Candy Cane Wishes for Christmas!

 I still have very few Christmas cards ready for Christmas giving this year. It is starting to weigh heavily on me that I'm so far behind; therefore, my next card must be a Christmas card for my stash! I just received my Sweet Candy Cane stamps/dies and the Christmas Banner stamps/ dies that I ordered from the current Stampin' Up mini catalog so I'm eager to try them out. 

The Sweetest Christmas dsp in that same catalog has a lot of wonderful patterns and strips. I decided on a criss-cross background effect by using a striped diagonal paper pattern overlaid with the diagonal panel die-cut. I used all three colors in the striped paper on my card front stamping and die-cuts: Real Red, Garden Green, and Pool Party, plus I added a bit of aqua glitter paper to add some sparkle and bling! 

As most candy canes come in individually wrapped, clear cellophane wrappers, I decided to cover my Real Red, ink-stamped canes with Scotch clear packing tape to resemble these cellophane wrappers. This is an idea we used in a class card designed by Dar Peterson that I borrowed. I am pretty happy with the way my card looked upon completion...take a peak below at the finished card:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up-- Cardstock: Basic White, Garden Green, Pool Party. DSP: Sweetest Christmas. Stamps/Dies (J-D 2022 Mini): Sweet Candy Canes/ Candy Cane dies; Christmas Banner dies (pine boughs). Ink: Real Red. Punch: 1-1/4" Circle. Ribbon: 3/8" Pool Party Sheer. Gems: Elegant Faceted Gems. Other-- Paper: DCWV 6"x6" Glitter Pastels Mat Stack. Spellbinders Dies: Splendid Circles. Scotch 2" Clear Packing Tape.

My Mother is Celebrated & Loved!

It is already May, and I really need to get my Mom's Mothers' Day card made, compose my inside verse, finish the inside card design, and get it into the mail ASAP in order for it to arrive on time.  After reviewing various Splitcoaststamper challenge possibilities, I decided to finish one of my card class designs (original by Luci Kirschbaum) that I remembered was lurking in my “To Do Stash,” but there were some changes I wanted to make that occurred to me while in class. I wanted to jazz it up a bit and make it more me by adding layers, making it larger, and change the sentiment and its presentation.

I added layers below the card front with a Poppy Parade cardbase and a White Iridescent Glimmer layer.  I changed the label shape and sentiment theme from a simple fishtail flag to the Lovely Labels punch design, and I made my new sentiment Mothers' Day wording using two computer fonts I really liked. I have to say, I really like all my changes. 

I composed an inside verse using the computer and added a two-layer corner punch design to the four corners of the verse cardstock. I coordinated these punch corners with the card front's beautiful tulip dsp and the iridescent glitter paper. I'm just sure Mom will love her card......take a peek below:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up: Paper--Poppy Parade cs, Petal Pink cs, Flowering Fields dsp (2 patterns); Punch: Lovely Labels; Ribbon--3/8" White Taffeta; Gems--Opal Rounds. Other: Recollections White Iridescent Glitter paper; EK Punch--Victorian Corner; Chatterbox Creations sentiment/ verse. Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

Being Strong!

My brother recently lost his wife quite suddenly and unexpectedly!  It was a shock to all of us.  I wanted to send him a Thinking of You card to let him know I'm keeping him in my prayers and thought each and everyday!

This is a CASE of a card designed by Liz Thayer for her class that I attended way back in the fall of 2013.  It has been lurking in my "To Do" stash of partially completed cards needing to be finished.  I made some of my own modifications and changes to enlarge the card, add a bit of sparkle, and change the sentiment as well.  I added a new Natural Ivory card base plus a dark brown glitter mat layer to the already existing Crumb Cake mat layer and my card became a thinking of you card rather than a thank you card.  I also decorated the inside and added my own computer-made verse.

I'm really pleased with the added layers and glitter paper.  It really dressed up the card a lot.  I think my brother will be pleased with his card and really like the inside verse, as it fits the occasion perfectly.  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Naturals Ivory, Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue. Ink--Crumb Cake, Early Espresso. Stamps--Truly Grateful stamps (circle bg, acorns-2013 Holiday). Dies--Window Framelits Collection ((2013-14 Annual). Embossing Folder--Stylish Stripes. Festive Paper Piercing Pack. 1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon. Linen Thread. Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.  Other:  Recollections Signature 12" Assorted Glitter Pad (dark brown). EK punch: Victorian Corner.

Wishing You Joy in the New Year (Christmas X 10 - Card #9)!

