Framed Die Cut

This card is a CASE of one Julia Stanton made which I saw on Instagram.  Here is the link to her blog post about her card.

In ways my CASE was a fail but the card was a success to me.  I have been playing with an large die cut from Sizzix.  I loved how Julia show cased a die with a circle.  I used two circle dies to make my solid border and then just cut a focal point out of the large die.  Her coloring was very beautiful - mine did not turn out like that.  If you look very closely at the background, you will see that I used the die to emboss my background paper using the rubber mat.

This card will go to a friend who is battling cancer.

I am going to enter another card in the Happy Little Stampers monthly challenge for Die Cuts which is Anything Goes (of course, every card I made this week could have been entered since I have been playing with this particular die and trying to get my money's worth out of it)

Enjoy your Saturday - heading out to a flower place which is also having a flea market.  This could be very dangerous.

Operation Write Home - July Our Daily Bread Design Challenge

The Our Daily Bread Design challenge for the month of July is to use cool colors - blue is cool - so this card must be the coolest card ever.


ODBD sponsors a challenge on the Operation Write Home card blog each month.  For each 25 entries (up to a total of 50) they will pay shipping on a box of cards to be sent overseas.  Isn't this a wonderful thing they are doing to help out OWH.  Shipping costs are high.  Thank you ODBD for supporting OWH - I feel I should abbreviate something else -

How about - GB - Good Bye.  (Insert smile)

Oh the embossing folder is by Sizzix and the sentiment is by Hero Arts.

Creative Saturday

Yeah it is Saturday and I am going to go play with my friend Mary - she started me on this road of cardmaking and we try to shop or play together.  We decided to forgo the shopping and work with some of our supplies and ideas.  We are taking the online card class on die cuts and the Silhouette so we are going to try and do some projects from that. 

I also wanted to come up with some card ideas for her - she needs to make some thank you notes for her daughter in law so thought I would make some easy ones.  By swapping out the sentiment on this card - it could be for any occasion.  I think this may be sent to my Mom the week of Mother's Day - she will like the butterflies - of course - it really should be pink.  Her favorite color.

This is an embossing folder from Sizzix I had never used yet (SHOCK).  I embossed it on watercolor paper (love the weight) and then I inked it an ink pad - used a sponge and rubbed it across the pad.  To make sure my mat would match - I just inked the edge of the same type of paper.  It is mounted on more watercolor paper and then a cardbase.  The sentiment is (I think) a dollar stamp I got from Michael's - it is on a wood block.  The sentiment is pop dotted.  I decided it needed just a little sparkle - and rubbed Stickles across the butterflies.  You can see that in the close up photo.

Have a wonderful day - I hope you get to be creative also.

Faux Letterpress Technique

A quick post today - I wanted to share a couple cards I made using the Faux Letterpress Technique.  I am taking an onlien class - Inspiration Showcase with Jennifer McGuire.  I am learning so much - and will take another class sometime like this - I already have 80 some pages of printed material from the class with beautiful examples. 

With this technique you ink of one side of your embossing folder and run it through your machine.  Clean your embossing folder.  Ink the other side and run it through the machine.  You could just do one piece of the embossed paper on a card but I chose on these two cards to cut the pieces and then was able to make two cards.  I thought they turned out fallish looking with the leaves and goldish ink.  This sentiment from Hero Arts has become a favorite for cards for Operation Write Home - sometimes it is not a special occasion - you just want to say Hello. 

Thanks for stopping by.

OWH SKIP - CAS (clean and simple)

Feminine

Masculine

Welcome to the OWH skip.  A skip is designed to be a short burst of creativity in our busy lives. 

This Skip is focusing on CAS cards (clean and simple cards).  I personally struggle making a CAS card.  I am the Queen of Layers.  I love to put lots of “good stuff” on my cards.  I have been working on trying to develop a CAS style in my cardmaking.  I have found several challenge sites I like to follow that encourage CAS – they are Clean and Simple Stamping and CAS-ual Firdays. 

I chose to make two cards today for my post.  Using the same CAS sketch/style I made a masculine and feminine card.  I changed up the colors of patterned paper used on each card.  On the feminine card I rounded the corners on the sentiment and I also rounded the corners on the bottom of the card to give a softer look to the card.  The embellishment on top of the sentiment and twine add to the style (masculine/feminine) of the card.  I generated the sentiment on the computer – in case you don’t know what HB2U means – Happy Birthday Too You. 

