Friday, November 30, 2012

Christmas in a Flurry

Christmas in a Flurry

I created a couple of simple cards that could be made quickly and easily adapted to match some fun tags.




Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White
Stamps/Inks: Versamark, HA Shadow Ink Mid-tone - Red Royal and Field Greens, Memento - Paris Dusk, Encore Gold ink, SSS - O Christmas Tree, HA - Wire Star, CL630 Miracle of the Holidays, Penny Black - A Splash of Winter
Cutting/Embossing: Judikins - Egyptian Gold embossing powder
Misc.: Xmas Red Stickles

Tuesday, November 27, 2012

Christmas in a Flurry - Day 1

Day 1 of Christmas in a Flurry!

Topic: One-layer Cards


I was SO disappointed, when I discovered that instead of Judikins Sticky Stuff, I had received in my most recent order the Judikins Opaque White embossing powder - and it definitely does NOT work with Glitter Ritz -- so I was a little limited in what I could do for class today! Side note - the Judikins Opaque White does emboss very nicely, though!

Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White
Stamps/Inks: SSS - O Christmas Tree, Sentiment from Hero Arts, Impress Fresh Ink - Mojito, Delicata gold ink
Misc.: Xmas red stickles, tombow marker

Monday, November 26, 2012

DeNami Sketch Challenge #14

Fun DeNami sketch challenge this month!

For this challenge, there are only two requirements:
1) Create a card/project based off of the sketch above

2) Use at least one DeNami Design stamp. If you have some DeNami products, we'd love to see you use them too, although it's not required.

Here's mine:



Materials:
Paper: Misc. Bazzill cardstock, Neenah - Solar White
Stamps/Inks: Memento - Bamboo, Rhubarb Stalk, Memento, Cottage Ivy, DeNami - Christmas Candles Set, F155 Peace, Hope, Joy, F194 Happy Holidays Circle, and PF50 Ornamental Flowers stamp set
Cutting/Embossing: Spellbinder's Nestabilities - Standard and Scalloped Circles
Misc.: Xmas red stickles, copic markers, dimensional adhesive, AC glitter tape


And a little knitting:


Pattern: Woolly Matroyshka Dolls by Marie Mayhew
Needle Size: 10 1/2 dpn
Yarn: Misc. Brown Sheep Nature Spun Worsted

Sunday, November 25, 2012

Lawnscaping Challenge: Tags

 Here's this week's challenge over at The Lawnscaping Challenge Blog...


"You can make any sort of tag for any occasion   Birthdays, Baby Showers, Teacher gift, Christmas, New Years, thank you, etc.... It doesn't have the be the traditional type tag either. Some of our members made adorable projects using a tag on a card of scrapbook layout!" 

Here are mine:



Sorry for the less than ideal photos - I wasn't at home, so I didn't have my light tent. These are just simple - to accent a basket of little knitted gnomes for a local charity fundraiser.


Materials:
Paper: Kraft, misc. Bazzill cardstock
Stamps/Inks: Lawn Fawn - And a Partridge, Gnome Sweet Gnome; Memento - Tuxedo Black, Paris Dusk, Rhubarb Stalk, Bamboo Leaves, Colorbox - Frost White
Cutting/Embossing: PTI tag die
Misc.:White gel pen, prismacolor pencils and gamsol, May arts twine, ribbon, buttons

And here are the baskets!



The first is themed, "Letter to Santa" and includes a Santa-gnome, some hand-made holiday cards (see link HERE to what the cards look like), stamps, cookies, hot chocolate, gift card to local photo store. The second is a trio of gnomes with the holiday tags shown previously.

Pattern: Marie Mayhew's Felted Woolly Gnome and Mushroom
Needle Size: 10.5 dpn
Yarn: Misc. Brown Sheep Nature Spun (worsted), wool roving (reg and curly), Lion Brand Fun Fur yarn for fuzzy brims.

Thursday, November 22, 2012

A little knitting and some Christmas fun

Happy Thanksgiving!

