Getting Ready for October Birthdays!

My good friend Carla is hosting her first Dare to Get Dirty challenge this month, and though I am sorry to say, I do not have any time to really get into the nitty gritty of trying to get all these challenges completed, I thought I'd at least try Carla's challenge.

These Dare to Get Dirty Challenges are created for fan club members to participate in, and we are not allowed to divulge the nuts and bolts of the challenge requirements, but I also checked out some of the other SCS challenges currently running to see if they would tweak my creative mojo.  

An Inspiration Challenge orange t-shirt with leaves reminded me that I have a whole slew of October family birthdays that include sons, nephews, sister-in-laws, children and SCS friends.  I thought I'd make a card with a fall theme that would help my huge October card needs.  A fall theme will also work for the Alphabet Challenge, Letter P = Persimmon Orange and Pumpkin Orange.

My card idea will work for one of my sister-in-law cards or one of my female friends, but I think I might just earmark it for one of my good friends.  I thought I would take a walk down nostalgia lane and color the little girl image I chose with woodless-colored pencils.  The image is a CC Designs fall digital image of a little girl pulling a wagon filled with a delightful fall pumpkin.  I've had this digital image in my stash for a number of years.

My finished little girl with her rosy cheeks is ready to deliver her little red wagon loaded with her happy birthday pumpkin to my dear friend.  Now, I can put a check mark by my friend's name to show that her card is finished.  Take a peek at her finished birthday card inside and out.

Recipe:  SU cardstock:  Whisper White, Tangelo Twist, Chocolate Chip.  DSP: Joann's Open Stock.  CC Designs digital image: Pumpkin Emma.  Die:  Papertrey Ink-Large ZigZag.  Coloring: Progresso Koh-I-Noor Woodless-Colored Wax Pencils (Michaels).  Mineral Spirits (WalMart).  Stash:  Orange Felt, button, cream crochet thread.  Punch:  EK Scallop Photo Corners LG.  Chatterbox sentiment/verse (computer).  Size:  5-1/4" square.

Little Reese Turns One!

One of my little nephew's is turning one-year old this month.  Reese has an older nine-year old brother, for whom I have always made birthday cards, so Reese gets to become one of my permanent birthday card recipients as well.  See the finished card I chose for him below:

Ingredients:  Cardstocks: Bazzill--Tapioca (yellow), Aruba (aqua).  Stampin' Up--Very Vanilla.  Patterned paper: My Mind's Eye--Be Loved/ Fond Flowers.  Magnolia stamp: Edwin the Bug Catcher.  Spellbinders: Labels Eight.  Punches: Zutter Corner Rounder; EK Scallop-LG Corner (modifed to rounded corners).  Progresso Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored pencils with mineral spirits.  Recollections: Gold rhinestones.  Ribbon: 5/8" Offray Chocolate Double Satin.  Distressing: Colorbox Chestnut Roan.  Computer-made sentiment.  Size: 5" x 7".

Story + Tidbits

Reese's card is one that I actually made during a 2010 card tutorial class on woodless pencil coloring and cardmaking skills!  The class and card designs were created by my sister, Heidi Gonzales, who owned a scrapbook store at the time.  Take a look at the wonder coloring textures that she taught us in coloring his shirt.  

Yikes, I just realized this card is way older than its recipient by over five years!  Now, don't think I have never given this card away because I hate the card, but rather, the reason is that I loved this Magnolia stamped little Edwin the Bug Catcher so much that I hated to part with him.  He also represents the last card I have of my first attempts to color using the woodless colored pencils and Gamsol for blending and setting the colors, a coloring technique I used before I jumped to Copic marker coloring.

Another reason I still had it in my possession was because I really considered it a "little boy card," and I waited so long to give it up that eventually all my nephew's grew too old for it.  With the birth of Reese last year, I decided this was the time to part with it, and to Reese it would belong even though he still a bit young for bug catching.  But, you will note that the verse ties in bug catching that will surely be in his future.

When making my card, I tweaked the design just a bit by making it larger, from a 4-1/4" x 5-1/2" size to 5" x 7" size.  In addition, I used a different and larger die set behind Edwin and added a few more rhinestones to the front ribbon.  The inside is completely my own creation from paper to verse. 

Coloring Manifesto!

