Card - CST Challenge #11 - Fav Background Technique

I used spritzed Radiant Rain Shimmering Mist - Egyptian Gold on brown card stock to make my background. I found gold paper to match and glued it to another paper to make it heavier. I cut the frame with my Sizzix Retro Frame original die. I mounted the background paper on an ivory card then cut the coffee mug with the Cricut -Graphically Speaking cartridge in ivory as well. I stamped the sentiment with Chocolate Chip ink with Hero Arts stamp. I applied a bit of ink to the ivory to make it less stark then I added some walnut ink on the "coffee" in the mug with a paint brush. I repeated the dark brown in the 3 brads in the upper left corner.

Card - Birthday

This a large card. I started with an 8.5x11 folded in half then trimmed it to the envelope size. I chose a turquoise card based on the colors in the decorative paper. The background paper is tissue paper ironed to freezer paper. I selected the flower colors based on the background paper - purple and pink. I cut the flowers with my spellbinder Sunflower die as well as the centre. I mounted the centre with 3D glue dots. I added the large gold brad in the upper right hand corner and small ones in the other three corners. I put a pink Happy Birthday on the insert.

Freezer paper is the brown paper used by butchers. The plastic coating provides a barrier to air and moisture to protect the quality, flavor and nutrition of foods during freezing. Reynolds sells it in white on a roll.

Card Kit - Christmas Tree with Burgundy Scallop

I made another Christmas card kit for a silent auction at a family reunion this summer.
I used a parchment card stock cut to 5.5x8.5" which is folded in half. I trimmed the decorative plaid paper to be 1/8" smaller than the card front. The tree is cut with a Sizzix die from moss green paper. It has been chalked green on the tree and brown on the trunk. I added burgundy balls (.25 punched shapes) to it. I created the greeting and color printed it onto parchment paper and punched it with 1.25" punch. It is layered onto a 1 3/8" moss green layer then onto the burgundy scallop. I glued the Christmas tree onto the card front then added the scallop greeting. The burgundy sequin star is held in place with a glue dot.

Card - CST Challenge #10 - Baby

CST Challenge #10 is a card with a special fold. I selected a gate-fold for this card. A pink card with gingham decorative paper on the two halves of the card front. White scallop is cut with Nestabilities and the gingham layer is cut with coordinating circle dies. The baby carriage was cut from Cricut Graphically Speaking cartridge with shadow in pink and the outline in white. I ensured the gingham on the scallop was opposite the card direction to provide more contrast. The insert is just a quarter sheet with sentiment printed in pink.

Card - CST Challenge #9 - Flourish

I created this card for the CST challenge this week which was use black and white with splash of color.
I started with a black card and added a white embossed layer (Cuttlebug - Floral Fantasy) trimmed to just a bit smaller than the card. Then I cut a die with the Sizzix Flourish in black and cut again the hearts in hot pink. I thought it worked well with the hearts and flourishes on the embossed layer. I glued it down and added my hot pink hearts. It was for someone having a birthday so I added a stamped greeting in hot pink and smudged the edge with a black ink pad.

Card - CST Challenge #8 - Sketch Pears

I made this card following a sketch challenge. I bought this metallic copper ribbon on clearance and I'm learning why it might have been on sale. It's been the hardest thing to work into a design because I've not been able to find something else that matches.

I started with an olive green card cut 4.25x11" and scored in half to make a top fold card. I added the copper ribbon knot at the top (tacked with a glue dot) and a length near the bottom held in place with a bit of double sided tape and scotch tape on the inside. The sketch had scallops near the bottom so I cut a border with Die-namics die in dark brown. I laid this over the copper ribbon. I cut 2 yellow pears and the stem and leaf with a QuicKutz die from the same dark brown. Added a bit of accent on the bottom with a brown marker.

Card Kit - Red Velvet on Always Artichoke

I made another Christmas Card Stack kit. I used Always Artichoke card with coordinating Designer paper from Stampin Up! I cut the paper to 5.25x4.00" then cut it again at 3.75 giving me 2 pieces 4.00x1.5 and 4.00x3.75. As the paper is double sided I turned one of them over. Once I have the layout I wanted I turned them over and tape them together to have a piece that is 4.00x5.25". I glued this decorative paper layer onto the card front. I placed the ribbon along the join of the papers to determine the placement of a slit in the fold of the card just the width of the ribbon. Pull one end through the slit and tape to the inside of the card. Turn the card over to have the card front facing you. You may want to add a bit of glue to the back of the ribbon and glue it over the joint of the papers. Wrap the ribbon end around the card edge and glue it to the inside of the card with tape. The red velvet flower accent has 2 glue dots on the back. Remove the release paper and place the flower accent as desired. Check out available card kits.

