MERRY CHRISTMAS

I saw a card on Pinterest that inspired me to make this one.  This is the style of card I sent to several acquaintances who are in care centers or are neighbors of my mother in the independent living center.  This was made using a set from Stampin' Up!

Our family celebrates Christmas.  I know some of you may be celebrating other holidays at this time and I pray that all of you are enjoying the company of family and friends.

Thank you for stopping by today!

CHRISTMAS EVE AND ALL IS CALM

As you can tell from a lot of my cards, I love using dies to make scenes.  The bunny below the tree doesn't show up very well, but he and his "friend" are enjoying a quiet winter evening.  Time is busy right now so I'm not detailing much but if you have questions, be sure to email me.

Thank you for coming by!

CHRISTMAS CARD #6

I made just a few of this card.  The die is from Creative Expressions by Sue Wilson.  I think it is such a pretty die.  I cut if from white and then mounted it onto a matted gold background.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

CHRISTMAS CARD #5

#5

This winter scene was made using four different die sets.  I don't think it shows well in the picture but the "ground" was run through a Xyron so that glitter could be added to the entire piece before adding the trees and deer.  The "moon" is simply a die cut circle.  This was a fun card to make.

Thank you for coming by today!

CHRISTMAS CARD #3 and #4

#3

The die I used for this card came from China........and I mean mailed from China.  I happened across this one on eBay and it was only $2.50 with free shipping.  I couldn't pass it up for that price and it even got here in time to use this year.  It looks like the green mat is crooked on the gold background, but I thin it is just the angle of the card.

#4

This card was made using a die set from Impression Obsession.  I cut the wreath two times to give it a little more body.  The flowers were cut and then I slightly rolled the petals for some dimension.  The centers are very tiny gold gems and the sentiment is from a Stampin' Up! set.

Thank you for coming by today!

CHRISTMAS CARD #2

I was shocked when I looked at my blog this morning and realized I had not posted anything during the month of December.  I knew I hadn't posted last week but the whole month????  Time really got away from me between the shopping (much of which was done on line), baking and making no-bake items.  This is the one time each year that I try to make a variety of goodies because I like to give plates of them to others.  The shopping is done except for something for one of our daughters to give to my husband.  I promised I'd help her out since she is "drowning" in work at their Medicare!

This is a card I made using die cuts. I do have some other Christmas cards I have made and will be posting this week.  

I hope all of you are better prepared than I have been!  Thank you for stopping by today!

SYMPATHY #3 & #4

#3

I made this card first.  I accidentally got a very tiny smudge so covered it with the tiny butterfly dimensional sticker.  I had some card stock which picked up the color of the sticker and added the 5 small flowers from an SU punch.

I wasn't real thrilled with this one so I cut the design a second time using the green card stock and added pink flowers.

#4

Memory Box Fairhaven Oval Frame

Flowers are from a small punch

Sentiment:  unknown

THANK YOU FOR STOPPING BY TODAY!

SYMPATHY #1 & #2

Normally I don't make sympathy cards ahead of time.  It just doesn't feel right somehow.  My mother did need one though and I decided to go ahead and make extra for her to have on hand.  I especially like the way these two turned out.  Tomorrow there are two more using a different die cut.

#1

#2

Poppy Stamps Woodland Oval

Poppy Stamps Oval Frame Background

Impression Obsession Pine Sprig Cluster

Stampin' Up! Punch for flowers

Sentiment:  unknown

Cuttlebug Embossing folder

ON TO CHRISTMAS CARDS

Some of you may be out fighting the crowds with Black Friday specials.  That is something I have not done for a lot of years.  Since I am scheduling this post ahead of time, I will probably be spending the day recovering from the Thanksgiving meal.  Maybe I'll do a little Black Friday shopping on the Internet from my nice warm home and hopefully getting organized for making our holiday cards.

Today's card is a definite CASE of one I saw on Pinterest.  The tree is cut with a Tim Holtz die which is different than the one I saw on Pinterest and the sentiment is one of my own too.  Very simple but I really like this one and plan on making a few more to send to those on our Christmas list................CHRISTMAS DAY IS A MONTH FROM TODAY!!!!

