Winter Window

Decades ago, my Mother gifted her two grandchildren with handmade Christmas ornaments every year.  I've had fun keeping the tradition going with two of our grandchildren . . . when they're all grown up and ready to fly the nest, they'll have at least eighteen ornaments to take with them for their own trees - with memories included!

Following an inspiring post by Kittie Caracciolo, I used a set of window dies for these ornaments.  If I'd thought ahead, I'd have simply backed the window frame with a piece of acetate.  But no - it was only afterwards that I realized the windows needed a little emphasis.  So it was Glossy Accents to the rescue!  Thank heavens that wonderful stuff is easy to apply . . .

Cardstock:   Stedner Bright White, Marcos Jute, Generic scraps Red,

                     Orange, Dark Green, Black       

Dies:            Spellbinders Standard Circles Small, Tim Holtz Bird

                     Crazy: Hat, Holiday Greens Mini, Our Daily Bread

                     Welcoming Window, Window Shutter & Awning, Flower

                     Box Fillers, Memory Box, Grove Branch, Darice Bird and

                     Cages, Impression Obsession Cardinals                            

Doo Dads:    Red satin ribbon, Nuvo Glitter Gloss, Inkssentials Glossy

                     Accents   

Dies used for the gift box:

                     Papertrey Ink Bulk Mail Envelope die, Our Daily Bread

                     Welcoming Window, Hero Alphabet Uppercase,

                     DieVersions Noodles (numbers)

Happy

 I seem to be in a stitching mode of late . . .

 . . . the two borders feature feather and running stitches, while the colorful background shows alternating tweed and knitted border images.  All of these stamps are classics in my stash and will probably set mileage records before I hang up the rubber . . .

Cardstock:   Bazzill Raven, Beckett Iceberg                       

Stamps:       Creative Catalyst Tweed & Knitted Borders, Stampin' Up

                     Itty Bitty Backgrounds, PSX Mesh Screen, Starving Artistamps

                     Feather Stitch & Running Stitch Borders          

Inks:             VersaCraft Black, ColorBox Frost White, Vivid Purple, Brick,

                     Straw, Olive, Teal

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Opaque White, Detail Black

Dies:            Spellbinders Deckled Rectangle Large, Word Fetti

                     Recollections: Happy, Butterfly punch                           

Doo Dads:   Various dimensional drops 

It's Your Day

Adding stitching to a card always adds the nicest textural touch, in my view . . .

That explains why I've collected so many dies with stitching as part of the design.  The double stitched line on the perimeter of this card will undoubtedly be my favorite die set for all time.  Still and all, I think that stitching with real thread will always add that uniquely special touch to any layout.

Cardstock:   Unknown Sand, Handmade paper scraps

Stamps:       Stampin’ Up It’s your Day, Purple Daisy Sand

Inks:             Stampin’ Up Always Artichoke

Emb Pwdr:   Vippies Transcendence

Dies:            Lawn Cuts Just Stitching Double Rectangles, Gina Marie

                     Stitched Rounded Squares

Doo Dads:    Cream ribbon, fabric flower, pearl

Shine

Here's another technique I've not done in awhile . . .

After sponging the background colors onto watercolor paper and drying them, crumple the paper firmly, slightly smooth it out, and brush the black dye ink pad over the creases very lightly.  To soften the look, you can mist a bit with water.

         

Cardstock:   Bazzill Velvet,  Watercolor paper

Stamps:       Paula Best Ferns

Inks:             ColorBox Silver, Black, Distress Mowed Lawn, Dusty Concord, Black Soot

Emb Pwdr:   WOW Silver Sparkle

Dies:            Recollections Word Fetti: Shine

Punch:         Marvy Vase

Doo Dads:    Fiskars Corrugator, 1/8” Lilac ribbon

Cozy Quilt

For a December birthday, what could be a better theme than a quilt?

Perhaps wooden buttons and lacy medallions aren't traditional elements

used on quilts, but hey, this is rubber stamping!  That means we get to do whatever we want as long as it fits onto a card front.  Of course, there'll be a penalty to pay at the post office for this really thick embellishment, but I think it's worth it - don't you?

Cardstock:            Bazzill Yam, Dark Olive, Watercolor paper                 

Stamps:                Judikins Artists Signatures

Inks:                      Distress Barn Door, Wild Honey, Peeled Paint,

                               Brushed Corduroy, ColorBox Frost White

Emb Powder:        Judikins Opaque White

Dies:                      Sizzix 1.5" Hexagons, Memory Box Marietta Buckle,

                               Punch Bunch Flower, Fiskars Border Punch Scallop

Doo Dads:             Cotton cord, wooden button

Love

Having found myself in the midst of the Mother of all time crunches, I hope that my nearest and dearest will forgive me if I dip heavily into my card stash for the month . . .

This one is a re-purposed Valentine card that is certainly appropriate for the 48th anniversary of my youngest brother Gordy and his wife Sally.  Theirs is an incredibly loving journey and I wish them many more happy years ahead . . .

Happy Anniversary, you two!

Cardstock:   Champion Snow Day, The Paper Cut Watercolor paper,

                        Generic Red

Stamps:       Hero Floating Hearts, Unknown “Love”

Inks:             ColorBox Black

Emb Pwdr:   Judikins Detail Black

Emb Fldr:     Unknown Swirl         

Doo Dads:    Black Lace, red satin ribbons

JOY

With Christmas just fifteen days away, I came to realize I was in a bit of trouble by not getting the Christmas card assembly line up and running.  I was left with two choices:  cut the list of eighty five recipients way down, or not send any cards at all [GASP!].  I opted to chop . . .

 . . . it was long since time to do some winnowing anyway.  I also reined in my usual thirty five construction step procedures and went for about six steps instead.  This is as close to Clean and Simple as it will ever get for me, folks . . .

A very merry and most blessed Christmas to you and yours . . .

Cardstock:   Marcos Cougar Opaque Ivory, Jute, Generic scraps Red        

Stamps:       Too Much Fun “…to the world”

Inks:             Hero Black, Nuvo Glitter Gloss

Dies:            Spellbinders Standard Circles Small, Lifestyle Crafts Joy      

Emb Fldr:     Sizzix Birds & Reindeer Set

Doo Dads:    Green and Gold cord