Many years ago I got a card that inspired this design from Kelly Morgan Merly– an online friend/cardmaker – and I keep it on my table for inspiration.

I hope you have enjoyed my attempt at a CAS card and how easily you can change the look of a card just by the use of different patterned papers and embellishments.  Now Skip on over to Maureen's blog and see what wonderful creativity she has to share with you.

Thanks for stopping by.

Masculine card:  Paper – The Paper Loft – Huckleberry Pond collection; May Arts Twine; Sizzix die cuts

Feminine card:  Paper – Prima – Madeline Collection; May Arts Twine; Base Flower – Stampin Up/Sizzix

We R Memory Keepers and Hero Arts Unite

Good evening - when it is hot - make snowman cards - try to feel cooler - I do believe it is the AC that is actually making me feel cooler - of course - when the electric bill comes - I won't feel so cool.

The card I am sharing - is somewhat of a challenge I gave myself - I said I could make a winter card out of this particular grouping of paper from We R Memory Keepers.  I actually made two - come back tomorrow night and see the other one.

We R Memory Keepers is sponsoring the drive for cards for Operation Write Home so dug through my supplies to find any of their paper I had to make some cards to send off to them. 

Have a wonderful evening.  Off to make a few more cards - want to get a box sent off this week yet to them.

Sunday, January 30, 2011

Good Sunday afternoon - where does time fly - it seems I have not been too productive in the card making department lately. I was gone Saturday and came home early Sunday - so was a little tired - hard to be overly creative when you are tired. Do you have that kind of problem? I need to get some cards made. I need to make more cards for Operation Write Home - want to get a box sent in the next couple weeks - I have lots of spring cards in there - some are for Easter but some could be used for Mother's Day.

Today's card is based on the challenge at The Play Date Cafe - it is a color splash challenge - sometimes I have a hard time doing those challenges - but this one was pretty easy - it was one color - lilac - with a neutral color. I wanted to make my boss a good luck card - she is interviewing for a new job this week. The lilac paper is recycled - it is from a beautiful envelope folder - letter size - so I have enough to do a couple projects with. The flower is made from recycled tissue paper - I cut the paper with spellbinders and then hold them together with a brad and just wrinkle up each layer to give the flower dimension. I used the Stampin Up die cut and embossed it with a cuddlebug folder. I also die cut a flourish from a Sizzix die cut. Add a SRM sticker and you have a very simple but hopefully elegant card.

Thanks for stopping by to visit.

Card details:
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Cuddlebug Embossing Folder
Die Cuts: Sizzix and Stampin Up
SRM Sticker
Imaginisce Brad

Monday, December 13, 2010

Good Monday morning – and may I say BRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR – the wind chill is 9 below. I do hope my car starts. I ran my errands on Friday night and then I hibernated the remainder of the week end. I did accomplish a few things – I actually made a couple more Christmas cards, some gifts for this week are ready to go. I even made cookies – I did post the recipe yesterday if you are interested – Oatmeal Cranberry White Chocolate – pretty yummy.

The cards I made on Sunday are for my neighbors. I will share one today – come back on Tuesday to see the second one. They take very good care of me. Sunday morning Jeff cleared my sidewalk and driveway – I have more than they do but he very graciously cleans it out for me. I chose to use the raccoon from Stampendous for my cards for their cards. This summer, we discovered, I had a family of raccoons living under my deck. This was discovered while I was on vacation – and they took it upon themselves to try and evict the family from under the deck. I do wish I had been home to see everyone in action. I know the little image will make them all smile and bring back some warm memories from the summer.

Yes it is oldie moldie Monday – this paper isn’t that old – I think it may have been from last year’s Christmas collection from Crate Paper. I may have combined both of their Christmas collections in these two cards. Today’s card is based on the sketch at The Sweet Stop. This card opens from the left side – this card is for my backwards family – all of their cards open on the wrong side – the first card I made for them was done that way on accident – well now it is a tradition – thus they are the backwards family.

Everyone have a wonderful Monday and hope it is warm wherever you are located.

Card details:
Size: 4.5 x t
Paper: Crate Paper
Die Cuts: Crate Paper
Stamp: Stampendous colored with Copics
Sizzix Die Cut
SRM Stickers
May Arts twine

Saturday, December 11, 2010

Inside

There is a song running around in my head as I made this card - I think Elvis may have sung it - "Blue Blue Christmas" - to be kind to all of you - I won't sing. It is not pretty - and something I avoid doing - well ok - I avoid doing around other people - of course - you sing when you are alone.

