Triangle Christmas Trees!

This is a Christmas card design by Luci Kirschbaum from a Stampin' Up card class I attended at the end of September. I brought it home to think about what it needed, if anything, before I felt it was finished.  It has been sitting in my unfinished Christmas cards for well over a month!  It was time revisit it and make up my mind what I wanted to do. . .leave it as is or add something more.

 

The design is geometric, not normally my style especially in a Christmas card, but somehow I found this card very appealing.  I decided I liked it, but maybe it needed a little sparkle and be a bit larger to fit the card size I generally prefer.   I added some rhinestone tree toppers for sparkle and a new Always Artichoke card base, enlarging its size to 4-3/4 x 6-inches.  I do like the sparkle, extra color, and layering that I added to tweak just a little.  See my finished card below:

Ingredients: SU Cardstock--Evening Evergreen, Basic Gray, Always Artichoke. SU 2021 July-Dec Mini: Peaceful Place Specialty DSP & Sweet Little Stockings stamps. SU Dies--Stitched Triangles. SU Ink--Evening Evergreen. SU Embossing Folder--Evergreen Forest 3D. SU Basic Rhinestones. Colorbox Charcoal ink distressing (trees). Chatterbox computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

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

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

CARD STORY & CONSTRUCTION NOTES

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

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

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

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

It's A Shaving Cream Birthday!

Another October birthday, and I'm running late (but what is new with me)!  This crafting friend's birthday happens to fall on my anniversary as well.  My hope is to finished and at least to take it with me to our early November crafting retreat, which I was able to do, but I was late posting it here (and even later posting it to my Splitcoaststampers gallery)!

I found a shaving cream technique YouTube by Darla Watson...Scrap Happens with Darla!  She is my Mom's Stampin' Up demonstrator and mentor and I've had the pleasure of crafting with her and her group when visiting Mom, though that has not happened now in several years because of Covid!   I love Darla's color combination and card design, so I thought I'd follow along with the video and make my own changes to make the final card more me.  

For my shaving cream BG, I chose to use watercolor paper (video showed regular cardstock).  I adjusted the layout and placement of the elements.  I raising my horizontal strip and lowered my circle of flowers so it sat more right centered than almost above the horizontal strip.  I added several more background layers...Gold Foil and an additional Lovely Lipstick.  

Additional additions are, ink-distressed edging, a Gold Foil Starburst BG layer beneath the Stitched Circle flowers, gold metallic Gilded Gems for flower centers, and a Gold Foil strip to the top edge of the horizontal decorative heart border.  I chose to use 4 strands of Linen Twine and center my 4-strand bow in the left negative space rather than right next to the flower circle.  I love my shaving cream background, and really like my changed layout, layering, and bling additions.  I think my crafting friend will like it as well...take a peak below at the finished results:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up: Cardstock--Lovely Lipstick, Very Vanilla. Other Paper--Watercolor, Gold Foil. Stamps--Parcels & Petals. Dies--Delicate Lace; Stitched Shapes-circles; Starburst Framelits. Inks--Mango Melody, Flirty Flamingo, Lovely Lipstick, Mossy Meadow. Linen Thread. Gold Metallic Gems. Other: Colorbox Chestnut Roan (ink edge distressing). Technique: Shaving Cream BG--2 drops ea. ink (no Mossy Meadow). Chatterbox inside computer verse. Size: 4-3/4 x 6-inches.

October Birthday with Paper Pumpkin--March 2021--Here's to You Alternative #2!

 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Products-- Cardstock/ Papers: Old Olive, Pretty Peacock, Basic White, Paper Pumpkin March 2021 - Here's to You--envelope inserts used as dsp. Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays. Ink: Pretty Peacock, Early Espresso. Other-- Punch: EK Medium Victorian Corners. Chatterbox verse (computer). Technique: Front Flap Fold. Size: 4-3/4x6-1/4-inches.

THE CONSTRUCTION STORY

This will be my second alternative card for the Paper Pumpkin March 2021 kit, Here's To You.  You might remember that alternative cards are my goal and personal challenge when making up my Paper Pumpkin kits.

