Elegant black Christmas card

I wanted to challenge myself this weekend by using black in a Christmas card without involving a penguin.  Holy heck.

I took a designer 12x12 piece of card stock and cut it into 3 strips.  I outlined the two outermost strips in black to make it look more like the center one which already had a border.  It was really really dark looking to me so I made sure there was a frame of white between and around the pieces.  I also popped up the middle strip because I liked the subtle shadow effect.

I used a circle die to create the ornament, stamped black snowflakes all over it, then added the red strip with Merry Christmas embossed on it and framed in black.  Still lacked something so I added the black sheer ribbon around that (first place in the county fair look? :-).  It's attached with foam tape to pop it up above the black satin ribbon.

Still way dark so I added red stickles to the round medallions and added random white snowflakes with white pearls in the center.  It was this last step with the snowflakes that really pulled things together.  So outside my comfort zone--love it!

The Details:
unknown 12x12 PP, PTI white card stock for base, red Stickles, Recollections snowflake punch, black satin and sheer ribbons, black Spectrum Noir marker, foam tape, Fiskars stamps, Colorbox white pigment ink, Hampton Art clear embossing powder, Paper Studio pearls, Bow Easy, Spellbinders circle die

I'm entering this in the following challenges: Try It on Tuesday "Going Dottie", Simon Wednesday Anything Goes, Mojo Monday #312, and Crazy 4 Challenges C4C205.

Easy Ribbon Christmas Tree

Not a lot of time to get crafty this weekend--kid sis and her husband are coming week after next so I'm starting to prep for that.  Tho I still have to squeeze in some sort of crafty something or I'll go nutso, right?

This card was so easy.  I chose a paper with dots that reminded me of snow so no need to emboss (tho I do love me some embossing).  I was originally thinking of sewing down the tree but back and forth?, along the sides?, tack it?--too futzy and too much thinking.  Instead I took clear adhesive dots and just free-handed it which was lots more satisfying.  For the trunk/pot, I  cut a small piece of scrap to shape, folding it and using a piece of foam tape to secure it to the card front.  I didn't think to add the star brad until after I'd taped down the aqua dot paper so I nipped off the posts and used a glue dot.  E.A.S.Y!

On the inside I taped a piece of light cream cardstock stamped with "May the simple joys of the season be yours."  I'll be using that sweet sentiment a lot.  It's so me.

The Details: 
Paper Studio Santa and Friends 6x6 paper, kraft cardstock from my old stash, organza ribbon from my gift-wrapping stash, star brad, clear adhesive glue dots, Scotch foam tape, Fiskars sentiment

I'm entering this in the following:  Festive Friday FFC118 Use a Star Challenge, Simon Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge, Cute Card Thursday 288 Ribbon Challenge, Whoopsi Daisy Ribbons and Bows Challenge, and Try it on Tuesdays "Going Dotty" challenge,

Birthday book for bird lovers

Since the ol' sewing machine was out (Notice the method to my madness?  If something is lying about--it gets used.) I decided to play around with the idea of making a book of sorts with different stitches on the pages.  Fun!

I wanted  paper that had some built-in texture so chose to use papers from my DCWV The Green Stack.  Check.  I didn't want to change thread so went with a neutral (didn't worry that the bobbin and sewing thread were different colors).  Check.  I knew this would end up being on the thick side so used the PTI 3x5ish tri-fold format cards from my stash so I could fit it in an A2 envelope if necessary.  Check. 

Do I love it?  Check!

The Details:
DCWV The Green Stack, PTI trifold card, Guterman thread, green organza ribbon, Stampendous sentiment

I'm entering this in the latest Cute Card Thursday Challenge--Anything with a Ribbon and Crafty Cardmakers Challenge #100 - Winged Things.  Lots of inspiration to be had at both so check them out.

Currently listening to Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 1 soundtrack.

My sewing machine is gathering too much dust

Must rectify ASAP!

Entering this in the Moxie Fab World Stickers & Tape Challenge, 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Challenge 21 and Christmas Stampin' All Year Long Challenge 34.

The Details:
Washi tape, Gutterman thread, navy cardstock from my old stash, mystery patterned paper and star epoxy sticker from my kid sis

Currently listening to Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Soundtrack.

Hexagon love continues

 

I was cleaning up my craft space--okay, "cleaning" is too strong a word--clearing an opening is more accurate--when I ran across the PTI hexagon stamps I used a few days ago.  Of course, I got sidetracked and started playing around.  Happy country girl sigh.  There is just something so nostalgic for me with this card--mini patterned hexagons, cheesecloth, crochet thread, even the ol' red, white and blue.  I also enjoyed letting my inner child run amok splattering ink everywhere.  Whee!

