Roses for you ...

Hi everyone.  Today's card was inspired by a card recently done by Bridget Finlay.  She has a beautiful style and creates the most amazingly gorgeous cards.  I fell in love with her cards when we met while both guest designing for the SCS Color Challenge back in March.  Check out her fabulous blog here.

I'm working on thank you cards for Christmas gifts that I received.  This card will be one of them, but with it being 3-D, it can not be mailed easily, so I will be giving it to someone special in-person.  I love the color combination of the white, red and gray.  Originally it was going to have more layers, but in the end the decorative shape of the card along with the embossed background and spray of roses were enough detail that I wanted just a simple sentiment to finish the card.  Hope you like.

Stamp:  A Word for You (SU!)
Paper:  White (Neenah), Light Gray (unknown)
Ink:  Black, Gray (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Nestabilities Labels Ten (Spellbinders), Musical Flourish embossing folder (Cuttlebug), Little Leaves die (Sizzix), Pine Branch punch (McGill), Modern Label punch (SU!), paper roses ($1 store), sponge, glue, and dimensionals

I sponged gray around the edge of the card front, sentiment and leaves to add dimension.  The spray was created (as per Kittie's instructions), by first creating a triangle of "greenery" and then placing the roses on top. 

Here's a close-up of the rose spray:

Faceted Snowflake

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for two challenges ... Simon Says "Anything Goes" - I buy from Simon Says quite often - love their on-line store!.  Today's card uses their new Simon Says Faceted Snowflake die ... it's so beautiful and delicate ... and I love how it turned out using the SU! Silver Glimmer paper.

And this card is also for SCS's Queen for the Day (QFTD145 - Happy Birthday to You).  Instead of picking one person to honor, Trish (organizer) decided to list all the Queens For the Day for 2012 (one per week) along with the dates that they were crowned.  The challenge is to honor the Queen for the Day that was crowned closest to your own birthday!  How fun!!  So, my birthday is June 27th and the Queen for the Day on June 28th was Mary Brown (Stampcamper at SCS).  Mary's gallery is full of inspirational cards and I picked this beautiful card to CASE in her honor:

Mary's card

Stamps:  Vintage Labels (SU!)
Paper:  White; Baja Breeze DP (SU!)
Ink:  Basic Black (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Simon Says Faceted Snowflake Die, MFT Mini Wavy Pennants die, Nestabilities Labels Two (Spellbinders, Cuttlebug Musical Flourish embossing folder, 1/8" baja breeze taffetta ribbon, two star-shaped rhinestones, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

Here's a close-up of the snowflake die:

Skating By ...

Hi everyone.  I had a lot of fun making today's card ... not only is it an adorable image from Bugaboo, but I paper-pieced it - one of my favorite techniques.  This card is for three challenges:  Bugaboo December Theme (Holidays / Winter); CAS - Colours & Sketches #5 - Sketch; and SCS Monthly Fan Club (Baby's it's cold outside).

Here's the sketch I used from CAS - Colours & Sketch Challenge blog:

As I mentioned above, I paper pieced this sweet skating penguin.  I sponged around the outside of the gray pieces to give him more depth ... and also partially cut out the wing, sponging around the edges as well.  I glued a small piece of gray cardstock in-behind the wing and then pulled it out to add more dimension before attaching it to my main image on the card front. 

The scarf is paper pieced using the same designer paper as the background blocks (love this paper!).  I added clear stickles to represent the ice.  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Little Penguin Winter - Skate (Bugaboo); Winter Chuckles - sentiment (C.C. Designs)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs); Stars and Swirls designer paper (unknown)
Ink:  Gray, Baja Breeze (SU!); Copics:  R27, R29
Accessories & Tools:  sponge, glue, clear stickles, adhesives, and dimensionals


Here's a close-up of the penguin:

Snowy Greetings

Hi everyone.  Hope you all had a wonderful Christmas holiday.  We had lots of time with family and friends and look forward to the new year celebrations in just a few more days! 

