Sister-in-Law #3 Has a "Freedom" Birthday!

I have mentioned in the past that I have eight (8) sister-in-laws!  With my knee surgery, I missed getting a card made for the first two in 2018.  My third sister-in-law has a birthday just a few days after the 4th of July.

After looking at possible SCS challenges to enter, I decided to do a whole different thing with her birthday and make a patriotic card all about freedom.  In her case, the birthday verse gives her the "freedom" to choose to be "29 again" this year; therefore, I used "FREEDOM for Your Birthday!" as the card front sentiment.

I've been chuckling as I've been making her card and thoroughly enjoying myself.  I do hope she likes her card as well as I think she will.  Take a peek below at the card front and my inside verse and design.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Midnight Muse (ret.), Real Red, Very Vanilla, Naturals Ivory.  Punch: 3-Corner Curvy (inside-ret.).  Baker's Twine: Real Red/ White.  Patterned papers: Authentique Pride Collection:  Dignity (bg), Unified (Inchie-Dots), Assemble (Inchie-Stripe), Amend (Inchie-Plaid).  Hugs Seam Binding Ribbon: Union Blue.  Spellbinder Dies:  Stars Nestabilities, Postage Stamp Nestabilities (Inchies).  Queen & Co. Twinkle Goosebumps: Red (inside).  Button: stash.  Fishtail Flags--hand-cut.  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse (Fonts: Lobster 1.4 = sentiment/16--verse/15. Cut Above the Rest = setniment (freedom).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Thanks Needed for My Seaside Birthday Vacation!

My daughter, Michele, took two days off work and took me to her beach house in Seaside, Oregon for my birthday week.  Our vacation provided an amusing, relaxing and enjoyable respite both on our two-day vacations days and the three workday evenings, and I thank Michele for the lovely interlude with her in Seaside!  I wanted to make her a little thank card for taking her time to spend with me and providing a lovely birthday week with so many pleasurable and relaxing occasions to remember.  It was so SWEET of her, and I hope she enjoyed it as much as I did!

(Card inspired by unknown author from picture taken at a cardmaking event.)

Recipe:  Stampin' Up:  Cardstock - Basic Black, Real Red, Very Vanilla.  Pattern dsp - Summer Picnic (retired).  Stamps - Tart & Tangy (stamp-off technique), So Many Scallops (both retired).  Ink: Real Red.  Punches: 1-3/8" Square, 1-1/4" Square, Scallop Edge Border (all retired), 1-3/4" Scallop Circle (modified).  EK CardCreator Punch: Basketweave Corner.

Telescoping Snowman #4 - Folk Art Colors!

I finally finished my fourth telescoping snowman card for my fourth offspring.  Now, I do have to decided who gets which one, but I think I already have a pretty good idea.  I did decide to do #4 with folk art colors, and I found a piece of  Kaisercraft Christmas paper that had small squares of all the papers in the St. Nicholas collection.  It was perfect for this project.  I paired it with Stampin' Up's Old Olive for my cardbase and a mat layer of Red Glimmer to place my squares on.  My hardest job was finding a pattern I like for the middle body circle.  Don't why that was so difficult, but I had my heart set on the Peace, LOVE, and Joy label from the same Kaisercraft St. Nicholas collection, and I needed something to contrast but look like it belonged together.  I finally selected a Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium ivy paper.  I am actually happier with the final design than I thought I would be, and now it's time to share with you!

Recipe:  SU cardstocks:  Old Olive; Red Glimmer.  Kaisercraft St. Nicholas collection - Babbo Natale/ Papa Noel/ Mr. Claus.  Graphic 45 Christmas Emporium - Ivy.  SU DSP:  Be of Good Cheer (scarf).  DCWV Black Glitter paper (hat).  Paper Squares: SU 1-3/8" square punch.  Body part dies:  Spellbinders:  4-1/4 " Beaded Circles (bottom base); 3-1/4" Circles LG-#6 (bottom inset); 2-7-8" Scallop Circles SM-#4(middle base); 2-1/8" Scallop Circles LG-#2 (head base).  Body Part punches:  2-1/2" Circle (middle inset); 1-3/4" Circle (head inset).  SU Hat punches:  Decorative Labels (1/2); Word Window (brim);  Pinking Hearts border (band); Martha Stewart Aspen Corner punch (snowflakes).  Face punches:  Eyes-Martha Stewart 7-Heart punch (largest cut in half/ shaped); Nose-SU Small Heart punch (little less than 1/2), Highlights-Chalk Marker; Cheeks-Owl-Builder heart, Copic marker for blush.  Mouth: Ex. Large ZigZag Border (SU/Sizzix) used as template; Sharpie Fine-Tip: Lashes/ Mouth.  Scarf: 1-3/4" Circle punch shaping 3/8" deep curve; 2 Bitty Banner punch tapered.  Arms:  SU Snowflake punch: 2 using entire diameter/ cut off end only. (Card size: 5-3/16" square).

