Celebrating Father's Day Late!

WHAT A PLEASURE!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - JULY 23, 2017!!

My husband was away on Father's Day, so the children decided they would just wait and celebrate him belatedly.  I went to a card class while he was away, and I decided right then and there that one of the design ideas available to created would be perfect for hubby.  It reminded me of a family reunion vacation that hubby and I took, where most of his brothers, sisters, and their spouses were there.  We all pooled together and rented a beautiful three-story home on the Outer Banks of North Carolina right on the ocean...lovely, lovely.  Take a peek below...my husband will loved his card.

While making my card, our hostess ran out of the ombre-shaded paper from Stampin' Up's Color Theory dsp stack, so I thought sponging would do the trick just as well using Dapper Denim ink.  One other pattern in the same paper stack was used as the ocean waves by applying the torn paper technique.  The darker blue part of the paper was also in short supply, but when we checked the opposite side we felt this side would work just as well.  Personally, I like it better than the original suggestion.  I wanted my card to be a Father's Day card, so I took my card home and applied my own sentiment.  Such a fun card to make.  Thanks Dar Peterson for the design idea to CASE.

Ingredients:  Stamp;in' Up products:  Cardstocks--Whisper White, Dapper Denim, Crumb Cake;  Pattern dsp: Color Theory DSP Stack; Stamps--High Tide(birds, sand), Colorful Seasons (Adirondack chair), Delightful Dozen (sentiment - retired); Inks--Dapper Denim (ombre sponged sky), Crumb Cake, Soft Suede (distressing chair), Always Artichoke (grass).  Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".

Belated Birthday Wishes for a Girl Friend!

My oldest son's girl friend has a birthday in early November, which I just found out the actual date.  Hmm....could this possibly mean I'm late?  So, into my card stash I went hoping to find one completed that might be turned into a belated birthday card, and I found a little gem that I thought would work (see my story and assembly instructions at the bottom).  Take a peek below at my finished card.  I think Katrina will like her birthday card even though it will be much belated!

 Ingredients:   Stampin' Up products: Stamp--Bloomin' Marvelous (2013 SAB).  Cardstocks--Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip, Primrose Petals-inside (ret.).  Ink--Primrose Petals, Always Artichoke, Soft Suede-distressing.  Embossing Folder--Lacy Brocade (ret.).  Punches--Modern Label, Word Window (ret.).   Ribbon--3/8" Primrose Petals Stitched Satin (ret.).  Pearls.  Martha Stewart punch: 3-in-1 Butterflies.  Computer sentiment/ verse.  Size: 5-1/4" square.

My Card Story and Assembly Instructions

I started this card at a Stampin' Up card event hosted by Liz Thayer in early 2013.  When I looked at the kit picture, I knew it would be perfect!  This card was the last of two cards that were to made with the same design, and though this second card was not complete, it was doable in my short timeline.  (I thank Liz Thayer for the original card design used as a jumping off point for my card.)

As I favor cards that are larger than the standard A2 size (4-1/2" x 5-1/2"), I decided to enlarge my card parts before I assembled the card.  I also decided to change its orientation from a top-fold landscape card to a side-fold portrait card and to make my cardbase a 5-1/4" square with five layers.  I proceeded to make each card layer larger than the original design to fit my new and larger square cardbase.  Another decision was to add a Chocolate Chip brown mat layer between the vanilla cardbase and the vanilla embossed layer, sizing them as follows:  vanilla cardbase = 5-1/4" square; Chocolate Chip mat = 5" square, and vanilla embossed layer = 4-3/4" square.  I planned to "picture framed" the top two layers, and their sizes are as follows:  Chocolate Chip bottom mat = 4-1/4" square and top vanilla layer = 4" square.

After cutting my papers to size, I embossed the 4-3/4" vanilla layer with the Lacy Brocade folder and my Big Shot.  I heavily sponged and distressed its top embossed surface of with Soft Suede ink, followed by distressing and sponging the edges of all card layers, including the edges of the cardbase front.  The 4" top vanilla layer is also sponged on its surface around the edges, leaving the center unsponged (see picture).  Now, I was ready to adhere the bottom three layers in this order:  5" square Chocolate Chip mat adhered to vanilla cardbase; 4-3/4" embossed layer adhered to Chocolate Chip mat.  Set aside.

My top 4" vanilla layer will host three popped, fussy-cut flowers instead of two, as I think combinations of odd numbers are more pleasing to the eye than even numbers.  I also decided the flower placement would be more top-centered because of the change in the card orientation and its square dimension.  My next step was to stamp my leaves onto my top vanilla layer (see picture for placement), After stamping, I adhered my top two card front layers together: the 4" vanilla and the 4-1/4" Chocolate Chip.

Onto a scrap of vanilla cardstock, I stamped seven Bloomin' Marvelous flowers with Primrose Petals ink, fussy-cut each, and topped each with a pearl.  I will use three flowers on the card front and four inside as verse embellishments.  Before finishing the layout and assembly of the flowers onto the card face, I needed to decide on the placement of the ribbon knot.  With my finished design in mind, I decided the knot should be toward the left side, allowing space for my sentiment, which would be popped up toward the right side just below the flowers and above the ribbon.  I adhered the ribbon to the top two card front layers, which allows the ribbon's raw ends to be "buried" behind the brown mat so they are hidden underneath.  Now, it was time to pop this layer onto my three adhered bottom layers that I had set aside in paragraph three of my "story" above.  Now that all layers are completely adhered together, I can finish the card face, adding all the remaining elements to its top surface.  I arranged the fussy-cut flowers in a threesome and popped them up around the already stamped leaves.

