Christmas Card Challenge - March - Gingerbread Stitching Plaid

Here's my card for this month's challenge. I chose to use all 3 elements which are gingerbread, stitching, and plaid.  I started with the DSP from My Mind's Eye - Good Day Sunshine - Bold Dots Paper.  This is the back side of the paper. I chose a teal card to coordinate with the paper. I added a piece of turquoise organza ribbon placed just to left of center and the ends were taped to the back.  This layer was adhered to the card front. The gingerbread man was cut with the Sizzix Gingerbread man die in a caramel card stock. I usual like dark brown for this die so I'm stretching my comfort zone.  I added stitching around the man and the hearts on his belly with a dark brown marker. I placed the same teal card stock behind the eyes and the hearts.  I knotted a caramel seam binding around his neck.  I stamped the greeting from Lil Inker Designs with teal ink on the same caramel card stock and placed a piece of the same teal card stock behind leaving a small border. The greeting was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape. I glued the gingerbread man to the card front.

Card Club - Feb - Scallop Oval

Here are the cards for Card Club for February 2015.  We will have a good time tonight card making and visiting.

I started with the designer paper from Glitz Design - Sparrow Daisy. It had lots of colors and a solid color on the back which would work well with the layout I had in mind. I cut the DSP with the Sizzix Frame Oval Scallop red die then I turned the scallop frame over to show the orange then I placed the oval back inside and taped them together on the back.  I selected a card based on a color in the oval then I added a white embossed layer with the Cuttlebug A2 Rebecca folder.  Onto the white layer I glued the oval frame. I color printed the greetings and punched them with the Stampin Up Word Window punch.  I layered it onto a black banner cut with one of the SU Bitty Banner Framelits which was adhered with 3D foam tape.  To balance the layout I added a black flower punchie with a white flower sequin held in place with a tiny black brad.

I made kits which had yellow, blue, teal or purple cards.

R2G - Card Kit - HB Stars on Label

This is a set of cards I had planned for a class later this month but my plans were changed so I've made them into card kits instead.  These make great cards for guys.

DSP - SU Just Add Cake DSP custom cut with Cricut The label die cut is adhered in the top half of the card.

Card stock - Stampin Up Early Expresso & Wild Wasabi

Stars - Sizzix Stars and Star#2 cut in EE and WW with tiny star brad. The star accent is layered as shown then a hole is made in the centre with a push pin and the tiny star brad is put through.  This accent is adhered to the center of the DSP diecut with 3D foam tape.

Greetings -  Early Espresso ink on Whisper White Decorative Label with a HB Stamp  The greeting is placed as desired on the bottom of the card and then the excess is trimmed off with scissors.

Card - Challenge - HB Envelope

I made this card to meet a few challenges.
Designer Paper - I started with the patterned paper by Webster Pages - Kickball.
Envelope - I made the envelope with the Sizzix Scallop Envelope Bigz die by Stampin Up.  I used a watercolored turquoise paper which I warmed up with Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress Stain because it was too white for the DSP.  I stamped the greeting in warm green with a small SU stamp.
Masculine HB - The colors were quite masculine, so to add to that feeling, I hid the scallop edge of the envelope with a small card which was the same color as the card and just fit inside.   I cut the letters HB with the Sizzix Shadow Box dies in complementary colors of light and dark blue green.
Ribbon - I added a length of caramel seam binding across the DSP which I knotted before I adhered the envelope to the front.

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges:
1. Daring Card Makers - Envelope
2, Hazel's Patterned Paper - February
3. Crazy For Cards - C4C271 - Masculine HB

Card Club - Jan - Butterfly HB

This card would make a great card for a female.  This is a versatile design because changing the card allows for a quick variety.

I color printed the greeting layer to match the card color.  I then trimmed this layer to leave a small border.  I then ran the layer through the Big Shot with the Sizzix Winged Beauties butterfly die.  I added wax paper between the metal die and the card stock which made removing the diecut from the die very easy.  Good Idea!!!  The greeting layer was then glued to the card front.  I placed adhesive only on the body of the butterfly and placed it back into the hole in the greeting layer.  Then the wings can be brought forward gently.  Clean and simple card.

