Happy Birthday Little One!

Two great nieces, who are sisters, share January birthdays.  I was starting to think about Paisley's first birthday coming up at the end of the month,when I came across this cute little vintage baby girl image.  It inspired me to do a very girly vintage card in pinks...a color I don't seem to have used a lot in making cards, so I was excited to get started.  

After trying out a sunburst ray background card a few weeks ago and enjoying its effect and how easy it was to do, I was anxious to try it again but with sewing stitches.  I really thought this would be a very cute idea with this little girl image.  So, the hunt was on for papers in pink to fit the image.  I got a little carried away and used six different papers for my rays, plus another for a background mat as well.  I got out my sewing machine and added the machine stitching down the rays and zigzags to finish off the outer perimeter.  I think it really adds to the finished look of the card, and I am please with the results.

For the image framing and the sentiment background, I reinforced the cardstock weight by adhering the pink cardstock to a cream cardstock using an adhesive spray glue.  I used Spellbinders Lattice die to cut out the frame.  After cutting the lattice frame out, I sprayed the front surface with adhesive spray. While it was still "wet," I sprinkled it with fine iridescent white glitter with pink sparkles and tapped off the excess. A friend told me how she used adhesive spray to create the snow falling glitter on her Christmas cards. "The cheapest brand works great," she said.  And, it does work great and is very easy to do!

Below is the finished front and inside of Paisley's little birthday card with papers and embellishments to coordinate.  I hope Paisley likes her little "Can Can Cherub!"

Recipe:  Paper: Darice Kraft-base, BoBunny-Vicki B./ Perky-mat, Scrapbook Walls/ Rosey Bouquet, DCWV: Le Tres Chic Stack, Authentique: Cherish Two, Crate Paper: Farmhouse/ Handpicked, Anna Griffin: AG1467, DCWV: Garden Tea Party Stack, Authentique: Cherish One. Darice Pink cs.  Spellbinder Dies: Lattice; Rectangles SM. Stampin'Up punch: Modern Labels. Offray crochet lace. Stash: Satin-sheer 1" ribbon. Computer-made sentiment: Christine font. Homemade crochet flower.

Birthday #93!

My husband has another aunt who has lived a long and lovely life, and she will shortly be celebrating her birthday.  Her children, my husband's cousins, have decided to "shower" her with cards to mark her 93rd birthday and have asked all of the family to send birthday cards to create the "shower."  With all of her relatives, I think it might be more like a monsoon as my husband comes from a large family with large families!

I made this card last spring knowing I would find just the right person to send it to because I really wanted to try out the Stampin' Up Dress Up framelits.  As Margaret always looks like she just "stepped out of a band box," I thought this dress was probably one we could easily have seen her wear on a warm summer Kansas evening.  I hope she enjoys her little "dressed up" card and has a wonderful birthday.

Recipe:  SU papers: Not Quite Navy cardbase/ mat, Pool Party cs, 2011-2013 Pool Party In Color dsp stack, Very Vanilla cs. DCWV stack: Glitter Polka Dot. SU stamp: Flowering Flourishes. SU Dressed Up framelits. Spellbinders Labels 4. SU Argyle embossing folder. SU Ink: Island Indigo (sponging), Pool Party (flourish). SU Glimmer brad. SU adhesive pearls. Spritzer:  Metallic Aquamarine (homemade). SU ribbon: 5/8” Vanilla Flower trim, 1/8” Pool Party taffeta ribbon. Stash: Stripe ribbon, Baker’s twine (necklace).  3M foam tape, 3M tape runner.  EK punch: Fancy Corner (inside).

A Washington HELLO!

One of our girls has been transplanted to West Virginia for going on one-and one-half years, where her husband is assigned by the Coast Guard.  For one reason or another, we have not been able to get away to visit them.  We were able to see her briefly when she came to California twice to visit her grandmas.  We are missing Michele and her husband everyday, and they are missing "home."  We have enjoyed Skyping with them during family holidays and for other "spur of the moment"  reasons.

Let me tell you a humorous and odd, all rolled into one, story, which makes me smile every time I think about it.  Being from Washington state, we are all extremely excited about our football team, the Seahawks, and their winning ways.  So far, NFC Divisional Champions...and hopefully, all the way to the Super Bowl...Go HAWKS!  Well, because of my daughter's location in West Virginia, obviously they did not get to watch the Seahawks games unless they were playing a team from the northern part of the East Coast.  So, to solve their problem, we came up with Skyping the last two regular season games for them.  We put my husband's laptop in front of the big screen in the exercise room, and though they did have to suffer through commercials, they got to enjoy the entire game.  They were STOKED!  Unfortunately, we could not watch in the same room as the laptop had to be place directly in the viewing area of the television screen for them to see, so we watched our DVR recorded version in the living room.  We were excited to be able to provide them with this opportunity.  Aren't electronics and computers wonderful!

