My Brother Has A Birthday!

My brother is having a milestone birthday in early, early May, and he will suddenly be two years old than not just one, as he reaches the beginning of another decade!  I am on a cardmaking spree right now trying to get all of my early May cards completed before I leave for my four-day Girls' Get-Away Cardmaking Retreat, which is my present to myself for Mother's Day.  I know it will be oodles and oodles of fun, laughter, and hilarity as those are the kinds of ladies who are going.  I predict a thoroughly marvelous time!

Back to my brother's card for his birthday.  I made a card similar to this one last spring, which was inspired by a Liz Thayer design.  My previous card sported a mustache, and while my brother has a mustache and a beard, just a mustache didn't seem like him as he has never had just a mustache.  I decided his card would be stamped just as the stamp comes with cake and candles.  My card, as in the previous version, has more paper layers than Liz's original, but I retained the collage of masculine-oriented paper patterns.  I'm sure my brother will love his card, and he will know I've been thinking about him as I was making his card and getting it ready for the mail.

The inside creation has now been completed and designed to coordinate with the outside, and I've added a humorous verse about aging that I think my brother will enjoy.

 (Card inspired by a Liz Thayer design and modified by me.)

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers:  Basic Black cs, Soft Suede cs, Very Vanilla cs, 2013-2015 Neutrals dsp stack (Chevron-Soft Suede/ Scallop-Crumb Cake), Modern Medley dsp.  SU stamp: See Ya Later.  Memento Black, SU Soft Suede (distressing).  SU Early Espresso Chevron ribbon, pearls.EK Photo Corner punch (inside). Size: 5" x 6-1/4"

Feel Better Soon!

A good friend is under the weather and needs a little card to perk her up.  I decided to pull an old, but very well liked paper collection to use: Stella Rose by My Mind's Eye.  I like the blues and yellows, which makes it just the right combination for this time of year in the Northwest.  Sometimes, its a bit gloomy and rainy and sometimes the sun is shining with a 75-degree day.  Each day tells a new weather story, and I'm sure, from past history, there's still some wintery weather left for Mother Nature to bring, but today we'll throw in a little spring to remind us of what's coming!

I decided to case a little card made several years ago by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, (My Lil' Scrap Corner), but change it up a bit by enlarging it and adding a navy mat layer for a bit more color.  Enlarging the card allowed the card elements to be spaced apart more, becoming more visible.  I also wanted to make sure my flowered paper layer presented lots of the yellow flowers to coordinate with the golden-yellow polka dot paper.  My handmade paper flower is a bit different, as I added blue-green felt as an under layer, making the blues in my hand-dyed crochet lace pop.  (The lace was colored with Copic markers).

A number of Stampin' Up demonstrators and cardmakers are going on a little Girls' Get-Away Cardmaking retreat, and my friend (and my Stampin' Up upline) is busy preparing all kinds of yummy foods and crafting ideas for us to take part in, but is also feeling a bit under the weather.  I chose a Here For You sentiment to let my friend know that if she needs any help preparing before we go, or whatever, I am ready to pitch in, as we want her to spend time recuperating and not wearing herself out.  I think she will enjoy her little card from me.

Below is the finished inside of the card, designed to coordinate with the outside, with a little feel better soon verse made from me.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up (SU) cardstocks: Very Vanilla (base), Night of Navy.  Patterned: My Mind's Eye: Stella Rose - Hattie Boy Tapestry, Hattie Happy Bouquet, Hattie Buddies Argyle Dots.  SU stamps: And Many More (sentiment).  My Favorite Things dies: Poinsettia (blue-green felt), Photo Corners (inside).  Papertrey Ink die: Delightful Dahlia (leaf).  SU die: Flower Fold BigZ (newsprint - 2 sizes), Windows Frames (modified).  SU punch: 7/8" Scallop punch (flower center).  SU ribbon: Very Vanilla seam binding.  May Arts: twine.  Stash: 3/4" Crochet lace (Copic-colored), buttons.  Computer verse.  Size: 5" square.

A Birthday Boy Card!

