Birthday Wishes for a Friend!

I still had some more papers and elements from the Made to Bloom card kit that needed using.  I put my thinking cap on to design another alternative design of my own using the green patterned paper provided. 

 
Since I needed a birthday card for a friend I decided this would be the theme.  I added a Blackberry Bliss card base and a gold foil mat layer beneath the green pattern.  I used the gold foil edged scallop banner and applied the flowers similar to the card design provided, but with added layering and sparkly center gems.  I fussy-cut and inked-edge distressed the flowers, layered them, dressed them up with acrylic glitter glaze centers and a Goosebump Gem colored to simulate Blackberry Bliss with Copic markers.  At the base of the scalloped banner, I  stamped the "Birthday Wishes" sentiment onto a scalloped die cut matted with a larger gold foil scalloped die-cut to change the finishing edge of the banner and its look.

Take a look at my friend's finished birthday card, inside and out...I think she will enjoy it!  It is a good way to keep in touch as we have not been able to socialize since Covid started.

Ingredients:  Cardstock--Blackberry Bliss, Gold Foil. Kit--Made to Bloom Kit (2019 Occ.). Stamps--Fancy Phrases. Dies--SU Layering Oval Framelits. Sargent Acrylic Glitter Glaze. Queen & Co.--Twinkle Goosebump Gems (Copic colored). ColorBox Chestnut Roan Ink Edge Distressing. EK punch--Victorian Corner. Chatterbox computer verse. Size: 4-3/4x6-inches.

A Birthday Walk Celebration!

My husband's birthday is in early February.  He is an avid walker, but has not been able to walk as often or as long since his last knee surgery in late June.  It was a difficult recovery, even down to falling and splitting the stitches three weeks after surgery.  This, of course, required an emergency trip to the hospital, another in-patient stay, debriding and re-stitching.  Fortunately, none of the kneecap and joint replacement area below was invaded, only the skin layers down to the knee cap (yes, they replace the knee cap after the joint replacement).

Celebrating his ability to now be out walking in our wooded country scenery, I have decided on a woodland embossed card with a cascade leaf "bouquet" for his card.  I really like the peek-a-boo sentiment area...my first time trying that idea, and I always love ink distressed embossed backgrounds, particular with the woodland embossing folder!  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out:

Ingredients: Stampin' Up products: Cardstocks--Mossy Meadow, Island Indigo, Pumpkin Pie, Very Vanilla. Stamps/dies--Vintage Leaves/ Leaflets Framelits. Inks--Mossy, Meadow, Island Indigo, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede. Punch--Washi Label. Embossing Folder--Woodland. 1/4" Cotton Ribbon--Island Indigo. Metallic Baker's Twine. Wink of Stella--Gold. Chatterbox Verse. Size--4-3/4" x 6".

January Celebrations...Just A Little Bit Late!

I missed a few birthdays in January and here I am playing catch-up!  I think that word, "catch-up" might be imprinted on my DNA!  I'm still finding myself in the mood to search out oldies to use from my stash.  I've decided if I don't think I'm ever going to reuse it (or even use it for the first time), it might be time to send it on to some other pasture, however that old saying goes!  I found an old 2008 wood stamp set a friend gave me.  Since I really don't like wood stamps, it was time to unmount it if I'm going to keep it and use it an even better idea!  I thought I'd give it a go and see how it might fit my card.  Then, I found the 2013 SAB Feeling Sentimental stamp set...I love the penny-farthing bicycle, I and have used it, but not the sentiment "Celebrate," which could be used for this birthday card.  Before letting my creative mojo get ramped up to far, I needed to take a look at my Splitcoaststampers Challenge List to add those guidelines into my thoughts.

With my two stamps in mind, I was able to find 11 SCS challenges that I could use if I designed my card just right!  Take a look at my finished card inside and out after letting all my notes percolate.  I'm hoping the recipient likes her card when it finally arrives!

