A Little Note Card Send Off!

I made a set of four butterfly note cards and a cute little box to enclose them several years ago during a Stampin' Up class event held by my sister (Heidi Gonzales, My Lil' Scrap Corner.  I thought I could use one of these little note cards to send off my registration confirmation for an upcoming cardmaking event. . .the annual Totally Lovin' Christmas hosted by Liz Thayer (my Stampin' Up upline).  I always like to include a little art work with most of my transactions with people I know well.

Almost all of the products used are retired Stampin' Up items from the butterfly stamp, the butterfly punch, the ribbon to the designer paper.  The butterfly is stamped in calypso coral and then clear embossed, though it does not show up well in the picture.   Even though most of the products used are now retired, it is still possible to CASE the card using different products that are similar and come up with something uniquely your own!

By the way, Liz Thayer has just set up her own personal blug.  She did a GREAT job. . .jump on over and check it out.  Here is her link:  http://glitterbuggreetings.typepad.com/my-blog/

Recipe:  SU products: Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Lucky Limeade; DSP: Everyday Enchantment (retired-SAB 2012); Stamps: Flight of the Butterfly (retired); Ink: Calypso Coral;  Ribbon: 3/8" Ruffled Pool Party (retired); Clear Embossing Powder; Pearls.

Birthday Celebrations the French Way!

A friend of an especially good friend is having a birthday later in September, and several ladies, including me, will be taking her to lunch.  I wanted to mark her birthday with a handmade card from me.  I have made at least three "Paris" cards in the last few year and added them to my card stash, probably because my daughter-in-law loves all things French.  The Eiffel Tower is one of her favorite tourist attractions, especially since she and my son made their trip to France and Italy a few years ago.  Probably because of this, I have felt the nudge to create "Paris" cards depicting The Eiffel Tower.  

The "Paris" card that I have chosen for my friend's upcoming birthday is made from several pieces of the Graphic 45 Tour de France paper collection.  Graphic 45 is one of my favorite paper companies, especially when making vintage style cards, though I don't think this card is truly of the vintage style.  I hope the birthday lady enjoys her French birthday card and her gift card for a cup of latte!

To turn this "Paris" card from just a generic card depicting The Eiffel Tower on its front and into a birthday card, I decided to use a little French in it's inside birthday verse.  Here's a peek at the inside design and my little French verse!

Recipe: SU Chocolate Chip cs, MME-Everyday Tango, MME-So Sophie/Celebrate, K&Co. Portabello stack, Graphic 45-TourdeFrance/ Eiffel Tower.  SU Calypso Coral (sponging); Colorbox Chestnut Roan (edge distress).  SU Early Espresso Scallop Tulle.  SU Buttons: Sweet Stitches, Regals Designer.  EK CardCreator Corner punch-Basketweave (modified/ inside).  Karen Foster Scrapper's Floss:Yellow.  Stash: Brown Lace; Rust/Gold Velvet ribbon.  Computer-made verse.

Peeking At My Seaside Birthday Vacation!

By birthday falls at the tail end of August.  My lovely daughter invited me to her Seaside beach house for a week's stay to celebrate the event.  Upon our arrival late on Sunday afternoon, the day before my birthday, we did a bit of grocery shopping for our stay, went to dinner to enjoy Seaside clam chowder at one of our favorite little restaurants, and played UNO with a little glass of wine for company!  I surely skunked Michele. . .the UNO luck was with me! 

Seaside Beach House

Edgewood Escape - 1060 S. Edgewood, Seaside, OR

A Place to Dine &  for Fun & Games! 

On my Monday birthday, we did a little scenic tour south to Rockaway Beach, stopping in Canon Beach for brunch, in Wheeler for a little antique shopping, and investigated Rockaway Beach and visited their information caboose to learn there is a dinner train during Peak Season, which we put on our Bucket List for future fun.  We returned to Canon Beach and the Wayfarer Inn for dinner and a window seat view of Haystack Rock.  

Dinner @ the Wayfarer, Cannon Beach

Tuesday was birthday tea at Dina's (Michele's mother-in-law), a little shoe shopping, and dinner at Wet Dog Brewery in Astoria, followed by a Redbox DVD. 