Thank you for coming by today!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING

My friend, Joanne, and I made a little over 80 cards like these for the staffs at a nursing home and independent living center to give to the residents.  We need a total of 97 cards but I already had a few other cards that filled out the total we needed.

The leaves on the first card are some I purchased in Des Moines this past September and the leaves on the second card are some I have had for a few years.  

We are spending the day with our mothers, one of our daughter's family, and other family members.  I sincerely hope all of you are enjoying good company and a great meal!

Thank you for coming by today!

STAMPIN' UP! Swirly dies

This is a card I sent to my friend, Lynette.  She and her husband recently celebrated their anniversary.  Since I forgot to take my own picture of it, Lynette was very gracious and shared the picture she took of it.  This card was made similarly to the one I posted yesterday using a piece of Yupo paper colored with alcohol inks.  This is a really great die set!

Thank you for coming by today!

STAMPIN' UP! Swirly Dies

To begin, I cut a piece of white card stock to 4" x 5 1/4".    I cut the swirled design from that piece of white car stock.  I had some pieces of Yupo paper on which I had added alcohol inks, added it to the back of the swirl and then inserted that piece back into the two remaining pieces of white.  

Next I cut a white swirly circle with the two dies and added a butterfly which had also been cut from the Yupo paper.  Before cutting the die pieces I added Stick It to the back of the portion that was going to be cut.  That made it very easy to adhere them to the card.

Thank you for stopping by today!

FALLING LEAVES

Things have been pretty  busy around here but I wanted to show you three more cards I made with leaves.  If you have any questions about them, please let me know.  

Thank you for stopping by!

STAMPIN' UP! - Swirly Scribbles Dies

I thought I had scheduled cards for Monday and Tuesday, but I'm afraid I've been really unfocused ever since the election.  My husband and I decided we needed to get away for a few days to relax and regroup.  It was a quick trip......we left Saturday morning and got home yesterday.....but it really helped.

We have a habit of finding some unusual places to visit.  Minnesota's Largest Candy Store was something that had us going "WOW"!   You will find it outside of Jordan MN.  Red Wing MN provided a couple of other stops......the Red Wing Shoe store which has a little museum with it (and it's free)...........and the Red Wing Stoneware and Pottery.  Our town had a celebration a few years ago and had Red Wing crocks made to sell with a special emblem on them and my husband wanted to visit them. Naturally I had to purchase a cute little stoneware casserole dish. 

Door County WI was our other stop.  A lot of the shops were closed for the season but we aren't really big shoppers anymore so it was just good to spend a little time there and relax.  If you ever go there, Al Johnson's Swedish Restaurant is a great place to have breakfast and The Wild Tomato is a great place for pizza.  Now it is back to normal routine.

As I do so often I turned to Pinterest to make a card using this recent purchase from Stampin' Up!  I needed a card for an Artist's Choice card swap  I saw one like this on Pinterest and it was a really easy card to CASE.  I used a different sentiment on the front.  It appears to be crooked but that is the way it is on the wood mounted stamp.

I added Stick-It to the back of the Pumpkin Pie card stock before cutting the three "pumpkins".  The leaves are from an SU dp.  After adding the leaves I used the SU marker to add the stems.

I'm really going to enjoy these dies......I've seen so many great cards using them.I almost didn't by the coordinating stamps.  I was afraid I would want them later and then I wouldn't benefit from the "bundled" price.

Thank you for stopping by today!

THANKSGIVING CARD #4

To end the week, I am showing you one more card I made with the stickers that I found in my suplies.  It's a very CAS card.  I cut the ivory card stock using the stitched rectangles from Simon Says Stamps.  The piece is mounted to SU Dusty Durango card stock.  The sentiment is from  Ann-ticipations.

Thank you for coming by today!

THANKSGIVING CARD #3

I am really trying to use up some items that I have had for a long time.  I found some fall stickers in my supplies and decided it was time for them to go.  The colors went so well with the SU Dusty Durango card stock.  The sentiment is from Paper Inspirations.

Thank you for coming by today!

THANKSGIVING CARD #2

This was another stamped design that I had left over from 2015.  It was colored with Copic markers and matted with Stampin' Up! Pumpkin Pie card stock.  The sentiment was cut from Chocolate Chip card stock that had been attached to some Stick It to make it easier to add it to the card.