I'm onto Card #9 from the Christmas X 10 card event that I attend in October. . .almost at the end of the tunnel.  This particular card design had great potential, but it just didn't sit quite right with me.  It was pretty, but just needed more.  Creative thoughts jumped right on out at me. . .what if I added a three-dimensional layer snowflake and just left off the little fishtail flag, and that is just what I did.

I decided that my snowflake needed to be delicate to compliment the really pretty dainty snowflake vellum.  I decided to use two different Memory Box snowflake dies, creating larger and smaller snowflakes to layer on top of one another.  It occurred to me, as well, that if I incorporated the two shades of purple cardstock into my snowflake it might be better than just a white or silver snowflake.  I added both the Wisteria Wonder lavender and the Elegant Eggplant deep purple along with a silver and white designer paper and a little silver glimmer flake to finish off the center along with a rhinestone.  Next, I added another layer below the pale Wisteria Wonder lavender layer, repeating the rich dark purple as a new cardbase.  

I have to say, I am totally in love with my revamped card, and I thank Luci Kirschbaum for the original card design as a jumping off point to help me come up with my finished card.  Take a look and see what you think.  I'll add the original design below my card so you can see what I changed.

Here is a peek below of the original card design.  You can see that it had good "bones" and maybe what I mean by it just need more!  Of course, I do realize that many times in a "class" card, it can not be too elaborate or the participants would never get them all done, especially on a ten-card event!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Elegant Eggplant, Wisteria Wonder, Whisper White, Winter Wonderland Vellum (2015 Holiday), All is Calm (snowflake); Silver Glimmer.  Dies--Wonderful Wreath Framelits. 5/8" Silver Satin ribbon.  Rhinestones.  Memory Box Dies:  Telluride Snowflake (large); Snow Burst (medium).  Recollections: 5/8" Snowflake (small).  (Thank you Luci Kirschbaum for the beautiful original design, which I took the liberty of modifying and making it mine!)

Jolly Stars (Totally Lovin' Christmas #6)!

I'm rolling along finishing another card that I started at Liz Thayer's Totally Lovin' Christmas cardmaking event!  This one if full of jolly stars, and indeed, we did have a jolly time making cards, seeing old friends, and socializing as we made Liz's superbly designed cards.

I have to confess that I can seldom make a card exactly as it is designed and presented at an event such as this.  For some reason, when I see an already designed and finished card, my creative mojo starts zinging into my mind, and I have all sorts of ideas of how to tweak or change a card just a bit to make it more me.  Everyone has their own style and ideas in cardmaking, and I hope my hostesses do not take offense if I don't end up with the exact same card as designed.  One thing I know for sure, I love larger than A2 sized cards and I also like more layers of color than many other do.  My changes usually incorporate adding layers, which ultimately makes the card a bit larger.

On this Jolly Stars #5 card, I was not fond of the Iridescent embossed smaller stars, it changed the color too much, and made it so they didn't quite match the shades intended.  I thought I'd try clear embossing, which turned out so well that I decided to clear emboss the larger stars as well.  While I was at it, I embossed the Jolly greeting with Cherry Cobbler embossing powder rather than just stamping it in Cherry Cobbler ink.  Next, I decided the layers needed to have a bit more of an edge between layers, and also I felt it needed a white layer to set off the Mossy Meadow and the Red Glimmer papers.  Thus, I added white as a bottom layer making it my new cardbase.  My final addition was to add Clear Wink of Stella all over each of the stars and to the Crumb Cake band to add a bit of shimmer.

For those of you who are not familiar with the "Winks," they are a liquid brush pen that adds a coat of thin shimmer gloss to any surface by painting it on with its brush tip.  It comes in many colors, clear, black, gold, and silver to name a few.  Spoiler Alert:  the new Occasion mini catalog, which will be introduced on January 5, 2016 and run through May 31st, introduces the Wink of Stella Clear and Gold pens for purchase.  I know you'll like them.  Unfortunately, it doesn't really show up all that much in my card photo, but you certainly can see it when you view the actual card!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Mossy Meadow, Crumb Cake, Cherry Cobbler, Red Glimmer.  Merry Moments dsp.  Stamps--Oh, What Fun.  Star Framelit dies (size #1/ #2; #1 = smallest).  Decorative Label punch.  Clear Embossing Powder.  1/4" Real Red Cotton ribbon.  Other:  Clear Wink of Stella.  (Thanks Liz Thayer for the original card design).

Delicate Ornaments on Your Tree - Christmas X10 - Card #6!

Card #6 from the Christmas X10 card event is a non-traditional color combination for Christmas, but oh my, it is a beauty. . .black with gold and silver shiny foil!  It utilizes one of my favorite of all time designer paper collections, WinterWonderland dsp, all in black and gold coloring with the foil element incorporated right into the papers.

