Freshly Made Sketch #88

The latest sketch at the Freshly Made blog (#88) is my new favourite sketch. I have SO many ideas for it!

I'm not a huge fan of top fold cards since they tend to collapse when displayed, so I turned the base card around but kept the rest of the sketch the same.

I love the floral glittery card stock on this card - so cheerful and perfect for a birthday card.

While I was punching out the glittery card stock for the flower on the card, I decided to make a couple more so I'd have matching gift tags...

Thanks for stopping by today!

Birthday Penguin Card

I had SO much fun making this card for a friend's birthday.  A friend who likes penguins!!

I used the rectangle Sizzix Flip-It's die, turned so it pulls open from the top instead of the side.  The top edge is fairly narrow, and I was worried that it might tear while repeatedly opening the card. To remedy this, I cut a 2" wide strip of purple patterned paper and scored it down the center at 1".  Then I slipped it over the top edge lining up the bottom edges of the strip with rectangle window on the card. Works like a charm.

I am such a fan of the critters at Stamps By Judith, so I loved getting out this sweet penguin again.

The little hanging banners are also a from a Sizzex die, they are folded over a piece of Bakers Twine, which is threaded right into the white panel. The banner flips and moves as the rectangle does.

I couldn't resist adding a little bling - it's a birthday celebration after all!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Bakers Twine Challenge

Wow - my Gingerbread Man card was selected for an Honourable Mention at the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown blog this week!  It's always a thrill when your peer's also love what you've created, so thank you ladies for choosing my card.

This week the challenge on the 52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown Blog is to use Bakers Twine on your Christmas Card. 

This is one of those cards that fought me the whole way ... and it did not turn out the way I envisioned.

But it turned out OK in the end, and into the 2013 Christmas Card stash it goes.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Handled Bag

I have made several of these, but didn't take pictures. This time I remembered!  I bought the Papertrey Ink die set 'Get A Handle On It' and I really like it!  This time I used it over a glassine bag that held some pretty earrings for my Mom.

It's hard to see in the photo - but the paper is all embossed flowers - it's so pretty! I attached a little paper rose on the flag banner.

I've also used a paw print patterned paper and attached them over a bag of dog treats for a friend, and flower printed paper over a package of candy ... both packages were unwrapped except for the little handle/banner.   It dressed up these items without making them a real gift. Both times they were just a little something I was bringing with me and a gift would have been 'too much'. But it was more fun than than just handing my friends the packages of candy or dog treats.

As you can see, it also dresses up a little gift bag but it would also work on pretty floral envelopes etc!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Father's Day Flip It Card

Today's share for Masculine Card Monday is the 4th Father's Day card I've made for this year (my Mom needs three and I need three).  I used a Sizzix Flip-It die for this one, as well as copper and dark grey metallic card stock.

The old fashioned truck was Cricut cut, but it was in my 'Odds & Sods' pile so I'm not sure of which cartridge. I'm going to guess 'Sentimentals'.

I added some embossing for texture, and printed some of the words on the computer. "Enjoy the ride" is a PTI stamp. The printed words were then cut out with a Sizzix thin die

This Sizzix Rectangle Flip-It die gave me some grief - when I used it ALL the lines cut - not just the cut lines, but the score lines too. So I ended up with a bunch of pieces that weren't much good for anything. I did some research and discovered that it depends on your machine - either a Big Shot or Cuttlebug or whatever you use- as to whether or not it will cut through the score lines or not on your specific die.

The solution is to use a crease mat - which luckily I had.  I tried the crease mat instead of the top plate, but instead of cutting everything it just scored everything. So then I had to use an Xacto knife to cut out the pieces that needed to be cut.  Next I tried a card stock shim on top of the crease mat and that seems to have done the trick.

I wrote right on the die itself with a silver Sharpie marker, so I remember to use the crease mat and shim every time I use this one.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Sparkling Snowflake Pop Up Card

Compared to last weekend, I was surprised by how much snow there is on the mountains ... while it was raining like crazy in the city, it must have been snowing like crazy up there. 

I just had to share a snowflake Christmas card.

I wish you could see all the sparkle and shimmer in this paper - it's SO pretty!  I used my Sizzix Pop N Cuts for the A2 card base, and the pop up insert.

I had the sparkling gem snowflake in my stash, and the words seemed perfect (May Your Holidays Sparkle).  I had also been wanting to try using one of the 'On The Edge' dies as a border on the pop-up inserts and was pleased with how well it worked out. The inside of the card is lined with a silver metallic paper for even more shimmer.  (I also added a strip of the same metallic paper to the top front of the card).

 

 

Surprisingly this was a very quick card to put together. Once I saw that sheet of sparkly snowflake paper in my stash, I knew exactly what I wanted to do with it. And I know exactly who I want to send this to over the holidays!

I had a fun 'play-date' yesterday with an old friend and some new ones. They loved the  Sizzix Pop N Cut dies, and the Sizzix Flip It's as much as I do ... and we had fun sharing papers, ideas and cutting cards for future assembly.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Dog Sympathy Card

Unfortunately I needed to make a sympathy card for our Veternarian, who's beautiful old dog passed on. 

