SNOWFLAKE GATEFOLD CARD

 

My most favorite EVER Paper Pumpkin kit from Stampin' Up! has been the "Simply Snowflake" kit from November 2014 (see the projects HERE).  I liked it so much that I bought a refill--probably more than one since I still have one on hand.  A few years ago, I was fortunate that Shannon Allen designed a Cricut cut file for a similar card, and I have enjoyed making a few of these through the years--almost always make a few to send each year at Christmas.  

It's a great card, isn't it?!?!  I fall in love with the design every time I make one of these cards.  Of course, there are so many other card designs that are over-the-top and/or really special in a multitude of ways, but my love for this one seems to grow and grow.  

Above is a closer view of the interior.  Some of the sentiment layers had stamped snowflakes, others did not.  All of the cards that I made this year (and in years past) were tied closed with silver trim, and I think that probably makes the card even more fun to receive.

"TREES FOR SALE" CHRISTMAS CARD

Of all the Christmas cards that I made this year, I made the most of this design.  I don't know why, though, because this one had the most pieces to assemble.  It took the better part of FOUR DAYS to do all of the cutting, assembly, and foiling.  BTW, the foiled sentiments were created with Spellbinders "Mini Christmas Sentiment Strips" hot foil plate, Silver foil, and my Go Press & Foil machine.  All of the other images are from Stampin' Up!'s "Trees for Sale" bundle.  Cardstock colors are Mossy Meadow, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Pool Party, and White.  Vellum cardstock was used behind the die-cut camper for the windows.

The card folded on the left side and, as you can tell, I used a distressing tool on the strip of white cardstock behind the sentiment.

From the above photo, you can get a tiny glimpse of the greenery that was stamped inside the card.  It wouldn't be right to have all that fun on the front and a boring interior!  The foiled background paper is "Silver & Gold 6x6 Specialty Paper" from Stampin' Up!, and I'm fairly certain that it's retired.  

These cards may have been a lot of trouble, but I loved everything about them . . . the design, the images that I had to work with, the colors  . . . all of it!  

EASY SNOWGLOBE CHRISTMAS CARD

 

I have been wanting to share photos of this year's Christmas cards, and I finally had a chance today to process the pics I've taken.  I didn't have as much variety this year--maybe five designs--but I was quite pleased with each of them.  That matters!  This first one that I'm sharing is an easy-to-create snowglobe, which I learned from Tina Wardell's video.  In a nutshell . . . 

(1) Die-cut a circle from a scrap of cardstock that is the same size as my Crumb Cake layer.  The die-cut aperture will be used as a stencil.

(2) Take a sponge, dauber, or blending brush to lightly color the circle opening from the die-cut stencil that you created.  Before removing the stencil, draw around the opening with a white gel pen.

(3) Stamp the image of your choice inside the "globe".  Use the white gel pen to add snowy accents and falling snow.

(4) Use a Soft Suede Stampin' Write Marker to draw an ornament topper (if desired), and draw over it with a gold marker.  This card would have looked better without an ornament topper, but adding the die-cut base beneath the snowglobe was something that I decided to do AFTER I had already drawn the ornament tops.  😕  And just so you know . . . Tina's snowglobe was made as a hanging ornament and not something with a base.  FYI . . . For my snowglobe base, I used dies from Stampin' Up!'s retired "Still Scenes" bundle.  Isn't that die-cut base gorgeous cut from gold foil?

As you can see from the above photo, I did different things with the winter scene that I stamped inside the snowglobe. 

I'll bet you're wanting to try making a snowglobe, huh?  Go for it!  It's so easy, and you probably have on hand everything that is needed to make one.

BRINGING HOME THE CHRISTMAS TREE

 

While working on Christmas cards a few weeks ago, I remembered that I had a Cricut cut file for one of my most favorite cards.  As I went to Cricut Design Space to find the cut file, I came across the cutest wood-sided "Station Wagon Holiday Card" that I just had to make.  I changed nothing about it because it was just perfectly adorable already.  I am such a sucker for shaped cards (try saying that fast just for fun)!

Of course, the card was designed to fold flat for mailing, and the cut file even included an envelope!  If you often make Cricut projects, you already know that a lot of them call for lots of different colored cardstock or have lots of little cuts to be assembled, which means it's easy to make a bit of a mess just to make one card.  This card wasn't like that.  I think I used six different colors of cardstock/paper, and the cuts were designed in a way that was EASY to assemble.  This truly was a quick card to make!  Cutting the "wood" siding took the most time because of all those intricate cuts, but still . . . a quick project. The designer even included some stacked gifts to decorate the inside of the card:

Pretty cute design, huh?  I'll bet that you, too, would have gotten side-tracked and had to make one (or a lot) of these cards.  In case you're wondering, I did eventually locate the cut file for the card that I set out to make, and I'll share photos of that one soon.

ORIGAMI WREATH ORNAMENT

Who likes to make ornaments?

Today I'm sharing a relatively simple wreath ornament.  I say "simple" because the video tutorial that I followed by Ann Melvin was easy to understand and follow along.  The folds were easy, but the assembly was a little tricky.  I ended up using binder clips along the way to hold some of the pieces in place.  I also decided to add some embellishments and a greeting.

