Congrats! to Your Happy News!

We are looking forward to welcoming a new bundle of joy into the family. . .our second grandchild!  She is due to arrive in mid-March next year!  This will be my youngest daughter's first child.  She is so excited as are my husband and me.  Our daughter announced that they were expecting a girl by texting a picture of hubby giving her a big hug as she displayed a lovely pink satin bow tied around the middle of her white shirt as she held fluffy pink teddy bear in the crook of her arm.  It gave me a great idea for a congratulations card!

First, I prepared two pink watercolor papers. . .one for the card face and one for the inside verse area.  I dried them with my heat embossing tool, making sure not to curl or warp the paper (by applying heat to both sides of the paper).  I spritzed both with water to get a water droplet effect and re-dried both.  Then, I flecked darker rose watercolor paint flecks onto their surfaces with a paint brush.  Next, I stamped and fussy-cut my little bear and colored and shaded him very lightly with several pink Copics.  I shimmered the bee's wings with Wink of Stella/ Clear.

It was time to prepare my quilt.  I cut my quilt twice with the quilt die:  once in white cardstock and a second time in the tiny white hearts on pink paper.  I assembled the die-cut quilt pattern pieces that I chose to use to make up the quilt pattern from the die-cut pieces and glued them onto a square of plain white cardstock, starting with the pink patterned frame.  When assembly and gluing was complete, I embossed it with the Quilt Top embossing folder and glued it to my Lifestyles Eyelet Squares die-cut.  

I die-cut "Congrats" four times in plain white cardstock and stacked and glued them on top of one another to give dimension.  I added Wink of Stella/ Clear shimmer to the eyelet square edging and the "Congrats" die-cut.  Unfortunately, this does not show up in the photograph.  I popped my quilt square and little bear off the watercolor wash background with foam dimension pieces cut to fit just inside their outside edges.  I finished the card with the velvet rose ribbon and knot (which looks darker than in RIL) and with a yarn tuff in the quilt center.

Take a peek below at my finished baby congratulations card for my youngest daughter!

Ingredients:  Papers:  Stampin' Up Whisper White cardstock, My Favorite Things Tiny Hearts Brights (pink), Tim Holtz Watercolor Paper.  Stamps: Stampin' Up A Little Wild.  Dies: Stampin Up Quilt Builder, WRMK Lifestyles: Nesting Eyelet Squares (may be discontinued), Impression Obsession: Congrats.  Stampin' Up Embossing Folder: Quilt Top.  Wink of Stella: Clear (eyelet square/ congrats).

Miss Callie's First Birthday!

My granddaughter is having her first birthday!  Oh, how exciting and so much fun to make her a one-year old birthday card!  I've been busy making ice-cream cakes for the birthday party event, so have left myself little time to get her birthday card finished!  I did start on it because I wanted to try a technique that I've been eyeing for more than a year called Faux Tile Sponging, which is similar to Delft Tiling, except you don't stamp a pattern on the tiles to get a similar look to Delft pottery.  The two techniques are similar in that you do make a diagonal grid scored background on both and sponge ink onto scored grid by using a mask over your score lines and sponging color onto the edges of your tiles. 

Before I figured out what cute focal point I wanted to use or planned my layout design, I visited the Splitcoaststamper challenges forum to see what inspiration I might find.  I planned to use the Alphabet Challenge, Round 8, Letter Y for yellow, but when mojo arrived from the Inspiration Challenge, I decided to go with Letter G for giraffe!  I found the foundation for my layout by visiting the Featured Stamper's gallery of Bronwyn Eastley.  I did modified Bronwyn's original layout quite a bit to make it fit my baby theme for my card!   Take a look below at granddaughter Callie's birthday card, plus the inside design with Grandma's created verse.  I'm thinking she will like it, especially when she's around four to five years old!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Lemon-Lime Twist.  Stampin' Up Ink: Daffodil Yellow, Lemon-Lime Twist.  Precious Moments Coloring Pages digital image.  Copic Markers.  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Die: unknown/ gift.  Ribbon: stash.  Stampin' Up Pearls.  Technique: Faux Tile Sponging.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Thinking of You Pandas!

