Christmas Cards - Joyeux Noel - Green

 Another set of Christmas Cards. 

In this set of cards I used Stampin Up Garden Green as the card base.  Cut one sheet in half, scored and folded each in half to make two A2 cards.

I cut a layer of Whisper White cut to 4.00 x 5.25 inches to leave a small border all the way around.

I chose green paste paper my sister made many years ago.  I cut a piece 3.50 inches wide and 4.75 inches tall. I aligned the top of the thinlit die along the top of the paper making sure it was right end up. The die is the Grand Joyeux Noel by Memory Box. Once cut I adhered the diecut to the white layer with tape and quick dry adhesive around the noel letters to make sure they were stuck to the paper. I then had to find the cutouts that matched and glue the middle of the O and the middle of the E.  I used my QuicKutz - The Quicker-Poker-Picker-Upper tool to hold the tiny piece of paper while I put a dab of glue on it and then carefully put in place. 

The accents are the Martha Stewart Large Snowflake punch and the Hampton Art Tree die from the set. I cut the tree from a warm green card stock and added decorations to it with my white opaque marker. Tiny gold sequins on the top of the J held with Bling Zots. The sequins are gold. A large one on the snowflake and a star on top of the tree.

Christmas Cards - Joyeux Noel - Purple

I made some French cards for my aunts and uncles who are still with us.  Joyeux Noel means Merry Christmas.

I started with the purple paste paper my sister and I made many years ago.  It has been paper that I though too special to use just willy nilly and so it has not been used.  I have to get out of the scarcity mentality and use stuff I think beautiful knowing that more will come when it needs to.

I cut the paste paper to 3.5 inches wide and about 4.75 inches tall.  The die is a thinlit by Memory Box.  I used my magnetic spacer to keep the die in place while cutting.  I cut the paste paper then pulled it off the paper. This requires gentleness because those letters up top are very delicate. I did mark the die with an up this way arrow this time because I did lay it upside down and of course had the greeting the wrong way.

I chose Stampin Up Lavender Lace for the card bases for these cards.  I added a layer of Whisper White cut to leave a small border all the way around. I used double sided tape on the bottom and side and Scotch Quick Dry Adhesive around the noel letters. The bottle has a very fine tip so it was easy to put just where I wanted it.  

Once that was adhered to the white layer, I added my accent pieces. The tree is by Hampton Art and cut from Elegant Eggplant. I added decorations with my white opaque marker. I added silver star and sequin on the top of the J. The snowflake is a large Martha Stewart punch. I adhered to the layer with a dusty purple mini brad and a silver sequin and a tiny sequin on the J. 

Balloon Cards

I painted some balloons with watercolor.  I chose my Watercolor Wonder Crayons from Stampin Up to match the card stock I am using. 

I did draw a slight image to follow in pencil on heavy white card stock.  

I chose Always Artichoke green, More Mustard yellow and Bravo Burgundy with Cherry Cobbler red for the balloons.  

I added strings with a black permanent marker once the piece was completely dry and pressed flat.  I signed the art as well. 

I added a length of Bravo Burgundy grosgrain ribbon across the bottom o the card with ends taped to the back.  

I added a Modern Label punchie color printed greeting with a More Mustard offset to match the card base in the same color.  This was adhered with 3D foam tape.

Another balloon card.  I chose Old Olive, More Mustard, Not Quite Navy and Real Red card stock for the balloons.  

I cut them out of scraps of cardstock with my Create Cricut electronic cutting machine using the Create a Critter cartridge.   I cut them at 3", 2.75" and 2.5" inches.  I tied black thread onto them for strings.  I added white highlight spots on each of them with a white opaque marker.

Added a piece of sky designer paper which I warmed up with some warm yellow chalk pastel applied with a stipple brush and adhered to the front of an Old Olive 5x7 card base.  I then assembled the balloon bouquet with the ones farther back adhered to the sky paper, then the next ones with 1 layer of 3D foam tape then the small red one in front with 2 layers of 3D foam tape.   This adds depth to the composition.

I taped all the string to a central spot.

I added a ripped color printed greeting over the strings with 3D foam tape.

Christmas Card Challenge - June - Brown Gingerbread

The prompt for the Christmas Card Challenge for June is Brown Gingerbread.

I selected a plaid designer paper which had a nice variety of colors.  It has brown, green, pink, blue and ivory.  For this set of cards I selected blue, pink and green card bases.  I cut the designer paper to leave a small border and adhered it to the card front.

I cut the gingerbread men with the Sizzix Gingerbread Man die from warm brown card stock.  I coordinated the pieces behind the gingerbread for eyes and hearts with the card base. I used my white opaque marker to create the marks around the edge of the die cut.

I adhered the gingerbread to the card front.  I then made 1/8 inch holes in the top of the card with hole punch.  I then pulled a length of Martha Stewart brown seam binding through the holes and created a knot in the center of the card.  I trimmed the ends with scissors.

With a great pink option on the back of the DSP I was able to create six cards which a just a bit different from one another.

I finally threw out my white gel markers.  They have not worked from the beginning.  I will have to find a fine white marker because this gingerbread is a regular accent for my Christmas cards.

Card - Challenges - Teal Cream Brown & Gingerbread

I made this card for a couple of challenges, Weekly Christmas Card Challenges - Teal, Cream and Brown and Christmas Cards all Year Round  - Gingerbread. 
I cut the gingerbread man with a Sizzix original die from dark brown card stock.  I used an opaque marker to add the icing to his arms, legs and smile.  I added a small piece of teal card stock behind his hearts in his middle.  I'm so used to making them red it felt a bit odd to use blue. Stretching myself!  I then embossed a cream layer with the Stampin Up! Northern Flurry folder.  I stamped the greeting in the bottom right hand corner with Stampin Up! Come to Bethlehem set with Taken with Teal ink.  I added and knotted a length of organza ribbon across the top of the cream layer.  This was then added to a teal card. 

