Christmas Card

Here are a few cards I made for Christmas. I just LOVE these images. Supplies are as follows:
Stamps: Winter Wonderland Kit (don't remember who makes it; got it last year)
Paper: SU
Markers: Copics
Accessories: SU ribbon, Star Dust Stickles, Sparkly Fluff (got from CHA-no brand listed on container), CB Snow Dots EF








Stickles were used on the snowballs, snowdrifts and ground. The fluff was used on mittens, the little ball on the end of the caps and the band on the little girl's hat. You probably can't tell, but the sparkly fluff really makes it. This was the first time I used my new Copics Sketch Markers. What do you think?

Surprises!

I was so excited to see find some things in the mail recently! Let me begin by the great little package I received from my friend, Olga. Just look at all the cute things she sent. I love, love, love it! Thanks so much!


Then there were a couple of handmade birthday cards received from ladies I've never met! Aren't they cute?



Thanks to all of you who are so gracious to take the time to make someone else's day...me!!

Shelby's Cards

I decided to put Shelby's cards on a separate post.


Recipe:
Stamps: Flourishes Drummer Boy
Paper: Real Red, White
Ink: Memento Black, Pretty in Pink
Accessories: Bold Bright Markers, CB Textile EF, foam tape, sponge for shading

Don't know if you can tell, but there is light PIP sponging along the edges of the main image for a softer look.

Although all of her cards are done well, I thought she did an excellent job on this one; but I'm so partial to the aging and distressing looks.


Recipe:
Stamps: Flourishes Drummer Boy
Paper: Creamy Caramel, Close to Cocoa, Chocolate Chip, Naturals Ivory
Ink: Memento Black, Creamy Caramel
Accessories: CB Distressed Stripes, Earth Elements Markers, foam dots

The EF went well with the Creamy Caramel aging sponged on the main image. This is my favorite of all she made.

Here is the last one. (I sure hope the recipients do not check this blog because I'm sure she wants these to be a surprise; but she wanted me to put them on it anyway.)

Recipe:
Stamps: SU Snowflake Spot
Paper: Cool Caribbean, White
Ink: Tempting Turquoise Craft
Accessories: Clear EP, CB Snow Dots EF, Circle Nesties, foam dots

My Time with Shelby

Shelby came to visit with us this weekend and we had so much fun. She is the sweetest granddaughter in the world!! (We're on the parade route and it was so cold and windy. I NEVER wear a hood.)


She made several things. As usual, I showed her how to do something new. This time it was embossing with pigment ink and embossing powders. She did a great job! First off, she began making some peppermint treat bags for some of her friends.


Recipe:
Stamps: SU Snowflake Spot
Paper: Real Red, White, Silver
Ink: White craft
Accessories: White EP, SU Ornament Punch, Labels 1 Nestabilities, Foam dots

After filling the little bags, staple a large red Labels 1 piece on it. Place the next smaller Labels 1 white piece over it attaching it with double sided tape to hide the staple. Emboss a snowflake in white on a piece of Real Red cardstock. Punch out with SU's new Ornament punch (I love this punch!!). Using the ornament punch, I took some scrap silver paper and punched out just the top part. Trimming it if necessary to fit the red ornament already punched, I used some liquid glue to attach it. Raise the ornament with a foam dot and put on to complete.


This one is a close-up of the first one she made, but then decided she wanted to go red and white.

She, also, made snowman cupcakes and wanted to share these with you, too. The head is made with a large marshmallow on top of the already iced cupcake, iced, and decorated. She had so much fun doing these.



Here she is holding one that is decorated only with the gel icing. She's the prettiest thing, don't you agree?

Thanksgiving Treats

I made a couple of things for my parents that I thought they might enjoy. Being hard to buy and do for, I try to make little things along the way I think they might like...fingers crossed here! This is for Thanksgiving.

I decorated an SU box that I recently got. These boxes are real good quality and hold a good bit. This is the first time I've tried the cracked glass technique and really liked it. I will be doing more and hopefully they will get better each time I do it. This is my first time to do the Cracked Glass technique.


