Christmas = a Star of Wonder...Star of Night!

This pocket card is my tenth and final Totally Lovin' Christmas card remake.  I used the color scheme and papers from the kit, but added quite a few additional papers and elements to satisfy my creative thoughts and edit ideas after taking a look at the original design.

Of course, again, I wanted my card to be the larger A6 size, and I wanted more color and pizzazz.  Here is a list of the changes I made:

1) I wanted a livelier color scheme, especially for the star panel that was the beautiful focal point of the front of the pocket card.  I chose a pretty Copic color close to Stampin' Up's Seaside Spray cardstock, which allowed me to add a new coordinating Seaside Spray cardbase and automatically enlarging my card as well.  My blue star with its added Navy highlights and a gold filigree gem in the center was so much more eye-appealing than the monochromatic grayish-blue star with its tiny clear rhinestone.  I was stoked with the look of the changes, and my juices were flowing!

2) The original star panel was backed with gold glimmer paper, but this was the only area the glimmer was used.  I wanted MORE for lots of sparkle and sheen.  I used the gold glimmer as a mat layer between the balmy blue cardbase and the navy plaid pocket, plus I added it to the sentiment pocket insert as described below in #4.  

3) The original design's pocket was all navy cardstock, using the navy/ green plaid as an accent rectangle on the lower front pocket only.  It just called for MORE!  I add the plaid to fill my pocket back and the entire front of the pocket, leaving the plain navy cardstock on the fold-over pocket flap only that hosts the ribbon band and star focal panel.

4) For my pocket insert, I left the navy cardstock as the bottom layer, but added a gold glimmer mat layer between the navy base and white sentiment panel.  I also added a gold glimmer half circle pull tab to the insert with a bitty navy star.  The original design used a silver brad added into the sentiment area as the way pull the insert out.  On the insert, I dropped below the sentiment at the top and added the navy Merry Christmas stamping, plus a little verse with a navy star at the bottom, leaving a space in the center for the sender's signature.

All these little additions changed the look of the finished card oodles, and I was really please with the results.  Check out the finished pocket card below...inside and out.

Recipe Ingredients:   Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Night of Navy, Seaside Spray, Whisper White.  Patterns--Wrapped in Plaid (2019 Holiday p. 14).  Stamps--Shine Bright (star - 2019 Holiday p. 28); Star of Light (sentiment/verse - retired).  Ink--Night of Navy.  Ribbon--3/8" Cherry Cobbler Diagonal Stripe (2019 Holiday p. 25).  Gold Faceted Gem.  Other:  Paper--DCWV Gold Glimmer.  Wink of Stella-Clear + Gold (star spokes: clear/ overlaid in gold).  Copic coloring--star--B41 + B97.  A6 Size: 4-1/2" x 6-1/4".  

Christmas...Joy to All!

This is my ninth card from the Totally Lovin' Christmas kit by Liz Thayer.  It is another with only minimal changes, which enhance, but do not change the overall look of the card.  My changes and/or additional are listed below.

1) I increased my card size from the traditional A2 size (4-1/4" x 5-1/2") to my favorite A6 sizing (4-1/2" x 6-1/4").  I did need to cut all new all the paper pieces larger and restamp my Christmas tree, but since I was donating the original kit pieces to my Mom, this was okay).

2) I decided to dry emboss the pink mat layer to add depth and texture.  I have to say, I really think this added tremendously to the card look!  

3) I colored my tree flowers with Copic markers, which I always thinks gives a more clear and beautiful look with shading control.  

4) I added Wink Of Stella-Clear to add a touch of shimmer and mini pearls to each flower...I love these additions to the look!  

5) I eliminated the loopy silver thread in the upper left corner between the silver foil layer and tree stamp layer.  I didn't see any beauty added with the thread, and with my additions of embossing, shimmer, and pearls, I thought it a bit too much.

I am really thrilled with the final look of this card.  That added embossing was a perfect idea if I don't say so myself!

Recipe ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White and  Blushing Bride.  Champagne Foil.  Stamps-=-Shine Bright (tree/ sentiment - 2019 Holiday/ p. 28).  Embossing Folder--Filigree Frames (retired).  Basic Pearls--2mm/ 1/16".  Gold Faceted Gem (smallest)--tree topper.   Punch--Curvy Corners (inside/ retired).  Other:  Copic coloring--Tree trunk--E21, E23, E27; Leaves--G82, YG67; Berries--RV29.  Flowers--RV00, RV11, RV34.  Wink of Stella--Clear.  Pink Posh sequins.  Chatterbox verse.  Size A6--4-1/2 x 6-1/4 inches.

Sweet Christmas Wishes

This is my eighth card from the Totally Lovin' Christmas kit designed by Liz Thayer.  By the way, this was the card I saw that made me want to purchase this kit and assemble the cards, either exactly as they were designed or modifying them to make them more pleasing to me for whatever the reason.  Many times there is just a creative spark that gives me an idea of a little change and other times it is the inclination to add so many changes, it no longer even looks like the original design.  This one is another mini additions and tweaks without changing the basic Thayer design.

I love the stamp and dies set used in this design, plus I love the rustic feel of the card design.  For some reason, my patterned strips were missing from my kit, so I began immediately to search of papers that would give me that rustic feel.  I found non-Stampin' Up papers that incorporated strips in red and white candy stripes, as well as a green ivy sprigged stripd that ended in an eyelet scallop.  I thought  this piece would work really well, especially with the candy cane die cut.  I layered my chose stripes from the paper together to form my own sequence of stripes, whcih set off numerous ideas to tweak and modify the card design here and there.

