A Floral Birthday Bouquet!

I needed another birthday card, and of course, I seem to work best under stress, so I allowed myself little time to complete my card.  I checked out Splitcoaststamper challenges for a bit of inspiration.

The Inspiration Challenge helped me with my color choices and several card layouts from the Featured Stamper Challenge helped me decide on my layout and some embellishing elements.  My inspiration Featured Stamper cards also gave me the idea to include the Alphabet Challenge, Round 8, Letter "F" + the double challenge within that challenge of needing something on my card with swirls. 

My card also took on some features from a card presented at a card class I attended several weeks ago.  That card was presented by one of our hostess, Luci Kirschenbaum, so I want to give her some thanks for inspiration as well.  Take a peek at my finished card for my friend's birthday, plus the inside coordinated design with my composed verse:

Ingredients:  Papers:  Stampin' Up CS--Kraft, Whisper White; Recollections CS--Essentials (Violet).  SU Stamp: Lots of Lavender (2018-SAB), Happy Birthday Gorgeous.  Ink:  SU--Wisteria Wonder, Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake; Memento--Tuxedo Black.  Cuttlebug Embossing Folder: Birds and Swirls.  Pretty Pink Posh: Gold Sequins.  SU: 5/8" Burlpa Ribbon.  Copic Markers.  Size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4".

Love You Much Valentine!

I finished a half-made Valentine card that I started several years ago when I thought I was going to need a quick card for a short notice invitation, but it turned out to be a false alarm.  It has been residing in my "To Do" Stash ever since.  I needed two cards for my cardmaking buddies, and further motivation came from seeing some Splitcoaststamper Challenges I wanted to enter as well!

After seeing the  Splitcoaststampers' Dirty Dozen February Monthly Themes MORE is MORE challenge, I thought this would be the perfect card to finish and then do a more elaborate version to meet the challenge requirements, which requires a simple card be modified and elaborated upon to make a more complex version.  I will also use it to start the new Alphabet Challenge Round 9. . .pre-alphabet card, which is to make a Valentine card.  I am making two of the stepped up version #2 for my two cardmaking buddies.

My first and simple version is the card front with several mat layers and a cardbase.  My second, and more elaborate version sports an embossed heart and places the card front and two matted layers on a Basket Weave Edged card base.  Take a look below at Version #1 and Version #2.  Version #2 also has a finished inside with a created verse.

Version #1

Version #2

Version #2 with completed inside

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Coastal Cabana, Melon Mambo, Very Vanilla.  Washi Tape--Retro Fresh (2014-15 Annual/ retired).  Stamp--Best of Love (2013 Anniversary celebration Best of... stamps).  Ink--Melon Mambo.  Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots (retired). Punchs:  Full-Heart (retired); Boho Blossoms (smallest blossom- retired); What's Up? (arrow-retired).  Essentials Punch Pack (heart piercing).  Rhinestones.  Stash: crochet ribbon.  Punch: EK Medium Scallop Photo Corner.  Technique: Basket Weave edge (aka Braided Edge; aka Lattice Edge). Chatterbox verse.  Size: 5: x 5-1/2".  

A "So Sweet" Valentine for Hubby!

I decided I should finish a card that was demontrated in a card class hosted by Stampin' Up demonstrator Liz Thayer a few years ago.  Its parts have been languishing in my "To Do" box for quite awhile.  Of course, I have to tinker a little to make the card a bit more my own.  

I added a black cardbase to add more layers and because I thought a black and red edging would look ever so much more striking than just red, plus I widened my layered edges to be more like a frame.  I re-arranged my heart colors a bit, plus added rhinestones to the curlicues on the sentiment.  The inside to tie-in with the front is entirely my own design, including the created verse, which I used on all my Valentines this year.  I used to do a different verse on every seasonal card. . . finally the lightbulb went on after feeling way overburdened.  "Why do that,"  I said to self. . .so obviously I stopped!

I plan to enter this into the SCS Alphabet Challenge for Letter S...no double challenge for me on this...I just couldn't quite see a hot glue design that would in any way enhance the look of my card...LOL!  Hot glue reminds me of buggers to be quite blunt and honest!  Didn't think hubby would appreciate that!  Although, one clever lady wound yarn around her glue ball as her focal point was all about cats. . .that glue ball did work well!  

