Beer Mug

I made this card for a guy I work with and he loved it.  To make the beer mug, begin with a 4" x 5 1/2" card base and so saffron card stock.  To create the handle of the mug trim off a 1 1/4" square at the top and bottom on the folded edge and punch the handle out with the word window  punch.  Round the edges with a corner rounder punch on the handle and the bottom edges of the beer mug.  Cut 3 strips 1/2" x 5" and use a 1" circle punch to round the ends.  Sponge all edges of the so saffron card stock using more mustard ink.  Punch 3 scallop circles in whisper white card stock and 5 small scallop circle flowers using the boho blossoms punch and sponge edges using bashful blue ink.  Adhere elements as shown making sure the card will fit into a standard A2 envelope.  I used my grid paper to ensure I didn't exceed the 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" standard A2 card measurements.

Supplies Used:
Stamps: Vintage Labels
Paper:  Whisper White, So Saffron
Ink:  Black, Bashful Blue, More Mustard
Accessories:  Scallop Circle Punch, Boho Blossoms Punch, 1" Circle Punch, Word Window Punch, Corner Rounder Punch, Jewelry Tag Punch, Linen Thread

Vintage Bird Birthday

A vintage looking birthday card that could easily be adapted for any occasion.  If I change the colors and sentiment it would be a nice Christmas card.  I'll have to try it and add another Christmas card to my stash.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Friends 24-7, Vintage Labels
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Blushing Bride, Bravo Burgundy, Parisian Summer DSP
Ink:  Bravo Burgundy, Blushing Bride
Accessories:  Circle & Scallop Circle Nestabilities Dies, Large Oval Punch, Paper Piercing Tool, Distressing Tool, Rhinestones, Pearls, Dimensionals

Ho, Ho, Ho Easel Card

If you have never attempted to make an easel card it is something that I would encourage everyone to try.  They look more complicated than they are and the recipient will be truly impressed.  The only stamp I used for this card was the "Merry Christmas" sentiment.  I used rub-ons for the main image.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes
Paper:  Whisper White, Brilliant Blue, Jersey Shore DSP
Ink:  Brilliant Blue
Accessories:  Circle & Scallop Circle Nestabilities Dies, Oval & Scallop Oval Punches, Northern Frost Die Strip, Old Saint Nick Rub-ons, Rhinestone, Dimensionals

Vintage Christmas Lodge

Now that I've finished all of the cards for the Hope You Can Cling To challenges it is time the get my Christmas cards finished.  I usually make about 100 and I only have 3 dozen completed!  This image reminds me of the movie "White Christmas" so I tried to give it a vintage feel.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Christmas Lodge, Winter Post, French Foliage
Paper:  Very Vanilla, Ruby Red, Crumb Cake
Ink:  Ruby Red, Crumb Cake
Accessories:  Paper Lace Doily, Circle & Scallop Circle Nestabilities Dies, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Crumb Cake Seam Binding Ribbon, Glitter Pen

Snowy Forest

HYCCT Challenge Dated October 31st - A Walk in the Woods

This challenge was to be inspired by the outdoors.  My inspiration comes from my own backyard.  Where I live there are lots of trees and animals and in the winter when things are covered in snow it is so peaceful looking.  I stamped the evergreen trees on glossy white card stock and used sponge daubers to fill in around the trees and to add the moon and sky.  The snow was created using craft white ink and white embossing powder.  I added the printed polka dot acetate sheet from the "Clearly Thanks" printed window sheets over the top and cut an oval in another layer of white card stock to create my window.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Lovely as a Tree
Paper:  Whisper White, Glossy White, Always Artichoke, Clearly Thanks Printed Window Sheets
Ink:  Old Olive, Always Artichoke, So Saffron, Not Quite Navy, Craft White
Accessories:  Oval Nestabilities Die, White Embossing Powder, 2-Way Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds Glitter, Northern Frost Snowflakes Die, Rhinestone, Mini Glue Dots

Baby Elephant

HYCCT Challenge Dated October 30th - Cork, Canvas or Clay

The challenge was to make a card using cork, canvas or clay.  I started looking through my stash of things and came across some little clay animals that I had purchased several years ago when a friend of mine was having a baby and I still had 3 of them left (a duck, a giraffe and an elephant).  I wasn't sure which one I would use until I picked out the DSP and the elephant was the best match with the colors.  To create the triangle patchwork background I used the pennant builder punch and delicate dots dsp.  The stitching was created using the zigzag looking stamp from "All in a Row" inked with craft white and embossed with white embossing powder.  The card came out even better than what I had pictured in my head.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  All in a Row
Paper:  Whisper White, So Saffron, Certainly Celery, Bashful Blue, Sahara Sand, Delicate Dots DSP
Ink: Craft White
Accessories:  Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities Dies, Pennant Builder Punch, Bitty Banners Framelits Die, White Embossing Powder, Chit Chat Rub-ons, Clay Elephant (unknown), Dimensionals

Somethin' Sweet

HYCCT Challenge Dated October 29th - Real Witches Wear Pink!