I incorporated a total of six changes in all, as follows:1) I wanted to enlarge my card to my favorite A6 size, so I added a new Shimmer White cardstock for the base.  2) I added my new Christmas striped paper talked about in paragraph two above, ending with three striped colors layered together, making my paper striped pieces wider.  3) I changed out the Crumb cake cardstock to a golden brown Kraft paper by Recollections.  4) I changed the smooth card front by adding a woodgrain dry emboss texturizing, plus I added ink-distressed aging on all edging.  I really liked these added texture and distressing features.  5) I changed the sentiment ink from Cherry Cobbler to Gumball Green, and I removed it from the card front flat surface.  I stamped the sentiment on smooth Kraft cardstock that matched the card front.  6) I added a curvy, fancy-edged rectangular label die of Cherry Cobbler cardstock as a mat layer peeking out below the stamped sentiment and popped this twosome up off the card front.  7) I substituted Shimmer White cardstock for the peppermint poinsettia mug.  8) I twine-tied and arranged my ribbon pieces at an angle and tightness that suited my eye appeal.

I was really happy with the results of my card...take a peek below at the finished card, inside and out.

                                                                             

Recipe Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Shimmer White, Cherry Cobbler, Real Red.  Ink--Gumball Green.  Stamps--Cup of Christmas (2019 Holiday/ p. 34).  Dies--Cup of Cheer (2019 Holiday/ p. 34), Stitched Circles (1-7/8"), Labels Collection (retired).  Embossing Folder--Woodgrain.  Ribbon--3/8" Shaded Spruce, Gold Metallic, 5/8" Polka Dot Tulle (halved), 3/8" Red Cotton.   Other:  Recollections--Kraft.  May Arts--Hemp Twine.  Christmas Cane Striped dsp--unknown.  Ink Distressing--Colorbox Chestnut Roan.  Paper Technique: Clear Embossing for Sheen.  Size-A6 = 4-1/2" x 6-1/4."  (Thank you to Liz Thayer for the inspiration from "Totally Lovin' Christmas 2019" card designs with my additions and modifications).

Thinking of You This Season!

On to my seventh Totally Lovin' Christmas card kit.  I loved the Crumb Cake with the white embossing and layout of this sweet card, but I, of course, wanted it larger, and thought a bit more color, dimension, and texture would be good as well.

I checked out several Splitcoaststamper challenges to see what I could do to enter some of the challenges in trying to play challenge catch-up.  One Featured Stamper challenge card confirmed more brown tones would probably work well.  I added a Soft Suede cardbase and enlarged my card layers.  I changed my sentiment layer ink to a darker brown shade and left off the tree panel's corner ribbon...I thought it was too much and liked it more simple!  

I wasn't sure how Liz accomplished the snowfall, but I used a sponged-tipped make-up pen in Versamark w/ white embossing, a white gel pen for smaller snow, and added a bit of fine glitter to tree surface.  I also thought the tree would be extra pretty if it was layered.  I stamped and white embossed two additional trees, fussy cut them (lots of detailed cutting), and popped each layer up, one over the other, using large thick glue dots as I wanted the popping up to be more subtle than using dimensionals.

I was really happy with the layered tree popping...it added so much depth, plus I like the white gel pen and bit of glitter for more texture and sparkle.  This was the perfect card to send to my niece in Bend, Oregon where they are sure to see a white Christmas.  Take a peek below at my card finished inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products--  Cardstock/ Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla.  Stamps--Winter Wood (sentiment/ tree) (2019-20 Annual).  Dies--Stitched Brightly (embossed boughs-2019 Holiday.  Ink/ Soft Suede; Versamark Watermark.  Embossing Powder/ White (tree + snow drops).  White Gel pen.  Punch/ Curvy Corners (retired).  Other:  Recollections Fine white glitter.  Fussy-cutting.  1/2" glue dots (popping tree).  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

Happiest Christmas Wishes!

Working on my sixth Totally Lovin' Christmas make over.  I loved the non-traditional colors on this card, but somehow the layout just didn't really send me over the top, so I changed up the whole card, which keeping most of the colors, the ornament image, and sentiment.

Meanwhile, I enlarged my card closer to an A6 card sized by adding an Early Espresso cardbase and a lime glitter paper mat layer.  Next, the original Perfect Peacock cardbase became the card front color.  I rotated the peacock foil patterned piece to vertical and added a lime glitter paper mat layer.  

For my image layer, I cut down the size of the ornament layer and added layers below the image to make it a three-layer combination.  I die-cut the bottom Pretty Peacock layer with a decorative layer die modified to leave only one curly bracket shape on its right side to host the vertical sentiment.  I wanted more color so I incorporated both the lime and peacock colors on my ornament with Copic markers.  To the lime coloring, I added a bit of Wink of Stella-Clear to give it some shimmer.  To finish, I Versamark stamped and heat embossed the vertical sentiment with Early Espresso embossing powder and popped on three peacock-colored rhinestones.

This is a very non-traditional colored Christmas card!  Take a peek below at the finished inside and outside designs.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Early Espresso, Pretty Peacock.  Patterned--Noble Peacock Specialty paper.  Stamps--Lots of Cheer (sentiment/ ornament - 2019-20 Annual).  Dies:  Labels Collections (retired).  Embossing Powder--Early Espresso (retired).  Holiday Rhinestones (2019 Holiday).  Punch (inside): Curvy Corners (retired).  Other products:  DCWV Glitter Paper--Olive; EK Corner Punch: Victorian Corners.  Copic Markers (lt. aqua (pool parlty)/ olive (olive).  Wink of Stella: Clear.  A6-4-1/2 x 6-1/4 inch cards.

