Card Club - March - Bird on a Branch

I started with a ginger colored card which coordinated with the rusty color in the designer paper.  The designer paper is by Authentique - Collection Hope - Adorn.  I cut it to 3 x 5.5 inches and ripped the top half in off making sure not to leave a white ripped edge. I trimmed it slightly and adhered it to the bottom of the card front.
I cut the Bird Branch by Tim Holtz from kraft card stock.  I then cut just the bird from blue card stock.  I applied Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Gathered Twigs onto the branch to give me some variation in color on the branch.  I glued the branch to the card front and trimmed it to the edge of the card.  I trimmed the bird die cut to ensure I only had legs and adhered him directly over the kraft colored one.  I used a push pin to make a hole for the eye and placed the tiny brad and pressed the prongs apart inside.
Option: A greeting could be added to the right of the bird.

Coffee Card Challenge

I created this card to join the challenge at the Summer Coffee Lovers Blog Hop.

I started with a graphic of a coffee cup which I downloaded from the internet.  I used pencil crayons to color the cup.  I filled a circle from the stencil onto the front of the cup. I added the Coffee Co. words free hand with the dark brown Staedtler Karat watercolor pencil.  I sponged on some Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Antique Linen to warm it up as it appeared too white against the background.  I kept adding shading until I was happy with it.

I started the background on a piece of taupe skytone card stock cut to 4.0 x 5.25 inches.  I used the The Crafter's Workshop - Mini Coffee Splotch stencil to create the coffee rings.  I dabbed some Tim Holtz Distress Stains in Antique Linen, Tea Dye, Gathered Twigs, and Walnut Stain from lightest to darkest onto a palette.  I applied the 2 medium stains with a sponge through the stencil making marks on the card stock.  I sponged a bit between the rings. I rubbed the edges with the Walnut Stain.  I wrapped a piece of ivory seam binding around the background and tied it on the front to the left leaving room for my cup.

I glued the back ground to a deep brown almost Espresso card.  Adhered the coffee cup focal element to the card front with 3D foam tape. I trimmed the ends of my seam binding.   I then spattered the card front with a wet toothbrush dipped into the 2 medium colors which unified the elements.   I'm super happy with the results.

Cards - Tab Closures

I made a couple of cards for my exchange group.  A Stampin Up Card Base Pop 'n Cuts XL die has come my way and I didn't know it created a card which closes with slits and tabs.  That was a super surprise. I've done some research and there are interesting projects to come.
For these cards I cut the double sided card stock with the card base then folded it in half.  For the blue one I used Make a Wish Dandelion paper from Pebblesinc.  I cut a SU Lattice Die in white and adhered it to the card front in the tall orientation.  I punched a couple of SU Five Petal Punchies in deep brown then 2 small white Five Petal punchies and adhered them onto the brown ones.  I added a bit of a centre with a marker.  These were mounted with 3D foam tape. I added a greeting in the bottom right hand corner with a SU Modern Label punchie in white stamped with a stamp from the Small Script Stamp Set. I punched a brown punchie same card stock as the flowers, cut it in two crosswise and offset them to the back of the greeting layer.  This layer was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

 This second card was cut with the same card base die.  I used this map card stock with a deep red on the back side.  I cut the Tim Holtz Camera Mover & Shaper from the same card stock but with the red in front.  I cut it twice and then layered some pieces from the second onto the first so I would have map accents on it.  I used a strip of white card stock which I put Distress Stain in Antique Linen and Gathered Twigs to help it coordinate with the card stock.  I then cut the sentiment with the Stampin Up Little Letters dies and adhered them onto the colored strip.  I ran the edges of the strip into the dauber of Gathered Twigs stain.  I adhered the strip to the card front. I wrapped the card front with several layers of kraft twine and knotted it on the front. I then adhered the camera to the left of the sentiment with 3D foam tape.  Note the card is being used in the reverse manner from the first one hence you only see the red tabs showing through the slits.  Very versatile die.

Card - Deer in Neutrals

I took a sheet from a Spanish dictionary and applied Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Antique Linen and Gathered Twigs.  I dried it with the heat tool and then used TH Distress Stain in Walnut Stain with a brush to paint the landscape and the trees.  I ripped all the edges.  I stamped the greeting in the top right hand corner with Versafine Vintage Sepia with a clear stamp. I chose a Bazzill Pinecone card stock for the card. This layer was adhered to the card front with glue stick which helped to smooth out the wrinkled paper. I punched a 1" circle from Champagne pearl card stock for the moon and adhered it with 3D foam tape.  The chipboard deer is left over from this card project. I applied a bit of bronze shimmer on them with a dry brush but it does not show up in the photo.

I'm submitting this card to the following challenges.
52 Christmas Card Throw Down - Coffee and Cream
Hazels Christmas Card Challenge - Anything Goes

R2G Card Kit - Vintage Skate

I cut the Tim Holtz Ice Skates die from off white heavy card stock. I highly recommend using a heavy card stock as it gives a much better end product.  I painted the blade with Gleams Acrylic Paint by Delta - Silver as it has a warm tone.  I chalked the skate with brown with heavy application on the heel and light around the edges of the skate.  I used brown thread as laces. You can see here how to use the dental floss threader and lace the skate.  I rubbed the edges of the Joy background card with Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Gathered Twigs. Wrap the ribbon around the Joy background and knot to the front. Trim ends.  Cut the 3D foam tape into three pieces and place one at the cuff, heel, and toe.  Adhered the skate as shown.

Card Club - November - Glittered Deer

Christmas cards are the order of the day today!  We are making 8 cards - 2 of each design.
I did several things ahead.  The chipboard deer were colored with Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs Distress Stain.  Once dry I applied Deco Art Twinkle Gold Glitter paint.  Thank goodness I did this early in September.  I also spattered black card stock with gold acrylic paint.  Once dry I cut into pieces of 3.5" wide then cut them with the TH Cabinet die. This gives me only 1 notch on each side.  I punched a 1.75" circle from High Gloss Gold Paper with my Stampin Up circle punch, also a Modern Label from the same card stock.  I printed my greeting in black on ivory card stock and punched it with the SU word window. I selected an ivory card.  I adhered the black/gold background die cut to the card front. I glued the gold "moon" circle aligned with the curve on the black die cut.  I glued the greeting to the label and mounted to the bottom of the card with 3D foam tape.  I then adhered the glittered chipboard deer above the greeting placing his head over the gold "moon" circle.

Christmas Stack Class - Winter Deer

 Here's a nice peaceful card for the last set. I bought the chipboard deer during the last Christmas season.  The background paper is Little Yellow Bicycle - Winterings on the beige background.  I printed the narrow frame onto the card stock. The blue background I found here.  I colored the deer with Tim Holtz Distress Stain - Gathered Twig on the beige background and Walnut on the blue background.  The deer is  adhered to the right hand side with his feet placed very near the border. The snowflake is created with a Martha Steward snowflake punch with the same card stock as the card and held in place with a tiny white brad.  I color printed the greetings in a coordinating color and cut into a snow bank with my Creative Memories wavy cutter. It is mounted to the background being trimmed to be inside the frame.  It is adhered with 3D foam tape to accommodate the legs of the deer.