Christmas Cocoa

 

This card was created for the October 2013 Christmas card challenge.  The challenge was to create a card using a "different" fold.  I had so many ideas for cards but I really didn't want to make 8 easel cards or 8 pop-up cards.  I wanted something that would be fairly quick to put together but still have some extra design element to it and this is what I came up with.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Scentsational Seasons, Four the Holidays
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Gumball Green, Be of Good Cheer DSP
Ink:  Gumball Green, Cherry Cobbler, Smoky Slate
Accessories:  Snowburst Embossing Folder, Holiday Collection Framelits, Rhinestones, Sticky Strip, Dimensionals

Hexagons are Masculine

 

I needed a card for one of the guys I work with and pulled out this stamp set to see what I could do to create a masculine card.  I kept things very clean and simple which I think usually works well for a masculine card.  By changing the colors and using some small flowers with rhinestone centers instead of the dew drops this could become a very feminine card. 

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Six-Sided Sampler
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Soft Sky
Ink:  Soft Sky, Crushed Curry, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Hexagon Punch, Chit Chat Rub-ons, Dew Drops, Crystal Effects, Dimenionals

Watercolored Sketched Bird

 

This image is from one of the hostess options in the catalog and I knew this would be a stamp set I would own.  I don't get the chance to watercolor very often and I thought the images in this set would be a good way for me to practice.  I kept the layout simple so that the focus would be on the image.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Simply Sketched
Paper:  Watercolor, Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Ski Slope DSP
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  Watercolor Crayons, Aqua Painter, Oval and Scallop Oval Nestabilities Dies, Oval Punch, Scallop Oval Punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Mat Pack, Paper Piercing Template, Old Olive Brads, Dimensionals

Birthday Birdie

 

I made this card for a very good friend of mine.  The picket fence card base was something that I found in my stash and I had to find some way to use it.  Once I added the sky and grass the fence section kept popping open and since I wanted the fence to remain closed I glued the latch piece at the top of the fence section and then attached the whole piece to another whisper white card base so that I could add a sentiment on the inside of the card.  My friend loves anything that has a little sparkle and shine to it so I decided to add some flowers with rhinestone centers. 

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  For the Birds, A Little Birdie Told Me
Paper:  Whisper White, Bashful Blue, Old Olive, Pink Pirouette
Ink:  Black, Bashful Blue, Pink Pirouette
Accessories:  Picket Fence Die Cut Card Base, Cloudy Day Embossing Folder, Mini Flower Punch, Rhinestones, Sizzlits Branch with Leaves, Sizzlits Little Leaves, Bakers Twine, Oval Nestabilities Die, Hodgepodge Hardware, Tombow Adhesive, Dimensionals

Christmas Snowmen

 

I finally finished my cards for the September 2013 Christmas Card Challenge.  I had 3 cards completed prior to the HYCCT Challenges and I finally finished the remaining cards.  I've had these snowmen rub-ons for over a year now the challenge was to have snow on the card so these images were perfect.  Each package of rub-ons contains 3 different snowmen images and I used all 3 packages of them to create 9 cards.  I think the Royal & Langnickel rub-ons are great and I like the touch of glitter in them.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Cute Converse
Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, Almost Amethyst, Darcie's Country Folk DSP
Ink:  Real Red
Accessories:  Royal & Langnickel Snowmen Holly & Hearts Glitter Rub-ons, Snowflake Embossing Folder, Northern Frost Decorative Strip, Snowflake Punch, Fleur De Lis Border Punch, Scallop Border Punch, 3/4" Circle Punch, Circle & Scallop Circle Nestabilities Dies, Rhinestones, Rhinestone Brads, 1/8" Real Red Taffeta Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Dimensionals

Birthday Card Box

I saw this tutorial on Monica Gale's blog and knew that I had to try it.  The box can fold flat for mailing and I sent this to a very close friend of mine and she loved it. 

 

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Flower Shop, Vintage Labels
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Spring Flowers DSP
Ink:  Calypso Coral, So Saffron, Crisp Cantaloupe, Always Artichoke, Black
Accessories:  Flower Shop Punch, Bird Punch, 2 3/8" Scallop Circle Punch, Label Punch, Moss Grosgrain Ribbon, Dazzling Details, Tombow Adhesive, Dimensionals

Fall Broom

I saw the idea for this broom here and had to make one to give to my friend.  I didn't have all of the items that were used in the instructions so I used the items I did have.  I like how it turned out and my friend loved it.

 

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Wonderfall
Paper:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Tangerine Tango, Tangerine Tango DSP
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Soft Suede, Tangerine Tango
Accessories:  Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Petal Cone Die, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Sizzix Decorative Strip Alphabet Die, Linen Thread, Mini Glue Dots, Adhesive

Wonderfall Birthday

This card was for a friend of mine who loves all things "fall".  I haven't had many chances to use this stamp set and the matching bigz die but I hope to make a few cards to send to family and friends for Thanksgiving.

