Valentine Girl!

My third Valentine friendship card that I made was also for a cardmaking buddy!  I decided to use another card kit provided by my sister Heidi Gonzales: My Lil' Scrap Corner (blogspot.com).  Fortunately, I had the patterned paper used on this card because I really wanted to make it a 5-1/2" square card from its original A2 size (4-1/4" x 5-1/2").  To do this, I had to make a new cardbase, so I decided to switch it to brown and add a mat layer in Flamingo pink BoBunny Double Dot.  I had to add another piece of the patterned paper below the brown cardstock belly band.  I got out my Copic markers to color the little Magnolia stamp.  I thought my card turned out well, and I really like the change in cardbase color and the added Double Dot.  They seemed to bring out the colors in the background pattern my little colored image popped better.  I hope my friend, Charlene, liked her little Valentine Magnolia card.

Recipe:  Stampin Up Chocolate Chip cs (base), BoBunny: Flamingo Double Dot, My Minds Eye pattern.  Magnolia stamp.  Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black.  Michaels' Celebrate ribbon.  Recollections pearls.  Copic markers.

Be My Valentine Cupid!

My second Valentine friendship card I made was for my friend Sandy.  I decided I wanted to use the Stampin' Up cupid stamp on her card, and my new Pretty Print embossing folder.  Again, I used patterns from Echo Park's Yours Truly collection.  I was pretty happy with my little card with its perky pink satin bow!  I hope Sandy enjoys her card.

Recipe:  Georgia Pacific White cs (base), Echo Park: Yours Truly.  Stampin' Up Stamps: P.S. I Love You.  Stampin' Up Embossing Folder: Pretty Print.  Stampin' Up Ink: Melon Mambo, Basic Black.  Stampin' Up Punches: 1-3/8" Circle, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle, Modern Label.  Stash: Pink Double Satin ribbon.

Be My Valentine!

I decided to send friendship Valentine cards for three of my cardmaking buddies.  My first card was for my Stampin' Up friend and mentor, Liz.  I decided to make a kit card I had in my stash that was a designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales: My Lil' Scrap Corner (blogspot.com), and that I purchased from her a few years ago.  The kit featured four very cute Valentine shaker cards, and they got buried in my "To Do" box.  It seemed like a good time to bring out the kit pieces, and put them together from the pictures provided.  This was such a cute card, and I thought it would be perfect for Liz.

This card was a bit larger than the A2 size that Heidi was normally designed at that time, so the only change I made was to add one more layer by adding a white cardbase.  The original red base became a layer, but I made it about 1/4" larger than the original red base.  This white base and the new red layer not only made the card a little bigger with more color layers, but it also created an eye-appealing red frame to bring out the lovely red/black dot ribbon and to enhance the original card design just a tad.  Of course, it always makes me happier when a card is larger than A2, because as many of you know by now, I prefer my cards a bit larger than the traditional A2 size.  I hope Liz enjoyed her card!

Recipe:  Paper--Georgia-Pacific white cs base; Stampin' Up Real red cs; Echo Park-Yours Truly.   Papertrey Stamps: Button Boutique. Stampin' Up punch: Heart-to-Heart, Postage square.  Maya Arts ribbon.  Stash: metallic hearts, clear heart button.

Valentine for Hubby!

I completed this card in a card class offered by Misty Bradley about two years ago, and I have not used it.  Because of the sentiment, I love the "u" in us, it is a perfect card for a couple, and thus, my husband got this one.  I love all the geometrical layering that Misty used, and I had the chance to use Perfect Pearls, which was all the rage at that time.  I'm not sure how I got those little red dotted pearls so perfectly round...I've never accomplished it again on another card, and so, alas,  I've resorted to just using regular half-pearls.

Recipe:  Paper-Georgia Pacific white cs base; Bazzill cs-Blossom/ Kisses; My Mind's Eye: Love Struck.  Stampin' Up stamps: P.S. I Love You.  Stampin' Up Ink: Real Red.  Stampin' Up Punches: 1-3/4" Scallop circle,  1-3/8" circle, Modern Label, Word Window.  Lifestyles Die: Nesting Hearts.

