R2G Card Kit - Ornament on Stripes

I have had the supplies collected for this card kit for a while and I found time today to put it together.
DSP - The Stampin Up DSP is Holiday Thyme and the card colors are Old Olive, Bravo Burgundy, True Thyme and Cranberry Crisp. I chose the stripes so that I would have all 4 colors in the one paper.
Greeting - I chose a greeting from the Joy to the World Stamp Set and put it on a SU Modern Label punchie of Very Vanilla in the same color as the card.
Ribbon - I matched the 1/4" ribbon to the card color as well. Some is stitched and some solid grosgrain ribbon. The ribbon is placed at the top of the DSP and a slit is made in the fold on the left to pull through the ribbon and it is taped to the inside of the card on both ends.
Ornament - The ornament is from the Ornament Keepsakes stamp set and it was die cut with the matching set of thin lits. Once cut, I wrapped a piece of vanilla thread around the hanger of the ornament. The greeting and the ornament are adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

You can check here for similar kits.

Challenge - Hearts

I started with a pink/purple paper heart doily from this project.  I selected a purple card to match and added a layer of moire gold decorative paper.  I traced the heart shape in the center of the doily onto to the back of the same gold paper and cut it by hand. I added 3 small flower sequins just off center on the gold heart and held them in place with tiny gold brads.  I stamped the Mr.&Mrs. by Stampin Up in black on a piece of coordinating card stock. I then punched it out with the SU Tab punch.  I mounted it to the card front with 3D foam tape.  I like the texture of the decorative paper and the paper doily.

I am submitting this card for the following challenges:
1. CST - Home Page Card Challenge at CST which is hearts for February
2. Cute Card Thursday - Crazy in Love

Photo - Years of Memories

These are a few of things I brought home after clearing my office this week.

The top left is a painted rock which represents the Northern Lights which I received from a friend in Yellowknife.  The THANKS rock was a gift from my boss on Admin Support day a few years ago.  The hand painted vase I don't recall where it came from but I filled with silk flowers.  The yellow balls came from a bouquet of flowers I received from another boss for appreciation of my work.  There's another yellow mug which will be no surprise from those who know me. This one is a bit on the small size for my taste but it's just the right color. You will find another in this post.  The star 3D puzzle was a prize for our team who raised the most dollars for world missions a few years ago.

Card Exchange - Key with Heart

I made these cards for my monthly card exchange. These hearts are left over from this project. I decided on the color combo of brown, red and cream.  I chose a brown texture card. I cut a piece of white pearl paper to 2.5" x 5.5" and embossed it with the Stampin Up Pretty Print folder.  I adhered it to the card front leaving even spaces on the top and bottom. I rubbed the edges of my heart die cut with a brown ink pad.  The heart was cut with the Cricut and the Folk Art Festival Cartridge.  I added a antique metal key on the heart and held it in place with a tiny brass brad.

Christmas Card Challenge - Feb - Star Layers Ribbon

The Christmas Card Challenge for February ( is it really here already?) is Star Layers Ribbon.  Are you going to join me?  Leave me a comment with a link to your card.

Here's my card for the challenge.  I started with the designer paper.  I wanted something with a small enough design to be okay with the size of the star.  I chose Celebrate Family Flowers - Confetti - Kaleidoscope Collection by My Mind's Eye. I chose the Sizzix 3 Stars die.  I then found a warm dark blue card stock to match the DSP.  I had decided that I would chose solid card stock, DSP and silver metallic, cut them all three of them at once and then just swap the stars into 3 groups. I need a light background for my dark stars so I selected a silver pearl card stock which I embossed with the Sizzix Stars and Swirls folder.  I trimmed it to leave a small border.  I added a red cotton ribbon bow that was just cinched in the middle with a piece of matching thread.  This creates less bulk for mailing.  I adhered a piece of the same thread to the back of the pearl layer in the top center before I stuck the layer to the card front.  I brought it down the card front and taped it down, which will be covered by the star.  I layered the 3 stars and pierced the centre with push pin and inserted the tiny red star brad.  I mounted the stars to the card front with 3D foam tape.   I decided to leave out any type of greeting. Repeating the star in the background worked well.

