March Cardmaking - golden die cut, beautiful background paper and a gold embossed greeting

Another fun evening with the girls making cards!!!!  For our first card I created these simply elegant ones!!  I cut the frame out of white cardstock.  In order to be efficient I laid out the tag for the next card in the center of the frame which made the off cut useful.  I created registration marks on my magnet sheet for the Big Shot and positioned my rectangle Nestibility so it would cut out a frame in the way that I wanted.  I left space on the bottom so that the girls could gold emboss the greeting of their choice from the Sincere Salutations set (SU).  That was a new experience for all of them so we had a few practice runs and everyone managed to get their greeting well embossed.  I ran the tracing wheel around my frame before I added the decorative paper behind the opening and glued this layer to my coordinating card front.  We then added our coordinating gold die cuts using white glue in a fine tip applicator to ensure a neat finish.  The leaf is Tim Holtz and the dragonfly is Spellbinders.  Very happy with these elegant cards!!           Therese

Card with a cross featuring a bit of bling and some beautiful paper

Another cross card!! I started with a gray card for this one and added a beautiful foiled gift wrap background paper.  I laser printed the cross on white cardstock, trimmed it to size and mounted it to a rectangle of silver cardstock.  I added a rhinestone to the middle of the cross and added clear glitter  with a gel pen to several places on the cross.  I mounted the image to my card using 3D foam tape.  Another versatile card suitable for a variety of occasions including Easter which will soon be here!!          Therese

Graduation card that features gros grain ribbon, colour printed background and some bling

It will soon be that season of transition where people move on from being students to the next step in their lives and so I made this card.  I will probably need a few more but it is a start. 
I started with a colour printed background from Altered Bits and mounted it to a green card front.  I found this greeting in one of my past files and it does not have any credits so I am not sure where it came from but I really like the message!!  I laser printed it onto white cardstock, trimmed it to size, watercoloured the cap and sponged its edges a bit before mounting it to a brown cardstock layer with a distressed edge.  I added a piece of green gros grain ribbon with flagged ends to my card then mounted my greeting over it using 3D foam tape.  Just a little bit of bling finished it off nicely!!           Therese

Handmade card featuring a beautiful cross, faux stitching and handmade paper

A while back I was asked to make a few cards featuring crosses for special occasions through out the year.  I am in need of a few more so I have started with this one.  This beautiful cross was downloaded from Art by Jean and she has some beautiful images and backgrounds there for all sort of occasions. I colour printed the cross onto white cardstock, trimmed it to size and added a yellow scallop punched border (SU)on the right hand side.  I mounted the image to a coordinating piece of handmade paper which I made myself and added a tiny black brad to the center of the cross.  I mounted this large element to a navy card front.  After I was done, I thought it still needed a bit of something so I added a bit of faux stitching around the image and that was better.  A card for any occasion!!

Therese

Christmas cards featuring embossed snowmen, decorative paper and little greetings

 Here are my first set of Christmas cards for March!  I have committed to making Christmas cards every month so that I will have them all made by December!!  I am using up my stash of envelopes so these are long and slim.  I made white cards to fit in the green envelopes and got started.
I dug through my Christmas paper stash and found several that would do.  For my first card I used a leafy blue background paper.  It was just a touch short so I cut it before adhering to my white card.  I added an embossed layer of light blue cardstock and a little strip of darker blue over it.  I mounted the little snowman image onto red and then over the strips using 3D foam tape.  When I auditioned my little layered greeting - laser printed Word Window punchie - Modern Label in red - SU) it seemed a little lonely so I kept digging in my scraps and found a little flourish that coordinated with the darker strip which very nicely added a "bit of something" to my greeting which was just what it needed.  Glued the flourish with white glue and mounted the greeting with 3D foam tape.  The others are very similar but in a landscape rather than a portrait orientation.  I see that I have used the snowmen in both the embossed and debossed versions so this one works in both aspects.  I am happy to have a few cards made for this month.  I am hoping to make a few more by the end of the month.             Therese

Christmas card using plank background, a flagged strip and a watercoloured nativity image

This is the last Christmas card I made for my February catch up on my commitment to make some cards every month so I will have what I need when December comes around. 
The background was sitting on my desk since my January card making session.  I created a red card to coordinate with the red envelope I had chosen.  I adhered the black and white wood gift wrap to it and went looking for an image that would work with it.  I found this little nativity which I thought would be good.  I watercoloured it to coordinate and then layered it with green cardstock.  I found the little greeting in my stash and layered it with the same green.  Once I was putting my card together I decided it needed a flagged strip of red behind the image so I added it before placing my other elements with 3D foam tape.  Still thinking it needed "a bit of something" I added three little red circle punchies above the greeting.  That was better!!!!!!  Glad to have caught up on my Christmas cards and will have see about getting my March ones done soon!!!!!!            Therese

A Christmas card - reused image with a few runs of the tracing wheel!!

