Swallowtail Sympathy Card

One of my husband's cousins that he grew up with past away this last week after a prolonged illness.  It is of some comfort that his cousin is now at peace and in a place more restful than his last months here.  I needed to set my mind to a sympathy card design.  Sometimes, I find it difficult to do sympathy card, but I've found that if I focus on a card that will be elegant, but restful and peaceful, the mojo flows.

I made a sympathy card for a long-time friend several months ago when her mother passed, and I really like the color palette for her card.  I decided to use it again:  black,  Crumb Cake, vanilla, and gold metallic, but change it up with a little pastel yellow instead of cream.  I had used the Stampin' Up Swallowtail stamp before, but never on a sympathy card, but I thought with this color palette it would be really pretty.

My previous sympathy card used a patterned paper in blacks and tans that I spritzed with my homemade Inca Gold Metallic spritzer.  I decided to use this idea on the Crumb Cake cardstock onto which I planned to stamp my Swallowtail butterfly.  I spritzed the cardstock and dried it, and I was ready to stamp.  I off-centered the butterfly to the right side of the card and stamped with Memento Ink, because I planned to color in parts of the wings with Copic markers.  

I designed a little multi-layer fishtail sentiment tag.  The sentiment is computer-made and punched out with the SU Word Window punch.  I trimmed off one curved end and fishtailed it to match the black and yellow layers below.  The other curve end (under the ribbon) is finished off with one of the onyx rhinestones...it looks really cute, if cute is the right word for a sympathy card. 

Now that the front design was complete, I set my efforts to creating a coordinating inside design and finding just the right sympathy verse.  I came upon this quote from Isiah 40:11 that I thought was perfect.  Using the computer, I decided to print my verse onto a piece of gold metallic spritzed Crumb Cake cardstock made just as I did for the front before I stamped the Swallowtail.  I placed the pre-prepared, dried cardstock in the printer and printed the verse.  I was very pleased with the results.

Recipe:  SU papers:  Basic Black, Crumb Cake. SU stamp: Swallowtail. SU Antique Brad. SU punch: Word Window (sentiment/ one end fishtailed).  Darice Core’dinations Glitter paper: String of Pearls.  Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black.  SU: Vintage Brad.  Ribbon Stash: 5/8” Gold metallic; 1/4” Gold Metallic edged black satin. Y08 Copic marker. Black rhinestones. Computer-made sentiment. Homemade Fishtail tag.  Homemade: Inca Gold Metallic Spritz (FolkArt Metallic Inca Gold Acrylic paint). Becca’s Bowmaker.  Inside: EK Victorian Photo Corner punch.

Bring on the Easter Eggs!

I must be on a roll.  This is my fifth Easter card using a vintage image.  There are so many cute ones to choose from.  Again, this little hen image was too narrow in height; and therefore, it needed a lot of work in PaintShop Pro to add size above and below the hen image in order to fit it into a rectangular frame.  I added size to the sky and the path at the bottom, making sure to get the shading just right.  I learned a lot, and I am happy with the finished product.

My first step in all my Easter card has been to decide on the image I was going to use and the type of frame or background mat best suited to the size and dimension of the image.  My second step was to choose papers that would enhance the image without taking away from it.  In this case, my image was pretty colorful and bold, so I was able to pick up those vibrant colors from the cart and the Easter eggs to use in the papers.  Again, I used the frosted glitter adhesive technique over the image, but because it was such a colorful image, it really didn't tone down much as this technique often does to softer color shades.  

I've decided that even though it is a female hen, this card is bold enough that it takes on a masculine feel; therefore, I will reserve it for one of the fellows on my Easter list.  This was definitely a delightfully fun card to make.

The last step to complete the card and be able to say it is definitely finished is the inside coordinating design with a little verse.  I usually look at the picture or image and imagine a story based around the image.  Then, I try to choose just the right message to bring home the picture's story.  Indeed, those Easter bunnies need lots of eggs to color.  I see Mrs. Hen as part of the egg coloring production cres.  She is very busy, just as those bunnies are, making sure Easter is a joyful occasion for every little boy and girl! 