Once again, I fussy-cut, layered, and sponged to get more depth, color, shadowing, texture and definition from the flat scenic papers provided in the kit.  I used the sunset scene again and coordinating cardstock colors in greens, blues, and blue-green to give my card a more masculine look.  This card will be for my son-in-law's October birthday.  Instructions for building your card follow.

1. I planned a Front Side Overlay Flap Fold (aka Front Flap Fold) design with a square flap and three layers, using the mountain sunrise scene from the kit. (Note: Use the finished card picture as your guide throughout the construction process).

2. Here are the cutting dimensions for my card paper, which is for a 4-3/4 x 6-inches finished size:

--Cardbase = Old Olive = 9-1/2" x 4-3/4".  Score at 3-1/2" to form the Front Fold, which leaves a 6" Inside base.

--Inside Middle Layer/ Middle Fold Layer = Pretty Peacock:.  Inside Middle:  Cut to 5-3/4" x 4-1/2".  Front Middle Fold: Cut to 3-1/4" x 4-1/2".

--DSP Layers--Inside /  DSP Front Top Fold:  DSP Inside: Cut to 5-1/2" x 4-1/4".  DSP Front Top Fold: Cut to 3" x 4-14".

--Overlay Flap Square Layers:  Bottom Overlay Flap = Old Olive: Cut to 3-1/2" x 3-1/2".

--Middle Overlay Flap (layer) = Pretty Peacock: : 3-1/4" x 3-1/4" square. 

 

--Top Overlay Flap (mountain-sunrise scene in this card):  Cut two to a 3" x 3" square, removing all the the Petal Pink cardstock framing from arount the scene.

3.  From one mountain-sunrise scene, fussy-cut the sun and its background to remove the lower half of the scene at the mountains.  With Pretty Peakcock ink, ink-distress and sponge lightly along the top edges of the mountains.  This gives the mountains more color, shadowing, and depth.  Set aside.

4. From the second mountain-sunrise scene that is still untouched, carefully fussy-cut off the Old Olive trees from the bottom of the scene.  Working with the Old Olive fussy-cut treets, ink-distress the edges and sponge the surfaces with Old Olive ink.  Set the remaining scene, from which you removed these trees, and the fussy-cut trees.

5. Glue the fussy-cut mountains, created in #3 above, onto the mountain-sunrise scene, created in #4 above, so the top mountains are slightly lower than the bottom layer of mountains. This will give the mountains more texture and definition.  When the gluing is complete, you will have one mountain-sunrise scene unit.

6. Glue the Old Olive fussy-cut trees, created and sponged in #4 above, to the scene completed in #5 above.  (Note: This completed unit will be used for form the 3-1/2" square Front Overlay Flap.)

7. From the kit, sponged one set of die-cut evergreen trees and their land base with Pretty Peacock ink to add texture and depth.  Glue them, starting at the left side, across the bottom of the scene.  They will overlay part of the Olive Green trees (see card picture).  Finally, with Early Espresso ink, stamp a set birds flying near the mountains.

Just an FYI, here is the kit design version using this sunrise-mountain scene:

A Lovable Birthday Zebra for Evie!

Ingredients:  Stampin'Up: Cardstock--Lucky Limeaide, Pacific Point Blue, So Saffron; Patterned Papers--2013-14 Subtles Dsp Stack-Pool Party, 2016-17 Subtles Dsp Stack-Wild Wasabi, 2012-13 Subtles Dsp Stack-Certainly Celery; Ribbon--Gold Metallic Cord; Gems--Gold Metallic.  Other--Dies:

Marianne Collectables--Zebra-Donkey; Cottage Cutz Sun & Clouds; My Favorite Things--Frightful Fence; Lawn Fawn Party Balloons; IO Dies--Small Grass die, Insect Set (butterflies); Lawn Fawn--Grassy Hillside; Memory Box--Varsity Numbers; Poppystamp--Happy Birthday Banner Flags (Letters); Glitter--Impress Sparkle;  Wink of Stella/ Clear. Chatterbox verse--computer. Size: 4-3/4 x 6-inches.

