A Christmas card...just because.

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Hi.  A very quick post this morning to share a Christmas card.  No challenges this time.  I hosted a Stampin' Up! party recently.  I had an idea for using a few of my new goodies and I just couldn't wait to create this card!  Everything except the stamped lines and the 3 clear gems, are SU products.

Once I figured out what colors to use, this card came together quickly.  But I'm not telling you how long the decision process took!

I just love that diagonal striped dsp that I used behind the main panel.  It reminds me of candy canes :)

I punched all of the ornaments with my new Merry Minis Punch Pack, using the new Festival of Prints dsp paper stack (thanks Kris!).  I placed them just under the stamped lines (WPlus9's Heartfelt Mix stamp set), then drew in a tiny bow above each with a Cherry Cobbler marker.  I added clear gems to 3 of the ornaments, then stamped the sentiment.  The vanilla panel is adhered to the dsp with dimensional adhesive.  It's all attached to a card base of Lucky Limeade (SU).  The sentiment is from SU's Greetings of the Season stamp set.

Thanks for looking!

Greetings of the Season - 2 Challenges

Hi!  Yesterday was such a beautiful day, it was difficult to stay at my craft table very long.  I did mange to fit it all in though.  It was great to get some fresh air while my husband and I worked in the yard.  Hey, the high was around 65 degrees...and it was sunny.  That's unusual for northern Illinois in mid November;  so we had to take advantage of it.

Anyway...I'm sharing a card that I made for 2 challenges.

Just Us Girls #162 - Make a ribbon wreath.  I hesitated at first when I saw this challenge. I've never tried making a ribbon wreath before.  But, it's a challenge!  The JUGS site provided a link to the wreath tutorial, so why not give it a try?

Dynamic Duos - DD#28 color challenge.  I already planned to use Cherry Cobbler ribbon for my wreath, so this color challenge was perfect for the card I wanted to create.

This is how I combined the two challenges ~

I wanted to create the look of a wreath hanging on a wall.  So I used my simple stripes impression plate for the focal panel.  That always reminds me of wainscoting.  Love that vintage feel!  The sentiment is from a brand new Stampin' Up! stamp set called Greetings of the Season.  I love the combination of fonts in this sentiment.

Thanks so much for taking a look today!

Supplies:

Card stock: sahara sand, basic black (SU)

Ink: onyx black (Versafine)

Stamps: greetings of the season (SU)

Other: simple stripes die (PTI), cherry cobbler quilted satin ribbon (SU), Christmas mint brad (S.E.I)

With Sympathy - CAS-ual Fridays & Simon Says Challenges

Hi!  I'm sharing a card that I made for 2 challenges. The CAS-ual Fridays Challenge - CFC78.  We're to create a clean and simple project with something torn on it.

And the Simon Says Stamp Challenge.  Simon Says...thinking of you or sympathy.

For anyone reading my post from an email, click HERE to read directly from my blog.

 

Well.  I hope my card qualifies for the So Torn challenge.  I created a mask using pieces of torn card stock.  Take a look and let me know what you think ;-}

One of my favorite techniques is masking and sponging.  The best part is when I peel away the mask and see the results.  So fun :)   This card is very simple.  But, I think, elegant.  Especially for a sympathy card.  I've depleted my stash of sympathy cards and needed to restock.

Anyway, for anyone that's interested, I've included a very short tutorial below.

1) Create a mask by tearing 4 strips of card stock and taping them together with scotch tape.

2) Adhere the mask to your card base using washi tape, or something similar, that won't lift the fibers of the card stock when removed.  It's also a good idea to adhere your base to your work surface to prevent it from moving while you're sponging.  By the way, those arrows are printed on my washi tape...maybe I should have used a different pattered tape.  Lol!

3) Use a piece of craft sponge to apply your inks.  I used a circular motion, starting on the mask and working inward.  I began with the lightest ink at the bottom of the masked area.  Then, worked upward with progressively darker shades.

4) Peel away the mask.  Voila!

5) Stamp your images and sentiment.  Done.

Thanks so much for taking a look today!  I hope you'll leave a comment...I love reading them all :)

Supplies:

Card stock: whisper white (Stampin' Up!) Just a note: I've found this to be the best card stock for sponging, because it has such a smooth surface.

Ink: barely banana, so saffron, apricot appeal, marigold morning (SU)

Stamps: autumn days (one of my favorite SU sets!), hope for comfort (SU)

Other: craft sponges, washi tape

Happy Birthday - 3 Challenges

Hey, I'm back to share a birthday card I made for 3 challenges.

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The Play Date Cafe Challenge #156

CAS-ual Fridays CFC77 - create a Clean & Simple masculine project

retro sketches - rs#36

My card ~

Isn't this patterned paper from Echo Park just perfect for a masculine card?  Great colors for this time of year, too.  I used a couple of dies on this card, then a SU punch for the sentiment panel.  A very simple but fun card.

Thanks so much for taking a look :)

Supplies:

Card stock: early espresso, more mustard, confetti cream (SU)

Ink: early espresso (SU)

Stamps: communique curves (PTI)

Patterned paper: this & that charming 6 x 6 pad (Echo Park)

Dies: bookmark die (PTI), bracket die (MFT)

Other: linen thread and label punch (SU)

An altered teacup

Hey!  It's been two weeks since I posted.  Hmmm...maybe you didn't even miss me!?  That's ok :)

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So.  This is a very quick post to share an altered teacup that I created for one of my customers.  These are really a lot of fun to make.  I've got several photos, so that you can see some of the small details from different angles.

I used dried moss, excelsior, vintage lace, silk ribbon flowers, mini eggs, several decorative pins, a few buttons and a sentiment (from PTI) stamped onto a piece of very vanilla card stock (from SU!).  I added a little ink on the edges of the cardstock to give a bit of an aged appearance.  Oh, and a length of ribbon for hanging the teacup.

Thanks for stopping in to take a look!

An Anniversary Gift Set

Hi, this will be a short post.  I completed a customer order today for a couple who will soon be celebrating their first wedding anniversary.  A few of you may remember an altered teacup that I created last spring for my sister.  One of my customers asked for one, along with coordinating anniversary cards.  This is what I created today.

I pulled the colors for my cards from the colors on the teacup.  This was such a fun project to make.  A little change of pace for me.  I've gotta' get going.  Thanks so much for taking a look!

With Sympathy - The Creative Paper Trade Challenge

I'm back to share another sympathy card for a family member.  It's such a sad occasion, but I don't mind making sympathy cards because it's one of the ways I can convey my feelings to the recipient.  I hope that the card will mean as much to her, as it did to me as I created it.

I'm joining in on a new challenge blog...The Creative Paper Trade.  I'm playing along with week #2.  I chose Color My Week #2 & Paper Nudge #2.  Here's the graphic showing all 3 of the choices/challenges given.

I was drawn to the soft color palette and the layered sketch.  Here is what I created...

I've used lots of layering.  Card stock, patterned papers, die cuts, a length of tulle.  Well, you get the picture, don't you?  I'll list my supplies below.

Thank you for taking a look.  I hope you'll stop by again :)

Supplies:
Card stock: confetti cream, perfect plum (SU)
Patterned paper: lap of luxury (SU)
Ink: pale plum, perfect plum, pink pirouette, concord crush (SU), versamark (Tsukineko)
Stamps: calendar stamp set (The Precious Remembrance Shop), communique curves (PTI)
Dies: notebook die, notched flower dies (PTI)
Other: london market spool button (Pink Paislee), vanilla seam binding (SU), clear ep (SU), purple adhesive gem - in center of spool button (Recollections), pink tulle (from my stash)