Spring Birthday

My inspiration today comes from Peggy's gorgeous gallery at Splitcoaststampers. I'm always in need of Birthday cards so I use the challenges at SCS. The flowers are stamped and heat embossed in white and fussy cut. I used a "Clementine" stamp by the Artful Stamper. The frame is die cut with QuiKutz nesting dies and the center is a Taylored Expressions Quatrefoil die cut to fit inside.

Christmas Thank You

For the last Ways To Use It Challenge for 2013 over at Splitcoaststampers the hostess asked us to dig that beautiful wrapping paper out of the trash, and use some of it on our card or project! I did just that. It's amazing how terrific some -not so spectacular- 

wrapping paper can look in smaller doses.

The first two were made with fragile wrapping paper. 

The last two were made with the tags that came with the gifts. 

Each card is going to the giver of each wrapped or tagged gift.

Used memory box bow die for the Spellbinders classic small rectangles

The raffia was a part of the jar of homemade eggnog with the kraft tag and branch
All were repurposed for the Thank You note.

The cute snowman was a tag on the matching bag.

A Sailor's Christmas

The Mojo Monday sketch #323 was perfect for a Christmas card for sailing friends. I used the bow and sentiment from Verve's "O Christmas Tree" set. The designer paper is from echo park "Dots & Stripes". I cut the dp and paper pieced to match the design of the sketch. 

I still have a few Christmas cards to complete for this year and hope to mail them before the New Year!

HOLLY - tini

I wandered over to CAS(E) this Sketch and was fascinated by this week's sketch. I love the shape of Martini glasses and chose to go with it because that's what I see in the sketch. I used a sizzlits die and cut the top and base to include the sentiment. My bubbles are not sparkling as they should but I'm sure you get the drift.

HAVE A HOLLY JOLLY SEASON!

CAS(E) this Sketch #56 

Holiday Paperwhites

I love receiving paperwhites as a gift. I also love making them out of (of course) PAPER! See how-to below.

Card Ingredients: ek success small flower punch (not shown),
punch bunch vase, Creative memories circle punch.
The stems are from a Sizzix bigz Tulip die but can be hand cut or paper trimmings.

Simply Merry Christmas

I wanted to try non-traditional with today's wreath. I also wanted to make it quick. I die cut the wreath with two SB circles and the bow is die cut from dark brown card stock to coordinate with the brown sentiment and chevrons.

Sandy Birthday and Christmas

For the Color Challenge over at Splitcoaststamps our hostess presented these colors to create a card or project. OLD OLIVE, CHERRY COBBLER, SAHARA SAND AND FOR DESSERT - GET OUT the DISTRESSING TOOLS  I did a little distressing with white chalk ink on the edges of the flowers.

Stamps: memory box sentiment Paper: white tagboard, sand, green and dark red card stock scraps Paper Size: A2 Ink: DI forest moss, VersaMagic Cloud White Accessories: Momenta flower die, punch bunch small sun, Elizabeth curvy leaves die, Taylored Expressions "Quatrefoil" die, gemstones 

Second Project

I glued an old Economics book page to card stock and die cut Tim Holtz Holly and branch. I sponged with Distress inks peeled paint, fired brick and walnut stain. The background is partially stamped with Penny Black “Letter Background” in white using a Faber-Castell PITT White artist pen directly to stamp. The splatter is from a Wink of Stella White shimmer Brush pen and Cloud White VersaMagic was used around the distressed edges. Stamps: Memory box sentiment, Penny Black bg Paper: Sand cs Paper Size: A2

Happy Haunting!

Better late than never. Just wanted to post a few Halloween cards. Next year I will start in July so that they can be delivered before November!

Christmas Cards for 2013

The ongoing monthly Christmas Card Challenges at  Splitcoaststampers  is a great way for me to get focused early on making the 200+ cards I need for the season. For the October challenge we are to use a different kind of fold. Here are a few that I've made. 

My personal quota is 15 cards per month.

Card Ingredients: Sizzix Flip-its Bigz die, Hero Arts clear stamp set,
TH/Sizzix Floral Frame embossing folder, copic marker, gelly roll sparkle pen,
memory box bells die (for bow), sparkle stickers scissors for fussy cutting ornament.

Card Ingredients: memory box poinsettia die, Spellbinders Persian Accents border,
Anna Griffin holiday dp, Hampton Arts sentiment stamp

Card Ingredients: Spellbinders Marvelous Squares and fancy framed tag,
Sizzix movers and shapers poinsettia, memory box buckle die, 

Celebrate with a Bouquet

Tuesday Trigger at Moxie Fab World 

My approach to an inspiration photo is probably too literal. I really love making flowers and the ones on the fine tooth comb were too beautiful to resist.

I used a number of different punches and a stamp and die cut set. 

Please see ingredients under the close up.

Tuesday Trigger: Fine Tooth Comb

Card Ingredients: two Marvy daisy punches, Sizzix/Hero Arts stamp & die-cut floral #657776, Sizzix 3-D rose die, Elizabeth curvy leaves, memory box flourish die, Martha Stewart hydrangea punch (small) and two strips of card stock cut 1/4" by 5" snipped and quilled for two flower centers. Clear embossing powder and heat gun for one flower.

Fall Birthday

 CAS-ual Fridays challenge 

CFC115: Use a fall color palette and at least one leaf in your CAS design

I stamped the Petaluma, CA oak leaf in Distress Ink fired brick and onto burnt orange card stock and heat embossed with clear embossing powder. The designer papers are from s.e.i. “Moravia” pad. The colors are so perfect for a fall card. I will be sending this to my brother.

