flowers for oma - pop up box card

A little story for you... My MIL turned 85. She's amazing, still going strong. But saddened/maddened that she couldn't celebrate her big day this year. We even decided not to drive up to see her cuz her area is worse Covid-wise than ours at the moment. Only one visitor from another household permitted in your house - that's the current recommendation.

We had presents to take. But since that wasn't going to be happening and mailing wouldn't get them to her on time, I suggested to DH that he order flowers to be delivered on her birthday. Something special, ya know? I mean - 85! I'm not actually sure that that ordering flowers would have been possible given the lockdown, but I didn't get to find out. "NO. That's ridiculous. She'd say so too." was his response.

I'm curious. Is your husband a flower guy or does he think flowers are money out the window? Like mine. 

So what'd I do? I headed to my craft room to make the most expensive paper flower bouquet known to man. In man-hours, that is ;)

Altenew Rose Flurries 3D die

Altenew Virginia Rose 3D die

Pinkfresh Leafy Branch die

Rayher Alles Gute die

Waffle Flower Cutaway numbers die

patterned paper, paper scraps, recycled plastic packaging, glue dots

They've been around for a long time, but I've never made a pop up box card before. It just seemed to me to be the best design for containing "flowers for Oma." So I watched this video to figure out how they worked. Turns out it's pretty simple. Just fiddly.

I must say I'm impressed with this design. Simple to create the box which pops up and can be displayed nicely when the recipient receives it. A truly interactive design. And what a way to achieve depth in a scene. Certainly can't achieve that on a card. Yet it can be mailed flat.

Anyhoo, briefly, here's what I did:

1. Made box from double-sided PP since I didn't want to "decorate" the flaps other than the 85.

2. Pulled out Altenew floral dies cuz they're just the prettiest.

3. Spent hours sorting through scraps and making flowers.

4. Spent more hours attaching flowers to plastic stems and fitting them into the box.

5. Adhered personal message to the back side of the box.

6. Made envelope out of 12x12 PP.

Got a smile out of DH. Will be very curious to hear what Oma thinks.

And since it was so much fun I proceeded to spend another few hours making another bouquet of flowers! And a more detailed tutorial of my process. You can find that here.

I had actually taken a look at the January Inspiration Challenge at Altenew and was going for the pinks and reds with silver color scheme (it is a winter birthday!) but my bouquet building took me a bit off the mark. I'm hooking up at the challenge anyway!

And SSS Wednesday challenge is looking for Layers. With all my layered die cuts I'm joining in over there too. Thanks for coming by.

which one would you choose?

Been meaning to share this post for a while. A bit ago I was asked to make two cards for guys' 60th birthdays. One for a winemaker I actually know. The other for someone I don't know - except my friend said he's with the police and likes meat! Um. OK.

Should you have any questions to supplies, just ask.

Winemaker was easy.

Grateful for wine labels I got from Jacqueline years ago, I put one to use and carried on the gold theme with grapes and various collage elements.

As for the other guy, I was pretty clueless. So I searched the internet for milestone card ideas. Made several so she could have a choice. Which one do you think she chose? Which would you choose?

I kinda carried on the wine feel for this one.

And then gave a gatefold card a la Jennifer M. a try. Great way to stretch your cover plate dies too!

Next up, gave another cover plate die a shot. With kinda police colors ;)

And then I grabbed an alcohol-inked BG from my stash and turned it into a more playful card.

How about a deluge of confetti to celebrate?

Then there's the party props to support the giant "60".

And finally, the only "meat" stamps I owned...

So which one did my friend choose? Yep, the hot dogs! Though I'm happy to report she bought the blue geometric cover plate version and the alcohol-inked one too ;) Do you have a favorite?

Hope your Thanksgiving is/was wonderful. We celebrated last Sunday and I must admit I'm happy the preparations are over, though I'm still eating leftovers ;)

I'm joining the fun at:
ETA: Did someone say Circles? I'm hooking up at Day of the Month Card Club.
SSS Wednesday Challenge- Anything Goes
AAA Birthday - Number

light and airy confirmation card

Stopping by today with a card I made for a confirmation. I was inspired by this card. Check out Silke's grid on IG if you're feeling in the mood for light and airy collage design... She does it like no one else.