I found a few other challenges it might fit into as well.  Now it's time to take a peek at hubby's finished card inside and out below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up papers:  Cardstock--Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White; Pattern--*Stacked with Love Pad.  SU stamp: *You Plus Me.  SU Ink: Real Red.  SU Punch:** Sweetheart; **Itty Bitty Accent Punches--Heart.  **1/8" Taffeta Silver Edge ribbon: Red and Black. SU catalogs: *2015 Occasions/ retired.  **2014-2015 Annual/ retired.  SU Rhinestones.  Created Verse.  Size: 4-5/8" x 5-7/8". 

X is for XOXO Valentine!

Another two Valentines to design, of which I plan to make two. . .one for son and his wife and one for youngest daughter and her husband.  This one will focus on meeting the Alphabet Challenge, Round 8 "Letter X". . ."X" = XOXO!  I am using an old stamp to get XOXO onto my card to meeting the Letter "X" challenge, and I decided early on not to try for the double challenge of C for collage, as it seemed to me it would have to lean toward vintage to achieve a collage look.

Based on the WORD Challenge for "TEMP" in the new February Dirty Dozen Monthly Themes, I must use items on my card that start with each letter of the word TEMP.  My already planned stamped sentiment will be the printed word XOXO.  I will use a background stamp that is retired name En Francaise (retired) for my letter E.  My letter M will be the hot pink color I plan to use with  black and white as well...Melon Mambo, and the P will be the punches that I will use.

The third challenge is the 2018 Use It challenge to use materials and tools that have not been used in a long while and never used.  This will be no problem for me, as I have challenged myself to use all already-on-hand materials and tools and to bring out those gathering dust for this year's session in Valentine cardmaking!  Everything is old, as it turns out...perfect for this last challenge!  Take a peek at the finished card inside and out.  I think my children and their spouses will like their Valentine card!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Cardstocks:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Silver Glimmer.   SU Stamps (retired): En Francaise (background stamp), Oh, Goodie! (XOXO-2013 Occ), You Plus Me (heart-2015 Occ), Oh, Hello (inside corners chevron pattern-2013 Occ).  Ink: SU-Melon Mambo; Memento-Tuxedo Black.  Die: Nellie Snellen--Dots Circle.  Punches: SU--1-3/4" Circle, 1" Circle, Itty Bitty Accents-Heart (retired); EK Medium Scallop Corner.  SU-3/4" Black Chevron (retired).  Created verse.  Size: 4-7/8" x 6".  

Note: I have borrowed a several years old design by Liz Thayer that I made at a card class she hosted.  I've added layers, lowered by area of background stamping, changed my ribbon knot to right side, enlarged my circle focal point and added a die-cut bottom layer. 

A Valentine in the Pink of Things!

I have another Valentine card to enter on my blog.  This one is especially made for my first daughter, and she gets one made with pink and punches to fit my Splitcoaststmper Alphabet Challenge, Letter "P" for just that...PINK and PUNCHES!  The double challenge for this letter was "K" for kraft.  The description indicated that kraft could also be bleach white, like that used on large envelopes or gift paper bags.  I went in search of the big white envelope that came in the mail with my insurance papers in it.  I cut a piece of white from it, and used it to stamp on my little Valentine plant.  Sure hope this meets the double challenge requirements!

I am also trying to meet a self-imposed goal to use a lot of my old Valentine materials and tools in my stash rather than buying new things. . .though I have to admit I did buy a few new stamps because I just couldn't help myself, but they haven't actually arrived, so I won't be using them this year!

I really delved deep for Michele's card and pulled out a stamp set I bought way back in 2011 that I haven't used in at least four years called Valentine Defined by Stampin' Up.  I really like this set for its variety of stamps that can be so creatively used.  I decided on the little long-stem tiny heart plant, the LOVE sentiment, and the string heart border that I used to make my own stamped paper.  I also added my own punched hearts from red glimmer paper to add some bright colors and glitz!  I needed to use pink on my card to fit the alpha challenge so I used pink cardstock and pink ink distressing on my white kraft panel.  In addition, I used all punches and no dies to be sure I was spot on with Letter "P."  First three layers where adhered together flat (gray cardbase, red and pink layers) to form a set of three layers.  The remaining layers were adhered together flat and popped up off the first set of three layers.  I used a foam sheet to "pop up" the top set of layers, which is difficult to see in the photo.  Take a peek below at my finished card both inside and out!

