Memories to Remember a Milestone Birthday!

A card for my husband's February birthday, which was a BIG milestone achievement this year.  Take a peak at his card below:

Unfortunately several family members were ill on my husband's birthday weekend, so it ended a small, home dinner gathering.  As each of our children, their spouses, or their children got better, they celebrated him in separate festivities which included dinner and breakfast outings.  Unfortunately, I was absentee all of the extended celebrations as I made another trip south to California for a female four-generation pre-planned get-together with our newest three-month old granddaughter.   We got a few casual shots of the four-generations...my 94-year old Mom, myself, my oldest daughter, and three-month old Evie.  Take a peak below...

But, I digress...back to my husband's birthday card!  For me, masculine cards are always more difficult to design, but Stampin' Up's new Mountain Air scenery stamp was a perfect time to recreate our first cross-country trip in our motorhome where one of the major highlights was our week-long stay around Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons.  That was quite the memorable trip, traveling from Washington State mostly along the I-90 corridor.  We made several stops along the way, including Milwaukee for a wedding, and on eastward to the Richmond, Virginia area to visit my husband's brother and wife, returning the southern route and angling north going to Yellowstone and the Grand Tetons and back home to Washington.  What a marvelous trip and such beautiful mountain scenery...as I remember we were gone for almost four weeks!

The interesting thing about this new Mountain Air stamp is that it is a two-sided stamp...one side with a detailed stamp image and the other with a muted shadowy look.  I cut my center white panel 3-3/8" x 4-3/8", allowing me to trim it to a perfect size after I finished all my scenery stamping.  I also cut 3 white strips 1-3/4" x 3-3/8" to stamp my detailed navy mountains and my two green tree-line overlays.  I also cut a 3-1/4" x 4-1/4" Balmy Blue panel to mat my scenery panel when finished with its stamping.

I made my mountains in the background using the reverse side of the stamp to give them that muted shadowy look that mountains seem to have when seen from a distance.  I applied my Night of Navy mountains first about 2" down from the top of my white panel, stamping off once before inking on my white panel.  My Balmy Blue top mountain range was inked and stamped off once before applied over the Night of Navy range and just above it.  You can do this because the Balmy Blue is lighter and its inking does not show where applied over the navy.  My third mountain stamping was done using the detailed side and was fully inked before stamping on one of the narrow white strips.  It was then die-cut out and adhered below the other two rows of mountains.  See the card for placement ideas.

Next I stamped the tree lines, using Garden Green ink, on the two remaining white strips (1-3/4" x 3-3/8").  The first tree-line is fully inked and stamped on a strip, and the second tree-line is stamped off once before stamping on the final white strip.  I adhered the stamped-off tree strip first because it seemed it would appear lighter in the distance and finally adhered the fully-inked tree strips to finish my panel.

I used the reverse side of the clouds and sun to stamp these onto the top portion above the mountains.  I used Balmy Blue for the clouds and Crushed Curry for the sun.  I used Memento Tuxedo Black for the birds.  Both the clouds and the sun were stamped off once before stamping on the scenery panel.  Be sure you stamp the sun far enough in on the right to allow for trimming your scenery panel to fit your Balmy Blue mat layer when done.  The final step is to trim your scenery panel and adhere it to the blue mat layer, and voilà, I was done.   Take a peek below at the ingredients below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--So Saffron, Night of Navy, Balmy Blue.  Stamps--Mountain Air, Itty Bitty Birthdays (sentiment).  Dies--Majestic Mountain, Stitched Rectangles (1/2" x 2-1/2".  Inks--Night of Navy, Balmy Blue, Garden Green, Crushed Curry.  Other products:  Patterned paper--Basic Grey "Adrift" paper pack.  Die--Pretty Pink Posh Stitched Borders #1 (stitched zigzags).  Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black (birds).  Chatterbox verse (inside).  A6 Size: 4-1/2' x 6-1/4."  

A Thank You Needed for a Wonderful Gesture!

In late August, my daughter and I wanted to go on a mini-vacation for my birthday.  A long-time friend offered her Long Beach, oceanside condo for our use, insisting we take it for the cost of the cleaning fees only.  I really tried to get her to let us contribute some or part of the rental fees she would ordinarily receive, but she firmly refused.  Right then and there, I decided I would make her a thank you card and enclosed a dining gift card to one of her favorite restaurants in the Long Beach area.

Though I purchased the gift certificate while in Long Beach, I was not able to get to that thank you card immediately, because I was still recuperating from my right hand surgery.  I attended a Stampin' Up card class in late September when I was able to start a little cardmaking, and with the help of a friend, I was able to get whatever embossing and die-cutting I needed done.  I planned to finish at home if my hand got too tired.  I was delighted that one of the card designs was a thank you card, which I very much needed to fulfill my plan to thank my good friend.

The thank you card sample had a basic good design and a pretty color palette, but my creative mojo came up with changes I wanted to make, which I completed at home later.  I also wanted to check out some Splitcoaststamper challenges, to see what I needed to meet some requirements, and I was delighted to see if I completed the card using the same basic design and colors, that it would work well with several.  Now, it was time I got to work.

