Dec 6, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
It was time for the rubber to meet the road, as they say. I was determined to finish all of my Christmas cards by the second weekend in December. So, this happened:
Rudolf from Santa’s Sleigh meets Christmas Quilt Designer Series Paper. If you’ve been following my blog, I think you know these are two of my favorite Holiday items. I put them together on a card that was easy to duplicate. As you can see, the design is identical, but the colors and patterns aren’t. Brian King gave me the idea of spreading them out on my work surface for a photo, which I did last night. Look at the note my husband left for me before going to work this morning:
There was a conversation going on in the Demonstrator Planning Place about supportive husband’s. It was very encouraging to read how many spouses support us crazy crafters, and I feel blessed to be one of those.
My mother always liked playing “pick a favorite.” We might choose a favorite today, and a different favorite tomorrow, but it is a game that helped me with decision making. So, here is today’s favorite:
Rudolf is wearing my favorite piece of Wood Texture DSP, and I like him against the Woodland embossed oval, and the red and white Christmas Quilt that looks like poinsettias.
And, tomorrow’s favorite is:
Rudolf is so cute in gingham, and I like him against the colorful trees.
In case you are wondering, the little sign is from At Home With You, and I used mini-dimensionals to pop it up. I also took the time to double layer Rudolf.
Now, I just need to sign, address, stamp and mail. Have a great day, everyone!
Dec 5, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
The theme for this month is “love.”
For December’s project, I wanted to use hearts. Specifically, hearts from the Sure Do Love You Bundle in the new Occasions 2018 catalog, page 19. I’ve been anxious to try making the Love Box, and was ready to get started.
This is the finished product, and I really like the texture on the stamps in this set, giving them a rustic look:
Sure Do Love You Box
The box was much easier to make than I anticipated. I used one sheet of 8 1/2 X 11 Thick Very Vanilla, and cut two pieces for the box with the Lots To Love Die. The die did all the work of measuring, cutting and scoring. I just needed two strips of Tear Tape to fasten it together. The two flaps fold in to make a perfect, little box, 4 7/8″ X 3″ X 5/8″.
I began decorating the top of the box with my husband in mind. He likes the neutral shade of Crumb Cake, so I cut a piece to fit the top of the box.
The leafy, heart border is so pretty, and I stamped it in Always Artichoke on an angle.
Next, I stamped the two hearts in Cherry Cobbler on Very Vanilla cardstock, and cut them with the Lots to Love Box Framelits Dies.
But the fun didn’t stop there! I stamped the little leaf in Always Artichoke on Crumb Cake cardstock, and the “Sure Do Love You” banner in Sahara Sand on Very Vanilla cardstock, and used the same die set for cutting.
I popped up the hearts and banner on dimensionals, and I think my husband will really like it! I’m sure he knows I love him, but who doesn’t like an extra, little something? I haven’t decided what I’ll place inside.
You probably noticed the shadows on my pictures. It is such a beautiful, sunny day, I didn’t want to close the blinds. So, I’m sending some heartfelt warmth to you!
Dec 4, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
This will be my last Little Dummer Boy design for the season, but I’m not promising he won’t appear next year. This design was inspired by the beautiful project at the Global Design Project Challenge. Isn’t it wonderful?
Here is my project, using the same colors of Whisper White, Crumb Cake and Sky Blue. I just love this soft, color combination.
The Little Drummer Boy Playing From His Heart
I began by stamping the Little Drummer Boy from Musical Season with Crumb Cake ink on Crumb Cake cardstock. It’s fun to cut him out with the die from Musical Instruments. I still get a thrill watching images appear, perfectly cut, after rolling them through the Big Shot.
The music was made with the Background Sheet Music Stamp. I stamped the Crumb Cake ink pad on the stamp, rather than the normal way, because it’s so large.
TIP: Place your cardstock on top of the stamp, press for even coverage, and lift carefully. This is backward also, but you’ll be happy with the results.
I used a retired die from Project Life for cutting the Sheet Music. Then, I used the tree die from Santa’s Sleigh to cut a tree from the music. Next, I used that same tree die, cut a tree from Soft Sky card stock, and placed it in the “hole” like a jig saw puzzle.