I got involved in coloring early on in my cardmaking venture.  I actually have had several posts on my introduction to coloring over the years.  Here is a link to my very first post with samples of what I did:
http://chatterboxcreations-1.blogspot.com/2012/05/learning-to-color_31.html

I have to admit that I found coloring a scary proposition to even get myself to where I was willing to try my hand at it.  After my introduction to coloring using woodless-colored pencils, set with mineral spirits, I graduated, several years ago now, to using Copic Markers.  I have tried several other coloring methods, but I have to say Copics are my favorite coloring tool!   I am posting a Coloring Manifesto that I recently came across, which I wish I had seen early on to give me the courage to start coloring even earlier than I did.

So, you can do it yourself!  But if you need moral support and a helping hand, there are scrapbook stores around that give classes to help you get started like I did.  I was fortunate that I had a sister who ran a scrapbook store at that time and was well versed in coloring (and painting).  She was also a GREAT teacher, because, after all, that is what she actually is.. . .a GREAT teacher, who encourages and gives her students the confidence to persevere!   So, I give thanks to my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner), for bolstering my courage just to get started!

Birthday Belatedly!

I've been under the weather a bit with mouth and sinus surgery, and my time management skills have flown out the window.  Had I been able to be more organized, I would have this birthday card made and off in the mail before this birthday arrived, as my surgery was actually on the date of the birthday.  Time seemed to get away from me prior to the surgery getting things done (or not), so here I am sending this card off very late.  

With time a limitation, I used a card kit developed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner blog).  I did manage to almost finish the card front the day before my friends birthday.  I ran out of time to complete the inside decorations and verse, having no idea I was going to be feeling under the weather for as long as I have, thus making the card sent so very late.  I am posting Fran's card on her birthday even though I know she doesn't look at card blogs.  (You get to see it on time, but she does not. . . is that fair?)

Added post: So now that I am feeling better, the debate began, will this be really strange to send a card this late.  I want our friend to know she was thought of before her birthday, during her birthday,  and then after, as her card sat unfinished on my crafting table.  I decided to finish it, send it, and give her that message.  I hope she enjoys her card.  I did check to make sure there was no mold growing on it!

And here is the completed inside with the message of a belated birthday apology and a dash of Iffy humor thrown in, I hope!

Recipe:  Paper:  Stampin' Up-Whisper White cs (card base), Night of Navy cs, Cherry Cobbler cs.  Pinkpaislee-Starlight/ Glow (back).  Paper Loft-Old Towne Tavern/ Franklin (stars).  Magnolia stamp: Tilda Sailor Girl.  Spellbinders dies:  Circles; Scalloped Circles.  Sentiment: handmade.  Progresso Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored pencils with mineral spirits.  Stash: 5/8" Grograin ribbon, red button, blue netting, twine.  (Size: 5-1/2" square). 

A Cardmaking Buddy Birthday!

One of my cardmaking buddies had a birthday in the busy month of October...bless her heart!  With so many pasts due in October, I decided to publish her card in November.  In making her card, I decided to finished off the last card from the Magnolia stamp card kit designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (Lil' Scrap Corner blog) several years ago.  

Once again, I added some changes to suit my cardmaking style and make the card more me.  I used the Bazzill Lakeshore blue cardstock intended as a mat layer to add another scallop layer under the scalloped flower strip upon which the little Tilda stamp sits in her circle frame.  As I have the Basic Grey Pyrus papers from which this kit was made, I decided to add the striped pattern as my mat layer and add a chocolate chip cardbase instead of white.  I also made my card a more compact rectangle, 6-1/4" x 5" instead of the long narrow rectangle in the original design.  My sentiment also changed from a thanks card to a birthday card.

With my card design set, I colored my little stamped image using the woodless-colored pencil technique with mineral spirits, drawing from the colors in the Pyrus papers.  I then fussy-cut her so she could sit on her circular frame.  I was rewarded by my paper changes with a card full of rich colors. . .very much a fall birthday card to a tee.  I think Charlene will enjoy her birthday wishes brought to her by little Tilda in her patched jeans, head scarf, and little jacket.

Recipe:

Paper:  SU Chocolate Chip (base); Bazzill Lakeshore cs; Basic Grey Pyrus--Bradford/ Plymouth; BoBunny Double Dot--Chocolate Dot/ Rust Dot.  Dies/ Punches: Spellbinders Scallop Circles/ Circles.  Papertrey Ink: Small Scallop Border.  SU Modern Labels / Word Window punches.  Other:  Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored pencils (Michaels).  Mineral spirits (WalMart).  Papertrey buttons.  May Arts: Hemp Twine.  Computer sentiment.