I do not have as light a hand as Silke, but I used up a little more PP  ;)

 Rayher Konfirmation die

Papertrey Bookprint Alpha die

Charlie and Paulchen Sommer Trio die

Alexandra Renke Angel Wings die

Winnie and Walter Audrey die

Alexandra Renke Kreuz im Kreis die

Heidi Swapp gold ink spray

nymogarn

Studio Calico PP

Basically, I just pulled out a PP pad and some dies which I thought fit the confirmation theme. Die cut some pieces and then spent way too much time arranging and rearranging them until I got something I was happy with ;)

Thanks for looking. Have a great week.

I'm joining:
Die Cut Divas - Anything Goes

Happy Little Stampers - AG with Dies March

altenew for confirmation

The stars aligned. I needed to get a confirmation card made quickly. Then I stumbled across this amazing card. And then Altenew posted a new challenge photo. I didn't stop to think, I just did it! (Nike should be pleased, eh?)

This elegant inspiration led me to my choice of green embossing powder on pale yellow die cut florals. I used Altenew's Persian Motifs stamps and dies.

Die cut the florals. Heat embossed them. Chose a Lil Inkers Stitched Circle die to fit my card front and used it to arrange my layout of the die cuts. Glued them down then die cut the circle. Adhered it with foam to my card front. Added a die cut sentiment from Rayher - inspired by the white handwritten title on the inspiration photo - and a sprinkling of shiny sequins (inspired by the sparkling element on the gown).

Even gussied up the inside with another Persian Motif stamped in yellow and another Rayher die cut :)

I'm sharing my card at:
Stampin Royalty #332 - Flowers
Addicted to CAS - Petals

Thanks for visiting today. Happy Friday.

winnie walter and pinkfresh take two

Back with more inspiration from the Share the Love week over at Winnie and Walter who's teaming up with Pinkfresh Studio.

My niece is making her First Communion. This was her invitation (minus the die cut birdies).

Inspired by Lea's dreamy shaker card with the birdie sticker, I opted to make a shaker for my niece too. And incorporate a birdie die cut from the vellum on her invitation!

Used w&w stamps for the star background and the woodgrain (Wishing You and Into the Woods). The rustic wreath is from Papertrey. The reed bird from Memory Box. And the sentiment from Rayher.

Happy Sunday! Thanks for visiting.

happy bird-day (WPlus9, CFC, SSS, TPE)

Still inspired by the Pattern Play Online class, when I saw the mood board #7 at WPlus9 I reached for a couple 6x6 pads of PP!

Hooray for me.  There are actually five different PPs on this CAS card!

The BG.  The circle behind the doily (and the birdie is from the same PP).  Birdie's wing.  The birdhouse.  The leaves.  Whew.

And a punny sentiment from letter stickers mounted over washi.

Entering:
Simon Says Stamp - Anything Goes
CASual Fridays - No Stamps (cuz there aren't any here and believe me, that WAS a challenge)
The Pink Elephant - #192 Clean and Simple

Thanks for looking.

Supplies happy bird-day:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, PP Basic Grey, Making Memories

Stamps:

Ink :

Tools: die Wplus9

Other: doily Rayher, dimensional adhesive, crochet thread, washi, letter stickers KI Memories

saved by sequins (1) (muse, SCS)

 I played at Muse for the first time.  Marion Vagg is the muse for Challenge #5.  This is her card:

This is my card.  I went with the colors, the washi, die cutting and the message.  The card was actually to use up the die cut flower which was laying on my ironing board.   I actually created the next card first.

I am entering the SCS Lovefest2013B (sponsored by Sweet n Sassy Stamps) with this although I kinda turned the sketch on its side.

I think the dark blue panel is a bit much.  Those three delicate little sequins are doing their best to compensate :)  And I definitely need to keep practicing my die placement to get a striking negative...
I gave it another try and that was this card.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies :

Paper: cardbase Craft UK, PP Basic Grey, CS DCWV

Stamps: Hero Arts

Ink :Hero Arts

Tools: label die PTI, sm. label die and flower die Memory Box

Other: washi Rayher and Bella Blvd., sequins, letter stickers October Afternoon

joining CASE study with candy canes (CASE, CTS, Dream Valley, KIS)

There has to be a first time for everything, right?  When I moved to Germany it took me nearly a year before I would try to speak German at work.  Not that my colleagues didn't encourage me.  I just wasn't willing to speak the language before about 80% of what I said was correct.  FYI, 20+ years later I'm up to about 95% and stagnating...

