Wonderful Blessings of Friendship & Happiness (Joy of Sharing Kit Alt. #3)

This is my third alternative card for the Joy of Sharing kit. I have used papers and die-cut from the kit plus a front panel in SU's Real Red, though the base is still using the kit's Mossy Meadow 5" x 7" card fold. I also snipped a strip from one of the Mossy Meadow's base folds to create base the double flag strip, which I added behind the sentiment panel and popped up both pieces for more depth. I think the red card front is really quite attractive and adds a bit of a different look. To finish it off, I will be adding some design bits to the inside, plus a Chatterbox verse before sending it off for Christmas come December.

According to my usual methods for Splitcoaststamper challenges, I have reviewed my accumulative challenge list to see what past or current challenges my card design might fit, and tweaked it as necessary, before beginning.  I found ?? challenges to enter and they are listed below:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up products-- Cardstock: Mossy Meadow, Real Red; Joy of Sharing kit pieces (2020-21 AC/retired). Other-- Jolee's All That Bling: Golden Circle Wedding Bling. Colorbox Cat Eyes: Chestnut Road (ink distressing). Chatterbox inside verse. Size: 5" x 7".

The Wonders & Blessings of Christmas! (Joy of Sharing Kit Alternatives #1 & #2)

I purchased this Joy of Sharing Christmas kit back in December 2020, plus a refill kit several months later, but I never got around to doing anything with it. My Mom sent me a Christmas card last year made from this kit...a bit of an alternative design...and it was so pretty. It gave me incentive to get the kit out and take it with me on my 5-day craft retreat in early September.

The kit + refill included (16) 5"x7" pre-folded Mossy Meadow cardbases with the front and back both green. I decided to cut them in half and mount them to white cardbases, now making it possible to have 32 cardbases with green fronts...way too many probably! I finished four different cards at my retreat using the kit pieces. Because the foil rectangular pinecone die-cut frame, the die-cut poinsettias and the die-cut pinecones were pretty much all the same, each card, though different, didn't really look that different; therefore, after working with the kit almost all of one day, I got a bit tired of it and moved on to other things.

 
For the first two cards made, I used a different sentiment stamp than the one provided in the kit, because I wanted my sentiment to have a vertical placement (the kit stamp was horizontal). This stamp was from the 2020 Dove of Hope stamp set. I also decided I would ink distress ALL edges of cardstock and die-cut pieces to give my card a more vintage and aged look.

Card #1...
My first card has a vertical orientation, and I used two of the green cardbases provided. I adhered one full 5"x7" Mossy Meadow panel to a white cardbase totally covering the white and making it now appear as a green base. I cut another Mossy Meadow panel to a smaller mat layer and popped it up off the green base leaving a small border showing around the bottom layer. I then adhered the gold metallic framing to this top layer. Next, I cut and added a red petite dotted dsp panel to host the stamped sentiment label.  I added layers of poinsettia die-cuts to the top right and lower left of the gold metallic frame, leaving the frame pinecones exposed on the other corners. I dressed up the center of the poinsettia with gold metallic gems.  Take a peek at my Alternative Card #1 using a different sentiment than provided by the kit...Dove of Hope stamp set:

Card #2...
My second card has a horizontal orientation. I used one green 5"x7" panel to form my cardbase as in Card #1. I cut an Early Espresso brown mat layer for this card instead of green as in the first card. I used the red double fishtail flag strip placed horizontally under my vertically stamped sentiment label. I added poinsettia die-cuts on the top left and bottom right, leaving the gold metallic pinecone of the frame showing on the opposite corners. Once again, I added gold metallic gems to the centers of the poinsettia. Take a peek at my Alternative Card #2 using the same sentiment as Card #1 from another stamp set...Dove of Hope:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up products-- Cardstock: Card #1/#2--Mossy Meadow, Real Red; Card #2--Early Espresso. Joy of Sharing Card kit pieces (2020-21 AC). Stamps: Dove of Hope (2020 Aug-Dec Mini). Other (Card #1/ #2)--Jolee's All That Bling: Golden Circle Wedding Bling. Colorbox Cat Eyes: Chestnut Road (ink distressing). Chatterbox inside verse. Size: 5" x 7".  Card #1 only: Patterned Paper: October Afternoon/ Holiday Style PP743 dsp (tiny red dots).