To start, I enlarged the card to my favorite size 4-3/4 in. x 6 in. by adding a new white cardbase and Early Espresso mat layer beneath the top embossed layer.  Then, I applied my thoughts to make the card reflect my creative mojo.  I shifted the sentiment rectangle layers more to the center both to the top and left, as the original was placed very far to the right and to the bottom.  I added three more mini leaves in Pretty Peacock, Old Olive, and Early Espresso to fill in my desired leaf layers.  I added sparkle with Wink of Stella to the added espresso little leaf and the thanks die-cut.  I also added the sequins to add a bit more pizzazz.  I am pretty happy with my modifications and thank Dar Peterson for letting me elaborate upon her original design.

I hope my friend will love her card and thank you gift card.  I know she will enjoy the dinner for two and dessert upon her next visit to the coast. 

I designed an inside layout and composed a little verse to send along in my friend's thank you card.  Take a peek below.

Ingredients List:

Stampin' Up products... Cardstock:  Whisper White, Early Espresso, Pool Party, Pretty Peacock, Old Olive.  Patterned paper:  Come to Gather dsp (Holiday 2019).  Stamps: Colorful Seasons (leaf vein stamp).  Dies:  Seasonal Layers (leaves); Well Written (thanks).  Embossing Folder: Subtle 3D (background).  5/8" white flax ribbon (sponged w/ Pool Party ink).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Reaching Classic "Old" Age!

My brother's birthday is in early May and yet another card was needed, especially as this is a milestone birthday well into retirement!  I'm so far behind in cardmaking with the hand recovery that I'll never catch up, it seems! 

I had an unfinished card hidden away in my To Do Stash that I came across when looking for a previous unfinished card.  The initial basic design layout was by Liz Thayer on this one as well.  All the pieces were there to finish, except just a notation of the stamp set used.  I particularly liked the Acetate Foil gold patterned paper and gold foil included in the kit with the navy blue.  I used all the paper pieces provided, but I also decided to add a black cardstock layer as the cardbase and as another image mat layer. 

To start, I masked the image paper with the car outline, and watercolored the background around it with the idea of sky and landscape color tones and dried it with my heat tool.  I then stamped the image and sentiment from the Stampin' Up Guy Greetings stamp set with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, using my MISTI to line up the stamp images on my small piece of watercoloring.  Next, I colored the vintage car with my Copic markers.  Finally, I assembled all the paper layers and popped the acetate pattern off the gold foil.  I added some Glitter Enamel Dots, and voila, I was finished! 

As my brother has restored vintage and classic vehicles for many years, I am pretty sure he will like this card...even more so if it were a Chevy.  Take a peek below inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Basic Black, Night of Navy, Gold Foil, Shimmer White.  Patterned Paper--Fabulous Foil Designer Acetate (retired 2018).  Stamps:  Guy Greetings (retired 2018).  Glitter Enamel Dots (retired 2018).  Other:  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  Copic Markers.  Artist Loft Watercolor Pan Set (Michaels).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

A Birthday Marquee Message!

One of my cardmaking besties has a Spring birthday.  I am determined to make her a card totally from scratch using nothing that is semi-prepared as a test to see how well my left hand will do post-surgery.  I did stamping, die-cutting, dry embossing, fussy-cutting, Copic coloring, and a shaker card.  A pretty great test, and I'd say I'm pretty pleased with the results.  The hand is a little tired, a little achy, and a bit swollen, but fabulous compared to pre-surgery swelling and pain!

I was also determined to get back into the Splitcoaststamper (SCS) challenges, and I have accomplished that with a vengeance!  I found eleven challenges that I can enter by tweaking my design idea here and there.  That is a new RECORD!  I can usually get in seven to nine, but have never even done ten before!  It all started with a card by cdimick (aka Catherine).   Catherine is an SCS Alpha sister, who is the current Featured Stamper at Splitcoaststampers.  I browsed her gallery and chose a card to "case" as the challenge requires, which featured a stamp set that caught my eye.  I browsed the inspiration challenge photos for some ideas, which led to the color challenge with the exact blues and greens I wanted to use, and on and on it went!

Meanwhile, I was keeping in mind that this card is for a very special friend, and I wanted it to be special for her with a huge focus on her birthday.  The Stampin' Up Marquee Messages stamp set was perfect!  I made it into a shaker to fit the Fan Club April Monthly challenge, and it really set off the marquee stamp perfectly.  First, I dry embossed a confetti pattern onto my Coastal Cabana cardstock and added sparkles by "painting" on glitter glaze with a foam brush. Love that sheen!  My finishing touches to dress up the shaker marque frame was to pop on some flowers, leaves, and oodles of pearls.  I must say I was pretty please with the results, and I am pretty sure my friend will like it as well!  Take a peek below.

Ingredients:  Stampin Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Tranquil Tide, Coastal Cabana, Balmy Blue.  Stamps--Marquee Messages (shaker frame/ sentiments), Vibrant Vases (flowers), Happy Birthday Gorgeous (leaf). Embossing Folder--Confetti.  Pearls.  Metallic Sequins Asst.  Other:  Sargernt Art Acrylic Glitter Glaze.  Copic markers.  Ink--Memento Tuxedo Black.  Buttons Galore--Aquamarine Party Mix.  Wink of Stella/ Clear.  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Sunshine on a Serene Scene!