How To: More Embossing Needed

I had cut the elements of this ornament.  The central scallop circle was not well embossed as it should be.  I devised this way to get the nice detail I wanted.
Added a piece of chipboard over the area where the scallop circle was on the die.  Taped the piece to the back of the die. I used a white gel marker to remember where the piece goes the next time. You can see the increased definition on the foam of the die.  The result is a great embossed die cut.

Card - Advent Class Cards

I was asked to help out with a "Getting Ready for Christmas" class.  The instructor is spending 8 weeks helping the group prepare for Christmas spiritually as well as practically.  Each week she has a related craft.  This week it was Christmas cards and she asked me to teach the card class.  We had an hour so I kept the cards simple to ensure everyone was able to finish their 4 cards in the time allotted.

I wanted a versatile design in which I could change the colors without affecting the entire design. Also, I wanted a card in each orientation of portrait and landscape to add variety.  I selected the these images: the manger scene is by SonLight Impressions which I have owned for years.  The candles I just bought this summer is by Sunshine Designs put out by Stamp Barn.  I gold embossed the central image on white cardstock then cut it with Nestabilibities Classic Oval.  I then cut a Nestabilities Scalloped Oval in a solid colored cardstock to coordinate with the designer paper.  These were glue together, I dotted each scallop with a Galaxy white opaque marker and a fabric gold snowflake was added with a Zot.  The designer paper was trimmed to 5.25x4.00 inches and glued to a white card. The central oval was mounted to the card with 3D foam tape which easily adds dimension. I had seven different color combinations so that there was lots of variety so each person got 4 different cards.

Card - Challenge #21 - Stitching

I made this card for the CST Challenge.  This week it was stitching.  I started with a white card and added a square of designer paper.  I added a white flower and a coordinating button in the centre held in place with a Zot.  I used a white marker to create the stitching then added blue dots with a marker.  Stamped greeting in blue ink.

All Occasion Stack Class - Little Birdie

Aren't these cute? I started with a post it pad in a bird shape I bought at a local craft store. Blue and Cranberry.

I selected a white card because the branch and the wing were white. I selected Designer Paper to coordinate with the bird color, trimmed it and glued it to the card. I added the beak shape with a white gel marker. Adding glue to the bird was a bit challenging because the post it glue resisted. I had to rub the post it back against fabric to dull it some, then I could add glue stick and then positioned it on the DP. I then glued the small branch below the bird with some leaves coming over the bird. I cut the wing with my Cricut, "Create a Critter" cartridge. It took several test tries to determine what size I needed. I then embossed the wing with the SU! Finial Press folder. Glued the wing on the bird keeping the sweep of wing in line with sweep of the bird body. I added white mini brad for the eye. I color printed greetings, punched them with the SU! horizontal slot punch and glued them to the top right hand corner. The greeting can easily omitted.

Card - Embossed Butterflies

I started with a white card. I cut some black card stock with my CM Wavy Cutter. I glued those down. 

 I printed three butterflies on vellum with my color printer then embossed them with clear powder. Be careful not to apply too much heat as the vellum will warp. 

I placed them on the card with a bit of clear double sided tape.

 I added a bit of accent with a white gel marker.

Card Kits - Christmas - Gingerbread Man

These card kits were prepared for someone who runs classes in a shelter. They were designed to be put together with few tools.

This gingerbread is great. I used 12x12 cardstock. It was cut down to three 4 x 11 inches cards which puts the fold at the top. The cardstock creates the feel of a textured fabric. The gingerbread was cut in a color that matched one of the stripes in the background. The gingerbread's white icing on the arms and legs was created with a white marker. A piece of red cardstock was taped behind the hearts on his tummy. The gingerbread was glued to the card front then the black was added to the eyes and smile. The oval greeting was cut with a Cuttlebug die and the greeting was stamped with green ink. The greeting was threaded onto the ribbon. The ribbon ends are scotch taped on the inside of the card.

Christmas Stack Class - Gingerbread Man

It was a great class today! Many of the ladies walked away with a stack of Christmas cards ready to send. Everyone was happy with their cards. The cardstock is Always Artichoke from Stampin Up! This wonderful guy is the Sizzix Gingerbread Man die cut in a warm brown cardstock. A bit of Berrylicious Bazzil cardstock to color the hearts on his tummy. The background paper is scrapbook paper. The ribbon is from the Value bin at Michael's. It's really nice ribbon in a ginger color which matched perfectly. It was soft and really nice to work with. The icing was put in with a Milky Way White Galaxy Marker. I've started using this marker because white gel pens have just stopped working after just a bit of use.

Christmas Stack Class - Gingerbread

This class was requested by some of my card club girls who wanted a head start on their Christmas card making. I'll have another class in the fall with new designs. The Gingerbread man is a Sizzix die cut. The decorative paper is Christmas giftwrap. The twill tape greeting sold on a roll was applied with heat and bond. The white frosting is a gel pen on this sample but for the class I brought a Galaxy Marker - Milky Way White with a broad point which did a super job. The red paper background was a bonus because I didn't have to cut extra red paper to ensure the hearts were red (an extra step I've done in the past). The fiber on the spine is red cotton with a gold thread.