A Die-cut Christmas

Howdy folks!  It’s been a long while since I posted last.  Too many challenges with health and well-being, along with the great planning and excitement of my oldest son’s graduation from college! 🙂  I can’t tell you enough about how proud I am of his accomplishments!  He has a job lined up – 2 days after graduation – and starts in January 2015.

Since I have a bunch of pictures of the cards I made for this Christmas – I will list supplies for all of them at the end of this post.  I tried to remember everything I used, but I may have missed something – so if you have any questions, please leave me a comment, and I will try to address it as soon as I can.

While I own more stamps than any one woman should have, I also am in the same predicament with steel dies.  I love, love, love them!  The front of all the cards were done solely with dies – with the exception of one card.  All of the insides of the cards, however, do have stamped sentiments (from Penny Black’s Christmas Cheer stamp set).

Without further ado ….

I used really pretty shimmer cardstock and the pictures do not do them justice!  Even the shimmer from the Zig’s Wink of Stella pen does not show well in these pictures.  I guess I need to invest in a better camera – these are taken from a little digital camera — any recommendations?  I hear the DSLR cameras are great.   Any thoughts about the  Canon EOS Rebel T5 DSLR?  I noticed the reviews on Amazon are great (and the prices for the camera and accessories packages are dropping).

I wish everyone a very Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays, and pray for better health and happiness for the rest of this year and in 2015!  Don’t be a stranger! 🙂

Hugs,

Stephanie

Supply List

Stamps

Penny Black’s Christmas Cheer

Waltzingmousestamps.com Seasonal Flourish

Dies 

Memory Box Frosted Christmas Tree

Memory Box “Bells Are Ringing” (98683)

Memory Box Pine Needle Border (98467)

Memory Box Cosmic Star Set (98464)

Memory Box Holly Vine (98188)

Memory Box Grand Merry Christmas (98680)

Memory Box Gabriella Border (98649)

My Favorite Things’s Dienamics “MERRY” Photo Frame (mftstamps.com)

Savvy Dies “JOY”

Impression Obsession’s Small Snowlakes (iostamps.com DIE100-F)

Marianne Creatables Pine Branch (LR-0181)

Cottage Cutz Winter Pine Branch (CCE-045)

Lil’ Inker Designs Stitched Snowflakes (lilinkerdesigns.com)

Cheery Lynn Designs “Bows and Bells” (cheerylynndesigns.com DL163)

Dee’s Distinctively Christmas Tree #3

Simon Says Stamp “Merry Christmas” Die

Simon Says Stamp Falling Stars Die Plate

Craft Dies by Sue Wilson “Holly Accessory Kit” (CED3014)

Papertrey Ink’s One Liners Die Collection (papertreyink.com)

Spellbinders Ovals

Spellbinders Matting Sets A & B

Embossing Folders 

Stampin’ Up Textured Impressions Square Lattice

Anna Griffin Swedish Bells

Embossalicious Die’sire “Let It Snow”

Sizzix Tim Holtz Alterations Sheet Music A2

Darice Basketweave

Paper – Bases

Paperandmore.com Wood Grain Lumba White 111# (Best woodgrain paper out there IMHO)

Paperandmore.com Pine Linen Cardstock 80#

Paperandmore.com Cherry Red Cardstock 100#

Papertreyink.com Shimmer Paper – Cream, White, Scarlet, Raspberry

Paper – Accents 

Paperandmore.com Pearl Metallic 107# (5×7)

Paperandmore.com Gold Metallic 105# (5×7)

Paperandmore.com Crimson Red Metallic 105# (5×7)

Paperandmore.com Fairway Green Metallic 105# (5×7)

Bo Bunny Mistletoe  (6×6)

DCWV Burlap Mat Stack

DCWV Glitter Cardstock (6×6)

Lawn Fawn Peace, Love, Joy (6×6)

Fancy Pants “Oh, Deer” (6×6)

Carta Bella “So This Is Christmas” (6×6)

Crate Paper “Bundled up” (6×6)

Other 

Aluminum Tape

Ranger’s Tim Holtz Distress Inks – Mowed Lawn, Barn Door

Marvy Uchida Liquid Applique

Bling and pearls from stash

Various ribbons from Papermart.com

Versamark

Ranger Super Fine Detail Embossing Powder (sentiments inside some cards)

Memento Luxe Northern Pine Pigment Ink (inside some cards)

Ranger Liquid Pearls – Buttercup  (for some reason, it went  on great, but by next day -everything was a blob!

