A Lovely Christmas Card to CASE!

I went to a card class by Daralee Peterson & Luci Kirschenbaum by in November, 2018.  Luci presented a lovely card that she had cased, but wasn't sure who the author was.  On Pinterest, I found a similar card that was used in the flyer presentation for the special offer by Stampin' Up of their Snowflake Showcase of stamps and dies during November 2018.  Luci's card was a two-layer card using a snowfall embossed vellum card front with notched corners and a pale Balmy Blue cardstock base.  I believe the cased card, also with notched corners, used the velveteen sheets sold as part of the showcase.

I pulled out the pieces of Luci's card kit and decided it was time to finish my own card.  I made several changes to my four-layer card, though the original design still shouts out loud and clear.  Following are the changes and additions that I made.

1) I  enlarged my card by adding a White Shimmer cardbase and a silver glimmer mat layer, then my Balmy Blue cardstock and vellum front layer.  I chose not to notch my corners.

2)  I turned my embossed snowfall with the heavier embossing at the top as though a heavy snowfall was just starting.   

3) I used silver embossing powder for my sentiment and a wider sheet and silver ribbon.  I also trimmed off the stem on my top snowflake flourish.  

4) I finished off the inside of the card with my own verse, cardstocks, distressed edging and snowflakes.  

Take a peek below at this lovely card...I just love this design.  Kudos to whoever made the original design.

Recipe Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Shimmer White, Balmy Blue, Silver Glimmer, Vellum.  Stamps--Snow is Glistening (sentiment-Snowfall Showcase/ Nov. 2018).  Dies--Snowfall Thinlits (Snowfall Showcase/ Nov. 2018).  Embossing Folder--Falling Snow.  Ink--Versamark.  Embossing Powder--Silver.  Other: Recollections punch--Mini Snowflake (retired).  Lion Brand Bonbon Yarn--White.  Colorbox Ink--Charcoal (ink edge distressing-inside).  Chatterbox verse.  Size-A6: 4-1/2 x 6-1/4 inches. 

Christmas = a Star of Wonder...Star of Night!

This pocket card is my tenth and final Totally Lovin' Christmas card remake.  I used the color scheme and papers from the kit, but added quite a few additional papers and elements to satisfy my creative thoughts and edit ideas after taking a look at the original design.

Of course, again, I wanted my card to be the larger A6 size, and I wanted more color and pizzazz.  Here is a list of the changes I made:

1) I wanted a livelier color scheme, especially for the star panel that was the beautiful focal point of the front of the pocket card.  I chose a pretty Copic color close to Stampin' Up's Seaside Spray cardstock, which allowed me to add a new coordinating Seaside Spray cardbase and automatically enlarging my card as well.  My blue star with its added Navy highlights and a gold filigree gem in the center was so much more eye-appealing than the monochromatic grayish-blue star with its tiny clear rhinestone.  I was stoked with the look of the changes, and my juices were flowing!

2) The original star panel was backed with gold glimmer paper, but this was the only area the glimmer was used.  I wanted MORE for lots of sparkle and sheen.  I used the gold glimmer as a mat layer between the balmy blue cardbase and the navy plaid pocket, plus I added it to the sentiment pocket insert as described below in #4.  

3) The original design's pocket was all navy cardstock, using the navy/ green plaid as an accent rectangle on the lower front pocket only.  It just called for MORE!  I add the plaid to fill my pocket back and the entire front of the pocket, leaving the plain navy cardstock on the fold-over pocket flap only that hosts the ribbon band and star focal panel.

4) For my pocket insert, I left the navy cardstock as the bottom layer, but added a gold glimmer mat layer between the navy base and white sentiment panel.  I also added a gold glimmer half circle pull tab to the insert with a bitty navy star.  The original design used a silver brad added into the sentiment area as the way pull the insert out.  On the insert, I dropped below the sentiment at the top and added the navy Merry Christmas stamping, plus a little verse with a navy star at the bottom, leaving a space in the center for the sender's signature.

All these little additions changed the look of the finished card oodles, and I was really please with the results.  Check out the finished pocket card below...inside and out.

