Half Priced Snowman..all inked up and ready to go

The best part about the holidays?  The SALES!  Ok, so it isn't the best part...but I do love a sale.  I purchased a new Recollections Holiday set from Michael's the other day that was half off!  It's the little things that makes me smile.  And, though, the holiday's are over that snowman was just calling to me...wanting to be inked up.

So, I had to get him out and get inky.  

First I cut a card base of off white Recollections Paper to make a top folding card.  I cut out a background piece using a Papertrey Ink die out of a 6x6 pad by Prima called North Country Collection.  I also added some polk a dotted washi tape for interest.  I then used my Spell Binder's Labels Eight to cut out another piece of off white cardstock.  This is where I stamped my cute new snowman with Staz On Ink.  I colored his hat and scarf with some sharpies and then used some distress inks to color the background.  (This technique I need to continue to play around with.  I don't feel I am there with it yet.)  

I added stickles and some Ranger Glossy Accents for added interest.  I popped up my snowman and added a sentiment on the inside of the card.  (Does anyone do that anymore?)

Hope you get some time to get inky yourself this week.  Maybe break in  new set of stamps yourself, or even a stamp set you haven't used in a while.

I am entering this in the Creative Card Crew: 77 Anything goes.

Mojo Monday....Thank You x 3

Once again I looked to Mojo Monday's sketch for inspiration.  I needed a thank you card and I wanted it to look cute...so off to the land of Mojo I went.  It also gave me a reason to pull out my brand new toy...a cricut explore.  ( I am so excited!)

So I pulled out some scraps from my Recollections Tattered and Worn Collection.  Also some polka dot paper also from Recollections.

The Thank You's are stamped with distress inks using Papertrey Ink's "Wonderful Words: Thank You" and the cut with the coordinating die.  The butterfly and the ringed border were done with the Cricut.  For a finishing touch I added a flower and a bit of bling for the center.

To see the other Mojo Monday entries please head here.

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So much to do...So Little Time....

Well, the Christmas Season is here...and well, I am a bit behind.  With that said, I have been trying to get posts on twice a week.  With the gift making, family events, card making (yes I am not finished).  I am not sure I will keep up with the schedule I set for myself.

I therefore, beg your forgiveness for this.  As I can, I will post but until the New Year Rings in, I am allowing myself a break to get enjoy all the fun of Christmas.

I hope you will be doing the same.

Merry Christmas!

Gift Card Box

The Christmas Season is upon us.  Do you have all your Christmas Cards made?  Sent out?  No...well me either. I do have a function in a few weeks that I needed to make a box for.  I am going to add a gift card.  I found the tutorial for this on Utube.  It is by Carissa Wiley. This is where you can find it.   It went pretty fast and was sooo easy.  I can see using this again and again.

I used Christmas Noel Stamp set by Recollections and some WOW embossing powder.  I stamped these using Versafine ink before heat setting on some background paper I found in my stash.

I also added grey American Craft ribbon, some silver washi tape, and a Spare Parts brad to help close the box.

Even if you give a small gift, the box should be cute....right?

I am entering this in the Craft Hoarder's Anonymous Challenge # 21: Celebrate the Season.

Blog Candy!

Saw this post with offer of possible blog candy....

Thought I would share the info....though today is the last day to enter...so if you are like me....be fashionably late.

Thanks to KT Fit Kitty for the chance!

Circles and Snowflakes

This is a very simple card with lots of layers.  I used this weeks Mojo sketch and the colors from the Color Throwdown Challenge.

The patterned paper and the cardstock is all from Recollections.

I used a Sizzix die to cut out the snowflake and then added diamond Stickles to make it shine.

The dry embossed layer is also by Sizzix.

I added a stamped layer that kept the circle theme going using Versamark ink.  The stamp is by Technique Tuesday.

This card is entered for the following challenges:

Mojo Monday 373:  Mojo373
Color Throwdown:  ctd320
4 Crafty Chicks Challenge Blog- Die Cuts:  4CC #222

Chocolate Slider....Yummy and Cute!

 After my color throwdown...I had out all that cute green(Colorbok) and pink paper(Recollections) and decided to make slider for a chocolate bar.  I am sad to say I could not find the tutorial I watched to learn how to do this.  But there are several around the blogosphere to learn how to do this.  I will list a couple below.

I kept the color scheme the same as the color throw down I did on Sunday!

I really kept it simple and this will make a cute celebration card whether for a birthday or if you are like those of us from the south who celebrate anything....you could use this for any occasion.  Maybe even a congratulations on a good job.

I used Peacock Feathers ink to sponge the scalloped die cut circle.  The image is from Savvy Stamps and colored with Sharpies.  I also added a bit of washi tape for interest and Star Dust Stickles.

