A Christmas card featuring a colour printed page background, a die cut ornament and a punched greeting

I am playing catch up with my commitment to make Christmas cards monthly this year.  I am using large and odd sized envelopes from my stash in an effort to make them disappear!!  I chose the envelope and made a dark maroon card to fit in it.  I had the ornament and greeting picked out from my January session of Christmas cards when I made these.  I went digging into my stash to find a background that would work and found this one which I printed a while back when I was working on these cards. It is a digital collage which I colour printed onto a page from a bible.  It worked with the sky of my little round image so I went with it.  I trimmed it to size and adhered to my card front.  I tied cording to the top of my ornament die cut and adhered my little circle image after sponging it around the edge a bit with brown ink.  The image was die cut from a Christmas card I received years ago and was a supply for a different project a while back.  I mounted the ornament to my card front using 3D foam tape and adhered the cording to the inside of my card using double sided tape.  The greeting (Quietfire Designs) was stamped onto ivory, punched out and then layered onto a coordinating scalloped oval punchie (SU).  I layered them and then mounted it to the front of my card with 3D foam tape as well.  I love how bright the image is compared to the background - it really stands out!!  Another one down!!              Therese

Small cards as a gift - decorative paper, ribbon and punched greetings

I created these four cards as a gift set for a friend who has loaned me her precious books to read.  They are the Angelic Letter Series by Henry Ripplinger. It has taken months to read them but the story is excellent and lots of good teaching in between.  The last in the series just came out this summer so I will have to see where I can find it!! 

I started with small turquoise envelopes which were gifted to me.  I created white cards to fit inside.  I added a layer of this decorative paper (gift wrap) to them. 

Then I went looking for a greeting I could use.  I found this one which is from a Stampin UP set.  I stamped it a few different colours that coordinated with the paper and then punched them out with a 1.25" circle punch (SU).  I created layers for them using a 1 3/8" punch (SU) in coordinating colours.  I added a little folded ribbon flag to each one before using 3D foam tape to adhere them to the fronts of my cards!!  These are real cute and with that greeting can be used for a variety of occasions!!!  I have really appreciated her generosity knowing that these books are precious to her!!         Therese

Exchange cards which feature flower images, beautiful background paper and lacy borders

These two cards are for my card exchange partners for this month.  I chose two flower images from UNIKO and created two similar looking cards.  For the card on the left I used a large purple envelope, created a white card to fit in it and added a purple layer.  I added a piece of beautiful paper to the right hand side and then an embellished border on the right hand side.  The border was created from white cardstock which was punched with a MS lacy border punch, scored with three lines on my score tool and then had a row of pierced holes on the left using my pattern tracing wheel.  I adhered it over the edge of the paper using double sided tape.  I watercoloured the image, added clear glitter over the coloured border and added it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  

I repeated the sketch for the card on the right.  I used real lace and ribbon to create my border but other than that it evolved in the same way.  They are off to my partners!!        Therese

Birthday card featuring a digital stamp, a collage background and some gold shimmer!

 For this birthday card I started with a large red envelope and created a black card to fit inside. 
I used paper scraps from my stash to created a collage background on the front of the card.  It was fun to piece it all together and see how great it worked out.  I added three little gold sequins in one of the little spaces.  I found the greeting/image in my stash.  It is a digital stamp I created which was inspired by a card I found on Splitcoast Stampers.  It was a collage of Unity Stamps.  I watercoloured the laser printed image with coordinating colours and used gold shimmer paint for one of the candles and the stars!!  Much more shimmery in real life!!  I added some circles to the right hand side of the image before adhering it to the front of my card at a bit of an angle.  Love how it turned out!!!           Therese

Card set - decorative papers, laser printed greetings and embellishments

For my last two cards for my card set I used some of the beautiful paper I discovered a while back!!  For the first one I mounted two strips which I had trimmed to size to the top and bottom of my beige card.  I used my pattern tracing wheel to add pierced lines to the top and bottom edge of my printed greeting.  I added a sequin and brad to the left hand side of the greeting before mounting it to the front of my card using double sided tape over the area where my papers met.   Love the paper on this one!

I used the same beautiful paper I used on several others for the second card.  I mounted the trimmed paper to a dark rose card front, added a flag in the same cardstock as my card front and finally added my layered greeting with 3D foam tape.  The greeting is laser printed using a font called NOEL. I watercoloured it and layered it onto gold paper before mounting it to my card.  The gold coordinates with the gold embellishments in the paper.  

It has been so much fun to play with paper again and making cards for friends I always a most wonderful way to pass the time!!!

