Peony Dream Mother's Day Card

With Mother's Day around the corner, I thought I'd work on my last of three Mother's Day cards I want to make before May 12. I've already made a card for my amazing mom (see my post here: Carrie's Custom Cards: 3-Panel Mother's Day Card for Creative Creases #79 (carriescustomcards.blogspot.com) and my lovely daughter-in-law (see my post here: Carrie's Custom Cards: Mother's Day Teepee Card for Creative Creases #81 (carriescustomcards.blogspot.com), so now it's time for a special card for my wonderful mother-in-law. 

To make this card, I used the instructions for Connie Stewart's Diamond Gatefold Card found here: How To Make A Diamond Gate Fold Card: Beginner Friendly Too! (youtube.com). I chose some pretty double-side pattern paper and created the card base. Then I used Altenew's CAF: Peony Dream die set to make a pretty peony using vellum, glitter gold card stock, and a scrap of yellow card stock. I used scraps to make the leaves, also. These Craft-A-Flower sets are great for using up my snippets!

After adhering the layers of the peony with liquid glue and foam tape for some of the layers, I added the flower and leaves to the front panel of my card. For the inside of the card, I stamped "Happy Mother's Day" and die cut it using a Gina Marie Designs stitched hexagon die. Then I added another leaf from the Peony Dream set that I die cut in vellum and the same glitter gold card stock I used for some of the layers of the peony on the front of the card. 

Challenges I'm entering:

Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases #81 (secretstamper.com): ATG with a fun fold (ends 5/10/24)

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG or add one or more flowers (5/8; ends at the end of the month)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week, 2/10 for the challenge; ends 5/5/8/24)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with optional twist of Sweet Treats (3/6; ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create (avenue613.blogspot.com): ATG with option of A Splash of Color (ends at the end of the month) Top Rocker April 28-May 5

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (3/6; ends 5/15/24)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Feminine (1/5; ends 5/6/24)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge: ATG (2/5; ends 5/1/24)

Double Trouble Paper Crafting (doubletroublechallenge.blogspot.com): Thing 1: ATG Thing 3: yellow, green, and pink from the photo Thing 2: entered Beautiful Blossoms, Creative Creases Challenge  and the Paper Funday (1/4; ends 5/5/24)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (ends 5/10/24)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/2/; ends 5/6/24)

Gem of A Craft Challenge (pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com): ATG (ends 5/3/24)

Allsorts challenge blog: Use a stencil or ATG (ends 5/4/24)

As You Like It Challenge: Clean or Fussy and Why: I definitely prefer fussy! Bring on the layers! I think a card looks extra special with lots of layers/embellishments! (2/3; ends 5/1/24)

Doodle Challenge (rabiscochallenge.blogspot.com): ATG (ends at the end of the month) Winner 5/9/24 Paper Shelter prize

Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Inspiring creativity 8-ways each week: Diagonal: Flowers, free, die cuts (1/3; ends 5/9/24) 

 

Mother's Day Teepee Card for Creative Creases #81

It's time for a new challenge over on the Creative Creases Challenge blog, and I'm back as a Guest Designer. If you'd like to join the fun by entering a fun-fold creation of your own, please add your link here: Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases #81 (secretstamper.com)

I've been working on Mother's Day cards over the past few weeks, and this one is for my lovely daughter-in-law. Allie is an excellent mom, so I wanted to make her a very special Mother's Day card. She and my son have a 21-month-old son and another baby due in October. We are so excited about the new baby! 

This teepee card is composed of (3) 4 inch by 4 inch squares I scored on the diagonal and assembled to create the teepee. I used  velcro dots to close the final flap to make the card stand up, but the card will fold flat if the velcro dots are separated. If you'd like to watch a tutorial about how to create a teepee card, here's one by Sam Calcott of Mixed Up Craft. Hers uses 5 inch squares but otherwise is the same type of card design: Teepee Fun Fold Cards Any Size You Want! - YouTube. I used a pair of velcro dots to keep the flap closed when the card is in its teepee shape. This one I'm going to hand deliver, but it does fold flat when the velcro dots are separated from each other. 

