Birthday for Someone Special

I have been having such a wonderful time with both of my children home for the holidays.  My youngest lives with us but usually is off with friends.  Since the oldest one is home from college I am getting to see more of both of them.  Tonight they both went off to see friends so I decided to go back in my room and work on a card I have had in my mind and hoped it would come out the way I pictured.  I think it did.

This card has a white base that I cut 5½” x 11”.  I wanted to do a double layer of punched edges on the flap with the verse so I decided to make it extra long to give me some room to play.  I used a Martha Stewart border punch on one end of the white card.  I cut a pink striped piece 5½” x 3”, once again giving myself a little extra to work with, and punched the left side with the same punch.  I layered the pink on top of the white, lining up the punched edges. 

The message is from the As You Graduate set from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I stamped it in maroon on white, then sponged a little ink around the edges.  I layered it on top of the pink piece, them scored the card where it should fold, making the verse centered on the flap.  I then measured 8½" from the fold, trimmed off the excess, and folded the left side in at 4¼ “.

I cut out a Spellbinder frame from the same pink striped cardstock, embossed it, and sponged on some of the maroon ink to bring out the design.  I then cut out another Spellbinder die from decorative paper, embossed it, and sponged the edges with ink.  I placed it on top of the piece of striped pink that cut out of the center of the frame and I tied a triple bow around it.  Then I adhered it back into the middle of the frame.  I added pink and maroon flowers with pearl centers and then added some pearls on both ends of the front flap with the verse.  Both the flowers and the bow help hold down the flap until you want it open.

Inside I added a little strip of the striped pink cardstock, punched with the same border punch, to the top center.  Then I stamped the message.  Believe it or not, both of my girls have birthdays on Dec. 30, so I wanted to make this card extra special.  Now back to my room to create another birthday card that will need to be just as special.

This card was entered into the following challenges:

Our Daily Bread Designs Stamping In Time:  On Assignment Challenge (SNTODBD24) - use a scripture and to make it the focal point of your card.

Aifactory Challenges - Anything Goes

Caardvarks - Create a monochromatic card

Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge(FTTC98) - Pearls
Simon Says Stamps Challenge - ANYTHING GOES

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - Get Embellishing

Totally Gorjuss Challenge 61 - For Someone Special
Allsorts Challenge Blog:  Free and Easy - Anything goes
Crafty Emma's:   Anything Goes

Stella

Just a quick one tonight ( or should I say Merry Christmas since it is actually Christmas morning).  I did some last minute shopping with my oldest daughter, who is home from college for the Holidays.  We don't get a lot of time together so we had a lot of fun.  She is the one that has always liked to "play" with me, so each evening she says, "Want to go play?"  Of course I said yes.  Tonight we were both a bit tired but tried anyhow.  She just finished an awesome card that I will post soon.  I decided to do a quick one, playing with some digital stamps I got.  I haven't used digital stamps much but have found some really cute ones at Bugaboo Stamps and have wanted to play with them.

This stamp is from their "More Stella Tidbits" collection called "Morning Smile."  I used my tombow markers to color her, layered the image onto two different shades of pink.  This is layered onto some darker purple that I embossed with one of my new Sizzix embossing folders, then ran Versamark ink over it, and layered onto the white card base.  I also printed out the message, cut it out with a Spellbinder die, and layered it on a pink, also cut out with a Spellbinder die.  Simple but very fun.  I have a few more of their digital stamps so might need to "play" some more.  My only problem was that the ink seemed to smear a bit with my markers.  Anyone making comments to this post that has used more digitals, please let me know if you have a recommendation.  I will need to check this out with my friend, Bonnie, who also sells digital stamps.

Have a wonderful Christmas!!  I better get to bed so I can enjoy mine. 

This card was entered in the following challenges:
Catch The Bug Challenge Blog -  project featuring a recipe or food "stamp"

Folded Ornament

We had planned a party with our stamp club last week, but due to bad weather we had to cancel.  BooHoo!!  We had all kinds of fun little ornament projects planned, along with food and fellowship – aahhh the best things in life!!  Well some of us were still in the partying mood the next day so we got together at my buddy Bev’s house and had a blast.  We shared the projects we had planned and she provided the best food.  I never go hungry at her house.  I have the best friends and cherish the times we get together and play.