Poinsettia for Christmas

At one of the cardmaking events hosted by Stampin' Up demonstrators Dar Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum, we made a poinsettia card, which was designed by Luci.  

I decided to make a similar card with some modifications for my Christmas card-giving stash.  I used the same color scheme, but added an additional mat layer of gold glitter paper, which I carried over for my poinsettia stamens as well.  I added more large and small petals to my poinsettia with the goal of a bigger and fuller flower.  I also used the Curvy Corner punch on each of the card front corners, which allowed the gold glitter paper to peek through the three eyelet holes.

My poinsettia card will travel all the way to Texas to bring Christmas wishes to one of my husband's many relatives.  Take a peek below at my version of Luci's original lovely design.  I think I'm pretty happy with the results along with my interior creation and verse to compliment the outside design.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Shimmery White, Real Red, Old Olive.  2016 Brights Background Stack stripe.  Stamps--Reason for the Season.  Ink--Real Red.  Punches--Festive Flower Builder; Curvy Corner punch (retired).  Dies--Layering Ovals framelits; Top Note BigZ (retired).  Other: Darice Opulent Gold Glitter paper.  Craft Medley sequins/ red.  Computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".  (Thank you Luci Kirschbaum for the design inspiration).

Using Stampin' Ups New "Merry" Expressions Thinlit #2!

I was so excited when the man in brown delivered by Stampin' Up order to me while vacationing in California.  During a weekend crop at my Mom's, I just had to try out my "Merry" Thinlit on a card of my own.  I love this Teresa Collins Cottage Christmas paper that I purchased last year and didn't get a chance to use.  It is so very festive and perfect for my new cursive die!  I'm big on layers, so I didn't seemed to be satisfied until I had added a minimum of eight layers, including embellishments.  But, surprisingly, even with all those layers, the card remains fairly simplistic in look.  I hope you enjoy my "Merry" little card.

Recipe:  Stampin’ Up Papers: Cherry Cobbler cs (base); Red Glimmer. Recollections: White Glimmer.  Teresa Collins-Christmas Cottage: Sentiments/ Tiny Flowers Stripe. SU Expressions Thinlits. WRMK Deco Corner Chomper. Zutter Corner Rounder. Petaloo Poinsettia. SU Rhinestones (Copic colored).  Ribbon stash: 5/8” white ruffed sheer; Felt rick rack.

2012 Christmas Cards to Make for Moms!

I was fortunate to be able to start my Christmas cards before journeying to California and while in California for my fall trip to visit Mom.  It is so much fun to make these two annual trips because both my mother and my sister live in the same town and they are both cardmakers so we have a delightful time!

I decided to start my Christmas cardmaking with my Mom and my mother-in-law as they both have to be mailed to California.  This card is for my Mom, using Stampin' Up products stamp: Snow Much Fun; Paper: Always Artichoke, Regal Rose, White Vellum; EFolder: Perfect Polka Dots. SU markers used + Dazzling Details.  Card idea from Liz Thayer.  I enlarged my card and added a pink card base.  I changed the sentiment and added a pink mat behind it, and made vellum layer one unfolded piece.  I also elevated the ribbon rather than place it in the middle.  Thanks, Liz. . .I love the embossed dotted vellum.  It's such a nice touch.

Alice's card is one I made at a Christmas Card Palooza while in California.  It is a card taught by my sister, Heidi Gonzales: My Lil' Scrap Corner, and just love it.  It has the vintage flavor that I love, and the felt poinsettia that we made with a dies and Big Shot is absolutely beautiful.  Heidi's card designs are also so creative and a delight to make.