Being A Dad is Whiskey Business

 I went to a card party a few months ago, and my Stampin' Up demonstrator duo (Daralee Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum) had a card design using the new "Whiskey Business" stamp set.  I loved their card design idea, but decided to enlarge it and tweak it here and there to make it more mine.  

I gave it a new, enlarged and ink-distressed white card base, a new, ink-distressed punch size panel to host my changed sentiment, re-positioned brads, plus a pale blue decanter, glass, and ice shaded with Copic Markers.  I also used Copics to color my whiskey and highball drink, getting better shading, blending, and highlights than could be achieved with the water-base markers provided.  My finished card, inside and out, can be seen below:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up: Cardstock--Basic White, Early Espresso. Patterned dsp--In Good Taste (retired). Stamp--Whiskey Business. Dies--Stitched Recentangles. Inks--Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze; Memento--Tuxedo Black; Versamark. Punch--Lovely Labels (sentiment label). Embossing Powder--White. Round Brads (colored with Cajun Craze Dark Blender). Other--Copic markers. Brilliance Gingerbread ink (edge distressing). Chatterbox verse. Size: 4-5/8" x 5-7/8".

Magical Birthday Wishes!

My oldest daughter's birthday is at the end of June, but we delayed her family birthday celebration until mid-July as my husband (her father) had knee replacement on her birthday, and a week later, he ended up returning to the hospital for another week with gastric complications.  By mid-July, we were ready to host a barbecue to celebrate Michele and her Dad's continued recovery.  Needless to say, I needed to finish her birthday card!

I have written several times about our little unicorn, Michele's 20-month old, little daughter, so dubbed during her stay in the NICU after her birth.  Because her veins were so small, her care team inserted her intravenous application into a vein in her head, which stuck up almost straight up, giving her the look of a unicorn with its cute little horn.  My inspiration for Michele's card came from this scenario.  I have acquired a multitude of stamps and dies with a unicorn theme because of this story that became part of our lives, and I thought it time the mother of our unicorn received her very own  unicorn card!  Take a look at Michele's finished card both inside and out!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  apers--Bermuda Bay cs, White Glimmer, Vellum. Stamps (2019-21)--Leave a Little Sparkle, New Wonders. Dies--Stitched Shapes--sm. circle. Embossing Powder--White. Ink--Smokey Slate. Ribbon--1/4" Snowflake Splendor (2020 Holiday). Wink of Stella-Clear. Glitter--Iridescent (ret.)  Other: Paper--Recollections 12x12--Mom's Diner/ Salt. Copic Markers. EK punch--Victorian Corners. Chatterbox Computer Verse. Size: 4-3/4 x 6-inches.

Stepping To Church for Christmas!

Here is my first center-step card that I've made from start to finish with my own template design for a larger 4-3/4 x 6-inch card.  To help me redesign the dimensions, it is a remake of a card I made at my Stampin' Up demonstrator duo's card event back in the fall of 2017, which I loved!  What can I say, I'm not very adventuresome, especially since it involved refiguring the template dimensions in order to remake it into the larger size.  I kept the original card to use as a guide, which helped me figure it all out much easier. 

Because the card was larger, I was able to add a third layer.  I ended up with a black cardbase, followed by a white mat layer, followed by the card front layer with the die-cut pieces.  I really like the white on black look.  The original design just started off with the white cardbase, which didn't allow for as much contrast.  I really like my added contrast by having three layers, and starting with the black first, then white, then black again.  I stuck to the original card design, and I thank Luci Kirschbaum for always allowing us to CASE our class cards and modify them as we like.  Here is my enlarged, finished card below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Basic Black, Whisper White, Gold foil.  Patterned paper--Merry Music Specialty (2017 Holiday).  Stamps--Hearts Come Home/ Dies--Home Town Greeting.  Punch--Confetti Stars Border.  Embossing Powder: Gold.  Size:  4-3/4 x 6-inches.

A Wondrous Gift is Given

More Christmas cards are needed for my 2021 Christmas stash.  This is a remake of a card made back in 2009, using the now retired Stampin' Up Lovely As A Tree stamp set that was so popular and remained current from 2001 to 2019!  My new card has more layers added, including some sparkly silver glimmer paper, Dazzling Diamonds glitter, and sequins that the original did not have.  

I just love the technique of layering trees in navy ink and silver embossing with a little added Dazzling Diamonds glitter into the mix.  Unfortunately, the photo does not pick up on the glitter added, but it is quite sparkly in RIL!  I've also added some sparkly sequins scattered about.  Take a peek at an update of an old card below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Night of Navy, Silver Glimmer.  Stamps--Lovely As A Tree (ret. 2001-19), Wondrous Gift (ret. 2007-09), Snow Front (2019).  Ink--Night of Navy, Versamark.  Embossing Powder--Silver, Heat & Stick.  Glitter--Dazzling Diamonds.  Ribbon--1/4" Night of Navy Grosgrain; Silver Cording.  Size:  5 x 6-1/4 inch.

