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 Card Kits - Card #2 features an embossed ornament die cut, decorative paper and two decorative coloured strips of cardstock

For Card #2 I put together a few elements including some white embossed ornaments die cuts from my stash.  I added a couple of strips of coordinating cardstock.  One trimmed with the Ribbon punch (SU) and the other trimmed to size and the other simply trimmed.  I did embossed some of them.  These are combined with a layer of decorative paper and coordinating card bases.  Again, these kits are easily assembled requiring only glue.  With a variety of backgrounds and coordinating strips every kit has a variety of cards.  I do love putting together various elements and using versatile sketch to provide some interest in these kits.  

Therese

Exchange cards featuring a side flap, decorative paper and laser printed digital greetings

I have made these two cards for my Card Exchange partners for our June Swap.  I have created a flap on the left hand side instead of the top like the front flap cards have made recently.  For the first one, I choose a large envelope and created a panel card with a flap to fit inside.  I simply scored on the left hand side and folded the flap to the front.  I added a piece of light gray cardstock to the flap by butting it up and then adhering it in place using regular tape on the front.  Next, I  added a narrower strip of black cardstock which I punched with my scallop border punch (SU) before adhering it to the light gray piece.  I added two pieces of floral paper  - one to the full inside panel and the other to the front of the side flap which covers the tape I used to secure the pieces to each other.  I punched 1/16" holes in all the scallops on the edge.  I found this little greeting in my stash (Desert Diva) which is digital and I laser printed it on white cardstock after sizing it.  I added a black layer to it and then a coordinating yellow one.  I distressed the edges using my distress tool.  I used double sided tape to adhere the left hand portion of the greeting to the flap.  I added a white bond insert to the back side of the flap for the handwritten message.  

For my second card, I choose a large envelope and created a dark gray panel to fit inside.  I added a piece of floral paper which left a small margin all the way around.  I created a flap for the left hand edge using a light gray cardstock, scored the left hand edge and adhered the little flap to the back of the panel.  I added another piece of floral paper to my flap and then a strip of yellow cardstock which I punched with an eyelet border punch (SU) and then added several embossed lines with my score tool and then passed my pattern tracing wheel to add a row of pierced holes to the left hand edge.  I mounted it overlapping the edge of my light gray flap which finished it off nicely.  Next, I found this greeting in my stash which I created with a Chalk Writing font and laser printed.  I layered it with light gray and dark gray cardstock and then added to my flap using 3D foam tape.  Again, I added a small piece of white bond to the back of the flap for any handwritten message.  

It was fun to change up the flap on these cards.  I really like the look of this floral paper with the gray and yellow cardstock and monochromatic greetings.  

Front Flap Birthday card featuring decorative paper, colour printed light house and round laser printed greeting

I need cards for the special occasions in my family in the month of June and have decided to follow a sketch I found on Splitcoast Stampers for a front flap card.  It has a tutorial but I am just working it out as I go along with what I have on hand.  

For this card I chose a large envelope from my stash and cut a blue panel card to fit inside.  I found a piece of blue foil decorative paper in my blue paper stash envelope that coordinated so I trimmed it to size and glued it on the front.  Next, I found the lighthouse image in my stash of coloured images. It is a photo of a lighthouse I took when we visited in PEI a while back.  I printed several sheets of images for a class and there are still a few around.  I layered the light house with brown cardstock and then distressed its edges.  I found a coordinating piece of blue cardstock in my stash to create my flap.  I scored the top edge at a half inch and folded the flap to the back.  I hooked the flap to the panel card and trimmed the bottom edge.  I found a piece of decorative paper that coordinated, embossed it with a leafy embossing folder and then adhered it to my flap.  I added two small pieces of double sided tape to my flap, added glue in between and adhered it to the back of my panel.  I found the round greeting in my stash and gave it a very light blue colourwash and then used a brown colour pencil to colour in the knotted wreath before layering it onto a dark teal circle.  I positioned my light house and greeting on my flap before adhering them in place.  The greeting overlaps the flap by half  and I positioned the light house just to the left.  I double wrapped and tied a length of kraft brown fiber to the top portion of the flap which adds more texture and interest to this card.  I cut a piece of white bond paper just smaller than my flap and adhered it to the panel card to provide a writing area for my message.  It is a versatile sketch so I think I will make a few more while I am at it and get the cards I need ready to go!!         Therese