How To: Mixed Media - Shrink Plastic Flowers

I have decided to stretch myself this year and try more mixed media techniques.  Today, I worked with shrink plastic and alcohol inks.  I used Ruff 'N Ready shrink plastic.  I used a collection of Tim Holtz® Adirondack® Alcohol Inks to color the ruff side. I placed a couple drops of each purple, red, orange, green, and yellow then used rubbing alcohol to dilute the colors as I applied them to the shrink plastic.  It dries really fast and you want it quite light because it will concentrate the color when it shrinks.  Once dry, I used the Sizzix Bigz Flower #2 to cut a large poinsettia flower that was over 4" in diameter. I used a 1/8" long reach hole punch in the centre of the die cut flowers.  I then placed them on a pizza pan covered with parchment paper in a 275F oven and waited.  Soon they started to curl and shrink. After a couple of minutes they flattened right out. The final flowers are half the size of the originals at 2" across. Check in a bit to see the cards I made with these flowers.

Birthday Flower

I made this card for Mom who is celebrating a milestone birthday this month.

I started with a neutral taupe card.  I adhered a piece of pink mulberry paper with gold accents with snail adhesive so it would not show through the thin paper.  I cut the Sizzix Daisy #4 flower twice to show both sides of the paper. It has flowers on one side and green pattern on the other.  I added a gold Prima flower and a deep pink flower onto the pink brad and placed in the center of the flower.  I stamped the birthday greeting in the right hand corner with Tea Green ink.  I added a tiny brad in the same color as the flower in the "i" of birthday.

Christmas Stack - Gold Tree

I chose a red card stock for the green woven Christmas ribbon. Having placed the ribbon left of center vertical on the card I taped both ends to the inside of the card.  I opened the card flat. The tree was cut from gold card stock with the Sizzix Original Christmas Tree 2 die. I then placed the tree over the ribbon and using a push pin I made the 3 holes for the red star sequins. I placed one sequin on a tiny gold brad then put the prongs of the brad through the hole I just made and spread the prongs apart on the inside of the card. I repeated this for the other 2 stars. The color printed greeting was punched with the SU word window. Then it was glued to the gold SU Modern Label punchie. This was then adhered to the card front in the top right hand corner with 3D foam tape.

60th Wedding Anniversary - Wow!

What a milestone!  My Mom and Dad will have been married 60 years in a few days.  We are having a celebration. I made this card for them.

It's the diamond anniversary so I chose a white on white theme. I started with a warm white card onto which I mounted a piece of pearl card stock with was embossed with the Cuttlebug Victorian embossing folder.  I trimmed it to leave a small border. I cut hearts with the Sizzix original red Hearts die from pearl card stock with a silver tone.  I left one plain and embossed the other with the Cuttlebug D'vine folder. I mounted them onto a rectangle of warm white card stock. This was adhered to the embossed layer.  I wrapped a piece of white seam binding around the whole piece and tied a knot on the front.  Trimmed the ends. I created the greeting by starting with one I found on line at Netty's Cards. I printed the greeting, placed a small circle in the centre and another larger one behind it.  This was all placed on a Stampin Up Scallop Circle. This was mounted to the card front with 3D foam tape.  I placed a large bling in the centre of it.

Card - HB for a Friend

I made this card for a friend who is celebrating a birthday today. I started with a wax crayon flower.  Check this post for a how to make wax crayon paper.  I printed a script background of my own in deep pink and I added the stem for the flower. I then paired it up with a deep pink card.  I added a white silk flower and an deep yellow silk flower in the center all held together with a tiny white brad.  I added a 1 3/8 inch circle in deep blue with a circle greeting.

Challenge - Non Traditional Valentines

I made this card for a non traditional Valentine challenge.  I chose a deep brown card.  I embossed a ivory piece of card stock with the Sizzix Christmas Words & Dots Set by Hero Arts.  I selected a shiny thread which I wrapped around the ivory piece and tied into the button.  I cut the hearts with the Sizzix Tipsy Hearts die - one in brown like the card and one in pearl white.  The brown is embossed with Cuttlebug Script folder and the pearl with the Sizzix Tropical Paisley folder.  The background was adhered to the card then I mounted the hearts with 3D foam tape.  I adhered the button with a Zot.