Loved this image from Christmas packaging this year and so I saved it!!  I had to trim it a bit to use on the front of an A2 card but it works!!  I added two rows of pierced holes using my pattern tracing wheel  - one at the top and one at the bottom!!  Layered it onto a gray card front to finish it off!!

Therese

Christmas cards - reused gift wrap, tree die cuts and fun greetings

In an effort to have Christmas cards ready to go by the beginning of December I am again this year committing to getting some made every month.  I did not get any made in February so I am playing catch up this month.  I had the gift wrap backgrounds cut out for these cards since January.  They have been sitting in my craft room waiting!!  I had a bit of time to play so I decided to get started on them.  I cut white card fronts for all of them as they all have green envelopes.  I glued the backgrounds on and then started with some fun!!  I gave them all some sort of white embossed strip and added to them as I went - one with a flagged end and purple and white bakers twine tied around it, another with green ribbon, the next one scallop edges, a purple strip and red fiber tied on one end and the last one has a flagged end, a strip of red and white fiber added to that.  I dug some die cut trees from my stash to use as the focal element which I adhered with 3D foam tape.  I added little greetings from my stash - gold embossed joy layered onto a red scalloped oval, a little laser printed Word Window punchie, a punchie greeting layered onto a Modern Label punchie in red and a laser printed greeting punched with an oval punch (SU).  After finishing off the cards I added glitter glue to the trees!!!!!!!  I added a garland and then some ornaments using a variety of colours of glitter glue.  Discovered several that are dried out but that is the way it goes - use it or lose it!!!  After they were dried I pressed them all!! They are in need of inserts but I am considering doing those all in one go as I will be having a wide variety of sizes in my cards and they will all have to be custom made.  It was very fun to play and make some bright and colourful cards!!          Therese

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

A thank you card featuring a large reused layer - quick and easy!!

This card was quick and easy!!  I trimmed the rose layer from a used card, layered it onto green cardstock and then onto a pink card front.  Done!!

Therese

Birthday card featuring a cute felt owl, embossed & sanded trees and a little label greeting

My sister gave me several of these cute little felt owls a while back.  I embossed duplex cardstock with a birch trees embossing folder and then sanded it to reveal some white areas.  This duplex cardstock was much sturdier than others I have on hand and required LOTS of sanding so I expect that the black layer was fairly thick.  I like how it turned out.  I mounted this layer onto a white card, added a white die cut circle, a black branch (TH) and then the owl so he is framed by the circle.  Love it!  To finish off my card I added a little laser printed greeting which I laser printed and fussy cut.  I mounted it with 3D foam tape. 

Therese

A Thinking of you card featuring a hand decorated background, a strip with a chevron border and a little punched greeting

I had created this background a while back using some fun handmade stamps which I used on a piece of paper on which I had cleaned up some extra paint from a project.  I always clean up my palette of paint onto pieces of paper in order not to waste it and to create very unique backgrounds.  I simply cut it to size and layered it onto green cardstock and then onto an ivory card front.  Wanting to let as much of the background show as possible I decided on a simple strip of coordinating orange cardstock as my focal element.  I punched with my chevron punch  and flagged the end before mounting it to my card front.  I added the little greeting which is laser printed and then punched (Modern Label - SU).  Thinking it still needed " a bit of something" I added three little clear rhinestones below the greeting.  That was better!!!

Therese

Thank you card featuring a glazed cup of coffee, a reused layered focal element and a little greeting punchie

For this card I started with a background which was set aside after a session of refurbishing cards.  I am not sure what or if there had been a focal element but I found this little coffee cup (stamped image) which fit perfectly so I watercoloured it and mounted it over the scalloped square.  I had to trim the background to fit on an A2 card but fortunately I was able to carefully trimmed the decorative paper after I cut it to size using my exacto knife so I could replicate the bordering frame.  I mounted this large element to a yellow card front and added the little punchie greeting using 3D foam tape.  Lastly, I embellished the coffee cup image with clear dimensional paint and left it to dry which took the better part of the day.  It looks wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!              Therese

Birthday card featuring watercoloured sailboat, label greeting and some bling

This card is the first of a few cards I am making for my stash!
I laser printed a sheet of digital images and greetings on white cardstock in hopes of being able to make up a few birthday cards. 
This one features a digital image from Arthur's Clipart which I laser printed and then watercoloured.  I added some highlights in the water with a white gel pen and then added some shimmer with a clear glitter gel pen. Worked out really well!!   I mounted this image to a navy blue layer of cardstock and punched out a label opening on the bottom (Modern Label - SU).  I mounted it to a yellow card, added a little laser printed greeting punchie (Word Window - SU) and three little clear rhinestones to finish it off!!  I am really liking the larger border on this card which nicely frames the focal image.  Will have to do that more often.       Therese

