though you can't see it in the photo, I used Wink of Stella: Clear on the fish to add a sheen to his scales.  (This is a brush-tip glitter pen.)  I know my son-in-law will get a kick out of the man with the fish head and will be intrigued by my clever little dock.

At the stage in the birth of one of my card, I turn to the inside to create a design that compliments the outside and to make a verse that goes with the theme of the card.  I have now finished this step and will share it.  I have to say I'm in love with my little acrostic verse, using the word FISHING. . .it's all about fishing bait.  I feel sure that my son-in-law will love his birthday card.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstock: Old Olive (card base); Night of Navy.  Bazzill Basics: Avalanche (sandable).  Reminisce: Dog Park/ Scentral Park.  Recollections Signature Especial Textured Cardstock: Tan (like SU/ Crumb Cake).  SU Embossing Folder: Clouds.  Karen's Doodles: Who Caught Who?  Wink of Stella: Clear (on fish).  SU Stamp: Hardwood; Guy Greetings (sentiment).  SU Ink: Chocolate Chip; Soft Sky (sponging image area).  Spellbinders dies: Labels Three #6/ #7.  Maya Arts Hemp Twine.  Distressed edges.  MFT dies: Photo Corners (inside).  Size = 5-1/2" x 5-7/8".

Exciting. . .A Card Pressie!!

I'm so excited!  I just received a card in the mail from my sister, Heidi.  I'm excited for three reasons:
     1) Obviously, because she is my sister, and it is always so special to get a handmade card from a loved one; but also, 

     2) Heidi is my first cardmaking mentor.  Over six years ago, she taught me my first lessons on how to build a card using many different cardmaking techniques and ideas, including Copic Marker coloring, using the Big Shot with dies, choosing your papers, and layout and design.  Heidi makes the most wonderful cards.  I don't think I've ever seen a card made by my lovely sister that doesn't show off her incredible skills to the max; and 

     3) Heidi loves Papertrey Ink products, so a card made by Heidi will almost always use their products and show off some wonderful stamp or die that I haven't seen before and made by this company.  This card certainly does, and it makes me want to go right online and order them!

This card does not disappoint in meeting my list from above of why I'm excited, so, I want to share Heidi's card with you!  The stamp/ die combination set from Papertrey Ink.com is called Cutting Garden.  Aren't these hugh flowers just lovely.  Both the blossoms and the leaves look like the Ranunculus flowering plant.  These plants form large, perfectly round blossoms with a flat bottom surface and bloom in a multitude of deep and brillant colors.  Heidi has made such a lovely card, and her use of the argyle embossing folder on the front of the cardbase adds a very interesting backdrop for her Ranunculus blossoms.  I love it. . .thanks, Heidi!

Isn't is absolute gorgeous. . .I love the little Hi - ya! sentiment using Papertrey's Boutique Borders: Father Mini little mini curly border she used to frame her sentiment.  And. . .don't those flowers just pop off the card, asking to be cut and arranged in a vase for my dining room table!

Father's Day to Celebrate!

We are celebrating my husband this weekend for Father's Day.  He got a new gas grill barbecuer and wants to cook for the family on his special day, so we are hosting a potluck at our house with our four children and their husbands, wives, and significant other joining in.  We plan to play some lawn games if the weather holds, as you never know in the Northwest and a little gambling game I learned of at my Girls' Get-Away!

For John's card, I made almost the same coffee shaker card previously posted on May 31st.  This card suits him to a "tee," as he is a six-to-eight cups of coffee a day person.  His coffee shaker card is the first version I made of this card, and my former boss's card (and elementary school principal), was the second version.  That version was the simplified version to avoid the pleated ribbon edging on my husband's card, which I found a bit of a challenge to adhere and thought it too tedious to use for my Girls' Get-Away shoebox card (as I planned to use this design for the Get-Away ladies to make from my card kits.  My husband's card, as shown below, is the first and larger version.  Even though the ribbon was time-consuming and tedious, I do love the finished product!  I think John will be please as well.