Christmas Brings A Spirit of Peace

I'm working on my fifth card from the Totally Lovin' Christmas card.  I'd call this one a mini makeover!  I actually loved the design of this card and just wanted to make it my traditional, larger-sized card, closer to an A6 size (4-1/2" x 6-1/4") than the more common A2 size (4-1/4" x 5-1/2").  While I was at it, I had a few other tweaks I wanted to make.

To make my card larger, I added a new white cardbase and recut the original Garden Green cardbase into a mat layer to use between the cardbase and the dry embossed and ink-sponged birch trees top layer.  Rather than using Liz's choice of Crumb Cake for the embossed birch tree layer color, I substituted the retired Burnt Brown Sugar cardstock that has a more cinnamon brown look, giving it a more lively and cheerful look.  Sometimes, Crumb Cake just seems a bit blah to me.

I made four other minor changes:  1) I chose to Copic color my pinecones (E21, E23, E59) and fussy-cut the die cut edges down a bit more; 2) I used chunky glitter for my snowy effects rather than the snowfall puff paint. (I like the nice, chunky texture and sparky effect); 3) I added a few more pine branches peeking out from below the sentiment focal piece; and 4) I ink distressed the edges of the card giving it a more aged look.  All in all the card only has subtle changes, which does not change the overall look all that much!  Take a peek at the finished card both inside and out below.

Recipe Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Garden Green, Burnt Brown Sugar (retired), Red Glimmer paper.  Stamps--Peaceful Boughs--2019 Holiday.  Ink--Garden Green, Soft Suede.  Dies--Beautiful Boughs-leaves, sentiment frame--2019 Holiday.  Woodland EF-sponged w/ Soft Suede. 3/8" Red Grosgrain ribbon.  Chunky Glitter--2019 Holiday.  Holiday Rhinestones (inside verse corners).  Other products:  EK Punch--Victorian Corners.  Copic Markers--E21, E23, E59.  Size A6: 4-1/2 x 6-1/4 inches.

Season's Greetings in a Z-Fold Card

I'm onto my fourth card using Liz Thayer's November Totally Lovin' Christmas card kit remodels.  I have to say, I totally loved this card with the Z-Fold and frosted Christmas tree; therefore, I only made a few changes.

For my card, I cut my pieces larger than the original design, and I changed the sentiment, the tree topper to a gold star (from an enamel dot), and filled the inside with a full plaid panel.  As the original had no inside design, I added my own verse stamp and layout design to hide behind the Christmas tree panel.  I changed how the plaid was used behind the frosted tree.  I decided to add a small rectangle of plaid paper behind the see-through frosted tree and then fully cover the panel back with a piece of red cardstock to match the cardbase.

The technique to make the frosted Christmas tree is simple and lots of fun.  I punched out the tree on the white cardstock.  I placed a large rectangle of clear packing tape over the tree hole with the sticky side to the card front.  The next step is to liberally sprinkle fine iridescent glitter onto the sticky tape and tap off the excess onto a piece of clean paper to allow you to return the unused glitter back to its jar.  Top your tree with a tree topper...in my case, I used a gold star punched from gold foil cardstock.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Real Red, Whisper White, Gold Foil.  Patterned paper--Wrapped in Plaid 6x6 Pack (2019 Holiday).  Stamps (2019 Holiday)--Frosted Foliage (Queen Anne's Lace BG stamping); Peaceful Boughs (sentiment/ inside verse).  Ink--Garden Green.  Punch--Pine Tree (Perfectly Plaid--2019 Holiday).  3/8" Shaded Spruce/Gold Stripe ribbon (2019 Holiday).  Other:  EK Punch:  Victorian Corners.  Size:  4-1/2 x 6-1/4 inches).

Christmas Wrapped in Holiday Spirit!

I'm onto my third Totally Lovin' Christmas modification...a cute little present snowman.  This one was a bit too plain for me, and the Soft Sea Foam green didn't do much for me with the blue.  I put my re-designing thinking cap on, and my soft green became a pinked white glitter paper center panel, my little snowman got a lot of fussy-cutting, and he changed his hat color too.   I decided he needed a navy cardbase with a silver foil mat layer between the Seaside Spray front panel, which surely need a bit of snowflake embossing to bring out some lovely texture.  My sentiment needed a pick-me up with a navy matting to coordinate with the new cardbase color.

I kept the layout with modifications, added new papers, dry emboss texturing, some glitter, foil, and a popped up fussy-cut snowman...it's done, and I am pleased.  This card surely must go to my snowman-loving friend! 

Meanwhile, when I saw the "square" snowman, I was thinking about a Splitcoaststamper challenge I was sure I'd seen requiring using things with squares.  My geometric snowman would surely fit!  Take a peek at the finished card below, both inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Balmy Blue, Silver Foil, Whisper White.  Stamp: Lots of Cheer (snowman/ sentiment).  Dies: Finishing Touches Edger (pinked).  Embossing Folder: Snow Burst (2011 Holiday).  1/4" Metallic Seaside Spray ribbon (2019 Holiday).  Other:  Colorbox Glitter paper--Fresh Snow.  Inks--Memento Tuxedo Black.   Colorbox Charcoal Cat Eye (ink distressing).  Punch--EK Victorian Corners.  Copic markers--Snowman/ B000, B21, B32, O; Hat/ B91, B95, B97; Ribbon/ R00, RV23, R83.  Scarf/ YG13.  Carrot/ YR18.  Wink of Stella-Clear (ribbons).  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.   (Thanks to Liz Thayer for original design idea that I took the liberty of modifying).