Stamps: Lovely as a Tree, Graceful Words (SU ret.)
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Close to Cocoa
Ink: Close to Cocoa and More Mustard, Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie for sponging on tree, White Craft for distressing the tag, Ranger Walnut Stain for "cracking", Versamark, Gold Encore
Accessories: Suze Weinberg's UTEE, Gold EP, Oval and Scallop Nestabilities, MS Butterfly and Leaf Punch, Basic Grey Copper Opaline Pearls, foam tape, heat gun
Technique: Cracked Glass

After stamping the main image in Close to Cocoa, I used fall colors (listed above) to sponge the tree. I then took Old Olive and lightly sponged around the image. Cut out using the Oval Nestabilities.

TIP: I always do my stamping before I cut them with the Nestabilities. I find if I emboss the edges first (which I do most of the time) that my image has a complete impression and doesn't show a "hiccup" at the border. There's no correct way, it's just the way I do it.

I pressed my Versamark onto the main panel real good then sprinkled the UTEE over it.

ANOTHER TIP: Use a tray or something with edges when using UTEE before applying the heat gun. This is where it can get out of hand if you don't. Trust me, I know...don't ask!! (Let's just say I'm still finding UTEE all over my workspace.) Insert a blushy grin here.

Slowly...and I do say slowly...heat the EP until it melts. Do not rush the melting NOR put your heat gun too close to the powder until it begins to melt. While it is still wet, pour more UTEE over it and repeat the process. I don't know if there is a magical number of times to do this, but I stopped at this point. Then I placed it into the freezer for 15 minutes. While it is still cold, start bending the panel until you get as many "cracks" as you want in it. This is the fun part of the technique! Now take the Walnut Stain and run all over the panel. It will sink down into the cracks and resist the "glass" part.

The Banner: Emboss "blessings" in gold using gold EP on a piece of Naturals Ivory scrap. Sponge some Close to Cocoa all over it. This can be done first or after embossing. Rub the White Craft ink over this piece to give it a more aged appearance. Take scrap pieces of Chocolate Chip and Close to Cocoa cardstock and punch out the butterflies and leaves. Place them on the banner. Add the pearls for a dressy but not girly touch. Add foam tape in three places on the back; place it in such a way to make it appear as though it has a little movement to the top of the box.

Wah-lah!! You're done. I placed some mixed nuts in the box. I mean, what man doesn't love nuts, huh? It's kinda like chocolate and women. Okay, we both have our vices...

For the next little gift, I made a cone of chocolate kisses with a cute little tag. It is simple and I think you can follow it okay. I'm not as pleased with this as I'd like to be. My recipient loves Kisses and you can't find fall colored kisses where I live, except for Halloween, which has all been cleared off the shelf. So I elected to go ahead with these and use Christmas Kisses. I used PTI's Fall Elegance stamps for the tag and my scalloped rectangle Nesties.


And lastly, here are the little placecards I made for our small family. I thought it would be good to have words describing this "thankful" season instead of names. I used PTI's beautiful Fall Elegance set which fit perfectly inside the Spellbinders Fancy Tags. I saw this basic idea here. (Thanks Kimberly!) These are real easy but a little time consuming...at least more than I anticipated but I love the end result. I only decorated the front of the clip so it would stand up at an angle.



Stamps: PTI Fall Elegance
Ink: Always Artichoke ink and marker
Paper: Pumpkin Spice, Naturals Ivory, Old Olive scrap piece
Accessories: Oval Nestabilities and Spellbinders Fancy Tags Die, MS Leaf Punch, Copper Stickles, Pumpkin Ribbon (Hobby Lobby), Large Dimensional Glue Dot, Medium Binder Clip, double sided tape, adhesive

Cut a Fancy Tag from the NI cardstock. Stamp the words in the center of them. Place a dot of the Copper Stickles at the points and set aside to dry. Cut 5 ovals from PP cardstock. Go around the edges with the AA marker and fold them in half. Place a piece of DS tape on each side and lay one on top of the other. When finished you will have a circle that will make the "pumpkin". Punch out 3 leaves from OO cardstock. Cut an 8" piece of ribbon. Now you're ready to assemble.

I found it better to go ahead and tie the ribbon on the clip first. Apply a little glue to the leaves and add to the back of the pumpkin. Place the large dimensional glue dot on the front of the clip then press the pumpkin into it and hold just a second. Be sure that it doesn't fall below the bottom of the clip or it will not stand properly. You want it to be at a small angle so you can read it without picking it up. Add the tag to the top of the clip. If you have any questions, please feel free to let me know.

More Stamp Camp Pics

Here are a few more pictures from the Stamp Camp outlined in the post below.






