Fun Cards 2

The Christmas cards have been made and mailed out. Hubs contributed to the process by writing the family letter and addressing cards for his side. My contribution was making the cards and addressing my side. I think I got the easier task! 

I love cardinals, I think they are gorgeous birds.  I had never seen one in person until visiting Hubs in Maryland. So I became obsessed with having a cardinal on this year's holiday card.  I am happy to say that 50 cardinals (made up of 7 pieces) later I still love cardinals!

I spent a lot of time with my punches in the construction of these cards. I started assembling the birds first, next the pine branches were punched out, then the sentiment panel was stamped, embossed and inked,next up the dry embossing strips, and finally the patterned papers and cardstock panels.  

There were originally two versions of the card, until I put together some of them with the wrong color combinations...now there are 4 versions.

Thanks for stopping, wishing you and your families the best of the holidays with a new year filled with health and happiness.

 /\  /\

(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

Fun Cards

 


















Our niece and nephews each get their own Christmas card separate from the family cards.  I had found some green and red and white patterned paper that I though would be fun for their cards. Patterned paper, stamps and dies from Hero Arts, sentiment from Stampendous, embossing folder from sizzix. 





Thanks for taking a peek.

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(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

Tags

I am so not ready for my holiday celebrations. I just barely got my Christmas cards mailed off, I will post them early next week. 

I decided to make some gift tags. I made two sets, one in Silver and one in Gold.  I used the curling ribbon because I love the nostalgic feel of it.  It really reminds me of my childhood Christmases.

I used patterned papers as the background on two of the tags, stamps used were from Hero Arts and Stampendous, Versamark embossing ink, and Stampendous embossing powders, the tags were from my LSS.

It is very difficult to show the lushness of the silver and gold embossing in the photographs. The tags are also big, 2.5 by 5 inches. I have some large pre-wrapped boxes they will compliment.

My favorites are the poinsettia tags. I stamped those in versamark, then embossed in either gold or silver, then sponged the flower centers with Barn Door distress ink.

Thanks so much for taking a look.  

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(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

Birthday, last of this year

My last birthday card of the year goes to my MIL. Pink is her favorite color, and she likes glitter as much as I do.  This is my first attempt at a telescoping card. I love how the card opens up and there is more and more to look at.

I used Bo Bunny papers, Copic Markers for coloring the glittered images, Starform flower outline stickers, glitter ritz in cool highlights, sookwang double sided tape sheets, doodlebug brads, JoAnn ribbon and several spellbinder dies. I enjoyed making this card, and I know my MIL loved the card too!

Thanks for stopping by.

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(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

Joy

Life is good.  Hubs is here with me in California for the Holidays.  We have been apart since October.  I am so happy to see him again.  We will be traveling back to the east coast after the holidays.

I have been crafting, but not getting blog posts done.  This holiday hanger I made for my MIL.  I thought she would enjoy the soft colors and the bit of bling in the middle. All shapes but the wreath were cut using my Cricut. Papers by S.E.I. Alpine Frost stack.

Thanks for stopping by.

 /\  /\

(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

Hello Snowflake

I love this snowflake stamp by Hero Arts.  I recently received a lovely card whose focal point design I scrap lifted.  You can see the original card here.  I love the 4 squares, they make such a bold statement. 

I decided only to emboss the stamp on the squares, not to add any inking.  I used a contrasting embossed sentiment at the bottom. This card went to my card-making friend here in California. We have been exchanging 1 card a month for about 14 months now.



Thanks for stopping by.
 /\  /\
(=';'=)
(")_(")~~Cat


Ink: Versa Mark
Stamp: Both Hero Arts, Stunning Snowflake and Live Life
Cardstock: Wausau
Embellishment: Recollections
Embossing: Recollections holographic and white
Card Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Happy Bee-Day

Two of my friends share  the same birthday.  So I was busy this weekend making birthday cards.  The first features Memory Box stamps, and some Bo-Bunny papers. 

The flowers were stamped twice, off-set.  The bees were stamped 3 times on the card panel and once above the sentiment.  Color was added with copics, and  I used a micron liner to add the bee trails.  A tiny bit of yellow paper for added contrast was used to mat the sentiment and above the stamp panel.

