Birch Press Design December Post #1

 Hello, hello!  Popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.  Here is a little peek at what I created:

Hope you will head over to the BPD blog to see what I created.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

More SSS DieCember Release Cards

 Hello from really wet and really wild Western Washington!  The rain has been crazy here for the last few days.  Many rivers are at flood warning or have flooded.  Haven't seen this much rain in such a short period of time in many, many years.   Hoping things calm down here in the next few days.  I'm popping in to not just talk about the weather, but to share two more cards that I made with products from the Simon Says Stamp DieCember release.  Let's have a look at what I made. 

This card was made with the new Birds in the Pine embossing folder that also includes die to cut out the little birds.   I decided to emboss a piece of light blue and white patterned paper from Paper Rose Studio with the embossing folder so that the embossed pines are a little more subtle.  I then used a coordinating piece of patterned paper that had a red watercolor look to it to die cut out the birds and then emboss them.  I attached the little birds in their respective spots using glue and just a few areas on the birds so their wings would pop up slightly.  The sentiment is from the Simon Says Stamp Christmas Cheer stamp and die set.  I stamped the banner and then the sentiment.  Die cut with the matching die and then used thin foam squares to attach it in the center of the card.  You really can't see it in the photo, but I did add glossy accents to some of the pine branches and then covered it with Rock Candy glitter.  It provides a nice subtle sparkle.  

This card was made with the Stitching Holly and Berries die set from the release.  I die cut the holly leaves and then added stitching to them using three strands of a dark green DMC floss.  The berries had glossy accents applied to them and then I covered them with chunky Rock Candy glitter.   The large you sentiment is from a CZ Design Christmas stamp set.  After stamping in red ink and then die cutting I embossed the word with a snowflake embossing folder for a little bit of texture.  I adhered everything to a light gray panel and then finished with the little sub-sentiment.  Since you can actually see the sparkle on this card I'm going to enter it into the current Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of sparkle and shine. 

Well, that's it for me.  I hope the weather is a little bit saner in your part of the world!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Simon Says Stamp DieCember Blog Hop Day 1!

Hello, hello!   I'm so excited to be participating in the day 1 blog hop celebrating Simon Says Stamp's DieCember release!  It is huge and full of wonderful new products!   You should have arrived at my blog from Bonnie Crane's blog.    As you can see from the graphic Simon Says Stamp is offering a free gift with any purchase from the DieCember release and that free gift is an absolutely adorable snowman!  And Simon Says Stamp is giving away a $25 gift certificate at each stop on the hop!!  YAY!  

Simon Says Stamp was so kind and sent me several different products from the release.  Today I'm sharing cards that I made with a few of those products.   Let's take a look at what I created. 

First up is a card that I made using the really cool Forest Background die.  The die cuts out multiple tree lines and a thin border.  You can create a background like I did by keeping all the pieces together or create more depth to the layers by adding dimensional foam.   I started my card by coloring a piece of watercolor cardstock with Rustic Wilderness reinker.   I squeezed out the color from the bottle on to my Tim Holtz glass mat and then applied it to the cardstock with a wet paint brush.   Before applying the reinker I did wet the watercolor cardstock lighty with water.   I tried to have the bottom darker than the top.  It worked, sort of, lol!  Once my cardstock was dry I die cut it and then placed tape on the back to keep everything in place.   I did discard the top portion of the cut as I had created a second watercolor piece using Chipped Sapphire and Black Soot reinkers.    I let that piece dry and then die cut it with the top portion of the die.   Both pieces were then placed in my splatter box, liberally splattered with Simon Says Stamp white splatter medium and set aside to dry.  For the sentiment I used an older Simon Says Stamp peace die and two sub-sentiments from the SSS Stained Glass Greeting stamp set.  I die cut the word three times from glossy black cardstock and layered them.   To assemble the card I added foam squares to the back of the main portion of the background and adhered it to my card base.   For the top portion I used glue so that portion was flush with the card base giving a little dimension to the card.  I finished with the sentiments placed in the center.

