Photo - Nativities

I attended a Nativity Exhibit and took a ton of pictures. I will post a few times over the next few weeks.  I noticed on many, how lovingly Joseph was holding his family close.  There were many from different cultures and it was interesting how differently the Holy Family is interpreted.

On the left was a clear glass one.

Right is a classic from Willow Tree.

Here's a bright colored one which may be from Latin America.

Card - Pet Christmas Greetings

Here's a Christmas card for our furry friends. 

I started with the dog stamp by Magenta.  I stamped him on white card stock with Versafine black onyx.  I added a greeting in Glorious Green with a clear stamp.  I selected a card in green to match the greeting.  I layered a piece of white card stock in 3.75"x5".  I wrapped a piece of washi tape in Christmas plaid.  The dog is mounted on the card front with 3D foam tape.

Cards - Tea Party Thank Yous

The teal bags arrived yesterday!!! It was like Christmas. I made these cards for the folks who placed orders at my Steeped Tea Party. 














I started with the deep yellow cards and found designer paper that coordinated. I cut the tea pots with the Cricut and the Folk Art Festival cartridge.  I then found solid card stock to place between.  I see the darker layers would better than the lighter.  I ripped the bottom edge of the layer and glued it to the card.  Then the teapot was added on top.  I had quite a few to make so that worked well.

Card Club - November - Love Peace Joy Ornaments

I created the background from a photo of an old board I took during the summer.  I selected all the rough parts of the board and created a pattern I could color.  In this case I have used Stampin Up! Always Artichoke on textured ivory card stock.  The words are circle stickers which I glued to the green SU punched ornaments.  I added cranberry thread to the ornament hangers and tied them with bows.  I selected a deep red card.  I glued the background card stock to the card front. I decided on the placement of the ornaments then I added strings with a black marker.  Then I applied 3D foam tape to the ornaments and adhered them to the card front. 

Card Club - November - Mitten

I started with the felt mitten die cut.  I chose to coordinate the color of the card and snowflake to the color of the mitten.  I then added a neutral silver embossed decorative paper for the background and the label on the mitten cuff. The label is the Stampin Up Decorative Label.  The snowflake and the mitten are held in place with a tiny silver brad.  Black, white, green and red are the mitten colors used in this class. 





Here's the black one and I switched the thumb to the other side just for a change.

Card Club - November - Snowflake Joy

I started with a navy card.  I cut the navy snowflakes from navy flocked ribbon with Marianne Designs thin die.  It's best to cut from the back side and fortunately with the snowflake it makes no difference in the result. I cut the red scallop borders with a Die-amics die.  I punched holes in the scallops with my 1/8" punch.  I glued the borders down first having measured the distance apart with the white layer.  Then I glued the white layer over the borders.  I then placed the navy flocked snowflake in the centre of the white and used a push pin to create the hole for the snowflake brad.  The J and Y were cut with the Stampin Up! Typeset Alphabet Bigz dies from the same card stock as the borders.  They were glued to the white layer evenly on each side of the snowflake "O".    The girls really liked the turquoise one.

Card Club - November - Glittered Deer

Christmas cards are the order of the day today!  We are making 8 cards - 2 of each design.
I did several things ahead.  The chipboard deer were colored with Tim Holtz Gathered Twigs Distress Stain.  Once dry I applied Deco Art Twinkle Gold Glitter paint.  Thank goodness I did this early in September.  I also spattered black card stock with gold acrylic paint.  Once dry I cut into pieces of 3.5" wide then cut them with the TH Cabinet die. This gives me only 1 notch on each side.  I punched a 1.75" circle from High Gloss Gold Paper with my Stampin Up circle punch, also a Modern Label from the same card stock.  I printed my greeting in black on ivory card stock and punched it with the SU word window. I selected an ivory card.  I adhered the black/gold background die cut to the card front. I glued the gold "moon" circle aligned with the curve on the black die cut.  I glued the greeting to the label and mounted to the bottom of the card with 3D foam tape.  I then adhered the glittered chipboard deer above the greeting placing his head over the gold "moon" circle.

Card - Gold and Ivory Poinsettia

Another music card.  I started with gold foil and ivory designer paper.  I added a gold organza ribbon wrapped around the bottom half and taped to the back.  I cut a poinsettia with Marianne Designs thin dies.  I cut a large and small from ivory flocked ribbon and gold textured foil paper. I punched a small Stampin Up five petal punch for the centre.  All held in place with a red tiny brad.  All placed on a red card.

Card - We Wish You a Merry Christmas

I created this graphic Christmas card.  The musical sentiment was printed on vellum. I trimmed it to let the musical paper show better.  I added a bit of clear adhesive under the flower and opposite corner. I mounted the background paper and vellum on a chocolate brown card. I added a layered poinsettia on the top left hand corner held in place with a chocolate brad.  Quick and easy.





