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Saturday, November 30, 2013

Santa, Baby

I wanted to make some cards for my niece and nephews who are siblings.  The first is for the youngest because it's easy to identify who it is, the next for the middle child so a bit more sophisticated and then the more contemporary take for the oldest.

Card 1 Details:  Cuttlebug embossing folder, PTI white card stock, red card stock from old stash, Recollections snowflake punch, Sharpie, Lifestyle Crafts circle die, pop dot, Glossy Accents
For this card I partially embossed a rectangle then masked it before sponging red onto the bricks.  For the hat I just free-handed a basic hat shape.

Card 2 Details:  Sizzix snow and Paper Studio brick embossing folders, Recollections snowflake punch, puffy paint, velvet paper, white Enamel Accents, Glossy Accents, Memento Lady Bug & Rhubarb Stalk mixed together, blue card stock from old stash, PTI white card stock, pop dots
This card was the logical next step after the cards above.  I sort of wish I had used an embossing folder on the white fur at the bottom.  Maybe next time.

Card 3 Details:  Fiskars sentiment, red velvet paper, PTI white card stock, scrap of black and gold card stock from old stash, Glossy Accents

I'm entering this in 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Pick a Fav Theme (Santa Claus/Father Christmas), Paperminutes #297 CAS Christmas, Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes, Christmas Cards All Year 'Round Snow, Sisterhood of Crafters Handmade, Crafter's Cafe Anything Goes, City Crafter White as Main Color, Totally Gorjuss #212 Snow, Sweet Stampin' Black White & One Other Color, Addicted to Stamps & More #73 Holidays, and Totally Papercrafts #195 Ho Ho Holidays.

Friday, November 29, 2013

Bold Snowmen Card

A really easy card today after all the T-Day goings-on.  Some pop dots, embossing and a bold patterned paper really go a long way.

The Details:  PTI white card stock, Sizzix embossing folder, Inkadinkado Village Lifestyle stamps, Paper Studio Christmas Basics 6x6 paper, Memento Tuxedo Black, Lifestyle Crafts circle die.

I'm entering this in Paperminutes #297 CAS Christmas, Cards for Men #24 Anything Goes, Stampin' Royalty #204 Winter, Wordplay Saturday Snowman, and Holly Jolly Christmas One for the Boys.

Wednesday, November 27, 2013

Okeh Bokeh

Like I mentioned earlier my kid sis and I tried bokeh this past weekend.  Cool.  Way cool.  This method of doing it is quite easy.  You'll find instructions and the inspiration for these cards over at Splitcoaststampers.  The only things I have to add more as reminders to myself for the future are:
  • sponge lightly to avoid obvious sponge marks
  • removable Scotch tape is easier than Post-Its for masking
  • go light with the water; big drops warp the paper
As far as these cards go, I think the first is my fav.  There's something about that color and the wheat that really draws me in--reminds me of autumn trees reflected in a pond.  I also think either card would be fitting for a sympathy, birthday or really just about anything, with the first card being particularly nice for gents.

Card 1 (Wheat) Details:  PTI white card stock, Inkadinkado Meadow stamp, Stampabilities Definitions stamp, Memento Desert Sand, Rhubarb Stalk, Potter's Clay, and Tuxedo Black, removable Scotch tape, water.  On the inside it says "Count your blessings."

Card 2 Details:  PTI white card stock, Spectrum Noir black, Kaisercraft Thank You sentiment, Inkadinkado Meadow stamp, Brilliance Graphite Black, Memento Tuxedo Black, Dandelion, Bahama Blue and New Sprout

I'm entering this in Jellypark Friends Happy Thanksgiving/Give Thanks, Little Tangles #25 Give Thanks, Crafty Cardmakers #105 CAS, Pink Elephant TPE227 Be Thankful, Loves Rubberstamps #80 Give Thanks, Card Makin' Mamas CMM76 Thankful Tidings, Inkspirational #44 Anything Goes, Cards for Men Anything Goes, Jingle Belles Thank You and Crazy 4 Challenges Thankful, Twisted Tuesday Autumn Thankfulness

You Better Watch Out . . .

