It's the BIG 50!

During March, we have several birthdays to celebrate.  One of special significance is to mark my oldest son's half-century birthday...the BIG FIVE-O!  Yes, his 50th birthday.  His fiancé, oldest sister, and I got together to make a day-long adventure out of preparing for the BIG party.  We shopped for many, many balloons...rubber ones in black, metallic gold, white, and clear confetti and Mylar ones in black & brightly colored splatters with CELEBRATE and candles featured, gold 5-0 numbers, plus metallic stars in black, gold, and white!  We bought party supplies for the cake and eating, and LOTS of food.  On the menu was BBQ'd pulled pork sandwiches, coleslaw, homemade baked beans, pasta salad, and beverages!  It was a wonderful day full of fun and laughter and the weather even cooperated with a sunny, balmy 53 degrees.  We were able to play outside with a little help from two patio heaters and some warm sweaters!

To help celebrate this noteworthy halfway mark, I needed a card.  I have long contemplated a woodgrain card using some SU companion papers that I bought back in 2017, Wood Textures. Somehow, I just have never got around to opening the package and making the wonderful masculine patterns into a card. This was the time and the event to make good on this card idea that has been lurking in the recesses of my mind for over five years!  Take a peek below at the completed results both inside and out.  I think David will be thrilled with its final outcome!

Ingredients-- Papers: Cardstock--SU-Basic Black, Copper Foil. Kraft-paper bag recycled. Patterned Paper--SU-Wood Textures (2017-2019). SU Stamps--Picture Perfect Birthday. SU Dies--Seasonal Layers (Scrap stash copper leaves--smaller modified from larger). SU-Embossing Powder/ Black. Colorbox-Chestnut Roan (Ink Distress-Edges). Fold--Front Flap Overlay Fold.  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I originally made this card and posted it to my blog on September 20, 2017.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).

A Peek at Fall!

GOOD NEWS!  

THIS CARD IS NAMED A

SPLITCOASTSTAMPERS FAVORITE OF THE

WEEK ENDING - SEPTEMBER 23, 2017!!

I have been mulling over creative ideas in order to use my Adirondack chairs, which is part of the new die set in Stampin' Up's annual catalog named, "Seasonal Layers."  It a great set with many different dies besides the chair, and it coordinates with the "Colorful Seasons" stamp set.  I went to a card class in June and made several cards using both items, but I have not cracked the seal on my own set, and I was anxious to do so.

I had an idea for an anniversary card, which was my focus when I started this card, with the sentiment inside..."Life is better when there are two," thus the reason for using two Airdondack chairs, but I am undecided, and may use it for one of the many October birthdays on my "To Do" list.

I also wanted to enter the card in several Splitcoaststamper challenges, which helped me come up with my color scheme and making it a fall card.  Take a peek to see how my Adirondack chair card turned out.  Unfortunately, the colors are a bit washed out.  They are much more vibrant in RIL!

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 (colored).  Other products:  Inks--Encore Gold Metallic, Memento Tuxedo Black, Colorbox Chestnut Roan.  Copic markers.  Offray Burlap Weave.  Techniques:  Stamping, Sponging, Coloring.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".  (Woodgrain stamped bg  and the chairs are also Woodgrain embossed to add texture.  Chairs are popped up).

Thinking of My Husband!

My husband had knee-replacement surgery in mid April.  One of my dear friends, and a cardmaking buddy, decided she would send him a Thinking of You card, unbeknown to me.  She asked to borrow my Stampin' Up Moon Lake stamp from the 2015 Occasions mini catalog, saying she wanted to use it for a card for her husband for Father's Day and that she couldn't decide whether to order it.  She is such a sweety. . .she has only met my husband once several years ago at ago. . .so a sweety she certainly is!

Lo and behold, what comes in the mail addressed to my husband late last month? It was a wonderful Thinking of You card using the very Moon Lake stamp she had borrowed.  (See Update Note below...LOL!)  I just absolutely love everything about this card. . .the woodgrain background stamping, the Work of Art faux watercoloring stamp, the lovely and serene color combination; but the piece de résistance. . . take a look at the dock pilings that she has handmade and finished off with hemp twine.  They absolutely look so authentic!  What can I say, a sweety she is, and I thank her for being just that!

UPDATE NOTE:  A funny thing happened after, I posted this. . .   When my friend returned the stamps she had borrowed, it turns out it wasn't the Moon Lake stamp set she borrowed, but several other stamps and dies.  Obviously, I wasn't using them or needing them, so didn't even remember them or miss them!

All About the Witch's Shoes!

As I mentioned earlier this month, I went to a cardmaking event with my Stampin' Up mentor, Liz Thayer.  She designed four cards for us to make at this event.  One of them featured several of the stamps from the new Holiday 2014 catalog, Tee-Hee-Hee.  This particular card features the witch's shoes.

The shoe image is double, shadow stamped using the In-Colors Bermuda Bay and Crisp Cataloupe with their toes finished off with a mini rhinestones. .  . twinkle toes!  We used the Spiral Border punch on both sides of a 1-3/8" wide strip of Crisp Cantloupe, and after punching, it ends up to be a 1" wide strip.  We dressed it up like a shoe lace with the Thick Baker's Twine and mini rhinestones.  What clever ideas Liz!  We background stamped a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock with the Hardwood stamp and then added the Motley Monsters dsp at the bottom. 