I did tweak this card's design just a bit, because I wanted my card to be larger to give more room for the ornament design elements, which are good size.  Also, I wanted to pop up the sentiment instead of affixing it directly onto the card front. Therefore, I made my card a 5-1/2 inch square rather sticking with the traditional A2 card size of 4-1/4" x 5-1/2."  I also add a third layer, in-between the two layers on the original card, in the gold foil. . .I truly think this really enhanced an already beautiful card design. Again, thank you Dara Peterson & Luci Kirschbaum for this wonderful card event, but most of all, for the magnificent card designs.  You two out did yourselves for sure!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Basic Black, Gold Foil, Silver, Winter Wonderland dsp.  Stamps:  Embellished Ornaments - sentiment.  Delicate Ornaments Thinlit dies.  Gold Embossing powder.  1/8" Gold Metallic ribbon.

Jingle All the Way - Christmas X10 - Card #2

And then there was card #2 of the Christmas X10 Card Event; it certainly was not to be out done by #1 that is for sure.  I just love this little layered ornament being shown off with the Softly Falling embossing folder design.  Looky see. . .it uses the very traditional Christmas color...real red and emerald green!  I love it!

One again, I stuck pretty close to the original card's design.  The only think I change was the sentiment.  The original sported the "merry everything" sentiment from the Jingle All the Way stamp set, but I could just hear bells jingling as the sleigh slid through the newly fallen snow.  I just had to use the"jingle all the way" sentiment for sure!  Again, another crisply beautiful but simple card.  You really do need to take another peek. . .I am sure you will love it!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Real Red, Whisper White, Garden Green, Smokey Slate.  Stamps:  Jingle All the Way (2015 Holiday).  Ink: Real Red.  Dies:  Sleigh Ride Edgelits, Delicate Ornament Thinlits.  Embossing Folder: Softly Falling (2015 Holiday).  1/8" Silver Ribbon.  Silver Cording Trim (2015 Holiday).  (Thank you Dara & Luci for the wonderful card design.)

Flurry of Wishes (Totally Lovin' Christmas #5!)

This will be #4 from the Thayer Totally Lovin' Christmas cardmaking extravaganza where we actually made a total of ten delightfully lovely cards all with a Christmas theme.  

On this #4, I stuck pretty close to the original design, but I did cut down to one large snowflake on my card.  My bow just insisted on twisting a direction that made the second snowflake on the original card overlay the sentiment and hide it so you couldn't actually see all of the word Christmas.  I decided it just had to go, and I don't think it takes away from the card's finished look.  Hiding part of Christmas just disturbed me, without the extra flake Christmas is now visible. . .that makes me happy, so one snowflake is just right!

This is such a cool and refreshing card. . .just like a snowy day at Christmas time.  Take a peek, I think you'll like it!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  cardstock--Marine Mist, Whisper White.  Winter Wonderland Vellum Stack (Holiday 2015).  Stamps: Flurry of Wishes.  Ink: Marine Mist.  Punch: Snow Flurry.  Embossing Folder: Softly Falling.  Iced Rhinestones - Large/ Small (Holiday 2015).  Basic Rhinestones.  5/8" Organza Ribbon.  1/8" Silver Ribbon.  (Thank you Liz Thayer for the card design sample).

Home for Christmas (Totally Lovin' Christmas #3)!

Here is another bedazzling card design by Liz Thayer from her Totally Lovin' Christmas card event, which was held in October of this year.  All parts of the card are from products in the Stampin' Up 2015 Holiday mini catalog, if you are interested in trying to order them.

I made this card exactly as Liz designed it, except I added another layer, creating a new Real Red cardbase.  The card just seemed to call out for a little more of the red featured in the Home for Christmas designer papers and the little red ribbon.  I also added a red rhinestone on one of the little deer that was more centered on my card...just a bit more of my own flair.  Feast your eyes on this cuteness!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up:  cardstock--Real Red, Crumb Cake, Pool Party, Very Vanilla, Gold Glimmer.  Home for Christmas dsp (deer, music & red stripe).  Stamps: Endless Birthday Wishes.  SU Ink: Soft Suede.  Punch: Washi Label.  7/8" Sahara Sand lace, 1/4" Real Red Cotton ribbon.  Wood Snowflake Elements (2015 Holiday - colored with marker).  Rhinestones.  (Thank you Liz Thayer for the very cute card design).

Thank You. . .Hydrangeas...What a Lovely Gift!

