Sister-in-law Number. . .What Number is She??? I'm Losing Track!!!

My husband's sister, Joanie's, birthday is in August, so I needed to get busy and get a card made for her.  I had a two-year-old card kit, purchased at the Paradise Scrapbook Boutique in Chico, CA, that I had been wanting to make up.  Because it was designed as a smaller card than I like to make (silly me), I had to do a little tinkering.  

I had the paper that was in the card kit in my own stash, and I was very glad that I had the same hot pink Wasabi measuring tape, because that provided in the kit got stuck together while wrapped up.  I began by making a new Vanilla cardbase to add another layer and to make it larger than the blue provided, thus I was able to use the blue cardbase for matting both inside and out.  I moved some of the design elements from vertical to horizontal and placed my bird a bit farther to the left allowing for my added petite banner birthday sentiment.  Stampin' Up does not yet have a "Happy Birthday" stamp to fit their Bitty Banner Framelits, so I came up with my own idea to use Microsoft Word's WordArt to make my own wavy banner sentiment.  With a little fiddling, I was able to get it just the right shape and size to fit the die frame. . . I was so excited! ( I see many possibilities in the future!)  I really liked this card's original design, so my re-design creation basically retains the flavor of the original with a bit of tweaking here and there and a few enlarging additions.  I hope Joanie likes my bird's birthday message flown to her across the miles to the Midwest!

Recipe:  SU Pool Party cs. BoBunny Double Dot-Blush Dot. Le Paper Cafe Wasabi measuring tape. SU Bitty Banners Framelits. EK Success Victorian Corner punch. Hug Snug Seam Binding-Limoges Blue. Colorbox Chestnut Roan (distressing). Sentiment: Computer-made for Bitty Banners Framelit). Kit provided: Accu-Cut Bird die #10 (Swallow), Pink pattern paper/chipboard (for bird), Lt. blue cardstock, Pattern papers, Blue button, 1/8" Lt. pink ribbon, mini flower.

Keeping in Touch at Birthdays!

One of my lovely nieces has an August birthday!  I thought I would be fun to make her a little card.  I have made cards for her children and even her husband, as I am usually down visiting at the time of their birthdays, but I have never made one for her.  (Redding is too hot to be there in August...LOL!)  I have been wanting to use my telephone die from My Favorite Things, thus I wanted to come up with a birthday--telephone theme.  Giving that some thought, I came up with this idea, "BIRTHDAYS!. . .A Reason to Keep in Touch," which I thought would be just right.

I searched through my paper stash and came up with several pieces of paper and shades that I thought complimented one another.  After deciding on a basic idea of which papers might be used for what, I die-cut the telephone base and receiver, and I decided to emboss them to give them a little more character.  It turned out to be a little too much "character," so I ran them through my Big Shot again, with just the plates, flattening out the embossing a bit.  This was more the look I wanted, so I was satisfied, and the rest of the card developed from there.  Here is the card that I finished for Lindsey.

Recipe:  SU papers: Night of Navy cs (cardbase), Rose Red cs (mat 1), Pacific Point cs (telephone), Pool Party cs (sentiment/ inside), Regal Pattern Stack-Rose Red dsp (circle). Paper Pizazz: Blossoms on Aqua. Unknown DCWV stack: navy blossoms. MFT die/stamp set: Ring, Ring (telephone). Ink: Memento-Tuxedo Black, Colorbox-Chestnut Roan distressing. SU Emb. Folder: Petals-a-plenty. Spellbinders: Grand circles, Lifestyles: Frames 9. WRMK Deco Corner Punch; EK Curved Photo Corner-Large Punch (inside). Sentiment: Computer-made (Font-Tempus Sans-Bold).  Tim Holtz: Memo pin. SU Glimmer brad. Hug Snug Seam Binding: Fushia, Losang Blue. SU buttons. Karen Foster Scrapper's Floss: Pink, Dark Blue. 

Another Family Birthday!

I have many female family birthday's in the month of August, including my own!  My cousin-in-law, Barbara, had her birthday a few days ago.  She lives in the Midwest, halfway across the United States from me, and it is a rare treat when we are able to renew our friendship in person.  I wanted to send her a birthday card to remind her that I was thinking of her on her birthday and love having Facebook time with her, keeping up with her and her lovely family through her pictures and comments.

I saw a card when I was last in California at one of my favorite scrapbook stores, Paradise Scrapbook Boutique, in Chico, California, and I took a quick snapshot of it with my phone.  I have to tell you, I love Karen's store and all her lovely products, and I usually spend a fortune while there.  So, if you are ever traveling in northern California down I-5, take a quick jaunt to Chico and visit her store.  Its decor is lovely and vintagey and makes you feel right at home.  I guess spending my money at this store might be fortunate, because it meant that I had most of the papers and embellishments to make this card in my stash.  I was excited and ready to go to work to make Barbara's card.  