For this card I used the new Radiant Burst die and the poinsettia image and sentiment from the SSS Holiday Gift Giving stamp and die set.  I placed the Radiant Burst die slighty off center on a white cardstock panel and then die cut it.   I stamped the poinsettia with Memento Tuxedo Black and then colored the image with Copic markers.   Die cut the poinsettia, two additional layers and glued them together.  Same was done for the sentiment.  I added some glossy accents to the center of the flower and then covered it with Rock Candy glitter.   I'm trying to be mindful of postage costs so I adhered the Radiant Burst panel to my pink cardstock base with glue.   I then adhered the poinsettia and sentiment.  My card is based on the sketch from Sunday Stamps so I will be adding it to their gallery. 

This card is a duplicate of the first card just with a different image, sentiment and color palette.   I couldn't decide which image I wanted to use for the initial card and so decided to just create two.  That means two more cards for my Christmas card stash.  The image was also stamped in Tuxedo Black and colored with Copic markers.   Diecutting and assembly is exactly the same as the first card.    

Which card do you like best?  I like both versions, but I'm a little more partial to the second card as I like bold jewel tone colors more than softer pastel colors.  

My final card is a departure from Christmas and a move to birthday.  This card was made with the Sweet Treat Critters stamp set and the Scalloped Shaker Shapes die set.   I did some masking to keep my card fairly flat for mailing.  Everything was stamped with Tuxedo Black ink and then colored with Copic markers.  I then die cut the image with the larger scalloped shaker shape.  Pink cardstock was die cut with an SSS A2 Frames die and then embossed with a fun puffy heart embossing folder.  I adhered the pink panel with double sided tape and the image with glue.  I finished with the speech bubble sentiments that were popped up with thin foam squares.  

Well, that is it for me.  Your next stop on the hop is Heejung Hunsberger.    A full list of blog hop participants can be found on the Simon Says Stamp blog.  I also have the list below.  You can find the full release right here.

• Simon Says Stamp Blog 
• Heather Hoffman
• Barbara Tarayao
• Cathy Zielske
• Jennifer McGuire
• Emily Midgett
• Amy Rysavy
• Heather Ruwe
• Lisa Addesa
• Miriam Prantner
• Cheiron Brandon
• Kath Stewart
• Caryn Davies
• Bonnie Crane
• Rosemary Dennis
• Heejung Hunsberger

Thanks for stopping by and enjoy the hop!

December 25th

 Hello!  Posting has been sporadic, again, lol!  Have been making things and will be sharing some of them on Friday so stay tuned!  I did want to try to play along with JUGs before they take a break until January.  The challenge there is anything goes with stenciling.  I'm also playing along with the Paper Players which is a tic tac toe board.  I went with stenciling, Christmas and patterned paper.  Finally I will be adding this to the SSS Wednesday challenge.   In case you didn't know it is now DieCember over at Simon Says Stamp and so the Wednesday challenge is to use dies.   Whew that was a lot, lol!  Let's take a look at what I made.

Going through my stuff (I have too much!) and I found the Waffle Flower Postage Collage Christmas stencil set.   I honestly did not know that I had even purchased it.  Is that bad?   Well, now I know I have it and so I put it to use making today's card.  Since I was pressed for time I used the suggested distress ink color combo on the Waffle Flower website.   Blue wasn't included in the color combo, but I added it in for the sky behind the house and the reindeer.  Once I was done stenciling I also added some light gold embossing paste to the image with the trees.     I die cut the entire panel with the Postage Collage die and then layered it on some dark green plaid patterned paper.  To bring in a little bit more patterend paper I die cut some red with tiny dots using the smallest poinsettia die from an older Waffle Flower die set.   I created my poinsettia and added a drop of Nuvo drops in Limoncello.  Once that was dry I added everything to a card base along with a Memory Box sentiment tab and I was done.