 
I tried my hand at a couple of different bokeh methods this past weekend.  In this case I tried to evoke a Christmas tree behind the zombie by using an eraser to create dots. It helps if you squinch your eyes.

Can you believe this is a card a coworker requested for his young niece?  I hadn't realized zombie popularity spanned the generations; I'm feeling rather hip now!  Even so I tried to make this guy zombie cute rather than zombie chomp although the "merry" makes me think of bullet holes--aim for the head, you fool! 

The Details:  Stamper's Anonymous Zombie Birthday stamp, mystery green card stock from old stash, Memento Pistachio, Bamboo Leaves, Pear Tart, and Love Letter, Colorbox Cranberry pigment ink ("bright"), Spectrum Noirs, Memory Box die, Hero Arts Glow Girl and You & Me stamps, Pentel Clic Erase I've had forever

I'm entering this in Addicted to Stamps & More #73 Any Holiday, Shopping Our Stash #129 Holiday or WinterIncy Wincy Designs For the Men in Your Life, Designed to Color #23 Christmas/WinterFestive Friday Final 2013 Challenge Merry, Penny Black Anything Goes, Inkspirational #44 Anything Goes, and Cards for Men #24 Anything Goes.

Currently listening to:  annoying buzzing sound from computer and my cat cutely snoring.  Oh, plus tinkling water from Yurtle the Turtle's tank.

Tuesday, November 26, 2013

Cute Boy Xmas Card

Still playing with trees.  This version has a little more of a boy flavor.  And, oh how I love the Santa paper.  Love love love.  Maybe I'll do this card again someday but make the tree like the one pictured on the paper (wish I'd thought of that this time!).

The Details:   My Mind's Eye Merry Little Christmas 6x6 paper,  12x12 Santa paper from JoAnn's or Michaels, Heidi Kress embroidery board (tree), green card stock from old stash, snowflake from Hobby Lobby, Martha Stewart corner rounder

I'm entering this in The Male Room Little Boys & Babies.

Monday, November 25, 2013

Kraft Heart Trees

I worked up a kraft version of the heart trees from the other day.  I used a piece of tape to mask off the snowman and VersaMagic chalk ink applied with a cotton swab for the ornaments and star to keep things simple.  On the inside I've stamped a couple of the trees and the snowman again.  Very rustic.  To compare with the card from the other day, I've included it here as well.  If you'd like to see the inside where I stamped the heart as a heart, please see the original post.  Again, basically the same technique but very different results.

The Details:  Inkadinkado Hearts and Village Lifestyle, Christmas Crafts Christmas 2013, PTI kraft card stock, Memento Tuxedo Black, Pistachio, and Bamboo Leaves, VersaMagic Red Magic & Thatched Straw with a touch of Brilliance Sunflower Yellow

I'm entering the kraft card in Wordplay Saturday Snowman, Incy Wincy For the Men in Your Life, and Cards for Men #24 Anything Goes.

Traditional Dad

I designed this card after a discussion with a couple of friends about their very traditional dads and how difficult it is to find cards for them.  Keep it traditional male but keep it interesting.  Argh.  I decided to use texture and natural materials to do that--cork, wood, metal, waffle weave brown paper, and linen texture green paper.  I laid out the elements to mirror the plaid.  Sounds like it took 10-15 minutes, right?  Ha!  Days, people, days--they're not kidding when they say male cards can be hard to make.  Frustrating process but I'm really satisfied with the results.  And glad it's over. :-)

The Details:  PTI sentiment inside and cork, Pop Tone brown paper, mystery green & cream paper from stash, Stampin' Up Chocolate Chip, DCWV Natural Stack plaid paper, Little Yellow Bicycle Wood Tag

I'm entering this in Seize the Birthday (wow, looks like my card is going to stick out like a sore thumb there without the optional toppings!), Cards for Men #24 Anything Goes, and Here Come the Boys #65 Sentiments Only

Sunday, November 24, 2013

Not a Creature Was Stirring . . . Yeah, Right

Another coloring experiment.  Amazing how different the images and cards look with just a bit of a switcheroo in palettes.  And as far as not a creature was stirring, they've obviously not seen my Frankie in action at all hours of the night.  :)  The inside of the blue card reads "yeah, right"--LOL.

