Christmas cards - laser printed images and a bit of sponging

I printed these images a while back and they have been sitting in my stash.  They would not work for my original plan of sponging a narrow band from top to bottom and so now I had to invent a way to use them.  I decided to just layer them onto cardstock because they worked best that way.   Though I did add several layers of sponging to the nativity one and that worked very well.  I used a torn piece of paper as a mask to add some texture.  I started by sponging the yellow incorporating the star and the stable and then sponged the blues and violets around that.  All the images are from KISSPNG and I added font greetings.  They are much more CAS than I usually do but I do like all the designs so maybe at some point I will revisit the concept of the sponging of a narrow band of colour over an image and greeting.  Therese

Christmas cards - laser printing, sponging and some embellishments

I printed these layers when I was creating these cards and these cards and these cards.  I always try to incorporate Christmas cards into whatever card sketches or techniques I am working with at any given time.  It helps keep Christmas cards in my thought process through the year.  

For the first one, the greeting (Desert Diva) and the poinsettia (Beccy's Place) were combined in layout program (Corel Draw) and laser printed on white cardstock.  Once trimmed to 4" x 5.25" I sponged the edges in green and watercoloured the poinsettia and the large W of the greeting.  I added a yellow ribbon tying a small piece to the main one to simulate a bow and adhered this large element to a red card front.  

For the second one, I sponged the tree in yellow and then added blue all the way around the silhouette image (CLKER).  I used a clear glitter gel pen to add stars in the sky and to colour in the snow on the greeting (Desert Diva).  The space in between needed a bit of something so I added a short piece of red cardstock which I embossed and flagged at both ends.  I mounted two little branch punchies (MS) below a diamond brad to finish it off.  That was definitely better!!  I mounted this layer to yellow cardstock to help the yellow of the image to pop and then adhered this large element to a dark greeting card front.  

I find that I always make changes when I am using previously prepared supplies!!  Always see new possibilities when I revisit them.           Therese

Christmas card - snowman, glitter gel pen and some manual embossing

Have been working on my Christmas card stash and here is my first card!!  This was a stamped image I found in my stash and it was already watercoloured as well.  I trimmed the image to 4" x 5.25" (A2), manually embossed the outer edges with a falling snow embossing folder (SU) and mounted it to a blue card front.  I added some clear glitter gel pen to the star and its path and mounted a small Merry Christmas greeting below the image to finish it off!! 

Therese

Masterboard cards - two more!!

These are the next two cards I made with my masterboard.  Again, the colours are very much warmer than what is showing in this photo.  

I cut a strip from my masterboard and die cut two labels (SX) from it.  I cut two oval layers from orange cardstock - one is from white core cardstock so you can see the white when I sanded it.  I highlighted the one from regular cardstock by sponging on orange ink.  I die cut (SX) two flowers from coordinating teal cardstock and mounted light yellow in behind for the centers.  I layered the ovals on the labels then added the flowers using 3D foam tape.  Next, I cut a sheet of ivory cardstock in two and embossed manually the outer edges - one innie  - the other outie.  I added embossed strips of green and teal with flagged ends and then mounted my focal elements.  These are identical cards but I have laid the right one over to make it a landscape card and it gives it a bit of a different look.  I purposefully resisted putting greetings on these so they can be used for any occasion.  I will be sending these to my Card Exchange partners this month.  I am a bit late but life happens!!!  

Therese

Reusable Bento bag for gift wrapping

My daughter found this idea in a book about bags which she took from the library.  After a bit of research on line I found this pattern and it is called a Bento Bag which was used my orientals to carry their lunch to work.  It is a super easy project once you work out which edge gets sewn to which other side.  
You can use a rectangle ( 3 x 1), two triangles or three squares to create them so you can truly use whatever you have in your fabric stash to get started!!  Check out this site. 

I made this one out of non raveling fabric and it is housing my grandson's birthday gift but for sure you can use any fabric, line it or not, and can be made any size.  I think it would be the greatest thing to making reusable gift wrapping for the upcoming holiday season!!  Made in any or neutral colours the bags can be used year round to store and or carry any number of items - a casserole to the potluck, your items for a day at the beach, all the thread spools in your sewing box, etc.   
So consider reusable packaging this Christmas and save the planet the paper that will be going to the garbage - recycle bin this year!!  
Even if you just make one this year!!!

Therese

Thank you card - a reused card front layered with silver cardstock

This card is for my neighbour which took care of our house while we were away.  I reused a card front from a card I received a while back trimming it to fit on an A2 sized card.  I layered it onto silver  cardstock and then onto a coordinating pink card.  The dark areas are metallic silver so they coordinate very well.  Always great to make a card make another go around!!

