November 3, 2011

Well, I finished another Thanksgiving card last night.  I really stepped out of my comfort zone on this one!  I'm a plain and simple kinda girl, so the fussiness of this card was a change.
I had purchased the Close to My Heart Art Philosophy cartridge a while back and had never taken the time to play with it ~ I decided a couple of days ago that I needed to learn how to make the flowers from that cart that everyone is using.  So, I sat down and worked with them.  They're really pretty easy!!  I decided I'd use them on a Thanksgiving card, along with using the cartridge to make the card base, the contrasting panels, and the leaves.  I LOVE this cart ~ so many pretty things to cut with it!

Front

Inside

The papers are all from my stash.  I added the inside and outside sentiments with Studio G stamps from Walmart using Colorbox Chestnut Roan ink.  The bow was made using my Bow Easy and some satin ribbon from Walmart.  The pine leaves were punched with MS and McGill punches.  I dry embossed the gold leaves with the SU square lattice embossing folder.  The flowers were sprayed with Smooch Shimmer Spray, and I added a couple of gold rhinestones for the centers.  A couple of orange and gold rhinestones finish off the card.

I visited my local Walmart this morning, and they had just put out all of the new Christmas stuff from Studio G.  Love it ~ quite a bargain at 97 cents each!!!  Those bins will be empty within a couple of days!

Hope you have a wonderful day!

November 2, 2011 - OOPS!!!

Live and learn, I guess!  I did all of these posts today, and didn't think about the order in which they'd post.  The #5 post should actually be last, so you'll have to scroll down to the #1 post and work backwards to read them in the order they were entered.  Sorry!

November 2, 2011 - Post #5

Gosh!  This is post #5 and the last one for today!  I've sure been saving these cards up for posting for a long time, huh?!

Here is the first of my special Christmas cards for this year.  I've use a Tilda image from the Fall release ~ isn't she adorable???!!!  I just love Tilda ~ always so sweet and innocent!

Front

Close-up

Inside

Card front:  I used kraft cardstock for the card base.  The red glittered paper is from my local scrapbooking store ~ really no idea what company it came from.  The green paper is Bazzill smoothies.  I stamped Tilda on Copic X-Press paper with Memento Tuxedo black ink.  She was colored with Copics.  I used a Spellbinders frame die to create the frame and punch out the image panel, then popped up the image panel on foam tape (I use Front Porch Treasures foam tape from Big Lots ~ comes in a good-sized roll and is WAY cheaper than the name brand tape).  Tilda's hat band, tassel, and the candle flame got a coating of Lace Frost Stickles to make them sparkle.  The heart on her sweater was coated with red Studio G glitter glue from WalMart ~ I love this stuff ~ works just like Stickles, but it's much cheaper!!  I finished off the card front with some cotton lace, some twine, and a couple of buttons from my stash.  I also sponged all the edges and the image panel with Chestnut Roan chalk ink.

Card inside:  I used the same materials as used on the front of the card ~ even used the center of the frame that was cut for the front as a base for the inside sentiment panel.  The sentiment was stamped with a stamp from the $1 bin at Pat Catan's. 

I'm really pleased with how this card turned out!  I'm learning to incorporate more techniques as I work, which I feel is a good thing!  :o)  Now, if it just didn't take me so long to make a card I'd be in business!

November 2, 2011 - Post #4

Back again with my mass-produced Christmas card for this year.  I've made 50 of these, and I can't believe I got them finished already!  Even the envelopes are addressed!!!  I am bound and determined to be ready for the holidays this year!  :o)

Front

The front panel image was created using the Scandinavian Christmas Cards Cricut cartridge.  I just love this image!!!  I used Bazzill crosshatch and smoothies papers (solid white, red, and green) and Pebbles Market Fresh DP (green dotted).  It took forever to cut and assemble this image ~ yes, there are 27 little pieces to glue together for each card!!  But, it was worth the time it took!  I used an MS border punch for the green borders (both inside and on the front), and did a little doodling with a Signo pen for some interest.  I used Liquid Pearls to create the pearls on the front, and I glittered the red star in the green dotted circle (difficult to see in the picture).

Inside

The inside of my card is very simple ~ just another green punched and doodled border, along with a heat embossed sentiment using a stamp from the $1 bin at Pat Catan's.

Hope you've enjoyed looking at my 2011 Christmas card!!!

November 2, 2011 - Post #3

Wow!  I've been saving up these pictures for a while, so I have several posts to get them all published toady!

Here's the first Thanksgiving card I've made for this year.  Isn't he just the cutest little turkey??

Front

Inside

I used kraft cardstock for the card base.  The colored cardstock is just some I had in my stash ~ no idea what company it's from.  I created the turkey, pumpkins, and leaves using the Create A Critter Cricut cartridge.  The tail is cut from an All Seasons pad I got at Hobby Lobby.  I outlined and added details to some of the leaves and parts of the turkey with a brown metallic jelly roll pen.  I alo added a metal corner and brad to the card front ~ got those from Hobby Lobby, too.  The ribbon is just a seam binding cut from my local scrapbooking store.  I used my MS scoreboard to create the border on the inside panel.  The tag came from my stash, and the front sentiment is handwritten.  The inside sentiment was stamped with a stamp from the $1 bin at Pat Catan's.  I sponged the edges of everything with Chestnut Roan chalk ink.

I'm working on another Thanksgiving card, so I'll be back later with that one!

November 2, 2011 - Post #2

Back again with a couple of Halloween cards I made.  I actually made two others, but I forgot to snap a picture of them before popping them in the mail.  Oops!!  Also I didn't keep track of the materials I used.  I'll have to do better with that next time!

Front

Inside

Front

The scarecrow's arms are my first attempt at paper piecing!

Inside

Hope you've enjoyed my trick or treat cards!

November 2, 2011 - Post #1

Hi everyone!  Well, I'm back after a looooong absence!  The last two months have been very trying for me.  My mom passed away on Sept. 9th, and I've been struggling to get all of the paperwork for her estate and moving her belongings from her assisted living facility to my house and then sorted.  It's not easy being an only child at this time.  I had spent most of her last month with her ~ she had Alzheimer's and came to the point that she refused to eat, take her meds, etc.  Such a sad ending!  It was so difficult to watch her health deteriorate.  Her sister, for whom I was legal guardian, passed away in June, and I think Mom just kind of gave up after that ~ they were the last of 7 children in their family.

Between my mom's death and school starting in late August, I didn't have a lot of time in September and October to work on cardmaking, so that's why I haven't posted anything for so long.  Time to work on anything was just hit-and-miss.

Here's a birthday card I made using a Tilda image.  I just love her ~ she looks so innocent!  I didn't keep track of the materials used ~ you'll just have to enjoy the end product!

Front

Inside

I'll be back with another post in a little bit!