One of my husband's best friends has a birthday at the end of November, and he wanted me to make him a nice birthday card.  Masculine cards sometimes play havoc with my mojo.  To get started, I focused on the current Splitcoaststamper Alphabet Challenge.  I am several weeks behind, so I had a variety of letters to work with.  When I saw Letter S/ theme: sunshine, I thought of a scenic card that I made back in January at a card class, using a new Stampin' Up stamp: Waterfront.  Our hostess-designer was Luci Kirschenbaum, and I decided to CASE her card design, because I loved it and the stamp set so much.  It fits the alpha letter/ theme perfectly as a lovely scene with its sun.

For my new card, I made my watercolor scene panel just a bit smaller so more of the deep green mat would show around the edges and contrast with the navy patterned paper background.  I watercolor-stamped my scene with less "stamping off" so that I would have darker and richer color hues...not quite so pastel as the design sample.  My changes to the scene were to position my trees closer to the mountain base rather than in the green meadow, and I moved the sun a bit higher in the sky to suggest more daylight and sunshine as though it was earlier in the afternoon.  I also added more splatters all the way down to the bottom of the panel...I just love splatters!  I also made my sentiment into a double fishtail flag instead of a rectangle.  

For the inside design, I also followed Luci's plan with changes.  I centered my birthday verse instead using her left offset.  I did stay with the left offset for my mountain and trees, but not as far off the edge, so my mountain range is longer. I also raised the images about 3/4-inch so the tree trunks did not sit right at the paper ege.  When I was done fussing with it, I was pleased with the end results.  Take a peek below, inside and out, I think my husband's friend will like his card.  It may remind him of some lovely camping spots he was visited throughout the years, as he and his wife loved to camp as well!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Night of Navy, Tranquil Tide, Whisper White, Crumb Cake.  Patterned Paper--Delightful Daisy.  Stamps--Waterfront, Perennial Birthday (sentiment/ inside verse).  Ink--Night of Navy, Tranquil Tide, Early Espresso, Pear Pizzaz, Daffodil Yellow.  Water-base Marker: Black.  Size: 4-1/4 x 5-1/2 inches.

Thinking You Much Better Real Soon!

One of my lady friends that I met at my September Girls' Get-Away has had a set back in her health.  I wanted to send her a card to let her know I've been saying some prayers and having positive thoughts to wish her much better real soon!  I had a few Splitcoaststamper challenges to get done in my on-going challenge catch-up goal, and with a few of those in mind, I set about to design and make a card for my friend.

I needed to use a shade of yellow called Xanthic in order to finish the Alphabet Challenge in Round 9, and with this in mind, I search for a dress on the Inspiration Challenge website with at least some yellow that could inspire me for the rest of my card.  I found the perfect floral dress. Now, I knew my card had to have flowers.  My layout idea and focal point were inspired by the Featured Stamper challenge, plus I had several old challenges to complete that required a stamped frame, plus an old technique.  I had some good ideas. . .my mojo getting juicy, so it was time to find some papers and get started.  Take a peek at my finished card below, I think she will enjoy the card, and I know I will enjoy crossing off some more completed challenges on my list!

Ingredients:  Papers:  SU cardstock--Basic Black, Gumball Green, Daffodil Yellow; SU Vellum; Patterned Paper--Basic Grey/ Origins.  Stamps:  SU--Serene Silhouettes (white flower stems), Lovely Wishes (frame flower); Our Daily Bread Designs--All Mother's (sentiment).  Inks: Memento--Tuxedo Black; SU White Craft Ink; Versamark.  Dies: Sizzix Labels Collection (frame).  Punches:  SU--Curvey Corner Trio (retired), Bitty Butterfly (retired).  SU Black Embossing Powder.  SU 2mm pearls.  SU Simply Clay:  Simply Pressed Clay, Buttons & Blossoms Simply Pressed Clay Mold (2013-14 both retired).  Stash: Bitty flower brad.  Copic markers: coloring for clay + brad.  Chatterbox verse.  Size:  5-3/8 x 6-1/8 inches.

A Baby's Coming in the New Year?

My oldest son's girl friend asked me to make her a baby shower card for her son's first child and her first grandchild. . .a little baby girl!  She had some specifics for me to work with, in that she wanted lavender to be the predominate color, it to be very feminine, and to have a baby elephant for the focal image.  She also wanted the inside verse to contain the baby's name.  Other than those specifics, I could let my creative juices flow!

Of course, my first thought was to check out current challenges at Splitcoasterstampers and then older challenges that I missed to work on my personal "challenge catch-up" goal.  I wanted to finish more of the current Alphabet Challenges for Round 10, so decided to focus on Letter E for elephant/ theme: animals.  I also used some older challenges for layout and inspiration.  Here is my finished card and inside verse using the baby's name:

Ingredients:   Papers~  Cardstock: Recollections Essentials (Violet); SU Whisper White.  Patterns~ Recollections: Purple Ditsy Floral; K&Co.-Watercolor Bouquet-Purple.  Stamps~ Wild Rose Studio/ Bella (retired).  Ink~ Memento Tuxedo Black.  Dies:~Lifestyles Lacey Squares (retired); Sizzix/ SU: Layering Squares; Lifestyles Lacey Circles (retired); Spellbinders Classic Circles LG.  Punches~ SU: Curvy Corners (retired); Martha Stewart: Double Loops Edger; QuicKutz Scallop Photo Corners (retired).  Ribbon~ Offray 5/8" Sheer Violet.  Copic Marker coloring.  Chatterbox sentiment tag/ inside verse.  Card Size:  4-3/4 x 6-inches.