The Details: Papercraft Essentials image, PTI white card stock, Cuttlebug & Paper Studio embossing folders, Spectrum Noirs, washi tape, pop dots, Spellbinders label die, Sakura Gelly Roll pen, Hot Off the Press "Winter Fun", Penny Black Christmas Cheer "wishing you", Segoe Print font for the creature sentiment

I'm entering Addicted to CAS #27 Pet, CAS on Sunday Winter, Simon Wednesday Sketch, Crafting Cafe Winter Blues, Sentimental Sundays #182 Winter Wonderland, Designed to Color #23 Winter/ChristmasInkspirational #44 Anything Goes, Fab 'n' Funky Anything Goes, Christmas Cards All Year 'Round Winter Snow and Catered Crop Animal House.

Do You See What I See?


Today I used a heart stamp to make stylized mod trees.  I so heart them.  LOL.

The Details:  Inkadinkado Hearts and Village Lifestyle, Christmas Crafts Christmas 2013, PTI white card stock, black cardstock from old stash, Memento Tuxedo Black, Pistachio, and Bamboo Leaves, Spectrum Noir DR5, Glossy Accents, star brad, Martha Stewart corner rounder

I'm entering this in Merry Monday #84 Trees with Bling, Wordplay Saturday SnowmanCurtain Call CAS-ual Christmas, and ABC Christmas Challenge Warm Wishes.

Update:  added pic of inside of card

Saturday, November 23, 2013

I'm a Pepper

A few days ago I was browsing some blogs and saw a challenge for using recycled materials in a card.  This got me thinking about my trips to Africa for my job and how things are recycled and reused out of necessity and always done with so much creativity--way more creatively than I've shown here, I assure you.  One year I brought back some ornaments made from aluminum cans.  When we put up the tree this year I'll take a pic for you.  It's one of my favorite ornaments and brings fond memories.

The Details:  My Mind's Eye Merry Little Christmas paper, Heidi Kress embroidery board (tree), PTI white card stock, vellum, Cuttle Swiss Dots embossing folder, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, regular hole punch, aluminum from soda can, Scor-Tape & foam dots, Penny Black Christmas Cheer sentiment inside

I'm entering this in Twisted Tuesday Pop Dots & Polka Dots, Merry Monday Trees with Bling, ABC Christmas Challenge W for Winter Wishes, Christmas Cards All Year 'Round Snow, Just Us Girls #216 Photo Inspiration, Sisterhood of Crafters Embossing, and Crafter's Cafe Heavy Metal

Take That!

I finally got around to coloring a dog version of the cat snowball fight.  Oh my gosh, was that really at the beginning of October?  I be slackin'!


The Details:  Papercraft Essentials digi stamp, Recollections snowflake punch, Spectrum Noirs, Recollections white flocking powder, PTI white card stock, old school label maker, Paper Studio embossing folder, mystery PP

I'm entering this in ABC Christmas Challenge W for Winter Wishes, CMC Copic Challenge Group Anything Goes, Designed to Color #23 Christmas/Winter, and Christmas Cards All Year 'Round Snow, Addicted to CAS #27 Pet.

Why Did the Reindeer Cross the Street?

I wanted a card that could be given to a boy who in my case is just on the cusp of becoming too cool for cute; is that happening earlier each generation or what?  I hope this hits the mark--graphic trees and traffic sign against a whimsical Rudolph on a swirly snowbank--cute but not too cute.

The Details:  PTI white card stock, Bazzil red card stock, mystery stickers from my kid sis, Fiskars Holiday Frolic sentiment, Fiskars All That Glitters reindeer, Memento Rich Cocoa, Cuttlebug embossing folder

I'm entering this in The Male Room Little Boys and Babies, Cards for Men #23 Merry Christmas, Christmas Cards All Year 'Round Winter, Inkspirational #44 Anything Goes, and Fab 'n' Funky #194 Anything Goes.