This is a quick and easy project.  I plan on making a few more for special occasions.

http://dawnsstampingthoughts.typepad.com/dawns_stampin_studio/2008/09/candy-bar-slider.html

http://www.serenestamper.com/2010/09/fall-fair-update-chocolate-slider.html

Color Throwdown......The Gauntlet has been Thrown

Ok this is the second post for the day....hope I don't bore you....

I decided to take on this weeks Color Throwdown.  I was intrigued.  I pulled out my Colorbok and Recollections paper packs and threw in my Basic Grey Cardstock in as the base.  

This card came together really quickly after I decided what stamps to use.  I used a couple of Technique Tuesday stamps.  The sentiment is in StazOn Black and the image is in Ranger Distress ink Peacock Feathers.

I added another Navy colored flower by The Paper Studio's Spare Parts.

I really like this card and I did....of course, found the inspiration from Pinterest.  A pin from a blog Stamping up North.  You can find it here.

Mojo Monday 372...my take

Here is my take, if you will on this week's Mojo Monday Sketch.  I used more of my burlap stash made by DCWV (I am trying to use it anytime I can since I am not always sure how to use it.)  For this card, the burlap has a snowflake cut out of it from a previous post.  It is just covered up with the Basic Grey patterned paper.  

I dry embossed the next layer of creme colored cardstock.  I decided to add some distress ink (in Barn Door) to embossing folder I just got on clearance (thank you Hobby Lobby) made by Sizzix.  I think the in would be a bit smoother if I had used a brayer.  I then die cut one of my Nesting Flowers by QuickCutz and then used my circle punch to cut out the final layer.

The Studio G stamp that is the main focal point is by Studio G and colored with Sharpie Makers.

I added a border of paper frills by Doodlebug Designs.  You would be shocked how long I have had that pack of paper frills...years, I mean years.  It has several different die cut borders and I have yet to use it up.

Also from my haul from Hobby Lobby, I added a navy flower made by The Paper Studio's Spare Parts.

Christmas Card and Tags...all in One!

I found this double pocket card tutorial

 and just had to try it.  You can find it here.  I used some double sided paper from my stash to make this card.  The front is sporting edging using my We R Memory Keepers punch.  I used some spell binders, sizzix, and Papertrey ink dies on this front part.  I also used the swirl cuttlbug folder on the tag here with some Recollections baker's twine.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Fillable Frames #8 set.

The inside has another sizzix tag using the dots cuttlebug folder and a snowflake die by sizzix in vellum.

I loved how this turned out.  The pockets aren't even since I had to wing the scoring for the pockets.  But I truly love this card.  It was fun one to make.  All inks are Ranger's Distress inks.

Christmas in a Box.

So I was perusing Pintrest...(I don't know about you but I spend way too much time doing that)...and I came across this tutorial on how to do a shadow box card on the StampingVideos blog.  Here is the link.  

I thought this would be perfect for sending the grandparents my son's Christmas picture.  So I set out to make my very own replica.

One thing I would do next time...don't use cardstock.  This really needs to be made out of lighter weight paper to work well.  

I plan on adding my son's picture to the inside.  This would not be something I would mass produce either...though if I put my mind to it I could see doing that too if I kept it simple like with this one.

Paper:  Colorbok's Cosmopolitan, Recollections Red Pack
Ink:  Staz On Black
Die Cuts: Sizzix's Ornate Labels
Stamps: Papertrey Ink's Fillable Frames #8

Smile

This card just started after a round of browsing Pintrest.  I love those who can layer and make really random things come together into something beautiful.  I keep working on doing that...but it still is work in progress for me.

For this card I used some of my beautiful stash of washi tape in the background and on the clothes pin.

The envelope is from The Paper Studio.  I did a lot of die cuts here as well.  The heart and star are from Sizzix.  I used some left over paper from my Recollections Tattered and Worn collection.  Cut them out and then added some crystal effects to make them look like epoxy stickers.  The Smile sentiment is a Studio G stamped in Staz On Black and on a Spellbinders Labels Eight die which is then layered on a Spellbinders Grommet Tags die.  This Patterned paper is also from the same collection.  Not sure it really fit with this card and if I were to do it over again I would pick a different paper for this.

Not sure yet if I am going to add a tag in the envelope.  I may...I would love to add a tag with lots of layers as well.  That way you have two pieces of art in one.

Want to know where the inspiration came from?  Here is the pin...  

I totally am in love with that card...

Feel free to share your pins you love.  Attach the pin to your comments below.  I always looking for inspiration so feel free to share with me.