#8 is My LAST Sister-in-Law Birthday for 2014!

The last of my sister-in-law birthdays is in October and is also a sister of my husband!  As I said on the previous post these two cards would be arriving a tad bit belated due to all our family activities and celebrations the last few weeks of September and the first week of October!  For this last card, I decided to use another kit from my Magnolia Tilda card set designed by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner), and with a few changes to suit my use of the card and sentiment placement.  Once again, I revisited using woodless-coloring pencils set with Mineral Spirits.  This plump little Tilda is called Swirling Leaf Tilda, and she is adorable with her windswept braids, swirling leaves, and what look like stylish Doc Martin boots---once again perfect with fall colors.

This card will travel to Utah to wish Judy a very happy belated birthday, and let her know we were thinking about her on her actual birthday.  Though her card was made before her birthday, it could not possibly arrive with snail mail until a few days later.  Happy Birthday Judy!  Enjoy your little Tilda card.

Next, I created the interior design to compliment the front and composed a little story verse for a belated birthday card.

Recipe:

Paper:  Georgia-Pacific White cs; Bazzill: Tangelo/ Lagoon. Basic Grey: Pyrus-Perry 2.  Stamps:  Magnolia Swirling Leaf Tilda.  Dies:  Spellbinders Circles/ Scallop Circles.  Punches: EK Medium Scallop Corners (inside).  Other:  Progresso Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored pencils (Michaels).  Mineral spirits (WalMart).  3/8" Two-tone double-sided satin (Offray). Twine (May Arts). Computer sentiment. Stash: buttons.

Sister-in-Law Birthday Celebrations!

October is a BIG cardmaking month for me with numerous family and friend birthdays and my anniversary card to my husband!  With two birthday cards under my belt, I now turn to my last two sister-in-law birthdays this month only one day apart.  My first card is for my husband's youngest of four sisters.  I had a little card kit designed by my sister, Heidi, Gonzales (My Lil' Stamp Corner), and decided to put it together with just a few changes to suit my needs.  I revisited  the use of woodless colored pencils on the Patch Tilda stamp by Magnolia.  She is fussy-cut and popped up off her Spellbinders Labels 9 frame.  Isn't she a cutie in her patched coveralls---perfect for a fall-colored card.  

I am pretty happy with the way my coloring job turned out after not using this technique for over three years after converting to Copic markers as my coloring tool of choice.  I even remember how to use the Mineral Spirits to set the color between shades.  I think June will like her card, though it will be a few days late due to so many activities and celebrations within our own immediate family in the early days of October.

I finished off the inside of the card to coordinate with the outside design and made up a little verse to fit with belated birthday greetings.

Recipe:

Paper:  Georgia-Pacific White cs; Bazzill: Tangelo/ Simon. Basic Grey: Pyrus-Pyrinae/ Pirum.; BoBunny Shiitake DoubleDot.  Stamps:  Magnolia Sitting Patch Tilda.  Dies:  Spellbinders Labels 9.  Punches: EK Medium Scallop Corners (inside).  Other:  Progresso Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored pencils (Michaels).  Mineral spirits (WalMart).  Twine (May Arts). Computer sentiment. Stash: Crochet lace, buttons.

A Good Friend's Birthday!

One of my long-time friends, a friendship that started way back in the early 1990's, is having her birthday.  We worked together for over six years and then she transferred to another school.  We try to keep in touch, along with a few other ladies, with at least a quarterly "girls' night out," which we are presently behind on with each of our many family obligations.  But, for sure on her birthday, I want to wish her the very best day and the very best in the coming year until her next birthday, when I will renew my birthday wishes again!

I made this card several years ago from a card kit my sister designed when she owned her scrapbooking store.  It was done with Progresso Koh-I-Noor woodless-colored pencils, set with mineral spirits; those were the days before I learned how to use Copic markers.  It's fun to look back on those colored images.  I am amazed with the coloring job you achieve with just 24 different colors by coloring lightly, adding more pressure, and adding shadings and shadows.  Even looking at it now, it was a pretty good coloring job, if I don't say so myself!  I thought this little bundled up Magnolia stamp Tilda would be just right for a birthday during our cold, rainy winter months in the Seattle area.  I think Carla will like her card.

