Throwback Christmas 2010!

Now, we have advanced a year.  I remember that this year, I was determined that I would try making all my Christmas cards from my own design.  This would not be so difficult to do since at that time I was only making eleven cards for my mother, mother-inlaw, my children, and my children's in-laws.  I did case one card I saw in a cardmaking magazine, because I just absolute loved it, and posted it to my blog already.  You'll find it posted August 14, 2011, entitled The Last of Chrismtas 2010!  In case you want to take a peek, this is the link: http://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2012/04/the-last-of-christmas-2010.html.


I found some chipboard Christmas embellishments at WalMart that year when their Christmas stock was first put on the shelves, and I will make note. . .I have never seen that WalMart has had this type of chipboard embellishment again, which I find somewhat disappointing.  With these little gems, I was able to fashion eight different cards, with totally different Christmas themes.  Here is a peek at three that I have never published. . .throwbacks to 2010!

This one used a variety of paper patterns.  The sentiment, Believe, was die-cut from the bottom trim on the Christmas paper used for the main body of the card.  I tied little bells to the bridge of the red-checked ribbon bow, and triple layered the sentiment with plain and scalloped circles using my Spellbinders dies.

This one was almost entirely the WalMart chipboard embellishments with two layers of coordinating patterned paper and two layers of satin ribbon layered on top of each other.  I added the little red rhinestone to the tree's topper.  I thought this card was an easy card, but pleasing when finished.

This one is my final entry from the WalMart chipboard embellishment group.  With this one, I just found some Christmas papers that I thought coordinated well with the little chipboard Christmas tree.  I added a sentiment with a scalloped mat layer in a color complimentary to the striped paper, and add blue grosgrain stitched ribbon to match the blue in the presents under the tree.  The bow looked a little bare, so I popped on a white plastic snowflake from my Christmas embellishment stash.

My final entry on this post is a card I challenged myself to make from this particular collection of Christmas papers.  I've had these papers in my stash for two years and had never felt the least inclination to use them.  As a matter of fact, I had asked myself more than once why I bought them!  The difficulty is that all the colors in every sheet in the collection are non-traditional Christmas colors made up of pinks, golds, yellows, blues and aquas, and a whole gaggle of non-Christmas greens.  I used three different patterns from the collection and found this little felt, padded snowman's head that I thought went nicely with the paper colors.  I even made the card sentiment by fussy-cutting words found on a fourth piece of the collection papers.

Thanksgiving Pressies!

My good friend and cardmaking buddy, Sandy, sent me the cutest darn Thanksgiving card.  She has been on a bing of cardmaking using her flip-it framelit die, because, as she says, "I've had it for close to a year now and never used it...shame on me!  Don't you think it's about time!"  But, not only did she use her flip-it framelit die, but she also created her cute little scarecrow with punch art, added with felt leaves and a bit of washi tape.  Take a look at this darling little scarecrow with the goolies eyes and yarn hair!  Isn't it just the most adorable thing ever!

Next came a thank you card from my sister, using Papertrey Ink's Quilted: Autumn stamp and coordinating die set.  Love that copper metallic crocheted lace bordering the leaf panel and the bit of burlap setting off her quilted leaf!  Thank YOU, Heidi, for such a lovely card!

Christmas is Coming!

I've been attending several fun cardmaking events and have made about 20 of my Christmas cards so far.  Tonight, I went to a great event at the new Running Scissors scrapbooking store in East Hill Kent.  Darcy Christensen, Regional Manager for American Crafts, was visiting the store to give a card class and demonstrate two new American Craft tools, the WRMK Photo Fuse Tool (which makes wonderful shaker card envelopes) and the Mini Minc Machine using the Minc transfer foils.  Note: There are other brands of heat transfer foils on the market as well, such as: Therm O Web Deco Foil, iCraft Deco Transfer Foil, etc.

We were given six white card bases, envelopes, embossed gold foil paper, vellum foil, Minc Tags to use with the Minc foil and the Minc Heat Transfer machine, Photo Fuse sleeves to use with the WRMK Photo Fuse Tool to make clear shaker envelopes, sequins, white cake sprinkles (for snow), washi tape, and American Crafts Holiday dimensional sentiment tags.  We also received paper cutting instructions for the six samples cards Darcy had created for the class.  We started with mostly different Minc tags than Darcy used plus a few that were the same.  She challenged us to come up with six cards that were different than hers.

