SUGAR COOKIE THANK YOU CARDS

One (or maybe I should say "several") of my Christmas gifts was a coordinating set of Sugar Cookie Alphabet stamps, Sugar Cookie Numbers stamps, coordinating dies, and Cookie Sheet dies.  The cards that I'm sharing today were created with the Cookie Sheet dies.  These products are so fun to work with, and there are soooooooo many ways to decorate the cookies!  I used Nuvo Crystal Drops and Glaze pens on the "cookies" that I'm sharing today.

The vellum paper with the silver hearts is retired from Stampin' Up!.  This card also features silver foil, cardstock, stamped sentiment, and punch from Stampin' Up!.  My second card was very similar to the first one:

The cookies look quite tasty, don't they?  There will be more cookies in my future, I'm sure!

These two cards were mailed earlier this week as a thank you for Christmas gifts.  I hope the recipients like the cookies as much as I do!

"CHRISTMAS SEASON" CHRISTMAS CARDS

 

I had every intention of sharing Christmas cards before now but . . . here I am on Christmas Eve.  The cards that I'm sharing in this post feature Stampin' Up!'s Christmas Season bundle.  This product bundle was actually a late one for me because I had sworn off the purchase of more pinecones, holly leaves, and Christmas greenery products.  I couldn't stop looking at this one, though, and I ended up using it a lot this season.  Not once did I feel a twinge of buyer's remorse--not once!  Other products featured on my cards include Tailor Made Tags (of course), Scalloped Contours dies, and Tidings of Christmas designer paper.

Thank you for visiting my blog today!  I wish you and yours a blessed Christmas and all the best in the new year!

"FREE AS A BIRD" BIRTHDAY CARD

My sister had a birthday last month, and I'm late sharing the card that I made for her.  My stamp set of choice was Stampin' Up!'s "Free as a Bird".  Aren't the birds so sweet?

I enjoyed coloring the stamped image and, if I remember correctly, I used watercolor pencils and a blender pen.  I know some people don't enjoy coloring, and that seems so strange to me.  Coloring, for me, is so relaxing!

Other Stampin' Up! products featured on this card include white flax ribbon, Blushing Bride frayed grosgrain ribbon, and one of the Wintry 3D embossing folders.  On a whim, I decided to use the Early Espresso marker to add (ink) stitching.

"HARVEST HELLOS" APPLE CRATE CARD

How cute is this "crate" of apples?  This card idea came straight from Pinterest, and I thought it would be perfect for the thank you card that I wanted to send to my parents for the delicious tart apples they'd just given to me.  I mostly followed Jennifer Merle-Hamscher's tutorial to create the card; however, I cut away some of the cardstock from the card interior to eliminate excess bulk. All of the punched apples were adhered in place, but not before I "brought them to life" by sponging the edges with ink.

If you're wondering about the products that I used, I'm sorry to say that the "Harvest Hellos" stamp set and coordinating Apple Builder punch are no longer available.  These are products that were on my radar for quite some time, but I think they were close to being retired before I purchased them.  No regrets, though!  I actually keep the stamp set by my desk with current stamp sets because I reach for it often.  Here's a tip for you . . . when you see builder punches offered by Stampin' Up!, carefully consider purchasing them because they are usually keepers.  ;-)  

When I opened the stamp case, I was lucky to find the apple slice already stamped, colored, and cut out--just ready to be added to my card!  If you don't do this already, make sure you always keep stamped and die-cut pieces that you end up not using.  I tend to keep these pieces in the stamp case, and they have often made card-making quick and easy.

ETA:  To create this card, start with a piece of 4-1/2" x 11" cardstock, and score diagonally (the length of the card) from one corner to the opposite corner.  Place the cardstock on your scoring board, and score at the center.  I created my layers by scoring a piece of 4-1/2" x 5-1/2" cardstock diagonally, and then I cut the layering pieces to fit my card front.  Be sure to emboss the layers (and sponge ink onto the embossed texture) before adhering them to the front of the card.

CLEAN AND SIMPLE "VERY VERSAILLES" SYMPATHY CARD

"Very Versailles" is one of those stamp sets that seemed (at first glance) like a perfect fit for me with its visually appealing sentiments and random mix of images that are fantastic for dressing up a background or creating stamped layers for a project.  As you can see on the card that I'm sharing today, the one leafy branch image is subtly stunning when used alone to carry the design on this sympathy card.

My ink color is Sahara Sand, which never disappoints on a white sympathy card.  I used one of the Scalloped Contours dies to cut the scalloped rectangle and then slightly folded up the edges.  Although I use Linen Thread (and assorted twine) all the time, I thought the thread was an especially good choice for this card.  Don't you think it lends the perfect earthy touch?