Hope you enjoy looking at these great projects today and yesterday, even half as much as I did making them! What do you think?

Projects at Stamp Camp

Here are some of the projects that we did at Faith's Stamp Camp last month. It was a barrel of fun and totally non-stop!! I'd have never believed that I could have stamped from 7:00 in the morning until after midnight both nights with very little stopping. It was soooo much fun. Sweet Faith had tons of projects for us to do...2 at a table, mind you. Then there was our frenzy on the last day. I didn't get around to doing all of them so they are not shown. I plan to do them later. I quit counting at 55!!! Thanks, everyone, for very nice projects! I learned several new techniques and tried some I've not ventured out to do. I'll always treasure our newfound friendship.






Does this look like fun or what??

Pleased with the Elegance

These cards are for a couple of challenges. One for CC243 and the other for Stamping B's Christmas card challenge. Though the sketch was not a challenge, I used the same layout for both cards: one in white and the other in ivory. The poinsettia was cut out using Spellbinders Poinsettia Nesties on vellum. After embossing each layer, I turned the die over and stenciled Ruby Red on it using a sponge. This gave it a soft color yet still delicate. The first one uses Clear Dew Drops, Silver HPH, and delicate tiny Kaiser pearls. A glue dot was used to adhere the top layer of the poinsettia to the second (underneath the Dew Drops so it wouldn't show) and foam tape was used to connect that piece to the bottom layer. It doesn't show at all.


Stamps: SU Fancy Flexible Phrases (ret.)
Paper: White, Vellum
Ink: Ruby Red
Accessories: Silver cord, Silver HPH with silver brads, Poinsettia Nesties, Textile EF, Clear Dew Drops, mini glue dots and foam tape.

The second one was a little more vintage looking using ivory cardstock. Small rectangle Nesties were used to cut out the sentiment. Basic Grey Opaline Copper pearls were used in the center of the flower and top corner of the sentiment piece.


Stamps: SU Fancy Flexible Phrases (ret.)
Paper: Ivory, Vellum
Ink: Ruby Red
Accessories: Poinsettia and Rectangle Nesties, Basic Grey Opaline Pearls, Dark Chocolate Satin Ribbon (unk.), mini glue dots and foam tape

Which do you like??

New MS Punch

I ran across this Martha Stewart Thanksgiving punch the other day at Mike's at 66% off with the Halloween stuff. Don't know why it would be on sale, this holiday hasn't got here yet. But to my advantage, I still needed a couple more cards to complete my Thanksgiving mailouts! So, I grabbed that baby up and flew to the checkout before they realized they made a mistake. I think I probably need to use it with solid paper/cardstock instead of designer paper, but I'm happy with the way it turned out.


Stamps: PTI Fall Elegance
Paper: Cameo Coral, Mellow Moss, Black, Basic Grey Porcelain Papers
Ink: Memento Black
Accessories: MS Thanksgiving punch, Dotted Swiss EF, Grosgrain ribbon, foam tape

Let me know what you think?

FTL66

When doing this sketch challenge, I had to do something Thanksgiving-y. I could just see leaves falling all around. So I pulled out my PTI Fall Elegance set and begin to put it all together. I stamped the background leaves then overstamped it with the SU Linen stamp (one of my all time fave's). I turned the sketch to the side.


Stamps: PTI Fall Elegance, SU Linen (ret.)
Paper: Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Black
Ink: Ruby Red, Mellow Moss, Memento Black
Accessories: Scissors for distressing the edges, Olive Green Organdy (SU ret.), foam tape

What do you think?

Fun, Frenzy, and Friends=Stamping Retreat

What a great weekend! Last weekend I attended Faith's Stamping Retreat at Stehpen Foster FCC State Park (that's a mouthful to say the least). Once that thing got kicked off it didn't stop until breakfast 2 days later. Friday and Saturday nights we stayed until midnight or after having the most stamping fun you could have. I stopped counting projects at 60! Yep, there were a few more. I don't know how in the world Faith had time to pull so many together. Having two projects to each table to do (with the exception of only a couple of 'em), we were loaded with new ideas and pretty cards and projects to take away. Not only that, we got a very pretty tote when we signed in. I LOVE it! It has a true bottom and pockets on both sides.

I now have friends from many states having shared fun stamping times together. Here are some pictures taken of the retreat. I tried to get everyone and hopefully did. (If for some reason someone is left out, I apologize greatly!!! It was not intentional.) More individual pictures will be posted on SCS, too.