For my first card that I completed at the store, I chose to make my snowflake red with the red transfer foil.  I added not only white cake sprinkles for snow but some round red, green sequins with a few gold star sequins to coordinate with the gold foil dot background.  I added the kraft sentiment tag with holly berries and finished it off with holly berry washi tape at the top.

It was so much fun to use the new American Craft tools.  I have my own brand new WRMK Photo Fuse tool and have used it a few times in the past few weeks, and loved every moment.  I hard of applying foil via heat transfer, but had never seen the Minc Heat Machine in action.  It was impressive, and I love the results.

Recipe:  SU Whisper White cardstock.  DCWV Foiled Cardstock Stack.  Jen Hadfield Gold Dot Foil.  Heidi Swapp Minc Tags (snowflake).  Minc Reactive Foil: Red (used with Minc Heat Machine).  American Crafts: Remarks Holiday Dimensional sentiments.  American Crafts Christmas Sequins & Buttons.  Cake Sprinkles (snow).  WRMK Photo Fuse sleeve (made with WRMK Photo Fuse Tool).  (Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2").

Birthday Card Pressie from Mom!

Oh my Mom, you have outdone yourself. . .what a beautiful card, and thank you for birthday dollars, as well!  I can see many new cardmaking items coming my way!  I have to post your Card Pressie to share with my blog readers.  Love all the popped up embellishments. . .butterflies (one of my favorites) are beautiful!  I know my blog readers will be inspired by the gorgeous work that you do, and it also sends a message that one can be creative at any age.  You sure prove just that. . .love you Mom!

I thought I would share another card I received from my Mom back in 2011. . .isn't it just gorgeous!  Again, she know what I like. . .butterflies and flowers!

Thank You, Mom!

Eggstra Special Easter Wishes!

As I did last year, I decided I needed to look over my Easter stash to see what was lurking before I started another card.  Last year, I made myself use everything from my stash rather than buy or look for anything new.  I spotted this really cute paper that I know I've had for over three years.  I have loved it for just that long, so I don't know why I hadn't used it before.  This year is certainly the time to do it for sure! I still have many more foam Easter shapes in my stash. . .so why not use them again.  As I learned last year, if you color the purple rabbit with Copic markers, they will actually color, usually darker than the pen color.  I chose a dark brown Copic, which was be perfect for this card.  Here is my final creation:

Recipe: SU Cardstock: Whisper White, Bashful Blue. Pattern: WRMK Hippity Hoppity Easter Tree. Sentiment: Computer-generated. Punches: Martha Stewart Swirling Lace Around the Page Border & 3-in-1 Butterflies. Spellbinders Long Rectangles SM & Long Scalloped Rectangles SM. SU Beautiful Wings Sizzilit die. Extras: SU Bashful Blue 5/8" Satin ribbon, SU 1/8" Taffeta ribbon (bunny bow), Blue/White ribbon (Michael's $1 bin). Recollections 3mm multi-colored rhinestones, rhinestone ovals (butterfly body) & black mini pearl (bunny eye). $1 Store Glitter Eggs & Bunnies (eggs decorated with ribbon and rhinestones). Glue dot minis, Scotch foam tape, Scotch 1/4" tape glider.

Birthday for a Game Connoisseur!

My son, David, was born in the window that put him in the fore-front of video gamers!  When he was only seven years old, the Atari Game Console was brand new on the market, and we purchased it for family entertainment.  David loved his Adventure game where you searched for the treasure chest hidden in a cave with a labyrinth of tunnels, and where the wrong choice would allow the dragon guarding the treasure to come out and attack you.  His next favorite game was Space Invaders.  From this start, he has now progressed to online gaming, the X-Box, PlayStation, etc, and more that I'm probably not even aware exists!

One of his favorites right now is Mass Effect, so I decided to try making him a card with that theme in mind.  My first goal was to replicate the X-Box game controller, which I researched via the Internet, and I was able to make a plausible replica, I think.  Next, what kind of paper could I possibly use?  I certainly didn't have anything along the lines of current-day games.  When I'm stuck, I usually try to find resources via the Internet so that is where I looked.  I found some wallpaper prints depicting the binary code with an abstract flair and leaning toward the Matrix-look and a Mass Effect IPhone wallpaper, both were the right colors to work well together. I downloaded these and pasted them in Microsoft Word to manipulate their size for cardmaking.  Here is my finished card for David.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up Basic Black cs (card base), Basic Gray cs.  Digital online wallpapers.  DCWV Generation Tech Stack (Dimensional).  Papertrey Ink die: XL Rickrack.  Stampin' Up EFolder: Square Lattice.  WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  EK Circle punches + Spellbinder die Circles (smallest circle). Scotch 3M foam tape.  Glue Dots.  (Inside only: EK Scallop Corners).

