January birthdays

Our daughter Stephanie's birthday on January 3rd was a very happy time this year! A new grandbaby- Reagan Jay- 2 weeks old- and a chance for the big sisters to visit Grampy and Grammy's house for a few days... Camp Vermont!

Here's my card for Stephanie:

Using the SSS gift die, I tried the partial die cut technique from Jennifer McGuire's video, and loved the result! Then I added the dots from PTI's die beneath it, just added some interest I think. I used the presents again to cut the shapes of the gifts in different pattern paper. Finally adding the greeting with the Happy Birthday die, and putting everything on PTI Tropical Teal paper. 

I intended to use the new uncorked wine and die set for her card, but was late ordering it and it hasn't arrived yet ... so next year! I do like the look of this one, although it was very simple and worked up quickly.

While finishing the final elements of the card, we were babysitting for the big sisters and they of course wanted to make cards. Here are their cards for their mom...

Lyla Kate (3) chose to make a big card, while Campbell (5) chose to make the smallest card she could :)  

They each chose the colors and elements they wanted - thoroughly immersed in the activity! Both loved the tape runners...

I added the stamped backs with the dates and their names, although they also signed their own names inside the card :)

Ahhh ... another generation of card makers!

Final Christmas Card 2014

The three wiseman was my favorite all time Christmas Carol. Also the concept of the Nativity as the "real" meaning of Christmas. So this card wraps all of that in one...


This one was a real investment of time! I did discover some cardstock that was precut that I bought years ago- and they really helped me out. This card includes partial die cutting (near the wisemen), embossing ( the greeting), stencil sponging with Distress inks (the hills), die cutting (Falling Stars on black and star with gold glitter paper) and die cutting the large stitched rectangle.

First I die cut with SSS Falling stars die in black and then die cut the curved line- so actually it made two night skies.  Using Tombow mono adhesive I attached it to the Kraft card base. The I stamped the wise men, masking to give the appearance of the three traveling together. Using a curved die, I partially die cut the hill on Kraft paper up to the wisemen. I "fussy" cut the shapes around the wisemen and then stamped the Nativity.

Using a stencil cut from the kraft, I sponged Distress inks to simulate sand hills, black soot close to the sky and the Wisemen, and Spiced Marmalade around the manger.  

The greeting is from the same stamp set "O Holy Night" stamped with Versamark and then gold embossed. The entire Kraft card stock was attached with foam tape to the card base overlapping the black sky. 

I used gold Wink of Stella marker on each of the stars, and added a star - die cut from adhesive gold glitter paper. The final coup d'etat- a bit of shimmer spray from Tsukineko. Love the shimmer on the whole card...

This is definitely my favorite Christmas Card ever! 

Christmas Shaker

Couldn't get by the season without a shaker card. With almost all of our Christmas cards done for this year, I decided to try one.

I have been struggling to master partial die cutting, really struggling! Today I was reading  Lynn's blog- The Mango Boys and Me- and saw a great example using PTI's Peaceful Pinecones dies. I haven't used that set yet, and wanted to give it a try.

So using her idea as inspiration this is what I came up with:

From a stitched rectangle die cut panel, I used the middle size oval die and overlapped the pine cone shape on the edge of the platform for the Sizzix- and lo and behold! It worked like a charm! Then I stamped the design over the cut space and embossed it slightly with gold embossing powder.  Love it!

The little skating penguin is just so cute from Michaels Recollections stamps, Winter Wonderland.  On the front of the card, I stamped and colored him with Copics- sponged the sky with Distress Salty Ocean. Below the stitched rectangle panel, I added a strip of white glitter paper, and another piece just below the penguin and it really does look like an ice skating spot!

Then I attached a piece of plastic behind the pine branch, and foam taped the entire panel to the card front, making it a shaker card, with mica flakes for snow and clear mini beads. The stamp says "Wishing you..." and the inside sentiment is- Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!" The hardest part of shaker cards is filling them without messing up the panel...

I am still thinking about adding a die cut snowflake on the outside in the white glitter paper... maybe...

It isn't Thanksgiving yet and I can't believe I am almost done with my Christmas cards. I also got 20 cards mailed out to the Card Drive. That Holiday class is what got me started!

Also maybe the thought that our new grand baby may arrive early and I need to be on babysitter watch for the other two girls! Can't wait!

Another Christmas Card Design

After the Holiday Card Workshop 2014, ideas for cards have been ruminating in my mind. The card Laura Bassen shared was such fun to make and one layer- so this is my "take" from it...

Here's my card-

Using the same stencil, I masked off the border of the card on white card stock. Next I used the positive hills to create the snow shapes by taping them down- then stamping the village scene with black ink. Black soot distress ink was used as the background very lightly sponged over the mounds and tree masks. Then the tree was sponged with distress forest moss and walnut stain on the trunk. Distress Wild Honey was used for the star shine and sponged lightly over the town to give it an appearance of lights. 

Next I stamped Santa and the sleigh in Staz-on black ink. Using the SSS falling stars die, I made a stencil for embossing paste to add the "snowflakes." Then using Shimmer, I spritzed the entire scene with frost. The final application was Rudolph's nose with red Stickles and the town stars with silver Stickles.

After I had the materials organized it took each card about 5 minutes to complete. It was a fun card to make and looks really much better in real life :)

The inside sentiment is "Merry Christmas to all... and to all a good night!" SO my stash is now up to about 25...

Holiday Cards- Day 6 Bonus Day

A bonus day! SO I finished with my final tags...

Using the larger tag die, I used the same patterned paper with snow mounds, but also included the PTI trees die from another patterned paper. Love the look and again so simple, I will be able to make several of these quickly.

It makes me look at my stash of dies differently... I need some of those cute little animal dies to use for birthdays too!

What another great class! I have so many ideas for projects that I haven't gotten to yet...

Holiday Cards- Day 5 Tags

Last day of class is all about tags. Funny with all the card making that I do I really don't make my own tags very often. I hope to change that this Christmas!

Here's my first one for my grand daughter that just loves cats!

I have three grand daughters that just love cats, so I can use this pattern for all of their gifts! It's the PTI die cut in black. Such a very simple design, I love the idea of cutting the snow from with the same stitched die on the bottom. 

The patterned paper is adhered to the plain white die cut, then the snow mound and cat are just added. These will whip up in no time!!

Holiday Cards- Day 4 One Layer Cards

Laura Bassen is just so talented and fun to watch! Today there were so many great ideas for cards from the instructors, and I settled on Laura's card, pretty much just copying it! I already have a stencil that works with her design so it worked up fast for me.

Here's my card...

After masking off the edges of the card, I placed the stencils- hills and trees and masks. I sponged Distress Salty Ocean for the sky. Using the tree spaces I sponged the green and brown trunks. Then I stamped my new $1 stamp from Michaels (love it!)... Using the SSS Falling Stars die I made a stencil for embossing paste for the snowflakes after masking the sentiment. 

Love how this came out and will definitely make a more as Christmas cards.  I may also try the PTI die from last year of the trees in a row... Bet the wreath would work too- and wouldn't a snowman look cute smiling up?!  Thanks so much Laura!