A Whirl of a Birthday!

MORE GOOD NEWS!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - SEPTEMBER 2, 2017!!

One of my favorite sister-in-laws is having a birthday at the end of the week.  Our birthdays are just one day apart, and I really needed to get busy and get a card made and mailed to California!  

I found several card parts and paper pieces in my scrap box that I had made several years ago, but not used: two pinwheel heads and a glittery cloud.  I decided it was high time these cute little items move from the scrap bin to center stage on a card front!

I liked niece's card of several years ago so well that I decided to CASE my own creation.   I knew the theme of this card would remind June of fun times we had together with our brother spouses at the California State Fair.  Another bonus that it would save me time so I could get her card in the next day's mail.  All I would have to do was finish the pinwheels, cut some new cardstock layers, and create a new sentiment and inside verse with my sister-in-law in mind. 

While putting the card together, ideas were simmering about the birthday verse and a sentiment that would keep the verse's theme in focus.  Therefore, when I finished the card, I was ready to move to my computer.  Once I finished composing the verse and sentiment, chose the font, and printed both, I put together an inside design that complimented the card front.  

Voila...I was done and off to the mailbox it went.  I think it will put a smile of pleasure on June's face when she sees her perky little card made from some things old and some things new that will take her for a walk down memory lane.  Meanwhile, please take a peek below at her card inside and out:

Just a note that I plan to enter June's card into the Alphabet Challenge, Round 7 - DD7ABC23D for Letter D = Double Bow/ Double Pinwheels and DD7ABC24C  for Letter C = Cloud.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Island Indigo.  Patterned paper: Sycamore Street dsp (2013 SAB). Clouds Embossing Folder.  Punches: Modern Label, Word Window.  Pool Party Baker’s Twine.  Dazzling Details (glitter glue).  Other products:  Recollections cs:  Cool Water pack.    Spellbinders Big Scallop Ovals SM.  Sizzilits Pinwheel die.  WRMK Corner Chomper: Deco.  Offray double-sided satin ribbon,.  Recollections mini gold brads.  Toothpicks.  Size: 5-1/4" square.

Feel Better Soon!

HAPPY MAIL RECEIVED!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - AUGUST 13, 2017!!

There is a challenge on Splitcoaststamper's called the Traveling Teapot, and its goal is to make cards for someone who needs a bit of cheering up due to illness or other circumstances.  One of my Favorites Teammates has a sister who is in the hospital awaiting serious eye surgery to remove an abscess behind her eye.  The Teapot challenge team has decided to shower Angie's sister with get well cards from SCS members who wish to play in this challenge, and I, of course, wish to do that.

My card for Angie's sister is one I made from a design I received in a shoebox exchange held during our crafting Girls' Getaway.  The card design and techniques used were from a dear friend and crafting cohert, Sandy Stroble.  She showed us how to do the braided ribbon technique and also the tiled window.  I had a difficult time with the braided ribbon because of my arthritic fingers, so she made several for ribbon strands for me to take home to use in the future.  My card incorporates both of her design techniques, as well as a little butterfly stamped into the tiling technique.  Take a peek below. . .I think Angie's sister will enjoy her card!

Ingredients:

                  Paper: SU cardstock:  Whisper White, Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink

                  Patterned paper: Heidi Grace stripe (JoAnns)

                  Stamp:  SU-Butterfly Basics

                  Ink:  SU-Chocolate Chip, Pretty in Pink, Pink Pirouette, Versamark

                  Die: Spellbinders: Rectangles, Scalloped LG (inside)

                  Punches:  SU: Word Window, Modern Label (retired), Dotted Scallop Edger (retired)

                  Embossing Powder:  Clear

                  Sentiment and Verse: Computer generated

                  Font: Daddy-O.........Size:  4-3/4" x 6"

Tweeting a Belated Happy Birthday to a Dear Sister-in-Law!

WOW!  I'M EVEN MORE GIDDY!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - JULY 16, 2017!!

Take a peek below at the card that I designed and sent off as a belated birthday for one of my sister-in-laws on my husband's side of the family.  Also included below is the verse and complimentary design I created as well.  Then, follows The Story behind the creation.

The Story

With the slow recovery from my knee replacement surgery, I am so far behind, and I have missed so many birthdays and other events with my inability to climb stairs to my craft room.  Some are so far back, I will just have to let them go this year and concentrate on keeping up to date in the future.  Yet, I have several sister-in-laws' birthdays that I've missed, and I would really like to send them belated wishes if I can without getting behind with upcoming celebrations.

My sister-in-law, Dianne, is the wife of one of my husband's younger brothers.  They were married within a year of our marriage, and we spent a lot of time together as couples in the early years of our marriages.  This was before we each began a round of transfers around the country due to career promotions, etc.  We have never ended up residing in the same state in more than 30 years.  Just a few years ago, this younger brother passed away from a heart attack, but Dianne is still very much a part of the family, and she is always included in every reunion and get-together!

