Christmas cards featuring stained glass ornaments, decorative paper and an embossed panel

Having committed to getting my Christmas cards made early this year I have already made more than half of what I need but staying at home has facilitated getting farther ahead so I have made this set of cards.  I cut the ornaments and trees from a sheet of beautiful stained glass glitter paper my sister gave me a while back.  I cut a strip off the large sheet and cut the first three ornaments with one of the dies in the Heirloom Ornament die set from Nestibilities.  From what was left of the strip I cut a round one (Nestibilities) and three little triangle trees.  I wanted to layer my elements on black which worked with the round ornament because I have the double set of the Classic Circles ( Nestiblities) so I was able to cut a black layer for it.  The trees were easy as they are just triangles.  For the teardrop ornaments it required a bit more engineering.  I had created myself a tool for practicing and teaching calligraphy at one point in time by whittling down the sides of two pencils and then tying them together so I could easily demonstrate the proper angle and how the flat nib forms the letters.  I went looking for it and found it!!!!!!!!!  I used it to trace the shape of the ornaments onto black cardstock.  I then fussy cut on the second line which was relatively easy.  Pretty happy with how that worked out and will have to keep that in mind for any other custom layers I might need to make.  I then die cut snowflakes to mount in the centers using a Cuttlebug set which I have not used very often but were the perfect size for these ornaments.  I mounted them to the ornaments using tiny black brads and added little white fabric snowflake in between.  Love how they turned out!!  Next, I created toppers for my ornaments.  I used my scallop decorative scissors to trim the edge of a thin strip of bright silver foil and then trimmed them into segments which would be right for each ornament.  I mounted them to my layered ornaments using white glue applied with a fine tip applicator.  For backgrounds I decided on this funky snowflake paper in my stash which was laser printed a while back from a digital wallpaper file.  I decided to add a layer of embossed silver cardstock between them.  I coloured a length of thick white thread using a permanent marker to create the hangers for my ornaments.  I used different embossing folders for all of them and mounted the silver pieces to the backgrounds and then added the ornaments using 3D foam tape, adhered the thread hangers to the back of the background paper using regular tape and then mounted these large elements to coordinating card fronts.  I punched silver foil stars for my trees and mounted them with the silver strip as a backdrop.  I added a small black snowflake and then a white fabric one to one of the trees to make it stand out.  I decided against greetings as they seemed to be balanced without them.  So another few cards to add to the stash!!         Therese

Christmas card featuring Saint Nicolas, ribbon and a small greeting

For this card I am using a colour printed image from my Christmas images stash!  These were printed from images from a CD I acquired years ago at a garage sale.  I mounted the trimmed image to a layer of the aqua cardstock and trimmed it a bit wider on the right side.  I trimmed the edge with scalloped scissors and paper pierced each scallop with a push pin.  I added one embossed line next to them using my Score tool.  I added by background to an ivory card, added a flagged gold ribbon with an echoing piece of aqua cardstock which I adhered in place on the top portion of my card.  I mounted my layered image using 3D foam tape and then added the little layered font greeting with double sided on the left and 3D foam on the right.  I love the soft colours in the image and the way it works well with the background.         Therese

Christmas cards featuring aqua and gold gift wrap, die cut Nativity and gold embossed greetings

These cards feature the last piece of gift wrap I have to turn into cards!!! Is it a wood grain in gold and light aqua which I have been mulling over exactly how I would use it!!  I started by digging out some aqua cardstock which I have had for a while and worked really well with this paper.  I die cut two nativities (Taylored Expressions) leaving a length of cardstock below.  I trimmed off the star and gold embossed the greetings on the bottom section.  I trimmed the bottom edges using decorative scissors.  I selectively embossed the middle section on the first card using a wood grain embossing folder and then added a length of gold ribbon.  I added a wider ribbon with a tie to the second card without any dry embossing.  I mounted the trimmed gift wrap backgrounds to ivory card fronts and then mounted the large elements I created over it.  I punched little star from gold metallic card (packaging) and adhered them in place over the stable.    Happy with how these turned out! Have a few more to go!!        NOTE:  Creating these during our self isolation during the Covid 19 panemic.     Therese

Front flap birthday card featuring a large daisy digital stamp, decorative paper and a little layered font greeting