I went to a Stampin' Up cardmaking class a few weeks ago, where the Sale-A-Bration promotion supplies were introduced.  We made the cutest card with the freebie stamp "Party Pandas."  All the time while making this darling little card, I had ideas running around my head on things to do to dress it up.  Most card designs at classes are relatively simple due to cost and time constraints.  Our lovely hostesses encourage us to take an idea and run with it.  The original card design was made by Dar Peterson, and I've found a similar one on Pinterest by JoAnne Hewins.

I changed my card to a "Thinking of You" card instead of a birthday card, and I replaced one of the panda heads to eliminate his birthday party hat.  Several other changes I made were to add two more mat layers with the idea of adding more color.  The new card base color is Always Artichoke, and the second mat layer is a die-cut stitched scalloped mat in Certainly Celery (retired).   I added a Copic-colored sun to add a little good cheer, and some gold sequins for a bit of sparkle.  My panda placements are also a bit different as well.  I did use the Color Theory 6x6 paper pad's paint chip design for my bamboo stalks as in the original card.  I thought that was quite clever!

I will be sending my panda card to one of my Splitcoaststamper forum teammates, who lives across the country from me in Georgia.  She was the Teapot Party destination for the week of January 9, 2018, because she was in an automobile accident, and though not hospitalized, is in need of cheering up.  Take a peek at these cute little pandas below, who are ready to travel and send hugs across the nation:

Upon finishing with the re-inventing of my card front, I went to work creating an inside design that would coordinate with the theme, and also a verse befitting the occasion.  Here is what I came up with.  I think my SCS friend and teammate will enjoy her card, and will also let her know I'm wishing her well. 

 

JUST A NOTE:  I find it interesting the inconsistency of the coloring with the exact same lighting and the exact same paper colors.  The panda card front is almost just like the card, but the inside seems way off!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Paper:  Cardstock - Always Artichoke, Certainly Celery (retired); Patterned dsp: Color Theory. SU Stamps: Party Pandas (SAB-2018).  Ink: Memento-Tuxedo Black.  Dies: Stampin' Up: Bouquet Bunch Framelits (leaves); Simon Says: Scallop Stitches.  Stenciled sun-Copic colored.  Crystal Effects glaze.  Sequins: Pretty Pink Posh.  Computer sentiment: Font-Viner Hand ITC 16.5/ Bold.  Fussy-Cutting.  Double Fishtails: hand-cut.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.  

New Hat for Spooky Kitty!

HAPPY MAIL RECEIVED!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - OCTOBER 28, 2017!!

I need to make some Halloween cards, but I also wanted to enter some challenges on Splitcoasters this week.  I found several challenges to inspire me and give me ideas, and ended up with four challenges to enter.  I found my actual idea through this week's Inspiration Challenge, and a Halloween pumpkin pillow (see below).   Knowing what I needed to meet the requirements for the other three challenges made it easy to fit each one as I created my card. 

The Inspiration Challenge brought to mind a card I made several years ago, and I so loved that Poppystamp Kitty Cat Face die that I knew just what I wanted to do.  I decided to take my original card and re-design it, adding to it and dress it up a bit more.  My first card was done super quick because I needed to have it ready in just a few hours to send it along with the Halloween Witch Deco Wreath my daughter and I made for the younger daughter/ sister.  I was motivated to try my hand at a little more intricate version of the same card with new colors and added embellishments.

I came upon a Cottage Cutz Witch Hat die that I bought last year and didn't get a chance to use it.  I thought it would make a darling hat for my little kitty's head.  This time I decided to use lime green glitter paper for the cat's eyes and the moon, star, and brim of my witch hat.  I added two layers of glitter paper to my card base before adding the card front, and then added a few sequins to dress it up even more.  I am much more pleased with this second version, though the first was still cute!  What's not to like about the cute cat's face!

