Holiday leftovers .... the paper kind!

Hi all! The Christmas season usually means lots of yummy food and leftovers , AFTER Christmas! But what about all of those crafting leftovers??? I usually host Christmas stamp-a-stacks in November and I always seem to have leftovers that tend to drag around and eventually get pushed to one side of my workspace. This year I was determined to use those scraps and not to duplicate the same projects I've made for classes, either!!  This year I cut out way too many snowmen , but since they were made with my Cricut Imagine , I didn't want to waste them! So I made a few other cards instead.....


 Here is the Imagine cartridge I used.....



This has so many great images and the best part is they are are all ready to print and cut!! I loved the little snowman , so I printed/cut  a full sheet of these  guys at 3inches ( I got about 15 to a 12X12 sheet).

I originally used them to make this card......

 

I love the turquoise and purple tones together .... so very non-traditional and fun!!! This was a pretty simple card as the ladies were making multiples.

 

I wanted to add a bit more detail for mine....

 

 

So I pulled out and dusted off my Gypsy for this one!!! I searched through my files and gathered an assortment of snowflakes and a greeting , which is from Joys of the Season , and welded them together!  How cool is that when we can make out own custom dies!!! My sewing is kinda  wavy like snow banks, so let's pretend that's excactly how it was supposed to turn out!!! LOL My Imagine snowman stands out against this snowy background!

 

Of course I have leftover papers too, that needed to get used , so I made some more cards ( not sure what I'm gonna do with 'em all!!!).

 

 

 

That's my leftover cards ( I don't feel guilty indulging in these leftovers!!!!) .... hope you enjoyed!

Thanks for stopping by today!

 

 

Polarbear buddies card / Mojo Monday 268

Hi ! Well it's Monday, the start of another week and just a few short weeks 'till Christmas! many of my FB friends have Christmas countdowns added to their wall! Yikes, that only reminds me of how little time I have to get my shopping done- since I live in a rural area that means long drives or many hours searching and/or shopping online!!! I'd rather spend my computer time on crafty blogs !!!

I did manage to convince my DH to do some browsing for techy stuff!!!  I, meanwhile, used my "extra" time playing along with Mojo Monday ..... sooooo love their sketch this week !

 

For my card I grabbed an older stamp of mine. This stamp caught my eye when I first saw it and I just had to have it ( How many times have I said that!! LOL) 

 

 

It's a fairly large stamp ( 4.5x 4.75") and I've struggled to be able to succesfully  incorporate it into my cardmaking. So for much too, it has sat neglected. I nearly got rid of it a time or two, but I just adore the image! 

 Then I got to thinking  of new ways to use it.....

 

 

  I stamped the big bear on a circle and then stamped the little bear and tree on a scrap piece of white cardstock and joined them together! The snowflake and sentiment are from CTMH's Snowflakes set. This is quickly becoming a much used and favorite set of mine! I love that my Cricut cuts the perfect mat for the snowflake... saves a bunch time!!!

 

 

 

By cutting out the smaller bear , I was able to offset it a bit and a few foamdots added some dimension. More paper from my Xmas stash from last year . I used some Stickles and Copics to add color. A glittery snowflake completes this card nicely, I think.

 

Here's inside the  card..........

 

 

Isn't that greeting so cute??!! This card doesn't necessarily have to be a Christmas card... it could be just a fun winter-themed one instead!!

 

I hoped you've enjoyed my card today .... thanks for stopping by!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cool Girls layout

Hi all! Brr... today was a chilly one here, but thankfully we didn't get any snow! I know it's on it's way but the longer it takes to get here, the better !! This cooler weather got me thinking about winter layouts...I have this pic of my daughter and friends that I wanted to do something with , so out came my Cricut Imagine and Snow Angel cartridge.........

 

 

I cut this little snowguy out and then embellished him with buttons and Stickles . A little paperglaze for his nose and eyes and he's done!! I love the nordic look of his hat , which coordinates nicely with the girls hats.My journalling is on the kraft tag, hidden beneath the photo mat. I tend to leave any journalling 'till last and way too often it doesn't get added! 

The sticker border , banner and sentiment are from Feckled Lawn and the letters are from my favorite source :American Crafts. The fun scallop /stripe paper is from Crate Paper and the cardstock is from CTMH. The orange square and blue cardstock ( photo mat) are from Stampin' Up!.

 

I'm entering this layout over at Cut It Up for their challenge:  Buttons-Buttons Everywhere.

 

Thanks for stopping by!

 

Vintage Christmas cards

Hello! I have a couple of vintage style Christmas cards to share with you today. I bought these  postcards at a local store and although they were probably meant to be gift tags , I thought I could put them to better use! Here's my cards that I made from the postcards .....