One of my nephew's has a birthday in April.  I can't believe he is already going to be eight!  For some reason making little boy cards throws my creative juices into a panic.  Probably, because I find making masculine cards much more difficult whether they be for men or boys!  It's also probably because I have had far less experience with this cardmaking genre than with feminine cards!  I need to force myself to make several masculine cards in a row, so I can feel what the masculine cardmaking groove feels like!  Maybe, I can learn to enjoy it right from the get go, and not start with that, "Oh no. . .a masculine card, what will I do!"

I saw recently saw a card by Diana Eichfeld using Stampin' Up's Boys Will Be Boys stamp set and the sponging/ burnishing effect using the Sale-A-Bration Irresistibly Yours designer paper in a rainbow array of colors.  I loved the look of it so much that I decided to CASE her card.  Thank you Diana for your ideas using this stamp set.

I did change my card some by adding a zigzag punch border around my card front before adhering it to the double mat layers of white and red cardstocks.  I also double matted my image using the Spellbinder's Pinked Circles, which look very much like Stampin' Up Starburst framelits, but there are many more sizes to choose from with the Spellbinders dies.  Color choices on my little robot are my own, and my sentiment is double matted and uses the Apothecary framelits as well, but I did modified my die cuts considerably to achieve the double mat effect.  I also used gears from the Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets instead of modifying the Starburst framelits.  I think my little nephew will be excited about his little robot card.

Below is the inside created to coordinate with the outside design, and my little robot's birthday message explaining his late arrival.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up: cardstocks--Real Red, Pacific Point, Whisper White, Daffodil Yellow, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Brushed Silver; dsp--SAB/ Irresistibly Yours; stamp--Boys Will Be Boys; inks--Real Red, Pacific Point, Daffodil Yellow, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive; framelits--Apothecary Arts (modified); 3/4" circle; 1-1/4" circle.  Spellbinder dies: Circles SM, Pinking Circles, Sprightly Sprockets,  Punch: EK Zig Zag border.  Copic markers.

Another April Birthday to Celebrate!

I needed another April birthday card, and time was running short.  So, what else is new in my world. . .time is always running out!  I went searching in my finished card stash, which is running rather low at the moment. . .and found nothing there that I thought was just right person I needed the card for.  Then, I scurried to my "To Do" box of cards, which held card kits to make and half finished cards that I just hadn't seemed to get around to finishing.  Much to my pleasure, I found a Liz Thayer card design started last year at one of her cardmaking events but never finished.  The black lattice layer on vanilla, matted in black was complete, along with the little Petite Petals flowers with pearls.  The small striped paper with ribbon layered over was also in place, but there was no sentiment and no other pieces to add to the card in the ziploc bag, except a vanilla cardbase.  It looked like it just needed more, but I had no picture to see what it's original completed design was meant to be.  So, I thought I would finish it off with some ideas of my own to make it the birthday card that I needed.  

I added a Coastal Cabana aqua mat layer beneath the black layer and cut a larger vanilla cardbase to fit.  I added a Coastal Cabana paper bow on top of the ribbon with my new Stampin' Up Bow Builder punch (2015 Occasions catalog) and a little scalloped circle birthday sentiment tag to hang underneath.  I really liked the look it, and it looked like a finished card now.  It was ready to send off in the mail tomorrow as soon as I finished the inside!

Below is my finished inside design to coordinate with the card front creation.  In making my birthday verse, I used the same computer font for the front birthday tag.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up: cardstock--Very Vanilla, Coastal Cabana, Basic Black; dsp--Retro Fresh (2014 Occasions-retired); stamps--Petite Petals; punches--Petite Petals, Bow Builder, 1" Circle, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle; die: Sizzix Lattice BigZ; ribbon--3/8" Ruffled Trim-Coastal Cabana; Pearls.  Sentiment: computer-made (Gisele Script Bold/ 24.  Finished size:  4-1/2" x 5-5/8"

Enjoy Your Birthday Day!

One of my cardmaking buddies will be celebrating her birthday in April.  I wanted to make a card that conveyed how much I wanted her birthday to be super enjoyable, so I chose to make a card from a card kit designed by my sister and my first cardmaking mentor, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner.blogspot), because the planned sentiment was perfect. . .Enjoy Your Day!  (Of course, she will enjoy her day. . .fellow cardmaking buddies are taking her to lunch!)