It was fun to be back in my art studio again.  Today I have Trevor, sitting outside in the snowy weather, sipping a cup of hot cocoa - yum!  I'm entering this card into the All That Scraps challenge - Anything goes.  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Cocoa Trevor and Spring Bench (C.C. Designs); Frosty Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  C.C. Designs
Ink:  Early Espresso (sentiment); Copics:  E44, E49, E77, E00, E01, R20, B39, B97, BG57, BG52, YR24, R29, R39, 0 (colorless blender)
Accessories & Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Cappucino Twine (The Twinery); silver snowflake ($1 store),  Embossing paste (Dreamweaver - used on pompoms), glue dot, adhesives, and dimensionals

I used the heaviest C.C. Designs white cardstock for my card front.  I love this stuff!!  Not only does it give me a wonderfully sturdy card front, but it rips so nicely to create fantastic snow drifts!

I used copics to color in Trevor and the bench.  Then cut them out and popped them on top of the snow.   A sweet sentiment from Amy R, some twine and a silver snowflake complete the card.



Here's a close-up of Trevor:

... and more Christmas Tags

Hi everyone.  I just realized that I hadn't posted this picture of tags I made a few weeks back.

The patterned paper used for the background of the two middle tags, are tags that came attached with some gift boxes I bought from the dollar store.  I cut them apart and used the cardstock as my backdrop, adding some die-cuts, punches, etc. so I have matching 3-D tags for the gift boxes.

The other two tags are made from some Christmas-sy bits and pieces that I had made for cards, but didn't use.  The wreath tag is a leftover I had from last year (yep, don't throw much away!).  I made two of these wreaths last year and used one for this card (check out link for instructions).  The poinsettia is also a leftover that didn't make it onto a card this year, I simply added some piercing around the edge of the tag, a sentiment and some ribbon.

Hope you like.

Coffee gift card holder

Hi everyone.  Sharing a quick project I made to hold a Starbuck's gift card.  I used one of the newest digi stamps from Lisa's Doodley Doos, called Java Minute.

I sized the digi coffee cup so that it was large enough to hold the gift card in the back.  I printed it off five times (twice with the Christmas patterned paper (for both the front and back of the coffee cup; and three times in white (full image for the base and partial images for the lid (for the back) and an extra piece for the rim of the lid to add depth (it's popped up on dimensionals).  Then I just cut out the various pieces and layered them.  I printed off the sentiment on my computer onto Crumb Cake cardstock and cut the strip to 1 1/2" wide.  I folded it around the cup, securing it at the back (and adding a little ledge at the bottom of the back to hold the gift card in place so it wouldn't slip through).  Then I just decorated it with some twine, jingle bells and holly.

Stamps:  Java Minute (Lisa's Doodley Doos - Clear Dollar Stamps); sentiment is computer generated
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs); Be of Good Cheer DP, Crumb Cake, Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler (SU!)
Ink:  Gumball Green
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Holly & Berry die (C.C. Designs), sponge, white gel pen, Peapod and Marschino twine (The Twinery), jingle bells ($1 store)

Such a great way to give a coffee gift card.  I even left the gift card from Starbucks in the original envelope (which looks like a present).  Here's a view of the back ...

____________________

I'm not sure if I will be posting many more times before Christmas, so thought I would take this opportunity to thank everyone that has joined or subscribed to my blog, fellow DT members, and all that have take time to leave me wonderful messages of support and encouragement - so appreciated!  Wishing you and your families, a wonderful holiday season!!

More Christmas Tags

Hi everyone.  Still working on my Christmas tags ... and having lots of fun.  Using tags that came with my gift boxes I bought at the dollar store ... cutting them up to use as the designer paper for the background of my hand-made tags so the papers match the gift boxes.  I've added some jingle bells, stars, holly leaves, etc. to dress them up.  The reindeer is made from dies:  head (2 different-sized ovals), ears (leaves), antlers (olive branches) ... with a couple of googley eyes, and red glitter ball for nose.  Hope you like.

____________________

We had our first snowfall of the year yesterday ... it surprised us all, even the weatherman :)  So the city wasn't prepared and didn't have sanding and salting trucks out on the road.  This led to some very treacherous road conditions yesterday, with many vehicle accidents and blocked roads and bridges.  I stayed home!! :)  I'm so lucky to have the option.

Last night we had more snow ... and now our place looks like a winter wonderland.  The rain is coming ... and the snow is already starting to melt and look heavy.  Hopefully everything will be cleared away for tomorrow so I can meet some friends from lunch (finger's crossed!!).  For now, I'm enjoying looking outside while I'm warm and cozy inside :)  Here's a couple of pictures of my backyard ... I do love the way the snow sits on the trees.  Everything looks so clean and fresh ... and it's sooo quiet.