Christmas Flowers Bring Joy (Paper Pumpkin October 2020 - Joy to the World Alternative)

I think I mentioned several months ago that I finally signed up for Stampin' Up's Paper Pumpkin subscription hoping that would motivate my lost cardmaking mojo.  It helped a little, but not as much as I'd hoped.  I still didn't get started on Christmas cards until just a few days before Christmas...YIKES!  I did fall in love with the October 2020 "Joy to the World" Paper Pumpkin kit, and it did finally spark me to try some alternative designs of my own rather than just make the couple of designs provided in the kit. 
 
I received a cute little penguin card from Ann Otto, the hostess of the Splitcoaststampers' Christmas Card Challenge...one I have participated in many times in past years.  I loved Ann's simple layout design with its left side triangle so much that it immediately gave me the idea to use the bones of her layout and incorporate it into the Stampin' Up October 2020 "Joy to the World" Paper Pumpkin kit elements to create my own card.

My deviations to Ann's layout were to add several layers to the card background, enlarge the left-side triangle and add layers and embossing to it as well.  Instead of a cute little alcohol inked penguin, I positioned two layers of kit's Christmas rose flowers on the triangle to which I did a bit of fussy-cutting and coloring.  I also added gold sequins to the flower centers and added green to the leaves.  I wanted the leaves to show off more and wanted to add depth and texture with the layers, sequins and dry embossing.

The kit came with gold metallic "Joy" die-cuts, but I decided to use my own "Joy" die, cutting it in two colors and setting them in an off-set,  layered placement.  The kit provided two vertical Crumb Cake card bases with a gold-etched vertical patterned, but I wanted to make multiple numbers of my card design to build up my Christmas stash, so I found a background stamp that I thought would work really well.  I stamped and heat embossed the pattern in gold onto plain Crumb Cake cardstock to create eight more card fronts.  I also added ribbon and more sequins that were also not part of the kit.  (Unfortunately, the other seven pre-cut and prepared card pieces are still waiting for me to finish putting them together!)  

Take a peak below at my first alternative card design using the Paper Pumpkin kit supplies, plus some added items and supplies not provided by the kit.  I have included the card ingredients below for your information:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Paper Pumpkin October 2020 "Joy to the World" kit elements.  Cardstock--Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, Call Me Clover.  Gold Embossing Powder; Versamark Watermark Ink.  Polka Dot Tulle Ribbon.  Other:  My Favorite Things background stamp: Balloon Strings.  Alina Craft die: "joy."  Hot Off the Press:  Diamond Dots EF.  Pretty Pink Posh sequins.  Colorbox Ink: Chestnut Roan (edge distressing).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Thinking of You This Season!

On to my seventh Totally Lovin' Christmas card kit.  I loved the Crumb Cake with the white embossing and layout of this sweet card, but I, of course, wanted it larger, and thought a bit more color, dimension, and texture would be good as well.

I checked out several Splitcoaststamper challenges to see what I could do to enter some of the challenges in trying to play challenge catch-up.  One Featured Stamper challenge card confirmed more brown tones would probably work well.  I added a Soft Suede cardbase and enlarged my card layers.  I changed my sentiment layer ink to a darker brown shade and left off the tree panel's corner ribbon...I thought it was too much and liked it more simple!  

I wasn't sure how Liz accomplished the snowfall, but I used a sponged-tipped make-up pen in Versamark w/ white embossing, a white gel pen for smaller snow, and added a bit of fine glitter to tree surface.  I also thought the tree would be extra pretty if it was layered.  I stamped and white embossed two additional trees, fussy cut them (lots of detailed cutting), and popped each layer up, one over the other, using large thick glue dots as I wanted the popping up to be more subtle than using dimensionals.

I was really happy with the layered tree popping...it added so much depth, plus I like the white gel pen and bit of glitter for more texture and sparkle.  This was the perfect card to send to my niece in Bend, Oregon where they are sure to see a white Christmas.  Take a peek below at my card finished inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products--  Cardstock/ Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla.  Stamps--Winter Wood (sentiment/ tree) (2019-20 Annual).  Dies--Stitched Brightly (embossed boughs-2019 Holiday.  Ink/ Soft Suede; Versamark Watermark.  Embossing Powder/ White (tree + snow drops).  White Gel pen.  Punch/ Curvy Corners (retired).  Other:  Recollections Fine white glitter.  Fussy-cutting.  1/2" glue dots (popping tree).  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

Happiest Christmas Wishes!

Working on my sixth Totally Lovin' Christmas make over.  I loved the non-traditional colors on this card, but somehow the layout just didn't really send me over the top, so I changed up the whole card, which keeping most of the colors, the ornament image, and sentiment.

Meanwhile, I enlarged my card closer to an A6 card sized by adding an Early Espresso cardbase and a lime glitter paper mat layer.  Next, the original Perfect Peacock cardbase became the card front color.  I rotated the peacock foil patterned piece to vertical and added a lime glitter paper mat layer.  

