A Shower of Wishes for Your Birthday!

 I needed another February birthday card for a cardmaking friend. In looking over my Splitcoaststamper Challenge Catch-up List, I decided I needed to make a card that had something to do with rain showers and umbrellas.  I pulled out an old but never used die by Elizabeth Craft Designs, Rainy Day, and I began to create my design with this umbrella in mind.  

I thought it would be fun to dress up my umbrella card front by using the Basket Weave edging technique.  It is a technique that looks difficult and classy when complete, but is actually quite easy to do.  I've used it on five or six cards in the past, but the last time was way back in 2018!  It's definitely time to dust it off and use it again!

I've finished my card with my design evolving as I sorted through and chose multiple SCS challenges to include.  I think my cardmaking buddy will enjoy her birthday card!  Take a peek below:

Ingredients:  SU Cardstock--Coastal Cabana, Calypso Coral, Basic White. Elizabeth Craft die--Rainy Day. SU Embossing Folder--Perfect Polka Dots (retired). EK Punch--Victorian Corners. K&Co. Butterfly Stickers. SU Rhinestones. SU Glitter--Dazzling Diamonds. Stash--1/4" satin ribbon (Copic colored-R14). SU sequins--Iridescent Sequins-Asst. Wink of Stella/Clear (umbrella & inside corners). Technique--Basket Weave (aka Braided Edge; aka Lattice Edge). Chatterbox sentiment/verse. Size--4-3/4" x 6".

Oops! Things Got Missed!

I missed several friends' birthdays in January, but at this late date, I decided it was better to send Thinking of You cards rather than belated birthday cards! For my first card, I found the end of my crocheted flower stash. My Mom made these crocheted flowers back about 10 years ago when they were all the rage in cardmaking! I thought I'd finally use my last flower for this card...sort of a little present for the recipient! I've also asked Mom to make me more, as they seem to be coming back in style!

To find my final card design, I followed my normal pattern of checking the Splitcoaststamper website for challenges that I could give me some prompts for my design.  For instances, to use two challenges, I needed a wobbler, so I inserted this into my inside verse.  The challenges I will be using range from current ones to some really old ones. Most of the time when I'm making a card, I am usually having fun fulfilling my Challenge Catch-up goal that I've set for myself!  

Here was a happy surprise! While doing my challenge search, I found my planned card recipient was featured on a specific challenge that was to have a "Thinking of You" theme! It was a stroke of serendipity, for sure! Thus, this card will now fulfill two events for my friend! One for the challenge, and one for her belated birthday acknowledgement in the form of my planned "thinking of you" card! Take a look at the finished card inside and out. I'm thinking she will be quite happy with it, as I am with the finished results!

Ingredients: SU Cardstock--Basic Black, White Glimmer (retired). Patterned DSP--Fancy Pants Designs/ Country Boutique. Reverse Confetti stamp--Beautiful Banners. SU stamp--Butterfly Gala (mini butterfly-inside). Spellbinders Dies--Grand Labels LG (inside). SU punch--Butterfly Duet. SU Embossing Folder (by Sizzix)--Tufted Dynamic. Washi Stash--3 B&W patterns. Ribbon Stash--3/4" Black Sheer-White Stitch. Recollections Detail--White embossing powder. JoycieB--Crochet Flower. Stash--Black Rhinestone Gem. Sentiment Flag--Hand-cut. Chatterbox-1 verse. Size--4-3/4" x 6". 

February Birthday Happiness!

 I have another friend and cardmaking buddy whose birthday is in mid-February, so yet another birthday card is needed.  I was in the mood for flowers, so I thought I'd look for a Splitcoaststamper Inspiration Challenge to get me started.

While in my E - F stamp set boxes back in January, I ran across a wonderful flower stamp set, Field Flowers, that I had used for its flourish in the past but not the flower.  I pulled it just in case I found that I could use it in the near future and here was my chance.  After finding the SCS Inspiration Challenge, I was delighted to know that this stamp set would work, but I would be able to add other challenges if I added butterflies and glitter as well.  Take a look at the finished card inside and out below:

Ingredients: SU Cardstock--Sahara Sand; Retired: Always Artichoke, Lucky Limeaide, Tempting Turquoise. Stamps (retired)--Field Flowers, Elements of Style. Dies--Sizzlits Embosslit/ Beautiful Wings. Inks--Sahara Sand (over-the-edge stamping/ distressing), Old Olive (distress L. Limeaide cs), Early Espresso (distress T. Turquoise).  SU White Embossing Powder.  SU Dazzling Diamonds glitter. 3/8" Stitched Satin Ribbon--Gumball Green. Punch (retired)--Scallop Trim Border.

Birthday Wishes for a Friend!

I still had some more papers and elements from the Made to Bloom card kit that needed using.  I put my thinking cap on to design another alternative design of my own using the green patterned paper provided. 

