A Jalopy for My Brother!

My brother's birthday is coming up in May, and I wanted to get his card started early so I could take my time while still recovering, slow but sure, from knee replacement surgery.  It uses the stamp set I order in March from Stampin' Up named, Country Livin', which is perfect for my brother because his hobby is restores old jalopy cars and pickups into beautifully restored vehicles.  Take a peek below at the finish card both inside and out.

Ingredients:  Paper:  Stampin' Up cardstock--Dapper Denim, Soft Suede, watercolor paper; DCWV The Guy Stack (grid).  Stampin' Up stamps: Country Livin' (truck), Guy Greetings (sentiment), Hardwood (bg).  Stampin' Up Ink: Garden Green, Soft Suede).  Stampin ' Up Embossing Folder: Woodgrain (ret.).  Stampin' Up ribbon: 5/8" Burlap.  Copic Markers.  Hand-cut double fishtail.  Chatterbox verse/computer prepared.  Size:  4-1/2 x 5-3/4".  

"The Card Story"

This card started out in a Stampin' Up card class with the original design by one of our hostesses, Dar Peterson.  I did not finish the card, because I wanted to modify it a bit to fit the Round 8, Alphabet Challenge...Letter J for jalopy and also to use Copic markers to color the stamped image instead of Aqua Painter and inks.   

I also reviewed several other Splitcoaststamper challenges to see if I could glean any additional ideas, and I found I was on the right track to fit several others as well.  I even got affirmation from the current Inspiration Challenge at the Smithsonian Institute under the "America on the Move" collection discussing the history of vehicle transportation in the U.S.  Under pickup trucks, it features a nice blue 1949 GMC pickup.  My idea to have a blue truck color would work perfectly, though my truck depicts a jalopy truck in need of restoration.

Not only did I change the coloring medium to Copics from the original design, but I also ended up modifying the card's sentiment from Father's Day card to a birthday card.   In addition, the alpha challenge I planned to enter has a double challenge to add Quadrille (grid) paper, which I did in the form of the soft blue DCWV grid paper for the sentiment background.  I also added this grid as an extra mat layer as well.  In addition, I decided my woodgrain background would be even nicer if I embossed it with the Woodgrain embossing folder.  I'm really pleased with my end results, and I think Mike will be equally pleased to show off his sister's card on the mantel at home!

New Son-in-Law Has An October Birthday!

I jokingly told my youngest daughter when she became engaged that one of the criteria I should have demanded in her choosing a husband be that his birthday did NOT fall in October. . .but, wouldn't you know. . .another October birthday!!  Now, I needed to figure out what kind of a card would be best for my new son-in-law.  He has a number of activities and hobbies that he enjoys, which include car racing, riding ATV quads in the sand and dirt, dirt bike riding, hiking, and planning vacations.  These two just returned from a belated two-week honeymoon to Florida, where I am positive they went to every amusement park and tourist attraction in that State!

After giving it some thought, I decided I would do a racing car card, because Josh has a 1979 baby blue Chevy Camaro race car.  He and his father have been involved in short-course racing since Josh was a young boy.  Though he has not raced his baby blue Camaro for a few years now, I am sure that at some time in the future, he will pick up this life-long hobby again.  Since I could not find a 1979 Chevy Camaro image to color, I decided on a 1969 RGX Camaro, which according to what I read is a much desired car.  Personally, I did not see a lot of difference between the two cars when I looked a photographs of actual cards, especially with the digital image that I found online of the 1969.  Take a look at Josh's finished card inside and out. . .I think he will be very pleased with one of his mother-in-law's homemade birthday cards made with only him in mind.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up cardstock: Night of Navy, Old Olive, Vintage Natural.  Darice Core-dinations Glitter Paper: Ball Gown. My Mind's Eye pattern: Lost & Found Two/ Breeze Boyish Plaid.   Graphic 45: Happy Haunting (black/cream check).  Spellbinders: Deckled Ovals LG, Nested Ovals SM.  Sizzix BigDie: Weathered Clock.  EK Punch: Scalloped Corners-LG.  WRMK Punch: Deco Corner.  Heidi Swapp Metallic Accents.  Stampin' Up Glitter Brad.  Google Online: 1969 Chevy Camaro digital image.  Copic Markers.  Computer-made sentiment/ verse.  Size:  5-3/8" x 6".