Happy New Year 2013!!!

Wishing you a very Happy New Year!

I'm looking forward to family get togethers, lunch with friends, classes, Christmas Cards all year, and a few surprises I'm sure.

Calendar - Coaster with SU DP

I made this Coaster Calendar with SU! Winter Bright Designer Paper.  I used the stripes paper glued it to the coaster and once dry trimmed around the edge.  I added a Pretty in Pink gross grain ribbon across the width then the Real Red stamped Joy ornament. 

The colors in this DSP is: Bashful Blue, Pretty in Pink, Real Red, Whisper White, Wild Wasabi

Card - Birthday Wishes

I started with a purple card which I spattered with Iridescent Radiant Rain.  I die cut a large label in navy with the SU! one of the Apothecary Framelits.  The Cherry Blossom flower was cut with the Cricut.  See the original post here. It was adhered to the top half of the navy label. I color printed the greeting and then flagged the right hand end and tucked the left hand end right next to the card edge. Glued it down. 

Merry Christmas

Wishing everyone a Merry Christmas. 

May the day be a special one! It may include - family, friends, memories, the outdoors, lights, trees, and things that are special to you!

Calendars - Tall & Slim Scriptures

I created these calendars from my 4x11 blank calendars.  For the top one I printed selected scriptures onto Designer Paper and glued them down. For the bottom one, I printed the scriptures on card stock and trimmed them.  I rubbed the edges of the rectangles with a black ink pad. 

Cards - Herald Angels

I made a bunch of these cards for a customer. I designed the card front with a heralding angel from Dover. I was fortunate that I could change the color of these images, so I coordinated the angel color with the strip of paper I added on the left hand side.  I selected foil paper in all cases.  I had the request not to have sticking out from the card front so brads, 3D foam, rhinestones were eliminated. It was a bit challenging but the design works.

Card - Winter Birthday

I made this card for my Dad who has a December birthday. I chose a Handsome Hunter card and added this red and green plaid designer paper.  I added a dark green gross grain ribbon across the bottom third with the ends tape to the inside.  I added 3 white sequin snowflakes held in place with tiny white brads.  I then added the greeting which was color printed and punched out with the Decorative Label Punch from Stampin Up!

Photo - Office Decorating - Nativity

We are having a office decorating contest at work and I created this display on the floor tucked into a nook at the front of my desk.  A friend lent me the nativity set which is unbreakable and about 12-14 inches high.  I struggled on what to use for background but this morning I realized I had heavy weight wrapping paper in navy that would do just great.  I spritzed it with Maya Mist in Snow White then adhered it to the nook in the front of my desk with double sided tape.  I added white fiberfill snow then covered it with is gold mesh fabric. Works very well.  I added Mary, Jesus and Joseph and the 3 Wisemen.  I added the green garland which is the same one I used last year. I found a coppery gold foil gift bag the other day which worked with the some of the color on the head coverings on the Wisemen.  I cut the central Bethlehem star by hand then die cut the others with a Sizzix star die which provided 3 different sizes.  Adhered those along the sky.  I added a tree made with a Styrofoam form covered with foil gift wrap paper.  I added a bamboo skewer through the center to hold the die cut star at the top.  I added some sequin held in place with pearl straight pins. 

Christmas Card Challenge - Focus - Reason for the Season

The Card Challenge this month is a focus challenge which is the Reason for the Season.  I selected a Santa and baby Jesus image and a sentiment by MelonHeadz Illustrations.  I made the sentiment the same color as Santa's suit. Then I arranged the digital images and then color printed them on white card stock.  I then cut the card stock with the SU! Top Note die.  I found card stock to coordinate with the halo on Jesus' head. I cut it slightly smaller than the card front and embossed it with the Cuttlebug Swiss Dots folder.  This was adhered to the cherry red card front. I then added a piece of black gross grain ribbon just below the middle of the card and taped the ends to the inside of the card.  I mounted the top note to the card front with 3D foam tape. I nice quick card.  I have about 140 cards made with this final challenge of the year.  I need about about 160 so I will have to visit a few more ideas. I hope you have your cards made. I will host another challenge in 2013.  Keep an eye out for it. 

Card - Pet Christmas 3

Here's my third Christmas cards for pets.  I selected a kelly green card which matched the foil paper I had selected as a background.  I layered the dog onto another piece of the same card stock.  The dog image is from MelonHeadz Illustrations.  I colored him black with pencil crayons and made the bow red and green for Christmas.  I punched a SU! Modern Label punchie in the kelly green and layered a SU! Word Window greeting onto it.  The greeting is stamped in red with a small clear stamp. 