Well, that's it for me!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

Birch Press Design Post #2

 Hello!  I hope everyone in the US had a wonderful Thanksgiving day!  We had a nice, but quiet one.  Spent some time with my in-laws and then roasted our Thanksgiving chicken, lol!  It was delicious!  Anyway, I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.    Here is a little peek:

Wanted to let you know that Birch Press Design is also having a sale.  25% off storewide, free shipping and a free gift!  Make sure you take advantage of the sale!   

Well, that's it for me.  I hope you head over to the blog to see what I created.  Thanks for stopping by!

Holiday Wishes...

 Hello!   Hope all is well in your world.  It has gotten chilly here in my corner of the PNW.   I love the crispness in the air when I take our dog for a walk in the morning.   I'm still trying to get Christmas cards made and have one to share today.  It is for Color Hues (teal and silver) and the Paper Players challenge (clean and simple/favorite image to put on a Christmas card).  Let's have a look at what I made.

I used a couple more new Birch Press Design products for my card:  Simple Evergreen Sprigs and Festive Jingle Bells.   I was so excited when I saw the Festive Jingle Bells dies because I love jingle bells!   They are so fun in real life and on a Christmas card.   After die cutting everything from teal and silver cardstock I assembled my bells.  Then I messed around with arranging the evergreen sprigs and came up with a swag of sorts.   Because I tend to fall back on a plain backround I decided to go through my embossing folders and find one that I thought would work.  I used the Simon Says Stamp Wild Berry Wreath to add that little something I was looking for.  I adhered my little swag and then added the bells.  I'm not super happy with the little twine bow and the way the smaller bells are hanging from it, but that is life so I just went with it.  I finished with a sentiment from the Simon Say Stamp Sparkle Season stamp set that I stamped in teal ink and die cut with the matching die.  One more Christmas card to add to the pile!

Well, that's it for me!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

Holiday Cards with Birch Press Design

 Hello!  I'm back with two cards that I made using new dies from Birch Press Design.   This release is another big one and it is jam packed with so many great designs.   I have been in a bit of a cardmaking slump lately, but creating with these dies has pulled me out of it... just a little, lol!   Let's have a look at what I made.

First up is a card that I made using the current sketch from Freshly Made Sketches.  I had to change the orientation of the sketch so that my handsome stag would fit!  The die is called Block Print Deer, but since he has antlers that would make him a stag.  Anyway, I die cut all the pieces from watercolor cardstock and then used my brown Aquaflow pen from Tonic Studios to get all the shades that I needed.  As he was drying I picked out a light brown and blue plaid patterned paper from the Memory Box Poinsettia Plaid 6x6 pad.  I die cut down a piece of light blue cardstock and then added the trimmed down patterned paper and a strip of gold foil cardstock.  I added my stag and then to tie it all together I used a Memory Box banner tab with a gold foiled sentiment.  Not a traditional Christmas card, but I like it.

On to my second card!

This card is for the current Sunday Stamp challenge which is also a sketch challenge.  I used three different dies for this card:  Simple Pine Needles, Block Print Winter Pinecone and Block Print Winter Cardinal.  We don't have cardinals in the Pacific Northwest so I have to settle for die cut ones, lol!  All the pieces for this card were also die cut from watercolor cardstock and then colored with Aquaflow pens in red, green, brown and a touch of yellow.    After everything was dry and assembled I added glue to the pine needles and pinecone and then poured on some Rock Candy glitter.  You can't go wrong with sparkle!  I die cut the rectangle from a piece of Memory Box Jolly Christmas 6x6 paper using a Pinkfresh Studio postage edge die.  The strip at the bottom is from the reverse side of that paper.  I adhered everything with glue so the card is still relatively flat.  Finished with another Memory Box sentiment tab.  ETA:  I'm also going to add this one to the current JUGs challenge.  This week is word week and the word is winter.  What says winter more than Christmas?! 

Well, that's it for me!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

Birch Press Design

Hello!  I'm up on the Birch Press Design blog today.  There is a HUGE new release in store and I created my project using three of those new products.  Here is a little peek of what I made. 