For my image layer, I cut down the size of the ornament layer and added layers below the image to make it a three-layer combination.  I die-cut the bottom Pretty Peacock layer with a decorative layer die modified to leave only one curly bracket shape on its right side to host the vertical sentiment.  I wanted more color so I incorporated both the lime and peacock colors on my ornament with Copic markers.  To the lime coloring, I added a bit of Wink of Stella-Clear to give it some shimmer.  To finish, I Versamark stamped and heat embossed the vertical sentiment with Early Espresso embossing powder and popped on three peacock-colored rhinestones.

This is a very non-traditional colored Christmas card!  Take a peek below at the finished inside and outside designs.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Early Espresso, Pretty Peacock.  Patterned--Noble Peacock Specialty paper.  Stamps--Lots of Cheer (sentiment/ ornament - 2019-20 Annual).  Dies:  Labels Collections (retired).  Embossing Powder--Early Espresso (retired).  Holiday Rhinestones (2019 Holiday).  Punch (inside): Curvy Corners (retired).  Other products:  DCWV Glitter Paper--Olive; EK Corner Punch: Victorian Corners.  Copic Markers (lt. aqua (pool parlty)/ olive (olive).  Wink of Stella: Clear.  A6-4-1/2 x 6-1/4 inch cards.

Best of 2017 Favorites @ Splitcoaststampers!

I'm in 7th Heaven!!!!  I've had nine of my 2017 cards chosen in the Splitcoaststampers' Favorites - Best of 2017 recently, and three of these were chosen twice!   I also had one card chosen in the CAS Favorites - Best of 2017.  Now that was really a surprise, because rarely do I make a clean and simple card!  I'm speechless and so grateful to the wonderful and crafty multitudes at Splitcoaststampers for giving me so many honors.  

As I have had my cardmaking curtailed in mid-December due some severe hand problems, especially the left, and a right knee flair up, I've been kind of down a bit without my hobby to entertain me.  I've also been absentee blog posting as some may have noticed.  With that said, I thought I would post those cards BESTed again for your browsing!  

Favorites - Best of 2017 Cards

Let It All Hang Out Birthday - posted 8/28/17

 Blog link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/08/let-it-all-hang-out-birthday.html

 First Christmas for a Little Husky Named Zhanna! - posted 9/4/17 (chose 2 times)

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/first-christmas-for-little-husky-named.html

Christmas Card from an Oldie But Goodie! - posted 9/8/17 (chosen 2 times)

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/christmas-card-from-oldie-but-goodie.html

Improving on the Christmas Oldie But Goodie! - posted 9/12/17 (chosen 2 times)

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/improving-on-christmas-oldie-but-goodie.html

A Dedicated 12th Woman Seahawks Fan Birthday! - posted 11/5/17.

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/11/a-dedicated-12th-woman-seahawks-fan.html

My Son's First Father's Day! - posted 6/18/17.  (inspiration from Dar Peterson).

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/06/my-sons-first-fathers-day.html 

Anniversary Twosome Sail with the Breeze! - posted 7/31/18

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/07/an-anniversary-twosome-sail-with-breeze.html

Birthday Jazz for Youngest Son! - posted 9/15/17

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/birthday-jazz-for-youngest-son.html

A Peek at Fall! - posted 9/20/17
Blog Link:  https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/a-peek-at-fall.html

CAS Favorites - Best of 2017 Cards

New Hat for Spooky Kitty! - posted 10/27/17

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2015/10/new-kitty-face-card.html

A Christmas Nativity Bauble!

WHAT A WAY TO END THE YEAR!

THIS CARD IS NAMED A 

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS' FAVORITE 

OF THE WEEK ENDING - DECEMBER 30, 2017

Sorry, I've been missing in action most of December!  Usually, my blog is loaded with all kinds of Christmas cards...not so this year!  I have been unable to do much crafting with some hand issues that may require surgery, especially my left hand.  The right one is working on it, but not quite there for surgery yet.  I have some "lovely" thumb guards (sarcasm dripping) that I am to wear pretty much 24-7, with a short timeouts if absolutely necessary.  So...that's the story...not able to do much crafting, as that really sets off the pain and swelling in the entire hand!

I did manage to get to my craft table and work up this little Christmas Nativity bauble.  I worked with several dies and modified my Cottage Cutz Nativity to fit inside the bauble.  I now have a baggie full of date trees, little sheep, and the Star of Behtlehem.  I used some more of the gold glimmer wrapping paper that I stabilized with a cardstock backing and lots of tape runner, row after row, especially with the paper used to die-cut the pine boughs.  

I tried a new stamp set to get gold embossed stars on the night sky.  I was really unhappy with how it turned out.  The stamp was not a background size, but an odd shape, like an amoeba, with totally uneven curves and bulges, so it was difficult to even get it stamped evenly over the paper.  I also sprinkled Gold  glitter embossing powder, and wasn't too happy with that either...it left smudges.  

I planned to make several of this design, so I will definitely be trying something different to my starry sky.  I seem to be liking the black and gold glimmer look this year, and I was pleased with my overall design, but not the sky, so take a peek below at what not to do on your starry background sky!