Ingredients: SU Cardstock--Early Espresso, Pool Party, Soft Suede, Very Vanilla. Patterned DSP--stash scraps. SU Ink--Soft Suede. SU stamps--Eastern Blooms (2008 Fall-Winter), Feeling Sentiment (2013 SAB-sentiment). SU punch--3/4" circle. Lace--stash. Copic marker (pearl coloring). Colorbox Ink--Dark Brown (edge distressing). Chatterbox verse (computer). Size--4-3/4" x 6".

Love of Chocolate & Friends

I needed a little friendship appreciation card for someone who is always helpful, kind, and makes my life easier whenever she can!  I always have it in the back of my mind to use old stuff in my stash whenever I can probably because of the Splitcoaststampers' Use It Challenge, which requires just that...bring out the dusty old stuff and use it!   Read on to find out why that's just what I did for this card.

My friend and I have a love of chocolate, plus we are both involved in Stampin' Up products and cardmaking.  Thinking about chocolate, brought to mind a stamp set from way back when...2011 as it turns out!  Pulling out these old stamps led to using other old and retired items as well!  Take a peek below at the inside and outside of the finished already mailed and on its way!

Ingredients:  SU Cardstock--Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip & Pretty in Pink (retired).  Ink: Early Espresso, Soft Suede (ink distress).  Retired SU products: Stamps--Eat Chocolate (2011 Occ.-retired); Decorative Label punch; Polka Dots Embossing Folder; 1/4" Grosgrain ribbon (stash).  Zutter Corner Rounder punch.  Size: 3" x 6" Mini Slimline.

A Shen Yun Celebration!

I've been intrigued by the wonderful cards being posted on Splitcoaststampers for the Alphabet Challenge, Letter "J" for JUNK.  Some fabulous creations can be seen from collages of pieces of "junk" possibly ready to be thrown out, to magazine pictures, junk mail, old envelopes, package wrapping, etc.  There are "junk" backgrounds, "junk" collage cards and mini-albums, elements made from "junk" throw-aways, etc.  I have been saving a beautiful picture and advertisement about the upcoming Shen Yun ballet to be performed in the Seattle area in April that I received several months ago for just for this kind of challenge "junk" challenge.  

It would be my dream to attend with my "girls," which includes my two daughters, my daughter-in-law and myself.  I was hoping I might feel comfortable enough to attend and buy tickets for all of us to celebrate our birthdays past that we have missed due to Covid.  I remember several such festive occasions to the ballet, to musical plays, etc. in years past!  So, here is my card depicting my dream night out made into a birthday celebration card, which would be perfect with those tickets enclosed as a birthday gift:

Ingredients:  SU Cardstocks--Blushing Bride, Melon Mambo. Recollections Glitter Paper (Copic colored). Celebrate die. SU Curvy Corner Trio punch. Recollections Colored Pearls.  Shen Yun Advertisement Picture. Colorbox Chestnut Roan Ink (ink edge distressing).  Size: 4-3/4" x 6".

Happiest of Birthdays for an SCS Friend!

One of the ladies on Splitcoaststampers has a birthday in January, and she has kindly sent me a few cards over the years.  I seems to always be behind the eight ball and never have enough cards finished to send timely.  Even though that was still the case, I made up my mind that I would send her a card in January this year even if it was late.  It is on the way!

Take a peek at the cheerful little card sprinkled with lots of color and sequins that I made for her.  I'm hoping the Post Office is speedy in their delivery since she lives out of state from me and it's already late.  

Ingredients: Stampin' Up products:  Cardstock--Basic White, Lemon Lime Twist, Bermuda Bay, Daffodil Delight.  Pattern Paper--Bubbles & Fizz (2018 SAB).  Ink--Bermuda Bay, Lemon Lime Twist, Daffodil Yellow.  Stamps--Picture Perfect Birthday sentiment + confetti).   Dies--2-3/8" Stitched Circles.  Ribbon--1/8" Satin Bermuda Bay (2018 SAB Shimmer ribbon pack).  Other products:  Dies--Lifestyles Eyelet Circles.  Pretty Pink Posh--sequins.  EK Victorian Corner punch. Chatterbox computer verse.  Size:  4-3/4" x 6".

