Floating Poppy Birthday!

One thing I really need to set my mind to is building up my birthday card stash. It seems I am always missing sending a birthday or two throughout the year because I run short of time to create one. Birthdays just sneak up on me and catch me short-hand more often than not. For the next several months, not only do I need to focus on my Christmas card stash, but also get started replenishing my meager birthday card stash. 

I started browsing through my Splitcoaststamper "challenge catch-up" list to see what challenges I have yet to do since 2017, and believe me, I still have plenty to complete! I was hoping to get my creative mojo juiced and stoked. I got lots of color ideas, techniques, and design ideas from my search with a total about 20 or so challenges that I could use to influence the design outcome of this birthday card for either one of my fall birthdays or for my birthday stash. After deciding on my card design, theme, and colors, I used 14 challenges that I can claim that inspired me. My card also uses the Floating Elements technique. Take a peak below at my finished card:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up products-- Cardstock: Basic Black, Starry Night, Sweet Sorbet, Tahitian Tide, and Orchid Oasis. Window Sheets. Dies: Poppy Moments. Gems: Polished Dots. Other-- Happy Birthday Shadow die. Copic Markers (gem coloring). Chatterbox verse. Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

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.

Mitering with a Twisted Oval Christmas!

I seem to be on a short hiatus from cardmaking of late! I've been really busy with other activities at home, away from home, and with family.  As usual, I have lots of cardmaking events that have pasted me by!

One thing that has been passing me by quite regularly is getting started on my Christmas stash this year.  I have been worrying about it, and since we've seen "Christmas in July" come and go, I actually got the yen to make a card very late in July!   I had a lot of incentive from Splitcoaststampers' challenges as well, and I will be posting it there as well.

I received some new free paper through the Stampin' Up Sale-A-Bration event going on in July and August, called Silver and Gold Specialty dsp (white glossy with gold or silver foiling), and somehow it got me interested in getting at least one Christmas card in July finished.  Take a peak below at my finished card, though I have not completed the inside verse or design, which I usually post.  I'm actually realizing that Christmas cards do not usually get a peak at the inside verse, because I'm not usually mailing them at the time that I make them!

Ingredients: Papers--White Metallic Shimmer cs (Amazon), Recollections-Gold Foil, SU-Silver & Gold Specialty dsp (Jul-Aug 2022 SAB). Dies--Spellbinders-Elegant Twist Etched Ovals, Ovals-Large; SU-Into the Woods (tree/ 2018 Holiday--2019-20 AC); Reverse Confetti Cuts-Winter Words (Oct.2015). Studio 112-Metallic Gems. Wink of Stella-Gold (3 of 4 peace layers colorized). Chatterbox verse-inside. 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

Farmyard Favorites for Father's Day!

  Father's Day is coming, and the Virtual Stamp Night Mini Sneak Peek was held just a few days ago.  The first one wants your card theme to be farm animals...like in Old MacDonald's farm.  I'm thinking someway I will build a Father's Day card out of this challenge.

My son-in-law is such a good Dad!  His daughter, and my middle granddaughter, was three this past March.  From the time she was three months old, he has taken her to oodles of animal places and events...zoos, summer fairs, petting zoos, etc. You name it, if it's within 50-miles of their location (even on vacation), he will find an animal place to take Sienna.  As a result, she just loves animals, has no fear, and you can see why. Her first favorite was a cow, and one of her first words was moo-moo! 

I'm a lover of "simple" vintage cards (those without too much frou-frou), and for some reason, I've not made many vintage cards in the last few years. I went to my stash, because I remember a vintage cow image that I almost made into a card a few years ago.  I had to scrap the idea at the last minute, because I forgot to take the image and any papers with me to a retreat where I planned to make the card! I had even mounted it on homemade script paper that I made prior to leaving that talks about medieval farming as I needed a computer and printer to do so. Using it now, was just a matter of deciding the layout, design, and papers!  I actually copied my design layout that I used on the replacement card. Take a peek at my finished card below with its vintage slant!

(NOTE: The ribbon peeking out the right side is attached to the gift card holder.  It's a blue ribbon seal for a First Place Dad!)

