Happy Birthday...but not to me

This is another birthday card I made at my mother's, based on a design by Rebecca Harvey. My mom made a similar card in her stamp club, then CASEd it herself again at home and then I CASEd that card, since I didn't have the stamps available to CASE the original. Anyway, here it is:

The small inset photo is the card with the insert inside. It's kind of a nifty concept, anyway. I'd like to have another go at it with a different set next time. I think I'd use sticky strip or a glue dot to hold the outer card together as well--the snail just didn't quite cut it on this one. This card would be darling using the new Circle Circus set, don't you think?

Supplies:

Pumpkin Pie, Bashful Blue, White cardstock
Ink: Pumpkin Pie, Bashful blue
Stamps: Itty Bitty Buds, plus two sets long retired (one has shapes and one has the Happy Birthday sentiment, don't know the names)
Punches: 1 3/8" circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch
Accessories: dimensional

Happy Birthday to Me!

I turned 30 on July 22, and got to celebrate my birthday twice as we celebrated at home and then again at my parents', as they had another little family celebration while I was visiting. So in addition to yummy brownies and turkey divan (I so love casseroles...), I also got some cool cards. My upline, Tara Gupta-Goldenberg also sent me a very nice card using Razzle Dazzle (another one on my ever-growing wish list!).

From my mom and dad:

From my upline, Tara:

(The inside was watermarked with the same stamp--so pretty!)

Crimped Envelope Card

This is another card CASE from my mom's stamp club, designed by Rebecca Harvey, but I think the original idea is from splitcoast, as I recall seeing a tutorial on there for it a while back. The card is very simple to make, although you have to use another larger envelope to mail it in. Otherwise, it's a good card to give for a wedding or a gift insert card. The original card used a Whisper White envelope with Pacific Point, Baja Breeze and Basic Gray Inks, Basic Gray Taffeta ribbon and Pacific Point-backed inside card with Baja Breeze scallop circle accent and gray taffeta ribbon.

You first take your envelope and seal it, then cut off about 1 1/2" on the end. Stamp on the part that's left over as you like and then run it through the crimper. Make sure you crimp it tightly or it doesn't fit at the end. You can always run it through again if it doesn't work the first time--mine went through twice. Stamp the uncrimped edge and use snail to stick the ribbon down.

The card inside is about 3 x 3 (I think) but you can measure your envelope to be more exact. (Tip: Be sure to measure after crimping!). The scallop circle is also crimped (do that after you punch it out). The original card had a sentiment on it from the God's Blessings Stamp set for a wedding, but my mom didn't have that set, so I just used the sentiment in Fifth Ave. Floral, which I think works just as well.

Again, forgive the picture quality--the color isn't as true as it could be.

Supplies:
Cardstock: VV, Regal Rose, Pink Pirouette
Ink: Regal Rose, Sahara Sand, Pink Pirouette
Stamps: Fifth Ave. Floral
Ribbon: non-SU pink organdy ribbon
Technique: Crimping

Fifth Avenue Floral Pocket Card

My mom had made a version of this card at her stamp club using Baroque Motifs and Soft Suede with Dusty Durango. Lacking both the set (it was at my house) and those colors of ink, I decided to make do with what she had, so I used Fifth Avenue Floral (on its virgin inking) and Perfect and Pale Plum, which I think turned out lovely! I think this card would make a super cool wedding invitation too. I should say forgive me for the lackluster photo quality--I was having one of those days where I just couldn't take a decent photo to save my life!

Original card design by Rebecca Harvey.

Supplies:
Cardstock: Perfect Plum, Pale Plum, Very Vanilla
Ink: Bashful blue, Pink Pirouette, Versamark
Stamps: Itty Bitty Buds, Fifth Avenue Floral
Ribbon: Non-SU wired pale plum organdy ribbon

Blog candy winner!

Random.org picked #2, which is...Anne! I'll be sending you a free gift--just shoot me an e-mail with your snail mail address.

And for my favorite on the program covers--#1 was my fave. I thought the extra very vanilla strip of card stock really made it pop. The bride agreed, but her beloved wanted to go with #2, so I think that is what we'll do!