I pulled out the kit paper pieces provided and the picture of the original card.  After mulling it over, I decided I wanted to liven up it up even more by adding more colored layers, which is much more my style than a single cardbase + front layer.  To do this, I added two more layers of colored cardstock that accomplished not only adding more color (the original design had a single-layer vanilla base + front), but it also enlarged the card size from the standard A2 size.  Those of you who have read my blog before have probably noted that I have mentioned several times in past posts that I like cards larger than the A2 size.  I added a new gold card base (Crushed Curry), cut a larger vanilla layer to use between the gold base and my new dark teal layer (Island Indigo).  I also punched the corners of the patterned top layer and the new teal layer with the WRMK "Stub" Corner Chomper.  On the whole, I think the whole card is even more eye-appealing than it already was in its original lovely design.  I think my friend will be please with her Enjoy Your Day birthday card.

My next step was to create an inside design that coordinated with the finished outside.  I added dark teal scalloped trim to my birthday card verse, which I composed and printed from my computer.  Next, a added some little cork flowers with pink Goosebumps---incorporating the flower idea from the front.

Recipe:  SU cardstocks:  Crushed Curry (base), Island Indigo, Very Vanilla.  Pattern Papers: DCWV: Adhesive Cork; MME--Miss Caroline-Dilly Dally/ Dolled Up/ Fiddlesticks.  Papertrey:  Stamps-Mini Blooms (sentiment); Dies-Delightful Dahlia (leaves), Tag Sale #6.  MFT dies: Fishtail Flags. SU punches: 5-Petal Flower (ret.), Boho Blossoms (inside), 1" Circle, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, Scallop Border (inside).  SU Sizzlits: Lots of Tags.  WRMK Corner Chomper: Stub.  Queen & Co.: Goosebumps Twinkles.  Stash: Dark Celery felt, Embroidery Floss, button.  (Size: 4-3/4" x 6").

Smile! It's Your Birthday

Happy Days!  This card was chosen as a

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF

WEEK ENDING - APRIL 19, 2015

Number two daughter, Jackie, is having a birthday in April.  I've been wanting to make her a card that depicts photography...her first degree from the Art Institute of Seattle.  I say first, because along the way in deciding what she wanted to do when she grew up, her career path changed, she went back to college and graduated with her degree, becoming a registered nurse.  She is due to return to school this fall to finish off her associate R.N. degree with her B.S.N. (Bachelors of Science in Nursing).  But, I diverse. . .back to Jackie's card.  As you can now tell, photography has become more of a hobby than a life-long career endeavor, but you never see Jackie without her camera.  She loves to take pictures, thus the photography theme for her card.

I had all the goodies I needed from Stampin' Up to complete my photography birthday card, and I pulled them all out to get started.  I chose Stampin' Up's Sweet Taffy dsp and selected the paper with the various shades of pink overlapping rows of petals giving it the ombre-like shading and paired it with whites and grays.   I decided my Snapshot camera stamp should be colored with Copics to match the colors in the papers I chose for the card.  My card design evolved into a collage effect of photography paraphenalia: the camera, the frame, and the film strip.  It needed a little femininity, so I added a double-layered butterfly (could be the subject of the photo to be taken).  I think Jackie will like her photograph collage card.

To finish off the card, my final effort is to complete the inside in a design that coordinates with the outside.  I added a little saying and matted in the outside colors and used the ombre-like patterned paper to make decorative corners around the verse.  Here's a peek at the finished product.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up: cardstock-- Melon Mambo, Basic Gray. Whisper White, Basic Black;  dsp--Sweet Taffy; stamp--Snapshot, And Many More (sentiment); framelits: On Film; punch: Note Tag, Elegant Butterfly; Embossing folder: Perfect Dots; Pearls.  EK Punch: Film Strip, Triple Butterfly punch.  MFT dies: Photo Corners.  Finished size: 5-1/2" x 6".  (SplitcoastStampers Thread: April 19, 2015-Thread #1).

Swallowtail Sympathy Card

One of my husband's cousins that he grew up with past away this last week after a prolonged illness.  It is of some comfort that his cousin is now at peace and in a place more restful than his last months here.  I needed to set my mind to a sympathy card design.  Sometimes, I find it difficult to do sympathy card, but I've found that if I focus on a card that will be elegant, but restful and peaceful, the mojo flows.