More Loving Those Telescoping Snowmen!

After making my first telescoping snowman card, I decided I would make three others and give each one of my four offspring one of their very own little snowman friend for Christmas.  My goal is to design each with a different color scheme and patterned papers.  I have now completed three of them, so I thought I would also share the last two I just finished.  I haven't decided who will get each yet, but when I finished with number four, I will work on that dilemma.

I am refining just a few things as I go.  I went back and put a hat on the back side of each snowman's head so that when you turn him over when opened, he has a black hat too and not just a blank white thing!  I've also decided I like his rosy cheek rouge (colored with Copic Marker R30) better when colored around the heart shaping it like a heart rather than just a circle.  I tried this on the third version, which is the turquoise card below.  The light blue one's cheek rouge remains just a circle.  What do you think?  And now for the finished cards..........drum roll..........here they are:

Snowman #1

Snowman #2

Recipe:  Snowman #1: SU cardstocks - Baja Breeze, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer.  DCWV/ Black Glitter paper (hat).  Patterned papers -  Heidi Grace/ Shimmer Flocked; Imaginations/ Studio Basics 101; Paper Pizazz/ Let It Snow.  Stampin' Up punch: Pinking Hearts Border (hat band)

Recipe:  Snowman #2: SU cardstocks - Whisper White, Red Glimmer (#2).  Recollections/ Black Prince Glitter paper (hat - has navy sparkles).  Patterned papers - Jillibean/ Winter Tortellini & Sprinach Soup-Stewed Tomatoes; Stampin' Up/ Winter Frost; DCWV/ 2011 Christmas Stack.  Stampin' Up punch: Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border (hat band).

Shared Items: Paper Squares: SU 1-3/8" square punch.  Body part dies:  Spellbinders:  4-1/4 " Beaded Circles (bottom base); 3-1/4" Circles LG-#6 (bottom inset); 2-7-8" Scallop Circles SM-#4(middle base); 2-1/8" Scallop Circles LG-#2 (head base).  Body Part punches:  2-1/2" Circle (middle inset); 1-3/4" Circle (head inset).  Hat punches:  Decorative Labels (1/2); Word Window (brim);  Martha Stewart Aspen Corner punch (snowflakes).  Face punches:  Eyes-Martha Stewart 7-Heart punch (largest cut in half/ shaped); Nose-SU Small Heart punch (little less than 1/2), Highlights-Chalk Marker; Cheeks-Owl-Builder heart, Copic marker R30 (blush).  Mouth: Ex. Large ZigZag Border (SU/Sizzix) used as template; Sharpie Fine-Tip: Lashes/ Mouth.  Scarf: 1-3/4" Circle punch shaping 3/8" deep curve; 2 Bitty Banner punch tapered.  Arms:  SU Snowflake punch: 2 using entire diameter/ cut off end only.  (Card size: 5-3/16" square).

Love That Telescoping Snowman Card!

Earlier this month, I made two telescoping snowman cards following a sample I had seen early last spring (see BLOG dated 12/8/14).  After making these, my mind began to think what if. . .  Some of my what ifs were:  

• what if, I attached him to a card base so he was on the front of an actual card; 

• what if, I attached his body parts closer together so he looked plumper instead of so tall and gangly; 

• what if, he had a scarf; 

• what if, he had buttons and hands.

• what if, he had rosy cheeks 

• And then I saw a non-telescoping punch art snowman on Pinterest, using hearts on his cheeks, and that became another what if!

I added another interesting feature for my paper background as well:  1-1/2" squares on Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper.  I think this really added to my card with all that bling peeking out between each square.  Here is my little snowman telescoping card, which incorporated all my what ifs and then some other features as well.

Telescoping Snowman - Closed.

