Christmas cards featuring a JOY ornament die cut, metallic paper, decorative paper and thread hangers

 Another batch of Christmas cards featuring these red ornaments I cut a while back.  I coupled the ornaments with metallic/pearly papers.  Some are very bright metallic foils and others have a more subtle metallic/shimmery finish.  The ornaments were die cut with a Sizzix ornament die from red cardstock scraps.  I added metallic/shimmery accents - an oval behind the JOY (TH-SX) and on the ornament topper cut, trimmed and glued in place.  The oval is cut using an oval Nestibilities which is just the right size to fit behind the word!  Love it!!!!  The cards all have scrapbook paper backgrounds which I discovered in my stash of scraps.  Very happy to have another few Christmas cards made up.  I am keeping my commitment of getting my cards made before I need them in November!!

Therese

Christmas cards featuring word ornaments and custom decorative backgrounds

A few more Christmas cards!!  I cut the ornaments (SX) and words (TH_SX) while I was at it last time I made cards and so I have decided to get a few more made.  I dug out my box of Christmas paper to see what I had for backgrounds. I found several and made up a few more.  

For the first card, I taped three pieces of this beautiful metallic gift wrap together with regular tape and trimmed it, adhered to a green card front, used gold/green metallic paper to back the ornament and create the topper and added gold cording for the hanger.  

For the second card, I created a background by taping together strips of decorative paper together and trimmed it to size and adhered to a green card, used white pearly paper to back the ornament and create the topper and added white cording for the hanger. 

For the third card, I layered the green paper over some yellow decorative paper and glued this large element to a red card front, used yellow/orange hand decorated watercoloured paper to back the ornament and create the topper and used twine as the hanger.  It needed a  bit of something so I added a twine across the bottom and tied on a short length to simulate a bow and added the little layered stamped greeting (Nestibilities).  That was better!

For the fourth card, I taped layers of decorative paper together, added green/gold metallic paper strips over the joints and trimmed it to size then adhered it to a green card.  I used green/gold metallic paper to back the ornament and create the topper and added a gold embroidery thread for the hanger.  Thinking it needed a bit of something I added a coordinating oval punchie font greeting which I sponged with a bit of red before adhering with 3D foam tape.  

I am really liking the chance to change up the backgrounds on these cards.  I prefer to create one of a kind cards!!!!!!!!!!   Therese

Another large card that features a reused card front and some silk flowers

Still making cards for my sister!  For this card I created a large blue card and then trimmed a piece of pink shimmery paper to leave a small border all the way around.  I trimmed my card front into three pieces - two plaid borders and the main section in the middle.  I adhered both borders to my pink layer and then added the middle section in between spacing it evenly top and bottom.  I found some coordinating silk flowers, added iridescent white sequins and mounted them in the gaps using tiny white brads.  This worked out so well - a beautiful card with lots of texture and dimension!!   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

A birthday card featuring a teal doily, handmade paper flower and a shimmery flourish

I found this handmade paper flower in my stash and thought it would work well with my teal doily so I trimmed a couple more pieces off the whole for this card.  I started with a large envelope and I created a large sun yellow card to fit inside.  I wanted to tone down the card colour a bit so I used a doily stamp(SU) and stamped in a few times on the front using a blue ink.  Did just what I needed it to do!!  I adhered the two doily pieces in opposite corners of my card and the auditioned my handmade paper flower.  It seemed to need something  - a flourish maybe!!  But what colour should it be?  I did a search online to see what sorts of colours would work.  It was suggested that green, orange or gray would be good choices.  I dug through my metallic paper stash and chose this piece of junk mail which I saved because of its shimmery finish.  I cut it out with a large flourish (SX) die and trimmed it into two pieces before layering it under my flower.  Just what I needed!!!  I found this perfectly coordinating greeting in my stash so I trimmed it to size, highlighted the edges in teal and adhered it my card front using 3D foam tape.  Love it!!!!!!!  Very bold!!   Therese

Sympathy card featuring a layered butterfly embellishment, organza ribbon and a layered greeting