Card - Wax Crayon Paper Flowers

Here's the card I made with my wax crayon paper from yesterday.

I cut the paper with the Sizzix Flower Layers #10 Bigz die.  I printed my nature poem onto white in blue.  I added the stem and flowers I designed over the script background.  This layer was color printed and trimmed to leave a small border.  I mounted it onto a medium blue card.  I placed my blue wax paper flower to work with the stem.  I added a white then a yellow silk flower and held all the flowers to the card front with a small white brad.  I made a hole for the brad with a push pin. I'm really happy with the way the card turned out.

I may have to use this idea for card club!!!  Great idea for earth day crafts.

Diecut - Sizzix Bigz Pro Die - Teapot Box

Here's my first attempt to put together the Sizzix Bigz Pro Die - Box, Tea Pot die cut.  I had my neice cut the die cuts from heavy double sided 12x12 card stock and sent them to me.  They arrived this week and with time with my sister on the weekend we put this one together.  It is a super cute teapot box and I can think of a lot of places I would use it.  A bit about that later.

The normal go to adhesive would be the red super tacky tape but the tabs are not regular and some are small so cutting the tape without waste was not going well.  I turned to my quick dry adhesive in a bottle.  This worked great.  I could cover the tab easily and completely right to the edge which is important. Small bull clips came in handy to keep the edges together for a few minutes. I did not read the instructions on line so this one I folded and glued the tabs at the top of the pot to the inside.  This make the teapot shorter and lid not sit as well as it should.

Onto effort number 2.
Make sure you fold all the folds and press down with a bone folder before you start.
This time the tabs were glued but not folded which left a border at the top of the teapot to match the edge of the cover.  The fit is not as tight either which is better.

How big is it?
It is about 5" tall and the bottom is 3 1/8" square and the opening at the top is 1 3/4" square.

What does it hold?
It holds at least 10 individually wrapped tea bags.
It would hold probably 25-50 grams of loose tea if packaged in a flexible food grade bag with a twist tie.
It would hold quite a few unwrapped tea bags placed in a food grade bag with a twist tie.
I would suggest that some thought be put to how will the recipient remove the gift inside.  A bag holding whatever it is would make getting it out easier.

How can I use it?
1) I think it is a great container to hold a tea related gift.  I had hoped to use these for Christmas gifts but the die was delayed in shipping and the die cuts did not make it before Christmas.
2) A centre piece on a table for a spring tea holding a small gift appropriate for the event.  The item could be given away at the end of the event.  A Mother's day tea, also.
3) A wedding table center piece in ivory or white subtly patterned paper holding candy. Or maybe made of translucent paper with a flameless candle on the inside.
4) A hostess gift for someone hosting a Steeped Tea party with a favorite loose tea inside as a promotion.
5) Teacher gift for year end of school or Christmas holding tea bags.- My favorite tea is Joy put out by Starbucks only at Christmas time.
6) A gift container for a woman friend with sweets or bath products inside.
7) Filled with dunking cookies - biscotti, sugar cookies, or digestives.  I'm there's a lot more options.

Well that is my 2 cents worth.  I'm really happy with how they turned out!!!

GC Holder - Musical Notes

I'm finally getting to some of my Christmas shopping.

I made this gift card holder with the Sizzix Jumbo Crescent Tag die and black cardstock.  I folded the card stock in half before cutting. Here's a link to the ones I've made before. This time I placed the fold on the side instead of the bottom.  I added some music paper to the front.  I hand cut the curve at the top and punched the hole with a 1/4" punch.  I cut the music notes with the green Sizzix small music notes die.  Some in copper and some in black.  I added the greeting with the Stampin Up! Modern Label punch and the Word Window punch with the greeting being color printed.  I added a copper metallic ribbon to keep it closed.