Friday, November 22, 2013

Last Autumn Card of 2013

We had our first hard frost yesterday so winter is officially upon us.  Time to put the rest of my garden to bed.  I'll be spending time this weekend cutting down my dahlias and mums which had been blooming like crazy.  They've bloomed so long this year there will hardly be any flowerless days for me with the camelia ready to bloom in the next couple of weeks.  Yay!

I made this card while my kid sis was visiting last month.  I just taped the stencil down then sponged away.  I tried masking the deer but didn't like the effect so put a die-cut deer on top.


The Details:  Memory Box deer trio, Memento Dandelion, London Fog, Coffee Bean, and Tangelo, sponge dauber, removable tape to mask, PTI white card stock

Thursday, November 21, 2013

Card and Ornament in One

I've been thinking of ways to make a Christmas card more than just a card, specifically thinking of people that are in that in-between land of definitely sending a card to them but not necessarily a gift gift. It occurred to me that rather than adhering my colored images permanently to the card front, I could add a ribbon and use repositionable sticky dots so that the image portion could be removed and hung on the tree.  I've even stamped the year on the back and will enclose a note about removing the ornament when they're mailed out (without the need for extra postage I might add).  Nifty!

The Details:  Bazzil red card stock, Paper Studio Christmas Basics 6x6 candy cane paper, mystery candy cane paper, PTI white cardstock for body of card, Hammermill Color Copy 80lb Photo White Cover Stock for coloring, Spellbinders dies, Spectrum Noirs, Glossy Accents, Doodlebug Design Sugar Coating glitter, Elf Riley Moose stamp, Inkadinkado Stocking Stuffer stamp, red MS glitter.

I'm entering this in Christmas Stampin' All Year Round #42 Stripes, Designed to Color #23 Wintertime/Christmas, Penny Black and More Anything Goes, Weekly Christmas Card Challenge #51 Bling, Addicted to Stamps & More #72 Make Your Mark and Allsorts #233 Make a Gift.

Wednesday, November 20, 2013

Shimmery Snowflakes, I Swear

For the life of me I could not capture the shimmer of the doily on this card but, trust me, it's there.  This card really evokes crispy wintertime, doesn't it?  Brrr!

The Details:  Paper Studio Embossing Folder, MFT Doily die, Craftsmart ribbon, Recollections snowflake punch, Imagine Crafts Sheer Shimmer Spritz, PTI white cardstock, Fiskars Holiday Frolic stamp, Brilliance ink, foam dots

I'm entering this in 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown #23 Recipe, Try It On Tuesday White on White, Christmas Cards All Year 'Round Winter Wonderland, and Inkspirational White on White.

Tuesday, November 19, 2013

Deck the Halls

This card reminds me of crisp midwestern winter days when it may have been frozen nose-hair cold outside but inside the wood stove would be blazing away and we had the Christmas music playing and  the tree in the living room would be lit with the lamps turned off the better to enjoy the twinkling.  And let's not forget the sound of siblings fighting in the background.  LOL.

For this card I chose to use two embossing folders; easy to do now that they're all organized in my stash (love!).  Under the green strip of patterned paper I scored a couple of lines but it didn't feel quite right so I faked washi tape with patterned paper.  Methinks I should be getting some green washi tape.  The outside sentiment is printed on my laserjet on vellum.

The Details:  Cuttlebug bird and Darice music embossing folders, mystery PP and card stock from old stash, PTI white card stock, red washi tape, printable vellum, epoxy berries, Sharpie (eyes)

I'm entering this in Less is More 146 Designer Paper in a CAS way, Curtain Call CAS-ual Christmas,and Jingle Belles Holiday Traditions.

Monday, November 18, 2013

I Totally CAS(ed) Myself

I recently bought a few new Xmas paper pads, even though I totally shouldn't have added to my ginormous paper stash.  Could. Not. Resist.  Plus I fell over the dishwasher door and required x-rays last week (long story and all is well) so needed some retail therapy.  Totally justified.  I need to fall more often!

You may recall my original take on this card.  I had a request for a card like it but couldn't find the chevron tree paper so made do.  Honestly I think I like this one better.

