Lucky Ball Caterpillar Birthday Card

 As young boys my sons were always tempted by money-eating toy machines offering plastic balls with mystery prizes.  It was cute to see them hope against hope for that elusive, much-desired toy.  When I saw the Mama Elephant stamp and dies sets, I knew they would make nostalgic birthday cards for both my boys.  One of my sons was also a bug enthusiast who raised many caterpillars into butterflies on our dining room table. I thought it would be fun to combine both of his boyhood passions into his birthday card this year. The ball machine had a center space for a message but I decided to turn it into a shaker element with a caterpillar in it.  Hero Arts had cute bug stamp and die sets so I used them to make it seem like the caterpillar was in the machine and a butterfly had hatched.  (You have to feed the caterpillar lots and lots of crown flower leaves for that miracle to happen!)  By mistake I stamped the images with non-waterproof black ink so when I tried to color them with Copic pens they smudged.  I fixed this problem with color pencils which gave the card a child-like coloring book style which I liked.  I used a Spellbinder die set to cut the words from gold foil paper and added 3D sticker stars for even more bling.  Hopefully, my son won't think this card is 'too cute' and it will bring back many happy childhood memories of wishing for that 'lucky ball' !  Maybe it's time to go to Vegas!!!!!

Fairy and Butterfly Upcycled Container

This upcycled decorated container began as a cylindrical Crabtree and Evelyn soap box.  I liked the size and floral scent within the covered tube box.  Because I had recently seen a fairy card that really appealed to me, I decided to look through all my fairy crafting 'stuff'.  I discovered a barely used Hero Arts large die (from HM BFC...I think).  Usually, vellum cuts easily with detailed dies, but a thin vellum didn't cut well so I ran a thicker vellum through my Big Shot machine...several times.  I thought that the plum colored vellum looked just right on the Distress Oxide ink (HouseMart Ben Franklin Crafts) colored background paper that I made.  Measuring very carefully, I cut the background paper to fit the container, cutting the strip of paper for the cover from the whole piece so that the cover and bottom would match.  After gluing on the paper (Beacon 3 in1 glue), I also glued on the die cut fairy piece.

The back of the container looed so bare that I had to add something interesting.  I found a Spellbinder die and an a rubber stamp with a favorite saying so I used them on a leftover piece of hand dyed paper.  A butterfly sticker completed the look I wanted for the back.

I couldn't neglect the inside of the box especially because it had a few stains from the soap bars it once contained.  A thin botanical paper was a perfect fit and really dressed up the recycled box.

Here's a close-up of the fairy decoration showing the oval label and sparkly crystals that I added for a

little bling.

                                           

The top of the container needed a little decoration too, so I painted the rim with acrylic paint (to cover up the printed design of the original box and then glued on some fluffy flowers.  What do you think of the newly upcycled box?  Wonder what I'll put in it....maybe a gift of soap???  LOL!

Father's Day Card 2021

My husband and I saw the movie, 'April Fools' early in our romance and quickly became entranced with the idea of frogs being the symbol for our relationship. When I saw the Hero Arts Hoppy Day stamp and dies sets it was a 'must have' purchase.  I thought that the frog image would pair well with the Lynda Kanase i-crafter die set which would provide a 3D scene.

In general, I stuck with the basic scene, coloring with Copic pens.  For the middle part with the swan, I cut off the bird and added a one-leg balanced frog that was stamped on Distress ink colored paper.  

This top view shows how the layered card was put together.  The section with the frog had the ends cut off and the panel was glued between the two other panels.  I used the Lawn Fawn die to cut the scripty words from foil paper.  I lost the apostrophe so I replaced it with a heart sticker (which also covered up an inky smear..heehee!).

Because the back of the card revealed where the Copic pens bled through the die cut scenery, I decided that a piece of light violet vellum would cover up the back as well as add a nice color. I used a scrap of leftover vellum to stamp and heat emboss the 'toadally awesome'.

Besides having our symbolic frog, I think this card really embodies my husband as a father.  He somehow manages to balance everything (work, family, and organizing our household) all while standing on one leg and being 'toadally awesome'!  He's the best father/grandfather to our boys and grandsons and me!  (I think I am his 'problem' child...hahaha!)