I will also be entering this into several Splitcoaststampers Challenges:  

• December 2017 Dirty Dozen Christmas Challenge:  Nativity scene.
• Alphabet Challenge (Letter O=Ornament/ Double Challenge = Letter L for lightfastness; Encore Metallic Gold a pigment, oil-base ink with slow drying time.
• Free for All - Merry December.  Christmas my favorite December holiday.
• 2017 Christmas Card Challenge - June = Religious card.
• Dirty Dozen November Word Theme:  JOYS.  J=Jesus; O=Ornament; Y=Yule card (archaic for Christmas); S=Shiny, sparkle.
• Inspiration Challenge IC628 - Dept. 56 as the inspiration website.

Ingredients:  Paper:  Stampin' Up--Basic Black cs; Recycled Gold Dot gift wrap.  Stamps: Christmas Pines (sky stars).  Dies:  Cottage Cutz--Nativity Silhouette; Stampin' Up Thinlits--Delicate Ornaments, Pretty Pines.  Ink:  Encore Gold Metallic (coloring edges of gold paper, ornament and pine needles).  Offray 1/4" ribbon, Black Fun Foam, Computer verse (inside).

Feel Better Soon!

HAPPY MAIL RECEIVED!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - AUGUST 13, 2017!!

There is a challenge on Splitcoaststamper's called the Traveling Teapot, and its goal is to make cards for someone who needs a bit of cheering up due to illness or other circumstances.  One of my Favorites Teammates has a sister who is in the hospital awaiting serious eye surgery to remove an abscess behind her eye.  The Teapot challenge team has decided to shower Angie's sister with get well cards from SCS members who wish to play in this challenge, and I, of course, wish to do that.

My card for Angie's sister is one I made from a design I received in a shoebox exchange held during our crafting Girls' Getaway.  The card design and techniques used were from a dear friend and crafting cohert, Sandy Stroble.  She showed us how to do the braided ribbon technique and also the tiled window.  I had a difficult time with the braided ribbon because of my arthritic fingers, so she made several for ribbon strands for me to take home to use in the future.  My card incorporates both of her design techniques, as well as a little butterfly stamped into the tiling technique.  Take a peek below. . .I think Angie's sister will enjoy her card!

Ingredients:

                  Paper: SU cardstock:  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink

                  Patterned paper: Heidi Grace stripe (JoAnns)

                  Stamp:  SU-Butterfly Basics

                  Ink:  SU-Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Versamark

                  Die: Spellbinders: Rectangles, Scalloped LG (inside)

                  Punches:  SU: Word Window, Modern Label (retired), Dotted Scallop Edger (retired)

                  Embossing Powder:  Clear

                  Sentiment and Verse: Computer generated

                  Font: Daddy-O.........Size:  4-3/4" x 6"

Daughter's Birthday to Celebrate!

Sorry, I have been most remiss in my cardmaking and blogging for the last three months!  Several bouts of the flu, traveling a bit, and general busyness are the only excuses I can offer.  But, I did manage to get a card made for my daughter, Jackie's birthday.

 

Since Jackie is a big umbrella fan, boasting ownership of at least ten or more, and some with matching goulashes, a card with some sort of umbrella theme is sure to shout out, "THIS CARD MUST BE FOR JACKIE!"  With this in mind, I thought I would like to use my new stamp set by Stampin' Up, Beautiful You, incorporating more than one stamp into my image.  

 

I chose the dancing lady stamp and borrowed the umbrella from the strolling lady stamp.  I stamped with Versamark and white embossed the dancing lady onto a black cardstock background.  I, then, Versamark stamped and white embossed the image again onto my red, black, and white polka-dot paper and fussy-cut the dress out to layer over my black cardstock white embossed image.  I Versamark stamped and embossed her hat and hair onto another red and black muted pattern and overlayed that as well onto the black cardstock image.  Next, I Versamark stamped and white embossed the umbrella from the "walking umbrella lady" stamp and fussy-cut out just the umbrella, which I set aside to adhered onto the black background after my card layers were cut and adhered together.  My next step was to Versamark stamp and white emboss my chose sentiment underneath my lady image.  After cutting and adhering all my mats and layers, the final step was to adhere the umbrella, which I offset to the left leaving it to hang over onto the layer below (see image below).  I used a white gel pen to make my umbrella handle connecting it to her hand.  

Though I'm not sure I like this, I did color my lady's white embossed hair with shades of brown, using my Copic markers.  I did this because Jackie's hair is brown, but I'm not sure I would do that again.

 

The last step to complete Jackie's card was to compose a verse and create an interior design that compliments the card front. . .see the finished inside below.

 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock:  Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White.  Stamp set:  Beautiful You (Occasions 2017).  White Embossing Powder.  Taylored Expressions Summer Nights dsp.  My Mind's Eye Holly Jolly Winter Branches (hat).  EK punch: Victorian Corners.  Versamark Embossing Ink. Uni-ball Signo White Gel Pen.  Computer verse (odstemplik font).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6". 