Thanks for playing!

Birthday Gift for a Record Fiend

My sister, turns 23 this year (yowza--how did she get to be in her 20s that quick? In my mind, I often still think of her as about 5 or so) and her birthday was yesterday. I wanted to post this earlier, but she gets this blog by subscription and I couldn't risk it!

So here is her gift: she collects old LPs (records) and my parents got her a turntable this year. So I went to the Goodwill when I was home visiting the family and picked up a bunch that I thought she'd get a kick out of. Stopped by Hobby Lobby to get some silver tissue paper and I was off to the races. What is really cool is that my other sister got her a record themed photo frame, so she's really in the record this year! (ha-ha)

I first made the card, which I had decided needed to look like a record. So I used my mom's creative memories circle cutter (what a great tool that is!) and cut out two circles from black cardstock. I used a solid circle stamp (long retired, but my mom is fond of garage sales and picked the set up at one recently) and stamped it in white craft in the middle and then punched a little hole. I took the craft pad and sort of swiped it around the circle to create "grooves" and then attached the inside circle with a smaller circle and some lovely Tombow mono adhesive glue (great stuff, that). Used another retired stamp for the Happy Birthday sentiment (more garage sale finds) and my white gel pen to personalize it.

I then took some Taken with Teal cardstock and stamped it with another random retired stamp and some versamark to make a checkerboard pattern (if I'd had more time I would have designed a cool album cover, but I didn't so had to make do...) and then crimped the whole thing. I put it together to make a record sleeve for the card and put it inside with the record sort of peeking out the edge.

I took my silver tissue paper and wrapped the albums and then made a cute little tag with a long retired baby set that had a nice tag stamp on it (just replaced "baby" with "Bethie") and some record miniatures from the dollhouse section of Hobby Lobby. Gosh, I love that place; I wish we had one in Philly! Of course, that could be VERRRY dangerous, so it's probably best that I have to get on a plane and fly two hours and then drive two hours to get to one. ;) I did a bit of damage this time when I was home. (tee-hee)

So here is the result! I think it's pretty cool, myself.

The tag

The record card (on top of the "album sleeve" envelope)

Inside record card

Life as a Tree

My mom had recently purchased the Branch Out stamp set (currently dormant) but hadn't mounted it, so we decided that while I was visiting that week, we should ink it up and give the set a trial run. She had also purchased Fifth Avenue Floral (also unmounted) that I gave a whirl as well. Look for those cards in a day or two. My mom made a sample to put in the case with the stamps for reference and I made three cards with it. I like how the set allows such versatility. Playing with stamps I don't own is dangerous, though! I usually decide I want to add them to my wish list after ward! I'm still on the fence about this one, but I like the idea of using it for a gift card set or holiday cards.

Anyway, I made a "spring", "fall" and "holiday" card using that set plus Sincere Salutations (another one on my wish list--it's so long that I'm embarrassed to say how many sets are on it!) My mom didn't have any red ink and I didn't have any with me, so I think if I made the "fall" card over again, I'd put red in the leaves as well. The inside of that one says "Thanks Very Much" in old olive, in case you care. The others are blank inside.

Spring: Ivory note card
Branch Out and Sincere Salutations Stamps
Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue, Pumpkin Pie, So Saffron, Basic Black, & Old Olive Inks
Envelope is the same but stamped off once.

Fall: Ivory notecard
Branch Out and Sincere Salutations stamps
Chocolate Chip, So Saffron, Pumpkin Pie and Old Olive inks

Holiday Card: Ivory Note card
Branch Out and Sincere Salutations Stamps
Chocolate Chip, Bashful Blue and Sahara Sand Ink

I may offer the Holiday Greetings card as a finished boxed set or DIY kit for Christmas/Hannukah, so stay tuned! The SU holiday mini comes out September 1st and there are lots of great ideas for holiday cards--I'll definitely be offering some DIY kits, finished card sets and more! Let me know if you are interested in a particular design you see on my blog.