CREATING PRETTY CARDS - CARD CHALLENGE #66

This month's Creating Pretty Cards - Card Challenge #66 is such a nice, easy one that I decided to create another card for the challenge.  The sketch, which was designed by Monika Davis, looks like this:

See Monika's free tutorial HERE

My second card created for this month's challenge features a topsy turvy birthday cake:

Stampin' Up! products featured on my card include:

Cardstock:  Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Bermuda Bay, Very Vanilla, Vellum

DSP:  Carried Away (available during the upcoming 2017 Sale-a-Bration promotion)

Stamp Set:  Dragonfly Dreams (upcoming 2017 Occasions catalog)

Ink:  Bermuda Bay

Sizzix:  Hexagons Dynamic embossing folder (upcoming 2017 Occasions catalog)

Accessories:  Metallics Sequins Assortment, Very Vanilla satin ribbon

Did you know that you have an easy opportunity to win a FREE one-month subscription to Craft Project Central?  For every 10 cards that are uploaded HERE for the Creating Pretty Cards - Card Challenge #66, a winner will be selected to receive a free subscription.

HOW TO AVOID LOSING THIN DIES WHILE USING THEM

There should be a 12-step program for the kind of mess that I generate when stamping.  Actually, if it could be a 3-step program, I might have a chance at learning to be a bit neater.  Having a basket under my table for cardstock cuts has helped a lot (even though I let it become a small mountain before sorting and filing--still, it's not an eyesore), and I always put tweezers immediately back in their place.  It's not as though tweezers are a most-used item for me but, for some reason, I am disciplined where they are concerned.  If you are creatively messy like me, then you've probably experienced the angst of a lost (wafer thin) die.  Or a stamp.  Recently, someone in the NC Demo Facebook group shared the idea of using a magnetic tray at the Big Shot/die station where thin dies can be placed until clean-up time when they are returned to their dedicated storage.  Isn't this a great idea?  My son came home from Tractor Supply last week and handed me an early Christmas gift . . . my very own magnetic tray:

The magnets are quite strong so, to make the dies a bit easier to pick up, I lined the bottom of my tray with a piece of adhesive-backed felt.  This also makes the dies easier to see, but the tray is definitely a winner--with or without a liner.  So . . . if all of your discipline to clean as you go flies out the window when you play with paper, you might benefit immensely from placing one of these trays by your Big Shot or other die-cut machine.  I might even take mine to classes/workshops!

RECYCLED CALENDAR ENVELOPES & NOTE CARDS

I had the pleasure of designing two project tutorials for Craft Project Central this month, and the second project is featured today.  Following is the introduction that I wrote for it:

 

Now that the year is coming to a close, you’ll soon be finished with your 2016 calendar.  This tutorial will demonstrate how to create a set of colorful envelopes from the calendar photos.  Instructions are also included for making a set of note cards that feature the same clean and simple design, but you’ll learn how to sort the envelopes so that similar and coordinating colors can be used to stamp the images on the cards.  Lastly, since you may wish to give your finished card set as a gift, this tutorial includes instructions for a gift box.

 

 

I have a FREE one-month subscription to Craft Project Central to give away, and getting entered in the drawing is really easy.  Just click HERE and leave a comment.  On Wednesday, December 28th, I will use random.org to select a winner and announce the winning name here on my blog.  Be sure to visit on the 28th to see if you're the winner!

 

"DRAGONFLY DREAMS" . . . AND THE WINNER OF THE FREE CRAFT PROJECT CENTRAL SUBSCRIPTION

I promised to announce the winner of the FREE Craft Project Central subscription this past Monday, and I haven't done it yet.  Before I get to that--I promise the wait is almost over--I have a pretty card (it's okay to say that about my own card, right?) to share.  

My card features two favorite stamp sets (Butterfly Basics and Ghoulish Grunge), but it also features  two of Stampin' Up!'s brand new stamp sets, which will be available in January . . . Dragonfly Dreams (from the Occasions catalog) and Delicate Details (a Sale-a-Bration product).  I will love the dragonfly stamp set as much as I love Butterfly Basics and for the same reason . . . it's so darn easy to use, and it's a go-to set for when I have no design idea.  You can never go wrong with collage.  Something else that I use a lot is the Wink of Stella Clear Glitter Brush and my latest passion . . . sequins.  I'm very excited about the products in the Occasions catalog, and the Sale-a-Bration product choices are great, too!

With my blog post on December 4th, I mentioned that I had a FREE one-month subscription to Craft Project Central to give away, and the winner is . . . SHARON MARANICH.  Congratulations, Sharon!  Contact me at randari at hotmail dot com, and we'll get your subscription started.

