Magic & Wonder At Christmas!

This is another card fashioned during my January New Year's resolution binge cardmaking marathon.  I was so happy with the end result that I resolved to go back and make more of this design at a later date.  I just finished a total of four more replicas for my card stash, but I still want to make at least three more!  I did add some Copic-colored sequins for the poinsettia stamin to add even more dimension on several versions. 

My card is a modified CASE of a card originally designed by Dar Peterson, a friend and one-half of my Stampin' Up demonstrator duo, plus side-kick Luci Kirschbaum.  Because of COVID-19, they were not able to host card classes for well over 15 months; therefore, they issued card kits from time to time for their friends and followers to purchase and complete in their homes.  This CASE original was from their Christmas kit issued in late October 2020.  Take a peek at the beautiful results of this truly elegant card and read below for the particulars on the modifications that I made.

One of my favorite Christmas card themes is poinsettia blooms that come in a myriad of colors and usually make elegant cards.  This  card uses the Poinsettia Petals and coordinating die set, which is still available in the 2021-22 Annual catalog.  I was so happy with the end results of my January CASE that I just finished a total of seven replicas for my card stash!  I did add some Copic-colored sequins for more dimension of several versions. 

I modified Dar's design by enlarging my card and changing the sizing on the kit papers to fit.  I added two more color layers to the base layering in So Saffron and Garden Green to bring out the beautiful color shades in the Poinsettia Place dsp paper.  Garden Green became my card's new card base and I built the card's layering from this base instead of white as in the original design.   The original design used the gold oval background layer in the sentiment as in my card, but I added it as a background layer behind the horizontal ribbon band as well.  I added some Acrylic Glitter Glaze to the poinsettia's petals to add sparkle and sheen, but kept the rest of the card similar to the original design.  

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Garden Green, So Saffron, Whisper White. Specialty Papers--Translucent Vellum, Gold Foil. Patterned paper--Poinsettia Place dsp (2020 Holiday).  Stamps--Poinsettia Petals.  Dies--Poinsettia Dies, Layering Ovals, Stitched Shapes.  Ink--Garden Green.  Ribbon--3/8" Metallic Gold Edged--Vanilla.  Other:  Copic-colored sequins, EK Victorian Corner punch, Acrylic Glitter Glaze (Sargent Art), Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

It's a Minnie for Birthday #2

I am catching up on some missed birthday cards during my hand surgeries that are for my oldest granddaughter's keepsake box.  I needed a card for my sweet girl's birthday number two.  She loved the books I gave her featuring Minnie Mouse.  Whenever I made a visit, she would pile them haphazardly on my lap and climb up next to me on the couch, jabbering away as she turns the pages.  Even though there was much I did not understand, every now and then I catch the words "Minnie Mouse" in a somewhat strange diction, but yet, ever so clear.  Thus, I thought that this catch-up birthday card would be perfect featuring Minnie Mouse.

I made a "punch art" Minnie Mouse card a few months ago for another granddaughter's second birthday to coordinate with her birthday party theme.  It also coordinated with her Minnie Mouse dress-up doll, garbed in the signature colors of red and white polka dots, so I wanted to do something a little different with this new card.   A few years ago on Pinterest, I saw several ideas using Stampin' Up's Swirly Bird stamp/ die set making Mickey or Minnie Mouse cards.  I thought I'd like to try my hand at one.   Take a look below at my finished card, along with its inside verse and design:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White.  Patterned DSP--Pop of Pink (2016 Annual).  Stamps--Swirly Bird, Thoughtful Banners (both 2016-18 ret.).   Inks--Melon Mambo, Memento: Tuxedo Black.  Punches--Bow Builder (2015 Occ./ 2016 Annual), Duet Banner (2016 Annual).  Twine--Black & White.  Pearls (Copic colored).  Other:  EK punch---Victorian Corners.

Stepping To Church for Christmas!

Here is my first center-step card that I've made from start to finish with my own template design for a larger 4-3/4 x 6-inch card.  To help me redesign the dimensions, it is a remake of a card I made at my Stampin' Up demonstrator duo's card event back in the fall of 2017, which I loved!  What can I say, I'm not very adventuresome, especially since it involved refiguring the template dimensions in order to remake it into the larger size.  I kept the original card to use as a guide, which helped me figure it all out much easier. 

