My Son's First Father's Day!!!

My son, Mark, is celebrating his first Father's Day this year, and I wanted his card to be very special.  I recently went to a cardmaking event hosted by Daralee Peterson, where we learn to do a tool box step-card, which turned out delightful.  Since my son is a home-builder by trade, what better card for him than a tool box...something he uses almost everyday of his life!

I had never made a step card before, so for me this was an added challenge to making this card.  I used Stampin' Up's Nail It stamps and Build It framelits dies for all the tools and items popping up all around the card's steps and drawers.  I just love how this turned out, and I'm sure Mark will as well!  Take a peek below: 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up:  Cardstocks-Real Red, Crumb Cake; Silver Foil. Stamps-Nailed It, Urban District, Hardwood. Dies-Build-It framelits.  Ink-Early Espresso, Archival Black, Soft Suede (distressing). Embossing Folder-Hexagons Dynamic EF.  Step-Fold Technique.  Size: 4-/4" x 5-1/2".  (Thanks Dar for your lovely card design to replicate.  I tweaked drawer placement and a few tools to please my eye and created the interior design).

Thank You Needed!

My daughter is getting married at the end of the week.  I needed to make a thank you card or a card that suited a thank you.  At all of Liz Thayer's cardmaking event sponsored that she hosts, she usually provides a bulletin board filled with card that either she has made in the past or acquired at conventions, etc.  She also gives some of her samples away to her regular customers.  I love to be the recipient of one or more of these cards, as they make good samples that might be used for casing in the future.

Today's card post is from that last idea----a sample card that Liz has let me adopt as one of her loyal customers.  I had it in my card sample stash, and I decided to use it for the card I need.  It is not a thank you, but rather a "for you" card, but I thought it would work just right, as it will enclose a check for payment to the solosit/ piano keyboard duo who will sing a medley of songs in the music prelude prior to the wedding ceremony.  A way to keep the guests entertained if they arrive early.

I re-created this card almost without any changes, and it gave me my first opportunity to try a step-style.  It is a lovely card using the Sunflower stamp set that retired after the 2013-2014 annual catalog.  I loved the little brown butterfly on the big Crushed Curry sunflower.  I am not sure who should get credit for the original design.

Recipe:  Stampin' Up products:  Soft Suede, Very Vanilla, Early Espresso cardstocks.  Sunflower, Chalk Talk (sentiment).  Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Early Espresso.  Itty Bitty Butterfly, 1-1/4" Circle punches.  1/8" Early Espresso Taffeta ribbon.  Rhinestone jewels. Inside: Fancy Photo Corners. (CASE from author unknown).

Card Pressies and Lunch Thank Yous!

My birthday is coming up at the end of August, and my two wonderful cardmaking friends took me to lunch a few days before my birthday and showered me with lunch, goodies, and lovely handmade cards.  It was such a wonderful occasion where we had the chance to catch up on our lives and fun events of our summer as we had not had the opportunity to make cards or visit with one another for several months.  I must share their wonderful card pressies for all who read my blog to enjoy!

My first round of thanks goes to Charlene for her wonderful handmade step card and gift bag holding my embossing folder goodies.  Isn't this gift bag just too cute!  She used her Circuit to make the large round doily that became the top of the gift bag. . .I absolutely LOVE it!  I must also applaud Charlene for the pro that she is in making cards with the step technique.  For several years, I have admired step cards from afar, but never worked up the courage to actually try making one myself.  Charlene tells me it isn't difficult, and I give her that skeptical glare with the "yeah, right" attitude.  I did tell her that now that I had her card as a sample right in front of me to follow, I might be brave enough to give it a try.  Isn't this card just too adorable!

 

Gift Bag by Charlene Inks

Step-Card by Charlene Inks

My second big round of thank yous goes to my good friend and cardmaking buddy, Sandy, for this beautiful shaker card, which was accompanied by the WRMK "tool" and the Memory Box die to enable me to make one myself.  I just love the idea of being able to heat seal my own shaker cellophane bags that can be customized to whatever size is needed.  What a great idea!  I can't wait to try it out.  Isn't this card just too feminine...I love cards in pink!

by Sandy Stroble

Thank you ladies, you are very special and what a lovely surprise starting off my birthday several days before it arrived.  Here I thought it was just a spur of the moment get-together to catch up with each other, gab, and shop at the local craft stores as we usually do when we go out to lunch!