For pictures of the park, go to our other blog to see the write up and slide.

A Couple of New Posts

I made a few cards the other day and thought I could write a 2-3 posts Monday so I could publish them separately but that just didn't work like I thought. For my posts today, please look at the first one, "It's Snowing Somewhere" and "Are You At Peace?" with the lamb and the lion about the 5th one down. Sorry this didn't turn out quite like I expected. But at least I learned something: write only when you're ready to post, ha! Thanks for looking!

It's Snowing Somewhere

I loved making this card! It's simple and natural all in one. I cased this from Kristen Moore's card found here. I used a snowflake punch instead of a stamp, different stamp set and added some designer paper. I trimmed the snowflakes where they went over the edge of the Kraft layer.



Stamps: SU's It's Snow Time
Paper: Real Red, Kraft, White (for the snowflakes), Real Red 6x6 DSP
Ink: Memento Black
Accessories: MS Snowflake Punch, SU Red Rhinestone Brads, 7/8" Red Grosgrain Ribbon

Hope you like it. What do you think?

Special Time With Friends

This is for someone special to me. Though her card making skills are higher than mine, she nevers makes you feel you aren't as good as her. Her humor is great and she's so much fun to be around. I'm not an elaborate card maker and can't really explain my style. I love shabby but I also love clean, crisp and simple. It seems contradictory, huh? So, maybe I'm Simply Shabby?? Who knows? This card fits the Clean and Simple FTL65 Challenge found here. I hope she likes it.

Front:

Inside:


Stamps: SU's Time Well Spent
Paper: Real Red, White
Ink: Real Red and Real Red marker
Accessories: 7/8" Red Grosgrain, SU Scallop punch, Dotted Swiss EF, MS Butterfly punch, Kaiser pearls, Foam adhesive

For My Sweetie

I wanted to make something special for my hubby and I ran across this sentiment from Verve and knew it was what I wanted. This is for Crazy 4 Cards sketch challenge C4C7 found here. The sentiment reads "If you live to be 100 I hope I live to be 100 minus one day so I NEVER have to live without you. - Winnie the Pooh"

I used SU's In Colors from last year and unknown fibers. Silver HPH was used on small circle Nestabilites die. I used the largest Octagon die so I had to cut apart another one to get the "layer" behind the sentiment panel.


Stamps: Verve's Beautiful You
Ink: Blue Bayou
Paper: River Rock, Blue Bayou, Wild Wasabi, Porcelain Prints (ret.)
Accessories: Octagon and small Circle Nestabilities, Silver HPH, unknown fiber, Foam adhesive

I'm interested in what you think...like it?

Dance and Have Fun

This card uses SU's In Colors from last year. I don't know why I've put off using them, but I love them. It's now too late to do anything about it but relish in the things I do have with them. I'm such a saver! I have tons of stuff and can hardly cut loose and use them. The sentiment reads "Every day brings a chance for you to draw in a breath, kick off your shoes, and dance.-Oprah Winfrey" I took the piece of the circle that was cut off the front and added it to the inside to make it cohesive.

Here's the link to the challenge. And here's my card ...



Stamps: SU's French Script, Linen, Verve's Beautiful You
Paper: River Rock, Very Vanilla, Blue Bayou, Porcelain Prints (ret.)
Ink: Blue Bayou, Saraha Sand (shadow on sentiment piece)
Accessories: Circle and Rectangle Nestabilities, Sponge for shadowing, Foam adhesive

Do you like it?

Are You At Peace?

I wanted this card to have the emphasis on the image and sentiment so I didn't add a lot. Just wanted it to speak for itself. What do you think?



Stamps: SU Peace Be Unto You
Paper: Purchased card base, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla
Ink: Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Lattice Borderbilities (Spellbinders), Twine, Foam adhesive

Precious Gift

For some reason, I'm just loving me some red, white, and black! Seems I can't get enough lately. And with Christmas around the corner, who knows? Maybe more than even I realize. They just make such a clean statement to me. Anyway ... back to the card ...



Stamps: SU (don't remember the set)
Paper: White, Real Red, Basic Black, Real Red DSP
Ink: Real Red
Accessories: Black Kaiser pearls, MS butterfly punch, red and black grosgrain ribbons, Oval Nesties (cut and embossed), foam tape for dimension.

