CFC13 - Birthday Card

The challenge this week at CAS-ual Friday's, is to create a 4x9" card and keep it Clean And Simple.  4x9?? NO PROBLEM ... I love doing that size of card.  :-)

I have a leftover piece of that fabulous polka dot card stock (Jillibean Soup) sitting on my stamping area, and of course wanted to use my new pennant punch (Stampin' Up" ... so this card came together really quickly. It took longer to draw the string than it did to make the whole card!

I cut 3/4" off the bottom front edge, cut a 1" strip of polka dot card stock and a 1/4" strip of green. The strips were adhered inside the card lining up the bottom edge.

The words (Stampendous) were stamped with ColorBox pigment ink - which I haven't used in AGES, and I like the way the colour shows up true on the kraft card stock base. After I took the photo though, I wished I'd clear embossed it.  :-)  Anyhow - I haven't added words inside the card yet and will do that when I chose the recipient.

We have had a house full of company this weekend - and everyone is enjoying the beautiful mountain scenery and weather. I hope you are all enjoying your weekend too!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Candy Wrapper Die - First Ones

YAYAYAY!  Pamela dropped off my Stampin' Up order ... first one out of the new catty. Among other things, I ordered the Candy Wrapper die as I thought I could use it to make items for our Christmas Craft Sale.  Of COURSE I had to try it out immediately.

At first I was a little disappointed in how small it was. I am just no good at getting the scale of things from online galleries and I thought it would be bigger. But I can fit a couple of mini chocolate bars inside and I guess that is really all I need it to. I'm sure you could also fit in some rolled up cash or a cheque and I still have to try a gift card. But since we will be celebrating both my parents birthday's this weekend I thought these first ones would make cute addition to their birthday gifts, with some chocolate inside. This is the one I made for my mom.

Can you tell the other items that were in my order? Red/White bakers twine, and the Petite Wishes which I used to stamp the words on the label.  (Stampin' Up punch and matching stamp coloured with Copics).  I made this first one according to the directions.

The next one is for my Dad ... using the same cute polka dot paper (MME?). And yes, I also ordered the pennant punch so wanted to try it out as well.  The word stamp is by Hero Arts. I was just playing, to see how it would work with the pennants on it. Kinda fun - and I think an in-between size ribbon on the ends would work better than the twine and the 1/4" ribbon. Next one I do I will try 1/8" ribbon.

I tried just folding the ends closed then tying them off, instead of twisting them as directed. I like this look too!

I KNEW this would be a fun die ... so of course I looked at the Splitcoast gallery to see what others did. One lady (Julie Davison) had a picture on her blog of a candy wrapper made into a ghost by keeping one end flat and standing it on it's end.

Since I was in Christmas Craft Sale mode I looked at the ghost and thought SNOWMAN. So had to whip one of those up too ... and I think it is just adorable! Now this was my first attempt ... I didn't worry too much about keeping it neat and perfect -- it is my prototype only. But it did work and I can't wait to tweak it.

I used a face stamp from Peachy Keen, coloured with Copics and the cheeks are chalked. Since the red & white bakers twine was out anyhow I tied that on as a scarf. Something else to play with. Maybe a ribbon (narrow) around the red cap to keep it closed ... and a tiny jingle bell dangling? A ric-rack scarf? Felt? A sparkly pom pom inside the twisted hat? Sooooo many ideas ... and this one holds mini chocolate bars too.

To make the red hat, I simply laid a strip of scrap paper over the white die cut Candy Wrapper about 1/4" down from one of the long (now horizontal) score lines, and used a sponge to swipe red dye ink from the scrap paper to the edge of the cut. Then I stamped polka dots, simply because that stamp was sitting out.  Remember, this was just a prototype and I was playing and trying things out.   When I have it tweaked, I will take pictures of the process and post them too.

Thanks to all the stampers who posted videos on YouTube for easier assembling of this little box, as I managed to 'fix' the twist at the top of his hat. I won't take another photo, but it will make a perfect spot to plop a fuzzy pom pom.  ;-)

Anyhow - I am SO happy to finally have this die. I've wanted it since it first came out so I am going to get lots of use out of it.

Thanks for stopping by today!

