Tool Time Waterfall Birthday!

It is my husband's birthday in a few days, and as he's quite the handyman; therefoe, I decided on a tool card for him.  I had been itching to do another waterfall card, and I thought this technique would work well with tools for each stage of the waterfall.  This will be my third waterfall card, but it's been almost two years since the last one, which was for Easter 2016.

I have three stamps sets that have carpentry tools on them.  Two of them are about four years old, and the other is just about a year old.  I have made cards with all three, but I wanted my tools to be a bit more realistic and not so cutesy or toy looking, so I surfed the web for Google blackline images and found several that I liked.  I did use the nuts, bolts, screws, and nails from one of my stamp sets.

I wanted to enter a few Splitcoaststampers' challenges, so I looked up what was available before getting started to see if I could fit parts of one thing or another into one or more challenges.  I ended up being able to enter these five challenges...Alphabet Challenge/ Letter W for waterfall/ Extra Double = use decorative scissors (I used old pinking shears); Ways to Use It - Give Me a Second Chance (use old stamps/ tools/ old pinking shears); Inspiration Challenge...something from Needlepoint website to inspire you (colors came from here...serendipity...the kitty even had tools); Use It 2018 (bring out unused or never used crafting items; and the Technique gallery for Waterfall card.  I entered one more...Free 4  All/ F4A415, but I might be fudging a bit......create a pop-up card or use things with a popping theme, i.e., popcorn.  In my Waterfall technique...the waterfall items "pop up" one by one when you pull the ribbon.  There is interaction, but not quite like a "pop up" card, but it still seems like it might fit!

I'm thinking my husband will be very please with his card.  Take a peek below to see what you think.  There will be four views as a waterfall card is interactive and you'll need to see it in each of its stages as it flips up through the layers.

Ingredients:  Solid Papers:  Stampin' Up cardstock - Basic Black, Real Red, Hello Honey, Silver Foil (embossed).  Patterned Papers:  Michaels Open Stock: Golden Grid; Joanns Open-Stock: Silver Check Designer.  Google Search Digital images: tools + 6" ruler (from stash).  Copic Marker colored.  Stampin' Up stamps: Nailed It (bolts, nuts, screws, nails, only).  Dies:  Spellbinders: Circles LG, Pinking Circles LG, Lifestyles Circles (retired).  Punches: 1/2" Circle; 1/8" Hole punch; Zutter Corner Rounder.    Decorative Scissors: Pinking shears.  SU Embossing Folder: Argyle (retired).  Recollections: Screw Brads.  Stampin' Up Ribbon: 1/8" Black w/silver grosgrain.  Fussy-cutting.  Waterfall Technique.  Computer verse/ sentiment.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

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

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).

Birthday Brother-in-Law #2

With my two brother-in-laws having the same birthday date, I had to get busy designing TWO masculine cards.  I don't know about you, but telling me I have to make a masculine card immediately throws me into a sense of panic.  The fact that each year starts out with my two very first cards for the year having to be masculine really throws me into a panic.  Okay, I have one down and am pretty pleased with it.  Now I have to make brother #2 a card too!

I really didn't think I could top my first card, and that added even more stress, but I'm actually equally pleased with card #2. . .SURPRISE to me!  Since all brothers in this family, including my husband, are very handy with tools, from cars, to building, to cabinetry, to plumbing, to electrical, to machinery, they have talent in it all.  So, I decided to stick to hand tools for brother #2 as well.  I used the very same stamp set, Totally Tools, again, and I used a background stamp, Tool Shed, as well.  I bought these two sets of stamps several years ago at the same time, and as mentioned in my post for brother #1, had never used them!  Stampin' Up retired them, making them unavailable for purchase, about three years ago.  I am really happy that I finally dug them out and used them as they went well with my theme in mind.

With my second card, I decided to try making it using the Encore Gold Metallic stamping ink, purchased through Stampin' Up and add gold foil as one of my underlying layers.  I stamped the Tool Shed background stamp onto SU's Night of Navy cardstock.  From there, I built out my underlying layers to determine the size of my card, which turned out 4-3/4" x 6" in size.  I used the Totally Tools stamp set, stamping with StazOn Black onto gold foil to make my tools with gold metal.  I also stamped the tools onto Copic paper and colored the handles in the blue theme.  I fussy-cut each set of tools out, trimming down the handles on the gold foil and adhere my Copic colored handles on top.  I am very pleased with the results.  Don't you love it when it works out the way you had it envisioned in your mind!  I hope Jeff enjoys the results of his happy birthday card.