I made a sympathy card for a long-time friend several months ago when her mother passed, and I really like the color palette for her card.  I decided to use it again:  black,  Crumb Cake, vanilla, and gold metallic, but change it up with a little pastel yellow instead of cream.  I had used the Stampin' Up Swallowtail stamp before, but never on a sympathy card, but I thought with this color palette it would be really pretty.

My previous sympathy card used a patterned paper in blacks and tans that I spritzed with my homemade Inca Gold Metallic spritzer.  I decided to use this idea on the Crumb Cake cardstock onto which I planned to stamp my Swallowtail butterfly.  I spritzed the cardstock and dried it, and I was ready to stamp.  I off-centered the butterfly to the right side of the card and stamped with Memento Ink, because I planned to color in parts of the wings with Copic markers.  

I designed a little multi-layer fishtail sentiment tag.  The sentiment is computer-made and punched out with the SU Word Window punch.  I trimmed off one curved end and fishtailed it to match the black and yellow layers below.  The other curve end (under the ribbon) is finished off with one of the onyx rhinestones...it looks really cute, if cute is the right word for a sympathy card. 

Now that the front design was complete, I set my efforts to creating a coordinating inside design and finding just the right sympathy verse.  I came upon this quote from Isiah 40:11 that I thought was perfect.  Using the computer, I decided to print my verse onto a piece of gold metallic spritzed Crumb Cake cardstock made just as I did for the front before I stamped the Swallowtail.  I placed the pre-prepared, dried cardstock in the printer and printed the verse.  I was very pleased with the results.

Recipe:  SU papers:  Basic Black, Crumb Cake. SU stamp: Swallowtail. SU Antique Brad. SU punch: Word Window (sentiment/ one end fishtailed).  Darice Core’dinations Glitter paper: String of Pearls.  Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black.  SU: Vintage Brad.  Ribbon Stash: 5/8” Gold metallic; 1/4” Gold Metallic edged black satin. Y08 Copic marker. Black rhinestones. Computer-made sentiment. Homemade Fishtail tag.  Homemade: Inca Gold Metallic Spritz (FolkArt Metallic Inca Gold Acrylic paint). Becca’s Bowmaker.  Inside: EK Victorian Photo Corner punch.

Bring on the Easter Eggs!

I must be on a roll.  This is my fifth Easter card using a vintage image.  There are so many cute ones to choose from.  Again, this little hen image was too narrow in height; and therefore, it needed a lot of work in PaintShop Pro to add size above and below the hen image in order to fit it into a rectangular frame.  I added size to the sky and the path at the bottom, making sure to get the shading just right.  I learned a lot, and I am happy with the finished product.

My first step in all my Easter card has been to decide on the image I was going to use and the type of frame or background mat best suited to the size and dimension of the image.  My second step was to choose papers that would enhance the image without taking away from it.  In this case, my image was pretty colorful and bold, so I was able to pick up those vibrant colors from the cart and the Easter eggs to use in the papers.  Again, I used the frosted glitter adhesive technique over the image, but because it was such a colorful image, it really didn't tone down much as this technique often does to softer color shades.  

I've decided that even though it is a female hen, this card is bold enough that it takes on a masculine feel; therefore, I will reserve it for one of the fellows on my Easter list.  This was definitely a delightfully fun card to make.

The last step to complete the card and be able to say it is definitely finished is the inside coordinating design with a little verse.  I usually look at the picture or image and imagine a story based around the image.  Then, I try to choose just the right message to bring home the picture's story.  Indeed, those Easter bunnies need lots of eggs to color.  I see Mrs. Hen as part of the egg coloring production cres.  She is very busy, just as those bunnies are, making sure Easter is a joyful occasion for every little boy and girl! 

Recipe:  Papers:  Stampin' Up-Early Espresso cs (card base), Tangerine Tango cs; My Minds' Eye-Stella Rose: Hattie/ Happy, Gertie/ Friends & Delightful, Forever/ Dots.  Vintage online image.  Elmer's Craft Adhesive Spray.  JoAnn's Iridescent Fine Glitter.  Spellbinders die: Lattice Rectangles; Rectangles SM.  MFT dies: Accent It Labels & Tags.  PTI stamps: Scrambled Eggs-sentiment.  Michael's: Song of Springtime Trims.  Favorite Finding Buttons (mini).  May Arts: Jute Twine.  (Size: 6" x 5-1/8").