Cmas Card Challenge - July - Around the World

I chose Mexico for this challenge. Which country would you choose? Father Christmas from England or SinterKlass from the Netherlands? What tradition did you grew up with? Leave me a comment.

Did you know that poinsettias come from Mexico? The plant is named for the first U.S. Ambassador to Mexico, Dr. Joel Roberts Poinsett, who introduced America to the poinsettia in 1828, after discovering it in the wilderness in southern Mexico. So what does a poinsettia have to do with Christmas? A Mexican legend tells of a girl who could only offer weeds as a gift to Jesus on Christmas Eve. When she brought the weeds into a church, they blossomed into the beautiful red plants we know as poinsettias, known as Flores de Noche Buena in Mexico (Spanish for "flowers of the holy night").

Cards on-line used a lot of bright colors so I selected a medium blue for the card. I stamped the five petal poinsettias in red with a set from Stampin Up then embossed them with Candy Red powder then used the matching punch on them. I used Green Galore for the leaves and held them in place with a tiny white brad. The tree which was embossed with the Victorian folder. I added a yellow star at the top of the tree. Color printed the greeting in red.

With all the classes in the last month I'm at 61 cards

I make 6 of these.

Total so far: 67

Card - Christmas JOY

Cleaning up leftovers. I made this card with materials cut while working out the card kit I posted earlier. I chose cherry card stock to go with button. Die cut the shadows in dark green with the Sizzix Shadow Box alphabet and the letters J&Y in cherry. Glued the cherry letters to the dark green shadows. The ornament under the button in green is a Sizzix as well. Cut the hanger from cherry and glued it on. I pulled some cherry thread through a hole made with a push pin. I glued the J then the Y then centered the ornament in between. I brought the thread up over the edge of the decorative paper and taped it to the back. Glued the decorative paper onto the card front. I'm submitting this card to Sparkles Christmas Challenge this week which needed die cuts.

Card Kit - Gold Glitter Ornament

Here's another Christmas Stack Card kit. The focal point is a glitter card stock ornament cut with a Cuttlebug die. I selected red and green card stock and split the cards in half between each. I punched snowflakes with MS punch. I found satin ribbon in the right colors with a speckle of gold. I cut the decorative paper and glued it to the card front. Attached the ribbon to the ornament hanger. I used a bit of glue to tack the ornament in place then added the snowflake over the centre. Use a push pin to create a hole through all three layers and add the gold brad. Trim the ends of the ribbons to the edge of the card. Check the link on the right hand side or follow this link for available card kits. Great idea for time at the lake this summer.

Card - CST Challenge #7 - Baby

A card for a baby is the CST challenge this week. I checked earlier this week and the cards were pink so decided on a boy's card. I started with a white card. I added a piece of striped paper then a blue crinkled paper. I printed the sentiment on red card stock, trimmed it and placed over the join of the decorative papers. Use white yarn in the button then glue dot to keep it in place. The top need something so I tried several options until these stars punchies were just right.

Card Kits - Joy with Damask Buttons

I put together this Christmas Card Stack kit this week. I had just enough Damask buttons left from my card club class to make a stack kit. I found some decorative paper to match the mustard and olive buttons I had. I selected cardstock in cherry red and olive green colors. I cut the word JOY with my Sizzix Shadow Box dies, the shadow in ivory and the letters in red. These are glued red over ivory. I selected some gross grain ribbon in 2 shades of green. I tied red thread in the holes of the buttons and trimmed the ends. I trimmed and glued the decorative paper to the card front. I added a bit of glue to the back of the ribbon and placed about .75" from the top of the card. Brought both ends to the inside of the card and taped them down. I used a glue dot to adhere the button to the ribbon. I glued the letters below the ribbon, first the J then the Y and centered the O in between. The kit makes 16 cards. You can check my website link on the right hand side or follow this link for available kits.

Card - CST Challenge #6 - Bling

I selected a brown card with a top fold. I cut a white scallop border with a Die-namics die and added sticky turquoise rhinestones (the "Bling") in the centre of each bump. I cut my turquoise piece, ripped the edge and glued it over the straight back edge of the scallop border. The blue in each piece match. I placed a dragonfly, a flutter trail and greeting in Corel Draw and printed it onto white card stock. I trimmed the piece then ripped the edge similar to the turquoise layer and glued it onto the card front.

