A Long-time Friend's Birthday!

A friend of some 50 years is having a November birthhday!  I wanted to make and send her a card that wished her a very happy birthday with lots of wonderful memory-making times.  I bought this birthday Stampin' Up stamp from last year's spring catalog and wanted to use it.  I was packing for a work-party trip with my daughter to their Oregon beach house, so as seems to be usual in my craft room, my time was very limited, especially with all the Halloween cards I had been busy making.

I decided to use my stamp and case a wonderful card by my SU mentor, Liz Thayer, that used this very stamp.  In addition, she used a pop-up interior that was a Sizzix die for sale in last year's annual catalog.  Since I did not have this die, I used a Pinterest tutorial on how to make your own pop-up using shaped dies to accomplish the same idea.  In this case, I used the Stampin' Up Deco Framelit #2 and some circle punches.  In addition, I used my WRMK Scallop Corner Chomper to create the corners instead of leaving them square.  I was very pleased with the way it turned out, plus the verse I composed and printer from my computer.  Isn't this a lovely design?  Thanks, Liz!

Following is a picture of the inside pop-up and verse. I apologize for the picture; I used a photo scanner instead of a camera so it is a bit distorted, but gives you the idea.

Recipe:  Paper:  SU cardstock - Very Vanilla, Crumb Cake, Pool Party, So Saffron.  SU Retro Fresh dsp.  SU stamp: Another Big Birthday .  SU Ink: Crumb Cake.  SU Thick Baker's Twine - Crisp Cantaloupe.  SU Essentials Wooden Elements.  SU markers.  SU Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.  SU Emboss Folder: Arrows.  Inside Pop-Up:  SU Deco Label Framelits #2.  SU punches: 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, 1-3/4" Circle.  WRMK Scallop Corner Chomper.

Card Pressies & Sharing Happy Thanksgiving!

I want to wish everyone a very HAPPY THANKGIVING!  I hope you are able to enjoy a wonderful day with family and friends, feasting on delicious Thanksgiving fare, and maybe even enjoying a football game or other games with your loved ones!  My family will certainly be glued to the television, as members of the Seattle Seahawk 12th Man, while we watch our favorite team battle the San Francisco 49ers!

Next, I want to share a couple of cards that we received from my cardmaking buddies and friends, as well as family!  This first card was made and sent by my Mom to wish all of us a great day with the family. . .such a warm and cute little house amongst the fall leaves. It looks so welcoming, like it invites us to go right in and share a meal with those inside.  Thank you, Mom. . .love your card!

My next card is from my cardmaking buddy, Sandy.  It is the cutest fuzzy bear peeking out from behind a huge pumpkin.  He is just darling!  This wonderful card is filled with gorgeous colors as Sandy shows off her newly established coloring skills using Stampin' Up's Blendabilities!  Way to go, Sandy!  To top it all off, the multi-colored fall leaves have lots of glittery bling.  Unfortunately, the picture does not due it justice.  I just love Sandy's card, and I'm so glad it is gracing my mantel, along with Mom's little house!

The final card I'm going to share is from my Stampin' Up cardmaking mentor, Liz Thayer.  She has done it again; the card is a stunner!  Liz used the Bigz die, Autumn Accents, with the lovely fall dsp from the SU 2014 Holiday catalog: Color Me Autumn.  Of course, it is a Liz card, so it must some glitter bling added to the leaves and acorn.  I am so thankful for your card Liz!

My Husband's Good Friend Has A Birthday!

We wanted to send my husband's good friend, Gene, a birthday card, so a new creation needed to be completed.  My creative juices are flagging a bit right now, so I began browse some of my favorite blogs to see what was out there.  There is a little scrapbook shop in Chico, CA, Paradise Scrapbook Boutique, that I dearly love to visit while traveling and visiting my mother and sister in northern California.  I found this wonderful layered card on their blog made several years ago that I fell in love with and decided I wanted to try my hand at it.

I gathered my materials, finding that I had many of the papers that the original card was made from, which was no surprise to me since I SHOP at PSB at least twice a year and attend crops when able to.  I did change up a few things, like adding an additional color layer that became the new base, now in black.  I decided I wanted my black ribbon to overlay the chevron flag and that it would have a feathered and frayed ribbon tie with a button rather than a bow as my card was for a man.  When the outside was finished, I used my computer to type up my little birthday verse and finished the corner to coordinate with one of the front papers.  This is such a great card, and I thank Paradise Scrapbook Boutique for their design that I was able to re-create and modify just a bit to suit my needs.

Happy Birthday, Gene! 