Top Hat Rabbit Gets Ready for Easter!

I am again using a vintage image as my focal point, and I envision this top hat rabbit in his apron going to an egg decorating party.  Don't you think he got all dressed up because he was trying to impress a certain lady bunny, whom he knew would be at the party as well.  Notice he has a bouquet of flowers that I envision he picked along the way  How's that for an imagination!

To start, I picked some possible papers that complimented my vintage image, and I was ready to go to work.  I had a 6 x 6 pad of canvas that I had used on another card recently to make a big canvas flower, and I thought that might make an interesting frame for my image rather than a traditional paper frame.  I adhered it to a piece of lightweight chipboard to give it stability, and then I ran it through my Big Shop using my Lifestyles Eyelet Square die.  It didn't cut it; it actually acted more like an embossing folder and imprinted on the canvas rather than cutting it, but I liked what I saw.  You know, one of those happy accidents, because I thought it would make an interesting mat background for my image rather than framing it!  (I'm thinking the thin wafer dies are not sharp enough to cut through a canvas and chipboard combination.)

With it now going to be a background for my image, I decided to pink the edge of the canvas with my pinking shears (old ones I keep in my tool stash).  To finish it off, I sponged and distressed the edges of the vintage image and the entire background of the embossed canvas in a combination of Baja Breeze and Pear Pizzaz Stampin' Up inks.  I so very much like the way the image and its canvas background turned out.  I was stoked!  Below is the finished product of my happy accident.

I decided this card would be for my husband, so I needed a verse that he would be pleased with...it needed to have a religious tone.  I typed it up and printed it out onto Very Vanilla cardstock, matted it with the Old Olive Words paper, and finished off the corners with the vine paper from the front.

Recipe:  Papers:  SU-Baja Breeze cs (card base), SU Brights Stack/ Old Olive words; K&Co.-Studio K: Meadow/ Breeze; Angel Co.-Country Cottage/ gold dot; Recollections: Canvas Stack; Grafix Lightweight Chipboard.  Lifestyles die: Eyelet Squares.  Vintage image (online freebie).  SU stamps: Delightful Dozen-sentiment.  SU Ink: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Perar Pizzaz.  SU punch: Modern Labels.  SU buttons.  Offray ribbons.  Stash: Embroidery floss/ doubled; Pinking shears.  (Size: 5" x 6").

Little Easter Girl Bunny Delivers Eggs!

My next Easter card uses a vintage little girl bunny all dressed up and delivering eggs.  This vintage image was not really "built" to make a square image so I had to do a bit of doctoring in PaintShop Pro to add to the background areas of sky, bushes and path.  I was pretty pleased with the way it turned out.  I framed her in a glittered frame made with my Lifestyles Eyelet Squares dies.

I found the perfect paper aqua background paper with pink flowers in the same pink shade as my bunny's dress.  From there, the lace, ribbon and vintage embellishments just fell into place without any hard work.  I love it when that happens!

Once again, creating an inside coordinating design and just the right verse has finished off my card.

Recipe:  Papers:  Stampin' Up-Whisper Whiter cs (card base), Pretty-In-Pink cs; Subtles DSP Stack-Pool Party Chevron; Jillibean-Southern Chicken Dumping Soup: Celery Stocks (back); Making Memories-Garden Party Stripe (back/ check).  Lifestyles die: Eyelet Squares (frame).  Stampin' Up dies:  Finishing Touches Edgelets; Bitty Banner framelits.  Elmer's Craft Adhesive Spray.  JoAnn's Iridescent Fine Glitter.  PTI stamps: Scrambled Eggs (sentiment).  Stampin' Up ink: Cajun Craze.  Recollections: Vintage Resin flowers.  Prima Vintage Wood embellishments.  Stash: Lace; Ribbon.  (Size: 5-1/2" square).

Easter Bunny Takes Tea!