Let me know which of the three cards is your favorite.

Would you prefer to have your own pet's picture on your cards?

Card - Pet Christmas 2

Here's my second card for pet Christmas cards.  I let the designer paper provide the greeting for the card.  I have selected a light blue card which highlights both Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays in the DP.  This dog is colored brown with pencil crayons and the bow in the same red and green. The dog image is from MelonHeadz Illustrations.

Card - Pet Christmas 1

I'm venturing into an area of subject matter I've not done before.  I had someone ask me last year if I made Christmas for pets which could be given to their vets, groomers, caretakers, etc.  I have to say it was not something I had thought of so this year I'm jumping in!

The image is from MelonHeadz Illustrations.  She has some great images. I printed the dog and then colored him with pencil crayons.  I chose to color the bow in red and green for Christmas.  I colored some black and some brown.  I did color them all before I decided on a card design.  I may have adjusted the bow and dog color with a bit more forethought.  Here I have selected a white card with some plaid designer paper.  I have added a forest green gross grain ribbon and added a smaller piece to create a bow.  I layered the dog on forest green then adhered it over the ribbon.

How To: Folded Christmas Tree

This is how I created my foil Folded Christmas Tree.  I have included the graphics template here as well.  These are the cards.

Card Club - Christmas Tag

It was a good class today.  I had a good number of ladies out and we had a good time.
This card is based on red, white and blue tags. I started with white cards.  I found Designer Paper to match the tags as some were red and some were blue.  I used a CottageCutz Picket Fence thin die for the border. Once cut in white I trimmed off the pointed ends. I strung the gross grain ribbon through it.  Taped the ribbon to the background DP paper. I adhered the DP layer to the card front.  I glued the tag to the DP with 3D foam tape. I tied the tag onto the border die with the silver cord but it is purely decorative.

I found DP in the light blue in the tag for the red tags and some with red swirls for the blue tags. I used red ribbon for the red tags and blue ribbon for the blue tags.

Card Club - Glittered Trees

I used glitter designer paper on this card.  I selected the sheet with the greetings then the other sheet was the trees. The pieces are cut at about 1/3 and 2/3 of the card front. The tree bottom piece is a 4" square and the greetings top piece is 1.25" tall and 4" wide.  I used navy, red, and light blue card stock for cards in this set.  I placed the cut edges of the 2 glitter pieces and taped them together.  I placed with white ribbon across the join and taped the ends of the ribbon to the back of the DP layer.  This layer was adhered to the card front. The stars were cut with a Sizzix die in 2 different sizes and colors.  The large one matches the card color and the smaller is always white.  These are held in place with a star shaped tiny brad.

Card Club - Doily Folded Christmas Tree

I created the trees with gold 8" doilies.  I sponged the back of the doily with green ink.  I used several greens - Nick Bantock - Sapmoss green, Tim Holtz - Bundled Sage & Crushed Olive. I printed the background directly onto the card stock.  The star was punched from gold foil paper and mounted with 3D tape.  I added 3 red daisy confetti flowers held in place with tiny black brads.  The bottom of the tree was trimmed and a black tree trunk was placed behind the lacey tree.

Left Red: The words from the "O Christmas Tree" carol printed in black on the red a card.

Right Ivory: The music sheet for the Christmas carol.

Card Club - Foil Ornament

The ornament was cut with a Sizzix ornament die from foil paper. The die allows the circle and the ornament hanger to be cut separately. The medallion in the center is a Martha Stewart punchie from the same  paper as the ornament. A small snowflake is placed in the center.  It is held to the ornament with a tiny white brad. The background layer is spritzed with Maya Mist - Snow White, allowed to dry then embossed.  A thread is strung through the ornament hanger.  A piece of 3D foam tape is applied behind the hanger which adheres the ornament to the back ground layer. The thread is then taped to the back of the background which is then adhered to the card front.

Left Purple: The ornament from purple moire paper. The circle and hanger are cut from white pearl paper.  The background was embossed with one of the Cuttlebug Winter Wonderland folders.

Right Red Silver: The ornament from red and silver foil paper. The circle and hanger are cut from silver metallic paper.  The background was embossed with the Stampin Up Northern Flurries folder.