I decided to add a few more color layers for a bit more interest.  I trimmed the cardbase of Bermuda Bay to make a mat layers, added another layer of Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer below, and finished it off with a Crisp Cantaloupe card base.  Adding two more layers pops the wonderful card design and enlarges the card just a bit. . . all more to my liking.  Thanks Liz for the cute design. . .I love it!

My coordinating designed for the inside with my little poem about the witch's shoes is completed and can be seen below:

Recipe:  Stampin' Up Papers - cardstock:  Crisp Cantaloupe (base), Bermuda Bay, Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Dazzling Diamonds Glimmer, Motley Monsters dsp.  SU Stamps - Tee-Hee-Hee (2014 Holiday), Hardwood (Annual 2014-15).  SU Ink - Bermuda Bay, Crisp Cantaloupe, Craft White.  SU punches - Spiral Border, 1-3/4" Scallop Circle, 1-3/8" Circle.  Other SU:  Thick Baker's Twine - Crisp Cantaloupe, Rhinestones.

Father's Day Is Soon Here!

Over the years, my husband has built many things involving trees with or for our four children as they grew up.  One of their favorites was the zip line attached across 100 feet of the side yard from maple tree to maple tree (seconded only by the tree house, of course).  They had to climb up on a ladder to catch hold of the handle bars and then jump off.  Away they would sail to the huge maple at the end of the backyard, with the trick being to be sure you got yourself turned around so your feet would stop your speeding travels before you hit the tree, and remember that a trip to the hospital would otherwise be inevitable.  Mom tried not to think of the consequences of a mishap and remember that our children were very agile and Dad was at the end to try and be sure a crash didn't happen!

With the above adventures and Father's Day is just around the corner, and I decided that this year I would do a "tree" card for my husband for Father's Day.  I've been wanting to use my Lovely As a Tree stamp set by Stampin' Up for a very long time, and thought it would be a great card for John for his special day.  I also had to make a few of my own papers for this card as well: a sponged and distressed En francaise background, a Metalllic gold stamped Hardwood background, and a Copic-colored tree.  I think I was in the layering mood as you will see by my finished card below.  I hope you enjoy my card as much as I think my husband will.

Recipe:  Papers: Stampin' Up cs: Old Olive (base), Early Espresso, Sahara Sand, Whisper white; DCWV Glitzy Glitter Stack (gold); Basic Grey: Origin/Hot Stone.  Stampin' Up stamps: Lovely As a Tree; En Francaise; Hardwood.  Stampin' Up Inks:  Early Espresso; River Rock, Burnt Brown Sugar, Cajun Craze, Garden Green (sponged En Francaise); River Rock, Summer Starfruit, Crushed Curry (sponged tree/ sentiment backgrounds); Encore Gold Metallic (Hardwood stamp on E. Espresso cs).  Colorbox Chestnut Roan distressing.  Dies:  Stampin' Up Starburst; Spellbinders Petite Scallop Circles LG/SM.  Punches:  Stampin' Up 2-1//2" Circle; Martha Stewart Corner Rounder.  Tree colored with Copics/ Stampin' Up Irridescent Dazzling Details added.  Stash: Burlap mottled ribbon; Copper brads; Gold metal leaf.  EK punch: Medium Scallop corners (inside).

Birthday Brother Celebration!

My brother celebrates one of those milestone birthdays this month.  I made a card a few months ago designed by my Stampin" Up friend, Liz Thayer, at one of her Friday Night Card Buffets.  I absolutely love the stamp set we used: Timeless Talk, and I was glad that I had already added it to my stamp collection.  I had to use it again for my brother's card to remind him that with this birthday, he is timeless, so I borrowed the telephone-stamped tag design by Liz to add to my brother's card.  Thanks Liz!

I decided to use my new Hardwood stamp, but wanted it bigger so fiddled with stamping and found I could line up the already stamped image again with the stamp edge and re-stamp beside it.  You couldn't even tell where the two met....I was stoked!  The paper I used is a retired paper from Stampin' Up called Mocha Morning, which has a slight gold shimmer in some of the stripes, though it doesn't show up much in the picture of the card.  I decided to try the Gold Metallic Encore ink pad (sold in this year's Stampin' Up Holiday catalog) to stamp my woodgrain onto Early Espresso cardstock.  It was very pretty and shimmery when I finished.  I hated to cover it up, but oh well, it was planned as a layer, so covered up it got, except for framing around the striped layers.  Following is my finished card, and I think my brother will like it really well, especially the verse inside, so I will share it as well!

Recipe:  Stampin' Up papers: Baked Brown Sugar cs (base), Early Espresso cs, Always Artichoke cs, Very Vanilla cs; Mocha Morning Speciality dsp.  Stampin' Up Stamp: Timeless Talk. Inks: Tsukineko Encore--Gold Metallic; Stampin' Up Always Arthichoke.  Stampin' Up Other: Scallop Tag Topper punch, Gold Metallic Baker's Twine, Button.  Recollection: Gold Metallic Star Brad. EK Fancy Corner Punch (inside).