Thank You for the Delightful Gift!

I received a fairly unique gift quite unexpectedly...a cedar, chainsaw-made Christmas tree.  We had a family gathering a few weeks ago to celebrate two birthdays, and my son-in-law's mother was in attendance.  She is a collector of chainsaw wood art, and she brought a gift for me and my two daughters plus my daughter-in-law.  They were "carved" Christmas trees using a chainsaw to cut and form them from cedar logs.  The tree's branches were painted green with a bit of white snow gracing their tips and the trunks were the natural bark from the small cedar logs from which they was cut.  She had decorated each with miniature Christmas lights that could be all white or multi-colored by changing the remote settings.  What delightful gifts!

I needed a thank you card desperately and immediately.  I scoured some of the Splitcoaststamper challenges to find some ideas.  I used the Inspiration Challenge for an autumn color inspiration and found a Featured Stamper Challenge with a pretty autumn leaf card.  My mind was made up to do an autumn leaf card of my own.  I found some other challenges that would fit as well, and if I added green, I could finish Color Letter Z in the Round 9 Alphabet challenge.  

At this point, I remember a card by Liz Thayer that also had a leaf design, so I "borrowed" elements from her card to add to my card as well.  This is my finished card, a bit of a modified Liz design than from the Featured Stamper with two more added layers.  I finished the card off with an interior design to fit the outside and added a Chatterbox verse printed by my computer.

Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out.  I think my friend will enjoy her thank you card and also know just how appreciative I am of her lovely gift!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Papers:  Cardstocks--Mossy Meadow, Blackberry Bliss, Gold Foil, Cajun Craze, Soft Suede, So Saffron;  Patterned--Color Me Autumn (2014 Holiday), Typeset (2014-5 Annual).  Stamps: Holiday Cheer, Project Life (sentiment/ 2014 Holiday).  Dies:  Autumn Accents BigZ.  SU Embossing Folder: Hardwood.  SU Other:  Gold Basic Metal buttons; Washi Tape (names unknown); Dazzling Diamonds Gold Glitz.  Ink: Soft Suede ink distressing.  Size: 4-3/4x6-inches.

Halloween Peeking Out All Over!

As mentioned in my previous post, it's that time of year when I get to make Halloween cards...ones I truly enjoy so I can let my imagination run away!  My next card is for DD#2, my youngest daughter, and her husband.  Since there is a man involved, I had to stay away from anything too feminine!

My son-in-law is a Halloween and theme park enthusiast!  The two of them just returned from a five-day Halloween adventure vacation to the Los Angeles area, visiting Halloween horror events and Halloween themed parks and thrill rides.  Warner Bros. Halloween Horror Nights was their primary attraction visited.

I actually started their card well over a month ago after I checking out several Splitcoaststamper challenges before I finally settled on the card layout I wanted to use, but I was unhappy with where it was going so I stopped and only recently got back to it.  I revisited the SCS challenges and finally felt like I knew where I was headed!  I incorporated four common Halloween images usually seen on the Day of the Dead and ones that I was fairly sure they saw in many different versions while on their vacation.  I ended up pretty happy with the results and was pretty sure they would enjoy it as well.  Take a peek below at the finished card:

I found a verse that was perfect for the card, with a few modification, but ended up having to hand-write it because my printer was on the fritz!

Ingredients:  Papers: Stampin' Up cs--Basic Black, Lucky Limeade, Very Vanilla; Bazzill cs--Yam; American Crafts POW Glitter Paper--Caramel; Best Creations Glitter paper--Lime; Pattern Paper--Doodlebug Designs/Ghost & Ghouls--Spookie Sprinkles (confetti), Host of Ghosts (stripe).  Dies:  Impression Obsession: Halloween Cutout Circles; Stampin' Up--Layering Circles; Little B--Halloween Phrases.  Punches: Martha Stewart edger--Cathedral Lace; Stampin' Up--Curvy Corners (inside-retired).  Embellishments: Offray Sheer Stripe--Yellow-Green; Recollections--purple mini rhinestones.  Verse/ modified by Chatterbox.  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches. 

Cute Skeleton Bones for Halloween

It's that time of year where I get to make Halloween cards.  I just really enjoy putting together interesting and offbeat cards, and my four adult children and their spouses enjoy receiving them.  For my DD#1 (darling daughter), I found two challenges at Splitcoasters that spurred along my imagination and my creative mojo began to rumble!

I wanted to use skeleton bones on my card, and I pulled out an old 2015 Stampin' Up set that I had not ever inked up.  Being that this card would be for my oldest daughter, I thought a few feminine touches might be nice, so my skeleton ends up being a wee girl skeleton but not so terribly scary.  I am really happy with the results that morphed as I put it together.  I completed the inside with my very own Chatterbox verse and added some embellishments to coordinate with the card front.  Take a peek below. . .I think DD#1 will be delight!

