An Anniversary Twosome Sail With the Breeze!

I'M SMILING AGAIN!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - AUGUST 6, 2017!!

We are celebrating our youngest's eleventh anniversary this year!  WOW! is it difficult to realize it has been that many years since this lovely couple married.  But, these two also celebrated the birth of their first child just a few months ago, so now it is easier to recognize that they've been married a few more years than five or so!  I wanted to make them a special card celebrating their first anniversary with Miss Callie Page in attendance as well.  Take a peek below at the finished card front and inside with my composed verse via the computer: 

THE BACK STORY!

I recently purchased this whimsical die-cut from Spellbinder, named Dandylion, which depicts the dandelion's seed head after flowering.  I thought I'd use it as an anniversary card with the two little seedlings sailing off in the breeze as a couple to begin their own family.  I dare say my imagination is a bit whimsical today!

My background is made with Stampin' Up re-inkers in Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delights, and a touch of Lemon-Lime Twist, and the Danylion die-cut is made using black glitter paper.  I made the sentiment using my computer and printing directly onto my finished watercolor background.  I decided to add a perky little sheer ribbon and bow, and pop the watercolor front and its black mat up off the Tempting Turquoise cardbase.  I'm pretty happy with my watercolored background since I have not used this technique much, and I'm not totally comfortable with it yet.

Splitcoaststamper's is also hosting their annual Dare to Get Dirty Challenges for their members who are SCS Fan Clubbers.  Since we are not supposed to mentioned what the basis of the challenge is, I will just say this one is for the very first challenge initiated by *Understanding  Blue (*the hostess' SCS nickname).  There is a color challenge going on as well, which requires the use of the three colors I chose for my card, so it will be entered that challenge as well.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products: Cardstock--Tempting Turquoise, Basic Black, Watercolor paper; Inks--Tempting Turquoise, Wild Wasabi, Daffodil Delight, Lemon-Lime Twist.  Darice core'dinations Glitter Silk-black.  Die: Spellbinders Dandylion.  Ribbon: Stash-3/8" Offray.  Computer sentiment.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".  Inside: EK Medium Scallop Photo Corner punch; SU: Daffodil Delight cs; Computer verse.  Technique: Watercolor...Let It Run.

Celebrating Father's Day Late!

WHAT A PLEASURE!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - JULY 23, 2017!!

My husband was away on Father's Day, so the children decided they would just wait and celebrate him belatedly.  I went to a card class while he was away, and I decided right then and there that one of the design ideas available to created would be perfect for hubby.  It reminded me of a family reunion vacation that hubby and I took, where most of his brothers, sisters, and their spouses were there.  We all pooled together and rented a beautiful three-story home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina right on the ocean...lovely, lovely.  Take a peek below...my husband will loved his card.

While making my card, our hostess ran out of the ombre-shaded paper from Stampin' Up's Color Theory dsp stack, so I thought sponging would do the trick just as well using Dapper Denim ink.  One other pattern in the same paper stack was used as the ocean waves by applying the torn paper technique.  The darker blue part of the paper was also in short supply, but when we checked the opposite side we felt this side would work just as well.  Personally, I like it better than the original suggestion.  I wanted my card to be a Father's Day card, so I took my card home and applied my own sentiment.  Such a fun card to make.  Thanks Dar Peterson for the design idea to CASE.

Ingredients:  Stamp;in' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Dapper Denim, Crumb Cake;  Pattern dsp: Color Theory DSP Stack; Stamps--High Tide(birds, sand), Colorful Seasons (Adirondack chair), Delightful Dozen (sentiment - retired); Inks--Dapper Denim (ombre sponged sky), Crumb Cake, Soft Suede (distressing chair), Always Artichoke (grass).  Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".

Tweeting a Belated Happy Birthday to a Dear Sister-in-Law!

WOW!  I'M EVEN MORE GIDDY!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - JULY 16, 2017!!

Take a peek below at the card that I designed and sent off as a belated birthday for one of my sister-in-laws on my husband's side of the family.  Also included below is the verse and complimentary design I created as well.  Then, follows The Story behind the creation.

The Story

With the slow recovery from my knee replacement surgery, I am so far behind, and I have missed so many birthdays and other events with my inability to climb stairs to my craft room.  Some are so far back, I will just have to let them go this year and concentrate on keeping up to date in the future.  Yet, I have several sister-in-laws' birthdays that I've missed, and I would really like to send them belated wishes if I can without getting behind with upcoming celebrations.

My sister-in-law, Dianne, is the wife of one of my husband's younger brothers.  They were married within a year of our marriage, and we spent a lot of time together as couples in the early years of our marriages.  This was before we each began a round of transfers around the country due to career promotions, etc.  We have never ended up residing in the same state in more than 30 years.  Just a few years ago, this younger brother passed away from a heart attack, but Dianne is still very much a part of the family, and she is always included in every reunion and get-together!