Hard to believe Christmas is so close - I still have some more holiday cards to make - I have some left in my basket but sometimes - none of them seem appropriate for the person you want to give them to. We will see if it happens - and then I thought it would be nice to give my hair stylist - 4 handmade cards - I probably have some but do I know where the coordinating paper is so I can finish the insides - no - so it is almost easier to make new cards.

I was giong to make a new recipe for dinner - well - it was suppose to go in the crock pot - so I guess tomorrow I will make it. I am sure I can find something to eat. We are in the midst of a storm - so far we have just had rain - but I am sure the snow is coming and then winds and bitter cold. Some parts of the state are under blizzard warnings. YUCK. I wonder what tomorrow will bring.

My card today is for a special young lady in my life. I asked her her favorite color and she said it was blue - so thus the blue card. Caardvarks (their last challenge - thanks for all the inspiration) is to make a monochromatic card. This is pretty monochromatic - or pretty blue. It is also the sketch at Unscripted Sketches. It is a combination of papers. I had bought the blue snowflake stickers at Michael's - they added just the perfect finishing touch to my card and of course, those foam snowflakes I found at Michael's. They just dress up so nicely with the addition of Stickles. I had some already Stickled (is that a word) but the glitter was pinkish so I had to Stickle some new ones with a Stickle that had a blue cast to it. I also paper pieced the cup.

Everyone have a wonderful evening - stay warm.

Card Details:

Size 5 x 7

Paper: Die Cuts With a View and Momenta

Stamp: Whipper Snapper Designs colored with Copics

Foam Snowflakes: Michael's

Snowflake die cut: Sizzix

Sentiment Sticker: SRM Stickers

Snowflake Stickers: Michael's

Ribbon: May Arts

Pop Dots

Inside Verse: Hero Arts

Thursday, December 9, 2010

Good Thursday morning – I have a thank you card to share with you today. JoAnn Fabrics had a contest this last fall called “Craft for a Cause.” Operation Write Home banded together to get the organization into the final three and we did it. It is amazing what you can do as a group. The final three were then voted on by the public - Operation Write Home won second place. For winning second place they received $25,000.

This thank you note is for JoAnn Fabrics. It is made with product from their stores. We have a super store in Madison that is great fun to shop at. In fact, I was there today and bought some holiday gifts.

Moxie Fab has a challenge for Thank You cards in celebration of their new magazine Card Creations so I am going to enter my card in that challenge.

Everyone have a wonderful day.

Card details:
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Paper: Die Cuts With A View
Crepe Paper flower
Sizzix Die Cut
Stamp: The Paper Company
Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink by Clearsnap
American Crafts button
May Arts twine

Tuesday,December 2, 2010

We are on the downward slide to the week end – but we have snow coming – so I guess that means time to get the snowblower gassed up and ready to go and pray it starts. I will get my stuff done on Thursday and Friday nights so I can stay at home and enjoy the snow.

I need to get my Christmas cards finished this week end and out the door. I need to clean up my crafting area. Maybe I will just keep out some paper and a few stamps, etc. to make some cards for Operation Write Home. Try to use up some of my paper. Of course, I will be making my cards using the wonderful images from I Brake for Digis. I already have them in my head – maybe that is why I have not been able to sleep at night.

I got this new stamp last week – sometimes I like to be a lazy stamper – one color stamping – no coloring. That is my definition of being a lazy stamper. I did try to add some red to the cardinal. Creative Corner has a challenge this week to use a tag on your card. I cut my tag using a Sizzix die. I was using paper from the Basic Grey holiday collection from last year but it was not coming together for me – I then went to this year’s collection and found the background paper. Enough color variation to make the background come to life. I believe the pretty brads are from Michael’s or from the dollar store in Canada. My personal shopper in Canada Ivanka finds the best stuff at her dollar stores.

Everyone have a wonderful day. I am heading to Hobby Lobby and the scrapbook store tonight - let me know if you need me to pick up anything for you - maybe I will stop at the liquor store also so I can relax and sip some wine over the week end and watch the snow fall.

Card Details:
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Stamp: Unity Stamp Color
Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink by Clearsnap
May Arts Twine
Brads: Michaels

Sunday, November 21, 2010

Good Sunday morning - dreary wet morning in Wisconsin. The days of taking pictures of your cards outside or in sunshine - I think will not return until May 2011 so I apologize for my even worse photography.

