Modern Whimsy Birthday

Good morning friends and Happy New Year's Eve to you!  Do you celebrate big on New Year's Eve?  I'm so ready to lay low at this point that we usually don't do much, but we are going to go see a movie (The Secret Life of Walter Mitty) tonight.  Love Ben Stiller, so I'm looking forward to tonight!  Our youngest took me to see a great movie last night...Saving Mr. Banks.  If you're from the Mary Poppins generation (like me!) you will love this movie!  Didn't get great reviews and I don't understand why, as I thought it was SO good!  Anyway, whatever you end up doing tonight to celebrate, stay safe and enjoy! :0)

My niece is celebrating a birthday today, and for her card I used a style that Danielle Flanders introduced to us several weeks ago called Modern Whimsy.  I have to admit most times I'm not a very "modern" person, but I really do like this style of card making.  Take a look:

My niece is not a pink and flowery type person, so I thought this style (and colors) might work well for her.  This style is basically adding lots of layers and different elements.  I started with a kraft cs base and a 2" strip of vellum that I embossed the bottom edge of with PTI's "Boutique Borders: Thanks" die and stamp set.  I also die cut the word birthday out of the center of the vellum strip and then inset it with the same die cut using a swiss dot turquoise blue cs.  I added a couple more design paper banner strips behind the vellum strip, and then attached a red wreath die cut (PTI's Rustic Wreath) over the top of the banner strips.  When I trimmed down the width of the black and white flowered banner, the backside of the paper made a cool striped design, so I added a piece to both the bottom and the top of the card.  The "happy" is from PTI's "Embroidered Blooms" stamp set.  The flower at the top is also a PTI die and helped to balance out the card.  Here's a closer up view:

These are really fun cards to put together and I think I will be using more of this style...already have a few more ideas rolling around in my head! :0)  Well, that's all for today friends, but I will be back later this week with a card I'm working on for the newest Make it Monday challenge.  Until then, I'd like to wish each of you a very happy and blessed new year!  Thanks for stopping by! :0) 

Bright & Flowery Again!

Good morning friends.  Hope you all had a wonderful weekend.  It was nice to have a slower paced one here again, and the sunshine and temps in the upper 30's didn't hurt either!  Still haven't taken any Christmas decorations down yet, but probably will New Years day...ready for the house to be back to it's simpler state! :0)

Made a couple birthday cards this weekend, and it was nice to use bright and cheery colors again.  Maybe I shouldn't say "bright" colors, as this card is more pastel, but it isn't red & green! :0)  (Don't get me wrong as Christmas cards are a real favorite for me to make, but I'm glad to be making something else for awhile!)  Anyway, take a look at this pretty and pastel birthday card:

 
Of course the sunshine was on Saturday and I didn't finish this card til yesterday when there was no more sunshine, so the lighting isn't the best, but click on the picture to make it larger and you'll be able to see more of it.  I used a Darice ef and Pool Party cs on a white card base, and then used a Spellbinders Floral Oval die and white cs to build my card on.  I embossed the leaves in white with PTI's "Embroidered Blooms" stamp set, and then sponged around them with Pool Party ink.  I fussy cut out my flowers from the same set, using Pool Party, Wisteria Wonder, Lovely Lilac, and Almost Amethyst inks.  Here's a closer up view:

I also used some tiny white pearls to add to the centers of the smaller flowers.  I dyed a piece of seam binding ribbon with a Pool Party re-inker and then added a tag from PTI's "Tiny Tags" die and stamp set.  This card took a bit of time to make, but think it was well worth the effort, and that someone will enjoy receiving this on their special day! :0)

That's it for today, but I do have another birthday card to share with you tomorrow for my niece.  Thanks so much for stopping by today, and have a wonderful Monday!

Papertrey Ink's December 2013 Blog Hop

Hello friends.  Made some Christmas thank you cards today and just realized I could use this particular card for Papertrey Ink's December Blog Hop...to use string on your card.  I know my use isn't the most original, but I really like the CAS look of this card, so I'm adding it to all the other amazing (and more original) entries out there!  Take a look:

A simple white card base with a strip of kraft cs embossed with a woodgrain ef, and then a die cut Christmas tree (PTI) from musical paper (The Paper Studio).  I sponged the edges of the tree to give it a bit more definition and then attached a hemp string bow with a mini glue dot.  My "thank you" sentiment is from PTI's "Year of Flowers: Lily of the Valley".  I added 3 gold sequins to add a little bling and called it good. 