 
Since I needed a birthday card for a friend I decided this would be the theme.  I added a Blackberry Bliss card base and a gold foil mat layer beneath the green pattern.  I used the gold foil edged scallop banner and applied the flowers similar to the card design provided, but with added layering and sparkly center gems.  I fussy-cut and inked-edge distressed the flowers, layered them, dressed them up with acrylic glitter glaze centers and a Goosebump Gem colored to simulate Blackberry Bliss with Copic markers.  At the base of the scalloped banner, I  stamped the "Birthday Wishes" sentiment onto a scalloped die cut matted with a larger gold foil scalloped die-cut to change the finishing edge of the banner and its look.

Take a look at my friend's finished birthday card, inside and out...I think she will enjoy it!  It is a good way to keep in touch as we have not been able to socialize since Covid started.

Ingredients:  Cardstock--Blackberry Bliss, Gold Foil. Kit--Made to Bloom Kit (2019 Occ.). Stamps--Fancy Phrases. Dies--SU Layering Oval Framelits. Sargent Acrylic Glitter Glaze. Queen & Co.--Twinkle Goosebump Gems (Copic colored). ColorBox Chestnut Roan Ink Edge Distressing. EK punch--Victorian Corner. Chatterbox computer verse. Size: 4-3/4x6-inches.

A Birthday Walk Celebration!

My husband's birthday is in early February.  He is an avid walker, but has not been able to walk as often or as long since his last knee surgery in late June.  It was a difficult recovery, even down to falling and splitting the stitches three weeks after surgery.  This, of course, required an emergency trip to the hospital, another in-patient stay, debriding and re-stitching.  Fortunately, none of the kneecap and joint replacement area below was invaded, only the skin layers down to the knee cap (yes, they replace the knee cap after the joint replacement).

Celebrating his ability to now be out walking in our wooded country scenery, I have decided on a woodland embossed card with a cascade leaf "bouquet" for his card.  I really like the peek-a-boo sentiment area...my first time trying that idea, and I always love ink distressed embossed backgrounds, particular with the woodland embossing folder!  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks--Mossy Meadow, Island Indigo, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla. Stamps/dies--Vintage Leaves/ Leaflets Framelits. Inks--Mossy, Meadow, Island Indigo, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede. Punch--Washi Label. Embossing Folder--Woodland. 1/4" Cotton Ribbon--Island Indigo. Metallic Baker's Twine. Wink of Stella--Gold. Chatterbox Verse. Size--4-3/4" x 6".

January Celebrations...Just A Little Bit Late!

I missed a few birthdays in January and here I am playing catch-up!  I think that word, "catch-up" might be imprinted on my DNA!  I'm still finding myself in the mood to search out oldies to use from my stash.  I've decided if I don't think I'm ever going to reuse it (or even use it for the first time), it might be time to send it on to some other pasture, however that old saying goes!  I found an old 2008 wood stamp set a friend gave me.  Since I really don't like wood stamps, it was time to unmount it if I'm going to keep it and use it an even better idea!  I thought I'd give it a go and see how it might fit my card.  Then, I found the 2013 SAB Feeling Sentimental stamp set...I love the penny-farthing bicycle, I and have used it, but not the sentiment "Celebrate," which could be used for this birthday card.  Before letting my creative mojo get ramped up to far, I needed to take a look at my Splitcoaststampers Challenge List to add those guidelines into my thoughts.

With my two stamps in mind, I was able to find 11 SCS challenges that I could use if I designed my card just right!  Take a look at my finished card inside and out after letting all my notes percolate.  I'm hoping the recipient likes her card when it finally arrives!

Ingredients: SU Cardstock--Early Espresso, Pool Party, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla. Patterned DSP--stash scraps. SU Ink--Soft Suede. SU stamps--Eastern Blooms (2008 Fall-Winter), Feeling Sentiment (2013 SAB-sentiment). SU punch--3/4" circle. Lace--stash. Copic marker (pearl coloring). Colorbox Ink--Dark Brown (edge distressing). Chatterbox verse (computer). Size--4-3/4" x 6".

Love of Chocolate & Friends

I needed a little friendship appreciation card for someone who is always helpful, kind, and makes my life easier whenever she can!  I always have it in the back of my mind to use old stuff in my stash whenever I can probably because of the Splitcoaststampers' Use It Challenge, which requires just that...bring out the dusty old stuff and use it!   Read on to find out why that's just what I did for this card.

My friend and I have a love of chocolate, plus we are both involved in Stampin' Up products and cardmaking.  Thinking about chocolate, brought to mind a stamp set from way back when...2011 as it turns out!  Pulling out these old stamps led to using other old and retired items as well!  Take a peek below at the inside and outside of the finished already mailed and on its way!

Ingredients:  SU Cardstock--Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip & Pretty in Pink (retired).  Ink: Early Espresso, Soft Suede (ink distress).  Retired SU products: Stamps--Eat Chocolate (2011 Occ.-retired); Decorative Label punch; Polka Dots Embossing Folder; 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon (stash).  Zutter Corner Rounder punch.  Size: 3" x 6" Mini Slimline.