Recipe Ingredients:   Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Night of Navy, Seaside Spray, Whisper White.  Patterns--Wrapped in Plaid (2019 Holiday p. 14).  Stamps--Shine Bright (star - 2019 Holiday p. 28); Star of Light (sentiment/verse - retired).  Ink--Night of Navy.  Ribbon--3/8" Cherry Cobbler Diagonal Stripe (2019 Holiday p. 25).  Gold Faceted Gem.  Other:  Paper--DCWV Gold Glimmer.  Wink of Stella-Clear + Gold (star spokes: clear/ overlaid in gold).  Copic coloring--star--B41 + B97.  A6 Size: 4-1/2" x 6-1/4".  

Zinnia Hugs for a Daughter!

My lovely daughter, Jackie, had a birthday right after my knee surgery last spring.  I was unable to make cards for several months for many reasons, but primarily because I couldn't climb stairs to my craft room or sit and stand with my leg down for any extended period of time.  I have to confess I was so out of it, being under the influence of pain medications, that I totally forgot that I hadn't given her a card or her annual birthday check!  These forgotten items finally occurred to me several months after I was off prescription medication.

She never mentioned it, but I did after several months along with an apology.  She, of course, totally understood.  My goal was always to make her a belated card (now really belated) with a nice little check for a fun shopping trip and presented at a dinner out.  I even bought a new Marianne Zebra die to use for her card, because Zebras and their black and white pattern is one of Jackie favorites.  Well, long story...it still hasn't been done with all of life's interruptions, along with trying to keep somewhat timely with my present day card requirements as well.

About a month ago, I saw that cirque du soleil, Volta, was coming our way.  Daughter Michele and I made a week-long vacation trip to Las Vegas about two years ago, and one of the shows we saw was cirque du soleil, O...my what a marvelous production!  Jackie has never been to a cirque show, so I thought what a wonderful surprise to buy tickets for her and my daughter-in-law as part of their birthday presents.  Daughter Michele and several of her friends are coming along as well for a fun and festive girl's night out with a meal tucked in too!

My daughter-in-law's birthday fell during our recent family camping trip, and she received her birthday card there with her Volta ticket enclosed.  I needed to give Jackie her ticket as well, and I didn't have time to make my planned zebra birthday card, because it would take too much time while shopping and packing for our camp trip. 

 

A quick card was needed, and I really wanted to make it fit for my last letter to complete the Splitcoaststamper Alphabet Challenge, Round 8. . . Letter Z (which her zebra card would have been perfect).   I looked up things that start with "Z," and I found zinnia flowers start with "Z". . .duh!  I hadn't even thought about that because I had been so focused on Z for zebra!  

I looked up zinnia images and found they come in a myriad of colors even white!  There are many varieties of white with several reminding me of a daisy.  Ah, light-bulb time!  I remembered a card design that I made at a Dar Peterson card class that had a big white daisy punch on it, which looked a lot like those white zinnia, except zinnia are fuller with more petals.  I thought to myself, this might be doable with just a little bit of tweaking!   You have to forgive me. . .my work career required quite a lot of document editing, and my mind runs in that mode on automatic!  See several white zinnia pictures I incorporated just below.

I pulled out the the unfinished card kit designed by Dar, and decided it could be modified easily to fit my "Z" requirements AND a card for daughter too!  My modifications started by adding two more layers of petals to fashion the daisy into a zinnia.  I also changed the word-die sentiment  to "hugs" and added another care layer with a white base.  My next step was to design an inside that complimented the front and compose a short little verse to fit the occasion.  Take a peek below and see the final version of my daughter's card inside and out with all changes complete. 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Night of Navy, Daffodil Yellow.  Patterned DSP--Delightful Daisy.  Dies--Lovely Words Thinlits (modified).  Embossing Folder--Petal Burst.  Punches--Daisy (three petal layers); 1/2" Circle.  Ribbon: 1/4" Double-Stitched/ Daffodil Yellow.  3/8" Facet Gem.  Other:  EK Punch--Victorian Medium Photo Corners.  Chatterbox verse (computer).  Size:      4-1/2" x 5-3/4".  (Thanks to Dar Peterson for the base card design idea).

Another Sister-in-Law to Celebrate!

Another of my husband's sisters is having a birthday, and a card needs to be sent sooner rather than later.  I checked out Splitcoaststamper's challenges and got some great ideas to work with.  One of these challenges inspired an exact color that I needed to use, a second inspired the use of lots of colors, another inspired the layout (with a few changes), and yet another inspired the paper designs that I chose.  

