2013 January Christmas- Three Challenges in One!

Hi Stampers!!

I have been busy at work again this week and wanted to take time this weekend to create the remaining six cards for my January “commitment” for the SplitcoaststampersCCC13 Christmas Card Challenge ( I have committed to 20 per month:-)).

  

After I had already created my first two Christmas cards for the Splitcoaststampers CCC13 Challenge, I realized that the theme for January is to use non-traditional colors.  With that in mind for my last set for January, I decided to use the colors from this week’s Pals Paper Arts PPA150 Color Challenge long with the Freshly Made FMS67 Sketch Challenge.  I love both of these challenge sites and the Design Team Samples along with all of the other submissions show how many interpretations can be made with a specified challenge

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To create this card:

Print the images from Beautiful Season and More Merry Messages using My Digital Studio (MDS) onto Whisper White cardstock (I mirrored the image to reverse the chickadee).  I love using MDS to create "hybrid" cards :-)

Color the berries using a Stampin’ Write Melon Mambo marker and the chickadee and leaves using the Gray Watercolor Pencil.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Oval Framelits™ to cut out the chickadee image and also cut an oval from Basic Black and Melon Mambo cardstock (cutting these two in half lengthwise to layer behind the focal image).

Use the Big Shot™ with the Fancy Fan Textured Impressions™  Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Basic Gray cardstock .  Also with the Big Shot™, cut pieces of Whisper White cardstock with the Large Scallop Edgelit™  and Northern Frost Decorative Strip.   Emboss the scalloped pieces with the Delicate Designs Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (2 pieces per card) and “pop” out two snowflakes per card.

Added a third snowflake to cover up the sentiment "error" :-)

Layer the embossed Basic Gray with a strip of Melon Mambo Designer Series Paper (from the DSP Stack) along with the two lace borders onto Basic Black cardstock. 

** HINT** I cut the ovals from the Basic Black background layer and covered it with Basic Gray, Melon Mambo and embossed lace panels (no one will be the wiser plus it helps eliminate some of the weight of the card).

Add the two strips of 5/8” Basic Black Satin Ribbon.  Adhere the Oval focal image and sentiment using Stampin’ Dimensionals. 

Stamp Sets:  None- MDS Beautiful Season, MDS More Merry Messages

Ink: Printer Ink-Black, Stampin’ Write Markers- Melon Mambo,  Watercolor Pencil- Gray

Paper: Whisper White, Basic Gray, Melon Mambo DSP from the Brights Designer Series Pack

Accessories:  Big Shot™,  Fancy Fan and Delicate Designs (Lace)Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders,  Oval  Framelits™, Northern Frost Decorative Trim, Large Scallop Edgelit™, 1” Square Punch (for banner points), Pearls, 5/8” Basic Black Satin Ribbon (retired)

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you like this non-traditional color Christmas card! 

Have a wonderful Monday and stop back soon- I will be posting another card using an upcoming Sale-A-Bration set!

2013 Christmas- Card #2

Hi Stampers!

Happy New Year!!  I hope all of you had a wonderful, safe New Year!!

 I had a chance to create a few more Christmas Cards for the CCC13Splitcoaststampers Christmas Card Challenge using the colors from this week’s The Friday Mashup FM90 Challenge.  I was able to create eight of these cards and now with my previous post,  am off to a good start towards my goal of twenty per month :-)  The first card, I distressed a bit and sponged to "age" the paper and the other seven were "clean"- I decided with the time that it took to distress , I preferred the "clean" look  :-)

This card is another “hybrid” card- the images are digital but the coloring and other elements are “traditional” :-)

To create this card:

Using My Digital Studio (MDS), print out the skater image from Winter Post and the sentiment from Wishes and Greetings using Black Printer Ink onto Whisper White cardstock.

Color the images with a Stampin’ Write marker in Pool Party and Midnight Muse.  Punch the image out using a 2 ½” XL Circle Punch.  Punch out another circle using Midnight Muse cardstock and cut in half to layer behind the focal image.

