Poinsettia and Holly

This card was created with SU Old Olive Paper, textured Ivory cardstock and the Spellbinder's Layered Poinsettia die, edged in Delicata Gold Sparkle ink (Tuskineko) and centered with a Swarovski amber crystal.   The Holly background is EF 657139 by Sizzix (Holly Swirls) and the green holly sprigs are Cheery Lynn Borders Holly Flourish B148.  Merry Christmas Sentiment is a Just Rite Stamp from the stampset that coordinates with this Layered Poinsettia Die (Festive Poinsettias CR-04636).  It is die cut using Spellbinders Labels 17  S5-025.

The poinsettia card below is cut from the same die in Cherry Cobbler (SU paper).  The Just Rite coordinating Festive poinsettia stamps (CR-04635) are embossed with clear embossing powder.  The musical note paper is sponged with  Tim Holtz Antique Linen distress ink.  The "Joy" is from the the Holiday  Double Cuts dies by Papertray Ink PTD-0701.  Gold cording is from the Stamp Simply Ribbon Store.  The leaves are commercial.  Tufts of tulle and Fir sprigs (Martha Stewart punch) brushed with the Gold Wink of Stella brush complete this card. 

This same Layered Poinsettia (Spellbinders S5-055) used above got very intricate (and delicate) which the photo does not show as I heavily spritzed the flower and the matts with  Gold Shimmer Spritz by ImagineCrafts.  The green paper is Old Olive and the red, Cherry Cobbler by SU.  I would choose a different (darker) green if I did this card again.

  I used part of an oval doily from my stash, accented that with gold shimmer spritz, clear star gelly roll pen and graduated pearls.  The Embossing folder for the green matt was Sizzix 657139 (Holly Swirls) and the gold flourish is the center die from the gorgeous Marianne Creatables Large Ovals (LR0236). The leaves are commercial and the gold cord is from Stamp Simply Ribbon Store (as above).

Snowy River Cardfront Pyramage

This cardfront came from Instant Cardmaking Downloads, and was so quick, easy, and beautiful.  I edged the pyramage with Delicata gold sparkle ink, and mounted the cardfront on a card embossed with Sizzix 65823.  Each snowflake on the art piece was touched with Gelly Roll clear star sparkle. On of the snowflakes on each card was topped with Faber Castell glass bead glitter gel, or with my new Zig Wink of Stella brush..  

Cadbury Scremes

I had so much fun finding cute paper in my digital stash with a Halloween theme, and then creating these little Mummy Carriers for Cadbury Eggs, following a tutorial by  Betty Traciak at Splitcoast Stampers recently.  The card in the background has Washi Tape and a halloween theme, and I used SU stamps for Trick or Treat and Happy Halloween.   The Cadbury eggs are wrapped in gauze and have wiggle eyes on them, as they perch in their little display box.  Fun Project, thank you Betty.  

Catch Up

Today I started to build an upcoming workshop for our Papers N Pixels club, but before I did, I put together cards that were started, and never completed.  Here are a few of them, to remind me how I worked certain dies and colors.

The left card  is the Emma Ornament by Memory Box (#98411) and SU Christmas Seasonal Sayings (128009) on Night of Navy. (SU) The top of the ornament is holographic and glitter paper punches of Martha Stewart fir branches tied with holographic ribbon.  Pearls and an EF Sizzix # 658252 Dot #5 touched with Jelly Roll pen finish that one.  The card on the right is  Tattered Poinsettia a Bigz tie by Tim Holtz Sizzix #658251 cut on plain red cardstock and mounted on DP and gray paper.  The center  of the poinsettia is gold micro beads, and the card is tied with green organza ribbon. 

 The card on the left is Merry Christmas stamped in Real Red on Ecru cardstock a Tim Holtz stamp from Christmas Time CMS 141 stampset.  The Ornament is stamped on ecru and uses a Just Rite Deck the Halls Stamp (02150) that coordinates with Spellbinders S4-334 2011 Heirloom ornaments.  The card on the right is a Trina Clark Walker Graphic on shimmer-spritzed paper with stickle accents. I have made several of those--just love her work.

 The left card here is made for someone whose Christmas might not be so very happy this year.  It's a sweet dove of peace, colored pencils and gamsol and a red banner with EF from Tim Holtz Christmas Backgrounds and Borders #657480 The artpiece is cut from the old standby Labels 20 Spellbinders S5-026, finished with a Thinking of you sticker.  The one on the Right is a Holiday Sweet Magnolia stamp. and that is double die cut using Labels 17 Spellbinders (S5-025)   The EF on the cardstock is from the other EF Sizzix # 658252  Christmas Words,a nd the stamped sentiment is from Just Rite's Deck the Halls Set.