With the paper choices I decided to use and my layout inspiration, I remembered a card class I attended and a card design by Luci Kirschenbaum that used the same papers.  Luci's card used a similar layout to the SCS layout inspiration; therefore, I decided to CASE Luci's card with some of my own changes.   I added two more color layers, one of which was a new cardbase color and an inbetween layer using the lime green color that I needed.  I also added a lime eyelet die-cut mat underneath my sentiment circle so that it was not quite so plain, and I added sequins and Wink of Stella liquid sparkle to the candle flame. 

I was really please with my finished card and the changes I made.  It turned out to be a very colorful and cheerful birthday card, and I think hubby's sister will enjoy it.  Take a peak below for the final card designs both inside and out.

Inside Under Construction

Ingredients: Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Lemon Lime Twist, Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight.  Pattern Paper--Bubbles & Fizz (2018 SAB).  Ink--Bermuda Bay, Lemon Lime Twist, Daffodil Yellow.  Stamps--Picture Perfect Birthday sentiment + confetti).   Dies--2-3/8" Stitched Circles.  Ribbon--1/8" Satin Bermuda Bay (2018 SAB Shimmer ribbon pack).  Other products:  Dies--Lifestyles Eyelet Circles.  Pretty Pink Posh--sequins.  Chatterbox verse/ computer.  Size:  4-3/4" x 6". Note: html color: Key Lime = #e8f48c.

The Loss of Another Loved One!

This blog is very difficult to write.  I have just finished another sympathy card for my friend and cardmaking buddy, who just lost her Dad at the end of June, and 18 days later; she lost her mother due to an automobile accident!  It is difficult to find words words to comfort her, but to let her know she is my thoughts and prayers and hope that she receives solace from knowing how much her family and friends are thinking of her.

After getting my creative mojo juices flowing by checking out a few Splitcoasterstamper (SCS) challenges ideas before starting my friend's much needed sympathy card, I decided to try a new background technique (for me) using Shaving Cream and stamp pad re-inkers.  I was really pleased with the results.  I had the butterfly I ultimately used sitting on my craft table for a while.  It was a leftover from a failed background attempt, but the butterfly turned out well, so I thought I'd save for future use.  My card's color scheme came from the Inspiration challenge and the butterfly.

I'm pretty pleased with my results and hope that this card will help ease some of my friend's grief, and at least let her know that I have her in my thoughts and prayers.  Take a peek at the card below.  If you are interested, the design and construction story follows below the card recipe for materials used.

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Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Wild Wasabi, White Shimmer, and Watercolor paper.  DCWV Glitzy Glitter Stack (gold).  Stamps--Painted Petals (flowers).  Inks--Wild Wasabi, Crisp Cantaloupe, Calypso Coral.  Dies--Butterflies Thinlits; Layering Ovals Framelits.  Solid Thick Baker's Twine--Wild Wasabi.  Other:  Smooch--Pearlized Accent Ink/ Gold.  ImagineCrafts--Frost Shimmer Spritz.  Ribbon--Offray 5/8" Sheer Scallop/ White.  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse.  Size:      4-3/4" x 6".

The Story

One of the things I like about the challenges over at Splitcoaststampers is that you can enter them at any time.  If you missed one, and you've set yourself a goal to finish all challenges within a particular challenge in the current year., you can enter when you get the card made.  I always check out the current week's challenges first, and I usually starting with the Inspiration Challenge, which selects a website for you to browse for inspiration.  At Zazzle Souvenirs, I found a Celebration of Life Guest book with a lovely picture of a pretty butterfly, which reminded me of the finished butterfly that I had sitting around on my craft table for over three weeks waiting for an eventual home.  I thought this sympathy card might be a great way to use it.  

There was also a Free 4 All Challenge a few weeks ago that I missed where you were to find inspiration about something from one of your neighboring states from where you lived.  I researched Oregon, and found that they had several conservation programs going in different areas of the state and on different species of butterflies, because they were either endangered or close to being endangered because their habitats were being destroy by human growth in their migration paths.  There was also an old Ways To Use It Challenge back in March 2017 concerning butterflies that I missed with my knee surgery.  It seemed a foregone conclusion that I was meant to make a card with a butterfly on it!

Next, I searched the Featured Stamper Challenge that I missed last week for some layout ideas, and  I found several cards with layouts that I thought might work out.  I really had been wanting to try out the Shaving Cream background technique, so I checked out the Technique Lovers Challenge, and  found an old challenge from last year that involved using shaving cream.  I have shied away from this Technique Lovers Challenge and the Mix-Ability Challenge (mixed media) as I haven't tried many of the areas of cardmaking that these challenges often require.  I really feel nervous, as a beginning novice, to try many of the techniques and ideas that are used in these two challenges, but I've made myself a goal is start diving in...so I dive, I did!

