Thursday, December 15, 2016

Ugly Sweater Contest

01/13/2017 Update: Sapphire Award Winner at Color My Heart: Color Dare Challenge #223.






Several weeks ago I saw some really cute and clever "ugly" sweaters HERE and was inspired to give it a try. The paper I used is perfectly lovely and it was more challenging to make an "ugly" sweater than a pretty one.

So here it is, with a string of jingle bells along the bottom and some mismatched colors.

 
I do not have the CTMH paper packet for this design, but through the generosity of a friend, I was able to use the required supplies. Using an off-white card base, an oval die was used to cut out the neck hole at the top fold of the card. Using a coordinating oval die with a scalloped edge, the collar was added. A panel of white cardstock was embossed using the inked-by-embossing-folder method. The circles were lightly distressed to show white through the Fern ink. A panel of wood grain designer paper was also inked, this time with Juniper, using an embossing folder. Under close examination, the wood grain shows through the Juniper ink - a pretty effect.
In my friend's supplies, I found the die cut pine cone with a sprig of fir and the star. They are backed with foam to add dimension. The circle with a deer image was die cut from the paper, the edges sponged with Glacier and popped up with foam. Copic markers were used to brighten the colors on the image. The jingle bells were fussy cut and also adhered with foam. Using a marker, stitches were added to the center panel. The inside is stamped with a simple "A Very Merry Christmas to You" and a strip of the Fern embossed paper along the right vertical edge.
 
I am submitting the card to the following challenges:
2. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge Extra - Anything Goes


3. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge



4. Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes with Dies December Challenge




Techniques: Stamping, sponging, die cutting, fussy cutting, stamping-with-embossing-folder, distressing
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

CTMH Materials
Ink: Fern, Juniper, Glacier, Cocoa
Cardstock: Cocoa, Desert Sand
DSP: "Oh Deer" Collection

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamp Set: "Reason for the Season" (inside sentiment)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Whisper White
Marker: Stampin' Write Crumb Cake
Misc.: Dimensionals foam, Pine Bough EF

Other Materials
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (inside sentiment)
Dies: Spellbinders Classic Ovals, Scalloped Ovals, Classic Circles
Misc.: Darice EF, Copic markers 


Sunday, December 4, 2016

Celebrate - Masculine Birthday

12/07/2016 Update: Top Three winner at Cardz 4 Guyz #48.


This is my second post today... very unusual. My husband played a little poker today and I had the house to myself for a few hours. I actually finished four birthday cards, made two personalized Christmas cards, and posted two items! I still need to finish my "bulk" Christmas cards.
My "baby" brother will celebrate his 58th birthday next week. The technique I chose is an oldie but goody: stamping with an embossing folder. The technique is all over You Tube but the effect is always unique. HERE is a tutorial to use if necessary. It has optional steps that I elected not to use.
Ink was applied to the embossing folder, then it was stamped. A panel of vanilla cardstock was placed inside the folder and it was embossed. A marker was used to emphasize the birch dark spots and a slight shadow on the side of the birches. The panel was sponged along the edge, backed with foam tape and adhered to a card base. The sentiment was cut from two dies, adhered together, backed with foam tape and adhered. The inside of the card was lined with vanilla cardstock and stamped with trees and a "Happy Birthday" sentiment.

The card is being submitted to the following challenges:
1. Cardz 4 Guyz #48:
(Use something beginning with "T" - Tree)


2. Brown Sugar Challenge #227 - Anything Goes:








3. Happy Little Stampers December Challenge - Anything Goes with Dies:


Techniques: Stamping with embossing folder, stamping, sponging, die cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamp set: "Lovely As a Tree" & "Curly Cute" (inside sentiment)
Inks: Pool Party, Garden Green, Tip Top Taupe
Stampin' Write Markers: River Rock, Tip Top Taupe
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Pool Party, Tip Top Taupe
Misc.: Dimensionals  foam, Woodland TIEF

Other Material
Dies: Neat & Tangled two-part dies "Celebrate"

Please let me know if you have questions. I enjoy reading your comments.

Joy to the World

12/07/2016 Update: Top Three winner at AHSC #188:








Black is not a color I typically associate with Christmas cards but I have this gorgeous paper pack that includes some DSP with black and gold.
The card base is black, lined with vanilla cardstock, decorated with a strip of glitter paper and stamped inside with "Season's Greetings." Using clear embossing powder, the first panel of swirly DSP was coated with Versamark, heat embossed and adhered to the card base. Textured foil cardstock was cut into two pieces - a small rectangle and to die cut another with a label die. The rectangle was adhered to the embossed DSP layer. The flourish was die cut, clear embossed and adhered. Finding a sentiment on the DSP, a die was used to capture the sentiments, "Joy to the World," "Kris Kringle" and "May Christmas Love and Christmas Cheer Surround and Bless You Again this Year." Another piece of black DSP with tiny stars was die cut. The three die cut labels were stacked by size, backed with foam for dimension and adhered.