For additional interest, I decided to add tiny layered butterflies.  On a piece of scrap vanilla, I stamped various designs, using various patterned flowers and butterfly stamps in my stash with Primrose Petals (ret.) and Always Artichoke ink.  I allowed the ink to dry, and then punched out six tiny butterflies from these stamped patterns.  I made three sets of two-layered butterflies, using alternate colors and patterns.  I adhered them together down their narrow centers only, leaving their wings free, and added two tiny seed pearls down this center for their bodies (see picture above).  These butterflies were popped up around the flowers, allowing room for my popped sentiment, which I would add after I printed it from my computer and Chocolate Chip matted layer punched with Stampin' Up's Modern Labels punch (retired).

My final step was to create an interior design that complimented the card front, and to create a sentiment and verse using my computer that were suitable for the occasion at hand.

Fun Birthday Splatters For A Niece!

One of my sister's girls has a birthday in my birthday month of August.  I thought I would like to try out the Splatter Technique that I was briefly introduced to just about a year ago in late August at a cardmaking/ teaching class given by the Stampin' Up duo. . .Dara Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum.  This first try was on a Christmas card, and it seemed a simple enough technique and quite effective so I thought I would try it again.  Take a look at my niece's finished card, which I cased using a card design by Darla Watson, a California Stampin' Up demonstrator that I visited during my trip south this past spring. 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Bermuda Bay, Whisper White.  Sponging Ink--Pear Pizzazz, Bermuda Bay.  Stamp--Sassy Salutations (retired).  Stamp Ink: Old Olive.  Sequins--Metallics.  Splattering: Bermuda Bay Ink.  White Emobssing Powder.  Papertrey Ink stamp--Inside & Out: Birthday I.  Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".  (Thanks Darla Watson for your lovely original design).

The Story & Tidbits

Darla's card that I chose to case was definitely a clean and simple style, of which I am not generally a fan, but this particular card used one of my favorite color combination: teal and pear green; thus, it really caught my eye.  The original card had a less splatters on the front, as it was achieved by stamping the splatters with Stampin' Up's Gorgeous Grunge stamp set.  For me, it didn't have enough splatters, thus the idea came to mind to use the Splatter Technique that I had learned and used that one time.  It achieves a similar look to spritzing as well, but I find it much more controllable and your splatters do not end up as large, which is what I wanted in this case. 

First, I heat-embossed my sentiment with white embossing ink.  Next, I sponged my ink colors onto the front area as shown on the card.  I sponged until I achieved the color depth I desired.  The final step is to add your splatters either by stamping with an appropriate stamp, such as Stampin' Up's Gorgeous Grunge, or by using the Splatter Technique, which I describe below.

The Splatter Technique is achieved by using a water brush, (in Stampin' Up lingo, it's called an Aqua Painter), which has its hollow barrel filled with water, stamping ink, and the flicking motion.  For your color, you can use a bottle of stamp re-inker by dropping a few droplets onto the inside lid of its matching stamp ink pad, or by squishing your stamping ink onto its box lid, or dropping your ink onto a large acrylic stamping block (because it cleans up easily).  There are other ideas out there as well.  For the flicking motion: gently squeeze the water brush barrel to load your brush tip with water, dip the wet water brush into the re-inker drops, lay the barrel of the water brush across your pointer finger about one inch below its bristles, and finally, flick (or snap) the brush barrel below the bristles with your other hand.  Reload your brush with water as needed and with ink, and repeat the flicking motion until you get enough splatters to suit.  The distance the brush is away from your paper will change the splatter effect.  So, practice with it, achieve the color intensity desired, you feel comfortable with the flicking motion, and you achieve the look you like.  

If you do not have a water brush, you can also use a regular paint brush (like one that comes in a children's paint set),  dip and wet its brush well into a small container of water and then into your ink drops and flick.  For the most intense color, you can use a regular paint brush, dampening it just to moisten, wipe off excess water on a paper towel, and dip directly into your ink drops and flick.  You can also mix your ink color and water prior to flicking.  The formula I was told to use for this method was approximately one tablespoon of water to one to three drops of re-inker, depending on how dark you want your ink splatters to be.

As you can see, there are a variety of Splatter Techniques and even more than I have mentioned.  Check it out on Pinterest or YouTube videos. . .enjoy Splattering!!!

A Special Card for Mom's Birthday!

As is true every year. . .I always want to make an extra special card just for Mom for her birthday.  It needs to be something pretty and feminine that she will love.  My gosh, it is difficult to believe, but Mom will be 91 this year!  I just returned from a long and wonderful visit during May and the first half of June, and I am happy to say that she is just as spry as she has always been.  She always was able to walk my legs off on any mall shopping trip.  

For her card, my creative juice have been fermenting for quite some time while I was busy making other cards.  I had definitely decided that somehow I was going to use flowers on her card by using my new Stampin' Up Botanical Builder framelits that I had purchased in the early spring and somehow had never gotten around to using them!  Shame on me!  Take a look at my finished card that I finally decided upon, as well as the finished inside to coordinate with my outside creative design.

Ingredients:  Bazzill Platinum Frost Vellum.  DCWV: Watercolors Stack.  Darice Glitter Silk: Opulent Opal (glitter paper).  SU products:  Pretty in Pink cardstock, Gold Foil, Pretty in Pink Ink, Botanical Builder framelits.  Digital image by 2 Cute Ink: Pretty Ostrich.  Copic Marker coloring.  MFT dies: Zigzag Stitched Ovals.  Spellbinder dies: Big Scallop Ovals SM (largest).  EK punch: Arrows.  Wink of Stella: Gold.  Technique: Cloud Sponging.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

The Story + Tidbits

Not only did I know I wanted to add flowers made with my Botanical Gardens thinlits, I also wanted to use a flamingo, which seems to be all the rage right now.  I found this darling flamingo paper in a DCWV stack called Watercolors.  It was shade in the ombre style in a light pink-violet shading into almost white at the bottom.  It was really just was I was looking for except I was looking for more of a real pink shade without the violet tinge.  My solution was to choose the perfect pink for my cardbase, which turned out to be Pretty in Pink (a retired Stampin' Up color).  I then sponged the flamingo paper with the Pretty in Pink stamp pad ink until I got the depth of color I desired.