Valentine for My Hubby!

MORE HAPPINESS!  ANOTHER CARD NAMED AS

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - FEBRUARY 19, 2017!!

Valentine's Day is in a few days, and I finally finished my husband's card.  He is getting a second hot air balloon card in a matter of just a few weeks to make sure this Bucket List item is complete.  I made his first air balloon card for his birthday just a few week's, which shows just how versatile this new stamp/die bundle, "Lift Me Up," from Stampin' Up is. 

I wanted my color combination to be black, red, and white.  I had in mind to make my night sky in black, and I also wanted it to be a bit glossy so I tired something I was not sure was going to work, but it worked wonderfully.  I covered the entire black cardstock layer with Versamark ink, making sure is was thoroughly and evenly cover by pressing the stamp pad down over the entire area of the cardstock and then wiping the pad in long strokes over the entire surface again..  I sprinkled it with clear embossing powder and heat set it, making it glossy.  I pressed it overnight in a cardstock paper stack with several few books on top to make sure it was flat and level.

I envisioned puffy clouds in my night sky and decided to use the retired SU embossing folder Cloudy Day, because it has tiny embossing dots that make the cloud forms.  For some reason, this folder has the clouds positioned vertically rather than horizontally on the folder.  As I wanted to cover the entire paper with clouds, I placed the paper in the folder so the clouds would cover from side to side.  This left the bottom half of the paper outside the folder, so I made sure it didn't run all the way through the rollers and over the edge of the folder, which would cause the folder edge to crease my paper midway cross.  Next, I turned my black paper and re-positioned the unembossed side into the folder.  I tried to match the cloud impressions as closely as I could to those already embossed, and then I ran it through the Big Shop, again, just to the edge of the folder, but not over it to prevent a crease.  It turned out surprisingly well, and as my air balloon would cover a great deal of the mid-section of the embossed clouds, I did not feel it would show at all where the clouds were not formed quite right!

I decided on a patterned paper for my red color.  I chose a white mini dot on a red background, and I decided on Shimmery White for my card base.  I dressed up the corners with rounded corners and used the eyelet Curvy Corners punch on my black glossy top piece for the red to peek through.  I used the same papers for the balloon colors under the black patterned balloon die-cut overlay.  I colored the black balloon die-cut with Black Wink of Stella to give it a bit of sparkle. 

 

After roughly laying out my pieces, I decided to add some vellum clouds.  With my chosen sentiment being "love is in the air," I thought a large red glitter heart on my air balloon and smaller ones on each vellum cloud would finish off my card very nicely.

Take a peek below at my finished Valentine air balloon card, both inside and out.  I think my husband will be well pleased.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Shimmery White (cardbase), Basic Black, Real Red, Vellum.  DSP Stack-Brights.  Stamps-Lift Me Up (front sentiment), Sealed with Love (inside sentiment), Valentine's Love (hearts-inside/ retired).  Die:  Up & Away framelits (balloon, clouds). Punch: Curvy Corners (retired). Embossing Folder: Cloudy Day (retired). Embossing Powder: Real Red Glitter.  Other:  Zutter Corner Rounder punch.  Recollections: Foam Glitter Hearts; Charcoal Anthracite Embossing Powder,  Dies:  Papertrey Ink-Clouds/ Hero Arts-Cloud.

A Grandbaby on the Way!

I'M THRILLED!  THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - JANUARY 29, 2017!!

I am going to be a Grandma. . .hallelujah, yippee!  My youngest son and his wife are expecting at the end of February, and we are celebrating this new little person, who is on her way, with a baby shower!  The theme for room decorations are woodland animals, and the shower invitation arrived with a darling little white, Arctic baby fox wearing a pompom-laden, knit snow hat.  My creative juices immediately began to whirl and groan, as they were so not use to being accessed.

I have not been to my craft table since the night before Christmas Eve. . .I was just too sick to care. . ., and this went on for four weeks and three days without any noticeable improvement.   Finally, on the 31st day, halfway through the day, I noticed my constant coughing was considerably better, my nose was not running continually, and my sinuses were a little less plugged.  By the end of the day, I was pretty sure I was really on the mend.  It took three days, and I was quickly back to normal with an abundance of energy!  Thank the Lord!

For my card, my original intent was to use the Stampin' Up Foxy Friends stamps and punch set, but after a bit of searching through my digital images, I found a cute little fox that I thought would be perfect sitting on the left lower side of my shaker circle.  Yes...I wanted to make a shaker card.  Once I made my mind up about those two things, my card flew together.  I was able to use several new dies that I had recently acquired, which lend themselves to a woodsy, fox theme.

I finished my little woodland fox card, and then completed the decor and verse for my card interior.  Take a peek below...I'm pretty pleased with the way Ginger's card turned out!  I think she'll love it!