My Last Easter "Must Do" Card!

I think this will be my final card this year with an Easter theme.  I have made all the necessary ones and gotten those off in the mailed or sealed and ready for delivery on Easter Sunday.  I actually got a few extras done and sent to old friends just to touch base and say "Hi!"  And, I still have more ideas roaming around in my mind as I look over my stash.  But, I must move on to birthday cards needed that will be coming up in April.  Cardmaking is a great hobby, there's always another occasion and a need for one more card! 

I've really enjoyed making my Easter cards this year and still being able to stick to my goal to use everything I already had on-hand.  A good feeling indeed

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstock: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Gumball Green, Real Red Core'dinations.  Patterns:  Creative Imaginations Samantha Walker Eggs and Stripe. Stamps: Wacky Wishes. Ink: Memento Cottage Ivy. Papertrey die: Picket Fence. EK punch: 1" Scallop Circle and Standard hole punch.  Creatology Felt bunny and foam leaves (Michael's). Bazzill .75 Bachelor Flower. Jolee Yellow Verbena.  Karen Foster Scrapper's Floss. Ribbon from stash. Signature multi-hue thread/ teals to green (Joann's). 

Easter Cards Are on the Home Stretch!

As I mentioned earlier, my goal is to design my Easter cards this year around using up stickers and dimensionals that have been hanging around in my stash for several years now.  This card is really all about that!  I used parts from several different packages and put them together in an Easter scene.  I loved the bunny painting the egg that is the main feature of the card.  I used my Copic markers to re-color several things.  Since this card is for my oldest son, Mr. Rabbit got a new color on his coat (previously pink) and darker buttons.  I wanted to bring in some brown, so I used that on his collar.  One of the grass-hidden eggs was light pink, so it became magenta, etc.  I think he will like his card.

Recipe:  Cardstock:  Whisper White, Certainly Celery, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip (Stampin' Up); Pattern: Pinecone Press Plaid, Cloudy Sky (unknown/ Joann's). Stamp: Delightful Dozen (Stampin' Up). Ink: Memento Bamboo Leaves. Stampin' Up Pearls (colored with Copics. Stampin' Up Certainly Celery 5/8" satin ribbon, Brown grosgrain stitched ribbon (Michal's).  Jolee's stickers:  Picket Fence, Painting Rabbit, plus various others. Tools: Stampin' Up Clouds Embossing Folder. Dies: Die-namics Grass border. Stampin' Up Modern Label punch. SU Beautiful Wings Embosslit (Sizzilit). Scotch foam tape. Scotch 1/4" tape glider, mini Glue Dots.

Easter Cards. . .Reaching the Halfway Point!

My goal yesterday was to finish my mother's Easter card, because it is my last card that needs to be mailed, and I did it!  Yah!  Now, I have four left!  I actually finished four cards in three days, except for the inside verse and embellishments, though the two I had to mail are totally done and off in the mail!  But the most time-consuming part is done.

My fourth card, I made with my son and his wife in mind. I had an idea in my head that I wanted to do a card using a chocolate Easter bunny, but I didn't have one.  If you know me at all, you know that won't stop me. . .so looking in my embellishment stash. . .  I found glittery foam bunnies in different sitting configurations, but they were all bright turquoise, dark lavender, or hot pink.  Of course, that wouldn't do, but an idea sprang to mind.  What if. . .I colored the lavender one, which was sitting in a chocolate Easter bunny stance, making him dark brown.  First I tried my Early Expresso stamp pad, daubing him, but it didn't cover sufficiently.  Next, with fear in my heart, I tried a dark brown Copic marker, using the broad tip, which I never use to color.  The brown that match Early Expresso was really too dark, so he turned out darker than I envisioned, but he was no longer purple! ( I'm actually not sure anything lighter would have covered the purple.)  The bunnies were originally glittery, and he remained that way, but for some reason now the glitter had a greenish cast to it.  I found some paper that went very well with his new color, and here is their card.  I hope they likes it. . .it's kind of dark for traditional Easter colors, but I think they are very rich.  From a purple rabbit to this. . .I'm very satisfied!

Recipe:  Cardstock: So Saffron,  Basic Black (Stampin' Up); Fern (Cordeinations). Patterns: Origins (Basic Grey). Extras: Ribbon: 5/8" satin + 3/8" green/gold metallic (Michaels), Chestnut Road Cat Eye,  Glitter Foam Rabbits ($ Store), Prima roses, Glue Dots, 3-D Foam tape, Redline tape, Scotch tape glider.  Tools:  Spellbinders Grand Labels One, Labels LG, Labels SM. Leaves: Bird punch (Stampin' Up).