The card on the left is a shape card (that's the envelope behind it,) cut from Spellbinders S4-334 2011 Heirloom ornaments. The paper is sponged with Delicata Gold Ink (gorgeous stuff!) and topped with a stamped on ecru coordinating wood block stamp by Memory Box, and cut from the coordinating die    The card on the right is the same Little Miss by  Sweet Magnolia and is edged in doily cuts by Martha Stewart (tags) and the previously mentioned dies and EF.  This is also colored in pencils and Gamsol..

Holiday Double Cuts

This card was created with Holiday Double Cuts die available at Papertrey Ink The background is cut with gold foil carstock, and the word Noel is cut from white glitter paper.  The snowflakes are cut from glitter paper and also cut through the Night of Navy (SU) cardfront, then inlaid. They are part of the Spellbinders S4-404 Create A Flake 5 die set. Starburst gold foil paper backs the Night of Navy (SU) cardfront and edges are finished with gold lines stickers that I get at PopUps Etc

Tattered Musical Poinsettia

For poinsettia above, and the card below, I've used    Tim Holtz  Tattered Poinsettia die (Sizzix 658261), cutting out cardstock that I printed using a musical note overlay/brush designed by Karen Schulz.  You can purchase the beautiful Music Overlays, brushes and elements HERE  

The musical score embossing  Folder is from Sizzix Holly Swirls and Sheet Music (Sizzix 657139)   and the Merry Christmas sentiment is stamped from  Tim Holtz Christmas Time CMS 141 stampset. The poinsettia is spritzed with Gold Shimmer (from Imaginecrafts) Inks and papers are either Tim Holtz core-din-ations or SU Cherry Cobbler.

Here is another card I created using the Tattered Poinsettia and music scores of Karens.

And here is  another idea for using paper printed from Karen's Music Overlays
This shows just another of the many possible ways to use this beautiful collection. I've used the paper as background for a tag, with a Spellbinder's die (S5-055) for the Layered Poinsettia.   Noel is a Holiday Double  Cuts die cut with glitter paper and gold foil paper.  That die's from from Papertray Ink (PTD00701)  There are some sitcker leaves, sequins, gold leafing, gold string, and glitter paper on this tag too.  

Microbeaded die cuts

This card was fun to try out the Faber-Castell Glass bead glitter gel on an intricate die cut.  I cut the white snowflakes with Spellbinders Create a Flake 5 (S4-404) available at Joans Gardens I had a "happy accident" as I was applying the microbeads.  I was gathering the gel from inside the cap of the storage container on my brush to spread it, and it popped out and flopped upside down on another of the cuts I was working on.  PRESTO---microbeads all applied perfectly and no waste as I lifted the cap liner up off the diecut.  THAT was a surprise.  I also used the Sizzix Hero ARts stamp and embossing folder Snowflake Background using Versamark to stamp on the Night of Navy paper.   When it was dry I touched each snowflake with a GellyRoll clear star pen.  Adding a Starform Sticker (Holographic silver and gold #357) from popups etc--and I was done. Drying time

was really all the time this beautiful card took.

A Million and One Thanks

This Autumn-flavored thank you card was created using several techniques.  The leaves are from Gently Falling (a SU stamp) that have been stamped on acrylic sheeting, painted with 3D Crystal Lacquer that has been colored with ink-refiller color and then dusted with Dazzling Diamonds glitter (by SU).  The scalloped oval is a  Spellbinder's die and the designer paper is by SU.  The card base is rust color with a pulled/torn paper ecru mat, gold mat and dp mat, and it is finished with lime green bow and rhinestones.

New Projects from Instant Cardmaking Downloads

I love the designers who share their talent at Instant Cardmaking Downloads, so today I got a bunch of new cards, and got started on them.  Here are pictures of some of the projects that I purchased from that site.

Hard to photograph---but this is EH Santa's Helper Trifold.  Cuter than it can be!

 This gorgeous one is Gold  Santa Card.  It's a diamond fold pyramage card.  I touched the candles on the tree with gelly roll Clear Star glitter pen.

 This one is elegant and fun to make.  Its the Green Poinsettia Tri-Shutter Card

And this one is the  Red Poinsettia Diamond Fold Card.   Same candles and poinsettias, different design card.  GORGEOUS!