My friend, April, shared this ornament idea.  It involved lots of folds on a piece of paper (I usually do pretty good with that kind of stuff but guess my kindergarteners had worn out my brain with all the activities on the last day of school before the holidays).  After much guidance from April, I did finally end up with this amazing ornament.  We added a tassel on the bottom and a beautiful bow/hanger on top.  Added some of that required Stickles and taadaa!!  Then we had to figure out where to hang them so they could dry.  Thank you, April, for sharing this awesome project.  Hey, check out her blog at http://stampwillydesigns.blogspot.com/ for some amazing cards and ideas.

This ornament was entered in the following challenges:

Flourishes Bring Back The Beautiful (BBB05) - create an accent piece for a table, a mantle, a decoration or any kind of home décor.

Crafty Pad Stamp Designs Challenge Blog #102 – ANYTHING GOES

Creative Inspiration Challenge # 49 – Anything Goes Christmas

The Pink Elephant -Winter Wonderland

Simon Says Stamps Challenge - ANYTHING GOES

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - Get Embellishing

May He Give You The Desire of Your Heart...

This card is using the same sketch as my previous post but with a different look and color.  No more blue!!   I wanted more of a Christmas look to this one so I used the ornament die from Spellbinders. 

 I stamped the verse from the As You Graduate set from Our Daily Bread Designs.  Then I cut out the top portion of it with the ornament die.  I layered this on top of some decorative paper cut out with a larger ornament die.  I ran gold around the edge of each of these layers.  Under the ornament is white cardstock run through an embossing folder.  I added Stickles glitter on top of the embossed image, using the red wherever there were berries.  This is then layered on gold, with the bottom of the gold paper punched with snowflakes using a Martha Stewart border punch.  This is all placed on a white card base.  I embellished this with snowflakes cut out with a Spellbinder die and also punched with two different Martha Stewart punches.  I added Stickles glitter to these, along with a red star jewel.

This card was entered in the following challenges:

Our Daily Bread - ODBDSLC42:  We Three Kings...Choose three of these items to use on your card: gold, silver, blue, red, snowflakes, ornament, Our Daily Bread Designs stamps.  I chose red, gold, and ornament (ok, I had to use snowflakds and ODBD stamps, too).

Our Daily Bread Designs Stamping In Time:  On Assignment Challenge (SNTODBD24) - use a scripture and to make it the focal point of your card.

Aifactory Challenges - Anything Goes

Crafty Pad Stamp Designs Challenge Blog #102 – Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamps Challenge - ANYTHING GOES

Sketches In Thyme Challenge – Sketch

 

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - Get Embellishing

The Shabby Tea Room Challenge Week #41 - 'Scandinavian Christmas' using this gorgeous inspiration photo (I was inspired by the red and white and the snowflakes).

Craft Your Passion Challenge #37 - Christmas Card
Creative Inspiration Challenge #49 - Anything Goes Christmas

Dutch Dare Card Challenge DDCC#93 – Winter
Stamping Vacation:  Color Combo Challenge - Red and Gold

Scene in Blue

I decided I wasn’t going to make one more card in blue this month, but then I had this great idea and just couldn’t help it. 

I am once again using the great scene from the As You Graduate set from Our Daily Bread Designs.  I glued aluminum foil onto a piece of chip board.  Then I added alcohol inks in 3 different shades of blue.  After it dried I stamped the image in black on top.  I trimmed it up and layered it onto a piece of silver paper.  This is layered onto white cardstock that I embossed with a folder.  It is kind of hard to see the design, but it is the one with circles with trees in the center of the circles.  This is also layered on top of silver paper, then on to the white card base.  I added a decorative border cut out using a border die from Heartfelt Creations and the same silver paper.  I used a spellbinder die to cut out the butterfly from the same foil paper I used for the image.  Because the chipboard was so thick, the design in the wings did not cut out completely, leaving more of an embossed look.  I rubbed a little bit of silver metallic rub-on around the edges of the wings and pop dotted it to the card.

This is being entered in the following challenges:

Our Daily Bread - ODBDSLC42:  We Three Kings...Choose three of these items to use on your card: gold, silver, blue, red, snowflakes, ornament, Our Daily Bread Designs stamps.  I chose silver, blue, and ODBD stamps.

