My "Old" Boss Celebrates His May Birthday!

My last boss before retirement, and principal of the elementary school where I worked as the office manager, is having his birthday in May.  I wanted to make him a card to send my birthday wishes and to let him see what I've been doing with myself since I retired.  Cardmaking is a hobby I started a few years after retirement with the encouragement of my sister and mentor, Heidi Gonzales (mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com).  It has been a lot of fun, creating new and wonderful friendship, and something that I really enjoy doing as well.  It is so much fun to share my creations with family and friends.

You will note that this card sports a mustache, and, of course, you guessed it right, he has a mustache so I just had to make a card using my brand new Bow & Mustache EK punch.  This is actually the second card I have made with a mustache...such a cute idea.  My first card was for my brother-in-law's birthday and is posted back in January.  It was done using the Stampin' Up Bird Builder punch...a different look, but works well too.  But, I love this new quick and easy punch with the curly mustache ends.  I hope my friend and ex-boss likes his card as well as I enjoyed creating it for him.

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

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers:  Basic Black cs (base/ mat layer), Soft Suede (mat layer), Naturals cs, Neutrals dsp stack, Modern Medley dsp.  Creative Imaginations: Paint It w/Luminarte (brown word mat layer).  SU stamp: See Ya Later (modified).  EK punches: Bow & Mustache, Fancy Corners (inside). Inks: Memento Black, SU Soft Suede (distressing).  SU Chevron ribbon, pearls. 

Drum Roll Please. . . A 99th Birthday This Month!!!

My Great Aunt will be 99 years-old this month, and you would never believe it to see her.  In my youth, I remember her as the best dressed person around and an amazing cook as well!  She was quite the seamstress and made beautiful garments for herself with stylish dresses that made her look like she had always stepped out of the pages of a Vogue magazine.  For sure, she looked like she belonged in New York City not in rural California!  Current day is almost the same, although she does occasionally wear slacks with an elegant top or blouse.  

For my aunt, I borrowed a card design by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, My Lil' Scrap Corner, and made this little card displaying a vintage button card with a seamstress slant that I thought my aunt might enjoy.  I tweaked the design just a bit by adding a blue cardbase and using the original white cardbase as a mat layer.  I also hand-embroidered the pink crosses rather than use a sticker picture and slanted my button card just a bit more than the original, but other than that the design replicates the original.  Thanks, Heidi, for the design idea...I love it!

 Recipe:  SU Baja Breeze card stock base.  Papertrey Ink Button Boutique stamp set.  4" Wilton Doily.  SU Jewelry Tag punch. WRMK Corner Deco Chomper.

Long-time Friend's Birthday

One of the ladies that has been a friend for many years and part of my ladies' dinner group is having a birthday this month.  She has a great sense of humor and a wonderful smile and a twinkle in her eye.  I re-created a card from one of my sister's designs (Heidi Gonzales - My Lil' Scrap corner), that made me think of Ilene the entire time I was making it and decided right then and there that I would save it for her birthday this year.  I love the Authentique Renew papers that it is made with and the garden Papertrey Ink stamps/ die set.  This card's design prompted me to puchase the set to use for several of my friends and relatives who have green thumbs.  I hope Ilene like her card, made with her in mind.

Recipe:  SU cardstock: Very Vanilla (base), Authentique-Renew: Blossom (floral)/ Energize (check)/ Transform (small dot)/ Foundation One (blue die layer).  SU Pansy punch.  Spellbinders die: Bitty Blossom (small).  Papertrey dies/stamps: Garden Variety; Mat Stack 4 die.  SU pearls. Stash: blue trim; doily; netting.

A May Anniversary!

My brother and his wife celebrate their anniversary during the month of May.  I went to a cardmaking event hosted by my friend, Liz Thayer, where several cards she had designed were available for us to make with papers and embellishments provided.  When I go to these fun-filled events, my cardmaking mojo is always working, so many times I have to tweak the offerings and make them more my own.  That is how this card evolved, which I have chosen to use for my brother's anniversary card.

