Miniatures Show - Nov 28 to Dec 16 2015

The CAVA Gallery is holding a special event which is a 2 day kick off to the Miniatures Show.  There will be a fun atmosphere at the gallery on the weekend and with the snow's arrival it's hoped that people will be in a Christmas shopping mood.  This show was designed to provide supporters and the public access to art in a small format.  The pieces must be 10x10 inches or smaller which generally makes them more affordable. 
I have my 8x8" mixed media collages in this show.  Of course, my 2016 Photo Calendars are still for sale as well as my greeting cards.  Drop by during the next few weeks, browse the art and cross off a few names off your Christmas list. 

Turquoise Snowflake

This is a card made with my own decorative card stock.  In among the various shades of green it had some turquoise spots so I chose that color for the accents.   I cut the decorative layer with the Memory Box Snowflake Collage die.  I chose to place a piece of deep turquoise behind one of the snowflakes in the upper right hand corner. I mounted the die cut to the card front. I added 2 tiny white brads in the center of the large snowflakes.  I added a Stampin Up banner in turquoise cut with the Bitty Banner Framelits.  The greeting is color printed in a coordinating green and punched with the SU Word Window.  This greeting is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Christmas Letterheads 2015

I've designed 2 new letterheads for the upcoming Christmas letter writing season. Do you choose to do a letter instead of cards?  These are digital files which will be emailed to you as a 8.5x11 pdf.  You would print the letterhead onto the paper then print your letter onto the sheet.  You can see all the options available here.

I designed this with fonts and colors.

This one features a Madonna and Child from Pixabay

Card - Exchange Group

I made these cards for the ladies in my monthly exchange group.  I used this snowman sticker on this card. I started with a blue card onto which I added an embossed red layer to the card front.  It was embossed with the Sizzix Flowers folder.  I cut a white layer with the Spellbinders Label 22 die onto which I applied my snowman sticker.  I added a banner greeting which was color printed then I punched the ends with the Stampin Up Banner Triple Punch.  It was adhered with 3D foam tape.

SU Festival of Trees - Folds

This card was made with the same supplies as this card kit and the layout of this card.

The designer paper is Stampin Up Be of Good Cheer.  The card is Cherry Cobbler.  The card front is scored at the half way point and folded back to the left.  A piece of DSP is applied to the flap.  The square accent is done with the Festival of Trees stamp set with the polka dot tree and the first half of the greeting on the front and the rest on the inside.  The sentiments are done on layers are Very Vanilla. 

Christmas Snowflakes - Large Greeting

I've been wanting to make a Christmas version of my large greeting cards like this one and this one.   Here's what I came up with. 

The greeting is printed on the white layer which is adhered to the card front.  I then punched black snowflakes with a punch from Emagination Crafts Corp.  For the center one, I layered a medium white confetti snowflake and a small confetti one in an iridescent color onto the black all held in place with a tiny black brad.  This was repeated on each side above the greeting. 

Card Club - November - Watercolor Ornaments

I started with color printed cards with the watercolor ornaments on it.  I cut the card with the Tim Holtz Cameo Frame die.  I chose a purple card which coordinated well with the image.  I wrapped a length of purple thread on the left hand side of the die cut then adhered it to the card front. For the greeting, I punched a Stampin Up Modern Label punch in green then added a SU Word Window punch with the sentiment.  The greeting is adhered at the bottom of the ornament die cut with 3D foam tape. 

Winter arrived yesterday, so our numbers were smaller than usual but we spent time after card making having tea and cake.  It was great.  The drive home was not.

Card Club - November - Cute Snowman

I started with the felt snowman sticker.  I chose the royal blue card to match his scarf.  I cut a piece of white to 4.00 x 5.25 inches and embossed it with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.  I created the greeting tag in the red and royal blue colors and colored printed it.  I trimmed it with scissors to the border and punched a hole at the top to hang it.  I wrapped a piece of red string around the embossed layer several times and knotted it.  I then added the tag and tied a bow.  I removed the release paper from the snowman sticker and adhered it to the card front in the bottom left hand corner.

He sure is cute!!

Card Club - November - Christmas Tree DSP Split

This is a designer paper split.  I cut the DSP at 4.00x 5.25 inches.  I printed the greeting on the back of the top half then cut the paper at 3.5 inches from the bottom.  When I turned the smaller piece over there was the greeting.  I added a metallic gold and kraft ribbon over the join and taped the ends to the back of the layer.  This was then adhered to the green card front.  I added a green Christmas tree brad on the right hand side which holds everything together. 