Finished the instead design and verse and now it ready to be sent off to my Mom in California.  I think she will enjoy her sparkly Halloween card.  Take a peek below:

Recipe:  Darice cardstock: Midnight Black.  The Paper Company cardstock: Victoriana 5-pack (tan).  Recollections Glitter Pad: Haunted (orange/ lime).  SU: Seasonal framelit dies (spooky - Holiday 2015).  Poppystamps die: Kitty Cat Face.  Cottage Cutz dies: Witch Hat.  Pretty Pink Posh: sequins. Size 5" x 6-1/4".

First Christmas for a Little Husky Named Zhanna!

OVER THE MOON!!!

THIS WAS ONE OF TEN OF MY 2017 CARDS 

RECEIVING A 2017 SCS BEST OF FAVORITES!!

HAPPY MAIL TIDINGS!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - SEPTEMBER 9, 2017!!

You would not believe how long this card has been in the making!  I colored the image at my Girls' Craft Get-Away in late May!  I only brought coloring with me because it was so soon after my knee replacement surgery, and I knew I wouldn't be getting up and down a lot.  See my first Christmas 2017 card below.  The "story" follows.

Ingredients:  Papers:  Recollections--Punchy Florals Pack (card base); Core'dinations Silk Glitter Opulent Oval cs; Stampin' Up--Silver Glimmer; Stampin' Up--Winter Frost dsp (retired).  Digital image/ Copic coloring.  Dies: Spellbinders--Floral Ovals; MFT--Stitched Oval Scalloped Frame; MemoryBox--Snow Burst (snowflakes).  Punch: Recollections--5/8" Snowflake.  SU: Glitter Enamel Dots.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

The Story!

I was about half way through coloring my little image and was putting finishing touches on my little girl before moving onto her shoes and the puppy, when I applied the wrong color of Wink of Stella (gold instead of clear) onto her furry coat bottom.  After getting back from my craft retreat at the end of May, it took two weeks before I could get into my craft room...the knee was just too painful to sit and twist in and out from under a table.  The get-away kind of took a tole on me and my recovery.

In the second week of June, I re-colored my little image once again.  I used some mojo and came up with a pretty clear idea of my layout, and completed the white oval glittery frame for her, which is actually two dies together.  See Ingredients below for die names.  That's when I came to a screeching halt! I wasn't able to do much crafting yet, and I had two get well cards, two graduations, five birthdays (that I got done), two Father's Day cards, an anniversary, and an award card that interfered with finishing this card.  Three months later, I've actually finished the card!  (Theatrical bow being done!)

I worked on this cute little image so long that I gave my little Eskimo girl and her little female Siberian Husky puppy names.  The little girl is Lara and little husky's name is Zhanna, which is a Russian name.  This puppy will grow up to be a sled dog, and I wanted her to have a strong name, because she will be a glorious sled dog, probably a lead dog, and her name needs to fit her heritage and who is is!  Because of Zhanna, I will be able to enter my card into the Splitcoaststamper's Alphabet Challenge, Round 7, Letter Z.

I will also enter this card into two other Splitcoaststamper challenges.  To finalize my card, I used the colors from a fellow Splitcoaster in the Featured Stamper Challenge, and Christmas in July, because that was my original intended time to finish this card.  Alas, that did not happened, but I'm entering late.

In addition, she will be entered into a fourth challenge that was her original purpose when I first got started on the idea for the card, which is the very first Christmas 2017 for January with the theme of making a card using a sled, snow tube, snowboard, or skiing.  We have all the themes for the year, and we can make them whenever we want, BUT, I think I can safely say I am way behind!  My challenge to myself was to make 24 cards/ two each for each month's challenges, and here we are in September and this is my first!  Shame on me!

Easter Kangaroos in Australia???

As I've mentioned before, I joined the 2 Cute Ink Digital Stamps Club, which has a monthly fee of $5.00, though you can sign up and pay for more than one month if you choose.  For this fee, you receive five free 2 Cute Ink images, plus one exclusive to the club, for a total of six each month.  In addition, you receive a coupon to use in the 2 Cute Ink Etsy Shop.  The coupon varies monthly, but has been 75% off purchases from the shop of already published images.  There are also several challenges available through 2 Cut Ink, one of which is open to club members using the exclusive monthly stamp.

