One Layer Christmas Card

I am DEFINITELY not a one layer card person!!! May be it is cheaper to mail...but it sure doesn't look like my card I usually make!!! Anyway .... this is for the One Layer Christmas Card Challenge at Stamp TV...STVFRIGS3. (here is the website)

The other frightening thing is...I did NOT stamp on the front at ALL!!! Instead I used the Cuttlebug Embossing folder ornaments and rubbed it with Ladybug Memento ink...then ran it through the Cuttlebug and thus the color on the white GKD cs. I then used Sakura glitter pens to color the ornaments and added some corded bows for hangers and THAT is all of the embellishments I put on!!!!

I actually had to look up the definition of One Layer Card..here it is "One piece of card folded in half with no additional layers and minimal embellishments, where the image is stamped or printed directly onto the cardstock." (Definition from Less is More Blog)


But the inside I did stamp...I used GKD Merry and Bright ornaments and sentiment and also added Touche Rubber Stamp sentiment. I stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento and colored with Sakura Glitter pens.


So Merry Christmas!!! (But you can bet I'll add some BLING before I mail it! :-))

Front

Inside

Happy Thanksgiving!

I am so excited to be working with the great team of people at Mark's Finest Paper and Speedy the Cat's Challenges for the next 6 months! IT is super exciting to have been chosen to be on the Blog team and I am looking forward to the challenges and creating with the great stamps and products from Mark's. These are wonderful stamps to use and good quality products AND great shipping too!!

This is for the October 29 Speedy the Cat's Challenge  of Week 79 .. using scraps only. (Here is the website)

I opted to try something I'd never tried before...a tri-fold shutter card. ONCE I figured out how to score, cut and fold the next challenge was how to lay it out. Since the challenge was to use scraps only this worked like a charm for the backgrounds as I had plenty of Fall scraps in my scrap box! I measured and cut and and can think of some modifications I will do in the future...but finally got it laid out. The stamps were from Mark's Finest...Country Thanksgiving. This is a great set with LOTS of possibilities in combining stamps. I stamped with Tuxedo Black and then used Tangelo and Dandelion Memento to sponge backgrounds with. Colored with Copics and Sakura glitter pens. I used the Spellbinders Classic Scalloped rectangles, and Eyelet Squares. The sentiments were die cut with Ribbon Tags Trio 2, Fancy Tags Three and Ribbon Banners all by Spellbinders.

After I laid out the different sentiments and images, I filled in the rest of the spots with embellishments by Recollections and some bling, ribbon and a pin from Mark's Finest.

Hope you will join us for the challenge this week and see what kind of scraps you can find in your box! Happy searching ... and what a GREAT way to clean out that box!

Here is the card when folded up.

Here is the card when opened up!

Pretty in Pink

This is for the Outlines Monday Challenge 23 -- Pretty in Pink. I chose to do a Christmas card in MANY shades of pink! (Here is the website)

I used Outlines G-1116 Caroling Bird and D-1127 Let Music....and colored with Copics...LOTS of shades of PINK!!! Added some Sakura glitter pens and also some Snow Marker for "fuzz" on the hat. I used Cranberry Tart GKD cs, White GKD cs, Recollections dp. The stamping was with Rose Bud Memento and Tuxedo Black Memento and cut out with Labels 15, 20 by Spellbinders. Added a little ribbon, some ribbon trees and some bling and stickers. And Let the Music Fill the Air...soon we will be hearing those Christmas carols!

Front

Inside

Happy Halloween! For Fun Challenge

This is for the For Fun Challenges...October 26..Anything Goes - Halloween Style. The challenge runs Wednesday, October 26 thru Tuesday, November 1.  (Here is the website)

The Sponsor is Rick St. Dennis  and the prize is a digital sheet of Halloween Images. He has some really nifty looking images and really makes you think OUTSIDE the box!