Here's another with red card stock with the sentiment centred on the music paper.

Card - Purple Poinsettia

I'm working on filling a few holes in my inventory for my next sale.  Music related Christmas cards was one such space.  I started with the lime green musical paper.  I cut it with the Tim Holtz Cameo Frame Bigz die.  I layered it onto purple card stock knowing I had similar colored poinsettias. I added velvety poinsettias in a grape color, with a Prima silver flower in the centre all held in place with a crystal brad in a purple color.  I punched a Stampin Up Modern Label punchie with a greeting color printed and punched with the SU Word Window.  The greeting is 3D foam taped to the card front. 

Card - Winter Snowflake

The inspiration was the decorative paper.  It has silver, white, teal, turquoise and white snowflakes.  I chose a teal card onto which I placed a white Stampin Up! Snowflake #2 then a turquoise, red, and silver cut with the SU Bigz Snow Flurry die.  I cut a piece of the decorative paper with the SU Top Note then another in red and trimmed the decorative paper on the stitched line then mounted it to the red.  I cut it down to half and placed it at the bottom of the card then trimmed it to the card edge.  I added a teal greeting with flag ends and mounted to the card with 3D foam tape.  I'm sending these to my card exchange friends.

Calendar - Blog Thank You

I created this small thank you for those who visit my blog and then come to visit me in person at my craft sales.  It's a half sheet card stock duplex printed and folded in half.
On the front I put a poinsettia and a wish for a nice Christmas and Happy New Year.  On the back I put a bit about what I do.
On the inside I printed a 2014 calendar I designed with a free digital calendar designed by Kate Pullen.  I found it on About.com.
I'm happy with the way it turned out.

Cards - Nifty Notes - Another Set

I made another set of Nifty Notes similar to those here.
Using watercolor backgrounds I layered white graphics over them.  I added the words in large bold letters.
Great cards for any occasion.

Card - Polar Bear

I cut the polar bear with the Cricut in white and the scarf in blue. I use quick dry adhesive in a bottle to stick the scarf onto the polar bear die cut. I highlight the nose and eye with a black marker. I added a blue swirly designer paper background.  I ripped a piece of white card stock into a snowbank which was glued to bottom of the card.  I punched several small stars and glued those in the swirly sky.

Card - Christmas Carolers

I made several of these with different colored greetings. I started with a black card and I cut the Tim Holtz Victorian Carolers in black as well.  I wanted a music background so I dug into my archives to find backgrounds I had designed for these cards in 2010.  I changed the color to black and white and printed them onto vellum, which I trimmed to 4x5.25".  I wanted the music to show so I placed a piece of white bond paper behind the vellum cut to 3.75x5".  This piece was glued in place then I carefully placed some snail adhesive to the back of the vellum in places where it would be covered by the carolers.  This was put in place then the carolers were added on top.  I felt it needed a bit of color so I punched a color printed greeting with the Stampin Up! Word Window punch.  This is mounted to the card front with 3D foam tape.  I added some color to the music sheet with chalk.
It's so nice to make cards with die cuts other than snowflakes, poinsettias, and stars.  Good job Tim Holtz!

Calendars - Coasters

More stuff for the craft sale on Saturday, Nov 16th.  Today it's Coaster Calendars.

I took chipboard coasters 4" square and covered them with designer paper.  I left the paper bigger than the coaster and pressed them over night.  The next day, once the glue was well dry, I trimmed the paper to the edge of the coaster with scissors.

I printed the small calendars and stapled them to a piece of scrap card stock.

I then designed my vellum quotes, printed them and cut them with scissors or the Stampin Up Apothecary Rectangle framelit.  I then punched a hole in the top centre with the Crop-a-dile. I double sided taped the small calendars to bottom centre then I mounted the vellum with tiny black brads.  I added a magnet to the back so it can be put on a file cabinet or any metal surface.

Party - Steeped Tea

I hosted a Steeped Tea Party at work over the lunch hour yesterday.  It was a blast.  We tasted the several teas and saw some of their terrific products.  The tea pots poured well without dripping, the tea pitcher is terrific and the heart shaped tea cups are adorable.  Our consultant was Candace Dorey.  Tea is a universal product and we had most everyone browse through the boardroom at sometime over the hour.  Find a consultant in your area and have party!

Check back later to see the tea cards I`m making as thank yous.

Card - Greeting Card Gift Sets

More product for my craft sale on November 16th. Today it's Greeting Card Gift Sets.  The set includes 4 greeting cards.  I generally include similar themed cards in the set.  The first set here is cards with no greeting so they can be used for many occasions.  The next set is masculine themed cards.  Some with greetings and others not.  It's always hard to find cards for guys. I have redone my header and I am much happier with this one. Check out my Ready2Give card page for sets.