I've not made it a habit of entering challenges very often simply because I never seem to have enough time to make cards that fit a challenge requirement and my personal cardmaking obligations.  But, for some reason with these 2 Cute Ink digital images for Easter, I have entered two other cards into challenges so far!  Now that has to be an all-time record for me, and guess what, I'm about to submit my Easter Kangaroo card that I just finished to the club's exclusive challenge.  It seems I'm on a roll wanting to color, color, and more color my 2 Cute Ink Easter images.  I'll even be able to put this one away in my card stash to give out next Easter!

I found getting my coloring and shading for my kangaroo to where I would be satisfied was a difficult thing.  I finally called it good before I totally messed him up and had to start all over!  Ever been there. . .done that???  Though the picture does not show it well, I made a lightly colored blue mottled sky, which was really easy, as it turned out, and I added a bit of Wink of Stella--Clear on my eggs and chicks and also in my grass just under my kangaroo.  In real life, it looks pretty cool!  Love that Wink!!!

Recipe--  Papers: Stampin'Up Gumball Green cardstock; DCWV Dots & Stripes Stack; Recollections Mom's Diner/ Cone; AdornIt Vintage Groove Collection/ Vintage Polka Dot Green-side 2 (frame).  2 Cute Ink digital image: Easter Kanagroo.  Dies: Spellbinders--Big Scallop Ovals LG; My Favorite Things--Stitched Oval STAX.  Ribbon: Celebrate It 360--7/8" Metallic Gold Sheer; Waverly--5/8" Satin Metallic.  Lion Brand Bonbons Yarn: Celebrate (Copic colored).  Crafter's Square Sequins.  Wink of Stella/ Clear.  Colorbox: Chestnut Roan (distressing).  Copics:  Kangaroo Tummy: E50, E51, E53.  Kangaroo Body: E21, E53, E55, E23, E25.  Ears/ Nose: R02, RV11.  Chicks--Y00, Y08.  Eggshells--BG000, BG13, BG57; YG11, YG09; R00, YR04.  Sky: B0000. Grass: YG03, YG17.  Ground: YG03, YG11, G0000.  Size: 5-1/2" square.

Hippity Hop to Easter with 2 Cute Ink!

I have just finished my final needed Easter card, and this one was made with another 2 Cute Ink digital stamp named Hippity Hop.  I think I will enter this final card into the 2 Cute Ink Challenge #133, which makes my second and final entry.  You can take a peek at my card, as well as all the other cards that have been entered into this challenge at the following link:   http://2cuteinkchallenges.blogspot.com/2016/03/challenge-133-easter-theme-new-digital.html.  Reading on below will given you more particulars about the making of this card, as well as a picture of my finished card inside and out.

This Easter card will need to lean a bit toward the masculine theme as it will be for my husband.  Since I wanted to continue to try my hand at more coloring and also use more of my 2 Cute Ink digital images, I chose 2 Cute's Hippity Hop image for this card.  I'm sure this digital bunny is a masculine bunny, because he is wearing pants and flexing his muscles while carrying such a big heavy egg!   

I had a picture lurking in my mind for my layout, so to start, I needed patterned papers that would be really colorful, with one blue as one color in them, and they needed to coordinate well together.  Blue was necessary for Hippity Hop's planned blue jeans and a number of other colors for my egg, flowers, and grass.  The striped pattern was perfect, and the word paper coordinated with it quite well.  I'm was excited and ready to begin coloring my bunny!

When Hippity Hop was finished, I moved on to choose by cardbase and mat layer cardstocks.  I settled on a grass green as the cardbase and a warm yellow for my contrast mat layers, but I changed my mind mid-stream.  My final decision was a yellow cardbase, because I liked the green as the mat layer for Hippity Hop and as the layer under the word patterned paper.  Somehow, the yellow didn't look quite right under either, but the green looked great, and the yellow was good under the striped pattern.  Once that was decided, the card went together very easily and quickly.  Take a look below at my finished Hippity Hop card.  Isn't that little bunny just too cute!