Anniversary card featuring an embossed background and die cut label and an serendipity heart embellishment

My parent's anniversary is coming up and they will have been married for 66 years!!!!!!  Good on them!!  They are still living independently and are safe and well during this health crisis!  We are all grateful. 
I started with a large envelope and I made a white card to fit inside.  I chose a double sided white core green paper and embossed and sanded it a bit to get some texture on it.  I added a wide white ribbon and then adhered it to my card front.  I tied the remainder to the bottom portion using a single knot to simulate a bow. I rotated the knot on the ribbon to have the knot behind which gives a more elegant look on the front.  I die cut a white core pink layer and embossed it with the Swiss Dot embossing folder.  I sanded the dots and edges for texture and interest.  I dug through my serendipity stash and found this die cut heart that coordinated very nicely.  I tied on some pink fiber and mounted it to the label using 3D foam tape.  I mounted this focal element to my card front overlapping the ribbon. 
Therese

Birthday card featuring a watercoloured coffee cup, some hand stitching and embossed velvet paper

 I made this card for DH birthday later this week.  I found some brown velvet paper in a box of serendipity supplies when I was making this heart in support of front line workers who are out there every day during this health crisis.  I embossed it with a coffee bean border from Pink Cat Studio which belongs to a set I bought a while back.  I simply laid the rubber stamp on the velvet surface of the paper and passed it through my Big Shot with very little pressure. Worked really well!  I adhered this little piece of embossed paper to a piece of mottled watercolour paper which I had stamped with a script stamp (SU) in brown.  I added a strip of red cardstock which I border punched with a ribbon/eyelet punch (SU).  I added stitching by hand using ivory and gold floss using the holes in the border.  I tied another short end to the left hand side before adhering it over where the two paper join.  I adhered this large layer to a dark brown card front.  For my focal image I chose a large coffee cup (Stamp Barn) which I stamped and gold embossed.  I watercoloured the cup and added a bit of colour to the background to make it less stark.  I used my distress tool on the edge and then smudged it with a brown stamp pad to help it stand out from the background.  I mounted this large image to my card front using 3D foam tape and then trimmed and layered a small font greeting with brown which I tucked under its bottom edge and adhered in place with double sided tape.   Therese

A few all occasion cards featuring stamped backgrounds, die cut elements and ribbon & brads

I am trading handmade cards for seeds!!!!!!!  I was really happy to be able to make a trade with my friend as getting seeds locally might be a challenge during this time of isolation.  She put them in her mailbox and picked them up and left the cards in their place.  

The top two cards were made with backgrounds from my stash which were debossed with a circle Nestibilities and stamped with the Worn background (SU) and green ink while masking the center of the circle.  I found the serendipity circles in my stash and they very nicely fit in the debossed circles on the backgrounds.  I added a watercoloured cross on one and a glittered butterfly on the other.  Layered them opposite in colour - lavender on green and green on purple.  

For the next two cards I used some clear embossed resist backgrounds which I made in preparation for this class in January.   After clear embossing I watercoloured the backgrounds with coordinating ink which provided nice contrast and highlighted the resist.  I layered them onto coordinating card fronts and then cut brown leaves (TH) for the brown one and blue wildflowers (TH) for the blue one.  I added a ribbon held in place on one end with a coordinating star brad on the brown one and mounted the blue ribbon all the way across and added the silver star brad to the right side.  I mounted the elements to the card fronts using white glue in a fine tip applicator and tucked them under the ribbon before pressing them into place.  