This is my last front flap card birthday card for my June birthdays!!!!  I started this one with a large envelope and I created a lavender card to fit inside.  I found a piece of plaid scrapbook paper which coordinated nicely and would work well with my daisy image.  This daisy image is one of my own digital stamps which I created while watching a floral doodling video tutorial.  It is fun to be have your own images for cardmaking!!!  I found a deep yellow piece of cardstock for my flap and once I had scored and folded over the top edge it was a bit short so I added a little strip of orange cardstock on the bottom and trimmed it off with scallop decorative scissors to be even with my panel card.  I used regular tape to adhere the two pieces together which was hidden by my layered image.  I watercoloured my large daisy image, added a layer of lavender cardstock and then adhered it to my flap.  I used a pushpin and pierced each scallop on the bottom edge - gives some nice texture to this layer.  I adhered my flap to my panel using double sided tape and glue.  I created a little layered oval greeting using an oval punchie with a green laser printed font greeting over a deep yellow larger oval which I distressed all the way aorund.  I mounted the little greeting hanging over the edge of my flap then finished off the flap with a little piece of kraft fiber which I tied on.  I added a piece of white bond on the inside where I will add my personal greeting.  

Totally fun to be in my craft room and creating cards!!!        Therese

Father's Day card featuring real wood accents, a chickadee digital and a little font greeting

My Dad was a carpenter most of his working life and wood reminds me of him.  I am fortunate that my DH is also a wood worker and saves me all the beautiful thin pieces which get trimmed off of his projects.  These little pieces are cedar.  I backed the thin wood with sticky label before trimming the pieces out so they would keep some integrity.  I cut a large brown panel to fit inside the large envelope I had chosen and then adhered the wood pieces to it using white glue in a fine tip applicator.  I immediately put it under weight (encyclopedias) so they would dry flat.  Once the panel was dry I added the front flop which is embossed with a wood grain embossing folder.   I scored a half inch from the top, folded over the flap and adhered it to my panel to cover the gap in the wood elements where I will adhere my insert.  I trimmed my flap to the edge of my panel.  I added a little laser printed digital image of chickadees (clker) which I watercoloured before adhering it to the flap.  I watercoloured the font greeting then added some faux stitching lines with my tracing wheel.  I layered it onto brown leaving a larger border on the bottom which I cut it with scalloped decorative scissors and then paper pierced the scallops with a push pin.  I mounted the greeting to my front flap overlapping my chickadee image.  I really like how it worked out.  I am every grateful that my Dad has been well through this Covid situation as he has underlying health issues.  Everyday is a blessing!!             Therese

Exchange cards with embossed backgrounds, die cut leaves and laser printed digital greetings

I have made up these two cards for my partners in this month's Card Exchange.  I started with larger envelopes and made ivory cards to fit inside.  I cut two quarter sheets of brown cardstock and embossed them using two different embossing folders - TH swirls, SU wood grain.  I had to trimmed each of them into two pieces to make them long enough for my cards so I chose long greetings from my stash that would bridge the gap.  

For the first card, the greeting is from Beccy's Place.  It is a free digital which I sized and laser printed.  To coordinate with my card elements I colourwashed it a bit with watercolour in green and brown and then watercoloured the flower in a warm yellow.  I adhered my two pieces of brown background to my card leaving the gap in the top section and mounted my greeting over it using double sided tape on each end.  I dug through my little stash of leaf die cuts (TH) and found these that worked with my greeting.  I applied glue on the back and tucked them behind before pressing them down.
For the second card, I used a laser printed font thank you greeting from my stash.  I trimmed both long edges with deckle decorative scissors and then ran my pattern tracing wheel on each edge.  I applied double sided tape on the ends and the middle and adhered it over the gap that was created when I adhered the trimmed background to my large ivory card.  I embossed two of the same leaf die cuts (TH) one in green and one in muted tones (Hammered Botanicals background) with the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  I applied glue to the back of the fronds before applying them to the card front.  I tucked the green one behind the greeting and overlapped the muted one over it.  These sketches are a little CAS for me but I like them.               Therese

All occasion card featuring a dragonfly, some pearly and clear dimensional paint and a little gold cording