 Telescoping Snowman - Open.

Recipe:  Bazzill cs: Stonewashed.  SU Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer.  DCWV Winter Magic Stack.  DCWV Black Glitter paper (hat).  Paper Squares: SU 1-3/8" square punch.  Body part dies:  Spellbinders:  4-1/4 " Beaded Circles (bottom base); 3-1/4" Circles LG-#6 (bottom inset); 2-7-8" Scallop Circles SM-#4(middle base); 2-1/8" Scallop Circles LG-#2 (head base).  Body Part punches:  2-1/2" Circle (middle inset); 1-3/4" Circle (head inset).  Hat punches:  Decorative Labels (1/2); Word Window (brim); Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border (band); Martha Stewart Aspen Corner punch (snowflakes).  Face punches:  Eyes-Martha Stewart 7-Heart punch (largest cut in half/ shaped); Nose-SU Small Heart punch (little less than 1/2), Highlights-Chalk Marker; Cheeks-Owl-Builder heart, Copic marker for blush.  Mouth: Ex. Large ZigZag Border (SU/Sizzix) used as template; Sharpie Fine-Tip: Lashes/ Mouth.  Scarf: 1-3/4" Circle punch shaping 3/8" deep curve; 2 Bitty Banner punch tapered.  Arms:  SU Snowflake punch: 2 using entire diameter/ cut off end only. (Card size: 5-3/16" square).

Valentine Conversation Hearts for Sister!

I wanted to make a card for my sister to give her a hug and the Valentine holiday seemed the perfect time.  I had some Valentine conversation hearts in my stash of embellishments and so wanted to use them.  I also had a "Hugs" ticket that I thought would work in nicely.  I decided on using inchie squares to set the conversation hearts off, and the ideas took off from there. Here is how the card evolved, and it is now on its way to greet my sister with her hug from me.

Recipe:  Paper: Georgia Pacific white cs base, Bazzill-In the Pink cs, DCWV Carte Postale stack,  Me & My Big Ideas-Hearts, EK border punch, Jolee's Conversation Hearts; Pink sparkle net (Joanns); K&Co. Hugs Ticket; Pinking Shears.

A Washington HELLO!

One of our girls has been transplanted to West Virginia for going on one-and one-half years, where her husband is assigned by the Coast Guard.  For one reason or another, we have not been able to get away to visit them.  We were able to see her briefly when she came to California twice to visit her grandmas.  We are missing Michele and her husband everyday, and they are missing "home."  We have enjoyed Skyping with them during family holidays and for other "spur of the moment"  reasons.

Let me tell you a humorous and odd, all rolled into one, story, which makes me smile every time I think about it.  Being from Washington state, we are all extremely excited about our football team, the Seahawks, and their winning ways.  So far, NFC Divisional Champions...and hopefully, all the way to the Super Bowl...Go HAWKS!  Well, because of my daughter's location in West Virginia, obviously they did not get to watch the Seahawks games unless they were playing a team from the northern part of the East Coast.  So, to solve their problem, we came up with Skyping the last two regular season games for them.  We put my husband's laptop in front of the big screen in the exercise room, and though they did have to suffer through commercials, they got to enjoy the entire game.  They were STOKED!  Unfortunately, we could not watch in the same room as the laptop had to be place directly in the viewing area of the television screen for them to see, so we watched our DVR recorded version in the living room.  We were excited to be able to provide them with this opportunity.  Aren't electronics and computers wonderful!

So back to the original reason for this post...a card.  To keep in touch, I was inspired to make this card from a design by my friend Sandy Stroble, and I thank her for the idea.  She gave me the information of where I might find the Washington stamps needed, which I ordered from a company online.  My version of Sandy's card is a bit larger than the original and features scallop mats backing the 2-inch x 2-1/2-inch rectangles.  I have also added a bit of ribbon, a knotted tie, buttons, and two more color layers.  I hope Don and Michele enjoy our little HELLO to them from their "home" in the Northwest!

Recipe:  Paper: The Paper Company-Primary-Emerald Green cs, Seaside-Lt. Green cs; Georgia Pacific-White cs.  Stamps: Wood Cellar-Wasghinton; Impress-Seattle, Space Needle.  Stampin' Up Ink: Garden Green, Pistachio Pudding.  Spellbinder die: Scalloped Recantgles SM. Impress Stamps heart brad. Stash: 5/8" Emerald Green Satin/ 3/8" green ginham ribbons; Buttons; Thread. 