 

 

I got several packages of these for just 50 cents each! They are so beautiful- I really love the old fashion Santa images . Because the postcards have such gorgeous detail, I didn't add much to to the card front- just some ribbon, a stickpin and a button.

 

 

 

I used two postcards for this card ... just used the reverse for the bottom layer.

 

 

I love the sentiments in CTMH's card chatter- Christmas Holidays. They really remind of the true meaning of this holy season. The holly border is from SU's Christmas Blessings, which was stamped in Juniper to match the cardstock mat. The cardbase is SU Cherry Cobbler.

 

 

 

 

I think this is one of my favorite images in the whole group! I thought of adding some glimmer or stickles but I kinda liked it the way it is- oldfashioned!! A little Cherry Cobbler ribbon and a stickpin is all s needs I think.

 

 

 

Another sentiment from the Christmas card 

 chatter set (inked in Cherry Cobbler).

 

I think these images would be lovely on a scrappage ....what do you think?

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today... have a great weekend!!!

 

 

 

 

 

Adding Color to Your Crafts

Snowman starburst card

Hi all! I love trying new techniques and there is just so many wonderful resources out there to find great techniques to try out! I've seen the starburst technique on so many papercrafting sites from cardmaking to scrapbooking so I knew I just had to try it out for myself! I googled the technique and found several good tutorials.This week over at iSpy Sketches they have a starburst sketch challenge ;









Here's my first starburst card:

 

I used an oldie but still a goodie stamp set from CTMH called Snow Friends .... isn't this little guy and his friend just so stinkin' cute!!! The papers used for the starburst is from Crate Paper " Snow Day"... this collection has a ton of cheerful and bright papers !!  Can you see the sentiemnt on the front? It's much easier to see person!! It's a greeting from the October Stamp-of-the Month from CTMH called Very Merry Christmas.

 

 

 Here's a close up of my snowman popped up.....

 

 

I stamped him first on a CTMH cardstock in Juniper ( used the same color ink) and then I stamped him again on white and fussy cut him out after I colored him with my Copics. To make the snowflakes pop out a little , I added a wee bit of Stickles to them and I did the same to his buttons ( just used brown instead of clear).

 

 

Of course, we are getting closer to Christmas every day , so I really needed to finish this card on the inside as well.....

 

 

Isn't that the cutest sentiment!!! It's also from the Snow Friends set . I stamped the base in Juniper and Early Espresso ( SU) and then matted more Crate Paper, just cause I love it so much!!!

 

This was such a fun card to create... I think I may be addicted to this style!!!

 

Thanks for stopping by today.... have a great rest of your day!!

 

 

 

Happy 50Th birthday card

Hi all! Just a quick post to share with you a card I made for a special someone (who shall remain unnamed!!!) who is turning 50 very soon!  I love shaped cards and my Cricut is the perfect tool for this! Check it out....

 

 I used the Artiste cartridge for the flowers , the circle mats and cardbase - it took longer to select the colors I wanted !! I love gray and yellow together and the paperpad I got from MME has several lovely papers with this combo. The birthday sentiment is from Verve Stamps ( Big Wish). The oval  mat as well as the black label for the sentiment, and the leaves are from Stampin'Up! I have a stash of pearls , probably got them at a local $store. The cardstock & number stickers  are from American Crafts.... this is the best cardstock I've found for cutting with my Cricut . CTMH cardstock cuts nicely as well.... SU cs I found to be too thick , especially for intricate cuts- it tends to tear ... ugh, so frustrating!!!

 

Anyway that's my card for today, hope you've enjoyed it! Thanks for stopping by my blog today!

 

 

Mojo Monday : Miss You card

Hi! It's only Tuesday and I have this week's Mojo Monday card completed... woot-woot!!! I got a bunch of goodies on a recent  shopping trip ( this is a big deal for me since the nearest craft store is 8 hours drive!!!) and I've had so much fun creating with some of my new crafting stuff!! Of course, things are so much easier when you have such great inspiration to work with........

Here's my card.......

 

Supplies used:

Stamps :CTMH Frame It Up ( circle ) Verve Hope Blooms

Stampin Up! cardstock: Night of Navy/ink ,Daffidol Delight/ribbon

My Mind's Eye patterned papers

Memento ink : London Fog

Rhinestone : unknown source

 

Thanks for stopping by my blog today... have a great rest of your day!!!

 

 

 

 

 

My Mojo (#286) card .... a week late!!

Hi all! as you may have guessed from my post title , my card is late. I started to make my card for last week's Mojo sketch , but I got busy and then I was gone for a few days, so my card didn't get finished in time!!!!  I thought I'd post it anyway since it's all ready to go. Here was last week's sketch

 

 

I love all those layers .... lot's of possibilities!! Here's what I came up with....