Ingredients: Stampin' Up: Cardstocks--Early Espresso, Poppy Parade, And Very Vanilla. Patterned DSP--2012-2013 DSP Stack--Wild Wasabi Stripe. Inks--Soft Suede, More Mustard, Chocolate Chip.  Other: Patterned Paper--Medieval English Farming Script (homemade/ink distressed). Vintage Farmyard print (stash). Gems--Robin's Nest DewDrops-Golden. Technique--Short Front Flap Card. Chatterbox computer verse. 4-3/4" x 6."

Little Lamb is Coming for Easter!

Easter is coming, and its time to get busy to allow for mailing.  I checked my "Need to Finish...TO DO Stash" to see if any Easter cards lurked that needed finishing.  I found a lamb image already colored and some paper pieces for possible finishing, but I wanted my card a bit bigger than the original card, so I decided to remodel the original design by Liz Thayer.

I kept the cardbase and first layer the same colors but changed the card face from a vanilla to a very soft yellow that I found in my 12x12-inch paper stash.  It was probably one I picked up from either Joanns or Michaels years ago.  There was a little Mint Macaron banner pre-cut, but I decided I wanted it longer.  I wanted to add some ribbon, and found a pretty Offray pink with white dots sheer ribbon that I thought would go nicely.

Take a look below at the finished card inside and out.  That little lamb is just darn cute!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up:  Cardstock--Blushing Bride, Mint Macaron, Crumb Cake. Stamp--Easter Lamb for Baby (2016 Occasions).  Dies--Layering Ovals. Ink--Early Espresso, Cajun Craze, Memento Tuxedo Black. Banner Triple punch. Enamel Dot--It's My Party. Other--Soft Yellow Cardstock (stash, Dot paper (stash), Copic markers, Sergeant Colored Pencils, Offray pink-dot sheer ribbon, Uniball Signo White gel pen.

January Celebrations...Just A Little Bit Late!

I missed a few birthdays in January and here I am playing catch-up!  I think that word, "catch-up" might be imprinted on my DNA!  I'm still finding myself in the mood to search out oldies to use from my stash.  I've decided if I don't think I'm ever going to reuse it (or even use it for the first time), it might be time to send it on to some other pasture, however that old saying goes!  I found an old 2008 wood stamp set a friend gave me.  Since I really don't like wood stamps, it was time to unmount it if I'm going to keep it and use it an even better idea!  I thought I'd give it a go and see how it might fit my card.  Then, I found the 2013 SAB Feeling Sentimental stamp set...I love the penny-farthing bicycle, I and have used it, but not the sentiment "Celebrate," which could be used for this birthday card.  Before letting my creative mojo get ramped up to far, I needed to take a look at my Splitcoaststampers Challenge List to add those guidelines into my thoughts.

With my two stamps in mind, I was able to find 11 SCS challenges that I could use if I designed my card just right!  Take a look at my finished card inside and out after letting all my notes percolate.  I'm hoping the recipient likes her card when it finally arrives!

Ingredients: SU Cardstock--Early Espresso, Pool Party, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla. Patterned DSP--stash scraps. SU Ink--Soft Suede. SU stamps--Eastern Blooms (2008 Fall-Winter), Feeling Sentiment (2013 SAB-sentiment). SU punch--3/4" circle. Lace--stash. Copic marker (pearl coloring). Colorbox Ink--Dark Brown (edge distressing). Chatterbox verse (computer). Size--4-3/4" x 6".

So Sweet Thank You!

 My Mom has been my go-to-person for getting my stamps, dies, and "must have" Stampin' Up items since I resigned as a Stampin' Up demonstrator back in August.  If they would just stop inventing new stuff that I just can't live without, it would help.  I wanted to send her a little thank you card just to let her know how much I appreciate all her work...I do know what a big job it is to get things entered and on order in a timely manner in order to take advantage of sales that pop up every now and then!

I decided to check out my “To Dos” stash and finish a card I started back in early 2016.  This little chick was an SAB freebie, and I started coloring her when I was away from home, and didn't have my Copic markers with me.  I was not super happy with how she turned out.  I don't find I'm very skillful using water-base markers in getting any blending or shading.  I did try to go back and "fix her up" with my Copic markers later, but I'm not sure I improved upon her at all!  I did add a little ground shading so she was not floating in the air!

  
Originally, I was trying out a honeycomb paper balloon embellishment, but I found they don't store well and are flimsy and pull apart easily, so I tore off the honeycomb and added a glitter balloon made from a Duck Tape Rainbow Glitter roll that I bought about three years ago, but never opened the package to try it out.  It really is quite pretty and I think it works quite well with my color scheme.