Photography does not capture all of the clear embossing, which gives a beautiful sheen to the swirly DSP and the flourish.
I am submitting the card to the following challenges:
1. Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #188 (sketch reversed):







2. Color My Heart: Color Dare Challenge #222:








3. Aud Sentiments #169: Anything Goes + a sentiment:



4. Crafty Creations #329 - Christmas:


5. Brown Sugar #227 - Anything Goes:








6. Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper December Challenge:
(randomly selected winner)





7. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas December Challenge Extra:
(randomly selected winner)

Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, heat embossing, Faux Patina
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamp set: "Curly Cute" (inside sentiment)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Basic Black, Gold Glimmer (inside decoration)
Dies: Deco Labels
Misc.: Dimensionals foam, clear embossing powder

Other Materials
Cardstock: Pressed Petals Embossed Foil Mat Stack
DSP: Graphic 45 St. Nicholas Collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (inside sentiment) & Versamark (for heat embossing)
Die: My Favorite Things Fancy Flourish

Sunday, November 27, 2016

Christmas Gift Card Holder

12/01/2016 Update: Top Three winner in the AHSC #187.


Since retiring and moving to Arizona, our family is located far away. Once moved, we decided the best way to provide Christmas gifts is by checks or gift cards - especially with young people. I've been making gift card holders for the recipients. Understanding that many people do not save the lovely cards that we make them, I knew my niece would keep whatever I made for her. Using a sketch challenge, I created a Christmas card and added the gift card holder to the inside.

Instructions on making the gift card holder can be found HERE (at 4:40). Using designer paper, I cut the sentiment block and a strip of flowers. A block of cardstock was dry embossed with texture but is difficult to discern in the photos. A panel of green cardstock was adhered to the card base, then a panel of red cardstock. The additional blocks were adhered. Foam was adhered to the sentiment block for dimension. The velvet glitter ribbon was added along with sequins.

To create the holder on the inside of the card, two labels were die cut, scored and folded in half. Two halves were adhered with sticky strip to hold the gift card, the
other halves were adhered to the card base. The inside was stamped with a Christmas sentiment and a block from the Designer paper was added.












 

The card is being submitted to the following challenges:

1. Atlantic Heart Sketch Challenge #187:






2A. Crafty Hazelnut's Challenge #309:(Christmas + a sentiment)


2B. Crafty Hazelnut's November Challenge Extra:

3. Creative Corner:
(winter theme)



4. Brown Sugar Challenge #226:
(anything goes)








5. Happy Little Stampers November Die Challenge:

Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, dry embossing
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamp set: "Reason for the Season" (interior sentiment)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green
Die: Deco Labels
Misc: Diagonal stripe TIEF, Dimensionals foam

Other Materials
DSP: Graphic 45 St. Nicholas Collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Misc.: Sticky strip tape, sequins & ribbon from stash

Wednesday, November 23, 2016

Blessings

12/04/2016 Update: Top Three winner at Cut It Up #109!



My card is in response to a card challenge whose theme is "The First Thanksgiving." The card was required to have either a Pilgrim or a Native American included plus a die cut.

The image was downloaded, colored, die cut, backed with foam and adhered to the card base, to which a panel of designer paper had been adhered. The inside of the card was decorated with a matching strip of paper. I elected to keep the card somewhat simple.

The card is being submitted to

1. Cut It Up "The First Thanksgiving" Theme 
Challenge #109: (must include a Pilgrim or Native American image)

2. Happy Little Stampers November Anything with Dies Challenge:


Techniques: Digital downloading, coloring, die cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Stampin Up! Materials
Cardstock: Very Vanilla
Misc.: Dimensionals foam

Other Materials
Stamps: A Day for Daisies "Garden Dreams" (digital)
Paper: Authentique from stash
Markers: Spectrum Noir (alcohol)
Die: Lil Inker Designs "Stitched Rounded Rectangles"

Tuesday, November 22, 2016

Reindeer Trio Greetings

12/07/2016 Update: Top Three at November Critters & Creatures Challenge



11/28/2016 Update: Splitcoast Stampers Weekly Favorite

This week I spotted several challenges that I thought were perfect for my humorous reindeer trio. I rarely participate in challenges with randomly selected winners but they usually offer prizes. The reindeer were downloaded as one digital image, already framed and with the sentiment in place. I wanted to have a background so I used a craft knife to cut around the deer and stars. This would have been a fun shaker card but I decided not to do it. The image was colored with clear Wink of Stella on the stars and Glossy Accents on the noses. The cut out frame was adhered to a panel of plaid paper and a card base. The inside of the card is decorated with plaid paper.
The card is being submitted to the following:

1. Crafty Creations Animal Theme Challenge #328 (winner selected randomly)

2A. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #308 (also random)

2B. Crafty Hazelnut's November Challenge Extra (also random)

3. Creative Corner (Team Jess) Anything Goes Challenge (also random)



4. November Critters and Creatures Linky Party 9

Techniques: Digital downloading, fussy cutting, coloring
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamps: Christmas Pines (inside sentiment)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla
DSP: Warmth and Cheer Collection

Other Materials
Stamp: Bugaboo "Reindeer Trio"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (inside sentiment)
Markers: Spectrum Noir (alcohol)
Misc.: ZIG Wink of Stella (clear), Ranger Glossy Accents