Head over to the blog to see the full project.  I had some problems with my blog post and in trying to fix things it appears I accidently removed commenting.  So, please check out the post and feel free to comment here or not.   Thanks!

Simon Says Stamp And Everything Nice Release!

 Hello, hello!  It has been a while since I last posted.  Been in a bit of a creative slump when it comes to card making.  But I did get three small cross-stitches that I completed turned into little pillows!  I did, however, manage to make two cards using the sweet Nutcracker Christmas stamp set from the new And Everything Nice release from Simon Says Stamp.  You can find the release right here.   Let's look at what I made.

One of the images in the set is Clara dancing with her nutcracker.  I decided to color her up in a pretty shade of purple using Copic markers.  The nutcracker was colored simply in a red and black combo.  After I finished coloring the image I trimmed her out with my scissors.  I also added some highlights to her.  I die cut a Simon Says Stamp tag and adhered her to the tag.  For more interest I die cut the Simon Says Stamp Branching Corner Holly die from white cardstock.  I added glossy accents to the berries and then covered the berries with Rock Candy glitter.  After the pieces were dry, I arranged them behind the tag, adhering everything with glue to the purple cardstock I die cut using a Simon Says Stamp A2 frames die.  For a little more interest, I stamped one of the candies from the set and colored it using the same grouping of markers that I used for Clara's dress.  Glossy accents was added to the candy along with Rock Candy glitter.  When it was dry I carefully trimmed it out and adhered it to the top of the tag.  Because I glued everything flat on the card I was able to add my sentiment at the end.  Sometimes I get so into creating the overall design I forget about where to put the sentiment.  Thankfully there was room in that corner!  The Just Us Girls challenge is celebrating their 800th challenge!  I'm going to add this little cutie to the challenge gallery.  Congrats to JUGs!  Here's to 800 more challenges!

Now on to my next card!  

It was at the point when I started to make this card that my creative slump really kicked in.  I stamped the colored the little candy prince (at least that is what I'm calling him) in shades of blue using Copic markers, but then I just couldn't figure out what to do with him.    Let things go for awhile and then decided to stamp the drum on a die cut panel of white cardstock and place my little candy prince that I had fussy cut out on top.  I colored the drum using the same blues as I used for the prince to keep things cohesive.   I also decided to stamp the little candies from the set around him, color them with the same blues and then add glossy accents to the candies along with Rock Candy glitter.  The feather on his hat and his scepter also received glossy accents and Rock Candy glitter.   Now what to do about the sentiment, lol!  Almost let it off, but then decided to go a little "old school" and stamp it on white cardstock, trim it down and add a layer behind it of the same blue cardstock used for the base.   

Well, that is it for me.  You can find the entire And Everything Nice release here on the Simon Says Stamp website.   If you wish to shop the release you can use the link over on the sidebar.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day.

Birch Press Design Blog Post #2

 Hello, hello!  Popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the BPD blog today.  Here is a little peek.

Hope you will head over to the BPD blog to check out what I created.  The new BPD release is now available on the website and it is a good one!  Lots and lots of Christmas/holiday themed dies.  Can't wait to share what I make.  Til next time!

autumn blessings

 Hello!  I'm back with one more fall inspired card.  This one is for the current Paper Players challenge (clean and simple with foliage) and Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge (also clean and simple).   Let's take a look at what I made.

During Stamptember SSS released a limited edition holiday/Christmas card kit.  As is the case with all of their kits you can buy products contained in the kit separately.  When I saw the Sparkle Season stamp and die set I had to add it to my collection.  I love leaf stamps!  They are so versatile, and my card proves this point.  The leafy stem was design for Christmas/holiday cards, but as you can see, I gave it an autumnal spin by using lots of beautiful distress inks in fall colors.  Specifically, I used Scattered Straw, Aged Mahagony, Carved Pumpkin, Gathered Twigs and Festive Berries.   To get the colors I wanted on the leaves I did multiple layers of stamping.  Some of the leaves were stamped initially with Scattered Straw and then I added more colors.  A few leaves were stamped with Festive Berries and then more colors added.  I used Ranger tiny foam blenders to add the colors to the leaves to get a nice blend.  It did take a while to stamp, but I think it was so worth it as I absolutely love how it turned out.  Die cut with the matching die and then built the rest of the card.   I embossed white cardstock with a leafy embossing folder and then die cut it down further with a SSS tag die.  The sentiment is from the SSS stamp and die set called Cozy Autumn Hugs.  I stamped it with Gathered Twigs and then die cut with the matching die.  I adhered everything to a white cardstock panel.  I created the bow with three colors of twine and did attach it to the top of the tag but didn't like it so added it to my leafy stem.  I liked that much better. 

