Sugar & Spice & Everything Nice!

I have another grand-niece, and her name is Farrah.  She is my sixth little niece and my sister's sixth granddaughter!  This little one belongs to my sister's youngest boy (of four children), and she is his second daughter!  Are you confused or what???

For this baby girl, I wanted to use my Cottage Cutz baby clothes dies, which I purchased at least two years ago and have never used them.  I cased a card by Jeannie Donnelly where she used the clothing dies in the "inchies" format, and I thought it was just too cute.  I really liked the inchies idea, but changed mine just a bit.  I used the bib from the Fancy Baby Border, scalloped squares for my inchies, and made them smaller in diameter.  I decided to simplify my sentiment frame, and not added  flowers, making my card less fussy.   

One thing I did find was that to accommodate the clothing dies, you had to use a square at least 1-3/4 inches in diameter, thus my card ended up 6-1/2 inches square.  Because of the amount of room around the clothing, I believe the card that I cased had to have been made with a 2-inch postage-edged square die, which would make that card a minimum of 7-1/2 inches square.  I decided that was just TOO big...my 6-1/2 inches is already pretty darn big!  

I am quite pleased with the outcome of my LARGE card, and I think little Farrah and her parents will like it as well.  Take a look below at the inside and outside of my little baby card.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstock: Whisper White, Daffodil Delight, Pretty in Pink.  Recollections: Glitter paper (iridescent). Patterns:  K&Co.-Susan Wright Spring Blossom Stack; DCWV Preppy Princess Stack;  Recollections-Southern Hospitality/ Southern Belle; Paper Pizazz/ Soft Tints Yellow/Pink Gingham; Recollections-Dots, Stripes & Plaids stack; Prima-Divine Collection/ Epigram; SU-Love Blossoms Stack (bib).  Stampin' Up Ink:  Pretty-in-Pink, Melon Mambo.  Dies: Spellbinders Nested Scallop Squares (1-3/4" dia.); Memory Box-Typewriter Upper Alphabet; Cottage Cutz-Baby Girls' Clothes/ Fancy Baby Border.  EK Punch: Scalloped Corners-Large.  Size: 6-1/2" square.  

Birthday Niece #2 is a BIG Two!

This is my second great niece with a late September birthday, and she will be a GREAT big two-years old.  I had the chance to spend a little time this spring getting acquainted with Addie, and she is a delight!  She has such a funny little personality, and she is just as cute as she can be with her big blue eyes and her gigantic smile.  

I just love making children's cards because they are so much fun, and it gives me a feeling of  joyfulness during the entire process.  It allows the years to slip away and brings back fun childhood memories.  While in this nostalgic mood, I reminisced about how my brother and I used to look forward to Saturday morning cartoons, where one of our favorites was Mickey and Minnie Mouse and their adventures.  

Thinking about Addie with her adventuresome personality, I thought it would be fun to make her a really cute, little, girly Minnie Mouse card, but I needed a little help getting my children's cardmaking  mojo going after being on a sympathy card binge of late.  I went on line to check out Minnie cards on Pinterest, but found there weren't a whole bunch to choose from.  A few used embossing folder texturing and I like that idea, as it reminded me of my "happy birthday" embossing folder that I had used earlier this year on my young boy "Minion" card.  With mojo arriving, I decided on a pink Minnie rather than the traditional red, adding to my desired girly look.  Take a look below at my finished Minnie card inside and out!  I think it will bring smiles and giggles of delight when viewed by its recipient.

Ingredients: Stampin' Up cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo.  Dies: MemoryBox Stitched Scalloped Circles; Spellbinders Classic Circles; Cottage Cutz Expressions-Birthday, Girl. EK Punches:  Circles-2-1/2," 1-3/4," 1," Victorian Corner (modified).  Cuttlebug Happy Birthday Embossing Folder.  Ribbon:  Stampin' Up 1/2" Scallop Dots-Melon Mambo (retired); 1/8" Taffeta-Melon Mambo; Offray 3/8" Black & White Dot.  Uni-ball White Gel Pen.  Stash: Button, Rose Embroidery Floss.  Size:  5-3/8" x 6".

Birthday Niece #1 Turns A BIG Four!