Under the Weather?

My youngest son has been quite sick for going on his second week.  I thought I'd make a fun card to get a little smile and give some encouragement to get well.  I've been wanting to finish off some OLD Alphabet Challenge Rounds using the letter Z for Zany, so I purposeful sought out a zany, quirky digital image to color with my Copics.  I think I found the perfect image to make a fun card and to fulfill zany all rolled into one!  Take a look below at the finished card inside and out!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up:  Cardstock--Real Red. DSP--2012-2014 In-Color Stack (Midnight Muse Stripe, Summer Starfruit Dots). Dies: Reverse Confetti Lacy Scallop Frame; Lawn Fawn--Grassy Hillside.  Digital image: source unknown.  Copic Markers.  Journal Black Pen.  White Gel pen. 

An Anniversary for January!

This card is for my youngest daughter and her husband in celebration their fifth anniversary.  I wanted to send them a card to mark this half-decade event, and I decided on a little bit of fall to mark the season in the year that we all spent so much time together getting the wedding and reception all arranged.  They married in a large barn, and my son-in-law was instrumental in using CAD software to arrange the layout for the wedding area and the reception.  One-third of the barn was used for the wedding "stage" with garden arbor and seating, and the other two-thirds was set up for the reception.  I distinctly remember one blustery fall evening when we drove to the barn for measurements to see if his drawings worked...being an engineer, I never doubted him!

Take a look at their finished anniversary card.  I may have to explain the fall design to them, but I'm sure they will enjoy their card made by one of their Moms!

Ingredients:  BoBunny Double Dot--Rust; Echo Park patterned dsp; Papertrey Ink: Autumn Acorns stamps/ dies. Spellbinders: Labels 16 Nested dies (sentiment frame); 3/8" stash ribbon; Computer-made sentiment.

So Sweet Thank You!

 My Mom has been my go-to-person for getting my stamps, dies, and "must have" Stampin' Up items since I resigned as a Stampin' Up demonstrator back in August.  If they would just stop inventing new stuff that I just can't live without, it would help.  I wanted to send her a little thank you card just to let her know how much I appreciate all her work...I do know what a big job it is to get things entered and on order in a timely manner in order to take advantage of sales that pop up every now and then!

I decided to check out my “To Dos” stash and finish a card I started back in early 2016.  This little chick was an SAB freebie, and I started coloring her when I was away from home, and didn't have my Copic markers with me.  I was not super happy with how she turned out.  I don't find I'm very skillful using water-base markers in getting any blending or shading.  I did try to go back and "fix her up" with my Copic markers later, but I'm not sure I improved upon her at all!  I did add a little ground shading so she was not floating in the air!

  
Originally, I was trying out a honeycomb paper balloon embellishment, but I found they don't store well and are flimsy and pull apart easily, so I tore off the honeycomb and added a glitter balloon made from a Duck Tape Rainbow Glitter roll that I bought about three years ago, but never opened the package to try it out.  It really is quite pretty and I think it works quite well with my color scheme.

I shipped off a check to pay Mom for my order along with this little So Sweet thank you card.  I think Mom will enjoy the thoughtfulness even if it was just a quick and speedy card!  Take a peek below at my inside and outside finished card for Mom!

Ingredients:  Ingredients: SU Products: Cardstock--Basic Black, Basic White. DSP: Perfectly Artistic (2016 SAB) Stamps: Honeycomb Happiness (2016 SAB). Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black. Punch: 1-1/2" Circle. Stamp-Write Markers: Daffodil Delight, Pumpkin Pie. Copic Markers. Ribbon: stash. Inside: Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride. Scalloped Scallops punch.  Other: Savvy Dies: Thank You Cursive. Duck Tape: Rainbow Glitter. Size-4-3/4" x 6".