I'm usually mindful to not create green things to go on a green tree, but I goofed this time.  Ha!  I suppose I could hang this ornament somewhere else but, for now, it's the first ornament on my tree--that would be the tree that still needs 300 more lights wrapped around it before I can get on with the decorating.  My least favorite thing about a real tree is having to string the lights around it.  Ugh!

But . . . here's the ornament hanging on the tree.

TUTORIAL: EASY "JOYFUL FLURRY" CHRISTMAS CARD

Stampin' Up!'s "Joyful Flurry" bundle is such a pretty one, and today I have a step-by-step photo tutorial for (what I think) is a really pretty card.

On a 4" x 5-1/4" piece of white cardstock, stamp the second largest snowflake image five times in a (kinda, sorta) circular pattern using Bermuda Bay ink.  The objective is to create a wreath of sorts.  After inking the stamp, stamp off on a scrap piece of paper each time before stamping on the cardstock.  Don't worry about trying to stamp a perfect circle . . . everything is going to be just fine in the end.

Using Bermuda Bay ink, stamp the next snowflake image five times, filling in the gaps.  Don't stamp off this time--you want the images to be darker than the first snowflakes that you stamped.

If you have an embossing buddy, run it across the cardstock to leave a powder residue for this next step.  Ink the smallest snowflake image with VersaMark ink, and stamp the image on top of the first snowflakes that you stamped.  Sprinkle the images with silver embossing powder, and use a heat tool to melt the embossing powder.  Note:  Now is a great time to use a favorite embossing folder to add some texture to the cardstock.  I only remembered to do this on one of my cards.  🙁

Cut a 10" piece of silver cord, tie it in a bow, and use a mini glue dot to adhere it somewhere near the center of your stamped snowflake "wreath".  

From a scrap of white cardstock, cut the largest label die from the Frosted Flurry dies.  Cut the two small snowflakes from a scrap of foil cardstock.  I used a blue foil from the retired Noble Peacock collection, but use what you have.  Stamp the sentiment on the die-cut label using Bermuda Bay ink, and adhere it with Stampin' Dimensionals.  Use liquid glue or a mini glue dot to adhere the die-cut snowflakes.  Lastly, scatter some rhinestone jewels wherever you'd like. 

Use a distressing tool to rough up the edges of your cardstock.  I think this step adds a lot of texture and interest--especially if you forget to use an embossing folder.

All that's left to do is adhere the completed layer to the front of a card base, which measures 5-1/2" x 8-1/2", scored in the center at 4-1/4".  Easy peasy, right?!?!  What I really enjoyed about this card design is that it was quick to make multiples.

I'd love to know if this is the kind of card you'd enjoy making and sending this year.

The "Joyful Flurry" bundle is quite a pretty one, and there's still time to order it and make your Christmas cards.

JOYFUL FLURRY BUNDLE 

"CHEERFUL BASKET" THANK YOU CARD

Is it true that I haven't posted anything since October 24th?????  I knew that it had been a while, but I wouldn't have guessed it had been that long.  I must try to do better and post a little more often.  Today I'm sharing a thank you card that I made recently, and it features Stampin' Up!'s "Cheerful Basket" stamp set and coordinating dies.  Isn't that a fantastic basket?!?!  

Making this card was the first time that I have used these products, but it won't be the last.  This bundle is designed to be oh-so-easy to use, which also means that it makes card-making relatively quick.  Since I mailed this card immediately after making it, I can't really remember what I used to color the basket and apples, but I'm fairly certain that I used ink pads and a water brush.  The die-cut apples in front of the basket were cut from cardstock, and I used a sponge to darken the edges.

Of course, I had to include a die-cut tag because it looked good on the card . . . and also because I 💗 the Tailor Made Tags dies.  The designer paper featured on my card is from the Happy Forest Friends collection, which seems to be the DSP that I reach for quite often.

Thanks for visiting my blog today, and I hope that you will visit again soon!  

Happy stampin'!

BIRTHDAY CARD FEATURING ALCOHOL TECHNIQUE WITH STAMPIN' BLENDS

 

I recently read about an alcohol technique with Stampin' Blends markers and was anxious to try it.  Have you heard about it--or tried it?  It's quite cool . . . especially when done correctly, which I didn't quite do.  Basically, you just use the markers to color circles on a piece of Vellum cardstock, place a few drops of alcohol (at least 91% Isopropyl) onto the vellum, and then use a water brush (dipped in alcohol or an Aqua Painter filled with alcohol) to move the colors around.  You can also blow through a straw to move the alcohol around on the vellum, which I found to be very easy.  Although I used dark/vivid marker colors, my colored circles became muted when my Aqua Painter, which had water in the barrel, decided to dispense water even though I didn't squeeze the barrel.  Argh!  Although I wasn't 100% pleased about the water situation, I had to continue with my colored vellum creation because the card needed to get in the mail, and I had a job to go to.