I shipped off a check to pay Mom for my order along with this little So Sweet thank you card.  I think Mom will enjoy the thoughtfulness even if it was just a quick and speedy card!  Take a peek below at my inside and outside finished card for Mom!

Ingredients:  Ingredients: SU Products: Cardstock--Basic Black, Basic White. DSP: Perfectly Artistic (2016 SAB) Stamps: Honeycomb Happiness (2016 SAB). Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black. Punch: 1-1/2" Circle. Stamp-Write Markers: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie. Copic Markers. Ribbon: stash. Inside: Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride. Scalloped Scallops punch.  Other: Savvy Dies: Thank You Cursive. Duck Tape: Rainbow Glitter. Size-4-3/4" x 6".

A Little Paris for Your Birthday!

My oldest daughter's birthday is coming up next week.  Her sister is hosting an early, social-distancing, birthday party in her gigantic backyard this Sunday.  It is a potluck...bring your own masks, gloves, wipes, hand cleaner, side dish, beverages, and lawn chairs.  That way we are not touching an ice chest or chair that belongs to someone outside our own household. 

  

I needed to have her birthday card finished early for this week-end celebration.  I had several things going on in my head.  I just signed up for Stampin' Up's Paper Pumpkin after avoiding it since its inception.  I am not one to make cards from pre-set kits, but I have seen several this last year that I really wished I'd been able to get, plus I bought a kit from the catalog and tried it out and found I could use the kit parts to make other cards not exactly like the pre-designed cards.  I also got the free kit during the annual 2020 Sale-A-Bration (SAB) back in December (a perk as a "hobby demonstrator," and I had yet to open it to even make sure all the parts were there!  

My first Paper Pumpkin kit, A Box of Sunshine, arrived a few days ago, and I was going to try it out by making my own design from part of its paper and embellishments.  But, my daughter loves turquoise/ aqua colors, and there was no aqua to be found in this new kit!  I really wanted to go with her favorite color, which is when I remembered that SAB Kerchief Card Kit had the perfect color in one of its flower kerchief papers.  Needless to say, I immediately switched gears.

One day in early March, when we were first housebound with "social distancing," I did a Pinterest search for ideas to use with the Kerchief kit.  I fell in love with a card by Krystal Roberts that used the Eiffel Tower die from the new SU Mini Catalog and saved it to my Board.  I particularly remembered it, because a few years ago on a Las Vegas vacation with this daughter, our hotel window had a close-up view of the Paris Casino Eiffel Tower without any impediments...what a gorgeous site to see each night with its colorful lights changing every half hour!  To commemorate that fun trip, I purposefully revisited Kyrstal's Kerchief card yesterday.  I was still in love with it and my commemorative idea, so I decided to plan my card using the Eiffel Tower die as she did.

I did do some changes, but because of using the patterned paper, dotted vellum, and prepared flower die-cuts in the Kerchief Kit, it still bound to resembles\ her card a lot, thus I give her credit and thank her, hoping it is okay to CASE her card if I give her credit!  

For my card, I cut the flower-patterned front off the aqua linen pre-folded cardbase provided in the kit.  I added a larger Night of Navy card base and a gold foil mat layer under the flower-patterned card front, which enlarged my card much more to my liking.  I did not use the kit's pre-cut oval, the two-tone green leaves, or the burlap twine.  I die-cut my own Night of Navy label, using the Stitched So Sweetly label die and my own Pear Pizzazz leaves, using an old Sizzix Leaf Branch Sizzlet.  I did used the kit's gold foil leaves and mini flowers.  I lightly ink distressed my flower-patterned layer and the rose die-cut with navy ink.  I added a gold embossed, stitched flag sentiment as well.  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out.  The inside verse is my own Chatterbox verse.

INSIDE "UNDER CONTRUCTION"

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Pear Pizzazz, Gold Foil, Kerchief Card Kit papers/flowers/leaves; Stamps--Birthday Banners (modified sentiment); Dies--Parisian dies (Eiffel Tower), Stitched So Sweetly (navy label).  Other:  Dies--MFT Basic Stitch Lines (sentiment flag).  Sizzix Sizzlit--Leaf Branch.  EK punch: Victorian Corners.  ColorBox Cat Eye--Navy (ink distressing).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".  

Essence of Love Is Kindness!