I did enlarge the card just a bit by adding two more layers with a vanilla cardbase and a pink mat before beginning the patterned papers.  I decided to make my vertical papers just a little bit wider than I thought the original card was and to add a ribbon band and sentiment with a double layered trim.  I just love the soft colors of this Pink Paislee paper, and it is just right for Barbara, as I think she will like the soft vintagey look of it.

Recipe:  Cardstocks: SU Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Pool Party. Pattern: Pink Paislee/London Market-Mayfair & Curiosities (coordinating). Darice Transparent Vellum. Distressing: Colorbox Chestnut Roan. Martha Stewart 3-in-1 Butterfly punch. SU adhesive pearls, SU punches: Modern Label, Word Window. SU Pool Party seam binding ribbon. Stash: Chipboard frame, pearl hat pin, crystal bead, satin ribbon rose, rhinestone trim.

My Lovely Daughter-in-Law's Birthday!

Ginger loves all things French, except maybe French Poodles. . .not sure about that.  She and my son took a trip to Europe about two years ago; her only wish was that she could have stayed longer and seen more!  

As I am generally known for making cards with the person in mind by thinking about what they like, their hobbies, their dreams, their bucket list, etc., I thought I would make a card that definitely says France. . .with the Eiffel Tower as the focal point.  I wanted the card to be immediately recognizable by almost anyone in our immediately family that this card was definitely for Ginger!  

I have a couple of Eiffel Tower stamps and even some dies, but I was looking online and at Pinterest and found many graphics and vintage pictures depicting various French items and scenes that I really liked.  In the end instead of using my stamps and dies, I went with a colored graphic that immediately brought to mind some papers I had in my stash that were begging to be used. . .and, voila. . .here is Ginger's card! 

Recipe:  Cardbase-Recollections: Spice Market-olive; Stampin'Up: DSP Patterns-Raspberry Ripple, Very Vanilla cs ; BoBunny Jazmyne-stripe/ floral vine. Colorbox Chestnut Roan (distress). Martha Stewart Corner punch. Spellbinders Fleur de Lis Rectangles. Stampin'Up Vintage Resin Rose. Inca Gold homemade spritz. Recollections colored half-pearls. Ribbon (stash): 5/8" Raspberry Organza, 3/4" Olive Organza. Glues: 3M Tape Glider, 3M foam tape, Glue gun. 

Mother's Birthday - August 15th!

My mother celebrates her birthday in mid-August and my focus was to make a very special card that just to look at it said, "That must be for Mom." 

 I have been wanting to make a card for a very long time using a clock face.  Mom loves butterflies and birds, and she uses them a lot when making her own cards.  The colors she favors are aquas and peachy-corals.  I came across just the right paper when searching through my stash.  It has all the right colors, and it has butterflies as well.  Then, I went in search of a clock face to use.  I didn't have a stamp with just a clock face or one the right size.  So, to the computer I went, Googled, and found just what I was looking for.  The clock graphic wasn't the right size, but that was easily remedied on the computer.  Below is the card I developed for my Mom's special day!  I hope she absolutely loves it!

Recipe:  SU cardbase: Island Indigo; Recollections: Essentials Distressed cs-lime, Teal Faded Dots, Teal Butterflies; Stash: Coral pattern (behind lace), miscellaneous corals, teals, aquas (bird, flowers, butterfly).  Distress: Colorbox-Chestnut Roan. Recollections: various size half-pearls, teal mini brad. Punches: SU Boho Blossoms, Build-A-Bird; Martha Stewart 3-in-1 Butterflies. WRMK Corner Chomper: Deco. Trims: white lace (stash), Offray lime ribbon. Wilton 4" Doily. Becca's Bowmaker.

Thinking of You, Friend!

A very dear person and friend is having a bit of a difficult time of late.  Things just haven't been going her way at all.  It seems every turn she makes ends up at a dead end, and in totally the opposite direction than she expected.  It's one of those times when it is difficult to even find any uplifting or encouraging words to say!  I decided the best thing to do was to make her a card that will tell her I am certainly thinking about her a lot, praying for her, and wishing I could talk directly to the "Big Guy" to ask for immediate help and relief.

I went to a cardmaking event in March of this year, before my spring trip to California to visit family.  Our hostess and card designer was Liz Thayer, a Stampin' Up demonstrator, whom I know I have mentioned several times on my blog.  All of the cards we were to make were from the Stampin' Up Sale-A-Bration event going on at that time.  I confess that any time I have to use wood-block stamps, I have trouble.  I just can not get them positioned correctly because I can not tell where the image is going to end up on my paper and can not get the angle correct; therefore, I end up making a MESS!  This is what happened with this card that I finished today for my friend.  At the March event, we were to make two identical cards from each of six designs.  I decided to take my MESS home to see what repairs I could make as I had the stamp set in the clear version, which would make it a bit easier for me!