I added a Naturals Ivory cardbase and an Early Espresso mat layer.  I also chose to use the embossed Calypso Coral layer as a mat as well, dropping the Crumb Cake torn-paper half-layer down so the Calypso Coral peaked out around the top and sides.  I also added a Scalloped Early Espresso Oval die-cut as an under mat to the "sweet, sweet moments" Crumb Cake sentiment oval.  I elected to place my petite coral flower on top my ribbon knot instead of off-setting as the original design suggested.  Though I really liked the original card design and my card retains the original design flavor, I was even more pleased with it after my added changes.  All the while I was making this card, I thought it could make a great anniversary card with the right inside verse, so I hope my brother and his wife like their card as well.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers:  Natural Ivory cs (cardbase), Early Espresso cs, Calypso Coral cs, Crumb Cake cs.  SU stamp:  Layered Labels, Happy Day.  SU Ink: Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Soft Suede (distressing).  SU Fancy Fan Embossisng Folder.  Spellbinders Petite Scallop Oval dies.  SU 7/8" Scallop punch.  SU 3/8" Neutrals brads.   SU Very Vanilla seam binding ribbon.  EK Scallop Corner punch (inside).

Mother's Day 2014!

I am visiting with my Mom in California, and I planned to stay until after Mother's Day, and so, of course, I wanted to make a special card just for Mom.  It is difficult to sneak in making a card that she doesn't see as she loves to see what I'm working on.  I have to stay up later than she does so that I can work on cards for her without her seeing, or I have to forfeit going to play BINGO with her, claiming I have personal finances that I must get to before the due date.  Little white lies, so that's okay, right?

I was in the mood for a pink card for some reason, and I decided to complete a card kit Liz Thayer presented at one of her Friday Night Card Buffets.  I used all the parts of the card kit and added a new card base and a flowered pattern paper for two more layers, thus my card is now enlarged to 6" x 5," which fits right in with my like of larger cards.  I also added a sheer pink organza ribbon and bow, a clear Vintage Facet button, with a large pearl, and a double-layered butterfly to which I added Dazzling Details adhesive glitter and more pearls.  I love the love sentiment in Stampin' Up's anniversary stamps set Best of Love, and I am so glad I was able to use it on Mom's card.  I'm thinking my additional paper layers, printed paper, and embellishments enhanced Liz's very pretty original design yet now the card takes on the flavor of my style as well.  I also think Mom will like her pretty little pink card.

I must apologize for the picture ahead of time.  Unfortuantely, it is the best I can do with the equipment I have available.  The card is very 3-dimensional with the Vintage Facet button and pearl, and the lighting and focus will not get any better.  I tried re-scanning it many times and changing its scanner position to the point of frustration!  Also, the color is very poor as well.  The distressing on the flower frame is much more subtle than the lighting made it look in the picture...I apologize for the poor quality, but I hope you get the gist of the card.  It is really very soft pink and not at all garish!

Recipe:  Papers: Stampin' Up cardstock--Whisper White, Pink Pirouette; DCWV--Preppy Princess stack (rose pattern).  SU stamps:  Best of Love.  SU Ink: Rose Red.  SU Embossing Folders:  Adorning Accents, Designer Frames Oval.  SU Framelit die: Label Collection. Martha Stewart Butterfly Medium Double punch. SU button: Clear Vintage Facet. Studio 21 pink pearl, cream pearls.  Stash: Pink Organza ribbon.

Sister-in-Law Birthdays Begin for 2014!

If you have been reading my blog for at least a year, you know I have eight sister-in-laws!  Yikes!  The 2014 round of sister-in-law birthdays begins in May with my brother's wife, Diane.  I made this little card using Stampin' Up's All Dressed Up stamp/ die set with her in mind, because we have shopped together a few times searching for just the right outfit for just the right occasion.  Sometimes, as I know you have experienced, you just can't find the right thing no matter how long you look.  As I have been a seamstress all my life, I decided I would make a little dress for Diane, only out of paper rather than cloth.