Here are some mass-produced cards that I created over the past weekend for an upcoming charity auction. It's going to be part of a basket themed "Letters to Santa." There are about 25 total. I've only photographed two.


Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar white
Stamps/Inks: Memento - Summer Sky and Rhubarb Stalk, TH Distress Ink - Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers, Tumbled Glass, Colorbox - Frost White, Impress Fresh Ink - Mojito, Grass, and Mango, Hero Arts - Designer Snowflakes, Lawn Fawn - Let it Snow, Critters in the Snow

And, a little knitting! This was a quick and simple projected finished in a very short period of time. It's a gift for a 5 month old baby boy.


Pattern: Baby Gnome Hat
Yarn: Encore Worsted
Needles: 7

And a fun Christmas shaker card that I made with some of the newest additions to the crafting "stash." This is based on a card made by Jennifer McGuire recently...

Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White, WRS - Bella paper pad, misc. Bazzill cardstock, kraft
Stamps/Inks: Memento - Love Letter, Hero Arts Shadow Midtone - Field Greens, Pool, Raspberry Jam, and Butter Bar; SSS - Merry Everything and O Christmas Tree, Impression Obsession - Textural Dots
Cutting/Embossing: FranticStamper window die, SSS - O Christmas tree dies
Misc. Foam/Adhesive, Stampendous Shaved Ice

Friday, November 16, 2012

Hero Arts -- 24 hours of 90 minute Scrambles

Big weekend --- the Hero Arts Flickr group is hosting 24 consecutive hours of 90 minute scrambles, starting at 6:30 PM on November 16th and ending at 6:30 PM on November 17th. I've decided to play along for a few and will be updating this post periodically to reflect any of the challenges I participate in. How does it work? Every two hours, starting at 6:30 PM on November 16 CST, there will be a challenge posted, and participants have 90 minutes to create a card (using a Hero Arts stamp), following whatever the challenge rules are, and upload it to flickr. So much fun! We're off and running.

Scramble Time: 8:30 PM - Theme - Christmas and Thank You


Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White, misc. Bazzill cardstock
Stamps/Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black, TH Distress Ink - Peacock Feathers and Salty Ocean, Hero Arts - Everyday Sayings and Designer Snowflakes, Colorbox - Frost White
Cutting/Embossing: Dee's Distinctively Dies - Christmas Stacker Tree die Set
Misc.: Liquid Pearls mist


Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White
Stamps/Inks: Hero Arts - Designer Snowflakes and Everyday Sayings, Colorbox - Frost White, Mama Elephant - Polar Pals (ornament twine), Amuse - Cranberry and Fresh Ink - Mojito and Provincial Gray


Scramble Time: 10:30 PM - Theme - Get Well, 1 or all 3 of three choices - For a Child, Include a Button, at least 3 Textures



Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White, misc. Bazzill cardstock
Stamps/Inks: Hero Arts Shadow Ink - Green Hills and Stone Wash, HA - Best of the Best and CG422 Zig Zag
Cutting/Embossing:Cuttlebug - Swiss Dots
Misc.:Buttons, twine from The Twinery, dimensional adhesive

Scramble Time: 4:30 AM (didn't get up until 5, though) - Theme/Design Element - Include a Tag --- This one was an actual winner!!


Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White, Kraft
Stamps/Inks: Hero Arts Shadow Midtones - Field Greens, Hero Arts - Merry Background and Holiday Sayings
Cutting/Embossing: Sizzix Tags/Scallop Combo #2, Spellbinder's Nestabilities - Standard Circles, Tonic Border Punch - Christmas Tree
Misc.: Dimensional adhesive, satin ribbon

Scramble Time: 6:30 AM - "Repeated Stamping" (Use the same stamp for background AND focal point).


Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White, misc. Bazzill cardstock
Stamps/Inks: HA - E2603 Trees with Bright Stars and clear Holiday Sayings, Memento - Tuxedo Black and Cottage Ivy
Misc.: Copic markers, dimensional adhesive


Scramble Time: 8:30 AM  - Theme/Design Element - Make a shaped card or tag and show absolutely no white, off white or cream paper, ink, or embellishment on your project. You can start with white, off-white or cream...but ink it up and change that color on the front side, or use colored paper. MUST also include a Hero Arts IMAGE stamp or digi.