Since I have a new goal in cardmaking to try to enter more Splitcoaststampers' challenges, I thought I would focus my card design around at least one challenge's requirements.  I chose the Inspiration Challenge IC605 - Dessert Bies: Macaroons & Meringues, but ended up being able to use it in the Alphabet Challenge as well from its tag.   For the Inspiration Challenge, I went to the Pinterest inspiration board set up for the challenge.  Oh my, I learned a lot about macaroons.  While my stomach realized it was hungry and began growling loudly the longer I looked over those delicious-looking, beautifully, colorful morsels that can be any color in God’s Earth from soft pastels to bold and vibrant dark splashes of color!!  Below are the three particular pictures that inspired my card:

    

When I first start creating a card design, if I don't have a particular idea already in my mind, I check out my leftover, partial card pieces to see if there is anything that inspiring me to use it.  I found a yellow tag with pink ribbon and an uncolored birdie stamp tacked to a patterned dsp.  It was pretty bright and cheerful, but had a thanks sentiment stamped at the bottom of the birdies, which was actually part of the original stamp.  I thought...hmmm...trim off the sentiment and make the tag shorter to fit the shorter image.  Then, I separate sentiment tag with belated birthday might fit below the tag...I was in business and started rolling right along!

The little dsp attached had a bit of navy in the flowers; therefore, navy had to be the cardbase after seeing those lovely navy macarons (see above).  I switched out the pink tag ribbon for navy, and then I chose mat layer colors to add to the tag and dsp and layers to add to my cardbase.  Daffodil yellow would be my top layer and I decided embossing it would dress it up and make it more interesting and even better, crop the layer corners with my WRMK Deco Corner Chomper.  

When I began assembling, I popped up the tag and its layers on the yellow layer,  and then decided to pop up the yellow and Melon Mambo on the cardbase.  Before reattaching the stamped birdies to the tag, I colored them with Copic markers and finished with Clear Wink of Stella to add sparkle.  Because my tag was pretty small, I decided to use the Washi punch (SU retired) and modify it by shortening it and only used a one-word sentiment to keep its size in balance with the tag.  I'm pretty satisfied with my card for Dianne...take another peek above!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks-Night of Navy, Melon Mamo, Daffodil Yellow.  DP: Gingham Garden.  Stamp-For the Birds (retired), Happy Birthday Gorgeous (sentiment).  Ink: Memento-Tuxedo Black, Wink of Stella-Clear.  Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots (retired).  Punches: Washi Label,    1/4" Circle punch.  Ribbon: 3/8" Denim.  White Baker's Twine.  Other products:  Copic Markers; Darice: Foam Sheets.  Computer-verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Lights, Action, Shine...A Son-in-Law's Birthday Celebration!

I'M GLEEFUL!  THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - JULY 9, 2017!!

My oldest daughter's husband is have a milestone birthday this month...the pressure is on!  I wanted to make something really different, and I had just the thing.  I recently bought a darling Lantern die from SugarPeas, and I have been dying to use it.  Since Don and Michele like to camp a lot, I thought the lantern would be perfect for Don.

In addition, I wanted to try and meet some of the challenge requirements on Splitcoaststampers.  As it turns out, I will be able to meet three different challenges with the card I designed for Don.  It will meet the July 6th - Ways To Use It: utilizing stars in your card, the Alphabet Round 7 Challenge: Letter L...some type of light, and the Gallery Monthly Theme for April 2017: #1 - Background Check requiring focusing on the card's background by using a background technique, special paper, etc.

For my background, I decided to make a watercolor background with a night sky and lantern light.  This will be only the third time that I've actually watercolored a background, but this time it will have a totally different style as it is not at all random.  I wanted a light burst of yellows and oranges to represent the lantern light and a night sky with stars.  

I watercolored all over with Crushed Curry ink and then darkened the yellow in the area where the lantern light would be shining using upward brush strokes.  My next color for the lantern light was an streaked application of Strawberry Slush in upward brush strokes as well.  My next step was to make my galaxy-type night sky around the lantern light.  Once again, I used flicked brush strokes, but smaller, toward my lantern light.  The colors and the order I applied them over the yellow base was: Old Olive, Island Indigo, and lots of Night of Navy to finish.  I added stars to the night sky by using a paint brush and flicking it with finger snaps to sprinkle my stars in random sizes, but all very small, using White Pearl Metallic Folk Art acrylic paint watered down.  

I must say it was a challenge.  I had to do a trial run and then re-make my final piece to get my lantern light in exactly the right area without the night sky bleeding to far into it.  All in all, I'm happy I challenged myself, and I'm pretty pleased with my result.  I think Don will be pleased as well.  Take a peek below at my finished card inside and out!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up supplies:  Papers--Basic Black cs, Gold Foil, Watercolor paper;  Stamps--Balloon Adventures (verse); High Tide ("Shine" masked); Inks--Crushed Curry, Strawberry Slush, Old Olive, Island Indigo, Night of Navy; AquaPainter.  Other supplies:  Stamps-MFT/ At the Movies; Die-Sugar Pea/ Lantern; Wink of Stella-Clear (lantern light + sentiment words). Folk Art-White Pearl Metallic Acrylic paint.  Techniques:  Watercolor background; Paint Flicking (stars); Stamped Verse.  Size:  4-3/4" x 6".