Ingredients:  Papers:  Stampin' Up Basic Black, Shimmer White, Whisper White, Happy Haunting dsp (stars); Darice Core'dinations Glitter Silk--Silver Mist. Stamp/Die set: Howl-O-Ween Treat/ Boo To You dies (2015 Holiday).  Dies:  Pierced Scallop Background.  SU Punch:  Ornate Tag Topper.  SU: Lucky Stars EF.  SU Embellishments:  3/8" Glitter Ribbon-White, Metallic Thread-Silver, Iced Rhinestone.  Chatterbox sentiment/ verse (handwritten/ computer printed).  Size: 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

Revisiting "A Peek at Fall"

I originally made this card and posted it to my blog on September 20, 2017.  Click here to see the cards original posting: A Peek at Fall).  I intended to use it as one of my fall birthday cards for 2017, but somehow I missed doing that.  Therefore, I am now going to use it for my youngest son's October birthday this year.  I have composed a little birthday verse inside to suit the theme of the card.  Check out the finished card inside and out below! 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Gold Glimmer.  Stamps--Hardwood, Happy Scenes (retired).  Inks--Crumb Cake, Daffodil Yellow, Pumpkin Pie, Cherry Cobbler.  Dies--Leaflets Framelits, Seasonal Layers Thinlits.  Embossing Folder: Woodgrain.  Linen Thread.  Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.  Glitter Enamel Dots (inside & out: colored).  Other products:  Inks--Encore Gold Metallic, Memento Tuxedo Black, Colorbox Chestnut Roan.  Copic markers.  Offray Burlap Weave.  Techniques:  Stamping, Sponging, Coloring.  Inside: EK Punch: Victorian Med. Corner.  Chatterbox verse.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".  (Woodgrain stamped bg  and the chairs are also Woodgrain embossed to add texture.  Chairs are popped up).

Birthday Panda for a Young Niece!

My first niece on my side of the family will be having her eleventh birthday  in June.  I need to get a card made and off in the mail.  I bought a card kit from Stampin' Up, which I usually do not do, but I loved the papers and colors, which remind me of the colors in a challenge provided by Spiltcoaststampers.  The kit provides four card designs and materials to make four of each design.  I really did not want to have four cards all the same, so I've been venturing forth mixing and matching the kit materials, plus adding others to come up with my own designs.

My niece is right at that in-between age when she may or may not like fuzzy animals on her birthday cards, but with the help of some inspiration from a second Splitcoasterstampers challenge, I wanted to use a panda bear on her card.  I still LOVE panda bears, so I'm hoping she might enjoy them too!  For this card, I used materials from three of the kit's card designs, plus added some additional cardstock colors and a panda stamp as well.  Take a peek below at my cute little panda card...hope the recipient likes it!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Old Olive, Flirty Flamingo.  Stamps--Perfect Pandas (2018 SAB).  Ink--Old Olive, Baked Brown Sugar (ink distressing).  Punch: Scallop Border (ret.).  Perennial Birthday Kit (2018 Occ):  materials from three different card designs: denim/ gold dsp, floral dsp + balloon die-cuts + Dapper Denim twine.  Other: Memento Tuxedo Black Ink; Spellbinder dies: Long Scallop Rectangles SM (modified).  Chatterbox verse. Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Sympathy for the Loss of a Brother!

My daughter-in-law's father just lost his brother due to an accident and surgery complications, and once again, I needed to make another sympathy card.  This is the second recent loss of one of her uncles, as her mother lost one of her brothers about a month ago.  It seems like I have made several too many of these types of card lately.   

I was going to participate in the SCS Ways to Use It challenge several weeks ago, which required the use of a silhouette—stamped or die-cut, but I was not able to get to it.  I have an idea in mind using a partially finished card started over a year ago that will work great.  It is a leftover from a card class by Dar Peterson to which I have made several changes.  

I changed up the background from vertical coloring with Stampin' Up markers into a horizontal watercolored background using Crushed Curry and So Saffron ink and an aqua painter.  When the panel was dry, I added very fine dots of black paint for a bit more interest.  I also changed the direction of my Flourish Framelit die-cut going from bottom to top and place my sentiment in the top left corner instead of the bottom right.  I added some Wink of Stella for some sheen on my black silhouetted flourish, and I added white pearls instead of black-inked pearls.  Next, I die cut a decorative-edged, Daffodil Yellow layer instead of using a plain So Saffron layer, and I made my Delightful Dijon layer with less of its color edge showing.  Take a peek at my finished card below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products: Cardstock--Whisper White, Daffodil Yellow, Delightful Dijon, Basic Black.  Stamps: Flourishing Phrases.  Ink: Crushed Curry, So Saffron, Basic Gray (sentiment).  Dies:  Flourish Framelits.  Pearls.   Other:  Die: Avery Elle Postage Stamp.  Folk Art Acrylic Paint: Licorice.  Chatterbox inside verse.  Size: 4-1/2" x 5-3/4."

Thinking of You, Friend!