Friends of ours have lost family members on both sides this week so I made up this sympathy card for them.
I started with a large envelope and created an ivory card to fit inside.  I added a very pale yellow organza ribbon to a piece of scrapbook paper which I trimmed to size and embellished with a bit of script (SU) stamping before adhering it to the front of my card.  To create the butterfly embellishment I started with a little champagne butterfly die cut which I got from my sister, Sylvia.  I found the large butterfly in my stash - it was cut from white cardstock.  I set about modifying it with watercolour and shimmer paint until it coordinated with my background.  Once it was dry, I embossed it with a script embossing folder to echo the script in my background.  I used double sided tape to adhere the two butterflies together and a piece of 3D foam tape to adhere it to my card front.  I created my layered greeting in a similar fashion.  I found the greeting my stash (colour printed & embellished with watercolour) and layered it onto a champagne oval which I had to colourwash just a little to tone down its brightness.  I layered these two onto a white scalloped oval punchie (SU) which I embellished with watercolour and shimmer paint in the same way as the butterfly.  I tied a short piece of the same ribbon to the one on the front of my card using a loosely tied single knot securing it with a piece of double sided tape on the back to ensure it did not come undone.  To finish off my card, I added my layered greeting using 3D foam tape.  It will be on its way today!!            Therese

Exchange cards with hand decorated paper

For my exchange cards this month I made some decorative paper by layering several techniques. 

 I started with two pieces of paste paper which I made quite a while ago - one green and the other pink.  I started with a colour wash in a similar colour on both.  Next, I applied a script stamp in a darker colour.  If you check out the green image you can see that the green one was an asian character stamp.  Next, I did all over stamping with a background stamp with clear embossing ink and embossed them.  I used pearly embossing powder and a four petal stamp on the green one. You can see one of the motifs in the scan - it is lighter than the rest.  On the pink one I used a checker board stamp and clear embossing powder which very nicely preserved the pink colour of the original and allowed the texture of the paste paper to show through.  I followed that with a much darker colour wash which provided more contrast with the embossed areas which resisted the colour.  After that was dry, I added metallic acrylic paint with a spongy stamp I had on my desk and added little triangles in between to get better coverage.  I used gold on the green one and silver on the blue/pink one.  
I was not sure exactly how I was going to use them for my cards so I went to Splitcoast Stampers for a bit of inspiration.  I found several cards that I liked that used colourful circles to decorate their backgrounds so I punched as many circles as I could from each piece in four different sizes - 1.75", 1.25", .75" and .50".   I cut two pieces of shimmer cardstock  I created a while back and played with my circles until I was happy with the layout then glued them all down.  I adhered the backgrounds to coordinating card fronts before adding greetings and some embellishments.  I used a green colour printed greeting on the green card and embossed a wooden star with gold embossing powder to use as an embellishment.  The stars have been in my stash for a long time!!  For the pink/blue one I created a hot glue embellishment.  Have not made these in quite a long time.  I started with a little pool of hot glue on a piece of cardstock, poured silver embossing powder over it, shook off the extra and heated it with my heat gun.  Once it was all melted I gently placed a little flower stamp inked with embossing ink into it and let it cool.  Once cool the stamp simply lifts off revealing the embossed surface.  This technique is reminiscent of wax seals on letters in the old days.  I peeled off the paper backing and used hot glue to adhere it over my laser printed greeting on my card front. I added a bit of silver glitter glue to the center of the flower to jazz it up a bit.  
I am happy with these cards but I believe that my inspiration cards were more effective so I will have to go back and have another look and see if there is something about the design that I failed to consider in the creation of these cards.  
My cards are on their way to my swap partners as we speak!!
Therese

Wedding card with die cut hearts

Creating a few cards for my stash and needed a wedding card.  I chose the embossed hearts (SU) from my stash and decided to create a card around them. I die cut hearts from white handmade shimmer paper to back them using the embossing sizzlet which once they are layered gives them just a beautiful little edge of white.  I chose a textured dark red cardstock for my card and added a length of flowery lace using double sided tape along the straight edge on the front and short pieces on the inside of the card to secure each end.  I added a strip of white shimmery cardstock over the edge of the lace to finish it off nicely and to provide an element to anchor the hearts and greeting.  I used 3D foam tape to adhere the hearts into place and the layered greeting (SU) as well.
I am really liking lace on cards!!  You can check out the last few I made here and here.

Therese

Wedding card!

I am putting together a few cards for a friend and decided to use this stamped image from an image swap years ago.  I painted the dress, the veil and the bouquet with pearl shimmer paint, added a bit of black watercolour to the groom's hair and shoes and coloured the flowers with blue watercolour.  Then I added a layered greeting.  Again, I kept thinking it needed a bit of something so I created a 3D veil using some shimmery white tulle and glued it over the painted one!  Love it!!  Mounted all the pieces to a blue card front!!

Will be putting together a few cards and packaging them for a friend who has been gracious enough to care for our house while were were away!!  Handmade cards are always a wonderful gift!!