Materials:
Paper: Kraft, misc. Bazzill cardstock
Stamps/Inks: Versafine - Olympia Green, HA - Holiday Sayings, Pinecone Wreath, Ranger Archival Black Ink
Cutting/Embossing: Spellbinder's Nestabilities - Scalloped Circles, Ranger superfine clear embossing powder, Copper embossing powder
Misc.: Dimensional adhesive, jewel embellishments


Materials:
Paper: Kraft, misc. Bazzill cardstock
Stamps/Inks: Versafine - Olympia Green, HA - Merry Merry Christmas Tree
Cutting/Embossing: Spellbinder's Nestabilities - Scalloped Circles, Ranger superfine clear embossing powder, Dee's Distinctively Wreath Builder Die
Misc.: Jewel Embellishments

Scramble Time: 10:30 - Theme - An Animal of a Different Color



Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White, misc. Bazzill cardstock, Best Creation - Winter Wonderful
Stamps/Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black and Paris Dusk, TH Distress - Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, and Peacock Feathers, Versamark, HA - Holiday Sentiments, Bird with Holly, and Snow Dots background stamp
Cutting/Embossing: Crystal embossing powder, Spellbinder's Nestabilities - Standard and Scalloped Circles
Misc.: Copic markers, Marvy Snow Marker, Glossy accents, dimensional adhesive

Scramble (#10!) Time: 12:30 - Theme - Use only cream, red and gold on your cards.

 I had a hard time with this one -- really had to scrounge to find anything cream colored!

Materials:
Paper: Cream cardstock, misc. Bazzill cardstock
Stamps/Inks: HA - Christmas Stockings Stamp & Cut, Clear Holiday Sentiments, Snow Dots; Memento - Rhubarb Stalk, Versamark
Cutting/Embossing: HA/Archivers - Stockings Stamp & Cut, Spellbinder's - Labels Die, Crystal and gold embossing powder
Misc.: American Craft Glitter Tape, dimensional adhesive

Scramble (#11) Time: 2:30 - Theme - Use at least one Hero Arts image or background stamp not just one of their sentiments. Also use at least THREE different patterned papers on your card. The papers can be from the same paper pad, just make sure each one is different. Any theme is fine too - Christmas, Thank You, Love, Thinking of You . . .etc.

Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White, misc. Bazzill cardstock, Lawn Fawn - Fa-La-La Petite Paper Pack, watercolor paper
Stamps/Inks: HA/Sizzix - Snowflake Background, HA: Merriest Christmas Wishes (CG377), LOTV - Christmas Circular Sentiments, Memento - Bahama Blue, TH Distress Ink - Tumbled Glass, Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers
Cutting/Embossing: Spellbinder's Nestabilities - Standard and Scalloped Circles
Misc.: Copic markers, perfect pearls mist, dimensional adhesive

THE FINAL SCRAMBLE --- #12 ---- Theme: Time (Since TIME plays a huge part of our Scrambles, my theme is - " "Time" for a Scramble"! Suggestions:
1. Use numbers (time is made up of numbers)
2. The word "time" in a phrase (see my example), "Fun time", "time for tea", etc
3. A clock image, patterned paper, element, etc
4. An event, date, holiday


 All tired out...
Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White, misc. Bazzill cardstock
Stamps/Inks: Memento - Bahama Blue, TH Distress Inks - Tumbled Glass, HA - F4815 Circle Christmas Tree

Cutting/Embossing: Sizzix Embossing Folder
Misc.: TH distress stain - picket fence, glossy accents, tombow marker, pearl embellishments

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Bellarific Friday

Bellarific Friday post! This week was a sketch challenge (been a while since I've participated, so I was happy to try out some new stamps this week!)