The DSP had two color variations some with green trees and the other with grey trees. I chose a grey card and I had to come up with a different accent for the grey paper so I chose a silver snowflake held in place with a tiny gold brad. 

Card Club - November - Joy Pennant

Today, is Card Club and we are making Christmas cards.  This is a double class which means 8 cards.
I started with the white felt pennant through which I strung the Christmas plaid ribbon in traditional red and green colors.  The ribbon is wrapped around the card front and tied at front in the middle.  I colored printed the greeting on vellum and clear embossed it.  I positioned it with the O of JOY in the center of the bottom half of the pennant.  I then, held the vellum in place with a gold glitter star in the center.  The ends are trimmed as desired. 

I chose red and green for card colors for these cards and the ribbon works well with both colors.  The color on the vellum was alternated as well based on the card color.

Christmas Card - Madonna

I created this Christmas card for the same friend who wanted a variety of cards.  I found this image on Pixabay which hosted royalty free images.

The image of Mary and baby Jesus was soft and lovely.  I printed it on the card front with a taupe border.  I added a Crumb Cake greeting from the Stampin Up Come to Bethlehem stamp set cut with the Bitty Banner Framelits.  It is adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

It's a lovely card.

Christmas Cards - Gentle Peace - Stained Glass

I created these cards for a friend who ordered some Christmas cards.  I printed the stained glass background which I created with my own photos and photo filters.  I printed the background onto the card front with a border and greeting in deep grey as black was too stark.  I then created my holy family layer with the Stampin Up Gentle Peace polymer stamp set.  I again, selected a grey color and clear embossed the image on vellum.  I cut them out and adhered them to the card front with a single gold glitter star brad.

Nativity - Aphothecary Framelit

I made a few Christmas cards this weekend.  I started with a photo of my office Nativity.  I cut it with a framelit from the Stampin Up Apothecary set.  I chose a deep mauve color for the card which matched well.  With the colors in the image I could have gone with green, navy or ivory as well. I then laid out my greeting to match the curve of the die cut and color printed it on the card stock.  Then adhered the nativity die cut and it was done!!

CAVA Photo Calendar Exhibition

This is the invitation I prepared for emailing out to friends and family for the exhibition which runs from November 20 to December 18th at the CAVA Gallery. 

The reception is tonight at 7:00 pm. I will be featured along with 3 artists, Ute Rieder, Sylvia Grist, and Laura Watmough.

It's very exciting and I'm looking forward to seeing a few familiar faces and many new ones.  This is good exposure to new people. 

My calendars will be for sale.

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 7 - God in the Manger

Today, we focus of the babe in the manger.  Jesus is born. 

The suggestion was made that we make thank you cards.  Some are still working on advent calendars so I changed my plans and made simple thank you cards.  I used the cards available at the local arts and crafts store.  I then selected some Christmas and non Christmas frame images to surround the greeting at the center of the card.  I made 2 of each design.  The images were selected from Clker and Graphics Fairy.  

We started with gratitude and we end with gratitude.  God comes quiet... The victory is won.  All of conquered heaven and grateful earth echo and throb tonight with the heart cry of the God-Child. I did it for love.

The greatest Gift laid into our empty hands...  Grace is weightless.

We have had a very good class.  I have learned a lot and I believe the ladies enjoyed it as well.

Have a stress free Christmas season.  Today was the first snow for us so it's starting to look a lot like Christmas.

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 7 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.  I handed out this freebie from Ann's website.  You don't have to work for Christmas.

Decorative Paper - Christmas Cards

I stamped the Stampin Up Gentle Peace stamp on vellum then clear embossed it.  I trimmed the vellum to 3.75x5.00 inches.  I backed it with a pieced of my own decorative paper then placed it on the front of the card. Then I added a star brad at the top of the arch and 2 round ones on each corner of the arch.

The blue one I stamped in Taken with Teal and mounted it on a teal card.  The other was stamped with Handsome Hunter and mounted on a dark green card.  I used Craft ink so that I could emboss it before it dried.

On this card I used some of my ink spot paper in traditional Christmas colors.  I printed the greeting in dark green on vellum and applied gold embossing powder to it.  You can see that some of the green shows through which is kind of cool.  The background ink spot layer was adhered to the card front then the vellum is held in place with glitter star brads.  Really happy with this one.

For this set of cards I used 3 inch watercolors I had designed for a card class a few years ago.  I chose the kelly green and the bright blue from the watercolor and used them in the card and the embossed layer.  The embossing folder I used was the Stampin Up Large Polka Dot.  I added a length of white seam binding across the card tied in a knot then the watercolor is mounted over it.  I added a small felt angel held in place with a tiny star brad.  I no longer have the label which identified the manufacturer but it may have been Hero Arts.