After creating the card base for the teepee, I added some pretty floral pattern paper and then created 2 flowers and 4 leaves from Altenew's CAF: Peony Dream layering die set. Some of the card stock I used for the flowers I created myself using Lindy's Magicals, water colors, and some shimmery sprays. It's so much fun to play with mixed media!

I stamped the "Happy Mother's Day" sentiment using a retired CTMH stamp and die cut it along with a larger stitched circle die to put behind it. 

To finish the card, I added some blue sequins and pink translucent sequins and shapes for a bit of sparkle. 

Close up of the flower I die cut using the water color cardstock I had created with water colors, Lindy's Magicals, and shimmer sprays:

Close up of the flower I created with different shades of plain pink card stock. There's a bit of shimmer to the leaf bases because those I die cut out of water color cardstock I had used water colors and shimmer sprays on:

Those are tiny, translucent pink hearts by the sentiment: 

Challenges I'm entering: 

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 1/10 for the challenge; ends 5/8/24)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: ATG (1/5; ends 5/1/24)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (1/2; ends 4/30/24)

Shopping Our Stash Weekly Challenge Blog: Mother's Day Card (ends 5/6/24) C13

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG with option of adding one or more flowers (ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create (avenue613.blogspot.com): ATG with option to add a splash of color (ends at the end of the month) April Honors Pick 5/5/25

Gem of A Craft Challenge (pinkgemchallengeblog.blogspot.com): ATG (1/2; ends 5/3/24)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (1/2; ends 5/3/24)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (1/3; ends 5/3/24)

As You Like It Challenge: Clean or Fussy and why: I am definitely Team Fussy! The more layers the better 😂! I love to add fun layers and create a lot of dimension on my cards because I think it looks extra special that way! (And possibly because I'm not very good at CAS 😅!) (1/3; ends 5/1/24)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (2/6; ends 5/15/24)

The Diva's that cut ....paper! (die-cut-divas.blogspot.com): Make a spring card (ends at the end of the month) Die Cut Divas Favorite 5/4/24

Doodle Challenge (rabiscochallenge.blogspot.com): ATG (ends at the end of the month)

No more challenges. 

 

Grand Carnation Thank You Card

My parents recently treated me to a 9-day trip to Arizona with them, and I wanted to make them a special card to thank them. It was a lovely trip, and the sunshine and beautiful spring flowers really lifted my spirits. 

To make the card, I pulled out Altenew's BAG: Grand Carnations set and used some blue glitter paste through one of the stencils that comes in the set. The panel I stenciled over was one I had watercolored and sprayed with different shades of blue. 

I stamped the carnations and leaves using my Sizzix Stencil and Stamp Platform, and then I stenciled the flowers and leaves with the coordinating stencils that come in the set. I chose reds, yellows, and blues to match the prompt for this month's Altenew Inspiration Challenge. 

The flowers are large, so I had to trim off the bottom of the yellow ones so I could fit that cluster as well as the stand-alone red carnation on the card front. I adhered the red carnation and several leaves using glue dots since I needed something quite strong to adhere to the glitter paste on the background panel. I added foam tape to the yellow carnation and buds as well as the sentiment (also from the same BAG: Grand Carnations set). 

Close up of the flowers:

Inside the card:

I highly recommend Altenew's grip mat for stenciling. It holds the card stock and stencils in place beautifully!