Is it too plain? Let me know what you think?

A Touch of Sparkle

I'm not sure why I decided to do the challenge with these color choices. Maybe to me it WAS a challenge. I'm not sure I've ever used Bravo Burgundy before so I used it on a few of the flowers to keep it from overpowering the image. This card fit two challenges, CC241 (SCS Color Challenge) and WSC103 (Beate's) on Splitcoast. I don't think you can see but the Stickles flower centers adds just the right touch with these fancy Spellbinders die cuts.



Stamps: Thoughts & Prayers
Paper: Cameo Coral, Always Artichoke, AA DSP, Very Vanilla
Accessories: Always Artichoke, Cameo Coral, Bravo Burgundy SU markers, Textile EF, Octagon Nestabilities, Fleur de Lis Shapeabilities

I hope you like it. What do you think?

Fun Afternoon

I had a little bit of time to make a couple of cards today. Hope you can see these okay as the pictures were taken inside our camper (it was raining outside-yep, with the sun shining). The first one is for challenges NoTimeToStamp108 using the colors (black and kraft) and SC250 for the sketch. Each layer was distressed with my scissors. The leaf panel was in the Fall Elegance set stamped with Sahara Sand multiple times. It was placed on black, both being punched with the ticket punch by SU and raised with foam adhesive. The owl image panels were sponged with Sahara Sand as well and raised before placing on the black panels.


Stamps: PTI Wise Owl, Fall Elegance
Paper: Naturals Ivory, Kraft, Black, unk DSP
Ink: Memento Black, Sahara Sand
Accessories: Dimensionals, sponge, scissors for distressing the edges

The second one was for Card Positioning Systems (CPS137) Challenge sketch and CC240 Color Challenge to use Taken with Teal, Chocolate Chip and Apricot Appeal on SCS. I have limited supplies with me but I did have Apricot Appeal brads. Though it's just a touch, it does meet the challenge requirement. The card base is Ivory embossed with the Textile Cuttlebug Folder. A strip of Parisian Breeze Speciality Paper was layered on Taken with Teal. The large Damask Design of PTI's Damask Designs Set is the focal image. It was cut and embossed using the two largest Labels I Nestabilities. An Apricot Appeal brad was placed in the center. This panel was raised with foam adhesive.


Stamps: PTI Damask Designs
Paper: Ivory, Parisian Breeze (chocolate), Taken with Teal
Ink: Taken with Teal
Accessories: Textile EF, Apricot Appeal brad, Labels I Nestabilities, foam adhesive

World Card Making Day

I was out of pocket most of the day Saturday, the real World Card Making Day, but was able to come up with a few. I may still do a couple more of them just not submit as an official WCMD entry. Thank you for your comments!

My first card is for WCMD09A by Unity Stamps to use a quote as your main image. When I decided on this challenge distressing came to my mind. With the use of panels and square Nestabilities and neutral colors everything fell in place. This picture was taken outside and the wind was blowing. Between the card falling consistently and trying to keep it in place, it appears as though the ribbon is "off" but it's not. The ivory panel next to the Kraft card base was distressed and edged with Walnut Stain Distress Ink.


Paper: Kraft, Ivory, Black, Patterned Paper
Ink: Walnut Stain Distress Ink
Accessories: Square Nestabilities, River Rock (ret.) ribbon

The second card met a couple of challenges. One for Crafty Secret's challenge to use dimension and the second for SCS's challenge to use chocolate, thanks sentiment and a sketch.


Stamps: Verve's Beauty in Nature, Beautiful You
Ink: Baja Breeze, Blue Bajou
Paper: SU DSP (ret.), Baja Breeze, Chocolate Chip, Ivory, misc. patterned paper
Accessories: Rectangle Nestabilities, Small hole punch for corner circles, light blue Dew Drops, foam tape

The last card is for WCMD09J which is to use Pumpkin, Chocolate and Vanilla. I love my Nestabilities, any of them, and try to use them as much as possible. I stamped PTI Damask Designs in Pumpkin Pie on Pumpkin Pie, topped it with ret. satin Chocolate Chip ribbon. Ornamental image was raised on foam dots.


Stamps: PTI Damask Deisgns
Ink: Pumpkin Pie
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Chocolate Chip, Ivory
Accessories: Different Spellbinder shapes, Chocolate Chip ribbon, foam dots

I appreciate your comments and thank you for them.