Ingredients:  Stampin” Up products:  Cardstock—Shimmery White – cardbase; Daffodil Yellow; Soft Sky.  Stamps—Weather Together (raindrops); Foxy Friends (tree stump); Baby Bear (sentiment).  Ink--Sahara Sand; Old Olive (mixed).  Punch—Scallop Edge (retired-inside design), Curvy Corners (retired-inside design).  Embossing Powder—White.  Other:  October Afternoon pattern paper—Hide and Seek (floral.  Digital image:  Pixel Paper Prints—Woodland Animals (fox).  Dies—Impression Obsession—Three Trees Background; Reverse Confetti—Edgers Confetti Cuts (scalloped "V"); Cottage Cuts—Stitched Wide Circle Frame, Pierced Ovals; My Favorite Things—Stitched Circle Scallop Frame; Spellbinders—Scalloped Petite Ovals.  Stash:  1/8” Daffodil Yellow Satins ribbon.  Sequins—misc. colors.  Size:  4-3/4" x 6."

Have an Epic Birthday!

Happy Days...this card has been chose as a
SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE WEEK
ENDING OCTOBER 16, 2016

My nephew, Landon, is having a birthday on October 8th.  Hmm. . .where have you heard that date before???  This is card number fourth and final card to make for my October 8th birthdays!  Since Landon is now a teen-ager, I have to change my mojo from boyhood-type cards to teens.  He is the first of my side of the family to have a teen-ager.

Since I know from my two boys, who are now men in the 30s and 40s, video games are still the thing; therefore, I thought I would try out my newly purchased My Favorite Things Game Controller dies and coordinating stamps.  Funny that I just purchased them a few months ago, and then they put them into a retiring sale. . .of course, after I purchased them.

I have some video game, techie-type paper that I thought I'd use for Landon's card.  Though it seems some of this paper is a bit dated (there's even some Space Invaders style), I was able to find a few pieces that are more generic and not specific to a particular game,  This was especially important as he lives so far away, thus I have no idea what games he's interested in or what he actually plays.  My card is bright and cheerful and I'm pretty happy with the outcome.  Take a look below and the finished card inside and out.  I think Landon will be pleased with his one-of-a-kind card made by his Auntie!

Ingredients:  Darice Core'dinations cardstock: Timeless pack.  DCWV Generation Tech Stack.  SU-cardstocks: Basic Blake, Whisper White, Real Red.  My Favorite Things:  Dies--Game Controller, Chevron Stripes; Stamps--Level Up, Chalkboard Greetings.  Impression Obsession dies: Instant Phot Frame corners.  Memento Ink: Tuxedo Black.  SU-Clear Embossing Powder.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".
Favorite info:  10/16/16...Thread #62).

Fun Birthday Splatters For A Niece!

One of my sister's girls has a birthday in my birthday month of August.  I thought I would like to try out the Splatter Technique that I was briefly introduced to just about a year ago in late August at a cardmaking/ teaching class given by the Stampin' Up duo. . .Dara Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum.  This first try was on a Christmas card, and it seemed a simple enough technique and quite effective so I thought I would try it again.  Take a look at my niece's finished card, which I cased using a card design by Darla Watson, a California Stampin' Up demonstrator that I visited during my trip south this past spring. 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Bermuda Bay, Whisper White.  Sponging Ink--Pear Pizzazz, Bermuda Bay.  Stamp--Sassy Salutations (retired).  Stamp Ink: Old Olive.  Sequins--Metallics.  Splattering: Bermuda Bay Ink.  White Emobssing Powder.  Papertrey Ink stamp--Inside & Out: Birthday I.  Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".  (Thanks Darla Watson for your lovely original design).

The Story & Tidbits

Darla's card that I chose to case was definitely a clean and simple style, of which I am not generally a fan, but this particular card used one of my favorite color combination: teal and pear green; thus, it really caught my eye.  The original card had a less splatters on the front, as it was achieved by stamping the splatters with Stampin' Up's Gorgeous Grunge stamp set.  For me, it didn't have enough splatters, thus the idea came to mind to use the Splatter Technique that I had learned and used that one time.  It achieves a similar look to spritzing as well, but I find it much more controllable and your splatters do not end up as large, which is what I wanted in this case. 

First, I heat-embossed my sentiment with white embossing ink.  Next, I sponged my ink colors onto the front area as shown on the card.  I sponged until I achieved the color depth I desired.  The final step is to add your splatters either by stamping with an appropriate stamp, such as Stampin' Up's Gorgeous Grunge, or by using the Splatter Technique, which I describe below.

The Splatter Technique is achieved by using a water brush, (in Stampin' Up lingo, it's called an Aqua Painter), which has its hollow barrel filled with water, stamping ink, and the flicking motion.  For your color, you can use a bottle of stamp re-inker by dropping a few droplets onto the inside lid of its matching stamp ink pad, or by squishing your stamping ink onto its box lid, or dropping your ink onto a large acrylic stamping block (because it cleans up easily).  There are other ideas out there as well.  For the flicking motion: gently squeeze the water brush barrel to load your brush tip with water, dip the wet water brush into the re-inker drops, lay the barrel of the water brush across your pointer finger about one inch below its bristles, and finally, flick (or snap) the brush barrel below the bristles with your other hand.  Reload your brush with water as needed and with ink, and repeat the flicking motion until you get enough splatters to suit.  The distance the brush is away from your paper will change the splatter effect.  So, practice with it, achieve the color intensity desired, you feel comfortable with the flicking motion, and you achieve the look you like.  

