My daughter-in-law's birthday falls in mid-August two days after my Mom's birthday. I went to a card class back in March or April and several of those cards remained unfinished because I wanted to change them a bit rather than follow the original design exactly. As Ginger loves flowers, and I think she would love to have a greenhouse added to her backyard, I decided one particular unfinished card lent itself well to Ginger, as well as several challenges I wanted to enter.
First, I add a few more flowers and extra foliage inside my greenhouse, plus one more blossom outside as I like the look of an odd number of blooms rather than just two, which is an even number. I finished the greenhouse and attached it to the planned white stitched rectangle panel.
The original cardbase design used the same Just Jade cardstock color as the brick embossed layer. I wanted to add larger underlying layers and more color. I decided on a Pale Papaya cardbase to match the sentiment die-cut and use the cardbase with a kind of picture frame look with an added white mat and then the Brick & Mortar 3D embossed layer. I trimmed this brick embossed layer about an 1/8" smaller all the way around. I decided to add Clear Embossing over the bricks to give them a bit of sheen. I offset my greenhouse white panel just a bit more to the right than in the original to accommodate for the sentiment overlap, which I placed in this location with a specific challenge idea mind. I really like the brick's sheen; it was a nice added touch!
In check possible challenges my card might fit, I found 15 challenges to enter...some old and some new! These challenges are listed below:
1) SC920 - Sketch Challenge/ by Allison Cope - 8/24/22. Click here to see Sketch SC920 challenge. I tweaked the sketch by rotating it to a horizontal card. My #3 edging is the lacy fan-like doily. Here is a link to Sketch SC920.
2) WT909 - Ways to Use It Challenge/ Double Embossing - 8/11/22. Challenge: use an embossing folder & embossing powder on your card.
3) AOCC22 - All Occasion Card Challenge/ August 2022 - 8/1/22. An ongoing/monthly challenge that encourages you to set goals ahead for each month to help you complete and mail your cards more timely! This is a much needed birthday card for my daughter-in-law's August birthday.
4) USEIT2022 - Use It Challenge/ August 2022 - 8/1/22. An ongoing/ annual challenge that requires you to use OLD/ DUSTY and long unused items and/or OLD/NEW items purchased, never used, and seemingly forgotten! OLD item: recycled table mat doily. OLD/NEW 1st Use: 3D Brick & Mortar EF (purchase 10/2/19); SU Message Dies (purchase: 2/4/2021).
5) CT0722 - Fan Club Monthly Themes--Brick, Wood, Stone! - 7/15/22. My card uses a 3D embossed brick panel.
6) ABC17E5 - Alphabet Challenge/ Letter E = Embossing - 6/22/22. I've used both dry embossing and heat embossing with a Clear Matte over the top.
7) F4A634 - Free 4 All Challenge/ Renewal - Old to New - 4/15/22. Challenge use an old elements on your card, or something recycled, or remake an old card. I saved an old luncheon rectangle doily and used a piece to make my fan-like doily arrangement.
MMTPT682 - Teapot Challenge/ Decisions, Decisions - 8/17/21. Challenge: use embossing folders and powders to make a card to send to someone you haven't seen in a while, who needs a pick me up, or has something to celebrate. My card is for my daughter-in-law's birthday. I've used dry embossing and then applied Versamark/ Clear Embossing to my brick panel to give it a bit of a sheen.
9) MIX418 - Mix-ability Challenge/ A JUNKet - 1/29/21. Challenge: make your card with something you would normally throw away. I added a piece of doily from a luncheon table mat stowed in my junk stash.
10) IC790 - Inspiration Challenge/ Hot Chocolate Design - 1/23/21. Challenge: Browse this week's chosen website or Pinterest Board and find some inspiration. I was inspired by the color and flowers of: Chocolaticas Bloom--Women's Mary Jane Flats!
11) S2S19VV - Stamp to Save Challenge (aka Stamp 2 Support One Another) - Faux Anything - 12/5/19. Challenge: use any one of the 44 faux techniques in the SCS tutorials. I have faux stitching on my card by using a stitched die, plus I have a faux brick panel by using a 3D Brick & Mortar embossing folder, plus I have add a faux patina by clear embossing over my brick embossing folder.