Because the card was larger, I was able to add a third layer.  I ended up with a black cardbase, followed by a white mat layer, followed by the card front layer with the die-cut pieces.  I really like the white on black look.  The original design just started off with the white cardbase, which didn't allow for as much contrast.  I really like my added contrast by having three layers, and starting with the black first, then white, then black again.  I stuck to the original card design, and I thank Luci Kirschbaum for always allowing us to CASE our class cards and modify them as we like.  Here is my enlarged, finished card below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Basic Black, Whisper White, Gold foil.  Patterned paper--Merry Music Specialty (2017 Holiday).  Stamps--Hearts Come Home/ Dies--Home Town Greeting.  Punch--Confetti Stars Border.  Embossing Powder: Gold.  Size:  4-3/4 x 6-inches.

Sending Sunshine on Mother's Day

I wanted to use my first Paper Pumpkin Kit...June 2020--Box of Sunshine kit pieces to make Mother's Day cards for my oldest daughter and my daughter-in-law.  For my daughter, I decided to use one of the papers in the kit that looked like an alcohol-inked background.  There were actually two different yet similar colored one...one in brilliant red-oranges, yellow golds, yellows, and gold metallic and the other in yellows, yellow-golds, and metallic gold.  For my daughter's card, I chose the one with red-oranges and yellows.   I loved the card design provided in the kit, except I like layers so here is what I did. 

I used the card design provided for this paper pattern, except I dropped the start of the stamped sunshine about 3/8" lower from the top and 3/8" to the right...closer to center than the original design.  Then, I followed through with the black dot horizontal paper, sentiment, and stamped lines as originally positioned in relation to the stamped sun.  I  added two mat layers beneath the card front...a new black cardbase, and a burnt orange mat layer between the cardbase and card front.  I also positioned my sequins slightly different.  For the most part, other than the added layers, you might not notice any difference from that of the original card front unless closely scrutinized.

I finished off with an inside verse sending sunshine and happiness.  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out design.  I think my daughter, Michele, will like her card.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Paper Pumpkin--June 2020/ Box of Sunshine:  AI-style dsp,  black & white dot dsp, stamps, irregular hexagon sentiment die-cut.  Cardstock--Basic Black, Whisper White.  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  Other products:  Core'dinations Foundations cardstock--Valentia Orange.  Bazzill Swiss Dot--Honey Yellow.  Colorbox Chestnut Roan pigment ink (edge distressing).  Stash--sequins & red-orange rhinestones.  Chatterbox computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6-inches. 

Let His Light Bring You Joy!

I'm trying to catch up on my blog posting, and I found this Christmas card that I made earlier this year that hadn't been posted.  I used this same card design for two sympathy cards back in January, but planned to remake it into several Christmas cards as well.   My card design was based on a My Favorite Things sketch from April 2018 - MFTWSC383, plus some Splitcoaststamper Challenge ideas as well.  

I liked the Feels Like Frost paper that I used on the sympathy cards, and I planned to use it on the Christmas cards as well.  I did not make the same mistake in measuring the flap this time, so it was plenty long enough to be positioned at the top of the layering scheme so the ribbon strip and bow would rested directly on the flap.  Take a peek at my finished  card:

My design rotated the sketch design to a portrait style and shortened the flap so it did not drop as low onto the body of the card.  I decided to place my sentiment on the flap similar to where MFT shows the white rectangle but lower in the angled area, and I layered the flap with navy.  In addition, I added vertical paper strips from top to bottom with the envelope flap overlaying the top portion of the strips.  Take a look at the My Favorite Things sketch that I based my card design from:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Balmy Blue, Night of Navy, Silver Glimmer; Patterned paper--Feels Like Frost 6x6 dsp; Stamps--His Light (2018 Holiday); Ink--Night of Navy, Balmy Blue (sponging); Ribbon--1/4" Snowflake Splendor; Basic Rhinestones.  Other: Copic Markers (ribbon coloring); Chatterbox computer sentiment/ verse; Size--4-3/4 x 6-inches.

Enjoy Today...It's Mother's Day!