Therese

Film strip art

Had a couple of days of crafty fun with my friend, Linda, last week.  We had lunch and a play date with a friend and made some great film strip art!!  We cut the film strip using  the TH die and black cardstock then stamped several small images from collage type stamps to place in behind with black Staz ON.   I coloured mine with Pan Pastels, trimmed the images to fit in the openings and then glued them into place.  Once I was finished I spritzed the whole thing with a glimmer mist which sealed my pastels as well as gave the whole thing some shimmer.  We had a great afternoon and I was blessed to spend it with such talented women.
Linda is taking an online card class so some time was spent working on cards.  Check out her blog and see the cool cards she made.
She is a great cook so the food is always wonderful when I am there.  So all it all it was a great visit!!
Be sure to make some time over the summer to get together with your friends - do something fun, eat some good food and make some memories!!

Therese

Christmas cards - poinsettias

I love the texture of these flowers - a beautiful velvety surface!! They were beautiful, the perfect size for cardmaking and a good price - needless to say, several bunches came home with me from Michaels last week!!

To ensure that the flowers were the star of these cards, I layered them onto a simple green label die cut (TH -SX) through which I had threaded a subdued gold ribbon. I glued the label to a piece of white cardstock which had been shimmered, embossed (SU) and also had a colour printed greeting. I laser printed the greetings before I shimmered the paper so was a little concerned that the printing might be affected by the alcohol in the shimmering process. No problem!! I used Gold Interference Pearl Ex which because it has no binding agent required that I seal the surface before proceeding with the embossing. I used aerosol hairspray as a sealer.

The flowers had chunky glittered centers which I removed and replaced with a little punchie and a brad to hold the layers together. I dug through my stash of silk greenery for leaves that were more appropriate in size than what came with them. I found several options which worked. I positioned the flowers and leaves on the die cut, removed the flower and glued the leaves in place and then added the flower using double sided tape. I had no trouble getting mine to stick but it is possible that glue dots might be a better adhesive for that purpose. With ribbon ends wrapped to the back and adhered with double sided tape I glued the whole layer to my card front. The flowers have some dimension but I think they will not pose a problem when being mailed as they should flatten easily when inserted in the envelope.

Therese

Christmas cards!!

Pink Christmas cards!! Have been wanting to make some pink ones for quite a while, so with a card swap on Just Cards themed The Letter P I decided that pink and peace would work for the month of October and made it happen. It also works for Sylvia's Christmas card challenge for September which was Non Traditional colours so I am on a roll!! Come to think of it, the challenge on CST is monochromatic and this card will work for that as well!! Wow - lots of bang for the effort. I created 7 of these - one will be sent off for the swap and the others are headed to my Christmas card stash!!

If you haven't started your Christmas cards yet, check out Sylvia's blog for her challenge - she has had a monthly challenge since January - and get started with any of the challenges that catches your eye. A few cards per week until December 1 and you will be happy!! There are other challenges available. Just do a search or check out the ones I have listed on my right hand sidebar!!

As you can see there are two versions of this card - the simple and elegant one which I started with and as I proceeded card #4 received some bling and so did a few others!! I am of two minds about whether they all should have bling or not!! It is so like me to not be able to make more than a few cards exactly the same!! I will have to sleep on it!!

I cut the ornament (SX) from shimmery pink Core di nations cardstock! I cut the wave from shimmery white cardstock (Bazzill) using a Quikutz Cookie Cutter die I recently acquired!! I also cut the hanger from the same shimmery cardstock layering them onto the main ornament with a bit of white glue and trimming the wave to the edge. I stamped Peace (Chapel Road - Class Act) onto the lower bottom corner of a piece of white cardstock in pink and embossed the whole thing with Musical Flourish (CB) embossing folder. I mounted the ornament to the embossed layer using 3D foam tape incorporating a pearly string beneath the hanger, used double sided tape to hold the free end to the back of the card and added a length of shimmery pink and white ribbon about a half inch from the top by gluing both ends to the back with double sided tape. I glued this layer to pink, trimmed it close and mounted it to a white card front. I decided to add a short piece of string to the pink ribbon. Simply tied it around the ribbon with a double knot and situated it to overlap the ornament's string. I like the look!! The last few got some bling!!

Still have one more card swap to finish and a few other projects on the go!!

Class Act has a new challenge on their blog! You could win some rubber!! Go and check them out!!