So back to the original reason for this post...a card.  To keep in touch, I was inspired to make this card from a design by my friend Sandy Stroble, and I thank her for the idea.  She gave me the information of where I might find the Washington stamps needed, which I ordered from a company online.  My version of Sandy's card is a bit larger than the original and features scallop mats backing the 2-inch x 2-1/2-inch rectangles.  I have also added a bit of ribbon, a knotted tie, buttons, and two more color layers.  I hope Don and Michele enjoy our little HELLO to them from their "home" in the Northwest!

Recipe:  Paper: The Paper Company-Primary-Emerald Green cs, Seaside-Lt. Green cs; Georgia Pacific-White cs.  Stamps: Wood Cellar-Wasghinton; Impress-Seattle, Space Needle.  Stampin' Up Ink: Garden Green, Pistachio Pudding.  Spellbinder die: Scalloped Recantgles SM. Impress Stamps heart brad. Stash: 5/8" Emerald Green Satin/ 3/8" green ginham ribbons; Buttons; Thread. 

A Birthday Spin!

My little great niece will be celebrating her 5th birthday today all the way across the country in Georgia.  Her mother and family are transplanted to Georgia from California while her daddy is stationed there on military duty.  Though I miss seeing them all on my visits to California, I am happy they are on U.S. soil, and Daddy has finished most, if not all, of his tours in Iraq and Afghanistan.

I wanted to make a whimsical card for Taylor, so thought of the pinwheel Sizzilit I had stashed in my cardmaking equipment and of a card I had previously made at a Stampin' Up class given by Liz Thayer and thought I'd begin there.  My little birthday spin evolved into the card below, and I hope Taylor likes it!

Recipe:  SU Island Indigo cs, Recollections Cool Water cs pack, SU Sycamore Street dsp (2013 SAB). Spellbinders Big Scallop Ovals SM.  SU Clouds Embossing Folder. SU punches: Modern Label, Word Window. Sizzilits Pinwheel die. Offray double-sided satin ribbon, Mini gold brads, SU Pool Party Baker’s Twine, SU Dazzling Details (glitter glue), Toothpicks. Becca’s Bowmaker.

A Little Ford Coupe for a Birthday!

Now for the other brother-in-law celebrating his birthday on January 5th as well!  Both of them are owners of antique cars, so I thought I would focus on this idea for this second brother, Jeff's birthday this year.  His automobile is a 1933 Ford Coupe, so I went on the hunt for a digital image that I could use my Copic colors on and hope to come as close as possible to the actual color.  It is blue, but I think my little coupe is a slightly different blue than the actual car, but it goes nicely with the papers I chose for the card...LOL!

I have been seeing many cards on Pinterest using the sunburst ray design as the background and I really waned to try it out myself.  I found several U-Tube videos with instructions.  It surprised me greatly as it was a lot easier than I thought it would be.  I wished after I finished that I had done a little straight and zigzag stitching to finish off the sides of the rays, but oh well, maybe next time!

Note: There are eight colored flags in auto racing: green (start), yellow (slow...caution), red (stop), black (respond to concern), black/diagonal white stripe (suspended/ no response to black), blue/diagonal yellow stripe (slow autos must yield to faster...not in same lap), white (lead driver in final lap), checkered (winner crosses finish line).  In my card Jeff has been given two colors of flags:

• White on the front: he is lead driver on his final lap, and 
• Checkered inside: he is the winner crossing the finish line.  

I hope Jeff likes his little winning Ford Coupe that he will receive for his birthday!

Recipe:  Papers: Recollections-Dk. Green cs (base); DCWV-The Corrugate Neutrals Stack/ Kraft, The Shimmer Stack/ Dark Green; Heidi Swapp-No Limits/Champion; Graphic 45-A Proper Gentlemean/ Sophisticate, Bird Song/ Enlightment, LeCirque/ Wizards of Wonder, Renaissance Faire/ Romantique; Stampin' Up-Naturals/ Ivory. Spellbinders dies: Ovals, Deckled Ovals. Sizzix die: Tim Holtz Weathered Clock. Copic markers. Computer-made sentiment.

Following is the inside of the card designed using coordinating papers from the card front and a computer-made verse. 

Inside recipe: Papers: Recollections-Dk. Green cs (base); Graphic 45-A Proper Gentleman/ Sophisticate, Domestic Goddess/ Farmer's Market (checks); Stampin' Up-Naturals/ Ivory. EK Scallop Corner punch.