Using up those Scraps!

Sometimes you just got to use up those scraps.  I also threw in a burlap snowflake as well.  I keep a box full of all those scrap pieces of paper that I just can't bear to get rid of.  Some of them have really been around awhile.  While some are pretty tiny pieces of paper...that I wonder why I didn't go ahead and throw out.  Regardless, some of those scraps came to make this very simple card.  I just took those bit and made banners out of them, added the snowflake on with a brad....done.  I think this took me all of 10 minutes to do including deciding what papers to use.

Papers: Recollections...and scraps from years past.
Stamps:  Papertrey Ink's Fillable Frames #8
Die:  Sizzix Snowflake
Brad: Spare Parts.

Welcome Little One

This was a card that was a labor of love.  It took me two nights to complete this card so I will save it for my next friend who has a baby because it is special.

I know looking at the front...you are thinking...two days?  What in the world took that long to do?  Well the front was part of the day two.  I actually started this card by working on the inside first.

I found this card.  I was intrigued.  When I saw those hanging snowflakes...I thought instantly of a baby's mobile over a crib.

So here is what I put together in that vain.  The sight does not have instructions or a tutorial, so I had to just dive and try to figure it out.

I used a lot of things out of my arsenal to make this card and it is one of those that you are just so glad came together like you envisioned it.

Stamps: Sudio G and Technique Tuesday

Inks: Ranger's Distress Inks and Staz On Black

Die Cuts:  Spell Binders Labels Eight and Grommet Tags, Martha Stewart Lattice punch

Miscellaneous:  Brads and Rangers Crystal Effects, baker's twine (Recollections)

I am entering this in the Crafty Cardmakers Blog Challenge.

Mojo Layers....with Butterflies

 HI papercrafters!  Today I have a card that is a combo of two challenges.  I am using the Mojo Monday's #369 sketch combined with Craft Hoarders Anonymous' #18 Layer it Challenge!

I think the thing that excites me the most is I did use some of my stash.....which I need to use more often.  

I have one tote full of cardstock and patterned paper scraps that I just can't throw out.  I love to challenge myself every once in a while to go there and just use up some of those scraps.   That is exactly what I did with this card.

I had some of those butterflies I had stamped while making this card left.  Those butterflies are by Studio G and stamped with Tim Holtz's distress inks in picked raspberry and peacock feathers.  The top version of the butterfly is just off stamped using the peacock feathers ink.  These were all punched out using a 1 1/2 inch circle punch.

I used the layout from Mojo Monday to come up with the layout of the card.  I layered those butterflies on some scraps of printed vellum I had in my tote and then those all went on a chevron patterned paper from my Recollections Tattered and Worn collection ( also found in the tote).  The chevron paper I used a We R Memory Keepers border punch to create a border.

All the butterflies I put adhesive on to put in place but also punched a hole to add the gold brads.  I also "layered" my American Crafts ribbon and Recollections twine.

So I am entering this card in two challenges:

http://mojomonday.blogspot.com/2014/10/mojo-monday-369.html

and

http://www.gloriadesignschallenge.blogspot.com/2014/10/guest-designers-challenge-18.html

Halloween Treat Triangle....

If you ever need a template of a box.  I am telling you Pootles' blog is the place to go for inspiration and to find what you are looking for.  I realized I needed one more treat bag for one of my son's teachers.  I saw this treat box by Pootles and knew it would be easy and cute.  Here is the link to the treat box tutorial.

I used one of my new Hampton Arts stamps, some We R Memory Keepers paper.  The cute flowers are by Prima and there is a sequin for the middle.  Orange ribbon for the closure...and done in about 15 minutes at the most.

Jean Bliss!

This week again I decided to turn to some challenges for inspiration and well.....to challenge myself.  I picked two to combine.  First up, the Split Coast Stamper Ways to Use It challenge # 501....Denim Delight!  You need to use denim the color, or denim patterned paper...or something that reminds you of denim.  With that I started looking for a great sketch and decided to use this week's CAS(E) sketch. Here is the link to the CAS(E) this Sketch Blog.

It is a beautifully simple card, which I love.  The color scheme came from here.  Once I finished with the card  I realized how much like one of the design team's it was...maybe that is where the idea of the snowflake's came from.

The denim cardstock is from Die Cuts with a View's Lodge collection.  All the other is from Recollections, with the patterned paper from Tattered and Worn collection.  The snow die is from Sizzix.  The sentiment is from Papertrey Ink's Fillable Frames #8.  I added shimmer to the denim and purple layers.  Also added buttons and sequins.  Love it!

The Witch is In!

