Magic & Wonder At Christmas!

This is another card fashioned during my January New Year's resolution binge cardmaking marathon.  I was so happy with the end result that I resolved to go back and make more of this design at a later date.  I just finished a total of four more replicas for my card stash, but I still want to make at least three more!  I did add some Copic-colored sequins for the poinsettia stamin to add even more dimension on several versions. 

My card is a modified CASE of a card originally designed by Dar Peterson, a friend and one-half of my Stampin' Up demonstrator duo, plus side-kick Luci Kirschbaum.  Because of COVID-19, they were not able to host card classes for well over 15 months; therefore, they issued card kits from time to time for their friends and followers to purchase and complete in their homes.  This CASE original was from their Christmas kit issued in late October 2020.  Take a peek at the beautiful results of this truly elegant card and read below for the particulars on the modifications that I made.

One of my favorite Christmas card themes is poinsettia blooms that come in a myriad of colors and usually make elegant cards.  This  card uses the Poinsettia Petals and coordinating die set, which is still available in the 2021-22 Annual catalog.  I was so happy with the end results of my January CASE that I just finished a total of seven replicas for my card stash!  I did add some Copic-colored sequins for more dimension of several versions. 

I modified Dar's design by enlarging my card and changing the sizing on the kit papers to fit.  I added two more color layers to the base layering in So Saffron and Garden Green to bring out the beautiful color shades in the Poinsettia Place dsp paper.  Garden Green became my card's new card base and I built the card's layering from this base instead of white as in the original design.   The original design used the gold oval background layer in the sentiment as in my card, but I added it as a background layer behind the horizontal ribbon band as well.  I added some Acrylic Glitter Glaze to the poinsettia's petals to add sparkle and sheen, but kept the rest of the card similar to the original design.  

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Garden Green, So Saffron, Whisper White. Specialty Papers--Translucent Vellum, Gold Foil. Patterned paper--Poinsettia Place dsp (2020 Holiday).  Stamps--Poinsettia Petals.  Dies--Poinsettia Dies, Layering Ovals, Stitched Shapes.  Ink--Garden Green.  Ribbon--3/8" Metallic Gold Edged--Vanilla.  Other:  Copic-colored sequins, EK Victorian Corner punch, Acrylic Glitter Glaze (Sargent Art), Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

It's a Minnie for Birthday #2

I am catching up on some missed birthday cards during my hand surgeries that are for my oldest granddaughter's keepsake box.  I needed a card for my sweet girl's birthday number two.  She loved the books I gave her featuring Minnie Mouse.  Whenever I made a visit, she would pile them haphazardly on my lap and climb up next to me on the couch, jabbering away as she turns the pages.  Even though there was much I did not understand, every now and then I catch the words "Minnie Mouse" in a somewhat strange diction, but yet, ever so clear.  Thus, I thought that this catch-up birthday card would be perfect featuring Minnie Mouse.

I made a "punch art" Minnie Mouse card a few months ago for another granddaughter's second birthday to coordinate with her birthday party theme.  It also coordinated with her Minnie Mouse dress-up doll, garbed in the signature colors of red and white polka dots, so I wanted to do something a little different with this new card.   A few years ago on Pinterest, I saw several ideas using Stampin' Up's Swirly Bird stamp/ die set making Mickey or Minnie Mouse cards.  I thought I'd like to try my hand at one.   Take a look below at my finished card, along with its inside verse and design:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Melon Mambo, Basic Black, Whisper White.  Patterned DSP--Pop of Pink (2016 Annual).  Stamps--Swirly Bird, Thoughtful Banners (both 2016-18 ret.).   Inks--Melon Mambo, Memento: Tuxedo Black.  Punches--Bow Builder (2015 Occ./ 2016 Annual), Duet Banner (2016 Annual).  Twine--Black & White.  Pearls (Copic colored).  Other:  EK punch---Victorian Corners.

Stepping To Church for Christmas!

Here is my first center-step card that I've made from start to finish with my own template design for a larger 4-3/4 x 6-inch card.  To help me redesign the dimensions, it is a remake of a card I made at my Stampin' Up demonstrator duo's card event back in the fall of 2017, which I loved!  What can I say, I'm not very adventuresome, especially since it involved refiguring the template dimensions in order to remake it into the larger size.  I kept the original card to use as a guide, which helped me figure it all out much easier. 

Because the card was larger, I was able to add a third layer.  I ended up with a black cardbase, followed by a white mat layer, followed by the card front layer with the die-cut pieces.  I really like the white on black look.  The original design just started off with the white cardbase, which didn't allow for as much contrast.  I really like my added contrast by having three layers, and starting with the black first, then white, then black again.  I stuck to the original card design, and I thank Luci Kirschbaum for always allowing us to CASE our class cards and modify them as we like.  Here is my enlarged, finished card below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Basic Black, Whisper White, Gold foil.  Patterned paper--Merry Music Specialty (2017 Holiday).  Stamps--Hearts Come Home/ Dies--Home Town Greeting.  Punch--Confetti Stars Border.  Embossing Powder: Gold.  Size:  4-3/4 x 6-inches.