Mr. Moustache Birthday Card!

Happy Days!  This card was chosen as a

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF

WEEK ENDING - DECEMBER 29, 2013

Two of my husband's brothers celebrate their birthdays on the same day...January 5th!  I had been wanting to make a masculine card featuring a moustache, and as brother, Joe, has had a moustache regularly for going on ten or more years, his birthday was the perfect excuse!  I had seen several cards over the last few years featuring Stampin' Up's Mocha Morning designer paper using postage stamp squares (the inchie style) and loved the look of it.  I wanted a larger card (big surprise) than an A2 size that is usually used by most SU designers.  I also like more layering than is typically used with most inchie cards, so came up with the idea of combining inchies and banners together.  Here is the result of inchies, banners, and Mr. Moustache!  I hope Joe enjoys his card.

Below is the inside of the Mr. Moustache card showing the design to coordinate with the style of the card.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Early Espresso cs, Crumb Cake cs, Very Vanilla cs, Basic Black cs, Pink Pirouette cs, Regal Rose cs (ret.), Mocha Morning dsp; Punches: Postage Stamp square, 1" square, Bird Building (moustache), 1/2" circle, 3/4" circle, small oval, Ex. lrg. oval, Decorative Label; Framelit: Banners (modified). MayArts twine. Stash: buttons. Computer-made sentiment. (Mr. Moustache and sentiment are popped).  Inside: EK Fancy Corner punch. SU Mocha Morning dsp.  (SplitcoastStampers Thread: December 29, 2013/ #52).

Happy New Year . . .Welcome 2014!

A Toast for a GREAT 2014! 

It is with many thank yous and some sadness that I say good-bye to 2013!  It feels good to say that for the most part it was a good year for those near and dear to my family.  

It was with sadness that we said good-bye to Alice, my husband's mother, in 2013; it was her 97th year!  She had a long and very good life and was a inspiration to all of us on how to live your life well with belief in God and always to be there with a helping hand for others. 

 

With a few other blips along the way, the rest of us made it through the year, ending with smiles on our faces and thank yous for our many blessings.  So, I end the year sending out well wishes for a wonderful new year in 2014!

A Birthday for a Dear Friend!

One of the ladies that I worked with for over ten years has a birthday right after Christmas. It is my bad that I never seem to be able to get a card mailed to her for her special day. I know it is the busyness of the holiday season that hinders me every year with the all the shopping, wrapping, church events, family visiting, etc., but still that is just no darned excuse and I feel bad every year.  I was determined that this would not happen this year, so while visiting my mother in California during October, I made it a point to get Karen's card finished except for this inside decorations and verse, which I just finished the other day. 

I chose this card to make that came from a kit designed by Becca Feeken and had been saving for a very special person. And though it is not one of my own designs, I just love Becca Feeken's wonderful card designs, especially this cards message on front and its soft colors.  I hope Karen enjoys her birthday and likes my card, made especially for her.

I decorated the inside of the card to coordinate with the paper patterns on the front, and  I prepared a little verse in celebration of Karen's birthday as well. It commemorates our special friendship that started so many years ago. 

Recipe: Becca Feeken Amazing Grace Kit: October 2012.  Recipe:  Cardstocks: Neenah Cream (base), American Crafts-Kraft, Geyser. Kaisercraft-Magnolia 6x6 pad (Damask/ Rose Scallop Border). Stamps: JustRite It's Sew Vintage. SU Ink: Rose-Red. Spellbinders Exclusive Becca Feeken dies. Hug Snug Siam Pink seam binding ribbon. Vintage button. Double-head pearl hat pin.

MERRY CHRISTMAS: For the Birds!

Merry, Merry Christmas to all!  

Hope your day is delightful!

Here is another card that evolved from one I started at Liz Thayer's Totally Loving Christmas in August.  The card center was Liz's design with a smidgen of layout changes.  With my seeming need to layer and enlarge everything I seem to put my hand to, I trimmed the green embossed layer to an almost-square.  I then added three more layers beneath it, starting from a new Real Red cardbase, an Early Espresso mat layer, and then some patterned dotted paper from my stash. Again, with this card, I think the pattern made the little bird pop off the card more and added a bit of interest as well.  I loved the two different types of embossing that Liz planned for the mat behind the bird's circle and the Old Olive layer.  Wonderful touches on this card!

Recipe: SU products: Stamps-For the Birds. Cardstock-Real Red base, Early Espresso, Old Olive, Whisper White. Silver Glimmer. Embossing folders: Fancy Fan, Northern Flurry. Punch: 2-1/2” Circle punch. Deco Labels framelit. Markers: Rose-Red, Midnight Muse, Old Olive. Rhinestones. SU Early Espresso 1/8” Taffeta ribbon.  Recollections Christmas Stack (pattern). StazOn Black Ink.