This is a continuation of the Splitcoaststampers' Virtual Stamp Night Mini Challenges.  The second challenge was issued last Friday night at 6:00 p.m., ET and is entitled:  Don't Stand So Close!  Sound familiar?  Our hostess is doing a sketch challenge with a take-off from our COVID-19 social distancing and a song by The Police...Don't Stand So Close to Me!   This challenge requires that we use the sketch provided and incorporate 4 corners on our center panel all of the same shape...all circles, all stars, etc., which depict keeping our distance from one another.  

My 4 shapes are the sparkly circular beads on each of my corners.  I dressed up my sketch interpretation by adding a few more layers below the centered rectangle. . . 3 base layers:  vanilla cardbase, black mat, and newsprint mat, plus 3 layers for my centered rectangle:  Calypso Coral, black, and vanilla.  This card was saved and given to my wonderful Mom for her birthday.  See her finished card below:

This is the little birthday verse I cooked up to place inside:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Basic Black, Caylpso Coral, Very Vanilla.  Patterned dsp--Typeset Specialty (2015-16 Annual/ retired).  Stamps--Love is Kindness (2015 Occasions/ retired).  Ribbon--1/2" Seam Binding--Calypso Coral.  Other: Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black; Colorbox--Charcoal (edge ink distressing).  Wink of Stella, Clear.  Copic Markers (tulips).  Jolee's All That Bling--Black Circle Bling Gems.  Size A6:  4-1/2" x 6-1/4".

Pines at Christmas!

This card came together with a multitude of Stampin' Up products from lots of different catalogs and years, starting way back in 2012!  I have always loved the old Evergreen tree stamps and really wanted to find a way to use it again.  After deciding on my basic layout and to using the Ornamental Pine stamp as may oval's background, I had to find a way to make the tree stand out.  Gold embossing seemed just right and allowed other elements of gold to be added...a gold foil layer and oval frame, plus the gold metallic stamped sentiment.  Take a peek below at the finished card and simple inside card design to coordinate.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Mossy Meadow (2014-16 In Color), Whisper White, Gold Foil.  Patterned dsp--All is Calm Speciality (2014 Holiday).  Stamps--Bright & Beautiful (sentiment), Ornamental Pine,  Evergreen (gold embossed tree/ 2012 Holiday).  Dies--Layering Ovals.  Ink--Mossy Meadow; Encore--Gold Metallic Ink; Versamark.  Embossing Folder--Tiny Triangles.  Embossing Powder--Gold.  Other:  Recollections--Mini Snowflake.  Ribbon--1/4" vanilla sheer.  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

A Beautiful Frosty Non-Traditional Colored Card!

My daughter-in-law loves purple.  Deciding which Christmas card to give her and my son was not a difficult choice that's for sure.  I made some Christmas card at a September 2019 card class, and this design by Luci Kirschbaum was one of the cards we could make.  The Feels Like Frost dsp patterns are so pretty and just stand alone without almost any embellishments or add-ons needed.

I loved Luci's design so much I decided to keep it pretty much as she presented, but I did add a Purple Posy mat layer and increased the size of the white card base to accommodate that addition.  This card was made by stamping the white card front with the snowflake grouping in the Frosted Foliage stamp set with the Purple Posy ink.  A 1-3/4" vertical panel of the Feels Like Frost dsp was adhered about 3/8" from the left side.  The sentiment was stamped with Basic Gray ink and die-cut with the ticket stub corner stitched die.  Snowflakes were added to the corners with Purple Posy ink.  The Purple Posy mat layer was added and Purple Posy die-cut snowflakes using the Snowfall Thinlit dies from the November 2019 Showcase Snowflake Promotional stamp and die sets. 

Take a peek at my finished card with my coordinated inside design and Christmas verse:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Purple Posy (2019-2021 In-Color).  Patterned dsp--Feels Like Frost (2019 Holiday).  Stamps--Frosted Foliage (2019 Holiday).  Dies--Frosted Frames (2019 Holiday); Snowfall Thinlits (November 2019 Snowflake Showcase Promotion).  Ink--Purple Posy (snowflake card front); Basic Gray (focal sentiment).  Rhinestones.  Other:  Recollections punch--Mini Snowflake.  WRMK Corner Chomper--Stub/Deco (style used--Stub).  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).

Love You Much Valentine!

