My Brother Has A Birthday!

My brother is having a milestone birthday in early, early May, and he will suddenly be two years old than not just one, as he reaches the beginning of another decade!  I am on a cardmaking spree right now trying to get all of my early May cards completed before I leave for my four-day Girls' Get-Away Cardmaking Retreat, which is my present to myself for Mother's Day.  I know it will be oodles and oodles of fun, laughter, and hilarity as those are the kinds of ladies who are going.  I predict a thoroughly marvelous time!

Back to my brother's card for his birthday.  I made a card similar to this one last spring, which was inspired by a Liz Thayer design.  My previous card sported a mustache, and while my brother has a mustache and a beard, just a mustache didn't seem like him as he has never had just a mustache.  I decided his card would be stamped just as the stamp comes with cake and candles.  My card, as in the previous version, has more paper layers than Liz's original, but I retained the collage of masculine-oriented paper patterns.  I'm sure my brother will love his card, and he will know I've been thinking about him as I was making his card and getting it ready for the mail.

The inside creation has now been completed and designed to coordinate with the outside, and I've added a humorous verse about aging that I think my brother will enjoy.

 (Card inspired by a Liz Thayer design and modified by me.)

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers:  Basic Black cs, Soft Suede cs, Very Vanilla cs, 2013-2015 Neutrals dsp stack (Chevron-Soft Suede/ Scallop-Crumb Cake), Modern Medley dsp.  SU stamp: See Ya Later.  Memento Black, SU Soft Suede (distressing).  SU Early Espresso Chevron ribbon, pearls.EK Photo Corner punch (inside). Size: 5" x 6-1/4"

A Niece-in-Law's Birthday

I missed a birthday for one of my niece-in-law's birthdays while getting ready for my California trip, Easter cards, and several birthday's in Washington before I left.  Since it was going to be late without time to prepare the card's verse or finish inside embellishments, I decided to use a card ready from my already-made stash, and do the finishing touches after arriving in California where she lives.  

This card's original design idea was by Liz Thayer, with my own personal modifications.  I enlarged my card, added several background layers, changed the stamped image, added a Spellbinders' Deckled Rectangles die-cut behind the image, and added the green pearls.  I composed the inside verse and added embellishments to coordinate with the front image.  I hope Danielle will enjoy her belated birthday card.

Recipe:  SU Paper: Whisper White cs, Rich Razzleberry cs, Old Olive cs, Sycamore Street dsp (2013 SAB).  SU Products: Patterned Occasions stamps, Rich Razzleberry ink (oval distressing), Delicate Details Lace Tape (halved), Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Designer Frames Embossing Folder (oval), 3/8” Striped Organdy ribbon (Old Olive). Spellbinder dies: Ovals SM, Deckled Rectangles SM.  Queen&Co.: Olive half-pearls.  Inside - EK punches: Daisy Scallop edger, Scallop Photo corners.

A Birthday Cupcake!

It's my niece's birthday during the month of February, and I wanted to make her a card.  I used a card design similar to one made at Liz Thayer's March SAB 2013 cardmaking fest.  My card is larger and square, and I gave added more mat layers, embossing the whte layer.  I used my Deckled Rectangles Spellbinder die to edge the little greeting's green mat and the oval to cut out the embossed oval holding the cupcake stamp.  Pearls were used in the lower right corner to add embellishment detail.

Niece Angie and my oldest daughter were the best of cousins and friends during their growing up years because they were closest in age.  When our family began moving around the country with my husband's job, we tried to get the girls together for summer vacation visits.  Either Angie would fly to our location, or Michele would return to California (where she was born) and visit wth Angie.  I think they like that best as cousin Angie had a swimming pool, plus Grandma's and many aunts and uncles lived in the vicinity.  To this day, they remain good friends and were in each other's weddings.  So, we send birthday wishes to this all-growed up niece via my little homemade card!

Recipe:  SU Paper: Whisper White cs, Rich Razzleberry cs, Old Olive cs, Sycamore Street dsp (2013 SAB).  SU Products: Patterned Occasions stamps, Rich Razzleberry ink (oval distressing), Delicate Details Lace Tape (halved), Lacy Brocade Embossing Folder, Designer Frames Embossing Folder (oval), 3/8” Striped Organdy ribbon (Old Olive). Spellbinder dies: Ovals SM, Deckled Rectangles SM.  Queen&Co.: Olive half-pearls.  Inside - EK punches: Daisy Scallop edger, Scallop Photo corners.

Christmas & Hot Chocolate Go Together! Tag Card #5

I just love this Stampin' Up stamp and die that creates a hot cup of...hot chocolate, hot toddies, coffee, tea, etc.  I made quite a few paper, ribbon, and layout changes to this tag, plus added a scallop border and embellishments.  I also had this lovely sheer snowflake ribbon that just absolutely begged to be used.  I didn't have a picture at the time I was making this tag, so I just ad libbed with the pieces that I had.  I was really happy with how my tag and card turned out.  Hope you like it as well!

Inspiration from Christmas Tags by Heidi Gonzales - mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com.Recipe:  SU stamp/die set: Scentsational Season (cup), Jolly Bingo Bits (snowflake). SU dies: Two Tags Bigz, Holiday Collections framelits, Snow Flurry Bigz. SU Punch: 2-3/8” Scallop, Scallop Edge Border. EK Punch: 3/4” Scallop Circle, Medium Scallop Photo Corner, Scalloped Scallops Edge Border. SU papers: Cardstocks-Early Espresso base, Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla; Snow Festival dsp (scallop trim), Festival of Prints dsp stack, Silver Glitter paper. SU Ink: Soft Suede. Colorbox Chestnut Roan (distressing). Rhinestones. Stash: Cream crochet thread; Snowflake glitter ribbon (Michaels).

2012 Birthday for Danielle. . .

While visiting in California this April, my niece (in-law) celebrated her birthday.  It gave me the excuse to make another card.  I've been toying around with the vintage look, so I decided to try it out on a birthday card.  I found a colored digital image of chocolate ad depicting a lovely little girl in a big brimmed hat.  She was so cute, I was sold, and went to work.  I didn't have the right colored button, so I colored some pearl white ones with Copics.  I was surprised how well that worked, and I could get the color just right to match the papers.  Here is my finished vintage feminine birthday card.

Birthday 2011: An Aunt is 90!

My husband's Aunt Joanie was 90 in June 2011!  I must say, my husband's family has long-living genes on both his mother and his fathers side of the family. . .at least for the women!  Aunt Joanie is his father's sister and she lives in the Midwest.  Her son and daughter wanted to shower her with cards by having as many friends and family send her cards as possible.  I am sure she will receive over 50 or more for sure as my husband's family is quite large!

I decided vintage was definitely the way to go for this lovely vintage lady.  I had a favor I wanted from her son before I got started.  I asked him to send me an email listing as many of Aunt Joanie's favorite things or hobbies and that she enjoyed throughout her lifetime.  When he told me she loved to dance and that she and her husband often went dancing in the 1940s and 1950s especially, I knew I had my theme.  I searched on line for vintage colored images of couples dancing and found just the right one.  Here is the card I created from the information and the image on hand.