Oh Dear. . .Another Belated Birthday Card!

My niece had a birthday way back in April!!!  WOW...I am LATE!  But, I did want her to know I really did think about her on her birthday.  To save total face, I did send her a Facebook note with a birthday image on her day. . .but let's face it, that's not like getting a handmade card in the mail!  So, I am catching up.

I chose a card I started at a Stampin' Up cardmaking event hosted by the dynamic duo. . .Dara Peterson & Luci Kirschbaum.  This card was createded by Luci and uses a Splitcoast tutorial called the folded skirt as part of its design.  I re-created the card with a few modifications as follows:  I added a third layer for more color, using Melon Mambo, and I reversed my sentiment cut-out to the right side of the card and my flowers to the left.  Luci's design idea is really lovely. . .don't you just love that skirt design.  Since starting this card at the event, I have now seen other cards with the skirt design and some even have three pleats instead of just two.  You should try one. . .it's fun.

Below is my niece's finished card with my few modifications, and following the card is a picture of my interior design with its verse to compliment the occasion.  I think my niece will be pleased with her card even though it is a whole bunch LATE!

And the inside: 

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Mint Macaron, Delightful Dijon.  Pattern:  It's My Party DSP Stack (2016 Occasions).  Stamps--Grateful Bunch.  Inks--Mint Macaron, Delightful Dijon, Soft Suede.  Rhinestones.  Other products:  Papertrey stamps: Inside & Out: Birthday (sentiment/ verse).  Spellbinders: Labels 4 die.  Skirt Fold Technique (Splitcoast Stampers).

A Good Friend's Birthday!

I am celebrating a good friend's birthday today by making her a handmade card.  Cardmaking is a hobby I started after I retired from the elementary school where I worked for 13 years.  This wonderful friend started working at the same elementary school within days of myself, so I have tried to continue to remember her birthday every year with one of my paper concoctions to help her celebrate her day.

It almost seems like spring here in the northwest, we've had such a delightfully warm February and March with little rain.  The crocus, primroses, and daffodils are blooming already!  All this make me feel that spring is already here, so I had the yen to make a bit of a spring card.  I decided to borrow one of my sister's designs (Heidi Gonzales: My Lil' Scrap Corner blog).  By the time I finished, my flower was gigantic and is surely the envy of every other flower in the realm!  I made it out of canvas and twine with my Fun Flowers BigZ die from Stampin' Up via Sizzix.  It needed some sort of a filler between the flower and the ribbon.  I thought a tag would be just the thing, so I used a Stampin' Up Chalk Talk framelit and made a little color-coordinated tag.  It worked great in my thinking!

When it was all done, it was very thick through and quite heavy, and I thought, "Good thing I don't have to mail this one, because it would definitely have to be sent as a package in a box!"  Fortunate for me, Carla now works at the high school not too far from my house, so it will be hand delivered to her school desk!  I hope she loves it, and she enjoys it in the days to come.

But a card is never really finished until you dream up an inside befitting the outside creativity.  I stole some of the Simple Stories flowered paper to make decorative corners for my little verse I composed and printed on my computer.

Recipe:  Papers: Simple Stories: Harvest Lane.  Stampin' Up: Naturals White, Old Olive.  Stampin' Up: Dies-Tasteful Trim (scallop) BigZ XL; Fun Flowers BigZ L; Autumn Accents BigZ (leaves); Chalk Talk framelit; Vintage Brads.  Wilton 4" Doily. EK punch: Fancy Photo Corners.  HugSnug Seam Binding: Bluejay.  Stash: 1" Crochet Lace; Buttons; Dark Brown Twine; Dark Brown Embroidery Floss; Celery Felt.  (Size: 5" x 7").

The Last Birthday Card of Year 2014!

It's time to celebrate the birthday of a wonderful lady that I worked with for over ten years and that I'm happy to say remains a good friend as well.  As I mentioned in my blog for her birthday last year, I have a difficult getting her birthday card to her on time because her birthday falls right after Christmas.  I blame it all on the busyness of the holiday preparations and the lack of mail delivery, because I really need to mail it by Christmas Eve in order for it to arrive on time!  I must say I did much better last year!  I am fortunate that she lives fairly close by, because this year I plan to hand-deliver it in order for it to be on time!