Following my longstanding tradition, I completed my card by finishing off the inside with a design and verse to coordinate with the outside creativity.

Recipe:  Papers:  Cardstocks--Paper Company pack/ In Full Bloom (green); Stampin' Up Daffodil Yellow; Patterns--DCWV/ Easter Words, Reminisce/ Happy Easter Stripe.  Digital image: 2 Cute Ink/ Hippity Hop.  Stamps: Stampin' Up--Indescribable Gift (sentiment), Suite Sayings (verse).  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Dies: MemoryBox--Cross Stitched Frame Borders.  Punch:  EK CardCreator-Basketweave Corner (inside).  Wink of Stella/ Clear.  Recollections: Pearls.  Colorbox: Chestnut Roan/ distressing.  Copic Markers:  Pants--B41, B32, B34. Shoes--T0, T1, T3, T5. Egg--R22, R24, R27, R29; Y11, Y13, Y15, Y35. Flowers/Grass--YR00, YR12, YR18; V000, V01, V05; YG01, YG03, YG17.  Bunny-- C0, 0 (Blender).  Nose--R22.  Size: 5-1/2" x 5-3/4".

It's An Easter Bunny Turtle!

Last October I joined the 2 Cute Ink Digital Stamps Club, hosted by artist/owner, Heidi Arrowood.  This club gives its members six free images per month for $5.00, with one being exclusive to the club members only, plus a coupon code to be used in the 2 Cute Ink Etsy shop for more digital images.  I am sorry to say, I have not done a thing with any of my new digital images yet, even though I bought additional digis not given for free!!  They were too cute to resist, and the percentage off offered was too good to ignore!  But, let me whine and make excuses. . .I think my excuses are pretty good. . .LOL!

Throughout last fall until mid-January, I have been totally wrapped up in planning my daughter's wedding with the result that there has been NO time to take on any extra cardmaking as my whole focus has been the wedding and lending my crafting expertise to both the wedding and my daughter's shower.  I didn't even get Christmas cards made for my immediate family. . .I felt so guilty!  Since the wedding, which turned out beautiful, I have been playing catch-up with my life, trying to find and grab all the loose ends trailing around that were either ignored or shelved while working on wedding stuff, more wedding stuff, and MORE wedding stuff!!  Finally, about mid-March, I began to actually feel things might be getting back to normal. . .whatever normal means!

This past week, I have been busy making Easter cards for my immediate family and trying out some new techniques recently learned.  Finally satisfied that I had mastered these new techniques, I decided it was time try a little coloring again. . .it's been oh so very long since I colored.  What better way to get back into it than to color one of my 2 Cute Ink Club freebie digital images and maybe even participate in their challenge with an Easter card for my oldest son.  I chose a February club digital image called the Easter Bunny Turtle. . .such a darling image.  I found a very colorful paper that I thought would work very well for my design idea, which helped me choose the Copic markers to use on my little turtle-bunny and his eggs.  I'm pretty happy with the results and offer you a peek below at this very colorful card!   Also, jump on over the visit the 2 Cute Ink Challenge #133 - Easter Theme and see other cards submitted for this months challenge.  Their link is:  http://2cuteinkchallenges.blogspot.com/2016/03/challenge-133-easter-theme-new-digital.html

And now for the final step to finish up my card. . .the inside design and a verse to coordinate with my front design.  I did think my verse needed to include bunnies that "are an interesting sight" as this bunny is certainly an interesting sight!

