Christmas in July - July 5, 2015

I've seen these snowman cards circulating the past few years.  The first one I received was from my niece.  It was SO cute!  She did a great job with it.
The next one I received was from my craft friend Melissa.  Hers was great too!

I thought it was time for me to finally dive into these snowman cards.  After looking through my stamp stash, I found my set of Kitchen Sink Invisible Snowman stamps.

 They were PERFECT!  I stamped the hat separately and fussy cut it, but the eyes, nose, and pipe are stamped right on the stacked snowman.

Stamp Recipe:  All inks Stampin' Up except the black.
Eyes:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede
Nose:  Pumpkin Pie, Tangerine Tango, Tangelo Twist
Pipe:  Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Tsukineko Tuxedo Black
Hat:  Smoky Slate, Basic Gray, Basic Gray, and Tsukineko Tuxedo Black

January:  6 cards
February:  6 cards
March:  6 cards
April:  6 cards.
May:  5 cards
June:  6 cards
July:  6 cards
Total:  41 Christmas cards!**Plus the July cards!  Total at the end of the month.

Birthday Card for my Dear Friend

Happy Birthday, Melissa!

We've been playing with these spinner cards for awhile now...  actually less than a month, but it seems longer because I've now made 4 or 5 of them.

It takes a little engineering, but they're SO FUN, and Ms. Kathy challenged us, and I always LOVE a challenge!

This butterfly spins all the way around the cut-out circle.  I didn't want the background to be plain, so I used the same honeycomb stamp on the background to blend the two levels of card stock.

Here's the short video clip I took of this card so you could see the motion of the spinner cards.  Fun,  Fun, FUN!! 

March 2015 Christmas Cards

This month I've got another set of blue cards...  definitely a darker tone than February's cards!

Only 2 colors here as well - Night of Navy, and White.

 I embossed the trees from the stamp set Lovely as a Tree in White with some Iridescent Ice sprinkled along the tops of the trees.

I got out my Spellbinders Dies and played around with some shapes.  The inking on the Merry Christmas piece is done with the Stampin' Up chalks in Night of Navy to highlight the edges.

Pinterest WIN! Chandelier Wreath for Valentine's Day

I saw this on Pinterest -liked it a lot, and decided I could make one and probably do a pretty good job of it!

This is my creation!  Once I started making it, I found a few differences.  The original Pinterest pinner must have used a selection of precut packaged hearts because they were all the same size.  They also had all the same cut outs, and were just presented in different colors.

 I used a metal wreath base, and red ribbon with white lace over the top.  I also used a large wired polka dotted ribbon for the top to disguise the S hook I bought to hang it.  Works pretty well, actually!   I do feel I could add more ribbon to the wire wreath base, and will do that next year before I hang it again.

Here you can see a better close-up of the hearts I cut..... 3 each to make it look fuller, and different sized down the red/white twine hanging pieces.  I then used the bow maker my dad made, double bows tied to the very ends of the twine for 2 reasons.  1.  to weigh down the twine so it would hang better.  2.  to give it a more finished look, using the same ribbon for the bows as I did for the ties around the top of the wreath.

Stampin' Up Design Series Papers, Hobby Lobby paper, Paper stacks from my stash.  All ribbon from Hobby Lobby, and the twine is from Stampin' Up.

As I said, I believe it's a Pinterest WIN! :) 

Another Window Card

I'm still having fun playing with these window cards...  This time, instead of using one of my punches, I used a Spellbinders Nestabilities die to cut the circle more in the center of the card after embossing the background.

 Lots of colors, as you can see...  Tempting Turquoise flower and sentiment - Crumb Cake background scallop circle and frame for the sentiment,  Wild Wasabi die-cut leaves, Strawberry slush ribbon and sentiment, and Daffodil Delight background.

The ribbon was actually quite easy to place, and I covered the overlap at the bottom with some of the leaves.

The Flower Shop stamp set and punch make these flowers so easy to make!  

The flower in the center doesn't give much space to write on the inside of the card, but I love the dimensions and the effect with the flower's layers.

Please enjoy!

Christmas in July 17

I certainly didn't plan it but this worked out very well!  One of my very favorite card designs to get us over hump day!

The only thing on this card that's not a retired product is the Cherry Cobbler seam binding wrapped around the card, and tied into a double bow (using the bow maker my dad made).  Oh! - and the Gumball Green ink. :)

This has to be one of my very favorite card designs for Christmas....  it's clean, and simple..  so so pretty!
I used my Nestabilities to cut the mat pieces, and the stocking punch with the coordinating stamp set.  Gotta love those Christmas stockings!   Glitter paper, and rhinestones give this card some sparkle.

My latest project has been to un-mount all my stamp wheels.  I got the bright idea to use it on this Merry Christmas stamp which I use so often!  I'm really happy I did it - now it fits in the case with my other favorite Christmas stamps.

I hope you enjoy today's card!

