She's a Little Black & Blue!

My Mom decided to stub her shoe against the planter curb at the local grocery store.  She had been a "good girl" and returned her grocery cart to the allocated cart area (something a lot of people do not do), and was returning to get into her car when she and the curb next to her car decided to have an argument.  Guess who won...well, it wasn't Mom.  She fell, and it was so quick and unexpected that she was not able to block her fall.  She went right down onto the curb, face first!  She broke her nose in three places and pretty much took the skin off the entire nose from her brow to the nose base.  

The good news it that after a week, the thick scabs on her nose exterior have finally all fallen off.  More good news is that it is nice and straight and will heal just fine, and the swelling has subsided to the point where she looks more like herself.  Meanwhile, she is very black and blue from her brow clear down her face and down her neck to the collar bones.  The doctor says that it will probably take a full six weeks for all the bruising to completely disappear.

There is one thing about Mom you should know. When she does something, she doesn't fool around!  It is always very thorough and leaves nothing undone.  This, apparently, includes hurting herself!  She assures me she is doing fine and does not need me to make a trip down to help out.  So, in the meantime, I wanted to make her a feel better card to let her know I'm thinking about her and hoping her recovery is speedier than the doctor's forecast.

I wanted to play around with hexagons and embossing paste, but I didn't have any paste, nor all of the ingredients to make some of the homemade varieties on Pinterest.  In addition, I have ordered a hexagon stencil from a scrapbook store online, but it has not yet arrived.  I do have some little hexagon dies made by Sizzix and larger ones made by Spellbinders, so I decided that is what I would use.  At least, I'd get hexagons onto my card!  I have a DCWV stack called Collage Art, and the papers take on the quality of being layered with Gesso paint or Embossing Paste that is smeared over a colored cardstock or patterned paper using a stencil.  This paper will be the mainstay of my card, and this is how it turned out.  I hope Mom enjoys her card and it makes her feel better.  I'm thinking about you Mom and hoping for a speedy recovery!

Recipe:  Paper - Darise kraft cardbase; Iralamija Postcards cursive-colorized; DCWV stack: Art Collage; Stampin' Up Blushing Bride pink; Core'dinations Core Couture String of Pearls (pale yellow glitter).  Dies - Spellbinders Hexagons; Sizzix Triplets Hexagons.  Punch - EK Arrow Edger.  Accessories - Pearls: Recollections Large & Medium. Button: Stampin' Up Very Vintage. Pearl Corsage Pins (Michaels). Wilton 4" Doily (Michaels). Sparkle Netting: Vintage Pink (Joanns). Stampin' Up: Dazzling Details (adhesive glitter).  Sentiment - Computer-made - Malihini Cuban BTN font.  Size: 5-3/8" x 6-1/2".

Our April Birthday Girl!

April brings the celebration of our youngest daughter's birthday, who is our third child of the four.  This lovely young lady has brought many wonderful times and loving memories to me and the entire family.  She is my gardener, who loves to plant my spring flowers in my oak barrels on the front porch, and always brings more planters and hanging baskets to make a colorful display.  So, now I will take the time to make her a special birthday card to celebrate her special day.

Jackie has a special friend, who is often glued to the nearest soft spot close her as she watches television, reads, plays video games, paints her toenails, or studies diligently to complete her R.N. program.  That friend is her kitty, Sphinxi, so I thought I would make a card with this little friend in mind.  I already had an idea for the card layout I wanted to use, and when I found a cute little digital image of a kitty peeking over a flower pot, I knew it would be just right.  We often find Sphinxi in the living room bay window peaking around the many houseplants while laying in the filtered sunshine (if and when available in our rainy northwest). 

I chose my paper colors knowing I needed to be able to coordinate these colors into the flowers in the pot.  My mind has also been on Easter cards, and I was working back and forth between Jackie's card and Easter, when I realized one of the vintage Easter digital images I was thinking of using would go perfectly with almost the same design and papers as Jackie's, so I tested the idea on the Easter card first, and it worked beautifully.  You will find that card post to my blog on April 1, entitled "Easter's Coming...Let's Get Started!"  Here is Jackie's card, and I know she will love the little kitty image!

