Pompoms & Poppies

I have a crafting friend's birthday this week and I needed to get her card finished by mid-week. October is one busy month for me with all the birthdays I could and should make cards for, but just never have enough time!

I bought a package of one centimeter sized pompom balls to add to what was going to be a gumball Halloween costume for one of my granddaughters, and I thought I'd use some to add as a card embellishment. I remember Stampin' Up sold some a few years ago, and though I looked, I couldn't find any card ideas other than to use them as balloon bouquet. I decided to try adding them as a horizontal trim and then flattening them somewhat, but even though I left the card under a heavy weight for over 24 hours they didn't flatten much. Next, I tried trimming the balls on their tops along the row and then added a little liquid glue to be sure they didn't unravel. I decided to stay with this idea though it wasn't exactly the look I was seeking, but I was fairly happy with it when it was completely finished. Take a peek below at the finished card: 

Ingredients: Stampin' Up-- Cardstock: Highland Heather, Basic Black, Granny Apple Green. 2019-20 6x6 Brights Designer Patterns: Gorgeous Grape Script. Patterned dsp: New Horizons 6x6 pad (2019 Occasions). SU Dies: Poppy Moments (flowers/leaves), Painted Labels (circle). Amazon: 1cm PomPoms. 1/8" scrap ribbon: Gorgeous Grape. Chatterbox verse: birthday verse inside. Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

Let It Snow! (Card #1--Simpler Version/ Card #2--Fussier Version)

For my next card, I really wanted to stick to Christmas cards to build up my 2022 Christmas stash. I started with the Featured Stamper challenge when  I started researching possible Splitcoaststampers challenges to enter that I had not yet participated in. I found a card with snowflakes that got my mojo going, as I've collected many snowflake dies over the years. I had one particular Stampin' Up die set, Snowfall Thinlits, that had all sizes and shapes of snowflakes, including a snowflake swirl. Since I had another challenge I wanted to do that I thought would lend itself well to snowflakes, I decided to give it a whirl and see what I came up with.
 
I continued my search for other possible Splitcoaststampers challenges, both new and old, that might fit my into my snowflake theme. I ended up with 12 challenges that would fit my card if I adjusted the design a bit here and there to meet them.  I got to creating and actually ended up with two cards with similar design layouts. One is a simpler less fussy card using a snowfall embossing folder and snowflakes dies (Card #1), and the other is a bit more fussy using a snowflake embossing folder as well as the snowflake dies (Card #2). I am really happy with the results, but which one do you like the best? I think I'm partial to the simpler version (Card #1). Take a peek below at both finished snowflake cards:

Card #1 - Simpler Version

Ingredients: Stampin' Up-- Cardstock: Night of Navy, Basic White, Vellum (translucent), Basic White (inside); Glimmer papers: White (Myths & Magic 6x6 Glimmer pad--2018 Occasions), Dazzling Diamonds, Silver. Ink: Gorgeous Grape, Balmy Blue.  White Glimmer layer: lightly brushed w/Misty Moonlight ink. Dies: SU: Snowfall Thinlits (2018 November promo); Memorybox: "Let It Snow" (2021 catalog). SU EF: Softly Falling. Copic Markers: snowflake coloring (light/ dark blues). Chatterbox verse (inside). Size: 4-3/4" x 6."

Card #2 - Fussier Version

Ingredients: Stampin' Up-- Cardstock: Night of Navy, Basic White, Vellum (translucent), Basic White (inside); Glimmer papers: White (Myths & Magic 6x6 Glimmer pad--2018 Occasions), Dazzling Diamonds, Silver. Ink: Gorgeous Grape, Balmy Blue (ink brushing). Dies: SU: Snowfall Thinlits (2018 November promo); Memorybox: "Let It Snow" (2021 catalog). Darice EF: Snowflake. Copic Markers: snowflake coloring (light/ dark blues). Chatterbox verse (inside). Size: 4-3/4" x 6."

Being A Dad is Whiskey Business

 I went to a card party a few months ago, and my Stampin' Up demonstrator duo (Daralee Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum) had a card design using the new "Whiskey Business" stamp set.  I loved their card design idea, but decided to enlarge it and tweak it here and there to make it more mine.  