I'll be entering this in the Less is More Felt or Fabric Challenge 138 as well as the current Seize the Birthday Challenge.

The Details:
Memento Danube Blue and Bahama Blue, PTI hexagon and Happy Birthday stamps, PTI white cardstock, red cardstock from my old stash, mystery button, crochet thread from my doily-making stash, cheesecloth from my kitchen

Currently listening to Duck Sauce.

Think pink

In the process of making a card for my niece who is fighting ACC, a type of rare cancer, I realized my older sister could also use a pick-me-up.  I know it's not been easy for either of them.  I wanted a card that would be soothing to look at as well as remind her it's okay not to be superwoman 24-7.  So a little pinky melon and other calming garden colors with natural fibers and there you have it.  Take good care, sis.

To give me a little card-crafting mojo, I took a tour of blogland and ran across a couple of challenges, the Simon Says Sketch Saturday Challenge #276 from last week (I'm going to enter this is the Simon Wednesday Challenge instead) and still current Muse Challenge #35.  I riffed on the SSS sketch and was inspired by the colors and the nature of the encouraging sentiment on the Muse inspiration card. 

The Details:   Spellbinders oval die, PTI sentiment, 7 Gypsies stamps ("you"), hemp, My Moments paper flower, Colorbok epoxy butterfly, Recollections brads, unknown papers (6x6 sheets gifted from my kid sis), foam dots, Scor-tape, Fiskars corner rounder

Poor little puppy

Sister Challenge:  Dog + get well.   Ha!  Technically I've completed our weekend challenge since we decided to nix the Kenny K portion since she doesn't have any KK stamps . . . yet.  We'll figure out a replacement tomorrow.  I was thinking 10 minute dash or something but my kid sis is so damn good at that. 

The Details:
Exterior:  Spectrum Noir (see image below for specific colors), MFT oval dies, Recollections paw stamp, Great Impressions Hurtin' Puppy, PTI white cardstock, Paper Studio Uptown Flair paper stack, black cardstock from my old stash
Interior:  Hero Arts Everyday Sayings

Entering this in Designed to Color Challenge #20.

 

Yummy autumn sequin goodness

 

 

The other day I mentioned I loved the sequin baby card from Lucy's Cards and planned to play around with the concept.  Play I did. I loooooove sequins (anything sparkly for that matter--I'm a total magpie).  The fall blend I had really spoke to me, especially at this time of year.  Rainy and dreary days are coming to us in Seattle so I better soak up the color as much as I can.  Even with the sequins it seems a little plain so I decided to emboss it.  <insert dreamy sigh>

Now see the third pic with the yellow (think more maize yellow; this is too 70s pumpkin)?  My eye kept being drawn to the yellow instead of to the sequin tree so I switched to a more subtle color.  It made such a difference.  I also like that I have three layers.  That thin dark background mat really anchors the card.  Hmm, what else?  Oh, I tried spray adhesive for the sequins but it just wasn't strong enough so I went with a solid sheet of Scor Tape.  Muchas better.  And I didn't have a thankful stamp so I printed it with my laser printer and cut it into a little banner.

On top of all this card-making crafty joy, this design also satisfies my love of salvaging/reusing since I'm using the negative of the die cut here but the tree itself in the card below.  Yes, two cards in one day!   And I have the urge to start another.  There really is a Santa Claus, Virginia!

This one is actually in response to a challenge from my kid sister.  We've set challenges for ourselves for the following this weekend:  window frame, Autumn, get well, dog, and Kenny K.  They can be combined, repeated, whatever but all have to be used in some way by Sunday at 6pm.  This card satisfies the window and Autumn part; I may even use it for the get well but am leaning toward a dog for that one.  You've been served, girl!!

I'll be entering the sequin card in the CAS-ual Friday Colors and a Leaf Challenge and the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge.  You still have time to enter the challenges so do it.  It's totally fun!

Added:  Turns out you can't enter more than 1 card if it's in the same post.  Drat! 

The Details:
Memory Box Madison small window and Arboscello tree
Spectrum Noir TB1, TB2, TB3, CT4, OR1, TN7 & TN8
PTI Dark Chocolate and white paper
Heirloom "antiquity" paper
Paper Studio leaves embossing folder 
Ranger Glossy Accents 
Martha Stewart glitter (added to cover any open spots between sequins)
autumn-color solid papers I got at Ben Franklin's in a mystery paper pack

Hexagon birthday wishes

I love using stitches on my cards.  Extra dimension PLUS it ever so slowly uses up my thread stash.  Buttonhole thread in this case.  In inking this I used 2 different inks to create more of a mottled spectrum look.  Love the effect.