This is my second Slightly Alternative Mother's Day card for my daughter-in-law, using my first Paper Pumpkin Kit...June 2020--Box of Sunshine kit pieces.  For her card, I chose the gold metallic and white horizontal striped paper provided in the kit.  Again, I loved the card design provided in the kit for this paper, except I like layers, and I wanted to change the sentiment, so here is what I did. 

I used the card design provided, except I trimmed the top and bottom of the striped paper down a total of 3/8." I also dropped my pineapple about 1/4" lower and moved it 3/8" to the right closer to the center than the original design.  Then, I followed through with the black dot horizontal paper, sentiment fishtail flag die-cut in relation to the pineapple's position as in the original design.  I  added two mat layers beneath the card front...a new black cardbase, and a apple green and white dot mat layer between the cardbase and card front.  I also added more sequins and positioned them different.  For the most part, other than the added layers, you might not notice any difference from that of the original card front unless it is closely scrutinized.

I finished off with an inside verse sending thoughts of love and appreciation.  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out design.  I think my daughter-in-law, Ginger, will like her card.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Paper Pumpkin--June 2020/ Box of Sunshine: gold metallic/ white stripe dsp,  black & white dot dsp, pineapple die-cut, double-fishtail flag sentiment die-cut.  Cardstock--Basic Black, Whisper White.  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  Other products: Stamps--Penny Black/ Sweet Wishes.  Recollections--Primary Dots dsp; Bazzill Swiss Dots/ Honey Yellow.  EK punch--Victorian Corners.  Colorbox Chestnut Roan pigment ink (edge distressing).  Stash--sequins & black enamel dots.  Chatterbox computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6-inches. 

A Wondrous Gift is Given

More Christmas cards are needed for my 2021 Christmas stash.  This is a remake of a card made back in 2009, using the now retired Stampin' Up Lovely As A Tree stamp set that was so popular and remained current from 2001 to 2019!  My new card has more layers added, including some sparkly silver glimmer paper, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, and sequins that the original did not have.  

I just love the technique of layering trees in navy ink and silver embossing with a little added Dazzling Diamonds glitter into the mix.  Unfortunately, the photo does not pick up on the glitter added, but it is quite sparkly in RIL!  I've also added some sparkly sequins scattered about.  Take a peek at an update of an old card below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Night of Navy, Silver Glimmer.  Stamps--Lovely As A Tree (ret. 2001-19), Wondrous Gift (ret. 2007-09), Snow Front (2019).  Ink--Night of Navy, Versamark.  Embossing Powder--Silver, Heat & Stick.  Glitter--Dazzling Diamonds.  Ribbon--1/4" Night of Navy Grosgrain; Silver Cording.  Size:  5 x 6-1/4 inch.

Minnie Mouse Visits for Birthday TWO!

I am finally getting around to posting the first granddaughter birthday for 2021, which was celebrated in late February, and I heard that her birthday party theme was to be Mickey & Minnie Mouse, using their traditional colors of red, black, and white.  I also heard that little Sienna would be dressed in her own Minnie dress in those same colors.  She would be TWO, so I needed to put on my creative thinking cap and find a card design that was appropriate. 

First,  I decided that I would stick to just a Minnie Mouse on the card so that it could be a big mouse with a big bow for her head.  I ended up deciding on a large Minnie punch-art head instead of a full-bodied Minnie.  Since the party theme was to be red, black, and white, I decided that would be my card colors as well!  Next, I needed some patterned papers, and I found a red with multi-sized white polka dots in my stash that I thought would be perfect.  I had some other red and black prints on standby just in case I needed a second pattern.

The card sort of evolved adding a little bit of this and a little bit of that.  I decided the white "head" background panel needed dressing up so I used a happy birthday embossing folder to add texture before adhering Minnie's head.  It occurred to me that it would be "cool" if the head parts looked like fur, so I used the Stampin' Up Subtle Dynamic folder to emboss the head and ear pieces.  I wanted the card to feature that it was her birthday number TWO, so I added a shimmery red number 2 to coordinate with the sweet, shimmery red and white diagonal striped ribbon that I found and thought I would use for Minnie's head bow.  