Therese

Christmas cards - Shimmer and Glitz

The main feature of this card is the shimmery fabric!! It is similar to vellum when it comes to attaching it - you have to do it discreetly so the adhesive does not show through. In this case, I used some double sided tape behind the greeting and several tiny pieces behind the snowflakes which pretty much disappeared once they were well burnished from the front. The ribbon which is attached to the inside of the card front fortunately keeps the left hand side of the fabric secure and the brad through the fiber snowflake on the right mechanically adheres the fabric to the card. I used shimmer paint on the cardstock before I embossed the greeting with a little embossing folder!!

The shimmery fabric is often featured as a gift wrap at this time of the year and I have purchased it with several different designs including snowmen and script holiday greetings!! Follow this link for information on making your own shimmer paper using supplies you probably have at home!!

Therese

Christmas cards & challenges

Made these Christmas cards and satisfied several challenges along the way!! Sylvia's August challenge was winter, Karen's was tags and Year Round Christmas' was snowflakes. I started by spraying my cardstock with homemade shimmer spray. Once it was dry I stamped my little winter village (Stamp Barn) in brown at the top. I stamped off once before stamping on the card front so it would look snowy and not have too much contrast. I added decorative snowflake paper (Mind's Eye) on the lower section and layered on a brown border punched (SU) strip between the two. I punched a large snowflake (MS) from white shimmer paper, layered on a small blue one (MS) and attached them to the card front with a brown brad. I love this border punch because it leaves little half moon holes which are great to hang tags from. I made the little tag by colour printing the greeting surrounded by a circle large enough so that when I punched it out with my 3/4" punch (SU) I would have a halo of blue all the way around. I layered it onto a 1" punchie of blue and attached the tag with off white crochet thread.

The snowy village stamp has been in my collection for almost a year and just saw ink today!! Nice to have the time to play with new stamps!!

Therese

Exchange cards - handmade paper & watercolour

My CCE exchange cards!! I was so sure that I had handled my exchange cards for February that I did not even check to see if they had been sent! Alas, NO!!
So I created these four cards the other day for February and March exchange cards and sent them off. I will have to keep better track in the future!!
The two western ones have watercoloured images which were really fun to create! It was really nice to have the time to invest in doing such large images. I layered the images onto handmade paper/card fronts which were wrapped with twine. Nice effect!!
The two more winter looking ones were stamped in brown on handmade shimmer paper - left overs from a few months ago. I layered them onto handmadepaper/card fronts which had ribbon tied in a double knot. Really liked the look of these as well.
I have been teaching art sessions to high school students for the last month and a bit. It has kept me pretty busy. I will be posting the projects I taught in my sessions in the next few postings - not necessarily in order in which they were taught. I have been taking photos and scanning as I went along.

Therese

My Art - Dec cardmaking - shimmer again!

Yet, more shimmer paper!!! The central image - stamped and embossed on shimmer paper - is trimmed, layered and mounted to the top part of the card. I punched the holes to the top layer and added the fiber before I glued it to the card front so that the filber does not show on the inside.
There is enough room on this card to add a greeting below the fiber which allows you to use this one for any occasion!!

Therese

My Art - Dad's card

My Dad's 80th birthday card!! I count myself very fortunate that he is doing well considering the health challenges he faces and that he is still living with my Mom independantly in their own home. He knows he has limits but still finds ways of doing the things he most loves to do which I think goes a long way to extending life.
I added a thin layer of cherry wood to the top part. My Dad was a carpenter most of his life and wood has been an important part of his life. This particular piece is from a night light my husband is buidling for our newest grandchild.
I stamped the covered bridge (SU) onto shimmer paper I made - so fun!! Layered it on cardstock and added a ribbon and embossed greeting!! Really like the way it turned out!!!
Thrifty Tip: Make your own shimmer paper!! Add some mica enhanced product to rubbing alcohol in a mister bottle and spray away!! I have sprayed it on black, red and white! You can spray it on any colour!!
I used regular drug store rubbing alcohol. Mica enhanced product includes the following - shimmer acrylic paint (SU) does an awesome job. My SU demo recommends the white frost or the champagne mist. I used white mica powder that I bought a LONG time ago for highlighting friendly plastic. Others have used shimmery metallic acrylic paint, Pearl Ex, Perfect Pearls, etc. with good success. Be sure to spray from about a foot away and give it several light layers of shimmer. I used about 1/2" teaspoon of mica powder to 4-5 tablespoons of rubbing alcohol. Your level of shimmer will be more or less depending on how much mica product you use so experiment until you find a level that suits you.

Have fun and if you have not yet finished your Christmas cards - add some shimmer!! You can spray your cards once they are finished to add just a bit of shimmer but be really careful if you have any unprotected stamping on the fronts. Too much shimmery alcohol may make the inks bleed!!

Therese