Holiday Style Online Card Class: Day 1

Wow! So many ideas today...makes the class worth the investment already! I haven't bought anything new to take it, just using supplies that I already have...

Here's my first card after Laurie Willison's sample...

I did think of thirds... and using the PTI Deck the Halls wreath, it worked up quickly. Colors are Red Poppy and Ripe Avocado, and the die cuts used the same shades. I was a bit disappointed with the red color... looks more like dark pink!

My second card is pretty much copied from Julie's card. I used the PTI Evergreens and a Santa from an old set that I had with the greeting cut, so the inside says, and to all a goodnight!

I didn't emboss the snowflakes though, I used paste instead with a small circle stencil. Love how it came out.... except- next time I won't use the lines on the border like Julie did. Mine are awful! Hers are nice and straight and the same thickness all around :)

Didn't get to try Debby's card because I don't have a die like she does... I'll have to figure out a way to use what I have to make it work...

Caring Hearts Card Drive

One of the things I love the best about this season, is the kindness and caring we share with those we know.  There are some people that don't have anyone to share with them for whatever reason. The idea of this card drive gets me every year!

I discovered it last year, so it was the first time that I contributed. My cards are not very masterful or creative, but they do include a heartfelt wish for the receiver. I can only hope that person feels the connection and caring that I am including. 

What a wonderful event! It helps me feel blessed and gives me a chance to help someone else feel that way too. Thanks so much to  Vera Yates and her crew for all they do!

So Grateful ... Many Thanks

Just loving the PTI Pumpkin Patch stamp set with matching dies! The panel pattern that I used last month for a couple of cards has been my quick go-to for thank you notes...

I made several with the same basic structure, one layer then onto a base card, easy to mail! The leaves are from Clearly Besotted Simply Scrumptious strawberry set, and it works perfectly! Sponging the edges gives the panel a clear definition. I also added thank you envelopes :)

Adding twine gave it another dimension, but I don't think it really needs it. We're sending one to our son, for the Mets World Series tickets that he shared with John... the only game the METS WON!! And for our daughter's husband that arranged the Uber car into Boston...

What a great experience- from John and Johnny going to the game- to the rest of us texting all the way through it all! It was a fun family experience for sure! Grateful... and blessed...

Halloween... Make it Monday to the rescue!

Finally I got inspiration for something for Halloween... And it came from MIM from Papertrey ink, the moon!

Although I don't own the Perfect Pearls powder, I do have the spray! SO I made the stencil and used Distress inks to sponge the colors using the stencil for the shape. Then I sprayed the Perfect Pearls directly on the moon shape. Using the heat tool, it dried pretty quickly. I didn't use a stamp for the craters on the moon rather the shades of the yellows and the way it dried.

I hope the picture does it justice! It is also on darker paper than what was used on the video, but I love the results!

The dies I used; PTI Mighty Oak, PTI Superstition, PTI Pumpkin Patch and I sponged in the white and added eyes. The last pumpkin is attached with orange fun foam after hole-punching the eyes. All of the other die cuts are just glued on with a runner. Look at that Moon! So amazing!

On the inside I added some of my favorite stamps..

SU Halloween Hoot and SU Booglie Eyes are still my most favorite Halloween stamps!  I'm promising myself a new set next year... maybe...

Here's the rest of the ones that I made..

I ran out of the darker paper, not even sure what color it is! So I had to use a lighter paper and I don't think it's as good at showing the moon colors.  I also noticed on the video that she "polished" the pearls... and I did that too, even with the spray. Wow! Did it bring out the shine...

Hope the grands enjoy my cards to them! With John off to a World Series game, (yes- our son got tickets for Citifield for them to go- what a treasure he is!), I am hopeful that I get to give candy to two of our families...

Happy Halloween!

Avery's 5!

Our granddaughter Avery will be 5 on November 4th this year. She is such a character... and just loved the ice cream man when we were at the Cape this summer. For her birthday we got one of those cardboard houses that you build and can color, except this is an ice cream truck! So I knew that had to be my theme card for her...

I went trolling on Pinterest for ice cream trucks and found a great pattern to download on a website. The basic shape is what I used... then I kind of made it my own!

Using two different dies I cut the window and partially cut the flap. The circle dies are from PTI Pedal Pushers with a button in the middle. I used thread to attach them so the wheels actually move, which I know will intrigue Avery!

Her favorite flavors were listed on a google search so I could print them, making each one $5! There is plastic behind the windows and the picture is actually attached to the back of the card.  She will also enjoy the picture because she has her Red Sox shirt on!

The candles and sentiment are from different PTI stamp sets, as is the greeting on the flap!

Yes, it took a long time... but so worth it! The kids are really used to looking to see just what I have up my sleeve for birthdays. Of course, it was too large for a standard-sized envelope... so I had to make one. Good practice as it has been awhile!

Happy, happy 5th birthday Avery! I sure hope this card travels well through the mail!

The 3 R's...REST... RELAX... RECOVER

My college friend had surgery today in CT on a torn retina. Her daughter posted on FB that all went well but I have been thinking about her all day...

So the PTI Keep It Simple: Surgery Set was a perfect way for me to channel that energy!

Matching it up with the Pumpkin Patch Set was exactly what I needed. Again I used the SU Pumpkin Pie and PTI Avocado green inks, but this time I used the greeting... Warm Autumn Wishes  from the set. I used Laura Bassen's "Rock n' Rolling" technique on the greeting with the two inks with the darker on the bottom.

The inside sentiment is "Rest.. relax... recover" from the stamp set as well as the "Healing Wishes" that I stamped on the envelope.

I miss not texting to see how she's doing! Healing thoughts, dear friend!

An October birthday

Finally I feel like I'm getting back to a place where I can be creative again, although I've certainly used all of the blogs to help me get going! I still haven't done my Halloween cards for the grandkids, but I'm getting birthday wishes and other card events started...

Our neighbor is having an 80th birthday this week... Hard to believe! And it has been some year for them... not the best health-wise. A car accident coming home from South Carolina has left him with many lingering health issues, so I'm hoping this will start a NEW year for them! Hence, the card...

Just love the new PTI Pumpkin Patch stamps and dies! I'm having such fun with them! I masked off the space on white card stock, stamped the images in SU pumpkin pie, PTI Avocado green with the Clearly Besotted Simply Scrumptious leaves, and  then added the Look who's 80! with sequins. I sponged some of the edges to make it pop a bit more. The sequins are actually hiding some stray ink spots :)

The white base is on SU Pumpkin Pie paper... Love how it turned out. The sentiment is...

"The more candles, the bigger the wish!"

And I sure hope that's true for him!