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".

Christmas Wrapped in Holiday Spirit!

I'm onto my third Totally Lovin' Christmas modification...a cute little present snowman.  This one was a bit too plain for me, and the Soft Sea Foam green didn't do much for me with the blue.  I put my re-designing thinking cap on, and my soft green became a pinked white glitter paper center panel, my little snowman got a lot of fussy-cutting, and he changed his hat color too.   I decided he needed a navy cardbase with a silver foil mat layer between the Seaside Spray front panel, which surely need a bit of snowflake embossing to bring out some lovely texture.  My sentiment needed a pick-me up with a navy matting to coordinate with the new cardbase color.

I kept the layout with modifications, added new papers, dry emboss texturing, some glitter, foil, and a popped up fussy-cut snowman...it's done, and I am pleased.  This card surely must go to my snowman-loving friend! 

Meanwhile, when I saw the "square" snowman, I was thinking about a Splitcoaststamper challenge I was sure I'd seen requiring using things with squares.  My geometric snowman would surely fit!  Take a peek at the finished card below, both inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Balmy Blue, Silver Foil, Whisper White.  Stamp: Lots of Cheer (snowman/ sentiment).  Dies: Finishing Touches Edger (pinked).  Embossing Folder: Snow Burst (2011 Holiday).  1/4" Metallic Seaside Spray ribbon (2019 Holiday).  Other:  Colorbox Glitter paper--Fresh Snow.  Inks--Memento Tuxedo Black.   Colorbox Charcoal Cat Eye (ink distressing).  Punch--EK Victorian Corners.  Copic markers--Snowman/ B000, B21, B32, O; Hat/ B91, B95, B97; Ribbon/ R00, RV23, R83.  Scarf/ YG13.  Carrot/ YR18.  Wink of Stella-Clear (ribbons).  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.   (Thanks to Liz Thayer for original design idea that I took the liberty of modifying).

Fall Happy Birthday!

I have oodles of birthday cards to make for Fall, and this one is for a cardmaking good friend.  I wanted to make her a Fall card with a little bit of a vintage flair.  After checking out several Splitcoaststamper challenges, I knew exactly what I wanted to do! 

Ultimately, I ended up casing a card designed and  developed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, over five years ago, because I had a stash of her leftover papers and elements that she used, including a delightful "Autumn Wind" digital bookmark image, some the ribbon, and the recycled lace.  I made my own oval layered backdrop and sentiment to finish my card.  

In keeping with one set of SCS challenge requirements to add things of  Scottish, Irish, and Welsh tradition, I have included the plaid on my card, which is important to all three countries, and depicts their family or clan heritage.  No two families or clans use the same plaid.  I've also included acorns, representing the Acorn Oak, which once formed over 1/3 of the tree coverage in all of the British Isles and was important to the shipbuilding industry.  

My thanks to Heidi for allowing me to case her card...it has such a lovely vintage flair and perfect Fall elements!  Take a peek at the results of my finished card front, as well as my coordinating interior design and Chatterbox sentiment and verse. 

Ingredients:   Papers:  Stampin' Up Cardstock--Crumb Cke, Early Espresso, Tangerine Tango, Very Vanilla, Antique Linen.  Stash: unknown acorns and plaid.  Digital Pre-colored bookmark: Autumn Wind by Digital Papers.  Chestnut Roan ink distressing.  Dies:  Stampin' Up--Layering Ovals; Spellbinders--Classic Ovals LG, Classic Scallop Ovals LG, Petite Ovals LG, Petite Scallop Ovals LG.  Recycled Lace (bottom edging on old over-blouse.  Ribbon Stash: Silk Variegated; Pumpkin Stickers; Gold Metallic gems.  Linen Twine (acorn).  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse.  Size: 4-7/8" x 6".

Throwback Christmas 2011: Snowflake Card Kit Modified!

This was the first year that I tried to make homemade Christmas cards for half of  those to whom I usually send cards.  I successfully made about 21 card, but I only posted about four of them to my blog.  I will attempt to post a few more now. . .some four years later!  It's interesting to look back on card I made four years ago and see changes that I have made in my cardmaking skills and designs.  So, here goes!

I will call these cards my 2011 snowflake cards.  There are six cards made from a card kit that I purchased from a cardmaking instructor, Angela Kelley, who used to teach at my sister's scrapbook store in Redding, California.  (Just a note:  my sister closed her store in May 2010. . .the economy was not kind to "Mom & Pop" stores from 2008 forward).  

I took Angie's card kit, and first, I decided I wanted to enlarge them a bit and add more pattern to each by adding more layers.  I added two more patterned layers to each card by adhering the bottom pattern to a larger white card base than the one provided for the cards.  (In the early days of my cardmaking, I usually always used a white card base but applied a pattern to cover it fully on the front for the mat layer that was actually visible.)  With the present cards, I used at least a 1/4-inch mat edge for each pattern, basically framing the original card front's design onto these two new layers.  This process not only enlarged the cards, but also added more coordinating patterns and interest to each card as well.

On this card,  I rotated it 90 degrees and made it a horizontal card instead of a vertical card.  I mounted the sentiment oval on the lower left and added rhinestones to the upper left panel for balance.

To enlarge this card, I used the polka dot layer provided only under the top two-thirds of the card front instead of the entire card and then added a muted stripe at the bottom under the ribbon.  I also added two mat layers under the sentiment and two new 1/4-inch  mat layers under the new card front.

Again, to this one I only added two 1/4-inch mat layers under the card front instead of just using the white cardbase provided.