I got the idea for this card from one I made at another Liz Thayer event, but, of course, I added my own flair and changes to the original idea.  I have seen so many ideas using the Stampin' Up All Dressed Up that I couldn't tell you if I made it up or it was something I saw during the past few years, but I do know the color hue and Sycamore Street paper were used in Liz's original card, but mine has several more paper layers and the sentiment is a Carlene original.  I hope Diane likes her little dressed up birthday card.

Recipe:  SU papers: Crumb Cake cardbase + mat, Pool Party cs, 2011-13 In Color dsp stack, Very Vanilla cs.  SU stamp: Flowering Flourishes.  SU Dressed Up framelits.  SU Apothecary Lg framelits.  SU Argyle embossing folder.  SU punches: Modern Label, Word Window.  SU Ink: Pool Party (flourish).  SU adhesive pearls strip.  SU ribbon: 5/8” Vanilla Flower trim, 1/8” Pool Party taffeta ribbon.  Computer-made sentiment (Font: Fling).

A Niece-in-Law's Birthday

I missed a birthday for one of my niece-in-law's birthdays while getting ready for my California trip, Easter cards, and several birthday's in Washington before I left.  Since it was going to be late without time to prepare the card's verse or finish inside embellishments, I decided to use a card ready from my already-made stash, and do the finishing touches after arriving in California where she lives.  

This card's original design idea was by Liz Thayer, with my own personal modifications.  I enlarged my card, added several background layers, changed the stamped image, added a Spellbinders' Deckled Rectangles die-cut behind the image, and added the green pearls.  I composed the inside verse and added embellishments to coordinate with the front image.  I hope Danielle will enjoy her belated birthday card.

Recipe:  SU Paper: Whisper White cs, Rich Razzleberry cs, Old Olive cs, Sycamore Street dsp (2013 SAB).  SU Products: Patterned Occasions stamps, Rich Razzleberry ink (oval distressing), Delicate Details Lace Tape (halved), Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Designer Frames Embossing Folder (oval), 3/8” Striped Organdy ribbon (Old Olive). Spellbinder dies: Ovals SM, Deckled Rectangles SM.  Queen&Co.: Olive half-pearls.  Inside - EK punches: Daisy Scallop edger, Scallop Photo corners.

Birthday Brother Celebration!

My brother celebrates one of those milestone birthdays this month.  I made a card a few months ago designed by my Stampin" Up friend, Liz Thayer, at one of her Friday Night Card Buffets.  I absolutely love the stamp set we used: Timeless Talk, and I was glad that I had already added it to my stamp collection.  I had to use it again for my brother's card to remind him that with this birthday, he is timeless, so I borrowed the telephone-stamped tag design by Liz to add to my brother's card.  Thanks Liz!

I decided to use my new Hardwood stamp, but wanted it bigger so fiddled with stamping and found I could line up the already stamped image again with the stamp edge and re-stamp beside it.  You couldn't even tell where the two met....I was stoked!  The paper I used is a retired paper from Stampin' Up called Mocha Morning, which has a slight gold shimmer in some of the stripes, though it doesn't show up much in the picture of the card.  I decided to try the Gold Metallic Encore ink pad (sold in this year's Stampin' Up Holiday catalog) to stamp my woodgrain onto Early Espresso cardstock.  It was very pretty and shimmery when I finished.  I hated to cover it up, but oh well, it was planned as a layer, so covered up it got, except for framing around the striped layers.  Following is my finished card, and I think my brother will like it really well, especially the verse inside, so I will share it as well!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers: Baked Brown Sugar cs (base), Early Espresso cs, Always Artichoke cs, Very Vanilla cs; Mocha Morning Speciality dsp.  Stampin' Up Stamp: Timeless Talk. Inks: Tsukineko Encore--Gold Metallic; Stampin' Up Always Arthichoke.  Stampin' Up Other: Scallop Tag Topper punch, Gold Metallic Baker's Twine, Button.  Recollection: Gold Metallic Star Brad. EK Fancy Corner Punch (inside).

Nephew's Birthday to Celebrate!