Well, so is my relationship with CASE Study.  I love the work of everyone over there but have not felt up to joining them.  Until this week - the last week of CASE #119 with November's muse, and I quote, "the exceptionally talented Angeline Yong."  I love this gal's work.  So I had to join in.

Here is Angeline's card.

I reverted to my CASEing-a-la-Aimes mode and this is what I got from this card - sweets, twine, dots.  I should say that is what I finally got.  The journey started with an idea of pink-snowflake-on-a-stick-with-a-twine-bow-and-embossed-dots-panel...blah, blah, blah.  Ya'll know how the creative process is some days.  Uncooperative.

But, I do like how this card turned out.  It's me.

Sweets, twine, dots.  Check.  It helped when I saw my candy cane stamp and also decided to use the CASE This Sketch again!  Heat embossed the candy cane and gave the little lollipops some Stickles to add some sweet shine.

And I was even going to use turquoise instead of green (more non-traditional), but when I went for the washi I liked the green dots better.  Does it qualify for Dream Valley's Challenge #46 "Non-Traditional Christmas," don't know but I'm hooking up anyway!  Also playing at Keep It Simple #2 - Washi.

Appreciate your visit.

Supplies for Holiday delights:

Paper: CS Neenah

Stamps:   American Crafts

Ink : Versamark, Versafine, Jenny Bowlin

Tools: corner rounder EKS

Other: embossing powder Ranger, baker's twine, washi Target (dots) and Rayher (stripes), Stickles

crazy weekend part 2 (Caring Hearts, JayGees)

At least (except for the modern maruschkas) when I, procrastinator, was cardmaking like a maniac,  I had the sense to make two of each - one for my neighbor and one for Vera Y.'s card drive.

Here are three models using the same design... card front covered with a piece of Doodlebug PP, pierced around the edges with my Cutter Bee piercer and embellished lightly!

Love this PP with the foil holly berries.  Embellished with washi tape and die cuts.

And this embossed PP embellished with felt and buttons.

With felt and die cuts.

Want to give a shout out to Judith at Jay Gee's Nookhttp://jgsnook.blogspot.com.au/2012/11/jay-gees-nook-challenge-25.html.  Won a Hero Arts stamp set in her challenge and used it for the sentiment on card #2.  And I got some inspiration from the current challenge board:

 And the sentiment on card #1 was from a Penny Black prize pack I won from Simon Says Stamp.  Thanks for looking.

Supplies for peace and joy:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, PP Doodlebug

Stamps:   sentiment Penny Black

Ink : Versafine

Tools: ornaments die MFT,  branch die Marianne Creatables, punch Martha Stewart

Other: washi Rayher

Supplies for merry Christmas:

Paper:   cardbase Buttinette, PP Doodlebug

Stamps: sentiment Hero Arts

Ink :  Distress Ink, Versafine

Tools: label Spellbinders, ric rac Cottage Cutz

Other:  buttons and felt Sew Sweet

Supplies for frohes fest:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, PP Doodlebug, glitter CS DCWV

Stamps: sentiment Inkystamp

Ink :Versamark

Tools: branch die Marianne Creatables, ric rac Cottage Cutz

Other: embossing powder, felt Sew Sweet

a rose is two roses (CASual Friday)

I'm almost done with this rose business.  Promise.  Especially I just saw that Virginia L. has a rainbow challenge going on!

But this card was totally inspired by the polka dot challenge over at CASual Fridays.



Don't ask me twice to play with polka dots.

Stamping, masking, more stamping.  New Jenny Bowlin inks BTW.  Love the Cough Syrup - color and properties.  Attached a strip of PDPP (polka dot patterned paper!) and attached my label containing the sentiment with washi tape.  A la "Big Boy" for those of you with midwestern roots...

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies alles liebe:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, PP Pink Petticoat
Stamps: The Crafts Meow, sentiment Inkystamp

Ink:Jenny Bowlin, gray Versafine

Tools: die Spellbinders, corner rounder EKS

Other: washi tape Rayher