Nephew-in-law #2 Also Has An October Birthday!

This was my final masculine birthday card in October, and it is for another nephew-in-law.  Jared's birthday falls almost at the very end of the month!  I didn't have time to get it posted in October, so I thought I'd throw it in November! 

I had a card in my stash that I made about a year ago, and I have always liked it, but its sentiment was Happy Thanksgiving.  That is one occasion that I have not added to my To Do Cardmaking List (thank goodness)!  I would probably enjoy making them, because it would give me another excuse to make fall cards, but with all my October birthdays, I don't think I need an excuse for more . . . do you?

After eye-balling the card, I realized I could change the sentiment as I had already been doing on some of the cards I borrowed someone else's layout and their card was for Thanksgiving, Gratitude, or Thanks, and then it could be used for a birthday.  It does have a bit of a floral background . . . taking away from the masculine these and the mason jar lid had a companion floral print.  I decided to change up the lid paper to a geometric design, which was a bit more masculine and then to also pink the bottom of the die, rather than leave the curves, because the curves leaned toward a ruffled look.  (I did not want a ruffle appearance.)  I also added a fuzzy knot on my twine.  With these changes, so you think it will suit a macho Army guy.  I think so . . . he's a Dad to three lovely daughter, and he seems to have a soft heart!

Recipe:

Paper:  SU cardstock:  Always Artichoke, Midnight Muse, Naturals White;  Pattern dsp: Comfort Cafe.  Stamps:  Perfectly Preserved; Day of Gratitude  Ink:  Early Espresso, More Mustard.  Dies:  SU Framelit - The Cannery.  Punches:  SU Modern Labels; Word Window.  (Inside: EK Medium Scallop Corner).  Other:  SU: 1/2" Scallop Dot ribbon/ More Mustard.  May Arts Twine. Computer-made sentiment.

Fall Birthday for Another Niece!

This card was made for my niece on my husband's side of the family, and it was actually my final birthday card to make for the month of October . . . Yippee Skippee!  I barely had time to get it done and mailed on time, because I had to get Halloween cards made and mailed too.  I definitely could not get it posted, so I decided it would have to wait for November, as well, to be put into my blog when my blog and I were less busy!   As long as it gets there, all is good, right?!  But, of course, the card was mailed timely so my wishes would not be late!

I thank my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner) for the original inspiration for this card and the card kit pieces, to which I added.  My card kind of took on a life of its own.  I decided it needed an Early Espresso cardstock base and a border strips under the ribbon embellishment in the dark brown as well.  The sentiment was changed from Gratitude to one fitting for a birthday, and rhinestones were needed to give it a little bling.  I am pretty pleased with my modifications and the changes in the card, which I feel did not take away from its original design, but rather enhanced it.  I hope my niece, Sarah, likes it too!

Recipe:

Paper:  SU Early Espresso cs (base).  BoBunny DoubleDot Frost Dot.  Echo Park Fall Fever-Stripes.  Dies: Spellbinders Labels 18.  Punches: SU Open Scallop Border; (Inside: EK Medium Scallop Corner).  Stamps:  Papertrey Pumpkins.  Other:  May Arts Twine.  Offray 3/8" Satin ribbon.  Darice Rhinestones.  Computer-made sentiment.

Nephew-in-law Birthday #1 in October!

Both of my nieces have husbands with birthdays in October!!!  Sooooo, another post for November!  The first nephew-in-law is married to my very first niece...my sister's first daughter.  Jesse is a nice young man and a great father.  I wanted to take time out to make him a card to let him know much I enjoy seeing him and his family when I visit northern California.  Though the card was timely, my post is not.  When I found I hadn't yet posted his card, I got right to work and completed this post.

I was still into loving making fall cards. . . so I thought another card depicting our dinner-plate-sized leaves would be fun.  Early in the month, when I made the first late large-leaf card, I mentioned that, with our late fall, the leaves had barely begun to drop.  Not so by late October!  Of course, they waited until my husband had his foot surgery and would not be able to rake!  Thank you leaves!

With these falling leaves in mind, I was inspired by a card made by Misty Bradley several years ago.  I used the layout of her card, but added and rearranged mine to suit my cardmaking style.  My card is square with lots of colored layers.  I added a wooden button with dark brown twine, a scalloped/ straight edging to my vertical striped pattern, and placed my leaves in a different layout with brown distressed leaf veins just like the ones on our Maple trees.  My sentiment is for a birthday rather than Thanksgiving, so I used a Spellbinder oval die set rather than the paper line's chipboard stickers.  