Well, that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Fall and Christmas...

 Hello!  Fall finally seems to be in full swing here in the south Puget Sound!  I do like it when we have what is called an "indian summer", but this year it was way too hot for way too long and I was over it!  Our usual rain has arrived, but it was kind of a crazy transition.  Hot one day, cold the next, lol!   Anyway, as my blog title suggests I have fall and Christmas represented in this post.  Let's look at what I made.

First up is fall.  This card is for the current Just Us Girls challenge which features a pretty mood board.  I went with the colors and some of the fall icons.  I used the Simon Says Stamp Full of Thanks stamps, stencils and dies and lots of fall colored distress inks.  I used Scattered Straw for most of the foliage and then added different colors on top.  The pumpkin was done in Carved Pumpkin and then a bit of Ripe Persimmon.  Using stencils to color everything makes for quick crafting!  Die cut all the images then arranged them on a kraft panel to get placement for the sentiment.  Once placement was set I removed all the die cut pieces and stamped the sentiment using Versafine CLAIR Acorn ink.  Also used Acorn for all the images.  Thought about using a embossing folder to add some texture, but was too lazy to go looking for the one I had in mind, lol!  Adhered everything with glue (nothing popped up as I want to mail it without extra postage), added to a card base and I was done.

These next two cards are for Christmas and feature more products from the PaperTrey Ink September release.  I have finally worked my way through the majority of the products.   Let's have a look at what I made.

This card features the Nutcracker Magic suite of products and I love them!  I took ballet starting at the age of 5 and ending shortly after I turned 19.  During that time, I was able to participate in the Christmas favorite Nutcracker Ballet during the last three years I took ballet.  At that time, I was an apprentice in a local ballet company.  So, the Nutcracker is near and dear to my heart!  These products brought back so many memories.  And no, I wasn't ever good enough to be the Sugar Plum Fairy featured on my card!  But I was happy with the parts that I did perform.  Kept things fairly simple.  I had previously hot foiled the background panel using the Merry Motifs hot foil plate using pink foil but didn't use it for the intend project.  Thought it was perfect for this card.  I did use the sketch from Freshly Made Sketches so will post it there.  Stamped the Sugar Plum Fairy and the little swag with Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored with Copics.  Die cut the pieces along with the sentiment.  A bit of sparkle was added to the edge of her tutu and the berries on the swag using Rock Candy glitter.  Die cut the medium sized oval frame from white cardstock to provide her with a subtle frame and then adhered everything to the foiled panel.  

My final card features the fun 12 Days of Christmas stamps and dies.  Let's have a look.

For this card I stamped all the images with black ink and then pulled out my polychromos color pencils and colored them.  I will admit that I started strong and finished pretty weak with the coloring, lol.  I really like how all the birds turned out especially the turtle dove.  As I was working on the coloring, I sang the song that inspired these products.  I was doing pretty well remembering all the words until I got to eleven.  I had to stop and look up the lyrics to see what number 11 was.  It is "eleven pipers piping" and that is when I realized the problem.  The PTI image for number 11 is a horn!  Totally threw me off, lol.  The suite of products comes with that grid background die.  I can see using it for many other things besides these stamps and dies!   I did die cut additional layers for each little icon and then adhered them together.  I die cut the sentiment from vellum twice and then adhered them together.   I like how you can see the sentiment, but it also allows the images to peek through, as well.  Going to add this one to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of Christmas.