Since I have a new goal in cardmaking to try to enter more Splitcoaststampers' challenges, I thought I would focus my card design around at least one challenge's requirements.  I chose the Inspiration Challenge IC605 - Dessert Bies: Macaroons & Meringues, but ended up being able to use it in the Alphabet Challenge as well from its tag.   For the Inspiration Challenge, I went to the Pinterest inspiration board set up for the challenge.  Oh my, I learned a lot about macaroons.  While my stomach realized it was hungry and began growling loudly the longer I looked over those delicious-looking, beautifully, colorful morsels that can be any color in God’s Earth from soft pastels to bold and vibrant dark splashes of color!!  Below are the three particular pictures that inspired my card:

    

When I first start creating a card design, if I don't have a particular idea already in my mind, I check out my leftover, partial card pieces to see if there is anything that inspiring me to use it.  I found a yellow tag with pink ribbon and an uncolored birdie stamp tacked to a patterned dsp.  It was pretty bright and cheerful, but had a thanks sentiment stamped at the bottom of the birdies, which was actually part of the original stamp.  I thought...hmmm...trim off the sentiment and make the tag shorter to fit the shorter image.  Then, I separate sentiment tag with belated birthday might fit below the tag...I was in business and started rolling right along!

The little dsp attached had a bit of navy in the flowers; therefore, navy had to be the cardbase after seeing those lovely navy macarons (see above).  I switched out the pink tag ribbon for navy, and then I chose mat layer colors to add to the tag and dsp and layers to add to my cardbase.  Daffodil yellow would be my top layer and I decided embossing it would dress it up and make it more interesting and even better, crop the layer corners with my WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  

When I began assembling, I popped up the tag and its layers on the yellow layer,  and then decided to pop up the yellow and Melon Mambo on the cardbase.  Before reattaching the stamped birdies to the tag, I colored them with Copic markers and finished with Clear Wink of Stella to add sparkle.  Because my tag was pretty small, I decided to use the Washi punch (SU retired) and modify it by shortening it and only used a one-word sentiment to keep its size in balance with the tag.  I'm pretty satisfied with my card for Dianne...take another peek above!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks-Night of Navy, Melon Mamo, Daffodil Yellow.  DP: Gingham Garden.  Stamp-For the Birds (retired), Happy Birthday Gorgeous (sentiment).  Ink: Memento-Tuxedo Black, Wink of Stella-Clear.  Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots (retired).  Punches: Washi Label,    1/4" Circle punch.  Ribbon: 3/8" Denim.  White Baker's Twine.  Other products:  Copic Markers; Darice: Foam Sheets.  Computer-verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Fly with Me...Splitcoaststampers Challenges!

WOW!  I'M GIDDY!  THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - JULY 16, 2017!!

Lately, I have been getting more and more involved in trying out challenges on Splitcoaststampers (aka SCS).  If you're unfamiliar with SCS, it is  an online community of paper crafters from all over the world: primarily rubber stamping, cardmaking, but scrapbooking as well.  It started online in 2003, with its primarily focus on Stampin' Up product users, to give them a place to go for stamping-related resources and inspiration.  Over the years, the SU focus has changed to encompass all types of companies and their products.   Although, there is a separate access area for Stampin' Up demonstrators with a way to place your card entries into the SU area if it is SUO or SUM (Stampin' Up only or mostly).

Personally, I started visiting SCS at least eight years before I even started using Stampin' Up products, and I had no idea of its original focus until about two years ago!  It was a total surprise to me, because it so thoroughly covers most other companies.  There are also areas where you can go to see cards made using almost only My Favorite Things, Taylored Expressions, Cottage Cutz, etc. products.  So, Splitcoaststampers is now a site for those who use any products available on the market.  If you are unfamiliar, go take a look at: www.splitcoaststampers.com.

So, onto my challenge entries.  The Technique Lovers Challenge of 7/10/17 is Cardboard Roll Album,  and it asks that you make at least the cover for a mini album using cardboard rolls as its base, i.e., toilet paper rolls, paper towel rolls, etc.  There is a tutorial link showing exactly how to do that.  Now, I made a similar album about eight years ago when my sister, Heidi, owned a paper crafting store in northern California.  I still have her instructions from this class; therefore, I decided to make another little book using her instructions, because you do not have to use book rings to keep the pages together, as the pages are attached to one another in a spine-like manner.