Thanks for stopping by.
 /\  /\
(=';'=)
(")_(")~~Cat


Ink: Versafine Onyx Black
Stamp: Memory box both: Dainty Flower and Happy Bee-Day
Marker: Copic, Micron
Cardstock: core’dinations pearlized, crafters companion white, recollections
Patterned Paper: Bo-Bunny
Card Size: 3.75 x 5.5

Happy Birthday in blue

Another birthday this week.  A simple stamped image, colored with copic markers, some stickles for a bit of sparkle. 

The sentiment was stamped then I used one of the Stampin' Up  Bitty Banners dies to cut out the sentiment, before I took the paper out of the die, I ran a blue Zig marker around the inner edge. I like the extra zing that gave the small sentiment.

Thanks for stopping by.
 /\  /\
(=';'=)
(")_(")~~Cat


Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Die: Bitty Banners, Stampin' Up
Stamp: Inkadinakdo
Marker: Copic, Zig
Cardstock: Wassau
Patterned Paper: Me & my big ideas
Embellishment: stickles
Card Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Noel

I went to another crop with my best scrapping buddy on Friday night.  She is amazing and puts together beautiful pages.  She packs up her stuff and brings it all.  I used to do that, but then I get hung up on what I didn’t bring and have a hard time finishing things.  So now I get my projects together, make my die cuts and pick out papers ahead of time.  When I get there I just have to put my projects together.  Much more relaxing for me.

I had lots and lots of projects this time.  I made 3 holiday hangers, 8 cards, and 6 scrapbook pages. I was pretty happy with them all.  Today I am sharing one of the holiday hangers I made.  It’s a little tough to photograph.  I used chipboard, and paper, some ribbon, and some pearls.  I love the modern look of the black and white graphic paper.  I made two of these and gave my buddy one, but only after she raved about it.  I had to make sure she liked it!


Thanks for stopping by.
 /\  /\
(=';'=)
(")_(")~~Cat

Die Cut...

I was so excited to get these die cuts from a card-making friend, but found once I pulled them out to play with -- I have no idea how to incorporate them.  So I decided to start slow with the negative portion of the die.  I inked it up, added some more of the gifted die cuts (clouds) and tried to put some subtle snow like drifts below the die.  I added a sentiment, and its done.  The more I look at it the more it grows on me.

Thanks for stopping by, Happy Friday.

 /\  /\

(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

Glitter Card Set

When I first started making cards, I thought it would only be a casual thing. I was a scrapbooker and I didn't want to invest in a lot of stamping supplies. (I'm not sure what happened, I am now surrounded by stamps, ink pads, punches, dies and embossing supplies.)  So I looked for free digital images online.  I found this one, but I have no idea who is the copyright holder of the image.  If anyone knows, please let me know so that I can give credit.

I made this set of note cards for a birthday gift, having recently found the colored images in a craft area reorganization.

The images were printed on cardstock, then colored with Copic markers. The centers have stickles dotting them. They are matted on glitter card cut with spellbinders. More matting on white, then added to a colored cardbase. Rounded corners and some twine finishes up the set.

I deliberately left them without sentiments.  I colored these images more than a year ago, I am glad to have finished the project.  Thanks for stopping by. 

 /\  /\

(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat 

Mojo Birthday

Hi, I used the Mojo Monday Sketch # 268, however I am not sharing it before the deadline to post and link it to the challenge.  It's going to another friend and former co-worker of mine that might take a peek at my blog now and again.  So her birthday is today, and she should have the card in hand by now. 

 

Thanks for taking a look.

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(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

Tuesday Trigger Frame by Frame

Another great inspiration photo for the
Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World.
Those (what look to be) crocheted frames 
are absolutely adorable and look remarkably like some spellbinder dies.  So that was my inspiration for this card.

 
Thanks for taking a look. 

 /\ /\

(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

CCC November Card at SOS

For the Card Chain Challenge I was lucky enough to land behind my card making on-line friend Maria whom I met through the Hero Arts Flickr group.  She had my name last month, so I was thrilled to be able to send her a card this month. 

I opened up my newest Penny Black stamp set.  I wanted to make a shaped card, so I broke out my spellbinders, cut three panels in white and 1 interior panel from patterned paper.