CARD STORY & CONSTRUCTION NOTES

My youngest granddaughter will be turning two in mid-November, and I wanted to get her card finished early so I would be absolutely sure to have it on time!  Her birthday party theme this year will be butterflies.  

I had been fiddling around with my Marianne cute little zebra die many months ago when I was making last year's granddaughter birthday cards.  At that time, I die-cut the parts for several  zebras and though this little zebra girl turned out just as cute as I thought she would, I decided to go for 3D ballerina girls instead!  I got side-tracked and never quite decided what I was going to do with the little zebra, so she's been lurking around my craft for all this long while!  

I recently came upon a challenge that basically said to use up those items in your stash (or laying around) that were finished or partially finished or just throw them out.  I spotted the little zebra, and I knew I did not want to throw her out; therefore I was motivated to find her a home! 

 

Though a zebra did not exactly fit the butterfly theme, I thought I'd be able to fix that if I incorporated some butterflies flitting around a zebra card scene.  I even recycled a rainbow foil birthday party hat that this same birthday granddaughter had previously worn at a party.  Though it was torn a little, I'd been saving it as the perfect recycle paper to somehow use on a card for her.  The balloons and flitting butterflies I planned were the perfect thing!  Take a look at Evie's finished card below.  I'm pretty pleased with the results and think she will LOVE it!

Sweet Belated Birthday Wishes!

Several of my crafting friends have birthdays in October, and I needed to get to my crafting table.  With so many cards to do, time was of the essence, I decided to CASE one of my own cards that I ran across recently while browsing my own blog.  I found my gumdrop card from 2018 that made me smile then and again when I revisited it now after three years!

Even though I got my friend's card started early enough, I did not quite get the sentiment attached and the inside finished so still missed her birthday.  I was unhappy that I couldn't get her card done in time, but unfortunately, my youngest granddaughter decided to pass me her nasty cold and flu on to me after one day of taking care of her.  I was down and out for over 10 days!  I even got a Covid test to be sure I wasn't even sicker than I thought, but fortunately, that was negative!  

When I was better, I was up against organizing and packing things I needed for a crafting event with nine of my super-close crafting friends.  We have all been looking forward to this fun time after a two-year hiatus due to Covid!  We have waited until we were all vaccinated and able to make reservations and be able meet King/ Snohomish County Covid restrictions/ requirements!  I really wanted to get the gumdrop card finished so I could at least take it with me as a belated offering!

When finally finished, I was super pleased with it even though it was the second time around.  It is such a cute, super happy card... so colorful and festive!  Here is a look at the repeat rendition of this card that I hope my friend will enjoy as much as I did when I spot it in my picture gallery once again and while making it a second time around!

Ingredients: Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock-Crushed Curry, Lemon-Lime Twist, Real Red, Tangerine Tango, Whisper White; 2011-2012 DSP Stack (Bashful Blue Dots).  Stamps: Goody Goody Gumdrops.  Spellbinders Dies: Venise Lace Rectangles; Octagon Classic Nestabilities; Octagon Scallop Nestabilities.  Copic Markers.  Stash: Gold Iridescent Glitter; Gold Rhinestones; 3/8" Offray Plaid Stitched ribbon; Horizon Friendship Thread (Harlequin).  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse.  Size: 6" x 4-3/4". 

An Abstract Whimsy Christmas!

Here is a Christmas card for those who like a bold, abstract geometric flair with lots of bright and vibrant colors!  I like the design style, but usually not for Christmas cards, especially in such a non-traditional color combination!  (But, it actually grew on me as I worked with it!)

Ingredients:  All Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Polished Pink, Mossy Meadow. DSP--Whimsy Wonder Specialty. Vellum--2021-23 In-Color Shimmer Vellum.  Dies--Layering Circles, Whimsical Trees, Christmas Trees. Ink--Polished Pink.  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Chatterbox computer verse (inside).  Size 4-3/4 x 6-inches.

 CONSTRUCTION NOTES WITH A STORY!

This is the first of four cards to be completed from a Christmas card class I attended this month.  Its original design was by one of our hostesses, Luci Kirschbaum.   Abstract Christmas cards are really out of my comfort zone, so it took time working with it before I began to appreciate its bold, totally non-traditional colors and abstract geometric design!  I loved the elements and dies Luci used in her composition, and I really like the changes that I made.

