Cheery Christmas Card for 2014

When I think of my Mother, I visualize red tulips.  My Father died this past summer. Already I visualize a cardinal when thinking of him.  So this year's Christmas card had to include a cardinal, state bird of Ohio, my home state.

It took me a month to gather supplies and consider several ideas from Pinterest for cards using cardinals. I made several attempts and finally came up with a design I could produce 80 times before Christmas!

A Tim Holtz Alterations Collection Christmas Cardinal die cut block helped make it quicker 

to cut out the bird and the limb with two different colors at one time.

The twigs and the birds pile up.  Each will need some trimming for the final design.

Each cardinal became a little more realistic with shading. The edges and the belly were daubed with Ripe Avocado.  I added the black mask with black marker.  I cut the feet to make claws for grasping the twigs.  I added a rhinestone eye on each to complete the look.

I embossed the bottom of each panel with the sentiment "Happy Holidays".

The bird and branch will be on top.  The panel will be attached to the card base.

Card bases were Pinefeather Green from Papertrey Ink.

Branches go on ten at a time.

Pine needles are stamped on -- and a pine cone added too!

The cardinal sits on the branch.  I added some snowy sparkle and texture with 

a Martha Stewart product called Sparkle Texture Effect.  

And that's just the fun part!

I had to assemble the front panel on the card base, add a white insert, write notes, 

address envelopes and stamps--and get to the post office.

But I love to do it. Each card becomes a small gift for each recipient.

Merry Christmas 2014.

Cheer! Cheer! Cheer! to all--as the cardinals say.

Easy Watercolor Technique

"Watercolor" may make you think that you need to be able to paint, but in card making with stamps it's easy!  Here's how:

Start with an A2 card base, in this example it's Papertrey Ink (PTI) Kraft Paper card stock.

Then choose a patterned paper to coordinate with your stamp pad colors.

Cut it just smaller than the card front cover so the edges show just a little.

Add a panel of coordinating paper, leaving a wider patterned border all around.

In this example, both of these papers were in my stash--and of unknown origin or color name.

Choose a stamp with a simple design and some flat areas.  

I found "Wildflower" by Technique Tuesday available at JoAnn.com

A strip of paper for testing is a great help (see right hand side).

Use some watercolor paper cut a little smaller than the focus panel.

This is inexpensive watercolor paper found in drug stores or discount stores.

Also have an atomizer filler with water handy.  

The one shown is a Stampin' Up Stampin' Spritzer (upper left).

I stamped the leaves first in PTI Ripe Avocado and then the bloom in Pure Poppy.

Hold the atomizer about 12 inches away from the inked stamper and mist lightly.

I held it over the wastebasket to save the floor!

On the sentiment, do not use the atomizer for crisper edges and brighter print.

I used a little dragonfly stamp from the same set to fill in the negative area.

That's a Color Box Gold pigment stamp pad.

To make the whole design a little less crisp, I blended PTI Fine Linen 

over the edges with an Inksentials blender tool.

and distressed the edges with a Tim Holtz frayer.

The finished card with all supplies shown.

My inspiration card (upper center) was made by Sue at a card making session this summer.

I had some distressed writing paper in my stash, but decided to make 

another version with a stamped writing background.

Using PTI Fine Linen and Background Basics Text Style Stamp,

I added some more distressing to the paper background

and then "watercolor" stamped the leaves and bloom and sentiment on top.

The finished product.

August Get-together of the Laurel Ridge Card Crafters

Our group met again today to create cards for ourselves and our Outreach Committee.  Three of us arrived with kits to make a variety of cards.  As always, the cards were diverse in color combinations, style and purpose.

The first kit was mine with an embossed background and a side panel die-cut. The kits were available in all colors: pink, purple, blue, green and teal.  There was a script embossing folder and a swirls embossing folder to use depending on the purpose and desired background of the individual crafter. This example has a script embossed background.

The side panels were cut with a Spellbinders label die-cut in two sized and colors.  This example used only one larger panel on the folded side (left) since the coordinating color was used for the card base and the embossed sentiment (and no extra scraps were available!).  The daisy with the rhinestone center was purchased and added to anchor the sentiment and to tie the white lace and white embosssed background together using the Rule of Three.  The light green paper was pearlized for a nice sheen.

Bonnie's kits included several patterns of black and white papers cut in strips and applied to the black background cardstock. She had die-cut the lace borders in two different patterns. She had also die-cut the leaves and flowers which she had pre-stamped.  We daubed the flowers to fill in more color on the white cardstock and used a marker to darken the shading.  Some glitter added pizzazz to the blooms.  Each crafter chose a different sentiment.

Sue brought kits to make a square card with an autumn color scheme.  She had the Almost Navy cardstock for the card base pre-cut and scored to fold.  We die-cut the scalloped circle and stamped the middle circle with a two-step stamp set, using a Stamp a Ma-jig to place the fill color and sketched outline correctly.  The background leaves were double off-stamped and misted with water to create a shadowy effect. The yellow-orange ink pad was called Saffron.  Great color!