End of  Supplies

My Stamping Royalty Entry in the Hello/Thinking of You Category

I only had one entry into this category.

These are the details I submitted with this card –

1. Make 5” x 6” card base from white cardstock.
2. Make panels from gray cardstock in  4”x5”, and 3. 5” x 4.5” and make  a panel from white cardstock in  4”x5”.
3. Layer panels from large to small on card base. Adhere with repositional tape to keep panels in position while stamping.
4.  Ink stamp with Versamark and stamp.
5.  On gray panels, use white embossing powder and heat emboss. On white panels, use silver embossing powder and heat emboss.
6. Die cut white cardstock with die; stamp sentiment with Versamark; then, heat emboss with silver embossing powder.
7. Assemble card panels, aligning stamped images. Tie ribbon around front panel of card base. Adhere die cut with dimensional adhesive.

Supplies:

Paper:   AC Cardstock, White Heavy Weight 80lb,www.paperandmore.com ‘s Charcoal Linen Cardstock 80lb

Stamps: Inkadinkado Morphic Flowers – Daisies.Simon Says Stamp Apothecary Labels Clear Stamp Set

Color/Ink: Versamark.StampendousDetail White Opaque Embossing Powder, Ranger Super Fine Detail Embossing Powder –  Silver

Tools: Fiskars Premium Cut Line Paper Trimmer – 12 inches,Martha Stewart Scoring Board, Simon Says Stamp Apothecary Label Die set, Sakura Silver Gelly Roll Pen, Signo Uniball White Gel Pen, Scotch Permanent Double Stick Tape, Dimensional Adhesive

Other: www.papermart.com 3/8” silver shimmer organza ribbon

TIP:  When embossing with white powder, “mistakes” during embossing can usually be fixed with the Signo Uniball White Gel Pen. Similarly, when embossing with silver embossing powder, the Sakura Gelly Roll Pen can be used to fill in small areas where embossing powder may be missing.

 

Muse Card Club Challenge #13

I have been feeling quite productive today! (Although you can’t tell it by my housekeeping!lol)  I thought I’d do one more challenge today before I go today!  Here is the inspiration photo –

And here is my take –

They say everything is bigger in Texas….so what better than a tall card for a Texas-born young man who’s missed by his mom (and still in Texas!) ? lol  Oh, and in case you didn’t notice, I’ve been playing around with the manual settings on my little digital camera – aren’t the pictures of my cards coming out much better?  It beats the phone camera for sure!  Well, that’s it for me today! Enjoy! Hugs to you!

Moxie Fab World’s Wonder of Watercolor

Hello all!  Today I have two cards for you, which I am entering in the Moxie Fab World  Wonder of Watercolor Challenge (http://www.moxiefabworld.com/2013/04/the-wonder-of-watercolor-challenge.html)! I was very excited about doing this challenge as it allowed me to get out my Twinkling H2O’s and play with them!    In my first card – which I call my “empty nester’s card” – I created the background with two stamps and two watercolors.  One thing I really like about the H20’s is that where the color “puddles”, it gives the impression of depth and shading. I love the sentiment as it reflects what we should hold on to as our children go out into the world on their own – our memories of them!

I absolutely love all the shine of Twinkling H2o’s!  Although my fingers were itching to put some embellishments on the card, I really wanted the background paper to shine, so to speak. 🙂

Here is a Sympathy card – also made with Twinkling H2O’s.  I chose this stamp for sympathy as it has the appearance of reverence to me – as if the flowers are bowed in prayer.

Products used (Empty Nester’s card):

• Stamps: Leaf vine (https://www.rubbernecker.com/), Solid Peony (http://www.impressrubberstamps.com/), sentiment from Favorite Memories by Ali Edwards  (http://www.techniquetuesday.com/)
• Papers: Neenah Solar White, Canson Bristol (from Michael’s), Paperandmore.com Ponderosa Pine Linen #80
• Punches & Dies: Spellbinders Long Classic Rectangles Large
•  Inks/Color Mediums: Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, Twinkling H20’s in Rainforest and Meridian
• Other: Hunter green ribbon scrap (Hobby Lobby)

Products used (Sympathy card):

• Stamps: Spring Day (http://www.localkingrubberstamp.com/), sentiment from Gina K. Designs Poster Board Sentiments (http://www.shop.ginakdesigns.com/)
• Papers: Canson Bristol (from Michael’s), AC Bubblegum Pearl Tweed, Paperandmore.com Black
• Punches & Dies: not applicable
•  Inks/Color Mediums: Ranger Archival Ink Jet Black, Twinkling H20’s in Sweet Alfalfa, Jasmine, and Sunflower
• Other: Silver gauze ribbon (http://www.papermart.com/)

Would love to hear your comments and opinions!