Valentine card with non traditional colours, stamped tissue and ribbon

 I made this card for DH for Valentine's.  It is very non traditional in the way of colours but I like the way it turned out.    I started with a large envelope and made a card to fit in it from a subtle green cardstock.  I manually embossed the edges and the bottom with a music embossing folder (CB).  I decided to create a collage so I started with a piece of gray packaging that was printed with a bold floral/filigree pattern and tore off the bottom edge.  I dug through my heart stash and took out several in the green persuasion which I glued down.  Next, I found a book page with a love title and tore a heart from it.  I glued the large heart over my collage of the other hearts.  I took a piece of white tissue paper which I stamped in black with a heart flourish stamp in black ink and then again several more times which I embossed with clear embossing powder which created some clear sections.  Afterwards, I stamped it all over with a script stamp (SU) in black as well.  I applied white glue over all of my collage and adhered my tissue paper over it leaving some of the wrinkles and folds to add texture and finally folded the edges to the back and glued them in place as well.  I applied white glue to the front as well and mixed in a bit of glitter glue in light green which worked as well to create a bit of transparency in my tissue paper.  After it was dry, I added a ribbon, tied on a piece of raffia to simulate a bow, a little "Always" tag and some little iridescent sequins.  Finally, I added a large heart sequin over a little green heart punchie and then attached that with a small gold brad. I am happy with my collage but my grey background hardly shows through but that is the way it goes sometimes.  I glued this large element to my embossed card front to finish off my card!!  I pressed it to ensure that the layers were nicely glued to each other.  We are celebrating Valentine's tomorrow!!        Therese

A set of cards for a friend that feature paper buttons, a stamped greeting and some paper flags

 I created these four cards as a hostess gift for a friend who invited us for a meal this weekend!!

She really appreciates cards and likes to bless her friends with them so I know she will appreciate them.  To continue using my stash of large cards I chose four envelopes that were the same size in four different colours.  I created white cards for them and then created the cards to coordinate with the envelopes.  I stamped the greeting in one of the corners and then dug through my paper scraps and found small scraps in the colours that coordinated with the envelopes.  I used my chevron punch to flag the one end and then applied a piece of double sided to my card front and started applying the scraps to the tape varying their length to create a bit of interest.  I trimmed the pieces just above the tape.  Next, I dug through my cardstock stash and found a strip of cardstock that worked with my chosen papers, trimmed it to size and then embossed it with a fun embossing folder.  I glued this strip over the tops of the papers and added a paper button to which I had tied some thread/fiber with 3D foam tape.  Really happy with how they turned out!!!!!!!!      Therese

Large birthday card with an embossed label, gift wrap background and lots of glitter

I made this birthday card amidst the Valentine's cards I was making so it ended up with this red, white and black theme. 
I started with a large red envelope and made a red card that fit inside.  I added this layer of cool gift wrap that looks like weathered wood that was saved from Christmas.  I created a background by gluing strips of red cardstock onto a piece of scrap paper and die cut a large label (SX) from the panel.  I embossed it with a large embossing folder with a delicate geometric pattern.  I had to trim off the two bumps on the sides to get it to fit on the front of my card so I glued those inside the top and bottom curved areas on the label.  I added a chalk board greeting to the middle of the label and then embellished it with red and iridescent dots of glitter glue.  After it was dry I glued this large focal element to my card front sandwiching a loop of light gray organza ribbon in between.  To finish off, I flagged the ends of the ribbon.  Really happy with how it worked out.  I am enjoying the large cards but it does mean that to stick to my plan of destashing large envelopes this year I cannot dig into my stash for a last minute card!!!!                Therese

Large card featuring digital image with watercolour, stamped greeting and some ribbon

Another grandson with a birthday!!  For this card I started with green envelope and created a red card to fit inside.  I found this yellow layer in my pile of discards from used cards and it was just the right size to fit on my card!!!  I embossed it with large polka dots and sanded them to show up the white core of the card.   I am again using a laser printed image from Cre8tive Hands - a little bear this time!!  I watercoloured the image and layered it with a rectangle of blue cardstock which coordinated with the ribbon on the gift.  I distressed the edges of the blue to add texture and mimic the feeling of the sanded layer.   I added a green ribbon across the bottom section and glued the ends to the back of the yellow layer.  I rubberstamped and embossed in clear the greeting on a scrap of white cardstock and mounted it to the layer using 3D foam tape.  I adhered this large layer to the front of my red card and used 3D foam tape to mount my focal image.  I am sure they will both enjoy their birthdays!!!!  Therese