A little Father's Day verse to come up with, a little design to coordinate with the outside, and voila, John's card is complete!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks -  Early Espresso (card base), Real Red, Very Vanilla, Gold Glimmer paper; stamps - Perfect Blend (retired 6/1/15), Guy Greetings (2015 Occasions); inks - Soft Suede & Early Espresso; punches - Confetti Stars (2015 Occasions/ 2015-16 Annual); Dotted Scallop Ribbon (retired 6/1/15); framelits - Striped Scallop; largest Stars (banner fishtail pattern); smallest Banner (pattern for sentiment fishtail); Circle (3-3/4" & 3"); embossing folder - Lucky Stars (2015 Occasions/ 2015-16 Annual); cardboard from designer paper packaging (10-layer shaker frame); ribbon - Early Espresso 1/8" cotton (retired).  TomBow Glue.  Memento Tuxedo Black stamp pad.  Offray 1/4" Early Espresso Grosgrain ribbon.  Darice Dark Brown Seed Beads (coffee grounds).  Stash: Clear acyrlic sheet.  Large gold rhinestone.  Gold star brads.
(Note: I wanted to give credit to the person who originally came up with the idea for this card and the picture in my mind.  With lots of computer searching, I finally found the card I cased. . .boy do I have a good memory. . .thank you Ellen Taylor, who made the original over three years ago.) 

Sympathy Cards to Make. . .

While I was away in Oregon helping my daughter with re-decorating work on the beach house Tillamook Head bedroom, my husband called with some sad news.  Our brother-in-law (his youngest sister's husband), lost his only remaining brother, Walt, who developed  a very sudden and unexpected health issue.  He was taken in for emergency surgery, which he survived, but he died  unexpectedly a few days later due to complications with his diabetic condition.  He was a man in his mid-60's. . .so sad.

I needed to send a sympathy card to our brother-in-law, Dave, and to Walt's wife, Shelley.  I was already so far behind and belated on almost all of my June cards, but thankfully to the rescue came two cards that I recently made at two different cardmaking events.  My first card chosen to send to Dave was made at our May Girls' Get-Away Retreat and was designed by Liz Thayer.  The technique is to color the vellum on the backside with a coloring marker.  In this case, I used the Lost Lagoon Stampin' Up Marker.  On the front side, glue was applied to the butterflies and then sprinkled with glitter. This panel was then adhered to the card front.

I had almost completed the card at the event, but decided not to put on the sentiment, because I thought it could be used for a variety of occasions.  In addition, I switch the corded bow from the right side to the left side, deciding to place my sentiment to the lower right of the card bottom rather than on the left.  I thought the card when completely finished made a beautiful sympathy card.

My final step, as with all my cards, was to decide on an inside verse to suit a sympathy card.  I composed a little verse that I hope will let Dave know we are thinking of him and keeping him in our prayers.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up:  Cardstocks - Whisper White, Lost Lagoon; DSP - Sheer Perfection Vellum Stack (2015-SAB suppl.).  SU stamp: Thought & Prayers (sentiment).  Spellbinders dies: Petite Ovals; Petite Scallop Ovals.  QuicKutz die: Photo Corner (inside).  SU EF: Perfect Polka Dots (retired).  Thick Baker's Twine: Lost Lagoon (2-15-SAB suppl.).  SU Marker: Lost Lagoon.  SU: Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  SU rhinestones.

Pre-Retirement Boss Has a Birthday!

My boss, before I retired as the office manager/ administrative assistant of an elementary school, has his birthday at the end of May.  I needed to design a birthday card for him, and I decided I would use it as my Girls' Get-away Cardmaking Event Shoebox Share card.  In a Shoebox Share, those attending must design a card and put a sample together.  Then each attendee cuts out the paper sizes for the card and goodies for the other participants to make this same card.  They, in turn, do the same, and with nine attendees, each of us ended up with eight cards to make while at our get-away.

I remembered the daily ritual of both Scott and I coming into the office almost every morning with our Starbucks latte cups to wake up, rev up, and prepare for each day, which was bound to be jam packed with busyness and that feeling of not enough time to get it all done.  I decided my card design would feature those latte cups that were seen around the office each and every morning.  Just a side note to keep in mind, we are from the Northwest where the Starbucks corporate offices make their home!  