I went to a stamp show in Madison yesterday. I bought one set of stamps and some 6 x 6 pads of paper. I also picked up a couple new Sizzix embossing folders - I had wanted the Basic Grey one that says Merry Christmas on it and I got it. Yeah. I actually used one of the new ones on my card. I have several snowflake embossing folders.

My card today is based on the sketch at "The Sweet Shop" - a new sketch each Saturday. This challenge has the twist of finishing the inside of your card. The sketch called to me - all those layers - love layers. I also had this image colored so I wanted to use it. I love those little snowmen. I hope I can find the stamp to tell you who makes it - it is an older stamp. I used my new snowflake embossing folder on this card. I tried something new on the inside that I had seen before on Operation Write Home. Embossing your image - well I just embossed my sentiment and even my signature - I added the signature before I embossed because I thought it may be a little difficult to write on the embossed inside.

Well - one more Holiday card made - everyone enjoy the remainder of today.

Card Details:

Size: 5 x 7

Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny

Stamp: colored with Copics (sorry can't find it - I stamped this awhile ago)

Sentiment stamp: Penny Black

Bazill cardstock

Sizzix embossing folder

Spellbinders snowflake

Ribbon: May Arts

Monday, November 1, 2010

Good Monday Morning – yes it is Oldie Moldie Monday – I think this is my last post with this particular gouping of oldie moldie paper. I have gotten to the point that when I look at the paper – my stomach rolls – it is beautiful paper and I have made some wonderful cards for Operation Write Home and for myself for the holidays but enough. I have my cards to put the inside in yet and that will use the majority of the remaining paper.

This card is based on the sketch at Unscripted Sketches – I just flipped it the long way. I think this maybe the first time I have done one of their sketches. I also finished the inside of the card which is the current challenge on Caardvarks. As I have said before, as I make my holiday cards – I want to finish the inside and address the envelope so they are almost ready to go – I want to add a personal note right before I send. This card is slid into an envelope with the recipients name on the envelope – no address yet – I have to dig through my e mail for it. I have been away from sketches for awhile – I was trying to get lots of holiday cards made for Operation Write Home – right now I am focusing on my Thanksgiving and Christmas cards. So far today I have done 4 sketch challenges.

Would you believe it is time to make valentine cards for Operation Write Home? I have got some started. OWH will be having a blog hop in honor of Veteran’s Day. I will be offering up some type of blog candy that day. I am still trying to figure out what I will do for my post. Do you have any suggestions?

Well it is time to head off to work – I hope you enjoy the last of my posts with this particular grouping of paper.

Card Details:
Size: 4.5 x 6
Patterned Paper: Bo Bunny
Stamp: Penny Black (penguins); inside sentiment – Penny Black
Sticker: SRM Stickers
Stickles
Snowflake Die Cut: Sizzix

Monday, October 18, 2010

The purple/penguin saga continues .......

Good Monday morning – a quick post before I head out the door to work – it is oldie moldie Monday and the purple/penguin saga continues – I think I still have more paper left – come back next week – although I do think I have used all my penguin stamps now so I need to start repeating stamps.

These cards for me – as you can see – I added Stickles – when I create for Operation Write Home – no glitter so I don’t use my Stickles. It felt good to Stickle again. I used my new die cut from Sizzix which also embosses - aren't those purple snowflakes fun. I even made a few birthday cards this week end. Trying to catch up.

Everyone have a great day – we are celebrating Boss’s Day – we are having a soup luncheon – Pasta Fagoli, salad, bread and dessert. Yummy. I bet there will be leftovers also.

Card Details:

Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Stamps: Card one - Inkadinkado; Card Two - Great Impressions

Paper: Bo Bunny

Rub Ons: Making Memories

Sizzix embossing plate for snowflake

Friday, October 1, 2010

Oh my - how did it get to be October already. I guess it is time to go on leaf watch and hope my oak trees drop their leaves soon so I can get them raked - of course - that is a neighborhood fun time - all the kids come over and rake so they can play in the piles - they also love to use the leaf blower. I do enjoy that time with the kiddos.

The card I am sharing today is based off the sketch from 2 Sketches 4 You - thank you for encouraging me to use the die cuts I bought (Tim Holtz alterations). I love how the card turned out - I think I may make some more for holiday cards. It was actually very easy. The pleating of the ribbon took the longest - I just handstitched it together and I love that little row of stitches on top. The tutorial on the Operation Write Home card blog was hand stitching so will put my card over there also.