Aifactory Challenges - Anything Goes

Crafts and Me Challenges #20 - Anything Goes

Crafty Pad Stamp Designs Challenge Blog #102 – Anything Goes

Simon Says Stamps Challenge - ANYTHING GOES

Sketches In Thyme Challenge – Sketch

Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #90:  TREEmendous! - create a
card or project that has a TREE on it

Top Tip Tuesday Challenge - Get Embellishing
Stamping Vacation: Animal Applause Challenge -Anything with an Antennae

Oh Holy Night

This card was made using one of my favorite stamps from Impression Obsession, Oh Holy Night (L4191).  This is partly because that is my favorite Christmas song, but also because of the wonderful Christmas story it portrays.

I sponged various distress inks on white glossy cardstock, taking into consideration the design of the stamp.  Then I stamped the image in dark brown.  I trimmed around the image, leaving a small border, then used popdots to adhere it to a piece of dark green cardstock that I punched around with another one of my new Martha Stewart borders.  This was layered on a piece of light brown paper with gold glitter spots, then onto the deep red card base.

I added some holly leaves, popped up over the leaves from the stamped image.  I made the holly leaves by running some cardstock through my zyron, then sticking it to a piece of smoothed out aluminum foil.  I added a light and dark green alchohol ink to the foil side to give it a two-tone look.  After it dried, I punched out the leaves, shaped them and added them with glue dots.  I used small red jewels for the berrie and a yellow jewel for the candle flame by the Holy Night saying.  I used some red Smooch to color in the letters of the word “Holy” and added a little gold smooch around the halos in the picture.  The star charm and an angel charm were rubbed with gold metallic rub-on.  The star charm was placed on top of the star in the stamped image amd the angel was placed in the corner.

I really liked how this card came out and I think I might try a few more of these to give out this year.  I really like my cards to share the story of Christ’s birth and God’s love for each one of us.

I hope that each one of you that read my blog will have a truly blessed Christmas and feel God’s love throughout the year.

This card was entered in the following challenges:

Impression Obsession - All That Glistens Is Not Gold (Use metal on your card)

AiFactory Challenge - Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge – Christmas Inspired
Creative Inspirations Challenge #49 – Anything Goes Christmas
Flutter By Wednesday's Challenge #135 - Anything Goes (with Angel)

Ooh La La Challenge #69 - Nativity Scene
Stamping Vacation:  Inspiration Station Challenge

Snowglobe

For the first time since starting to make my Christmas cards, I am making an assortment to send rather than  50 of the same one.  This has been a bit more challenging but lots of fun.  One thing that has helped me is to try to use a similar color scheme (can you guess mine?) so you can have most of your supplies in front of you.  Also, I try to punch/diecut a lot of similar pieces so once I set up the basic design, I can just add lots of the extras from what is sitting there.  This is a card I have been wanting to make ever since I received my new stamp set from Our Daily Bread.  It was perfect for this.  Hopefully you don't mind a little blue again.

I outlined/cut the snowglobe and base with my Cricut Expression using MTC and stippled blue around the edges.   I used foam tape to mount it over the stamped image, then layered on dark blue.  This is layered onto some decorative paper (sorry do not know who's).  At the bottom of the paper it reads "A Time To Gather".  I wanted this to show because with the image it just reminded me of going to visit family for Christmas and driving at night with the snow coming down.  The decorative paper is layered onto more dark cardstock the had been embossed with a Cuttlebug Folder and then white Stazon ink rubbed over it  This is all mounted onto the white card base.

The image in the globe was made by sponging different blue layers of ink on white cardstock, then stamping the beautiful image in dark blue over it.  I used it to behind the snowglobe to make a small shaker pocket filled with punched white snowflakes and white mini glass beads.

Here is a second view so maybe you can see it better.

Most of the snowflakes are cut from Spellbinder dies in blue and white, layered, and popdotted to the front.  I added some snowflake jewels to the centers.  I also added glitter to the snowflakes and the white embossing to give it some sparkle.  This really added.

You can't see this real clear, but this snowflake is a metal embellishment that I purchased several years ago at Michael's.  I sponged a little white Stazon on the edges and added a pearl to the middle.  I also added small pearls to the middle of some of the other snowflakes on the embossed background of the card.