Let's Have Cattail Weather for a January Birthday!

My husband's brother has an early, early January birthday, and I wanted to make a card for him this year since I've missed several birthdays during Covid!  Masculine cards are more difficult for me, so I need lots of inspiration to get my creative mojo brewing, and I'm already running out of time in order to beat the lengthy out-of-state mailing time. 

The weather here and in northern California has been really cold for the last several weeks, and I know the family has all been talking about...let's bring on the warmth!  Ultimately, I decided to case a card I made over two years ago so that I could use its wonderful cattail scenery dies again and speed up my finishing time with the idea of let's bring on that warm cattail weather and a lovely sunset sky!  We sure need some gold rays and are already getting tired of winter!

My husband has decided to send his brother an email picture of his card inside and out on his birthday just in case it does not arrive on time!  Now that's being proactive!  Take a peek below at the repeat version of my own old card and the inside design with my BIL's birthday verse!

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstocks--Rich Razzleberry, So Saffron, Soft Suede, Naturals-Ivory (retired).  Inks--Rich Razzleberry, Crushed Curry, Real Red (sky sponging/ stamping).  Stamps--Friend Like You (sentiment/ dragonflies).  Dies--Friendly Silhouettes (cattails/ dragonflies).  Punch: Tailored Tag.  Marker: Early Espresso (pussywillows).  Mini Pearls (Copic colored).  Other:  EK Victorian corner punch (inside).  Chatterbox Verse--computer made.  Size: 4-3/4" x 6". 

You Can NEVER Have Too Much Happy!

My friend and former co-worker's birthday falls right after Christmas, and here is another example of missing birthday cards due to my loss of creative mojo during Covid!  I was determined to make a card for her this year as I've finally gotten myself been back to my craft table after an 18 mos. hit & miss hiatus!  It was definitely time to get out of my funk!

My friend and I worked together as a team for 13 years as elementary school office staff.  One of our major functions each year was school start-up in my role as the elementary school office manager and she as the student registrar.  A favorite fun thing we looked forward to each year was welcoming our new little kindergarteners with their smiling, happy little faces and cute antics.

With this in mind, I thought she would really enjoy a kindergarten art easel shape for her birthday card.  I remembered an easel template that I've had in my stash for several years, but it was smaller than I wanted as I prefer cards that are 4-3/4 x 6-inches.  Before getting started, I enlarged the template dimensions.  I am really please with my finished easel card.  Take a look below at my finished card with its inside design and my verse completed on the computer! 

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Products:  Cardstock--Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Crisp Cantaloupe, Soft Sky.  Stamps--Yippee Skippee (sentiment), Hardwood BG. Dies--Floral Fusion Sizzilit. Ink--Baked Brown Sugar, Staz-On White. Patterned Paper--scraps. Punch--Banner. Linen Thread. Basic Pearl--minis. Other: EK punch--Victorian Corners 

Being Strong!

My brother recently lost his wife quite suddenly and unexpectedly!  It was a shock to all of us.  I wanted to send him a Thinking of You card to let him know I'm keeping him in my prayers and thought each and everyday!

This is a CASE of a card designed by Liz Thayer for her class that I attended way back in the fall of 2013.  It has been lurking in my "To Do" stash of partially completed cards needing to be finished.  I made some of my own modifications and changes to enlarge the card, add a bit of sparkle, and change the sentiment as well.  I added a new Natural Ivory card base plus a dark brown glitter mat layer to the already existing Crumb Cake mat layer and my card became a thinking of you card rather than a thank you card.  I also decorated the inside and added my own computer-made verse.

