Thanks

For my Christmas thank you notes this year, I kept it simple with an easy, smooshy background . . .

 I did four different versions, two of which are shown here.  After smearing on three different colors in various areas, I misted sparingly with water to blend.  Topped with a crisp, white geometric die cut and a popped-up “Thanks”, they were done in record time!  I think they’re very eye-catching . . .

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore #100 Bristol    

Stamps:        Honey Bee Hello Gorgeous Set

Inks:               ColorBox Black

Waterclrs:     Concord & 9th Liquid Watercolors Assorted colors

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:              InLoveArtShop Crosswise Diamond Grid, Honey Bee

Hello Gorgeous Set

Doo Dads:    Queen & Co pearls 

With Sympathy

 I tried out a new watercolor paint over the leaves on this one . . .

 . . . instead of a glittery effect, it has a lovely and subtle  gold shimmer to it which works well on a Sympathy card.  Hope the camera picks up at least some of the sheen . . .

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Leapfrog, Strathmore #100 Bristol, Hanko

Echizen Gold           

Stamps:        StacyStamps Fern, All Night Media “With Sympathy”

Inks:               ColorBox Black

Waterclrs:     Emooqi Fruit Green

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Dies:              Gina Marie Stitched Rounded Squares              

Doo Dads:    Gold fiber      

FYI

 Currently. I am experiencing some infuriating computer difficulties and cannot post for the time being.  So in the meantime, I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas and send you assurances that I am not going away.  Repairs are expected to be completed right around New Year's Day and I expect to be back in business by then.  Thank you very much for your patience . . .

JOY

There were some unforeseen challenges on this layout and happily, I stumbled onto some unforeseen solutions!

 The first problem was that the angel didn't stand out enough from the background.  The solution was to add something to her, but I'd already assembled the card and the detail work would have had me at it for weeks.  So after cutting out another angel and discarding it, I put the surrounding mortise around the angel on the card front, and sprayed with a light coat of gold mist.  I think it worked!

The second situation involved the die cut word "Joy".  With seventy cards to complete, I didn't fancy sticking countless pop dots behind the word for dimension.  So I sprayed strips of Fun Foam with adhesive, laid strips of gold cardstock on top, and when dry, die cut the word.  I'm  thrilled with the results and will be using this quick, easy, and time-saving method from now on!

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Two Cool Colors Gold, various scraps    

Stamps:       Stampendous Music Score

Inks:             Hero Black

Colorants:   Perfect Pearls Mists Heirloom Gold

Dies:            Frantic Stamper Heralding Angel, Lil Inkers Stitched Mats:

                     Rectangles, Birch Press “Joy”

Sympathy

This one is a little bolder than my usual Sympathy card designs are . . .

 . . . I think it still works, however.  The tulips are a new die I love because even though the flower head is in one piece, it has sections than can be popped up for added dimension.  It’s a wonderful look and I hope the camera will do it justice.

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Parakeet, Fabriano #140 Artistico Watercolor,

Love Nicole Licorice

Stamps:        Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:              Hero Black

Waterclrs:     Iuile Christmas Set Orchid, Silver

Dies:             Butterfly Iron Tulip Flower, DieNamics Wonky Stitch

Rectangle Stax, Memory Box Stitched Rectangle

Trimmings, Tattered Lace Everyday Sentiments:

Sympathy, Goodculler Stitched Rectangles, EK Success

punch Scalloped Corners         

Doo Dads:    Inkssentials Enamel Accents Black        

Blossom

Inspired by a beautiful one foot square quilted wall hanging that my friend Barb made for me, I had fun replicating her design in paper . . .

 The echinacea petals were cut out with oval dies.  The background shows I had a good time with Distress Stains along with some spattered gesso, and the flower is more of the same Distress colors, only lighter for contrast.  The stitched dies suggest a quilter's inspiration, which is just what I was after.  Thanks, Barb!

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore Bright White, Canson Montval        

Stamps:       Acey Deucy Script, Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:             Distress Dusty Concord, Mustard Seed, Salty Ocean,

                     Spiced Marmalade, Brushed Corduroy, Hero Black

Dies:            Lil Inker Stitched Mats Rectangles, Lychee Flower

                     Stitched Circles, We-Buys Stitched Ovals, Memory Box

                     Gerber Stems, Tim Holtz Alphanumeric Tiny Upper,

                      La La Land Stitched Ribbon               

Doo Dads:    Liquitex Gesso White        

Malibu

When the ninth life of my friend's lovely cat Malibu finally ran out, it was time

for a card . . .