In my mind's eye I had light pink vellum mixed with Pretty in Pink shaded petals and gold foil for the leaves and flower centers to match the gold foil flamingos.  I had some really pretty frosted platinum white vellum that looked pearlescent.  I sponged the back and the front of the flower petals with the Pretty in Pink stamp ink, which doesn't really show up in the picture.  Next, I chose Pirouette Pink cardstock for the base of the flowers and shaded them with the Pretty in Pink ink as well so it had different shadings of light and darker rather than a flat color by just using the color of the cardstock.  It made for a prettier more realistic flower, though I don't think the picture does it justice.

I colored my 2 Cute Ink digi image with Copic Markers to match my cardstock and patterned paper colors, choosing a darker shade for the head flower and body flowers on the little flamingo.  I also used Wink of Stella: Gold on the digi images flower centers.  Except for the larger head flower, I'm not sure this gold glittery effects shows up elsewhere.  Next came the background behind my flamingo digi.  I didn't think just a brushed light blue with my Copic markers would really look that good and I thought it needed clouds.  So, I used the cardstock template idea made with a scalloped die to get the look you see on the card picture.  I had seen several YouTube videos showing this technique, but never tried it myself.  I think it turned out okay, but feel I still need a bit more practice to feel totally comfortable.

Sadly, A Sympathy Card is Needed!

While I've been away from home, it seems all kinds of unforeseen things have happened.  It is strange how just a month of time can change a whole lifetime.   While I've been gone, my oldest son's girl friend's father was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer and within three weeks has already passed away.  Our family knows from several family experiences that this is a fast-moving, almost impossible to cure, or put into remission, cancer.  In most cases, such as this gentleman, it is a silent killer, usually quite advanced before you even know you are sick.  We were fortunate to have met and shared some time with my son's girl friend's father, and we grieve with her in her loss.

I wanted to send a card to her from my husband and myself to let her know that we are both keeping her and her father in our thoughts and prayers.  We hope and pray that her painful grief can be short-lived to allow her peace and thus the ability to remember her father in peace, cherishing her lifetime of loving and happy memories.  For her card, I cased a Liz Thayer original from a card class that I took with her just a few short weeks before I traveled south for my visit.  I changed the original card up a bit with a partial switch of front colors and added another color layer by using a new cardbase.  I substituted a new layered sentiment so that my card became a sympathy card, rather than a "hello" card.  I like the original card, but I really love the way the changes allows my card to present as a lovely sympathy card.

My finishing touch is always to create my own card interior to compliment the exterior design and make up or choose an appropriate verse suited to the occasion.  I have used the verse that I chose before, but wanted to use it again because I really love the way that it shares exactly what I hope for any person who has lost someone near and dear to them.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstocks--Very Vanilla, Smokey Slate, Pool Party.  Ink--Crumb Cake, Pool Party.  Dies:  Botanical Builder Framelits.  Embossing Folder: Boho Chic.  Punch:  Curvy Corners (retired/ inside); Sentiment underlay:  Blossom punch modified (retired).  Lace--Very Vanilla 1/2" Lace Trim.  3/8" Metallic Pool Party Ribbon (2016 Occasions retired).  Basic Pearls (inside pearls Copic colored).  Sentiment/ Verse: computer made.  Size:  4-1/2" x 5-3/4".

A Big Thank You Needed!

I received the most lovely pair of diamond hoop earrings from one of my daughters for Mother's Day, because I had so been admiring these same earrings on her ears every time she wore them for the past three months.  She said I made it easy for her to decide what to give me for my special day.  In addition, she left this lovely gift here in California while visiting her Grandma, because she knew I would be coming to California to celebrate my Mom on Mother's Day, and I would be away from home.  I wanted to thank her by sending her a handmade thank you card for all her many kindness she has given me this Mother's Day as well as for a good many years in the past!

I completed my first masked watercolor, bokeh background card at a stamping event given by my Stampin' Up upline, Liz Thayer back in February.  I absolutely loved the bokeh effect with the rich shades of  watercoloring, and stamping with as well.  I knew I would be saving it for a very special person, and it was perfect in every way to add a little thanks inside to finish it off just for my daughter.  Take a peek below at my finished card inside and out:

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock & Inks--Rich Razzleberry, Coastal Cabana, Pear Pizzazz; Pistachio Pudding (inside).  Stamps--Kinda Eclectic (front); Sunburst Sayings (inside).  Punches--Elegant Butterfly, Bitty Butterfly, 1" Circle; Curvy Corner (inside).  Die--Wonderful Wings (inside/ retired).  Pearls.  Ribbon--1/4" Cotton-Coastal Cabana.  Techniques: Watercolor background; Bokeh background.

More Celebrations in My Brother's Household

My sister-in-law, Diane, celebrates her birthday in May, and I definitely needed to send her a card to let her know I am thinking about her and sending her happy wishes.  She has been under the weather a bit as well, so I wanted to be sure to get her birthday card off in time.  With my short timeline due to vacationing to visit my Mom in California, I chose to use a birthday card that I made in a January card class.  I loved this design just as it was presented, so I re-created my card just as shown in Liz Thayer's original design.