Sympathy - Bird and Branch

Made this card for a friend Gail who lost her husband recently.  The DSP is Stampin Up Almost Amethyst.  I cut it to leave a small border then cut it at the 1.75" mark and turned to smaller piece over.  I adhered these and then placed a piece of white gross grain ribbon across the join. I created the bird with the SU Bird Builder punch.  White for body, a piece of teh DSP for the wing and the bring is Certainly Celery. Punched the Modern Label in same color and color printed a greeting for the Word Window.

Card Club - Jan - Baby Bird

The girls in card club requested a baby card.  I finally broke down and drew my own bird image.  This way I could color it as I wanted.  I made some blue, pink, yellow, and purple which will allow the girls to choose the color based on the babies expected in their family circles.  The bird and branch is color printed with a matching border.  It was trimmed to leave a border of card. I added a strip of card stock about .75 tall and the width of the border.  I flagged then right hand end then adhered below the bird.  I designed the greeting as well, so I had the the same ability to change the color as needed.  I punched it with the large oval punch.  It is mounted over the card strip with 3D foam tape.

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.

Card Club - Jan - Masculine HB

This card was designed around a photo from last year's calendar. I chose a blue card onto which I printed my plank board background in black. I cut the 4" photo with the Stampin Up Deco Label Framelits.  I then cut a black one of the same size.  I cut the black one in half and glued the halves to the back of the photo die cut offset on the left and right hand side. I adhered this to the top of the card.  I designed a circle greeting in blue and black.  I punched it with a 1" circle punch.  It was mounted on a black ribbon slider cut with a Cuttlebug die.  I used white seam binding, strung the ribbon slider onto it and placed near the bottom of the card.  I placed a slot in the fold, pulled the end through and taped it to the inside of the card. I wrapped the right hand end to the inside of the cad and taped it down.

Card Club - Jan - Heart Doily

This is my nod to Valentine's Day.  I colored the white paper doilies with scarlet and bronze liquid color.  You can check the process in this post.

I stamped dots on the hearts with a VersaFine Onyx ink pad to repeat the dots in the background. I printed the polka dot background I designed onto a 4.25 x 11 inch card.  Once folded, I placed adhesive on the solid center of the heart and placed it near the fold at the top of the card.  I used a piece of thread which was dyed that the same time as the heart and added a piece of black thread.  These were wrapped around the card front and knotted once.  The metal heart charm was then added and then the another knot was made. The ends were trimmed.

Card Set - Card Club Thank You

I made a set of small note cards as a thank you to the ladies who signed up for Card Club.  I used Stampin Up digitals.  I tried to match the card colors with the envelopes I had on hand.

This card is from the Eventful Year collection.  I placed the banner and used the Thank You from the same collection in Poppy Parade.







This card is a flower stamp from the Fresh Vintage set.  The color is Lucky Limeade with a black outline.  I added a thin black border.

This birthday card is done with Pretty Petites in Groovy Guava and Chocolate Chip.


The star is from Sprinkled Expressions in Baja Breeze.

On this card I used Feeling Sentimental in black on white card with pink envelopes.  I used the phone booth and the ferris wheel

This is a set of cards which adds to the recipients supply on hand. They can quickly write up a quick note or add to a gift when needed.

Card Club - My Thank You

This is my thank you card to the ladies who signed up for Card Club this session.
I used flat panel card and envelopes sets. The envelopes were not A2 sized so I had to cut down the white card before I planned the other pieces. The colored flat panel was then cut down to leave a small border.  I used my Big Shot with the Memory Box Thanks greeting die and cut the hole.  I punched the ribbon border with a Fiskars punch being careful to have an odd number of slots on right and left hand sides.  I ran chose white seam binding to match the card and ran it through he slots and knotted it on the front. Trimmed the ends. This layer was then adhered to the white card front.  I chose not to glue the hole pieces on the a and k.

Cards - Photos ReUsed

I made another couple of cards with reused 4x4 photos from last year's calendar.  That's how I designed my calendars.
I cut the photo down to 3.75 square and adhered it to the top of the card.  I added faux stitching all the way around the photo with a black marker.  I choose turquoise card to work with the blue in the patina of the bell.









I glued a Cricut diecut leftover from this project below the photo.  I used my quick dry paper adhesive which has a very pointed end on the bottle which was helpful with the small pieces here.  I choose a warm green to work with the various greens in the foliage.  I really like this zebra pic.