Flowers and Alcohol Inks!

Three weekends ago I was at the CKC Scrapbook Convention.

In my Card Maker magazine, I've been carefully reading and re-reading the Copic Coloring tutorials they've published, and I've tried the techniques with my Stampin' Up markers so far - It's worked pretty well, but I decided it was finally time to break into the alcohol based markers.

One thing...  $6 for ONE Copic marker??  334 markers??  That's $1,986 not including taxes, and shipping!  Sorry, but that's just too much for me.

While I was at the show, I saw another brand of alcohol markers:  Spectrum Noir.  I did a make-and-take using the markers, and LOVED them!  I already knew the shading techniques, and just had some questions for the 'leader'.

I didn't buy the entire set, but got the base sets, and will add the 4 I'm missing as I go - just need the Pastels, Lights, Brights, and Darks to complete the collection.  I have an awesome selection now, so I'm not feeling "deprived" of colors to use.

That said, here are the two cards I made using my new Spectrum Noir markers!

I used a Stampin' Up Sizzlits die behind the card on the left, and the Spellbinders dies on both cards - one for the sentiment, and the other for the flower and frame cut-outs.

I'm definitely having a GREAT time with these markers!  They blend so well, and really coordinate to get the look you want.

THANKS to my friend Dee on the advise to keep the flowers white... after I had worked the background a little, the white from the cardstock background really seemed to glow!  It's too bad you can't really see the vase - the blues were really pretty!!  Next time! :)


Your comments are always appreciated!

2012 Christmas Card Challenge - June!!

 I can't believe the year is passing us by so quickly!!!  Here we are, already in June, and my thoughts are never far away from Christmas!  I've even got Christmas music playing in the background as I write this post.  :) While I made this month's cards, I realized I've already got 36 cards made!  That's the entire amount we sent out last year... so this year, I'll have even more to send!  I'm so excited!

I am so happy to report that two very talented ladies joined me for the May Challenge!  Hope to see your submissions again this month, girls!!  I hope some more people will join me as well.  (Tell you a secret..... I already wrote up a list of ideas for next year!!!!)

Whenever Mom wanted us to do something around the house, and we didn't move fast enough for her, she would always say,  "Christmas is coming!".  Well, it sure is!  Here we are, half the year already gone.

Our theme for June is.....  PUNCHES!!!
You can use your Stampin' Up punches, EK Success, etc.  ANY punches will do to make a Christmas card.  Don't have any punches you say??  I understand!  I started with my Cricut.  You can also use cuts from the Cricut - there are so many great carts out there!

The basic rules are the same, create 6 Christmas cards based on the theme of the month, take a photo showing all 6, and enter it into the linky from your blog or website.  **Don't have a blog of your own??  1.  You could start one.... or 2. contact me, and I have a solution for that issue.

Click HERE for the original post including the (very easy and straightforward) rules to the Challenge.

Get your cards made, and entered into the Linky below by the 20th!!! Can't wait to see what you've made! Put mine to shame, I'm sure!

 

 I CASE'D this card from another Stampin' Up demonstrator, Melinda Pasqual - It was SO cute!!!  I did make lots of changes, but the original idea was hers.
I am using the new "Be of Good Cheer" DSP, and Gumball Green cardstock and ink to stamp the sentiment. 

 Here you can see the other cards to make a total of 6 for the month.

Your comments are always appreciated!

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Heartfelt Creations Design Team Submission Pieces

I was selected as a finalist for the Heartfelt Creations Design Team just two weeks or so ago. These are the cards I submitted for the DT call. We find out very soon who is selected - I hope I make the team and if not, I'll still use their stamps - they really are amazing!!

Mom loves irises so I took the large background stamp and the oval to make this piece using the Spellbinder Die to cut the iris pieces behind the popped pieces.


Here's a view of the same card from the side so you can see the dimensional aspect of the card.

Dimension in extreme close-up! I sent these cards in so I've stamped more of the iris pieces to make one of these to send home. It's an involved piece, so I'll take pics and write up a tutorial.


I really like Shasta Daisies, so I had some fun playing with the Daisy stamps and Daisy Spellbinders Die.


Here are the daisies in full summer-bloom colors!


I just had to make something for Christmas since I'm always happy when that time of the year comes around. It's been pretty chilly here the last few days - really puts me in the mood!

Here's another holly piece using the stamps and dies together.



Your comments are always appreciated!

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Study of an Iris - Layers and Layers!

I bought this stamp and Nestabilities die set at the CKC show in August and have been playing with it for awhile now. Some of the samples they had at the show were completely stunning!

Here's a completed Iris piece in yellows. I stamped 6 images and ended up using 5 of them for this piece. I used burnishing on the base to give it a blue background... the colored the irises and greenery with my Stampin' Up markers. Gotta LOVE those Stampin' Up Dimensionals! They really help keep the layers separate.

Here's another view of the same piece from the "bottom".