You're Special

Hi everyone.  Today I'm switching it up and looking forward to spring ... all my Christmas cards are done and mailed out.  I do still need to make some Christmas gift tags, but wanted to play with my new stamp today.  I used an adorable digi stamp from Bugaboo to create a fun and happy card.

This is for SCS Queen for the Day Challenge (QFTD143 - Sue28).  Sue has a wonderful gallery of cards and she also is leaves such wonderful comments for other card crafters.  I chose this card of Sue's to honor her, changing it up quite a bit but keeping the idea of birds and love as the main theme of the card.  Congrats Sue!!    Hope you like.

Stamps:  Bird Nest Duo (Bugaboo); Be Happy Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs); Early Espretto, Gumball Green (SU!)
Ink:  Early Espresso (SU!); Copics:  Y21, Y32, YR24, YR07, R17, E44, E77, W4, 0 (colorless blender)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Twigs and Berries die (Memory Box), Tender Leaves die (Memory Box), Stamps-a-ma-jig, glue, and dimensionals

I colored the image with copics and then cut it out and popped it on top of my branch.

Here's a close-up of the birds:

 

Santa Tag

Hi everyone.  This week's "Free for All" Challenge at SCS (F4A147) is one layer tags.  I used a free digi from Bugaboo (Christmas Window - Santa) for my tag ... Bugaboo gives away a free digital image every Friday - check it out!!

I simply printed the image onto my heavy white cardstock and then used copics to color it in.  I added clear stickles to the falling snowflakes and along the top of the snowhill to add some sparkle.  And I added some Martha Stewart Sparkle Texture Effect (diluted with Whisper White re-inker) to Santa's cuffs and pompom.  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Christmas Window - Santa (Bugaboo)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs)
Ink:  Copics:  R29, R59, E01, E11, E33, R20, BG72, 0 (colorless blender); Stampin' Write markers:  Basic Gray, Bashful Blue
Accessories & Tools:  Clear Stickles, Martha Stewart Sparkle Texture Effect, Marschino twine (The Twinery)


I wanted the sky to be a light blue and I didn't have a copic that was the right color, so I used my Bashful Blue Stampin' Write marker.  I find when I'm coloring in a large areas on this type of paper with the SWM, it's is a bit streaky ... so I experimented by coloring over top of the SU! blue ink with my Copic (BG72).  It blended the colors together nicely, but was darker than I wanted.  So I took the Colorless Blender and went over the whole area, removing most of the BG72 ... and was left with a lighter, well blended blue sky.  Don't know if it was a fluke ... or if this is going to work every time I try it. :)  Always good to experiment!

Happy Anniversary

Hi everyone.  Today's card uses one of Lisa Lara's latest digital stamps sets, Pal Penguins.  Aren't they adorable??!!  And I'm using the fabulous sketch by Mary (stampercamper at SCS) from the CAS 200 Party challenges.

I printed the penguins onto my cardstock, colored them with Stampin' Write markers and cut them out.  I printed the sentiment separately and cut in the shape of a banner.  I used my piercing template to add the heart shape on the card front, added the banner and popped up the penguins on top.  Crystal Effects was added to the penguin's noses and Clear Stickles to the bow and bow-tie.  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Pal Penguins (Lisa's Doodley Doos - Clear Dollar Stamps)
Paper:  White (C.C. Designs)
Ink:  Stampin' Write markers:  Basic Black, Basic Gray, Real Red, More Mustard (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Paper Piercing tool, template and mat; clear stickles, crystal effects, adhesives, and dimensionals

Here's a close-up of the penguins:

Tip:  When you have an image that will have a lot of black coloring, add gray as an outline for more definition (example -  you'll see a gray line separating the body from the wings).


This card is for the following challenges:

Ways to Use It (WT405 - fussy cutting)
CAS200PARTYI - sketch by stamper camper
Less Is More (LIM98 - Anniversary)

Sweet Hot Cocoa!

Hi everyone.  Here is my Design Team card for the latest Addicted to CAS challenge.  Each challenge will have a code word to inspire your creations.

Patrice is in charge of this challenge and she came up with a fun code word!