Joyful Season

Here's another redesigned Christmas card from Liz's November Totally Lovin' Christmas.  I did quite a bit of rearranging, adding and subtracting, basically changing the card design almost entirely.  I used the original stamped wreath image, but colored it with my Copic markers, and the red glitter strip with the bell, though I moved the bell upward about an inch.   I made the wreath panel into a 2-1/2-inch square rather than a 3-inch rectangle and repositioned it near the top rather than at the bottom.  I did leave the red glitter mat layer beneath.
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I enlarged my card to an A6 size by adding a new cardbase layer, and added festive patterned Christmas paper for the top front layer.  I added Clear heat embossing to this paper to give it some sheen.  The patterned paper really perked up the card and brought it to life.  I chose a new and larger sentiment stamped on the same green as the cardbase and added it to a red glitter mat layer shaped with a decorative die.  I popped both the wreath and the sentiment up off the patterned paper front.

I am delighted with the finished look and like all the additional sparkle and sheen.  I then created a decorative inside design to coordinated with the outside.  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Red Glimmer paper.  Stamps--Lots of Cheer (wreath/ sentiment).  Dies--Labels Collection.  Linen Thread. Mini Jingle Bells (2019 Holiday).  Other:  Patterned paper--Candy Candy/ Holly Stripe/ unknown.  Zutter corner punch.  Copic markers--Wreath Bells--G40, G21, YG68, G07; Ribbon--R01, R32, R37, R39 (lots of blending).  Wink of Stella Glitter Pen--Clear.  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-1/2 x 6-1/4.

Happy Christmas & To All Goodnight!

I made Christmas cards while visiting my 94-year old Mom in California during October and early November.  We made a crafting mess on her dining room table for two week...but what fun it was!  I traveled down with a 10-card kit with pictures from Liz Thayer's Totally Loving Christmas cardmaking session in November.  As her cards are traditional the A2 size (4-1/4 x 5-1/2 inches), and I prefer cards a bit larger, I usually remodel them to fit my preferred size.  Meanwhile, I make modifications to the design by adding or subtracting bits and pieces to make it more me.  Sometimes I change a lot and sometimes I change just a little.

To help Mom out, I decided to give her the A2 card kits and make new pieces for myself, adding to the designs as desired.  But, then Mom saw what I was doing to mine and she liked that too, so I ended up adding new pieces to the card kits as well.

Below is my first remodel.  The card was originally done in gray, red, and white.  I decided that it needed a bit more sparkle by bringing out the lovely gold metallic ribbon edging.  I removed the gray panel and added a gold foil layer that I texturized by embossing with the Sparkle embossing folder.  This really brought the card to life!  I then designed an inside that coordinated with the outside.  Take a peek below at the finished card.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Real Red.  Patterned:  Wrapped in Plaid 6x6 Pack (2019 Holiday).  Stamps: Greatest Part of Christmas (2019 Holiday).  Dies: Frosted Frames (2019 Holiday).  Sparkle Embossing Folder.  Ribbon: 3/8" Gold Metallic Edge--Very Vanilla (2019-20 Annual).  Iced Stampin' Glitter (2019 Holiday).   Recollections 8-1/2 x 11 Gold Foil Paper Pack.  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  EK Punch: Victorian Corners.  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-1/2 x 6-1/4.  (Thank you Liz Thayer for basic card design).

Hugs for a Friend!

One of my good friends is always so good about making sure she touches base, lends an ear, and brings cheer when I need a little "pick-me up."  She did just that when my brother had his heart attach while I was away visiting my Mom.  I wanted her to know how much I appreciated her and her thoughtful ways, so I made her a little friendship hugs card.

The original design for this card was from Darla Watson's October Stampin' Up card kit.  I loved the basic color design, the country-style flowers in a can stamp, and the puff paint, but I wanted larger, with more layers and colors, plus some personal touches to make the card fit my occasion and reflect more of my style and design.  I added an Early Espresso cardbase with a Crushed Curry mat layers beneath the original Granny Apple Green cardbase/ front, creating a three layer base rather than one and add more bright colors as well.  I corner punched the curry and green with two different styles of corner punch designs.  I cut down the size of the flower can white background to eliminate some white space and allow for a sentiment to be added, and  I rounded and design punched the corners to add interest.  I incorporated the puff paint idea from the original card, and I colored my flowers and the can to incorporate the bright colors of the added cardstock layers, plus shadow-colored the blooms with a  pale yellow-green. 

 

The original card did not have a sentiment, but I added an Early Espresso, rectangle mat-layer beneath my water can with my "hugs & kisses" sentiment...just the right message for my friend.

Prior to starting my card and design changes, I have reviewed some Splitcoaststamper challenges to see where this card might fit.  I will be posting later to my Splitcoaststamper gallery and to challenges.  Take a peek below at my finished inside and outside design.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Early Espresso, Crushed Curry, Granny Apple Green, Whisper White.  Stamps--Country Home, Good Greetings (sentiment- Oct. 2014).  Ink--Soft Suede.  Punch--Curvy Corners (retired).  Snowfall Accents Puff Paint (2019 Holiday).   Other:  WRMK--Deco Corner punch.  Zutter Corner Rounder punch.  Copic Markers.  Colorbox Ink--Chestnut Roan Edge Distressing.  Inside--Douglas Pagels verse.  Size--4-3/4 x 6 inches.

Remembering a Warm and Wonderful Lady!

My daughter-in-law lost her grandmother several months ago and her memorial service was held later in September, all when I was unable to make sympathy cards while recovering from hand surgeries.  Her grandma was a warm and delightful lady, who always had a big smile and never failed to stop and chat after church each Sunday.  She was always willing to lift and hand and do anything and everything to help.  She was part of the women's ministry who made and served our church's monthly breakfast, and she was an avid cake maker, as well...such beautiful creations!