While vacationing in Seaside, Oregon for my birthday at my daughter's beach house, Michele's sister-in-law brought over a lovely bouquet of the largest, darkest purple and darkest blue hydrangeas I have ever seen.  Now, if you don't know, hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers since I was a little girl, because they flourish in my hometown of Eureka, California.  These flowers just love that cool coastal weather found in both Eureka and Seaside!  I had to find a way to bring them home so that I could continue to enjoy them some more.

I wanted to thank Julie and her family by making and sending a little thank you card for remembering me with this special gift.  I thought I would share her thank you card with my blog readers.  I decided to pull out some of my older Stampin' Up products that I haven't used in a while because I just love this stamp set and this patterned dsp paper.  Julie's card is a circle-shaped card, made with the largest Spellbinder Classic Scallop and plain dies, but the rest of the card uses Stampin' Up products. 

Next is a quick peek at the card's inside.  The leaf is done with the Gently Falling stamp set, which has outline stamps and inside filler stamps.  By over-stamping, you can put the two together to look like my leaf.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up paper: Cardstocks - Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, More Mustard, Very Vanilla; Pattern dsp - Spice Cake (retired).  Stampin' Up stamps: Gently Falling (retired).  Stampin' Up Inks: Soft Suede, More Mustard.  Stampin' Up pumches - Modern Label (retired), Word Window.  Stampin' Up: Pool Party 3/8" Ruffled ribbon.  Spellbinder dies: Scallop Circle/ Plain Circle Computer-made sentiment and inside verse.  Font: Abbeyline/ Cheddar Cheese BTN (BIG).  Size: 4-1/2" diameter.

Friendship to Honor at Birthday Time!

Another of my cards to finish and deliver before my Girls' Get-a-way Cardmaking retreat is for a long-time friend, whom I met through a variety of ways.  Four events in life brought us together, and it was obvious that we were meant to meet at some time in our life!  

I first met Ilene through my husband, because she was the wife of one of my husband's co-workers, therefore, we met at several business functions.  Next, it turned out that her older son was the same age as my younger son, and they ended up on the same community baseball team, but we had already met through the work connection.  Next, I went to work as the Administrative Assistant/ Office Manager of the elementary school that her older son attended, and she was one of our wonderful student's parents and a faithful classroom volunteers, plus a diligent PTA officer and PTA volunteer.  Our fourth life event that would have brought us together was that she became a school office substitute as her children grew older, and she ended up being sent to our school to fill in for an absentee office worker.  Wouldn't you say, we were meant to meet somehow, and life presented four different opportunities!  

With all that, I wanted to send her a little birthday greeting on her special day, and here is the card that I made just for her using some wonderful Papertrey Ink dies that have been around now for several years, but never grow old.  I also borrowed the inspiration for this card from one my sister made several years ago.  Thank you, Heidi Gonzales.

Just a peak at the finished inside to see the design that coordinates with the outside, and the friendship birthday verse made just for Ilene.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products - Cardstock: Very Vanilla cs, So Saffron cs, Crisp Cantaloupe cs; Ink:  Calypso Coral, Crisp Cantaloupe, Soft Suede, Garden Green;  Stamp: And Many More (sentiment); Punch: Modern Label; Seam Binding Ribbon: Wild Wasabi.  Papertrey Ink products: Rosie Posie stamps/dies; Banner Borders (envelope flap).  MFT stamps: BG Gingham Background.

My Brother Has A Birthday!

My brother is having a milestone birthday in early, early May, and he will suddenly be two years old than not just one, as he reaches the beginning of another decade!  I am on a cardmaking spree right now trying to get all of my early May cards completed before I leave for my four-day Girls' Get-Away Cardmaking Retreat, which is my present to myself for Mother's Day.  I know it will be oodles and oodles of fun, laughter, and hilarity as those are the kinds of ladies who are going.  I predict a thoroughly marvelous time!

Back to my brother's card for his birthday.  I made a card similar to this one last spring, which was inspired by a Liz Thayer design.  My previous card sported a mustache, and while my brother has a mustache and a beard, just a mustache didn't seem like him as he has never had just a mustache.  I decided his card would be stamped just as the stamp comes with cake and candles.  My card, as in the previous version, has more paper layers than Liz's original, but I retained the collage of masculine-oriented paper patterns.  I'm sure my brother will love his card, and he will know I've been thinking about him as I was making his card and getting it ready for the mail.

The inside creation has now been completed and designed to coordinate with the outside, and I've added a humorous verse about aging that I think my brother will enjoy.

 (Card inspired by a Liz Thayer design and modified by me.)