Give Thanks

It seems there's something extra special about this time of year. The kids are back to school, the weather (for some) has a fresh feel, the pumpkins are making their way for fall and weddings. September was my wed month. The Inspiration Challenge site at Splitcoaststampers is William Sonoma which is loaded with beautiful things. I used two Hero Arts background stamps that I thought captured the elegance of my inspirations.

Hero Arts Large Floral Pattern #S5471

Hero Arts Leaf & Floral Background CG405 click for mum tools

Hero Arts #CG405

Tea and Flowers

Tuesday Trigger: Now That's My Cup of Tea!

For today's challenge at Tuesday Trigger, I was inspired by the delicate colors on the pretty white porcelain cup with the soft blue saucer. I wanted to show the bolder side of the flowers. My blue pearls pollen represents the saucer. the chevrons are the opposite of the soft curves of the set.

Card Ingredients: Spellbinders Flower creations die, Elizabeth Curvy Leaves die, die-namics chevrons die, Verve sentiment, Yellow liquid pearls, memory box blue pearls.

MOJO 307 Gratitude

Mojo Monday 307

Another wonderful sketch by Julee! I just love this Toile paper by Recollections and wanted to feature it's scene as much as possible. I die cut the circle and framed it to go over the pattern. I used a light pink vellum to allow the pattern to show through. The banners are made using accompanying designer papers from the collection. The Verve flowers are stamped and heat embossed in blush powder and fussy cut. 

Free Style

Hello bloggers!  This week for the Technique Lover's Challenge at Splitcoaststampers we are to do a little Freestyle Design.  A process of adding elements, layers, stamped images, die cuts...anything that strikes our fancy. I have loads of things  previously die cut, stamped and etc. Some elements were gifts and some are scraps from other projects.

SUNFLOWER

 Challenge #15 Floral Fantasy 

(use flowers on your card:  image, papers, accents)

This was fun to make because I love ,and look forward to seeing, sunflowers around town soon. I stamped yellow, green and brown card stock with a letter background stamp by Penny Black and heat embossed with white powder. I Used two Sizzix dies, one the the Sunflower and one for the stem. I also stamped the sentiment and heat embosses and used Tim Holtz Distress Stain tumble glass dauber. 

Good Time Friend

IC402 ~ Winter Water Factory 

For the Inspiration Challenge at Splitcoaststampers we are directed to the WINTER WATER FACTORY

What adorable goods they have there! I was inspired by this Grey and Yellow Dress

Card Ingredients: Verve's Great Friend Set of 12 VSA-10-018,
Spellbinders Labels Ten and petite oval, Martha Stewart black gems

Gift Note cards and Box

I'm always looking for something other than a bottle of wine to bring to someone's home when invited for dinner or weekend visits. What if they don't drink wine? Well, what about a little box of 3x3" note cards to add to gifts they may give. Of course it helps to know the hosts a little. We have friends whose home decor incorporates some beautiful asian watercolors. 

card ingredients: Great Impressions Lily stamp for the note cards,
Susan's Garden Lily by Sizzix for Lily on box top, Verve Sentiment,
Spellbinders crown circle, copic markers, Pebbles Inc., Metallic Cream Chalks.
(I used a clementine crate mesh cover from the grocery store as a stencil 
for the gray pattern on the bottom of note cards)

Box bottom:  9”x9” sq scored at 1½” 3”, 6”, 7½” turn and score same

Box Lid:  5⅝” x5⅝” sq scored at ⅝” and 1¼” on all four sides

Add some kind of glue to secure tabs and to keep the folds in place

Together Forever

T'is the season for weddings and I'm resupplying my arsenal. I made this card in honor of our SCS Queen for the Day QFTD159 heartsong47. What a wonderful gallery Jan has.

I kept her basic designed but added my closest elements. 

Treats for a Friend

Creating sweet treat boxes is a favorite of mine. I have made other round and oval containers and have had a little trouble with the openings. This time I've come up with the telescoping top which spins open with a brad attachment.

Here are the dies I've used. 

Any round or oval shape will do as long as there is a classic shape (no decorative edge) 

to attach the body strip to.

I cut  four cardboard shapes; 

solid beaded for bottom of box, oval ringlet, (classic oval is missing from photo) 

and beaded oval ringlet.

and three cream card stock shapes. One to cover bottom cardboard,

the top for opening and the beaded ringlet.  

You will need a strip of card stock that measures 2 and 1/2" by 11". Score the strip at 1/4" on top and bottom long side and add 1/4"width score tape to each long side. Also add score tape to one end. 

Cut saw tooth effect through score tape for tabs to make it easier to adhere to oval or circle

(see red liner tape on yellow more clearly)

(I scored the yellow strip at 3/8". This made the tabs a little too long when attached to the ringlet oval. 

It needed trimming.)

Remove score tape liner and start in the center half of oval attaching the tabs.

Also attach the other tabbed end to the ringlet oval.

Add a beaded oval card stock to the beaded oval cardboard with glue and adhere to bottom.

Add a beaded ringlet card stock to beaded cardboard shape and glue to ringlet top.

Add another beaded card stock to remaining beaded oval cardboard shape, align and attach the top with a brad. Depending on what shape you use you may need to punch/pierce a small hole for the brad. 

Decorate your box the way you like and add something sweet or cute inside. 

Great for M&Ms, Kisses, Nuts, paper clips and etc...