I really wanted to acknowledge her memory and loss with a handmade sympathy card for my daughter-in -law and her mother.  Also, to let them know how thankful I was to have been able to get to know her even better after her granddaughter was engaged and married to my son!  Using the basic design from my October 28th post, I modified it once again with a change-up of colors, embossing folders, and the window creation using white heat embossing with the Flowering Flourish stamp, and for a more subtle effect, I used the reverse side.  I made the purple for my daughter-in-law and the pink for her mother.  Take a peek below at the finished cards inside and out!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Highland Heather, Pretty in Pink, Vellum-Translucent.  Stamps--Serene Garden (dove), Flourishing Phrases (oval window white embossed design).  Dies--Crosses of Hope (cross), Layering Ovals.  Ink--Sahara Sand (dove), Highland Heather & Pretty in Pink (oval window brayered coloring).  Embossing Powder--White.  Embossing Folder--Tufted Dynamic.  Other:  Colorbox--Snow Frost Glitter paper.  Dies--Spellbinders Grommet Tags w/modified ends using Spellbinders Classic Triple Scallop Edges. Ribbon--Offray 5/8" Sheer Stripe, 5/8" Sheer Ruffle.  Punch: EK Victorian Corners.  Copic coloring--doves.  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse.  Size:  4-3/4 x 6 inches.  (My card design was inspire by an Easter card by Dar Peterson.)

I've been on a mission to catch-up on back challenges that I was not able to enter for one reason or another; therefore, I checked my Splitcoaststamper Challenge List before beginning, I had lots of inspirations to be able to enter my finished cards into several challenges. 

A Cardmaking Birthday Buddy to Celebrate!

One of my cardmaking buddies had a birthday in mid-October, and we finally got to celebrate with her a few days past a month overdue!  She made a wonderful week-long trip to Hawaii for her birthday, which delayed our original plan to celebrate in October.  Then, you know how it is...first their was my daughter's baby shower, then another friend's son went hunting and his sick dog needed babysitting, then my trip to visit my Mom...and on, and on, and on, it went!  But, we were determined and finally got it done with lots of fun and laughter to make the day special!

This was a card I made while visiting my Mom in California.  I got a card kit designed by Darla Watson, Mom's Stampin' Up lady, from her October card class. I put them together while visiting in Redding.  Of course, I always have to add a little personal pizzazz to make them more me, first by enlarging them, as I always like cards bigger than the traditional A2 sizing most commonly used.

For this card, I change its sentiment focus from thank you card to a birthday card.  I ink-distressed all edges to add a bit of a vintage flair.  I added an Early Espresso cardbase and a gold glitter mat layer and embossed the background of the front layer.  I framed the tree square with more layers and switched from Soft Suede to Early Espresso, plus a gold glitter mat layer between.  Instead of stamping the sentiment directly on the card front, I popped it up on a three-layer rectangle, which included the same Early Espresso and gold glitter paper.  I brayered my sentiment paper to match the brayering in the tree picture and stamped it with a sentiment befitting a birthday and added copper brads to finish.  I was super happy with the results and pretty sure my cardmaking buddy would enjoy it as well.  Take a peek below at the finished design inside and out.

Ingredients:   Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Early Espresso, Mint Macaron, Whisper White, Pear Pizzaz.  Stamps--Snow Front (2019 Holiday), Express Yourself (sentiment).  Inks--Early Espresso, Pear Pizzaz, Mango Melody, Merry Merlot, Crushed Curry, Mint Macaron.  Embossing Folder--Square Lattice (retired).  Linen Thread.  Sponge Brayer.  Other:  Recollections Antique Gold Glimmer paper.  Copic markers to add extra fall leaves to trees/ ground.  Recollection mini brads--Copper.  EK Punch--Victorian Corners.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

Happy Wishes for a Dear Friend!

While visiting my mother in Redding, I was lucky to be able to attend a belated birthday luncheon for one of her favorite friends that I have claimed as a dear friend as well.  She is a delightful lady, and I so enjoyed being able to celebrate her special day with Mom and her.  Of course, I could not go empty handed, and fortunately, I had taken a few cards that I finished just before traveling that only needed an inside verse to fit the occasion to make it complete.  This, of course, received a Chatterbox birthday verse to finish it off.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstocks--Basic Black, So Saffron, Whisper White. Stamp: Birthday Blooms (flower/ sentiment). Inks--Blushing Bride (ink distressing). Punch: Curvy Corners.  Rhinestones.  Other:  Coloring: Flower--Copic Markers/ Y04, YR21, Y00, RV34, R37, SU Cherry Cobbler Medium.  Flower Shadow--Copic/ Y00.  Leaves--Copics/ G40, G12, G21, YG63, G46.  Wink of Stella-Clear (flower stamens).  Size: 6" x 4-3/4".

Sympathy for the Loss of a Son!

A kind and thoughtful lady that I met, probably, ten years ago, who is my Mom's Stampin' Up demonstrator, lost her 16-year old son due to a car accident a few months ago.  I was unable to make a sympathy card for her son due to recovering from hand surgeries.  So, I had to be satisfied with sending thoughts and prayers to her and her family, as well as joining a Facebook condolence post on her behalf, but I made a note that I really wanted to make her a card in the future as soon as I was able.