The Details:  Martha Stewart Frosty Elegance PP, Technique Tuesday Flurry sentiment, Memory Box Woodland Branch die, Spellbinders cardinal die, PTI kraft card stock

I'm entering this in Cards for Men #23 Merry XmasLess is More #146 Designer Paper in CAS Way, and Stamping Royalty #202 No Embellishments Holiday Card,

Sunday, November 17, 2013

Dotty Happy Birthday

This card was fun fun fun to put together.  I so love the embossed background and most def need to use it more often. 

The Details:  PP scraps, washi tape, Stazon, birthday hat confetti, leftover Cricut-cut letters, Paper Studio embossing folder, PTI white card stock, Glossy Accents, Hero Arts letter stamps, Stampendous Birthday stamp.

I'm entering this in Seize the Birthday with Optional Texture Topping, Less is More #146 Designer Paper in CAS Way and Ribbon Carousel #187 Holidays & Celebrations.

Limited Ingredient Card

Someone asked me to make her one of my white on white deer cards and rather than cutting the deer from scrap paper, I centered it in the middle of an A2 size.  A couple minutes later with some embossing and a bit of festive paper behind, voila.

The Details:  Memory Box Leaping Deer die, Paper Studio Christmas Basics pp, Sizzix embossing folder, PTI white card stock

I'm entering this in Less is More 146 Designer Paper in a CAS way and Christmas Cards All Year 'Round Winter Theme.

Saturday, November 16, 2013

Peace Out

I really struggled with what to do with this cute Penny Black image after I colored it but once I saw the Paper Studio trees paper--ding, ding--I'm ready for my closeup, Mr. DeMille.

The Details:  Paper Studio PP, Spectrum Noirs, Darice brads, bakers twine, foam dots, Spellbinders oval die, PTI white cardstock for base and banner die, Hero Arts letters, Penny Black Christmas Friends

I'm entering this in Penny Black & More Anything Goes, Designed to Color #23 Christmas/Winter, Alphabet Challenge T for Twine, Christmas Stampin' All Year Long #42 Stripes, Ribbon Carousel RCC87 Holidays & Celebrations, Sentimental Sundays #180 Warm & Cozy, and Fab 'n' Funky Anything Goes.  Neat!

We have sort of sunlight here today so hopefully I can get cracking on some cards and snap pics!

Friday, November 15, 2013

Quick and Easy

The Details:  Recollections washi tapes, PTI white card stock, Penny Black speech bubble, red card stock from old stash, Exacto knife, Memento Love Letter ink

I'm entering this in Festive Friday FFC21 Colour.  Love this combo.

Thursday, November 14, 2013

Gearing Up to Get That Tree

I can't believe it!   I am so so honored.  My white on white deer card was named the headliner over at Paper Players over the weekend and yesterday I was voted one of the Showstoppers for the Curtain Call Wreath challenge.  Thanks, everyone!  I'm so glad people like the cards and I hope they try their hand at something like them.  There are so many variations that can be made.

Case in point, while making the white on white deer card, this idea occurred to me.  I love the sentiment and truly believe it.  It so reminds me of when everyone would gather at the farm for the holidays when I was a kid.  Maybe I should have a put a tiny little wreath on the grille of the truck.  LOL.

UPDATE:  Oh my goodness!  That wreath card certainly is a hit.  Thanks to everyone over at Festive Friday for the Shout Out!

The Details:  Memory Box Auto Parts and Country Landscape dies, Spellbinders S5-180 Borderabilities A2 Curved Borders die, Sizzix embossing folder, pop up foam dots, PTI white cardstock, Penny Black Christmas Cheer sentiment, Zebra silver gellyroll pen

I'm entering this in Jingles Belles Holiday Traditions, Inkspirational White on White, Allsorts White Christmas, and Christmas Cards All Year 'Round Winter Wonderland.

Tuesday, November 12, 2013

Psych

I was asked by a coworker to make a holiday card for her aunt.  She told me a few things about her and I came up with this over the weekend.  Perfect  for an older woman from the Midwest.  Can't you just hear that crackling fire and taste the hot cocoa?  Even the lighting when I took the pic (total accident) lends to an aura that's homey and warm, and a bit traditional.  Or is it?  Like so many things, you peel back the layers and you never know what you're going to find.
Did I mention her aunt loves cats?  LOL!