Other challenges my little book will fit are: Technique Lovers Challenge from several week ago, named Spell It Out.  With it in mind, and the "rule" was to use a sentiment different than those we normall use, like happy birthday, etc., I made my sentiment "FLY."  Another challenge I have been looking at trying is the Featured Stamper Challenge, where a member of SCS is chosen to be the featured stamper of the week.  This week, it is Ann Greenspan's (SCS nickname: yaleann7), and we were to go to her gallery and choose one of her cards to CASE.  CASE means to be inspired by something about the card and incorporate into yours.  After choosing one of Ann's card, I designed my cover with these ideas from her card: her dragonfly, but mine is a butterfly; the die-cut shape, and lace from the lacy die-cut.  To view Anns card, click on the link below: www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2792811&cat=500&ppuser=340325Take a peek below at my finished mini album cover below:

Ingredients:  Cardboard rolls (page stabilizers) (i.e., rolls: toilet paper, paper towel, gift wrap, etc.).  Patterned paper: stash and scraps.  Stamp: Stampin' Up: Labeler Alphabet.  Die: Spellbinders: Labels Small.  Wood Butterfly: Michaels.  Acrylic Paint: Americana-True Red; Folk Art-Alizarin Crimson.  Prima Cameo Roses.  Offray 1/2" Lace.  Button: Stash.  Ivory crochet thread.  Distressed edges: Colorbox--Chestnut Roan Cat-Eye.  Size: 4-1/2" x 3".

Lights, Action, Shine...A Son-in-Law's Birthday Celebration!

I'M GLEEFUL!  THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - JULY 9, 2017!!

My oldest daughter's husband is have a milestone birthday this month...the pressure is on!  I wanted to make something really different, and I had just the thing.  I recently bought a darling Lantern die from SugarPeas, and I have been dying to use it.  Since Don and Michele like to camp a lot, I thought the lantern would be perfect for Don.

In addition, I wanted to try and meet some of the challenge requirements on Splitcoaststampers.  As it turns out, I will be able to meet three different challenges with the card I designed for Don.  It will meet the July 6th - Ways To Use It: utilizing stars in your card, the Alphabet Round 7 Challenge: Letter L...some type of light, and the Gallery Monthly Theme for April 2017: #1 - Background Check requiring focusing on the card's background by using a background technique, special paper, etc.

For my background, I decided to make a watercolor background with a night sky and lantern light.  This will be only the third time that I've actually watercolored a background, but this time it will have a totally different style as it is not at all random.  I wanted a light burst of yellows and oranges to represent the lantern light and a night sky with stars.  

I watercolored all over with Crushed Curry ink and then darkened the yellow in the area where the lantern light would be shining using upward brush strokes.  My next color for the lantern light was an streaked application of Strawberry Slush in upward brush strokes as well.  My next step was to make my galaxy-type night sky around the lantern light.  Once again, I used flicked brush strokes, but smaller, toward my lantern light.  The colors and the order I applied them over the yellow base was: Old Olive, Island Indigo, and lots of Night of Navy to finish.  I added stars to the night sky by using a paint brush and flicking it with finger snaps to sprinkle my stars in random sizes, but all very small, using White Pearl Metallic Folk Art acrylic paint watered down.  

I must say it was a challenge.  I had to do a trial run and then re-make my final piece to get my lantern light in exactly the right area without the night sky bleeding to far into it.  All in all, I'm happy I challenged myself, and I'm pretty pleased with my result.  I think Don will be pleased as well.  Take a peek below at my finished card inside and out!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up supplies:  Papers--Basic Black cs, Gold Foil, Watercolor paper;  Stamps--Balloon Adventures (verse); High Tide ("Shine" masked); Inks--Crushed Curry, Strawberry Slush, Old Olive, Island Indigo, Night of Navy; AquaPainter.  Other supplies:  Stamps-MFT/ At the Movies; Die-Sugar Pea/ Lantern; Wink of Stella-Clear (lantern light + sentiment words). Folk Art-White Pearl Metallic Acrylic paint.  Techniques:  Watercolor background; Paint Flicking (stars); Stamped Verse.  Size:  4-3/4" x 6".

A Wonderful 4th of July!

My long-time neighbors have been having 4th of July picnics for many years since our children became adults.  That sounds a little strange, but it is because their son loves to purchase wonderful fireworks with huge displays to share with all of us and family who are invited.  It is a potluck kind of day with lots of great people to visit and kibitz the day away!

I took a few photos of some of Derrick's massive 45-minute fireworks display.  I do not have one of those wonderful Smartphone with wonderful cameras...my Smartphone is one of the earlier versions and takes adequate photos for my blog, but does do as well with people photos or ones you have to take quick to get a great shot.  But, this will at least give you a flavor of how great the fireworks display is!