Thanks for stopping by...love it when you do! :0)

The Sounding Joy

Good morning friends.  Hope you all had a great weekend and are winding down with all your preparations and just enjoying all the wonderful moments of the season with your families and friends.  We had a great time with my husbands side of the family on Saturday evening, and will see my side unfortunately today for a funeral.  A hard time of year to lose someone, but my aunt lived a good life and we know she's celebrating Christmas with Jesus this year! 

Wanted to share a card I made for an order for my girlfriend using SU!'s set from a few years ago called "The Sounding Joy".  This is a tri-fold card, so a little bit different from your regular A-2 card.  Take a look:

A bit hard to photograph a card folded this way, but hopefully you can get the idea.  When the card lays flat and folded, the star covers the inside message.  I used Cranberry Crisp cs for the base, a cream colored cs (LSS) for the inside star and inside sentiment, and a gold cs (LSS) to layer the star, sentiment, and the right hand edge strip that I embossed with a holly embossing folder.  I used the largest stamp from SU!s "Flowering Flourishes" for the background of the inside.  If you click to enlarge the picture you'll be able to see a lot more of the design.  The card looks pretty simple at first glance, but there really are a lot of different elements that went into this card that make it special and I love how it turned out! :0)  (my girlfriend did too!)

Well time for me to get motating, so that's all for today.  Have a wonderful Monday and thanks so much for stopping by...love it when you do! 

Another Wonderful Blessing Card

Good morning friends.  Another quick post today (VERY behind!!), but wanted to share another card I made with SU!'s "Wonderful Blessing" stamp for all the ladies in my bible study group.  Take a look:

Make sure you click to enlarge the photo so you can see all the beautiful detail in this stamp.  I used SU!'s Night of Navy ink to stamp the image, and then cut out with a Spellbinders circle die and a scalloped circle die.  It's really hard to see in the photo, but I used a sparkly gel pen on some of the stars in the image and also gave it an overall spray of iridescent glimmer mist...IRL it really shimmers!  Here's a look at the inside:

 
I've had these doilies for forever and hardly ever use them, but they were sitting out for some reason, and it just hit me that it would make for a great inside with a sentiment stamped on it.  I used PTI's "Christmas Blessings" stamp set for the sentiment and think it fits just perfectly for the inside of this card! :0)

Thanks so much for stopping by today, and hope you all have a wonderful Friday and weekend!

Christmas Treat Box

Good morning friends.  Just a quick post today to share with you a little treat I made for my girlfriends for our get together last Friday.  I mean what is a party if you don't have chocolate and something pretty to wrap it up in?!!!  Take look:

I started with kraft cardstock and PTI's Pillow Box die and then decorated with scraps of design paper.  The top strip of design paper I used a MS bitty heart punch (enlarge picture to see better) that I thought added a nice element to the box.  I also used PTI's Fancy Flakes die to cut out my snowflake and tied a piece of cream colored seam binding ribbon through it to attach.  I finished with a little tag (SU!) with the sentiment from SU!, the background flourish from SU!'s "Priceless" stamp set, and a small holly from PTI's "Holly Jolly" die. 

These really went together quite quickly once I picked out my design paper and made a pretty presentation on my Christmas plates/table.  And like I said earlier, the best part is they contained chocolate! :0)

Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful Wednesday! :0)

More Tags

Good morning friends.  Hope you all had a great weekend?  I had a wonderful weekend with 2 Christmas get togethers...one with 3 of my girlfriends where we exchange ornaments and yesterday with my mom's side of the family and both were great times! :0)  Today, 2 of my daughters and I are going to finish up our Christmas shopping, so as long as the next round of snow holds off till later this afternoon, this will be another fun day! :0)

Today I'd like to share a few more quick and easy tags to dress up your Christmas packages.  Take a look:

The first two tags use PTI's Tag Sale #8 die, and the third tag is made using SU!'s Envelope Punch Board.  I stamped the first tag with SU!'s "Beautiful Season" in black ink and then just colored the berries with an R29 Copic marker...very CAS and elegant!  The second tag was a quick and easy one too, using PTI's smallest Fancy Flake die with silver holographic paper...really sparkles IRL!  The third tag also a quick and simple one using just two PTI dies...the "merry" from "Wonderful Words: Christmas" and the Christmas tree die.  So don't spend money on store bought tags friends....all you need are scraps and a little bit of time to make beautiful handmade ones that gift recipients will love! :0)