I was thinking of a telescoping snowman birthday card originally, because her birthday falls during the winter season, but instead I focused on spring!  Now that's was quite a switch!  To be truthful, the telescoping snowmen cards are very intricate with lots of small parts to be cut and shaped.  I made four of them for Christmas for my four children (see blog postings for December 21, 22, and 23).   Then, once again, with the Christmas holidays, I just ran out of enough time to make one more with birthday papers.  

This spring card is made using one of my favorite Authentique paper collections and one of my favorite set of dies and stamps from Papertrey Ink.  I re-created it from a card kit designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner blog), which has always been a favorite of mine and led me to purchase the Papertrey dies and stamps for my own cardmaking.   It focuses on those who have a green thumb when it comes to gardening, which fits my friend, Karen perfectly as her yard always so nice and full of flowers she plants each spring.   I hope she enjoys her springy birthday card!

Recipe: SU cardstock: Whisper White (base), Authentique-Renew: Flourish (floral)/ Blossom (stripe)/ Transform (dots).  SU Ink:  Basic Gray, Summer Starfruit.  Memento: Tuxedo Black.  Spellbinders: Bitty Blossom (small).  Papertrey dies/stamps:  Garden Variety.  Papertrey dies: Seed Packet Frame, Leaf Prints.  Hug Snug Seam Binding:  Gabardine Green.  Stash: Olive felt; bird seed.

Christmas Cards for Cardmaking Friends!

I've been busy making cards for the three ladies with whom I so enjoy spending time making cards, having lunch, shopping for cardmaking supplies, and much more.  I really wanted to use the Merry Stampin' Up die thinlit that came out last year and to try my hand at making my own poinsettias with a Spellbinder die that I have had for several years and never used.  So, to my paper stash I went looking for just the right patterned paper to use with the design I had in mind.  I love the Sentiments paper by Teresa Collins in her Christmas Cottage collection that I immediately decided to use this paper.  Then, I found an Echo Park paper collection named Traditions and fell in love with the Be Jolly paper.  It had a little Scotty dog that I thought would be just right for my dog-loving friend, Liz.  I figured I'd get started with these two papers and decided on a third later.

Making the poinsettias turned out to be a challenge because I wanted some sparkly netting layered in the different poinsettia layers, and I have to tell you the Spellbinder dies just didn't want to cut it properly.  I finally managed to get the three layers for each of the three flowers by shimming my Big Shot magnetic cutting base with two thin cardboard layers.  Even so, I still had to snip a little here and there to get them to release from the netting, with the challenge being not to cut off a petal while trying to snip a little part still attached.  The rest was easy peasy.  I stacked and glued each layer using the Beacon 3 in 1 glue, which worked very well.  I finished the flowers off with three little gold sequins to represent their stamens.  I'm pretty please with the way my flowers turned out.  Below is a sample of each card, using the two different patterned papers that I chose.

This one is using the Echo Park Christmas collection: Traditions/ Be Jolly.  I loved the little Scotty dog, but unfortunately, my "M" from Merry covered him up a bit.  Don't you like how my lovely poinsettia turned out?  I'm stoked!

This one is using the Teresa Collins Christmas Cottage collection:  Sentiments pattern.  Somehow, I just love all the wonderful Christmas words with the red Merry sparkly die-cut.  I liked it so well, I made two of these for two of my cardmaking buddies.  I hope they like their card and my lovely poinsettia as well.

Recipe:  Papers - SU cardstock/ Cherry Cobbler, Red Glimmer; Bazzill Bling/ Diamond; AdornIt/ Christmas Pointsettia; Teresa Collins/ Christmas Cottage-Sentiments; Echo Park/ Tis the Season-Be Jolly; Fancy Pants/ Diagonal Stripe.  SU Thinlit die: Words-Merry.  WRMK Corner Chomper-Deco.  Zutter Corner Rounder.  Fabrics - Wool Felt: Maroon Mottled, Christmas Red, Grass Green; Red Sparkle Netting.  Darice Red gems.  Stash: Felt ZigZag trim; Gold sequins.