I continued adding background layering and popped the "head" panel onto the layered card base.  I was thrilled with the look and how well it worked to use the ribbon for the horizontal strip to host the die-cut birthday sentiment, as well as for Minnie's perky head bow.   Take a peek below at the finished card.  I was really quite happy with the results.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstock:  Poppy Parade, Basic Black, Whisper White.  Recollections pattern:  Red Dots.  Recollections Foil/ Brilliant (red).   Dies:  Cottage Cutz Expressions--Birthday, Girl; Sizzlits--Mango Tango Alphabet/ Numbers.  EK Punches:  2-1/2" circle, 1-3/8" circle, Arrow Slim Edger (SU: Pinking Hearts retired), Victorner corners.  Embossing Folder: Cuttlebug--Happy Birthday; SU--Subtles Dynamic.  Ribbon Stash: 7/8" Metallic Diagonal Strip.  Size: 4-3/4x6 inches.

Sympathy & Prayers

I needed to make sympathy cards for my son to give to a long-time friend from his high school days (and his parents), who lost his brother (and son) in an accident in late March.   His friend married a Polish young lady several years ago and resides in Poland; therefore, tragically, he was unable to come home for the funeral.  Our entire family sends prayers of comfort to help him and his family through this sorrowful time.

I decided to use the Stampin' Up Feels Like Frost nature scenes paper for both cards in the lavender and purple hues.  I think this paper, done in off-focus almost ethereal look, lends itself well to sympathy cards.  Both cards are in a similar design, one using a vellum overlay for the front and sentiment background and the other using the vellum only as a background for the sentiment.  Take a peek at the finished cards and inside scripture verses.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Gorgeous Grape, Heather Highland, Whisper White.  Patterned Paper--Feels Like Frost (2019-21 Holidays).  Vellum--Transluscent.  Dies--Crosses of Hope framelits (2018-20 retired).  Other:  Cottage Cutz Expressions dies.  Pretty Pink Posh sequins--Sparkling Clear & Iridescent.  Triveni Crafts Pearl Sunflowers-White.  EK Corner punch--Victorian.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

A Tropical Birthday Drink!

As I mentioned back February on my blog of a friend's birthday card, I made a variety of cards that would be needed in the future while I was on my August, 2020 craft trip with my sister and Mom to Sisters, Oregon.  This has been my first and only trip that I have ventured out during COVID!  Weren't we lucky that this trip happened about two weeks before the horrendous fires all over Oregon's forests!

I also mentioned that because my mojo had been stymied by COVID's intervention, I had purchased several kits and subscribed to Stampin' Up's Paper Pumpkin to try to spur myself into getting into my craft room!   I was really excited about the June 2020 Paper Pumpkin Box of Sunshine kit because of its beautiful, rich colors, and its pineapple die-cuts!  I brought this kit and several others along to work on while in Sisters.

I like to make cards for people where the theme fits the person, whether it be focusing on a hobby, their job, their favorite song, movie, etc.  My husband's job took our family to Hawaii to live for about three years, and Jackie, our youngest daughter, was born there, thus my excitement over the pineapples in the June 2020 card kit.  I saw an alternative card idea in June, just a few weeks after the kit arrived that I really, really loved.  I remembered it and thought the "idea" was perfect for Jackie, but I did not save it to Pinterest, nor could not find it again.  I remembered it used the kit paper supplies, and particularly that it used the black/ white polka dot paper on a center panel.  There was also a pineapple with its top cut off to form a tropical beverage receptacle, plus an umbrella, a straw, and a flower.  It used one of the cardbase folds with the bright alcohol-ink-style background as the card front.  I wished I could find the exact card I saw to give that cardmaker credit for my "memory casing," but alas, no luck!

For my card, I love layers, so I cut the alcohol-ink-style background off the folded card base to use as a layer.  I made a new and larger cardbase using black cardstock and added a second layer of gold foil.  My third layer would be the AI-styled panel that I had cut off.  I cut a set of smaller papers for the center layers...black and white cardstocks and the kit's black & white polka dot paper (similar to my "memory-cased" card, I think).  I fussy-cut the pineapple top off along the diamond pineapple scales and saved it to use as greenery (my "memory-cased" card did something similar, because I remember thinking it was a nice filler).  Next, I worked on my tropical beverage pineapple drink.