I'm not sure how much I'll be posting over the next week and a half, but you just never know...I could surprise myself (and you!) and get more accomplished than I think I can!  Have a wonderful Monday friends and thanks so much for stopping by to visit! :0) 

Make it Monday #144 - Heat Embossing Vellum

Hello friends.  Was going through card withdrawl this week and needed a couple winter birthday cards, so decided to play along with this weeks Make it Monday over at Papertrey Ink.  Melissa Phillips did a fantastic job with her tutorial and card, and I learned some great tips!  I never thought about putting a simple design paper behind my vellum to add some more visual interest and how to add glue behind more solid stamped images when attaching your vellum!  Anyway, here's what I came up with for my card:

I used PTI's "Winter Hills" stamp set and because I don't own any colored embossing powders, I colored my image with some of my Copics, and then embossed the same image on vellum with white embossing powder and layered that over my stamped image.  Here's a closer up view:

I used Melissa's tip and put glue behind the farmhouse, the barn, and the tree's to attach the vellum to the stamped image and it worked perfectly...NO glue spots showing through!! :0)  I also added a layer of vellum over my design paper (flip side of Eskimo Kisses) and embossed the birthday sentiment in silver.  I added a couple strips of scrap design paper on the side and was able to use my adhesive behind these to attach the vellum without the dreaded show through glue spots here too!  I finished off the card by adding a Fancy Flakes snowflake (PTI) and a snowflake embellishment from SU!, and lastly a seam binding ribbon in Real Red.

Hope you're enjoying your weekend...we're digging out again from more snow! Have a wonderful rest of your weekend! :0)  

Gift Card/Tag Week - #5

Good morning friends.  Woke up this morning to it NOT snowing...that's a first in like over a week now!  It's very pretty but it already looks like Christmas, so it can stop for awhile now!  Hope you are all getting things accomplished without too much stress and are enjoying the season!  The first of my get togethers starts tonight with 3 of my good friends...I think this is our 7th annual ornament exchange party!  It will be good just to sit and catch up and laugh together...and snack and get a new ornament for the tree! :0)

Finally started wrapping some gifts to put under the tree this week, and one of the best parts was adding my homemade gift tags to them.  The 3 tags I'd like to share with you today are all made from kraft cardstock, and I love the rustic look it gives them.  Take a look:

If you click on the picture to enlarge it, you'll be able to see more of the detail.  For this size tag, you can get 8 of them out of an 8 1/2 x 11 piece of cardstock.  And once again I am loving using my SU! Envelope Board to make the tab corners on the top and the rounded corners on the bottom...SO easy!  The 1st tag uses SU!'s "Snow Day" stamp set and I stamped the snowman in kraft white ink.  The 2nd tag uses Flourishes "Santa" stamp set and the 3rd tag PTI's "Wreath for All Seasons" stamp set.  The size of these tags makes it great if you want to write a little message on the back too.  Making your own tags is also a great way to use up those little bits of ribbon that aren't big enough to do much with, but that you can't bring yourself to throw away...I know, I know...I'm such a pack rat in my craft room! :0) 

That's all for today friends.  I hope you all have a wonderful weekend and I'll be back next week with some more tags and other inspiration ideas.  Thanks so much for stopping by...I love it when you do!

Gift Card/Tag Week - #4

Good morning friends.  Just a quick post today as it's a busy one for me with bringing my youngest home from college for the holidays, knitting/bible study group, and LOTS of errands if the weather cooperates!  So on to my last of the gift card holders for this week - take a look:

I started with a piece of design paper cut at 11" x 4 1/4", and then scored at 3 1/2", 5 1/2", & 7 1/2".  Fold in half right sides together and use the end of SU!'s Top Notch die, and then  place the folded end of the design paper on that end of the die and cut (hope that makes sense?).  Finish folding on the other 2 score lines and then use 1/8th" score tape just on the bottom of the 3 1/2" score line and the edges of the 2 sides (do this on the printed side).  You need to keep the part of the holder cut by the Top Notch die open so that you can insert your gift card.  Once you're finished with this, you can make a simple belly band (1" x 7 1/2") to keep the gift card holder closed and then decorate as desired.  I kept both of these very simple letting the design paper do most of the work.