Meanwhile, I had a card idea started "brewing" in my head based an Easter card made by my Stampin' Up demonstrator, Dar Peterson, several years ago.  I loved her idea of the pretty oval floral-printed vellum oval, which reminded me of a church stained glass window, that she used as the backdrop for the cross on her card.  I thought it would make a lovely feature for a sympathy card.  At the same time, I was reading up a little on the Splitcoaststamper challenges available at the time, especially the Inspiration Challenge, which I always like to enter.  I found a metal scroll, rustic cross and a light blue cross ornament, which reminded me of a scrolled lattice background stamp that in blue might make a lovely oval vellum "window" for my masculine sympathy card.  I searched through my background stamps and found the lattice-style stamp that I was thinking of and place it on my craft table as a reminder for the future when my hands were better.

My hand recovery came about just before my four-week visit to my Mom in California in October and November.  Before I left, I tried out my vellum oval "window" idea and made several ovals to take with me.  Space was limited as I was flying.  While there, Mom and I got busy making cards to try and catch-up on missed occasions and also to build our Christmas card stashes.  I specifically worked on my three needed sympathy cards...the first being the one for this lovely Stampin' Up friend's sorrowful loss.   

Using Dar's original design as an idea base, I made several modifications to her card to make it fit for a sympathy card, plus make it a "more me" card.  I enlarged my card by adding more color layers with a different embossing folder pattern, plus a different color treatment, ribbon style, and sentiment layering dies.  I also added Copic color to my dove, stamped my lattice-patterned oval vellum "window" using a background stamp in Baja Breeze ink, added a scallop mat layer, and composed my own sentiment and interior verse.  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Dapper Denim, Vellum-Translucent.  Stamps--Serene Garden (dove).  Dies--Crosses of Hope (cross), Layering Ovals.  Ink--Baja Breeze (oval window), Sahara Sand (dove)  Embossing Folder--Stripes.  Other:  Stamps--Just Rite Modern Lattice Background stamp (oval window).  Dies--Spellbinders Grommet Tags w/modified ends using Spellbinders Classic Triple Scallop Edges. Ribbon--Offray 5/8" Stitched.  Punch: EK Victorian Corners.  Copic coloring--dove.  Wink of Stella-Clear (dove wings).  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse.  Size:  4-3/4 x 6 inches.  (Thank you Dar Peterson for the wonderful card design from which my card evolved).

A Birthday Card for Josh, the Family Hiker!

October is full of birthdays in our family.  This week's family birthday celebration is for my son-in-law, Josh, who is my youngest daughter's husband!  He is away on a camping trip, so I had time to be late with his card!  (Love it when it's okay to be late!)  

Per my usual cardmaking style, I began searching for a theme ideas that might fit him.  I checked out Splitcoaststamper challenges to give me ideas, which brought to mind a card made by my friend, Luci Kirschbaum, featuring an outdoor afternoon sunset scene that you might see on an outdoor hike.  Since Josh loves to hike and my daughter and their 7-month old granddaughter often accompany him, I decided an outdoor scenery card would be the perfect theme for Josh.  

I decided to use Luci's card as inspiration for my card, along with some other ideas from the challenges I reviewed.  Of course, I had to add my own modifications and ideas to make the card more "me."   Take a look below at my finished card and inside coordinated design.  Josh really seemed to be thrilled with his card and had a big appreciative hug for me!

Ingredients:

Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstocks--Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Naturals-Ivory (retired).  Inks--Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Real Red (sky sponging/ stamping).  Stamps--Friend Like You (sentiment/ dragonflies).  Dies--Friendly Silhouettes (pussywillows/ dragonflies).  Punch: Tailored Tag.  Marker: Early Espresso (pussywillows).  Mini Pearls (Copic colored).  Other:  EK Victorian corner punch (inside).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6". 

A Birthday Card All About the Past!

I was looking for some mojo for a theme idea to make my son, Mark, a birthday card.  I checked out my Splitcoaststamper Challenge List, which got my juices flowing.  I found a fun card theme from the Free 4 All Challenge... all about the little things that make life fun.  I started reminiscing  about all the fun times and events in Mark's life while he was growing up, which led to this memory.  One year I made him a treasure chest birthday cake, and we had a Pirates Treasure Hunt around the neighborhood to look for pirate booty.  That was the same year that he and his sister became the cutest pirates ever on Halloween. 

I had some old October Afternoon patterned papers featuring a pirate theme and I thought the paper and the challenge would go well together. . .a pirate theme it would be!   I got further inspiration for the layout from a Sketch Challenge and a Featured Stamper card, and several other challenges lent me ideas as well.  Take a peek at my finished pirate/ treasure card below with its inside card design and the birthday treasure verse that I composed to keep up with the theme!

Ingredients List:

Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock: Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Kraft.   Mini Gold Tinsel Trim (2018 Holiday).  Silver stars (Copic colored red).  Ink: Baked Brown Sugar (edge distressing).  Other:  Patterned papers:  October Afternoon Treasure Map Collection/ X Marks the Spot.  Echo Park: Kate Lowercase Alphabet dies.  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

A Thank You Needed for a Wonderful Gesture!

In late August, my daughter and I wanted to go on a mini-vacation for my birthday.  A long-time friend offered her Long Beach, oceanside condo for our use, insisting we take it for the cost of the cleaning fees only.  I really tried to get her to let us contribute some or part of the rental fees she would ordinarily receive, but she firmly refused.  Right then and there, I decided I would make her a thank you card and enclosed a dining gift card to one of her favorite restaurants in the Long Beach area.

Though I purchased the gift certificate while in Long Beach, I was not able to get to that thank you card immediately, because I was still recuperating from my right hand surgery.  I attended a Stampin' Up card class in late September when I was able to start a little cardmaking, and with the help of a friend, I was able to get whatever embossing and die-cutting I needed done.  I planned to finish at home if my hand got too tired.  I was delighted that one of the card designs was a thank you card, which I very much needed to fulfill my plan to thank my good friend.