Easter Peeps!

More using up my stash!  The four little chicks on this cards were pretty plain as they came in the package.  I gave them each a cracked shells so just their heads were peeping up and out!  Then, I joined them up with the chick paper from my stash. . .added a little trim, a little ribbon and a sentiment and voila. . .not a bad looking card.  I think it turned out kind of cute.  I have somebody in mind for this one, hope they like it!

Recipe:  Cardstock: Stampin'Up Baja Breeze, Whisper White, JoAnn's Multi-pack blues. Pattern: Moxie Easter Doodle, DCWV Carte Postale pad (egg shells). Sentiment: Computer-generated.  Dies: Spellbinders Petite Scallop Ovals/ Petite Ovals, Grand Scallop Ovals (inside).  Punches: EK 1-1/4" square, Stampin'Up Scallop Square, EK 3/8" Ribbon Slot Edger, Stampin'Up Scallop Trim. Recollections chicks. JoAnn's 1/4" loop ribbon.

Easter's Coming!

It's well past time to begin my Easter cards!  I've been telling myself that I'm getting my creative juices flowing organizing my Pinterest board. . .LOL!  That can certainly be an addiction.  At least, I did try to focus on Easter, so I have to pat myself on my back for at least squashing my desire to do other things that I wanted to do on Pinterest. 

 

This past Thursday was finally the day!  I pulled out my stash of Easter papers and embellishments and opened the Art Bin box.  After looking them over, I decided I really needed to use the stickers and dimensionals I've been collecting for several years rather than work with my stamps or digital images.  I actually finished my first card Thursday, and I'm putting it in the mail today!  It will be traveling across the United States to my daughter in West Virginia.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up  Cardstock: Whisper White, Marine Mist, Summer Starfruit. Michaels: Stripe.  SU stamp: Delightful Dozen.  Ink: Memento Coca Brown.  Recollection pearls, SU Gumball Green Stitched Satin ribbon, Recollections Puffy Chicks, Chestnut Road Cat Eye.  Tools: Lace Circles, Lace Rectangles (Lifestyles). Scallop Trim Border punch (SU). 

My second card was made with my second daughter in mind.  She is very appreciative of my cards, and has purchased two shadow-box picture frames that she uses to change-out the cards to match the holiday or season we are currently in.  The only catch is: I must make the cards 5-1/2" x 5-1/2" to fit the matting in the box.  With that in mind, here is the card I made for Jackie!

Recipe:  Stamp: Everybunny (Stampin' Up) colored w-Copic markers.  Papers: Echo Park Style Essentials Dk. Teal Flourish, Recollections Aqua Dot.  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Recollection pearls, BoBunny Dot ribbon.  Tools: EK Lattice Chain LG punch. Lifestyles Lace Rectangles die (used inside).

I think I'm on a roll now!  I have a total of five more "must make" cards, therefore, I have to keep my nose to the grindstone everyday!  My next card will be for my Mom since it also has to be mailed, but at least not across the country!

My son-in-law celebrates a birthday!

Don has decided to celebrate his birthday today by going camping one last time in Washington before their move to West Virginia!  I don't think the West Virginia humidity will make camping as much fun there, but in Washington, July and August are the very best months to camp...no humidity, of course.  The weather is generally in the low to mid 80s...can't ask for anything better that's for sure!  To celebrate his birthday, I thought a card about camping out be perfect, and here it is:

Happy Birthday Don...enjoy you camping trip!

A Son's Birthday in October, 2011

My youngest son, Mark, birthday is in October.  I like to make cards that focus on who the person is. . . .by depicting their job, their hobbies, their travels, etc.  Mark is a builder of homes, and takes after his Dad in being able to repair anything.  One difference from his Dad is that he builds homes from scratch, and that is something that his father has never done, though he can do some pretty major home repairs as needed.  

This was my second birthday card ever for Mark, and I had found these cute little metal tool embellishments during my travels in California and I had to buy them for future use.  They, of course, were perfect for Mark.  I loved the colors on Mark's card and the way it turned out.  One thing that may not be clear by the picture is that the aqua patterned paper just below the tool rectangle mats actually has raised and embossed tools, which is pretty cool-looking on the real card.