A Spooktacular Birthday! ("Spooky Treats" Sept. 2022 Paper Pumpkin Alternative)

Believe it or not, this card started with the thought that I needed to make a birthday card for my son-in-law, which falls in mid-October. I began by perusing my Splitcoaststamper challenge list to see which challenges might spark ideas for my card design. I happened on a spider card in the Featured Stamper challenge that gave me the idea to do something about Halloween for his card as he loves really getting into Halloween and finding spooky places to visit to celebrate this holiday. This got me started with all kinds of other ideas about using the new September Paper Pumpkin Spooky Treats kit and making an alternative design card, etc. All ideas gathered from selected challenges eventually jelled into this Halloween card for his birthday: 

                              

Ingredients: Stampin' Up: Cardstock--Basic Black, Pacific Point, Crushed Curry, Whisper White scraps. September 2022 Paper Pumpkin (plaid, spider, ghost, stars). Punch: 2" Circle. Embossing Folder--Square Lattice. Other: Core'dinations Core Couture--Black Tie glitter paper. Dies--Spellbinders Petite Scallop. Ink--ColorBox Cat Eye-Charcoal (edge distressing). Punch--EK Medium--Victorian Corner; Copic Markers--Spider re-color. Chatterbox sentiment & verse (computer-generated/ Font-Phantom Fingers). Size--Slimline = 3.75 x  8.75-inches.       

PAPER PUMPKIN SEPT. 2022 - SPOOKY TREATS - ALTERNATIVE DESIGN

This kit is all about Halloween treat boxes, but I decided my alternative would be a card instead. I used the plaid intended as a treat box and trimmed it for the slimline card front. To the plaid, I added a Pacific Point cardbase and a Black Glitter cs mat layer. I replicated a larger version of the white w/black scalloped edge sentiment circle, included in the kit, with a Black Glitter scalloped die-cut overlayed with a 2" white punched circle to host the kit's spider, web, and ghost die-cuts on my card. After adhering my three scalloped circles to the plaid card front, I embedded them by embossing the entire plaid card front plaid and circles with a retired Square Lattice EF. I adhered the spider, web, and ghost onto card front circles. I adhere the Black Glitter mat layer to the Pacific Point cardbase, and added my plaid card front on top. I printed my sentiment "We've Arrived!" onto Crushed Curry cardstock and fussy cut each words into a rickety, weathered, and distressed sign. Voila...there is my alternative design for the new Paper Pumpkin...definitely not a treat box!

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". 

Getting Better After Surgery. . .

A long-time friend has had surgery, and I am sure she is not feeling her best; therefore, I wanted to send her a little card to let her know that my husband and I are thinking about her and hoping for a speedy recovery.  I thought I would use a card that I made several years ago at a card class given by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, because I thought its sentiment was perfect....simply...."My Friend."  Inside I dressed it up with a little verse I composed and created a design that compliments the front.  It is made with such a bright and cheerful paper, I thought it would bring a smile to her face.

Ingredient:  Stampin Up products.  Cardstock:  Tangerine Tango, Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Yellow.  Pattern:  Summer Smooches (retired).  Stamps: Perfect Punches (retired).  Ink: Rich Razzleberry.  Punches:  Curly Label (retired), 1/2" Circle; 1" Circle, Curvy Corners (inside/ retired).  Embossing Folder: Square Lattice (retired).  Regals Mini Brads (retired).  Technique: Embedded Embossing.  Size:  4-1/4" x 5-1/4"

Friendly Valentine Card #1

I have several cardmaking friends with whom I exchange Valentine cards just for the fun of it.  We usually plan a friends-lunch-out adventure and meet at one of our favorite restaurants.  Our luncheon is coming up soon, so I needed to get my cards finished pronto.  I wanted to use a technique that I learned probably going on four years ago now, and that is embedding patterns with the use of an embossing folder.

I chose a bright and colorful patterned paper that incorporates almost a horizontal stripe collage of patterns with many different colors of pinks, reds, and a few other pastels as well.  From many of these patterns, I punch small and medium-sized hearts, which I adhered to a white cardstock rectangle.  I then embedded them into this rectangle by using the Square Lattice embossing folder by Stampin' Up that is now retired.  This is my favorite embossing folder to use for this technique because it has a tightly woven pattern that really works well for embedding.  Next I decided to incorporate a banner using one of the paper patterns as a focal point and to also use it as the anchor for my planned sentiment.  I finished it off by adding mini brads in coordinating colors for an embellishment interest.  This is my little embedded Valentine pattern card. . .take a peek below!

To finish my card, I turned my attention to designing a coordinating design and Valentine verse that compliments with the front of my card creation.  I decided to incorporate the front sentiment into the inside card verse.  I must say there is certainly a LOT of PINK!  Take a look see at the finished product below:

Recipe:  Paper products:  Recollections 200 Sheet Pack: Red, Hot Pink, Rose pink; Darice Core'dinations Cardstock: Soft Side-mint; K&Co. Valentine Stack (retired).  SU stamp: Delightful Dozen.  SU Ink: Rose Red, Cherry Cobbler (inside).  SU Embossing Folder: Square Lattice.  SU Punches: Heart to Heart (retired), 1-3/8" Circle, Decorative Label, Itty Bitty Accents-Heart.  EK punch: Graceful Heart Corner.  SU Mini brads (retired).  Technique: Embedded Embossing. Computer-made verse.  Size: 5" x 6".