These are mostly all occasion cards which can be used for a variety of occasions from birthdays to sympathy.            Therese

Birthday card featuring a puffin, an hand embossed layer and a tiny greeting

For this card I started with this puffin image from CLKER which I laser printed onto white cardstock and trimmed to size.  I watercoloured it, mounted it to a hand embossed orange layer inserting a tiny laser printed font greeting in between before pressing everything down.  I left some an extra border of orange on the right hand side and the bottom which nicely highlights the puffin's beak and feet!!  I adhered this large layered element to a black card front and thinking it still needed something I added dots and dashes around the edges of the image.  That was much better!!

Therese

Sympathy card featuring starry background paper, embossed greeting and strip and glittery butterfly

For this sympathy card, I used scraps from my stash that coordinated with the butterfly and adhered them to a coordinating layer of cardstock.  I embossed a strip of white cardstock, ran my tracing wheel on both edges and adhered it over the gap between the two pieces of colour printed background paper.  I was careful to not put too much glue on the bottom edge so I could easily tuck my little embossed vellum greeting under the edge.  I put a small piece of double sided tape on the top of the greeting to secure it in place.  I added the butterfly with 3D foam tape and added clear glitter to the centers of the elements on the embossed strip.  I glued this large element to the front of a large white card. 

Therese

November Cardmaking - Christmas card featuring embossed trees, sanded embossed scroll frames and a fabric snowflake embellishments

I had a few ladies over last night to make Christmas cards.  It was a wonderful evening  - we enjoyed Christmas music as we created.
Our first card featured an embossed tree and greeting in the center of a white core piece of cardstock in a variety of colours.  We embossed them with a scroll frame embossing folder and then sanded the embossing to reveal the white core. The sanding also gives the paper a lovely soft velvety texture.  Next we overlaid a coordinating hand cut oval stencil and sponged a halo around our tree using a coordinating coloured ink.  We added snowflakes/stars to the sky using gel pens - white or clear glitter.  Finally, we added a little embellishment which was created using a white fabric snowflake layered with a coordinating sequin and held together with a brad. We used a push pin to make a hole along the rim of our halo and inserted the brad to secure it in place.  This large layer was then adhered to the front of a coordinating card front.
I have added these turquoise cards which I had made up as card kits for this class but found that the contrast after sanding was not as prominent due to a non white core and that the silver embossing was a bit rough due to the texture of the cardstock.  I wanted a more consistent experience for the class so I had set these aside.    Therese

Christmas card featuring colour printed background paper, a border punched focal element, a little greeting and ribbon flags

For this card I used supplies from my stash.  These are from a digital SU set which I colour printed a while back.   I trimmed the background paper and mounted it to a red card.  I trimmed the little greeting from a full sheet of images and mounted it onto a layered background of red and aqua cardstock.  I adhered my image, embossed a line and punched the botttom edge with the Eyelet Border punch (SU).  I added double sided tape to the upper right hand corner of my image and added three little pieces of flagged coordinating ribbon.  I adhered this focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape and then added the little font greeting punchie to finish off my card.   Therese

A Christmas card featuring a white snowman paper cast, an sanded embossed background and a snowflake embellishment

For this card I started with the little paper cast of a snowman I found in my stash!!  I will have to make more of these as they are so beautiful!!  I embossed and sanded a piece of blue white core cardstock which nicely simulated a snowy sky.  I adhered my little paper cast to the background and added a layered snowflake with a tiny white brad to the background.  I mounted this large element to a white card for finish it off!!

Therese

Christmas card featuring a stamped angel, torn scrapbook paper and a small greeting

This card features three pieces of torn scrapbook paper glued to a dark blue card front.  I added a strip of blue cardstock that coordinated with some of the snowflakes.  The angel (SU) I found in my stash and watercoloured to coordinate with my paper.  I layered it with two different colours of cardstock which I embossed before adding my image.  I mounted this element to my card front using 3D foam tape and then added a small punched (Word Window - SU) font greeting which was sponged to coordinate using double sided tape on the left and 3D foam tape on the right. 