I gave it a new, enlarged and ink-distressed white card base, a new, ink-distressed punch size panel to host my changed sentiment, re-positioned brads, plus a pale blue decanter, glass, and ice shaded with Copic Markers.  I also used Copics to color my whiskey and highball drink, getting better shading, blending, and highlights than could be achieved with the water-base markers provided.  My finished card, inside and out, can be seen below:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up: Cardstock--Basic White, Early Espresso. Patterned dsp--In Good Taste (retired). Stamp--Whiskey Business. Dies--Stitched Recentangles. Inks--Mango Melody, Daffodil Delight, Cajun Craze; Memento--Tuxedo Black; Versamark. Punch--Lovely Labels (sentiment label). Embossing Powder--White. Round Brads (colored with Cajun Craze Dark Blender). Other--Copic markers. Brilliance Gingerbread ink (edge distressing). Chatterbox verse. Size: 4-5/8" x 5-7/8".

Easter's Symbol of Salvation!

Moving on to my second Easter card that I found in my "TO DO" box: a previously finished card from a 2018 class card. When I got home from class, I separated the layers with my trusty spatula (OLD Cricut spatula), because I knew I wanted to elaborate on the card when I had time and I didn't want the glue tape to set. The pieces ended up stashed in my "Need to Finish...TO DO Stash" box and promptly forgotten! The original card's design credit goes to Dar Peterson, one of my two SU demonstrator duos.

      

I got out all the pieces and my photo of the original to see if I could remember what I wanted to do different. My changes do not really change the original design look too much, but adds a bit more sparkle and elegance, I think, with more Gold Foil added. I enlarged the card to a 4-3/4" x 6" card from an A2 by making a larger new white card base, adjusting the Blackberry Bliss larger (I used the original for an inside card layer), and cut and inserted a Gold Foil layer before adding the top white embossed card front layer. I also added a Gold Foil scalloped oval below the multi-color stitched dsp layer.

I was really please with the foil additions as it dressed up this lovely card even a bit more by adding more eye-catching metallic sparkle that coordinates with the gold filigree cross.  Now, here's the rub!  I forgot to take a photo of my remodel before popping it in the post for mailing! 

All I got to say is...woe is me, sigh! I bid you to use your imagination to envision how those changes looked as this is a photo of the original design! Take a peek below at it and my inside design and stamped verse:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up: Cardstock--Blackberry Bliss, Basic White, Gold Foil. Pattern--Painted with Love Specialty dsp (2018 Occasions).  Stamps--You're Inspiring (sentiment); Easter Promise (inside verse). Dies--Cross of Hope Framelits (2018 Occasions/ 2018-19 AC); Stitched Shapes Dies (oval). Petal Burst EF (2018 AC). Other: Brilliance Chalk ink--Gingerbread. Ribbon scrap.

Welcome to the World, Evie!

 I recently order and received SU's Sunshine & Rainbows dsp pack. I LOVE this paper, and it immediately gave me a jump-start to make a long overdue "Welcome to the World" card for my third granddaughter, Evie, who was born in November 2019.  Her birth started a four-month long whirlwind of events that kept me away from crafting.  It started with her early arrival by C-section and a 10-day NICU stay; next, my sister's cancer surgery and needed care; then a four-generation, long-planned vacation; and finally COVID!  With the start of Covid, I entered a year-long cardmaking slump...I call it the great Covid card-block! 

 
Long story short, I just made good on my promise to make Evie's welcome to the world card with a unicorn theme.  Unicorns were an absolute must for its theme!  Evie had an IV line in the NICU unit, but because her veins were too small, it was attached through a vein in her head. It stuck up with a gauze prop that made it look very much like a unicorn horn. Ever since, she has been known as our little unicorn baby. This mythical creature has very much made its presence known in room decorations, clothing, bedding, toys, etc. So, naturally, her welcome to the world needed to have a unicorn theme!

I'd been wanting to try a Card-in-a-Box for several years. For some reason this rainbow paper and my unicorn idea just shouted out Card-in-a-Box and with the help of my Splitcoaststamper challenge research, it solidified into this card below, which I'm sure Evie will enjoy and Mom will put it into her Grandma keepsake box for future enjoyment:

Ingredients:  SU Papers: Cardstock--Island Indigo, Tempting Turquoise, Basic White, White Glimmer (unicorn). SU Patterned Dsp--Rainbows & Sunshine (rainbows, clouds; 2022 SAB). SU stamp: Welcome Easter (sentiment). Cottage Cutz die: Sweet Unicorns, Expressions--Baby/ Girl. Lawn Fawn die: Grassy Hillside Borders. SU dies--Brilliant Rainbow (clouds). Punches: 2-3/8" Circle, 2" Circle, 1-1/2" Circle. SU Ink: Island Indigo. SU Embossing Powder: Clear. ClipArt: Dandelionery (Etsy)--#182-Unicorn Rainbow (rainbow--Copic re-color). Paper Pumpkin "So Cool" sun sticker (Copic re-color). Acrylic Window strips (stand-up strips for pop-ups). Copic markers. Rainbow Duct Tape. Glimmer scraps. Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

Triangle Christmas Trees!