My final step was to design an interior that coordinated with the card front and to add a verse that fits the occasion.  I hope Jesse enjoys his fall leaves card as much as I enjoyed making it!  Don't you just love those fall colors!

Recipe:

Paper:  SU Natural Ivory (base), Crushed Curry, Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Pool Party; Echo Park Fall Fever- Stripe (sides #1/ #2).  Dies: SU Autumn Accents Bigz; Spellbinders Petite Ovals/ Petite Scallop Ovals.  Punches: Open-Scallop Edge Border; (Inside: Martha Stewart Mini Leaf).  Other: May Arts Twine.  SU Cotton Twill/ Pumpkin Pie.  Stash:  Wooden button / Dk. Brown Embroidery Floss.  Computer sentiment.

Sharing Halloween Cards from Friends!

I was away over the Halloween holiday and into the second week in November helping my daughter with a room renovation on her beach house in Seaside, Oregon.  I was pleasantly surprised to find two wonderful Halloween cards from two of my favorite cardmaking buddies had arrived in my absence.  I so love making Halloween cards, and I was delighted to receive some that I had not made.  These two ladies and I had lunch and went cardmaking shopping at a little shop in Tukwila, WA called Impress Stamps.  We made many wonderful purchases between the three of us.  Most of our purchases were going to be used for Halloween cardmaking, and the cards I received from them were using some of their new stamps and dies.  I want to share their cards with you.

This card was made by my friend, Sandy.  It depicts our neck-of-the-woods with the Seattle skyline stamp and the Space Needle die cut all from Impress Stamps in Tukwila, WA.  The picture doesn't do the card justice in that the little witch is flying across a glitter covered moon (made with adhesive spray and glitter).  Love, love the gigantic spider trying to make a home on top the Needle!  Thanks, Sandy, so enjoyed getting your card to let me know you were thinking of me this Halloween season!

My next card received was from my friend, Charlene.  She used two stamps from Impress Stamps as well, and applied the chalkboard technique.  She used white embossing powder to achieve this look.  Mr. Skeleton wears a little pirate hat embellishment and a martini glass, which I understanding she garnered from online.  See the cute little Googlie eye in the other stamped martini glass.  Love those eyeball olives!  Thank you, Charlene, for the wonderful chalkboard skeleton card!

A Cardmaking Buddy Birthday!

One of my cardmaking buddies had a birthday in the busy month of October...bless her heart!  With so many pasts due in October, I decided to publish her card in November.  In making her card, I decided to finished off the last card from the Magnolia stamp card kit designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (Lil' Scrap Corner blog) several years ago.  

Once again, I added some changes to suit my cardmaking style and make the card more me.  I used the Bazzill Lakeshore blue cardstock intended as a mat layer to add another scallop layer under the scalloped flower strip upon which the little Tilda stamp sits in her circle frame.  As I have the Basic Grey Pyrus papers from which this kit was made, I decided to add the striped pattern as my mat layer and add a chocolate chip cardbase instead of white.  I also made my card a more compact rectangle, 6-1/4" x 5" instead of the long narrow rectangle in the original design.  My sentiment also changed from a thanks card to a birthday card.

With my card design set, I colored my little stamped image using the woodless-colored pencil technique with mineral spirits, drawing from the colors in the Pyrus papers.  I then fussy-cut her so she could sit on her circular frame.  I was rewarded by my paper changes with a card full of rich colors. . .very much a fall birthday card to a tee.  I think Charlene will enjoy her birthday wishes brought to her by little Tilda in her patched jeans, head scarf, and little jacket.

Recipe:

Paper:  SU Chocolate Chip (base); Bazzill Lakeshore cs; Basic Grey Pyrus--Bradford/ Plymouth; BoBunny Double Dot--Chocolate Dot/ Rust Dot.  Dies/ Punches: Spellbinders Scallop Circles/ Circles.  Papertrey Ink: Small Scallop Border.  SU Modern Labels / Word Window punches.  Other:  Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored pencils (Michaels).  Mineral spirits (WalMart).  Papertrey buttons.  May Arts: Hemp Twine.  Computer sentiment.

Birthday for Daughter's Boy Friend!

My daughter's boy friend had an October birthday...can you believe it...another October birthday!  I decided I would publish his card in November due to all the Halloween posts needing to be published before the holiday.  Not having a whole bunch of extra time, I decided to re-create a card I made from a class that introduced the new Stampin' Up Holiday catalog, which was given by my mentor, Liz Thayer, back in August.  (Thank you Liz for the inspiration).