For this challenge we were to be inspired by Pink-O-Ween and make a treat holder of some kind and use the colors of pink, white, black and silver.  I found the tutorial for this treat holder on Splitcoaststampers here called "Party Favor".  The tutorial was very easy to follow and comes together quickly.  I put some Dove dark chocolate treats inside.

Supplies Used: 
Stamps:  A Little Somethin'
Paper:  Whisper White, Black, Silver Glimmer, Sending Love DSP
Ink:  Black
Accessories:  1/4", 1" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Postage Stamp Punch, Silver Cord, White Ribbon

Time Passes...

HYCCT Challenge Dated October 28th - Clean and Simple Statement

The challenge was to make a clean and simple card with the sentiment as the focal point.  I'm not sure I accomplished the challenge or not, but this is definitely a clean and simple card (especially for me). 

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Curvy Verses, Fifth Avenue Floral
Paper:  Whisper White, Rose Romance
Ink:  Regal Rose, Baja Breeze, So Saffron, Black

Trimming the Tree

HYCCT Challenge Dated October 27th - Window of Hope

The challenge was to create a card with a window.  I wanted to make a card that had a window as part of the stamp image and I found this stamp that I purchased years ago at a local stamp supply store.  I think this is the first time I've used this image.  No special techniques or anything with this card.  Just stamped and colored the image.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Christmas at Home (Uptown Rubber Stamps)
Paper:  Very Vanilla, River Rock, Always Artichoke
Ink:  Black, Various SU Markers
Accessories:  Glitter Pen, Frost White Shimmer Mist

Sweet Puppy

HYCCT Challenge Dated October 26th - Who Let The Dogs Out?

The challenge was to make a card for someone having a "ruff" day.  Of course there had to be a dog on it and also to include pink.  Naturally I don't own any stamps with dogs so I resorted to punch art for my creation.  Since I wanted to include the color pink I had to make a girl puppy.  I think she looks sweet and don't you just love the rhinestone collar!

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Occasional Quotes
Paper:  Whisper White, Pretty in Pink, Chocolate Chip, Petals & Paisleys DSP
Ink: Crumb Cake, Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  3/4", 1 1/4" and 1 3/8" Circle Punches, Crop-a-Dile, Owl Punch, Blossom Petals Punch, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain Ribbon, Rhinestones, Dimensionals

Christmas Snowmen Around the World

HYCCT Challenge Dated October 25th - Ta Ta Toe

The second challenge for October 25th was to use a tic-tac-toe board and choose three things from the board (vertically, horizontally or diagonally) and create a card using the three elements.  I chose round, colored image and distressing.  It is a little difficult to see the distressing but both the white and red layers are distressed.

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Around the World
Paper:  Whisper White, Real Red, Glorious Green
Ink:  Black, Real Red, Glorious Green, Creamy Caramel
Accessories:  Circle and Scallop Circle Nestabilities, Felt Flower, Snowflake Punch, Rhinestone Brad, Distressing Tool

Fresh Vintage Postage

HYCCT Challenge Dated October 25th - Let's Lick This Thing

There were two challenges posted for October 25th.  The first challenge was to create a card inspired by postage.  I really wanted to used the postage stamp from the Fresh Vintage stamp set and I had so many ideas I went in search of a sketch challenge to focus my thoughts.  Using a card sketch can really help in many ways.  I decided on SC356 and my card just came together. 

Supplies Used:
Stamps:  Fresh Vintage
Paper:  Whisper White, Pixie Pink, Green Galore, Ballet Blue, DCWV Summer Mat Stack
Ink:  Pixie Pink, Green Galore, Ballet Blue
Accessories:  Scallop Border Punch, 1" Square Punch, Postage Stamp Punch, Scallop Square Punch, Green Galore Grosgrain Ribbon, Bluebird Grosgrain Ribbon, Pearls, Dimensionals