This week's sponsor is

$20 GIFT VOUCHER
will be awarded to the CAS PERFECTIONIST

(please follow the rules of the challenge to be eligible to win)

Stamps:  Winter Chuckles (C.C. Designs)

Paper:  White (C.C. Designs); Gumball Green, Be of Good Cheer DP, Red Glimmer Paper (SU!)

Ink:  Gumball Green, Sahara Sand (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Coffee and Cocoa die (C.C. Designs), Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Large Scallop Circle die (Sizzix), exacto knife, sponges, glue, and dimensionals

I absolutely love the sentiment stamps and dies from C.C. Designs.  The mug is so sweet ... and they think of everything with the design.  The rim of the cup is embossed when you die-cut the mug ... then I just used my exacto knife to cut along the embossed line so that the marshmellows could be placed "inside" the mug ... they look like they are floating in the cup!  Love it!  Fun card to create!

Here's a close-up of the hot cocoa:

I hope you'll join in on the fun challenge at Addicted to CAS.  Come and check out the wonderful samples from the other Design Team members.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

CAS200PARTYE Challenge - sugar & spice and everything nice!

____________________

Just a quick note to thank Chrissie and Jen for picking two of my cards (Poinsettia Flourish and Stringing Lights) for the LIM ShowCase this week.  I'm so excited!!

Old Snow Patches

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for a wonderful on-line friend and stamp illustrator, Lisa.  I met Lisa through Splitcoast Stampers quite a few months ago.  I had seen quite a few of her cards on SCS that I loved and finally looked at her blog.  Wow ... not only does she have a fun, whimsical and CAS style for making cards ... but she also illustrates many wonderful digital images and sells them through Clear Dollar Stamps (Lisa's Doodley Doos).  I just love her style!

Paper piecing is one of my favorite techniques and is so perfect for fun images like the one above from Bugaboo.  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Old Snow Patches Digi stamp (Bugaboo); Snowman Sayings (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Be of Good Cheer DP (SU!); Silver glitter  (Best Creations)
Ink:  Black, Pumpkin Pie, Soft Suede (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Crystal Effects, Clear Stickles, glue, Gumball Green stitched ribbon, adhesives, and sticky strips

I added Crystal Effects to the snowman's nose ... and clear stickles to the "fur" trim on his hat and pompom.

Here's a close-up of the snowman:



Ornament Joy and Frosty

Hi everyone.  I have two more Christmas cards to share with you today.  I've actually finished making all the cards I need and have already mailed them out.  I'm now making a few for my mom to use this year.

The first one uses a free digi from Desert Diva ... thanks Hannalie!!  I love Hannalie's sentiments and used one as the only image on my first card.  I just love this Joy with the ornament dangling and so wanted to show it off by providing lots of white space around it.  I used this week's colors from Paper Players challenge (PP#125 - pool party, cherry cobbler, neutral of choice) to color in the ornament and then added clear stickles on top to make it glittery.  I cut out the ornament and popped it up to add more depth.  Two simple lines of scoring and a frame and my card was done!  Easy, peasy and pretty! 

Stamps:  Joy to the World (Desert Diva digital stamps)
Paper:  White (Neenah)
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Cherry Cobbler (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Clear stickles, scoring tool, Rectangle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), glue dot, and dimensionals


Here's a close-up of the main image along with the scoring lines:

____________________

The second card also uses the colors from the Paper Players challenge this week (as above).  This time I made a whimsical card using circle punches for the snowman.  I drew in his eyes, nose and mouth ... and colored the nose with Pumpkin Pie Stampin' Write marker.  A little twine, some torn snow drifts and a couple of red jingle bells finish off the card.  Hope you like.

"Frosty"

Stamps:  Frosty Sentiments (Amy R)
Paper:  Crumb Cake (SU!);  White (C.C. Designs)
Ink:  Baja Breeze, Black, Pumpkin Pie (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  1 3/8" circle punch, Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Maraschino Twine (The Twinery); mini red jingle bells ($1 Store), sponge, adhesives, glue, and dimensionals


Here's a close-up of Frosty:

Both cards are being entered into following challenge:
Paper Players color challenge (PP#125)

Winter Wonderland

Hi everyone.  Today's card is for a very special friend of mine ... Nancy.  We have never met IRL, but have shared our lives, experiences and stamping obession via an on-line friendship.  We "met" while on the same Design Team for the CAS Challenges at Splitcoast Stampers just over a year ago and have been friends ever since.  Nancy lives on a large piece of property and even though there's not much snow (if any) right now, I imagine this would be the view from one of her windows during the winter months.  Hope you like.