Everyone have a wonderful day - we have a cold front coming in for the week end so I think it will be time to do some baking and make a pot of soup or chili. I did buy a new soup cookbook - I just need to get it back from a co worker. I have leeks in the refrig I need to use and the neighbors need to get their annual offering of apple cake.

Card Details:

Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Patterned Paper: Basic Grey

Kraft cardstock: Hobby Lobby

Stamp: Tim Holtz - Stampers Anonymous

Ink: Colorbox Chalk Ink - Chestnut Roan

Ribbon and button from my supplies

Twine: May Arts

Die Cut: Tim Holtz Alterations by Sizzix

Friday, September 10, 2010

Yeah it is Friday - I sure could use a 3 day week end at home to catch up. There is lots of fun online this week end to help celebrate Operation Write Home's birthday. Operation Write Home is having a celebration online this week end and so is Hero Arts - there should be so much fun out there for everyone to participate in and get some cards made for our heroes.

The card I have to share today is from the midweek throwdown on the Operation Write Home card blog - Stars and Stamps. The challenge was to make a fall based thank you card. I had this great paper from Imaginisce which makes creation of a card so easy.

Well I must go get ready for work. Everyone have a great day - hope some creativity comes your way - come back tomorrow to see my google eye card. I really like how it turned out.

Card Details:
Paper: Imaginisce
SRM Sticker
Sizzix Die Cut
May Art Twine

Tuesday, August 17, 2010

Good evening - I got to do a card for the midweek throw down on OWH Stars and Stripes blog. It was to make a fall themed card with no sentiment. I do believe this qualifies. This is a new stamp I bought at JoAnn's so don't be surprised if I use it for a card to enter in the Craft for a Cause.

Everyone have a wonderful evening - I am hoping to find some Mo Jo and make a card - or finish a card.

Card Details:
4.25 x 5.5
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Stamp: Inkadinkado
Sizzix die cut for button
May Arts Twine

Sunday, August 15, 2010

Good Sunday afternoon - I was a little missing in action last week - no Mo Jo flowing - I got this card made and have another one laid out on my table - tryingto get ahead on some birthdays that are coming up. The Basic Grey 6 x 6 pad is sitting on my table so another card was made out if. I wanted to bring out the purple in the border around the sticker.

So my question is - how many layers are too many - I think there are 12 layers on this card - I like to layer - simple is very hard for me to do - how about you - can you do clean and simple or do you like to layer it on like I do.

I did this card for the challenge on A Crafty Little Place - it was a recipe challenge - use a tag on your card. If you look - there is a tag under there - there is a little bit of the green sticking out - just another layer in the layer card.

Well I hope to get some creating done today - I also need to mow and do laundry - yuck - everyone have a great day.

Card Details
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Patterned Paper: Basic Grey
Animal Sticker: Penny Black
Sentiment Sticker: SRM Stickers
Tag Die Cut - Sizzix
Trim: May Arts

Friday, August 6, 2010

Good Friday morning. A quick post before I head off to solve the world's problems at work - OK not the world's - but hopefully I will solve a few problems. I am so glad it is Friday - the weather is beautiful - it would be a beautiful day to play hooky. I will be good - I will go to work and work hard. Maybe I can get out for a break and take a walk.

I made this card for Operation Write Home . I have a huge collection of monkey stamps and a monkey makes you smile. The design of the card is based on the weekly sketch on the Operation Write Home card blog (Stars and Stamps). The sketch is posted each Sunday.

Everyone have a wonderful day. The week end is approaching - yeah.

Card details:
Size: 4.25 x 5.5
Patterned Paper: Cosmo Cricket - Joy Ride collection
Stamp: DRS colored with Copics
Sticker: SRM Stickers
Sizzix diecut for button
May Arts twine

Wednesday, July 31, 2010

Give a card maker some scraps and see what she can do. I was cleaning and found a few scraps of this double sided paper - 2 designs. I was able to make two cards for Operation Write Home with this great digital from Integrity Digital Images.

Everyone have a wonderful evening - I am trying to find my crafting area. I have a friend coming to play on Friday night and she needs room to play.

Card Details:

Size: 4.25 x 5.5

Paper: My Mind's Eye

Diecut: Sizzix

May Art Ribbon

Flower - coffee dyed to give it a creamier color