2013 Cards in Review

I pulled together some cards that I really liked from 2013.  Harder than I thought it would be!

 

 My favorite coloring job ever.  Plus I love the Lulu images.

  

Country birthday just right for this country girl.  My first try at spattering.

 

Who doesn't love sequins and being able to use the negative of a die cut?  Very time-consuming but the results so worth it.

Spatter/sponge bokeh with eye-pleasing results.  I love silhouettes.

 

I was really torn if the rolled tree card was one of my top picks; I like but do I love?  In the end it makes the list because it's cute and whimsical and I'm proud of the concept and execution.

Love this one.  It's simple but powerful.

In looking back, I can see that my fav cards involve flowers/trees and usually are CAS.  I've been experimenting with many different styles and techniques so to see my personal style develop and become more focused is way cool.

I'm joining in with Debby's 5 favourite creations of 2013

Getting Inky, Folk Art Style

In the first card, I took my Memento tear drop inks in a variety of colors and randomly placed them on the stamp.  I was careful (mostly) to use the lighter colors first to avoid color contaminating the pads with dark ink. After stamping, I used my Spectrum Noir black pen to ensure the hummingbird's head was ultra dark and used white Enamel Accents and a white Gelly Roll pen to put the white dots back.  I used my markers to color in only part of the flower; it's like the hummingbird is sipping the color into itself.  Neat-o.

The second card was done the same way as far as the inks go with an added step of re-stamping the central bird in black.  Can you see the birds forming the wings?  Really cool stamp set.

The Details:  PTI white card stock and sentiments, Pop Tone Black Licorice card stock, Recollections paisley stamps, Inkadinkado Mindscapes (hummingbird), Memento Tuxedo Black, Bahama Blue, Pear Tart, Lilac Posies, Tangelo, and Love Letter, Spectrum Noir pens, Enamel Accents, Gelly Roll pigment pen.

Can I Get a Whoop Whoop?

Hello!

I took a much needed break from everything that wasn't a book, tv, paper or food over the last few.  It has been gooooood. But that's not the only thing I'm excited about.

I've made a card inspired by the current Runway Inspired Challenge AND completed it in time to enter!  Like I said, vacation = good.   In the challenge pic, I was drawn to the color (one of my favs), textures, silhouette, and sunglasses.  I used a silver shimmer paper embossed with branches/grass to mimic the runway itself, the same paper for the "belt" sentiment, glossy white paper behind the curved green circles panel inspired by the model's silhouette, and black sequins based on the sunglasses.  You can just barely tell from the photo that some of the green circles are glittery--gotta have some glam for the runway!

The Details:  PTI white card stock base, Paper Studio Uptown Flair designer card stock, Canson Effects paper in Cyber Gray, SMART Kromekote Plus Glossy cover stock, Cuttlebug embossing folder, Stampendous Counting Birthdays stamp, StazOn Jet Black ink, and Craft Medley black sequins.

I'm entering this in Runway Inspired Challenge #50 Matthew Williamson, Seize the Birthday, CASology #76 Party, CAS-ual Fridays CFC 124 Happy New Year, Simon Says Wednesday Challenge Bling It On, The Male Room Celebration, and CAS on Sunday #24 Happy New Year.

Masking AND Embossing, Oh My

For this card I first stamped the sentiment then masked it before stamping the snowflakes in a random pattern.  Using a shim I created out of a few layers of chipboard packaging and a rectangle die, I ran that through with my embossing sandwich and the snowflake folder (so I could avoid having snowflakes on the sentiment).  Next I quickly placed the rectangle die over the sentiment again and went over the edges with a--oh, poo, what's that thing called--it's got a ball on the end and you use it often with old school stencils.  Not a brayer but a. . . .   Anyhoo, a really elegant look.  I'm going to try this for a winter birthday someday.

The Details:  Inkadinkado Snowflakes, Hot Off the Press Christmas Cheer sentiment, Memento Blue Danube, PTI white card stock, dark blue card stock from old stash, Paper Studio embossing folder

I'm entering this in CAS-ual Fridays CFC 123 Let it Snow, Simon Says Let it Snow,  Allsorts #237 Snowflakes, CAS on Sunday #23 Christmas, Addicted to CAS #28 Snowflakes, Make My Monday CAS Christmas, Totally Papercrafts #197 Non-Traditional Christmas Colors, The Crafter's Cafe Monochromatic, Here Comes the Boys #66 Anything Goes, and Loves Rubberstamps #82 Anything Goes Christmas.

Diorama, sort of

I've noticed a few cards out in blogland that had Santa and his sleigh in the sky.  I love that iconic image but didn't have it . . . until I was flipping through my Bo Bunny 6x6 book and found this.  I immediately thought window, my snow dot embossing folder and the village. 