Recipe:  Papers:  Stampin' Up-Early Espresso cs (card base), Tangerine Tango cs; My Minds' Eye-Stella Rose: Hattie/ Happy, Gertie/ Friends & Delightful, Forever/ Dots.  Vintage online image.  Elmer's Craft Adhesive Spray.  JoAnn's Iridescent Fine Glitter.  Spellbinders die: Lattice Rectangles; Rectangles SM.  MFT dies: Accent It Labels & Tags.  PTI stamps: Scrambled Eggs-sentiment.  Michael's: Song of Springtime Trims.  Favorite Finding Buttons (mini).  May Arts: Jute Twine.  (Size: 6" x 5-1/8").

Top Hat Rabbit Gets Ready for Easter!

I am again using a vintage image as my focal point, and I envision this top hat rabbit in his apron going to an egg decorating party.  Don't you think he got all dressed up because he was trying to impress a certain lady bunny, whom he knew would be at the party as well.  Notice he has a bouquet of flowers that I envision he picked along the way  How's that for an imagination!

To start, I picked some possible papers that complimented my vintage image, and I was ready to go to work.  I had a 6 x 6 pad of canvas that I had used on another card recently to make a big canvas flower, and I thought that might make an interesting frame for my image rather than a traditional paper frame.  I adhered it to a piece of lightweight chipboard to give it stability, and then I ran it through my Big Shop using my Lifestyles Eyelet Square die.  It didn't cut it; it actually acted more like an embossing folder and imprinted on the canvas rather than cutting it, but I liked what I saw.  You know, one of those happy accidents, because I thought it would make an interesting mat background for my image rather than framing it!  (I'm thinking the thin wafer dies are not sharp enough to cut through a canvas and chipboard combination.)

With it now going to be a background for my image, I decided to pink the edge of the canvas with my pinking shears (old ones I keep in my tool stash).  To finish it off, I sponged and distressed the edges of the vintage image and the entire background of the embossed canvas in a combination of Baja Breeze and Pear Pizzaz Stampin' Up inks.  I so very much like the way the image and its canvas background turned out.  I was stoked!  Below is the finished product of my happy accident.

I decided this card would be for my husband, so I needed a verse that he would be pleased with...it needed to have a religious tone.  I typed it up and printed it out onto Very Vanilla cardstock, matted it with the Old Olive Words paper, and finished off the corners with the vine paper from the front.

Recipe:  Papers:  SU-Baja Breeze cs (card base), SU Brights Stack/ Old Olive words; K&Co.-Studio K: Meadow/ Breeze; Angel Co.-Country Cottage/ gold dot; Recollections: Canvas Stack; Grafix Lightweight Chipboard.  Lifestyles die: Eyelet Squares.  Vintage image (online freebie).  SU stamps: Delightful Dozen-sentiment.  SU Ink: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Perar Pizzaz.  SU punch: Modern Labels.  SU buttons.  Offray ribbons.  Stash: Embroidery floss/ doubled; Pinking shears.  (Size: 5" x 6").

Little Easter Girl Bunny Delivers Eggs!

My next Easter card uses a vintage little girl bunny all dressed up and delivering eggs.  This vintage image was not really "built" to make a square image so I had to do a bit of doctoring in PaintShop Pro to add to the background areas of sky, bushes and path.  I was pretty pleased with the way it turned out.  I framed her in a glittered frame made with my Lifestyles Eyelet Squares dies.

I found the perfect paper aqua background paper with pink flowers in the same pink shade as my bunny's dress.  From there, the lace, ribbon and vintage embellishments just fell into place without any hard work.  I love it when that happens!

Once again, creating an inside coordinating design and just the right verse has finished off my card.

Recipe:  Papers:  Stampin' Up-Whisper Whiter cs (card base), Pretty-In-Pink cs; Subtles DSP Stack-Pool Party Chevron; Jillibean-Southern Chicken Dumping Soup: Celery Stocks (back); Making Memories-Garden Party Stripe (back/ check).  Lifestyles die: Eyelet Squares (frame).  Stampin' Up dies:  Finishing Touches Edgelets; Bitty Banner framelits.  Elmer's Craft Adhesive Spray.  JoAnn's Iridescent Fine Glitter.  PTI stamps: Scrambled Eggs (sentiment).  Stampin' Up ink: Cajun Craze.  Recollections: Vintage Resin flowers.  Prima Vintage Wood embellishments.  Stash: Lace; Ribbon.  (Size: 5-1/2" square).

