Tuesday, January 4, 2022

First Post of 2022

And back to it! Hope you are all safe and well. Honey and I have been staying cozy in our new flannel jams we got each other for Christmas. Multiples pairs of new fat pants! LOL And a cold front showed up here, so they've come in handy. I've been lazy too and taken a few days off of posting. This is the first time in 2 years that I didn't have a DT post to make for the 1st of the month, so I "slept in", lol. 😊 Then went to work on my DT makes for this month. So, until it's time to share those, I thought I'd share this birthday card I made for a girlfriend last month.
 Old skool hand-stamping and die cutting with some pretty dotted papers from my Black Hole of Stash, very very old. Everything I used was old. The only thing new was the glue, lol. MFT sentiment on a Lawn Fawn die cut, ancient Stamping Bellas Java Bellas stamp and a Chicken Girl cake stamp. The image and double scalloped frame mats were die cut with old Spellbinders dies. A really old Quickutz 12x12 scallop border scrapbooking die was used to cut the long green edgings for the red paper in the center.
 
I used this Splitcoaststampers sketch for my design layout, resizing to A7. On a whim, I Googled Stamping Bellas (they are still in business!), surfed over to their blog and started skimming the posts from the beginning (2006). There on page 308 is the first mention of the Java Bellas -- the date? January 10, 2007. These Bellas will be 15 years old in a few days! 😱
Let me share what the Java Bellas stamp looks like nekked. A bit different than my card, eh? No cake on the table, but a flower vase instead. That bothered me (although the vase is perfectly lovely, I wanted something birthday-ish on that table), so I searched my stamps while praying loudly for that snowball's chance, for an appropriately sized cake stamp I could cover up that flower vase with and look decently proportioned on the table, oh and in between those coffees. And just before I gave up and started looking for presents to put on the floor at their feet, balloons, party hats, I spied it!
Et Voila! I was mega lucky to find the Chicken Girl cake stamp and I actually think it looks fab sitting there! It fit on the table perfectly after fussy-cutting. And even has an oval base for a faux table top!  I feel like I should use this combo again. It's lucky, like a charm! As old as these girls are (Stamping Bellas first line of stamps), they don't really look out of date today. Which is great because I think I have 4-5 Version 1.0 Bellas, as they are called, doing various things. Just wish those headless girl stamps from MFT's company beginnings (that I have too many of) looked half as stylish now. Aw heck, I still may use them again one day, who knows? 😏
 
Uniko sentiments inside and more of the dotted papers on the back for a coordinated look.
A final look. Flat for mailing but bright and cheerful. Thanks for dropping by and I hope your 2022 is behaving itself so far! XOX

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14 comments:

ahlers5 said...

What a great card! I absolutely love the polka dote...so cute! Thank so much for the wonderful Christmas card. I love it. It DEFINITELY goes into my box of saved cards. Every surface is designed so well. I am hoping to be able to keep up with my cards this year. Homeschooling definitely keeps me very busy. I already joined up for the Christmas Card Challenge. Quite a few people already have cards posted. Happy New Year!

Ellibelle said...

What a great card for your friend's birthday! Love the polka dotted papers and fun sketch. I remember when these stamps were released. So long ago! And they still make such fun cards!
Thanks so much for sharing with us at Stamping Sensations!
Ellie
Ellibelle's Corner

Vee Cassidy said...

A lovely birthday card it always feels good to use up stash. Vee xx

Vee Cassidy said...

ps To quote The Pixies - where is my mind! I think I forgot to say- Thank you for sharing with us at Stamping Sensations. Vee xx

brenda said...

This is sure to cheery anyone on their Birthday, loving the bright happy colours and I'm sure your friend will appreciate the girly image.

Many thanks for sharing and joining us at Stamping Sensations January challenge.

B x

Cut It Up Challenge Blog said...

Your idea of covering the vase with a birthday cake was brilliant, and congratulations for finding the perfect image to do it! Good job on using the "old stuff," too. That's always fun. You came out with an adorable personalized card for your friend!

Thanks for sharing your Birthday Cards project with us at Cut it Up!

Evelyn
http://mylittlecraftblog.wordpress.com

Alyson Mayo said...

Love the addition of the cake on the table - great idea! You have been busy lately with a lot of projects. Hail to the pyjama pants - love mine as well!

Annettes Hobby Rosettes said...

This is so beautiful. Nice work. Thank you for sharing in our challenge at Classic Design Challenge we really appreciate you joining in.

Annette DT

craftytrog said...

A fabulous card for a good friend Aimeslee!
Happy Friday!
Alison

Beth Norman-Roberts said...

Girl, aren't you takinbg me back. These do look stylish. I think I'll drag some of my 1.0 out. Remember the way we all ran out and bought these. They were all the rage--LOL. Yes, and those headless MFT's. I had the shopping bags and wished I still had them. Thanks for the smiles. Your card is gorgeous.

Kuni said...

A fantastic card.
Thank you for joining us at the Sweet Stampers and i hope to see you again.
Hugs
Kuni

Larelyn said...

Such a fun girlfriend card. I love the design and how bright and happy it is. Thanks for joining our Cut it Up Birthday Challenge.

Helen said...

Great card - love the colours you've used.

Thanks for joining us at Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge.

Helen x

Diane Louise J said...

Your card is gorgeous... thanks for joining our 'For a Lady/Girl' challenge over at Moving Along With The Times. Hope you can join us next time... good luck.
Diane Louise, Team Leader MAWTT xx