Recipe:  Cardstocks: Recollections-Cap Code (blue pack), Stampin Up-Night of Navy, Gold Foil.  Darice Core'dinations-Dark Blue Plaid.  Stampin' Up stamps:  Tool Shed (background), Totally Tools, Happiest Birthday Wishes (sentiment).  Ink: Encore Gold Metallic, StazOn Black, Memento Tuxedo Black (stamps to be colored with alcohol-based markers, i.e. Copics/ SU Blendabilities).  Copic markers.  Recollections-Screw Brads (colored gold with Copics).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

First Card - First Birthday Card for 2015!

My first two cards and first birthdays for the 2015 year will be masculine cards!  My husband's two brothers celebrate their birthday on the same day ~ January 5th ~ though one has been celebrating his birthday several years longer than the other.  No, they are not twins!

For the first card, I will be using a stamp set that is one of the first that I ever purchased from Stampin' Up and is four years old, is now retired, and I have never used it!  Wow. . .now that is terrible, because I actually really like this set called Totally Tools.  It, however, was only available in wood stamps, and I do not like to work with wood stamps, because I have a terrible time getting my image lined up exactly where I want it.  Do you suppose this is why I took so long to use it?

I was going to make a antique automobile card for Joe, because he builds antique cars, but I could not find the right image to fit his 1949 Chevy Business Coupe, so I just couldn't get my creative mojo going.  As you can tell, this gentleman is very handy with tools, so my mind went in that direction when I remembered the Totally Tools stamp set. 

I pulled out the set, and then I promptly looked for some Pinterest directions on how to unmount your wood block stamps to turn them into clear-mount stamps.  There are several different directions out there, but I went with the one that microwaves the stamp/block for about 10 seconds.  This loosens the glue on both the foam mounting and the acrylic images that are mounted on either side of your wooden block.  After peeling both off, gently, there is still enough sticky to adhere the acrylic to the stamp foam and trim off the excess acrylic that probably is hanging over the edges of the foam.  No need to separate the rubber from the foam and then have to remount the rubber onto new (and expensive) foam.  To get your now foam stamp to adhere to your acrylic block, the directions I found indicated to sparingly use Tombow glue on the acrylic, smoothing with a foam brush or your finger and let dry for one to two hours.  Then, tap it on your jean-covered leg to remove the excess stickiness, and you are now ready to use your new foam-mounted clear stamp.  I did not follow these glue instructions, as I usually place two-side, removable poster tape on my clear stamps to keep them from falling off the acrylic block when used.

My card uses mustache paper as Joe has that bit of facial hair.  I used a dotted embossing folder on the circle which holds the tools to represent pegboard, which is often used on a garage wall to hang tools from.  I thought that made it a bit more authentic.  I colored my tools with Copic markers to coordinate with the copper-colored foil paper used and fussy-cut them out when finished.  I'm pretty please with my results, and I hope Joe enjoys his card.

  

Recipe:  SU Basic Black cs (base), Kraft cs. Echo Park Times & Seasons/ Spiffy Mustache.  DCWV Cardstock Stack: Foiled/ Copper.  DCWV Everyday Essentials/ Gold Grid.  SU stamps: Totally Tools.  TPC Studio stamps: Greetings.  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink.  Dies: Spellbinders/ Circles LG; Lifestyles/ Nesting Circles. Sizzix Medium Dot Embossing Folder.  Copic markers.  Colorbox Chestnut Roam distressing/ sponging.  Size:  5-1/2" square.

A Son's Birthday in October, 2011

My youngest son, Mark, birthday is in October.  I like to make cards that focus on who the person is. . . .by depicting their job, their hobbies, their travels, etc.  Mark is a builder of homes, and takes after his Dad in being able to repair anything.  One difference from his Dad is that he builds homes from scratch, and that is something that his father has never done, though he can do some pretty major home repairs as needed.  

This was my second birthday card ever for Mark, and I had found these cute little metal tool embellishments during my travels in California and I had to buy them for future use.  They, of course, were perfect for Mark.  I loved the colors on Mark's card and the way it turned out.  One thing that may not be clear by the picture is that the aqua patterned paper just below the tool rectangle mats actually has raised and embossed tools, which is pretty cool-looking on the real card.