R2Give SMDPics Calendars

I got 4 Ready 2 Give calendars ready for the sale. 

These are half sheet calendars filled with my photographs in the 3.5x5 inch size.  The subject matter is nature and flowers.  I did get some great shots this summer.

Photograph Framed - Bumblee on Globe Thistle

I managed to get a couple of photos framed for the sale today.

I captured the Bumble Bee on the the Blue Globe Thistle at the Muttart Conservatory. 

It is matted in a steel blue and black mat into a steel blue metal frame.  It is a 5x7 photo framed to and 8x10 size. 

12 Days of Advent

I created a smaller version of my Advent Calendar which may be more manageable for busy families.

You can start on the 1st of December and fit in the 12 days over the 24 days of Advent or you can start on December 12th and conclude on Christmas Day.

It features my photograph of Teddy and the small nativity taken for my photo calendar last year.  Teddy will be appealing to small children I expect.

It is packaged in a black metal frame which holds the 4x6 sheets.  The sheets can just be moved to the back as the days go by.

Silent Auction Donation

I am participating in our Mission Possible Sale this weekend and they requested a donation for the silent auction.

I am donating this photograph of a red poppy.  It was taken in July at the Community Garden in my neighborhood on my morning walk.  I generally don't leave the house with out the camera.

It is framed in a 12x12 inch black metal frame with a white mat with black insert.  The photograph was printed at 8x8 inches.

There is some great stuff up for auction.

Thank You Cards - Pink Heart

This is a recycled card.  I cut the main element from the original and reused it.

I layered it onto a piece of purple and then punched small daisy flowers from the cutoffs.  I placed them below the main element and held them in place with pink brads.

The purple layer was adhered to the card front of a pink card.  The insert inside is blank.


Another card with the same heart element.

I ripped right edge and mounted it on a brown card stock layer.  It was adhered to the front of a pink card aligned to the right hand side. 

I added some stitching in brown thread on the left hand side.  Placed a pink handmade paper flower in the wide opening held in place with a pink brad.

These are headed to my Thank You Card box.

Thank You Cards - Prism Trees

Playing around with layouts, designs and card stock colors for these prism trees. 

This one I placed them close together rather than symmetrical.   I changed the stars as well for some large silver brads. 

The snow bank was ripped and adhered over the trunks and them trimmed to the bottom edge of the card.

I added a circle greeting to the top right hand corner.

I added a Thanks word window greeting to this one and it's going into the box.

12 Mini Meditations Photo Collection

We all need tools to manage the hectic life we live.  I wanted to create a tool for those who need to be reminded how to destress.

Meditations are a great way.  I found 12 Mini Meditations authored by Meg Selig on line.  We all can take 30 seconds to invest in ourselves. I chose only the title of each meditation for this project.  I provide the link to the full information for those who want to persue that.

I have paired my photography with phrases of mini meditations. 

This tool sits in your space whether that is your desk at work, the organization corner in your kitchen, or your home office. 

I recommend that you rotate them every week or month so that you get familiar with the concepts so when stress hits you have quick access to a way to handle it.  You can enjoy the images which provide a bit of a bright spot to enjoy each day.

I have been given permission by the author to produce these.  I am offering them in this craft season and we will see if folks see the value. 

The photographs were selected to provide a single element of focus to provide a calming composition.

The words are placed to be easily read but not overwhelming to the composition.

Photo Christmas Card - 5x7 - WC Nativity

Here's my little nativity again with the great stable background.This time a wide or landscape layout.

This time I removed the words from the garments of Joseph and Mary and left the ones on Baby Jesus.

The ceramic star in hung in the sky in the background that helps to ground the focal figures to the composition.

You get more of the stable in this photo so it comes down to personal preference.

Christmas Card Challenge - Green Tree

I cut some bright green designer paper into triangle trees.  This is a very efficient use of paper.  I used a 6x12 piece and cut 7 trees with 3 inch base and 5 inches tall.

I cut a piece of My Mind's Eye designer paper featuring triangle trees into rectangles 4.00x5.25 inches.

I chose 3 different card base colors to coordinate with colors in the paper. Kraft, white and Soft Sky.

I glue the triangle tree onto the designer paper.  I added a sequin star at the top with a Bling Zot.  I added one white snowflake and red sequins on the tree with Zots.

The greeting was cut from ribbon.  It was adhered with double sided tape at the bottom of the tree.

As you can see from the samples below I chose different colored sequins too!

Photo Christmas Card - 5x7 - Pebble Art Nativity

I created my own art for this card.

I discovered Pebble Art this summer.  I was inspired and started collecting small rocks with flat one side. 

This fall I put together this Nativity and photographed it.  I added the sentiment and had it printed.

This is a 5x7 card.

There will be several of this one on my sales table as well.

Photo Christmas Card - 5x7 - WC Nativity

I photographed my little Nativity with a wonderful painted triptych background I found this summer.  I loved it because it has a real watercolor feel to it but it is painted on wood so it has to some sort of acrylic.

I hung the ceramic star that belongs to the Nativity in the sky and I think that really finishes it off.

I have several packages of these gold tri fold greeting cards so I just slipped the 4x6 photo inside. 

Works really well and I a very happy with the results.

I have several of these for my sale on the weekend.

Happy Halloween!

Wishing you a 

Happy Halloween day!

I hope you enjoy my natural ghost photo.  I found this leaf about mid September on my walk in the morning so I have been sitting on it for a while.  I was so excited when I saw it and knew exactly how I would use it.

This is the way I found it.  I don't know what created it.  I have cropped the image, converted it to black & white and increased the contrast a bit.

Halloween is not a typical day I would indulge but I just could not not share this super image.