This card is entered in the following challenges:
Our Daily Bread Designs Blog (ODBDSL41) – Inspirations - my card was inspired by these two pictures

Our Daily Bread Designs Stamping In Time: On Assignment Challenge (SNTODBD23) - Christmas Cards
Paper Pretties - Punches

Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Christmas but no red or green
AiFactory Challenge - Holiday/Christmas
Caardvarks - Monochromatic Card
Catch The Bug Challenge - Winter Wonderland/lots of sparkle and glitter
Crafts and Me Challenges #19 – Moody Blues
Ellephantastic Challenge #21 – Christmas/Winter
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge #72 – Non-Traditional Christmas Colors
Lexis Creations Challenge #29 – Glitter and Pearls
Stamptacular Sunday Challenge #89 – Winter Wishes/Winter Scene
Totally Gorjuss Challenge 60 – Snow
Top Tip Tuesday Challenge – Christmas Inspired
Stamping Vacation:  Monochromatic Creations Challenge - Blues
Stamping Vacation:  Pick 3 Challenge - (Snowflake, Glitter, Stipple)
Stamping Vacation: Name That Card Challenge - Snowy Christmas Wishes
Stamping Vacation:  Occasion Oasis Challenge - Christmas Morning

Creative Inspirations Challenge #49 – Anything Goes Christmas
The Pink Elephant -Winter Wonderland

Christmas Candles

Ok, this will be a quicky since I have been trying to do this all night.  My camera broke so I tried to take pictures with my new laptop, that is still giving me grief, and finally used my phone to take pictures.  Sorry if these aren't the greatest but this is the best I could get.

I found these adorable candles in a 4-pack at A.C. Moores for very cheap.  They come in 3 different scents/colors but I chose the green because they smelled the best.  They aren't really Christmas scents but still pretty good for the price.  I decided they would be perfect for little gifts, or even for the table centerpieces.  Actually for any home decor.  They just needed some decorations added. 

The poinsettia on this one was made from 2 different size Martha Stewart flower punches.  I punched them out of red cardstock, then sponged a bit of brown around the edges, which really just looked like a darker red.  I added some little yellow jewels to the center.

This picture did not come out as good as I like to show off the tag.  I used a sizzix die to punch out the ornament.  Then I embossed it with a Sizzix embossing folder.  Next I used a punch to create the angel circle.  I added adhesive behind the angel and covered it from the front with red glitter.  The top of the ornament is colored with silver smooch.  The leaves and pine on the bow are also from MS punches.





Here is a little closer look at the angel.  Hoped you could see the glitter and embossing a little better.





I entered these in the following challenges:
The Cuttlebug Spot - Favorite Embossing
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (FTTC96) - 3D Holiday Gifts
Flourishes Bring Back The Beautiful (BBB05) - create an accent piece for a table, a mantle, a decoration or any kind of home décor.
Crafty Cardmakers - Spotlight on tags
Flutter By Wednesday #134 - Anything goes
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge - Anything but a card
Paper Pretties Challenge - Punches
Top Tip Tuesday - Use Ribbon

Creative Inspirations Challenge #49 – Anything Goes Christmas

A Gift for You

While I was playing in my craft room this afternoon, I was thinking about ornaments.  Even though we have moved just over a year ago, we still have tons to go through.  Last year I didn't even try to find my ornaments and actually just bought some cheapies from Big Lots and put them on.  They actually didn't look too bad.  We still haven't been able to find most of the ornaments.  I think they were the last thing loaded on the truck and the first thing unloaded into the basement and buried behind everything else.  We bought a real tree last year but decided to put up our very lovely fake tree this year to save a bit of money.  My husband found the box and brought it upstairs to put together.  Alas, the top of the tree is missing.  It must be in another box.  Grrrrrrr!!  Guess we will buy a tree.

Now back to the ornaments.  I was thinking about making some and remembered one I had made years ago.  I decided to try to make it again (it took a bit to remember how it went) and add it to a card.

The front layer on the card is from a Spellbinder die.  I didn't think I really needed this one but it was on clearance at one of the stores and my friend said I really should get it.  Glad I listened to her.  I added pearls to the middle of the poinsettia and added decorative corners to the top from a Spellbinder die made exclusively for Heartfelt Creations.  This is all layered on a 2nd layer of white punched around with my newest Martha Stewart corner/border punch.  It is really pretty.  This is layered onto the white card base.  I cut out the window throughout all the front layers, then embossed the back of the card with a new embossing folder. 