CCC85 Christmas Card

The challenge this week at the Cricut Cardz Challenge Blog is an open one. Any cartridge, any colour. Being as I have Christmas on the brain these days, I made a Christmas card. Two cards, actually - both identical.  :-)

This is a cut I've wanted to try for a long time, using one of my favourite Christmas Cricut cartridges "Joys of the Season".  It's one of those cards that is pretty hard to photograph though! I attached a panel of ivory pearl card stock in behind the cut-away words but the shimmer doesn't show up in a low res blog photo.

I outlined the word rectangle with a Sakura sparkly gel pen, but otherwise I've left it CAS and mail friendly. I may end up added a red gem to the "i" in Christmas, but we will see. Right now I like it the way it is. Sometimes it's hard to leave well enough alone.  :-)

Finally, here is a peek at the inside. Some patterned scrapbook paper and cream panels with a punched tree. Can green & ivory count as a Christmas card with no red on it at all? I'm not sure yet. Almost, but not 100% convinced.










  Today Sasha would have been 12. I remember buying her a doggie birthday 'cake' last year to share with Cooper & Brandi, and taking pictures of her on her 11th birthday. Then being grateful to have these photos of her when she got so sick. I miss you Collie-Girl.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Mini Composition Book #1

I found these CUTE little composition books ... they are only 3.5" wide!  (Shown here with a 6" ruler)
I am SUCH a sucker for notebooks, note pads, list pads -- well, pretty much anything paper.  :-)


I bought several of these little treasures thinking they would be fun to alter and put in our Christmas Craft Sale ... so this is what I came up with for the first one:

No layers or anything that would get caught up in a purse, since the paper (K&Co) has the blue metallic pattern it's more for an adult. I die cut a tag from another strip of the paper (backed with white card stock) and tied some pretty fibres through the top.

Last year at the sale, I found people liked to be told what everything was. So rather than have them guess that this was a bookmark to keep in the note book, I made these labels on my computer (snowflake graphic by Lettering Delights) and used a Nestability to cut it out and attach to the outside of the packaging.

So ... one more thing to add to my (rather bare) stock for the sale.  

Thanks for stopping by today!

Ice Cream Cone Cards

 

The challenge this week at Bitten By The Bug 2, is to create an Ice Cream Cone card ... and since I don't have the 'Sweet Treats' cartridge, I chose the ice cream cone from 'Stretch Your Imagination'. I just happen to need a masculine birthday card next week!

I am still loving Kraft card stock, and this cute  patterned paper by Jillibean Soup was exactly what I was looking for.  I can't believe I only bought one sheet of it. ONE SHEET? What's with that? Anyhow - I think this turned out cute - and I didn't add any buttons or bling or ribbon. Even though it will be hand delivered, I wanted to keep the embellishments to a minimum. I did use lots of foam tape though! Instead of hemp string, I chose some green/white bakers twine - it adds a bit of colour and brightens the card up a little. As does the off white shadow. The A2 card is made with off white confetti card stock.

Since I was cutting anyhow ... I cut out TWO ice cream cones and two frames. But I wanted to do something different with the 2nd card. Actually, the leftover strip of polka dot card stock wasn't long enough to fill the green frame so I had to get creative.  :-)   Same A2 card made from confetti card stock, but this time I cut apart the green frame and added the long edge to the top and bottom of the leftover polka dotted piece.  This panel was attached to a slightly larger kraft panel, then I wrapped the same green/white bakers twine around where the edges meet. That panel was attached to the card, and the ice cream cone popped up with foam tape.

I used a Sizzix plaid embossing folder for the cone - which is pretty ironic. Only because I really don't work with plaid. Very few plaid patterned papers appeal to me, and I only have this folder because it came in a set of two and I LOVED the one it came with (snowflakes). I have used it lots since I got it - and it surprises me every time how much I like the effect.