The thank you card sample had a basic good design and a pretty color palette, but my creative mojo came up with changes I wanted to make, which I completed at home later.  I also wanted to check out some Splitcoaststamper challenges, to see what I needed to meet some requirements, and I was delighted to see if I completed the card using the same basic design and colors, that it would work well with several.  Now, it was time I got to work.

To start, I enlarged the card to my favorite size 4-3/4 in. x 6 in. by adding a new white cardbase and Early Espresso mat layer beneath the top embossed layer.  Then, I applied my thoughts to make the card reflect my creative mojo.  I shifted the sentiment rectangle layers more to the center both to the top and left, as the original was placed very far to the right and to the bottom.  I added three more mini leaves in Pretty Peacock, Old Olive, and Early Espresso to fill in my desired leaf layers.  I added sparkle with Wink of Stella to the added espresso little leaf and the thanks die-cut.  I also added the sequins to add a bit more pizzazz.  I am pretty happy with my modifications and thank Dar Peterson for letting me elaborate upon her original design.

I hope my friend will love her card and thank you gift card.  I know she will enjoy the dinner for two and dessert upon her next visit to the coast. 

I designed an inside layout and composed a little verse to send along in my friend's thank you card.  Take a peek below.

Ingredients List:

Stampin' Up products... Cardstock:  Whisper White, Early Espresso, Pool Party, Pretty Peacock, Old Olive.  Patterned paper:  Come to Gather dsp (Holiday 2019).  Stamps: Colorful Seasons (leaf vein stamp).  Dies:  Seasonal Layers (leaves); Well Written (thanks).  Embossing Folder: Subtle 3D (background).  5/8" white flax ribbon (sponged w/ Pool Party ink).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

A Daughter's Birthday!

My oldest daughter had a birthday at the end of June.  I have been absent from my craft room for most of the last five months, except for a card here or there, and I have missed making many cards for the special people in my life.  So, I said to myself, "You really must get your creative mojo going and get a card made for your lovely daughter."  And, so I did.  Here is the card that I found a bit of creativity to create for daughter, Michele!  She was very pleased to get a handmade birthday card from Mom.  I think she was surprised and figured I was still avoiding my craft room!

And, here is the inside design and verse.  I am desperately in need of a new printer...it just won't print a clear font; therefore, it is a bit blurry on several lines.

I decided to use my daughter's favorite colors on her card...teals and blues.  I wanted to use a hydrangea bouquet and remembered Stampin' Up's Bouquet Bunch framelits.  I sponged them with similar colors, but added a touch of lilac in the flowers, plus sparkly glitter to the flowers and sentiment die-cut.  I did trim my flower stems and branches just a touch to fit the die-cut framing size that I used.  I offset the die-cut framing to the left side to add a criss-cross ribbon lacing that I learned from fellow cardmaking, Liz Thayer, several years ago.  I used Lots of Labels to die-cut a Shimmer White mat to host my bouquet and stamped it with splatters using the Gorgeous Grunge stamp set and Highland Heather ink.  

Next, I die-cut eight of the four-petal flower bunch to overlay and overlap each other onto my flower stems to give the bouquet depth.  I sponged them with Pool Party, Tempting Turquoise, and Highland Heather inks.  After overlapping them to form the bouquet, I applied Wink of Stella-Clear for shimmer, but it didn't seem enough, so before it dried, I added Dazzling Diamonds glitter, which is really sparkly, but unfortunately, it does not show up in the photo.  I sponged white cardstock in the same inks to make the sentiment die-cut and inside petite scalloped corners.  I used glue stick to apply the sparkly glitter to these pieces as well after I had die-cut the sentiment and punched the corners. 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Pacific Point, Bermuda Bay, Shimmery White, Whisper White.  Inks--Pool Party, Tempting Turquoise, Highland Heather.  Stamps--Beautiful Bouquet.  Dies--Bouquet Bunch framelits, Lots of Labels.  Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.  Other:  Recollections Purple Passion.  BoBunny Kiwi Double Dot.  Cottage Cutz Expressions: Happy Birthday.  EK Punch: Medium Scallop Corner.  Offray double-stitch pale aqua ribbon.  Queen & Co. Iridescent Purple Goosebumps. Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 in. 

Reaching Classic "Old" Age!

My brother's birthday is in early May and yet another card was needed, especially as this is a milestone birthday well into retirement!  I'm so far behind in cardmaking with the hand recovery that I'll never catch up, it seems! 

I had an unfinished card hidden away in my To Do Stash that I came across when looking for a previous unfinished card.  The initial basic design layout was by Liz Thayer on this one as well.  All the pieces were there to finish, except just a notation of the stamp set used.  I particularly liked the Acetate Foil gold patterned paper and gold foil included in the kit with the navy blue.  I used all the paper pieces provided, but I also decided to add a black cardstock layer as the cardbase and as another image mat layer. 

To start, I masked the image paper with the car outline, and watercolored the background around it with the idea of sky and landscape color tones and dried it with my heat tool.  I then stamped the image and sentiment from the Stampin' Up Guy Greetings stamp set with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, using my MISTI to line up the stamp images on my small piece of watercoloring.  Next, I colored the vintage car with my Copic markers.  Finally, I assembled all the paper layers and popped the acetate pattern off the gold foil.  I added some Glitter Enamel Dots, and voila, I was finished! 

As my brother has restored vintage and classic vehicles for many years, I am pretty sure he will like this card...even more so if it were a Chevy.  Take a peek below inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Basic Black, Night of Navy, Gold Foil, Shimmer White.  Patterned Paper--Fabulous Foil Designer Acetate (retired 2018).  Stamps:  Guy Greetings (retired 2018).  Glitter Enamel Dots (retired 2018).  Other:  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  Copic Markers.  Artist Loft Watercolor Pan Set (Michaels).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Bubble Over with Happiness!