Therese

Card set - butterflies, decorative paper and embossed scalloped circles

Another two cards for my card set!!  These both feature butterflies from a card mobile I got while back in a birthday card from my daughter.  

For the card on the left, I started with a textured beige card, mounted a piece of decorative scrapbook paper, an embossed scalloped circle die cut and my embellished butterfly.  I added a little die cut body to my butterfly to coordinate with the foiled elements on its wings!!

For the second card I trimmed four rectangles of this beautiful gift wrap and corner punched two corners on each one before adhering them to my beige card front.  I mounted the embellished butterfly to the green embossed scalloped circle die cut and centered it on my card front to finish it off.   Therese

Card set - ribbon, vellum and oval greetings

Two more cards towards my set of cards!!  Both of these cards started with green card fronts but really went off in their own directions after that!!

For the first I trimmed a beautiful piece of decorative paper and mounted it to a navy blue rectangle of cardstock which I then adhered to my green card front.  I found this stamped greeting in my stash, die cut it into an oval and then distressed its edges.  I used the coordinating layer label to die cut a navy layer which I embossed with polka dots before I mounted the greeting.  I added a length of gold ribbon to the center of my card and mounted the layered greeting over it!!!  

For the next card, I punched the greeting from one I found in my stash, added a blue oval punchie (SU) and then cut a large oval from some textured vellum to add to the back.  I adhered them all together with double sided tape.  I found coordinating colour printed cardstock from which I cut four rectangles.  I corner punched two corners on each of them and then mounted them to my green card front.  I like the look of this combination of rectangles.  I mounted my greeting to the center over the area where the rectangles meet.  

Therese

Card set - decorative paper, ribbon and fiber and die cut greetings

Another two to add to my collection of cards for the set I am creating for my friend who shared cardmaking supplies with me!!

For the first one I trimmed a piece of gift wrap to size and mounted it to a rectangle of peach cardstock.  I found the die cut greeting in my stash which was stamped in black then cut with a Spellbinders label die.  I added a light yellow organza ribbon, mounted the greeting with 3D foam tape to the gift wrap and then secured the trimmed ends of the ribbon to the back of this layer using double sided tape.  I mounted this large element to a medium pink card front.  Love the colours of this one!!

For the next one I used a light brown card front which I sponged on the edges to have it blend nicely with my layers.  I trimmed the decorative paper and layered it onto a brown cardstock rectangle.  I adhered this large layer to my sponged card front.  I found this die cut greeting tag in my stash, tied on the orange fiber and mounted it to my card front using 3D foam tape to finish off this card.  The tag was created with a tag freebie from Dana's Inspirations and a digital thank you image from DZ Doodles. 

Therese

Card set - Buttterflies and backgrounds!!

I created a few more cards for my friend who was kind enough to share some cardmaking supplies with me!!  These two do not have greetings so will be a little more versatile.  

For these two I created backgrounds with decorative paper, added scallop die cut circles and butterflies. 

For the green card I started with an ivory card base and added three strips of decorative paper - two the same size for the top and bottom and a coordinating one in between leaving borders all the way around and in between.  I used an embossing folder to add lines and a circle element to the green scalloped circle die cut.  I centered it on the card front adhering it in place.  I added a little silver body to this butterfly (Quick Kutz) and mounted it over the central embossed circle.  These little butterflies were part of a butterfly mobile that was included in a birthday card my daughter gave me a while back.  They are beautiful elements that are working great for cardmaking!!
For the second card I mounted a vintage scrap quilt background which was a colour printed digital image (freebie) from Cathe Holden at Inspired Barn.  I chose a dark green scalloped circle which I distressed with bleach, embossed and sanded and then embossed with a round circle Nestibility to give it an embossed circle element onto which I mounted the butterfly.  Another butterfly from the mobile to which I added a little gold body to coordinate with the gold dots in the butterfly's wings.  

Loving creating with a wide variety of supplies using techniques I have not used in quite a while!!

Therese

Card set - printed greeting, decorative paper and texture

 I started on a set of cards for a friend as she has donated some small envelopes to my cardmaking stash. I made a few cards for her last year.  You can check them out here, here, and here. She generally needs thank you cards and this year I thought I would allow myself a bit more freedom and we shall see what I end up creating.

I have mined my stash for supplies to use and found a box of paper which I had almost forgotten about.  It has a wide variety of single pieces of beautiful paper which I received in a swap a while back.  The paper I used on these two cards is one of those pieces!! 