I have several Thinking of You cards that I need to make and get in the mail, yesterday!  One is for a friend who always have me over for tea when visiting in her seaside town.  I saw a challenge where we were to make a card around a song, and as soon as this, I thought about her and the song, I'm a Little Teapot, came to mind, and I couldn't get it out of my head.  With tea in mind, a search through my To Do box and brought forth pieces of an unfinished card that I started in a class about 4-1/2 years ago.  

Yes, I love to go to classes and socialize, and I usually don't get all the design samples completed.  To give me some credit (rolling my eyes), sometimes that is deliberate, because an idea comes to mind where I want to change something little or big about the card.  I don't complete the card at class in order to make the changes at home with my own supplies.  This one, I have kept near the original design, but made the original Melon Mambo card base into a layer.  I re-sized most pieces smaller, plus I added two more layers. . .a white cardbase and a die-cut decorative Old Olive layer.  I also popped up all the layers above the Old Olive layer from those first two added layers.  As a finishing touch, I ink distressed all my edges for a bit of a vintage flair, but I see this does show up well in my picture.

I think my friend will like her card, with its little teacup and happy colors, and be pleased to know I've been thinking about her.  Take a peek below at my finished card inside and out.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Old Olive, Melon Mambo, Whisper White.  Patterned dsp:  Gingham Garden (2013 AC).  Stamps: Kind & Cozy (2013-14 AC).  Ink: Old Olive, Melon Mambo; Ink Distressed: Soft Suede.  Punches: 2-1/4" Scallop, 2-3/8" Circle. Scallop Trim Border (ret.).  Embossing Folder: Stripes (ret.).  Ribbon: 3/8" Old Olive Striped Organdy. Rhinestones.  EK Punch: Scallop Photo Corners.  Die:  Reverse Confetti Die: Lacy Scallop Frame.  Fussy-cut teacup.  Chatterbox verse.  Size:  4-1/2" x 5-3/4".

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".  

A "So Sweet" Valentine for Hubby!

I decided I should finish a card that was demontrated in a card class hosted by Stampin' Up demonstrator Liz Thayer a few years ago.  Its parts have been languishing in my "To Do" box for quite awhile.  Of course, I have to tinker a little to make the card a bit more my own.  

I added a black cardbase to add more layers and because I thought a black and red edging would look ever so much more striking than just red, plus I widened my layered edges to be more like a frame.  I re-arranged my heart colors a bit, plus added rhinestones to the curlicues on the sentiment.  The inside to tie-in with the front is entirely my own design, including the created verse, which I used on all my Valentines this year.  I used to do a different verse on every seasonal card. . . finally the lightbulb went on after feeling way overburdened.  "Why do that,"  I said to self. . .so obviously I stopped!

I plan to enter this into the SCS Alphabet Challenge for Letter S...no double challenge for me on this...I just couldn't quite see a hot glue design that would in any way enhance the look of my card...LOL!  Hot glue reminds me of buggers to be quite blunt and honest!  Didn't think hubby would appreciate that!  Although, one clever lady wound yarn around her glue ball as her focal point was all about cats. . .that glue ball did work well!  

I found a few other challenges it might fit into as well.  Now it's time to take a peek at hubby's finished card inside and out below:

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up papers:  Cardstock--Basic Black, Real Red, Whisper White; Pattern--*Stacked with Love Pad.  SU stamp: *You Plus Me.  SU Ink: Real Red.  SU Punch:** Sweetheart; **Itty Bitty Accent Punches--Heart.  **1/8" Taffeta Silver Edge ribbon: Red and Black. SU catalogs: *2015 Occasions/ retired.  **2014-2015 Annual/ retired.  SU Rhinestones.  Created Verse.  Size: 4-5/8" x 5-7/8". 

X is for XOXO Valentine!

Another two Valentines to design, of which I plan to make two. . .one for son and his wife and one for youngest daughter and her husband.  This one will focus on meeting the Alphabet Challenge, Round 8 "Letter X". . ."X" = XOXO!  I am using an old stamp to get XOXO onto my card to meeting the Letter "X" challenge, and I decided early on not to try for the double challenge of C for collage, as it seemed to me it would have to lean toward vintage to achieve a collage look.

Based on the WORD Challenge for "TEMP" in the new February Dirty Dozen Monthly Themes, I must use items on my card that start with each letter of the word TEMP.  My already planned stamped sentiment will be the printed word XOXO.  I will use a background stamp that is retired name En Francaise (retired) for my letter E.  My letter M will be the hot pink color I plan to use with  black and white as well...Melon Mambo, and the P will be the punches that I will use.

The third challenge is the 2018 Use It challenge to use materials and tools that have not been used in a long while and never used.  This will be no problem for me, as I have challenged myself to use all already-on-hand materials and tools and to bring out those gathering dust for this year's session in Valentine cardmaking!  Everything is old, as it turns out...perfect for this last challenge!  Take a peek at the finished card inside and out.  I think my children and their spouses will like their Valentine card!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Cardstocks:  Whisper White, Basic Black, Melon Mambo, Silver Glimmer.   SU Stamps (retired): En Francaise (background stamp), Oh, Goodie! (XOXO-2013 Occ), You Plus Me (heart-2015 Occ), Oh, Hello (inside corners chevron pattern-2013 Occ).  Ink: SU-Melon Mambo; Memento-Tuxedo Black.  Die: Nellie Snellen--Dots Circle.  Punches: SU--1-3/4" Circle, 1" Circle, Itty Bitty Accents-Heart (retired); EK Medium Scallop Corner.  SU-3/4" Black Chevron (retired).  Created verse.  Size: 4-7/8" x 6".  