The cherry is cut out of red paper with a bit of sparkle to it, and I coloured the stem with a green Copic marker to give it a bit of defination. Edges of the ice cream cone were inked as well.  So - one card for my stash and one for my Dad.  :-)

As for the paper strawberries? Well I tried it and it works, but really? They look WAY better in the catalogue and I am not going to pursue those until I can spend more time on them.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Tree Birthday Card

 

I adore the 3D paper strawberries in the new Stampin' Up catty, and I think I found a way to make them with my Cricut. But I forgot to bring the cord with me so I won't have a chance to try until latter in the week. Meanwhile, here is a CAS birthday card, using a beautiful tree embossing folder (Crafts Too) and a BANNER.  :-)   

Because the card is going to be hand delivered, I was able to use lots of foam tape -- the green is a pearlized green StarDream - heavy weight - card stock, and it is popped up on the white card base. Hero Arts make the word stamps and the BANNER is by Martha Stewart. I love this embossing folder and I never get tired of using it.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Sparkly Butterfly Cards

Hubby was good enough to swing into a scrapbook store on the way home from Red Deer this Spring. I found this PRETTY sparkly butterfly paper, and the coordinating polka dot and bought myself one sheet of each. Then used one of the sketches (FTL136?) at the Clean And Simple Stamping Blog to make these two cards:

They are the larger cards from Michaels and I just love how they turned out. I even used RIBBON on them!!  (Pink ribbon from Stampin' Up)

I used my Stampin' Up butterfly die and the Big Shot to cut out the 2 butterflies, and ran the white one through again with the Swiss Dots Cuttlebug embossing folder. Glitter was added on the top butterfly. Then I added a gem brad, and curved the top butterfly wings a little.

Sorry I don't have any more credits that this, but I made these in April and misplaced the notes.

Thanks for stopping by today!

CFC12 - Anniversary Card

The challenge this week at the CAS-ual Fridays blog, is to create a CAS (Clean And Simple) project using a rub-on or a sticker. Well - I don't have many rub-ons, but stickers? Pretty much a warehouse.

Plus, I was able to use up something form my "Odds And Sods" pile ... the die cut label was in there. The silver pearl paper is leftover from an "oops" printing project I did for a friend. (I got all of the invitations printed before I realized that the spelling error I had corrected hadn't in fact been saved with the corrected version. The paper was too pretty to just put in recycling, so I kept all the goofed up sheets to use the reverse side of.)

The sticker is the Bling Wine Glass.  :-)  It came on a sheet of three, and I found them on clearance at Michaels. I wanted to make an Anniversary card with two of them ... but didn't know just what to do with the third one.  So ...

I cut off the gold triangle at the top of the glass, I'm not sure if it is supposed to be a stir stick or what it is ... but I cut it off. Then decided to use 2 i-Rock heart gems above the wine glass. But, the bling inside the glass was actually hot pink and I didn't have hot pink hearts.  Copics to the rescue - I coloured the pink gems with the red copic ... but then the red hearts didn't match.  So, I coloured them too, then adhered everything to the die cut label from my pile.

To make it a little larger, I punched (Stampin' Up) 2 more fancy labels from the silver pearl paper and attached them on either side of the Cricut cut one (sorry, don't remember the cartridge). The embossed panel uses the 'Victoria' Cuttlebug embossing folder, the panel trimmed and attached to a silver pearl panel, then to the card. The decorated label was attached with foam tape.  It still needed 'something' ... but I didn't want to add a ribbon.

A BANNER!  I cut a narrow strip of white card stock & silver pearl paper, then notched the ends with the top edge of the fancy label punch. After stamping the words (Hero Arts) I glued the strips together then added the BANNER to the card front. A foam tape strip in the center, and Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive on the ends helps form the curve.

Thanks for stopping by today!

FTL150 - Wishing You Card

There is a new sketch up at the Clean And Simple Stamping Blog, and I just had to play along. In fact, I was late getting away yesterday because I wanted to make this card before I started packing up.  :-) 

At first I wondered what I would place on the cluster area from the sketch ... and I wanted to use my Stampin' Up Button emboslett. I thought buttons scattered around the top right would be really cute -- but what words?  Sew Thankful? Cute as a Button? Neither one would I have any use for.  So, I decided to use the Stampin' Up Butterfly emboslett instead!!

I stuck really close to the sketch for this one - including putting words on the front. I love this stamp set (Verve) as there are several coordinating stamps that can go inside when I'm ready to send it.

And rather than add the leftover butterflies to my 'Odds and Sods' pile - I attached them inside the card.