Ingredients:  Paper:  Stampin' Up cardstocks--Basic Bray, Real Red, Pink Pirouette, Red Glimmer; Envelope Kraft White (recycled).  SU Stamp: Valentine Defined (2011-Occ/ retired).  SU Inks: Basic Gray, Real Red, Pink Pirouette.  Punches:  SU--Scallop Edge (retired), Heart to Heart (small heart-retired).  Stamped patterned paper (part of stamp set).  Darice Foam sheets.  Stahs: 1/2" Red grosgrain ribbon. Ink Distressed (Pink Pirouette ink).  Computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6."

Numbers for Valentines!

I found an old piece of XOXO Valentine patterned paper by My Minds' Eye from the Love Me collection.  It seemed like a good masculine piece, so I thought it would work for my oldest son's Valentines card.  

I am still working on finishing Splitcoasterstampers Alphabet Challenge, Round 8.  I have Letter N, Letter P, and Letter X for which I thought this paper might work. . .N=Numbers, P=Punches, and X=XOXO (the paper pattern).  For Letter P, I was thinking that might work if I used all punches to make the card.  I could not make up my mind, so I work with all three letters being a possibility, and I thought I'd figure out which challenge to go for at the end, based on what other Valentines I had yet to make that might fit one or the other of these letters.  I also checked out the current Featured Stamper's gallery (Michelery) and found several possible layout ideas that I thought would work, especially with my Numbers idea.

I decided to use primarily red and kraft cardstocks.  The flip side of the Numbers Grid paper is a grid of calendar numbers with a 2 ♥14 showing up on every two or three rows.  I decided to make a circle focal point of the 2 ♥14 numbers to fit Letter N for numbers.  I add a kraft circular layer under my top 2 ♥14 layer.  These first two punched layers were easy because I have lots of sizes of plain circle punches, but I wanted a final decorative red mat to finish this focal area.  I did not have a large enough scallop circle or a circular heart edged punch, so I built my own using a Martha Stewart lacy heart punch in my stash.  I punched four of these and overlapping their tips in the center to form a circle.  I was pretty please with the final effect and it was the perfect size.  

I used some additional old punches to make a scalloped decorative band across the card and added a red strip for color.  The band would host my punched sentiment and its under layer that I positioned on the left side of this band.  I then popped three large red pearls on the right to finish off the band.  In my mind's eye, the card needed a bit more, so I punch curved corners all around on the patterned dsp.

This is one of those cards that starts with a simple design idea that grows as it is put together.  When I was finally satisfied with the front, I moved on to designing the inside and adding my personalized verse that I completed on the computer that I planned to use on most of my family Valentines.  I think son, David, will be very please with the end result.  Take a peek below at the finished look inside and out!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstocks--Kraft, Real Red, and Very Vanilla.  Patterned paper: My Minds' Eye - Love Me/ Numbers Grid.  Stamps: P.S. I Love You.  Ink: Early Espresso.  Punches: Stampin' Up--1-1/4" Circle, 1-1/2," SU retired--Scallop Border, Modern Label, Word Window, Triple Corners (inside); Martha Stewart--Lace Scallop Heart LG; Zutter--Corner Rounder.  Recollections Pearl: LG - Copic colored.  Dovecraft Pearls--Christmas Basics--smaller pearls.  SCS Alphabet Challenge - Letter N!

Valentine Dots & Hugs for Friends!

I'm going to a Stampin' Up cardmaking event in the next week, and I wanted to make some Valentines cards for the two ladies our hostesses.  This was especially since I was unable to get my Christmas cards finished and mailed due to hand and bone issues where I was forced to wear thumb braces 24-7 to help try to get the pain and swelling under control.  I am now down to several hours a day without the braces, so I will take advantage of that time for cardmaking, and hope I do not find myself right back to the same issues all over again.  Meanwhile, a cortisone shot in my left thumb joint has helped considerably, which is my worst hand.

Moving on. . .  I decided to use the Basket Weave Edging (aka Braided Edge/ Lattice Edge) technique, which is fun to do and gives such an amazing look of added elegance to a card...at least in my humble opinion.  I want to enter my card into the Splitcoaststamper Alphabet Challenge for Letter D for DOTS, using a dot embossing folder to feature dots on my card, which also inspired my blog title, Valentine Dots & Hugs for Friends!

I also looked into other possible challenges to enter as well before beginning.  I was inspired to branch out in that I am not creating a card in the traditional Valentine colors of black, red, pink, or white.  Mine is to be sapphire blue, medium pink, and yellow and sports a peek-a-book washi tape heart.  I was inspired by the Inspiration Challenge Spoonflower website for my colors and the Ways to Use It for my peek-a-boo heart.