Note: I have borrowed a several years old design by Liz Thayer that I made at a card class she hosted.  I've added layers, lowered by area of background stamping, changed my ribbon knot to right side, enlarged my circle focal point and added a die-cut bottom layer. 

A 2018 Valentine for Mom!

It's time to make a Valentine card for my Mom!  I sure miss her...with all my knee and hand issues starting over two years ago, I've missed three of my traditional semi-annual trips to visit her.  I will not be able to go until this coming fall due to my second knee replacement in March!  Mom will be a spry 93-years old in August, 2018.  We always spend lots of time cardmaking together on my visits, along with my sister who lives in the same town in California!  We usually schedule a week-long girls' get-away to Mt. Shasta...what wonderful memories!

I pulled out some of my old unfinished Liz Thayer card kits and their pictures to see what I might use and get them out of my too full "To Do" box.  I found this little gem that I never put together during my knees "hiatus."  I love the paper colors and Liz's design, so my plan was to keep it quite similar, but add a little here or there to put a little "me" into it.  Then, I would design a complimentary inside and verse to finish it off.

I re-cut and enlarged the white cardbase and added a Crisp Cantaloupe layer between the base and the black layer to add more color.  (I saved the old cardbase to cut and use for the inside card verse).  I added rhinestone gems to the four corners, the banner points, hearts, and sentiment circle, but the bones of the design still shine through.

Now that Mom's card is finished, it really reminded me how much I loved the Valentine Stampin' Up products I bought in 2015 and 2016 but never had the opportunity to use.  I will check out some Splitcoaststamper challenges to see if any of them fit, as I already had the colors, papers, and design ideas before beginning my card.  Take a look below at the finished card inside and out.  I think Mom will be pleased!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up papers:  Cardstock--Whisper White, Basic Black, Crisp Cantaloupe (retired); Patterned dsp--Stacked with Love.  SU stamps: Hello Life (2016-retired).  SU: Happy Heart EF.  SU punches: Itty Bitty Accents Pack (2016-retired); 1/2" Circle; 2" Circle; 2-1/4" Scallop Circle.  SU-Rhinestones.  Wink of Stella-Clear.  Computer-composed verse.  Size: 4-1/2' x 5-5/8".

Keeping in Touch!

I wanted to send a "remembering a friend" card to one of my Splitcoaststampers forum teammates, who is on leave for a few months, just to touch base.  I had a finished friend card in my stash that I made over two years ago at a card class given by SU demonstrator, Liz Thayer.  Though there were a few changes I made from the sample design as I built my own card, I still was not totally happy with mine, but I couldn't put my finger on what bothered me.  I couldn't do much else with it at the class, so I took it home knowing I wanted to do something different, but what! 

In the past few months, this card kept surfacing and catching my eye every time a delved into my "to do" box for whatever reason.  I had an itch to pull it out and remodel it several times, but at the time, Christmas cards beckoned.  Then, this week I needed a "friend" card, and I remembered the card.  It was time to pull it out and re-evaluate it.  What I found was that it had been marinading in the recesses of my creative mojo, and I was excited because I immediately had some ideas!  

Take a peek below at the remake of my "remembering a friend" card.  I'm  really happy with it, and I look at it and I say, "What took you so long!"  I think my friend will be pleased with the results!  Following the card front is the inside design that I created with a little homemade verse for my friend.  In addition, if you are interested in the back story of the makeover, scroll down beyond the ingredients list and read on!

Ingredients:  Papers:  Stampin' Up - Cardstock--Very Vanilla, Mint Macaron, Calypso Coral; Pattern--Wildflower Fields DSP; Corrugated Kraft (retired).  SU Ink: Early Espresso.  SU Stamps: Bloomin' Love.  Dies: SU-Bloomin' Heart; Bitty Banners; Reverse Confetti-Lacy Scallop Frames.  SU trims: 1/4" Venetian Crochet Trim (retired); 1" Dotted Lace Trim-Cucumber Crush (retired); Metallic Thread-Gold.  Rhinestones (colored with Copics). Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

The Make-Over Story

I actually liked the basic bones of the class sample design, but as you can tell from my words above, there was just something about it that I knew needed to be changed.  As I made my original card, I changed the placement of some of the elements, which were subtle changes, but as I said before, I liked the balance the changed elements made, however subtle they were. 

 

For starters, on my original card, I dropped my lacy heart about 3/8" lower and folded less over at the top, making my heart a bit bigger, plus I added five flowers instead of only four as on the sample design.  I also used only the larger flowers rather than a mix of small and large.  For me, elements are in harmony when they are presented in odd numbers rather than even; otherwise, they just seem off.  These slight changes enabled me to have the placement of my lacy bands lower on the card; thus, there wasn't as much negative space at the bottom...the sample design seemed a bit top heavy.