This is a Christmas card design by Luci Kirschbaum from a Stampin' Up card class I attended at the end of September. I brought it home to think about what it needed, if anything, before I felt it was finished.  It has been sitting in my unfinished Christmas cards for well over a month!  It was time revisit it and make up my mind what I wanted to do. . .leave it as is or add something more.

 

The design is geometric, not normally my style especially in a Christmas card, but somehow I found this card very appealing.  I decided I liked it, but maybe it needed a little sparkle and be a bit larger to fit the card size I generally prefer.   I added some rhinestone tree toppers for sparkle and a new Always Artichoke card base, enlarging its size to 4-3/4 x 6-inches.  I do like the sparkle, extra color, and layering that I added to tweak just a little.  See my finished card below:

Ingredients: SU Cardstock--Evening Evergreen, Basic Gray, Always Artichoke. SU 2021 July-Dec Mini: Peaceful Place Specialty DSP & Sweet Little Stockings stamps. SU Dies--Stitched Triangles. SU Ink--Evening Evergreen. SU Embossing Folder--Evergreen Forest 3D. SU Basic Rhinestones. Colorbox Charcoal ink distressing (trees). Chatterbox computer verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Stepping To Church for Christmas!

Here is my first center-step card that I've made from start to finish with my own template design for a larger 4-3/4 x 6-inch card.  To help me redesign the dimensions, it is a remake of a card I made at my Stampin' Up demonstrator duo's card event back in the fall of 2017, which I loved!  What can I say, I'm not very adventuresome, especially since it involved refiguring the template dimensions in order to remake it into the larger size.  I kept the original card to use as a guide, which helped me figure it all out much easier. 

Because the card was larger, I was able to add a third layer.  I ended up with a black cardbase, followed by a white mat layer, followed by the card front layer with the die-cut pieces.  I really like the white on black look.  The original design just started off with the white cardbase, which didn't allow for as much contrast.  I really like my added contrast by having three layers, and starting with the black first, then white, then black again.  I stuck to the original card design, and I thank Luci Kirschbaum for always allowing us to CASE our class cards and modify them as we like.  Here is my enlarged, finished card below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Basic Black, Whisper White, Gold foil.  Patterned paper--Merry Music Specialty (2017 Holiday).  Stamps--Hearts Come Home/ Dies--Home Town Greeting.  Punch--Confetti Stars Border.  Embossing Powder: Gold.  Size:  4-3/4 x 6-inches.

Reindeer Prancing & Dancing!

After my abysmal failure with getting 2020 Christmas cards made and sent to friends and family, other than my four children, and I was probably only successful with those, because I always make a gift pocket inside their cards to hold their Christmas checks...basically the "packaging" to hold their present.  These four cards were all one design with four different colors that I made just two days before Christmas.   

As the New Year approached and I was still in my funk, I woke one morning and was just fed up with my down mood that had persisted during all of the holidays.  I was really upset with myself and "kicking myself in the hindquarters" for not forcing myself into my craft room to make Christmas cards.  I felt that I had pushed by depressed vibes onto everyone else and not cheered them up if they needed it by getting happy mail at Christmas!  I vowed never to let another Christmas go by without me making and sending my cards, because with all my surgeries for my knees and hands in the previous three years, I had missed other Christmases as well.

In early January, I pushed myself into my craft area and gave myself a good talking to.  I made a wonderful New Year resolution.  I would stay in my craft area and make enough cards to cover family and long-time friends for Christmas 2021 (that would be around 70 cards) by the end of January; I was not allowed to make other cards; and I was not allowed to put what Christmas materials I had out away until I finished.  To help me out, my first two designs were alternative designs off the October 2020 Paper Pumpkin, "Joy to the World."

YAY! I completed my resolution, though I fudged a little on "other cards."  After I got over 3/4 of the cards finished, I had a few sympathy cards I felt I really needed to address...so I cheated a wee bit.  I spent many, many hours and literally a minimum of three weeks of January continually at my craft table getting my 70 Christmas cards finished, except for their inside design and verse.  I developed about 15 designs and made four to six of each.  This blog post is for my fourth card design, which is a take-off of an unfinished 2019 card kit from my Stampin' Up mentors, Daralee Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum.  Its design was originated by Dar, and I modified and embellished upon it, changing it to make it my own. 