The Details:  Spellbinders oval die, Memory Box die, Sizzix embossing folder, Liquid Pearls, Bo Bunny Silver & Gold Collection designer paper, PTI white and kraft card stock, pop dots, Christmas Crafts Christmas 2013 sentiment, Memento Love Letter

I'm entering this in CAS-ual Fridays CFC 123 Let it Snow, Simon Says Let it Snow,  CAS on Sunday #23 Christmas, City Crafter #189 Christmas Colors, Make My Monday CAS Christmas, Here Comes the Boys #66 Anything Goes, and Loves Rubberstamps #82 Anything Goes Christmas.

Believe in Miracles

I really went in a different direction than my sort of usual clean style.  You know when you're looking through your stash and something just grabs hold of you?  That was the patterned paper in my case.  I love this color palette a lot and hadn't realized I had built up such a stash of coordinating pieces.  

I've made this card for my niece who needs encouragement.  We're all there for you, Miss Bell.

The Details:  PTI kraft card stock, file die, cork, "inside" & numbers; K&Company Flora and Fauna tag, Recollections banner, copper & silver wire from my stash, button brad, Stampabilities Be Strong and border stamps, pop dots, Recollections Classic Borders stamp (on the vertical strip), Memento Tuxedo Black and Desert Sand inks, Doodle Deux 6x6  patterned paper, Glossy Accents

I'm entering this in Dynamic Duos Kraft & Medium Blue, Crafter's Cafe Monochromatic, and House of Cards Photo Inspiration.

Say Hello to My Little Friend

 

You know what I wish I had?  Snowflake dies.  Would those not be amazingly amazing  instead of the circles on this card?

The Details:  Lifestyle Crafts circle dies, PTI white card stock, Technique Tuesday Flurry sentiment and snowflakes, There She Goes Holiday Cheer image stamp, mystery snowflake paper, Paper Studio Christmas Basics red dot paper, Spectrum Noirs, Memento Love Letter, Brilliance Pearlescent Sky Blue

I'm entering this in Make My Monday Frosty, Paper Playtime #25 Winter Fun, Incy Wincy Let It Snow,  Crafty Cardmakers #106 Winter Fun, Kaboodles Doodles #201 Non-traditional Christmas Colors, Tip Top Tuesday #116 Snowflakes, Simons Says Wednesday Let It Snow and Seize the Birthday with Winter topping.

Merry

Oh my gosh, I am beat and it's only Tuesday!  I'll be very glad for the weekend and this little thing I call sleeping in.  Oh, how I've missed her.  ;-)  I did manage to crank out a super easy card in my stupor.

The Details:  PTI white card stock, Paper Pizzaz designer paper, old school label maker, pop dots, brads, Paper Studio embossing folder.


I'm entering this in CAS on Sunday #23 Christmas, Keep It Simple #28 Snow, Sister Act #36 It's Beginning to Look a Lot Like Christmas, CASology #74 Snowflake.

Go-To Winter Card

I worked this card up with Christmas in mind but looking at it in Blogger I can now see it also used for a winter wedding, christening or birthday.  It's soft and vintage without being too frou.

I first embossed the grayish/creamish designer paper then tucked the ribbon beneath before I rounded the corner.  I then rubbed ink over the snowflakes to draw them out more and to tie in the blue iridescent ribbon.  I like doing a double-bow on my Bow Easy when the ribbon is sheer to give it more oomph.  I ran the snowflake through the x-shaped Xyron sticker machine then covered it with glitter, followed by hemp and glue dots.

The Details:  cream ribbon from my Victorian costuming days, Martha Stewart snowflake punch, hemp, Craft Smart blue ribbon, Paper Studio embossing folder, Versamark Sea Breeze, Pop Tone card stock for base, BasicGrey Nordic Holiday designer paper, Martha Stewart corner rounder, Bow Easy, Sugar Coating lily white glitter.

I'm entering this in CASology #73 Ribbon, Keep it simple! #28 Snow, Crazy for CAS #33 Blue/Grey, Freshly Made Sketches #115, BasicGrey #109 Happy Christmas, Seize the Birthday Winter Topping, and Sweet Stampin' Ribbon.

Winter Scene

It's record-breaking cold here (don't laugh--it's in the 20s) which I adore.  Here in the Northwest (sun = good) + during winter = amazing. 

The Details:  Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue, Hot Off the Press Sentiment on the front, Hero Arts sentiment ("Peace Love Joy") inside, Rubber Stampede Winter Woods, Fiskars All That Glitters Snowflake, Technique Tuesday Flurry snowflake, HOtP Penguin snowflakes, pearlescent silver card stock from old stash, Canson Effects pearlescent champagne paper, Offray ribbon, Hampton Art clear embossing powder, PTI white card stock base.