Sending Sunshine on Mother's Day

I wanted to use my first Paper Pumpkin Kit...June 2020--Box of Sunshine kit pieces to make Mother's Day cards for my oldest daughter and my daughter-in-law.  For my daughter, I decided to use one of the papers in the kit that looked like an alcohol-inked background.  There were actually two different yet similar colored one...one in brilliant red-oranges, yellow golds, yellows, and gold metallic and the other in yellows, yellow-golds, and metallic gold.  For my daughter's card, I chose the one with red-oranges and yellows.   I loved the card design provided in the kit, except I like layers so here is what I did. 

I used the card design provided for this paper pattern, except I dropped the start of the stamped sunshine about 3/8" lower from the top and 3/8" to the right...closer to center than the original design.  Then, I followed through with the black dot horizontal paper, sentiment, and stamped lines as originally positioned in relation to the stamped sun.  I  added two mat layers beneath the card front...a new black cardbase, and a burnt orange mat layer between the cardbase and card front.  I also positioned my sequins slightly different.  For the most part, other than the added layers, you might not notice any difference from that of the original card front unless closely scrutinized.

I finished off with an inside verse sending sunshine and happiness.  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out design.  I think my daughter, Michele, will like her card.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Paper Pumpkin--June 2020/ Box of Sunshine:  AI-style dsp,  black & white dot dsp, stamps, irregular hexagon sentiment die-cut.  Cardstock--Basic Black, Whisper White.  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  Other products:  Core'dinations Foundations cardstock--Valentia Orange.  Bazzill Swiss Dot--Honey Yellow.  Colorbox Chestnut Roan pigment ink (edge distressing).  Stash--sequins & red-orange rhinestones.  Chatterbox computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6-inches. 

Let His Light Bring You Joy!

I'm trying to catch up on my blog posting, and I found this Christmas card that I made earlier this year that hadn't been posted.  I used this same card design for two sympathy cards back in January, but planned to remake it into several Christmas cards as well.   My card design was based on a My Favorite Things sketch from April 2018 - MFTWSC383, plus some Splitcoaststamper Challenge ideas as well.  

I liked the Feels Like Frost paper that I used on the sympathy cards, and I planned to use it on the Christmas cards as well.  I did not make the same mistake in measuring the flap this time, so it was plenty long enough to be positioned at the top of the layering scheme so the ribbon strip and bow would rested directly on the flap.  Take a peek at my finished  card:

My design rotated the sketch design to a portrait style and shortened the flap so it did not drop as low onto the body of the card.  I decided to place my sentiment on the flap similar to where MFT shows the white rectangle but lower in the angled area, and I layered the flap with navy.  In addition, I added vertical paper strips from top to bottom with the envelope flap overlaying the top portion of the strips.  Take a look at the My Favorite Things sketch that I based my card design from:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Balmy Blue, Night of Navy, Silver Glimmer; Patterned paper--Feels Like Frost 6x6 dsp; Stamps--His Light (2018 Holiday); Ink--Night of Navy, Balmy Blue (sponging); Ribbon--1/4" Snowflake Splendor; Basic Rhinestones.  Other: Copic Markers (ribbon coloring); Chatterbox computer sentiment/ verse; Size--4-3/4 x 6-inches.

Enjoy Today...It's Mother's Day!

This is my second Slightly Alternative Mother's Day card for my daughter-in-law, using my first Paper Pumpkin Kit...June 2020--Box of Sunshine kit pieces.  For her card, I chose the gold metallic and white horizontal striped paper provided in the kit.  Again, I loved the card design provided in the kit for this paper, except I like layers, and I wanted to change the sentiment, so here is what I did. 

I used the card design provided, except I trimmed the top and bottom of the striped paper down a total of 3/8." I also dropped my pineapple about 1/4" lower and moved it 3/8" to the right closer to the center than the original design.  Then, I followed through with the black dot horizontal paper, sentiment fishtail flag die-cut in relation to the pineapple's position as in the original design.  I  added two mat layers beneath the card front...a new black cardbase, and a apple green and white dot mat layer between the cardbase and card front.  I also added more sequins and positioned them different.  For the most part, other than the added layers, you might not notice any difference from that of the original card front unless it is closely scrutinized.

I finished off with an inside verse sending thoughts of love and appreciation.  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out design.  I think my daughter-in-law, Ginger, will like her card.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Paper Pumpkin--June 2020/ Box of Sunshine: gold metallic/ white stripe dsp,  black & white dot dsp, pineapple die-cut, double-fishtail flag sentiment die-cut.  Cardstock--Basic Black, Whisper White.  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  Other products: Stamps--Penny Black/ Sweet Wishes.  Recollections--Primary Dots dsp; Bazzill Swiss Dots/ Honey Yellow.  EK punch--Victorian Corners.  Colorbox Chestnut Roan pigment ink (edge distressing).  Stash--sequins & black enamel dots.  Chatterbox computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6-inches.