Thank You

I like to make the cards that house my Christmas Thank You notes ahead of time.  That way, I’m encouraged to not dawdle in writing them and sending them out!  Genius, huh? This year’s die design comes from Poppy Stamps new Nordic line . . .

As usual, the camera didn't not pick up much of the frosty glitter I added to the floral background.

I flipped when I saw what blogger Pam Sparks had done with this die, so I gifted myself with an early Christmas present of both the deer and the background.  The deer set comes with a solid background and has right and left-facing deer for layout variety.  The deer bodies are ingeniously designed in two pieces which provides wonderful dimension.  Included are two styles of antlers, lovely “clothing” for the deer, and some greenery.  Poppy Stamps thought of everything and I’ll be using every occasion I can think of to play with this set!

Cardstock:   Marcos Jute, Neenah Desert Storm. Bazzill Splash,

Bazzill Blue. Dark Denim, Admiral       

Inks:             Hero Shadow Soft Brown

Dies:            Poppy Nordic Deer, Savvy “Thank You”           

Doo Dads:    Enchanted Creations glitter Moon Dust  

It's Birthday Time

As my Christmas card has already been posted, I think that Christmas Day is a great one to post a card for my friend who has the perfect holiday name of ‘Noela’. She was indeed a holiday-born baby so a posting in this month is certainly the right place for her.  She has newly moved to Beacon, NY and by all accounts, it’s very much like the card front’s design . . .

The entire card front is one die which is such a charmer, I had to get it the minute I saw it.  Equally charming was the fact that it was on sale at half price!  There’s enough action going on that a simple text strip was all I wanted to add to it.  I confess to copying the color scheme shown on the packaging as I thought it was perfect as is.  But next time, I’ll go for something quite different just to put my own spin on it . . .

 

Cardstock:   The Paper Cut Brown Umber, Strathmore

 #140 Watercolor, Scraps Various         

Sentiment:   Typed in Countryhouse font

Inks:             Distress Ground Espresso, Superior India Ink Black,

                     Gelly Roll pen Clear Star

Dies:            Tim Holtz Countryside, Simon Says Sketchy Banners           

Heaven Sings

I fell in love with this extremely simple Christmas tree die and had to use it for my cards this year . . .

 

 . . . it will likely make future appearances as there are several ways to feature this die design.  For now, an ancient music background and a sparkly gold star seemed to mostly complete the layout.  I bought an inexpensive batch of plain check-sized envelopes to hold this Mini Slimline-sized card and have addressed them all.  I’m  pleased to note that at the time of this writing in early November, the yearly Christmas card endeavor is fully under control.  Now it’s on to the rest of the annual mayhem.

               A blessed and very merry Christmas to one and all!

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore #100 Bristol Smooth, Bazzill Black, Ivy,

American Crafts POW! Gold glitter   

Stamps:       Above the Mark Abbey Music, Memory Box Heaven Sings

Inks:             Superior India Ink Black

Dies:            Gina K Rectangle Small Set, Memory Box Folk Art Tree,

Spellbinders Victorian Tags, Our Daily Bread

                      Sparkling Stars            

Ornaments

Every year, I make ornaments for my grandchildren.  The idea is to provide a collection of ornaments they can take with them when they are grown up and on their own.  Their first Christmas trees will then have ornaments filled with memories of home and happy celebrations from years past. This was my Mother’s idea for her grandchildren and I thought it was a terrific one . . .

 I found the basic idea for this design from a blog and am very grateful to the artist who came up with it.  Scroll down for a look at the presentation boxes . . .

Ornament:

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Red Devil, The Paper Cut Orion: White

Dies:            Spellbinders 2010 Heirloom Ornament, Impression

Obsession Small Flourish Background, La La Land

Pretty Poinsettia, Memory Box Ornament Caps & Hooks                   

Doo Dads:    Gelly Roll Clear Star, Fiber Red/Black    

BOX:

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Red Devil, The Paper Cut Orion: White

Dies:            Spellbinders 2010 Heirloom Ornament, Impression

Obsession Small Flourish Background, Spellbinders

Layered Poinsettia, Tim Holtz Alphanumeric

 

 

You're the Best

In honor of my grandson’s 17^th birthday . . .

  . . . I have almost no sports images so I thought that encouraging words would be fun to use.  And I added seventeen candles to mark the occasion . . . count ‘em!

Happy Birthday, Keaton!

 

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Strathmore Ultimate White         

Stamps:       Judikins Stitched Leaves Background, Fiskars

Sentiments

Inks:             Distress Antique Linen, Superior India Ink Black,

Painters marker Gold

Dies:            Temu Long Candle, Our Daily Bread Sparkling Stars            

Life

I’ve a veggie friend who is celebrating forty years of sobriety, so I thought the following layout would be a good choice . . .

As a fellow veggie, I’ve plenty of fruit and veggie dies and stamps so I’m going to have lots of fun making cards for him in the future . . .

 

Cardstock:   Strathmore #140 Watercolor, Bazzill Parakeet, Ivy,

Bamboo, Scrap Brown, Green Printed Paper

Stamps:       Red Rubber “Life has got to be lived . . .”

Inks:             Distress Brushed Corduroy

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Wplus9 Pears, DieNamics Pierced Rectangle Frame,

Gina Marie Stitched Rounded Squares, Cheery Lynn

                      BAF #3 Embellishment                   

Cheers

Time to start work on my Christmas cards so this may be my last Bay Window card for awhile . . .

 

 . . . if I can tear myself away, that is.  With my new and ever-sharp paper trimmer, cutting the ten strips for the five panels has been a joy.  A wise investment indeed!

Cardstock:   Bazzill Aloe Vera, Leapfrog, Rain Forest, ARToptions

Spice Collection      

Inks:             Wink of Stella Clear

Dies:            Elizabeth Craft Ribbons 1, Craftsless Branches, Joy

Butterflies, Impression Obsession Medium Butterflies,

                      Simon Says “Cheers”                  

Happy Birthday

This Bay Window card is for a guy . . .

John’s family business is a floral nursery, so I feel free to involve flowers and beautiful leaves for his layouts.  Scroll down for a look at the inside . . .

 Cardstock:   Bazzill Aloe Vera, Leapfrog, ARToptions Spice

Collection         

Dies:            Memory Box Wicker Panel, Temu Words Set:

                    “Happy Birthday”