Ornament Outlines

This Christmas card is inked with  Delicata Gold Glitz ink using Outline's Rubber Stamp #1184 (I do not think this stamp is available any more.)   This is an A5 sized card, so this stamp could easily be used to create a two sided ornament.  The background matting is Night of Navy (SU) and it is inked with the same Delicata  Gold Glitz pigment ink, using "Snowflake Sky" #OR1011 by Brother Sister Design Studio.  This is also an older stamp, and I could not find this company online.  The sticker is a Starform Sticker from PopUps Etc and the card is finished with gold 1/4 inch ribbon and a touch of stickles gold--here and there.

Autumn birthday cards

Today was "autumn" card day for me and these are the first of several autumn birthday cards I've been working on. Techniques were inspired by projects we've done in our Papers N Pixels crafting club here in Sun City.

The top card was created on textured ivory 5x7 cardstock.  It uses 3d Crystal Glaze on acrylic, colored with ink refillers in real red, durango, yo yo yellow and a drop or two of other autumn brights from my cache of re-inkers.  The stamp (stamped in Staz-On black) is from the SU stampset Gently Falling (2) #123804.  The background is stamped with the same maple leaf and with large maple leaves from Stampendous Jumbo Leaves set CR55052.   The ink I used was Autumn Leaves by Kaleidacolor.   The funny birthday stamp is a SU stamp from Delightful Dozen stampset #122652 also inked in the Kaleidacolors.

My stampin up demonstrator is Kathy Legan  The  Falling Leaves is a two set-stampse. (beautiful)

This beautiful card was created using watercolor paper, and distressed ink watercolor pens (by Tim Holtz)  The  Die cut is from the gorgeous Spellbinders S4-409 Gold Majesty Circles.the Happy Birthday Sentiment is a SU stamp/die set Itty  Bitty Banners #126257.  The stamp is from the Art Impressions Try-fold Harvest stampset (one of the stamps used singly instead of on a tri-fold card.)

The green matting is embossed with a basketweave EF.  The Try-Fold  Autumn card (and the winter set too) are obtainable from At Joan's Gardens and at JoAnns.

 This card is created using green cardstock, with woodgrain (burnished) EF #127821 from SU.
The Crystal 3d glaze, colored with reinker ink acrylic leaves are from the SU stampset Gently Falling (2) #123804. and the sentiment stamp also from SU.  Different effects on the transparency of the crystal glaze is obtained by stacking up "layers" of color as each layer sets up.  This process can be worked very smoothly with a small paintbrush, or less smoothly (thicker) with a daub and push glaze kind of stroke.I like them both.   The acrylic did not work as well when stamped with staz-on brown ink, ---black works best!

The one below  isn't a birthday card,---but it's simply simply stampin and playing as I was cleaning up my craft room today.  I was daubing my various sponges to get excess ink out of them, and sponged in Tim Holtz Tattered Leaves negative cut (to make the stencil) for the background oak leaves (Bigz die Sizzix #656927)  The filigree leaf stamped in Staz-on Timber brown, is by Inkadinkado and is called Single Maple Leaf Mini (#60-30563)  The sentiment stamp is from Lots of Thanks (SU # 129690) The grunge spatter is also a SU stamp (gorgeous grunge).
But the prettiest detail of this card doesn't show in the photograph.  The negative space in the Maple Leaf stamp is touched with  GellyRoll Orange and Clar Star and the small leaves are lined with gold gelly roll and orange sparkle.   So this card really dances in the light (but not the camera lens!)  This is a single layer flat A5 card.

JustRite Deck the Halls

This card was created using inlaid die cutting technique following an example by Dina Kowal at Splitcoast Stampers.  I used S4-334 2011 Heirloom Ornaments dies to cut Just Rite CL-02150  Stamps from the Deck the Halls set. The Night of Navy blue ornaments were inked with the beautiful pigment Golden Glitz ink by Delicata and mounted on shimmer gold paper, on a white cardstock base.  The embossing down the left side of the card is from the Tim Holtz Christmas  Background and Borders set by Sizzix 657480.  

Warm Holiday Wishes

This card was created exclusively for the Joan's Touch challenge where we were to use polka dots, a gate fold card, and and a decorated belly band for the card.  My Sheri Baldi graphic was colored with copics, pencils and gamsol, and Crayola watercolor pencils.  I also used 3D Crystal Effects on the cup.  The hat, muff and trim is scribbled with Glistening Snow Writer by Deco Art, and the whole card is embossed with polka dots EF (by SU) with each dot inked with  Gelly Roll star writer.  The die I used for the window onto the graphic is Spellbinder Labels 18- S4-310.  This has been narrowed and trimmed.  The top of the card and the belly-band is edged with a polka dot scallop punch edged (eK) in the same Snow Writer as the graphic. Inside, the graphic is mounted on the polka dotted background and is diecut from the largest of the Labels 18 dies. The dies and other supplies for this card can be purchased at Joan's Gardens.