Here it is all finished - So Saffron paper as the background - another Heartfelt Creations Nestabilities die behind it in purples to compliment the yellow. The top piece is a Cuttlebug die and a Stampin' Up retired stamp for the sentiment. I really like purples and yellows together.
It's difficult to see, but I sprayed the iris piece with some yellow Glimmer Mist to help it glow. Unfortunately, you can only see this in person.


Here's the card again from the side. Now to figure out how to get all those layers in an envelope! :)

Your comments are always appreciated!

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Color Obsession!!! Oh NO!

So I was playing a game over on Facebook the other day and I kept hitting the bonus round! When it started, to move you into the new window, a screen-like piece closed and opened into the new area. The colors were AMAZING!!! I couldn't believe the bright, beautiful colors! I wrote them down, and stamped the colors from my SU pads as close to match what I saw.

I find myself obsessed with these colors lately! The combination is so pretty... Here they are:
Melon Mambo
Tempting Turquoise
Daffodil Delight
Lovely Lilac (retired)
Peach Parfait

Aren't they an amazing combination of colors??



Here I was playing with them... thought they'd make delicious ice cream treats!


Here's a finished card using the above image.




Here are Baby Wipe Butterflies (check out the Lime Light Design Team link below or on the right) using the same colors.



Your comments are always appreciated!

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2011 Calendars; Part 1 of 3 - and a Blog Hop!!

Here are the first 4 months of 2011; Jan., Feb., Mar., and April - These calendars have become an annual project for Mom and me. It takes us about a week to get all 20 of these calendars assembled though I start cutting and organizing in October. I've even got an awesome organizational system to keep everything straight.

We used lots of techniques with these calendars! Each calendar page (except October) uses a stamp wheel based on the theme of the month.

January's calendar consists of cuts from 3 cartridges: Designer's Calendar, Wild Card, and Celebrate with Flourish. We used Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist, Nestabilities, and Martha Stewart's newest snowflake punch. January includes snowflakes with Versamark ink on the background.


February's Calendar has cuts from 2 cartridges, Designer's Calendar, and Love Struck. The double heart punch is a Martha Stewart edge punch, and the background is inked in Versamark with the Candy Hearts wheel. When we had this finished, it just seemed to need something, so we added a bow to each calendar... then it was just right!


March's calendar page is cut with Designer's Calendar. The medallion is edged with a Martha Stewart PATP punch set. Since the bluebonnets bloom in Texas in March, I just has to use one of my newest Kitchen Sink Stamp sets - Bluebonnets! The background Versamarked image is a Stampin' Up wheel; called Field of Daisies.


April's calendar uses 2 catridges; Designer's Calendar, and Celebrate with Flourish. Isn't that the cutest Easter Basket? I stamped the Chocolate Bunnies with my Stampin' Up stamp in Chocolate Chip ink, and took a bite out of his ear with my Nestabilities scalloped punch. The background is inked with an Easter Egg wheel. Can you see them?

BLOG HOP!!!
Stay tuned for a very special Blog Hop - coming soon! More information as it becomes available.

Your comments are always appreciated!

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Hot Chocolate and a Chat KSC #29

The Kitchen Sink Crew Challenge for the beginning of October is Monochromatic! I'm totally all over that! I work very often in monochromatic tones, and the new set I got in the mail yesterday was PERFECT for this challenge!

I used Makiko's technique of sponging the edges on the Nestabilities piece.
For the hot chocolate, I used the following colors; 1. Desert Sand, 2. Pearl Beige off 1x, 3. Rich Cocoa off 1x, and for step 4, I inked the bottom with Rich Cocoa, and the top with Moonlight White Brilliance.

That Moonlight White really makes the top look like whipped cream!!

The cookies were stamped like this; 1. Desert Sand, 2. Rich Cocoa off 1x, and 3. Moonlight White off 1x so they would look frosted.

The peppermint stick; 1. Moonlight White Brilliance, 2. Rhubarb Stalk, 3. Ladybug Red.

The background is from the "Once Upon A Time" DCWV stack.


Your comments are always appreciated!

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Cards for Soldiers 7/24 to 8/14/2010

I signed up for 20 cards for this particular challenge since things are getting busy again around here! :)

For the first card, I embossed the light purple cardstock with the Romance folder, and inked it with both Lovely Lilac, and Elegant Eggplant ink.
The white cut is a Nestability - Lattice. Once I had them cut and embossed then I got out my Stencil collection chalks, and added some color.

I used the Lyrical Letters cartridge to cut out the I Love You's - 3 times... white, pink, and red, layered them with foam, and added red stickles on the heart.



This Love You also comes from the Lyrical Letters cartridge cut 3 times as above. I embossed the white background cardstock with the Candy Hearts folder, sprayed it with Tattered Angels glimmer mist, and then inked the edges twice with Pretty in Pink and Pixie Pink Stampin' Up inks.


Your comments are always appreciated!

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