One of my little nephew's celebrated his 7th birthday.  I bought the Blast Off! Stampin' Up stamp with him in mind, and I decided I would work on his birthday card at my annual Mom-Sister cardmaking retreat in Mt. Shasta, CA.  My sister, Heidi Gonzales - My Lil' Scrap Corner (blog), came up with a new surprise to occupy us this year. . . five homemade challenges for the three of us to complete while on the retreat.  My idea for Parker's Blast Off! birthday card fit Color Challenge #4 to a tee.  I was stoked.

I used the same chevron Jillibean paper that I used in February on my husband's Groundhog's Day birthday card for this card's paper-pieced rocket ship.  It is a great guy paper and fit the green/blues color palette just right. I added a grass-patterned paper to the card bottom that I sculpted with a cut-grass border die from the Cat's Pajamas to be my rocket ship's liftoff point.  I am pretty pleased with how the card turned out, but I must apologize for the picture shown here.  I do not have my usual tools for getting a jpeg image incorporated on my blog that I do when I'm at home.  The picture is not only a bit blurry but also has too much light on the right side, and it doesn't do justice to the green and blue color combination in the true richness of the paper colors.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstocks: Bermuda Bay (base), Island Indigo (mat layer), Subtles stack: Pool Party (sky), Daffodil Delight (flame).  Jillibean: Macho Nacho Soup - 2 Parts Boy (chevron).  Creating Keepsakes - Grass.  Cat's Pajama's Grass border die.  SU stamp set: Blast Off! SU Ink: Pool Party, Coastal Cabana, Pumpkin Pie.  Ribbons:  SU-Gumball Green Satin Stitching; Stash-Gathered Blue Velvet ribbon.  SU-Googlie eyes.

Birthday for an "Old" Friend!

My daughter, Michele, is back home permanently in Washington, all the way cross-country from West Virginia.  We are excited to have her back!  She has been very busy setting up her home office in her vacant house and getting back to work.  In her spare time, she is researching and finding vendors and products to complete some remodeling and refinishing work to their home to have it ready for the arrival of her husband and their furniture.  Carpets are being completly replaced, hardwood floors are being sanded and refinished, slate and Travertine tiling are replacing bathroom and laundry room linoleum, and the garage floor is having a speckled epoxy applied, and of course, she is busy painting and refreshing rooms as needed.  The house should look brand new when she's done!

So, somehow, this leads me to a card?  Oh yes, one of Michele's long-time friends is celebrated her 40th birthday with dinner and dancing with the pack of girls that have remained friends for over 22 years!  Michele's wardrobe is somewhat limited...only having with her what would fit in two suitcases and focusing more on casual, work, and paint clothes.  Thus, she felt a new top and some jewelry were needed, plus a birthday present, resulting in a much needed shopping trip.  Upon arriving home, she realized that she forgot a birthday card.  Mom to the rescue...and out came the card stash!  Michele chose a card with a "friend" sentiment that I love.

I made this card a few months ago from a card kit designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, of My Lil' Scrap Corner.  I think my sister had me in mind when she designed it, because, lo and behold, it was a larger card right from the start.  (I love it!)  When my eyes landed on her finished card, I just had to make this card.  It is a great choice for Michele's birthday friend.  I found a little verse online about "old" friends that fit the occasion just right!  Following is the completed card and with the inside created by me just in the nick of time!

Recipe:  SU cardstock: Very Vanilla (base), So Saffron, Whisper White; Authentique-Renew: Spring (both sides).  SU punch: Elegant Butterfly.  SU Pansy punch.  Spellbinders die: Bitty Blossom (small).  Hug Snug seam binding: Mimosa.  SU pearls.  Stash lace.  Inside: EK punch: Fancy Corners.  WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.

Birthday for a Cardmaking Buddy!

One of the ladies that I love to go cardmaking with is having her birthday in April.  She is so much fun to work and visit with during our escapes into the paper world; therefore, I want to be sure to honor her on her special day.  I chose a card to make from a card kit designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales: My Lil' Scrap Corner, which is very bright and cheerful just like my friend, Sandy.  

