Advent Wreath - 4th Candle - Peace

Today we light the fourth which is the Peace candle. 

Let us remember the Prince of Peace.

From Ann Voskamp's Advent book - The Greatest Gift.

There is no need to produce or perform or perfect - simply become a place for God.  That is all.

The being with is always the gift,  not merely the doing for.  Spending time is more important than stuff.

I have just put up my small ceramic tree, the nativity and a few ornaments and lights.  Just don't need the stuff anymore.

I have focused on people this season rather than gifts and producing stuff.

Ready 2 Go Christmas Stack Kit - Set 13

I started with a light blue card base.

I adhered a lavender card stock layer leaving a small border.

I recycled a card with an angel announcing the birth of Jesus.  I added a gold star brad over the one on this layer.  It was adhered to the card front.

The greeting was color printed on blue card stock and fussy cut to the border. It was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

A quarter sheet insert with a seasonal sentiment was added to the inside of the card.

More purple for this card in a deep colored card stock which works with the tail feathers.

I added a white layer leaving a small border.

I added the iridescent purple snowflake with a purple small brad onto the silver greeting layer.  It was then adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

A quarter sheet insert with a seasonal sentiment was added to the inside of the card.

Another shade of purple for this card.  I chose a grape color textured card base.

I then layered a warm green layer to the card front leaving a small border.

I added the small gold star brad to the Holy Family layer then it was adhered to the card front.

The greeting was color printed on warm white card stock and fussy cut to the border. It was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

A quarter sheet insert with a seasonal sentiment was added to the inside of the card.

R2Go Christmas Stack - Soft Sky Dove & Holy Family

I started with a beautiful dove glittered large card. I cut it down to leave me with this dove glitter image with warm blues, cool purples and glittered snowflakes.

I chose a soft sky card base onto which this layer was adhered in the tall or portrait orientation.

I printed the greeting in deep purple blue and punched it out with the Stampin Up Modern Label punch.  It was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.
 
I added 3 iridescent sequins with Bling Zots.

I added a quarter sheet insert for the sentiment inside.



 
This card is a similar sketch with the wide or landscape orientation.

I had just enough of these to complete the kit.

I cut down the card and added a strip to the right hand side to complete the card layer leaving a small border.

I added a silver foil SU Modern Label punch with a SU Word Window punchie adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

This time 3 silver stars were adhered to the card front.

R2Go Christmas Stack Kit - Dove & Joyful Watercolor

This card has portrait / tall orientation.

The Joyful layer was cut from a piece of printed card stock.  I used the Stampin Up Window Frame thin lits to cut the gold foil word with it's watercolor background in red and greens.  I then cut a layer of warm green card stock with one of the Sizzix Square thinlits which allows a nice border around the square on the watercolor diecut.  These are adhered together. 

I chose a warm red card base onto which I adhered a length of gold metallic ribbon across the front and taped the ends to the inside of the card.  This repeats the gold in the accent.

The Joyful watercolor accent is adhered over the ribbon to the card front with 4 squares 3D foam tape.  I aligned it a bit to the left of center.

This is the same sketch but placed in the landscape or wide orientation.

I chose a white card base onto which I adhered a length of white satin ribbon with turquoise writing "Peace" printed at regular intervals. I taped the ends to the inside of the card.

The gold moire square was adhered behind the turquoise and gold dove Window Frame diecut.  This accent was adhered to the card front over the ribbon with 4 pieces of 3D foam tape.  I aligned it to allow me to see 2 full words.

Christmas Cards - Refurbished Set 3

I used to print greeting cards with a Gocco printer.  This ivory wreath card is my own design that I printed in gold ink on ivory card stock along with the greeting.  I added the ivory organza ribbon onto the wreath. 

To refurbish - I trimmed the card front to leave a small border and mounted that onto a brown card front.




If you want to check out the Gocco printing process I found this video on line.  Turn the sound down on your computer before clicking.

This card features a small nativity clipart image.  It is layered onto a layer of white card stock. I then chose a piece of purple mulberry paper.  It was wet with a paint brush in order to be able to rip it in the shape desired.  I dried the paper with an iron then adhered it to the card front which had the greeting color printed onto it then mounted the other layers.

To refurbish this card I trimmed the card front to leave a small border and mounted it onto a purple card to coordinate with the purple mulberry paper.

 This card features a Christmas tree in a modern design.  It is stamped onto a white layer with a green ink pad.  It was mounted onto a piece of coordinating green bond paper and trimmed with decorative scissors.  It was then mounted to the greeting layer which has a greeting color printed in red.

To refurbish the card I trimmed the card front to leave a small border.  I then mounted it to the front of a coordinating green card.

 This is a card I designed for my work a few years ago.  It features coordinated digital images of the star and the word PEACE. 

To refurbish I trimmed the card front to leave a small white border. Then I layered it onto a red card stock layer then onto a warm green card.

This card features a small store bought card in turquoise with a bright red bird. 

I mounted the small card front onto white pearl card stock leaving a small border. Then onto the front of a black card which picked up the black in the words on the card.

R2G Christmas Stack Kit - Set 2

Kits for my class tonight.