Santa's New Suit!

I went to a cardmaking event this past August and made over 12 Christmas cards for the coming Christmas.  One card was depicting Santa's bright red suit with belt buckle.  After completing the card, I decided it would be just right for my oldest son, David, but it just need something more added.  

I went to work remaking the idea of the card with just a bit more flair.  My Santa suit would have the white fir edged in scallops to create the idea of a furry white trim.  Straight sides just didn't suggest fir to me.  I decided rather than a "belly band" belt, it should be a real belt, so I trimmed the overlap in a "V" shape to represent the end of the belt and attached it directly the the card so that it was no longer a slip off/ slip on "belly band." Then, I dropped my belt and its buckle lower as one would usually sees on a fat man, because the belt just won't quite fit around his jolly fat middle.  I felt the coat buttons were too small and too plain, so I chose larger black faceted buttons with a silver rim, and I spaced them further apart.  Now, it was looking like I thought it should! I know David will really like his Santa's festive red suit.

Here is a peek below at the inside design and the computer verse that I composed to suit the card's exterior design.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks - Real Red, Basic Black, Whisper White, Basic Gray.  Punch - Decorative Label.  Embossing Folder -  Petals A Plenty.  Dazzling Details - Silver Sparkle (glitter glue).  Candy Dots w/silver brads).  Brads - mini black.  EK punches: Scalloped Scallop Edger; CardCreators - Interlaced Corner.  Computer verse.

Sassy Little Penguin!

I went to a Christmas cardmaking event at the Rock, Paper, Scissors store in Redding, CA when visiting my mother about a year ago.  We were given 18 card kits to make at the event (and, unfortunately, it has since gone out of business).  I was not able to stay to finish all of the card, so took several home with me unfinished.  I pulled some of the bagged kits out to finish this year, but found that somehow I did not have the instructions, but only pieces of papers and embellishments in the bags.  Enclosed in one of the kit bags was a little penguin that I would say may have been cut using a Cricuit, but I'm not sure as I'm not familiar with the Cricuit myself.   I was not sure exactly how he was to go together and there really seemed to be too many pieces for the front of the card, so I thought I would just focus on the penguin and his possible parts. I decided to put on my creative mojo cap and see what I could some up with.

First, there was not enough papers to create a card with any layering, so out came my Christmas paper stash.  I was on the hunt to look for papers that would go with the olive/white dotted paper provided and a red and yellow penguin!  I decided to leave the cardbase white, though I had to enlarge it because of adding layers.  I also decided to add a layer of red, a stripe with compatible coloring, and a doily.  The sentiment in the bag did not seem to fit the size of the papers, so I found a new "Merry Christmas" sentiment that would fit the width, deciding to layer it in red with fishtail ends. He also needed eyes...little black eyes to be sure and some holly berries for his hat.  Now, I was ready to begin, and here is how my penguin ended up in its finished product.

Recipe:  Georgia Pacific White cs. Bazzill Classic Red/ Bling cs. Bella Blvd.: Christmas Wishes/ North Pole-dots. Fancy Pants: Traditions-Christmas Morning/stripe. Stampin’ Up stamp: Greetings of the Season. Stampin’ Up Ink: Early Espresso. Wilton 4” Doily. Cricuit penguin cutout. Stampin’ Up 2” Oval punch.  WRMK Deco Corner Chomper. Cherry Red MultiCraft Gumdrop Glitter Gems.

A Little Copic Coloring at Christmas!

During this past year, I have done very little Copic coloring, and I have so many cute little stamps from Stampin' Up that just need a bit of coloring to make the card just right!  In looking over my Christmas stamp stash, I found a cute little set that I had not yet used:  Polar Party.   Without really knowing how I wanted this card to look when finished, I colored my trees and decided it needed a bit of new-fallen snow on the ground below the trees, using Stampin' Up Iridescent Dazzling Delights over the ground that I had lightly colored in pale mint green.  I set my image off to the side to dry while I search for the perfect papers to compliment it.  Even though this stamp set doesn't jump right out as a vintage style stamp, somehow, I managed to choose papers that allowed it to be turned into my vintage simple style.  

After the papers where chose, I decided my trees needed red, gold, and white rhinestone and pearl ornaments and tree-toppers.  I decided to cut my image with a circle die and used Spellbinder Dahlia as a back frame.  From there the red sparkle netting seemed to fit just right.  I love using netting, but the card has to be just right for it to be the right touch!  I hope you like my little tree card...I think it turned out very festive.