Thank You Pocket Card

With the recent passing of my husband's last aunt and/or uncle from both his parents' families, we received a beautiful laser-engraved wood picture of John's grandparents at their wedding from her son, Dan.  Grandmother is certainly wearing a beautiful flourishing hat with a gorgeous flowing feather, which depicted the style of the day.  Below is the black and white picture from which that wood engraving was created: 

My husband, John,  has been very much interested in the genealogy of both the Prichard family history and his mother's family, the Kesslers, as well.  With the death of his aunt, John is the oldest surviving member from his father's side of the Prichard family.  He and several of his cousins have spent many hours looking up historical family information and sharing it with one another.  His cousin, John Kerry, in San Antonio, Texas, was probably the first to begin research and has been the most active in the search.  He has started a great Prichard Family Facebook group, where he shares information and asks for more information.

To thank Dan for his gracious gift to my husband from among his mother's possessions and to let him know just how much his thoughtfulness meant, John wanted to send him a thank you card and gift certificate to one of the local eateries in their little town in Kansas.  We hope Dan and his wife, Vali, enjoy their evening out with our thanks.  Here is the little pocket card I made using a fabric flower made with the Big Shot.

Recipe:  SU cardstock: Soft Suede, More Mustard, Very Vanilla, Pool Party.  DSP: Spice Cake (2011-12 Holiday book - retired).  SU stamps: Gently Falling (retired), Sassy Salutations.  SU Ink: Crumb Cake, More Mustard.  SU Sizzix BigZ XL die: Tasteful Trims (scallop). SU Spice Cake fabric. SU punches: 3/4" Circle, 1" Circle, Round Tab (retired). Seam binding ribbon: Crumb Cake. SU Vintage button. Sponging (Colorbox Chestnut Roam).  Zutter 1/2" Corner Rounder.  Stamp-Off Technique.  (5-1/4" x 4").

July 2014 Anniversary #8!

My youngest son, and youngest child, is having his eighth wedding anniversary in the month of July.  It is difficult to believe that eight years have gone since this wonderful occasion.  His bride was as lovely at the wedding as she is a person, and we are all so happy to have her as part of the family!

For their anniversary, I wanted to convey this note of happiness, so I chose a card from a kit designed by my sister/ card mentor, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner @ blogspot), and completed it with my own tweaks and changes to make it more me.  To do this, I added two more layers of colored cardstock that accomplish three things:  it added more color to the card (which originally only had a vanilla base); it added more layering; and it enlarged the card size from the standard A2 size.  I also added a little twine bow to the front embellishments and rounded the corners of the vanilla layer.  I decided to add decorative corner cutouts to my new blue layer, to add more detail, and then after trimming the vanilla sides a sliver, I attached the top vanilla unit to my blue layer.  I finished by popping this entire unit off the base card.  I think the additional colored cardstock layers enhanced the front banners and made them pop more.  I also think the whole card is even more eye-appealing than it already was in its original lovely design.  I think Mark and Ginger will be please with their So Happy for You anniversary card.

Recipe:  SU cardstocks: Crushed Curry (base), Island Indigo, Very Vanilla.  Pattern Papers: DCWV: Adhesive Cork; MME--Miss Caroline-Dilly Dally/ Dolled Up/ Fiddlesticks.  Papertrey: Stamps-Mini Blooms (sentiment); Dies-Delightful Dahlia (leaves).  MFT dies: Fishtail Flags.  SU punches: 5-Petal Flower (ret.), Boho Blossoms, 1" Circle, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, Scallop Border (inside).   Spellbinders: Labels 1.  WRMK Corner Chomper: Scallop.  American Crafts: Corner Rounder (small).  Queen & Co. Goosebumps (some colored w/ Copics).  May Arts Hemp Twine.  Stash: Sage felt.  (Size: 4-3/4" x 6").

Birthday for "Sister Dear"!