My "stash" butterfly had a variegated color scheme.  I had used Stampin' Up's Wild Wasabi, Crisp Cantaloupe, and Calypso Coral inks with a Shimmer Frost Spritz on top and some smudged pearlized gold accent ink in a few spots, as well.  I decided to try the Wild Wasabi in the shaving cream on watercolor paper and see what happened.  I was trying for a Celadon Green (a soft light minty shade) so that I could enter the color-themed Alphabet Challenge for Letter C.  I was pretty thrilled with the results!  It turned out a lovely soft green just like I wanted.  It was several shades lighter than the actual Wild Wasabi ink color.  After drying the card front with my heat tool, I spritzed the entire surface with the Shimmer Frost Spritz.  

The layout idea had a verse panel with a bird perched on the top edge in the lower right third of the card front.  Instead of this, I stamped a floral arrangement on the lower right third using my MISTI stamping tool. I planned to have my butterfly rest on these blooms.  I flicked and dotted with Smooch pearlized gold accent ink, creating many tiny random gold dots over the surface.  I also added gold streaks to the flower leaves and stamen dots on the blooms.  As did the layout idea, I added the vertical ribbon band along the left side.  Mine was a white sheer scalloped ribbon, but instead of a ribbon bow, I centered a solid green thick Baker's twine down the ribbon center tying off with a green twine bow.  I added an oval sentiment with a gold glimmer scalloped mat toward the top left.  I die-cut a second open-cut butterfly from the gold glimmer paper and added it under my variegated "stash" butterfly, staggering it about 1/16" so that it just barely peeked under that top butterfly.  I was truly satisfied with my results.

Losing a Loved One!

A dear lady friend and cardmaking buddy has just lost her Dad, and another sympathy card is needed.  I was in the mood to make a soft and feminine card with some sort of flowers.

Following my usual pattern, I checked the Splitcoaststamper (SCS) challenges that I had not participated in to find some ideas to focus on and get my mojo moving.  Several challenges dealt with the possibility of using flowers, but I needed to come up with a color scheme and a layout.  I  found my color scheme from the newest Inspiration Challenge using a lovely coral, soft brown, and cream top from the Serengeti Fashions website and refined it with the Alphabet Challenge, Color Letter I for Ivory.  I came up with an idea for my layout from the Featured Stamper Challenge that used a quatrefoil background with a flower, though I modified my layout a bit to make more mine by using a lattice three-layered die-cut with only partial background coverage.

As my card evolved, I added more blossoms and more sizes than I first planned, and I added pearls and glitter to the flowers and to the lattice to give the card some sparkle.  Take a peek at my friend's finished sympathy card below, both the outside and  inside designs, plus the computer-composed sentiment and verse.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Soft Suede, Crisp Cantaloupe, Very Vanilla.  Stamps--Gorgeous Grunge (splatters); Flower Shop (large pansy); Petite Petals (small flower).  Ink--Soft Suede, Crisp Cantaloupe.  Die--Bigz Lattice (3 layers).  Punches--Pansy; Petite Petals.  Ribbon--3/4" Chevron Calypso Coral.  Glitter--Dazzling Diamonds.  Pearls.  Other products:  My Favorite Things Die--Interactive Oval Word Window.  Computer-made sentiment/ verse.  Size:  4-3/4" x 6".

A Jalopy for My Brother!

My brother's birthday is coming up in May, and I wanted to get his card started early so I could take my time while still recovering, slow but sure, from knee replacement surgery.  It uses the stamp set I order in March from Stampin' Up named, Country Livin', which is perfect for my brother because his hobby is restores old jalopy cars and pickups into beautifully restored vehicles.  Take a peek below at the finish card both inside and out.

Ingredients:  Paper:  Stampin' Up cardstock--Dapper Denim, Soft Suede, watercolor paper; DCWV The Guy Stack (grid).  Stampin' Up stamps: Country Livin' (truck), Guy Greetings (sentiment), Hardwood (bg).  Stampin' Up Ink: Garden Green, Soft Suede).  Stampin ' Up Embossing Folder: Woodgrain (ret.).  Stampin' Up ribbon: 5/8" Burlap.  Copic Markers.  Hand-cut double fishtail.  Chatterbox verse/computer prepared.  Size:  4-1/2 x 5-3/4".  