Card - Challenge - Stripes

I created this card for a challenge which is using stripes on the card.  I selected the striped paper then the card then the bright green paper.  I stamped the snow in Bravo Burgundy on warm red card stock.I glued the striped paper toward the bottom of a landscape card. I cut a triangle tree from the bright green, punched 1/4" circles from a peach card stock.  I glued the tree on the left hand side and added the peach circles onto the tree.  I punched a modern label in green then stamped the greeting onto peach card stock then punched it with the word window.  I stamped the greeting in Bravo Burgundy.

Challenge - Eyelets

I got up this morning and decided this card needed a bit more. Does that happen to you?  It needed something to unify the elements so I added some Radiant Rain Egyptian Gold mist to it. I covered the greeting so it would stay bright and clean. I'm happier with the card!

I made this card for an on-line challenge which was using eyelets on the card.
I cut the trees with the SU Stocking Accents die.  I selected the tree and cut it in gold, silver, and copper. I mounted them onto crescent black card stock tags cut with a Sizzix tag die. I added eyelets to each in corresponding colors.  I added cording ties that coordinate with the color of the trees.  I mounted to the card with 3D foam tape.  I added a greeting made with SU Modern Label punchie with Merry Christmas punched out with the SU Word Window.

Card - We will Miss You

I created this card for a someone at work.
I started with the polka dot designer paper Bella Blvd "One Fall Day" which had nice warm tones.  I found card stock that matched the deep teal green in the paper.  I decided to have the sentiment repeat the circle theme in the paper.  I designed the sentiment myself then color printed it.  I cut the sentiment with my SB circle nestabilities and cut 3 more in colors within the designer paper in graduated larger circles.
I'm really happy the way it turned out.

Christmas Card Stack - JOY Label

I selected really great foil paper for each of these cards.  Some great paper is available over the Christmas season so keep an eye for good quality paper on a roll.
I cut my foil paper to 4x5.5" and glued it to the card front.  I cut the large label with the SU Apothecary Framelit in pearl white paper.  The smaller label I found on a Sizzix Bigz XL Scoreboards Die called Treat Bag Toppers.  This was a great find! I cut the smaller one from card stock that coordinates with the foil paper.  The JOY greeting is cut with the Sizzix "Join the Cheer" sizzlet strip and adhered with liquid quick dry adhesive from a bottle with a fine tip nozzle.  The sentiment is adhered to the smaller label and mounted to the larger label with 3D foam tape. You will not that the top one has pierced border which was added with the SU paper piercing template for the Apothecary Framelit set.  I was a good day in class.

Christmas Card Stack - 3D Snowflake

I started with the 3D clear snowflakes. These are really great!
I created the background and color printed it in colors appropriate for the card and circles selected.  I designed the card in late September and it turned out just as I imagined but I discovered the work and time involved this week.  Wow!
Each card needed a dark, medium and light card stock in coordinating colors. There are 5 circles graduated cut. The circles are .5, 1, 1.5, 2 and 2.5 inches.  I decided that the 1.5" one was going to be dark like the card so it would highlight the great central structure of the snowflake.
.5 inch circle punch
1 inch circle punch
1.5 inch Sizzix circle die
2 inch circle punch
2.5 inch Sizzix circle die
I designed this card in blues, purples and greens.  The background is adhered to the card front.  The 4 largest circles are glue on top of each other.  The snowflake is held to the circle layer with a Zot.  The small white circle is added to the centre of the snowflake. This element is then added to the card front with 3D foam tape.

Christmas Card Stack - Felt Ornament

I started with the felt ornaments in red and navy.  I found some matching designer paper.  I added a piece of gross grain ribbon across the top of the card onto which I added a Cuttlebug ribbon slider.  I glued a color printed greeting punched with a 1" circle punch onto the slider.  I added a SU Tab punch to create a hanger for the ornament.  I punched a hole in the center of the punchie then folded it in half and pulled the string from the ornament through the hole.  I used hot glue to adhere the hanger both front and back to the ornament.  I would recommend some hot glue to hold the ornament in place as it is quite heavy and applies pressure on the ribbon.  Tie the ornament onto the ribbon, knot and trim the ends.  The ends of the ribbon have been taped to the back of the designer paper.  This full layer is then adhered to the white card front. I placed a tiny brad in the center of the greeting which will help with keeping the ribbon in place.