My sister brought lots of her My Favorite Things stamp sets with her, one of which had a Hawaiian theme, so I was able to use her Hibiscus stamp for my drink's flower.  I brought my new SU umbrella stamp/ punch set, because Jackie also loves umbrellas.  I thought I might incorporate that into her card theme if my pineapple idea didn't work.  But, the pineapple tropical drink worked very well with the parts and pieces I was able to use from here and there.  I Copic-colored the umbrella and flower stamped images, plus added a bit of  Clear Wink of Stella to the flower for a bit of sheen.   I used the geometric die-cut and a stamp from the kit for the sentiment.  Take a peek below at how Jackie's card evolved into the finished design.  She was delighted with it, and the inside verse's play on a bit of humor!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  June 2020 PP Box of Sunshine--Patterned papers, sentiment stamp/ die-cut shape, pineapple die-cut.  Cardstock--Basic Black, Whisper White, Crushed Curry, Gold Foil.  Stamps--Under My Umbrella.  Other:  My Favorite Things--Birdie Brown Polynesian Paradise stamps (hibiscus).  ColorBox Ink: Chestnut Roan (ink distressing).  Copic Markers.  Wink of Stella/ Clear (hibiscus).  EK Corner Punch--Victorian Medium.  Chatterbox Computer verse.  Size:  4-3/4" x 6-1/4".

God's Peace at Christmas!

This is another of my January New Year's resolution Christmas cards.  It was also another 2019 card kit from my Stampin' Up mentors, Dar Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum.  Its original design was presented by  Dar, and again I did some modifications that came to mind when I looked at the pieces. 

Those who read my blog regularly know that my favorite card size card is more like an A7 (4-3/4 x 6-1/4 inches) than the standard A2 card (4-1/4 x 5-1/2 inches).  I really like a 4-3/4 x 6-inch card the very best, which does not fit an "A" anything, and that is was I chose for this card.   So, of course, my first step was to cut a larger cardbase.  I decided on a white base, rather than starting with the Melon Mambo as in the original design.  Also, I exchanged Dar's silver layer for green, Call Me Clover.  I really wanted to bring out the green in the ribbon, and I achieved adding more color as well.  Next, I cut my vellum layer with a cross-stitch edged die to add a bit more texture and interest.  I'm not sure, but I think the original was colored on top of the vellum, but I chose to color with Copics on the backside of the vellum instead.   I retained the rhinestones in the four corners, but I Copic-colored them to a nice warm gold to coordinate with the gold embossing.  Take a peek below at my finished rendition...it will go into my Christmas stash for 2021 cards.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Call Me Clover, Vellum.  Stamps--God's Peace (candles/ sentiment--2019 Holiday).  Embossing Powder--Gold.  Rhinestones.  Other:  MemoryBox die--Cross-Stitched Frame Border Die.  Copic Markers.  Chatterbox verse (inside).  Size--4-3/4 x 6 inches.

But, Of Course, Evie Gets a Ballerina too!

Evie celebrated her first birthday in November, 2020.  Not to be outdone by her cousins, Evie did not receive a birthday card in 2020 for her first birthday from Grandma either.  Mama and Evie were busy moving into their new home, and Grandma was busy helping Mama move storage unit boxes, babysit, and unpack many boxes as well.  Grandma also masked up, brought hand sanitizer, clorox wipes, etc. and timidly ventured out with Mama and Evie, while eyeballing my six-foot minimum distancing as we bought furniture, carpeting, closet doors, window coverings, paint, lumber, and hardware for all of Mama's myriad of projects she wanted to complete before officially moving in.  With everything freshly painted, renewed or replaced, Mama and Evie moved into their new home with three weeks to spare!  Grandma's house became very quiet...we surely missed Mama and Evie, but not to fret...it was only a 12-minute drive to their new doorstep!

Evie's Zoom Unicorn Birthday Party day arrived after many hours spent decorating with streamers, a birthday banner, balloons, and unicorn tidbits everywhere.  Unicorn cupcakes were made and party favors delivered to each party participant's porch the night before, and Mama made and decorating a beautiful unicorn cake with whip cream frosting and a beautiful pink, turquoise, and purple mane.  Grandma had her gift all wrap with a note that said, "Evie's birthday card is 'under creative construction.'  Hopefully, it will arrived completed soon!"