My only sister celebrates her birthday during the month of July.  I wanted to send her a birthday card to let her know that though we are miles apart, she is in my mind daily.  Now, there are many reasons for this, but three primary reasons are: 1) she is my sister, 2) she is my loving friend, and 3) she is my very first cardmaking mentor.  In other words, she is responsible for my very favorite hobby of my entire lifetime...cardmaking.  She has taught me right from the first novice stages:  how to cut paper; how to save paper while cutting; what glues to use; how to use a tape runner gun; how to make a mini album; how to color and shade, first with woodless colored pencils and then with Copic markers; and finally, she got me involved in Stampin' Up.  She has more patience in her little finger while teaching real beginners than I have in my entire body!  She also has more creative genes in her little finger than I do in my entire body!  So, I thank her and wanted to make her this little birthday card, which says it all "LOVE!"

Recipe: Paper: SU cardstock: Whisper White, Crisp Cantaloupe. Authentique-Grace: Poised/ dots, Beauty/ flowers, Sweetness/ Words. Computer-made sentiment.  SU Punches: 1-3/4” Scallop, 1-3/8” Circle, 1” Circle. Flower punches: Blossom + Pansy. MemroyBox: Typewriter Upper Alphabet dies. Seam binding ribbon dyed Crisp Cantaloupe. Recollections Brad pearl.  (Size: 4-3/4" x 5").

A May Anniversary!

My brother and his wife celebrate their anniversary during the month of May.  I went to a cardmaking event hosted by my friend, Liz Thayer, where several cards she had designed were available for us to make with papers and embellishments provided.  When I go to these fun-filled events, my cardmaking mojo is always working, so many times I have to tweak the offerings and make them more my own.  That is how this card evolved, which I have chosen to use for my brother's anniversary card.

I added a Naturals Ivory cardbase and an Early Espresso mat layer.  I also chose to use the embossed Calypso Coral layer as a mat as well, dropping the Crumb Cake torn-paper half-layer down so the Calypso Coral peaked out around the top and sides.  I also added a Scalloped Early Espresso Oval die-cut as an under mat to the "sweet, sweet moments" Crumb Cake sentiment oval.  I elected to place my petite coral flower on top my ribbon knot instead of off-setting as the original design suggested.  Though I really liked the original card design and my card retains the original design flavor, I was even more pleased with it after my added changes.  All the while I was making this card, I thought it could make a great anniversary card with the right inside verse, so I hope my brother and his wife like their card as well.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers:  Natural Ivory cs (cardbase), Early Espresso cs, Calypso Coral cs, Crumb Cake cs.  SU stamp:  Layered Labels, Happy Day.  SU Ink: Island Indigo, Early Espresso, Soft Suede (distressing).  SU Fancy Fan Embossisng Folder.  Spellbinders Petite Scallop Oval dies.  SU 7/8" Scallop punch.  SU 3/8" Neutrals brads.   SU Very Vanilla seam binding ribbon.  EK Scallop Corner punch (inside).

Birthday for an "Old" Friend!

My daughter, Michele, is back home permanently in Washington, all the way cross-country from West Virginia.  We are excited to have her back!  She has been very busy setting up her home office in her vacant house and getting back to work.  In her spare time, she is researching and finding vendors and products to complete some remodeling and refinishing work to their home to have it ready for the arrival of her husband and their furniture.  Carpets are being completly replaced, hardwood floors are being sanded and refinished, slate and Travertine tiling are replacing bathroom and laundry room linoleum, and the garage floor is having a speckled epoxy applied, and of course, she is busy painting and refreshing rooms as needed.  The house should look brand new when she's done!

So, somehow, this leads me to a card?  Oh yes, one of Michele's long-time friends is celebrated her 40th birthday with dinner and dancing with the pack of girls that have remained friends for over 22 years!  Michele's wardrobe is somewhat limited...only having with her what would fit in two suitcases and focusing more on casual, work, and paint clothes.  Thus, she felt a new top and some jewelry were needed, plus a birthday present, resulting in a much needed shopping trip.  Upon arriving home, she realized that she forgot a birthday card.  Mom to the rescue...and out came the card stash!  Michele chose a card with a "friend" sentiment that I love.