The original design only had two layers and both were the same color...Very Vanilla.  I exchanged the Very Vanilla cardbase for one in a lovely, soft navy, called Blueberry Bushel, plus added additional layers in copper foil and Pretty Peacock.  I colored the stamped berries, peeking from under the foliage framing, with Copic markers to match the blueberry cardbase.  I added clear embossing and glitter to the Pretty Peacock foliage framing, and added an embossing folder design to the dashing deer.  I enlarged single layer sentiment, changed its shape to a double fishtail flag, and added a double fishtail blueberry mat layer beneath.  I moved it from a right off-center position, centering it up below the framing.  To finish, I Copic-colored rhinestones to match the color of the Pretty Peacock cardstock and added them to the four corners of the vanilla layer.  I am really pleased with all the colorful paper and embellishment additions.  It is so pretty and sparkly!  Take a peek below at my finished card:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstocks--Blueberry Bushel, Pretty Peacock, Very Vanilla; Foil--Copper; Pattern dsp--Brightly Gleaming Specialty; Stamps--Frosted Foliage, Itty Bitty Christmas; Dies--Dashing Deer (2018 Hol.), Frosted Foliage (2018 Hol.), Stitched Rectangles, Lakeside Dies (sentiment banner) (2019-20 Annual) (coor. stamp: Lilypad Lake); Rhinestones (Copic-colored).  Other:  Spellbinders Mystique Embossing Folder.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6-1/4 inches.

Watercolor Wings for a Beautiful Insect!

A good friend and Splitcoaststamper (SCS) teammate had a birthday right before Valentine's Day.  Unfortunately, I had thumb basal joint surgery at the beginning of February, and my left hand is still in a cast almost to the elbow to allow healing where The basal thumb bone was removed and replace with tendon plaiting to act as my future thumb cushion.

Four days after surgery, I managed to finish a card for another friend with an earlier birthday.  It was already designed with its pieces already stamped and the selected  patterned paper cut to size.  I just needed to select my cardstock colors, do a little mat layer die-cutting, fussy-cutting, and gluing to finish.  But I did find it stressed my hand and caused some added pain.  It was a message to me I was doing too much too soon as I had previously been relatively pain free!  I needed to wait a few weeks longer before trying it again.  This week-end was the time so my birthday card would not be any later.

Per my usual mode of operation, I caught my SCS challenge list up to date, and then I browsed for ideas and inspiration.  I really liked the pattern paper collection used on my previous card, because I love the blues and greens color combination.  It seemed I was destined to stick with them, because one of the first things I spotted in the SCS Inspiration challenge was a canvas in very similar hues with butterflies!  I'm really tired of winter, so building my card design around a beautiful spring insect, the butterfly, was perfect!   You may wonder the focus on an insect?  One of the challenges I wanted to enter this card into is the SCS Alphabet Challenge for Letter "I".

I decided to used the same paper collection, Naturally Eclectic, though different paper patterns, plus I focused on a light blue and green instead of navy and green.  Take a peek below at the finished inside and outside designs...not bad totally one-handed!

Ingredients:  SU Products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Bashful Blue (ret.), Emerald Envy.  Patterns--Naturally Eclectic/ 2018; DSP Stack-Subtles 2012-2013/ Bashful Blue Dots.   Stamps (ret. 2018)--Watercolor Wings; Sweet Cupcake (sentiment).  Ink--Lemon Lime; Emerald Envy.  Punch--SU-Banner Triple; M. Stewart-Butterfly Trio.  Die--Leafy Eyelet Scallop.  SU Basic Pearls (Copic colored).  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6".

Bright Green, Navy, & Lemon Lime for a Birthday!

A friend has a birthday just a few days before Valentine's Day.  I found I can do a bit of cardmaking after my hand surgery...one-handed as long as I take it slow since it isn't my predominate hand.  I can hold things still with the weight of the cast as long as I do not put any pressure on it and keep it in a relaxed state.  So, I may get a few cards done if I'm lucky without causing undo pain.

I've had this pretty patterned Stampin' Up paper called Naturally Eclectic for about a year, and I thought I'd use it along with the companion stamp set.  I focused on the two-step stamped flower and double stamped it twice, and then fussy-cutting one to pop and layer over the other on its small rectangular flower panel.  To finish it, I mat-framed it with a postage stamp edged die, and I used its larger size to mat-frame my patterned background paper.  The card fell together fairly easily, except for the modification I had to make for my smaller postage mat-frame to fit the size I wanted my stamped flower panel to be.