I'm really pleased with the added layers and glitter paper.  It really dressed up the card a lot.  I think my brother will be pleased with his card and really like the inside verse, as it fits the occasion perfectly.  Take a peek below at the finished card inside and out.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up products:  Cardstocks--Naturals Ivory, Crumb Cake, Bashful Blue. Ink--Crumb Cake, Early Espresso. Stamps--Truly Grateful stamps (circle bg, acorns-2013 Holiday). Dies--Window Framelits Collection ((2013-14 Annual). Embossing Folder--Stylish Stripes. Festive Paper Piercing Pack. 1-1/4" Burlap Ribbon. Linen Thread. Dazzling Diamonds Glitter.  Other:  Recollections Signature 12" Assorted Glitter Pad (dark brown). EK punch: Victorian Corner.

You Are Looking A Little Green! (VSN#1)

 I needed a get well card for my daughter's long-time friend, who will have eye surgery in a few days.  It was like a stroke of perfectg serendipity, because I also needed a get well card to fulfill one of the three VSN mini challenges!  Other than Christmas cards, I really like to know who is going to receive my card when making and designing it as it helps me decided what I want to do when I can think about who is getting the card when finished.

My daughter's friend must remain immobile and face down for up to two weeks after surgery.  My daughter plans take meals when she visits, along with this funny get well card, which will go along to cheer her up.  More of the card's story continues below the card images.  Take a peek at the finished card inside and out below:

Ingredients:  Papers:  Cardstock--SU-Cherry Cobbler, Basic White; Darice Kraft. Patterned Paper--Cosmo Cricket/Earth Love-rethink; Fancy Pants/ Rusted Sun-Umbrella; October Afternoon/ Cakewalk-Hula Hoop; Jillibean/ Macho Nacho Soup-4 Parts Hero. Image: ClipArtMax-Funny Frog Cartoon Animal.  SU Border Punch--Scalloped Scallops. Colorbox--Chestnut Roan ink distressing. Maya Arts--Jute Twine. Copic Marker--G40. Chatterbox sentiment/ verse (computer-generated). Size--4-3/4" x 6".

CARD STORY & HISTORY

As mentioned above, needing this get well card tied in nicely with my yen to participate in the Virtual Stamp Night Challenge (VSN), which is December 17 & 18 with a total of approximately 18 challenge all due by December 29.  The December theme is a fun one...Let TV Be Your Guide!  All challenges will focus on something to do with TV shows (no movies) in the past or present. 

VSN has already had its 3-card VSN Mini Challenge in mid-November to get you excited and interested to participate.  In the past, I've started with the Minis, but something always comes up that prevents me from participating in the entire main event.  I hope this time it will be different.

  

The first VSN Mini Challenge presented by one of the three VSN coordinators who recently had hip replacement surgery and is actually still in recovery.  Her hospital stay exposed her to many medical professionals...some cheerful and friendly and some business-focused only.  She felt better with more cheer than glum, which encouraged, uplifted, and helped her to recover in body and spirit.  This experience led to her challenge to make a humorous get well card, based on the old 1972 TV show, M*A*S*H, which was about Army doctors who treated Korean War casualties and other personnel in the battlefield surgical center.  Strangely enough, it had a lot of comedic humor, helping them be better doctors and helping patients and others as well.

I used a time-saving, pre-colored image adding Copic-coloring in soft green to the BG and sentiment to stay within the one-hour cardmaking time limit.  I used patterned paper scraps, a pre-cut cardbase and a pre-cut Kraft layer.  The sentiment is a Chatterbox creation printed with the computer.

It's A Night Sky for Christmas! (VSN#3)

Splitcoaststamper's Virtual Stamp Night sprang onto the scene, leaving me with the exclamation, "How did I miss that VSN was coming up?!!"  I think I first noticed it when they did a call for Hostesses several weeks back, but it completely slipped my mind with unexpected family happenings!  Bottom line, all of a sudden there it was, and I was spurred me to action.  

I have always wanted to fully participate, but I never seem to accomplished more than the Pre-MINI challenges and just a few of those during the main event.  This theme sounds really fun, "Let TV Be Your Guide!"  I really wanted to play!!   So, I am already playing catch up! 

Since LuvLee's MINI3 will be easy for me as I have a kit card I'm going to use, I'm going to undertake that one next!  It will meet the galaxy night sky requirement.   My goal is to complete the last of the three MINIs within the next few days since they have now been posted for slightly over a week!  

