Happy Birthday Mom!!!!

Last week, I told you that I used several of the Stamping 411 sketches for my personal birthday card needs.  The last of the October birthdays belongs to my Mom.  My mom is awesome!!!!  She's there to listen to me, give me advice and be my BFF.  I'd show you a photo of her, but one....she hates to have her picture taken and two....she's yell at me for posting it on my blog.  So.....to keep the peace....you're going to have to trust me when I tell you that she is a beautiful person....both inside and out!

Here is this week's sketch........

And, here is my interpretation of it.......

I really wanted to make this card "pop".  So, rather than grab my usual purples or pinks for a feminine card, I went for yellow and poppy.  These two colors are so striking together!

My base card is Early Espresso.  It's a wonderful neutral that pairs nicely with the So Saffron and Poppy Parade.  Too much color is not always a good thing.

Layer #2 is So Saffron.  Of course, I couldn't leave this layer just plain.  So, I used my Direct-to-Paper technique to give the plain cardstock some "texture".  

Layer #3 is a strip of Poppy Parade cardstock that's also been texturized with the Direct-to-Paper technique.  Along the bottom edge I placed a strip of Whisper White that's been punched with the Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border punch.  I love how it resembles subtle eyelet trims.  

Layer #4 is larger on my card than what is called for on the sketch, but I needed to make it bigger to work with the cut out flowers.  This layer is Crumb Cake cardstock that's been stamped with the En Francais background stamp.  I also sponged the edges with Crumb Cake ink before matting it on some Early Espresso cardstock.  

Can I just say how much I love these flowers?  The Field Flowers stamp set was one of the first stamp purchases I made from this year's Idea Book and Catalog.  It's just my style.  This is the first time I've cut them out.  I was expecting it to be quite frustrating, but it really wasn't!  Yay for that!  

I stamp the stems first using Old Olive ink.  I then ink the more solid image with So Saffron ink.  The more detailed image is inked with Poppy Parade ink.   I just love how the two step process makes this flower spray look so lifelike.  

My mom is going to kill me for saying this, but she HATES to be called "mother".  I mean.....really hates it.  So, sentiments for her cards were always general.....until Stampin' Up! came out with this stamp set that has "Mom" in it.  Thank you Stampin' Up!  I bought this stamp set just for the "mom".  

Isn't the punched shape fun?  Well, I made it using my Decorative Label punch.  Here's how to make it:

1. stamp your sentiment
2. turn the punch so the short side surrounds the sentiment and punch
3. turn the punched out sentiment upside down and attach it to 1/2" x 4" strip of cardstock.
4. place the shape back in the punch using the strip to help guide it in and hold it, once again using the short side of the punch shape and punch

The result is this cute little shape!!!!  Try this method with the longer side of the punch too for a different effect!  I love how I can get more bang for my buck with my punches!!!!

I will say that Mom loved her card.  I don't think she expected the yellow from me as I'm not really a yellow girl.  But, sometimes surprising your BFF with something different is fun!

Do you need more inspiration?  I encourage you to check out what the other Stamping 411 operators have been up to!!!  Your creative mojo will be bursting with inspiration!!!

Comments

[Gretchen Barron]

Beautiful card, Patti, and wonderful tribute to your mom. Hope you both had a great day! Blessings, Gretchen

[Selene]

This is so beautiful! I love the sentiment and the way that you used the punches. I really love the way this card came out!

[Lee]

I'll just bet she is beautiful inside and out.....and you take after her. Love ya!
Psst....she's going to love the card too.

[Sharnee Torrents]

Hello dear Patti!
I've never played here before and loved being part of this challenge!
Your card is gorgeous, the colours and that stamp set! I've just ordered it myself! YAY! I'm sooo pleased your Mum loved the card, so she should have! It's gorgeous! Yellow is defiantly a colour you should play with more!
SMiles SHArnee :)

[Tiffany Bauer]

Love it Patti!! I am sure you mom loved it too and I am so happy to see that we now have the "general" terms for those loved ones in our life. I really like Mom better then Mother!!