A New Purchase and Some Other Inspirations for This Card Design

I made this card for my aunt and when I finished,

I remembered that she used to do tole painting.

The influence shows in the design and colors.

I found this photo of a tole tray after making the card.

I had been watching some videos from Papertrey Ink and Splitcoaststampers

on negative die-cut sentiments.  We had also used negative floral and butterfly die-cuts

in our monthly paper making group's sessions this summer.

I started with yellow gingham paper and black card stock and the birthday sentiment die-cut.

Then I added some larger flower negative punches (a Stampin' Up item) and 

some leaf and vine positive die-cuts (Papertrey Ink, I think).

It still didn't look right and I remembered my new purchase:

A smaller Martha Steward floral punch with three coordinating stamps.

I negative punched those smaller flowers among the larger florals.

Then I found some scraps to positive punch with the smaller floral and scatter about.

I used the center stamp from the small floral punch pack to give the small flowers some detail.

A few yellow gold rhinestones complete the look.

It's amazing to me how things come about once creativity sets in!

But also how all your background experiences and knowledge play a part too.

And then you need to have a "stash" to be able to achieve your ideas.

A new craft room to store the "stash" and provide lighting and air-conditioning helps, too!

A New Design Inspired by a New Purchase

I made several versions of this design for birthdays and praise cards.  My grandsons each received one with an iTunes card for their accomplishments this summer.  Praise can only go so far to keep the summer sensational.  As teenagers, a cash card is always welcome with warm-hearted words.

It's an easy design but I couldn't have accomplished it without a new purchase--a star die cut.  That made me think about a supply list for this design and how much you need to keep in stock as well. So, here's the list of supplies needed with "in stock" items first:

• Staples Ivory cover stock 67# for card base
• K & Company Confetti Paper for background (tablet of paper purchased a couple years ago)
• Sampler of Papertrey Ink cardstock colors (good variety and weight for die cuts with sharp points)
• Scor-tape 1/8 inch for attaching background and stars to base
• Scotch Permanent Adhesive dot roller for attaching stars (plenty of those with refills necessary)
• Recollections foam adhesive circles for popping the star (I even use the margins around the circles).
• X-acto corner rounder  (I use it all the time!)
• happy birthday in cursive stamp for inside birthday cards (set of 3 phrases on wood blocks)
• for you stamp (from unknown set of clear plastic stamps)
• Rubber Stampede navy blue/Iris stamp pad (set of 12 cubes)
• Queen & Co. adhesive Twinkle Stars (leftover from Christmas cards)

And last, but not least (it's the main attraction):

• Lifestyle Crafts Nesting Star die cuts in 8 sizes

It takes a stash to create a simple card!

New purchases can be the inspiration.

My New Craft Room

Well, here it is! Ta-da!  My new room for crafting is ready to use.

Welcome!

through the French doors 

which I have always wanted to have in a room...

on the left side is a bench with no cushion--yet.

To the far left is the door to the attic.

The shelving is a closet system.

I even have an empty shelf!

There is a 9 foot counter top at the back of the room

where the ceiling slopes.  It is lit with track lighting.

There is movable storage underneath.

I can move the spotlights on the track to highlight the corner.

Here are some recent kits I put together for my card-making group.

This might become a photo box in the future?

Another 9 foot counter top is my work area

with more storage from Ikea: floating shelves, Alex white cabinet with drawers

and metal paper storage.

My work area looks out on the stairwell and 2-story entrance hall.

I get wonderful indirect sunlight at the end of the day.

But the portable Ott light and a 3 lamp light fixture above the window

as well as a ceiling fixture behind me

all add up to great light on my work area.

Today's project:  masculine birthday cards.

Come visit any time!

The craft room is right off my guest bedroom!

Back to the Crafts

On May 1st, we started construction of a craft room for me in part of our attic off the guest bedroom.  I drew out on graph paper what I wanted and our great contractor made it look just like my drawing. It is complete except for two shelves that are missing.  I'll post photos of the work space soon, but for now--I'm using it!  Photos will appear when everything is stashed away.

One of the first times I used it was with my daughter and granddaughter.  Here is Sara's design for a bridal shower card inspired by her 80's gift wrap and the bride-to-be's color choices.

Colorful and bright--and definitely 80's inspired!

She should know. She lived it young!

Lily, 18 months old, made this card by choosing colors from a container of punched balloons.

Balloons are one of her favorite things right now!

Sorry about the focus. My phone was not well charged and couldn't hold a focus.

The colors are the important design element!

And I made a card for a friend who recently retired.

I was inspired by Sara's scraps.

We both wish my "Congratulations" stamp was a little bigger font!

I'll have to add that to my wish list.

But, all in all, it was a really fun way to initiate the new work space--three generations creating!