This card was so fun to make.  I had to design it around the cat (it's a cat--duh!).  The clapboard was easy; I used my scoring board at every third line.  I cut out a few of the windows in various colors--chose the black which helps focus the eye. (Also, there's a house I really admire that uses a white with black color scheme which is not usual for my area.)  I attached the lace to the inside of the window frame then adhered the unit to the card.  And, of course, the little red bird.

The Details:  Papercraft Essentials digital stamp, Spectrum Noirs, Impression Obsession sentiment from Vintage Ornaments, PTI white card stock, Pop Tone card stock in Black Licorice, Memento Love Letter, Xmas Red Stickles, Memory Box Resting Birds die, lace from stash, Martha Stewart score board, Scor Tape, Memory Box small Madison window die.

I'm entering this is CAS-ual Fridays CFC119 Embossing, Cute Card Thursday 294 Animal Magic, Jingle Belles Holiday Traditions, and Simon Wednesday Challenge CAS.


One Layer Card Magic Eye

This weekend my kid sis and I tried our hand at the Northern Lights technique in the latest Splitcoast Stampers newsletter.  My attempt was abyssmal.  Truly.  However, my kid sis had fab results.  So jealous.

I kept the ink out and played around with the OLC concept again.  I have to say that one-layer cards are quicker than my usual layered stuff but way inkier.  I so need to keep disposable gloves in my craft room.  For this card I randomly inked the squares using pigment ink.  I then used a complementary blue to help visually pop the letters off of the squares.  Dimension without foam dots!  Cool!


The Details:  PTI white cardstock and Square Prints stamps, Hero Arts letter stamps, Brilliance Rocket Red Gold and Sunflower Yellow,  Colorbox Cranberry, and VersaMagic Sea Breeze.

I'm entering this in Less Is More OLC #145 Thanks, CAS on Sunday #21 OLC, and Simon Says Wednesday Clean & Simple.

Monday, November 11, 2013

Long Weekend Organizing

I don't know about you but my crafting collection has grown so much that my toss in a drawer method is no longer workable . . . and I can be such a toss in a drawer person.   So lately I've been trying to catalog my stamps, embossing folders and dies to make it less frustrating to find what I want.   And when you're forcing yourself to go through everything, you find things you may have forgotten you had.  I know you know what I'm talkin' about.


My kid sis gave me the idea to catalog my embossing folders on tags.  My BF fashioned the ring from a coat hanger.  Brilliant, aye?  It has made choosing and identifying folders so so much easier.  It occurred to me afterwards that I could have placed different types of folders on different colors to help identify which section they're in (I keep them in a photo box with tabs--made the tabs from a PTI die btw).  Green ones could indicate the nature section, eg.  For later.

The Details:  washi tape, Stazon, Paper Studio embossing folder (I wish this came in a 5x7--my absolute favorite wood texture folder ever!), mystery everything else from my kid sis.

Stenciled Birthday

There have been a couple of recent one-layer card challenges out there which gave me some impetus to practice that a bit.  I like CAS but usually have a layer or two going on (plus a red bird!).  This time I decided to forgo dry embossing and used only a bit of embossing powder on the sentiment--a girl's gotta have her glitz.

The Details:  Momenta brass stencil, Kaiser Craft sentiment, sponge daubers, Brilliance Graphite Black, Memento Love Letter, Tangelo, Pear Tart, Grape Jelly and Dandelion, Sakura Gelly Roll white pen, PTI white card stock, Hampton Art clear embossing powder, and lots of removable tape.

I'm entering this in CAS on Sunday #21 OLC, Seize the Birthday Texture, and CAS-ual Fridays CFC119 Embossing.

Sunday, November 10, 2013

Art Deco Thank You

I started thinking about this card back when a stamp company released a set of Art Deco Stamps and had a blog hop (for the life of me I cannot remember the company--argh).  I used my Cameo to cut strips from PTI white card stock, then did it again in Pop Tone Sno Cone and inlaid those, using a scrap of paper glued on the back for stability.  I then used a Lifestyle Crafts die for the circle (Bazzill in red) and Spellbinders for the rectangle.  Talk about covering my die bases!  It's all popped up to add shadow interest to the chevron paper (The Good Life 12x12 pad) and Inkadinkado Thank You Words sentiment.  I mounted it on Pop Tone Black Licorice card stock.