Microbeaded gate fold card

This card was created exclusively for Joan's Touch Challenge this week. We were to use polka dots, a gate fold card and a belly band to close it.  The belly band is stacked paper and ribbon with a line of pearls. The outside of the card is a 5 1/4 inch gate fold with matted embossed background.  I used Sizzix Winter Berries EF #658273  and duplicated the center portion of the EF on the Gate-Fold topper. The white poinsettia is created with Spellbinders Layered Poinsettia  S5-055 and is heavily "microbeaded" with ice-blue microbeads.  The center is Stickles Platinum.  The leaves are sponged with Tim Holtz Distress ink, (Forest Moss, and the fir branches are a Martha Stewart Punch.  Everything except the ribbon and the papers (SU)  can be purchased at  Joan's Gardens.  

Detail for the microbeading

Inside sentiment is a Season's Greetings sticker on white polka dot paper. I used a  SU polka dot EF and my OFTEN used Embossing Diffuser to smooth the middle of the inside of the card., Tim Holtz Sizzix #657045 available at Joan's Gardens too.

Memory Box Christmas Inspirations

This card was created with Memory Box La Rue Ornament (large #98377) and coordinating die for the holographic paper that is under the red die cut.  The background is a SU EF polkadots and Memory Box Swirling Snowflakes (98653) used as a border.  The fir branches are a Martha Stewart punch and the ribbon is 1/8 inch satin.  These dies were purchased at Joan's Gardens.  I will post other cards with the Emma Ornament (MB 98411) when I have completed them.  They are also adhered to holographic paper.

This card was created with the Swirling Snowflakes (top part of the die (98653) used above. It is adhered to SU Night of Navy cardstock accented with pearls and gelly roll clear star writer.   The little Miss is a Sherry Baldi design colored with colored pencils and Gamsol (and some with Copics)  I have also used Deco Art Snow Writer and Deco Art Glistening Snow Writer on her hat, collar, and muff trim. The Merry Christmas sentiment is a sticker that I got from Pop-Ups Etc.

This ornament uses the Memory Box Emma Ornament  #98411 cut from Night of Navy blue paper adhered to holographic paper.  This is adhered to embossed white cardstock, embossed with Sizzix

#658283 Snowflake background stamp and embossing folder set.  The fir sprigs are punched with a Martha Stewart punch and the tiny glittered snowflakes and rhinestones are Jolee's boutique (EK)

Vintage Thanksgiving

This card was created exclusively for Joan's Touch challenge this week where we were to use a vintage stamp or photo, mix colors of ink together, and do some stenciling.   For the artpiece on this card I used Valentina's adorable pilgrim watercolor cluster available at The Digital Scrapbooking Studio in her Thanksgiving kit. This is die cut with Spellbinders Labels 20 (S5-026) dies and matted on Tim Holtz sandable Distress collection brown cardstock.  The stenciling was done with mixed Distress inks (Antique Linen, Forest Moss, Ripe Persimmon and Spiced Marmelade) stenciled on Tim Holtz Bubble and Burlap Layering Stencils. The grosgrain with leaves is from my stash. The card base is natural neutral cardstock from SU. All the Tim Holtz materials, and dies are available at Joan's Gardens.

House Mouse Halloween

This card is created with (an old) and adorable House Mouse wood-stamp.  I used my the striped dots EF by Craftwell in my E-bosser on the base, a yellow strip of quilling paper, a Trick or Treat stamp by SU and scalloped circle black punch mount.  The matting is black cardstock and David Walker's creative imaginations #10448 Wicked Stripes paper.  The mice (stamped in Memento Tuxedo Black) are colored with Martha Stewart colored pencils and finished in Gamsol.  LOVE this card! I got my indespensible Craftwell E-Bosser from At Joan's Gardens.

Congratulations Linda---50 Years

I made this card for a sorority sister to congratulate her on receiving her 50 year pin.  The Stamp is Just Rite's Irises (CL04530) cut out with Vintage Labels Four (JB04300) available At Joan's Gardens The matting is embossed with the Mosaic EF from Stampin Up    The LIttle key is by Olive Moon Beads (Lost and Found Metal Charms) available at Amazon.com.  The card is sponged in Tim Holtz Broken China blue distressing ink, and the stamp is colored with Martha Stewart colored pencils worked with Gamsol, and finished with Jelly Roll gold and clear star pens.  You can see the fun we had at Founder's Day here