This blue & green patterned paper is some of my favourite from K&Co. I added 3 pieces of foam tape to the large butterfly (which was cut out twice and the 2 were glued together at the center only). One tiny piece is under each wing, just off the center glued area. This keeps the wings lifted without adding much bulk. I tried to take a picture but the white foam tape doesn't really show up that well since the pieces are so tiny. The third piece of foam tape attaches the butterfly to the decorated panel.

Thanks for stopping by today!

60th Anniversary Card

My parents asked me to make them a 60th Anniversary card for friends of theirs, and I wanted to make a really special one. Not only is an 60th wedding anniversary special ... but these are really special people and have been friends of my parents for a very long time.

This is another one of those cards that looks WAAAAAY better in real life. The whole thing is pearlized! It's an (almost) 6" square card made out of ivory pearl linen card stock. I also used a silver pearl card stock, and the green/silver patterned paper and green patterned pearl paper are both from DCWV.

I used Kate's ABC's to Cricut cut the numbers out of silver pearl card stock, and a little Spellbinders die for the hearts. The Top Note die is by Stampin' Up.

I  used LOTS of foam tape on this one, since it will be hand delivered. Also small pearls.

I find that often these top fold cards don't stand up on their own very well. Since this is such a large card, I was able to cut an easel back (Tim Holtz die) from the same ivory pearl linen card stock as the card base. That way it can be displayed on a table or mantle without collapsing.  Don't I love to find uses for a die like this?  :-)

I used a Sizzix embossing folder on the bottom of the cream square envelope, and it added a really nice finishing touch. I'm so happy with this card!

Thanks for stopping by today!

Butterfly Thinking Of You Card

 Today's share is for the "Flutterby Wednesday challenge #163", which is an open one this week. As long as you have a butterfly, fairy or angel on your project. 

I love the Top Note Die ... it makes such a nice focal frame on an card (among other things).  I used some pretty K&Co paper for the Top Note Die and the background paper. I believe the butterflies are by Embossing Arts, stamped in brown and coloured with Copics.

I cut the butterflies out, and added Stickles after attaching them to the card with foam tape. The bracket piece was also raised up with foam tape.


I am not sure who makes the word stamp, probably either Stampendous or Hero Arts. It's so hard to know with these polymer stamps!

So just a happy little card for my stash.

Thanks for stopping by today!

LIM Week 24 ... Circle Card

The challenge this week at "Less Is More", is to use circles, while keeping the clean and simple look with lots of white space.  I don't use circles any more than I use yellow.  Sigh.  So - this is what I came up with. It's another card that looks better in real life, I just couldn't' get a good photo of it.

This is sized to be an A2 card, and I trimmed away a strip from the front of the card. I attached 3 patterned paper circles (cut with Nesties) just on the edge, so they hang over the cut edge but not beyond the back right edge.

I cut another strip of patterned paper, scalloped the edge with scissors, then attached it inside along the right edge. It peeks through the openings between the circles when the card is closed.

I added one of those sweet felt flowers I found at Wal-Mart to the bottom circle. It hangs over the edge, and of course is sticky ... so I rubbed the overhang pieces with baby powder.

The tricky part was on the inside.  I didn't like seeing the reverse side of the patterned paper on the circles, when the card was opened. So I cut three more white circles and attached them to the back of each circle for a cleaner look.

Then I cut another circle, pen stitched around the edge, added a 'Sending Smiles' stamp (Hero Arts). I CAREFULLY lined it up so it is hidden by the bottom circle and you don't see it when the card is closed.

I don't know, it just seemed to need SOMEthing so I added a patterned paper panel to the inside left side of the card, but now I don't know if it really did need it. At any rate - it will be a fun and different card to send to someone. Circles - check.  Yellow - check.  Go figure!

Thanks for stopping by today!

FTL 149 Floral Pop Up Card

There is a new sketch at the Clean And Simple Stamping Blog and I thought I'd play along. Banners are SO hot right now and I never seem to jump on the bandwagon with these trends. I wait until the next thing is imminent and THEN I decide that the previous trend was pretty cool after all. Not this time ... I am officially on the 'Banner Bandwagon'.  :-)  My card is an A2 size.

I rotated the sketch, but otherwise kept pretty close to it. Kraft card stock is the base (yes, again) and the patterned paper + 3-d printed sticker are by K&Co. I used a Stampin' Up die for the leaves, and a Hero Arts stamp for the words.