I inked the larger panel, leaving the die in place to provide a white edge and attached it to a plain white die cut panel which had been scored near the top for the card fold. 

The flower I chose was stamped 3 times with the die in place and colored with Copic markers.  I inked around my colored images again with the die in place.  Next I stamped the sentiment.  Lastly I added stickles in same shades as the colored images.  I let this all dry for 1 full day.  Then I assembled the card.

Thanks for stopping by.
 /\  /\
(=';'=)
(")_(")~~Cat

Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Die: Spellbinders
Stamp: Penny Black
Marker: Copic
Cardstock: Crafters Companion Smooth White
Embellishment: Stickles
Card Size:3.5”x4.5”

Yellow Birthday

One of my friends and former co-workers is having a birthday today.  Her favorite color like mine is yellow.  This was a fun card to make for me, because it screams sunshine. Fitting for these 70 degree California autumn days.

Stamped and embossed image, colored and enhanced with stickles.  Then I fussy cut it out.  I did not like the yellow against yellow, so I matted it and fussy cut again(ugh).  A matted bit of left over patterned paper, and a stamped & heat embossed front sentiment.  I know I would smile opening this card.

Thanks for stopping by.
 /\  /\
(=';'=)
(")_(")~~Cat


Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Stamp: Stampendous Narcissus, Stamps of Life Birthday
Marker: Copic Yr04, Y15, Yr07, Y11, Yr23
Cardstock: Crafters Companion White Smooth,  Card base- from stash
Patterned Paper: unknown scrap
Embellishment: stickles
Embossing: Recollections Clear
Card Size: 4.25”x5.5”

Congrats, Squares

Our nephew just started his first full time job, in his chosen career field, after obtaining his Bachelor’s degree earlier this year.  Hubs and I thought that deserved a card.  

I made this a simple “Guy” card with graphic shapes-the Squares background from Hero Arts was just perfect.  I stamped with Versamark and heat embossed in blue. Then cut it out along the diagonal so that I would have squares, instead of the diamond shapes produced by this stamp used in a traditional manner. I found a sticker sentiment that was perfect for this informal card. 

I hope he likes it, to make sure there might have been just a bit of green inside too!

Thanks for stopping by.

 /\  /\
(=';'=)
(")_(")~~Cat

Ink: Versamark
Stamp: Hero Arts CG453 Square Pattern
Cardstock: Recollections White
Embellishment: Doodlebug Sticker
Embossing: Blue Stampendous EP
Card Size: 4.25” x 5.4”

SOS Challenge 78 Leafing it up...

Another challenge card. Playing along with the Shopping our Stash challenge. The challenge is to use a leaf or many leaves. I pulled out my Heartfelt Creations leaves and Thanksgiving stamp from last year. I die cut several leaves with Spellbinders dies.  The top two were stamped, all leaves were colored randomly with Distress inks in  peeled paint, scattered straw, and barn door.

The sentiment was stamped, heat embossed, and inked with scattered straw.  A scalloped mat was cut with spellbinder dies. 1 simple gold gem and a bit of ribbon, and its done.  Have a very happy holiday for those of you in the US, and a very good autumn week for those not celebrating Thanksgiving.

Thanks for stopping by.

 /\  /\

(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

Thankful

I procrastinated making my Thanksgiving cards for family and friends...I had gotten a cute fall stamp set with a matching (I thought) wreath die. Its close, but I couldn't make it exact no matter how few or how many millimeters I moved it around the stamped image. Frustrating, I decided to go with it anyway. I found a lovely Thanksgiving poem for the inside. 

Next big project the Christmas cards...yikes...sadly they are not started yet...well glimmers of design are coming together. Thanks for stopping and have a lovely holiday for those celebrating Thanksgiving this week.

 /\  /\

(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

24 Hour Scramble

Hi Everyone, its been a busy 24+ hours of crafting.  I spent Friday scrap booking with my scrappin' bud and then participated in a 24 hour scramble over at the Hero Arts Flickr group.  There were twelve 90 minute scrambles starting every two hours on the half, with a 30 minute break between scrambles. Twelve hostesses provided the scramble theme at the start of the 90 minutes. At least one Hero Arts stamp is a must on these cards. Hero Arts provides the 12 winners each with a digi-stamp prize.