I rotated the sketch.
Here's mine:


Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White, misc. Bazzill cardstock, Cosmo Cricket - No peeking
Stamps/Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Stamping Bella - Mister Penguin Helps Ramona
Cutting/Embossing: Spellbinder's Nestabilities - Standard Ovals and Scalloped Ovals, Sizzix embossing folder
Misc.: Copic markers, waterfall and stardust stickles, onyx black liquid pearls, pearl embellishments

Monday, November 12, 2012

Lawnscaping Challenge

Here's this week's challenge over at the Lawnscaping Challenge Blog!


"Today we have a fun challenge in store for you! Dust 'Em Off!!!!! Do you have something in your stash that you haven't used in a while? A stamp, some glitter? Embossing powder? Ink? Well now is the time to drag that puppy out and put it to use!!!!"

Here's my take on the challenge:



These are some stamps that were purchased during ScrapFest, but I hadn't inked up before! And, I used some embossing powder that's probably at least 15 years old, that I just recently rediscovered in my stash. It may be hard to tell from this photo, but the crystal embossing powder is kind of holographic in sparkle and is embossed on top of the vellum.

Materials:
Paper: Misc. Bazzill cardstock, Neenah - Solar White, misc. Bazzill cardstock, Vellum, kraft, Lawn Fawn DP
Stamps/Inks: Memento - Tuxedo Black, Lawn Fawn -Let it Snow and Sweet Christmas, Versamark, Market Street Stamps - Woodgrain background stamp, Amuse/Fresh Ink - Mojito and Evergreen, TH Distress Ink - Salty Ocean and Peacock Feathers
Cutting/Embossing: Spellbinder's Nestabilities - Standard Circles, Sandylion Crystal Embossing Powder
Misc.: Copic markers, dimensional adhesive

Christmas Cards!

It's that time of year... copious Christmas cards....

Here are just a few simple cards that I've been working on in my spare time:


Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White, Kraft
Stamps/Inks: Archival Jet Black ink, TH Distress Ink - Antique Linen, Hero Arts tree stamp
Misc.: Tombow markers


Materials:
Paper: Misc. Bazzill cardstock, Neenah - Solar White
Stamps/Inks: Hero Arts - Wire Star and Clear Holiday Sentiments, Versamark
Cutting/Embossing: Sizzix Embossing folder, gold embossing powder


Materials:
Paper: Misc. Bazzill cardstock, Neenah - Solar White, Best Creation Inc. - Winter Wonderful
Stamps/Inks: TH Distress - Salty Ocean and Peacock Feathers, Verve - Peace on Earth, Memento - Tuxedo Black, HA - Snow Dots, Colorbox - Frost White
Cutting/Embossing: Memory Box die - Country Landscape
Misc.: Twine from the Twinery

Sunday, November 11, 2012

Hero Arts 90 Minute Scramble

Here's this week's 90 minute card scramble challenge....

Create a card in under 90 minutes using a Hero Arts stamp, a background stamp, and a border punch!
(And get it or them tagged and posted in the Hero Arts Flickr group within the 90 minutes).


Materials:Stamps: HA - Snow Dots, Holiday Clear Sentiments, and Greatest Gift, Memento - Paris Dusk, Versamark, Colorbox - Frost White
Cutting/Embossing: PTI - tiny tag, EK success border punch
Misc: Twine from The Twinery, Perfect Pearls mist
Paper: Kraft, Neenah - Solar White, misc. Bazzill cardstock 

Two views of this one -- trying to capture all the sparkle.

Materials:
Stamps/Inks - HA: Snow Dots and Clear Holiday greetings, Versamark, Memento - Love Letter
Punches/Cutting/Embossing: Holographic embossing powder, warm glitter ritz, ek success snowflake punch, Wplus9 - snowflake and heart dies
Misc: Dimensional adhesive and American Crafts glitter tape
Paper: Misc. Bazzill cardstock, Neenah - Solar White

Thursday, November 8, 2012

Holiday Card Workshop Day 9

Second to last day, sad! What will I do with the extra time...catch up on knit projects?