If you do not have a water brush, you can also use a regular paint brush (like one that comes in a children's paint set),  dip and wet its brush well into a small container of water and then into your ink drops and flick.  For the most intense color, you can use a regular paint brush, dampening it just to moisten, wipe off excess water on a paper towel, and dip directly into your ink drops and flick.  You can also mix your ink color and water prior to flicking.  The formula I was told to use for this method was approximately one tablespoon of water to one to three drops of re-inker, depending on how dark you want your ink splatters to be.

As you can see, there are a variety of Splatter Techniques and even more than I have mentioned.  Check it out on Pinterest or YouTube videos. . .enjoy Splattering!!!

A Sister-in-Law Vintage Birthday in August!

I have sister-in-law number FIVE to prepare a birthday card for in the month of August.  I was in the mood for a vintage birthday card, and I was excited to begin.  It seems I take spells where I must do some vintagey stuff or bust!  I had to hurry, because my husband is making a trip south to a family get-together and this particular sister-in-law will be there all the way from Kansas.  Unfortunately, I will not be able to travel with him because of some previous commitments made before we knew this get-together was going to take place.  But, here was a chance to hand-deliver this birthday card. . .I would not have to worry about weight and bulkiness due to postal limitations!  I was stoked, and I got to work immediately!  Take a look at my finished vintage birthday card just for Joanie!

Ingredients:  Stampin Up cardstock:  Basic Black, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink (retired).  BoBunny: Love & Lace (rose pattern).  Punches: Becky Corner Rounder, EK Scalloped Corners, WRMK Deco Corners.  Dies--Spellbinders Scallop Hearts.  SU: Metallic sequins, Gold Embossing powder. Stash: Crochet Flower, Black lace, Vellum.  Computer sentiment/ verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".  (Note: Flower center...black sequins tied into a sequin knot with needle/thread).

A Day to Honor Fathers!

Our four children and spouses will arrive at our home on Father's Day bringing the goodies to make a magnificent barbecue dinner to celebrate my husband and myself.  You see...as I was traveling on Mother's Day to spend time with my 90-year old mother on her day, my day was planned to be celebrated with my husband on Father's Day.  We are willing to share our days with one another!

I wanted to make a special Father's Day card for my husband to not only celebrate him, but to thank him for allowing me a long vacation away to visit my family in California. ( I have to say, I was a busy gal, and enjoyed every minute of it!)  I have had the Stampin' Up Traveler stamp set for some time, and I have been itching to use it, but have never taken the opportunity.  I won a second copy of this very stamp set at a stamping event, which I brought down to share with my mother.  This was perfect. . .I'd use her set while visiting.

The stamp I wanted to use is the vintage locomotive, and I had in mind to emboss it to fit my black, white, and red card theme.  I used the Perpetual Birthday Calendar stamp set to form my background in Real Red and Smokey Slate. . . modifying it just a bit.  By using my MISTI stamping tool, I was able to wipe off half the red ink with a baby wipe and yet still be able to repeat-stamp to get a rich impression.  I was also able to re-position for the gray to enlarge that area.  I have to say, I just love my MISTI stamping tool.   Take a look at my finished train card below...it really is black, white and red in RIL...don't know why the picture picked up pink and charcoal)!  I think my husband will be very pleased with his Father's Day card.

I finished off my husband's Fathr's Day card by crafting an inside to coordinate ith the outside creation, and I fashioned a little verse fitting this special occasion.

Recipe:  Recollections cardstock: Black, Pewter.  Patterns: DCWV Bella Armoire Stack.  Stampin' Up products:  Red Glimmer Paper; Stamps--Traveler, Perpetual Birthday Calendar; Inks--Real Red, Smoky Slate; Embossing Powder--Black; Dies--Finishing Touches Edgelits-Pinked (retired).  Cottage Cutz dies: Expressions--Happy, Father's Day.  Recollections: Red Pearls.  EK punch: Scallop Corners-Medium (inside).

Mom's Are Special!

Mother's Day was coming up and really needed to make a special card for my mother for Mother's Day.  I attended a card class hosted by Liz Thayer last month in April, where I re-visited and practiced watercoloring with Stampin' Up Ink and an Aqua Painter on a stamped & heat-embossed image.  The embossed image creates a resist affect when applying the stamp pad ink with the aqua painter.  It is easy to created wonderful blended colored images using multiple colors of ink.

