PAPERLICIOUS

Project 100: 20/100: Wishing You

I needed a second birthday card for my son -- so my Mom could give him one.

Card Construction Details:

1. Started with layout. Great for using up scraps.

2.  Decided to use this piece of plaid (unknown).

3.  Scrounged around for birthday image that I could repeat in a row and found this candle from Stampin Up's retired Mini Mates set.  Stamped using Real Red, Old Olive and Summer Sun markers.

4.  Stamped sentiment from Verve's Wishing You in Versamark and embossed in white. I love this image but would prefer it on one line. Am thinking of cutting it apart. 

5.  Assembled as shown and added ribbon.

6. Remembered design rule that images are not supposed to look like they are floating in air (unless a balloon I guess!) and added line of dots with marker between candles.  Whew -- the candles stayed put!

7.  Corner chomped and adhered panel on A2 white card with dimensionals.  Not centered.  Took off gently and slowed down and did it right.  

8.  Stamped inside sentiment "a very happy birthday" -- My Mom hates cards without prestamped inside sentiments ... as do all my friends....hmm...could use more inside sentiments. 

Speaking of Abraham Lincoln.......

Since Abe's been in the news lately, I remembered this sentiment from Cornish Heritage Farms and decided to pair it with some images from the Verve Serenity set.  I matted the main image using the technique I found on Sharon Johnson's blog here. 

The card is stamped on Fabriano soft ivory paper and watercolored. I used some Ranger Glossy Accents to highlight the leaves.  The bird is from SU's retired French Flair background.

I have two versions of this card, although the central image is the same one. I'm trying to decide which looks better and would appreciate your thoughts.

The first card is version A -- with no background. 

The second card is version B -- with a background from SU's retired French Flair. 

So, which do you prefer?

A -- the plain background doesn't fight the image.

B -- the flair background adds to the interest of the card.

C -- about the same

D -- this is a stupid question!

Fun is Good

What better way to end 2008 than to remind ourselves that fun is good!  And, in that spirit, tomorrow Dear Paperlicious will bring you her "What's In and What's Out" in the Papercrafting World for 2009. 

In the meantime, here is how I made this card --

• Started and threw out two completely different cards, having made major mess.

• Abandoning all hope for ever being creative,  once again looked at Debbie Olson's blog for layout inspiration.
• Used some leftover paper for the background, punching it with a checkerboard Martha Stewart punch.  Forgot to punch over wastebasket.  Left little bits on carpet.  Looks festive!
• Stamped some paper with SU Canvas background and some Antique Linen Ranger Distress ink purchased due to MISS ENABLER 2008 DEBBIE OLSON.  Stamped image from Verve Beautiful You set twice -- once with SU Garden Green and Once with SU Burgundy inks. 
• Used Amuse Arts Stitched Frames to make faux stitching.
• Blah blah nestabilities blah blah Garden Green blah blah markers Papertrey Polka Dot Basics ....

And so it goes, 2008 all wrapped up with some twill ribbon. 

It was a heck of a year, wasn't it?  Some suffered deaths, serious illnesses, and major economic stresses.  But we are all here. 

As I write this it is around 3 pm New Year's Eve and the wind is howling, the birds are screeching, my son is clicking on his keyboard, and the sounds are interrupted only by the intermittent beeping of my Mom's oxygen machine (wind messing with our "underground" power lines -- go figure).   At this single moment, I am filled with enormous joy and appreciation for all the gifts in my life.  I hope you are able to feel some of this joy.  However you say it, Na Zdrowie!

Miss You Verve Style

I made this card for Mike's parents.  We received word today that his father's health has taken a turn for the worse.  Mike just returned from a visit, but it is rough to be so far away, pulled in so many directions. 

I wanted something soft and soothing.  I hope it matters.  His Dad is the closest thing that I've ever had to a loving father and well, it is very hard to see the love of my life so sad about his parents. 

Supplies:  Verve Beautiful You and Thoughtful Florals, and Papertreyink Mixed Messages stamps.  PTI Lemon Tart and SU Chocolate Chip cardstock; Palette Burnt Umber and SU Cool Carribean Classic ink; Martha Tag Punch and PTI Lemon Tart Polka Dot ribbon (dots colored with CC ink) and self adhesive rhinestone flowers.  This card is 6" x 4.25" -- its width determined by the width of the stamped flowers.

