Bootie Tags for Baby Smiley!

My son's girl friend needed some baby gift tags for the birth of her great-niece and asked me if I could help out and make a few tags, possibly with baby booties on them.  I knew I had a baby shoe die, but hadn't used it before, but said I'd see what I could do.  Take a peek below at the finished product. . .Katrina LOVED them!  If you are interested in the creative mojo story, it follows below the "Ingredients" lists.

Ingredients:
For each tag:
White Tag base:  Stampin' Up DSP cardboard back sheet:  2" x 4-1/4."  Stampin' Up Scallop Tag Topper. Stampin' Up Christmas Stocking Thinlet die (modified stocking + bow).

Booties - top row from the left:

--Bootie #1:  Stampin' Up products: Pink Pirouette cardstock; Shimmer White cardstock.  Martha Stewart Heart Loops Border punch (cuff + tag bottom).  Stampin' Up 1/8" Pink Pirouette satin ribbon.

--Bootie #2:  Bo Bunny Double Dot Passion Fruit. Stampin' Up Shimmer White.  Stampin' Up Perfect Dot Embossing folder (cuff).  Simon Says Scallop Stitches die (cuff).  Stampin' Up Curvy Corner punch (tag bottom). 1/4" Strawberry Slush silver edge ribbon.

Booties: bottom row from the left:
--Bootie #3:  Stampin' Up Melon Mambo cardstock; Shimmer White cardstock.  Simon Says Scallop Stitched die (stocking edge...no cuff).  Stampin' Up Happy Heart Embossing folder (fussy cut two hearts from embossed cardstock).  Martha Stewart Heart Loops Border punch (tag bottom). 1/8" Offray hot pink grosgrain ribbon.
--Bootie #4:  Stampin' Up Rose Red cardstock; Shimmer White cardstock.  Stampin' Up Fancy Dot Embossing Folder (cuff).  Martha Stewart Swirling Lace Punch Around the Page Border (tag bottom).  1/8" Offray pink grosgrain ribbon (Copic colored).
--Bootie #5: Stampin' Up cardstocks: Pretty in Pink; Shimmer White cardstock (pattern edges); Pink Pirouette cardstock (bows).  Recollections Itsy Bitsy Ditsy Cherry Pie (cuff + toes).  Simon Says Scallop Stitches dies (cuff + toe edges).  Stampin' Up Open Scallop border punch (tag bottom).  Stash: Pink & White Baker's twine, doubled.

The Creative Bootie Story

When I took a look at the die, it just didn't strike me as what you want for a newborn, plus it was a bit fussy with lots of little parts to die-cut and put together.  I wanted it to be more like a little knit booties, and I wanted it to be simpler, as I'm still not up to too much cardmaking and die cutting after the knee surgery.  

I had been looking at some of newly published SCS challenges recently, particular the "Featured Stamper" and I remember a Christmas stocking card.  From that, an idea came to mind to use my Christmas stocking die that I purchased last year, but never got a chance to use it, and to cut down the length of the stocking!  It would be perfect for modifying and using as baby botties.  

It worked really well with a bit of ingenuity for the bootie cuffs and using different papers to achieve different looks.  This idea worked splendidly, but it didn't end up making it any quicker or easier, as I got carried away.  I added different colors of pink cardstock for each set of bootie tags, plus some Bo Bunny Pink Passion Double Dot, and a mini pink flower print.  I also added some different trims, dies, and embossing, and border punching.  I have to say, Katrina LOVED them...take a peek below:

A Jalopy for My Brother!

My brother's birthday is coming up in May, and I wanted to get his card started early so I could take my time while still recovering, slow but sure, from knee replacement surgery.  It uses the stamp set I order in March from Stampin' Up named, Country Livin', which is perfect for my brother because his hobby is restores old jalopy cars and pickups into beautifully restored vehicles.  Take a peek below at the finish card both inside and out.

Ingredients:  Paper:  Stampin' Up cardstock--Dapper Denim, Soft Suede, watercolor paper; DCWV The Guy Stack (grid).  Stampin' Up stamps: Country Livin' (truck), Guy Greetings (sentiment), Hardwood (bg).  Stampin' Up Ink: Garden Green, Soft Suede).  Stampin ' Up Embossing Folder: Woodgrain (ret.).  Stampin' Up ribbon: 5/8" Burlap.  Copic Markers.  Hand-cut double fishtail.  Chatterbox verse/computer prepared.  Size:  4-1/2 x 5-3/4".  