Well, that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Autumn Blessings

 Hey there!  Popping in to share a card that I made for the Color Hues challenge of rust and yellow.  I'm also going to add it to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge gallery since I think the card is pretty colorful (although maybe not super bright, lol!).  Let's have a look at what I created.

Toward the end of November last year I purchased the Greetery Oakwood set of products, but because Christmas card making was in full swing I never used the products.   Recently, the Oakwood products were featured at a 15% discount and it got me thinking about using them.   Thought the Color Hues combo was a perfect vehicle.   I started by using the stencil set to inkblend the leaves using distress oxide inks in Rusty Hinge and Fossilized Amber.   For the stems and acorns I used Gathered Twigs and Frayed Burlap.   After stenciling the leaves, acorns and stems I added the details on the leaves with the stamp set.  I used Gathered Twigs to add the detailing on the leaves and acorns and Black Soot for the stem.  Then I die cut everything with the matching die.  I love the soft matte look the distress oxide ink gives to the leaves. I then stamped the word Autumn using Fossilized Amber and Rusty Hinge and the word blessings was stamped in Gathered Twigs.  Used PTI dies for both of the background layers.  Additional layers of the oak leaves and words were die cut and stacked behind.  I them adhered everthing to the card front.  I finished with a little bit of Rock Candy glitter to the leaves and acorns.

That's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day. 

Simon Says Stamp Sugar n Spice Release!

 Hello, hello!  I know that Simon Says Stamp just had a fantastic month of exclusive released for Stamptember, but they have a new release that dropped today called Sugar and Spice!  Simon was so kind and provided me with the absolutely adorable Cool Birthday stamp set.   This set features sweet little polar bears, penguins and seals and a cute little iceberg with an igloo and banner complete with a disco ball!  How fun is that?!  Let's have a look at what I created.

First up is a card featuring the two polar bears and a seal carrying a present.   I'm a stickler for things being correct and for my card to be correct I had to put the polar bears and seal together because despite what you see during Christmas and winter polar bears and penguins do not live in the same hemisphere!  Penguins only live at the south pole and polar bears only live at the north pole.  Seals, however, live at both the northern and southern poles so they can be used with the polar bears or the penguins.  Got it, lol?   Now that we have that out of the way let me tell you about the cards.  I stamped the images using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored them very simply with Copic markers.  I then stamped the iceberg/igloo image on a white cardstock panel and colored it simply as well.  It is hard to tell put I did use a very light blue Copic to create the water the iceberg is floating on.  I did use some Memory Box snowflake rub ons in the background, as well.  For a little sparkle I added some glue to the disco ball and the little pompoms on the party hats and then added some Rock Candy glitter.  Finished with the sentiment that I stamped and die cut with a sentiment strip.

For the second card I did some selective inking up of the iceberg image to remove to make the scene a little different.   I stamped the iceberg image a little too off center so I had to die cut it down alot more than the first card so I die cut a light blue cardstock panel and then added Memory Box snowflake rub ons.  I stamped the little party goers in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored simply (again) with Copic markers.  As with the first card I added Rock Candy glitter to the disco ball, and pompoms on the party hats and the sentiment that was stamped and then die cut with a sentiment strip.

That's it for me.  You can see the full release by clicking here.   I also have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today that you can see by clicking here.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Birch Press Design October Post #1

 Hello, hello!  Popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the BPD blog today.  Here is a little peek at what I created.

Hope you will head over to the BPD blog to see the entire card and let me know what you think.  Thanks for stopping by today!

Simon Says Stamp World Cardmaking Day!

 Hello, hello!  Today is World Cardmaking Day and I'm sharing a card that I made for a special event happening over on the Simon Says Stamp blog.  Crafters from around the world are sharing Christmas/holiday themed cards on the Simon Says Stamp blog.   So excited to be representing the good old USA!!  Here is what I made.