I'm entering this in Less is More #149 Metallic Plus One Other Color, CAS-ual Fridays CFC 122 Out on a Limb, CASology #73 Ribbon, Keep it simple! #28 Snow, Crazy for CAS #33 Blue/Grey, and Sweet Stampin' Ribbon.

Mod Tree Card

I took a break from Christmas cards to work this up.  I intended it as a wedding card but it would work as a Valentine card too.  I love its modern sensibility.

For the card, I die-cut the tree out of the thin packaging cardboard then sponged the trunk.  Because it's a 5x7 card (rather than the A2 size the die is meant for) I extended the trunk by scooting the template up 1/2 inch as I sponged.  I then stamped one of the more angular leaves (there are a ton to choose from in this set!), eyeballing the placement because I didn't want to muck around with creating a leaf template based on the die.

I've also included a pic of my prototype card.  The design is too busy given the leaf choice and my decision to include the sentiment.  Even the grain of the trunk lends to the visual crowding of the card front.  The final card is way more focused. 

The Details:  PTI white card stock, PTI Mighty Oak stamps and die, Memento Tuxedo Black and Love Letter, Memory Box Resting Birds die, red card stock scrap, Hero Arts sentiment inside

I'm entering this in Addicted to Stamps and More #74 CAS, Papercraft Star #169 Tree Image, Loves Rubberstamps #81 Anything Goes, Crafty Creations #251 Anything but Christmas, Cards for Men #24 Anything Goes, Crafty Cardmakers #105 CAS, CAS-ual Fridays #CFC122 Out on a Limb, Sweet Stampin' Black White & One Other Color.

Vintage Stocking Card

I found this skate stocking among the stickers my kid sister gifted me from her stash and was immediately drawn to the vintage style and colors.  I had picked up the linen background paper on clearance and hadn't realized it was one of those with a different colored core so when the embossing folder "broke" it I was pleasantly surprised; I just rubbed it a bit more to bring out the blue even further.  I then used the Big Splash die upside down with shimmery paper to evoke blustery wind.

The Details:  Darice embossing folder, Memory Box Big Splash die,  PTI white card stock, Fiskars sentiment inside, I'm guessing a Jolee's sticker

I'm entering this in Festive Friday Vintage, Shopping Our Stash #129 Holiday/Winter, Simon Says Wednesday Anything Goes, Christmas Cards All Year 'Round Stocking, Christmas Card Challenge No Stamping and Stampin' Royalty #204 Winter.

Rolled Paper Tree

I love how this tree turned out.  So pretty and girlie--love, love, love it!  For the rolling, I tried pens, pencils, my Exacto, etc, finally settling on a Brittany #8 (5.0mm) wooden knitting needle. Nice and smooth and uniformly round.  For the twine garland (my stepson's idea!) I just ran it through every other paper roll and secured the ends with Glossy Accents.  Finally I added some stash buttons and was happy to discover a big one that reminds me of a shining star (in pink but let's not quibble). My inner girlie girl is doing such a happy dance.

Can you believe it's only 3 weeks until Christmas?  Eek!

The Details:  Hero Arts sentiment, My Mind's Eye Merry Little Christmas 6x6 papers, buttons from my stash, pink baker's twine, PTI white card stock, Memento Pear Tart, Glossy Accents, foam dots, Cuttlebug embossing folder

I'm entering this in CAS-ual Fridays CFC 121 Create with 8 (buttons in my case), Christmas Card Challenges No Stamping, Curtain Call Countdown to Xmas, Sisterhood of Crafters Handmade, Addicted to Stamps & More #73 Holidays, Shopping Our Stash #129 Holiday/Winter, My Sheri Crafts #124 Funky Xmas, and House of Cards Holiday.

Deck the Halls with Wobbling Owls

Another colored image ornament card.  I love that little owl.  If he were bigger I would have made him into a wobbler (look at that owl dance! LOL). 

The Details:  Inky Antics snowman stamp, Hero Arts sentiment inside, Christmas Crafts sentiment outside, Spectrum Noirs, Spellbinders (scrolled) and Lifestyle Crafts oval dies, Enamel Accents, red card stock from old stash,  Basic Grey Nordic Holiday paper

I'm entering this in BasicGrey #109 Happy Christmas, Penny Black Traditional Holiday Colors, 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Pick a Previous Theme (#6 Snowmen), Allsorts #235 Inspired by Christmas Song, Fab 'n' Funky #195 Cute Critters,  Addicted to Stamps & More #73 Holidays, and Totally Papercrafts #195 Ho Ho Holidays.

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.

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.

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 Winter, Incy Wincy Designs For the Men in Your Life, Designed to Color #23 Christmas/Winter,  Festive 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.

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.

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

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/Christmas, Inkspirational #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 Snowman, Curtain Call CAS-ual Christmas, and ABC Christmas Challenge Warm Wishes.

Update:  added pic of inside of card

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.

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

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.