 For this all occasion card I started with a dragonfly digital image from CLKER which I laser printed onto white cardstock and trimmed out of the letter sized sheet.  I watercoloured the sky and then the dragonfly using pearly paint so it would shimmer.  I tied the tiny gold to the right of the image and then layered it onto a green/gold metallic paper.  I left a bit of a border on the bottom which I trimmed with wavy scissors.  I paper pierced the wavy edge and then added a line of scoring above it using my Score tool.  I mounted my focal element to the front of a speckled navy card. I added clear dimensional paint to the wings of the dragonfly and left it to dry overnight.  It has turned out wonderfully!!         Therese

Christmas cards featuring glittery pine cone backgrounds (gift wrap), colour printed digital image of a cardinal, ribbon and layered greetings

Another set of Christmas cards for my stash!!  I trimmed the glittery pinecone backgrounds from a large piece of gift wrap that came off of one our gifts this past season.  I was able to trim about 15 or so 4" x 5.25" pieces.  I used six to create these cards.  These cards feature red card bases, the glittery green and white pinecone gift wrap, colour printed image of a cardinal, wide black satin ribbon and layered greetings.  The top set has stamped Merry Christmas greetings in red that are punched with a small oval punch (SU).  All of them are layered onto a larger oval punchie (SU).  Two are layered onto a scalloped oval punchie (SU) as well.  I have pierced the scallops on the large oval  punchies and added faux stitching/dots on the large ovals.  All are mounted with 3D foam tape as are the cardinal images.  

This set has laser printed greetings layered onto red cardstock.   All are sponged a bit on the edges.  I trimmed the middle one with scallop decorative scissors and paper pierced the scallops.  The last one has three little clear rhinestones on the end of the greeting.  

I am happy to be on track for getting my Christmas cards done by the end of the year!!!!  

I will have more cards with this pinecone paper as a background.  Will be inventing a different sketch with different elements!!        Therese

Birthday card from a kit featuring a butterfly kisses image, embossed strip and decorative background paper

For this card I started with a card kit from September's class.  I decided to trim out the circle because it was already folded and used a different image as well to accommodate the trimmed piece.  I trimmed the butterfly kisses (Melonheadz), layered it with aqua and then trimmed the dark purple to size leaving a bit at the bottom which I trimmed with decorative scallop scissors.  I watercoloured the image, added clear glitter to the wings before gluing all the layers together and added dots of clear glitter to the scallops.  I layered a strip of aqua over a strip of orange and then embossed them with a chevron embossing folder.  I adhered my trimmed background to my dark green card front, added the embossed strip and then mounted my layered image over the strip using 3D foam tape.  Really happy with how this one turned out and I will be using that embossing folder again for strips - lots of nice texture and some direction as well. 

Therese

Sympathy card from a kit - embossed resist background, embossed vellum, sequins with brads and a tiny greeting

Needing a couple more sympathy cards!  I made this one up from a card kit from my January class.  It features an embossed butterfly (SU) background which was created using very neutral and pale scrapbook paper, silver embossing powder and watercolour.  It was fun to play with resists again!!  I trimmed the background to fit on a green card and created the focal element by layering a turquoise oval (Nestibilities) with a little white butterfly punchie (SU), an embossed vellum oval which was cut just a bit smaller and green and turquoise sequins on the front and tiny silver brads to keep on the layers together.  I mounted this large element to my card front using 3D foam tape and then added a cute embellished colour printed greeting.  I used scalloped decorative scissors to cut the top edge, added paper piercing with a push pin and then added an embossed line using my score tool.  I used double sided tape on the left hand side which adhered to the oval and 3D foam tape to the right hand side which adhered to the card front.    Therese

Anniversary card featuring a stamped heart focal element, a little punchie greeting and beautiful background paper

Working on family cards for January!!  For this anniversary card, I started with a light yellow card and a small envelope.  These envelopes were a great find at a thrift store last year!!
I found the background paper in my stash.  It was in two pieces so I taped them together on the back and trimmed them to the right size.  I added some blue mesh over the joint and then a length of yellow ribbon securing the ends on the back with double sided tape.  I adhered this large layer to the front of my card.  I punched the stamped heart (SU), watercoloured it and then layered it onto a yellow scalloped heart die cut (SU) to create my focal element.  I adhered it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I found the greeting in my stash, sponged its edges in yellow and then layered it onto a blue oval which I trimmed with my scallop decorative scissors.  I used a push pin to pierce all the scallops to add more texture and interest.  I mounted the greeting below my heart using 3D foam tape.  Love that background paper!!  Therese

Christmas cards featuring reused panels with ribbon and greetings

A few more cards for my stash of Christmas cards!!  