Easter Bunny Takes Tea!

On  a roll, here is card number two for my Easter Stash.  This cute little Easter vintage image several years ago and stashed her on my computer for future use.  Do you ever find you are surfacing the web and find freebie images and put them away for a rainy day?  Along with Pinterest, this is another of my favorite past times.  I, of course, at this stage have more images than I'll ever use, I'm sure!

I thought this little bunny would be very cute with pastel Easter paper to add color to my card as there weren't many colors depicted in the image itself.  What better way than to do a ray card with multiple design paper patterns.  My next step was to address my little teatime bunny.  I sprayed my little image with adhesive spray and then dipped it into iridescent crystal fine glitter to make an almost frosted look to its surface.  I don't think the photograph really shows that detail much, and I apologize.  I then cut a circle frame using my Spellbinders Eyelet Circle die.  I also decided I wanted to use colored tickets for the sentiment, so I stamped up several different colors of cardstock with Easter sentiments, die-cut them with my Tim Holtz Ticket Strip, inked decorative lines around the edges, and added ink distressing.  Voila. . .three tickets just perfect for my card.   I think someone will be please when they receive this little bunny card!

Again, the final touch to complete the card is to decide on the inside creative design and the verse.  When that is finished, I know the card is totally done.

Recipe: Papers:  Stampin' Up - Pretty in Pink cs (card base), Pear Pizzaz cs.  Ray papers:  Imaginesce-For Peep's Sake: Spring Fling & Hot Chicks; WRMK-Cottontails 6x6 pad; Angel Co.-Country Cottage/ yellow; Authentique-Promise/ Four.  Spellbinders die: Eyelet Circles.  Sizzix/Tim Holtz die: Ticket Strip.  PTI stamps fr tickets.  Recollections: pink pearls.  Elmer's Craft Adhesdive Spray.  JoAnn's Iridescent Fine Glitter.  Stash: Lace, Organdy Glitter ribbon, vintage bunny image.  (Size: 5-1/2" square).  

Easter is Coming!

Yes, Easter is less than a month away!  Time to get out the Easter mojo and get my cards done.  Since I didn't get my Valentine's card done and sent due to my mouth surgery, I really must get with it for Easter!  What I also needed was to find that darn Easter bunny, and I think I found him lurking behind that watering can, peeking out among the flowers.

This is the cutest darn digi image...I just had to color this little bunny up with my Copics and start my Easter card with him.  After I decided to use the Stampin' Up Watercolor Wonder dsp from last year's Occasions catalog, the colors for the digi image (from an unknown source) and the card just fell together very quickly.  I spritzed my doily with my homemade spritzers in just the right shades to match the designer paper.  I even had some shaded ribbon in my stash that was a perfect match, is that serendipity, or what??!!

For me, to complete inside design to coordinate with the outside look of my card and to compose or find just the right verse is to actually finish the card in its entirety.  I compose most of my verses myself and print them out using my computer. 

Recipe:  Papers: Darice Kraft cs; Stampin' Up: Calypso Coral cs, Blushing Bride cs, Watercolor Wonder dsp.  Digital image: unknown source.  Copic Markers.  Wilton 4" doily.  Spritzers: SU ink: Calypso Coral, Daffodil Yellow.  Spellbinder die: Eyelet Squares.  SU framelit: Bitty Banners.  SU Finishing Touches Edgelits (petite pinking).  PTI sentiment stamp: Scrambled Eggs.  Prima flowers and roses.  SU: Dazzling Deails Glitter Glue (image flower centers).  Inside:  SU Labels framelit.  (Size: 5-1/2" x 6").

A Good Friend's Birthday!

I am celebrating a good friend's birthday today by making her a handmade card.  Cardmaking is a hobby I started after I retired from the elementary school where I worked for 13 years.  This wonderful friend started working at the same elementary school within days of myself, so I have tried to continue to remember her birthday every year with one of my paper concoctions to help her celebrate her day.