Recipe:  Papers: Darice Kraft cardstock (base); DCWV Everyday Essentials; Jillibean Southern Chicken Dumpling Soup Coordinating stripe; Stampin' Up Coastal Cabana cs, Pretty in Pink cs.  Digital kitty image colored with Copic markers.  Spellbinders Ribbon Banners die.  Stampin' Up Dazzling Delights. Machine stitching.  Computer-made sentiment. Sponge distressed edges w-Stampin' Up Burnt Brown Sugar ink.  Vintage Bingo card and Tape Measure (colored with Copics).

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.

Happy Birthday Little One!

Two great nieces, who are sisters, share January birthdays.  I was starting to think about Paisley's first birthday coming up at the end of the month,when I came across this cute little vintage baby girl image.  It inspired me to do a very girly vintage card in pinks...a color I don't seem to have used a lot in making cards, so I was excited to get started.  

After trying out a sunburst ray background card a few weeks ago and enjoying its effect and how easy it was to do, I was anxious to try it again but with sewing stitches.  I really thought this would be a very cute idea with this little girl image.  So, the hunt was on for papers in pink to fit the image.  I got a little carried away and used six different papers for my rays, plus another for a background mat as well.  I got out my sewing machine and added the machine stitching down the rays and zigzags to finish off the outer perimeter.  I think it really adds to the finished look of the card, and I am please with the results.

For the image framing and the sentiment background, I reinforced the cardstock weight by adhering the pink cardstock to a cream cardstock using an adhesive spray glue.  I used Spellbinders Lattice die to cut out the frame.  After cutting the lattice frame out, I sprayed the front surface with adhesive spray. While it was still "wet," I sprinkled it with fine iridescent white glitter with pink sparkles and tapped off the excess. A friend told me how she used adhesive spray to create the snow falling glitter on her Christmas cards. "The cheapest brand works great," she said.  And, it does work great and is very easy to do!

Below is the finished front and inside of Paisley's little birthday card with papers and embellishments to coordinate.  I hope Paisley likes her little "Can Can Cherub!"

Recipe:  Paper: Darice Kraft-base, BoBunny-Vicki B./ Perky-mat, Scrapbook Walls/ Rosey Bouquet, DCWV: Le Tres Chic Stack, Authentique: Cherish Two, Crate Paper: Farmhouse/ Handpicked, Anna Griffin: AG1467, DCWV: Garden Tea Party Stack, Authentique: Cherish One. Darice Pink cs.  Spellbinder Dies: Lattice; Rectangles SM. Stampin'Up punch: Modern Labels. Offray crochet lace. Stash: Satin-sheer 1" ribbon. Computer-made sentiment: Christine font. Homemade crochet flower.

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.

Fun Hospitality!

During my stay in California, I traveled south, making two separate visits to my sister-in-law, who lives in Carmichael.  She graciously provides a comfortable place to stay while there, and I must tell you, she is an excellent cook!  Because she is always so welcoming, I want to let her know how much I enjoy her company, and I always look forward to seeing her.  A little side attraction is that I get to spend time with her grandsons who are often in her company.  As I have no grandchildren of my own but worked around young elementary-age children until I retired, I find them delightful and full of fun.  Each has their own personality and sense of humor, bringing laughter and smiles to me.  I hope she enjoys this card I made for her:

It is fitting that I give my sister, Heidi Gonzales, credit (www.mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com), as I lifted her idea from a card class she taught back in January 2011.  I used the same papers plus an additional pattern, enlarged my card, and made it square.  I added sewing stitches to several layers, and also popped on a bright turquoise pearlized button to liven up the flower.  I think it turned out very appealing!

My Last Easter "Must Do" Card!