I started by switching the striped paper from a left vertical strip to an angled quasi-banner and built my card from there.  It was handy that I brought my mini-paper cutter with me to class!  The positioning of other elements are somewhat the same as Luci's, though I moved my tree a bit to the left and threw on a few more stars.  In addition, I added a new and larger framing card base in Blueberry Bushel.  I really liked this color addition as I was able to achieve my love of a larger card, plus the blue softened the bold colors and brought out the blue in the dsp stripes, which I liked.

October Birthday with Paper Pumpkin--March 2021--Here's to You Alternative #1!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Products--  Cardstock/ Papers: Old Olive, Pretty Peacock, Basic White, Copper Foil, Paper Pumpkin March 2021 - Here's to You--envelope inserts used as dsp.  Stamps: Itty Bitty Birthdays.  Dies:  Layering Circles Framelits (circles/ scallops).  Ink: Pretty Peacock, Early Espresso.   Embossing Folder: Coastal Weave 3D.   Other--  Trim: Maya Arts Hemp Twine.  Punch: EK Medium Scallop Corners.  Chatterbox verse (computer).  Size: 4-3/4x6-1/4-inches.

THE CARD STORY WITH CONSTRUCTION NOTES!

I have many October birthdays and time has marched along at quite a steady pace, so I must get started before I'm late!  My plan is to make a series of Alternative Paper Pumpkin cards, based on the March 2021 kit, Here's To You.  Early on when I subscribed to Paper Pumpkin, my purpose and focus was to get myself back into my craft room by challenging myself to make alternative designs rather than those provided in the kit instructions. 

Though I was not enamored with this kit when it first came, it grew on me as ideas began to percolate.  I was gifted refill kit, which would help with those ideas.  I've fussy-cutting parts of kits in the past to add layering and depth and I've loved the look it gave.  I realized that with kits, what was missing for me was that depth which many kits to not give because flat pictures that are many times part of kit designs.  

I decided that this particular kit's mountain-sunrise scene could make a nice masculine card, but without the Petal Pink edging!  Ugh!  As I wrestled with design thoughts, I pulled cardstocks of the prescribed companion colors.  I really loved the greens, blues, and blue-greens with both scenes provided in the kit.  I also found Copper foil looked absolute marvelous with these color combinations and the kit elements.  I would definitely include them all!  Here is what I did:

1.  Use two mountain-sunrise scenes to accomplish the layering I used.  On both mountain-sunrise scenes, I chopped off the Petal Pink cardstock surrounding the scenes in order to work with just the scenes alone.

2.  On one scene, I fussy-cut and removed the sunrise from the mountains, preserving the mountains and below as the top layer of scene.  I ink distressed and sponged these mountains lightly with Pretty Peacock near the top and edges only.  This brought more color, shadowing, and depth, plus when I used to offset layering for the mountains, it would give the whole scene more texture, depth, and definition.  We'll call these "#2 mountains" when referring to them below.

3.  With the second trimmed mountain-sunrise scene, stamped a set of birds from the kit stamp set with Early Espresso ink.  Let dry!!  Using a sponging brush, add a little color to the edge of the mountains with the Pretty Peacock ink.  (This can be difficult on a flat surface.)  Let dry!! 

4.  Now, it is time to glue your "#2 mountains" onto this new scene by positioning the "#2 mountains" about 1/16" below the ones on the newly sponged scene.  Whoa is me, and then I made a mistake!  When trying to glue the mountain layering, I accidentally ink-smudged the sun!  I had to use a new bottom scene, and once again, position my mountain layering.  Be sure to let all inks dry before working with the piece.

5.  Die-cut the double layer scene, created in #4 above, with a 2-7/8" circle die making sure to position the die so the sunrise and rays are preserved at the top.  Remember it is thicker than one piece of cardstock so you may have to work with your die-cutting sandwich if you cannot just use your regular 2 cutting plates.

6.  Take one of the evergreen tree die-cuts provided in the kit and fussy-cut off the three trees removing them from their land base.  Sponge Pretty Peacock ink onto the tree edges and surfaces (again for texture and depth).  Let the ink dry.