I have two great nieces who have birthdays in late September.  For niece #1, I decided to use a little punch art to make a cute little girly dress on her card for her special day.  Over the last several years, I have seen several little girl dresses on card on Pinterest, some  done with punch art and some with dies.  Needing to get my creative juices flowing, I decided to re-visit "little girl punch art dresses" on Pinterest to see what I could find.  I found one that looked like a little tutu made from pink vellum for the skirt, using Stampin' Up's Blossom Builder Punch, which is now retired, but, I am happy to say is part of my tool stash.  

Looking at this Pinterest card brought to mind several little girls I had seen shopping with their Moms wearing tutu-style dresses, as it seems to currently be a part of a lot little girls' wardrobes.  These dresses seem to come in all types of styles and fabrics from really frilly and fancy silky fabrics with ruffled tulle layers to a little more casual style with a knit top and gathered ruffles layered about three layers deep.  

Well, my juices were flowing. . .I would use my seldom used Blossom Builder punch to make my skirt and my Spellbinders Decorative Dress dies for the bodice.  I would not use tulle or vellum, but rather complimentary paper patterns.   My little tutu dress card is VERY girly and VERY pink, and I think my two-year old great niece will love her new little dress card.  Take a look below at the finished card, both inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Shimmery White.  Darice Core'dinations cardstock pack: Soft Side.  BoBunny Tutu Double Dot.  Recollection Glitter Iridescent White cardstock.  Recollections Itsy Bitsy Ditsy: Cherry Pie (floral).  Stampin' Up sentiment stamp:  Teeny Tiny Wishes.  Stampin' Up Ink: Melon Mambo.  Stampin' Up Labels Framelits.  Stampin' Up Punches: Blossom Builder, Curvy Corners; Word Window (all retired).  Ribbon: Stampin' Up-Melon Mambo 1/8" Taffeta; Offray 3/4" pink check.  Size: 6-1/8" x 5-1/4".

Bee Happy. . .Sweet Friend!

I am planning to attend my Stampin' Up mentor's Totally Lovin' Christmas annual event on October 1st.  She had a special fee running for those that signed up and paid at her last Birthday Bonanza event in August, but refused to take payment from me.  Her reasoning, when I don't pay her directly, I have been in the habit of mailing my payment, accompanied by a specially designed card just for her.  She said she was feeling deprived, because she had not received any lovely handmade cards from me in a very long time, so she would much rather receive my payment via mail.  She said I would get the special rate, but only if payment was accompanied by one of my handmade cards.  Now, I ask you, is that bribery or what. . .LOL!

I was feeling the pressure to really get with it and perform at the top of my game, but I had so many commitments and cards to make with absolute deadlines that it took almost a month before I could begin Liz's card.   Meanwhile, while making  my other needed cards, my creative juices were flowing in the background around numerous ideas for Liz's special card.  

I finally got down to finalizing the design for Liz's card.  Since she is such a sweet friend, I decided to incorporate a bumblebee embellishment die-cut that I made a few years ago at a store that had AccuCut dies for use.  Using this bee, I would make a "Bee Happy" card.  I added Wink of Stella Clear to my bee's vellum wings and to the flowers, but the picture does show off the shimmery wings very well.  Take a look below at my finished card front and coordinating inside design with my little "bee" verse.

 Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstocks:  Basic Black, Crushed Curry.  Black & White digital stripe.  Flower pattern: scrap.  Vellum.  Grafix Lt. Chipboard.  AccuCut die: Mini Bumblebee.  Little B work die.  Pretty Pink Posh: Stitched Borders 1.   EK punch:  Trumpet Flower Corner.  Wanelo Washi Tape.  Petaloo Darjeeling flowers.  Prima leaves.  SU Bermuda Bay Baker's Twine.  Wink of Stella: Clear.  Computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 5-7/8".

Retirement Congratulationns Are in Order!