Fusion Card Challenge #2

This week’s challenge at http://fusioncardchallenge.blogspot.ca/ is :

I chose to do the FUSION method again this week.  I used the card layout on the left, and for the inspiration from the photo on the right , I chose the shapes in the pillows – chevrons and circles.  In keeping with the white pillows, I kept a white background.  Here is my take on fusing the two options together  –

Products used:

• Stamps: Paper Smooches Sentiment Sampler (http://www.papersmoochesstamps.com/), Impression Obsession Dotty Circles (https://www.iostamps.com/)
• Papers: Neenah Solar White, Gina K. Navy Blue Cardstock, Paperandmore.com Red cardstock and Tiffany Blue #100 cardstock
• Punches & Dies: JustRite Nested Medallion Labels (http://www.justritestampers.com/), My Favorite Things Chevron Dies (https://www.mftstamps.com/), Papertrey Ink Bloom Builders #3 (https://www.papertreyink.com/)
•  Inks/Color Mediums: Ranger Archival Ink in Aquamarine and Crimson
• Other: Red and white twine from The Twinery (http://www.thetwinery.com/), Hero Arts Hues Button

Would love to hear your comments and opinions! 🙂

Runway Inspired Challenge #33

This week’s challenge at http://www.runwayinspired.blogspot.com/ is all about Red Valentino – however, the inspiration pic has no red in it! lol  Here is the inspiration :

And here is my interpretation of it in card form –

Products used:

• Stamps: Hero Arts/Basic Grey Flower Medley Background (CG432); sentiment from Hero Arts You & Me set (CL567)
• Papers: Grafix Vellum, Neenah Solar White, Bazzill pink and yellow, Paperandmore.com Black Solid #100 cardstock
• Punches & Dies: EK Success Paper Shapers Small Flower Power Punch; EK Success 1 1/2″ Circle Punch (vellum circle); Memory Box Vintage Apothecary jar; C.C. Designs Cutters Leafy Branch
•  Inks/Color Mediums: Hero Arts Charcoal Mid-Tone Shadow Ink, Memento Tuxedo Black marker, Ranger Archival Jet black ink, Pebbles Chalks – Pastels. Prismacolor Colorless Blender, C1 Copic Marker (shading right side of vase)
• Other: Gray crafter’s cord from Hemptique’s Vintage collection (which I colored black to match); self-adhesive acrylic pearls from Michael’s; black grosgrain ribbon from papermart.com. Ranger’s Glossy Accents (vase)

You will also find this card in the Hero Arts Flickr Group with the tag April2013A. Details on the Hero Arts April contest can be found at  http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/april-2013-contest-details/ .

Please leave a comment and let me know what you think about it! 🙂

Inaugural Card Post

Nothing can be more fitting for my inaugural card post than the Mother’s Day card I have made for my mom. (Since she won’t know about my new blog until after Mother’s Day, let’s keep it between you and I!) 🙂

Some of my favorite items are used in this card – paperandmore.com’s Solid Tiffany Blue Cardstock #100, Neenah Solar White cardstock, Hero Art’s Delicate Blossoms (CL449), My Favorite Things Clearly Sentimental About Mothers (sentiment),  Raspberry Mulberry paper, various Distress Inks – in the making of my own ink pad,  and Cricut Cuttlebug Anna Griffin’s Poppy Embossing Folder.

The best explanation of creating your own ink pad can be found in this YouTube video by Tim Holtz – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m71iLpnCheI . On my ink pad, I created random blocks of color using the following Distress Inks – Picked Raspberry, Mowed Lawn, Dusty Concord, Peacock Feathers and Salty Ocean. This gave me the variegated color for the stamped image.

You will also find this card in the Hero Arts Flickr Group with the tag April2013A. Details on the Hero Arts April contest can be found at  http://heroarts.com/blogs/club/april-2013-contest-details/ .