"The Card Story"

This card started out in a Stampin' Up card class with the original design by one of our hostesses, Dar Peterson.  I did not finish the card, because I wanted to modify it a bit to fit the Round 8, Alphabet Challenge...Letter J for jalopy and also to use Copic markers to color the stamped image instead of Aqua Painter and inks.   

I also reviewed several other Splitcoaststamper challenges to see if I could glean any additional ideas, and I found I was on the right track to fit several others as well.  I even got affirmation from the current Inspiration Challenge at the Smithsonian Institute under the "America on the Move" collection discussing the history of vehicle transportation in the U.S.  Under pickup trucks, it features a nice blue 1949 GMC pickup.  My idea to have a blue truck color would work perfectly, though my truck depicts a jalopy truck in need of restoration.

Not only did I change the coloring medium to Copics from the original design, but I also ended up modifying the card's sentiment from Father's Day card to a birthday card.   In addition, the alpha challenge I planned to enter has a double challenge to add Quadrille (grid) paper, which I did in the form of the soft blue DCWV grid paper for the sentiment background.  I also added this grid as an extra mat layer as well.  In addition, I decided my woodgrain background would be even nicer if I embossed it with the Woodgrain embossing folder.  I'm really pleased with my end results, and I think Mike will be equally pleased to show off his sister's card on the mantel at home!

Birthday Hugs!

One of my dearest friends celebrates her birthday in April; therefore, a birthday card is definitely in order!  Since my right knee replacement, I have not been back to my crafting table for several reasons:  1) it is still early in recovery to have my knee in an unelevated position and bent to 90 degrees for any great length of time; 2) stair climbing, where my crafting table is located, is still quite painful and difficult; and 3) lengthy standing and getting up and down from a seated position repeatedly is painful and difficult.  So, needing this card, I decided now was the time.  All this said, I did get the card done, but now I think a day of elevated recliner rest is needed.

Take a peek below at Sandy's finished birthday card; the inside verse and design follows; and if interested, "The Card Story" can be seen even farther down.

Ingredients:  Papers: Recollections Kraft pack; Stampin' Up cardstocks--Crisp Cantaloupe, Very Vanilla; DCWV French Country stack; scanned music sheet on vanilla cs (butterflies).  Dies:  Spellbinders Labels 17.  Punches:  Martha Stewart--Monarch Butterfly; Three-in-One Butterflies; Stampin' Up--Elegant Butterfly.  Pearls: Stampin' Up.  Offray Ribbon Roses.  Hug Snug Apricot Seam Ribbon.  Maya Arts Jute Twine.  Stash: Black & Rhinestone button trim.  Chatterbox verse/ computer-prepared.  Size: 4-5/8" x 5-7/8".

The Card Story

I have had the layout for Sandy's card in my mind's eye for several months, and just before surgery, I made a quick sketch in my layout idea book for future reference.  I also knew I wanted butterflies and music paper on the front and on the butterflies.  Before I actually began, I checked a few SCS challenges to give me some inspiration for the colors I might use with my music paper. 

I had the idea of a two-panel veritical layout, but I wanted the edge to be curvy rather than just boxy straight lines, but did not have a wavy edged border die that would work where the two patterned papers would meet.  Then, I had a "light-bulb moment". . . I thought maybe a decorative rectangle or square die might work if I only ran it partially through the Big Shot.  I found the Spellbinders Labels 17 fit my idea and the biggest die in these nested dies would be large enough for the height I wanted my card to be.  

Take a peak at the card above and note where the black music paper meets the floral rose patterned paper.  I die-cut my "rose" paper only allowing part of the die to enter under the Big Shot roller press and then cut the top and bottom straight just after the corner curve was complete with my paper cutter.  A smile appeared, showing how pleased I was about how well it worked and how good it looked with the two papers joined together!

My butterflies were the next item to work out.  I decided to punch my butterflies out of cream background music paper that I made by scanning a song sheet onto a piece of vanilla cs with my printer.  My butterfly punch that was just the right size for my little square mats is the Martha Stewart "Monarch" punch with lacy holes in the butterfly wings.  It was pretty, but it some color peaking through the lacy holes, but I did not have a solid butterfly that matched the "Monarch" shape.  Another "light-bulb moment" when I thought of trying the solid Stampin' Up "Elegant Butterfly" punch, which is a bit smaller and has a totally different wing shape than my Monarchs.  It didn't really seem to matter about the shape as long as it filled most of the lacy holes on the wings and as a bonus, I really like the little bit of the cantaloupe cs peaking out on the bottom of the wing.  From this point, the card fell together like clockwork, and I was totally happy with the results as I think my friend will be.