I wanted to do something a little extra with my card design, so I am featuring a shaker card with real coffee beans as part of the shaker items enclosed and real coffee beans for the shaker frame trim.  In the back of my mind lurked a memory of a card that I had previously seen with reds and browns in the color scheme and coffee beans in the shaker, but I didn't remember where I saw it.  I am sure this is where the idea came to me along with memories of coffee cups in the morning at the office.  

My card was a fun to design and make, though finding the smallest beans and the perfect size for inside and outside the frame was somewhat tedious, I am sure that was because it was for TEN cards. . .not just one!  As I designed my card, thoughts went through my mind of hopes that my fellow Girls' Get-Away attendees would have fun making their version of my card, but I especially hoped that Scott will enjoy his birthday card!

Completing the card with a design and verse inside to compliment the exterior and the purpose of the card was the final step.  Here is my completed inside.

 

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks -  Early Espresso (card base), Real Red, Very Vanilla, Gold Glimmer paper; stamps - Perfect Blend (retired 6/1/15), Guy Greetings (2015 Occasions); inks - Soft Suede & Early Espresso; punches - Confetti Stars (2015 Occasions/ 2015-16 Annual); Dotted Scallop Ribbon (retired 6/1/15); framelits - Striped Scallop; largest Stars (banner fishtail pattern); smallest Banner (pattern for sentiment fishtail); Circle (3-3/4" & 3"); embossing folder - Lucky Stars (2015 Occasions/ 2015-16 Annual); cardboard from designer paper packaging (10-layer shaker frame); ribbon - Early Espresso 1/8" cotton (retired).  TomBow Glue.  Memento Tuxedo Black stamp pad.  Offray 1/4" Early Espresso Grosgrain ribbon.  Darice Dark Brown Seed Beads (coffee grounds).  Stash: Clear acyrlic sheet.  Large gold rhinestone.
(Note: I wanted to give credit to the person who originally came up with the idea for this card and the picture in my mind.  With lots of computer searching, I finally found the card I cased. . .boy do I have a good memory. . .thank you Ellen Taylor, who made the original over three years ago.) 

Birthday Card Shower Celebrating 85 Years!

Another of my husband's aunts has reach the venerable age of 85.  Her children decided to have a Birthday Card Shower for her, which seems to have become a tradition on the maternal side of his family.  It is a GREAT idea!  I needed to get a birthday card off to her from us in the mail as soon as I returned from my Girls' Get-Away Cardmaking Retreat, because I did not find the time to get this card completed before I left.  Back now from my gloriously, stupendous, fun-filled retreat, I am now, unfortunately, continuing my fast-mode "so much to do...so little time to do it" syndrome.

But, not to worry, one of our fun events of our retreat was our ShoeBox Swap, where we all design a card, made a sample, and provided the ingredients for each attendee to complete our card.  Thus, we all ended up with eight cards that we made at our Get-Away, and at least half of them were birthday cards!  

I decided on the card below for John's aunt because it looks really lacy and feminine and seems just right for a lovely 85-year-old lady with its frilly and glittery butterfly.  This card was designed by Gail Swartz, and I modified it just a bit by adding the magenta layer under the dark blue, re-enforcing my butterfly with two layers glued together and bathed it and the sentiment in glitter.  Today, I created and added a coordinating inside design with a little birthday verse.  I was most fortunate to own the Martha Stewart Deco Fan corner punch, so I was able to cut corner shells to place on the corners of each corner of the verse paper.  I think Aunt Betty will love her card.

(Thank you Gail Swartz for the design inspiration)

Recipe:  Bazzill cardstocks: White, Typhoon (blue), Royalty (magenta).  Darice Swirl Background Embossing folder (blue).  Martha Stewart Corner punch: Deco Fan.  Lifestyle Crafts/ QuiKutz Embossing Folders: Sketchbook (lavendar).  Creative Memories Corner Rounder.  Pattern scrap papers (butterfly).  Filigree Butterfly die: unknown.  Tsukineko Essential Glue Pad + Stampin' Up Dazzling Diamonds Glitter (butterfly/ greeting).  Impression Obsession Greeting Top Edgers (bottom cut with decorator scissors).

