Friday, January 26, 2018

The Tree

     As a youngster, my family celebrated Christmas every year. If you walked into my home a couple of days before Christmas, you might have thought otherwise. There was no tree, no lights, no decorations hanging anywhere. My dad was adamant that "that is not what Christmas is about." I do remember lots of homemade cookies and other special treats, Christmassy school art projects, and a display of the Christmas cards received. We always received a fun gift. It wasn't from Santa and wasn't found under a tree.
     There were 6 children. Today we range in age from 58 - 76. Each of us has a Christmas tree in our homes for the holidays. I have to say that I set the record among us though. I had 6 trees inside my home and 4 outside this year. I love trees. I find them the most beautiful of all of the decorations.
     I decided to capture some of the beauty with this layout. It accommodates 2 pictures of the tree(s) and 4 mats for your favorite ornaments. When I placed the pics on mine, I even sneaked in an extra ornament snapshot just to the left of the 5 x 7.
    The patterned paper is "Alpine" from Authentique. I used shiny silver card stock for some of the mats (as you can see by the glare on the picture frame.


          I will also show you an option to turn the 5 x 7, if that is a better fit for your picture.


Here I show you how to cut the trees. Since you want this paper to be right size up, you can use the pattern on the back for plaid trees. Start with a sheet of 6" x 12" paper.




Sneak in one more tree like this.


Cut the trees and trunk from this plaid paper ( 5" x 12" ).
Materials List:
     Patterned Paper: Authentique - Alpine 2, 4, 6
     Card Stock: My Colors - Soft Blue
                                        Velvet Night
                                        Silver
     Embellies:Crystal Snowflakes
                   
    
Challenges

Crimbo Crackers - Anything Christmas - #28 - *
Crafty Addicts - Winter Blues - #165 - *
Creative Friday - It's Snowing - #10 - *
Holly and Ivy Christmas Challenge - Christmas - #67 - *
Merry Christmas Challenge - Anything Christmas - #21 - *
That's Crafty - Feeling Blue - #82 - *

Sunday, January 21, 2018

Dueling Lovebirds

     I see Darnell has a new challenge site called Twofer Card Challenge. The task is to make two different cards using the same stamp. I seem to remember doing a very similar challenge a couple of years ago. You can see those cards here
     The theme is feathers and I wanted to get in on the maiden challenge. I have chosen this cute lovebird stamp from Gina K's "Better With You" stamp set. I am entering a Valentine and a Birthday card.



     For the first card, I started with a Sketch N Scrap sketch from this month's Facebook New Beginnings Crop.

Sketch #41
     I initially planned to make the card completely black and white. I was intrigued at the possibility of coloring the entire image with Copics C markers. Something came over me when I got to the hearts. For some reason I reached for R24. I then made a dash for a scrap of Gina K's Red Hot card stock and just like that; it became a black, white and one more color card. 
     I joined the RRR (Really Reasonable Ribbon) club in October - as well as purchasing a Bow-It-All. I am in the process of perfecting my double looped bow. If you check my previous posting you will see an EXTREMELY similar pink one
     As you can see in the sketch, there are a flurry of embellishments required. I had my heels dug in on this one. I thought the card looked done and didn't want it to get too busy. I tried scribbles (too big). I tried gems (too small). I tried Stamps of Life diecut hearts (just right). Oh, and don't you love it when something falls on just the right spot on the page and well, it turns into a happy surprise. That would be the moment the heart fell on the word "you".



Inside of Card
     Moving on to card #2. For this card I color matched my paper with Copics for the image. I wanted a short rectangle across the top and that pesky birdhouse was getting in the way. I decided to cut it off and dangle it from the branch. Upon centering the rest of the stamp on the card there appeared to be too much card for too little stamp. I decided to cut the top portion of the stamp into inchies. I then matted the inchies, then matted that, then matted that, then matted that, then placed it on the card base. There are a couple of tricks in there, but you can see those.

Card and Envelope

     The stamp on the inside of the card is the result of a scouring of my stamp drawer. This one is from Penny Black. As usual the inside of both of these cards is based on elements from the front and whatever scraps are left on the craft table.