My friend and cousin-in-law has just retired after many years working for Koch Industries.  She will now join the ranks of us who enjoy everyday being Saturday and can go to bed at night and not have to set the alarm for tomorrow morning!  To commemorate this milestone in her life, I wanted to make and send her a congratulations retirement card.  I love black and yellow together so that is the color scheme I decided to use.  I hope she is careful to following the suggested things to do during retirement found in the card inside. . .one of which is to relax!  Take a look below at my finished card inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin'Up cardstock: Daffodil Yellow, Basic Black.  MFT dies: Flutter of Butterflies.  Cottage Cutz Expressions dies: Congratulations (modified).  Sizzix Original die: Frame-Scallop Oval.  Stampin' Up punch: Curvy Corners (retired).  HugSnug: Goldenrod.  Darice Frosted Gems.  ColorBox: Chestnut Roan (distressing).  Patterned paper scraps.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Getting Better After Surgery. . .

A long-time friend has had surgery, and I am sure she is not feeling her best; therefore, I wanted to send her a little card to let her know that my husband and I are thinking about her and hoping for a speedy recovery.  I thought I would use a card that I made several years ago at a card class given by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, because I thought its sentiment was perfect....simply...."My Friend."  Inside I dressed it up with a little verse I composed and created a design that compliments the front.  It is made with such a bright and cheerful paper, I thought it would bring a smile to her face.

Ingredient:  Stampin Up products.  Cardstock:  Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Yellow.  Pattern:  Summer Smooches (retired).  Stamps: Perfect Punches (retired).  Ink: Rich Razzleberry.  Punches:  Curly Label (retired), 1/2" Circle; 1" Circle, Curvy Corners (inside/ retired).  Embossing Folder: Square Lattice (retired).  Regals Mini Brads (retired).  Technique: Embedded Embossing.  Size:  4-1/4" x 5-1/4"

An 11-Year Anniversary Celebration!

My oldest daughter is celebrating her 11th anniversary in the first half of September, and I wanted to make her a very feminine card this year.  Usually, I try for a middle-of-the-road card that sort of suits a man as well without being too masculine, but their cards have had fish, crossword puzzles, camping, two candied apples in a jar, and more...not really a girlie card; whereas, suitable for a man.  I decided this year Michele deserved one that was made with just her in mind.  Take a peek below at my finished card, which though made with Michele in mind, is for her husband as well!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up papers:  Shimmery White card base, Gold Foil, Gold Glimmer, Fancy Foil Vellum (hearts).  Bazzill Platinum Shimmer Vellum.  Cottage Cutz Expressions dies.  EK Scallop Scalloped punch.  Stampin' Up Curvy Corner punch (retired).  Offray 3/4" Gold Glitter ribbon.  Stampin' Up Gold/White Metallic Twine.  Stash:  Mini pearls, Shimmery sheer flower, Gold leaves.  Size:  5-1/4" x 6".  

Little Reese Turns One!

One of my little nephew's is turning one-year old this month.  Reese has an older nine-year old brother, for whom I have always made birthday cards, so Reese gets to become one of my permanent birthday card recipients as well.  See the finished card I chose for him below:

Ingredients:  Cardstocks: Bazzill--Tapioca (yellow), Aruba (aqua).  Stampin' Up--Very Vanilla.  Patterned paper: My Mind's Eye--Be Loved/ Fond Flowers.  Magnolia stamp: Edwin the Bug Catcher.  Spellbinders: Labels Eight.  Punches: Zutter Corner Rounder; EK Scallop-LG Corner (modifed to rounded corners).  Progresso Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored pencils with mineral spirits.  Recollections: Gold rhinestones.  Ribbon: 5/8" Offray Chocolate Double Satin.  Distressing: Colorbox Chestnut Roan.  Computer-made sentiment.  Size: 5" x 7".

Story + Tidbits

Reese's card is one that I actually made during a 2010 card tutorial class on woodless pencil coloring and cardmaking skills!  The class and card designs were created by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, who owned a scrapbook store at the time.  Take a look at the wonder coloring textures that she taught us in coloring his shirt.  

Yikes, I just realized this card is way older than its recipient by over five years!  Now, don't think I have never given this card away because I hate the card, but rather, the reason is that I loved this Magnolia stamped little Edwin the Bug Catcher so much that I hated to part with him.  He also represents the last card I have of my first attempts to color using the woodless colored pencils and Gamsol for blending and setting the colors, a coloring technique I used before I jumped to Copic marker coloring.