My finishing change on my original card was to wrap several strands of gold metallic thread around my vanilla lace and make a small multi-strand looped bow under the banner sentiment and to slant banner and top it off with a coral rhinestone.  This little rhinestone tied in the orange color from the top toward the bottom of the card.  (The sample design had big loose loops of metallic thread under a vertical sentiment with wrapped strands and no rhinestone.  For me, the area needed to be a bit more tidy and the vertical banner just looked wrong.)  I was happy with these small changes as well.  But, in reality, I still felt my card needed something else...so, it resided in my "to do" stash for two years!  I have a photo of my original finished card before its reconstruction yesterday.  Take a look below and see if you can follow where I made my original changes described in the sentences above.

Yesterday, I was excited to get started remodeling my two-year old card, because I finally realized what changes I needed to make to be really happy with the final version!  First, there wasn't enough color overall, but second was the color palette.  The sample design used contrasting colors on the opposite sides of the color wheel, of which I'm not often a fan, especially with green, blue, and orange shades.  It has to be just the right balance of each color, or it can seem a bit jarring to me.  That was the crux of my dissatisfaction, and I really wanted to work on that feature for sure.

My thoughts were, if I was going to continue with the contrasting colors of mint green and orange, I needed more orange than just the few rhinestones for flower centers.  I sure did not want to start the card all over, because as I said, I like the bones of the design, it just needed something added.

I decided to switch from orange to Calypso Coral as my contrast to the Mint Macaron...the coral is a softer hue and compliments the mint better.  That would be easy because so far the only orange on the card was my five rhinestones.  Second, it sorely needed more coral to balance all colors and bring continuity throughout the card.  I decided more coral could be added by using a mat just beneath the front kraft corrugated cardstock layer, and I would add a mint layer sandwiched between the coral and the vanilla cardbase.  I also had the idea to add faux stitching or a die-cut pattern around the coral mat edge to dress it up.

I found a patterned paper of wispy dandelion seedlings on coral that I thought would look great for my coral decorative die-cut layer.  I cut a second decorative layer of coral cardstock and adhered the dandelion seedling die-cut to the cardstock die-cut to add extra thickness and sturdiness to this layer.  I trimmed my corrugated front layer smaller, both horizontally and vertically, to allow the coral decorative edges to peek out about 1/4" around card front.  Next, I added the mint mat layer between the coral mat and the vanilla cardbase.  Doing all these paper additions and size changes actually allowed my card to grow from the standard 4-1/4 x 5-1/2-inch card to my favorite larger size of 4-3/4 x 6 inches.

Yeah!  I was finally happy with my card!  Don't you think the change from orange to coral was the right thing?  I felt the orange was not a soft enough hue against the mint.  Remember that word "jarring" used above in another context.  It was my problem with the orange as well.  The card need more color...just not bold orange!

I am entering this card and my original version into Splitcoaststampers Dirty Dozen Monthly January Themes:  MORE IS MORE.  The instructions are to take any card or project in its first or "minimal" version and then "stepped up" it up in a second version.  The "stepped up" version or remake the card is posted at the beginning in this blog,  and the "minimal," or first version, is the second card picture further down in this post.

Best of 2017 Favorites @ Splitcoaststampers!

I'm in 7th Heaven!!!!  I've had nine of my 2017 cards chosen in the Splitcoaststampers' Favorites - Best of 2017 recently, and three of these were chosen twice!   I also had one card chosen in the CAS Favorites - Best of 2017.  Now that was really a surprise, because rarely do I make a clean and simple card!  I'm speechless and so grateful to the wonderful and crafty multitudes at Splitcoaststampers for giving me so many honors.  

As I have had my cardmaking curtailed in mid-December due some severe hand problems, especially the left, and a right knee flair up, I've been kind of down a bit without my hobby to entertain me.  I've also been absentee blog posting as some may have noticed.  With that said, I thought I would post those cards BESTed again for your browsing!  

Favorites - Best of 2017 Cards

Let It All Hang Out Birthday - posted 8/28/17

 Blog link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/08/let-it-all-hang-out-birthday.html

 First Christmas for a Little Husky Named Zhanna! - posted 9/4/17 (chose 2 times)

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/first-christmas-for-little-husky-named.html

Christmas Card from an Oldie But Goodie! - posted 9/8/17 (chosen 2 times)

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/christmas-card-from-oldie-but-goodie.html

Improving on the Christmas Oldie But Goodie! - posted 9/12/17 (chosen 2 times)

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/improving-on-christmas-oldie-but-goodie.html

A Dedicated 12th Woman Seahawks Fan Birthday! - posted 11/5/17.

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/11/a-dedicated-12th-woman-seahawks-fan.html

My Son's First Father's Day! - posted 6/18/17.  (inspiration from Dar Peterson).

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/06/my-sons-first-fathers-day.html 

Anniversary Twosome Sail with the Breeze! - posted 7/31/18

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/07/an-anniversary-twosome-sail-with-breeze.html

Birthday Jazz for Youngest Son! - posted 9/15/17

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/birthday-jazz-for-youngest-son.html

A Peek at Fall! - posted 9/20/17
Blog Link:  https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2017/09/a-peek-at-fall.html

CAS Favorites - Best of 2017 Cards

New Hat for Spooky Kitty! - posted 10/27/17

Blog Link: https://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2015/10/new-kitty-face-card.html