I hosted 1 of the twelve, and got to participate in 4 others.  Since the scramble started Friday afternoon for me, I wasn't able to participate until I got home at 11pm, one quick scramble then off to bed as I had hostess duties at 6:30 Saturday morning.

It has been a blast, and I am going to share my cards and each of the themes with you.  Hope you enjoy looking through the photos.

Scramble #4, theme use an edge punch

Next up the scramble I hosted #8.  My theme was to make a shaped card and have nothing white, off-white or cream showing. My sample card is below.  I randomly added red stickles to the stamped wreath.

Next up scramble # 9 right after mine, the theme was an animal of another color.  I have almost no animal stamps, insects yes...animals no.  Weird huh.  I found this cat in a set that was a freebie with a magazine subscription.  It was a TINY set.  This is a mini card, 3x4 inches.

Next scramble #10, theme was a color challenge, use only Red, Gold and Cream. I wish that gold embossing would photograph better for me.

Then scramble #11; the theme was to use 3 patterned papers. You could use stamps to create your own patterned paper.  I made two for this challenge, the polka dots was my first, but then I wondered if the 3 patterns were too similar.  I made another card, the stamped flowers are actually stamped on patterned paper.

  

And the last scramble #12, theme...Time

That is all. This is such a group of fun and talented ladies, it was definitely time well spent...Thanks for stopping by.

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(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

Stamp Love...

Hi! I have seen a few cards with this squares Hero Arts background stamp...and I am in love with this stamp.  I can see lots of uses.  I made two similar cards for my first inkings of this stamp. I used it as a diamond shape.  I am pleased with the outcomes. The stamps are heat embossed, they shine a bit IRL. Topaz colored gems are on the brown, and red glitter dots on the red.

The brown is my favorite, but the red is very close to my heart. Thanks for stopping by for a look.
 /\  /\
(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

Mojo Monday # 267

Hi.  I decided to try another Mojo Monday sketch challenge.  The sketch is interesting. There  are alot of elements, and I am using an A2 card base.  I decided to go with some patterned papers for the panels.  I switched things up a bit, because I put the center panel on the card upside down...then my sentiment stamp just needed to go in another direction.  I'm just gonna call it creative license!

Papers are DCVW, Image Stamp is Heartfelt Creations, sentiment stamp is Hero Arts, die is Spellbinders, flower is Sandylion, ribbon is Offray, punch is Martha Stewart, copics to color, memento ink for stamping, recollections clear embossing powder, and distress ink. 

Thanks for stopping by.

 /\  /\

(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

Fall Card

Hello! Here is a quick fall card I made for the heck of it.  I wanted to play with the Give Thanks stamp I picked up for a dollar!

All images are heat embossed, I love the feel of it on a card.  Thanks for taking a quick look. Have a great day!

 /\  /\

(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

Mono-Chrome Thanks

Hi!  Last Saturday I participated in another of my favorite scrambles at the  Hero Arts Flickr Group.  The challenge was to use at least 1 Hero Arts stamp, 1 background stamp, and an edge punch. I had about 45 minutes before I had to leave for another appointment, and so I dashed out this card. I have to say I am loving those Hero Arts mid-tone shadow inks.  My newest acquisition is Green Hills.

I am so excited this weekend the Hero Arts Flickr group will be having 24 HOURS of 90 minute scrambles with 30 minute breaks for commenting between.  That's 12 scrambles between 6:30 PM CST-USA on Friday the 16th and the last scramble starts on Saturday the 17th at 5:00 PM CST-USA. So many opportunities to come play along.  I'll be hosting at 8:30 CST-USA, and I have a fun theme. For details and all the hostesses and times follow this link. Hero Arts will be providing a digi-stamp as a prize to the winner of each scramble!  Thanks to Hannah for putting this together!

Thanks for stopping!

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(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat

When I was making my embossing folder tags, I came across this one.  It needed to be used.  I embossed it, added some pearls, some ribbon and a nice red sentiment.  

I can't seem to get away from that black, red and white palette. Thanks for stopping by.  

/\  /\

(=';'=)

(")_(")~~Cat