I'm entering this thank you card in the Crazy for CAS sketch #31 and Simon Says Wednesday Clean & Simple.

Note to self:  thermometer, barometer.

Update:  It was Waltzingmouse that released the Art Deco designs.

Frou But Not Too

This may prove to be one of my favorite Christmas cards of the season.  Frou but not too. 

The Details:  mystery border sticker and aqua card stock from my kid sis, Spellbinders dies, Paper Zone solid core silver card stock (top medallion), Bazzill blue shimmer 12x12 card stock (bottom medallion), PTI kraft card stock for the base card, printed the sentiment from my computer, Paper Studio embossing folder, and Diamond Stickles.

I'm entering this in Festive Friday FFC #21 Colour Challenge, CAS-ual Fridays #119 Embossing, and Christmas Cards All Year 'Round Snow.

Quilted collage

I saw on Pinterest a paper collage on a larger scale than this and wanted to see how it would translate into an A2 card format.  I love it.  Definitely not an everyday card - cutting out the circles then folding into squares, playing with color placement, adding embellishments - time consuming but so worth it.  Added bonus that I used up some scraps from my knitting and sewing worlds too!  And I got to patch quilt without trying to shove a giant wad of fabric through my sewing machine.  Those were the days.  LOL.

The Details:  various brads and eyelets, most of the patterned paper is from a Miss Caroline Dolled Up 6x6 stack, hand-dyed wool yarn, extra sequins from a blouse, Heidi Grace epoxy dots, Hero Arts Everyday Sayings, base card stock purchased from Paper Zone years ago.

I'm entering this in Simon Says Monday Patchwork Challenge and Stamplorations November Stamps & Sequins.

Thursday, November 7, 2013

Dirndl girl

I've been in the mood for coloring lately.  Maybe it goes with warm fires, hot cocoa, and finally seeing what all the fuss is about with Breaking Bad (wow!  no spoilers--I'm on season 2 I think). 

For these cards I worked up the brown-haired girl when I started coloring a couple months ago.  I like the overall card design but the coloring not so much--that skirt, lord.  I gave the image another go today using a softer palette. Happy dance.  Can you see the gleam of the Brilliance Platinum Planet ink I used on the floral die?  The glossy accents on those poppin' holly berries?  That little "joy" in the corner.  Swoon.
Card 1 Details:  Stampavie Gretchen's Winter Basket stamp (I love Penny Johnson designs), mystery PP, Recollections snowflake punch, Sugar Coating Lily White Glitter, Glossy Accents, Spectrum Noir, mystery ribbon, brad, Smooch (center of poinsettia), foam dots

Card 2 Details:  Stampavie Gretchen's Winter Basket stamp, glossy accents, Smooch, My Mind's Eye Mistletoe Magic PP paper, PTI card stock in spring moss, Spectrum Noirs, Memento Tuxedo Black, Brilliance Platinum Planet, Spellbinders Floral Oval die , MFT oval die, Hero Arts sentiment (part of one that says "Find Joy Everywhere"), foam dots




Wednesday, November 6, 2013

White on white . . . mostly

For the tree for this card, I cut off all of the leaves by hand to winterize it (now I know why people buy tree dies with naked branches!).  I used foam dots to pop up the deer.  I only adhered the tree trunk and "fluffed it" to created subtle dimension.  Heart it.

The Details:  Memory Box Leaping Deer and Arboscello Tree dies,  Spellbinders S5-180 Borderabilities A2 Curved Borders die, Sizzix embossing folder, Heidi Grace epoxy bird, PTI white card stock, foam dots, Fiskars sentiment inside, Glossy Accents as glue.

Trivia:  Did you know the Memory Box company is here in Seattle?

Currently listening to "The Fox" by Ylvis.

I'm entering this in:  Papertake Weekly Anything GoesPaper Players 170 Wildlife, and Simon Wednesday Challenge Clean & Simple