For the card on the left I started with a dark pink card and added a piece of paper which covered the front leaving a small border all the way around.  In my greetings stash I found several of these laser printed font greetings which I had printed a while back for my Christmas thank you cards.  They coordinated very nicely so I used my pattern tracing wheel and added a line of piercing on the top and bottom edges.  Next, I flagged both ends and mounted the greeting to the front using 3D foam tape.  

For the one on the right, I used the scrap that I trimmed off and ripped it in two and mounted the pieces top and bottom on a medium pink card front.  I added wavy lines of piercings with my tracing wheel and then used my distress tool on both top and bottom edges.  I added two square gold brads which coordinate with the gold in the paper - one on each side and mounted this greeting to the front of my card between the pieces of decorative paper using double sided tape.  Love how they turned out!!!  

I will be dipping into my stash of beautiful papers for these cards!!  Beautiful papers make beautiful cards!!        Therese

A birthday card featuring a fun golfing image, a font greeting and some chevron punchies

My last card for my stash for the moment!!!!!  This one features a fun golfing digital image from Anne's "Cards 4 U" which I laser printed on white cardstock and trimmed to size.  It was fun to colour this image.  I started by watercolouring the sky, added some green sponging with torn paper to simulate a horizon line and then sponged black below that to simulate a path.  Next, I watercoloured the image and added some grass in green below the font greeting.  I added some clear glitter to the head and tail lights, the hubcaps and his glasses. Love how it turned out!!!  I added it to a green layer that I embossed on the right hand side with a polka dot border embossing folder.  I adhered this large element to a dark red card front.  Thinking it still needed " a bit of something" I dug though my stash looking for something that would be appropriate and coordinate. Found these chevron punchies which very nicely filled that criteria so I glued them into place on the upper right.  Done!!!!!!!!

Therese

A quick and easy thank you card featuring a reused card front

This stash card features the front of a thank you card my in laws sent after their fiftieth wedding anniversary celebration.  I have a little stash of them that has been in my stash for a while!!  They feature an embossed heart with a gold foiled "Thank you" in the middle.  Very delicate and beautiful.  I layered it with a peach rectangle of cardstock and then onto an off white card front.  Another quick and easy card!!

Therese

A thank you card featuring bright scrapbook paper, a large label and a round greeting

This fun and bright thank you card started with a piece of scrapbook paper which I found last week in a hunt for something else!!!!!  No idea how long it has been "lost" but it was in an envelope so it must have been from a swap so it has been a while.  I trimmed a piece of navy that would fit on an A2 sized card and next trimmed a piece of the scrapbook paper to leave a small border.  I found this orange label in my stash and thought it would be perfect for hosting my greeting.  I dug the round greeting (laser printed digital stamp) and the orange and white scalloped circles (Nestibilities) from my stash.  The white was too bright so I coloured it with a grey stamp pad and then embossed it for more texture.  To create my focal element I started with the orange label (SX) which I sponged all the way around with grey ink.  I layered on two circle punchies on each side - black and yellow to which I added blue brads. I modified the brads with a blue sharpie marker to get them to coordinate more closely with the decorative paper.  I added the large grey circle to the center of the label and added the greeting which was layered on the orange scalloped circle using 3D foam tape to give it a bit of dimension.  To finish off this card for my stash I adhered the background to a grey card front and then added the large label at a bit of a diagonal.  Thinking it still needed " a bit of something" I added faux stitching to the edges of the label with a fine tip black marker. That was better!!         Therese

A sympathy card featuring scrapbook paper with roses, a vellum greeting and a border punched layer

For this card for my stash I started with the piece of scrapbook paper trimming out the image of the roses.  I added the vellum greeting (laser printed) by folding the sides to the back and adhering with double sided tape.  I layered it onto a piece of green cardstock which I border punched on the bottom with an eyelet punch (SU).  I adhered this large element to an oatmeal coloured card.  Was quick to put together once I found all the pieces that coordinated in colour.          Therese

A thank you card featuring hand decorated paper, flower punchies and a chalkboard greeting

For this card I started with the scraps of hand decorated paper I had on my desk.  They were part of a masterboard I made a few months ago. You can check it out here.  These are the final scraps.  I trimmed the scraps into long rectangles, squares and small rectangles which I adhered to a green layer adding orange flowers to the top right and bottom left to create my background.  I added orange fiber to the fussy cut chalkboard tag greeting and mounted it over my background using 3D foam tape.  I added dots in the center of the flowers and then thinking it still needed something I added little glittery flowers which added a bit of texture and some bling.  Better!!!!  I mounted this large element to a sand coloured card to finish off another stash card. 