I tried not putting any words on the front -- but this card really needed something to break across that strong horizontal line from the banner.

I haven't made a pop up card in a VERY long time, so decided to do a simple pop-up inside this card. I cut a slightly smaller white base to attach inside, then attached another one of those pretty glittered daisy stickers. This one is smaller than the one on the front of the card.


The little butterfly trail is by Impress, and the butterfly was punched out with my much loved Martha Stewart Butterfly punch. I added some bling to the butterfly body.

I have not added any words inside, as I will wait until I am ready to use the card. It could work for several different occasions, so ... into my stash it goes. Actually - I made two identical so I have TWO of these for my stash.  ;-)

Thanks for stopping by today!

Christmas Cards - July 2011

I joined the Christmas Card Challenge at Splitcoast again this year, where we are to make a pre-determined number of cards each month. Last year I chose to make 10 each month, but that was a little over the top. Not to make them, but I had plenty extra. So this year I've opted to make 5 each month and that way I can make single cards for challenges etc and hopefully will end up with close to the right number of cards for the Christmas season. Here are my cards for July:

I had found this card kit on clearance at Winners last year, and it contains a bunch of pre-printed cards, sentiment stickers, ribbons etc. It was too good of a deal to pass up, so my July cards are CAS (Clean and Simple) and done using that Card Kit.  I'm not sure who makes the kit, but will edit this post when I am able to check.

I added some Stickles for bling, and also outlined the sticker shapes with a sparkly gel pen.

Because the A2 cards are fairly light weight, I have lined each one with  a slightly smaller piece of light weight white card stock. That gives them some substance, without being too heavy.

I know they aren't all that exciting, but they do look nice in real life and I'm still pleased with them. Some people don't appreciate the work that goes into a hand-made card - and that's just a fact. So I still want to send them a hand-made greeting, but keeping it simple is the way to go.

**EDITED TO ADD  the card kit is called "Dear Santa' and it is my My Minds Eye.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Masculine Birthday Card

You may recognize the green plaid paper on the front of this card. It was a piece leftover from the mitten gift-card I posted on July 15th.  It was only a small piece, but I hoped I'd be able to do something with it. Then ... at the top of my "odds and sods" pile was this kraft book plate (Tim Holtz die).  Ah HAH!   A couple of screw brads, some stamps (Hero Arts?), a plaid embossing folder (Sizzix), and a brown panel from my scraps and I have myself a masculine birthday card for my stash.  :-) 

Easy Peasy, and now there is one less thing in my 'odds and sods' pile.

My exciting news, is that Jasper has pooped outside twice today. This is Really Big News. This means I don't have to watch him constantly. Or keep him in a pen. Or go out 5 - 6 - 7 times because he cries at the door then forgets why he wanted to go out. And the best part? I won't have to clean up any messes off the floor. "By George, I Think He's Got It".  :-)     Please keep your fingers crossed for us.

Thanks for stopping by today.

CFC11 Sweet Cupcake Square Cards

The latest challenge at CAS-ual Fridays is to make a CAS (Clean and Simple) project using a sweet or treat. Well cupcakes are sweet AND a treat so that is what I went for. I actually had several ideas for this challenge, but only enough time for these two (identical) cards:

I made these square cards using a DCWV printed A2 card base. I've had them for a long time, and just never seem to want to use them. I bring them out to make a card and fuss around and then ... back in to the box they go. My friend Debbie was inspired by one of the  4-1/4" square cards I made and showed me some of hers today. She had cut down one of the printed cards to make a square card base and that in turn inspired me to do the same. 

I used my Copics to colour in the stamped image (unknown), mounted it onto pink card stock (from my scrap bin), tied some cute polka dot ribbon around the center (Michaels) and popped the decorated panel up with foam tape.  I did scallop the bottom edge of the pink panel with scissors ... my Stampin' Up scalloped border punch is on it's way though!

Stickles provides the glitter on the icing, and I used these teeny red gems (Michaels) for the cupcake cherries. I thought they made cute little birthday cards ... and since they fit into an A2 envelope there is no additional postage to mail them!

Thanks for stopping by today.