Of course, knowing me, it would not be an exact case.  I had to add a few more colored layers, which also enlarged the card to 6-1/2" x 5". . . for some unknown reason, a size I like better than the standard A2--5-1/2" x 4-1/4" (don't ask me why . . . it's just more pleasing to my eye).  I added a twine tied button to the button embellishment and changed up the sentiment layout  position and its words.  I also corner chomped the original card base using my WRMK Scallop Corner Chomper.  The lovely leaf design with its glittery twinkling leaves was taught by Liz and I love how they look.

Then, I went to work on an inside creation to coordinate with the front design and a verse fitting for these lovely fall leaves.  I hope Jackie's boyfriend enjoys his little card I made just for him.

Recipe:

Paper:  SU cardstock - Mossy Meadow, Hello Honey, Cajun Craze; SU dsp: Color Me Autumn.  SU Stamp:  For All Things.  Punches:  SU - Modern Label, Word Window.  (Inside: WRMK - Scallop Corner Chomper; EK Scallop Corner).  Other:  SU Dazzling Details - Gold Glitz.  SU - Autumn Wood Elements.  SU ribbon - 3/8" Stitched Satin/ Mossy Meadow.  SU - Button.  May Arts Hemp Twine.  Computer-made sentiment/ verse.

Spooky Inchies Halloween Mini Card Album!

My final card for my youngest son and his wife will be another paper bag mini album card with purple as the color of choice as purple is one of Ginger's favorite colors.  Secretly, I also wanted to use the purple patterned paper with the witch's hats and cauldrons scattered about.  

I so love this retired stamp set, Spooky Bingo Bits, especially the cute little witch, haunted house, and goofy bat, my three favorite images.  These images make such a great inchies card!  This being my fifth paper bag mini album, it went together very quickly, and I was very please with my centerfold witch's shoes and broom acting as her hat hanger.  A little idea I cooked up.  I think Mark and Ginger will like their little Halloween mini album card. . .don't you!

Card Front


Card Center


Card Back

Recipe:  SU cardstocks: Basic Black, Rich Razzleberry, Whisper White.  DCWV Halloween & Fall - 2011; Bewitched Mat Stack: stripe/ argyle (pocket).  White paper sack: 9" x 4-3/4" (Michaels).  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Stamps:  SU--Spooky Bingo Bits (Annual 2011-12), Wicked Cool (Annual 2011-12),  Tee-Hee-Hee (2014 Holiday); Martha Stewart--Carnival (spooky).  Dies:  Spellbinder--Inverted Scallop Squares #3/#4, Labels 11 (tag); Sizzlits--Halloween Set #2 (beware).  Punch:  Modern Labels.  Stickers: Martha Stewart bats.  Ribbon: Recollections Haunted.  Spider-web netting (JoAnns).  SU 3/8" dotted ribbon (colored with Copics).  Recollections rhinestones.  SU Dazzling Details (adhesive glitter).

All About the Witch's Shoes!

As I mentioned earlier this month, I went to a cardmaking event with my Stampin' Up mentor, Liz Thayer.  She designed four cards for us to make at this event.  One of them featured several of the stamps from the new Holiday 2014 catalog, Tee-Hee-Hee.  This particular card features the witch's shoes.

The shoe image is double, shadow stamped using the In-Colors Bermuda Bay and Crisp Cataloupe with their toes finished off with a mini rhinestones. .  . twinkle toes!  We used the Spiral Border punch on both sides of a 1-3/8" wide strip of Crisp Cantloupe, and after punching, it ends up to be a 1" wide strip.  We dressed it up like a shoe lace with the Thick Baker's Twine and mini rhinestones.  What clever ideas Liz!  We background stamped a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock with the Hardwood stamp and then added the Motley Monsters dsp at the bottom. 

I decided to add a few more color layers for a bit more interest.  I trimmed the cardbase of Bermuda Bay to make a mat layers, added another layer of Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer below, and finished it off with a Crisp Cantaloupe card base.  Adding two more layers pops the wonderful card design and enlarges the card just a bit. . . all more to my liking.  Thanks Liz for the cute design. . .I love it!

My coordinating designed for the inside with my little poem about the witch's shoes is completed and can be seen below:

Recipe:  Stampin' Up Papers - cardstock:  Crisp Cantaloupe (base), Bermuda Bay, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer, Motley Monsters dsp.  SU Stamps - Tee-Hee-Hee (2014 Holiday), Hardwood (Annual 2014-15).  SU Ink - Bermuda Bay, Crisp Cantaloupe, Craft White.  SU punches - Spiral Border, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle.  Other SU:  Thick Baker's Twine - Crisp Cantaloupe, Rhinestones.