My Art - Cardmaking #4

I love the look of navy and red!! Really worked well in this card. I had several images for this card set - a dragonfly by Magenta, a butterfly collage by SU and this saying. Love it! This was a going away gift from the girls at my last stampin group!!

The images were stamped in navy blue Memories, cut closely and layered onto navy cardstock. The scrapbook paper was layered above the embossed distressed stripes (CB). I attached the ribbon to the inside of the card again with double sided tape. Used 3D foam tape to attach both the heart punchie and the layered greeting.

So I hope you are inspired a little to get your thank you cards made early so they can be sent soon after the holidays before life gets back to normal and they get lost in the shuffle of everyday life.

When we express our gratitude for our blessings we focus on what we have which blesses us with yet more!

So I wish you a wonderful holiday season with good times and good food shared with your family and friends. Choose peace and love!!

Therese

My Art - Cardmaking # 3

This card worked out so well but it is a bit involved in that there are several components some of which are layered. The background is some really nice gift wrap I bought years ago. I still love the look of it with the gold highlights! I cut the piece larger than I needed and just trimmed to the card's edge with scissors. That ensures that it covers the card front perfectly without having to cut it perfectly and then try to line them up perfectly.
I stamped the green with the Baroque swirl (SU) and used a round dish to draw a line to cut on. I was sure to cut on the inside of the line so there would be no pencil on my half circle. The floral motif is stamped and cut out to the edge of the design and then layered onto a black circle.
I backed the ribbon with double sided tape and applied just the very edge of the lace to the back of it and then glued it to the red piece. Once the components were ready I first glued on the red piece, then the green half circle and the floral motif over that! I did stamp "thank you" on after I was finished!! If left off it gives you a card that is suitable for other occasions!! I was happy with the mildly vintage feel of this card created by the floral motif and the lace.
Therese

My Art - Cardmaking #2

Another relatively quick and easy card. The green layer is gift wrap - I bought a roll of it because I just love this colour! Layered on the twice stamped rectangle and then the ribbon which is tucked to the inside on both sided and kept in place with double sided tape. The embellishment consists of - pink scallop punchie, 1 3/8" green punchie, stamped in pink greeting punchie and a pink flower punchie. I used a push pin on a thick mousepad to make the holes in each scallop. I did add a bit of green stippling to the right hand side of the card to reduce the starkness of the white.

Just a note about punching thin paper. Sometimes it is difficult to punch thin papers so to help the process along do several layers at a time and place a regular bond paper scaps on both sides and the papers in between will punch perfectly!! Good for paper napkins, tissue and thin gift wrap.

Therese

My Art - Cardmaking #1

Had my December cardmaking session this week. It is early but in December it is always wise to schedule events early to avoid the Christmas parties and concerts, etc that are part of many people's lives. I try to get Thank you cards done so that they are ready to go when you feel you need to send a note of thanks to those who have been generous to you over the holidays!

Easy and quick card! Stamped the harlequin background (SU) in caramel, layered on a ripped green layer, added a punchie flower embellishment (SU) and a greeting.

My brain was still in Christmas mode when I came up with this design. It got more out of it as I worked on the other kits.

Therese

My Art - more Christmas cards!

More Christmas cards!! I had a cardmaking session on Wednesday morning and we made these two cards. Some were experienced card makers but most were newbies. Everyone did very well and were pleased with the cards they made. I made an effort to have cards that did not require too many tools or extras being as the group was quite large.
The snowflake card has an embossed snowflake layered onto coordinating cardstock along with a layered oval greeting. These are layered onto a snowflake embossed layer then onto a coordinating cardstock. I added a clear rhinestone brad in the middle for a little bling and it was just enough to make it sparkle just a little!!
The angel card has a few more layers but was mostly just gluing layers into place. I created the music background paper using a scanned sheet of music that I reduced in colour and added "Gloria - angels on high" in a very elaborate font. Once they were laser printed I colourwashed the sheets with walnut ink. I also very lightly colour washed the white cardstock that I stamped the angels on so it would all coordinate. I layered a strip of brown and then a ribbon onto the music background paper. The paper and brown cardstock are trimmed to the edge of the card and the ribbon is tucked around both sides and secure on the inside with double sided tape. I mounted the angel image (SU) on 3D foam tape to give the card a bit more dimension. The greeting was stamped in black right on the front of the card.

That is the end of Christmas cards for classes! I do have a few leftover from each class that I will use for sending out to friends and family!! I still need to write my newsletter so it can be included with my cards for this year.

Therese

My Art - Tag exchange

This is the tag I created for our Tag Exchange with the girls that meet here! The scallop design (SU) is stamped and embossed with a rainbow embossing powder that I bought years ago. It was much nicer than I remembered!! I added a scalloped layer below that which I cut with my Nestabilities in my Cuttlebug. Layered that onto a rectangle which was embossed with the D'vine Swirl embossing folders (CB) and dabbed a bit around the edges with the same ink that I stamped the image with. I corner rounded the corners before I embossed it. I added a brad to the center to hold all of these layers together. I added a knotted ribbon which I tucked to the back and then added this to a plain white layer. Added a silver eyelet and silver/white cord for tying on! We each made enough tags so everyone could have a full set. Kate made hers out of clay and fired them with a glaze! Super wonderful. I will be putting my angel "tag" on my tree!!

So we have some wonderful tags for putting on gifts this year though it is tempting not to use them because they are so nice!

Therese