I am happy to say Evie's birthday card and my third ballerina card is complete!  I have to say, I thoroughly enjoy making these gems for my lovely girls!  Evie gets a turquoise ballerina with a dab of pink.  She has light brown hair to match Evie's very short locks, but the little ballerina doesn't show off the reddish glints in the sunlight that we see sparkling off little Miss Evie's head!  Take a peek at Evie's card below:

If you are interested in the Ballerina construction check out this link: A Ballerina Birthday for Callie!

Ingredients:   SU cardstock: Bermuda Bay, Blushing Bride, Whisper White.  ColorBok Glitter Paper: Glacier Springs/ White.  Patterned Paper: Raspberry Road Design by Susan Darter--Mini Roses/ Stripes.  Recollections: Turquoise Foil.  Cote'dinations Sparkle cardstock: Fashionista.  Bubbley White Shimmer Paper.  Spellbinders dies: Floral Ovals, Petite Ovals Large.  Lawn Fawn die: Party Balloons.  MemoryBox die: Varsity Numbers.  Autone dies (Amazon): Balloon Message Strings (happy birthday cutout/ sentiment).  Turquoise Glitter tulle (stash).  Wink of Stella/ Clear.  Offray ribbon: Turquoise Organdy.  SU: Pearl minis.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6-1/4".

Christmas Dove Brings An Olive Branch!

This is another Christmas card for my 2021 stash!  I do love this Stampin' Up dove stamp and die set that I used, which I'm surprised wasn't carried over into the annual catalog.  

I wanted to use vellum for the dove, which I underlaid with Tempting Turquoise and added silvery wreath. I thought a night sky would be pretty, and I found a pretty piece of dsp with deep to mid-range blue tones.  To complete the look of my night sky, I embossed the dsp with the SU Winter Snow embossing folder and then sprinkle/ splattered it with white acrylic paint.  It was just the look I wanted.  

I used a silver heat-embossed sentiment on vellum with the Tempting Turquoise as an underlay mat as I did with the dove.  I modified this die-cut mat, cutting it down narrower to fit the width I wanted.  Take a look below at the finished card:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Tempting Turquoise (ret.), Silver Foil, Translucent Vellum.  Stamps/ Dies--Dove of Hope/ Detailed Dove dies; Wreath Builder dies, Ornate Frames dies (sentiment underlay/ modified).  Ink:  Shaded Spruce (sponged Shimmer cardstock).  Embossing Powder--Silver.  Embossing Folder--Winter Snow (SU-2020 Holiday).  Other:   Paper--Recollections Bold Brushstrokes 12x12 paper pad; DCWV Shimmer cardstock--white.  Folk Art--White acrylic paint.  Size--4-3/4 x 6-inches. 

A Little Pink Ballerina for Sienna!

 I've now finished my second ballerina card, and this one is for my second granddaughter.  They get to be granddaughter #1, #2, and #3, by their age.  Callie, who was just 4, is granddaughter #1.  Sienna, who was just 2, is granddaughter #2, and Evie, who is 16 mos., is granddaughter #3.  I love them all dearly, and I'm sure you know, their number has nothing to do with how much I dearly love them!  All clever, cute, and darling girls for sure!

So, I missed making Sienna's first birthday card, as I was just returning from several trips to California, just in time to attend her birthday party, but not get a card done!  Within 5 days of her birthday party,  Covid arrived in Washington...the first state with a Covid case, then schools closed, gatherings closed, restaurants closed, and life became anything but normal!   It seems everything stopped, even my creative mojo and ability to get myself to my crafting table stopped!  I think we were all in shock, and my husband and I were certainly in the age range where every precaution was needed!  I am happy to say...a year later, both my husband and I have received the vaccine, and we are looking forward to an end of the pandemic!  At least we can now socialize with our family members who are vaccinated...we are almost to 75% of our immediate family at this point.