Sharing this image with

Thru My Lens #167 hosted by Mersad

Trio of Prism Trees

Shopping at the dollar store can be ineffective.  I was attracted by these shiny reflection pieces several years ago and have struggled on how to use them.

I was inspired yesterday to create this composition.  I am happy with the star tops and the black stems. 

I added silver sequins with Bling Zots. 

I ripped a snow bank and added an extra from my class on Tuesday that I have not blogged yet.

 Here's my first sample.  The snowflakes don't really work for toppers for size or color. 

The iridescent sequins are OK but not the best.

The snowbank and greeting works really well.

Christmas Cards - Extras

There's sometimes extras left after I am done putting together my card kits.  This is an extra from the Bethlehem Stack kit.

This is a white card with a black layer leaving as small border.

I created the blue background and cut it with the Tim Holtz Arch Frame die.  I cut the Bethlehem with the Taylored Expressions Border die which about 6 inches long.  This the other end than the one I used for the kit.

I punched the Stampin Up Modern Label punch from the same sheet to ensure it matched.  I added a greeting from another set I created this week. It is adhered with 3 D foam tape.

The Creative Memories star is attached with a tiny copper star brad.  This element was then adhered to the card front.

This is my first sample for the Christmas Stack kit but decided that an ivory addition on the right would work better.

A commercial card was cut to capture the essential element.  I added a silver strip on the right but since the silver foil elements look black it does not work so well.

I added 3 iridescent sequins with Bling Zots.

These are going into my Christmas Card box.

R2Go Christmas Stack - Turquoise Dove & Copper Ribbon

I started with the Turquoise Dove Die cuts created with the Stampin Up Deco Label thinlits.

I added a metallic copper circle behind the diecut.  Two pieces of 3D foam tape was added to the back.

The decorative black copper layer was created with Antique Copper Mist by Maya Mist applied with a toothbrush rubbed across a metal butter knife. It was left to dry over night.

Lay the copper ribbon across the decorative layer and determine the placement of the turquoise cord.  Tie the turquoise cord onto the copper ribbon then tape the ends to the back layer.  Adhere the layer to the front of the white card base.

Remove the release paper from the 3D foam tape and adhere the dove element over the ribbon on the right hand side of the card.

Pull the star & Bling Zot from the release paper and adhere to the card front as per the sample.

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 - Bethlehem

I first created decorative backgrounds with liquid ink and photo paper.  I inks I used are Rotring Blue Violet, FW Rowney Blue and Maya Mist Antique Copper.  I got some blue, some purple and some with the colors mixed.

I selected a white card base with a black layer leaving a small border to ensure the focal element would shine.  I cut the decorative paper with the Tim Holtz Arch Frame.  I cut the Bethlehem from 3.25 x 1.5 inch piece of copper card stock with the Taylored Expressions Bethlehem Border.  This was adhered to the decorative frame.  I cut the window frame with the Tim Holtz Arch Frame die with the large Sized Arches Mover Shaper die inside of it.  It was adhered over the copper diecut and aligned to the frame.

The star was created with the Creative Memories Sparkle punch from the same copper card stock.  It is held in place with a tiny copper star brad.  The focal element was then adhered to the card front. 

The greeting was printed black and punched with the Stampin Up Word Window punch. It was adhered to a Modern Label punchied from the same decorative paper that the Arch Frame was cut from.  This ensured color matching.   It was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

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.

Thank You cards

I used left overs from my recent Ready 2 Go Cmas Stack kit to create some thank you cards. 

I chose a black card base.

I used the cut pine cone square element and added a layer of white card stock. 

I then cut a strip of left over from the back of a black and red plaid card stock.  I cut it to 4.25 inches and adhered it across the card. 

I punched a Stampin Up Modern Label punchie from the plaid leftover and ensured red on both ends.   I added a SU Word Window punch in the center. That was adhered in the top left hand corner.

I adhered the square pinecone element with 3D foam tape to the card front leave even borders on the left bottom and right hand sides.

I started with a black card. 

I added the strip of snowflake designer paper by Terese Collins on the left hand side.

I added a 1 inch strip of gold moire paper in the center of the card overlapping the snowflake layer. 

I created an accent with a square of black card stock, a 1 inch circle of gold paper, a white dove brad and a SU word window punchie.  This was adhered to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Added these to the Thank You box.

R2Go Christmas Stack kit - Pinecones & Reindeer

I cut the pine cone element with a Sizzix Squares Thinlits at about  3 inches square.  I then cut with the paper cutter a white layer at 3.25 inches. These are adhered together.

I cut black and white snowflake designer card stock into pieces 4.25 inches by 2.5 inches. The paper is by Teresa Collins - Christmas Home - Cmas Damask. This is the reverse side. I adhered the piece on the left side aligned to the edge of a black card.

I then cut a length of 6.5 inch red crimped ribbon and placed in the center of the wide card and taped the ends to the inside.

I added 3D foam tape to the four corners of the pinecone accent and adhered it to the right side leaving even border on the top, right and bottom edges.

This is the same sketch but in the portrait orientation.

The Reindeer element was cut to 3 inches and an ivory layer was cut to 3.25 inches. These are adhered together. I chose ivory to coordinate with the striped ribbon.

The striped light and dark green designer paper is by Graphics 45 from the Twas the Night Before Christmas collection. It was cut to 2.5 inches tall and 4.25 inches wide and adhered to the bottom of the green card.

The striped ribbon was cut to 6.5 inches, placed in the center of the card and the ends were taped to the inside of the card.

The reindeer element was adhered with 3D foam tape placed in the 4 corners.  It was aligned to leave an even border on left top and right hand sides.