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