My post is being scheduled in advance so you can be sure that today I am very tired and glad the election is over.  

Thank you for coming by!

THANKSGIVING CARD #1

I am scheduling this post in advance since when many of you see this, I will be working at the election at our precinct.  I will be "thankful" about 10:30 tonight after working at the election since 6:00 in the morning.  As tired as I will be, I do enjoy it and find it to be very interesting. 

I had a piece stamped with this harvest basket in the "tub" with my Thanksgiving stamps.  I colored it with my Copic markers and then mounted it with Chocolate Chip card stock from SU.  I added some Stick-It to the back of some Chocolate Chip card stock and cut the Thanksgiving sentiment from Cheery Lynn Designs.  

Thank you for coming by today!

SMALL ADLER TREE, BIRDS & SQUIRRELS

The die cuts for this card made it easy to come up with a cute scene.  The papers and ink (Mint Macaron) are from Stampin' UP! 

Thank you for coming by today!

TUTTI DESIGNS DIES

Yesterday's card was made using a die from Tutti Designs and I had a question.  I don't usually post on Saturday, but decided that this might be the best way to answer instead of "editing" the Friday post.  

The dies are from the UK.  I purchased mine through the Internet site "Diesrus.com".  The question was about whether they were more economical.  I would suggest looking at the site where I purchased mine and you can decide how they compare in price to other companies.  

I purchased three different designs at the time and they cut very well and have some very lovely designs.  

Thank you for your continued interest and comments!

LILIES OF THE VALLEY

Today's card is a break from all the fall leaves I have been posting.  About a month ago I found some new dies from a company I had not heard of before.  This die cut is a Tutti design.  I have always loved the delicate Lilies of the Valley and remember the old cologne by that name (maybe they still make it).

I cut the piece out with white card stock.  Before removing it from the die I  sponged some green ink through the opening on the leaves.  I used a Copic marker to very carefully color the flowers.  I really like this piece!

Since I had added "Stick It" to the back of the card stock before cutting it out, it was very easy to adhere it to the white layer which had been embossed with a random dots folder.  I then matted it with SU Blushing Bride card stock which went well with the pink color I had chosen for the flowers.

We heard of a lady who is celebrating her 90th Birthday soon and I think I will use this card for her.

Thank you for coming by today!

STAMPIN' UP! - Autumn Accents Bigz Die #6

The second card swap of each month for our Yahoo Group is a "Color Swap".   For October that swap was to use Kraft card stock with any color.  Since I was working with leaves, I decided it would be an easy card to make.  

First I added a piece of SU Cajun Craze dp to the front of the card after wrapping some twine string around it.  I used two of the oak leaves I had already cut.  I distressed them with SU Soft Sude Ink.  The leaves were added and a twine bow adhered to the base of the leaves.  If you can't tell it already, I am really having a great time with this recent purchase!

Thank you for stopping by today!

AUTUMN GREETINGS

The little oak leaves are from a Lawn Fawn die set.  The branch is a die cut with a Memory Box branch.  The little sentiment is a Darcie's stamp.

I have two sets of leaf dies from Lawn Fawn.  I chose a variety of fall colored card stock scraps which I save and cut a bunch of leaves in various sizes and colors.  

This card is going to be used as a birthday card.  Thank you for coming by!

STAMPIN' UP! - Autumn Accents Bigz Die #5

When I purchased the die recently, this was actually the first card I made with it.  I saw someone do a card like this on Pinterest with the plaid dp and I loved it.  I like this paper which is from a Stampin' Up! designer paper package.  The plaid on her card had more color to it but this was the only plaid I had.  Fall leaves are so fun to use making cards and I have made a bunch.  You'll be seeing more.

Thank you for stopping by!

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!!!!

My friend, Georgia, saw a similar card to this and contacted me about what die they had used.  I found that it is a Memory Box die and was lucky enough to find it on sale through one of the companies where I order.  The die is the black die cut which I cut after adhering black card stock to "Stick It".  I removed a portion of the "Stick It" so I could add the moon behind the trees.  Then I added ghosts from another Memory Box die set.  I made several of these to use for cards that I send.