Adhere the focal image onto a Whisper White Tea Lace Doily and attach the ½” Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon bow.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Folder to emboss a piece of Pool Party and Midnight Muse Cardstock.  Cut both pieces in half and adhere to a piece of Whisper White cardstock.   Add a piece of the ½” Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon to hide the seam and adhere the doily focal image to the front of the card.

With the Big Shot™ and the Northern Frost Decorative Strip die cut out the snowflakes from Whisper White cardstock.

Punch out the sentiment using the XL Oval Punch and also punch two pieces from Midnight Muse cardstock to layer behind the sentiment.  Mount to the card front along with the snowflakes using Mini Glue Dots.  Add the Rhinestones to the center of the snowflakes to finish off the card.

First card- created with distressing, sponging 

Stamp Sets:  None- My Digital Studio- Winter Post, Wishes and Greetings  

 Ink: None- Printer Ink, Stampin’ Write Markers- Midnight Muse, Pool Party

Cardstock: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pool Party, Midnight Muse

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Folder, Northern Frost Decorative Strip, Whisper White Tea Lace Doily, ½” Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon, XL Oval Punch, 2 ½” Circle Punch, Rhinestones

Thanks again for stopping by and I hope you have a wonderful week!

Christmas 2013- Cards for the New Year

Hi Again Stampers!!

I am ashamed to say that I did not create enough Christmas cards in 2012 to mail any at all (only hand delivery) so I am going to be more dedicated in 2013!! 

This card was created for the Splitcoaststampers Christmas Card CCC13 Challenge using the colors from this week’s CQC169 ColourQ Challenge.  I was able to create six cards (I decided that my goal of twenty cards per month will be easier to attain if I create smaller batches of different designs) so I will be sharing Christmas cards every week or so throughout the year to be able to make my goal :-)

  

To create this  “hybrid card”- part digital using traditional elements as well:

Print the skate image using the My Digital Studio (MDS) Winter Memories download (six to a page with black printer ink) along with the MDS sentiment from More Merry Messages (in red printer ink). 

Color the skate image using Stampin’ Write markers in Real Red, Pear Pizzazz and Bermuda Bay (both retired In-Colors).  Use a Watercolor Pencil in Gray to highlight the skate laces, heal and blades.

Use the Big Shot™ to emboss a piece of Basic Gray DSP (I used a retired Hostess Pack) and Pear Pizzazz cardstock with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.  Lightly sand the Basic Gray DSP layer to expose the white core.

Emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock using the Delicate Designs (Lace)Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder .  Layer the Pear Pizzazz onto the Lace Embossed border and a strip of Whisper White at the top.  Adhere to the embossed Basic Gray layer and mount onto the Whisper White card base. 

Cut the skate images out using the Big Shot™ with Oval Framelits™ and cut a second oval image out of Basic Gray (cut this oval in half and layer behind the skate image).  Adhere the layered oval onto a White Tea Lace Paper Doily and add to the card front.

Add the 5/8” Real Red Satin Ribbon bow along with the sentiment banner to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  None- MDS Winter Memories, MDS More Merry Messages

Ink: Printer Ink-Black, Red; Stampin’ Write Markers- Real Red, Pear Pizzazz, Bermuda Bay, Watercolor Pencil- Gray

Paper: Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Basic Gray DSP (retired Hostess Level I Pack)

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Lacy Brocade and Delicate Designs (Lace)Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders,  Oval Framelits™, White Tea Lace Paper Doily, Sanding Block, 1” Square Punch (for banner points), 5/8” Real Red Satin Ribbon (retired)

Thanks again for stopping by- have a wonderful New Year!

True Blue Sympathy for Men of Honor

Hi Stampers!!

This month has been one of joyous occasions as well as one of saying goodbye to loved ones.  I found out that one of my uncles passed away (he lives far away from me and I have not seen him in approx. 15 years or more) plus there were two other funerals I attended within the last week for men who were influential in my life as well as others. 

With the flurry of work and Christmas, I had not had the chance to create special sympathy cards for any of the families who lost loved ones, so this weekend I finally had a chance to spend time in my craft room...