The Details:
Exterior:  PTI hexagon stamps, Gutterman thread, Craftsmart grosgrain ribbon, Brilliance rocket red gold pigment ink, Memento Dandelion ink, papers from my old stash

Interior:  Fiskars Birthday Cheer sentiment, same ink and thread

I'm entering this in the Seize the Birthday Challenge with "Toppings".

Added:  Also submitting to CASology 62 Arrow challenge.

Warm Christmas Wishes

It's been horribly wet and dreary here the last few days so I wanted to play with happy colors and fun designs.  This card makes me smile . . . a lot!  Pink pink pink!  It's very different from my usual stuff too which was a fun experiment.  Do the crystal arrows make you think of migrating birds too? 

I'm going to enter this in the Loves Rubberstamps Challenge 70 which asks you to use 1 image, 2 papers and 3 embellishments.


The Details:  Great Impressions Holiday Flamingos, Offray sheer pink ribbon, DCWV Merry Christmas 12x12 paper, My Mind's Eye Merry Little Christmas 6x6 paper, Ranger glossy accents (love that stuff!), Prima crystal arrows, Spectrum Noir markers, Spellbinders die, PTI cardstock for the base and foam dots.  Almost forgot to mention the Bow-Easy.

Added:  I'm also entering this card in the Designed to Color Challenge #20, CHNC Challenge #142 and the Whoopsi Daisy Challenge.

An apple a day

When I first got my set of Spectrum Noirs for my birthday in July I really wasn't quite sure what I was going to do with them--fill in a little detail here and there; maybe enhance a pre-colored image; watch them gather dust.  I don't know if times (or I) have changed but, wow, there are so many fun things to color nowadays.

You'll see a few Stampavie images like this sweet "Time for Apple Pie" girl making an appearance here.  Lurv them!  In this case, right after I got the pens I was trying a technique where you stamp the image in a light ink then color in the image so it looks softer, more like a watercolor really.

Things I learned:

• I had to make more shading decisions (a good thing)
• Building up color gradually to create depth makes a huge difference (I'm quite proud of the dimension of her basket and bonnet)
• Don't be afraid to let the image dry and then come back to add more color
• Large areas of plain colors bore me (thus I added polka dots)

Things I wish I had noted:  how on earth did I get the shoes to look like that?  All of my subsequent shoe attempts (on different images) so suck.

The details:  Stampavie "Time for Apple Pie", Spectrum Noir (using the basic sets, none of the 24-packs), Martha Stewart pink glittery paper, PTI cardstock (white), pink cardstock from my old stash, Cuttlebug Swiss Dots embossing folder, dark pink rick rack, pink velvet ribbon, Smooch (dandelions at her feet)

I'm entering this in the Designed to Color Challenge #20 sponsored this week by Crafter's Companion.

Xmas in July (Yes, I know it's September! ;-)

I decided since getting back into card-making after an 8-year hiatus that I would make Christmas/holiday cards this year and, unlike the last 2-3 years, actually send them.  That is a tall order for me.  I hate the cookie cutter nature of commercial cards which really zeroes out my incentive to buy and mail them.  Ugh ugh ugh.  But not this year!

Is this little dachshund not the cutest?  I love that the simplicity of the overall design really draws your eye to this little guy.  Hmm.  In looking at the card as a picture I wonder if I should have used a Swiss dots background instead of swirls.  What do you think?  Too matchy matchy?  LOL--it just occurred to me that an embossed bark background would have so worked too!

The details:
Exterior:  MFT oval dies, Spectrum Noir markers (CR11 and 10), Cuttlebug swirls embossing folder, Inkadinkado stamp, Bow-Easy, Ranger enamel accents (belt)
Interior:  sentiment from Penny Black "Christmas Cheer"

I'm entering this card in the Christmas Stampin' All Year Long cute and/or cuddly challenge.

Currently listening to:  Ladytron

Bling a ding

I really pushed myself to create this card for my aspiring DJ stepson's 21st birthday (21st!  I so remember him when we first met--he was a chubby, hairless, voice-cracking adolescent.  Lord.).  Back to the card, I'm certainly not opposed to bling but this really took it to anotha' level for me.  There is soooo much going on in 5.5x5.5" of space.  Look at all the different textural elements--l.o.v.e.  And what a great way to salvage things around the house.  I knew that 3" cd would come in handy someday . . . not!

The details:  
Exterior:  Cuttlebug Spots and Dots, Jolee's DJ stickers, hemp twine
Interior:  Paper Studio music notes, music note washi, Fiskars Birthday Cheer, Inkadinkado In the Groove

I'm entering the card in the All That Glitters is Gold Challenge in the Moxie Fab World as well as the Simon Says Wednesday Challenge Emboss It.  My first challenges--exciting!  Ooh, it might be a stretch but I'm also going to enter this card in the Fusion Card Challenge.