For this card I decided to combine two challenges.  It had been awhile since I had actually done a challenge and I felt it was time to jump back in.  So I used the sketch from Mojo Monday Card Sketch Challenge.

# 368 to be exact.  I saw this while I was surfing the net of some of my favorite blogs when I saw it and thought this is one I would love to do.

Next, just today I found a cool blog called...
Ema-gination that I had never been to before, but she has some great cards.  I clicked on her link that listed all the challenges she has been a part of over the years and was amazed at the list of blog challenges out there.  The one I was drawn to has a color challenge this week, to use Navy, Olive, and Purple.  What a cool combination and it isn't one I use.... ever now that I think of it.  Now I am wondering why I haven't.  Anyhoo, the challenge is from "Just Us Girls".  Here is the link to their blog.

So here is my card that I came up with after the above inspiration.  It came together quickly and I kept it totally simple.

The olive/green patterned paper and he navy patterned paper I put behind the layers is all from a collection I have had for years by Basic Grey.  The creme and kraft cardstock is from Recollections.  

The Images came from my recent Hampton Art stamps you have been seeing lately.  I am love getting these new stamps all inky.  By the way, know how the witch is in?  When her broom stick is hanging around...at least that is what I was thinking when I came up with which images to use.

I used brown Staz On ink and added some bling.  The purple bling behind the image layer is Recollections purple glitter tape.  I don't use this tape often and am always looking for ways to incorporate it into my cards.  This totally fit the bill for tonight's combo.

Thanks for taking a look and have a great week!

Thank You...with Sparkle

 Sometimes you just need a little extra sparkle in your card.  That is the thought that started me on the journey to this card that I made to thank my sweet employees for the beautiful flowers, thoughtful card, and yummy goodies that were part of last weeks Boss's Day. 

Now I wanted to try my hand at this.  However, that project did not turn out well. I kept tearing the paper.

However,  this card began with that wonderful sparkly thank you die by  Papertrey Ink from the beautiful  American Crafts Sparkle paper pack in the shade of blue.

I also knew I wanted to use my black and white paper straws I found in Target's Dollar Spot which got me thinking about a banner.

So first I found this pin I had pinned on pintrest, and though it isn't exactly the colors I ended up using, it is where I began.

Then, I looked for the sketch I wanted to use.  I found that also on pintrest searching for cards with banners.  Here is the sketch I used...

I turned it and moved the placement of the circle.  Finally, I was getting somewhere.

I like how the card turned out.  The image is Studio G stamped in pink Ranger distressed ink.  The banner I dry embossed using a Cuttlebug folder.  The patterned paper is from Recollections Tattered and Worn Collection.  The red paper is also by Recollections.

It's Boo-tiful Day!

For this card I decided to look for inspiration from Pintrest.  I knew I wanted a circular image ever since I picked up the Witches Dust Halloween Doilys by Recollections at Michael's.  They come with 4 designs, 2 in black and 2 in orange. 

 I found the sketch I wanted to use from here.  I kept it pretty simple.  The images are from Hampton Art.  I really liked having the stars and moons "hang" from the banner.  I did move my orange sparkle flower a bit down so you could see the stars and moon mobile.  The ivory paper is from Recollections.  The orange banner I cut using my Big Shot with a papertry ink banner die out of Colorbox orange paper.  The orange flower I made using a QuickCutz nesting flower die out of glitter paper by American Crafts.  I colored all the stamped images with my sharpies.  I used StazOn black because I knew it would withstand the coloring.  The silver brad I added from my stash and it is by The Paper Studio's Spare Parts.

I am not as happy with my coloring job as I would like to be.  I am still working on it and someday I am going to have to brave things and start my copic marker collection, but I am not there yet.  Coloring things and knowing how to shade and highlight is not one of my best skills.

I also used my envelope punch board to make an envelope for this card to go it.  I did have one that would meet the needed dimensions in my stash since my doily and flower peak over the edges.  For that I used a some patterned paper from the Tattered and Worn Paper collection by Recollections. 

An Apple a Day ....Makes the Boss Happy!

Happy Boss's Day to all you who get to boss someone around....

I went to pintrest of course to come up with what to do this year.  Here is the site I used to make my gift this year.

I kept it really simple.  The only thing I would change is I would not use any cornstarch that is mentioned in the recipe for the caramel sauce.  I totally missed the "if needed" part of this and added it in.  Totally did not need this and made my caramel a bit hard so it was hard to scoop out with the apple.  It was still delicious however.

I gave my gift a day early this year since waiting till tomorrow would not work in my schedule.  If I had done that, my bosses would have never received a thing.

If nothing else, I did win points from the boss for the "cuteness" factor.