I chose a dark green card for this card with another of my small watercolor backgrounds.  I stamped the greeting in the bottom right hand corner and embossed it with gold powder.  I added a random layer of gold powder to the left of the greeting and embossed it as well.  The angel is held in place with a tiny white brad.










Another watercolor square with a gold glitter star cut with the Sizzix Stars die.  This element is placed over a blue layer which was embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.  Again, on a kelly green card. 

Decorative Paper - Christmas Cards

I used the Memory Box Snowflake Collage die for these cards.  I cut the snowflakes out of a piece of white card stock which was trimmed to 5.25 x 4.00 inches.  I then layered a piece of my own decorative paper between the white and the colored card.  This die is great because it can be used alone on the card front but there a couple of places where greetings can be added if you like.   The cards can be presented wide or tall which adds to the versatility of the die. I used it with blue, purple and blue green paper and coordinating cards. 

For this card I used decorative paper made with fabric paint.  I cut the blue green paper and corner rounded a couple of the corners.  I added a couple of Martha Stewart snowflake punches held in place with a gold star brad and a white round sequin.  I punched the paper with the Stampin Up Medium Snowflake punch which makes a hole instead of a shape.  I placed tiny gold brads in their centers.  I added several white sequins to the card front with Bling Zots. I added a greeting which was color printed then punched with the Artisan Label Punch.  I punched a blue one and cut it in half and offset it behind the white one.  I used that same technique in card above.

I bought this Memory Box die this summer knowing that I would be making Christmas cards for french speaking folks.  It has been patiently waiting to be used.

For the red green card I cut a piece of green paste paper.  Trimmed it to fit the bottom of the card and added a poinsettia designed with the Stampin Up Five Petal punch in red and gold.  The center is a flower sequin held in place with a tiny gold brad.  I added a green sequin to the dot on the J which is a gold brad.
For the card on the right I cut a piece of soft green bubble paper and adhered it to the bottom of the card.  I added a single gold brad for the dot on the J.  I punched the Stampin Up Medium Snowflake in the same paper then punched the Ornament punch around it.  I added some cream and gold ribbon to the hanger.

Card Display - Show

I needed a display to hold my cards at my show on Friday.  After looking at what I had at home I came up with this idea.
I designed it with a 12x12 metal square I bought at a scrapbooking garage sale a couple of years ago.  I expect it was designed to allow a person to layout their page before adhering it.  I painted it acrylic spray paint.  I taped a 6x6 inch clear square box together then cut it in half with an exacto knife to create 2 pockets to hold the cards. The pockets are held in place with a couple rare earth magnets on the bottom of the frame.  The metal frame is mounted on a large metal easel.  The bottom of the easel supports the pockets as well as they are filled and get heavier. I added a piece of card stock identifying me and my process of creating decorative paper. It is held to the metal frame with magnets hidden behind the cards.  The pockets are great because they hold cards tall or wide. 
Having them well displayed, I hope I sell a few during the evening. 

Mosaic Monday - Finds

I created a collage of finds I have made over the last couple of weeks.
I have had these white Mikasa cups for a while but did not have matching saucers.  Well these small navy ones from IKEA do the trick.  At the craft sale on the weekend I found this yellow Tupperware cereal bowl in the $5 bin.  It came home with me.  I bought myself a new magnetic bracelet which was a steal of a price.  I had my first Swiss Chalet Festive dinner and received my Lindt chocolates.  The center is a silver tea pot place card holder.  One of the crafters I met recently used to sell Metropolitan Tea and she got these tiny, heavy teapots then.  She was using them to hold product information notes on her non tea related table.  When I admired them she said she had an extra and gave it to me.  Thanks so much.

Submitting to Mosaic Monday hosted by Judith at Lavender Cottage.

Sale Today - West End Christmas Gift & Craft Sale

Britannia-Youngstown Christmas Gift & Craft Sale
Nov 14, 2015
10:00 – 4:00
BY Community League Hall
15927 – 105 Ave

This is where I am today. Come and visit me and get some shopping done.

I will have the following on my table:

• 4x6 photo calendars - Nature, Up Close and Garden
• Ready2Fill calendars - just print your 4x6 photos - great gift for grandparents
• 1 Gift Advent Calendar - ready to start that tradition with the little one
• Advent Calendar cards
• Chipboard calendars
• Ready2Give - Christmas Cards
• Photo Christmas Cards
• Alphabet Photos - Peace, Family and Enjoy or Create your own word

Ready2Fill Calendars - 2015

These are calendar kits which allow you to put together a gift in a hurry.  All you have to do is print thirteen 4x6 photos and adhere them in.  The adhesive and photo corners are included.  Great do it yourself project.