Challenges I'm entering: 

Inspiration Challenge April 2024 with Bridget Casey (altenew.com): (ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Make your own background (1/5; ends 4/22/24) Winner of $25 gift certificate 4/25/24

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges********** (pammiesinkypinkieschallenges.blogspot.com): ATG (1/3; ends 4/21/24) C10

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG or add one or more flowers (4/8; ends at the end of the month)

As You Like It Challenge: Cute or Floral and Why: I love flowers and enjoy making floral cards and projects like this one because they are so pretty and elegant. (3/3; ends 4/17/24)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week, 2/10 for the challenge; ends 4/24/24)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with optional twist of Sweet Treats (2/6; ends at the end of the month)

613 Avenue Create (avenue613.blogspot.com): ATG with option of A Splash of Color (ends at the end of the month)

Beautiful Blossoms Challenge: ATG with flowers as the focus (1/6; ends 5/15/24)

Crazy is our fame - STENCILS are our game! (stencilfun.blogspot.com): ATG with stencils (I used a stencil for the background and also to color the stamped flowers and leaves) (1/3; ends 5/4/24)

No more challenges. 

Book Bind Explosion Card For Creative Creases #80

It's time for a new challenge over on the Creative Creases Challenge blog, and I'm back with another Guest Designer card that features a fun surprise on the inside. The idea for this card design comes from Connie Stewart, and she calls it a Book Bind Explosion Card. Here's a link to her video if you'd like the measurements and details: 🔴 Book Bind Explosion Card: Make A Card That Bursts With Surprise! (youtube.com)

I needed a birthday card for my lovely daughter-in-law, so I chose some pretty double-sided pattern papers, white card stock, and SU!'s retired Framed Florets and Celebrate Sunflowers bundles. I did the stamping and die cutting to decorate all the panels and then added a few blue sequins and some pretty white ribbon to finish the card. This card design has a lot of space, so it's a great design for using up pretty papers or adding extra sentiments and die cuts to personalize the card. 

I hope you'll join us over at the Creative Creases Challenge where it's always anything goes with a fun fold project. Here's the link to the current challenge: https://wp.me/p4bS0N-bEQ

Cloes up of the sentiment:

Inside the card with the explosion part closed. I popped the oval die cut up on foam tape for some dimension. This card will be hand-delivered, so I wasn't concerned about its thickness:

With the first inner panel lifted up:

2 inner panels showing:

All four inner panels showing:

Challenges I'm joining:

As You Like It Challenge: Cute or Floral and Why: I love flowers and enjoy making floral cards and projects like this one because they are so pretty and elegant. (2/3; ends 4/17/24)

Creative Inspiration Challenges: ATG (2/2; ends at the end of the month)
 

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week, 1/10 for the challenge; ends 4/24/24)

The Paper Funday Challenges: ATG with optional twist of Sweet Treats (1/4; ends at the end of the month)

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG with option of adding one or more flowers (3/8; ends at the end of the month)

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Interactive (1/5; ends 4/17/24)

simonsaysstampblog.com/mondaychallenge/: Spring Flowers (1/5; ends 4/15/24)

613 Avenue Create (avenue613.blogspot.com): ATG with option of A Splash of Color (ends at the end of the month)

****Pammie's Inky Pinkies**** **********Challenges********** (pammiesinkypinkieschallenges.blogspot.com): ATG (1/3; ends 4/14/24) C10

Wooden Rowboat Birthday Card

My soon-to-be son-in-law has a birthday coming up, and since he loves hiking, kayaking, and other outdoor pursuits, I thought I'd make a boat-themed birthday card for him. I used Altenew's Wooden Rowboat die set and die cut all the pieces out of the same color of light tan card stock from my paper scrap stash. Then I used different shades of brown to do some ink blending on the pieces to create the different shades you see on the boat. 

After assembling the boat, I created the card base using pattern paper that I thought looked kind of like waves. The idea for this fun fold card design comes from Connie Stewart's Side Step Card tutorial here: 🔴 Side Step Card: The No-Fail Tutorial To A Fabulous Fun Fold (youtube.com). 