Topic: Cards with Sentiment Stamps

Technique 1: Faux Metal Sentiment Stamping


LOVED this technique.
Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White, misc. Bazzill cardstock
Stamps/Inks: Versamark, StazOn Black Ink, Verve - Peace on Earth
Cutting/Embossing: Silver Embossing Powder, Sizzix die, Cuttlebug embossing folder

Technique 2: Sentiment Background

Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White, misc. Bazzill cardstock
Stamps/Inks: Various Memento inks, Verve - Joyous Noel, Holiday Greetings, and Merry & Bright

Technique 3: Multicolor Stamping


Materials:
Paper: Misc. Bazzill cardstock, Neenah - Solar White, Echo Park - Very Merry Christmas
Stamps/Inks: Various Memento and Hero Arts Shadow Mid-Tone inks, Lawn Fawn - Let it Snow




Wednesday, November 7, 2012

Holiday Card Workshop Day 8

Day 8 is here...
Topic: Cards Using Dies

Technique: Simple Die Cutting/Distressed Background with Inks



Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar White
Stamps/Inks: Just Rite Clear - Large Fancy Holiday Sentiments and O Christmas Tree, TH Distress Inks - Iced Spruce, Peeled Paint, Evergreen Bought; Memento - Rich Cocoa and blue, Versafine - Onyx Black
Cutting/Embossing: Spellbinder's Nestabilities - Nested Pennants
Misc.: Dimensional adhesive


Tuesday, November 6, 2012

Holiday Card Class - Day 7

Day 7... class is just flying by.

Day 7 – Cards with Reverse Stamps

Technique: Color Blending plus Layering


Materials:
Paper: Neenah - Solar white, misc. Bazzill cardstock
Stamps/Inks: TH Distress Inks - Peacock feathers, iced spruce, black soot; Colorbox - Frost White, Stampin' Up - Serene Snowflakes, Hero Arts -Winter Tree, LOTV - Christmas grungy sentiments, Memento - Tuxedo Black, Fresh Ink - Steel Blue
Misc.: Dimensional adhesive, stardust stickles

Technique: Inner Masking Alternative
Frankly, I found that masking and using two embossing powders to be impossible. I just embossed two sheets of paper, cut out the tree, and then adhered it so that it matched the pattern. Much less stressful. I couldn't get my mask to stick properly to the versamark, and it resulted in a huge mess.



Materials:
Paper: Misc. Bazzill cardstock, Neenah - Solar White
Stamps/Inks: Memento - Love Letter, Versamark, Just Rite Clear - Large Fancy Holiday Sentiments, Wplus9 - Fair Isle Backgrounds
Cutting/Embossing: Ranger superfine clear embossing powder, Spellbinder's Nestabilities - Scalloped Rectangles, Wplus9 Pretty Patches - Tree, Silver embossing powder

Technique: DIY Reverse Stamping
I loved this technique! Very simple one-layer card.


Materials: 
Paper: Neenah - Solar White
Stamps/Inks: Back side of LOTV circle holiday sentiments, Mama Elephant - Polar Pals (ornament strings and sentiment), Stampin' Up - Serene Snowflakes, Amuse Studio - Evergreen and Cranberry Ink, Fresh Ink - Steel Blue and Provincial Gray, Memento - Tuxedo Black

Holiday Card Class - Day 6

Over halfway through the class, because now we're on the sixth day!

Topic: Cards with Inking Techniques

Technique 1: Masking and Ghost Stamping



Materials:
Paper: Neenah Solar White, misc. Bazzill cardstock, American Crafts - Christmas Snowy Sidewalks
Stamps/Inks: Colorbox - Frost White, TH Distress Inks: Salty Ocean, Peacock Feathers; Hero Arts - CL 343 Holiday Sayings and background stamp
Cutting/Embossing: Memory Box Frostyville Border
Misc.: Dimensional Adhesive

Technique 2: 




Materials:
Paper: Neenah Solar White, misc. Bazzill cardstock
Stamps/Inks: Versamark, Impress - Raindrop Tree, Memento - Love Letter, Hero Arts - CL343 Holiday Sayings
Cutting/Embossing: Zing white embossing powder, Sizzix embossing folder
Misc.: TH Distress markers, dimensional adhesive, pearl embellishments