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers:  Basic Black cs, Soft Suede cs, Very Vanilla cs, 2013-2015 Neutrals dsp stack (Chevron-Soft Suede/ Scallop-Crumb Cake), Modern Medley dsp.  SU stamp: See Ya Later.  Memento Black, SU Soft Suede (distressing).  SU Early Espresso Chevron ribbon, pearls.EK Photo Corner punch (inside). Size: 5" x 6-1/4"

A Knot of Christmas Trees!

The 2014 Holiday Stampin' Up catalog has a new set of Christmas trees to make using the Festival of Trees stamps and the new Tree Punch, but I decided to resort to an old Stampin' Up stamp set, Pennant Parade, that I had never used and its coordinating Pennant Builder punch.  I gathered various green papers that would blend with Garden Green cardstock, which would be one of my layers. 

Notice the groupings of trees with the same paper.  I like to think each paper color represents a stand of the same species of tree, like Douglas firs, Scotch Pines, etc. as we often see in the forest.  My center tree represents the one that is to go home for the Christmas holiday!  I added a little sparkle to this tree with rhinestone ornaments and a little star to perch at its tip.  Then, of course, I needed to compliment this sparkle with a layer of Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer paper.  I also added an off-center ribbon knot at the top of my card to give it more color.  I had seen this ribbon idea used at a card class given by my Stampin' Up upline, Liz Thayer.  I liked the look of it and thought I would lift the idea to use on my card.  (Thanks, Liz).  

I chose the beautiful calligraphy sentiment Merry Christmas from the Stampin' Up Greetings of the Season stamp set (retired) and stamped it with Cherry Cobbler ink.  This card is probably the closest I'll ever get to clean and simple. . .LOL. . . as I'm just not a clean and simple gal, but I loved the look of it when I was all done.

I made a complimentary inside to fit the exterior design, and I decided this one would go to my husband's sister and her husband in Kansas.  I hope they enjoy their card as much as I enjoyed making it.

 Recipe:  SU Paper - Cherry Cobbler cs, Garden Green cs, Whisper White cs, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer.  Trees - SU Papers: Wild Wasabi cs, Polka Dot Parade dsp, Twitterpated dsp, Burthday Basics dsp, SU Petals-a-Plenty Embossing Folder, SU Petite Pennant Builder punch, SU Pennant Parade stamp (retired).  SU Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso.  SU sentiment: Greetings of the Season (2012 Holiday).  SU 1” Stitched-Edge Cherry Cobbler Grosgrain Ribbon.

Bride of Franken-Owl!

Still on a roll making these cute little mini album cards.  Well, I made Mr. Franken-Owl, so why not a mate for him?  I thought I'd help out with a bride for him.  

Off I went designing a little lady Franken-Owl.  I decided she must be dressed in purple, with a pinked skirt and a bow in her hair.  Unfortunately, her creator was just as bad at finding her a matched pair of eyes, and thus, she has a mini googlie eye and a small googlie eye just like her beau! 

I pretty much followed the same theme as the first Franken-Owl, but with different papers for this little book.  I was truly liking her when I was done.  I planned this one for a cardmaking buddy, and I hope she likes her Bride of Franken-Owl as much as I heard that Franken does.  I heard they are already engaged and ready to tie the knot!

Front Cover with Bride of Franken-Owl's graveyard scene.

This is the centerfold of the feminine version of my card book.  I added a tag with a Halloween verse and Martha Stewart bat stickers.  I also added a little drill to the edge of the verse pocket, fitting for a female card!

Back cover, adding Beware by using the Sizzlits Halloween Set #2.  Dazzling Diamonds-Silver glitter adhesive also added to letters for a little bling!

Recipe:  Papers:  SU Old Olive, Daffodil Delight, Rich Razzleberry, Black, Whisper White; SU Core'dinations - Black, Basic Gray.  DCWV--Halloween & Fall (2011/ 2012), Bewitched Mat Stack; stripe/ argyle (pocket).  Core'dinations - Black Tie Glitter (bats).  White paper sack: 9" x 4-3/4" (Michaels).  SU Stamps: Best of Halloween.  Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black.  Dies: MFT--Spooky Scene (gravestones); Sizzlits--Halloween Set #2 (Beware); Sizzix TH Alterations--On the Fence; Spellbinders Labels 11 (tag).  Punches: Studio G--Mini Bat; EK Pointed Flower Border; SU Owl Builder, Bird Builder (owl wings).  Die-cuts: Martha Stewart Bat stickers.  Other:  SU-Dazzling Details/ Silver, 3/8" Dotted Grograin; Ki Memories--rhinestones; Online jpeg--Spooky Tree.  Stash: Googlie eyes--mini/ small, Black pearls (buttons)