Christmas Stack - Joy Background

I love this card.  When I saw this card stock background I just had to buy it.  I was not sure how I was going to use it but I just love the way this simple card turned out.  I color printed several images I designed onto vellum.  The strip is 2.75" wide.  Cut the white/kraft background to 3.75 x 5.00 inches.  I placed the vellum on the front of the background and folded over the top and bottom to the back.  I added several wraps of crochet cotton around this layer and tied a knot and trimmed the ends. This layer was then adhered to the front of a white card.





I included an ornament, an angel, a tree and a wreath in the set of cards.

You can find my Ready 2 Go Christmas kits here.

Cool Tool: Skate Lace Threader

Here's the cool tool! It's a floss threader but I used it to thread my red laces onto my skate. Here's how.
Pull your red thread through the loop so now it will act as a needle would.  Pull the thread through the bottom hole back to front first and pull thread to the half way point. now pull the lace through the holes from the back as you go up.  Release that thread and put the other into the threader. Now pull that thread through all the holes from the front which should create that little cross until you get to the top.  Tie a knot and trim the ends.
I included a threader in each of the kits.

Christmas Stack - Winter Skate

Like this one!  I used the Tim Holtz Bigz Ice Skates die to cut the skate from heavy white card stock. I would recommend heavy card stock. I chalked the heel with black and painted the skate blade with silver acrylic paint.  I chalked the lace area and cuff with teal chalk to coordinate with the card color.  I put red laces on the skate and tied a knot and trimmed the ends.  See the next post below for detailed instructions. I spritzed the teal card stock with Maya Mist Iridescent Pearl. I cut a Stampin Up Top Knot die cut from decorative paper then I cut it straight across on the point.  This was glued even with the top of the card.  I color printed the greeting then punched it out with my 2" oval punch.  I then cut a scalloped oval with the Spellbinder Nestabilities #3 in the small set from red card stock.  The greeting was layered onto the scallop oval then this layer was adhered over the top note with 3D foam tape.  The skate was adhered below the top note on the card front with 3D foam tape.

Christmas Stack - Gold Tree

I chose a red card stock for the green woven Christmas ribbon. Having placed the ribbon left of center vertical on the card I taped both ends to the inside of the card.  I opened the card flat. The tree was cut from gold card stock with the Sizzix Original Christmas Tree 2 die. I then placed the tree over the ribbon and using a push pin I made the 3 holes for the red star sequins. I placed one sequin on a tiny gold brad then put the prongs of the brad through the hole I just made and spread the prongs apart on the inside of the card. I repeated this for the other 2 stars. The color printed greeting was punched with the SU word window. Then it was glued to the gold SU Modern Label punchie. This was then adhered to the card front in the top right hand corner with 3D foam tape.

Christmas Stack - Silver Poinsettia

Today, I'm posting my Christmas Stack Class.  This first card has a gorgeous metallic and organza silk poinsettia as the focal element. I chose a grey card stock onto which I printed a damask pattern which I downloaded from Clker and the greeting in a burgundy color to match the felt ribbon.  I placed a piece of silver satin ribbon across the wide card below the damask pattern. The ends of the ribbon are tape to the inside of the card.  Then I adhered the centre of the burgundy felt ribbon across the satin ribbon going from top to bottom edges of the card, to the left of the greeting.  I opened the card flat and used a push pin to create a hole in the ribbons and the card front for the silver brad.  I cut the centre of the flower with the Tim Holtz - Tattered Poinsettias die from the same felt ribbon.  I then placed the small centre, the organza flower, the metallic silver flower onto the brad.  The I placed the prongs of the brad through the hole I just made and spread the prongs apart on the inside of the card.

You can find the Ready 2 Go kit here.

Nifty Notes - New Images

I made some more Nifty Notes for a co-worker who is leaving.  She going to a job where blank note cards will come in handy.  She thought the tea pot was particularly cool.  I agree.

This cards are produced by overlaying a white clip art in white onto a decorative paper which I created. These images are from Clker. Some I've changed and added features.  The background images range from alcohol ink, watercolor and stenciled. Because these are wide on the card I was able to use different images that I used in the past.

Here's a couple links to the ones I made a while ago. Images with Words and just images.

Christmas Card Challenge - June - Banner

I tried it again, and I'm happier with this one.  I made the card wide or landscape orientation to have more room to lay out my banner.  I changed the color to a more Christmas green in the layer and the color printed words.  I chose a green baker's twine which I toned down the white with a bit of Tim Holtz Antique Linen Distress ink.  I taped the twine to the back of the ivory layer then mounted my letters JOY with 3D foam tape to accommodate the thickness of the twine.  It gives more dimension to the letters too.