For this class, Liz had created a card that we were to re-create.  I chose to modifying the layout design of her card just a bit, though I stuck to the flower's color palette while applying the watercoloring as used in the original card.  My moifications included a sentiment change and adding a double layer of scallop oval die-cuts underneath.  I also used a decorator corner punch on my top layer, and added an additional color mat layer to bring out all the colors in my watercolored Rock Rose.  (I think this stamp's image looks just like a Rock Rose, though it is also similar to a double-frilled poppy as well).  Take a look at my finished card below:

My next step once the front of the card was finished, was to create an inside design to compliment the front, and also a verse suitably perfect for the occasion---Mother's Day.  It is ready to take a look-see below:

Recipe:  Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White Rich Razzleberry, Daffodil Delight.  Stamps: Birthday Blooms.  Inks--Rich Razzlebrery Daffodil Delight, Rose Red, Old Olive, Mint Macaron.  Punch--Curvy Corner.  White Embossing Powder.  Rich Razzleberry 1/4" Cotton ribbon.  Spellbinder Dies: Ovals, Scallop Ovals,  Computer sentiment/ verse.  Size: 4-7/8" x 6". 

My Husband Celebrates His Birthday!

My husband celebrates his birthday today, and I wanted to make a special card that if you knew my husband, and then saw the card, you'd know right away that card was meant for him.   I was excited to see a stamp set in the 2016 Sale-A-Bration flyer this year named, Sky is the Limit.  I couldn't wait to add it to my stamping stockpile, and, of course, I knew just who would get the first card made with it for his birthday!

My husband received his private pilot's license when he was in his twenties and even owned a small plane with his father for several years until job promotions and transfers no longer made it possible for us to keep it.  But, he still loves to pilot his own craft, and he would probably love to buy another plane now that he is retired.

As it turns out the new Stampin' Up 2016 Occasions mini catalog has several products that fit into my aeronautical card theme.  There is a Sunburst die that looks very interesting, and I have had the chance to use it twice at two cardmaking events that I have attended.  I would like to add it to my collection, but I have not done so.  It would have been the perfect die for the card I had in mind for John, but I decided not to let that stand in my way.  Over the last several years, I have made several sunburst ray cards that were handmade, and I thought why not, it should work just as well, if not better than die.

I wanted my ray papers to have a sky theme to go along with the biplane stamp I planned to use, so I used the night sky constellation and the world map papers that are in the Going Places paper stack.  I needed at least two more patterns or types of paper, but I did not see anything else that jumped out at me, so I decided to make my own paper by stamping a Compass Rose onto black cardstock with White Craft Ink.  For my fourth paper, I decided to use an antique gold glitter paper.

As my card evolved, my sun got changed into a sentiment sun by under-layering the sentiment with gold glitter paper, plus layered over some vellum clouds as well.  I heat embossed my biplane in black, fussy-cut it out, and double popped it up to overlap the sentiment sun edge just a bit.  I added a trio of  black and metallic gold gems on the lower right corner to finish off my card front.  I'm pretty pleased with my homemade sunburst ray card, and I think it will please my hubbie as well!

Below shows the inside coordinating design and little birthday verse with a "flying" theme that I made for my husband's card.

Recipe:  SU products:  Cardstock--Basic Black, Naturals Ivory (retired), White Vellum, Going Places dsp stack (2016 Occasions); Ink--Craft White; Stamps--Sky is the Limit (2016 SAB), Going Global  (2016 Occ.); Punches--2" Scallop, 1-3/4" Circle; Embossing Powder--Black.  Other: Darice Glitter Silk-Kings Crown; Recollections Black Pearls; Studio 112 Gold Metallic Gems. 

Wonderous Wreath - Christmas X10 - Card #5!

Did I tell you I was excited to go to two card events:  Christmas X10 (hosted by Dara Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum) and Totally Lovin' Christmas (hosted by Liz Thayer).  These two events featured making Christmas cards from this year's Stampin' Up 2015 Holiday mini catalog, plus those Christmas items presented in their annual catalog as well!  In addition, Dara & Luci hosted a Christmas Tag class with ten really cute tags, which I fully intend to incorporate into a card design of my making.  

I was so far behind starting my Christmas cards this year that I really need that boost get me started and from these three classes did just that.  I came away with 20 card designs and 10 tags to incorporate into my own card designs. . .such a big help and so much fun as well!  As you know, cardmaking isn't only about the fun of making cards and learning new techniques, but it's a social event as well!  You meet such wonderful and fun-loving people, many of whom become fast friends as well.

Oh. . .yes, this post was about presenting a card. . . so let's get to it!  This will be card #5 from Dara & Luci's Christmas X 10 event. . .another keeper for sure!  A fabulous card with a silver embossed wreath and sequins in the non-traditional more modern coloring of Bermuda Bay, Vanilla, and Silver. . .such a fabulous combination of colors.  Again, I really liked this card's design as presented, so I stuck right to its design.  Thank you Luci & Dara for this very eye-appealing card!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock:  Very Vanilla, Bermuda Bay.  Stamps--Wondrous Wreath.  Ink--Bermuda Bay.  Bermuda Bay Sequin Trim.  Metallic Baker's Twine--Silver.  Silver Embossing Powder.  (Thank you Dara Peterson & Luci Kirschbaum for this lovely card design).