Recipe:  Bazzill cardstocks: Tangelo, Saguaro.  Basic Gray: Pyrus.  Spellbinder dies: Scallop Squares LG, Long Scallop Rectangles LG, Labels Four.  Magnolia stamp.  Koh-I-Noor Woodless Colored pencils.  WalMart Mineral spirits.  May Arts Twine.  Computer-made sentiment.

Ladybug Tilda Visits for a Niece's Birthday

Another of my niece's has an October birthday. . .this time late in the month.  Sara has bought her first home and has a lovely garden every year.  My guess is she probably has some very large pumpkins in her garden right now.  Last year she should have entered the Guiness Book of Records because I think she would have won for the strangest looking and strangest shaped pumpkin grown.  She managed a hybrid between a green squash and a pumpkin somehow without even trying!  With this in mind, I thought a visit from Ladybug Tilda would be just right.  Tilda brings a large ladybug with her, which I have heard are good for gardens!

This card features a Magnolia stamp on its front and was one of the cards I made when I first started cardmaking back in 2010.  I look back on it and think, "you know that wasn't too bad."  I had never done any coloring before, and this class I took from my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner) taught woodless-colored pencil coloring using mineral spirits to set the color.  It was a fun way to color images for cards, but I have to say, I do prefer my Copic markers today!  I hope Sara enjoys her Tilda with her Ladybug birthday card.

Recipe:  Magnolia stamp: Ladybug Tilda. Woodless Coloring Pencils (available at Michaels). Papers: cream cs, Bazzill-Paprika & Sour Lemon cs, MME-Be Loved. SU Punches: Modern Label, Word Window. Offray 3/8" Mint satin ribbon. Red-Orange dew drops.

Brother Mike's Birthday!

At the beginning of May, my brother, Mike celebrated another birthday!  I was so busy visiting with Mom that the time got away from me and our planned visit to celebrate with him snuck up on me!  I had to delve into my stash to come up with a card really quick!  

I made this card several years ago in a class taught by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (her blog: mylilscrapcorner.blogspot.com) with an emphasis on learning to color images with woodless-colored pencils and paper-piecing (Ed's umbrella is paper-pieced and the rest of him is colored).  I thought these stamps were so darn cute.  I'm glad I had a chance to given "Ed, the umbrella man" away to someone who would appreciate him.

Working on June Birthdays!

I have several birthdays in June, so I am diving into my stash of cards I made during the last month and tweaking them here and there to suit these special birthdays.  One of my signature traits is to always decorate the inside and compose a verse or poem to suit the person who will be receiving the card.  So far, here is what I've come up with. . .

This card will be for John's mother's birthday TODAY!

She IS 97 ...WOW!

This card was taught by Amy Muhly at a Stampin' Up workshop.  

I loved learning this embossed brayer technique...very elegant!

I tweaked my layout a bit and my sentiment ribbon is a birthday, 

but the flavor of Amy's design is retained.  Stampin' Up Beautiful Wings Embosslit (Sizzilit die) die-cuts the butterflies.

And now the inside decorations and a verse for a wonderful lady...

Happy Birthday Alice!

This little girl will be a birthday card for John's aunt...her 91st!
The card's techniques were taught by my sister, Heidi Gonzales (My Lil' Scrap Corner):  tri-fold card design, coloring with woodless-colored pencils and paper-piecing (skirt).  I enlarged the card from its original design.

And now its verse...Happy Birthday, Aunt Joanie!

I think this is the perfect card for my sister-in-law, 

who lives in warm and sunny California.  I'm sure they must be at least 20 degrees warmer than our northwest Washington location!

(Card class by Heidi Gonzales to introduce Stampin' Up Smooch papers.)

And now a verse for my newest sister-in-law...Happy Birthday Thelma!

2011 Birthday: Mom-in-Law is #96!

My mother-in-law, Alice, was 96 on her birthday in June 2011.  I made this little card with her in mind when I was practicing coloring with woodless-colored pencils (Progresso Koh-I-Noor purchased from Michaels).  I thought of her at the time, because I think you very well might have found ladies wearing just such hats in the year of her birth 1915!

This card slants toward the vintage "simple and clean" that I'm not even sure really exists as a style of card.  I used the paper-piecing technique on her hat and the hat band. . .that was a lot of fun!  I think making vintagey cards brings on a bit of nostalgia for a simpler place and time.  Her is Alices birthday card, and I hope she enjoys the card as much as I enjoyed making it.

(Heidi Gonzales design that I modified and tweaked a bit to say "me.")