7.  Glue the trees to the left of the sunrise circle and trimmed their bottoms to fit the circle curve.  With Early Espresso ink, stamp a set birds flying near the mountains using the kit's stamp set. 

8.   Die-cut a 3-1/16" scalloped circle from copper foil to use as a border layer underneath.  Attached the copper scalloped circle underneath.  I was stoked with the results!  I really loved the look the foil gave!

9.  For your cardstock layers, cut an Old Olive card base, plus Pretty Peacock and Copper Foil pieces for added background layers.  My card base is 4-3/4 x 6-inches.  The other two layers are cut according to the amount of edge you want to shown between each layer.

10. For your patterned paper (dsp) card front layer, my card uses the kit's multi-colored rectangles envelope inserts.  

11. Next, cut a 1-1/4-inch wide Pretty Peacock band (length will be determined by your card front horizontal width).  Emboss with the Coastal Weave 3D embossing folder.  Adhere it to the card front dsp (see card picture for positioning). 

12. String three strands of hemp twine across Coastal Weave approximately 1/4-inch apart (see card picture for positioning).  Tie in the middle with a piece of twine to create the criss-cross configuration and then add more tied twine to make a thick knot for visual appeal. 

13.  Adhere all your layers on top of each other in this order:  layer 1 = Old Olive card base; layer 2 = Pretty Peacock; layer 3 = Copper foil; layer 4 = Dsp card front.

14.  With Pretty Peacock ink, stamp sentiment; let dry!  Add to a Pretty Peacock under layer. 

15. Finish the card by positioning and popping up the mountain-sunrise circle and the layered sentiment.  

 

I was super enthusiastic about my son's finished card made from a kit that I was originally super unenthusiastic about when I first received it in the mail!!  My son was super pleased with his card, but I wasn't super pleased that it ended up a little late!

Just an FYI, below is the kit's design version, using what I call the sunrise-mountain scene:

Something to Brighten Your Day!

I missed my Mom's birthday...shame on me!  I decided to send a little “I love you” card,  day brighter, belated birthday card, thinking of you card, and thank you card all rolled into one!  I also enclosed a little shopping money, hoping she might visit her favorite boutique and pick up a few pieces of jewelry, (she loves to add to her stash), or even some cardmaking supplies from Stampin' Up.  My Mom is a 96-year old youngster and still going strong.  She has always been able to shop the socks off of me that is for sure.

I made her card from the last pieces I had left from the June 2020 Paper Pumpkin kit.  This was the first kit I purchased, and I loved its bright and cheerful papers and sentiments.   Of course, I can never make the cards as they are suggested in the kit, and this one is no exceptions, though since it was my first kit, I did not make any extravagant additions.

Here is what I did to add more color and pizazz to my card.  I enlarged my card to 4-3/4 x 6-inches by adding a new black card base and Poppy Parade color layer underneath the simulated alcohol-ink background paper provided.  I added some ink-distressing to the paper edges and sequins to add sparkle.  I finished off an inside design and verse to suit the occasion.  I was happy with the additions as it really made my cards POP!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  June 2020 PP Box of Sunshine--AI-style dsp, black & white dot dsp, sentiment stamp/ die-cut shape, and lemon die-cuts.  Cardstock--Basic Black, Poppy Parade, Whisper White, and Gold Foil.  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; ColorBox Chestnut Roan pigment ink (edge distressing).  SU: Artistry in Bloom Sequins.  EK Corner Punch--Victorian Medium.  Chatterbox Computer verse.  Size:  4-3/4" x 6-1/4". 

Warm Up with Christmas Mittens!

I needed more Christmas cards for my stash.  I decided to check out my Christmas scraps to see if there were any pieces that I could use for another card.  I found the sentiment stamped vanilla strip, the stamped/die-cut mittens, and the scalloped cherry cobbler circle.  I had written Gumball Green on the back of the mitten die-cuts, so I would know what color of ink they were stamped with, which helped me locate an old 2012 Christmas dsp that I thought would look great with my pieces.  This gave me some building blocks for card design ideas.  

