Birthday Card for Cousin Junie!

My oldest cousin will be having a birthday in July, and I wanted to make her a birthday card, which meant I had to get busy because of my looming motorhome vacation.  I was pretty sure we might still be traveling when her card needed to be mailed, so I needed to complete it and take it with me.  I decided to case a design from another little card I made at one of Liz Thayer's card classes and add a few modifications to see how it turned out.  I added a third flower to its original design and a few more leaves.  I also changed the sentiment to a birthday theme and stamped it on a separate pieced of white cardstock instead of directly onto the card front.  I tweaked its location  and popped up with two decorative punched layers peeking out behind.  I tried a little punch creativity by using the Blossom flower punch to punch out the bottom green layer of the sentiment. 

I then went to work creating a decorative design for the inside to coordinate with the front.  I decided the little Boho punch flowers and rhinestones that I used on the front Flower Shop flower centers would be a nice touch on each of the verse corners and, maybe, I'd throw in a few tiny leaves under each flower and it would be just right.  I was pleased with the additions I made to the original card design, my birthday verse,  and the coordinating inside design.  I think my cousin will enjoy her birthday card.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstocks:  Whisper White, Melon Mambo, Gumball Green.  SU stamps:  Flower Shop. SU Ink: Primrose Petals.  SU Modern Mosac EF.  SU Adorning Accents Edgelit.  SU punches: Bird Builder (leaves); Boho Blossoms; Modern Labels; Pansy; Blossom punch (modified for green sentiment back).  SU rhinestones. Computer-made sentiment/ verse (Xiorama font).  (Size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4").

A 45-Year Catch-Up Visit!

As I mentioned in a previous post, while I was still in California, my husband surprised me with a trip of his own south.  I think he yearned for a little sunshine, because as you know, other than being a bit warmer and no freezing nights, Seattle doesn't really have much of a spring that provides sunshine.  I'm fond of saying we have liquid sunshine!  I think he was a little jealous when talking with me that I had been enjoying regular bouts of sunshine almost daily since my arrival in early April.  But then, it is possible he may have also missed me!

As mentioned, we headed further south to the Sacramento area and had a chance to visit with some very "old" friends of more than 45 years.  Though my husband re-connected with them several years ago and was able to visit them before, I had not been down with him because I had other commitments at home.  This was such a wonderful occasion for both of us as the wife, Marlene, had finally began to recover from a fairly serious health problem.  We had a great luncheon with them and wonderful, reminiscing conversations, plus caught up with stories of our lives over the last 40 years.  I surely hope we get to make another repeat visit very, very soon.

In remembering this wonderful time, I wanted to send a little card letting them know just how much we enjoyed this catch-up visit.

 I made this card at one of my sister, Heidi Gonzales', first Stampin' Up classes a few months ago.  She taught how to use Stampin' Up markers with stamps.  I love this Summer Smooch paper (retired).  It is so bright and cheery.  (Her blog, if you are interested in looking her up, is: www.mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com.)

Recipe:  SU stamp: Bright Blossoms.  SU Papers: Summer Smooches, Daffodil cardstock, Whisper White cardstock.  SU Ink: Riding Hood Red, Lucky Limeade, Island Indigo.  SU Postage Stamp punch.  Summer Smooch fabric brads (ret.).

A Sister-in-law Birthday Following Mine!

Another of my sister-in-laws celebrates her birthday in early, early September, but this one is special...her birthday is the day after mine!!  I made her this little card using my new Stampin' Up flower stamp set with lots of glitter added to match my glittery paper.   A card by Liz Thayer at a shoebox crop I attended inspired me.  I adapted a similar fold idea, but went with a deeper 3/4-fold, added a background edge to the flower stamp, used the Dotted Scallop ribbon border on the flower and the sentiment added to the front.  I finished off the card with inside decorations and a personalized verse.

Happy Birthday June. . .hope your had a delightful day and you enjoyed your card made just for you!

Recipe:  Stampin'Up stamp: Blooming with Kindness.  StampinUp Ink & Markers: Stazon Black; Midnight Muse, Wisteria Wonder.  Paper: SU Midnight Muse; DCWV-Plaid/ Stripe Stack.  SU punch: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border.  SU Ribbon: Taffeta Midnight Muse. SU Button: Vintage Faceted.  Computer-made sentiment.

A Little Thank You

Here's a little card I made as a thank you for gracious hospitality sent my way.  I also need to thank my sister, Heidi (My Lil' Scrap Corner), for lending me inspiration from a card she had made several years ago using a similar idea.

I used Mind's Eye papers, Bazzill cardstock, Papertrey stamps, and twine.

Thank You for the Visit!

It is not often that both my husband and I are in California at the same time, but we did manager to do that this spring.  We were also able to make the jaunt to visit John's brother and his wife who live away from the Sacramento area, heading toward San Francisco.  We had a wonderful catch up visit and were able to stay to have lunch out at their favorite Mexican restaurant.  It was so nice for me to be able to spend time with them and get to know my newest sister-in-law better.  She is a very friendly, gracious, and outgoing lady, and I find her delightful company.  I decided to send them a little card after returning home to let them know just how much we enjoyed our visit.

Recipe:  MME papers, SU Chocolate Chip cardstock.  Papertrey stamps.  Decorative Brad (stash).  5/8" White Satin Ribbon (stash).  Papertrey Tag punch.  (Original design by Heidi Gonzales - My Lil' Scrap Corner.  My card is enlarged, layout rearranged, striped paper added.)