I used 3 images...1 on the front and 2 on the inside.  The witch I colored with Copics and Sakura glitter pens and gave her LOTS of colors! Then cut her out with Spellbinders Labels 17. The cs was GKD black onyx and the dp was Martha Stewart's Halloween. It was the perfect background for some SPOOKY looks. I added some stickers, embellishments, pearls and a little ribbon. The corners were punched with Martha Stewart's spider web corner punch.

The inside used Labels 17 to cut out the image and Labels 3 to cut out the sentiment. All of the backgrounds were sponged with Clearly Better Silver Ink and Brilliance Copper ink to add a "spooky" look!

And I do hope you have a mystically magical Halloween! Enjoy the adventures of ghosts, goblins, witches and look for the black cat crossing the road! And maybe your creation will be a treat and win you some goodies! Good luck!

Witches, Spiders, Bats and Cats!

Happy Halloween!

Candles

This was an inspiration from the Mark's Finest Papers Speedy the Cat's Blog 12 Days of Christmas Hop.
(You can find the 12 days of BLog hop here)

This is for Speedy the Cat's Altered Item Challenge #78.  (Here is the website for the challenge)

To stamp on a candle!?!?!  I have to admit I honestly didn't know HOW or IF it would work....and was absolutely amazed to find that it NOT only worked...BUT was very quick and easy! Amazing!!!! I am not really sure how safe it would be to burn though so I opted to try it first of all on a battery operated tea votive...then did do it on a short pillar candle. I think I would still opt to use the battery operated as I think it would be the safest to burn!

BUT...easy to do...I stamped with MFP Ginger Cookies with Cocoa Memento ink on tissue paper. The sentiment was also from MFP Ginger Cookies with Cottage Ivy Memento ink on tissue paper.  Cut out around it leaving an edge...then laid it where I wanted it on the votive outside...took a piece of wax paper and wrapped it over it and rolled it tight to the back of the votive so I could hold it flat...used my heat gun until it melted...and it melted right into the wax...doesn't take long! Then when it cooled I used some Bic Markers and a glitter marker to add a little color.

                                                        

Then I decided to also try it on a pillar candle. This time I used MFP Cardinals in Winter and stamped the cardinal part with Ladybug Red Memento Ink and the leaves with Cottage Ivy Memento. Followed the same procedure with the wax paper...and here it is!

Here they both are.
This could be a great holiday gift!

Thanksgiving Invites

Here are some Thanksgiving invites for my nieces and nephews and their families. Everyone is invited to my house for Thanksgiving and it is a great time to catch up on all of the "happenings" and see everyone and how much the little ones have grown! Those grand nieces and nephews are growing up WAY too fast!
The parent adults of the group get the "fancier" cards"! :-)

These were quite easy and basic. I used Basic grey dp and GKD chocolate cs with a yellow cs card background. Then I used Paper Trey Autumn Tags and they were easy enough to stamp with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and cut out with Lacey circles by Spellbinders. Then cut out a brown circle with a nesting circle from QuickKutz, glue it on, add some ribbon and on the card it goes! Added a little bow, some bling and then decorated the envelopes....put the invite on the inside....and it is ready to go!

Outside

Inside computerized invite

4 ready to send out!

Happy Birthday!

This is for the Outlines Birthday Bash Challenge 22. What fun it was to make a birthday card instead of Halloween or Fall! :-) (here is the website)

I used Outlines C-238 Happy, C-239 Birthday, E-406 Cake Sq. Large on the front and on the inside is D-1076 Birthdays Are sentiment and C-1079 Happy Birthday to You. I used my Smooch and enjoyed coloring in with those and also Copics and Sakura glitter. The GKD white cs and Lovely Lavender with Carol Wilson dp. Added a ribbon, bow, some brads and some stickers to make it more festive! And Happy Birthday to you!

Front

Inside

Bugs and Hisses to You! For Fun Challenge

This is For Fun Challenges  - October 19 - which is Halloween or Fall but NO orange, purple or black! NOW that was a challenge to NOT use the usual Halloween colors! This weekly challenge is sponsored by Bugaboo and the Prize is 7 images of the winner's choosing! SO give it a try and see where your creative juices take you to come up with Halloween or Fall withOUT the usual colors! If you think EEEEK!!!! it can be done! (Here is their website)

I was lucky enough to win the honor of being a guest designer for a month and am looking forward to creating and hope you are eager to try their challenges, too. It is sure to be fun!