2012 Christmas Card for #4

I chose this little vintage snowman card for my son, Mark and his wife, Ginger.  I started this card also while in California at the Christmas Card Palooza.  Our instruction and original card design was Sara Moreno.  As I began to make this card, I decided it needed a bit more in embellishments and color, so I waited until we cropped at Mom's before finished it.  I decided to add a red mat between the kraft cardbase and the green damask.  I added the little snowman dimensional and gave him a popped snowflake on his hat and pearl buttons, as well as the two tickets. 

A Daughter's Birthday!

Happy Days!  This card was chosen as a

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF

WEEK ENDING - JULY 15, 2012

 

Daughter, Michele, celebrates her birthday today!  I had to get my creative juices flowing to make her a special birthday card that said, "Yes, this card was made especially for Michele!"  For the past year, I've been thinking about making a card for her using a vintage seed packet, depicting gardening, because she so likes to work in her yard.  She has been wanting to plant some roses...especially Mr. Lincoln (a blood red with a delicious smell) to commemorate her late Grandfather Bill, his favorite.  But with their move to West Virginia in the near future, that will have to wait three years until their return as roses need careful tending here with all our rain and cool weather!  But meanwhile, her new rhododendron garden is looking beautiful...so fitting here in the northwest where they grow wild!  Here is her card that evolved from perking slowly for almost a year...LOL! 

Happy Birthday, Michele...enjoy!

Ingredients:  Papers: Backround/ Aqua: Mind's Eye (Laundry Line/ Breaking Free); Paisley/ Red dot (behind seed packet): K&Company-Classic K Balley pad; Tools/gloves: K&Company dimensional stickers; Butterfly: Martha Stewart (sponge daubbed); Fence: Die-namics (My Favorite Things).  (SplitcoastStampers Thread: July 15, 12/ #9).

2012 Easter Whimsy!

My last four Easter cards will be for my kids and their spouses if married.  They get to have the whimsical Easter cards depicting baskets, bunnies, and chicks.  I have a card full of whimsical stickers from BoBunny that I think will be perfect to building on.

My first whimsical Easter card will be for the oldest of the children. . .David.  So, not too foofoo for sure, so I chose the Easter basket sticker.  I found a wonderful polka dot paper that had all the right colored dots to coordinate with the eggs in the basket.  I did pop off a bow on the basket, but in thinking about it after, I should probably have used a ribbon knot. . .oh well, maybe next time!

My second card will be for second sibling, Michele, and her husband, Don.  I decided this one would go to the feminine side and my next card for them will be toward the masculine style.  They will get the cute little golden chick sticker.  I used a doily to set the chick off and popped him up off the patterned circle.  I also added a little machine zigzag stitching and pinked the edges of my second mat layer.  I was really happy with they way he turned out and I think they will like their card, especially Michele.

The third in line is Jackie, and she will get the little pink bunny for sure!  I decided a pink scallop frame for the little bunny and a double floss twine bow for her ear.  She is just so cute with her little blue nose matching her bow!  I think Jackie will love it!

The fourth and last of my urchins is Mark, so this last card will be for him and his lovely wife, Ginger.  I had this little yellow chickie paper with had a shimmery look setting them off from the matte background.  One of my stickers was a puffy yellow chick that went perfect with this paper.  I thought yellow feathers tucked behind the popped up chick would add the final touch, and here is Mark and Ginger's Easter card:

2012 Birthday for Hubby!

My husband will be celebrating his birthday in a few days on Groundhog's Day.  I bought Papertrey Inks die/ stamp set with airplanes specifically for my husband, who used to fly in his younger years, and we even owned a small plane. . .this, of course, was before children and before John's company was transferring him all over the country for his job and we had to sell the plane.  I just love the little whimsical bi-plane I chose to use for his card. 

For my husband to remind him of his flying days! 

(used Papertrey Ink stamp/die set).

And, then it was Christmas 2010!

I had been practicing making cards now for about a year, but still did not feeling like I had it down, that's for sure.  I, of course, was running out of time as I still haven't learned to pace myself well.  I decided to use chipboard embellishment pieces to help with my card designs where I could.  My first two cards were for my mother and for my mother-in-law, and this was how they turned out: 

Mom's card using Santa and JOY chipboard embellishments.  He was such a cute little Santa!