With this card completed, I have two down and one to go.  Then, I'll be ready when the main event starts on December  17th.  After the card image below, I will follow with "The Story" of my changes making this card into a bit of an Alternative rendition rather than just like the kit version.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up:  Kit--Christmas Whimsy--papers, stamps, die-cut, and embellishments.  Cardstock--Blueberry Bushel, Red Foil.  Ink--Night of Navy. Glitter--Dazzling Diamonds (retired). Wink of Stella/Clear. Basic Rhinestones. Other: Gelly Roll-White/fine.

THE CONSTRUCTION STORY

To start, I cut the fronts off all of the kits pre-folded card bases.  I wanted to add more color layers, and I also wanted my cards to end up as a 4-3/4 x 6-inches, as I prefer this size to the traditional A2 size of 4-1/4 x 5-1/2-inches.

I cut my new cardbase from Blueberry Bushel and then the added a Red Foil layer which will be underneath the card front itself.  Working with the kit's card front scene, I stamped an array of galaxy stars with Night of Navy ink and added metallic star and snowflake gems scattered about.  To the evergreen trees and using a fine white Gelly Roll pen, I added white lines to depict a sparse layer snow.  To the snow shadows, I added Dazzling Diamonds glitter.  I also added Wink of Stella/Clear to all the red parts in the scene: packages, elf hats, and elf shoes.  I adhered the card front to the Red Foil layer.  Next, I popped up my elves, package, and sled onto the card front and finished by adding clear rhinestones to the elf hats.  I thought all these additions dressed up the fun snow scene quite nicely and added lots of pizzazz to the original kit design!

Santa's Sleigh Christmas Tag Card! (VSN#2)

 

At the end of September, I went to a card class hosted my Stampin' Up demonstrator duo and friends,  Dar Peterson and Luci Kirschbaum.  It was their annual holiday card event and it was so nice to see friends of old!  I'm always looking for more Christmas cards, so I was only too happy to attend!  

As always when presented with a finished card sample, my creative edit mode kicks in with ideas that I might like to change or include that would make the card more me.  This never means that I do not like the original design, it just means that I can not curb myself to just make the card as is...my bad??!!  Therefore, I often complete cards at home after leaving the class, keeping in mind while at class where I might want to make changes.  I got this card's die-cutting, embossing, etc. complete at class and brought the pieces home, along with a picture, but I just finished putting it together last night because it was so perfect for one of the  Splitcoaststampers' VSN mini challenges (more about that later).

This card's original design is by Dar Peterson.  She used Stampin' Up's new holiday die, Giving Gifts, using the Santa Sleigh, plus the Tailor Made Tags dies from the Annual catalog.  Though I contempted adding a red foil layer instead of the regular Real Red cardstock, I loved this sweet Christmas card pretty much just as it was.  I ended up deciding to only add red rhinestones to give a little sparkle. . . three to the upper left and two to snowflakes.  Take a peak at the finished card, which is almost ready to mail after I add my verse and inside design: 

NOTE:  I just found another card on Pinterest by Cindy Brumbaugh that is very similar to this with a few tweaks.  It was made about 5 weeks before Dar's; Dar's uses a different sentiment and ribbons; but I suspect they should each be given credit for this card design, thus I am doing so.  My  rhinestone additions were a different twist not on either card.

Ingredients:  Stampin' Up Papers:  Cardstock--Sahara Sand, Real Red, Basic White. Pattern Paper--Tidings of Christmas dsp.  Stamps--Peaceful Deer (sentiment).  Dies--Giving Gifts; Tailor Made Tags, So Many Snowflakes.  Ink--Real Red.  Embossing Folder: Wintry 3D.  Red Rhinestones.  Ribbon--Playful Pets (red); White Cotton twine.  Chatterbox inside verse.  Size:4-1/4 x 5-1/2-inches.