An Anniversary to Celebrate!

My brother and his wife are soon to start their annual marathon of birthdays and an anniversary in the early days of May.  You might ask why I say their annual marathon?  This would be because within seven days they celebrate all three events.  First comes my brother's birthday, then their anniversary, and then my sister-in-law's birthday.  I guess that's one way to get it all over with at once!  Just a thought as well, if you put all your presents together as one or two big ones, it keeps the shopping down to a minimum, but allows you to have a really BIG gift that you've always been wanting.  So, I can see where there could be some great benefits to this great idea.  I should have advised my children to look for a spouse with a birthday within a week of theirs and then get married in the middle between them.  Hmmm. . .what was I thinking!

So, did I mentioned that I had lots to do and so little time to do it all?  Indeed, I'm sure I did.  So, I am looking for ways to economize my time.  I remembered a card that my Stampin' Up upline, Liz Thayer, showed us at one of her events, and I thought my good friend might have taken a picture of it to share.  With a little searching around, I found it.  I remembered that I really liked it for its design, as well as its soft colors.  After finding and reviewing it, my memory was spot on.  I decided to CASE Liz's card, though I tweaked it just a tiny bit with a change in the sentiment and a fishtail divider-band with pearls instead of a plain narrow rectangle.  Voila, it has become a super pretty anniversary card just made for my brother and his wife!

With the inside design completed to compliment the outside creation and the anniversary verse composed the card is finished and ready to package for mailing.  I think I'm seeing the end of the road for the early May rush!

(Thanks Liz for the inspiration).

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks:  Soft Suede (card base), Wild Wasabi, Pink Pirouette + Very Vanilla; Inks: Soft Suede, Pear Pizzazz, Pink Pirouette; Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder; Mosaic Madness Stamp set; Mosaic punch; 3/8" Soft Suede Taffeta ribbon; Linen thread; Pearls.  EK CardCreators Interlaced Corner punch. (Size: 4-5/8" x 5-3/4").

Celebrating My Mother!

Mother's Day is coming, and I must get a card made and sent before I leave on my Girls' Retreat Cardmaking Event, which is four glorious and fun-filled days away, ending on Mother's Day!  But once again, the kicker is so much to do, so little time, but what else is new.  I'm just full of idioms this morning, and I'm remembering an English teacher from my past who advised us that idioms and cliches should be avoided at all costs as they are a sign of a lazy writer.  Somehow, sometimes they just fit perfectly, and today it pleases me to use them (so there)!

With a little anxiety because of the short timeline, I sat down a few days ago and thought about Mom and what she loves on cards.  She loves pastel colors, especially aqua and peach and especially with butterflies, so there was my anxiety reliever and my first injection of mojo.  I remembered a card made several years ago using the Flower Garden embossing folder and Pool Party cardstock, which was designed by Liz Thayer.  I decided to do a take off on that card, but I would use a little vellum with my aqua card and make it two tone,  and the rest just began to flow from there.  Something light and airy with a little sparkle would be nice, bring on the vellum, aqua shades and silvery glitter paper.  I decided my butterflies should have a embossed vellum layer as well.  Here is the card that evolved, and I think it suits Mom to a tee!

A little decorating on the inside to coordinate with the outside design, and a little Mother's Day verse just for my special mom, and now, I can say it's all done and ready to send off in the mail.  Enjoy your special day, Mom!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Very Vanilla, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party; Misc. paper--White Vellum, Silver Glimmer paper; Flower Garden Embossing folder; Punches--Elegant Butterfly, Bitty Butterfly, Modern Label, Word Window; Stamp--And Many More; Ink--Smoky Slate; Rhinestones.  WRMK Corner Chomper: Deco.  Stash: Sheer Aqua ribbon. (Size: 5" x 6-1/4").