I finished a half-made Valentine card that I started several years ago when I thought I was going to need a quick card for a short notice invitation, but it turned out to be a false alarm.  It has been residing in my "To Do" Stash ever since.  I needed two cards for my cardmaking buddies, and further motivation came from seeing some Splitcoaststamper Challenges I wanted to enter as well!

After seeing the  Splitcoaststampers' Dirty Dozen February Monthly Themes MORE is MORE challenge, I thought this would be the perfect card to finish and then do a more elaborate version to meet the challenge requirements, which requires a simple card be modified and elaborated upon to make a more complex version.  I will also use it to start the new Alphabet Challenge Round 9. . .pre-alphabet card, which is to make a Valentine card.  I am making two of the stepped up version #2 for my two cardmaking buddies.

My first and simple version is the card front with several mat layers and a cardbase.  My second, and more elaborate version sports an embossed heart and places the card front and two matted layers on a Basket Weave Edged card base.  Take a look below at Version #1 and Version #2.  Version #2 also has a finished inside with a created verse.

Version #1

Version #2

Version #2 with completed inside

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Coastal Cabana, Melon Mambo, Very Vanilla.  Washi Tape--Retro Fresh (2014-15 Annual/ retired).  Stamp--Best of Love (2013 Anniversary celebration Best of... stamps).  Ink--Melon Mambo.  Embossing Folder: Perfect Polka Dots (retired). Punchs:  Full-Heart (retired); Boho Blossoms (smallest blossom- retired); What's Up? (arrow-retired).  Essentials Punch Pack (heart piercing).  Rhinestones.  Stash: crochet ribbon.  Punch: EK Medium Scallop Photo Corner.  Technique: Basket Weave edge (aka Braided Edge; aka Lattice Edge). Chatterbox verse.  Size: 5: x 5-1/2".  

Flowers for Daughter's Birthday

OH SO JOYFUL!  THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - JULY 2, 2017!!

My daughter, Michele, is having a birthday at the end of this month.  I wanted to make her a special birthday card, and two challenges on SplitcoastStampers (SCS) gave me some ideas on which to focus.  The Ways to Use It challenge asked that you use strips of paper to create your card, the Inspiration Challenge asked that you make a card using patterned paper, and the Alphabet--Round 7-Red challenge asked that you use a splash of RED.  When checking out ideas presented for the Ways to Use It challenge, I was inspired to use the Herringbone Technique, because I felt it fit the Inspiration Challenge perfectly as well.  I decided to create the background of Michele's card using this technique.

Getting into my creative mojo mode, I pictured the Herringbone pattern being very striking in black and white patterned papers.  Then, I wanted to use flowers in some way, and settled on SU's Botanical Blooms stamps/ Botanical Builder dies.  I thought a vivid contrasting red would be very effective.  Then, I had to find a transition between the herringbone pattern and the red flowers, and the red, black, and white die cuts were born, thus fulfilling the need to use red as well.

I assembled my herringbone bone pattern first, adhering it to a piece of black cardstock cut 5" x 6" because I knew this could be cut to fit the front of my white cardbase, which would be 4-3/4" x 6" finished.  I chose the red pattern for the base die-cut in a simple patterned paper as I needed something calming after the busyness of the herringbone, and finished it by distressing the edges with white craft ink.  I chose to repeat one of my blackish background patterns and white for my two circle die cuts.  I layered them onto my cardbase, and thought spritzing them with my Bath & Body Works Magic in the Air Diamond Shimmer Mist would make them very pretty and sparkly.  I also decided I needed to pop-up my red die-cut upon which the circle die-cuts and flowers would rest.  Assembly complete and I was very pleased with the result, and I think Michele will love it!  Take a peek below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstocks:  Whisper White, Real Red, Cucumber Crush, Basic Black.  Patterned papers:  Crate Paper-Paper Heart/ Delicate 2 (red); Bazzill Basics-Licorice; My Mind's Eye: Everyday Basics; DCWV: Jet Black Stack.  Stamps: SU-Botantical Blooms (leaf pattern); Stampendous-Birthday Wishes (sentiment).  Ink: SU-Wild Wasabi, White Craft; Memento-Tuxedo. Black.  Dies:  SU-Botanical Builder Framelits (flowers, leaves), Top Note (retired); Cottage Cutz-Pierced Circles, Double-Stitched Circles; MFT-Photo Corners (inside).  Bath & Body Works: Magic in the Air Diamond Shimmer Mist.  Computer verse. Size:  4-3/4" x 6".