Large birthday card that features watercoloured digital stamp, fiber and some glitter

I made this card for my grandson whose birthday is coming up next week!!!!  I laser printed several images from Cre8tive Hands on a sheet of white cardstock and trimmed them out last week and I decided to use this little dog for his card. 
I started with a large envelope and I created a beige card to fit inside.  I found a piece of decorative scrapbook paper that coordinated and added a brown punched border (SU) on the right hand side.  I pierced each scallop with a push pin and then scored a line next to them.  I glued this to the back of my decorative paper.  I watercoloured my image and sponged the edge with blue to coordinate.  I added dots with a brown marker to highlight the edges.  To add texture I tied a length of orange fiber around my decorative paper layer and tied a knot on the right.  Wanting to add a bit more interest I dug through my stash of round punchies and found several that coordinated and glued them to the back of my coloured image.  I glued this large focal element to my card front over the fiber before gluing the whole thing to the front of my beige card.  I added some glitter glue in a coordinating colour to the circles' edges and one dot in the middle of the two brown ones.  Once they were dry I pressed my card a bit because the glitter glue had caused the circles to buckle a bit.  Pressing helped them to settle back into place.  This card is ready to go and will be send off when I get his brother's card ready as well.   Therese

Large birthday card featuring a large flower element background, an embossed flagged strip and some bling

My last card for my sister for this cardmaking session!!  Again, I am using an element trimmed from a large sheet of scrapbook paper.  I trimmed out the flower, layered it onto red and then onto a green card front.  I added an embossed strip of coordinating cardstock which I flagged on the end before adhering to my card front above the flower.  I sponged the edges of my laser printed punched greeting before adding it to my card front using 3D foam tape.  To finish it off I added three little clear rhinestones to the greeting!!  Done!! 

Therese

Large card featuring a cute mouse, a embellished greeting and some ribbon

What a cute little mouse!!  It was trimmed from a scrapbook sheet of patterned paper.  I trimmed the top section from another piece and added the border to the top to coordinate with the bottom section.  I added a little punchie greeting that has been embellished with clear dimensional paint which coordinates nicely.  I layered this image with red paper.  I created a large red card, embossed a brown layer of cardstock with my scoring tool to give it some texture before adhering it to my card.  I created a large flagged strip of dark brown cardstock and added a bit of red checkered ribbon to which I tied another short piece to simulate a bow.  I adhered that to my card front before adding my focal element which I adhered with 3D foam tape.  Very happy with how this one turned out.  Really enjoying making these large cards!!!

Therese

Large birthday card featuring a reused card front, layered greeting and ribbon

For this large card for my sister I reused a card front.  It was just short for the size of card I need so I trimmed the bottom portion into two pieces and added a large layered greeting to cover the gap.  Worked perfectly!!  I added a little pink ribbon to the greeting to introduce a bit more texture even though the card front has some rhinestones and lots of glitter. 

Therese

Large birthday card featuring a cute little pig, some ribbon and a layered greeting

What a fun card!!!!!!!!!  This little pig was part of a large sheet of scrapbooking paper. I trimmed it down to the size I needed for this card and trimmed off the top portion and reattached it using regular tape on the back.  I created a layered embellished greeting .  A scallop circle, a round stamped greeting (SU) in green, a flower sequin all held together with a tiny gold brad.  I added a length of green ribbon where my pieces of paper joined adhering the ends to the back.  I slipped a red scalloped circle below it and then mounted my layered greeting over the ribbon.  Everything coordinates so nicely!! 

Therese

Large birthday card that features torn paper, ribbon flags and a large reused card focal element

Another large card for my sister as I use up her stash of supplies!!  I reused a card front and used it as my focal element.  Love the flowers!!  I layered it onto a pink layer and added coordinating ribbon flags on the right hand side by added double sided tape to the back.  I created a large yellow card front, embossed the middle section and added the two sections from a strip of green paper which I tore in two - one at the top and one at the bottom.  I mounted my large focal element to my card front using 3D foam tape.   Worked out really well!!         Therese

Large birthday card featuring a reused card front, dimensional magic and some embossing

I am working on a few large cards for my sister who left some supplies here a while back and I am in the process of making her some cards with the little stash.  I reused a card front for this card.  I layered it onto a purple layer which I embossed and punched on the right hand side.  I used a zig zag border embossing folder and my scallop border punch (SU).  I used my small hole punch to punch holes in each scallop.  After layering these two I mounted the large element to a green card front.  Thinking it needed a bit of something I added rhinestones in the middle of all the flowers - some small clear ones, some larger and much more textured.  To finish it off, I added clear dimensional paint to all the balloons!!!!!  Love it!!          Therese