For the front of the card I used this adorable digi image of frog in witch's hat. I colored with Copics and Sakura glitter pens and used the Spellbinders Labels 7 diecuts. The cs is Aqua Light by Mark's Finest and the dp is from BoBunny. I used Outlines 1113-B Bugs and Hisses sentiment stamped in Vivid aqua ink. I used gold Encore ink to sponge the edges and also stamp Eeeek by Studio G. I added some stickers and embellishments from Studio G, Jolee's boutique eyes, K&Company and Recollections. I used the Crop-a-dile corner chomper stub/deco.

The inside was die cut with Labels 11 and the Haunted House digi was colored with Copics and Sakura glitter pens. Again added some embellishments and a flying ghost and stamped with gold.

So put your creative juices to work and see what you can come up with a Halloween or Fall theme with NO traditional colors -- it was really quite fun and an excellent challenge to REALLY make you think!
This challenge runs from Wed., October 19 thru Tuesday, October 25. A good chance to win some images!

Bugs and Hisses Front

Happy Halloween Inside

I also made this one with just the Fall theme..NO orange, purple or black! I used kraft cs from GKD, K and Company dp. Punched the corners with a heart corner punch and Crop-A-Dile corner chomper deco. I cut out the digi image with Labels 9 which I colored with Copics and Sakura glitter pens. Stamped some Judith stamps with a variety of inks -- Vivid aqua, straw, brown, olive, garnet and Memento desert sand and sweet plum. The sentiment stamp is Impression Obsession. Added some leaves by Recollections and some stickers from WalMart.

The inside was a rub on, colored with Copics and Sakura glitter pens and added some gold rhinestones. Again Labels 9 die cut was used and Ribbon Banners was the sentiment from Mark's Finest Products. Added some leaves and stickers.  And It's Fall Y'All!

Fall Fun Front

It's Fall Y'All inside

Got Candy? Trick or Treat

This is for the One Crazy Stamper challenge of creating a Halloween/Fall theme card. I wanted to make sure to enter this challenge because of the fact that this was the great place that I won the September set of Your Next Stamps and they are great stamps! MANY thanks again for the honor of that! (Here is their website)

I opted to use 4 of the stamps, FF016 - Happy Halloween, HRSH01 Spooktacular, HRSHO2 Spooky Hello and F012 Got Candy. I colored with Copics and Sakura glitter pens. I stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and sponged the pumpkin diecuts by Spellbinders with Tangelo Memento and Vivid Olive. Added some Really Reasonable Halloween Ribbon and some bling and ghost stickers.

Happy Halloween!!

Just dropping by......

Inside...including the top! :-)

Eat Cake and Be Merry

This is for the Penny Black Saturday Challenge -- Week 172..Age is Just a Number. The theme was to create a card personalized with a number. (here is the website)

I choose to used Penny Black stamps, Eat Cake and sentiment Wrap a Hug. I die cut the image with rectangles by Quick Kutz and stars by Spellbinders after I colored with Copics and Sakura glitter pens. I used blue cs by GKD and Creative Imaginations dp and stamped with Memento ink --Tuxedo Black, Danube Blue and  Summer Sky. Added some blue/green ribbon and some embellishments and wishing a Happy 8th Birthday!

Eat Cake and Be Merry front

Wrapped with a hug inside

Hoooo..To You.....Happy Owlowleen!

This is for Outlines Challenge 20 -- Halloween/Fall Theme. (Here is their website)

This is also for One Crazy Stamper. (Here is their website)

I decided to make an open window on the front and then stamped the image and adhered it to the inside. The part of the image that should have been seen but was covered up by the oval window I fussy cut the pieces out and glued them to the oval.