Recipe:  Bazzill Classic Red cs. DCWV Christmas stack (2011).  Authentique: Festive-Joyful stripe.  Stampin’ Up stamp: Polar Party.  Stampin’ Up Ink: Basic Black.  Copic Markers.  Recollections: pearls & rhinestones.  Stampin’ Up Dazzling Details: Iridescent.  EK Punch: Grateful Hearts.  Spellbinders die: Dahlia + Classic Circles LG.  WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  JoAnns: Red Sparkle Netting (fabric). 

Snowflakes Glisten!

My Christmas paper stash is brimming!  In thumbing through, I found a perfect group of papers from Echo Park named Winter Park.  These papers are all in beautiful winter blues, grays, white, and silvers that jump right out and say:  "snowflakes in winter wonderland at Christmas."  I have several lovely snowflake punches, dies, and border punches and thought that was where I should start.  My card would also need some Glittery paper as well to enhance the Winter Park paper for sure.  Here is what happened when all these paper and tools came out to play!

Recipe:  Papers: Georgia Pacific-White cs.  Stampin’ Up-Not Quite Navy cs.  Echo Park-Winter Park stripe.  Recollection-Silver Gray Glitter.  Stampin’ Up stamp: Christmas Punch (ret).  Stampin’ Up Ink: Soft Suede,  Stampin’ Up Snowflake Punch.  Martha Stewart Snowflake Punch (2 sizes). Spellbinder dies: Classic Ovals + Classic Scallop Ovals.  Stampin’ Up Scallop border punch. Martha Stewart Snowflake border punch.  Zutter Corner Rounder.  WRMK Deco Corner Chomper. Recollections Silver Adhesive Large Brad.

Serene Silhouettes Inspiration!

I made a little card designed by my friend, Liz Thayer, at her Totally Loving Christmas event back in August.  I had this stamp set in my stash, but had never used it or thought about it in terms of a Christmas stamp.  It was such a wonderful, serene Christmas scene that it inspired me to make another, using her fog technique and torn snow mounds.  As I like layering in my cards, I added a few more layers and patterned paper to the look, as well as enlarging my card.  I really liked how the pattern paper picked up and enhanced the bird coloring to make them pop.  Thanks Liz for the wonderfully pleasing effect of this card.  It makes you feel like you are looking out the window at a pristine snow-covered world that no one has dared to walk upon to mare its excellence!

Recipe:  SU stamps: Serene Silhouettes, Gorgeous Grunge (background illuminate), Petite Pars (sentiment). SU cardstock: Basic Black (base), Whisper White, Rich Razzleberry. Sycamore Street dsp. SU ink: Smoky Slate (stamping, sponging, distressing), Illuminate Glimmer. SU markers: Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry. SU Dazzling Details-silver. 

A Reindeer Bottle Cap!

I bought some bottle caps last year in two different sizes and have never used them.  Of course, it was time to try making an embellishment to use on a card for sure.  I also purchased some one-inch stickers that could be used with bottle caps, and I remembered that one of the images in particular was a favorite.  He was a little Christmas reindeer and he came to mind as I've been busy making my Christmas cards to be mailed during this festive season.  I got out all the necessary pieces: bottle cap, reindeer sticker, and an acrylic bubble.  I looked up some directions on bottle caps and found that running it through the Big Shot in a sandwich would smash down the edges and make it a perfect frame for my reindeer to fit right inside.  In checking out the acrylic bubble, I realized that it was adhesive on the flat side and just glued right down on top of the sticker and into the bottle cap...no muss no fuss!  WOW...I was thinking it was going to be so much more complicated than that!  

Now the search was on for the perfect papers and embellishments to fit my little reindeer bauble with snowflakes glistening.  I found this lovely snowflake paper, but it didn't have quite enough of the Pool Party aqua on the snowflakes that would show around the edges of my matting.  My answer was to color them by sponging these snowflakes with Pool Party stamping ink where needed.  Below is the finished product that developed.

Recipe:  Stampin’ Up Papers: Early Espresso cs, Pool Party cs, Silver Glimmer. MME: Signature Christmas 6x6 pad (brown snowflake). Stampin’ Up stamp: Christmas Punch (ret.). Stampin’ Up Ink:  Pool Party.  Stampin’ Up EF: Snowflake (ret.). EK punch: Vintage Corner Medium. Spellbinder die: Classic Ovals + Scallop Ovals.  The Bottle Co.: 1” bottle cap, 1”Epoxy Dot, Santa Baby Bottle Cap Images (reindeer).  Offray 5/8” White Satin ribbon. Recollections Chocolate Pearls.