Simple Card - Oval Floral

I did a bit of clean up on the weekend. I was sorting through left over card club materials from from at least a year ago. I found these color printed images and decided to use them. This is dogwood, there were tulips, and pansies as well. I cut them with my Creative Memories Oval cutter then cut a larger oval in a complimentary color. I punched the edge of the card front with the MS Arches border leaving the card insert to show through. I stamped a greeting below the oval accent.

Simple Card - Flower Pot

The main element of the card is a watercolor flower pot which was cut from a sheet of gift wrap. The sheet had all these 2.5" squares of iris, tulips and violets. Those of you who follow my blog regularly know that I use gift wrap on a regular basis as I find it to be good value. I chose the card stock to highlight the colors in the pot. I cut the scalloped square with my Cricut Create machine. For the accent on the bottom right side I stamped a butterfly then punched it out with an oval punch, then punched another in the same color as the scallop square and just offset them enough to create a shadow for the oval.

Simple Card - Japanese Paper

The scan does not do justice to the gold metallic in this Japanese paper. I mounted it to some nice textured burnt orange cardstock. I found it only needed a small accent as there quite a bit going on in the paper itself. I layered a gold daisy with an ivory daisy and held them to the card with a large brown brad.

Simple Card - Red Pick Up Truck

Here's another simple card. This one has a Cuttlebug embossing folder that looks like a steel plate done in grey cardstock. The red pickup truck is color printed and cut out. The greeting accent was created with a Cuttlebug slider in black, a 1 1/8" red circle and a stamped greeting punched in 1" circle. This greeting came from a Michael's $1.50 clear stamp set but I've used it quite a bit. The accent is placed onto the ribbon and turned into the inside of the card then stapled into place.

Simple Card - Stamped Birds

I have a friend who requested some simple card kits. I designed kits which needed glue, tape and pushpins as tools. I placed a strip of ivory/chocolate brown script scrapbook paper on the left with a chocolate brown metallic ribbon next to it. Used scotch tape to hold it on the inside. The scan does not do justice to the ribbon. The stamped birds are from Magenta. I stamped my greeting from a small clear set on the Stampin Up! horizontal slot punched shape.

Guys making cards

I have a friend who runs a program for adults. She is going to try card making with men. She requested simple card kits. I made a several card kits which only use glue and a push pin for the brads. It was interesting to work through the process of what subject matter a guy would like to see. What do you think of my choices in the next few posts? I decided that I would not make pink frilly cards but in the end likely the cards they make will be given to gals. I would like to think that card making would appeal to men as well. I hope she has good success with this new endeavor. I checked with my internet group and it seems there are a few guys who are into making cards. Here's one of them.

Scrapbook Layout - Winter 2008

You will see that I was successful in cutting a few things with my Cricut Create. It printed some things I wanted and several I didn't expect. It's another tool I need to learn how to use. It is good.
I had a 4 page layout of winter pics I took in March and April 2008. I enjoy being near the river valley and the white snow is a nice contrast to those evergreen trees! I wanted the pages to be quite neutral so I chose a blue grey cardstock and this one has grey mats for the pics. Each page had it's own accent color.

Cricut Create Machine

I joined my sisters as a Cricut owner. I chose the Create machine which cuts 6x12 inches with a few of the new features. I have not had much chance to try it out yet. I have the Graphically Speaking & Storybook cartridges. It will add another option for my card making and card club.

Cmas Card Challenge - January - Snowflakes

The options for snowflakes are endless. Check your supplies for brads, stamps, 3D, die cuts, embossed, printed paper and I'm sure a lot I've not listed. Dig deep and see what turns up.

Here's my card.
I cut my cardstock along the 11" then scored in half and used it with the fold on the left to make a landscape card. I have used the Cuttlebug Devine Swirl embossing folder on the top right hand corner. The greeting is color printed on white. I ripped the top edge and aligned it's top and bottom edge to where the embossing ended. I punched a one inch hole and wrapped coordinating angora type fiber around it and tied a bow. I then placed double sided tape on both ends of the white and placed on the front of the card. I placed the brad in the centre of the hole using a push pin to make the hole. I had to trimmed the card again to ensure even edges because the embossing changes your card stock a bit. Total Christmas Cards made: 2


Therese's card - http://tmalakart.blogspot.com/2010/01/challenges-christmas-card.html

My 2010 Christmas Card Challenge

I am challenging myself to make Christmas Cards all year long instead of cramming during my busiest time of the year. I also have several Christmas Card Classes scheduled this year so I will need some ideas for those. I have decided on a theme for each month.

Here's my list:

January - Snowflakes
Feb - Evergreen trees
Mar - Gingerbread
Apr - Nativity
May - Candles
Jun - Poinsettias
July - Angels
Aug - Winter (Snowmen,etc)
Sept - Stars
Oct - Wreaths
Nov - Stockings/Ornaments
Dec - Santa/St. Nick

Each month I will make several of the same card based on the theme for the month. I will post my card here. Do you want to join me? You can use this blog as inspiration if you want to get your cards made in good time this year. Click on the post to leave a comment. If you want to be reminded of the challenge become a follower of my blog then my post will arrive in your reading list every month.

Christmas Thank You Cards

I finally got these out! I was blessed with good things for Christmas. I created these Christmas thank yous. I layered the circles onto gold colored paper then layered that onto a strip of white cardstock which had gold curly ribbon wrapped around it. The cardstock was embossed with a Cuttlebug embossing folder. The greeting is from a small clear stamp set from Michaels. A fairly quick card to put together.

Card Club - December - Photo Acetate

This card features a flower photo printed on a laser transparency. I used my own photos and selected ones with good contrast so when they were printed in black and white there would be clear areas for the watercolored paper to show through. Having a few dark areas gives you places to put your adhesive to keep the acetate in place. The acetate is trimmed to the edge of the photo then the watercolor paper is trimmed to the same edge. The lacy strip at the top was made with the MS Arches border punch. I added some coordinating silk flowers attached with a mini brad.

Card Club - December - Binding Edge Border Punch

I started with the Binding Edge border punch by EKSuccess on a piece of ruled paper. I used striped scrapbook paper and some coordinating chocolate chip gross grain ribbon. I made the slit in the top fold with the SU Horizontal Slot punch. The large "U" is cut with the Sizzix Shadow Box alphabet die. There possible many color combinations. This one's colors would make it a card for a great guy.

Card Club - December - Lattice Die

The central accent on this card was created with the Stampin Up Lattice Die. I found my inspiration on line at Splitcoast Stampers. The green piece was cut with the die then I glued the die cut over a piece of coordinating scrapbook paper and trimmed around the edges with scissors. The die creates 16 petal shapes which happen to fit perfectly on the Stampin Up five petal punch shape. Isn't that great! I think so. I glued the petals on and mounted the flower to the card with a brad over a coordinating card stock strip. Again, many looks can be acheived by changing the colors.

Card Club - December - Gocco Printed

The greeting on this card was printed on with gold ink and a Gocco Machine. Very cool process. The 3D silver star is mounted with a Zot. The bow is made in red satin ribbon. Classic look to this card.

Gift Card Holders

These are gift card holders. I folded a piece of cardstock in half. Then using my Sizzix large crescent tag die I placed the fold of the cardstock just short of the bottom cutting edge and I passed it through my Big Shot. I created a vellum card holder on the inside and placed a piece of paper on the opposite tag for placing a sentiment to the receiver. I added an organza ribbon bow. Then, I decorated the front with decorative paper and silk flowers. I think they turned out great!