 

 

I purchased this stamp set( Christmas Blessings) from Stampin' Up! when I first got my 2012-13 catalogue in June. I had planned on using it for a class , but have decided to quit being a demo ( still love their products ) so it hasn't even been touched since the summer. It's such a lovely set and I know that it will get lots of use! The sentiment is from Flourishes Stamps and all other products are from Stampin' Up!, with the exception of the patterned paper ( Memory Box Inc)

 

Anyway, maybe if I start now I may get this week's Mojo sketch challenge finished in time!!! lol

 

Thanks for stopping by ... have a great rest of your day!!

 

 

Gift bag topper Tutorial

Hi all! I thought I'd post how I made my custom sized topper for  giftbags. The gift bag that used was a kraft bag ( from Walmart) that measured 6.5X3" and was 9" high. You can adapt these instructions to fit just about any size gift bag.

Supplies used:
cardstock - 8.5X11 was used for this project
patterned paper for decorating
scoring tool /bone folder
paper trimmer
strong adhesive - I used the red sticky tape
Exacto knife and ruler

 This is so super easy!!!! Just a few simple steps.......

 

Trim cardstock to 7X10.5". If you have a smaller or larger szed bag , then measure the base and add 2" to each side ( or less if you want it to be smaller). Score at 2' on all sides. Score all corners at diagonal, as indicated in the pic above. If you wish, you can use a border punch on the outside edges .. just start at the 2" score line.

 

 

With your ruler and Exacto knife, cut two slots for the handles.  Then fold the corners inward. I added sticky tape to the inside , and the outside of the corner to make sure it stayed stuck together.

Once you've folded and adhered all the corners, it should look like this! Simple, huh?

Now comes the fun part, let your imagination take over and decorate your giftbag topper!! Here's mine....

 

 

I stamped the bag with CTMH 's Ornamental Cheer set and made a matching ornament tag with my Cricut and Art Philosophy for the topper. The ribbon and dp are from my stash of leftovers.

 

I hope you've enjoyed this quick tutorial...I'd love to see your creations- email me a link to what you've made!!

Thanks for stopping by today...... have a wonderful rest of your day!!

 

Christmas duo- card and gift bag

Hello! Hope you're having a great Saturday so far! Have you checked out the current challenge at Jingle Belles yet? They have a guest Belle joining them this week and she has a great sketch for us to play along with! Click here to visit Allison Fillo's blog, Stampin When I Can. Here's her sketch for this week's JB challenge:




I decided that since the Christmas season is fast approaching that I should probably get a start on gift tags,etc. while I'm at it! So I made a bag topper to go along with my card.

 

I found the idea for gift bag toppers on Pinterest ( the best place on the web to spend way too much time browsing!!!). Sorry the card looks a little blurry but I have more pics to share.....

 

 

 

Here's a better pic of my card... I incorporated all elements of the sketch except for the three embellishmnets on top ... I just couldn't get them to work!!!! I inked up SU's  Greeting Card

 Kids on a diecut ornament and then colored her with my Copic markers.

 

 

The inside is  decorated with Michaels ornament stamps and a greeting from Flourishes called Sentimental Christmas. The cardstock / ink is from Stampin' Up! and the patterned papers are from Michaels' Recollection  Christmas  2011 paperline. The sparkly stickers are from American Crafts. I used an embossing folder ( Lifetstyle Crafts) for the banner on the card front. The diecut ornament and Merry Christmas were made with my Cricut ( Art Phiosophy and Artiste cartridges).

 

That's my Jingle Belles card for the Do You Sketch What I Sketch? challenge.

Thanks for stopping my blog today!

 

 

** Instructions on how to make this topper can be found here **

 

 

 

 

Mojo Monday : Butterfly B-Day

Hi all! Can you believe we are just 53 days away from Christmas??? October went by in a blur- I barely got any crafting time in and now that it's November, I'm starting to thinnk Christmas! So you'd think my card for this week's Mojo Monday would be all about the holidays... nope!!! Before I start my Christmas crafting, I needed to make a special birthoday card for my aunt who will be turning 50 this month ( shh, don't tell her I posted her age here!!!!!!).

Here's this week's  Mojo sketch :



 She loves butterflies so, of course, I had to incorporate them into my card.....

 

The card shape and butterfly were made using my Cricut and the Art Philosophy ( butterfly) and Artiste ( cardbase) cartridges. I even cut the circles out  with my Cricut..... talk about easy-peasy!!!

I used scraps of paper for the circles, tag and butterfly and the ribbon is Stampin' Up! (button and twine , too!). I love Close To My Heart's cardstock... it cuts so  smoothly with my Cricut and the colors are gorgeous!!! I used Goldrush for the card base and the ink is Lagoon ( which is kinda similar to the retired Taken With Teal from SU but not as dark).

 

So now that I've made my birthday card, maybe I can  now focus  my energy on Christmas-y crafts!!!

 

Thanks for stopping by today... have a great day!