The little Drummer Boy wanted to decorate the tree with hearts (Falling Petals embossing folder) to go along with the sentiment from his Musical Season stamp set.
I added a heart that I punched from a roll of Glitter Tape. Both are retired, but could be duplicated with current product.
Thank you for stopping by my blog. “May the spirit of the season be the melody that plays in your heart all year long.”
Dec 3, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
Continuing in my quest for “quick and easy” Christmas cards, I used this week’s Tic Tac Toe challenge. The words seemed conducive to Fall, but Fall lasts until December 21st, so this could be a Christmas card. I would use the right row down, chevron, sketch, acorn.
For “sketch,” I used this week’s CAS(E) this sketch challenge, and cased my own card. If you missed the background story, here it is:
Quick and Easy Christmas Card Rudolf the Reindeer from Santa’s Sleigh
I found the “chevron” and “acorns” in the Painted Autumn designer Series Paper. I did not let the fact that it was titled “Autumn” deter me.
I was anxious to see how Rudolf would look in his “chevron” coat, and he pranced around in it very happily. His background was embossed on Very Vanilla with the Woodland folder, and Oak trees sprang up before our eyes. This led to a multitude of “acorns” covering the forest floor.
Rudolf is very much in the Christmas spirit, wearing his wreath, and hanging “Merry Christmas” signs on the trees.
Chevron Rudolf Christmas Card
I decorated the corner with leaves (Painted Harvest stamp set) stamped in Garden Green ink, and cut with the Leaf Punch. Rudolf’s wreath is from the Santa’s Sleigh stamp set, and the sign is from the At Home With You stamp set. The acorn DSP was cut with a Seasonal Layers die.
Thanks for checking in on Rudolf. I know he enjoyed showing off his chevron coat.
Dec 2, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
I can’t believe it’s December 1st! I still have 40 cards to make, so I’m using the CAS(E) this sketch challenge for a card that I can easily duplicate.
I began with the Seasonal Layers Die, which would cut the prominent, scallop, shape across the lower portion of the sketch. I chose a fun print from the Christmas Quilt Designer Series Paper, let the die do its work, and glued it on the Whisper White card base.
Next, I selected my favorite reindeer from Santa’s Sleigh, and die cut him from Wood Textures Designer Series Paper. I double layered him to give him extra body, and he actually came alive!
Rudolf took things on his own from here, and made his background with the Woodland Embossing Folder. I was surprised to see he was getting the entire forest in the Christmas spirit by hanging “Merry Christmas” signs on all the trees.
I was so delighted with his attitude that I added a little color to his forest with the Leaf Punch and Christmas Quilt DSP. This was a joint effort, and I appreciated the help.
Thanks for visiting my blog at this busy time of year. Enjoy the season!
Nov 30, 2017 | Gallery, Hand-Crafted Cards |
The first time I saw Stampin’ Ups! Holiday catalog, I fell in love with the Little Drummer Boy. It’s my husband’s favorite Christmas Carol, and I knew he would drum along on many of my Christmas cards. Today’s card is for the Fab Friday challenge.
The colors are perfect for a Christmas card, so I decided to case my own card, and change the colors from the original.
I used the Sheet Music stamp to make the Lemon Lime Twist musical trees.
The same set of dies (Card Front Builder) was used for the trees and the peek-a-boo border.
The Real Red berries were punched with the Hand-Held 1/8″ Punch.
The Little Drummer Boy
This is the original I made in August, and you may refer to it for more details.
Little Drummer Boy Makes a Perfect Holiday
I’ll show the inside of todays card, because it’s fun to see how the back side of the Emerald Envy DSP decorates it. The “Merry Christmas” is from the Merry Mistletoe stamp set, and die cut with a Stitched Shape Oval. You could stamp it right on the Thick Whisper White card base, but until I get my Stamparatus, this is the safest way to go.
It takes extra time to add dimensionals, but the “lift” seems worth it. I almost forgot to mention; the white star between the trees is a cut-out from the border. There’s very little “trash” in crafting. Right?
Thanks for marching along with the Little Drummer Boy today!