On  a roll, here is card number two for my Easter Stash.  This cute little Easter vintage image several years ago and stashed her on my computer for future use.  Do you ever find you are surfacing the web and find freebie images and put them away for a rainy day?  Along with Pinterest, this is another of my favorite past times.  I, of course, at this stage have more images than I'll ever use, I'm sure!

I thought this little bunny would be very cute with pastel Easter paper to add color to my card as there weren't many colors depicted in the image itself.  What better way than to do a ray card with multiple design paper patterns.  My next step was to address my little teatime bunny.  I sprayed my little image with adhesive spray and then dipped it into iridescent crystal fine glitter to make an almost frosted look to its surface.  I don't think the photograph really shows that detail much, and I apologize.  I then cut a circle frame using my Spellbinders Eyelet Circle die.  I also decided I wanted to use colored tickets for the sentiment, so I stamped up several different colors of cardstock with Easter sentiments, die-cut them with my Tim Holtz Ticket Strip, inked decorative lines around the edges, and added ink distressing.  Voila. . .three tickets just perfect for my card.   I think someone will be please when they receive this little bunny card!

Again, the final touch to complete the card is to decide on the inside creative design and the verse.  When that is finished, I know the card is totally done.

Recipe: Papers:  Stampin' Up - Pretty in Pink cs (card base), Pear Pizzaz cs.  Ray papers:  Imaginesce-For Peep's Sake: Spring Fling & Hot Chicks; WRMK-Cottontails 6x6 pad; Angel Co.-Country Cottage/ yellow; Authentique-Promise/ Four.  Spellbinders die: Eyelet Circles.  Sizzix/Tim Holtz die: Ticket Strip.  PTI stamps fr tickets.  Recollections: pink pearls.  Elmer's Craft Adhesdive Spray.  JoAnn's Iridescent Fine Glitter.  Stash: Lace, Organdy Glitter ribbon, vintage bunny image.  (Size: 5-1/2" square).  

Easter is Coming!

Yes, Easter is less than a month away!  Time to get out the Easter mojo and get my cards done.  Since I didn't get my Valentine's card done and sent due to my mouth surgery, I really must get with it for Easter!  What I also needed was to find that darn Easter bunny, and I think I found him lurking behind that watering can, peeking out among the flowers.

This is the cutest darn digi image...I just had to color this little bunny up with my Copics and start my Easter card with him.  After I decided to use the Stampin' Up Watercolor Wonder dsp from last year's Occasions catalog, the colors for the digi image (from an unknown source) and the card just fell together very quickly.  I spritzed my doily with my homemade spritzers in just the right shades to match the designer paper.  I even had some shaded ribbon in my stash that was a perfect match, is that serendipity, or what??!!

For me, to complete inside design to coordinate with the outside look of my card and to compose or find just the right verse is to actually finish the card in its entirety.  I compose most of my verses myself and print them out using my computer. 

Recipe:  Papers: Darice Kraft cs; Stampin' Up: Calypso Coral cs, Blushing Bride cs, Watercolor Wonder dsp.  Digital image: unknown source.  Copic Markers.  Wilton 4" doily.  Spritzers: SU ink: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Yellow.  Spellbinder die: Eyelet Squares.  SU framelit: Bitty Banners.  SU Finishing Touches Edgelits (petite pinking).  PTI sentiment stamp: Scrambled Eggs.  Prima flowers and roses.  SU: Dazzling Deails Glitter Glue (image flower centers).  Inside:  SU Labels framelit.  (Size: 5-1/2" x 6").

A Good Friend's Birthday!

I am celebrating a good friend's birthday today by making her a handmade card.  Cardmaking is a hobby I started after I retired from the elementary school where I worked for 13 years.  This wonderful friend started working at the same elementary school within days of myself, so I have tried to continue to remember her birthday every year with one of my paper concoctions to help her celebrate her day.

It almost seems like spring here in the northwest, we've had such a delightfully warm February and March with little rain.  The crocus, primroses, and daffodils are blooming already!  All this make me feel that spring is already here, so I had the yen to make a bit of a spring card.  I decided to borrow one of my sister's designs (Heidi Gonzales: My Lil' Scrap Corner blog).  By the time I finished, my flower was gigantic and is surely the envy of every other flower in the realm!  I made it out of canvas and twine with my Fun Flowers BigZ die from Stampin' Up via Sizzix.  It needed some sort of a filler between the flower and the ribbon.  I thought a tag would be just the thing, so I used a Stampin' Up Chalk Talk framelit and made a little color-coordinated tag.  It worked great in my thinking!