Inside of Card

Materials List: Black White Lovebirds
     Patterned Paper: Gina K - Petite Papers
     Card Stock: Gina K - Red Hot
                                    Black and White
     Stamps: Gina K - Better With You
                  Beth Salaika - Lovely Ladybug
     Ink: Momento - Tuxedo Black
     Die: Stamps of Life - Hearts 2 Die For
     Copics: R24.   C1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.
     Embellies: Really Reasonable Ribbon - Delicate Stitched Satin (Black)
                    Brad - Sparkly Heart - (Black)

Materials List: Dangling Birdhouse
     Patterned Paper: Gina K - Made With Love
     Card Stock: Gina K - Peach Bellini
                                   White
     Stamps: Gina K - Better With You
                  Penny Black - Nature's Wishes
     Die: Spellbinders - Standard Circles Large
                                Petite Scalloped Circles Large
            Elizabeth Craft Designs - Tags & More 5 (Sunburst)
            Impression Obsession - Circle Baby Cutout Set
     Punch: ek - Dotted Wave Small
     Copics: YG41. RV42. BG45.
     Embellies: Ivory Twine stained with Gina K's Blue Lagoon
    
Challenges

Twofer Card Challenge - Feathers - #101 - *

 Challenges for Black White Lovebirds

C.R.A.F.T Challenge - Love/Valentines - #33 - *
Daring Cardmakers - Black, White, Pop - #6 - ?
Inspire. Create. Challenges - Love - #24 - *
Pixie's Crafty Workshop - #317-318 - Snippets - #13 -*

Challenges for Dangling Birdhouse

Seize the Birthday - Birthday - #28 - *

Saturday, January 20, 2018

You Are My Sunshine

     It is my Granddaughter, Brooklyn's, first birthday next week. The theme of her party is "You Are My Sunshine". The party is going to be a brunch next Saturday. I'm going to be pretty busy making a few things for the party. I said that I would make mini muffins and star-shaped Rice Krispie bars. I have a couple of paper craft items to finish this week as well. 

     This sweet birthday girl stamp was a freeby from Elizabeth Bell Designs a few weeks ago - excellent timing. I chose Echo Park's "Birthday Wishes" paper collection because it had the pink and yellow being used as party colors.




The Birthday Girl
     I offset the sun on the inside of the card, so there would be room to sign in the lower right corner.


Inside of Card
Materials List:
     Patterned Paper: Echo Park - Birthday Wishes - Girl Birthday Hats
                                                                          Girl Stripes
                                                                          Girl Birthday Party
     Card Stock: Bazzill - Stormy Medium
                                   White 
     Ink: Gina K - Moonlit Fog
     Stamps: Elizabeth Bell Designs - Party Pose
                  Gina K - All About You
                  Impression Obsession - On Your Birthday
     Silhouette File: Miss Kate's Cuttables - Sunshine
     Embellies: Really Reasonable Ribbon - Delicate Stitched Satin 5/8" (Pearl Pink)
                     Gems - 4mm pink
     Copics: Skin - E000, 04, 11, R20
                 Hair - E31, 33, 35
                 Dress/Hat - RV11, 13, 14, 17
                                   Y11, 13, 15
                 Shoes - C1, 3, 5
                 Ground - W1, 3, 5
                 Shadow - B000

    
Challenges

Brown Sugar Challenge - Birthday - #136 - *
Creative Knockouts - In Stitches - #12 - *
Send a Smile 4 Kids - Anything Goes - #3 - *
Southern Girls Challenge - Stitch Me Up - #34 - *
Tic Tac Toe Challenge - Pink*Ribbon*Square - #11 - Winner!!!


Sunday, January 14, 2018

Vintage Cars

     I put this card together yesterday for a friend from our dinner group that is celebrating a birthday. 
     I started with one of Lili of the Valley's trio stamp sets. The car on the front flap is part of an older Lili of the Valley stamp called "Toot Toot". I colored the front of the card from that one and placed it on a vintage map mat.

Card and Envelope

     Previously, I have always made cube-shaped box cards and I have cut them on the trimmer and scored them myself. I purchased this box card die from Stamps of Life. I believe it is fairly new. I particularly liked working with it, because it makes larger mats on the front flap and back of card. There is also more room to spread out the goodies that are going in the box. Usually the side flaps (which are now smaller) are secondary anyway.


     Clocks and gears are always good filler for masculine cards so I added a few of those. I also used these on the side flaps.


Back of Card
     I always decorate the back of my box cards with scraps that are left on the table.

Envelope
     I die cut Tim Holtz's "Jalopy" for the envelope. The stamp giving it motion is a flourish from a floral stamp set. 