It almost seems like spring here in the northwest, we've had such a delightfully warm February and March with little rain.  The crocus, primroses, and daffodils are blooming already!  All this make me feel that spring is already here, so I had the yen to make a bit of a spring card.  I decided to borrow one of my sister's designs (Heidi Gonzales: My Lil' Scrap Corner blog).  By the time I finished, my flower was gigantic and is surely the envy of every other flower in the realm!  I made it out of canvas and twine with my Fun Flowers BigZ die from Stampin' Up via Sizzix.  It needed some sort of a filler between the flower and the ribbon.  I thought a tag would be just the thing, so I used a Stampin' Up Chalk Talk framelit and made a little color-coordinated tag.  It worked great in my thinking!

When it was all done, it was very thick through and quite heavy, and I thought, "Good thing I don't have to mail this one, because it would definitely have to be sent as a package in a box!"  Fortunate for me, Carla now works at the high school not too far from my house, so it will be hand delivered to her school desk!  I hope she loves it, and she enjoys it in the days to come.

But a card is never really finished until you dream up an inside befitting the outside creativity.  I stole some of the Simple Stories flowered paper to make decorative corners for my little verse I composed and printed on my computer.

Recipe:  Papers: Simple Stories: Harvest Lane.  Stampin' Up: Naturals White, Old Olive.  Stampin' Up: Dies-Tasteful Trim (scallop) BigZ XL; Fun Flowers BigZ L; Autumn Accents BigZ (leaves); Chalk Talk framelit; Vintage Brads.  Wilton 4" Doily. EK punch: Fancy Photo Corners.  HugSnug Seam Binding: Bluejay.  Stash: 1" Crochet Lace; Buttons; Dark Brown Twine; Dark Brown Embroidery Floss; Celery Felt.  (Size: 5" x 7").

Loving Pizza for a Birthday!

My oldest son, David, is celebrating his birthday early this month.  I have been a bit under the weather with some mouth surgery, and this is actually the first card I have undertaken since early in February.  I really felt like my creative mojo was just not with me.  I racked my brain, and then I remembered!  Daughter, Michele, yes, that's the one who moved home from West Virginia, is hosting the family for a pizza birthday dinner, dessert, and games night for David's birthday.  I had seen several punch art cards with pizza slices as the theme, and even one with a digital image of pizza in the last few months on Pinterest.  I thought, "That would be perfect!  David, not only loves pizza, but it is the theme of his birthday party.

With this thought in mind, I went off looking for papers that would work with a combination pizza, which is the most colorful of pizzas; therefore, it would make the best looking punch art pizza slice, right?!  At first, I decided on Bo Bunny Double Dot for the pepperoni meat, but then when I dug out the right color, the backside with cream mixed into the berry red color was even better than cream dots on the red.  It doesn't actually show up in the photo, but looks great on the real thing.  I raided my scrap box for pieces of green for green peppers, Natural Ivory for onion slivers, Hello Honey for cheese, and Kraft for pizza crust.  I found a diagonal plaid with rose red and cherry cobbler, which reminded me of a picnic tablecloth, and I thought it would work perfectly.  

I distressed all edges and pieces of the card and the punch art pieces with Colorbox Chestnut Roan.  I also sponged the Hello Honey cheese layer on its surface.  I though this gave the pizza the look of a cooked/ browned pizza fresh from the oven.  I'm just sorry the photo doesn't pick up on all these subtle additions.  I'm pretty happy with my results, especially because of having to push myself back into making it.  I think David will be pleased!

Below is the inside design and verse and I have created to coorindate with the outside.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up stamp: Delightful Dozen.  Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black.  Papers: Stampin' Up cardstocks: Kraft, Cheery Cobbler, Hello Honey, Old Olive, Basic Black, Natural Ivory.  Darice Core'dinations: Red Plaid.  BoBunny DoubleDot: Wild Berry Red Dot (backside).  Punches:  Stampin' Up - 1-1/4" Circle; Itty Bitty Punch Pack - circle.  EK - 3/4" Circle; Scalloped Scallop border.  Martha Stewart Corner Rounder.  Lifestyles: Scalloped Circles (#15-largest/ crust; #9-green peppers).  

A Nice Surprise!

My friend and cardmaking buddy, Sandy, sent me another cute little card just to check in and hope I was back to "normal."  She used that wonderful masking tape technique that she just has a wonderful knack, making darling cards, and this one is no exception!  Love the ombre-style pastel blues and aquas, and the little bee with its "Hello, Friend" greeting.  Thank You, Sandy, for your warm and wonderful thoughts sent my way!