I used Outlines stamp, C0119 7 HOOOOOO, G1099 Spooky Owl and the inside sentiment is C-294 Boo! I used Pumpkin Spice GKD cs, BoBunny dp, white cs GKD. Colored with Smooch and Sakura glitter pens. The ink was Memento Tuxedo Black,  Dandelion and Tangelo. Added some embellishments, stickers and ribbon. The image was cut out with Labels 13, Rectangles and Scrapmart ovals.

Happy Owloween! (front)

Boo!!  Open up to the entire picture on the inside.

Tis the Season to Rejoice

This is a new stamp set from Mark's Finest Products. It is a great set to work with for your Christmas creations. I tried it out for Speedy the Cat's Challenge  Week #76 -- No Designer Paper. (Here is the website)

I used Autumn Rose cs from PaperTrey, Cranberry Tart cs from GKD and white cs from MFP. I embossed the Autumn Rose with a Sizzix folder Flourish Dots and Ribbon, added some Autumn Rose ribbon from Paper Trey. The stamp set is Mark's Finest Holly Greetings and I stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink and embossed the sentiment on a Spellbinders Fancy Tags Trio die cut with gold. The wreath was colored with Copics, Sakura glitter pens and then accented with Flower Soft -- Christmas green, Sage, Heather, Toffee. The tag was sponged with Tim Holtz Distress Spun Sugar and Tattered Rose. I used Magenta Pearl Pen for the dots on the tag.

 The sentiment on the inside was stamped with Cottage Ivey Memento and colored with Copics and Sakura glitter.

Tis the Season

Inside

Happy Autumn

This card is for the Outlines Challenge...20- Halloween/Fall Theme. I opted to do a Fall theme as I have my Halloween cards all done. (Here is their website)

I used Outlines stamps 1-793 Split Layering Collage-Autumn, B-1111 Happy Autumn sentiment and on the inside G-1100 Owl Branch all stamped with Tuxedo Black Memento ink. I then colored with Copics and Sakura glitter pens. I decided to put this rectangle collage piece in a photo frame card. I covered the photo frame card with Moxxie dp and also added some stickers from Sandylion, some ribbon and leaf and pumpkin brads. The inside is also Moxxie dp and the owl is cut out with Spellbinders Nested Owls die cuts. The owl stickers in the inside are by Recollections. I sponged both the outside sentiment and the inside owl with Desert Sand Memento. Then decided to also decorate the envelope a bit.

And hope you are having a Happy Autumn! Right now in Wisconsin the weather is SO beautiful! Temps have been in the high 70's during the day with bright blue sky and sunshine! The colors on the tress are changing and quickly reaching their peak. It is gorgeous! Tomorrow going to go for a LONG lovely drive to see the views and an apple orchard!

Happy Autumn! ENJOY!

Happy Autumn

I give a Hoot!

Even a little deco on the envelope!

Ho! Ho! Sending You Joy

I am so glad to be able to be creating again. Thank heavens the eye has repaired itself and is doing fine! YEA!!!! Miracles of doctors and medicines!!!

So what I have today is my Christmas/Winter Swap cards for Speedy the Cat ... the swap is to make 4 cards and get 3 back in return...so am looking forward to adding the "new" ones to my collection. I actually really enjoyed making these cards and did make 3 of my own to send out at Christmas! I will get those cards done yet!

This is also for Stamp Tv's Monday challenge of decorate your envelope to go with any card.  (Here is the website)

I used Mark's Finest Christmas Postage Due Stamps. This is the greatest set and has so many different ways in which you can use it. I really like working with it. I used Ladybug red, Cottage Ivy and Tuxedo Black Memento ink, colored with Copics, Sakura glitter pens and added some Ranger clear glossy accent for the glasses and also Flower Soft Polar Fleece for the beard and fur on the hats. The Spellbinders curved rectangles were used for the diecuts. It was white MFP white, red cs and Recollections Sugar Plum dp and polka dot cs.

I also did the envelope...used a DRS postage stamp and colored with Copics and Sakura glitter and rub on stickies for a little deco.

Happy Holidays early!

Inside sentiment

All 4 of the swap cards

The front of the envelope