Stamps:  Scene #2 (Cause a Scene - Rubbernecker Stamps);  Handy Christmas Greetings (Amy R)
Paper:  White (Neenah); Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler (SU!)
Ink:  Old Olive, Sahara Sand (SU!)
Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Small Madison Arched Window die (Poppy Stamps), Holly Vine die (Memory Box), sponges, white gel pen, hole punch, glue, adhesives, and dimensionals

I made snowhill masks from scrap paper and sponged Sahara Sand ink along the tops.  I stamped the trees in Old Olive ink and then sponged more Sahara Sand for the sky.

As usual, I made three layers of the window die and glued them together to create a thick die.


Here's a close-up of the winter scene.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
Jingle Belles Challenge - Anything (Holiday) Goes
CAS200PARTYF Challenge - inspired by favorite holiday song (I'm dreaming of a white Christmas)

____________________

Here's a poem that was written by my friend Dolly (Darnell).  I just love it so much that I asked her if I could post it on my blog.  If you get a chance, please check out Darnell's blog ... she shares her passion for card making ... but also her wonderful outlook on life.

Darnell's Ode to Holiday Stamping

As stampers we settle

our butts in our chairs,

This time of year we have

glitter in hairs.

We've snippets and buttons

and scraps we must use,

Cards made this Christmas

come in all rockin hues.

Cards made of ribbon

and cards made of lace,

Cards that are dazzling,

and cards we must CASE.

Cards with white baubles

and cards made with blings,

these are a few of

our favorite things.

And when it's all over

and the last one departs,

We put Christmas away

and start stamping hearts!

LOVE IT!!  Thanks for letting me share this Dolly!! 

Pine Bough and Warm Winter Wishes

Hi everyone.  Two cards for today.  Here's the first one ...

"Pine Bough"

This is my design team card for the latest challenge at Addicted to Stamps & More - Bingo #5.   Check out the bingo card below.

I chose the top horizontal row (Red, Dies, Green) to make the card above.  Still playing with my pine branch punch and having lots of fun!

This week's sponsor is

(Prize will be awarded to the Top Addict - a pampering package worth $84)

Stamps:  Merry & Bright (Amy R)

Paper:  White (Neenah); Old Olive, Crumb Cake, Red Glimmer (SU!)

Ink:  Old Olive, Soft Suede

Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Oval Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Ribbon die (C.C. Designs), 1 3/4" scalloped circle punch (SU!), Pine branch punch (McGill), sponge, green glitter glue, copper glitter glue, Stamp-a-ma-jig, tweezers, glue dots, and dimensionals

I made my own pinecones using a 1 3/4" scallop circle punched from crumb cake cardstock.  I cut into the circle, removing the middle and leaving an approx. 1/4" wide strip of the scallops.  I sponged Soft Suede ink around both edges (scalloped and inside cut edge - on both sides).   I grabbed the end with my tweezers and wound it up (like a rolled rose), securing the end with glue.

I added green glitter glue to the pine branches and copper glitter glue to the pinecones before gathering all the pieces together.  The ribbon is die-cut from red glimmer paper ... love it!

Here's a close up of the pine bough:

I hope I have inspired you to join us for this fun challenge.  Check out the other fabulous creations by the Design Team at ATS&M!  FYI, this will be the last challenge for Addicted to Stamps & More for this year.  The Design Team is taking a break for the holidays and our first challenge for 2013 will be on Jan. 8 or 9 (depending on where you live).


I'm entering this card into the following challenges:
CAS200PARTYJ challenge - ribbon and bows
CASPARTYA challenge - glitz and glamour

____________________

Here's my second card:

"Warm Winter Wishes"

This card is for an inspiration challenge using the fabric below.  I used the colors from the fabric and the leaf motif.

Stamps:  Frosty Sentiments (Amy R)

Paper:  White (Neenah); Basic Gray, More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler (SU!)

Ink:  Basic Gray, Cherry Cobbler (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Big Shot, Twigs and Berries die (Memory Box), Martha Stewart Sparkle Texture Effect, paint brush, Stamp-a-ma-jig, glue, and dimensionals

Here's a close-up of the branch:

I'm entering this card into the following challenge:
CAS200 challenge - fabric inspiration