I used the super cute and fun Holiday Ornaments from Simon Says Stamp.  Have to share a funny little story about this set.  I received this set from Simon Says Stamp to create project with for a previous release.   Because I liked the set so much and knew I would use it, I decided to get the matching dies and purchased them when the full release was available.  Well, months later Simon Says Stamp offered the dies at a "super sale" price.  I had totally forgotten that I had already bought the dies and bought them for a second time, lol!  I realized my mistake when the second set arrived, I put them with the stamp set and the first set was already in the storage pouch!  I decided it was a good mistake because now if I decide to stamp two of each image I have dies for each one.  Anyway, for my card I stamped the three images using Memento Tuxedo Black ink and then colored each one with Copic markers.  I then die cut a panel of white cardstock and embossed it with a SSS snowflake embossing folder.  The EF isn't available any more, but they do have a couple that are similar.  I die cut the strings from silver cardstock and then arranged all the ornaments on the front.  I finished with a sentiment from the set that I stamped and die cut with a small rectangle die.

That's it for me.  Don't forget to head over to the SSS blog to check out all the other holiday projects!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful World Cardmaking Day!

Friend... thankful for you

 Hello!  Popping in to share a card for a few challenges:  Just Us Girls (die week - leaves), Sunday Stamps (sketch), Color Throwdown (colors) and Die Cut Divas (anything goes).  Let's have a look at what I made.

So happy when I saw the challenge at JUGs was to use leaf dies.  I love leaf dies as they are so versatile.  You can use them any time of the year, but especially during the fall!   Because I wanted to make a card using the Sunday Stamp sketch I knew I needed a smaller scale leaf die and pulled out a favorite from Simon Says Stamp.  I have had them for along time and don't remember the name.  Not sure if they even carry them anymore, either.  I die cut them from white cardstock and then inked them up with the colors from CTD (orange, red and green).  I used some small postage stamp dies from Waffle Flower and die cut kraft cardstock to use to layer on my leaves.   The main panel was die cut with a Pinkfresh Studio postage stamp die.  I almost added little postmark images to the smaller stamps, but got sidetracked at one point and didn't go back to that idea.  Layered the postage die cuts on to the main panel and then added the leaves.  Finished with a sentiment from a Simon Says Stamp set called Cozy Autumn.  

Well, that's it for me.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

Papertrey Ink September Release - Part 2

 Hello!  I'm back to share three more cards that I made with products from the Papertrey Ink September release.   With all these beautiful Christmas themed products to work with I'm sure to get most of my Christmas cards made for the season!  Let's have a look at what I made.

This first card was made with the new Into the Blooms: Snowdrops die set, the This is Big Happy Holidays stamps and dies, the Stitched Snowflakes cover plate die, Rounded Rectangle dies and In Frame: Ovals dies.   I die cut the snowdrops from green and white cardstock and then added a little bit of Broken China distress oxide ink to the white pieces.  The stems were die cut from a medium green cardstock.  I adhered all the piece together with liquid adhesive and thin foam squares in a few places.  I then die cut pale blue cardstock with the largest In Frame: Ovals die.  I kept the two pieces together by securing them in place on the back with washi tape.  White cardstock was die cut with the largest Rounded Rectangle die and then run through my die cutting machine with the Stitched Snowflakes die.  I adhered that to a pale blue cardstock base and then layered on the ovals and the snowdrops.  I finished with the Happy Holiday sentiment.   I didn't stamp the sentiment and then die cut it as I wasn't sure I could get the die to line up correctly.  So, I die cut first, left the die cut in place, aligned the sentiment on top and then stamped using black ink.  Worked like a charm.  I die cut additional layers, adhered them together and then adhered the sentiment to the card front with liquid adhesive and thin foam squares.   A little bit of sparkle was added as well using Rock Candy glitter.   Going to add this card to the Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge of anything goes.