Thanks so much for stopping by today and I'll be back tomorrow with some gift tags for you. :0)

Gift Card/Tag Week - #3

Good morning friends.  It's beginning to look a LOT like Christmas in my "neck of the woods"!  Looks like another day staying at home and off the roads, but that's ok as it's forcing me to get a lot accomplished that I've been procrastinating about!  How about you...are you ready for 2 weeks from today? :0) 

Today I'd like to share a few more gift card holders with you.  This idea came from my SU! demonstrator Stephanie (thanks Steph!!), and uses a piece of 8" x 3 1/4" cardstock, scored at 1 3/4" and 2 1/2".  You can then decorate it any way you like.  Take a look:

 

 

I basically just used scraps of designer paper, ribbon, dies, and punches to decorate all of these holders, and what a fun way to present a gift card!  (makes it seem a little more personal if you know what I mean! :0)  I won't go into specifics of everything I used on these, but if you have any questions about how I did something or what products I used, just contact me!

 

Tomorrow I'll be back with one more gift card holder idea for you, and then I have a couple days of gift tag ideas to share with you.  Hopefully I'm inspiring you to be at least a little bit crafty this year! :0)  Have a wonderful Wednesday and thanks so much for stopping by...I love it when you do! :0) 



Gift Card/Tag Week - #2

Good morning friends.  Back with day 2 of my gift cards and tags week, and today I'd like to share with you a few gift card holders I made using the file folder technique.  If you remember back around Halloween time, I made several cards using this technique, and these gift card holders are basically the same, just smaller to fit a gift card.  Take a look:

If you click on both images to enlarge them, you'll be able to see the details better...not much sun for the next few months, so it makes it hard for photographing - grrrrrrr!!  Anyway, the first 2 holders use Cranberry Crisp cardstock and design paper from Little Yellow Bicycle, Inc. (Once Upon a Christmas).  I started with a 4 x 6 1/2 piece of cardstock and then scored at 3".  I used SU!'s Envelope Board to make the tabs, and you can basically make the tabs wherever you want (you'll notice that all 3 of mine are different).  The first 2 I just cut apart my design paper to get the images I wanted and then added the "merry & bright" sentiment (PTI's "Fillable Frames" stamp set) to the tab of the one holder.  I added a few diamonds to both holders to finish them up.  The 3rd holder uses Real Red cardstock and a bit of Soft Suede behind my Santa image (Paper Inspiration), and the design paper is from SU!'s Season of Style pad.  I added a little holly die cut (PTI - Holly Jolly),  red and white grosgrain ribbon, and the Merry Christmas sentiment from PTI's "Wreath For All Seasons" stamp set.  All 3 super quick and easy to make and something a little different to put your gift cards in for those hard to buy for people on your list! :0)

Well I'm off to start some of my holiday baking (supposed to be another cold and snowy day here in my neck of the woods, so a good day to stay home and bake!! ).  I'll be back again tomorrow with day #3 of my gift card/tag week, and show you what I came up with for vertical gift card holders.   Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful and warm Tuesday! :0)

Gift Card/Tag Week - #1

Good morning friends.  Today my world is blanketed by snow, and while most of you who know me know I don't care for cold and snow, I must admit today it is very pretty and peaceful looking.  Reminded me to be still for just a while longer this morning, and reflect on this blessed season of CHRISTmas.  I am right there in the middle of all this "busyness" with the rest of you, and totally wondering how I am ever going to finish everything up on time, but it's good to slow down a little and take time to reflect...recharges the brain and makes me ready to conquer another day!  (especially after not sleeping much over the weekend because of a mouse in the house!!  I know it's little, but it still creeps me out, and I just wish it would find it's way back outside!!)

This week I would like to share with you some ideas for gift cards and tags.  Todays gift card holders were quick and fun just using design paper!  Take a look:

I used PTI's gift card holder die to cut these out, so that takes most of the work out of these holders.  Once they're cut out, you simply fold on the score lines and you're good to go.  I added a little bit of embellishment to each one, but depending on the paper you use, these could be left plain and still look great.  The holder on the left uses paper from TPC Solutions, and then I added a Cherry Cobbler seam binding bow and a little tag (PTI's Tiny Tags die & stamp set) and gold cord.  Still very simple with just a little bit of dressing.  The holder on the right would be great for the hunters in your life!  The paper is from The Paper Studio, and then I simply added a deer from PTI's "In the Meadow" die set. 