I just love balloon cards for birthdays, and I especially liked the glitter effect added to each of the tri-colored balloons.  It gave them a sensational look with the sentiment nestled amongst these balloons and featured center-front.  The two-layer die-cut shapes in black and white really set off the sentiment and made it pop!  Take a look below at my finished card:

Featured below is my completed card interior.  I chose to create a design using colors that coordinated with the card's front, and I also made up a little verse to fit the birthday occasion.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstocks:  Basic Black Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Marine Mist.  Stamp--Birthday Celebration.  Ink--Basic Blake, Wisteria Wonder, Pink Pirouette, Marine Mist.  Punches--Baloon Bouquet, Curvy Corner, Petite Petals, Itty Bitty Accent/ Flower. Die--Lots of Labels Framelits.  Pearls.  Stash: Pink Rhinestone Flowers (inside).  Size:  4-1/4" x 5-1/2". 

The Force is With Him on His Birthday!

Happy Days!  This card was chosen as a

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF

 WEEK ENDING - MARCH 13, 2016

My oldest (son) has a March birthday, so it was time to put on my thinking cap to come up with the perfect card for this year's celebration.  As you know if you've read my blog a bit, I like to make cards that suit each person's personality, hobbies, favorite things to do, etc.  Over the last seven years, I have made him a Space Invaders card, a computer geek card, a movie mania  card, a Game On t-shirt card, a game controller card, and last year depicting one of his favorite foods. . . a pizza card.  What to do this year????

While browsing in Pinterest and on different blogs, I found a challenge blog where one of the cards had a Star Wars theme, using a Star War's character digital image from the challenge sponsor: Sassy Studio Designs.  Stars Wars...OMGosh, one of David's all-time favorite movies!  Like a magnet I was drawn to go to the Sassy Studio Design website, and lo and behold, their new monthly issue of digital images was based all around the Star Wars characters, from R2D2, to Chewy, to Yoda, to Princess Leia, and more. . .just waiting for me to bring them home . . .and home, I did bring!

My choice for my son's card was Yoda, so the search was on to learn Yoda's authentic color shades, which seemed to vary quite alot from gray green to green with tans, etc.  Even with these variations, finding Copic markers along the right hues was a bit of a challenge, because though I have over 300 marker colors, none were exactly along the right greenish to tan color lines that are depicted as Yoda's colors.  I had to select a variety of different shades and combine them to try to come out with the right greenish-tan for his face and hands.  For his robe, I decided it would be a bit more colorful than his regular robe for two reasons:  primarily, I didn't want my card to be totally drab, and I decided he would be dressed up in his best robe for a special occasion. . .David's birthday!  (Whatever works. . .right!)

After I got him all colored, then I went in search of the right cardstock colors and patterns to use for my card.  When I saw the black with gold star patterned paper, I knew I was on the right track.  I wanted some glittery stars, but decided to keep them subdue by using the Stampin' Up retired Brushed Gold for the stars, my planet, and the middle layer between the card front pattern and the cardbase.  Take a look at the crinkled planet surface.  I was able to achieve these crinkles by running my die-cut planet through on my Big Shot on the old crackled sandwich plate and adding a cardboard shim to make a really tight fit with lots of pressure as I rolled it through.  I put it through twice for good measure, and I thought it turned out pretty cool.

After putting my card pieces all together, and adding a touch of Wink of Stella-Clear to my planet, stars, and light-saber to give them a little more sparkle, I decided my card turned out better than I thought it might, and I know David will be thrilled with his Yoda card.  Take a peek below!

My finishing task was to design a creative interior with a birthday verse that coordinates with my card theme.  Take a peek at the finished interior design.

Recipe:  Papers:  Stampin' Up cardstock--Basic Black, Delightful Dijon, Pear Pizzazz (sponged), Very Vanilla (sponged), Brushed Gold (retired); DCWV pattern: Gold Stag Star.  Sassy Studio Designs digital image: Yoda Honey.  Dies:  Spellbinders--Small & Large Classic Circles; MFT--Sun, Moon & Stars, Stitched Snow Drifts; IO--Instant Photo Frame.  Punches:  Stampin' Up--Washi Tape, 1/2" Circle, Itty Bitty Accents/ Star, Itty Bitty Circle, 1/8" Circle.  Wink of Stella-Clear.  ColorBox: Chestnut Roan Ink (distressing/ sponging).  Copic Markers: Face--YG11, E81, Y11, E84; Eyes--YG11; Neck Cravet--E21, E95, E97; Robe Stripes--G99; Robe--E30, E53, E35; Saber--YG11, Y17, T7.  Size: 5-1/2" x 5-3/4".  (SplitcoastStampers Thread: March 13, 2016/ #11).

Celebrating a Friend's Birthday!

The wife of one of my husband's long-time friends is having a birthday in February.  I wanted to make her a card to let her know we were thinking of her on her birthday.  I had recently attended a Stampin' Up Occasions KickOff where we were able to use some of the new catalog items to make-n'-take sample cards to take home.  I chose to give our friend one of the cute birthday cards I made at this event.  The card was designed by one of our hostesses, Dara Peterson.

I just love the stamp set, Party with Cake, and its coordinating pop-up die, Party Pop-Up Thinlits, that this card was designed to use.  We die-cut the Party Pop-Up die with white cardstock and then masked and sponged the candles, happy, birthday, and the cake stand using a different ink color on each.  I did choose the change my cake stand color from Tip Top Taupe to Crushed Curry as well as one of the washi tape strips.  The corner confetti was stamped from the Party with Cake set, and a patterned paper oval backdrop for the cake, a bit of washi, and baker's twine finished off this cute little card.  (Note:  Layers popped up off card base; Oval die-cup + pop-up cake are popped up off card front).  I love it!  Thanks Dara for sharing it with us.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstock--Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry, Whisper White; DSP--Cherry on Top.  Stamps--Party with Cake (2016 Occasions).  Ink--Pool Party, Rose Red, Bermuda Bay, Crushed Curry.  Dies:  Oval Collection Framelits.  Washi--Cherry On Top set.  Baker's Twine--Crushed Curry.