For this card and the third one I went with a traditional red and green theme with kraft instead of white as the background for a more homespun feel.  This card uses Love to Layer Christmas Tree dies, Fresh Greens hot foil plate, Rounded Rectangle Pierced dies and a sentiment from the Merry Motifs stamp and die set.    I had recently found a sheet of watercolor cardstock that I had used to create this dark green backgound using distress mica sprays.  I decided to use it for my Christmas tree.  I used Memory Box patterned paper from one of their Christmas pads for the garland and little ornaments.  I decided to bring gold into the mix with the star, little sparkle ornaments and the gold hot foiled frame.  The background needed a little something else, so I used one of the smaller pierced Rounded Rectangles to die cut the patterned paper I used for the garland to place behind the tree.  The sentiment was stamped in a dark red and die cut.  I then die cut a second layer from gold foil cardstock and adhered it behind the sentiment slightly off set.  It looks so pretty in real life. 

 I think this final card really has a homespun feel too it.  Again, done in red and green with kraft.  I think I should have maybe embossed the sentiment black, but there it is in white!  This card was made with Build a Christmas Tree dies, This is Big:  Happy Holidays sentiment set and the Rounded Rectangle Stitched dies.  Memory Box plaid cardstock was used for the background.   After die cutting the garland from a red cardstock I decided to jazz things up a bit by using red glitter cardstock for the ornaments.  The kraft bows dial the glitz back a little for a more homespun fell.  After layering everything on the tree and adhering it to the plaid background I stamped the sentiment on vellum and embossed in white.  Again, thinking maybe I should have used black, but what is done is done, right? 

Well, that is it for me.  I have made it through a large portion of the September release, but still have several more products to share.  So, I will be back later in the week with more Christmas cards!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

September BPD Post #2

 Hello!  Popping in to let you know that I have a post up on the Birch Press Design blog today.  Here is a little peek of my card.

Hope you will head over to see the whole design.  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!

PaperTrey Ink September Release!

 Hello, hello!  Have you seen the September release from PaperTrey Ink?  It is absolutely amazing!!  PaperTrey Ink generously sent me products from the release.  I will be sharing projects that I have made with the release over the next few weeks.  Let's take a look at the first set of cards I made using release products.

Who doesn't love the Christmas poem Twas the Night Before Christmas?  When I opened the package from PaperTrey Ink and saw the Twas the Night Before Christmas products I was in heaven!  I loved reading the poem to my boys when they were little.  I would read it almost every night until Christmas day arrived.  I read it so much I could recite it from heart!   Besides using the Twas the Night Before Christmas products I also used the new, Nutcracker Magic stamps and dies, Storybook Scroll die collection and the Cover Plate:  Stitched Snowflakes die.   Kept things simple by using PTI Rustic Cream cardstock for everything.  The scroll and accompanying pieces were diecut and then inked with Antique Linen distress ink for an aged look.  I then assembled the scroll.   The Twas the Night Before Christmas stamp set includes the main sentiment and then a few small images to use with the sentiment.  I used one to place at the bottom of the scroll.  For the top of the scroll, I used an image from Nutcracker Magic for the swag at the top.   The sentiment and the larger swag were stamped in brown ink to keep the aged look going and then inked with Antique Linen distress ink. The larger swag was colored with Copic markers.  I stamped the smaller swag in green ink and the berries using a light red.  I then added red berries using Nuvo drops.    Rustic White cardstock was die cut with the Stitched Snowflake die and then I assembled the card.  Thought about adding some glitter, but decided against it.  Maybe next time!

For my second card I used the 2 Corinthians stamp, outline die and background dies and the Merry Motifs hot foil plate.  I used the color palette from Color Throwdown so I will be posting this card in their gallery.  I hot foiled the Merry Motifs on light blue cardstock using Skybright hot foil.  The larger of the two background dies was used to cut dark blue cardstock and the smaller one die cut the same light blue cardstock used for the foiled background.  The sentiment was stamped using Altenew Terracotta ink.  I did also use an image from the Merry Motifs stamp and die set stamping the image with the Terracotta ink.  Die cut the image and the sentiment and then layered everything on a card base. 

That's it for me, but I will be back soon with more projects made with this fabulous release.  Stay tuned, lol!  Thanks for stopping by and have a wonderful day!