Calendar - Damask with my photos

 I'm working on product for my upcoming craft sale.  Here I have these cute damask calendars filled with my own photos.  Makes a great gift that last all year.  Would be appreciated by a teacher, girlfriend, and even a sister.  Check out my calendar page.

Christmas Stack Class - Snowflake

 I started with the snowflake vellum sticker. Both cards are black.  I cut the labels with the Stampin Up Deco Labels Collection Framelits Dies.  On the card on the left, the largest is designer paper is Love Letters by Little Yellow Bicycle. The next layer is a gray card stock and then the smallest is Ruby Red.  I added the vellum snowflake sticker to it. I cut the vellum to background to 4.00" x 5.25" then embossed it with the Cuttlebug Joy & Cheer embossing folder. The vellum background is tacked to the card where the label will later cover. The labels are layered with the snowflake being on top, placed on the background, a push pin is used to create a hole in the center.  I placed the tiny black brad through the hole, turned the card over and press the prongs apart.   The card on the right hand side has K&Company Smitten Marbled Flat paper with turquoise and hot pink layers.

Christmas Stack Class - Poinsettia

I started with the glitter plaid designer paper.  I cut it with the Stampin Up! Top Note die.  I selected a velvet ribbon which was wrapped across the top note and the ends are taped to the back.  I have added a Zot to the back of the ribbon keep the centre stuck to the glitter paper.  I punched the poinsettia with the SU Five Petal punch in red and green.  I added a gold flower sequin to the centre which holds the poinsettia to the card.
The card on the left is a red card with a black greeting printed on the left side.  The top note is adhered to the right hand side.  The poinsettia is real red with old olive card stock with a moss green velvet ribbon.
The card on the right is an ivory card with color printed background in Always Artichoke. The glitter top note is centered on the card.  There is an ivory velvet ribbon with an ivory and always artichoke poinsettia with the same gold sequin.

Christmas Stack Class - Angel

This is a Christmas angel.  I used a gold embossed handmade paper for the wings.  They were cut with the Stampin Up! Elegant Bird die. They were taped together ensuring that they are not wider than the card.  The skirt is a triangle cut at 4.75" T x 3.50" W from designer paper. This paper is by Echo Park Paper Co. called tree skirt. The greeting is a combo of the SU! Modern Label and the Word Window punchies with a color printed greeting on ivory card stock. It is adhered to the skirt with 3D foam tape. The head is a 1" circle from ivory card stock is adhered with 3D foam tape.

Christmas Stack Class - Country Christmas

I started with a piece of double sided decorative paper with red &  white chevron with a tomato red on the back.  It was cut it at 5.25 x 4.00 inches then cut at 4" then then small piece is turned over and the pieces are taped together on the back.  This layer is glued to the white card. The greeting is printed in the color which coordinates with the accent. The accent of ornament or tree is added to the front and then the greeting is glued over the split, then it is trimmed to the card edge.  The button is adhered to the greeting with a Zot.
The accents of the ornament (navy) and tree (green) were created with white acrylic paint, card stock and a splatter tool. The navy ornament is cut with the Stampin Up! ornament punch.  I wrapped a piece of white string around the hanger and knotted it to the front. I taped a piece of string at the split to behind the ornament, then glued the ornament to the card front.

The tree is cut with the Sizzix yellow tree die.  The tree is adhered to the card front positioned toward to bottom of the card.  Rip the snowbank from the piece of white card stock.  Glue the snowbank over the tree trunk and trim to the card edges.

Christmas Card Challenge - Nov - Chipboard

The accent choice for my Christmas Card Challenge for November is Chipboard.  It could be Die cuts, Letters, Ornaments, Snowflakes, Trees, and much more.
I chose the deer chipboard leftovers from this card in Christmas Stack Class in June.
I chose a warm chocolate brown card stock and found a piece of polka dot DSP to match in the Naughty or Nice Pad from Michaels. I painted my chipboard deer with a foam brush and acrylic paint that I mixed up to match the card.  I set those aside to dry. I chose a medium green card stock that coordinated well for the background behind my deer. I die cut it with the SU Deco Labels framelits.  I stamped the die cut with the All Night Media leaf pattern stamp in a darker shade of green ink.  Once my deer were dry, they looked a little plain so I tried sprucing them up a bit.  I tried stamping them with ink but because of the acrylic paint, the ink just wiped off.  I expect Staz On ink would have worked but did not have it in the right color.  I decided to add a bit of texture to them, but you cannot run them through the Big Shot with a folder.  So this is what I did. I laid my embossing folder on the table, laid the deer paint side down and hit them with a small hammer.  Worked pretty well.  On second thought, I may have been able to put together a sandwich that would have worked in the Big Shot.  Will try that next time.  I punched a Stampin Up! Modern Label and printed a Word Window punchie with my greeting.  This was mounted with 3D foam tape.