 

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Wonderfall, Bring on the Cake
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Blue Bayou, Confetti Tan
Ink:  Soft Suede, Cajun Craze, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Crumb Cake
Accessories:  Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Pinking Hearts Border Punch, Autumn Accents Bigz Die, Latte Button, Gold Organdy Ribbon, Mini Glue Dots, Stamp-a-ma-jig.

Fall Birthday

Now that all of the challenges are over and completed I can get back to regular postings.  This card came together very quickly and makes a great birthday card for any guy in your life.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Bring on the Cake
Paper:  Naturals Ivory, Soft Suede, Autumn Traditions DSP
Ink:  Soft Suede
Accessories:  Dotted Scallop Ribbon Border Punch, American Crafts Holiday House Fall Foam, Quick Dry Adhesive

Spec-tacular You!

HYCCT1331C - Pick a Team - Challenge:  Create a black and white card, with just a pop of one color (green, purple, brown, pink, blue or yellow).

Since my favorite color is green I added that as my pop of color.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Spec-tacular, Vintage Verses
Paper:  Whisper White, Black, Night & Day DSP
Ink:  Black, Lucky Limeade
Accessories:  Two Tags Bigz Die, Lucky Limeade Ruffled Ribbon, Stapler, Dimensionals

Silhouette Thanks

HYCCT1331B - Group Hug - Challenge:  Create a card that is simple in nature, and large in its message. Use sentiments or images that reflect a message from or to a group of people, and allow the patient to send or receive a Group Hug.

 

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Summer Silhouettes, Simply Sketched
Paper:  Glossy White, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake
Ink:  Early Espresso, Baja Breeze, Crumb Cake
Accessories:  Color Spritzer, Dew Drops, Crystal Effects

From the Heart

HYCCT1331A - I Heart You - Challenge:  Create a heart shaped card or a card that contains hearts.

 

 
Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Holidays & Wishes
Paper:  Whisper White, Pink Pirouette, Riding Hood Red, Bella Rose DSP
Ink:  Riding Hood Red
Accessories:  Hearts Framelits, Dimensionals

Sparkling Champagne Christmas

HYCCT1330 - Sparkling Season - Challenge:  Create a holiday card and include glitter on the card.

 

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Greeting of the Season
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Soft Suede, Champagne Glimmer, Christmas Cocoa DSP
Ink:  Soft Suede
Accessories:  Northern Frost Decorative Strip, Labels Collection Framelits, Champagne Glass Glitter, Crystal Effects, Basics Glimmer Brad, Dimensionals

Christmas Subway Art

HYCCT1329 - (Subway) Art with Heart - Challenge:  Create a card inspired by Subway Art.  Subway Art is simply any art you see on the street that isn’t graffiti. Think bill boards, kiosk signs, the sides of busses etc.


No stamps were used for this card.  I used rub-ons from Word Flurries.

Supplies Used:
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Word Flurries Rub-ons, Frost White Shimmer Mist

Clear Thanks

HYCCT1328 - I Clearly Care - Challenge:  Create a card that shows you "clearly care" -- stamping on acetate, plastic, shaker cards, with glaze, etc. - with shades of pink somewhere , of course!
I found this pre-printed acetate sheet in my stash and paired it with pixie pink card stock.  The card stock was embossed with stylized flowers embossing folder and the acetate sheet was attached with brads in the center of the felt flowers.

Supplies Used:
Paper:  Pixie Pink
Accessories:  Clearly Thanks Printed Window Sheets, Stylized Flowers Embossing Folder, Flower Fusion, Square Rhinestone Fire Brads

Vintage Family Ornaments

HYCCT1327 - Honor Your Elders - Challenge:  Make a card to honor your elders. Extra points for vintage and/or using gold.

I chose to make a Christmas card to honor my parents.  I am one of 13 children and although my parents never had much money to splurge on Christmas presents we always had what we needed and some of what we wanted.  As a child, I was never truly aware of the sacrifices that my parents made for their children. 

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Tree Trimmings, Four the Holidays
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Real Red, Merry Moments DSP
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, Versa Mark
Accessories:  Gold Embossing Powder, Gold Cord, Chocolate Chip Satin Ribbon, Gold Brads, Scallop Border Punch, Dimensionals

Soft Shimmery Leaves and Berries

HYCCT1326 - Mix It Up - Mixed Media - Challenge:  Create a card using mixed media, a technique involving the use of two or more artistic media, such as ink and pastel or painting and collage, that are combined in a single composition.

Hopefully this qualifies as mixed media.  This is a CASE of a card I saw on Nichole Heady's blog using the pearl-ex powders and she has a tutorial.  The images were stamped in versa mark ink and then colored with pearl-ex powders using a soft paint brush.  To ensure the pearl-ex powders won't rub off, the card was sprayed with hairspray as a fixative.  The "berries" were added using white pearl iridescent dimensional fabric paint.
 

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Kind & Caring Thoughts
Paper:  Shimmery White, Forest Green
Ink:  Versa Mark
Accessories:  Pearl-Ex Assortment #2 (Micro Pearl & Spring Green), White Pearl Iridescent Dimensional Fabric Paint, Soft Bristle Paint Brush, Swiffer Cloth, Hairspray