Tomorrow I'll be back with a few more gift card holders that I made like a file folder, using SU!'s Envelope Punch Board.  Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful and mouseless Monday! :0)  

PTI Make it Monday #143 - Modern Whimsy Style

Good morning friends.  Playing along with PTI's Make it Monday challenge today, and I have to say I really like this style that Danielle Flanders introduced to us...a LOT of fun!  What I took from Danielle's video was that this is a light and airy style with lots of layers...and I like layers!! :0)  So anyway, here's my take on it:

I started with a kraft cardstock base, and then started adding my layers.  First up was the largest of the 3 Fancy Flake snowflakes (PTI) that I cut out with vellum.  Then I made 3 banners: 2 from design paper scraps, and the third from vellum.  The vellum banner I die cut and embossed the end with PTI's "Boutique Borders: Christmas Stamp Set" and white embossing powder, and then cut out the word "peace" from PTI's "Wonderful Words: Holiday Die Collection".  I cut the word "peace" again from some Cherry Cobbler cardstock and inset it into the negative space that I cut out from the banner.  I also used PTI's "Wonderful Words: Joy" to die cut and stamp the word Joy for the bottom of the card, and then started adding all the rest of the layers to the card.  I added a couple of gold stars and pearls, and a smaller Fancy Flake tied with red/white bakers twine to finish off the card.  Oh, and there was a scrap of the reverse side of one of my banners that I added to the very top of the card...my SU! demonstrator would be very proud of me for making good use of my scraps! :0)  Make sure you check out all the other entries here as there are some amazing cards made with this style!

That's all for today friends, but I hope to be back next week with some ideas for you for gift card holders...just need to get some pictures taken!  Hope you all have a wonderful weekend and remember to slow down enough to remember what this blessed season is really all about...me included!!  Thanks so much for stopping by...I love it when you do and comments just really make my day! :0) 

Sock Snowmen

Good morning friends.  This morning I'd like to share a little craft with you rather than a card.  Most of you know I am a BIG fan of snowmen, and when I saw this cute idea on Suzanne Dean's blog here, I fell in LOVE!!  These were so much fun to make and really quick and easy too.  You simply start with the leg portion of a guys tube sock and fill it with rice and secure with rubber bands.  Suzanne has a great tutorial on her blog, so make sure you check it out.  I don't think I spent much more than an hour on the 4 that I made, and they're pretty economical to make too.  I used my husbands socks that had holes in the bottom, and the only thing I purchased was Christmas socks that were BOGO to make their stocking caps.  Take a look:

Aren't they cute?!!  I kept mine rather simple, but you can dress them up as much or as little as you want.  For the scarves on mine, I used the foot part of the sock and cut off the toe and heel sections, made a cut to make a rectangle shape, fringed each end, and then tied around their necks.  For the eyes and nose I used sticky back pearls that I colored with sharpies.  The heart buttons were in my stash and dressed them up a little with some red and white twine.  Quick, easy, and oh SO cute!

I sent all 4 off to school with my youngest for her and her friends to decorate their dorms for the holidays...they all loved them! (along with all the treats I sent along too, I'm sure!!)  Now that they're gone though, I kinda miss them and am thinking I might need to make a few more! :0)

Thanks so much for stopping by today and have a wonderful Tuesday! :0)

Snow Tree

Good morning friends.  Feels like it's been awhile!  Hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving!  Our oldest daughter and son in law hosted a fabulous dinner for our family, and I must say that she did an awesome job for her first time!  (I must have taught her right!!)  Then spent the rest of the weekend quietly at home decorating (so NOT a big Friday shopper!!) and now our house is ready for Christmas.  And in that spirit, here's another Christmas card:

I really like the quiet beauty of this card.  I used SU!'s "Branch Out" stamp set with Smokey Slate ink for the tree, and Bashful Blue, Marina Mist, and Night of Navy inks for the snow on the tree. To add just a little pop of color I added the bird in Real Red.  After stamping I ran the image through my Cuttlebug with a Quickutz embossing folder, and then layered with Night of Navy cardstock and a white card base.  If you click on the photo, you'll be able to better see that I also added some Dazzling Diamonds glitter on the snow in the tree.  A pretty quick and easy card, and again, I really like how it turned out! :0)

That's all for today, but I'll be back with a little "non-card" Christmas craft for you tomorrow.  Thanks for stopping in and have a wonderful Monday!