Using Up the Hoard

I have had one sheet of this paper for about 4 years - it is so beautiful I was afraid I would ruin it, so I never used it.  I finally decided that hoarding wasn't accomplishing a thing, so I made another Christmas card. 

Unfortunately, the store where I bought this paper no longer exists or I'd go back for more.  If you recognize the paper, I'd love to know where to purchase it.  

The front of the card is about an inch shorter than the bottom half of the card, which makes for an interesting look IRL. 

The ribbon is black velvet and the gold cardstock is Brushed Gold from Stampin Up, both of which add to the richness of this paper.  Sentiment is from Verve Visuals.  

Made a Wish

I started out intending to make a card with Papertrey Ink's Garden of Life set, so I looked at blogs and galleries for something to case.  It didn't take me long to find Debbie Olson's set of cards made with this set. You can see them here.  And I did use Garden of Life with Debbie's layout and made the beginnings of 4 or 5 cards, but then spotted my Verve Visual stamps sitting there, looking for some ink. 

I made this card to welcome home my husband, who took a 36 hour trip away from us!  How dare he! I hope to finish my Garden of Life cards and post them later this weekend.

In case you are wondering, this is the same card photographed twice.  I took the top picture in bright sunshine outdoors.  The background came out black.  Since I know nothing about photography, I have no idea why that happened.  The image is a little bluer than IRL.  Then I took the picture in my usual photo spot -- on our fireplace mantel (which gets no direct light ever).  That image is a bit too pale.  Imagine the card somewhere in between -- after 18 shots, I'm tired of clicking! 

Thanks for visiting my blog. I hope you are able to squeeze in some fun time this weekend (yes, fun means stamping!).

Supplies:  Verve Visual Wild Thing and Wonderful Wishes Remixed Stamp Sets; Stampin Up Lavendar Lace and Real Red cardstocks and inks, and Real Red ribbon, gold cord; Amuse Twinkle Mini Hearts; Sakura Gold Glitter pen; Fiskars Threading Water Punch; Papertrey Ink Stampers Select White cardstock; and Marvy rectangle scallop punch.

Awards, Tags, and a Card

Over the past several months I've been tagged and given a few blog awards by my fellow bloggers.  I kept a pile of these notices and then, of course, lost the pile!  I appreciate every one of them and apologize if I did not fallow through and acknowledge them.

So, here are a few that I remember and cherish.

Mary, at It's About the Journey, tagged me.  I can't remember why! Isn't that awful?  But I appreciate it nonetheless.  I love Mary.  She is one of the nicest stampers I know.  Can't wait to meet her some day. 

Then, Etha of More Green Wool gave me a This Blog is Rated Excellent award.  If you don't know Etha, please check out her blog as she knits and stamps and is a pro with clear stamps. 

Finally, Becky at Hemidemisemiquiver gave me an award the other day -- I cheer her up!  I love that!  I can't believe she even reads my blog!!

I'm always amazed when ANYone reads this blog, never mind gives me an award.  I LOVE awards, talking through this blog, validation, the whole nine yards  -- and don't mind admitting it!  So -- thanks to these stampers and to anyone else I overlooked....   

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About the card --  Is this the perfect sentiment for life or what?  I finally found Verve Visual this week and wow do they deliver with lightening speed.  I have a tendency to shop when feeling stressed.  I must have been really stressed as I purchased 4 of their awesome sets.  Sadly, Mike picked up the mail today!  I hate Saturday deliveries! LOL  I love these stamps.  Great quality. Great service. Beautiful designs. I'm happy!!

Supplies:  Stamps:  sentiment from Serenity set by Verve Visual, the flower underneath the sentiment is from Stampin Up's Embrace Life, and the strip under the sentiment is stamped with Faux Ribbon by Papertreyink; Paper: all Stampin Up:  Ruby Red, River Rock, and Naturals White (if you are looking for a stiffer base, which is not as pure white as Papertreyink's Stamper Select, this is pretty good stuff!) and Ginger Blossom Designer Paper; Inks:  Versamark and Ruby Red; Green Dew Drops; SU Ticket Corner Punch.  Oh, and various adhesives!

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I've made a ginormous mess the last few weeks.  I've given up making believe I will ever be neat and organized.  It just isn't going to happen!  I've managed to get stamping supplies in my stamp room, the computer room, my Mom's room, the kitchen and the dining room. Oh, and our bed is covered with different shades of white paper -- It appears I've run out of vellum!  I see more shopping this week...

Oh, things are going better with my Mom.  My strategy (patent #2456789) is working. More details to come!