I wanted to create masculine sympathy cards and chose to incorporate the SU- Only SUO61 True Blue Color Challenge into the theme of the cards.  I also wanted to use one of the new sets from the 2013 Spring Mini catalog and  I was not aware at the time of designing these cards that the one gentleman who has passed into the arms of Jesus loved the beach and spent vacations there with his family every year –plus the verse in the sentiment was mentioned as one of his favorites at the funeral.   It is truly amazing how the Lord leads you without you even knowing it at the time :-) 

Panel Close-Up 

To create the basic elements for these cards:

The basic panel design was created by brayering ink onto four pieces of Whisper White cardstock- first Bashful Blue, then Marina Mist and finally Tempting Turquoise.  You do not have to be perfect with this step, in fact, the brayered colors on the cardstock will appear a bit contemporary with some of the hard edges showing but do not despair- you will not notice this once the card is finished :-)

Stamp the images using Midnight Muse Classic Ink and punch out the images with the 1 ¼” Square Punch (use the ¾” Circle Punch to punch out the Nantucket anchor image).  You will not be able to fit the entire images into the punched area, so chose the areas that appeal to you:-)

Card #1

With the Color Spritzer Tool and a Midnight Muse Stampin’ Write marker, spritz the images to add a bit if distressing.  Layer onto squares punched from Midnight Muse cardstock with the 1 3/8” Square Punch.   

Card #1- Distress the edges of the Midnight Muse with the Distressing Tool.  Layer onto Whisper White cardstock and again onto Tempting Turquoise.  Add the sentiment layer at the bottom and knotted Hemp Twine with the circular image in the middle.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Woodgrain Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder to emboss a piece of Whisper White and Midnight Muse cardstock.  Layer onto Tempting Turquoise and adhere the focal image to finish off the card.

Card #2

Card #2- Use the same steps as in Card #1, except use a piece of Whisper White embossed with the Herringbone Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (this was already embossed in my scraps).  

Layer a piece of Tempting Turquoise behind the sentiment layer (cut with the Big Shot™ and the Labels Collection Framelits™ ).

A few more punched elements behind the Nantucket image adds additional interest.

Card #3

Card #3- Again the same steps but the Woodgrain folder with Whisper White panel is mounted onto Tempting Turquoise and again onto Whisper White- the sentiment is directly stamped on this Whisper White layer.

Once distressed a bit with Sponge Daubers, the Color Spritzer Tool and the Nantucket stamp, layer the entire card onto Midnight Muse cardstock before adding the Whisper White card base.

Card #4

Card #4- I used the fish and coral images only and added the Nantucket stamp onto those panels.

The sentiment banner was created with the 1' Square Punch for the banner points and the Hemp Twine was noted and wrapped around the edges.

 Add the Woodgrain and Square Lattice embossed panels along with the Circle Brad in the center to finish off the card. 

Stamp Sets: By the Tide, Blessings from Heaven

Ink:  Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, Midnight Muse, Tempting Turquoise

Paper: Whisper White,  Midnight Muse, Tempting Turquoise

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Labels Collection Framelits™, Textured Impressions™ Embossing  Folders- Woodgrain, Herringbone, Square Lattice,  1” Square Punch (for  sentiment banner), 1 ¼” and 1 3/8” Square Punch,  Color Spritzer Tool, Sponge Daubers,  Hemp Twine (retired), Circle Brads (retired)

I hope you like these cards- I am not sure which one I like the best.  My husband likes card#1 - if you have the time, let me know which one you prefer (if any :-))  

Thanks again for stopping by and I hope all of you have a great (safe) week celebrating our New Year! 

If you have a chance, stop by again soon - I will be sharing a Christmas card for 2013 in my next post!

Happy Birthday Darling!!

Hi Stampers!!

I wanted to share the birthday card that I created for my wonderful husband using the Splitcoaststampers’ SC416 Sketch Challenge.  

I love him so much and not only is he the best husband in the world, he is also my best friend !!  We have a lot to celebrate this year since our 30th Anniversary is approaching in a little over a week! 