Another reason I still had it in my possession was because I really considered it a "little boy card," and I waited so long to give it up that eventually all my nephew's grew too old for it.  With the birth of Reese last year, I decided this was the time to part with it, and to Reese it would belong even though he still a bit young for bug catching.  But, you will note that the verse ties in bug catching that will surely be in his future.

When making my card, I tweaked the design just a bit by making it larger, from a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" size to 5" x 7" size.  In addition, I used a different and larger die set behind Edwin and added a few more rhinestones to the front ribbon.  The inside is completely my own creation from paper to verse. 

Sympathy Card for Sibling-in-Laws

As I mentioned in several posts in the past few weeks, my son-in-law's father passed on to the Lord after a few years of dealing with a terminal illness.  My son-in-law has three sisters, and I wanted to send each of them a sympathy card to let them know that they and their families are in our thoughts and prayers during this most difficult time.  

I made a card for their mother that I delivered while at the funeral, but I did not have time to make enough cards for each of the siblings before we left for Oregon.  I so liked the card I made for their mother that I decided to make three more cards using the same design but changing the color on each of them.  Take a look below at my finished cards for each of the sisters and their families in pastel shades of purple, pink, and soft greens and blues.  See: http://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2016/08/a-sympathy-card-for-family-in-law.html for the original card post.

Ingredients/ All Cards:  SU Stamps-Simply Sketched (ret./ sentiment).  SU Dies-Butterflies & Bold Butterflies.  SU Glitter-Dazzling Diamonds.  Elmer's Spray Adhesive.  SU Punch-Curvy Corners (ret.).  Spellbinders dies-Roman Trellis Background; Classic Ovals SM; Scalloped Ovals LG.  Recollections-Flower.    Computer-made verse.  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Technique: Frosted Glittering (spray adhesive and glitter).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Purple Ingredients:  Paper products: Bazzill cardstock-Purple Palisades.  SU cardstock-Whisper White.  DCWV-Pocket Full of Posies dp.  Memento Ink-Grape Jelly.  Recollections Purple Pearls.  Offray Ribbon-5/8" Stitched Satin; 5/8" Two-tone Sheer.

Pink Ingredients:  Paper products:  SU cardstock-Pink Pirouette, Whisper White.  My Mind's Eye-Everyday Tango Stack 2010.  SU Ink-Pretty in Pink.  SU Pearls (Copic colored).  SU Ribbon-Pink Pirouette Seam Binding.  Stash: 5/8" Metallic Stripe Sheer.

Soft Green/ Blue Ingredients:  Paper products: SU cardstock-Soft Sky, Whisper White.  Melissa Frances-Heart & Home Collection/Amanda.  Recollections Blue Pearls.  SU Ribbon-Pistachio Seam Binding.  Offray Ribbon-3/8" Two-tone Sheer.

A Sister-in-Law Birthday Beyond Compare!

As I've mentioned in numerous posts over the years, I have eight sister-in-laws. . .WOW!  But, on September 1st, just one day after my birthday,  a sister-in-law beyond compare has her birthday.  You may ask why is she beyond compare?  For one good reason, she is extra special because she is the sister-in-law I have known the longest, and she has always been willing to go that extra mile if she can be of help.  Of course, there are many other reasons as well. . .too many to list, for sure!   

For this special birthday card, I thought I would try out my new Spellbinder Birds on a Wire die.  There are ten birds. . .I think these represent her eight sister-in-laws and her two sisters. . .isn't that clever?  I think June will like her card with all those sisters that have come to visit!  Perhaps, we'll all have a cup of tea or a glass of wine during our visit.

Ingredients:  Recollections cardstock: 25 color pack: black, lavendar purple.  DCWV stack: Pocket Full of Posies.  Stampin' Up cs: Soft Sky.  Dies: Spellbinders Shapeabilities: Birds on a Wire; Petite Circles; Petite Scallop Circles; Scallop Circles LG. QuicKutz Scallop Corners.  Punches: SU Curvy Corners (retired).  Stash: 3/4" Variegated Silk Ribbon.  Petite Daisies (Copic colored).  Computer sentiment/ verse.  Size:  4-3/4" x 5-1/2".