I designed the inside to match elements found on the card front and composed a little birthday verse for my friend.  Take a peek below at the finished design.

Ingredients:  SU Products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Night of Navy, Emerald Envy.  Pattern--Naturally Eclectic.  Stamps--Oh So Eclectic; Sweet Cupcake (sentiment).  Ink--Lemon Lime; Emerald Envy.  Punch--Classic Label.  Ribbon--1/2" Finely Woven-Lemon Lime.  Die--Avery Elle Postage Stamp Rectangles (smaller modified).  Darice Pearl Stickers--4 cm + seedlings.  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6".

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.

My Sister-In-Law July...Number Two's Birthday!

My second sister-in-law birthday in July's card is due.  This one is for my husband's sister, Jeanie, who lives in Colorado.  Her card was one that I decided upon and set aside after I finished it at my Mt. Shasta Cardmaking Girls' Get-Away.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Blackberry Bliss, Old Olive, Whisper White, Gold Glimmer.  Pattern: Wildflower Fields dsp (2016 SAB).  Stamps--Friends & Flowers (2016 Occasions); Perfect Pairings (2016 SAB).  Inks--Blackberry Bliss, Old Olive.  Punches--Festive Flower Builder; Curvy Corner Trio (inside/ modified).  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Metallics Sequins.  (Thank you to Luci Kirschbaum for her original design inspiration).  Size: 4-5/8" x 5-3/4".

The Card's Story & Other Tidbits

The original card design belongs to Luci Kirschbaum and was presented at a cardmaking event in January of this year, sponsored by Luci and her side-kick, Dara Peterson.  It was a delight to be able to take a look at the new Occasions mini catalog and the Sale-A-Bration Freebie brochure.  Luci's card design uses stamp sets from both of these publications, and though simple, it is eye-catching and very appealing.  I just love the color Blackberry Bliss, and I am so sorry to see its two-year availability culminate at the end of May.

I finished off this card at my Mt. Shasta get-away in May and decided it would be ear-marked for Jeanie's birthday.  I had not finished it at the card event in January, because I wanted to add a bit more color as it just seemed too white for me.  My solution was to add two mat color layers:  the new Blackberry Bliss cardbase instead of white, and an Old Olive layer.  I also wanted to add some Old Olive leaves to my flower.  

When I added Wink of Stella-Clear to my flower petals to add some sparkle and shine, my stamping ink was evidently not quite dry, so it smeared and filled in the stark white petals with a light, blackberry-sponged look.  I rather liked it; therefore, I did not feel the need to re-make my flower again.  This was one of those moments where a mistake was not a mistake at all, but a happy event.  On that note, I think Jeanie will be very pleased with her homemade birthday card.

A Daughter's Pre-Birthday Family Dinner!

The immediate family plans to celebrate my eldest daughter, Michele's, birthday this week-end with lunch at the Pac Island Grill in Federal Way.  Her sister, Jackie, discovered this little, tucked-away, Hawaiian barbecue-style restaurant several years ago on a blind date.  The family re-discovered it a few months ago when celebrating Jackie's birthday, and I think, we've decided to adopt it as a good place for family get-together, dining events.  Their Loli Loli Chicken is awesome and very similar to Huli Huli Hawaiian chicken, which you may have been able to try if you've ever vacationed in the Hawaiian Islands.

Oh, and the point. . .this pre-birthday luncheon idea was a quick, family decision, and I had not quite finished Michele's card that I was in the process of designing and creating just for her.  This forced me to resort to my card stash for an already completed birthday card to save the day.  I chose a beautiful pink card that I made back in January at a Dara Peterson/ Luci Kirschbaum Occasions Catalog Kick-Off cardmaking event.  This lovely card design uses the new rose stamps and dies to create a die-cut design that overlays the pink watercolor wash paper, Perfectly Artistic, from the Stampin' Up 2016 Sale-A-Brations flyer.  The card's design is an eye-appealing, wonderfully easy one, and I thank Dara Peterson for presenting it for our re-creation attempts.  See my efforts below:

Next steps, per my usual carddmaking completion style, is to create an inside design and verse that blends well with the card front and compliments the occasion for which the card is given.  Luckily, this was one of the cards that I completely finished on my May Mt. Shasta Girls' Get-Away with Mom and Sis.  I know Michele will love her card inside and out!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Blushing Bride.  Patterned paper--Perfectly Artistic-pink.  Ink--Blushing Bride.  Stamps--Rose Wonder.  Dies--Rose Garden Thinlits.  Rhinestones.  Punch--Curvy Corners.