It's a Good Day

Have you ever made a card that you can't stop thinking, "Wow! I love this card."  Well, that's how I feel about my card today.  I think it's going to be one of my favorites.

 

Because I made a card for January's Stamp of the Month Challenge at From the Heart Stamps I received Birthday Candle Birdbrain for free.  And it came with 16 bonus sentiments.

 

 

I colored the image with Copics and added a ribbon and bow. The rhinestone brad is from Paper Studios. The green is a bright lime green pearlescent cardstock from Clear Bags, even though I think it looks a bit washed out in my picture. I love the bright purple and lime color mixed with the bright yellow of the bird.  I added Glossy Accents to the eyes and sponged around the sentiment with Memento Pear Tart and Grape Jelly.

 

  

 

I love this sentiment, which came with the stamp set. Click here to see what From the Heart Stamps has to offer . . . and if you join the Monthly Challenge for March, you'll receive a free digistamp the following month.

 

I'm entering this card in From the Heart Stamps February Stamp of the Month Challenge.

 

Imagine That . . .

I received the cutest digital stamp (Winter Love) with sentiments from Imagine That for playing along in their monthly progressive challenge in January.  However, since I didn't get my card done by Valentine's Day (wow, what a surprise; not), I decided to use a sentiment from Whimsy Stamps ("where ever you go, go with all your heart) which will make this digi one I can use all year long.

 

"Winter Love" came with both black and white and color digis.  I used the colorized version, but went over the colors with my Copics. I like digis that come with the black and white line art as well as a colorized version. When I need to make a card quickly, I can use the color version. And, I can also use the color version as a guide when I color the black and white line art. 

 

 

Items used:

Brown, red and white cardstock, ribbon and DP from my stash, Spellbinders dies-Labels Two and Three, Copics and Stampin' Up! punch.

Crafty Creations: CAS

I struggle with Clean and Simple (CAS) cards ~ although the more I have to do them, the more I like the way they look and enjoy the style (they just don't allow me to use up my scraps/stash).

 

So when I found out the theme for our upcoming challenge at

Crafty Creations was to be CAS . . .

I panicked. Until I decided to use a Stamp and Die Set from Stampin' Up! called Secret Garden. I really love this set and I used the larger flower for my die cut and stamp.

 

 

I embossed the stamp on white cardstock with clear embossing powder. Then I brushed over the area with purple shimmer acrylic paint. My original idea was to have a "wash" effect and just use a single layer. However, after "washing" the cardstock with the purple shimmer paint, I didn't like the way it looked, so I improvised because I really liked the look of the flower, just not as a single layer. 

 

 

 Using another piece of cardstock, I die cut the flower shape. Then I trimmed around the painted flower, leaving a good margin so  you wouldn't see any edges behind the die cut. I did another identical flower image and cut out the center part to add dimension to the flower. I used dimensionals on the die cut piece, raising it above the painted flower; and . . . Wallah!!! Still a CAS card, but with a bit of pizazz.

 

 

Be sure to stop by Crafty Creations to see the other CAS cards created by the other DT members.

 

 

Christmas Trees

Another challenge at Christmas Card Challenges. This week the theme is: Trees. I really like the side step cards and I felt it was perfect for this challenge, since I could use multiple trees on my card.

 

I added glitter to the "branches" of the tree to imitate snow and tore the white cardstock for the same reason. Ribbon and DP from my scrap stash -- did I mention I'm trying to use up all my scraps this year, so each card will include one or more items?

 

I also added a solid white piece to the inside so I could write a short note.

 

Stop by Christmas Card Challenges this week to see what the other DT members have created . . . and link up one of your own Christmas card creations (optional theme: Trees) so we can see what you've created.

Christmas Card Challenge #11

It's hard to believe that we're already to week 11. Considering we start after Thanksgiving, that's about right. But the time sure is flying by.

 

This week the Christmas Card Challenge (click here) is a Color Challenge:

Blue and Silver

 

In full disclosure ~ the card I'm posting is actually the third blue and silver card I made. I liked the design of the first one, but the blue I used looked yucky (I think that's a word) in the photo. The second card is very similar to my final card, but I didn't like the way the ribbon/bow looked in the photo. Perhaps I just need to learn how to take better photos {smile}.

 

 

Unfortunately my Card Recipe isn't going to help you much this week. The ribbon is from my stash (2 small pieces that I used up-Yay!!); the stick pin I made over a year ago and the snowflake charm I bought through Ebay. The silver and blue metallic papers I purchased from Clear Bags about 2+ years ago. I cut the ornament using the Cricut Craft Room a month or so ago, but I don't know it's name because it was a freebie for one week-fortunately I cut 3 of them out of the silver metallic cardstock. 

 

Please stop by the Christmas Card Challenges blog to see the beautiful creations the other Design Team members created this week.  And, get out your blue and silver papers/embellishments and make a Christmas Card.  You'll be glad you did when November rolls around.

 

Workshop

I recently held a Stampin' Up! workshop at my house. I had so much fun planning the items each person would make. I even made a little candy favor for each one; although truth be told, the hardest part was not eating all the candy while I was putting the favors together. **Andes Mints ~ ah yes, they just happen to be one my favorite candies.

 

I probably should have taken a picture of each item and posted one every day. But since I took a group shot, that's what you're getting today. Everyone at the workshop also made gift tags and since they're not in this picture, they'll have to get their own post next week.

 

 

Normally my kits include more "Thinking of You" or "Get Well" cards than "Happy Birthday." But in my family, April is a huge birthday month, so since I needed a few extra birthday cards, that's what went into this workshop {smile}.

 

Everyone seemed to have fun using the stamps and punches (which is a lot different than the other Card Classes I teach where everything is done for you).  They even learned how to make bows and boxes using the Envelope Punch Board.  If you're local and interested in attending or even hosting a workshop, let me know. It's a fun time for everyone.

 

Card Recipe:

All products used are Stampin' Up! products including~

  New items from the Sale-a-bration catalog (card on the left)-

       >Sweet Sorbet DP

       >Banner Punch

       >Banner Blast Stamp Set

       >Decorative Dots TIEF

  Scalloped Tag Topper Punch

  Label Love & Apothecary Art stamp sets

  Artisan Label, 1" Circle & 2-3/8" Scallop Circle Punches

  Envelope Punch Board (to make the bow)

  And a few retired products (stamp, ribbon & DP).

For the Birds

No, crafting isn't for the birds, but the theme at

Crafty Creations Challenges

this week is

For the Birds.

 

You can make any type craft, but it has to include a bird image.  Our sponsor is Robyn's Fetish who provided the DT with beautiful digistamps. I used one called "Waking Up Birdie."

 

Stop by the Crafty Creations Challenges blog to see what the other Design Team members have created. We'd love to see your "Bird" creations also, so create, then link up.

 

Card Recipe:

  Heidi Grace Designs~Tweet Dreams Designer Paper

  Whimsy Stamps Clover Die

  Paper Studios Flower Punch

  Spellbinders Labels Two Die

  Yellow Pearls

  Copics

Christmas Tags

The challenge this week at Christmas Card Challenges is to make a Tag. It can be a gift tag or a tag on a card. I made gift tags.

 

I punched out 3" round circles for the round tags and used a portion of a Spellbinders die for the rectangle cards. For the "hangers" on the circle tags, I punched an oval out of either gold or silver CS and folded it in half.

 

Each tag was embellished with snowflakes, ornaments, trees, doodling, etc. On the back of each tag I stamped a "TO:" and a "FROM:"

 

Take a quick trip over to Christmas Card Challenges to see what the other DT members created this week.