I created a peek-a-book heart window and used an embossing folder on the card front to create some dimension.  I threw in a little washi tape for added interest in the peek-a-book heart and the "hugs" die-cut sentiment!  Take a look below at my finished card; I made two identical cards for my hostess friends.  I'm sorry to say that I forgot to take a picture at the card interior designs with their personalized computer verse before I gave them away, so I am unable to share that with you.

Ingredients:  Cardstocks:  Stampin'Up--Whisper White, Pretty in Pink (retired); Recollections Cape Cod Blue pack (sapphire blue shade).  Stamps: Happy Day (flower center punched out).  Ink: Melon Mambo.  Dies:  Technique Tuesday--Di Heart Hugs.  Punches:  SU retired: Full Heart, Boho Blossom (medium flower); EK Medium Victorian Corner punch.  SU Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots (retired).  SU Washi Tape: Gingham Garden (2012-13 annual catalog).  SU Ribbon: 3/8" Pretty-in Pink Stitched Grosgrain (retired).  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Rhinestones.  Basket Weave Technique (aka Braided or Lattice Edge).  Size:  4-1/2" x 5-3/4."      

A 2018 Valentine for Mom!

It's time to make a Valentine card for my Mom!  I sure miss her...with all my knee and hand issues starting over two years ago, I've missed three of my traditional semi-annual trips to visit her.  I will not be able to go until this coming fall due to my second knee replacement in March!  Mom will be a spry 93-years old in August, 2018.  We always spend lots of time cardmaking together on my visits, along with my sister who lives in the same town in California!  We usually schedule a week-long girls' get-away to Mt. Shasta...what wonderful memories!

I pulled out some of my old unfinished Liz Thayer card kits and their pictures to see what I might use and get them out of my too full "To Do" box.  I found this little gem that I never put together during my knees "hiatus."  I love the paper colors and Liz's design, so my plan was to keep it quite similar, but add a little here or there to put a little "me" into it.  Then, I would design a complimentary inside and verse to finish it off.

I re-cut and enlarged the white cardbase and added a Crisp Cantaloupe layer between the base and the black layer to add more color.  (I saved the old cardbase to cut and use for the inside card verse).  I added rhinestone gems to the four corners, the banner points, hearts, and sentiment circle, but the bones of the design still shine through.

Now that Mom's card is finished, it really reminded me how much I loved the Valentine Stampin' Up products I bought in 2015 and 2016 but never had the opportunity to use.  I will check out some Splitcoaststamper challenges to see if any of them fit, as I already had the colors, papers, and design ideas before beginning my card.  Take a look below at the finished card inside and out.  I think Mom will be pleased!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up papers:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Basic Black, Crisp Cantaloupe (retired); Patterned dsp--Stacked with Love.  SU stamps: Hello Life (2016-retired).  SU: Happy Heart EF.  SU punches: Itty Bitty Accents Pack (2016-retired); 1/2" Circle; 2" Circle; 2-1/4" Scallop Circle.  SU-Rhinestones.  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Computer-composed verse.  Size: 4-1/2' x 5-5/8".

Vintage Valentines!

I need to make about eight Valentine's cards, and I really want my first one to be along the vintage lines as it has been sometime since I've made this style of card, and it's one of my favorites.  I am earmarking this card for a very dear friend.

According to what has been my "norm" in the last six months, I also want to enter it into some of the Splitcoaststamper challenges.  Following my usual pattern, I checked out possible challenges that would fit a Valentine's theme, and I found about seven challenges that would allow me to make a vintage Valentines card and also meet requirements for each challenge's specifications.  Take a peek below at the finished inside and outside of my card, which fits all seven of my selected challenges.  Look below the Ingredients area, if you are interested in the back story of the design and the making of this card.

Ingredients:  Papers: Stampin' Up (SU)  - Cardstock--Whisper White, Pool Party; Recollections Soda Pop pack (mint green); DCWV: The Glitter Cardstock Stack (white); Pattern: Prima (stash). Dies: Cottage Cutz Expressions--Happy Valentines; Spellbinders--Woodland Wreath; Spellbinders--Hearts Nestabilities.  May Arts: 3/8" Sheer Dots ribbon.  SU: Pearls.  Colorbox--Chestnut Roan Ink (distressing).  Personalized computer verse.  Distressed Edge Technique.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

STORY UNDER CONSTRUCTION