"The Card Story"

This card started out in a Stampin' Up card class with the original design by one of our hostesses, Dar Peterson.  I did not finish the card, because I wanted to modify it a bit to fit the Round 8, Alphabet Challenge...Letter J for jalopy and also to use Copic markers to color the stamped image instead of Aqua Painter and inks.   

I also reviewed several other Splitcoaststamper challenges to see if I could glean any additional ideas, and I found I was on the right track to fit several others as well.  I even got affirmation from the current Inspiration Challenge at the Smithsonian Institute under the "America on the Move" collection discussing the history of vehicle transportation in the U.S.  Under pickup trucks, it features a nice blue 1949 GMC pickup.  My idea to have a blue truck color would work perfectly, though my truck depicts a jalopy truck in need of restoration.

Not only did I change the coloring medium to Copics from the original design, but I also ended up modifying the card's sentiment from Father's Day card to a birthday card.   In addition, the alpha challenge I planned to enter has a double challenge to add Quadrille (grid) paper, which I did in the form of the soft blue DCWV grid paper for the sentiment background.  I also added this grid as an extra mat layer as well.  In addition, I decided my woodgrain background would be even nicer if I embossed it with the Woodgrain embossing folder.  I'm really pleased with my end results, and I think Mike will be equally pleased to show off his sister's card on the mantel at home!

A Visit That Was Special...!

A card to let my brother and his wife know just how glad I was to visit with them while vacationing in California.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Chocolate Chip, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake.  Red Glimmer paper.  Stamps--Gorgeous Grunge, Chalk Talk (sentiment).  Ink--Early Espresso, Cherry Cobbler.  Punches:  Small Heart; Heart To Heart-small (retired).  Other products:  Dies--Spellbinders Nested Hearts-smallest.  EK Slot punch.  Zutter Corner Rounder.  May Arts: Twine.  3/8" Striped Ribbon.  Washi Tape.  Size: 4-5/8" x 5-3/4".

The Card's Story & Other Tidbits

My Mom and I traveled to Nevada City, California to visit my brother Mike and his wife, Diane.  I wanted to send a homemade thank you to let them know just how much I enjoyed my visit.  I chose a card for them that Liz Thayer presented at a card class over two years ago.  I made a few changes to Liz's original design, as I thought it needed more color and a bit more embellishing.  I added a new cardbase color layer and tag layer in Chocolate Chip, and to the Cherry Cobbler Gorgeous Grunge lines, I also added Early Espresso stamped lines to the Cherry Cobbler stamped lines.  I popped on a few extra red glitter hearts.  I liked my additions and think Mike and Diane will be surprised and happy to receive their card.

I had not seen Mike for over two years, and because of Diane's illness and recovery, they were not able to make their planned trip to Redding early on in my visit.  So, what to do. . .we went to them with clear instructions. . .no elaborate planning for meals. . .a pizza, a late lunch out after church, leftovers, and a good-bye brunch out at the Humpty Dumpty, my treat would do very nicely.

Mike has just finished his 1951 Chevy coupe, which is a beautiful car.  But for Diane's illness, he would have been showing it off at Redding's Cool April Nights.  Here is a quick peek at a lot of hard work. . .no wonder he has arthritis in his hands!

 

Mike provided us with a quick trip up Hwy. 49 to visit the area my father grew up in, Pike, which has a population of about ten if that.  The property is still there with a family-owned trailor, but the old homestead burned down several years ago.  I remember visiting the old homestead as a little girl when Dad's family went deer hunting—dirt logging roads, no lights, and no plumbing—quite the adventure!

My Mom and I were able to make a trip to the Folsom Premium Outlets to visit the Sketchers Store, which Mom had been wanting to do for over three years.  From Mike's house, it was only an hour drive each direction, rather than the three-hour trip each direction from Redding.  We both found several pairs of Sketchers we absolutely could not do without. . .shoes, give me more shoes!  We had a delicious late lunch at Chili's, which neither of us had eaten at since Mom left Arizona about ten years ago!  All in all, it was a great day, the weather was balmy in the mid-80s,  and we enjoyed ourselves a lot.

Our nights were filled with playing Mexican Train, our family game that my Mom enjoys a lot.  She generally wins for some reason, but this time Mike took it home!  The leisurely pace of this game allows time for lots of catching up, great conversations, and a lot of joking around as well.   It was a great visit, and I hope to do it again on my next trip down to visit Mom.