Chinese Photo Collage

I took these photos on a recent visit to the Conservatory. The feature pavilion had a Chinese theme.  I really liked the tree on the bottom of the collage. There were terrific stone sculptures of lions, turtles and dragons.  The water feature is terrific.  There was a large bronze gong but no hammer to ring it.  Okay that was likely a good idea.  A terrific red Chinese lantern.

HPC - Butterfly Trio

I made this card for the Home Page Card Challenge.  We were asked to use one of our new crafting supplies.  The butterfly is a new thin die for me. It's the Sizzix Winged Beauties thin dies.  I used the 2nd in size.  I had hoped to make the card landscape but 3 across does not fit so I switched the orientation to portrait.  I cut the butterflies from sparkly decorative paper. I applied adhesive just to the centre of the die. I layered them onto a banner of white and added thin borders of black card stock on either side.  I offset this accent to the left a bit.  I stamped some small flowers on the right hand side with black Onyx Versafine.  I added a black die cut banner from the Stampin Up Itty Bitty Banners.

Cards - Shrink Plastic Flowers

Here are the cards I made with my shrink plastic flowers. Check this post for details on how to make the flowers.

I found yellow buttons to put in the centre of the flowers which I will string into the holes I made in the shrink plastic flowers.  I made a background starting with a white quarter sheet which I sponged with Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Tattered Rose (light) and Victorian Velvet (darker). I stamped the SU Background Builder (script) stamp with Paprika ink in several directions. I glued this layer to a warm rosy ginger card leaving a small border. I cut the stem and leaves by hand and glued them to the card front.  I tacked the flower in place, used a push pin to make the holes through the card front using the holes in the flower.  I strung yellow thread through the button, the flower and the card front and tied in a knot on the front.



For the card on the right I used  Tim Holtz Distress Stain in Antique Linen (light) and Crushed Olive (darker). I stamped the SU Background Builder (script) stamp with Paprika ink in several directions.

These cards likely will not go through the mail without extra postage.

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.

Blog Giveaway - Mixed Media Question

I'm wanting to expand my use of Mixed Media Techniques in my card making.  I started with Shrink Plastic and Alcohol Inks.  Check this post for how to.

Please answer this question: 

What mixed media techniques will you use or try this year?

I will pick 2 people randomly from those who leave a comment with a profile on this post. Anonymous comments will not be considered.  I will make the selections on February 20th, 2015.
I have the calendars below to give away.

I'm looking forward to reading what you are working on.

I did a bit of research on-line.

Alcohol ink on hard surfaces        Beeswax Collages                    Shrink Plastic accents             Packing Tape Transfers                Air Drying Clay                        Start an Art Journal
Mono Printing                              Sewing Machine Stitching        Using Fabric                                 Paste in a Stencil

Here are some sites which provide information on Mixed Media Techniques if you need some inspiration.
https://techniqueszone.wordpress.com/site-menu/mixed-media-techniques/
http://www.clothpaperscissors.com/mixed-media-collage/
http://mycreativescrapbook.blogspot.ca/2013/02/mixed-media-techniques-by-yuko-tanaka.html
http://artfulparent.com/2014/11/create-mixed-media-flowers.html
http://lindapetersondesigns.blogspot.ca/2013/07/8-of-best-of-mixed-media-monday-video.html

Exchange Cards - Reused Photo

I made these 2 cards for my card exchange.  I cut down photos from my photo calendar from last year to 3.75" square.  I found card stock that worked with the pink in the flowers.  Adhered that to the card front.  I glued a flourish which came from the edges I had cut for the gift calendar I made as a Christmas gift.

I then added a stitched border by hand with a find black felt tip marker.

This makes a smart looking single layer card and allows me to re use the photos from the calendar which I really wanted to do.

I'm happy with these and I hope the girls like them too!

R2G Card Kits - Valentine - Red Heart Punch

Here's the last card design in the set of card kits. I started with Crate Paper Love Notes DSP.  I chose the heart side and cut the paper to 2" x 5". I designed the Valentine greeting and color printed it.  It was cut to 3" x 5.25".  I adhered the heart DSP just above the greeting. This layer was adhered to the centre of the warm blue card front. I added a Stampin Up Sweeheart punchie in red. The punchie is raised with 3D foam tape. It still needed something and a bit of red polka dot washi tape was just the ticket.  I placed a piece on the top right hand and bottom left hand corners.