 

Boba Tea Shaker Card

As soon as I got the Mama Elephant Boba Tea stamp and die sets, I started planning out the card I wanted to make.  I didn't even have anyone in mind to send it to....hahaha! I thought that the Whimsy slimline die, embossing folder, and paper pack would work well for this card.  However, the paper was only 6x6 so I decided to cut little squares to place behind the opening.  I had some long-forgotten acrylic dots which reminded me of the tapioca balls that are in boba tea.  By making three individual shaker boxes I was able to make the card more interactive.  However, the acrylic dots were rather thick so I had to layer three strips of foam tape to form the shaker box before the dots would move around.  The thickness of the card made the sideview unattractive so I covered up the layers of foam tape with a skinny strip of pink cardstock.  I chose the woven pattern embossing folder because it looks somewhat like an Asian placemat.  A corner rounder was used at the last minute and it really pulled the whole card together.  I wanted to use the birthday saying in the stamp set but it didn't fit within the die cut 'boba' ball but now this card can be used for any occasion....just like I planned LOL!

Here is a close up of how I fixed the problem of the too thick shaker box. I think it was a good save.

                                              

This photo shows you how realistic the acrylic dots look as boba tea tapioca balls.

It's difficult to find envelopes for the slimline cards other than business ones.  For that reason, I decided to purchase the Whimsy slimline envelope die set.  It works very well and is easy to use.  There are three main parts and I just now figured out what the third big die is for.....making an envelope liner...DUH!  Oh well, I'll use it next time.  This set even has a bunch of address label dies and one for the stamp.  I think a fancy card deserves a fancy envelope so I make one when I have the extra time.  Here's to Happy Mail!

 

Bee Happy Bear Card

I've had an interest in bees ever since a hive decided to take up residence between the double walls of our house.  They built quite a large hive until it was evident that we had to remove them or risk the collapse of our side wall.  We tried smoking them out but that didn't work for long.  Bees are persistent insects.  Reluctantly, we resorted to poison but we felt really bad because we know that they worked so hard to build the hive.  To make up for the bee deaths, we decided to get involved in the Alan Wong Adopt a Bee Hive project at the U.H. of Hilo Agriculture dept.  We've pledged money to support the program which raises bees in box hives. We even have a hive with our name on it!  In return we learn about the progress of the bees and receive bottles of honey.  The honey is delicious!  Thank you bees!  

I made this card to honor the bees and even decorated the inside with my friends and their honeycombs.  I used the products below to decorate this card.  Leave a comment if you want to know more about a procedure or bee item.  You can leave a bee-utiful message too!  I love hearing from you!

 

Get Well Chicken Soup Card

I don't make too many get well cards but as my friends and family get older I guess I'll need to have a stash on hand.  Anyway, this one is for someone who is going in for a procedure.  I decided to make a humorous card to hopefully lift up her spirits.  Originally, I was planning to color the image with Copic pens, but the details were too small to avoid bleeding out.  I decided Derwent watercolor pencils (HM BFC) would be a better choice.  Unfortunately, I should have changed out the selected paper as marker paper does not handle watercolors very well.  It turned out okay and maybe made the card seem more wonky and distressed...like the Distressed Ink (from HM Ben Franklin Crafts) I used on the background.  As a last minute change I tilted the scalloped image to add to the off centered look.  Hope the recipient doesn't think her eyes are playing tricks on her. LOL!

 

Spot's First Birthday Card

I love the Eric Hill Spot books so of course when I saw the Spot stamp set as a freebie in a magazine, I immediately bought it.  That was many years ago and I finally inked up the stamps and made a 1st Birthday card that will go with a gift set of Spot books.  For the background I chose a balloon print paper from a Doodlebug Design paper pack.  I originally was going to do a raised letter HAPPY BIRTHDAY like what I saw on the Hero Arts site.  However, I only had a script Happy Birthday (My Favorite Things) and when it was cut out the paper turned out to be too busy and the lettering too scripty to make a readable message.  In the end I just cut out three layers of white card stock and one layer of dark blue card stock.  It was difficult to glue them together but I think it looks cool to be raised up.  I slightly shifted the blue layer to give a bit of a shadow effect.  Spot, the small creatures and balloons were stamped, colored with Copic pens, and fussy cut.  The small green hill was cut with a Lawn Fawn die. The balloon strings were difficult to cut so I replaced them with black wire.  All the pieces were adhered with foam dot adhesives.  The ends of the wires were tacked down with glue so they wouldn't injure anyone or get caught on anything.  Gold glitter Stickles gel paint was used on Spot's crown.  Doodlebug Design sticker stars were added to the balloons before being covered with Stickles crystal gel paint. (Perhaps Glossy Accents might have given the balloons a more balloon-like surface...next time.)  Oh yes, I hand printed the 1st on the balloon before adding the gel paint.  Okay, that's it...I think. Please feel free to ask me questions or send comments. (see below). I love hearing from you!