I wanted to make a happy and encouraging birthday card bubbling over with sunny thoughts for my  youngest daughter for her recent birthday.  Mom is a little behind playing catching with hand recovery.

I visited several SCS challenges to come up with some ideas, and I settled on two happy colors that kept popping up in all of my browsing. . .a rosy pink and yellow combination.  Those two words bubbling over stuck in my brain, and I remember a stamp set with a similar name.  A little research gave me Stampin' Up's Bubble Over set that features soda bottles, bubbles, and a bubble over sentiment.  That also brought to mind a card I started at a card class by Liz Thayer way back in early 2018 with this same stamp set.  I dug it out of my unfinished To-Do Stash, and I loved the look, so decided to continue with Liz's idea, though I liked a few more stamped bubbles and Glitter Enamel dots, as well as one more colorful mat layers and some corner punching to dress it up.  Take a look below at my Bubble Over card for my daughter's birthday.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight, Whisper White.  Ink--Melon Mambo, Daffodil Delight.  Stamps:  Bubble Over (2018-19 Annual retired), Life is Grand (2019 Occasions-retiring).  Dies:  Bottles & Bubbles Framelits (retiring June 2019).  Glitter Enamel Dots (retired).  Other:  1/4" ribbon (unknown).  WRMK Corner Punch: Deco.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

A Birthday Marquee Message!

One of my cardmaking besties has a Spring birthday.  I am determined to make her a card totally from scratch using nothing that is semi-prepared as a test to see how well my left hand will do post-surgery.  I did stamping, die-cutting, dry embossing, fussy-cutting, Copic coloring, and a shaker card.  A pretty great test, and I'd say I'm pretty pleased with the results.  The hand is a little tired, a little achy, and a bit swollen, but fabulous compared to pre-surgery swelling and pain!

I was also determined to get back into the Splitcoaststamper (SCS) challenges, and I have accomplished that with a vengeance!  I found eleven challenges that I can enter by tweaking my design idea here and there.  That is a new RECORD!  I can usually get in seven to nine, but have never even done ten before!  It all started with a card by cdimick (aka Catherine).   Catherine is an SCS Alpha sister, who is the current Featured Stamper at Splitcoaststampers.  I browsed her gallery and chose a card to "case" as the challenge requires, which featured a stamp set that caught my eye.  I browsed the inspiration challenge photos for some ideas, which led to the color challenge with the exact blues and greens I wanted to use, and on and on it went!

Meanwhile, I was keeping in mind that this card is for a very special friend, and I wanted it to be special for her with a huge focus on her birthday.  The Stampin' Up Marquee Messages stamp set was perfect!  I made it into a shaker to fit the Fan Club April Monthly challenge, and it really set off the marquee stamp perfectly.  First, I dry embossed a confetti pattern onto my Coastal Cabana cardstock and added sparkles by "painting" on glitter glaze with a foam brush. Love that sheen!  My finishing touches to dress up the shaker marque frame was to pop on some flowers, leaves, and oodles of pearls.  I must say I was pretty please with the results, and I am pretty sure my friend will like it as well!  Take a peek below.

Ingredients:  Stampin Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Tranquil Tide, Coastal Cabana, Balmy Blue.  Stamps--Marquee Messages (shaker frame/ sentiments), Vibrant Vases (flowers), Happy Birthday Gorgeous (leaf). Embossing Folder--Confetti.  Pearls.  Metallic Sequins Asst.  Other:  Sargernt Art Acrylic Glitter Glaze.  Copic markers.  Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black.  Buttons Galore--Aquamarine Party Mix.  Wink of Stella/ Clear.  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Let's Celebrate in Epic Style!

My oldest son is having a birthday this week, and I needed to get a birthday card completed.  This will be my third card in a month because of my left hand surgery, and it is a slow and methodical process!  I am still in a cast that covers my left thumb and extends 3/4 of the way to my elbow.  This Friday is removal day, and I can't even express how glad I am!  I digress...back to my son's birthday card.

As is my usual process, I checked Splitcoaststamper challenges to get some inspiration on where to start.  None of the current challenges spurred any masculine card thoughts, so I branched out to play challenge catch-up, and I found some ideas that sparked my creative mojo!  An old December  inspiration challenge that I was not able to play in when introduced had me deciding on using a guitar for my card.  I did some collage grunge stamping to replicate the look of the guitar poster as seen on this website:  Watercolor Guitar Abstract.  I am pretty happy with my results and I think David will be as well!  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Papers~ Cardstock--Basic Black, Whisper White.  Pattern:  Pick A Pattern dsp (stripe); Wood Textures Paper Stack.  Stamp--Epic Celebrations (2018 SAB); Timeless Textures (2019).  Ink--Crushed Curry; Smoky Slate.  Washi Tape--Myths & Magic/ silver glittery (Copics Gold colored)(2018 Occ).  Embellishments--Hearts & Stars Wood Elements (star-Copic colored center); Metallic Enamel Shapes (stars-silver/ Copic Goldcolored)(2018 ret). Other:  Paper--Recollections Gold Frosted Shimmer.  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  Dies--CraftsSuppliesForU/ Vertical Happy Birthday.  Punch--WRMK Stub Corners.  Wink of Stella/ Clear (black circle mat, HB sentiment die-cut, edge of Gold Shimmer paper to add more sheen.).  Copic Markers--Guitar coloring. Stars and glimmer star washi (silver to gold) + Wood star center to dark brown.  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4" X 6".