Tea At Dina's

Dinner @ Wet Dog, Astoria, Oregon

Wednesday through Friday, Michele had to return to work during the day, but as she works from her home, she is able to do that from the beach house as well.  They have a desk and perfect place for her to do that all set up!  She brings her work computer, printer and papers from home, hooks up to the Internet and away she goes!  

We were able to get a little work in on the beach house as well, mostly during Michele's lunch hours and/or breaks and an hour or two after her workday ended.  She had purchased a new dresser for one of the five bedrooms and assembled it.  We moved the old dress to the surf shack workroom for repair and re-painting on another visit.  Michele installed wood curtain rods in several rooms for new curtains that I will make on a future visit.  She's a whiz with a drill!  She kept the washing machine running non-stop while washing all the pillow covers, blankets, and duvet covers and shams.  I kept the iron heated pressing those duvets covers and shams to be returned to each bedroom.

Meanwhile, I spent a few days at the sewing machine making navy sheer valances for the Futon Loft, though I did manage to sneak in a few breaks here and there to read my suspenseful novel on my new Kindle!!  In additon, we moved the area rug from the living room to the Sage Room bedroom (I call this my room!) and re-arranged its furniture.  We added a new and larger area rug to the living room that we brought down with us, and we hung several pictures and/or wall art, but most evening hours, and even one lunch break, we reserved for fun!

Now, a bit about those fun times on lunch and workday evenings.  We enjoyed either going out to dinner or cooking together, walking on the beach, playing board and card games, and watching movies.  We certainly didn't miss the Seahawks final pre-season game vs. the Oakland Raiders.  GO HAWKS!  Also, I didn't give up my winning UNO throne, but I have to admit Michele is the queen of Mastermind!  Following are some pictures of those enjoyable times!

A Beach Walk & Back on the Prom - Seaside, OR

Dinner @ Maggie's on the Prom - Seaside, OR

Our time for departure on Saturday morning arrived all too soon, but to stretch it a bit farther, we decided to stop for lunch along our drive home to Washington.  We thought it would be fun to try out a restaurant in one of the tiny towns we always drive through, but never stop.  We selected Fultano's Pizza in Clatskanie, OR, because we've always enjoyed the one in Canon Beach!  It did not disappoint!  

Fultano's in Clatskanie, OR & a "little" Calzone!

It was difficult to get back to everyday living after such a peaceful and leisurely vacation. . .at least, it was for me since I'm retired.  Though Michele had to return to work while we were still in Seaside, I think she enjoyed our leisure time for sure, and I thank her for the wonderful interlude away and a week filled with fun and good company!

Thanks Needed for My Seaside Birthday Vacation!

My daughter, Michele, took two days off work and took me to her beach house in Seaside, Oregon for my birthday week.  Our vacation provided an amusing, relaxing and enjoyable respite both on our two-day vacations days and the three workday evenings, and I thank Michele for the lovely interlude with her in Seaside!  I wanted to make her a little thank card for taking her time to spend with me and providing a lovely birthday week with so many pleasurable and relaxing occasions to remember.  It was so SWEET of her, and I hope she enjoyed it as much as I did!

(Card inspired by unknown author from picture taken at a cardmaking event.)

Recipe:  Stampin' Up:  Cardstock - Basic Black, Real Red, Very Vanilla.  Pattern dsp - Summer Picnic (retired).  Stamps - Tart & Tangy (stamp-off technique), So Many Scallops (both retired).  Ink: Real Red.  Punches: 1-3/8" Square, 1-1/4" Square, Scallop Edge Border (all retired), 1-3/4" Scallop Circle (modified).  EK CardCreator Punch: Basketweave Corner.

Thank You for the Delicious Birthday Tea Party!