Silent Night!

I attended a mini card class in late August this past year where the Stampin' Up 2015 Holiday catalog was first introduced to me.  There is a darling stamp and coordinating die set that is shown off in this catalog, using both the stamps and dies together, and also using them separately as well.   Our class sample card was designed by Dar Peterson, and she used the coordinating stamps and die sets together.

This was such a pretty card, I made it exactly like our sample card presented during class.  The background is sponged on with Night of Navy ink onto Whisper White cardstock, trying to leave white streaks in the sky.  I think mine ended up more opague than the sample.  To get the white splatter effect, we mixed about 1/2 cup of water with with 3 to 4 drops of Stampin' Up's White Craft Re-inker.  Then using a small paint brush we dipped it in the water/ ink solutiom and tapped it against our forefinger over the sponged navy background.  Check it out below:

I finished my inside coordinating design and verse, and I thought I'd show that  off to you as well.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Whisper White, Silver Glimmer, Gold Glimmer.  Stamps:  Jingle All the Way (sentiment: silent night).  Ink: Night of Navy, White Craft Re-Inker.  Edgelit Dies:  Sleigh Ride (houses and snow slope).  Punch: Itty Bitty Accents-Star (larger Gold Glimmer star); Confetti Stars Border (smaller silver stars).  Rhinestones (colored with Copic Markers).  EK punch: Victorian corner.  Computer verse. (Thank you Dar Peterson for card design sample).

Christmas Greetings of Peace - Christmas X10 - Card #8!

In the post, I will be presenting card #8 from the Christmas X10 cardmaking event, which is a card made by one of our hostesses, Dara Peterson.  I love Christmas cards made with blacks, navys, grays, and silvers, and this one meets all of the qualifications to love it!  The only change I made from the original design was to add a silver mat layer between the navy cardbase and the gray card front base.

Just a note: in stamping your black silhouette scene, when your stamp is photopolymer, as this stamp set is, do NOT use StazOn black ink, which is a petroleum based product, and it is not compatible with polymer.  It is best to use Memento Tuxedo Black ink.  

The night sky is achieved by sponging lightly in a vertical downward stroke from the top of your scene's sky down to the tree line, lighting the pressure on your stroke as you move toward the horizon.  It also helps to place a piece of scrap paper under your white scene cardstock and starting your stroke on that scrap paper and then lightly moving onto your scene's cardstock.  This helps to alleviate sponging stroke marks.  Repeat your strokes until you achieve the depth of coloring you desire.

I love the end result of this card, and I think my addition of the silver glimmer layer absolutely adds to this cards already beautiful look.  And now, it is time for the reveal. . .see below.

Recipe:  Stampin" Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Smokey Slate, Basic Gray, Basic Black, Whisper White, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer.  Stamps: To You & Yours (scene); Holly Jolly Greetings (on earth).  Ink:  Memento Black, Night of Navy (sponged).  Dies:  Hearth & Home Thinlits (window).  Christmas Greetings Thinklits (peacy).  (Thanks Dara Peterson for this wonderful card design.)

Birthday Celebrations the French Way!

A friend of an especially good friend is having a birthday later in September, and several ladies, including me, will be taking her to lunch.  I wanted to mark her birthday with a handmade card from me.  I have made at least three "Paris" cards in the last few year and added them to my card stash, probably because my daughter-in-law loves all things French.  The Eiffel Tower is one of her favorite tourist attractions, especially since she and my son made their trip to France and Italy a few years ago.  Probably because of this, I have felt the nudge to create "Paris" cards depicting The Eiffel Tower.  

The "Paris" card that I have chosen for my friend's upcoming birthday is made from several pieces of the Graphic 45 Tour de France paper collection.  Graphic 45 is one of my favorite paper companies, especially when making vintage style cards, though I don't think this card is truly of the vintage style.  I hope the birthday lady enjoys her French birthday card and her gift card for a cup of latte!

To turn this "Paris" card from just a generic card depicting The Eiffel Tower on its front and into a birthday card, I decided to use a little French in it's inside birthday verse.  Here's a peek at the inside design and my little French verse!

Recipe: SU Chocolate Chip cs, MME-Everyday Tango, MME-So Sophie/Celebrate, K&Co. Portabello stack, Graphic 45-TourdeFrance/ Eiffel Tower.  SU Calypso Coral (sponging); Colorbox Chestnut Roan (edge distress).  SU Early Espresso Scallop Tulle.  SU Buttons: Sweet Stitches, Regals Designer.  EK CardCreator Corner punch-Basketweave (modified/ inside).  Karen Foster Scrapper's Floss:Yellow.  Stash: Brown Lace; Rust/Gold Velvet ribbon.  Computer-made verse.

A Little 5-Year Old Birthday Girl!

My daughter called tonight and said she needed a birthday card for her little God-daughter, who is turning four in a few days, and could I make a card for Alexis, or did I have something already made that might work?"  She knows how I love to make cards for children. . .they are just so darn fun!  But, unfortunately, I really didn't have time to create from scratch, because I have so many other birthdays coming up in the next few days.  So, to my card stash I went, because I knew I had a little card that might just work.  This was a card I had made five years ago, believe it or not, but because all my little girl birthdays did not fall in the summer months, it has just never been right for the occasion.