We love to watch birds so I chose one of my favorite stamp sets, Nature Walk and included a few sneak peeks of items in the upcoming Spring Mini catalog and Sale-A-Bration catalog.   

To create this card:

De-static a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Embossing Buddy®.  Stamp the bird image and sentiment using Versamark™ink, apply Early Espresso Stampin’ Emboss® Embossing Powder and heat with the Heat Tool.

Once cooled, carefully color the bird image  with Watercolor Pencils (take care not to rub off the embossing powder with the point of the pencil) and cut towards the tail.   Use the 2 ½” XL Circle Punch to punch out the bird (fold the tail back a bit to not punch off the tail).

Lightly sponge the edges around the circle with Crumb Cake, Soft Suede and Early Espresso Classic Ink.  Use the Color Spritzer Tool with the Early Espresso Stampin’ Write Marker to add a bit of distressing.

Punch another circle from Early Espresso cardstock to cut in half and layer behind the bird image.

Use the Big Shot™ to emboss a piece of Not Quite Navy Designer Series Stack Paper (DSP)  with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and a piece of Soft Suede DSP with the new Honeycomb Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder (sneak peak- available with the new Spring Mini Catalog).  Lightly sand both embossed panels to expose the white core of the DSP.

Adhere the Not Quite Navy panel to Early Espresso cardstock and the Soft Suede strip.  Add the 5/8” Early Espresso Satin Ribbon to the edges of the Soft Suede layer.

Use the Big Shot™ with the Adorning Accents Edgelits™ to cut the edge of a piece of Cajun Craze DSP and emboss with the matching Adorning Accents Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.  Cut the edges off to layer behind the main piece on the sides and adhere to the card with Stampin’ Dimensionals®.   A bit difficult to see this layer but it is a bit staggered behind the bird image :-)

Add the bird image, the 5/8” Early Espresso Satin bow and the embossed sentiment (sneak peek at a SAB set) to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: Nature Walk, Feeling Sentimental (upcoming SAB set)

Ink: Versamark™, Classic Ink- Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Soft Suede , Stampin’ Write Marker- Early Espresso

Paper: Whisper White, Designer Series Stack Paper – Cajun Craze, Not Quite Navy and Soft Suede

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Adorning Accents Edgelit™, Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders- Lacy Brocade, Adorning Accents and Honeycomb, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® Early Espresso Embossing Powder, Watercolor Pencils,  1” Square Punch (for  sentiment banner), 2 ½” XL Circle Punch,  Color Spritzer Tool, Sponge Daubers, 5/8” Early Espresso Satin Ribbon (retired)

Praying that this card is masculine enough for my hubby - he knows that I love stain ribbon and hopefully the bow will not be too “girly” for him :-) 

Thanks again for stopping by- have a great weekend and I should be able to share a few more cards with you this weekend!

Merry Christmas 2012 !

Merry Christmas!!!

Praying that all of you have a wonderful Christmas with your family and friends!!  Here on the East Coast we were surprised by a brief snowstorm (which caused our candlelight services to be cancelled) but we will have a White Christmas and a very special day with family remembering the birth of our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.  

I apologize for being absent from posting for a few weeks- I have been preparing for our Awana Christmas party as well as shopping for family :-)  I plan to share a few more last minute Christmas cards later this week so if you have the time, stop back for a visit :-)

This Clean and Simple (CAS) card could not be any simplier- one sentiment stamp, the Embossing Buddy®, the Heat Tool, Silver Embossing Powder and ribbon from my stash. Pop up with a few dimensionals and you are done!!

Quick, simple and very easy to re-create!  

When I chose the colors and technique, I had two challenges in mind- the Splitcoaststamper’sCC406 Color Challenge – Colorless Christmas in memory of Newton, CT and TheFM89 Friday Mashup CAS with Heat Embossing Challenge.   If you have the time to visit these sites, leave them some "love" and better yet, come join in on the fun!

Stamp Sets: More Merry Messages

Ink: Versamark™

Paper: Whisper White

Accessories:  Embossing Buddy®, Heat Tool, Stampin’ Emboss® Silver Embossing Powder, Fancy Ribbon from my stash

Again, quick, simple but a bit difficult to photograph! All of the shimmery silver is difficult to see but it is sparkly in real life! 