LETTERS AND TEXTURES AND SHAPES (OH, MY!)

Keeping small children entertained during the cold winter months when they can’t go outside can be a challenge. With this tutorial, you’ll use the Stitched Shapes and Large Letters Framelits to create “puzzle letters” that your children can use to make words and play matching games. The Gift Box Punch Board box doubles as a container for the letters and can be another sorting game. Customize the box and tag with your child’s initial, and you have a fun gift for a snowy day.

 

The tutorial for this clever project, which was designed by Buffy Cooper, can be found at Craft Project Central.

"FLOURISHING PHRASES" CARDS & MEMORIES GIFT SET

The Cards and Memories Gift set is a great gift idea to bring for the Hostess of your next New Year’s Eve Party event.  What better way to start the New Year than with a fresh new set of cards and a photo album to showcase your favorite moments. This is a very easy to reproduce project and great for your next class or workshop, and you can also make one for a birthday gift or any other occasion. The Flourishing Phrases Cards and Memories Gift Set tutorial includes four cards of different occasions and one accordion style photo album all packed in a beautiful keepsake box. In this tutorial, you will learn how to build an easy keepsake box with a magnetic closure, how to make your own tassels and embellishments, how to quickly create a cute photo album and a set of cards.

 

The tutorial for this fantastic project, which was designed by Olga Cavanaugh, can be found at Craft Project Central.  There are lots of tips and techniques in this tutorial that you won't want to miss!

ONE-SHEET MINI SCRAPBOOK & GIFT BAG

This little scrapbook is perfect when you have some pictures to share with a loved one, and you want to put them together as an extra special gift. The base of this mini scrapbook is made from one sheet of cardstock, and features the Swirly Bird Bundle. There are 12 pages to put pictures on, with three inner decorated sections. This gift is finished off with a coordinating gift bag that’s made with one sheet of Moroccan Designer Series Paper.

The tutorial for this incredible project, which was designed by Christy Fulk, can be found at Craft Project Central.

BLOSSOM BUILDER CALENDAR & NOTE CARD GIFT SET

If you’re immersed in the holiday season, but have a need for some quick and thoughtful ideas for gift-giving - this gift set is your answer! The recipient of this gift will be prepared for the New Year and days to come! You’ll learn how to make the simple, but oh so pretty and practical Stand-Up Mini Calendar with Post-it Pad. And everyone needs some quick, but cute Note Cards with envelopes for quick a thank you every now and then! The Note Cards and Envelopes are easily gifted in a quick Cellophane Bag! And the Coordinating 3” x 3” Gift Card will top off this perfect gift for that person who is so hard to buy for!

 

 

Isn't the timing for this project perfect!  The tutorial for this awesome project, which was designed by Julie Beltramo, can be found at Craft Project Central. 

OH CHRISTMAS TREE, OH CHRISTMAS TREE . . .

It's finally looking like Christmas at my house.  Well . . . in the living room.  I used to enjoy decorating several Christmas trees, but it seems that the house shrinks with each passing year. 

 

 

Since we added a new family member (Ramsour) at the end of August, we needed a new ornament just for him:

 

 

Another new ornament is this Krispy Kreme "hot now" light.  It lights up every 25 seconds--it's so fun!  It already needs a new battery, though, so I might have to turn it off from time to time.  ;-)

 

This is a much better picture that my son took:

 



"ROSE WONDER" CARD SET

I had the opportunity to design two projects this month for Craft Project Central, and one of them is featured today.  It's a set of greeting cards created with Stampin' Up!'s gorgeous Rose Wonder stamp set, and following is the introduction that I wrote for my project:

Treat yourself to some relaxing watercolor “therapy” and, at the same time, create a gorgeous set of greeting cards, complete with a very easy-to-make packaging.  Since this card set has a relatively thin profile, why not create several gift sets to have on hand going into the new year?  They certainly won’t take much storage space, and you’ll be so glad to have them when you need a lovely gift.

 

I was so pleased with this set of cards, and I don't think you will be disappointed!  My tutorial for the entire project, which includes a pretty package for the cards, is available to those who subscribe to the December edition of awesome Craft Project Central tutorials.  Of course, as a designer, I have the pleasure of giving a FREE one-month subscription to one lucky person.  Getting entered in the drawing for the free subscription is really simple . . . just click THIS LINK and leave a comment.  The winning name will be announced right here on my blog on Sunday, December 11th, so be sure to check back to see if you've won.