I think this will be my final card this year with an Easter theme.  I have made all the necessary ones and gotten those off in the mailed or sealed and ready for delivery on Easter Sunday.  I actually got a few extras done and sent to old friends just to touch base and say "Hi!"  And, I still have more ideas roaming around in my mind as I look over my stash.  But, I must move on to birthday cards needed that will be coming up in April.  Cardmaking is a great hobby, there's always another occasion and a need for one more card! 

I've really enjoyed making my Easter cards this year and still being able to stick to my goal to use everything I already had on-hand.  A good feeling indeed

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstock: Whisper White, Baja Breeze, Gumball Green, Real Red Core'dinations.  Patterns:  Creative Imaginations Samantha Walker Eggs and Stripe. Stamps: Wacky Wishes. Ink: Memento Cottage Ivy. Papertrey die: Picket Fence. EK punch: 1" Scallop Circle and Standard hole punch.  Creatology Felt bunny and foam leaves (Michael's). Bazzill .75 Bachelor Flower. Jolee Yellow Verbena.  Karen Foster Scrapper's Floss. Ribbon from stash. Signature multi-hue thread/ teals to green (Joann's). 

My Kansas sister-in-law has a Birthday in 2012!

As you might expect, I have a sister-in-law with a birthday in August.  With eight sister-in-laws, there's got to be one almost every month of the year, though I do think I miss a few.  But, if I start making cards for brother-in-laws, I know I will certainly hit every month for sure!  I am trying to get better at sending birthday cards since I am now retired...my work has become cardmaking, LOL!  Do you ever think, "This is crazy, I'm stressing myself out because I have too many cards to make!  It's supposed to be fun...not work."  I find it kind of funny at times!  So, here is Joanie's card adapted and inspired by a card design by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner).

Happy Birthday Joanie...have a great one!

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.

A Daughter's Birthday!

Happy Days!  This card was chosen as a

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF

WEEK ENDING - JULY 15, 2012

 

Daughter, Michele, celebrates her birthday today!  I had to get my creative juices flowing to make her a special birthday card that said, "Yes, this card was made especially for Michele!"  For the past year, I've been thinking about making a card for her using a vintage seed packet, depicting gardening, because she so likes to work in her yard.  She has been wanting to plant some roses...especially Mr. Lincoln (a blood red with a delicious smell) to commemorate her late Grandfather Bill, his favorite.  But with their move to West Virginia in the near future, that will have to wait three years until their return as roses need careful tending here with all our rain and cool weather!  But meanwhile, her new rhododendron garden is looking beautiful...so fitting here in the northwest where they grow wild!  Here is her card that evolved from perking slowly for almost a year...LOL! 

Happy Birthday, Michele...enjoy!

Ingredients:  Papers: Backround/ Aqua: Mind's Eye (Laundry Line/ Breaking Free); Paisley/ Red dot (behind seed packet): K&Company-Classic K Balley pad; Tools/gloves: K&Company dimensional stickers; Butterfly: Martha Stewart (sponge daubbed); Fence: Die-namics (My Favorite Things).  (SplitcoastStampers Thread: July 15, 12/ #9).

2012 Easter Whimsy!

My last four Easter cards will be for my kids and their spouses if married.  They get to have the whimsical Easter cards depicting baskets, bunnies, and chicks.  I have a card full of whimsical stickers from BoBunny that I think will be perfect to building on.

My first whimsical Easter card will be for the oldest of the children. . .David.  So, not too foofoo for sure, so I chose the Easter basket sticker.  I found a wonderful polka dot paper that had all the right colored dots to coordinate with the eggs in the basket.  I did pop off a bow on the basket, but in thinking about it after, I should probably have used a ribbon knot. . .oh well, maybe next time!

My second card will be for second sibling, Michele, and her husband, Don.  I decided this one would go to the feminine side and my next card for them will be toward the masculine style.  They will get the cute little golden chick sticker.  I used a doily to set the chick off and popped him up off the patterned circle.  I also added a little machine zigzag stitching and pinked the edges of my second mat layer.  I was really happy with they way he turned out and I think they will like their card, especially Michele.