Thank you for coming by today!  WOW!  Tomorrow is November 1st and soon it will be time to enjoy our family Thanksgiving meal!  

STAMPININ' UP! - Autumn Accents Bigz Die #4

Once again I used the leaf embossing folder for the mat.  Yesterday's card was done on Ivory card stock - today's card is on white.  I used a tag again cut from a piece of Close to Cocoa dp.

I did stamp the Maple leaf.  The green Oak leaf was stamped on the die cut and the brown one was embossed with the wood grain folder.

Thank you for stopping by today!  Be sure to come back Monday for a special Halloween card.

STAMPIN' UP! - Autumn Accents Bigz Die #3

I remembered that I had an embossing folder with leaves on it and used it for this card.  I had a leaf already cut from SU Cajun Craze card stock and decided to use the matching stamp from the Wonderfall stamp set.

Since the leaves are cut from a Bigz Die, you have to use a Stamp-A-Ma-Jig to line up the stamping on the leaf.  (There just isn't a way to stamp first and then cut it out.)  Even then I had a little trouble but just trimmed off some of the edges.  I just need to practice with it.  (The Oak leaf lined up a lot easier.)  The stamped design is made up of really tiny letters of the alphabet.  Before adding the leaf I cut two strips from some Cajun Craze dp and added the tags.

Thank you for stopping by today!

STAMPIN' UP! - Autum Accents Bigz Die #2

I chose three different colors of SU card stock and cut out the leaves.  I then distressed them with a dabber adding Soft Suede ink to the edges and a little on the centers of the leaves.  The ivory layer was embossed with the wood grain design.  I wondering if I should have lightly brayered some Soft Suede on to the embossing.  

Thank you for stopping by today!

STAMPIN' UP! - Autumn Accents Bigz Die #1

I have been wanting some leaf stamps that coordinated with a die but was hoping to get them at a reasonable price.  Well, I did and found them on eBay.  The seller had the stamps to go with this die listed along with the die for only $26.99 plus shipping.  I prefer thinlit dies but for this price I didn't figure I could go wrong.  The items arrive VERY fast and I've been having a lot of fun with them.

Today's card and through Friday you  will be seeing what I have made.  I saw a card on Pintrest similar to this that got me started.  

The dp is from an SU designer paper pack.  I didn't use the stamp set for these leaves but embossed the Maple leaf with one folder and the Oak leaves with another one.  I like the texture it gives to the design.

Be sure to check back for more to come.

FALLING LEAVES

I saw a card similar to this when I was in Des Moines last month.  I had the tree die and the squirrels already so I purchased the die set that included the leaves and rake.

Tree die:  Poppy Stamps

Squirrels and Leaves/Rake:  Impression Obsession

I'm sure by now you have realized how much I love working with die cuts!  The designs that are available have come such a long way since I first started using dies from Spellbinders.

Thank you for stopping by!

WOODLAND TEXTURED FOLDER #2

I used the same procedure to add trees to the embossing folder (although they are awfully light).  After embossing the design, I used a dabber to lightly add some SU Soft Suede to the birch trees.  I had a piece already cut using the Memory Box "Deer Trio" so I cut down the embossed image to fit the deer, added it to the embossed layer and matted it with the Wild Wasabi card stock.  I ran a line of Stickles Crystal Ice under the deer.  I think this will make a card that can be sent to any number of men for their birthday.

Thank you for coming by!

STAMPIN' UP! WOODLAND TEXTURED FOLDER

I have seen some great cards using this technique.  I stamped the trees on the inside of the embossing folder and then embossed the layer.  I added the two die cut pumpkins.  I wasn't overly thrilled about the result after adding the pumpkins.  Tomorrow's card will show a card I like better.

Thank you for stopping by!

HALLOWEEN JACK-O-LANTERNS

This was one of the last Halloween cards I made.  It will go to one of the people at a nursing home.  I had it stamped off so all I had to do was color it with my Copic markers, trim it down and adhere it to the card front.

Thank you for coming by today!

HALLOWEEN CARD #7

I found some stickers in my "stash" that I have had for a long time so I decided it was time to use them up.