Next, I visited my list of old Challenge Catch-ups for inspiration on just what I might need to do to meet some challenges and lots of ideas began to percolate!  Take a look at my finished card...I was happy with the finished design and salvaging and cleaning out some old scraps that either needed to be used or tossed!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Very Vanilla, Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, and Silver Foil.  Patterned dsp--Be of Good Cheer.  Stamp--Make A Mitten... Punch--Mitten Builder, 2-3/8" Scallop. Embossing Folder--Snowburst (scallop-punched border). Rhinestones. 

A Sea Life Birthday to You!

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

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

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

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

Non-Traditional Christmas Dove!

More Christmas cards to do!!  This card's original design idea came from my Stampin' Up hostess duo's 2020 Covid Christmas Card Make-It @ Home Kits, by Dar Peterson.  It was time to get the last card finished and posted.  I tweaked the card to fit the ideas circulating in my head: enlarged the card, tweaked the dove placement, added more gems, more silver foil, and changed-up color layers...  explanations below:

I scrapped the white cardbase, changing to the dove's Roccoco Rose and enlarging the card to 4-3/4" x 6", which I prefer.  I enlarged my border layers to 1/4" on the bottom two color layers.  I added a silver foil sentiment backing to coordinate with the silver olive branch in the dove's beak.  I added three vertical rhinestones to the upper left corner, coordinating with those in the sentiment.

As I "tweaked and built" this card, its color scheme grew on me.  At first, I wasn't sure I even like it, though I loved the card design.  Now, several months later, I actually really liked it!  Thanks Dar for the original card design and always encouraging us to change-up, tweak, and "build" our cards to fit our own creativity!  See my finished card below: 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Roccoco Rose, Gray Granite, Whisper White.  Ink--Gray Granite.  Patterned Paper--In Good Taste dsp.  Stamps/ Dies--Dove of Hope (sentiment)/ Detailed Dove, Wreath Builder, Ornate Frames (sentiment shape).  Basic Rhinestones.  Recycle: Silver Foil (from package backing).

A Glitzy Joy to the World!

"Christmas in July" is a common cardmaking theme during the month of July.  If we haven't already started our Christmas stash by July, many of us feel July is a "must do" month to start making Christmas cards in order to have enough finished without frenzy setting in later in the fall because time has run away from us and we'll never get it all done!  Since I saw numerous challenges involving Christmas cards throughout July, I became curious what inspired the theme "Christmas in July."  Lo and behold, there really are people who celebrate Christmas in July and there really is a tradition!

It turns out the very first Christmas in July was celebrated 88 years ago at an all-girls' summer camp at Keystone Camp in Brevard, North Carolina.  This first July Christmas happened in the summer of 1933 and was celebrated with carolers, a Christmas tree, fake cotton snow, a gift exchange, and even a surprise visit from Santa Claus!  As "Christmas in July" took place each year thereafter, a movie was  actually made in 1940 with that title.  Throughout the years, the tradition is becoming more and more popular each year in various places throughout the world, and a strong tradition is firmly in place. 

Australia has a British and European heritage, so there is a strong attachment to celebrating Christmas in cold weather.  "Christmas in July" is known as Yulefest or Yuletide in Australia, and it is celebrated on July 25th.  It is also celebrated in the UK, New Zealand, South Africa, and even parts of the U.S.   I even noticed some sales in my area this year in July entitled "Christmas in July!"  Heaven help us...another reason for a sale...another reason to shop!

I wanted to make a "Christmas in July" card, and I had an idea for it.  I decided to use a design from an October 2020 card by Luci Kirschbaum, which was included in a Covid Christmas Card kit that she and her Stampin' Up partner, Dar Peterson, made available to purchase by their Stampin' Up friends.  As many of you know, my "edit mode" switches on whenever I'm completing a card from someone else's design, and this card was no exception as lots of ideas percolated in my brain as I made her original kit card.

I wanted to kick in my "Challenge Catch-up" cardmaking as well, so I research old and new challenges at Splitcoaststampers that I had not participate in and came up with a number of changes I could make to fit the challenges, plus add my own percolated thoughts for changes/ additions to Luci's design.  Thus, I've adapted and jazzed up Luci's original design and posted my changes below. 

