Whale Birthday

Wow, has it really been 17 days since I last posted here?? Well, my mojo just wasn't moving much in those 17 days and the only thing that got me stamping was my littlest's upcoming birthday. I just haven't been in a creative mood lately. I've not even been crocheting much which is odd for me because I love it. I think this whole national health care situation has been weighing so heavily on my mind that it's been hard to relax and do anything fun. Plus, it's so hot and huuuuumid. And the garden has been keeping me busy with the little energy I have in this heat. I canned tomatoes and homemade pizza sauce yesterday. It about did me in! I wish the garden didn't flourish in the hottest part of the year!

So anyway, I made this card for my littlest who just LOOOOOVES fish of any and every kind. When she checks out books at the library, they are almost all about fish and the sea. I knew that I would use either SU Fishy Friends or SU Silly Sealife on her card. I went with Silly Sealife's whale. He's always fun to color.

And for once, I actually stamped the background rather than use a designer paper. I used to use VersaMark ink on pretty much every card I ever made until I fell in love with designer paper.



For the whale, I used Canson watercolor paper and stamped the whale with my favorite black ink: Versafine Onyx Black. Then I colored with SU markers and a few CTMH markers. I started with a darker color (Pumpkin Pie) on the edges. Then I used Summer Sun to blend toward the center. Then I recolored the edges and the inside to strengthen the colors. No water brush. I just used the markers to blend. Works perfectly on watercolor paper!

I used a Post-It note to block the whale while I sponge-daubed Bashful Blue and Ballet Blue inks on the "sea". Then I rubbed a glue stick over parts of the sea and sprinkled blue glitter here and there. I colored the water spouting out of his head with a Bashful Blue marker and glued a bit of blue glitter there, too. "Glued a bit of blue glitter". Say that 5 times fast! lol



The cake is from the Taylored Expressions set "Sweet Celebration". I also used the cake on the inside (see above). I blocked the cupcake part of the image so I could just get the cake inside.

The dimensions of this card are approx. 4.5" x 6". It was made to fit an invitation envelope measuring 4.75" x 6.5". I bought some at WalMart just to have a different size to create with.



Can you guess where our littlest wants to go on her birthday? The Georgia Aquarium, of course! We'll probably go by The Varsity for lunch beforehand. Can't wait!

TFL and have a blessed week! I hope my mojo returns soon! This place has been too quiet!

Recipe

Stamps: Stampin' Up! Silly Sealife, SU Collage Alphabet Numbers, SU Simply Circles, Taylored Expressions Sweet Celebration

CS: Black, Pumpkin Pie, Ballet Blue, Canson watercolor paper, white (inside)

Inks: VersaMark, Versafine Onyx Black, Bashful Blue, Ballet Blue

Markers: Pumpkin Pie, Summer Sun, Bashful Blue, Apricot Appeal, Yoyo Yellow, CTMH Bubblegum, CTMH Citrus Leaf

Other: Cuttlebug Tiny Bubbles embossing folder, Nestabilities Classic Oval Scallops Large, Classic Oval Large, Stamp-a-ma-jig, googly eyes, blue glitter, Frosted Lace Stickles, sewing machine, black gingham ribbon, 3D-Dots, ticket corner punch, sponge dauber

Convertible Birthday

Our son turns 16 this coming Monday. He's a joy to us all and a blessing in every way. I wanted to make him a special card. I hope he'll like it!

All the stamps used are Stampin' Up! I used Cheery Chat for the sentiment, Collage Alphabet Numbers for the 'no. 16' and Classic Convertibles for the car.

This card is pretty simple and straight-forward. The base is Chocolate Chip and was cuttlebugged using the Traffic Jam embossing folder.

I cuttlebugged the side panel of dp (Basic Grey Archaic) with the Mesh embossing folder. I glued it to the black background and stitched it on the sewing machine.

For the circle I stamped 'Happy Birthday' on ivory cs, cut it out using a Nestabilities circle die, ran it through the Cuttlebug using the Tiny Bubbles EF, and then sponged around the edges with my awesome new Tsukineko sponge daubers using Creamy Caramel ink.

For the car, I heat-embossed it with Brilliance Graphite Black ink and Judikins Detail Black embossing powder on ivory cs. Then I colored it with a Creamy Caramel marker, layering the color heavier in some areas and barely coloring others. I finished it up by using a silver Sharpie for the chrome and metal parts and a white Prismacolor pencil for the tires.

I stamped the 'no. 16' part on ivory cs, punched it out with the large oval punch and sponged the edges with Creamy Caramel ink.

Thanks for looking! Now I better git a move on and finish up the Mother's Day cards I need to make! Whew! May is a busy month!

Stamps: All Stampin' Up! - Cheery Chat, Classic Convertibles, Collage Alphabet Numbers

CS: Chocolate Chip, black, Basic Grey Archaic, ivory

Inks: Versafine Onyx Black, Brilliance Graphite Black, Creamy Caramel

Other: Cuttlebug embossing folders - Traffic Jam, Mesh, Tiny Bubbles; Nestabilities Standard Circle Large and Small, Judikins Detail Black ep, large oval punch, 3D-Dots, black zigzag ribbon, silver Sharpie, Creamy Caramel marker, Tsukineko sponge daubers, sewing machine, white Prismacolor pencil (for tires)