Here was my problem: I needed my little girl to have darker skin and her hair to be black, because then it could be Alexis sitting on the piling in the sand near the sea.  Michele said, "Can you change it?"  I bravely replied, I don't know, but I can try. . .it will either work or NOT!"  After hanging up, I, very nervously, got to work.  Why nervous?  First, I had only colored one other dark-skinned person for a card, and that was when I was in a class over five years ago, with the instructor right there to help with any questions, and it was a step-by-step tutorial.  Second, I was not very familiar with coloring black hair either.  I have done it, but only a few times several years ago.  Third, to further complicate matters, I was coloring over a little girl with pinkish-light tan skin and auburn brown hair coloring.  Does it sound like I bit off more than I was going to be able to chew??

I started with the hair, because I thought it might be the easiest to over-color, but it began by looking green in the highlighted areas, and my fear grew!  I finally got it to a point where it was black, though not the best coloring job in my opinion.  Next, I tackled the skin, which really made me nervous for sure.  I was finally able to get her somewhat blended out, but it, also, does not look like my best coloring job.  All in all, I think she turned out pretty well considering what I was trying to do with my limited talents. 

 I then decided to sponge the image background to add a subtle hint that she was sitting near the sea.  I also thought it looked a little bald and stark white, but keep in mind, I made this card when I first started making cards, and I certainly wasn't sponging in those days.  (Note: the lighter sponging in the top half of the circle doesn't show up in the picture.)  I added some green shading to the wood piling to offset her skin a bit, because I thought there were too many brown tones side-by-side.  I finished it off with some pearls to add a bit more bling, and done it was.  I think Alexis will be pleased with her little girl sitting on the seaside piling.

Next, I worked on the inside design and a birthday verse for a little girl turning four.  I got it composed to my liking and then created the interior design to coordinate with the outside.  I was glad I was able to come up with something I think Michele will be able to use.

Recipe:  Georgia Pacific White cardstock.  Bazzill cardstock.  Stampin' Up cardstock:  Soft Sky (inside).  BoBunny Double Dot: Mint Dot.  Echo Park: Sweet Summer Time/ Blue Sky.  DCWV Stack: Stripes & Plaids.  Magnolia stamp: Tilda Ready for Beach.  Copic Markrs.  Spellbinders dies: Circles; Scalloped Circles.  EK punch: Deco Scallop Corner (inside).  BoBunny Grosgrain ribbon: Mint Dot.  Recollection pearls (Copic colored).  Karen Foster: Scrapper's Floss.  Stickles: Iridescent Glittler Glue (Copic colored).  Square doily (trimmed).  Computer verse.  Size: 5-1/2" square.

My Son-in -Law's Special Birthday Card!

My son-in-law, as I've mentioned in a few posts in past years, has a great love of fishing, but it seems there has not been time in his life lately to do much about that; therefore, I thought a fishing card with the BIG CATCH depicted would be appropriate this year!  And, need I tell you, there is a bit of humor attached by using Karen's Doodles digital image: Who Caught Who?

I decided to use the diagonal quarter-panel paper layout that I have used in the past and always enjoyed the end results.  Please note that I do not know the official name for this type of layout, and maybe there isn't any, but I think my name suits it just right.  I wanted my background behind my popped up digital colored image to be a nature scene that one would see while out fishing.  I wanted the top panel for the sky, the side panels for a patterned paper of trees, and the bottom panel for a dock.  I have to tell you, I just love my finished dock with its roped pilings on each side.  I have seen this embellishment technique on Pinterest, and one of my cardmaking buddies used it as well several months ago on a get well card for my husband after his knee surgery.  My dock is a diagonal view, so I decided there would be pilings on both sides of the dock for balance.  

Once I decided on my papers to use, I was able to begin the coloring of my chosen digital image with Copic Markers. . .the poor guy was so successful in landing the BIG CATCH, but unfortunately, his aim in reeling him in was to land him on his head rather than in the boat!  Though you can't see it in the photo, I used Wink of Stella: Clear on the fish to add a sheen to his scales.  (This is a brush-tip glitter pen.)  I know my son-in-law will get a kick out of the man with the fish head and will be intrigued by my clever little dock.

At the stage in the birth of one of my card, I turn to the inside to create a design that compliments the outside and to make a verse that goes with the theme of the card.  I have now finished this step and will share it.  I have to say I'm in love with my little acrostic verse, using the word FISHING. . .it's all about fishing bait.  I feel sure that my son-in-law will love his birthday card.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up cardstock: Old Olive (card base); Night of Navy.  Bazzill Basics: Avalanche (sandable).  Reminisce: Dog Park/ Scentral Park.  Recollections Signature Especial Textured Cardstock: Tan (like SU/ Crumb Cake).  SU Embossing Folder: Clouds.  Karen's Doodles: Who Caught Who?  Wink of Stella: Clear (on fish).  SU Stamp: Hardwood; Guy Greetings (sentiment).  SU Ink: Chocolate Chip; Soft Sky (sponging image area).  Spellbinders dies: Labels Three #6/ #7.  Maya Arts Hemp Twine.  Distressed edges.  MFT dies: Photo Corners (inside).  Size = 5-1/2" x 5-7/8".

....WOW...BIRTHDAY 100!!

I have an aunt that turns 100 today, May 27th!  WOW...WOW...WOW!  It is definitely hard to believe...almost takes your breath away.  I wish I could claim to have her genes, but unfortunately she is an aunt-in-law (my mother's brother's wife).  I know she is French Canadian by birth and had 13 brothers and sisters, and somewhere, she has longevity in her DNA!!  I do know that she never smoked, liked her coffee and loved her wine.  (My uncle was kind of a wine snob.)  So, if any of those things helped, we had all better get to it!