Sweet Friend's Milestone Birthday!

A very dear friend is celebrating a milestone birthday this week.  Several really good gal friends are getting together to celebrate her and take her to lunch.  I wanted to make her a special card, and since I seem to be loving my new Stampin' Up Beautiful You stamp set, and also seem to have another card idea floating around in my gray matter, I thought I'd see what I came up with.

I found a lovely piece of patterned paper from the Watercolor DCWV Stack that looks like a watercolored paper with gold foil embossing.  I decided to make a salt watercolored background incorporating the colors from this paper to use as the layer upon which I would stamp my dancing lady image.  Though I had only done one other card with watercolors and never used the salt technique, I decided to be brave and give it a go.

I wanted my stamped dancing lady to have pink arms and legs, so I started my watercoloring with pink where I planned to stamp my image.  I used blues in the sky area along with a bit of pink and orange to give the allusion of the beginning of a sunset, and I used greens and yellow at the bottom to represent grass and a carpet of yellow flowers.  

After my watercolor application was complete and while the paper was still fairly wet, I sprinkled a good amount of regular table salt onto my paper and let it set for about 10 minutes.  I then helped the drying process along with my embossing heat tool.  I brushed and rubbed off all the dried salt so the paper was once again smooth and salt-free.  With salt, my understanding is that the larger the salt crystals and varied their sizes, you achieve a more dramatic effect.  Since table salt is much finer and more uniform, it creates a more subtle effect, but I was pleased with how it turned out and excited to try something new.

Since my patterned paper was gold foil embossed, I stamped my dancing lady onto my watercolor background with Encore Gold Metallic ink.  I stamped the patterned paper as well with the dancing lady stamp and the umbrella from another image in the stamp set.  I then fussy-cut them to adhere over the top of the image already stamped on the watercolor background to give her a patterned dress and matching umbrella.

For my layout, I found a Sketch Layout #SC639 on SplitcoastStampers' April 5th Sketch Challenge that I thought I would use.  See below:

For my #6 top left, I added an umbrella for my stamped lady, and for the #6 lower right, I added a butterfly to my double fishtail flag sentiment.   Below is my finished card, that I think Sandy will really like for her birthday!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Island Indigo, Watercolor Paper; Stamps: Beautiful You; Inks: Pool Party, Soft Sky, Pink Pirouette, Sweet SugarPlum, Calypso Coral, Daffodil Delight, Mint Macaron, Pear Pizzazz.  Other:  DCWV Watercolor Stack (gold foil pattern).  DCWV Foil Stack (Aqua).  Recollections:  Cardstock--Cool Breeze 5-Color Pack; Gold Metallic pearls.  Encore: Gold Metallic Ink pad.  Wink of Stella: Gold.  Martha Stewart 3-in-1 Petite Butterflies punch.  Papertrey Ink stamp: Tea for Two Additions (sentiment). Technique: Salted Watercolor Wash.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Bee Happy. . .Sweet Friend!

I am planning to attend my Stampin' Up mentor's Totally Lovin' Christmas annual event on October 1st.  She had a special fee running for those that signed up and paid at her last Birthday Bonanza event in August, but refused to take payment from me.  Her reasoning, when I don't pay her directly, I have been in the habit of mailing my payment, accompanied by a specially designed card just for her.  She said she was feeling deprived, because she had not received any lovely handmade cards from me in a very long time, so she would much rather receive my payment via mail.  She said I would get the special rate, but only if payment was accompanied by one of my handmade cards.  Now, I ask you, is that bribery or what. . .LOL!

I was feeling the pressure to really get with it and perform at the top of my game, but I had so many commitments and cards to make with absolute deadlines that it took almost a month before I could begin Liz's card.   Meanwhile, while making  my other needed cards, my creative juices were flowing in the background around numerous ideas for Liz's special card.  

I finally got down to finalizing the design for Liz's card.  Since she is such a sweet friend, I decided to incorporate a bumblebee embellishment die-cut that I made a few years ago at a store that had AccuCut dies for use.  Using this bee, I would make a "Bee Happy" card.  I added Wink of Stella Clear to my bee's vellum wings and to the flowers, but the picture does show off the shimmery wings very well.  Take a look below at my finished card front and coordinating inside design with my little "bee" verse.

 Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstocks:  Basic Black, Crushed Curry.  Black & White digital stripe.  Flower pattern: scrap.  Vellum.  Grafix Lt. Chipboard.  AccuCut die: Mini Bumblebee.  Little B work die.  Pretty Pink Posh: Stitched Borders 1.   EK punch:  Trumpet Flower Corner.  Wanelo Washi Tape.  Petaloo Darjeeling flowers.  Prima leaves.  SU Bermuda Bay Baker's Twine.  Wink of Stella: Clear.  Computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 5-7/8".