Jar Full for A Valentine!

My next Valentine card was for my brother and his wife, and it is from that shaker kit of cards from my sister Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner.blogspot.com) noted in my daughter's card post earlier this month.  Again, as in my daughter's card, I wanted my card to be larger than the traditional cardmakers A2 size (4-1/4" x 5-1/2"), so I decided it would be a 5-1/2" square card.  I re-cut the base in a darker shade of pink to match the seam binding ribbon provided.  Again, I was able to spread the embellishments out on the card front.  I added an extra red heart on the jar lid just because I had an extra cut off the red heart border trim.  Because I had the same paper, I was able to cut and add to the gray and white patterned mat layer below the ribbon and the border.  I was very satisfied with the enlarged design...very similar to the original design yet more space to admire each feature on the front of the card.  I hope Mike and Diane enjoyed my take on their sister's design and my cardmaking.

Recipe:  Papers - Stampin' Up Pretty in Pink cs base; Echo Park Yours Truly.  Papertrey stamps/dies: Friendship Jar/ Jar & Lid die/ Jar Toppers die/ Fillable Frames #10/ Heart Border die.  Ink:  Memento Tuxedo Black, SU Real Red.  Hug Snug Seam Binding ribbon. Stampin' Up punch: Heart to Heart.  Zutter Corner Rounder.

Welcome Little One...& a Shabby Tea Room Challenge!

One of my daughter's long-time, best friends had her first baby recently...it's a boy!  She was eight days overdue, and they were considering inducing her if she didn't get busy over that week-end on her own.  Guess what, it seemed the baby heard the ultimatum, and a trip to the hospital began at the crack of dawn that Monday morning, and it was apparent this new little person was on his way!  This coincided nicely with a challenge at the Shabby Tea Room #206, so I decided to play along.  Here is the inspiration photo for the challenge.

For information regarding the Shabby Tea Room Challenge #206 and to see my entry, click on the link below: http://theshabbytearoom.blogspot.com/2014/02/week-206-baby-shower-party.html 

I volunteered to make a baby card for my daughter to send welcoming this little guy into the world.  I've so enjoyed making the sunburst rays background card for my niece's birthday last month, and I just had to make one more and with the machine stitching added on this one.  I found a cute little colored digital image online, which I dropped into PaintShop Pro to clean it up and reshade here and there.  I then began looking for blue and green papers to compliment his room colors.  After my search was underway, I remembered that I had bought a DCWV stack full of little boy papers, and guess what...the whole pad was in blues and greens!  I was stoked and ready to begin.  I've just finished and my daughter rejuvenated her long unused poetry talents for the inside verse.  We hope Sarah likes her little guy's welcoming card shown below.

Recipe:  Papers: Recollections-Cape Cod pack-periwinkle/base; Frances Meyer-Baby Boy; DCWV-Baby Boy Stack. Spellbinders Scallop Rectangles LG, Classic Rectangles SM.  Stampin'Up punch: Modern Label. EK punch: Fancy Corners. Stash: 5/8" Baby Blue Satin ribbon, 3/4" White Crochet Lace. Vintage online digital color image.  Computer-made sentiment (Font: Christine).  Machine stitching.

Cupids Arrow for a Son!

The next card I made was for my oldest son.  I decided to go a little vintage and used a kit I had purchased at Paradise Scrapbook Boutique in Chico, CA on my travels.  This card uses a paper that features a collage of old-fashioned Valentine's of earlier decades (about when I was of elementary age in the mid-1950's) and seemed to still be around when this son was an elementary age child in the 1970's.  Since the patterned paper features mostly boy Valentine images, I decided it would be perfect for my son, David.  

The bow & arrow and hearts were cut using Accu-Cut dies with glitter paper and backed with lightweight chipboard.  I decided the card needed a bit more framing to enhance and make the words pop on the paper and the ribbon, so I added a black mat between the patterned paper and the white cardbase.  Other than this change, the card remains true to it original design.  I think David liked his card...a bit of nostalgia!