I started with the blue and foil starry night designer paper. It is handmade paper.  It was cut to leave a small border of the navy card.
I cut the greeting on the Cricut with the Winter Frolic cartridge at 2.75".  The navy is the same as the card stock as the card and the shadow was cut from vellum.
I adhered these layers together ensuring dry adhesive is only behind the card stock so it does not show through the vellum.  The full greeting was adhered to the card front.
I added a mini silver brad as the dot on the "i" in Silent.

I started with the gold metal star ornament.

I cut gold metallic card stock to 4.00x5.25 inches.  This layer was adhered to the front of the black card.
I designed the starry night Bethlehem layer in black with my own drawing.  It was printed on white card stock trimmed to 3.75x5.00 inches.
I put gold metallic thread through the hole in the ornament. I adhered the metal star to the Bethlehem layer with a Zot then pulled the thread to the back of the white layer and taped down the ends. This layer was then adhered to the gold layer on the card front.

I started with the felt ornament.

Using the navy ornament, I created the Peace on Earth greeting layer and printed it on white card stock. It was adhered to the front of a navy card.
I found an earth clip art on line and sized it to 1.75", printed several on vellum and embossed them with silver powder. I punched them with the SU circle punch.
I cut a length of silver metallic ribbon, tied it to the hole of the ornament and trimmed the ends. I placed the earth circle in the center of the navy ornament and created a hole with a 1/16" punch for the dove brad.
I placed the ornament onto the card front, used a push pin to create a hold in the card front to match the one in the ornament.  Pushed the prongs of the brad through all layers and spread them on the inside of the card.

Alphabet Photo Library

I have been working on an Alphabet Photo library.  For my craft sales this season I prepared 3 words which are Ready2Show.

There are several options for displaying these words.

This is how I have chosen to display them at home.  These no profile clear acrylic frames are from IKEA.  Reasonably priced. 

Check out my Alphabet Photo page for details.

Burgundy Star Peace Card Set

This set of cards was created with digital graphics from Aria Sparkles and printed. I created a gradient background onto which the word was placed near the bottom.  I placed the star on the left tucking one point of the star into the word. The panel was trimmed.  I created a burgundy frame and printed it on Astroparche Natural card stock.  The panel was adhered to the card front aligned into the frame.


This set will be donated to an auction. They have been packaged in a 6x6 clear box with a custom spacer.

This was one of the projects I took to my sister's on the long weekend.  I had a great visit with her. 

Peace Card Set

I made another set of cards for a donation to a fundraiser.

I found green backgrounds from the web then created the word PEACE with digital images from Aria Sparkle.  I created an oval with a gradient fill with a dark border.  I layered the word on top of it. I found the sprig of olive branch on CLKER.  The bottom one is a gradient background with darker edges.














Once the card was printed I added a pearl white card stock die cut of a dove on the top and a star on the bottom one. These are Sizzix dies.

Card Club - November - Love Peace Joy Ornaments

I created the background from a photo of an old board I took during the summer.  I selected all the rough parts of the board and created a pattern I could color.  In this case I have used Stampin Up! Always Artichoke on textured ivory card stock.  The words are circle stickers which I glued to the green SU punched ornaments.  I added cranberry thread to the ornament hangers and tied them with bows.  I selected a deep red card.  I glued the background card stock to the card front. I decided on the placement of the ornaments then I added strings with a black marker.  Then I applied 3D foam tape to the ornaments and adhered them to the card front. 

Challenge - Make your own background

I made this card for Sparkles - Weekly Christmas Card Challenge - Make your own background. 
I created my own background on the green card with a snowflakes True Type font called Faux Snow BRK.  They were printed on the card with Certainly Celery.  I placed a snowbank on the card which was cut with my Creative Memories Wavy Cutter. I then added the sleigh sticker by Martha Stewart.The gifts stickers were separate so I applied them to the card first then the sleigh on top.  I stamped the Peace greeting with an old foam stamp set and gold embossed it.  I punched it out with the Stampin Up! Decorative Label Punch.  It is mounted to the card with 3D foam tape. 

Christmas Card Stack - Doves

 I had a Christmas Stack class today.  These dove cards were the first ones.  I have selected 2 different textured card stock - pale blue and plum.  I have mounted the doves in opposite directions. 
The doves were cut with the Stampin Up! Elegant Bird die.  I trimmed the wings by hand then I embossed them.  The left card with the Cuttlebug Victorian and the right one with the Cuttlebug Tropical Paisley. I ran a length of ribbon across the bottom of the card and taped the ends to the inside of the card. I glued the dove then the wing matching the curve of the wing with the curve of the body. I used a push pin to create a hole for the black brad representing the eye. I color printed the greetings and punched them out with 1 1/4" punch and glued them to the larger circle punched at 1 3/8" and it is mounted with 3D foam tape.

Cmas Card Challenge - December - Metallics

Metallics are a natural for Christmas cards. I used silver, white pearl and gold for the metallics on this card. I cut the words with the Sizzix "Join the Cheer" sizzlet strip. The ornament is on the strip as well. It was tedious cutting all the small pieces but I'm really happy the results. I wanted to hang the ornament and tried quite a few options before I chose this silver thread. I glued the words and the ornament onto a black layer that was embossed with the Swiss Dots folder. This was mounted onto a white card.