The third in line is Jackie, and she will get the little pink bunny for sure!  I decided a pink scallop frame for the little bunny and a double floss twine bow for her ear.  She is just so cute with her little blue nose matching her bow!  I think Jackie will love it!

The fourth and last of my urchins is Mark, so this last card will be for him and his lovely wife, Ginger.  I had this little yellow chickie paper with had a shimmery look setting them off from the matte background.  One of my stickers was a puffy yellow chick that went perfect with this paper.  I thought yellow feathers tucked behind the popped up chick would add the final touch, and here is Mark and Ginger's Easter card:

Vintage 2012 Easter!

Next, I decided to make my Mom's Easter card.  As I do love to make vintage cards, I decided she would get my attempt at that style.  Again, I found a softly colored digital image that I loved and then found papers that would show it off without overwhelming it.  I loved the crackled pink cardstock I found that worked perfectly for the image frame made with Spellbinder dies.  I had the pink and green ribbon in my stash and it is almost a perfect match to the green and pink flower paper.  Next, a row of buttons on lace finished it off nicely.  I think Mom will love her card with it's lovely muted colors.

A Vintage 2012 Valentine for Mom!

It looks like Mom has been voted to get a vintage card for Valentine's Day.  I don't know that she prefers the vintage style, but for some reason when I think about making her a card, I think vintage.  This one will be a little more frivolous, as I plan to incorporate a little Copic-colored mouse as well.
I had this lovely piece of saffron embossed paper with scalloped outer edges.  I think these papers are really meant to be used in scrapbooking because then you could use the piece as a whole.  But I decided to fussy cut out the left corner and layer it onto a card.  I chose pinks, saffron, and browns as my paper colors to work with.  So, I began to color my little mouse to fit with these papers.  I've decided coloring animal fur is challenging, but I final got him to where I was satisfied.  I then fussy-cut him out, because I didn't want him to hide most of the saffron embossed paper, which would be directly behind him.  I worked long and hard with the saffron paper and little mouse to get them positioned so I like the way they sat, and then decided a little machine stitching might add.  Out came the machine to stitch before assembly began.  Mom's little mouse card will go out in the mail immediately so she gets it before Valentine's Day.

2012 Birthday for Hubby!

My husband will be celebrating his birthday in a few days on Groundhog's Day.  I bought Papertrey Inks die/ stamp set with airplanes specifically for my husband, who used to fly in his younger years, and we even owned a small plane. . .this, of course, was before children and before John's company was transferring him all over the country for his job and we had to sell the plane.  I just love the little whimsical bi-plane I chose to use for his card. 

For my husband to remind him of his flying days! 

(used Papertrey Ink stamp/die set).

An Anniversary in July 2011...

My son and his wife celebrated their fourth anniversary in 2011.  It was hard to believe that amount of time had already gone by.  I wanted to make them a card, but had a very limited time as my husband and I planned to do some motorhome traveling to the coasts of Oregon and Washington.  I barely got this little card off by the skin of my teeth, as that old saying goes, before we left.  It was one of the simplest cards I ever made up to that point in my cardmaking journey. . . and definitely meets the clean and simple card style.  Even so, I'm sure Mark and Ginger appreciated my efforts on their behalf.

July brought Mark & Ginger's anniversary...love you both!

2011 Birthday for a Son-in-Law!

A vintage John Deere for my son-in-law Don's birthday in July.  Don used to drive a tractor as a teenager when he worked on a farm, and he has had a bucket list to own his own John Deere when he retired to acreage.  I thought I would fulfill his bucket list by given him a card with a vintage John Deere of his very own.

I found the very image.  I colored the Farm Power words in gold with my Copic markers to suit the color scheme I had chosen.  I also colored the screws gold and made my own script paper with facts about tractors as its subject...such fun!!  He loved it!