Card - Accordion Card

I made this card for a couple who are leaving our office and moving to Toronto. I needed a large card for everyone to sign. I decided on an accordion card. I wanted the left side to represent Alberta so I added mountains and pine tree. The vellum in the centre represents our Muttart Conservatory in the river valley. Then along the road in the centre I created sign posts with locations long their way east; Saskatoon, Winnipeg, and Sudbury. The right hand cover represents Toronto and Ontario. The cityscape, CN Tower and the water.

I used artists canvas 6x9" for the covers. I painted the sky and the grass on with acrylic paint with a bit of a dry brush technique. I used 50lb text weight paper for the accordion which was painted in the same way. I used my Creative Memories Wavy Cutter to create the highway that runs the full length of the card from left to right. I added the white centre line with a Marvy Opaque marker. The mountains were cut by hand, the pine tree is a Sizzix die cut, and the grass was ripped and cut with decorative edge scissors. The Muttart Conservatory is 3 large glass pyramids so I decided on vellum which was scored and then I added a bit of fine black marker to add definition. I designed the road markers in Corel Draw. The cityscape was cut on the Cricut - Paper Dolls Dress Up. I placed yellow paper behind to put light in the windows. I cut the waves with the wavy cutter and chalked them to add some depth. The CN tower was a clipart image which I printed and cut close to the edge. The clouds were cut with the Cricut - Create a Critter. I made a vellum sleeve to hold and protect the card.

Banner - Farewell

This is a banner I created for a farewell we hosted today.  The triangles were cut to accommodate the 4" letters cut with the Cricut and the Base Camp cartridge.  The colors were lime, navy and yellow.  The letters were cut from yellow card stock and glued to the navy flags.  The lime scallop was cut with Sizzix Sizzlits Decorative Strip Die - Scallops, Giant which is 12 inches long. They were adhered along the top edge of the flag and trimmed as needed.  I attached the flags to a navy grosgrain ribbon with tiny blue brads.

Card - CST Challenge #5 - One Layer

I made this card for the One Layer Challenge on CST. The green daisy is my own design which was printed on the card. I added a yellow cap to the centre and a matching checker board ribbon along the fold. I used a Stampin Up! background stamp to add dirt below the line in Chocolate Chip and the greeting as well. Quick and easy!

Photo - Word Frame

This is a photography project I've been working on. I wanted to make a gift for my boss who is being transferred. I've been developing an Alphabet Photography library and so I chose photos that spelled his name "FRED". I had the photos printed in black and white and mounted them behind the white mat in the 3x3" openings of the 8"x8" frame. I then made an identical mat out of vellum to lay over the mat board. I stamped several words that described him. I used my CTMH small alphabet on a long clear mount. I used Versafine Ink - Black Onyx and embossed with black detail powder. I'm really happy with how it turned out.

Alphabet Photography - These are pictures of every things that represent letters of the alphabet. It's important to keep contrast in mind to ensure the letter stands out. I don't have pictures for all the letters but I'm happy with my progress. Some letters are really hard to find. It requires that I look at my world from another point of view. Always a good exercise.

Card - Copper Butterflies

I used a textured red card stock for the base card. I put a quarter sheet of black cardstock through the Big Shot with the Cuttlebug Oval Scroll frame folder. I rubbed copper Pearl Ex onto the high parts. I sealed it with matte fixative. I cut the butterflies with Spellbinder thin dies from metallic copper card stock. I punched an oval from the same red card stock. Stamped the greeting with Black Onyx Versafine ink on a small clear stamp. I adhered the butterflies and daisy with tiny black brads. A great birthday card!

Card Kit - Silver Snowflakes

I originally did this card here.

I decided to take the suggestions made at class. I expanded the color choices for this kit which now includes pink, lavender, turquoise and navy. It provides quick and easy cards.

I will have to go on the hunt for more foil paper.

Christmas Card Stack - Gold Ornaments

The gold and black paper is wonderful. I selected card stock to match the decorative paper (black and purple). I found some gold paper that went well with it. I cut a layer of gold leaving a small border and glue it to the card front. Then I trimmed the decorative paper leaving a larger border. I cut the ornament with a Cuttlebug die folder combo "For You" from the gold paper. I glued a small eyelet in the card color to the ornament hanger. I folded the ribbon in half, pulled the fold through the hanger hole and the pulled the ends through the loop and pull taut. I put a big of glue behind the hanger and the ornament. Placing the colored snowflake onto the gold ornament and use a push pin to make a hole for the brad. Push the brad through and spread the prongs on the card inside. Trim the ribbon ends with scissors.