This first one features a small card front which was square so once trimmed was just the perfect size to layer onto my green card front.  I added a black layer to which I adhered the Santa image and the layered laser printed greeting.  The second card features an image trimmed from the center of a large card.  I fussy cut the two corners with an exacto knife so I could slide on my stamped greeting.  I added a little holly brad on the right before gluing this large element to the front of a red card.  

My third card features art from a friend of mine years ago.  I simply trimmed the card front, added a red ribbon gluing the ends to the back and added a little laser printed font greeting which I had trimmed with scallop decorative scissors and used a push pin to paper pierce the scallops.  I simply tied a short end of ribbon to the front using a single knot to simulate a bow.    Therese

Christmas cards created by simply layering my card fronts and adding some texture

A few more cards!!  This top card was simply trimmed from the original, layered onto navy blue and then onto pink.  Easy, peasy!!
For the next one, I trimmed the torn off back from the front and trimmed the bottom edge using scallop decorative scissors.  I pierced each scallop with a push pin to add texture and then used my pattern tracing wheel to add a pierced line to the other three sides and then three more random ones below the Joy to the World greeting.  I added a gold layer to this image.  I embossed a dark maroon layer and glued it to my dark green card.  I adhered the focal image to my layered card front to finish it off.
My last one started with a small card.  I trimmed off the torn back and then trimmed the green to be even all the way around.  I added a gold layer which I trimmed leaving a bit of extra on the right hand side which I trimmed with the scallop decorative scissors, pierced each scallop and then added an embossed line between them and the image to nicely finish off this layer. I glued this large element to a maroon card front.  Therese

Christmas cards created reusing card fronts, ribbon, and layered greetings

Here are a few more Christmas cards!!!  These ones involved adding another piece of cardstock, some ribbon and a greeting. 
For the top card I trimmed the wreath image which left me with a bit of a space at the bottom which I filled with an embossed strip of green cardstock.  I cut the bottom edge with scallop decorative scissors and used a push pin to pierce each scallop.  I added a gold ribbon over the joint between the pieces and then added my layered greeting using 3D foam tape.  The greeting came from my stash and I layered it onto a brown Modern Label punchie to coordinate with my image. 
For my second card, I trimmed out the little angel to fit on a green landscape card front.  It scrap I cut off worked perfectly to finish off the card on the right hand side so I adhered it to the image on the back with regular tape.  I added a silver ribbon over the joint and then added a layered font greeting from my stash which was created using a silver oval scallop punchie and an oval greeting punchie (SU). 
For my last card, I trimmed the card front to fit on a red landscape card front but needed a bit of a strip to finish it off.  I added an embossed strip of blue cardstock that coordinated with the snowflakes in the background of the Minions card.  I added a length of red fiber to cover the joint between the two.  I chose a greeting from my stash, layered it onto card green cardstock and then mounted it to my card in the top right hand corner using 3D foam tape. 
Three more for the bucket!!
Therese

A sympathy card featuring a stamped image, decorative paper and a punchie greeting

I had a request for sympathy cards so I made a few.  Here is my first one.  I started with gray cardstock and found this image in my stash which worked well.  I found this swirly paper in my decorative paper which also worked well so I got started.  I cut an opening with my Nestibilities in the decorative paper to accommodate the image.  Wanting the light to be the focus I watercoloured only the light rays that would be emitted by the light house and added a bit of clear glitter to the windows. I adhered the image to a black layer and cut the bottom of that piece using a wavy cutter.  Next, I punched an opening with the Modern Label punch (SU) below and to the right of the other opening.  I added a black ribbon from top to bottom where it intersected both openings and adhered the ends to the back of the decorative layer before gluing the paper to the front of my card.  I mounted the image and the laser printed greeting into the appropriate openings using 3D foam tape.   I like the soft look of this card.  Therese