I made this card a few months ago from a card kit designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, of My Lil' Scrap Corner.  I think my sister had me in mind when she designed it, because, lo and behold, it was a larger card right from the start.  (I love it!)  When my eyes landed on her finished card, I just had to make this card.  It is a great choice for Michele's birthday friend.  I found a little verse online about "old" friends that fit the occasion just right!  Following is the completed card and with the inside created by me just in the nick of time!

Recipe:  SU cardstock: Very Vanilla (base), So Saffron, Whisper White; Authentique-Renew: Spring (both sides).  SU punch: Elegant Butterfly.  SU Pansy punch.  Spellbinders die: Bitty Blossom (small).  Hug Snug seam binding: Mimosa.  SU pearls.  Stash lace.  Inside: EK punch: Fancy Corners.  WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.

Sympathy for a Dear Friend!

A long-time friend of mine just lost her father.  I really wanted and needed to send her a sympathy card to express my sorrow for her loss.  I also wanted her to know my thoughts and prayers are with her, and that my hope is she will take comfort in the good memories that she will keep with her for her lifetime.  In time, we are able to think of our lost love ones with fond and joyful memories that brings them back into our hearts again and again.

I designed this card several months ago knowing that it would back a beautiful sympathy card, and this was just the right card for my friend.  I made the flower from a word printed paper and spritzed it with gold metallic along with the black crocheted paper trim. I also added a bit of sewing machine stitching and zigzagging that I think always enhances a certain style of card, especially those with a bit more of a vintage look.  Today, I added my own sympathy verse to the inside with coordinating embellishments to tie in with the front design.

Recipe:  SU Basic Black cs; Paper Co.: Kraft cs; Graphic 45: Curtain Call-Moulin Rouge feathers, Tour de France-stripe.  Punches: EK Fleur de lis border; SU Modern Labels, Word Window, Blossom (2-3/8”).  Sizzix Sizzlits die:  Birds & Blossoms-1-3/4” large flower/ 1” medium flower.  Homemade shimmer mist: Folk Art Metallic Inca Gold acrylic paint (flower + black cs borders).  Colorbox Chestnut Roan-edge distress; Charcoal-flower distress.  Joanns: Ribbons-5/8” Shimmer Sheer Black, 3/8” Picot Edge Satin-Antique Gold; Black Sparkle Tulle; Signature Multi-Tone thread-Sandy Hues.  Queen&Co.: Black pearls.  Sewing machine stitching.

Sister-in-Law Birthday...#8 and Final for 2013!

One of my many sister-in-law's just returned from a vacation in France.  She absolutely loved it, and divulged that to her surprise France was absolutely beautiful!  One of the many, many sites they saw, of course, was the Eiffel Tower.  I completed a card this last spring while in California, and I posted it on my blog on June 2 after coming home.  There is a lot of information in that post about how this card evolved, but after all that I had done, I still wasn't happy with it.  I know you have all been there...a card that just doesn't "jell" well, and there is this sense of dissatisfaction with what you've done and how it turned out!

Surprisingly, when I decided I would give this card to Judy for her birthday, because it depicted Paris, IF I could do something to it to be more pleased with it, then a creative light bulb went on!  My creative juices seem to work better when I am making a card with a specific person in mind.

All of a sudden, I just knew it needed a flower that blended with all the papers on the front; that meant I had to make the flower myself from the card papers.  My final decision was to use a soft gold metallic paper to blend with the metallic look in the ribbons used and just one of the papers (Graphic 45 Birdsong-Joy Luck).  I was able to peel off the bow that I had previously adhered with hot glue by heating it well with my blow dryer.  The bow peeled off looking like new, so I would be able to re-use it.  Since I knew the card was to be for a birthday, I was also able to add a mini sentiment flag to add a bit more color to the front, which I also felt was needed.  I really hope Judy likes my Eiffel Tower card, as I go to bed pleased with the way it finally turned out!

Recipe:  Bazzill cardstock: Starburst-base, Blackbird, Straw (embossed); Graphic 45 Birdsong-Joy Luck (layer #2).  Extras: Sizzix TH Eiffel Tower Embossing Folder; Spellbinders-Rose Creations die; Recollections Black pearls, Fleur de lis; Memento Tuxedo Black Ink (sponging/ distressing); Trims: 1" black lace, 3/8" gold sheer/ satin edge ribbon, 1/4" Black satin/ metallic gold-edge ribbon.