When it was all done, it was very thick through and quite heavy, and I thought, "Good thing I don't have to mail this one, because it would definitely have to be sent as a package in a box!"  Fortunate for me, Carla now works at the high school not too far from my house, so it will be hand delivered to her school desk!  I hope she loves it, and she enjoys it in the days to come.

But a card is never really finished until you dream up an inside befitting the outside creativity.  I stole some of the Simple Stories flowered paper to make decorative corners for my little verse I composed and printed on my computer.

Recipe:  Papers: Simple Stories: Harvest Lane.  Stampin' Up: Naturals White, Old Olive.  Stampin' Up: Dies-Tasteful Trim (scallop) BigZ XL; Fun Flowers BigZ L; Autumn Accents BigZ (leaves); Chalk Talk framelit; Vintage Brads.  Wilton 4" Doily. EK punch: Fancy Photo Corners.  HugSnug Seam Binding: Bluejay.  Stash: 1" Crochet Lace; Buttons; Dark Brown Twine; Dark Brown Embroidery Floss; Celery Felt.  (Size: 5" x 7").

Loving Pizza for a Birthday!

My oldest son, David, is celebrating his birthday early this month.  I have been a bit under the weather with some mouth surgery, and this is actually the first card I have undertaken since early in February.  I really felt like my creative mojo was just not with me.  I racked my brain, and then I remembered!  Daughter, Michele, yes, that's the one who moved home from West Virginia, is hosting the family for a pizza birthday dinner, dessert, and games night for David's birthday.  I had seen several punch art cards with pizza slices as the theme, and even one with a digital image of pizza in the last few months on Pinterest.  I thought, "That would be perfect!  David, not only loves pizza, but it is the theme of his birthday party.

With this thought in mind, I went off looking for papers that would work with a combination pizza, which is the most colorful of pizzas; therefore, it would make the best looking punch art pizza slice, right?!  At first, I decided on Bo Bunny Double Dot for the pepperoni meat, but then when I dug out the right color, the backside with cream mixed into the berry red color was even better than cream dots on the red.  It doesn't actually show up in the photo, but looks great on the real thing.  I raided my scrap box for pieces of green for green peppers, Natural Ivory for onion slivers, Hello Honey for cheese, and Kraft for pizza crust.  I found a diagonal plaid with rose red and cherry cobbler, which reminded me of a picnic tablecloth, and I thought it would work perfectly.  

I distressed all edges and pieces of the card and the punch art pieces with Colorbox Chestnut Roan.  I also sponged the Hello Honey cheese layer on its surface.  I though this gave the pizza the look of a cooked/ browned pizza fresh from the oven.  I'm just sorry the photo doesn't pick up on all these subtle additions.  I'm pretty happy with my results, especially because of having to push myself back into making it.  I think David will be pleased!

Below is the inside design and verse and I have created to coorindate with the outside.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up stamp: Delightful Dozen.  Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black.  Papers: Stampin' Up cardstocks: Kraft, Cheery Cobbler, Hello Honey, Old Olive, Basic Black, Natural Ivory.  Darice Core'dinations: Red Plaid.  BoBunny DoubleDot: Wild Berry Red Dot (backside).  Punches:  Stampin' Up - 1-1/4" Circle; Itty Bitty Punch Pack - circle.  EK - 3/4" Circle; Scalloped Scallop border.  Martha Stewart Corner Rounder.  Lifestyles: Scalloped Circles (#15-largest/ crust; #9-green peppers).  

A Nice Surprise!

My friend and cardmaking buddy, Sandy, sent me another cute little card just to check in and hope I was back to "normal."  She used that wonderful masking tape technique that she just has a wonderful knack, making darling cards, and this one is no exception!  Love the ombre-style pastel blues and aquas, and the little bee with its "Hello, Friend" greeting.  Thank You, Sandy, for your warm and wonderful thoughts sent my way!