Sympathy card featuring a calendar page with crocuses and a layered greeting

Another sympathy card for my Mom. For this one I started with a purple card front and trimmed the calendar page to leave the frame image of spring flowers.  I used the scraps to create a border with decorative edges which I cut with deckle decorative scissors.  I added a strip of yellow to join the two pieces, two lines of purple using a purple pen and added a little sponged greeting using 3D foam tape.  Went together fairly quickly once I had all the elements decided!  Therese

Sympathy card featuring a reused card panel, a punched greeting and some ribbon

I made a few sympathy cards for my Mom.  They are at an age that they are often in need of them and she is no longer making them.  I chose a few envelopes and made cards to fit in them.  This one is a light green one and I trimmed this image from the front of a used card just fussy cutting on the to left and then cutting the other portion straight to the edge of the panel.  I used scalloped decorative scissors on the right hand edge and embossed a line using my scoring tool.  I used a push pin to pierce each scallop to add texture and interest.  I punched an opening in the card with the regular oval punch (SU) and then punched a little laser printed greeting with the small oval punch (SU).  I wanted to add a ribbon to the top right but needed a slot behind the layer to bring the ribbon up so I drew a very light line and used an exacto knife to cut it in the front of my card.  I inserted the pink ribbon into the slot from the back (inside of the card front) and the through the opening when I glued my decorative element to my card front.  I was then able to tie the two ends on the front with a double knot.  I sponged the edges of my little oval greeting before positioning it in the opening.  I will make a few more for her.  Therese

A birthday card featuring a cute little birds digital, some ribbon and a font greeting

Working on cards for next month's family birthdays!! 
I chose this fun digital of cute little birds for this card.  I added a font greeting to it and left enough space in the between to add a ribbon.  I printed it onto white cardstock and trimmed it to size.  I added a dark pink ribbon which echoes the colours in two of the birds adhering the ends to the back with double sided tape.  I trimmed the bottom edge with scalloped decorative scissors and used a push pin to pierce each scallop to add interest and texture.  I used my distress tool to roughen up the other three edges.  I mounted a piece of coordinating green decorative paper to the front of a white card and added my large focal element!!  Thought it needed just "a bit of something" so I added three clear rhinestones above the ribbon on the left hand side.  Better!!!                     Therese

Anniversary card featuring two little birds die cut, an embossed greeting and a vellum frame

I made this card for my daughter and her DH for their anniversary.  I chose a burnt orange card and a coordinating decorative paper trimmed to leave a bit of a border.  I wanted to frame the focal element but the paper was too beautiful to cover up so I used vellum to give the effect I wanted without losing the look of the paper.  I stamped my "Blessings" greeting on the top portion of my decorative paper in copper and found that it blended too much so I reheated it and added gold which was much better - still subtle but visible.  I added the vellum frame which I created using a rectangle Nestabilities and then trimmed the outside edge with a wavy blade in a rotary cutter.  I attached it to my background using four tiny antique gold brads.  I die cut the little birds on a branch from ivory cardstock and then watercoloured the birds to reflect some of the blue in the background.  I mounted the die cut with some pieces over the vellum and others behind using small pieces of 3D foam tape behind the birds.  I was then able to add white glue using a fine tip applicator behind the main branch to secure it in place.  I used white glue to adhere the wings to the birds and the hearts around the greeting.  The little birds are very cute and I love how well they coloured.  I did add a bit of black cardstock behind the heads to get the eye to be black and also coloured their beaks black with a marker.                  Therese

Another baby card featuring a cute rattle, paper strips and an embossed element

I am really happy that I have been able to retrofit several of my kits from the March Cardmaking class to add some cards to my stash!!  I found this image in my stash and was able to use the layer in the kit in a portrait orientation instead of the landscape one which would have been appropriate for the other image.  Excellent!!  I added a strip of double sided tape across my yellow layer and laid the ends of my strips into it.  I embossed a strip of green cardstock and adhered it over the ends to finish that off nicely.  I trimmed their ends diagonally and adhered this large element to my blue card front.  I watercoloured this cute rattle image (Melonheadz) which I laser printed a while back and found in my image stash.  It fit perfectly on the top of the rectangle layer from the kit so I glued it in place and added the vellum greeting adhering both ends to the back using double sided tape.  Again, enough room to trim the bottom edges with scallop decorative scissors.  I paper pierced each scallop with a push pin to add interest and texture before adding this element to my card front with 3D foam tape.        Therese