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".