The chalkboard comes with pink photo corners. the provence comes with pearl white corners and the black and white one comes with metallic gold/silver corners.

4x6 Photo Calendar with Pocket Frame

I decided to package my 4x6 photo calendar with a Pocket Frame for those customers who don't want a desk calendar.  The pocket frame has magnets on the back so it will stick to the fridge, the file cabinet or the frame of a bulletin/white board.   The advantage of the packaging is that all the calendar pages are visible and it will stand on it own. 

I'm really happy with the way it turned out.

Digital Photo Christmas Cards

I have designed these Christmas cards into which a photo can be included.  I really love the deep turquoise color with nice white letters.  The family photo included in these card are stock photos from on-line. 













They can be personalized with a family name and individual names along with the year.

These cards are 4x6 photos so they can be taken to any photo developer to be printed. Envelopes for 4x6 photos are available on-line or at Staples.

I have placed them on my digital tab.

Digital Art Christmas Cards

I have designed some Christmas Card with my art.

On the left, I used my Alphabet Photos for the JOY and added the rest in text.  It can be personalized with a family name and individual member names along with the year.   

The background on the ornament one is a photo I took a while back which I adjusted with filters.  The branch is another of my photos and I drew the ornament myself and filled with my own decorative paper.  Again, it can be personalized with a family name and individual names along with the year.

These cards are 4x6 photos so they can be taken to any photo developer to be printed. Envelopes for 4x6 photos are available on-line or at Staples.

I have placed them on my digital tab.

Be Present for Christmas - Lesson 6 - God With Us

This week the lesson focus is God With Us - It's the story of Joseph.
This week we make a twig ornament because every Christmas tree is shadowed by a Cross tree.  I collected the twigs this summer on my walks in the park.  I applied a bit of hot glue to tack down the cross piece then tied the join with red string in a crisscross pattern.   Once tied off at the back I applied a bit of hot glue along the back of the back piece to keep the string aligned and make the ornament hang straight.  I added a nice scroll ornament hanger.
Joseph is given the privilege of naming the Baby.  The angel says you will name Him - Jesus - the Lord Saves - God is With Us. The God who loves us and likes us and isn't merely 50% or 73.2% for us, but the God who is always, unequivocally, 100% for us - the God who likes us, the God who is so for us that He is the God that chooses to be with us.

I'm selecting my lessons from The Greatest Gift by Ann Voskamp.  The book provides 24 lessons for each day of Advent of which I have chosen 7 for this class.  We will have readings, questions, discussion, and an activity each week.

Ready2Go Card Kits - SU - Letter to Santa Buttons

The last set of card kits for this project. 
I selected two papers from the Letters to Santa Designer paper set.  The top is large bold words in Early Espresso on white and the bottom was Early Espresso background with diamond pattern in Old Olive.  I cut the bottom to 4.00" W x 3.5" T and the top to 4.00" W x 1.75" T.  I taped these together so they became one piece and then adhered the Old Olive Striped grosgrain ribbon over the join ensuring good adhesion where the button will be placed. I taped the ends to the back.  I adhered this to the card front.  I selected the Brushed Bronze buttons into which I tied a length of Old Olive grosgrain ribbon and trimmed the ends.  I adhered the button to the card front with a large Zot.

Lest We Forget - Flanders Fields - 100th Anniversary

 A new Edmonton park commemorates the 100th anniversary of Lt.-Col. John McCrae's legendary poem, In Flanders Fields.

McCrae assembled his iconic verses while under heavy artillery fire in Belgium during World War One.

"He sat down and penned this poem in the middle of incredible fighting, endless fighting;
the shelling never stopped during that battle."

Thank you to those in my family who have served.

Ready2Go Card Kits - Festive Flurry Snowflake

I started with the Stampin Up Festive Flurry Ornament Kit.  I chose 4 of the 6 elements in the kit to make a set of card kits.  I printed a narrow border in the same color on the Soft Sky card front in order to ground the snowflake.  I adhered the largest Crumb Cake snowflake then the super sparkly glitter snowflake then the smallest Soft Sky snowflake which is mounted with 3D foam tape.  I cut the Crumb Cake circles that came with kit in half and it was mounted in the center of the card aligned with the bottom edge.  I printed greetings in Crumb Cake and cut them with the largest of the Bitty Banner Framelits and adhered it over the half circle. The greeting is from the Come to Bethlehem stamp set.