I added a few stamps to the front and back of the card on more scraps of that same light tan card stock I used for the boat. The "Wishing you happiness today and every day" stamps are from Altenew's Paint-A-Flower: Waterlily Dahlia set, and the "Happy Birthday" sentiment on the back of the card is from Altenew's CYL: Bewitching Rose set. I really like the dark blue and brown color scheme for a masculine card. 

Close up of the boat:

Side view:

Back of the card:

Challenges I'm entering: 

Anything Goes with a Fun Fold for Creative Creases #79 (secretstamper.com): ATG with a fun fold 

simonsaysstampblog.com/wednesdaychallenge/: Happy Birthday (1/5; ends 4/10/24)

Creative Knockouts: Happy Birthday (1/3; ends 4/11/24) C10

Art Impressions Blog (artimpressionsstamps.blogspot.com): Pop it up (I used foam tape to pop up the boat) (1/2; ends 4/10/24)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (2/5 for the week; 4/10 for the challenge; ends 4/10/24)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (2/2; ends 4/9/24)

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG with option of adding one or more flowers (2/8; ends at the end of the month)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (2/2; ends 4/11/24)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (3/3; ends 4/6/24)

Creative Fingers Challenge Blog: ATG (1/3; ends 4/19/24)

No more challenges. 

I Am The Resurrection Sympathy Card Box

This weekend I made a special box for my sister to keep the sympathy cards she and my brother-in-law have received since the death of their oldest son (my 18-year-old nephew) in February. My nephew had wanted to join the Air Force, so my sister and BIL chose a red, white, and blue theme for the flowers at his funeral. That's why I decided to use red, white, and blue for this box, too.

To decorate the 11 1/4 by 7 3/4 inch box, I chose some double-sided card stock that has flowers on one side and small polka dots on the other. I used the flower side to cover the base of the box and the polka dots to cover the top.  I chose word art of John 11:25 from the Silhouette Design Store: "I am the resurrection and the life." How grateful I am for that truth! My nephew was a believer, and I have the comfort of knowing he is with the Lord in heaven now, and I will see him again one day. This tragedy has underscored the importance of having a personal relationship with Jesus. I'm clinging to Him so tightly right now!

I did a print and cut of the word art for the focal point. Then I used some leftover scraps of the pattern paper to make squares for the top left and bottom right of the card and adhered them to the polka dot paper. I then added the word art panel. I die cut the epiphyllum flowers from Altenew's Craft-A-Flower: Epiphyllum Layering Die Set using scraps from my collection of snippets and some of the polka dot pattern paper. I adhered the flowers in the corners of the sentiment panel. 

The idea to make this box came from a friend who lost one of her sons awhile back. She said her sister made her a special box to hold all the sympathy cards she received, and I asked my sister if she would like that, also. She and my mom both wanted one, so I'm going to make a second one for my mom and may make one for myself as well. 

Top of the box:

Side view:

Close up of the 3D flowers:

 Challenges I'm entering:

Word Power (wordpowerchallenge.blogspot.com): ATG with the sentiment as the focus 

As You Like It Challenge: Cute or Floral and Why: I love flowers and enjoy making floral cards and projects like this one because they are so pretty and elegant. (1/3; ends 4/17/24)

Creative Inspiration Challenges: ATG (1/2; ends at the end of the month)

Word Art Wednesday: ATG (1/5 for the week; 3/10 for the challenge; ends 4/10/24)

Digi Choosday Cardmaking & Crafting Challenge: ATG (1/2; ends 4/9/24)

A Place To Start (hereisaplacetostart.blogspot.com): ATG with option of adding one or more flowers (1/8; ends at the end of the month)

Polkadoodles Cardmaking, Craft & Scrapbooking Challenge: ATG (1/2; ends 4/11/24)

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends Challenge ...: ATG (2/3; ends 4/6/24)

Snippets Playground (pixiessnippetsplayground.blogspot.com): ATG with snippets (I used snippets for the 3D flowers on the box) (1/1; ends 4/13/24)

No more challenges.