I am also happy to say that I have finally made little Sienna her card for Birthday #1 to save in her memory box...a homemade card from Grandma in honor of her first birthday!  Sienna dressed in a darling little frilly pink birthday dress, so it was only right that her card should be pink...and with her very blonde hair, her ballerina surely must have yellow hair.  I followed the construction instructions provided on Callie's purple ballerina card, and here is that link:  A Ballerina for Callie! if you are interested in the ballerina's construction.  Take a peak below at Sienna's sweet little pink ballerina:

Ingredients:   SU cardstock: Melon Mambo, Whisper White.  ColorBok Glitter Paper: Glacier Springs/ White.  Little Yellow Bicycle Patterned Paper: Baby Safari Girl--Pink Floral/ Girl Small Squares.  Bazzill: Hot Pink Foil.  Gemstone Shimmer Cardstock: Rose Quartz. Alina dies--Ballerina. Spellbinders dies: Floral Ovals, Petite Ovals Large.  Lawn Fawn die: Party Balloons.  MemoryBox die: Varsity Numbers.  Savvy die:  Happy Birthday cursive.  Rose Glitter tulle (stash).  Offray ribbon: Hot Pink Organdy.  SU: Pearl minis.  Wink of Stella: Clear (hair sheen).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6-1/4".

A Ballerina Birthday for Callie!

March is a time to celebrate two granddaughter's birthdays as their actual birth dates are only two days apart.  Callie is my oldest granddaughter, and it will be her fourth birthday.  I have been so out of mojo for over a year that she did not get a Grandma birthday card for year three! Since a bit of my creative mojo has returned, I wanted to make a very special card for her for birthday #4.  

A friend made me a "Thinking of You" step card during my hand surgery recoveries, and I loved the card so much, I borrowed the die, thinking Callie would love it.  What little girl wouldn't...its a ballerina!  I've since decided I need to make one for each of my other two granddaughter's in different colors and different patterned papers.

The die is from Alina Crafts, and I found some YouTube videos on construction using the die.  It turns out that it's meant to be used with a companion body-parts die, which can be used with a variety of other theme and wardrobe  "people" dies.  The die comes as one main die including the head, hair, neck, upper body, and flowery vine tutu skirt.  It also has dies that cut out the dress bodice, ballerina slippers, and the eyes and cheeks.  I didn't like the way the video put the face and hair parts together...let's just say, to me, it was weird.  So, of course, I had to do my own thing, which I've tried to explain below the card picture.  And,  voilà, here is my finished card!  I think Callie will love it! 

Note:  Inside & outside are identical shades...somehow camera lighting didn't take it that way!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Gorgeous Grape, Purple Posie; Punch--Detailed Trio; Pearls-mini; Rhinestones--Copic colored.  Other:  Papers--K&Co. mini floral (from Stash); Paper Adventures--Dazzle Purple-Pink Stripes; Colorbox--White Glitter paper.  Dies:  Alina Crafts--Ballerina; Spellbinders--Floral Ovals, Petite Ovals Large; Lawn Fawn--Party Balloons; MemoryBox--Varsity Numbers.  Balloon strings--Lyon Sparkly Mini Yarn.  Stash--Flower Gems.  Chatterbox Verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6-1/4"

Ballerina Construction:

Die-Cutting/ Punching/ Fussy-Cutting:
1) Die-cut the chest/ skirt die (and the ballerina slipper dies) from purple foil, leaving off the head and neck.  2) Using this same die, out of flesh-colored cardstock, die-cut two sets of heads with chest down to the waist...do NOT include the "skirt."  3) Die-cut a third flesh-colored cardstock head/ hair rounding the lower edge of the face without a neck.  This piece will be the "final" face for the ballerina.  4) Die-cut the head/hair only from black cardstock for the hair.  5) Using the eye/cheek die, out of black cardstock, die-cut the "eyes."  6) Using the bodice die, die-cut the dress top out of a sparkly lavender cardstock.  You could use glimmer paper, but I wanted a little less sparkle than that.  7) Again, using the eye/cheek die, you could die-cut the cheeks using pink cardstock, which is what Alina intended to be done.  I decided to use Copic marker coloring/ shading on all flesh colored areas that would show when the ballerina is complete: the face, neck, upper torso, and arms flesh.  I also Copic-coloring rosy cheeks and added a white gel pen dot rather than using pink half-circle die-cuts.  I also added Copic-colored blue eye shadow.

There were no dies for the lower body, legs, arms, or a leotard, so I fashioned my own.   1) Using a retired SU Small Oval punch (3/4" x 15/16") for the arms (with an arms behind the back look), punch one oval from flesh-colored cardstock.  2) Using the same oval punch, punch out the leotard from same sparkly cardstock used for dress bodice.  3) Using a retired SU Large Oval punch (1-3/4" x 7/8"), punch one large oval  from the flesh-colored cardstock for the lower body (hips) and legs.  4) Turn this large punched oval vertically.  Leave one end of the oval as is for the hips.  5) Fussy-cut and shape legs with pointed toes from the other end of the oval.  Now, it was time to put my body parts together!  