12) TLC743 - Technique Challenge/ Emboss Emboss - 5/20/19. Challenge: Use wet (heat) embossing on your dry embossing. There are several ways you may choose to use to accomplish this. I dry embossed my cardstock first, then inked it with Versamark and sprinkled Clear embossing powder over and heat to give my embossed bricks a bit of a sheen.
13) CAS674 - Clean & Simple Challenge/ Show Me YourBud! - 4/8/19. Challenge: In the Spring, we see budding trees, flowers, etc. Bonus: use Spring Green. My card shows blossoms blooming in the greenhouse ready to plant in the garden as warmer nights bring on the season of spring! I've used a green similar to Spring Green.
14) MSP6 - MISTI Monday Challenge/ Lopving Layers! - 2/5/18. My card utilizes four base layers, one of which is embossed, plus layers stamping and die-cut leaves and flowers, some of which are popped up.
15) Wednesday Tutorials - Embossed Embossing by Bev Gerard - 3/22/11. Challenge: Heat Emboss over dry embossing for a unique background look.
Ingredients: Stampin' Up: Cardstock--Pale Papaya, Whisper White, Just Jade, Soft Succulent, Vellum. Stamps/Dies--Garden Greenhouse/ Greenhouse Dies. Dies--Stitched Rectangles, Message Dies. Ink: Just Jade, Pale Papaya, Versamark. EF--Brick & Mortar 3D. Elegant Faceted Gems. Other: WOW Clear Matt Embossing Powder. Stash: Recycled rectangle luncheon doily (sponged). Chatterbox verse. Size-4-3/4" x 6"
Registered: October 13, 2006 Location: North Attleboro, MA Posts: 7514
Tue, Aug 23, 2022 @ 4:14 PM
I love what you have done here. I have had my eye on that die cut set for a long time. Time to break down. The colors are so soft. I'm so impressed by the fact that you are entering this in so many challenges, old and new.
Registered: May 9, 2007 Location: Wisconsin Posts: 8704
Tue, Aug 23, 2022 @ 8:50 PM
I’m loving that greenhouse die cut Carlene! I like you color combo too. So soft and soothing. Perfect card for a gardener!
------------------------------ Mary ~~ QFTD #152, FS#514CC Guest Design Team 2012, 2013, 2017 & 2022 2014 CAS Spring Design Team MemberSC Guest Design Team 2015 & 2022 Dirty Dozen Alumni SU Consultant "Life's greatest adventure is finding your place in the Circle of Life" - Lion King
Registered: January 20, 2010 Location: Brampton, Ontario Posts: 26245
Wed, Aug 24, 2022 @ 2:26 AM
Love the look of the sketch turned on its side. Beautiful green house filled with blossoms. That is a very versatile looking die cut and perfect for the flower lover. I can see this being great as a winter card too!
Registered: January 20, 2016 Location: Freetown, Massachusetts Posts: 31458
Wed, Aug 24, 2022 @ 3:10 AM
Love all your finishing touches! Embossing the bricks with clear was a great idea. This sweet greenhouse makes such a fun card. I, too, would love to have a greenhouse and am thinking of talking hubby into one this year.
Registered: February 27, 2007 Location: LaCrosse, Wisconsin Posts: 39904
Wed, Aug 24, 2022 @ 5:43 AM
Just beautiful, Carlene!!!!! Even though I have no green in my thumbs, I love greenhouses, maybe because my grandparents ran one for a while and I loved going there.
------------------------------ Jean Bean the Dancing Queen "You can play a shoestring if you're sincere." -John Coltrane
Registered: August 21, 2007 Location: Wayland MA Posts: 105300
Wed, Aug 24, 2022 @ 7:42 AM
so pretty with the greenhouse!! Sure to be a hit with a flower-lover!!
------------------------------ Anne HarmonFS154, QFTD58, PROUD FAN CLUB MEMBER (photo of our Great Granddaughter Elise, just 6 months old) and me, even older.
Registered: April 6, 2009 Location: Weyers Cave, Virginia in the Shenandoah Valley Posts: 31247
Wed, Aug 24, 2022 @ 4:46 PM
Super Cute birthday card, Carlene! I Love the way you used the vellum by embossing it and allowing us to see what's inside the greenhouse. Love this one to pieces~
------------------------------ ~Roberta
�Ability is what you're capable of doing. Motivation determines what you do. Attitude determines how well you do it.�
― Lou Holtz