Here's my first attempt at a card with a banner. I think there's something missing but I'm not sure what.  I was going for a graphic look but I think it's too stark. It needs softness but I'm not sure how to add it. I will play some more and post another later.

The Joy banner was created with the Cricut and the Creative Memories Tiny Treasures cartridge. The monogram in red metallic paper at 1.5" tall.  I mounted these on a piece of cream card stock and repeated the banner motif.  I then added the 'to the world' color printed on the bottom half of the same piece of card stock.  I trimmed it to leave a space between the two.  These cream piece were mounted on a piece of dark green card stock which just leaves a small border.  This was then adhered to the front of a cream card.

Card - Farewell

I made this card for a couple who are leaving our office soon for new duties in Toronto.
I started with a blue card and just folded the full sheet in half which makes are large card for everyone to share their sentiments.  I layered onto it some designer paper by Fancy Pants - Tradition from the fancy-free collection by Michelle Coleman.  I punched a border with a Martha Stewart double edge punch from deep red card stock and ran 2 lengths of caramel seam binding through it.  The ribbon was taped to the back of the DP layer.  This layer was then adhered to the card front.  I chose to mix card stock flowers with silk flowers.  I used the Tim Holtz Tattered Flowers die because it provided the size of flower I was looking for. The 2 blue one and the red one were cut from card stock already used in the card. I added 2 velvety satin flowers in between.  I held all of these in place with a large red brad.  The insert is caramel with blue writing.

Card Club - Geometric Design

I used a small note card with a geometric design in black, grey, and olive green.  I cut a hole in the decorative paper with the Stampin Up Decorative Label frame-lits.  Check this post about creating a magnetic platform.  I tied a ribbon onto the remaining edge on the right hand side and knotted it and trimmed the ends. The decorative layer was then glued to the card front leaving the card show through the hole.  I mounted the color printed greeting punched with the 1.25" circle punch onto a dark grey 1.37" circle.  This accent was glued in the center of the hole in the decorative layer.
It can be put into the wide or landscape orientation as well.

Card Club - Rooster

I selected a blue card which coordinated well with the blue in the rooster image.  I cut the rooster down leaving only a small border of blue.  I cut a piece of red card stock which left a small border then I ripped the bottom edge.  I glued the red to the card front, then the rooster layer.  I used a push pin to create the holes for the tiny brads placed in the flowers in each of the four corners.









I put different colors in the kits which coordinated with the colors in the rooster. Green, yellow, orange, and red.

Card Club - Baby Ink Spots

I created the ink spot paper.  To check out how to do this technique follow this link.
I cut the ink spot paper to 4 x 5.25 inches. I then wrapped a piece of white seam binding around this layer and knotted it on the front leaving space for the greeting.  I mounted this layer onto a green card.  I punched a Stampin Up Scallop Circle from the same card stock. I added a color printed greeting which was punched with the 1 3/8 inch circle punch.  This accent is then mounted over the ribbon with 3D foam tape.

Card Club - Jalopy

This is the first card for Card Club today.  I cut some blue decorative paper with my Creative Memories is wavy cutter and then cut a colored layer leaving a small border.  This layer is glued to the card front on the right hand side. I cut the Jalopy with a Tim Holtz mover & shaper in black card stock.  The die cut is then mounted to the card front with 3D foam tape.  I color printed the greeting then punched it out with the Stampin Up Modern Label punch.  Then I punched another from black card stock.  The black one was cut in half lengthwise.  These halves are glued to the back of the greeting offset. This greeting is glued to the card front with 3D foam tape. I placed it horizontal over the curve of the blue piece.


I provided green, yellow, and orange solid layers in the kits I prepared for this class.

How To: Magnetic Platform for Big Shot

Here's how I made myself a magnetic platform for my Big Shot that keeps my Frame-lits exactly where I want them. I had removed the screws from my Tab 2 of my Big Shot a long time ago. I added it to the sandwich when I needed it.  So I needed to find something magnetic which would replace the thickness of the Tab 2. During a visit to a scrap book store the other day I found Art Bin Magnetic Sheets which are designed for thin die storage.
They are just a bit bigger than the Big Shot platform so I trimmed off the tabs which left a piece just the size of my platform.  The magnetic sheet is quite thick but it just needed a bit more.  I went looking for something to add just a bit more and found that my metal cutting adapter plate was just right.
Now I can place my framelit exactly where I want it, cut as many times I want without it moving on me and my having to adjust after every cut.  It's solid magnet so there is no jumping around of the small framelits.
Works great!!