Valentine Shaker for a Daughter!

I had a kit of Valentine cards designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner.blogspot.com) that I decided to pull out of my "To Do" stash and use this year.  I always like cards that are larger than the traditional A2 sized cards (4-1/4" X 5-1/2"), and the cards in this kit were that smaller size, so I just had to make mine bigger.  Fortunately, I had the papers used in the kit; therefore, I was able to do so with ease.  I added an additional red mat between the white cardbase and the patterned paper to enhance the ribbon color.  I to think this really adds to the card.  Because my card was larger, I was able to space out the embellishments and the shaker full of little pink, silver, and red hearts.  Such a lovely card that retains the original flavor presented by the designer.

Recipe:  Paper--Georgia-Pacific white cs base; Stampin' Up Real red cs; Echo Park-Yours Truly. Papertrey stamps/dies: Lock & Key; Mat Stack 4.  Hug Snug Seam Binding ribbon.  Stash: black netting, lace, hat pin, metallic hearts.

Valentine Conversation Hearts for Sister!

I wanted to make a card for my sister to give her a hug and the Valentine holiday seemed the perfect time.  I had some Valentine conversation hearts in my stash of embellishments and so wanted to use them.  I also had a "Hugs" ticket that I thought would work in nicely.  I decided on using inchie squares to set the conversation hearts off, and the ideas took off from there. Here is how the card evolved, and it is now on its way to greet my sister with her hug from me.

Recipe:  Paper: Georgia Pacific white cs base, Bazzill-In the Pink cs, DCWV Carte Postale stack,  Me & My Big Ideas-Hearts, EK border punch, Jolee's Conversation Hearts; Pink sparkle net (Joanns); K&Co. Hugs Ticket; Pinking Shears.

Valentine Love Across the Miles!

I pulled out my Valentine paper stash, and fell in love again with Echo Park's "Be Mine" paper.  It is such a pretty collection of pinks, grays, and charcoals.  I decided to use my Stampin' Up stash of Valentine stamps to create a card for my daughter and her husband.   As the card evolved, it became very pink!  I hope Michele's husband doesn't think this very pink card is too girlish...after all...it's Valentine's Day!  Banners are so popular right now, so naturally it became part of the card as well.  This one had to be mailed early to get it all the way across the U.S. to the East Coast.  Happy Valentine's Day from Mom and Dad!

Recipe:  Paper: Georgia Pacific White cs base; Echo Park-Be Mine.  Stampin' Up stamps: Easy Events, P.S. I Love You.  Stampin' Up Ink: Primrose Petals.  EK punches: 2-1/2" circle, 2-1/4" Scallop circle, 2" circle, Corner pumch.  Recollections pearls: Copic  colored.  Stash: sheer pink ribbon.

Valentine Love You!

The last of my children's cards I made was for my son and his wife.  Again, I decided to use the Echo Park "Be Mine" paper and Stampin' Up stamps.  I also decided to make a gatefold card for them, which I was really happy with.  When I was finished, it did crossed my mind that it would have been a great card fashioned as a flip-flop aka double-swing card.  Maybe next year!

Recipe:  Paper:  Georgia Pacific white cs base; Bazzill-Blossom, Vintage Pink; Echo Park-Be Mine.  Stampin' Up stamps: P.S. I Love You.  Stampin' Up Ink: Primrose Petals.  EK punches: 1-3/4" scallop circle, 1-1/2" circle, 1-3/8" circle. QuicKutz: Bullseye.  Stash: flower buttons, embroidery floss.

Little Owl Valentine for Mom!