Originally, I tried gluing on some decorator sand for the dune, but that made the card very heavy.  Also, the glue never really dried.  I was envisioning a half-naked card and an envelope full of sand after the post office did their thing.

So, what better than actual sandpaper?  It even has a bit of sparkle, just like real sand. Sometimes, the simplest solutions work out to be the best . . .

 

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Neenah Desert Storm, Canson #140 Montval

Inks:             Distress Dusty Concord, Rusty Hinge, Dried Marigold,

                     Salty Ocean, Brushed Corduroy

Dies:            Frantic Stamper Ten Fun Felines Set, Lil Inker Stitched

                     Mats Rectangles, We-Buys “Stitched Curves”             

Emb Fldr:    Taylored Expressions Weathered

Doo Dads:    Sandpaper  

Happy Birthday

I hadn't worked with vellum in awhile so it was time to pull out a piece and have some fun with it.  Vellum tears easily when put through an embossing folder, but if you include a piece of Tim's Grunge Paper, not Grunge Board, it will never tear or crack.  Oddly (and happily) enough, the design comes out even clearer and more pronounced!

I sponged color on the back of the design and then backed it with white cardstock which I attached with a two-sided sheet of glue tape.  This is the best way to attach vellum, I've found, as it does not show through.

The leaves and flowers were cut from Foamiran and heated the tiniest bit into order to give a slight curve to the flowers.  They will stay perky even through the mail!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Jacaranda, Stampin’ Up Vellum, Scrap White   

Stamps:       Printworks “Happy Birthday”

Inks:             Distress Faded Jeans, Pine Needles, Tumbled Glass

Emb Pwdr:  Hero White

Dies:            Memory Box Stitched Rectangle Trimmings, Love Nicole

                     Rose            

Emb Fldr:    Taylored Expressions Rosey Posey

Doo Dads:    Studio Gesso White, Nicole’s Glitter Champagne,

                     Foamiran White      

Place Cards

 Just for a change of pace, my friends and hosts decided that this year's Thanksgiving  main entree was going to be on the very light side.  While we've heard of others who decided to go the Mac and Cheese route this year, we went for hot dogs and sauerkraut!  I brought some vegan hickory smoked dogs and a bunch of sides and along with what everyone else brought, we had an admittedly unusual but exceedingly scrumptious repast.

In light of the informality, I thought it would be fun to go in the opposite direction and make place cards for everyone.  I pulled out a couple of embossing folders and then added a handful of leafy die cuts I'd painted with glittery watercolors and propped up with pop dots.  I really enjoyed this first attempt at making place cards and am thinking I'll use any excuse to make some more in future!

 

Cardstock:   Scrap Burgundy, Toast, Canson Montval #140 Watercolor   

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy

Colorants:    Jacquard Piñata Brass

Waterclrs:    Various glitter Watercolors by Iuile of Etsy

Dies:            Stampin’ Up Classic Rectangles Small, DieNamics

                     Falling Leaves, Impression Obsession Small Leaf Set,

                     Memory Box Creekside Leaves, Taylored Expressions

                     Leaves, Tim Holtz Alphanumeric Tiny Upper  

Emb Fldr:    Stampin’ Up Bricks & Bark, Taylored Expressions Blistered

Ornaments 2021

For quite a number of years now, I've had fun making ornaments for two of my grandchildren.  I got the idea from my mother who did the same for her grandchildren.  The idea behind it was to build up a collection of ornaments with lots of memories behind them.  When each child is old enough to leave home and have their own trees, they'll have plenty of memory-filled ornaments right from the start . . .

Although the camera has turned them gold, the ornaments are actually Kraft cardstock.  I also like making matching gift boxes to help with storage and make it easy to tell which ornament belongs to which grandchild . . .

 

Cardstock:   Mohawk Carnival Cover Red, Constellation Jade

                     Raster-White, Scrap Green

Dies:            Pretty Quick Poinsettia Bauble & Banner Set, Spellbinders

                     Standard Circles Small, DieVersions font Noodles, Birch

                     Press Ornament Basics      

Doo Dads:    Sparkle & Sprinkle glitter Fantasy Gold,  rhinestones Red,

                     Green