SU "REASON TO SMILE"

 

Today, I just cased myself on a card that we made at the SU workshop.  You can see the original card at the bottom of  a post two days ago.  I simply used a different color combination.

 

If you are going to be out celebrating the end of 2012 and the beginning of 2013, please be safe and drive carefully. 

ANOTHER SIMPLIFIED VERSION

I got the basic idea for card from another one which was made at a workshop.  The background is what I really liked by stamping random flower designs around the white layer.   The flower is from the SU "Reason to Smile" set.  The rest of the card is pretty eay to figure out.  Here is the original card that gave me the idea:

Thanks for stopping by!

SIMPLIFIED VERSION

A few weeks ago I posted a card made at an SU workshop using this basic design and the same colors.  I didn't have any of the Night of Navy ribbon which I used on that card so I just punched the edge of a piece of Night of Navy card stock and then trimmed down the width to make a nice border across the seam of the two papers.  I didn't add the little circle with the sentiment on it.  The card front may stay this way or depending on what occasion I need it for, I may add a small sentiment for a birthday or get well.

Here is a second card I made now using a different color combination and using a satin ribbon  which I had in my supplies.  At the bottom of the post you can see a picture of the card made at the workshop.

 

The stamp is SU Pleasant Poppies.

 

The demonstrator at the workshop had cut the one piece stamp apart into two designs. I liked the idea so cut mine apart as well. (Just be careful if you decide to do the same to yours. I almost cut into the design on the rubber side because I was using the sticker side of the stamp to use as a guide it it wasn't lined up perfectly. Close call but it is fine.)   Thank you for stopping by!

DIMENSIONAL BIRD

 

When our group of ladies met in Des Moines in 2010, Harriet (Alley Cat Cards) gave each of us a choice of several very beautiful designs.  Each design consisted of three layers and since I really enjoy birds, this is the one I chose.  I'm really embarrassed and a little ashamed that it took me this long to use the pieces.  It  is part of my small attempt to get into things that I have had and not used.

 

 I did have a little difficult deciding how to use this on the card after I had it put together but am happy with what I put together although it is a very simple card.  The card front was embossed with a cherry blossom type design.

 

Here you can see a close up side view of the layers.  Each layer was just a little smaller than the one before.  And I don't think the pictures show it, but the designs all had kind of a metallic shine to them.

 

I wish I knew what company made these because there were a lot of beautiful flower designs as well. 

 

I love hearing from you about the cards I post. Thank you for stopping by!

REMAKE OF MY FIRST ATTEMPT

 

A few weeks ago I made several cards using this technique of sponging a masked border.  The original card was just the white card base with the designs.  I almost posted it then but was really not happy with it.  For one thing I was really disappointed that the branch design didn't stamp out darker.  I must not have inked it up quite good enough.

 

I decided to add a few gold gems to the stamped branch design which helped and then I cut the card front off, trimmed it down and added it to a SU Chocolate Chip card base.  I am much happier with it now so you get to see the remake.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Your comments mean a lot to me so tell me what you think.

TIM HOLTZ ALTERATIONS - Christmas Cardinal

Recently I ordered several Tim Holtz Alteration dies.  I love the beautiful red Cardinals and we have some that stop at our bird feeders especially now that we have snow on the ground.

 

It may not show but the front of the card base was embossed with the Swiss Dots folder.  The die is all one piece and since I wanted the colors I cut only the branch portion of the design but did include the legs of the bird using white card stock.  Then I cut out the Cardinal body portion using red card stock.

 

Distress ink was used around the edges of the Cardinal.  With a Memento black ink marker I drew in the portion around the beak and then colored the beak with an orange marker.  It actually changed the color of the red card stock.  The eye is hard to distinguish on this one because I should have left a tiny round circle.

 

I sponged SU Chocolate Chip ink over the branch and SU Garden Green ink on the evergreen portion.  A Chocolate Chip marker was used to darken the legs of the bird.

 

This die retails for $20.00 but I sell it for $16.00 if you would like to order a new one.  Just send me a message at my email address which is shown on this page.

 

I hope all of you had a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends.  If you are like me, I am looking forward to some "down time" to relax and get back to doing some other fun things.  As for myself, I have pulled out some yarn and have started a baby blanket for a niece who is due with a little brother for their other son.  I haven't crocheted in a very long time and it feels so good.

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Your comments are always very much appreciated!

MERRY CHRISTMAS

 

I make a lot of Christmas/Holiday cards to send but I always remember the true meaning of Christmas by also making cards that tell the true meaning of why we celebrate this day.  I had a stamp from Ann-ticipations with a perfect verse for the inside of the card to go with this beautiful image from Paper Inspirations.

 

"A Little Child

A Shining Star

A Stable Crude

The door ajar.

 

Yet in that place,

So crude, forlorn

The Hope of all

The world was born."

 

 

This is the final Christmas card for this year.  I saw a card very similar to this on someone's blog, I believe.  I had already purchased a paper pad that had similar papers in it and the "Merry Christmas" was already on the dp. 

 

We will be celebrating Christmas Day with our family at one of our daughter's homes.  I hope everyone enjoys a very Blessed Christmas.  It's hard to believe that 2012 will soon come to a close and a new year will begin!

 

Thank you to all who visit my blog.  I love hearing from you through your comments!!!

CHRISTMAS #23 - CHRISTMAS EVE

The paper for this card made it easy to put this card together.  I added a dimensional sticker and the vertical Christmas sentiment.

 

We will be celebrating Christmas Eve with a quiet day and then attending church this evening.

CHRISTMAS #22

 

A more elaborate card I made using the design from Taylored Expressions.  The materials for this were from a kit I had purchased from TE last year but didn't use.

CHRISTMAS #21

 

Back to a more simple design..........    The front of the card was embossed with a foler and then the vertical sentiment was added using VersaMark and Egyptian Gold glitter.

CHRISTMAS #20

 

I found this great musical dp in one of my paper pads and it was perfect to use with the treble clef die cut and the sentiment.  That layer was added to a piece of gold shimmer paper and then added to the card base.

CHRISTMAS #19

The stamp is from Taylored Expressions and was colored with Copic markers.  Glitter was added to the tips of the wings and I used a gold gel pen to color the halo.

CHRISTMAS #18

 

The trees were stamped with SU Craft White ink onto a glossy cardstock which had been colored with alcohol inks.  Fortunately the inks were just the right color to be mounted onto a card made with SU Tempting Turquoise card stock.  But first I cut a piece of white card stock and punched the lower edge with a snowflake design and then used the punched pieces to decorate the top of the card.  Stickles glitter glue was added to the center of all the snowflakes.



CHRISTMAS #17

 

I made a card using this same layout at an SU Workshop.  I liked it and decided to make a second card for Christmas but instead used a sprig of holly design which was stamped with VersaMark and then embossed with white embossing powder.

CHRISTMAS #16

 

The stamp is from Northwoods Rubber Stamps.  I colored the design with  Copic markers.  I attempted to do some shading on the Poinsettias.  I chose colors that would not be the typical red flowers and then added clear glitter to the petals and gold glitter to the centers.

CHRISTMAS #15

 

This design is one I stamped off from a friend when we gathered in Des Moines.  I colored it with my Copic markers.



CHRISTMAS #14

 

Cards made using designer paper and dimensional stickers from K & Company



CHRISTMAS #13

Today's card is the only one I made using a brass stencil to dry emboss the pieces.  The "doily" was made by using a Spellbinders die and then cutting the circle in half.

 

I cannot take credit for the design on this since I truly cased the entire design from a card that one of the Lasting Impressions designers (Donna) made several years ago.  I use my brass stencils so rarely now that I decided I was going to make at least one design this year.  Before sending the two cards with this design on it, I did add a little oval shape with Merry Christmas on it in the upper right areas of the card.

CHRISTMAS #12

 

I made this card at an SU Workshop.  Note the little snowflake by the "Merry Christmas".  I managed to get a smudge there and covered it with a snowflake that I punched and then ran through the Xyron so the glitter could be added to the sticky side.  It made a great cover up. 

HAPPY GOLDEN BIRTHDAY, ASHLYN!!!

No card today......I wanted today's post to be for one of our beautiful granddaughters who is celebrating her 12th birthday today on 12-12-12.  Happy Birthday, Ashlyn!!!  The local radio station where they live evidently gave away a birthday cake and Ashlyn was the winner!!!  Hope she is having a special day even though she has to go to school. 

CHRISTMAS #11

CHRISTMAS #10

CHRISTMAS #9

 

CHRISTMAS #8

The card base is Night of Navy from SU.  I stamped the design with SU White Craft ink.  Although it doesn't show I added some glitter to the snow around the base of the church and to the large star in the sky.

CHRISTMAS #7 (two cards)

These are just a variation of cards already posted. 

CHRISTMAS #6

The card base was run through the Cuttlebug with the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The cute little design is from SU.  I made several of this card as well.  A variety of supplies were used for the berries -- red glitter, red gems or red dot sparklers. 

CHRISTMAS #5

 

When I saw this card in one of the SU Catalogs, I wanted to make some of this design.  I already had the embossing folder but ordered the stamp set.  I love the simplicity.

CHRISTMAS #4

This embossing folder is from Stampin' Up!  The stamp is also from SU and then punched out with the SU large oval punch.  I added just a narrow strip of dp at the top of the card.

CHRISTMAS #3

Another simple card made with an embossing folder and a simple sentiment heat embossed with Egyptian Gold embossing poweder.

CHRISTMAS #2

 

This was done with just one embossing folder.

CHRISTMAS #1

 

I am going to try to post a new Christmas card every day this month....at least through Christmas Day.  Rather than come up with a title for each card, I am going to just number them.  I have made a lot of different designs.............some extremely simple and others that took a little more time.  Because the month gets very busy with various activities, I may not always include a description, but please email me if you have any questions.  I will be happy to answer as best I can.

 

Christmas card #1 was made this year at one of the workshops I attended. All supplies were SU products.

 

Thank you for stopping by!  Your comments are always appreciated..................

CUTE BIRD BATH

I think this cute little image would make anyone feel better.  This was an SU workshop project and I loved the image so much I eventually ordered the stamp set.

 

Thank you for stopping by!  I love reading your comments so won't you tell me what you think of the cards I post?

SO SORRY

Even though this card was made for use as a Sympathy or Thinking of You, it has a fun fold that I don't think to use, but we made this at an SU workshop.  Only about half of the off white focal point is attached to the pink portion of the card and opens.  Then the embossed brown portion of the card front opens to reveal the inside of the card.  The inside has a pretty punched brown butterfly attached to the off white area for a written note.

 

Thank you for stopping by!  Let me know what you think - I appreciate your comments!

BLUE POPPIES

 

This was a card we made at the last SU workshop I attended.  I just love the colors of Marina Mist and Night of Navy together!

 

The crunch is on for making Christmas cards so that is what I have been working on the last few days but have many more to go.  I enjoy sending Christmas cards to 18-20 people from our local area who are in independent living centers or care centers.  I am also going to take cards to the indepenedent living center where my mother lives for the residents to send to family and friends.  Of course I need cards for our own family and friends.  Many of these cards will eventually show up on my blog.  I hope to begin showing them on December 1st.

 

In the meantime, let me know if you have any questions about the cards I will be posting over the next few days.  Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you will let me know what you think of the items I post.  :)

HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY

For once I chose the stamped design and then happened to find paper to go perfectly with it before doing my coloring.  That made it possible for the flowers on the design to go with the dp I used.

The dp is from a Graphic 45 8 x 8 paper pad.  The stamped design is from Stampin' Up! and was colored and shaded with Copic markers.

Thank you for coming by!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

I'm sorry I don't have a card to offer you today.  Although I did make two cards specifically for Thanksgiving, the computer I use for my blog has a problem........somehow I have acquired a Trojan Horse on it and all of my pictures are on that computer.

I just didn't want to let the day go by without telling all of you that I am thankful for your visits here. To those of you who celebrate Thanksgiving today I hope you enjoy the day in the company of family and friends!!!

This was a card made at a Stampin' Up! workshop. 

SAIL BOAT

 

 

At the last SU Workshop I attended, I made this card.  The same had been made to be used for a new baby boy.  I left the inside blank so I could even possibly use it for a masculine card.

 

Hope this maybe serves as an idea for any of you who might have this stamp in your SU collection.

CASING LYNETTE

Some time ago my friend, Lynette, (My Stamping Addiction) made a very similar card to the one I have posted today.  I just purchased the Gina K "Vogue Vases 2" stamp set and used Lynette's card as a guide.  Lynette had used designs from the Gina K first set of vases.

 

The vase is similar but different potted plant.  I did paper piece the vase but wish I would have used some patterned paper with a suttle design.   I added a butterfly and also embossed most of the card front with the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  So I made my own little changes but cased her version very closely.

 

Thank you so much for stopping by!

 

 

PINK AND GREY SPONGED BORDERS

 

Starting tomorrow I promise I won't post any more of this type of card.  I was just having so much fun with the various color combinations that I thought I would share.  Hope you give this a try.  The designs work so well for just making one-layer cards.

Thank you for stopping by!

SHADES OF BLUE

The first card is just the single layer and was actually the very first of these sponged border cards that I made even though I posted others before it. 

 

On the 2nd and 3rd card here I did something a little different.  I masked off the area but before sponging blue onto the open area, I stamped the design with VersaMark and then embossed the image with white embossing powder.  The blue were then sponged.  Using a soft cloth, I wiped any ink from the white images and then removed the post-it masks.  The blue image was stamped and the sentiment.

 

There were tiny smudges of blue ink on both cards which dictate where I stamped the butterflies.  I wasn't thrilled with the placement but the little butterflies did serve the purpose.

 

Thanks for stopping by.

SPONGED BORDERS



 

 

 

I'll just leave you with these three pictures today.  Using a variety of stamps with the sponged borders can be a lot of fun.  I played with different colors as well and will show those in the coming days.