Last year, I made her a fashion card, because she always, always looked like she had just left a couture designer shop...dressed to perfection.  This year, I thought I'd just make a very feminine card for my petite 4-foot 9-inch aunt.  So, I chose a card I made using a design from a Rebecca Feeken card kit I received while I was subscribed to her short-lived monthly card kit.  We received exclusive dies with each kit that were designed by her and made for her by Spellbinders Paper Arts and exclusive stamps made by JustRite Stamps.  It is a card with many, many layers, and elevations; therefore, it will definitely have to be mailed as a parcel...no getting a break in postage on this one!  But, I think she will love it!

My finished inside design to coordinate with the outside.  I just love to do those details and add my own verse sited to each card and person to whom it is to be delivered.

Recipe: Becca Feeken Amazing Grace Kit: October 2012.  Bazzill cardstocks: Classic White, Mulberry.  Kaisercraft 6x6 pad: Magnolia Grove.  JustRite stamps: It's Sew Vintage.  Stampin' Up ink: Rose Red.  Hug Snug White seam binding ribbon.  ColorBox ink: Chestnut Roan (distressing). Spellbinders Exclusive Becca Feeken Kit dies.  Velvet Rose (unknown vendor).

2015 Sister-in-Law Birthdays #1 - Brother's Wife

Every year, if you've read my blog, you know I have eight sister-in-laws whose birthdays fall between May and October.  So, as usual, be prepared to be deluged by sister-in-law birthday cards and blog posts.  My first sister-in-law birthday is my brother's wife, Diane.

Still in the what I call my fast mode to finish my must-do cards before my wonderful Get-Away Event and still have time leftover for snail mail, I needed to complete Diane's birthday card right away.  When I get into the fast mode, I find my "from scratch creative" flies out the window, and I want to resort to at least a starting point of  something I've made before. 

I remembered a card I made that was designed by Liz Thayer for her Stampin' Up Sale-A-Bration event, which featured stamps available for that sale event, such as the penny-farthing bicycle featured in this card.  I completed her bicycle card at that event, but added a few tweaks of my own after coming home.  I don't have a sample of the original design, and at this late date, but I do remember some my additions or modifications, which was to increased the finished card size by adding two new layers in black and silver glimmer and group these with a larger cherry cobbler layer, making a three-layer frame under the  smaller black and vanilla layers.  I also centered my penny-farthing layer instead of off-centering it and lightly sponged Basic Gray and Cherry Cobbler Red onto the vanilla layers and the newsprint.  So, my card is at least a CASE of Liz's original design. . .thank you Liz!  I just love this little old-fashioned bicycle stamp, and I think Diane will like its vintage flavor as well.

And now for the inside design made to coordinate with the outside, and the little birthday verse jut for Diane.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler, Very Vanilla; Pattern--First Edition dsp;  stamp--Feeling Sentimental (2013 SAB); ink--Basic Black, Cherry Cobbler (sponging); ribbon--1/8" Black Taffeta; Glimmer brads-Silver.  Core'dinations Silver Glitter paper.  Computer-made verse.  Size: 4-1/4" x 5-1/2".

A Birthday Boy Card!

One of my nephew's has a birthday in April.  I can't believe he is already going to be eight!  For some reason making little boy cards throws my creative juices into a panic.  Probably, because I find making masculine cards much more difficult whether they be for men or boys!  It's also probably because I have had far less experience with this cardmaking genre than with feminine cards!  I need to force myself to make several masculine cards in a row, so I can feel what the masculine cardmaking groove feels like!  Maybe, I can learn to enjoy it right from the get go, and not start with that, "Oh no. . .a masculine card, what will I do!"

I saw recently saw a card by Diana Eichfeld using Stampin' Up's Boys Will Be Boys stamp set and the sponging/ burnishing effect using the Sale-A-Bration Irresistibly Yours designer paper in a rainbow array of colors.  I loved the look of it so much that I decided to CASE her card.  Thank you Diana for your ideas using this stamp set.

I did change my card some by adding a zigzag punch border around my card front before adhering it to the double mat layers of white and red cardstocks.  I also double matted my image using the Spellbinder's Pinked Circles, which look very much like Stampin' Up Starburst framelits, but there are many more sizes to choose from with the Spellbinders dies.  Color choices on my little robot are my own, and my sentiment is double matted and uses the Apothecary framelits as well, but I did modified my die cuts considerably to achieve the double mat effect.  I also used gears from the Spellbinders Sprightly Sprockets instead of modifying the Starburst framelits.  I think my little nephew will be excited about his little robot card.

Below is the inside created to coordinate with the outside design, and my little robot's birthday message explaining his late arrival.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up: cardstocks--Real Red, Pacific Point, Whisper White, Daffodil Yellow, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Brushed Silver; dsp--SAB/ Irresistibly Yours; stamp--Boys Will Be Boys; inks--Real Red, Pacific Point, Daffodil Yellow, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive; framelits--Apothecary Arts (modified); 3/4" circle; 1-1/4" circle.  Spellbinder dies: Circles SM, Pinking Circles, Sprightly Sprockets,  Punch: EK Zig Zag border.  Copic markers.

Enjoy Your Birthday Day!

One of my cardmaking buddies will be celebrating her birthday in April.  I wanted to make a card that conveyed how much I wanted her birthday to be super enjoyable, so I chose to make a card from a card kit designed by my sister and my first cardmaking mentor, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner.blogspot), because the planned sentiment was perfect. . .Enjoy Your Day!  (Of course, she will enjoy her day. . .fellow cardmaking buddies are taking her to lunch!)