Therese

A sympathy card featuring a stamped greeting, a butterfly die cut and a vellum layer

Another stash card!!  I started with the butterfly which was part of a mobile which I received in my birthday card from my daughter a while back.  I tied a length of silver cording around the middle, tied a double knot and trimmed the ends to simulate antennae.  I found a coordinating piece of scrapbook paper, a torn piece of vellum and a coordinating peach card front.  I used a rose ink to stamp the greeting on my card, added the vellum using double sided tape situated where it would be hidden my the strip of scrapbook paper and then adhered the strip over the vellum.  I added the butterfly using 3D foam tape to give it a bit of dimension.         Therese

Birthday card featuring a old plane digital, a distressed background and a label greeting punchie

This stash card started with the airplane image which is a digital from Arthur's Clipart which I colour printed onto white cardstock and trimmed to size.  I distressed its edges and sponged them with brown.  For some texture I used a grid (plastic canvas) and did some paper piercing in the corners.  I embossed a brown rectangle of cardstock with a distressed embossing folder passing it through twice to get the whole width and adhered it to a black card.  Seeing as the plane has red and blue markings I created a flagged element from two strips of coordinating cardstock  and adhered it to my card front.  I used 3D foam tape to adhere the plane image over the flagged element.  I dug this little punchie greeting (Modern Label - SU) from my stash and used a blue marker to colour the oval and watercoloured the textured portion in brown.  I mounted it below the image on the right hand side with 3D foam tape.    Therese

Thinking of you card featuring embossed and sanded background, reused butterflies and tracing wheel texture

This stash card  started with a white card.  I embossed a pink piece of duplex cardstock with a polka dot pattern and sanded it to reveal the white paper below.  I combined these two little butterflies which were part of a mobile which I received in a birthday card from my daughter a while back.  I die cut the body from silver card and adhered it to the pink butterfly.  I had to cut another body to adhere to the other butterfly to get the body to be long enough.  I attached them to each other using double sided tape.  I found this gray and pink greeting in my stash and cut a silver foil scallop circle (Nestibilities) to put behind it.  When auditioning the pieces on the pink layer I decided I needed to add a silver gray ribbon behind the butterfly so I added a length of it adhering both ends to the back using double sided tape, added the butterfly with 3D foam tape and then the little greeting to the lower right hand corner with double sided tape.  When I positioned this layer on my white card I found that it did not leave an even border all the way around so I added a green layer with some tracing wheel texture on the right hand side to balance the layout.  Green and pink being my favorite colour combination it was no hardship to make that happen.  Glad to have given this beautiful butterflies another life!!!!!!!!             Therese

Birthday card featuring a photo, a layered greeting and some ribbon

For this stash card I started with the photo of the zebra which I trimmed from a photo calendar that my sister gave DH last year for Christmas.  She is a photographer and puts together several photo calendars every year for sale and we are always blessed with one each every Christmas.  Making cards with the images gives them another life and reduces waste. 
The photo was trimmed to be just less than 4" and I then glued it to a black layer which fit on an A2 card with a bit of a border all the way around.  I added a strip of green scrapbook paper below the photo and put a length of black ribbon over where they met.  I dug through my stash of laser printed greetings and found this round one (Netty's Cards) that would work perfectly so I layered it onto a black scallop circle (Nestibilities) and added a embossed green circle to the middle and attached them with a large black eyelet which I set with my Cropadile.  I layered the large element to a kraft card front and then used 3D foam tape to adhere the greeting to the front.       Therese

Friends card featuring a digital stamp, ribbon and butterfly die cut

Another card for my stash!!  This one started with a panel from a used card which I cut to size and trimmed the corners with a corner rounder.  I embossed the right hand side of it using a distressed embossing folder passing it through twice to get the whole side done and adhered it to a soft green card.  I found a small piece of blue cardstock that had a butterfly opening, added silver foil to the back and a black die cut butterfly to the front (TH).  This is a set from Tim Holtz that has the solid and the intricate butterfly dies that coordinate. I used a small piece of double sided tape on the body of the butterfly to adhere it to the foil which allows the wings to be lifted for more dimension.  I tore the edges of the piece and then added more texture with my pattern tracing wheel.  I adhere this focal element to my card using double sided tape to ensure the integrity of the foil.  I found this bold greeting for Mud Maven which I had laser printed and trimmed.  I used the corner rounder on it as well and then added little ribbon flags on each side than adhered it below the butterfly on my card.  Love the colours of this card!!         Therese