I used a lovely cream pearlized card stock and my Score Pal to create an A2 sized gatefold card, then embossed the side panels with the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The Sizzix Scottie Dog was cut out of the same pearlized card stock.

I added some cream velvet ribbon and a pink gem brad (both, Stampin' Up).

The inside was stamped and I added a pearlized bone die (it cuts with the Sizzix Scottie Dog).

Sympathy cards are just not easy to send. Everyone at the vet clinic will be so sad, as this dog went to work every day with our Vet. She met many patients and families throughout her 17 years.

I just wanted them to know I was thinking of them, and I hope this card shows that.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Owl Father's Day Card

 My set of red and white cards (seen HERE) won top honours this week - I'm so excited!

 

For Father's Day I have to make six cards ... three for me and three for my Mom to give out.  I shared one a few weeks ago that I made with a new Sizzix Puppy Dog die, yesterday's metallic card ... and today's card uses the Sizzix Owl die.

I thought this owl was so stinkin' cute when I saw it but haven't had the opportunity to use it very often. I decided to remedy that and had a blast working with masculine papers (SU) for my 5-1/4" square card.

I printed the words out on my computer, cut them out with a Nestabilities die then attached that piece inside the card.

I also added a strip of the same patterned paper down the side of the envelope.

Three down ... Three more to go.

Thanks for stopping by today!

Freshly Made Sketch #87

As soon as I saw the latest sketch (#87) at Freshly Made Sketches I knew what I wanted to do with it. A Father's Day card!

 Right off the bat I flipped the sketch so the vertical strip was on the right side.  I used a Sizzix Pop N Cut base die to cut my A2 card out of dark grey metallic, lightly textured card stock.

The vertical strip was trimmed from Kraft card stock, embossed with a folder then rubbed with dark grey metallic paste. I repeated those steps with copper metallic card stock and a Tim Holtz Tattered leaf die.

A 2nd piece of Kraft card stock was cut and stamped with it's coordinating polka dot stamp (Hero Arts) then stamped with Happy Father's Day (Verve).  Once it was assembled, I thought it needed a little something so I added a it of black/white Bakers Twine.

Lots of subtle shimmer on this card - it works great for a masculine card. I printed the words (Hallmark) on paper, matted it with a scrap of the metallic grey and rounded the corners before attaching it inside the card.

Two done ... four to go!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Floral Pop UP Card

I LOVE how easy it is to make fun pop-up cards with the Sizzix Pop N Cut dies. Especially when I have such beautiful patterned papers in my stash.

Not to mention the gorgeous 3-d stickers by K&Co...

It's hard to see in the photo above, but I die cut and tucked in several tiny birds. I added a single bird to the white panel as well, where I can write or stamp a message/greeting.

Until I'm ready to send this off though, I'm leaving it blank.

Thanks for stopping by today.

Nuts About You Love Note

I love getting 'Happy Mail'.

It's such a treat to look through the bills and junk mail and see something hand addressed to me. To look at the return address and smile with recognition. The anticipation of opening the envelope, and the comfort of knowing someone was thinking of me.  I want that for our Grandkids. I want them to be excited to get an envelope from Gramma.  Or Great Grammy, because she feels the same.  So, every once in a while I pop a 'Love Note' into the mail for them.

They are still very young ... barely 2 years and 10 months. So they aren't too fussy about what is actually on the card longer than about 2 seconds and that gives me a chance to use up some mismatched stickers and embellishments. And a chance to practice with my Sizzix Pop N Cuts dies.

So the felt bird on the front matches the patterned card stock but has nothing to do with the squirrel and large acorn inside.  The inside piece shifted when I was assembling it (which is why I need practice). That's OK.  They will be waving the card around and grinning and they will be happy until something else catches their eye.

BUT - on the way home from the mailbox, they will be excited to carry an envelope that is hand addressed to them. They will feel special, and that is the whole point.

I'm also thinking a little package of 'Love Notes' for the Great Grandkids might be a nice stocking stuffer for my Mom!

Thanks for stopping by today.

Sweet Treat Gingerbread

I just happened to glance at the latest challenge at '52 {Christmas} Card Throwdown' and wanted to play along. It's a Theme Challenge this week, and the theme is "Holiday Goodies / Treats".  I pulled out the Tim Holtz Gingerbread Man die for my card this week:

I think I will put this aside for my Mom, as she will want 2 Christmas cards for the Great Grandkids.  I used a Sizzix scalloped card die for the card base, and added a white strip of holly embossed card stock. Instead of buttons I used a 1/2" circle punch and glitter glue. Much more mail friendly. The face stamp is by Peachy Keen.

The patterned card stock was in my stash ... and it is embossed & shiny. Finished size is 4.5 x 6".

I added a couple of panels inside and a sparkly punched circle to finish it off. Another Christmas card for my stash!

Thanks for stopping by today.