Christmas Cards- Number Two

After the PTI Winter Woods Stamp Set arrived, I couldn't wait to get my hands on the cardinals! They were out of the dies, so I had to fussy cut the birds, but I just love the result.

Here's card two...

First I stamped two large evergreen trees in avocado ink and spritz the stamp to look like watercolor on a Kraft base. With white ink, I stamped a few snowflakes and added a snow mound die cut from white glitter paper, glued with a tape runner. 

PTI Winter Woods cover plate cut out of watercolor paper, with the trees water colored with a soft grey and then stamped black for the birch bark. It is attached to the card with foam strips to give an added dimension to the card. The cardinal is attached with scor-tape. The final touch is the gold star sequin added with glossy accents.

Then I felt the male cardinal needed his mate, who is always close by when they visit our bird feeder. I love how she came out! Then I couldn't decide if I liked her in the higher or the lower branch...

What I fun card to make! On the inside the greeting says... "Peace and Joy to your family this Holiday Season!"

I know I will be using this set a lot! 

Christmas Cards!!! Card One...

This was the best year of making Christmas cards! Not quite sure why I enjoyed it so much, but I really did.  I signed up for the Holiday Online Card Class, but just had a difficult time getting into the swing of it for some reason. Time was creeping up and I thought I was going to have to buy cards!!! No problem with the class, it was really just me!

But after trying a card that Julie Ebersole did, it got my mojo started! Then receiving my  PTI order - things were really getting formulated in my mind!

Here's the first from Julie's card ...

It is a one layer card after masking the edges, stamped with PTI Evergreens Stamp Set in greens, and Santa in the sleigh in red, greeting in black- and then using embossing paste over the small dot stencil to make snowflakes. I tried four rows of trees on this soft grey cardstock...

then three rows on this white cardstock... with sponging a little green for the ground- especially this year!

 Here's the inside of the card...

Mine does sure imitate Julie's example, but I did not use the outline on the edges. Just can't make those lines straight!!! It was a good beginning... I do think it looks a lot like a card that I did last year.

December birthdays

It's hard to believe but "Sweet Baby Rae" will be one on Wednesday, December 16th! She is just such a delight that this year has just flown by! Here she is at Halloween- trick or treating as a cowgirl with her sisters...

My card for her got me started in the spirit for cardmaking! I've got to get going on those Christmas cards! Here's her card...

It's a shaker card ... Stephanie called today to tell me how much Lyla (her 4 year old sister)  enjoyed shaking the card- Just made my heart smile! The top layer is a partially die cut scallop with a corragated pattern paper bottom. It has a plastic sheet between with the fun foam layer also cut with a scallop die to fit the beads to shake. It all sits on a white base. The inside greeting says... "Enjoy your day!" mainly because I know Reagan enjoys every day!

We're not going to see her for her birthday :( but will see her this weekend hopefully to give her a huge birthday present and a kiss with it! Aren't grand childen a blessing??

November Birthdays...

Emma Rose is 10! Hard to believe ... double digits, our oldest granddaughter!

Seems like just yesterday that she arrived ... She definitely makes the world a better place! Happy birthday, sweet girl!

A cat lover, actually ... an animal lover for sure! My card reflects some of her favorite things... Here's my card for Emma Rose...

Using the presents die, I cut glitter paper for the frame, and paper pieced the packages. The large one in the back resembles the bulletin board we sent for her birthday from Amazon. Using PTI Superstition stamp and dies, I tried to color the cats to picture her cats, although she has five...

Her family is coming for Thanksgiving... can't wait to see them. We're going to have all three of our kids families here! Thankful and ... So excited!

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...