Card - School

I made this card because I misunderstood the theme for a challenge so here it is!  I thought the card should have a ruler so I made one from some striped paper and glued it to the bottom of the card. I added my own numbers with black marker.  I printed some letters in the background on the actual red card in black.  I die cut a blue pencil with a yellow Sizzix die then cut another in white and trimmed those pieces off and glued them onto the blue one.  I created the stack of books with my round punch on both ends.  I wrapped the yellow string around them and tied a knot.  It makes a nice colorful card so I'm happy and I will head back to the challenge.

Christmas Card Stack - Ornament

I made these sets with green and red cards.  I printed the greeting and the string bow for the ornament on a white layer.  The white layer is cut to leave a small border of card color. The ornament was cut with one of the Spellbinder 2012 Heirloom Ornament Nestabilities. The red and white spotted paper is by Pinecone Press Papers - Rudolph. The black ornament hanger was cut with the Sizzix Ornament die and trimmed straight across. The white snowflake in the ornament centre was cut with the Stampin Up! Northern Snow Flurry Bigz die.  It is held in place with a small crystal brad.  I punched a evergreen garland with a Martha Stewart Double Edge Pine Needles Trim punch. The paper I used was by the AC Kringle & Co Lighting Department.  I punched it wider than I needed and placed it so that string is somewhat covered.  I adhered it down and trimmed it to the card edges.

Card - Birthday Flowers

I made this card for my sister.  I will be with her for her birthday this year which has not happened in years. She has moved closer so I anticipate it happening more often.  It is so good!
I think the card is Marina Mist. I layered onto it a Spellbinders A2 Fancy Ribbon Threader white layer.  I run a piece of blue seam binding through the bottom threader which matches the card really well.  I found a complimentary piece of designer paper trimmed it to not quite square and adhered it above the threader.  I layered onto it 3 flowers cut with Sizzix Flower Layers #10.  The large ones cut from pearl vellum and the small ones from matching card stock. After making holes through the flowers and the card front with a push pin I added a small white sequins to the tiny white brads which hold the flowers in place.

Challenge Card - Holly Jolly - Add 3 Embellishments

I created this card for the challenge this week at Holly Jolly which is Add 3 Embellishments.   I started with a Real Red card.  I created the background with the Stampin Up! Print Pattern Background Stamp with real red on a piece of white card stock to which I had added Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress stain.  I added a Sizzix Bigz Frame Back Ornate #8 cut from green designer paper. I color printed my greeting with Real Red onto the same Antique Linen card stock I made earlier. I cut the greeting with one of the SU! Apothecary Framelits and brushed it's edges with the ink pad.  I added a silver ornament cut with the Spellbinder 2011 Heirloom Ornament thin dies.  I added a Martha Stewart red glitter snowflake in the centre held with a silver brad. I drew a string for my ornament with a marker. My three embellishments - diecut, greeting and ornament.

Card - Epoxy Sticker - Happy Birthday

I made this card for a friend's birthday today. 
I started with a Baja Breeze card.  I added a piece of gold glossy card stock which I embossed with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.  I adhered it to the left hand side of the card. I cut flowers from white mulberry paper and I layered 2 of the large ones from Sizzix Flower Layers #2.  I mounted an epoxy sticker in a coordinating color in the centre of the flower.  I added a color printed greeting which was punched with the SU! Decorative Label.

R2G Card Kit - Jumbo Flowers

A Ready 2 Go Card Kit - another set of birthday cards.  Using up some peachy/coral circle stickers on the centre of the flower.  I used some on this card club card .  I started with a Groovy Guava card onto which I color printed a frame and greeting which matches the color of the flower. I cut flowers in turquoise, chocolate chip, navy and grey.  The jumbo flower was cut with a QuicKutz thin die.  The leaf was cut from designer paper with a Sizzix flower die.  The jumbo flower has 3 pieces: the centre, the zigzag border and the flower.  It's helpful to keep all three piece together to ensure the alignment of the centre and the flower during the gluing process.  Be sure to place the leaf behind the flower before gluing it down. The center and flower are glued down then the zigzag ring is removed to reveal the card color.