Therese

Thank you cards using my masterboard, an embossed layer and a die cut greeting

Here are the first four cards I made with my masterboard.  They are a bit off colour - they are in reality much warmer in colour.  

I cut off a strip of about 3.5" and drew hearts on the back by hand.  I cut them out and then used an embossing marker to add details to the hearts which I embossed with gold embossing powder.  I really like how well that process worked.  I embossed four quarter sheets of ivory cardstock and cut up two sheets of coordinating cardstock to make the cards.  I glued the embossed layers to the card fronts and then adhered my hearts.  I die cut the word Thanks (SX) from black cardstock scraps and then used my fine line white glue applicator to add the words to my cards.  Super happy with these cards!!  They will soon be on their way across the country to family and friends who we reconnected with on our trip east week before last.  

Therese

Another sympathy card - floral image, vellum greeting and a brad

My sister's mother in law passed last week and because of a prior commitment I was not able to attend the funeral this weekend.  I have prepared this card for her and her family. 
I reused a floral image from a commercial card which I trimmed to fit onto a green A2 sized card.  I found a coordinating vellum greeting in my stash which I folded to the back and secured with double sided tape.  I flagged the left hand edge and secured it with a little gold brad.  I glued this large element to my green card.  A quick and easy card that will be sent off today!! 

Therese

Masterboard fun!! - Watercolour background, stamping and a bit of direct to paper with a ink pad

There is talk on Splitcoast Stampers about using masterboards to make up cards and it is a technique I have used in the past but is a really fun one.  I decided to give it a go.  I used a sheet of decorative paper I made a while back that was "OK" but could use a bit of a lift.  I cut an organic shape from some stamp leftover which I used to stamp all over it in teal.  I cleaned the stamp and did it again using orange.  I added olive green circles using the end of a foam tube and yellow dots using the other end which is a nice circle (soft foam "bullets").  I used Antique Linen direct to the paper to fill in the remaining white areas.  Pretty happy with the results I decided to back it with bond paper as it was only bond paper to begin with.  I just glued scrap paper to the back until it was covered. It gave it enough body to be able to die cut it properly.  I am off to make some cards!!  

Therese

Sympathy card - reused butterfly image, embossed layer and a little fiber

My aunt passed away week before last and the funeral was last week.  I had intended to go but was sidetracked with the flu and am now just getting this card out. 
I used a new embossing folder that I bought while I was away.  It is part of a Recollection set - two embossing folders and a small set of clear stamps (Christmas).  Unfortunately, the folder cut the cardstock in a few places which was a bit disappointing.  I repaired from the back and cut the opening out with a Nestibilities Classic Circle die which did the job perfectly.  I put the layer back in the embossing folder to reset the round frame.  Next time, I will cut the circle first and then emboss and will not need to repeat the process.  I tied on a little piece of white fiber between the opening and the right hand edge and mounted a butterfly image in the back of the layer nicely highlighting the butterfly.  I taped it into place before gluing this large layer to a coordinating card front.  I added a small greeting - laser printed Word Window (SU) punchie!!            Therese

Birthday cards with ribbon, embossed cardstock and 3D embellishements

Birthday cards for some special women!!  One of the groups I belong to has decided to send birthday cards to all of our members in 2019 so I volunteered to get cards ready.  I have made all the card kits and we are getting together tonight to put them together which doubles the blessing!!

All the cards are different and I have varied the greetings - round, label, rounded square and square.  All of the 3D embellishments are prepared and the sponging has been done so we will be simply assembling them but I have provided the supplies with enough flexibility that each person making them will be able to add their own creativity to the process!!

So these cards have a coloured cardstock base with a coordinating decorative paper background.  A strip of embossed cardstock and a piece of gros grain ribbon.  The greetings were laser printed, trimmed and sponged a coordinating colour.  A wide variety of 3D embellishments - layered punchies and die cuts, sequins and some fun glittered elements to add a bit of bling!!  

Getting a handmade birthday card in your mail box is always a treat in this digital age!!'

Therese

Baby elephants for this purple and yellow baby card

I have made quite a few baby cards!!  Maybe more than I needed but there it is - sometimes I get on a roll and just have so many ideas!!  This one features the little elephants (Pixabay) with yellow balloons this time.  I layered them onto purple and then over the yellow ribbon which I laid over my purple background/yellow card front combination.  I finished simply by just tying a short piece of the same ribbon to the one on the front using a single knot to simulate a bow.  No greeting really necessary on this one and it could be used a child's birthday as well. 