I wanted to make my card a larger size than the original A2 size, so I added another mat layer of Pool Party between the card base and the top design layer.  I also decided on a double bow instead of a fishtail ribbon knot.  I made the following additional changes:  added the paper flower cutouts to all three flower layers; I dropped the two-layer die cuts down, exposing a bit more of the die shape; and I dropped the bottom layer of the die down even more so more of the patterned paper shows.  I absolute love this WRMK Feelin' Groovy paper with the colors so cheerful and complimenting one another perfectly!  I hope Sandy likes her birthday card. 

Recipe:  Stamps – PTI Flower Fusion #1 (sentment), PTI Flower Fusion #5 (flower heads/ not visible), PTI Flower Fusion #6 (plaid flower stems). SU Ink: Gumball green, Basic Black. Colorbox Chestnut Roan (edge distressing). Papers – SU cardstock: Whisper White, Pool Party. WRMK-Feelin’ Groovy: Journal (yellow stripe/ corner flowers used), Chevron (back quatrefoil). PTI die: Mega Mat Stack 4. Hug Snug Gabardine Green seam binding ribbon. MayArts hemp twine. Flower buttons. 

Easter Bunny Ready to Travel!

Late last night, I finally finished my last Easter card.  I have been on a roll using my newly invented stash of vintage Easter images that you have heard me talking about off and one for the last three weeks.  I needed another masculine Easter card and selected this cute little bunny with spectacles, who looks like he's ready to make a journey.  My guess is he is making his annual journey to color Easter eggs, and I surmise that the big egg in his basket backpack is his egg-coloring kit.  How's that for some imagination!

I found a wonderful stripe in my paper stash by Fancy Pants that matches my bunny image colors just right.  I decided all stripe was just too much, and since I seem to be using combinations of geometric paper patterns in the background of most of my Easter card so far, I might as well stick to my groove, right?  I framed this little rabbit by re-enforcing the thickness of one of the background papers, cut it out with the Spellbinders Deckled Rectangles, which had to be modified so all edges would be the same thickness, sprayed it with adhesive glue, and added a thin coat of fine crystal glitter.  I was satisfied with my results, but wished I had taken time to sewing machine a straight stitch on the striped segments and entirely around the outer edge of as well, but time was limited, so here is my finished card, which will be for my husband:

Recipe:  Papers:  Stampin' Up Very Vanilla cs (base); Fancy Pants Beach Bum-Hawaiian Stripes; AdornIt Vintage Groove-Polka Dot Green; Recollections Basics-Blue Pinstripe.  Spellbinders dies: Deckled Rectangles LG, Rectangles LG.  Vintage online Easter image.  HugSnug seam binding: Blue Jay, Moss Green.  Queen&Co.: Twinkle Goosebumps.

My husbad's striped Easter card fits the Shabby Tea Room's Week #214 Challenge, which requires the use of polka dots or stripes, so I thought I put it into the challenge as my second entry.  The challenge's inspiration photo tells you your card should be Easter-oriented as well.

Don't forget to visit The Shabby Tea Room at the link below to take a look-see at all the wonderful entries:

http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/2014/04/week-214-easter-sweetness.html

Vintage Girl and Her Easter Bunnies!

I found this cute little vintage digital postcard image online today and thought what a cute Easter card it would make.  I had to work with it a bit in PaintShop Pro because it was pretty narrow and I knew I would want to frame it with either a circle or a square frame.  I added an extra border around the image to widen it and cloned and smudged in the background color shadings all around the picture, so that when I printed the image, it wouldn't jumped from a nice shaded background to the white of the cardstock showing in the picture frame.  It also had some printing at the top and bottom right, which was extremely light and totally not legible in such a small image.  It cluttered up the image, thus I decided to removed it entirely.  Now, it was ready to size and print for my card.

I found some pretty pink and green papers and decided to do an alternating crisscross paper pattern for the background behind my little framed girl and bunnies.  I also decided to try applying a light film of glitter to the picture to add a different flair, using spray adhesive.  I think I like the way it turned out.