I pulled out the kit paper pieces provided and the picture of the original card.  After mulling it over, I decided I wanted to liven up it up even more by adding more colored layers, which is much more my style than a single cardbase + front layer.  To do this, I added two more layers of colored cardstock that accomplished not only adding more color (the original design had a single-layer vanilla base + front), but it also enlarged the card size from the standard A2 size.  Those of you who have read my blog before have probably noted that I have mentioned several times in past posts that I like cards larger than the A2 size.  I added a new gold card base (Crushed Curry), cut a larger vanilla layer to use between the gold base and my new dark teal layer (Island Indigo).  I also punched the corners of the patterned top layer and the new teal layer with the WRMK "Stub" Corner Chomper.  On the whole, I think the whole card is even more eye-appealing than it already was in its original lovely design.  I think my friend will be please with her Enjoy Your Day birthday card.

My next step was to create an inside design that coordinated with the finished outside.  I added dark teal scalloped trim to my birthday card verse, which I composed and printed from my computer.  Next, a added some little cork flowers with pink Goosebumps---incorporating the flower idea from the front.

Recipe:  SU cardstocks:  Crushed Curry (base), Island Indigo, Very Vanilla.  Pattern Papers: DCWV: Adhesive Cork; MME--Miss Caroline-Dilly Dally/ Dolled Up/ Fiddlesticks.  Papertrey:  Stamps-Mini Blooms (sentiment); Dies-Delightful Dahlia (leaves), Tag Sale #6.  MFT dies: Fishtail Flags. SU punches: 5-Petal Flower (ret.), Boho Blossoms (inside), 1" Circle, 1-1/4" Scallop Circle, 2-3/8" Scallop Circle, Scallop Border (inside).  SU Sizzlits: Lots of Tags.  WRMK Corner Chomper: Stub.  Queen & Co.: Goosebumps Twinkles.  Stash: Dark Celery felt, Embroidery Floss, button.  (Size: 4-3/4" x 6").

Top Hat Rabbit Gets Ready for Easter!

I am again using a vintage image as my focal point, and I envision this top hat rabbit in his apron going to an egg decorating party.  Don't you think he got all dressed up because he was trying to impress a certain lady bunny, whom he knew would be at the party as well.  Notice he has a bouquet of flowers that I envision he picked along the way  How's that for an imagination!

To start, I picked some possible papers that complimented my vintage image, and I was ready to go to work.  I had a 6 x 6 pad of canvas that I had used on another card recently to make a big canvas flower, and I thought that might make an interesting frame for my image rather than a traditional paper frame.  I adhered it to a piece of lightweight chipboard to give it stability, and then I ran it through my Big Shop using my Lifestyles Eyelet Square die.  It didn't cut it; it actually acted more like an embossing folder and imprinted on the canvas rather than cutting it, but I liked what I saw.  You know, one of those happy accidents, because I thought it would make an interesting mat background for my image rather than framing it!  (I'm thinking the thin wafer dies are not sharp enough to cut through a canvas and chipboard combination.)

With it now going to be a background for my image, I decided to pink the edge of the canvas with my pinking shears (old ones I keep in my tool stash).  To finish it off, I sponged and distressed the edges of the vintage image and the entire background of the embossed canvas in a combination of Baja Breeze and Pear Pizzaz Stampin' Up inks.  I so very much like the way the image and its canvas background turned out.  I was stoked!  Below is the finished product of my happy accident.

I decided this card would be for my husband, so I needed a verse that he would be pleased with...it needed to have a religious tone.  I typed it up and printed it out onto Very Vanilla cardstock, matted it with the Old Olive Words paper, and finished off the corners with the vine paper from the front.

Recipe:  Papers:  SU-Baja Breeze cs (card base), SU Brights Stack/ Old Olive words; K&Co.-Studio K: Meadow/ Breeze; Angel Co.-Country Cottage/ gold dot; Recollections: Canvas Stack; Grafix Lightweight Chipboard.  Lifestyles die: Eyelet Squares.  Vintage image (online freebie).  SU stamps: Delightful Dozen-sentiment.  SU Ink: Soft Suede, Baja Breeze, Perar Pizzaz.  SU punch: Modern Labels.  SU buttons.  Offray ribbons.  Stash: Embroidery floss/ doubled; Pinking shears.  (Size: 5" x 6").

Joy to the World!

I wanted to use some of my Christmas stash that I have not had a chance to use much or at all.  I chose the round ornament from the Stampin' Up Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and stamped it Versamark Ink.  I embossed it with white embossing powder and die-cutting it with the coordinating Holiday Ornaments framelits from the 2012 Holiday catalog.  Using the music paper from the Natural Composition Speciality paper (retired SU dsp from the 2013-14 Annual catalog), I die-cut a window out using the third largest Deco Labels framelit and backed it with a layer of Cherry Cobbler cardstock.  My embossed ornament would hang from within this window.  My sentiment Joy to the World is also retired from the 2013 Holiday catalog.  All in all, I felt I got great use of products that had been collecting dust in my Christmas cardmaking stash of goodies.

Following is a picture of the card's completed inside that I created to coordinate with the front design.  I made use of my computer to compose the Christmas verse using the CAC Champagne font.

Recipe:  SU papers:  Early Espresso cs, Cherry Cobbler cs, Crumb Cake cs, Very Vanilla cs, Natural Composition Speciality dsp.  Recollections Glitter Stack.  SU stamps:  Joy to the World (2013 Holiday), Ornament Keepsakes (2012 Holiday).  SU Ink:  Chocolate Chip.  SU framelits:  Holiday Ornaments (2012 Holiday), Deco Labels.  Recollections punches:  Snowflake Mini, Snowflake Small.  Other: Offray ribbon; White Embossing Powder.