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

August Exchange card featuring my digital image, decorative paper and some bling

Having caught up on my July card exchange cards I thought it only made sense to keep going and get my August ones made as well. 
I started with a large blue envelope from my stash and created a card to fit inside.  I added some brocade decorative paper and because it was a bit shy in length I cut it into two pieces and added a strip of coordinating grey cardstock on between.  I created this fun image of a trio of flowers while watching a doodling video on YouTube.  I scanned my pages, cut out a few images which I cleaned up a bit digitally and then laser printed on white cardstock.  I watercoloured my image and layered it with yellow cardstock.  The piece was a bit long so I used an eyelet border punch on the bottom edge and them used my score tool to emboss a strip between it and my image.  I added my focal element to my card using 3D foam tape and finished it off with three little clear rhinestones on the right hand side.             Therese

A large card featuring a beautifully embossed card front, some shimmery paper and a collaged focal image

I have been enjoying the process of making some large cards for my sister!!  This one features a large embossed card front which had a greeting in the center embossed area.  I decided to replace the greeting with a layered focal element.  I trimmed the shimmery pink paper first to fit in the embossed rectangle and then when looking for an image that would work.  I found a collaged postcard which I received in a swap which had the right colours and could be trimmed to the right size.  So I trimmed the large flower from the postcard.  I am guessing it is a floral paper napkin which has been stamped in black with a flower image and then the image has been coloured.  It is perfect!  Just what I needed.  I added two little strips of shimmery pink to the top and bottom of the card and mounted this large element to a dark pink card front!!  I tried to convince myself to add a greeting.  In the end, it did not get a greeting because I could not find anything that worked really well!!           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 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 large thank you card that features a delicate die cut, ribbon and a beautiful greeting

This card is for a special person who has been integral in getting a project I have been a part of off the ground by donating his precious time. 
I started with a large envelope and cut an ivory card to fit inside.  I found some scraps of this beautiful colour printed decorative paper (Morgue File) which I cut up and mounted to a layer of brown cardstock just a little smaller than my card front.  I die cut this embossed border (Spellbinders) and threaded through a coordinating green ribbon and adhered the ends to the back using double sided tape.  I added clear rhinestones to the top of each embossed section.  The greeting is one I created with the NOEL font and laser printed.  I trimmed it to size and then watercoloured the letters in green.  I mounted the greeting to a piece of the same brown cardstock I used for the background and mounted it using 3D foam tape.  I adhered this large layer to my ivory card front.  Very pleased with how this worked out!!  Most appreciate it when others offer their help with time and resources!!!  Therese

Fun cards that feature an embossed grid filled with hearts and flowers

For my exchange cards this month I decided to work with elements in a grid.  For the card on the left I chose a large envelope and created a white card to fit inside.  I trimmed a pink layer and then used my scoring tool to create a grid of squares.  I picked a piece of scrapbook paper than coordinated and cut 24 little hearts from it using a die (CB).  I positioned the hearts as I cut them and then rearranged a few until I was happy with the layout before gluing them into position.  I found a small greeting in my stash and mounted it with 3D foam tape of the middle of one of the hearts.  Pink and green is one of my favorite colour combinations so I love this card.  For the card on the right, I created the grid right on the white card front which was a bit more challenging because of how large the cardstock was but with a bit of flipping and being careful not to go too far I managed to get the diamond grid made.  I chose these fun flower punchies from my stash and again laid them all out before I glued them into place.  I added iridescent glitter glue to their centers and left them to dry.  I layered this cute greeting (Desert Diva) onto green and then pink which works really well with the flowers.  Once the centers were dry I added a length of blue ribbon and added my greeting over it using 3D foam tape.  I tied a short piece to the left hand side with a single knot to simulate a bow.  These will be off to my partners this week.        Therese