Head/ Hair/ Face/ Upper Body & Arms:

1) I adhered the two head/ upper body flesh pieces together to form a stronger upper body unit.  2) I trimmed 1/16" around the head/hair down just to the neck.  3) I trimmed 1/16" along the chest/ upper body along the sides from shoulders to waist.  The head/hair was done so when the third "head/ face" flesh piece was added this double thickness would not show...only the top third layer would show and its round without a neck would form the chin.  The sides of the chest/ upper body edges were trimmed to allow the flesh cardstock Small Oval to form the shoulders and arms, looking like she was putting her arms behind her back.  4) I  Copic-colored/ shaded the face at this step and I did the same to the neck and chest of the two-layer piece.   5) I adhered this third Copic-colored face (hair, which did not need to be Copic colored or shaded) to the double-thick body making sure the head fit nicely on top and formed a "chin".  Now, my head is 3-layers thick!  6) I trimmed off just a bit of the flesh cardstock around the edges of the hair area so that none of the flesh color would show around the edges of the black hair color.  7) I fussy-cut the black hair from the head black cardstock so it would fits nicely over the flesh-colored hair area and adhered it to the flesh-colored hair.  When it was dried, I applied Clear Wink of Stella for a bit of shine to her hair.  8) I applied a tiny bit of glue to the back of her black eye/ lashes and used tweezers for correct placement.  (Be sure you have them turned over for the correct sides of the face when applying the glue).  9) I Copic-colored her rosy cheeks and added a white gel pen dot to their centers.  10) When eye glue dried, I Copic-colored her blue eye shadow.  11) Now, I was ready to add her arms.  I Copic colored/ shaded the flesh-colored Small Oval, but didn't bother to color the center of the oval where the chest/ upper body would be glued.  I positioned the oval horizontally, fitting it behind the back so the shoulders flared out at the base of the neck and adhered it to the back of the torso with glue. 

Lower Body/ Leotard/ Legs/ Ballerina Slippers: 

My ballerine needed a lower body, leotard and legs!  1) Take the leotard...the Small Oval cut from the sparkly bodice cardstock; turn the oval vertically, and trim 1/16" off the end of the oval curve using a straight cut.  2) Fit this straight edge up to the flesh waist bottom and glued it to the lower edge of the arm oval (which you will see extending below the waist) and snug it up to the waist flesh.  3)  Turn over the ballerina and glue her "hip/legs fashioned larger oval" behind the sparkly leotard so her hips are behind the leotard and legs extend below.  4)  Adhere the ballerina slippers over her pointy toes with the wider part of the slipper down covering the "pointy toes."  Set aside your girl to thoroughly dry while you form her skirt/ dress.

  

Skirt/ Bodice Top/ Hair Bow: 
1) With the purple foil skirt/ chest die-cut, narrow the chest area, all around three sides, down to approximately 1/4" wide and 1/8" high just to waist where skirt flares out; set aside.  2) Cut 5 or 6 pieces of tulle (sparkly best) 2" long by 3" wide.  Overlay the pieces one layer over the other.  2) Using the metal die as a guide only, fussy-cut the tulle to the same shape as the die skirt and upper body.  3) Adhere the layers together with bitty glue does and larger if needed, keep the edge-shaping even along the skirt sides and upper body to form a unit.  4) Take the purple foil skirt/ chest and attached to the tulle unit to the backside of the chest (make sure no tulle shows along the "chest" part of the skirt).  5) Lift the skirt vines and streak with glue, pressing them on the tulle to attach and dry.  6)  When skirt/ tulle is dry, attach the lavender leotard and legs behind the tulle at the torso back with glue/ glue dots as needed.  7) Glue sparkly lavender bodice onto ballerina chest top and foil skirting.  8) Add 4 string pearls along waist.  9) Take a 4" to 5" piece of 1/4" sparkly ribbon and tie a bitty bow, cutting and angling its tails.  (Tip: my sheer ribbon was too wide, so I trimmed it to 1/4" width.)  10) If desired, you can add 2 bitty pearls to the bow knot area as well.