Since I ruined most of its parts, including the top flower layer, I decided I might as well do a little tweaking.  If you read my blog often, you know I am not overly fond of A2 size cards (4-1/4" x 5-1/2"); I like them to be a bit larger.  I had to re-cut almost all of the card parts from scratch, so, I decided to remodel its size and also add another brown mat layer closest to the vanilla cardbase.  Embossing the middle vanilla layer was a bit of a challenge because it was wider than the embossing folder.  It's not perfect, but I think it turned out okay since the few flaws are buried under the top two layers.  I'm going to have to read up to see if there is a technique to do this because I'm sure I was not doing it the best or easiest way!  I added another popped flower, a layered sentiment, a butterfly, and re-positioned my ribbon knot.

My finished card is 5-1/4" x 5-1/4". . .surprise. . .a square card. . .one of my favorite shapes and sizes for my cards!  All in all, I am pretty happy with my card's evolution and finished look.  I designed and embellished the inside to fit theme of the front and added a computer-made verse (Font: Coneria Script Demo-15) as well.  Thank you, Liz, for your card design idea.  I hope my friend likes her card and its message is "spot on."

Recipe:  SU stamp: Bloomin' Marvelous (SAB stamp). SU papers: Very Vanilla cs, Chocolate Chip cs. SU Ink: Primrose Petals; Always Artichoke; Soft Suede (distressing). Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder. SU Punches: Modern Label; Word Window. Martha Stewart 3-in-1 Butterfly punch. Primrose Petals Stitched Satin ribbon. Computer-made sentiment.

Bloom Where You Are Planted!

I have been thinking about my daughter, Michele, who moved all the way across the United States a year ago this month.  By now, we have missed having her and her husband with us on numerous family occasions:  over six birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, her birthday, and the list goes on.  So, I thought I would make and send a card to her, letting her know how proud I am that she has been able to make this move so far, far away, and still "bloom where she is planted!"  

This card was an old kit designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner), that I pulled out because I thought the stamped tag would be perfect.  Having the papers that the card was originally designed with, My Mind's Eye, I decided to enlarge the card to 5-1/2" square, as the A2 size is not my favorite.  Basically, the card's designs remains true to the original, but I did add a fourth flower layer, as well.  I just love the rich colors in Heidi's card, and I'm hoping Michele likes its finished look after I completed it, and the inside decorations and embellishments, with the special poem I composed just for her.

Recipe:  MME Stella Rose Papers: Love-Brocade, Mabel-Little Lady plaid. Bazzill cs: Chocolate. SU: Very Vanilla.  Ink: Memento-Cocoa Brown; Colorbox-Chestnut Roan distressing. Spellbinders: Blossome 2, Nested Poinsettias, Scalloped Circles Petite. Zutter Corner Rounder. EK Scalloped Photo Corner-Large Punch (inside). Recollections Pearl Brad, large.  Ribbon: stash.  MayArts: white twine. Machine zigzag stitch-tan thread.

A BIG Thank You!

I went to a lovely, fun day of Stampin' & Sharing with Liz Thayer, a 14-year Stampin' Up veteran demonstrator.  Liz is a font of cardmaking knowledge, especially using Stampin' Up products, and when attending any of her classes or special events, it is always stupendous learning experience and a jolly good time!  As expected, Liz did not disappoint!  She just returned from convention, and it was a day full of sharing new ideas and tips to make cardmaking easier and a how-to discussion of the Faux Patina technique.  This is a technique that I am familiar with and have tried once on a card about a year ago, but still feel basically an amateur!  I loved Liz' color combination to achieve her rich patina.  We also got to make three cards using products in the new catalog.  

At the close of the day, when I went to pay for the class, what did find. . . I came with an empty wallet, and I never carry my checkbook!  But, blessings to Liz, who glossed over my mistake with her warm and fun-loving personality, making me feel less of an idiot.  As Liz did not allow this wonderful day to be ruined for me in embarrassment, I wanted to send her a card and a refreshing Starbucks gift card in thanks (along with her payment, of course)!  It was time to get out my cardmaking tools and get busy.  I decided to color the Magnolia stamp, "Traveling Tilda," and send her on her way with trunk loads full of thanks.  Here is my finished card, I hope Liz likes little Tilda's visit!  (Credit is given to my sister, Heidi Gonzales---my lil' scrap corner---for her original card design). 

Recipe: Magnolia stamp: Traveling Tilda, Stacked Luggage. Copic markers.  Inks: Memento Tuxedo Black; SU Chocolate Chip. MFT "At the Movies" Ticket stamp/die. Computer-made Sentiment. Papers: MME So Sophie-Charming; Bazzill-Intense Teal; Paper Arts Kraft. Ribbon: stash.