HALLOWEEN CARD #6

Pretty simple card.  The dp is from Stampin' Up!, Witch from Impression Obsession and Ghosts from Memory Box.   I hope these cards are giving you some fun ideas.

Thank you for coming by!

HALLOWEEN CARD #5

This is actually a card I made last year but decided to show it again here.  Thank you for stopping by!

HALLOWEEN CARD #4

This will be the card our grandson receives.  The main die cut is from Impression Obsession.  The little ghost is from Memory Box.  The dp was perfect for this card and is from  Stampin' Up!

Thank you for stopping by!

HALLOWEEN CARD #3

Dies are so fun to use for making scenes like this.  The dies I used are from Taylored Expressions, Memory Box and Impression Obsession.  For the fence and main image, I die cut them with "Stick It" adhesive on the back to make them easier to adhere to the card.  Stick It comes in sheets and is a double sided adhesive.   This is a card that will go to one of our six grandchildren.

Thank you for coming by today!

HALLOWEEN CARD #2

I don't think this card takes a lot of explanation.  The dies I used are from Impression Obsession and Penny Black. This is one of the cards that I will be sending to our grandchildren.

Thank you for coming by today!

POPPY STAMPS - Swirly Bird Ribbon

I made this card to sent to my October Artist's Choice card swap partner.  I love the "ribbon" dies from Poppy Stamps.  The scalloped border was made with a Martha Stewart punch.  We usually don't stamp a sentiment on the swap cards we make so that the partner can use the card however they choose.  When I use this design for myself, I have a great stamp that reads "A little birdie toldme today is your Special Day."

Thank you for coming by today!

HALLOWEEN CARD #1

This is the first of the Halloween cards I will be positing this month.  A friend of mine came one day last week and we made 97 Halloween cards for the nursing home where my mother-in-law is residing and for the independent living center where my mother lives.   The cards are given for the staff to sign and hand out to the residents.

I made this sample card in advance but decided not to use the "Eeek" die cut on the 97 we made.  For the sample I had attached black card stock to "Stick It" before die cutting the word.  It was a little delicate even then to add to the card and it would have been dealing with 97 of them!  Instead we left them blank.  Later I did add a little sentiment on the ones for the 44 going to the independent living center.

 I made 97 owls and 97 branches using two Stampin' Up! punches.  And I die cut 97 "moons" and 97 bats using dies.

This entire card is Pumpkin Pie card stock.  When I decided to use this sample as the card we were going to do, I realized I wouldn't have enough to do 97 cards.  I cut what I did have into 4 pieces of 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" and ran each of them through the Cuttlebug with a spider web embossing folder.  The card base is white card stock.

I'm already working on pieces for the Thanksgiving cards we will make.  Thanks for coming by today!

MEMORY BOX - Luciene Tile

This is a card I made a while back to be used for an anniversary card.  The two dies are from Memory Box.  The "Wishing You" is from a Verve stamp set.  The sentiment inside from the same set is "a very Happy Anniversary".  There are nine stamps to use together with the "Wishing You".

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

QUIET SNOWY SCENE

The card base is Stampin' UP! Bashful Blue card stock.  I ran the front through my Cuttlebug with a random dot Cuttlebug embossing folder.

Die cuts used:
Twiggy Tree - Penny Black
Cardinals - Impression Obsession
Bunnies - Impression Obession

After adding the two landscape slopes and the other die cuts, I ran Stickles glitter glue along the top edges of the two "hills".  I then put a small dab of the Stickles on my finger tip and dabbed it around on the open white area to give a more snowy affect.

Thank you for stopping by today!

A SNOWY WINTER'S NIGHT

My card base is a piece from a Tim Holtz 12" x 12" paper pad.  "Into the Woods" die is from Penny Black.  The deer and trees are from Impression Obesession.  Before adding the die cut pieces to the card base, I did take the white "landscape" and ran it through my Xyron so that I could add glitter over the entire piece.  The "Moon" is just a punched circle.

Thank you so much for stopping by today!

FROM OUR HOUSE TO YOURS

The dies I used for this card are from PapertreyInk.  This would be a fun card to send to someone who has moved into a new home.

Thank you for stopping by today!