Alice's card (John's mother) was made using an ornament paper I had in my stash and making them into rectangles using my Spellinger dies.  The snowflake was a felt pre-made embellishment.

July 2010: A new endeavor...an anniversary card!

My youngest son and his wife celebrated their fourth anniversary in July 2010.   I had not yet tried to come up with an anniversary card. . .a new challenge in my cardmaking journey!  I had this lovely, big Prima flower in my little stash of embellishments and this lovely purple and blue variegated sheer ribbon.  Ginger's favorite color is purple.  I thought these embellishments would be just right, so I went with it, but threw in a little more blue in the papers for Mark!  I do love that flower and that ribbon.  I think they absolutely made the card!

Ingredients: Michaels: Open-stock paper and cardstock. Prima flower. Offray Varigated Organdy ribbon.  Computer-made sentiment/ verse. 

Get Well Card for Sister-in-Law. . .

One of my husband's sister had neck and back surgery in April, 2010.  I thought it would be nice to send her a little get well card.  I found these really pretty silk butterflies at the Dollar Store, of all places, in their floral section.  I snatched it up for my cardmaking stash, which by the way, had begun to multiply somewhat abundantly.  I immediately knew these butterflies it would be even pretty with a little glitter glue on its wings to add sparkle.  They also brought to mind some open stock paper from Joanns in my paper stash that I knew would coordinate very well with them.  

I decided these were the items were what I would use to make Judy's card and brought them out to stare at them until my mojo went to work.  I was really happy with the outcome of my butterfly card.  As I looked at the finished product, I thought it would make a good Mother's Day or birthday card.  I'll tuck that idea away for the future, especially if I'm tight on time, then I could just make another.

Ingredients:  Bazzill cardstocks: white/ navy.  JoAnns: open-stock patterned paper.  BoBunny BoDot paper.   Zutter Corner Rounder, Martha Stewart Scallop Eyelet punch. BoBunny Sheer Dot ribbon, Michaels: Dimension butterfly.  Stickles Irresdescent Glitter glue (wings). Computer sentiment/ verse.

Right on the Heels of Easter...Another 2010 Birthday!

My daughter Jackie was born on Easter Sunday 29 years ago, but she has never celebrated another birthday on Easter. . .that is so strange.  This lovely daughter of mine loves umbrellas and goulashes!  She has at least 3 sets...so a card along those lines seemed like it would be just perfect, and here it is...

And a little poem would be perfect for the inside!

2010 Easter Cards for Sister & Daughter

One of my final two cards made in 2010 was for my sister, Heidi.  I had this cute little bunny dimensional embellishment hiding behind an Easter egg that went so very well with a little bunny pattern paper that I found in my local craft store.  I knew they would be just right together, so away went my creative juices and here is what I came up with for Heidi:

The last card on my list was for one of Heidi's daughters who had just moved to Washington where her husband was transferred by the military.  I wanted to send Shauna and her family an Easter card to welcome them.  As they have a three-year-old little girl, I wanted the card to represent what her imagination might be what the Easter bunny looks like.  This is what I made for them:

Whimsical Easter Cards for 2010!

I was dying to make some cards with cute bunnies and chicks.  I had collected quite a few Easter embellishments to start this project.  I have four adult children, but I thought I would make them some fun cards.  As cardmaking was new to me and to them, I knew they would be really surprised with what I came up with, and enjoy them no matter what!  Here are the four little cards for my children and their spouses, if married: 

This first one is for my oldest son, David.  I hope he likes his little egg and bunny card.  

This next card was for my oldest daughter, Michele, and her husband Don.  I just loved this little rabbit with his big pink cheeks.  I know they will like him too!

And, the third card was for my next to the youngest, a daughter...Jackie.  Because she is not married, I got to make her a pink card so match this cute little Martha Stewart bunny.  She looked like Mopsey, who belongs in Mr. MacGregor's garden!

My last card was for my youngest, Mark, and his lovely wife, Ginger.  I had this darling chickie paper that I really wanted to use, so I thought I would do a little chickie card for them.  I modified some flower embellishment add.  

Okay, so now I'm down to two last cards...look for my next post with the finished cards that closed the 2010 chapter on Easter cards!

Easter 2010...Religious Cards

Easter...another excuse to practice making cards!  I though I would start with religious cards and see how that worked out.

A card for John...my husband.

 A card for my Mom..
.

 A card for John's Mom

 A card for a  dear friend...

Now that left me with about six more cards to do.  In my next group, I thought I would turn a page and do some whimsical cards with bunnies and such!