A Friend's October Birthday!

This is a very busy month with all the friends and family birthdays and the Halloween holiday ~ all great excuses to have to make cards!  I have 18 different cards that I must make during the month of October, and only 7 of them are Halloween cards!  The only month that comes even close is December when I have to make a total of 37 cards, and 35 of those are Christmas cards.  As a result, I have been very busy, but enjoyed every minute of it.

I just found out that a friend, who has become an even better friend in the last year as we began cropping and cardmaking together, is having a birthday.  My usual modus operandi that allows my creative juices to flow more smoothly is if I know things about the person I want to make the card for, then it seems to speed up those juices for some reason.  Does anyone else operate this way?  Probably not, I find I'm usually "strange."  What I found was this person likes flowers and gardening, so that is the direction I went.  (For future reference, I found out she does not like tea or coffee, but does like soda. . .all good tidbits to know!)  

I had a little card kit I had not made up that my sister (remember her ~ my cardmaking mentor:  Heidi Gonzales - My Lil' Scrap Corner) had designed last spring.  As you know from previous posts, many times I change a few things, add embellishments, or tweak kit cards a bit to make them more "me," but usually, I find I can hardly improve upon Heidi's designs.  I love this card's design, and it follow Heidi's typical, "you don't need to change a thing" style.  I designed the inside to coordinate with the outside and added my little verse to finish it off.  I hope Charlene likes it as well in wishing her a very happy birthday!

Recipe:  SU stamp: Bloomin’ Marvelous (2013 SAB-sentiment). Papers: SU cardstock-Night of Navy, Old Olive. WRMK Feelin’ Groovy dsp: Stripes, Stripes back; Retro-gold. SU canvas. PTI die: Tag Sale #6 (tab/tag). MFT die: Rolled Daisy. WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  EK Punch: Fancy Photo Corners (inside). Colorbox Chestnut Roam Ink (edge distressing). Brown burlap. Olive felt. Pumpkin Twill trim.  3/4" brown button. MayArts hemp twine. 

Mother's Birthday - August 15th!

My mother celebrates her birthday in mid-August and my focus was to make a very special card that just to look at it said, "That must be for Mom." 

 I have been wanting to make a card for a very long time using a clock face.  Mom loves butterflies and birds, and she uses them a lot when making her own cards.  The colors she favors are aquas and peachy-corals.  I came across just the right paper when searching through my stash.  It has all the right colors, and it has butterflies as well.  Then, I went in search of a clock face to use.  I didn't have a stamp with just a clock face or one the right size.  So, to the computer I went, Googled, and found just what I was looking for.  The clock graphic wasn't the right size, but that was easily remedied on the computer.  Below is the card I developed for my Mom's special day!  I hope she absolutely loves it!

Recipe:  SU cardbase: Island Indigo; Recollections: Essentials Distressed cs-lime, Teal Faded Dots, Teal Butterflies; Stash: Coral pattern (behind lace), miscellaneous corals, teals, aquas (bird, flowers, butterfly).  Distress: Colorbox-Chestnut Roan. Recollections: various size half-pearls, teal mini brad. Punches: SU Boho Blossoms, Build-A-Bird; Martha Stewart 3-in-1 Butterflies. WRMK Corner Chomper: Deco. Trims: white lace (stash), Offray lime ribbon. Wilton 4" Doily. Becca's Bowmaker.

Bloom Where You Are Planted!

I have been thinking about my daughter, Michele, who moved all the way across the United States a year ago this month.  By now, we have missed having her and her husband with us on numerous family occasions:  over six birthdays, Thanksgiving, Christmas, Easter, Mother's Day, Father's Day, her birthday, and the list goes on.  So, I thought I would make and send a card to her, letting her know how proud I am that she has been able to make this move so far, far away, and still "bloom where she is planted!"  

This card was an old kit designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner), that I pulled out because I thought the stamped tag would be perfect.  Having the papers that the card was originally designed with, My Mind's Eye, I decided to enlarge the card to 5-1/2" square, as the A2 size is not my favorite.  Basically, the card's designs remains true to the original, but I did add a fourth flower layer, as well.  I just love the rich colors in Heidi's card, and I'm hoping Michele likes its finished look after I completed it, and the inside decorations and embellishments, with the special poem I composed just for her.