Recipe:  Paper: Stampin' Up Whisper White (base); WRMK Cotton Tails 6x6 pad (patterns); Martha Stewart Love Notes Mat pad; Bazzill Irish Eyes (frame). Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Squares, Squares LG.  Vintage Easter digital image (online).  Stampin' Up Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  HugSnug seam binding: Moss Green/ Vivid Pink.  Prima paper flower.  Recollections colored pearls.  Colorbox Chestnut Roan sponge distressing.

Easter Bunny Rays!

I just finished another Easter card using my newly acquired stash of vintage Easter digital images that I have been finding online and sprucing up in PaintShop Pro.  I just love this little "top hat" Easter bunny.  He looks so cheerful as he goes about the business of painting and decorating Easter eggs.  I thought he would make a perfect card for the masculine members of my family, yet he is so whimsical that I think the female members would enjoy him as well.

Finding papers that would go with his colorful clothing meant not using traditional Easter paper that's for sure.  I decided a "coat of many colors" card would be appropriate and that would best be achieved by making a sunburst ray card.  I ended up using some old My Mind's Eye Stella Rose papers I have had around for over three years...their colors were perfect.  I added a few pieces of Stampin' Up papers as well to achieve the mix I was looking for.  Here is the card I ended up with:

Recipe:  Darice Kraft cardstock (base); MME Stella Rose: Gertie, Hazel, Hattie/ So Sophie: Brothers & Sisters; Adornit Vintage Groove: Polka Dot Green (back); Stampin' Up Print Poetry: red flower, green quatrefoil.  Spellbinders die: Big Scallop Ovals SM, Ovals SM.  Vintage online digital image.  Elmer's Adhesive Spray.  Stash: crystal fine glitter.  Stampin' Up Ink: Baja Breez (lightly sponged image background).  HugSnug seam binding: Serbin Brown (olive), Goldenrod (colored w-Copic: YR23).  Stampin' Up button.  Stash:  tan scrapbooking floss.  Faux stitching (fine brown pen).  Inside: EK Scallop Corner punch.

Again this week, I have decided to enter my son's Easter card in The Shabby Tea Room's Week #214 challenge: Easter Sweetness, which requires the use of stripes and/or polka dots.  The inspiration photo and the title of the challenge surely tell you it must be an Easter card:

Be sure to visit The Shabby Tea Room blog to see all the other exciting entries in this challenge.  Click on the link below to be transport to the tea room!

http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/2014/04/week-214-easter-sweetness.html

Eggstra Special Easter Wishes!

As I did last year, I decided I needed to look over my Easter stash to see what was lurking before I started another card.  Last year, I made myself use everything from my stash rather than buy or look for anything new.  I spotted this really cute paper that I know I've had for over three years.  I have loved it for just that long, so I don't know why I hadn't used it before.  This year is certainly the time to do it for sure! I still have many more foam Easter shapes in my stash. . .so why not use them again.  As I learned last year, if you color the purple rabbit with Copic markers, they will actually color, usually darker than the pen color.  I chose a dark brown Copic, which was be perfect for this card.  Here is my final creation:

Recipe: SU Cardstock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue. Pattern: WRMK Hippity Hoppity Easter Tree. Sentiment: Computer-generated. Punches: Martha Stewart Swirling Lace Around the Page Border & 3-in-1 Butterflies. Spellbinders Long Rectangles SM & Long Scalloped Rectangles SM. SU Beautiful Wings Sizzilit die. Extras: SU Bashful Blue 5/8" Satin ribbon, SU 1/8" Taffeta ribbon (bunny bow), Blue/White ribbon (Michael's $1 bin). Recollections 3mm multi-colored rhinestones, rhinestone ovals (butterfly body) & black mini pearl (bunny eye). $1 Store Glitter Eggs & Bunnies (eggs decorated with ribbon and rhinestones). Glue dot minis, Scotch foam tape, Scotch 1/4" tape glider.