Therese

A beautiful daisy image from a used card featured on this monochromatic card

For the focal element on this card I die cut this white daisy image from the front of a used card.  I wanted it to stand out so I kept the rest of the card very neutral.  I mounted the daisy to an ivory embossed layer and trimmed it to the edge.  I mounted this large element to an ivory card front.  Finished it off with a little punchie greeting!! Quick and easy!!  Therese

Cute little elephants with pink balloons for a quick and easy card

A quick and easy baby card!! I embossed a white quarter sheet, trimmed it to the edge of the embossing and added a length of pink ribbon.  I mounted it to a white card front and then mounted my large colour printed image of elephants (Pixabay) https://pixabay.com/en/with distressed edges over the ribbon using double sided tape.  I tied a short piece of the same ribbon to the one on the front using a single knot to simulate a bow to finish off my card.  Love these cards!!

Therese

A floral oval in an embossed swirl frame

For this card I started by die cutting the yellow rose image from a panel from a used card.  I added a little vellum greeting which coordinated perfectly.  I folded the ends over the edge and adhered them in place with double sided tape.  I chose a quarter sheet of green cardstock and embossed the Swirl Oval (CB) and then trimmed it to the edge of the embossing.  I mounted it to a yellow card front and then mounted my yellow rose focal element to finish it off!!  Love it!!

Therese

Baby elephants with balloons make the perfect baby card!!

I love this image from Pixabay for baby cards!!  I started with a blue textured card front and added a soft blue floral background.  I added a length of white ribbon securing the ends to the inside of the card.  The image was colour printed, trimmed and layered onto yellow cardstock before being mounted to my card front using 3D foam tape.  I tied a short piece of ribbon using one knot to the one on the front to simulate a bow.  The greeting is stamped (SU) in blue.  I embellished with a yellow marker and then added some clear glitter using a gel pen.  I added a few dots of glitter to the star in the scallops as well.  I used a mask to sponge the center area to coordinate.  I mounted the greeting using a piece of double side tape on one edge and 3D foam tape on the right hand side so it would work with the image. 

Therese

Paste paper background, ribbon and a die cut focal element that features two little mice

The focal element on this card features two little mice with a piece of birthday cake which was die cut from the front of a used card.  They are pretty cute!!  I die cut an opening in the green paste paper background (made by me a while back), added a length of gray ribbon from the opening to the right hand edge securing the ends on the back  and mounted a piece of embossed yellow cardstock in behind the opening.  I mounted my little mouse die cut into the opening which highlights it perfectly!!  I tied a short piece of the same ribbon to the one on the front with one knot to simulate a bow.  I found a coordinating greeting in my stash, sponged the edges and mounted it below the ribbon on the right hand side.    Love how the paste paper looks like grass and you can see this little scene in the middle of it!!            Therese

Reused a card front for the panel on this card and added a little layered greeting

This card's main panel is from a used card and features a nice garden path with a gate.  I trimmed the panel, layered it onto purple and then mounted it to a green card front.  I added a simple layered punchie greeting which coordinates perfectly!!  The punches are from SU  - Modern Label and Word Window with a colour printed font greeting.  This one was quick and easy!!

Therese

Another star baby card that features die cuts and punchies with a central punched greeting

Still making cards for my stash and here is another baby one that features stars!!  I started with a pink card and added the scrapbook paper background.  I found stars that were the perfect colour in my little star stash bin!!!  So I took them apart a little and used some of them independently and others still layered.  This die cuts all the stars at once so I simply kept some together by putting tape on the back and removed some so they could be used separately.  I just laid them out until I was happy and glued them into place.  The single stars where adhered with white glue which I applied with fine tip applicator.  Once they were all in place I added my little greeting punchie which was sponged on the inside with a mask and on the outside edge.  With all of those in place I thought it still needed something so I dug out my little star bucket and found the other stars which coordinated in colour and gave two more size of stars.  I just moved them around until I was happy and used white glue to adhere them into place.  That was better!!  Wanting to add a little bling to my card I used my clear glitter gel pen and added some dots on the two central stars and the swirls (Clipart Panda) of the greeting.  Again, a bit of a creative stretch but really happy with the results.        Therese

A floral focal element, a white paper doily and a little laser printed greeting

For this elegant card I die cut the flower from the front of a used card using a circle Nestibility circle die.  The image went off the edge of the card so I only got a partial circle.  I mounted it to a little paper lace doily I had sitting on my desk.  It fit so perfectly!!  I embossed the two right hand corners of my black card with a floral embossing folder (SU) before adding my embellished daisy image.  I positioned the image on the edge of my card and only applied glue to the central part which leaves the nice delicate edge free.  I was tempted to trim the doily to the edge of the card but instead decided to just fold it over and glue it down.  Gives a very nice touch to the back of the card.  I added a little laser printed greeting which I layered onto silver cardstock before adding to my card front.  After another look at it I could maybe have made this one an anniversary or wedding card.    Therese