Recipe:  Papers:  Stampin' Up cardstocks--Whisper White, Island Indigo; Reminisce--Easter Basket Stripe (front + back side).  Digital Image:  2 Cute Ink/ Easter Bunny Turtle.  Stamp: Lawn Fawn--Happy Easter (sentiment).  Ink--Memento Black Tuxedo.  EK Punches:  Scalloped Scallops Border; 1-1/2" Scallop Circle; Medium Victorian Corner (inside).  Offray 3/8" ribbon.  Craft Medley--sequins.  Hand-cut: Tag & Double Fishtail Flags.  Copic Markers:  Turtle--YG00, YG01, YG03, YG17 (feather YG17); Ears/Tail--C0, RV00, RV11; Eggs--YR04, YR12; BG02, BG05;  Y04, Y15; Grass--YG01, YG03, YG17 (feather); Ground--E04 (feather).  Size: 5-1/4" x 5-1/2".

An Easter Waterfall!

I know the Waterfall technique was introduced as a tutorial on Splitcoaststampers way back in 2007, so it is definitely not a new technique, but one of my cardmaking buddies just introduced it to me last week. . .so it is brand new to me.  I just love it. . . such a clever idea.  After making a introductory card last week with her tutelage, I loved it even more.  Though it looks very involved, it turned out to be relatively easy to assemble, and I thank my friend Charlene for sharing her expertise.

This week, I challenged myself fly solo and create and cut my own waterfall card all by myself with no help.  Easter is looming; therefore, I decided my theme for my solo waterfall flight should be just that, an Easter card.  I went in search of the perfect images and papers to make my design.  I also decided to enter my end result in the 2 Cute for Ink Digital Stamps Challenge #133 - Easter Theme.  You might want to zip on over to their site and see all the cards submitted at: http://2cuteinkchallenges.blogspot.com/2016/03/challenge-133-easter-theme-new-digital.html.

Now, on with the search for items needed for my card.  In my Easter digital image stash, I found a simple Easter basket that I thought would be perfect with the Three Bunnies digital images by Beccy Muir.  Way back in 2011, she offered these fat little egg-bunnies as a free offering on her blog, and I knew they would be perfect for my Waterfall squares.  From my Easter paper stash, I decided on Doodlebug's Hello Spring--Easter Bunnies patterned paper, using the baby carrots as my focal paper and teaming it up with Stampin' Up's Cucumber Crush cardstock and an orange and cream small gingham check as a companion piece. 

 
I have an idea to make a bordered edge on my waterfall slide, but decided to wait until I felt I had mastered this technique first.  I am pretty happy with my second Waterfall attempt all on my own.  I even enlarged my card, waterfall squares, and the slide just a bit from my original "training" card.  I think my solo waterfall flight was successful and I'm pretty happy with my first Easter card.  Take a peek below!

The following pictures shows the card as the ribbon tab at the bottom is pulled to expose the hidden pictures one at a time creating the waterfall effect.  I love the impact you get and it isn't even difficult to do!!

I finished off my card by completing the inside with a simple Easter sentiment and decorative corner punching dressed up with bitty orange rhinestone flowers.

Recipe:  Papers:  Stampin' Up--Cucumber Crush cardstock; Doodlebug--Hello Spring/ Easter Bunnies; Orange/Cream gingham check (from stash).  Beccy Muir digital images: Three Bunnies; Easter Basket (from stash).  SU punch: Pinking Hearts (retired) (aka EK punch: Arrow Edger).  Recollections: 1/4" brads.  Copic Markers.  3/8" ribbon (from stash). Wink of Stella-Clear.  Size:  51/4" x 5-3/4".

Throwback #2 to Christmas 2011

Here are some miscellaneous card that I made for Christmas.  Some of these were kits that I modified to convert them to a more "me" card, mostly to add more laying and more colors to the overall look, which in turn, englarged them as well.  To start, here are a few more snowflakes, and then there's a whole group that I colored with my Copics.  Its fun to look back and see what I was doing for cardmaking back in late 2011, and specifically what my Chrismtas card looked like then.

More snowflakes!

Again, more snowflakes!

A little holly for the Christmas season!

Critters from the cold visit at Christmas!

Critter #2 fresh from the ice and the cold!

Can't have Christmas without peppermints, and my gosh, their ornaments too!