Valentine's Day is coming and I decided to start with my card for my Mom.  I went to a cardmaking event last Saturday and made a little owl card that gave me the idea for mine.  I decided on my card I would add two more layers and enlarge my card as well.  I dug out the Stampin' Up More Amore paper that I bought but did not get a chance to use for my patterned layer and then matched it to the Cherry cardstock in my stash.  My banner uses two banner flags punched from the More Amore paper, and the other banner flags were stamped with Strawberry Slush ink (SU) using the Banner Blast SU stamp set offered in the current 2014 Sale-A-Bration promotion currently in progress.  I also decided my owl was definitely a little girl, so she gat a bow for her head made from the bitty hearts on the owl stamp using the More Amore paper.  I made a duplicate little owl to place on the inside to dress up the verse.

Recipe:  Staples cs: Cherry (base), SU: More Amore, Smoky Slate cs, Pink Pirouette cs, Basic Black cs.  SU Emboss Folder: Woodgrain.  SU Punches: Full Heart, Heart to Heart, 1-3/8" Circle (wings), Modern Label, Banner (SAB 2014).  SU Stamps: Banner Blast (2014 SAB).  SU Ink: Strawberry Slush.  Maya Arts Fine Twine.  Recollections: Cherry rhinestones, medium Googlie eyes.  (Inspiration card by Janine Henrickson.)

A Birthday Cupcake!

It's my niece's birthday during the month of February, and I wanted to make her a card.  I used a card design similar to one made at Liz Thayer's March SAB 2013 cardmaking fest.  My card is larger and square, and I gave added more mat layers, embossing the whte layer.  I used my Deckled Rectangles Spellbinder die to edge the little greeting's green mat and the oval to cut out the embossed oval holding the cupcake stamp.  Pearls were used in the lower right corner to add embellishment detail.

Niece Angie and my oldest daughter were the best of cousins and friends during their growing up years because they were closest in age.  When our family began moving around the country with my husband's job, we tried to get the girls together for summer vacation visits.  Either Angie would fly to our location, or Michele would return to California (where she was born) and visit wth Angie.  I think they like that best as cousin Angie had a swimming pool, plus Grandma's and many aunts and uncles lived in the vicinity.  To this day, they remain good friends and were in each other's weddings.  So, we send birthday wishes to this all-growed up niece via my little homemade 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 Groundhog!

My husband is a Groundhog baby!   I've been thinking about making him a birthday card since I started making cards five years ago that depicted a groundhog on his card, but did not have an image to use.  I have a subscription to Elizabeth Dulema's Coloring Pages, which is free.  I get a free image once a month in her newsletter along with information about her children's books as well.  Finally, this year she sent a groundhog image, and he was too cute!  I decided then and there it would definitely have to be the theme of John's card this year!  

I dove in ready to make John's card a few days ago.  I cleaned up Mr. Groundhog a bit in PaintShop Pro and dropped him into Microsoft Word to resize him to fit the oval Spellbinder dies that I decided to use for his frame.  I found some papers I wanted to use, and colored Mr. Groundhog with my Copics to coordinate with these papers.  I decided on the navy glitter paper for his frame, but it was there my mojo came to a standstill.  I mulled it over for several hours, trying this and that, and finally went to bed.  

Sometime, in the middle of the night, I woke up thinking about a video I had seen a few weeks ago of Ashley Newell's "Angled Background" technique that she recently published through Papertrey Ink.  I turned on my light and fiddled with the papers on my craft table to see what I thought.  I was indecisive and too groggy to make much sense of it, and I thought I'd better wait for the morning.  In the light of the day, it seemed like just the right thing, and viola, here he is:

And, following is the finished inside to coordinate with the outside, and the little Groundhog Day poem for John.  I hope he like his card.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers:  Night of Navy cs, Gumball Green cs, Print Poetry dsp, Subtles dsp stack, In-Color 2012-14 dsp stack; Jillibean: Macho Macho Soup/ 2 Parts Boy (chevron); Core'dinations Glitter cs: Ball Gown.  Elizabeth Dulemba digi.  Copic Markers.  Spellbinders Ovals SM, Deckled Ovals LG.  EK Scalloped Photo Corner punch.  Stash:  Ribbons, Button, Scrapper's Floss.