Since my marker colors got diluted, I just rolled with the pastel palette.  I think it ended up being a pretty card, don't you?  Additional products featured on this card include the Happy Birthday die (retired Stampin' Up! product), Crystal Distortion embossing folder (Simon Says Stamp), absolutely GORGEOUS Adhesive Backed Sequins & Gems (Stampin' Up!), Metallic Edge Ribbon (Stampin' Up!), and the lattice die-cuts from the Chick dies (retired Stampin' Up!).

A white gel pen was used to accent the die-cut sentiment.  It lends a festive flair, right?  And just look at those pretty sequins!

If you have Stampin' Blends markers, definitely give this technique a try!  Oh . . . I think you'd figure out that the side of vellum that you color on is the back side but . . . I should mention that just in case you wonder.  ;-)

Until next time . . . have a stampin' good day!

SCARECROW BOX CARDS

I have quite a few photos to share of the scarecrow box cards that I made recently.  I can't take credit for the design, though, so let's get that out of the way.  I found this awesome card at svgcuts.com and knew that it was the perfect Fall card to send to family, friends, and the elders.  

It took all of two days to choose papers and cardstock and cut (with my Cricut Explore) all of the pieces for these cards--and the better part of another day to assemble them--but it wasn't a dreaded process.  I was quite excited about the cleverness of this card design!

Aren't they adorable?!?!  As you can see from the above two photos, I embossed part of one of the hats just to see if I liked it.  I did like it--just not enough to emboss all of them.

The above photo shows the front, side, and back of the cards, and you can see that they are, indeed, box cards. In the photo below, you can see the card folded flat for mailing.

And following are a few more photos:

Below is a better photo of the embossing on one of the hats:

One of my favorite things about these adorable scarecrows is that they weren't just cards . . . they were also a nice Fall decoration for the recipients.  If I got a card like this in the mail, I'd certainly find a nice place to display it, wouldn't you?

A FISHING DEER BIRTHDAY CARD

My niece's husband had a birthday this month.  I was at a loss as to what kind of card to make . . . just couldn't decide which stamp set to use.  Actually, the thinking process was wearing me down, making me want to just leave my stamp room.  I kept looking at my Cricut Explore machine, thinking about how much I enjoy making shaped cards with it, and that's how this card was born.  Yes, I know it looks a bit juvenile for a grown man, but it's also cute (right???) and totally captures two of Matt's hobbies . . . fishing and (deer) hunting.

This was the first time I've used a hexagon card base, but it won't be the last.  I really like it!  Designing shaped cards with Cricut Design Space is so easy and enjoyable!  Deciding which images to use actually takes longer than the design process.  

I know this post is short and sweet.  My next one will probably be a long one--loaded with photos of the scarecrow box cards that I recently made.  Stay tuned!

"OCEANFRONT" + "A FISH & A WISH"

 "Oceanfront" is such a great stamp set, and it's just so easy to use for just about any occasion.  I needed a thank you card recently, and this is what I made.  My cardstock colors are white, Coastal Cabana (or it might have been Soft Succulent), and Crumb Cake.  Ink colors are Coastal Cabana (or maybe Soft Succulent), Old Olive, Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, and Pacific Point.

I thought the fish image would make a nice embellishment for this card and to make it more like an actual embellishment, I punched four shapes from cardstock (with the Fish Builder punch) to adhere to the stamped and punched image.  The fish was really thick and sturdy!

I can't explain my attraction to the "A Fish & A Wish" stamp set.  Fish art has never been my thing, I don't eat fish, don't have any pet fish, have no interest in baiting a hook, and yet this stamp set was one of my first purchases from Stampin' Up!'s current catalog.  The images are just so . . . well . . . lovely.  I don't think they're particularly difficult to work with, but I placed them upside down on the first two cards I ever made with this bundle.  🤣  I do a much better job with them now.

The prettiest finishing detail was the Wink of Stella shimmer that I brushed on the fish.  I never really think that much about it, but the Wink of Stella is probably one of my most used products.

So what do you think?  These two stamp sets work pretty well together, huh?

POP-UP BLOCK CARD FOR COLTON

 

Today is my great-nephew's birthday, and I'm sharing this Pop-up Block Card that I made for him.  My curiosity was piqued when I watched THIS TUTORIAL, which I altered a bit by rotating the intended orientation.  Actually, the bottom block was supposed to be loose--unattached and not a complete block--but I wanted it to be a sturdy block like the others.

In the above photo, you can see what I mean about the blocks.  Once I decided to make a vertical design of the pop-up block card, it became even more important to have a solid block at the bottom.  What makes this card a winner is that it folds flat(ish) for mailing, which is something that makes every card maker want to scream with delight.

My card features "Waves of the Ocean" designer paper and coordinating "Blue Foils" (retired), which were part of a Stampin' Up! bundle available last year.  The "Waves of Inspiration" stamp set and coordinating "Waves" dies are currently available in a bundle.  

Decorating the envelope was kept simple by adhering a strip of coordinating designer paper along the left edge.

Be sure to try a pop-up block card if you haven't already because it's an easy and fun one!  Last but not least . . . join me in wishing Colton a very HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!!