On this card, I actually cut the first layer down a bit, so that I could add a third layer of plaid and be able to have my plaid cut where I wanted it to be.  (Sort of like using the same thought process cutting plaid fabric for a skirt front and a skirt back so the plaid side seams will match perfectly horizontally when sewn together.)   I then added the two 1/4-inch edged mat layers under my plaid as on the other cards mentioned above. 

This card only had minimal changes. . .I added the two 1/4-inch mat layers under the card front instead of just using a white cardbase.

On this final card, I trimmed down the card just a bit so that I could add my two 1/4-inch mat layers under the card front.  I actually like the shortened rectangle that almost looks like a square now.  To me, before it was just a little bit too wide for its height before.

An Anniversary. . .Celebrating 50 Years!

What can I say. . .I was a child bride!  It is our anniversary this month, and I made a little anniversary card for my husband.  The original card was a designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner) a few years ago.  I just had to steal it, because it fit the occasion so well, and the colors fit the fall season so perfectly.  

I did enlarge my card, making it square and added the ribbon embellishment for a bit more flair!  I hope my sometimes nutty husband enjoys it!  I made a little verse, which I thought fit my husband to a "tee" at least most of the time! LOL

Recipe: Cream cardbase, BoBunny Double dot cs; Echo Park pattern dsp. Stampin' Up Lucky Limeade 3/8" Ruffled ribbon (retired). MayArts twine.  EK Punch: Fancy Photo Corner.

My "Old" Boss Celebrates His May Birthday!

My last boss before retirement, and principal of the elementary school where I worked as the office manager, is having his birthday in May.  I wanted to make him a card to send my birthday wishes and to let him see what I've been doing with myself since I retired.  Cardmaking is a hobby I started a few years after retirement with the encouragement of my sister and mentor, Heidi Gonzales (mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com).  It has been a lot of fun, creating new and wonderful friendship, and something that I really enjoy doing as well.  It is so much fun to share my creations with family and friends.

You will note that this card sports a mustache, and, of course, you guessed it right, he has a mustache so I just had to make a card using my brand new Bow & Mustache EK punch.  This is actually the second card I have made with a mustache...such a cute idea.  My first card was for my brother-in-law's birthday and is posted back in January.  It was done using the Stampin' Up Bird Builder punch...a different look, but works well too.  But, I love this new quick and easy punch with the curly mustache ends.  I hope my friend and ex-boss likes his card as well as I enjoyed creating it for him.

 (Card inspired by a Liz Thayer design and modified by me.)

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers:  Basic Black cs (base/ mat layer), Soft Suede (mat layer), Naturals cs, Neutrals dsp stack, Modern Medley dsp.  Creative Imaginations: Paint It w/Luminarte (brown word mat layer).  SU stamp: See Ya Later (modified).  EK punches: Bow & Mustache, Fancy Corners (inside). Inks: Memento Black, SU Soft Suede (distressing).  SU Chevron ribbon, pearls. 

Vintage Halloween!

I really wanted to make a vintage Halloween card, I selected a little girl holding a pumpkin candle to light her way from my stash and designed my card around her.  This card is definitely for my mother.  I think she will really like this cute little girl image for sure.  I wanted three distinct layers beneath my framed image, so I actually built this card from the top down to get my layer sizing compatible with the size of the framed image.  I'm sure it could have been done the normal way---from the bottom up--but I do seem to choose the more difficult method at times!  LOL  I then composed a little verse for the inside and add decorations and embellishment to compliment the front of the card.  I can't wait until Mom gets a chance to open her card!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstocks: Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie, Whisper White.  DCWV Halloween & Fall Stack (2011), Paper Pizzazz (stripe).  Digital vintage image (2.65" x 2.10"). Colobox Charcoal (distressing).  EK Large Scallop Corner punch, Spellbinders die: Classic Rectangles & Scalloped Rectangles.  Recollections flower. Stampin' Up Dazzling Details. Stash: ribbons.  Computer-made verse. 

A 2012 Valentine for My Daughter!

I made this card at a card class given by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com).  It uses a Mo Manning digital images and Copic markers.  I earmarked this card for my daughter, Jackie.  The little girl is so cute peeking out from behind the Valentine.

Following is my design for the inside of Jackie's card and poem a little poem I composed.  I know Jackie will like her card!

Halloween 2012 Has Arrived!

On my little vacation retreat to the Trout House, I was busy getting family Halloween cards ready to mail.  I just love all the fun papers, stamps, and embellishments available for this holiday.  With no computer access, I had to wait to finish my inside verses after I got home.  Here are a couple of samples of what I was up to:

 Enjoy...Happy Halloween, Jackie!

This ones for Mark & Ginger...

enjoy all the creatures that come visiting with your card!

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.

2010 Valentine Cards for the Men!

Valentine's Day was just around the corner...I really had to make card for my family.  I made my first trip to my local scrapbook store, Scrapbook Nook in Kent, WA and to my local JoAnns store to buy Valentine papers.  What I had used for Christmas just wouldn't work for this holiday, that's for sure.

I bought paper, ribbon, buttons, rhinestones, brads, embroidery floss, twine, and a page of puffy stickers, but I was very conservative.  But,. . .the slippery slope had begun!  Looking back...I see that I was stuck on making them all horizontally and opening from bottom to top!

John's card - Feb. 2010

David's card - Feb. 2010

Mark & Ginger's card - Feb. 2010

What fun it was...again...I was so proud of myself!  I love this quick self-gratification.  Sewing was a lot harder and took a lot longer to finish.   I was in my element!