The ornament is made by stamping onto small white squares of paper.  I used the snowflake medallion stamp from Sparkle and Sprinkle and stamped both sides of the squares with denim blue Adirondek ink.  I think this is my favorite blue ink.  Then I did an origami fold on each square, punched the front corner with a decorative corner punch that I have had forever and love how it comes out.  NO!!  It is not from Martha Stewart.  You glue each square to the next ( I did 8 squares) and then add small squares of cardstock on each end, inserting ribbon inbetween. 

Then you tie the ornament closed. (I will try to do a better description of how to make this ornament later on, for those of you that have not done one of these.)

I attached a loop of ribbon at the top of the die opening so I could tie the ornament on and let it hang.  The when you give this away, the lucky person getting your awesome work can untie it and open it up, tie a bow to hold it open, and either hang it back on the card or even on their tree.  This is so simple, but makes a very elegant gift. 

When my oldest daughter was younger and I wasn't working, I went to her class and taught them all how to do this and they gave them to their parents for Christmas.  If you don't want to stamp paper, you can also use decorative paper, but it really needs to be two-sided.  Paper also works better than cardstock.  The cardstock is too stiff.


I have entered this card/ornament in the following challenges:
Catch the Bug Blog - Bugaboo Anything Goes
Craft Your Passion Challenge #35 - Anything Goes
The Cuttlebug Spot - Christmas Cards with your favorite embossing technique
Flourishes Winter White Challenge - All white with a little pop of color
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (FTTC96) - 3D Holiday Gifts
Fussy and Fancy Friday Challenge Week 25 - Anything but a card
Incy Wincy Designs Challenge 71 - Tree Decoration or Christmas Ornament
Paper Pretties Challenge - Punches
The Shabby Tea Room Week #39: Tis The Season - Holiday Gift Item/Gift Set
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - Christmas, but no red or green
Top Tip Tuesday - Use Ribbon on your creation
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Ribbon and Bows
Sparkle N Sprinkle: December's Card Contest - Winter Theme Card
AiFactory Challenge #60 - Holiday/Christmas
Stamping Vacation: Name That Card Challenge - Snowy Christmas Wishes

A Balanced Diet - Cookies

One more project for my local club is a recipe exchange.  We put these on a 6 x 6 inch square.  This month's theme is "cookies".

I finally got to use this great decorative paper I bought when we first started this swap.  I used a white cardstock base and added a layer of deep pink with the edges sponged with brown.  I then used a square of my special paper, layered on dark brown cardstock, and also sponged the edges with brown.  I picked a new recipe that I just found that sounds awesom.  I printed it in brown on the deep pink cardstock and cut it out with a spellbinder die.  Once again I sponged the edges with brown and adhered it to the front right.

I sponged brown ink onto tan cardstock, then stamped the cookie in dark brown.  I cut these out and added them to the bottom left. 

On the top left I added a special sticker I had also purchased and patiently waited for just the right recipe to use it with.





I entered this card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Challenge - It's Sketch Time

Catch The Bug Challenge: Bugaboo Anything Goes
Top Tip Tuesday:  Tip #12 - Anything Goes Challenge

Still Thankful

I was kind of busy and running late in getting my card swaps in for my local club.  November's theme was orange/brown/Thanksgiving.  I decided to pull out a JustRite stamp that I had been wanting to use.  I stamped it in orange on tan paper.  I cut it out with a die from Nellie Snellen, then sponged orange ink around the edges.  I layered this on a dark brown die (also Nellie Snellen).  I punched holes around the dark brown diecut to give it a doily look.

The base card is tan, with a dark brown layer.  I added orange decorative paper to the to half and brown embossed cardstock on the bottom half.  I inked the embossed design with versamark to bring out the design.  I adhered the "doily" and image to the bottom left side and added ribbon and a diecut with the word Thanks on the bottom right.  I added some brown chrystals on the upper right.

I entered this card in the following challenges:
Paper Cutz Challenge #70 - Make a card using 2 kinds of patterned paper and any colors you'd like
Top Tip Tuesday:  Tip #12 - Anything Goes Challenge
Catch The Bug Challenge: Bugaboo Anything Goes
Whoopsi Daisy Challenge - Ribbons and Bows
Flourishes Timeless Tuesday Challenge (FTTC95) - Doilies
Paper Pretties Wednesday Challenge #130 - Sketch