For more color, I added two card layers below Luci's red cardbase in Garden Green and Copper foil.  I made my red panel edges smaller than those on the original card.  I added a white designer punched border to the left of the patterned paper panel and a horizontal ribbon band.  I dropped my cascading snowflakes down about 1/2-inch, starting below the ribbon band.  I also added a copper and white layered fishtail panel with a snowflake embellishment for my sentiment.  I was really please with the details added, which made the card more interesting, colorful, and eye-appealing in my humble opinion.  Take a peek below:

Ingredients:  Stampin Up products: Cardstock--Garden Green, Real Red, Whisper White, Copper Foil.  Patterned paper--Brightly Gleaming Specialty dsp. Stamps--Itty Bitty Christmas. Dies--Christmas Layers. Ink--Mossy Meadow. Punch--Pinking Hearts Border (ret.). Ribbon--3/8" Red Double-Stitched Satin.  Other: Recollection Bitty Snowflake punch.

A Little Happy Birthday to Sister-in-Law #3

 This is my Sister-in-Law #3 birthday card needed in early July. This was a series of alternative card designs I made from the SU 2019 Made to Bloom card kit.  For this card, I used patterned paper, floral pieces, ink, and the sentiment stamp from the kit.  

I added a Poppy Parade cardbase and a gold foil layer.  I also die-cut a gold foil frame from two different die sets and combined them for a new look.  One is a stitched inverted scallop framing die and the other a stitched oval that I encased around the stitched-scalloped frame, making it double stitched.  I love stretching my materials to make something new!  I also fussy cut the two oval floral wreaths removing the two smaller bouquets to place around my gold framing.  I added some Acrylic Glitter Glaze to the floral centers for some added sparkle, plus some scattered gold gem dots.  I'm pretty pleased with the results.

Next, I worked on the inside, making up a computer verse and printing it in a purple shade to match the Blackberry Bliss ink on the front sentiment.  I added a matching patterned paper used on the front, the verse, and some gold foil punched corners with little floral rhinestones.  Take a peek below at the finished inside and out:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks--Whisper White, Poppy Parade. Made in Bloom kit (2019)--pattern paper, floral pieces sentiment stamp.  Ink--Blackberry Bliss. Gilded Gems--gold.  Other: Recollections Gold Foil. MFT dies--Stitched Oval Scalloped Frame, Stitched Ovals. Sargent Art Acrylic Glitter Glaze.  Inside: EK--Victorian Corner punch. Busy Kids Camp--Floral Rhinestones. Chatterbox computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6-inches.

Magical Birthday Wishes!

My oldest daughter's birthday is at the end of June, but we delayed her family birthday celebration until mid-July as my husband (her father) had knee replacement on her birthday, and a week later, he ended up returning to the hospital for another week with gastric complications.  By mid-July, we were ready to host a barbecue to celebrate Michele and her Dad's continued recovery.  Needless to say, I needed to finish her birthday card!

I have written several times about our little unicorn, Michele's 20-month old, little daughter, so dubbed during her stay in the NICU after her birth.  Because her veins were so small, her care team inserted her intravenous application into a vein in her head, which stuck up almost straight up, giving her the look of a unicorn with its cute little horn.  My inspiration for Michele's card came from this scenario.  I have acquired a multitude of stamps and dies with a unicorn theme because of this story that became part of our lives, and I thought it time the mother of our unicorn received her very own  unicorn card!  Take a look at Michele's finished card both inside and out!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  apers--Bermuda Bay cs, White Glimmer, Vellum. Stamps (2019-21)--Leave a Little Sparkle, New Wonders. Dies--Stitched Shapes--sm. circle. Embossing Powder--White. Ink--Smokey Slate. Ribbon--1/4" Snowflake Splendor (2020 Holiday). Wink of Stella-Clear. Glitter--Iridescent (ret.)  Other: Paper--Recollections 12x12--Mom's Diner/ Salt. Copic Markers. EK punch--Victorian Corners. Chatterbox Computer Verse. Size: 4-3/4 x 6-inches.