Recipe:  MME Stella Rose Papers: Love-Brocade, Mabel-Little Lady plaid. Bazzill cs: Chocolate. SU: Very Vanilla.  Ink: Memento-Cocoa Brown; Colorbox-Chestnut Roan distressing. Spellbinders: Blossome 2, Nested Poinsettias, Scalloped Circles Petite. Zutter Corner Rounder. EK Scalloped Photo Corner-Large Punch (inside). Recollections Pearl Brad, large.  Ribbon: stash.  MayArts: white twine. Machine zigzag stitch-tan thread.

My daughter-in-law's birthday to celebrate!

Ginger's birthday follows on the heels of Mom's; therefore, it require a lots of cardmaking busyness all at one time!  When my son, Mark, married Ginger, he inherited a menagerie of pets...a dog, 3 cats, and 4 birds.  He seems to have readily adopted them as his family, and it's fun to watch.  It wasn't too hard to figure out what theme to use for Ginger's birthday card, and it gave me a chance to use my new Stampin' Up Bird Builder punch...so cute!

Happy Birthday Ginger...hope your day is very special!  As it's on a Friday, maybe you can make a three-day weekend of it and enjoy it to the fullest!

Recipe:  Papers: SU Perfect Plum cs/ dsp stack, Whisper White cs, stash papers.  SU Build-a-Bird punch.  Recollections purple brad. Sizzix Daisy die.  Stash: white lace, purple ribbon..

My special sister...celebrates her birthday!

My sister, and cardmaking mentor, is having a birthday!  It is almost mandatory that I make her a card...right?  It is surprising, though, that both of us find we miss each others birthdays in cardmaking because are just so darn busy making cards for everyone else.  This year, I was going to a shoebox card swap, so I used the opportunity to make a card just for my sister for this event.  Here is what I came up with...hope she enjoys it!   (It was so three-dimensional that I had to send it as a package...LOL!)

Happy Birthday, Heidi, Sister Dear...Luv you!

Paper: Joann's openstock/ cardstock; Helen Grace; Minds Eye.

Sizzix: Daisies Flower Bigz Die; MFT Homespun Birdhouse Die-namics; Spellbinders Elegant Posts.

Offray Ribbon; Recollections brown mini pearls; pearl brad.

And Mother's Day came in 2012...

While in California this spring, my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner), gave several card and embellishment classes, and I thoroughly enjoyed them.  I always learn so much from my sis!  Mom, sis, and I traveled to several crops and a three-day scrapping retreat in Chico, Red Bluff, and Shingletown.  We had an absolutely GREAT time...I caught up on my lots of my "To Do" stash and kits; some I bought and they sat waiting for several years!  One night I scrapped until 2:00 a.m., but another scrapper took the grand prize, and stayed up until 5:00 a.m.!!  The retreat crop room was open 24-hours a day...what a great place to get away!

One of the classes my sis taught was a flower-making.  We made four different styles flowers:  a Gerber Daisy,  a Carnation (with iridescent glittered netting), a small Rose, and a Peony.  I decided to use my new flower skills to make a Mother's Day card for Mom, which was a challenge with her sitting right by me cropping away!  No, Mom,  the card really wasn't for Michele's birthday, as you found out!

Mom's 2012 card...love you!

Surprise 50th Birthday in 2010!

My friend Carla's 50th Surprise Birthday invite...did I dare do a card that would be seen outside the family?

Oh sure, why not...Carla's been a friend a long time.  She'll be forgiving in my learning my new hobby!  So, I just dove in and even made my own flower!  Since I did not have a flower die, I made a hand-drawn template and hand-cut all the flower layers from different colors of cardstock and design paper.  Did I have a clue if it would be a flower when done...heck NO!  It was just a papercutter, scissors, glue and little ol' me to make the layout, flower, computer-produced sentiment and poetic verse inside!  It is actually amazing what you can do without a lot of tools, but it does take more time that's for sure.