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope you like this card and have a great time creating your own bits of art this week!    Merry Christmas!!  

Lacy Snowflakes- Two Challenges in One!

Hi Stampers!

Another week has passed by and I am thankful I could spend time in my craft room!!  I decided to create another Christmas card using this week’s CQC166 ColourQ’s Challenge, and since it is monochromatic, it also qualifies for the HSSCC147 Hand Stamped Sentiments Monochromatic Challenge.  If you have the time to visit the Challenge sites, again, each site provides such inspiration and it is amazing how the themes and colors can be interpreted in so many different ways!  I just love our craft :-)!!

This card utilizes heat embossing- do not be intimidated by your heat gun:-)  The initial steps will allow you to create four separate cards – a great way to maximize your stamping time!

To create this card:

De-static a piece of Midnight Muse, Tempting Turquoise and Pacific Point with the Embossing Buddy®.  Stamp each of the four snowflake images using Versamark™ ink onto each piece of cardstock and heat emboss with White Stampin’ Emboss® Embossing Powder.

Once cooled, punch the images out using the  1 ¼” Square Punch and layer onto Cool Caribbean cardstock.  Use the paper trimmer to trim around the squares and repeat the layering/trimming process again using Midnight Muse cardstock.

Use the Big Shot™ to emboss a piece of Whisper White cardstock with the Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder.  Attach the 3/8” Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon strip and mount the background panel onto Midnight Muse cardstock.  

Adhere the snowflake squares with SU! Dimensionals™, add the stamped sentiment banner, rhinestones and triple ribbon bow to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets: More Merry Messages, Lace Snowflakes (retired)

Ink: Versamark™, Midnight Muse

Paper: Whisper White, Midnight Muse, Pacific Point, Tempting Turquoise, Cool Caribbean (retired)

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Lacy Brocade Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folders, Heat Tool, Embossing Buddy®, Stampin’ Emboss® White Embossing Powder, 1 ¼” Square Punch, 3/8” Midnight Muse Stitched Satin Ribbon, Rhinestones

Thanks again for stopping by- I hope all of you have a blessed week and find some time to relax and create !

Garden Snowmen- Two Challenges in One!

Hi Stampers!        

                                                                                                       

I am still creating Christmas cards and decided to create one for this week’s PP124 Paper Player’s Theme Challengeusing the Splitcoaststampers CC404 Color Challenge (Early Espresso, Marina Mist and Cherry Cobbler).  

If you have not visited either site yet, check out the Design Team Samples and the other entries- such inspiration!

To create this Clean and Simple (CAS) card:

Use Early Espresso Classic Ink to stamp the snowman image onto Whisper White cardstock and color with Stampin’ Write markers.  Use an Aqua Painter to soften the colors and create the watercolor effect.  Cut the image using the Big Shot™ with a Circle Originals™ Die and cut another circle from Cherry Cobbler cardstock (to frame behind the circle die cut).

 Emboss a piece of Early Espresso Core’dinations cardstock using the Big Shot™ with the Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder and lightly sand the cardstock to expose the lighter core. 

Mount the embossed Core’dinations cardstock onto Cherry Cobbler, add the Marina Mist DSP layer to the lower half.  Add the satin ribbon band , mount the focal image with SU! Dimensionals™, add the satin ribbon bow and sentiment banner to finish off the card.

Stamp Sets:  Garden Snowmen,  MDS- Heard from the Heart

 Ink: Early Espresso, Printer Ink- Black, Stampin’ Write markers- Sahara Sand, Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Riding Hood Red, Soft Suede, Basic Gray, Crumb Cake, Certainly Celery

Paper:  Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Early Espresso Core’dinations, Marina Mist DSP

Accessories:  Big Shot™, Vintage Wallpaper Textured Impressions™ Embossing Folder, Originals™ 3½” Circle Die, Aqua Painter, Sanding Block, 5/8” Satin Ribbon (from my stash)

Thanks again for visiting!!  I hope all of you are having a great week!