The card is just a plain sheet of paper with a circle punch folded in half and stapled to it.  The envelope is from a package I picked up on clearance at Hobby Lobby made by The Paper Studio.  The twine from Do It Yourself and the cute jar came from the Target Dollar Spot.

Witchy Boots are made for Spookin'

Well these Witchy Boots are made for spookin'.  At least they look that way from me.  I started with a cool card sketch.  It came from a pin I found.  Here is the link!  I unfortunately don't have any great bright cutesy paper to use so I used some subdued hues from We R memory keepers "For the Record" collection.  The image I just bought the other week from Michael's when their Halloween stuff was on sale.  It is by Hampton Art.  So is the spider web I added to the corner.  I colored in my boots with my Sharpies Pens and added some Ranger Crystal Effects.  Both images were stamped in Staz On Black ink.  After I distressed the edges a bit with some orange distress ink, I decided it needed a bit more "something".  Therefore, I added the faux suede brads, which are adorable.  Not sure who I am going to give this too yet, but I have a few ideas.

Trio of Treat Bags

For this trio, I wanted something special, cute, and simple. I went to this site for inspiration.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKMIrH0v54o&list=UUsFTjlTbVlnw5WJmowPDytg

These fun little treat bags will hold something sweet for my son's teachers.  I used the envelope punch board as shown in the tutorial to create these.  The paper came from We R memory keepers Anthologie 6x6 paper pad and some 12x12 paper by We r memory keepers called For the Record.  I just cut this down to the 6 x 6 needed.  I added some of the digital stamps I had on hand to decorate and some nice pumpkin colored ribbon by American Crafts.  This was super simple and came together pretty quickly.

Burlap and Leaves...It must be fall!

Got some good papercrafting in this weekend.  That always puts a smile on my face.  My inspiration card came from here:  http://www.catherinepooler.com/2013/09/burlap-happy-birthday-card/

I bought some burlap pieces a few months ago by Die Cuts with a View, but had yet to use them.  Then while surfing, pintrest I found the card by Catherine Pooler.  I thought, yes that is it.  I left the burlap as is and then used my scalloped die to cut a piece to the side.  I then with Staz On Brown ink stamped the entire stamp by Inkadinkado on the piece.  Using Colorbox silver pigment ink I then took a Technique Tuesday border stamp and stamped the left and bottom with a nice vine.  I added some white dots with a chalk white pen.  The leaf is a die by Sizzix that I inked the edges with the brown Staz On and then put some Ranger Crystal Effects on it to make it look nice and glossy.  I adhered all the layers and then topped it off with a gold colored bow.  I am happy with the way it turned out.  I have a recipient in mind that will receive this.  I hope it brings a smile to her face.

Autumn

Well here in Southern CA we finally had a break in the temps and hit the 80's this week a couple of days.  Love it!  Though there really isn't a true change in season with fall colors where we are, doesn't mean I don't want to make some "fall" cards.  This one is again using an image on line that I colored with sharpies.  I also decided to do a shaker card, which I haven't done in a long while.  I colored the silver sequins I had by Tree house studio with my sharpies and add them in.  I have had these shaker cards forever, so I have no idea where the card kit came from.  The one thing I would have done different here is put two layers of foam tape around my image to make the shaker part a bit deeper.  I used brown StazOn ink for the sentiment.  The sentiment is one of my favorite.  I have had it forever.  I love the the font.  It is made by Hero Arts.  It was a pretty simple card to make and I know just who will be receiving this one.  Thanks so much for stopping by!

Halloween Fun

I was able to get some craft time in tonight.  I did something I have not done in a long while.

I used a digital image from the internet to create a card.  I think it turned out pretty cute.  Since my stamping/papercrafting stash has recently downsized again (long story).  I was proud to see I could still put together a pretty nice card with what I had on hand.  The sentiment I down loaded from the internet.  Please forgive me for not having the reference on hand.  But, if I find the site I will definitely add that in.  I usually do not make halloween cards, but now that I have 5 year old, well I see these quick easy cards will come in handy this season.  The black spiders are from a Studio G set from years back.  I stamped them on the top half of a 4 1/4 x 5 1/2 piece of Recollections creme cardstock.  I ran the orange Colorbok cardstock through my Big Shot with the Cuttle Bug dot folder.  I added some Recollections black and white Bakers's Twine in a bow.  The sentiment from the internet was cut out with a circle punch.  Simple and Easy.  My favorite type of card!  I see this as an easy card to give to a few family, friends, teachers, etc.  Thanks for taking a moment to look. 

New Toys

Well I broke down and bought a new computer.  I am testing it out and so far so good.  Hopefully, that means new cards are on the way as well.