I've had some questions so here's what sandwich looks like:

1. Acrylic Clear Cutting Pad 1
2. Big Shot Multi Purpose Platform with Tab 1
3. Metal Cutting Plate Adapter
4. ArtBin White Magnetic Sheet
5. Frame Lit
6. Card Stock
7. Acrylic Clear Cutting Pad 2

Happy Cutting!

Challenge - Christmas Tea Cup Box

I decided to play along with a couple of challenges this week.

I made a tea cup box. Because one of the challenges is Christmas I choose this BoBunny Christmas Ornament double sided paper.  I used the Cricut and the Joy of the Season cartridge and I cut 2 tea cups then cut a strip of the same card stock to make the box which I adhered between the tea cups. I added 2 velvet silk flowers and some holly leaves all held in place with a gold tiny brad and a gold sequin in the centre. Since it's a box and gift giving is the idea I placed individually wrapped tea bags in the box.  Ready to give!

I'm submitting this to
Holly Jolly - Anything but a Card
Cricut - Bitten by the Bug - Gift Packaging

Challenge - Retro Clock

I printed the retro clock image on vellum with the greeting.  This clock has only the 4 quadrant numbers visible and just lines for the other numbers.  The angular hands are in keeping with the design.
I cut the vellum with my Creative Memories oval cutter then I cut the large black oval frame by using a step larger for the first cut then the same size as the vellum oval for the second cut creating the narrow frame.  I mounted these on a bright green card which I thinks keeps with the retro vibe.  The vellum is held in place with a tiny black brad in the center of the clock and vellum adhesive behind the greeting.

Card Challenge - Clock

Still another card for the CST Home Page Card Challenge.  It was to include a clock on the card.  I found some images of clock faces on line and printed them on vellum along with a greeting.
The clock face is vintage and the hands are just about the same size so a little harder to read the time.
This is a black card with script background designer paper.  The colors worked but the greeting gets lost in the background.  I punched the corners with my corner rounder. I added some definition to the hands from the back side of the vellum with a fine black marker to help with the readability of the time. Again a tiny black brad in the centre of the clock and some vellum adhesive behind the greeting.

Challenge - Pink Clock

Here's another card for the Home Card challenge at CST which is a card with a clock on it. I printed them on vellum.
This clock has the circle separated into wedges of color for each number. The hands of the clock are black and quite dainty. It has red second hand.
For this card I chose a dark brown card with a red tone to it.  I mounted a piece of salmon colored polka dot designer paper leaving a large border.  I then cut the vellum to smaller than the DP so it would leave a border as well.  I put a tiny black brad in the center of the clock and some vellum adhesive under the greeting.

Challenge - Card with clock

The Home Card challenge at CST is a card with a clock on it.  I searched the web for some pretty clock faces and selected four. I placed them on a quarter sheet and added a greeting and printed them on vellum.

The one on the left here has roman numerals and some hints of blue on the background.  I selected a turquoise card and added a warm yellow green designer paper with a pattern that was not too busy.  I cut the designer paper to leave a good border of the blue and then trimmed the vellum to be smaller than the DP. I placed a tiny black brad in the center of the clock and some vellum adhesive under the greeting and the top of the clock.

Baby Boy Cards

I made some cards for a couple who adopted a baby boy recently. His name is Grayson and he is very cute!  These cards can be used by Mom for any baby related occasion as they are blank inside.

I started with a brown card and added a layer of baby blue polka dot designer paper onto which I printed the word BABY in brown because I thought the paper needed something. I cut a Spellbinder Nestabilities Label Twenty Two in the same brown card stock. I cut onsie tags with the Cricut and the Wrap It Up cartridge in the designer paper.  I glue the tag to the label and then punched hole in the brown and added a blue organza ribbon. This accent was then mounted to the card front with 3D foam tape.

I chose a blue and green designer paper for another set based on the same layout.  This paper I decided did not need the word added.

Mother's Day Card

I made this card for my Mom for our celebration today.  I love her and want to let her know.

I started with the designer paper in pinks, greens and dark greys. I cut it down to leave a small border of the card front of deep pink.  I cut the Stampin Up Apothecary Framelit from the reverse side of the same paper.  It needed something to make it pop so I added a layer of textured ivory card stock.  I added the label die cut mounted with 3D foam tape.  I added the greeting colored printed in Regal Rose and edged with the ink pad.  I added just a bit of color on the ivory rectangle with a Q-tip dipped onto the ink pad.  Like the subtle effect.

Happy Mom's Day!!