Recipe:  Paper:  Bazzil cardstock-chocolate; AdornIt/ Vintage Groove Collection-Vintage Polka Dot Green-side 2 (green paisley); MME-Brown Stripe/ Tractor Drawings; Script paper: homemade computer-generated; Core'dinations Glitter paper (frame).   Image: from John Deere website.  Spellbinders Pinked rectangles. Martha Stewart Edge punch. Pinking shears. Machine stitching. Recollections screws (Copic colored).

Birthday 2011 for Daughter Dear!

I'm was REALLY enjoy making those vintage cards about the time my daughter's birthday rolled around in June of 2011.  As I'd said previously, I think I love the nostalgia of it all...a reminder of a simple time and place.

As I was searching for vintage images for John's aunts card earlier in the month of June, I came across one with a purse full of Forget-Me-Nots that I absolute loved.  My daughter has always liked this weed as her Dad calls them.  We have them growing and increasing on the bank in the front yard, and he is not happy about that.  He is threatening to go out and use RoundUp on them.  I actually like them during the several months they are in bloom, but they are rather stringy when finished. . .so I understand his point of view as well.  But, thinking of them when in beautiful, blue blooming abundance, which they were at the time I made my daughter this card, it gave me inspiration, I think.  I know she will truly enjoy her card and may even see a little humor in it.

And, I made this little poem for her inside verse letting her know how much she is thought of and loved each and every day of the year.

2011 Aunt's Birthday #90!

When my 96-year-old mother-in-law heard what was planned for Aunt Joanie's 90th birthday. . .a birthday card shower, she asked me if I would make a second card and mail it from her.  I was only too delighted to do this for her.  As I had already accumulated lots of ideas from her son about her hobbies and favorite things throughout her lifetime, I was intrigued by the fact the Aunt Joanie loved root beer floats, and was tickled to be treated with one even to this very day.  I thought this would be a fun idea for her second card from Alice.

Again, I went online search for a vintage photo involving root beer floats.  I saw numerous ones, but really like this old ad for a soda fountain shop encouraging you to come in for a delicious, creamy, and cool float!  From the image, I chose the colors of my paper.  I had the black and gold ribbon in my stash and thought it would be great to use, and I was off and running from there.  Here is the card that came together as my vintage creation.

This is the little verse that I composed all about root beer floats and the temptation to have one.  By the time I finished I think my mouth was watering. . .LOL!

Father's Day 2011 . .

I absolutely loved this card...saw it in a 4-year old Cards magazine.  I think it really struck a cord with me because my husband LOVES watermelon.  A Kansas boy at heart. . .what better thing to have than ice-cold watermelon on a hot summer day!  

I was pushed for time, what else is new, and needed an idea NOW...and there it was on the cover!  I just had to lift the idea and figure out how to make it since I didn't have any way to make watermelon seeds and I wanted our children's names on the rind (which the original card did not have).  I was at a crop and a friend, Sheila, graciously found a Cricut cartridge that had a shape similar to seeds in her stash, and she cut out the seeds for me...and I ready to go!

(I apologize for not been able to get the name of  the original cardmaker to give her credit.)

A 2011 Valentine for the Female Gender in the Family!

I started with a card for my mother and after making it, I decided I like it so well I would make another and give one to my mother-in-law too.  I loved this paper that was flocked and had glitter as well.  This card's design is what would be called a "clean and simple" card currently.  I found the foam-glittered hearts at my local craft store and loved their puffy look.  My "Moms" appreciated being remember on Valentine's Day.

With my next card, I tried using the sandable cardstock and a peek-a-boo heart that showed the little verse on the inside of the card.  This card is for my daughter, Michele, and her husband.  I hoped it wasn't too feminine for Don, but Michele said she needs to receive a card once in a while that doesn't focus on Don.  I thought that was a good idea. . .if it is a joint card, one time it will be more feminine and the next one will be toward the masculine slant.  Seems fair, and here is their card.

My final card is for my youngest daughter, Jackie.  I was able to cut loose on the feminine side and decided to try the vintage look on her card.  I had been admiring vintage cards with doilies.  I found this lovely vintage lady on some paper that I had in my stash and fell in love with her.  Using two red heart doilies, I created this card: