MY CHRISTMAS POST

Sandy, Thank you for your comment on my "Merry Christmas" post.  The stamp used on that card is from Paper Inspirations.  I'm not sure the stamp is still available.  I believe some other company took over the Paper Inspirations company.

MERRY CHRISTMAS

WISHING ALL OF YOU A MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

CASING LYNETTE

A few days ago Lynette posted a card using the Memory Box "Small Circle Burst" die.  I had never thought about using it for a Christmas card.  A few days later we were in town and my husband had something he wanted to get at Michael's. (Yes, I said my husband wanted to stop there.)  He went his way and I went mine.  We both had coupons to use.  I found several packages of these wonderful little Poinsettia dimensional stickers.  I knew exactly what I was going to do with them.  And to make it even better when I got home I discovered that I had gotten an even better deal on them than I thought!

Lynette had positioned her die off to the side and put a sentiment on the front.  To make mine different, I cut the design right in the middle and used a different embossing folder.  Once I had the die cut/embossed piece on the red foil paper, I realized that the red flower was not going to work the best in the center.  

I pulled out my Spellbinders scalloped circle dies and found one that fit perfectly on the white circle that had been cut out.  By using the biggest die that would work, just a hint of the red shows through around the scallops.

I am very pleased with this card and you can bet there are going to be a bunch of these made next year since I bought 6 packages and there are 9 in each package!!!  Thank you, Lynette, for the inspiration!

Won't you tell me what you think?  I love getting your comments and truly appreciate them!  Thank you for coming by today!

A CARD FROM THE PAST

I'm afraid time has been very busy getting things ready for our family gathering to celebrate Christmas - so for the new visitors to my blog you are seeing a card that I made about two years ago.

I've been making my favorite holiday cookies and treats......mostly no-bake items.  As of last night I have 8 different recipes done and 2 more to go.  Then it is time to finish wrapping gifts.  Christmas cards are all in themail and soon I'll be able to move on to some fdifferent designs.

  

Saturday I had our two youngest grandchildren here.  Their first project was to do our annual Christmas cut-out sugar cookies.  They each also wanted to make a card to give their parents.  I pulled out two Stampin' Up! sets that had designs they could color with markers.  Tucker and Taryn even got a lesson on using my MISTI so their stamps could be lined up just right.  They loved it!  This is what they made......

The outside of Tucker's

Inside of Tucker's and Taryn with her card.  She didn't want to show the inside which really did turn out very cute.  It has a hand-drawn fireplace with logs and fire.  She stamped four Christmas stockings hanging from the mantle - 1 for each of the children in their family.

So what do you think?  Your comments are always welcome and appreciated!!!  Thank you for stopping by today!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY BROTHER-IN-LAW

This card is made up using two dies........Memory Box "Deer Trio" and Penny Black "Serenity". When I cut the deer they come out of the die on a strip so I covered that strip with glitter to give kind of a snowy affect.  The background was sponged with three colors before adding the die cuts and then added to a mat of SU Pear Pizzaz.  I sent this card to my sister's husband who will hopefully be celebrating his birthday today.

I'm off to hopefully finish those last minute gifts.  My husband wanted to go see Brenda Lee Saturday night.  We held off buying tickets because we weren't sure what the weather would be.  The weather was fine but by the time I had tried to get tickets three days ahead of time, we couldn't get tickets sitting together.  So today I'm going to try to find him a CD of her songs.

Thanks for stopping by today!  

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, SHERI!!!!

Today I am wishing my friend Sheri a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!  

When I saw some of the new releases from Paper Smooches, I loved this cute flower design and it is so fun to add over some sponged ink colors.  I saw one similar to this using different colors.  The Happy Birthday is also from a die (and I always forget what company makes it).  I use Ken Oliver's "Stick It" to add most of my die cuts when it is hard to add glue.  "Stick It"  is a double sided adhesive.  If you are interested in trying it, I can get it for you at a discount.

Thanks for coming by!  Your comments are always welcome and appreciated!

PPA280 - A Sketch Challenge

This looked like an easy sketch to do so I am adding a second post again today.  

I had a piece of glossy card stock on my craft table to which I had played with some alcohol inks.  It was just a tad bit smaller than the front of a card, so I added it to a white card base.  Two of my favorite Memory Box dies were used to finish this card.  The border is done with the Luciene Tile.  I don't use it as often as I should.   I found that the Stampin' Up! Tempting Turquoise card stock matched nicely with the alcohol ink so I used it to cut the butterfly.  Pretty simple.  

I like the card the way it is now, but if I wanted, I could add a sentiment to the open white area.

Thanks for stopping by for a second look at my blog today!!!

STAMPIN' UP! - Fresh Vintage

This past September, our class celebrated their 50th Class Reunion (I know that kinda dates me).  One of my classmates had been seeing cards that I had posted on Facebook.  She liked several of them and gave me an order.  Once they were almost gone, she recently sent me a check and ordered more.  I made this card using SU Marina Mist, So Saffron and Perfect Plum.  (That is a shadow below the layer on this one.)  I think I'll be making more of these.   I think this card could be used for a birthday, thinking of you and even a sympathy card so I'll be making more of these ot have on hand.

Thank you for stopping by!  Your comments are always welcome and appreciated!

IMPRESSION OBSESSION - Angel Set

You probably notice from my posts that I LOVE using dies to make cards.  This is one of the angels from the Impression Obsession set.  I cut the design using a textured foil card stock.  The ovals are cut with Spellbinders dies.  I wasn't sure what I wanted to do with the right side of the embossed layer and saw a scrap of the gold.  I cut two very narrow strips and one wider.  They were run through my Xyron to add adhesive.  This card went to my friend Sheri.  

Thank you for stopping by!  Your comments are always welcome and appreciated!

MEMORY BOX DIE - Sparkle Burst Stars

These stars almost look like snowflakes so I used the die to make some cards with a Christmas sentiment.  The white layer is 4" x 5 1/4".  This layer was added to a piece of green foil which is just slightly smaller than the white card base.  It is such a great die to use over lots of different colors of foil.  One of my Yahoo group friends received this card.

Thank you for stopping by!  Comments are always welcome and appreciated!

PEACE ON EARTH

THE PAPER PLAYERS COLOR CHALLENGE #275 

I haven't posted many cards to challenges but the colors on this one called out to me to do one again.  The tree is from the SU "Lovely As A Tree" set and the "Peace on Earth" is from the SU "Calm Christmas" set.  I did add the shadow background using Crumb Cake so I hope this still qualifies for the challenge.  Don't we all wish we could have Peace on Earth???

Thank you for stopping back for my second post today.  Your comments are always welcome and appreciated!

STAMPIN' UP! - Festival of Trees

FIrst of all I cannot take credit for the design of this card.  Pinterest is a wonderful source of inspiration.  I did make some minor changes in my card but the basic design came from there.

I stamped the two trees with Garden Green ink.  The middle tree was stamped on a scrap piece of card stock and then cut with the coordinating punch.  I used a gold gel pen to add some sparkle to the ornaments.  The gold paper is shimmer paper.

This card was sent to one of my Yahoo Group friends.  I liked it so well that I went ahead and cut all the pieces for 44 more cards to use next year for the residents where my mother lives.  Feels good to have such a head start since I never know what next year might bring.

I love reading comments from those who visit, so won't you take a moment to let me know what you think?  Thank you for stopping by!

PPA279 - A COLOR CHALLENGE

When I saw the color challenge posted for this week, I knew it was one that I could easily  do.  It never hurts to have an extra Christmas card available in case I need one.

I used two dies for the design.  I'm sorry I don't know what company the pine branch comes by (the die is light blue).  The "Snow Capped Ornament" is a retired one from Memory Box.   I have had some of those little gold clips for a very long time and never think to use them but thought I wanted something up in the corner to balance out the design.  

When you view my posts, I would love to hear from you with any comment you might have.  Bloggers always appreciate your thoughts.

Thank you for stopping by for my second post today!

ANOTHER SEASONAL TREES

I found a card like this on Pinterest and made a second card using the Taylored Expressions Seasonal Trees die.  I did mine slightly different.  I added Ice Stickles and two deer from a Memory Box die set.  The blue card stock is an SU discontinued color.

Thank you for stopping by!  Be sure to stop back next week for more Christmas cards.

TAYLORED EXPRESSIONS - Seasonal Trees

When I saw a card made with this die I looked into purchasing it and was lucky to find it with a discount on Taylor's website.  The three little evergreens are from Impression Obsession.  Stampin' Up! Tempting Turquoise card stock serves at the background for the white trees.

I wanted to add a small sentiment on the front.  When I went through my multitude of stamps, I found this one that seemed to fit perfectly with the peaceful scene.  One of my Yahoo group friends will be receiving this card - hope she doesn't see it here first.

Thank you for coming by!

STAMPIN' UP! - Every Blessing

For this card, I decided to stamp the design with VersaMark and then embossed with Silver powder. I used a die that best fit the design to cut it out and the silver glitter paper which was purchased at Michael's.  The card stock is SU Night of Navy.

I like this card better.  I stamped with VersaFine Onyx Black ink and then cut out with the dies.  The metallic gold paper is some of my favorite and was purchased at Michael's. 

Thank you so much for stopping by!

LOVIN' MY MISTI

These two cards are the ones I wanted to have scheduled for early this morning........

The beautiful poinsettia stamp and sentiment are from the Penny Black "red star" cling set.  I chose this set to make about 50 cards with the same layout. Forty-four of them went to the independent living center where my mother lives.  

I could have put the stamp on an acrylic block and stamped the design each time, but I found the perfect opportunity to make really good use of my MISTI.  I knew I was going to want to use a die to cut them out.  By using the MISTI the designs are all in the exact same place on the layer which made it possible to die cut more than one at a time.

On the first card I used a dauber to lightly add some of the red ink around the edge to set it off on the white card base.

I'm not as happy with this one.  I experimented with a gold Sharpie and decided I didn't like it with the black sentiment but I thought I'd show it anyway.  

I also made a few with a very pretty pink ink.  Thanks for checking out my second post for today!

PP274: A Theme Challenge from Claire

"Let It Snow" Theme

This card was supposed to be on my blog yesterday, but due to a very long day running errands and Christmas shopping, I had forgotten to post it before I left.

One of the very talented designers for Penny Black (Heather Telford) makes such beautiful scenes and uses masking fluid.  I finally purchased a bottle and this was my first attempt to try it.  Using a tooth brush I dipped it into the fluid and then rippled the bristles.  The "snow" is a little more fine than I had planned but I like it.  (By the way you want to do this inside a box so the fluid doesn't get all over everything.)

When the fluid was dry, I brayered the Baja Breeze ink over the white layer and then rubbed my finger over the piece to remove the masking fluid which left the fine snowy background.  The "in the winter" die is from Penny Black.  I have a set of bird dies from Memory Box and added the little red bird.  Five snowflakes from a punch were added.  This layer was added to the Baja Breeze card base and then I added Ice Stickles to the flakes and to add some "landscape" to the tree die.

Thank you for stopping by!

THREE EASY PEASY CARDS!!!

These three cards were very quick to make.  (As you can see from the date on two of them they were made back in October.)   I am trying to use up some pre-folded cards/envelopes sets that I bought when I first started making cards.  These cards came from Hero Arts.  They are pink with kind of a feathery white fleck.  I just added three different Memory Box die cuts to these three and have some ones to use at the last minute.

Right now I plan on starting to post some Christmas cards next week.......so stay tuned.  :)

STAMPIN' UP! - Terrific Tulips

When I purchase Stampin' Up! stamp sets, I have now gone to strictly clear sets because they take so much less room.  I have a lot of retired wood mounted sets and hope to be selling some of them........but this is one I will be keeping.  It is one of my favorites.  It's a two-step stamping set.  

This tulip was stamped by stamping off Baja Breeze one time onto scrap paper and then onto the layer.  Using the same color I then added the 2nd step using the same Baja Breeze but didn't stamp it off first.  The mats are also Baja Breeze card stock.

Thank you for stopping by!

SPELLBINDERS CARD CREATOR DIE

The two cards I am showing you today were made with a Spellbinders Card Creator die.  These dies make such a great layer on a card base and make it possible to just add something simple to finish it off.  When I cut this one, I trimmed it down to cover just a portion of the front, added a strip of dp and a dimensional daisy sticker.

On this card I covered the entire front.  I used a plain piece of card stock for the strip and punched the top and bottom edges.  The white dimensional daisies have been something I had been "hoarding" for a long time and decided it was time to use them.

Since I have a wholesale account where I can purchase Spellbinders and many, many other supplies (glitters, glues, dies, inks etc), please let me know if there is anything you would like me to check on to see if I have access to them.  And there is always that discounted price here.

Thank you for stopping by!

STAMPING ON KRAFT CARDSTOCK

I'm not quite ready to show anything for Christmas because I have not gotten a good start yet.  This is a layout I tried a while back.  I started by stamping the pretty design with a Penny Black "Trailing Beauty" stamp onto Kraft card stock.  I didn't get the "look" I was wanting so I decided to trim it down to slightly smaller than the white card base and split the design up in order to be able to brighten the look.  Using a white gel pen I added some detail to the flowers.  I really like the stamp, but the next time I will definitely be stamping it onto either white or off white card stock.

I hope that by next week I will be able to have something made for Christmas cards.  This year I will be making more multiples of a single design though because I find myself operating behind schedule.  Thank you for stopping by today.

MEMORY BOX ANNIVERSARY

Memory Box dies make it so easy to put together a great card.  I love their "Grand" sentiments.  The butterfly is also from Memory Box.  The dp is from Stampin' Up!

Thank you for stopping by!

STAMPIN' UP! SYMPATHY

BLACK FRIDAY.............no way I'm going out in the mob today so a sympathy card for those who brave it and get shoved around by others.  :)  Seriously, I had this card on the list to post today anyway.  It's one I had made a while back and it has already been used.  The stamp set is from Stampin' Up!.  

One of my daughters and three granddaughters will be going with me to one craft show as an annual thing that we do.  Otherwise I will be taking it easy today and recovering from our big day yesterday.

Thanks for coming back!

(UPDATE:  The stamp set used was Stampin' Up! "Love & Sympathy".)

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!!

TRAVEL SAFE TODAY AND ENJOY A WONDERFUL DAY WITH FAMILY AND FRIENDS!

MEMORY BOX BUTTERFLY

This is one of my newest Memory Box purchases.  When I bought it, I thought that the design on the side would be die cut as well, but it is just embossed.  I then had a little harder time deciding how I was going to use it.  Our group had a card swap using purple and yellow, so I made this card to exchange.

The embossing shows a little better with this picture.  I decided I do like the die after all, but then I pretty much love all things "butterfly".

Today I am going to be very busy preparing dishes for tomorrow.  I do as much ahead to make the morning a lot easier.  One of my daughters and her husband are always such a gracious hosts and enjoy having us at their home so I end up preparing much of the meal here and transporting it. Several other dishes are furnished from others who are coming.  Our home just isn't big enough to have 20 people come for a meal (or anything else).  I don't know about you, but I am really looking forward to the once-a-year feast.  

Thank you for coming by today!

MEMORY BOX AND STAMPIN' UP!

This card was made for a swap.  The die is from Memory Box.  The Pacific Point card stock and embossed "lacey" design are from Stampin' Up!

Thank you for stopping by!

RETIRED STAMPIN' UP!

I have a retired SU "Long Stemmed" flower set of 4 stamps and I used one of them for this card.  I made this one a while ago and I think that is Baja Breeze ink and paper that I used.  The fancy edge was made with an EK Success punch.

Today we are going to be leaving shortly to have Brunch with my mother at the independent living center where she resides.  They allow the residents to invite two guests for an early Thanksgiving Bunch.  They also do a brunch at Easter and at Christmas they also allow the residents to invite two guests for a sit-down lovely dinner and entertainment is provided by residents of the "Silver Bells"......bell ringers.......who do a really nice job with the music.

It's going to be a busy week but I hope to have a card up for each day, so I hope you will check back in again.  Thank you for stopping by today!!!

CASING MY FRIEND, SHERI

Sheri made a card very similar to this.  For her balloons I believe she used white card stock and then sponged color onto them.  I cut mine from the colored card stock.  The balloon die is from Paper Smooches.  (Sorry I don't remember who makes the "ties" for the balloons".)    I think this will make a really happy card for one of the grandchildren.  

Thank you for stopping by!

SPONGED BACKGROUND

I saw a card somewhere that had sponged several colors on a white mat.  I wish I had made more of a peak with the lavendar color to look a little like mountains in the background but I like the blend of colors.  The foliage was stamped with a Penny Black stamp.  I added two deer from a Memory Box die and then a little "snow" to the branches and under the deer.

Thank you for stopping by!

THINKING OF YOU

First of all I sponged two Stampin' Up inks over the card base.  I stamped a Penny Black design three times in different positions using VersaMark and then heat embossing them with black powder.  I then heat embossed the sentiment.

Thank you for stopping by!

PENNY BLACK POPPIES

I love this stamp from Penny Black because it makes such a bold statement on a card, especially when it is done in red and black.

Thank you for stopping by!

CARD FOR A GRANDDAUGHTER

Our Granddaughter, Abby, celebrated her Golden Birthday - 12 on the 12th.  This is the card I made for my mother to give to her.

I used the Memory Box "happy birthday" die to cut the top of the white layer.  I left enough space for the strip of Washi tape cupcake design and used a second Memory Box die to add the bottom design.

Thanks for stopping by!

PURPLE AND YELLOW CARD SWAP

I had cards done ahead and thought I had them scheduled for Monday through Friday this week.  Somehow the whole week has gotten by me.  I've been busy finishing up 65 card kits for the religious education students to make, 44 cards for the independent living center staff to hand out to all of the residents and 18 cards for my own use.  I guess that explains in part what happened to my days.

I used the Stampin' Up folder for the embossed frame and the retired stamp set "Awash With Flowers".  The little  "For my Friend..." is from Darcie's.  I used Copic markers so I could do a little shading on the flowers.

I purchased the SU stamp set from my friend, Kris, and it happened that she was my partner in the card swap.  Thank you for stopping by!

THANKSGIVING #5

The idea for this came from Pinterest.  (I see my acorns are upside down!!!!)  The inks and "For All Things" stamps are from Stampin' Up!.  My husband and I will be sending these cards.

THANKSGIVING #4

Originally I made up 8 kits of this style of card for the kids at church to do but for some reason changed my mind.  I will finish off the cards myself and use them.  Last week I talked to the activity director at the independent living center where my mother lives and told her I would make up enough Thanksgiving cards for Ridgeview to give out to all of the residents. I have other cards that I am sending to some of them myself.

By the way, I want to wish my friend Terri and her husband HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!  I also am wishing my dear husband a HAPPY BIRTHDAY today.  We may not do anything today to celebrate but tomorrow night we are going to go to the high school production of "Grease".

THANKSGIVING #3

This is the third design which was made up into kits.  I sponged three different colors over the masked strip ahead of time because I didn't think the kids would want to be messing with inky fingers at class.  They will stamp leaves (I have three different small leaves to choose from).  I actually saw one like this on Pinterest and thought it would be a good one for the kids to do quickly.  The design is done on a white mat and then mounted onto the card base.  Some of the older kids will probably do this design so they can get the top layer mounted fairly even.

(I added the single maple leaf (top/right) because I saw a slight smear of ink from when I was doing the sponging..........so I covered it up and now it really doesn't show.)

THANKSGIVING #2

This is a sample of a card that I made into a dozen kits for religious education students to make for residents of a local care center.  There are three different designs they will be doing.  Another kit of 39 cards is like this only it has a maple leaf stamp on it.  The students will color the designs at class and then assemble the cards.  In all there will be 64 students will each get to make one card.

FIRST OF THANKSGIVING CARDS

The first of the Thanksgiving cards I made which will go to residents of care centers and independent living centers.  I used the Stampin' Up! inks and "Gently Falling" stamp set.