Christmas Card Stack - Snowman

 I had another great class today!  I started with the snowman image which included non traditional colors.  On the left, I chose an olive card which I found in the band of his hat.  I spattered it with Radiant Rain in Green Pearl.  I cut a brown snowbank with my CM wavy cutter. The star was cut with a Sizzix die and I printed greeting in brown which was punched with the SU Word Window punch. The star has been adhered with 3D foam tape.

On the right I chose a brown card which matched the hat. I spattered the card stock with Pure Gold acrylic paint.  I cut the snowbank from gold metallic card stock.  The star has been cut from the same card stock and mounted with 3D foam tape.  I printed the greeting in dark brown onto the same paper as the card and punched it with the SU Word Window.

Christmas Card Challenge - November - Ornaments

This month's Christmas Card Challenge is Accent of Ornament(s).
I chose the SB Heirloom Ornament Nestabilities.  I used the one which would work best on the card and cut it in white card stock.  I stamped the "Joy" greeting with a stamp by Rubber Stampede Posh Impressions in Versamark ink and embossed it with clear powder.  I water colored the ornament which highlighted the white embossed greeting, let it dry and pressed it to flatten it. I cut the ornament hanger in violet card stock with the Sizzix Ornament #2 die and glued it to the SB ornament.  I embossed the white background with the Cuttlebug Victorian folder.  I cut the green branch in a moss green with the MS Double Edge Pine Needles Trim punch. I adhered the ornament to the white background then I added some white pearl thread onto the hanger, ran it through the pine border the taped the ends to the back.  Adhered the pine border  to the embossed layer then glued this all to the card front.

Happy Halloween

Wishing you a great day!  Be safe and enjoy the day.

Great pick from Cricketbow.com

Card - Quilt Block - Christmas

This card was created with small 1" squares of coordinating Designer Paper that I glued to a base piece of white card stock.  In hindsight I would have used a dark piece of card stock.  I glued them to ensure that I had enough to cut the SU Top Note die.  I cut it then embossed it with Cuttlebug Argyle folder.  I added white gross grain ribbon below the centre points and taped the ends to the back.  I mounted a red Decorative Label punch with an oval color printed greeting.

Card - Christmas Pinwheel

More pinwheel cards, this time Christmas ones.  Here's the link to the original posting.  I used Always Artichoke DP with some red DP to create the pin wheel.  I mounted it on a white layer embossed with Victorian embossing layer onto Always Artichoke card.  I added a red gross grain ribbon across below the pinwheel.  I added the greeting created with the Modern Label with the Word Window punchies.  The greeting is stamped in black with a small clear stamp set.  I added a red button in the centre of the pinwheel with a Zot.

Always Artichoke card with Red with white layer. Chocolate Chip card with brown and beige DP and pink embossed layer.

Card - Six Block - Holiday Thyme

This card is Cranberry Crisp with Holiday Thyme Designer Paper.  I cut several 1.25" squares from this double sided paper.  I mixed and matched the squares in a pattern of 6 blocks on the left hand side. I stamped the greeting with the Come to Bethlehem set in Always Artichoke.  I added green buttons on the left hand side with Zots.
The other left card is on Old Olive card stock with red buttons.   The right hand one is on True Thyme card stock with greeting stamped in Bravo Burgundy.

Card - Muscial Christmas

I started with glitter musical card stock from Michaels. I used a notch corner punch on all four corners.  I added a length of black gross grain ribbon and taped the ends to the back.  I added a large red silk poinsettia then a white smaller one then a gold sequin all held in place with a gold brad.  I created the greeting with the SU Modern Label & Word Window punches.  I stamped the greeting with a small clear stamp with black Versafine ink.

Card - Quilting - Lattice Die & DP

 A few more quilting themed cards.
On the left I cut the SU Lattice Die 2 times. Once in black and once in double sided Designer Paper.  I then selected my background paper in the deep pink and adhered all the pieces together.  The striped piece, then the black lattice die then the light pink ellipses which is the back of the striped paper. Then I ran the whole piece through the Cuttlebug Polka Dots embossing folder.  I placed a piece of black gross grain ribbon across the bottom of the square.  Added a greeting made of the SU Modern Label and the Word Window punchie.  Placed a button in the centre with a Zot.
The card on the right used some terrific quilting designer paper.  I wanted to really leave it as it was so I just added a piece of gross grain ribbon in deep moss green and the Decorative Label punchie and a color printed greeting cut with the CM oval cutter.  The greetings are mounted with 3D Foam tape.