While in Seaside for my birthday vacation, my daughter, Michele's mother-in-law, Dina, hosted a little birthday tea party for me!  I traditionally pay them a visit every time I am in Seaside, and often she serves tea with cookies or dessert, but we generally know when she is going to do that.  This time was a nice surprise of tea, cookies and a present as well.  Dina is such a lovely and kind-hearted lady, and I truly enjoy visiting her.  She sets a lovely tea table with her English fine bone china tea set, and this time was no exception.  I'll share a picture of her table setting before we demolished all the goodies!

I wanted to send a little handmade card to thank her for her birthday tea and her kindness in thinking of me during my birthday stay in Seaside.  I had been wanting to try Spirelli weaving on a scalloped die-cut circle.  I had a picture I took at one of my Stampin' Up upline's card events that I really liked.  I don't believe this design was made by Liz, but rather one she acquired through card-sharing at a Stampin' Up convention several years ago.  

I decided to use the bones of this card picture to make Dina's thank you card.  I liked the colors used on my picture sample, so I decided to stick with them, but added a third more layer to the background matting and one more flower layer in the center of my spirelli design and a pearl.   I, of course finished off the inside with a design compatible with my outside and composed a little verse with my computer. 

I know Dina will be surprised and please when she receives her thank you card.  She never fails to thank me for the cards I send several times a year.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up:  Cardstocks - Island Indigo, Bermuda Bay, Pool Party, Whisper White.  Stamps: Apothecary Art (sentiment).  Ink: Island Indigo.  Dies: Top Note (retired), Ovals Collection.   Punches: 1-3/4" Scallop Circle, Boho Blossoms (retired), Itty Bitty Punch Pack (retired), Scallop Edger (retired).  Pearls.

Thank You. . .Hydrangeas...What a Lovely Gift!

While vacationing in Seaside, Oregon for my birthday at my daughter's beach house, Michele's sister-in-law brought over a lovely bouquet of the largest, darkest purple and darkest blue hydrangeas I have ever seen.  Now, if you don't know, hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers since I was a little girl, because they flourish in my hometown of Eureka, California.  These flowers just love that cool coastal weather found in both Eureka and Seaside!  I had to find a way to bring them home so that I could continue to enjoy them some more.

I wanted to thank Julie and her family by making and sending a little thank you card for remembering me with this special gift.  I thought I would share her thank you card with my blog readers.  I decided to pull out some of my older Stampin' Up products that I haven't used in a while because I just love this stamp set and this patterned dsp paper.  Julie's card is a circle-shaped card, made with the largest Spellbinder Classic Scallop and plain dies, but the rest of the card uses Stampin' Up products. 

Next is a quick peek at the card's inside.  The leaf is done with the Gently Falling stamp set, which has outline stamps and inside filler stamps.  By over-stamping, you can put the two together to look like my leaf.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up paper: Cardstocks - Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, More Mustard, Very Vanilla; Pattern dsp - Spice Cake (retired).  Stampin' Up stamps: Gently Falling (retired).  Stampin' Up Inks: Soft Suede, More Mustard.  Stampin' Up pumches - Modern Label (retired), Word Window.  Stampin' Up: Pool Party 3/8" Ruffled ribbon.  Spellbinder dies: Scallop Circle/ Plain Circle Computer-made sentiment and inside verse.  Font: Abbeyline/ Cheddar Cheese BTN (BIG).  Size: 4-1/2" diameter.

Handmade Birthday Card Pressie from My Sister!

I'm always excited when I get a card from my sister as she is totally responsible for my developing cardmaking as a hobby!  Way back in 2009 when she opened her scrapbooking store in Redding, California, I became hooked.  I started out going to classes in her store while I was visiting our Mom two times a year and also giving them a hand with computer work developing an Excel program for tracking her income and expenditures.  First, I only made cards from her kits; then I expanded by adding a few tweaks to her kit cards to make them more me.  From there, I started creating my own card designs and little by little I've developed my own style (which is varied, I'd say).  I love my six-year old hobby!

Heidi loves Papertrey Ink products, and this card shows off one of their newest kits which includes a foursome of stamps and dies called Nostalgic Notions.  I particularly love the inside very large scallop rectangle with the matching dotted border stamp traveling along the scallops.  I'll have to share the inside so you can see what I mean!

Thank You, Heidi, as always I love my card!