Materials List:
     Patterned Paper: Echo Park - For the Record (Borders & Fancy)
     Card Stock: Bazzill - Sugar Wafer
                                   White
                                   Black
                       Neenah - Metallic Gold
     Ink: Momento - Tuxedo Black
            Distress - Hickory Smoke
            Gina K - Moonlit Fog
     Copics: BG 72, 75, 78
                Y21, 23, 26, 28
                W1, 2, 3, 5, 7
                C1, 2, 3, 5, 6
     Punches: EK - 1/2" corner
                   Stampin Up - Word Window
     Stamps: Gina K - Dahlia
                  Lili of the Vally - Toot Toot
                                          Vintage Motor Trio
     Dies: Burniston - Clock and Gears
                               Snowman Twist Circle
             Tim Holtz - Jalopy
             Stamps of Life - Box Card
     Embellies: 2 Gold Brads
                     Acetate

    
Challenges
Alphabet Challenge - U is for Use 3 of something - #57 - *
Cute Card Thursday - Something New (Box Card Die) - #58 - *
Frilly and Funkie - 3 is Not a Crowd - #30 - *
Little Red Wagon - Boy Oh Boy - #26 - *
Paper Minutes - Vehicles - #9 - ?
Stamps & Fun - Use Stamps - #24 - ?
Vintage Journey - Think Inside of the Box - #4 - *

Friday, January 12, 2018

Sweet Tea

     It's time for another sketch for January. This one is for a card.

Sketch #65

      For this sketch I saw a see-thru card, so I started with acetate. I decided to make an easel card. A friend of mine is moving and I have her punches for safe keeping, until she is ready to set up her craft room. I guess the perk in this is that I can play in them. She has 300+ punches. I enjoyed using the Mini Lucky 8 Doily punch for a tablecloth. It has a coordinating edge punch that I used across the top. I stamped "HEY, SWEET-TEA" using black Stazon ink. The tea components and hearts are from Stamps of Life "Tea4Two".The patterned paper is Authentique's new Alpine 8.


     The cup acts as a stand for the card at the same time that it catches the hearts falling from the teapot. This would make a perfect Valentines' card.

Materials List:
     Patterned Paper: Authentique - Alpine 8
     Card Stock: Bazzill - Mystique.
                       My Colors - Soft Blue
                                        Velvet Night
     Ink: Stazon - Black
            Gina K - In the Navy 
     Stamps and Coordinating Dies: Stamps of Life - Tea4Two
     Punch: We R Memory Keepers - Mini Lucky 8 (Doily)
                                                   Edge Punch (Doily)
     Embellies: Button - Silver with pearl heart

    
Challenges
CCEE Stampers - Fits Me to a "Tea" - #3 - ?
Creative Craft Cottage - Winter Blues - #11 - *
Get Creative Challenges - Pearls & Lace - #17 - *
House That Stamps Built - Pearls, Silver, Off the Page - #4 - *
Make My Monday - Blue & White - #19 - *
Path of Positivity - Shades of Blue - #3 - *
Pixie's Crafty Workshop Challenge - #315-16 - Snippets - #25 - Winner!!!
Di wrote: This is a super card, made by Sharon F over at Higgledy-Piggledy ( I love that blog name and it's much like my craft room right now, which is well overdue for a really good blitz and clean). The scalloped doily effect lends itself perfectly to our 'English tea time' and the idea of the hearts being poured from the teapot is just so clever! Great split sentiment as well.

Tuesday, January 2, 2018

Christmas Train


     We are starting a New Year and Sketch N Scrap is starting a new month-long challenge. The first sketch of 2018 is a layout.

Sketch #144
     Our HOA sponsored a Christmas Train on December 9. The grandchildren came over dressed in their Christmas finery. I rode the train with them telling them that we were going to the North Pole to see Santa. When we walked into the clubhouse we jumped in line to tell Santa our Christmas wishes. Lucas ran right over to talk to Santa, but Elena wasn't interested in talking to him until he held out a candy cane. 


For the layout, I needed to slant the photos on the first page in order to accommodate the train. The train and tracks are from a Stamps of Life die set from 2013.




Subtitle

I used the Silhouette to create a transition from train ride to our chat with Santa. This is "North Pole" by Kate's Cuttables.








     For the journaling tags, I cut two red circles with words on the Silhouette. I placed a smaller brown circle mat behind each.


Materials List:
     Patterned Paper: Doodlebug Designs - Santa Express (Evergreens)
                              Pebbles - Birthday Wish (Yellow and Blue Polka)
     Card Stock: Bazzill - Maltball
                       Gina K - Red Hot
                       Shiny Silver
                       Scraps   
     Dies: Stamps of Life - Train 2 Stamp
             Elizabeth Craft Designs (Burniston) - Jolly the Mouse (candy cane)
     Silhouette: Miss Kate's Cuttables - North Pole Sign
                    Font: Bubble and Brew
     Embellies: White Felt Snowflakes
                    Red Pearls

    
Challenges
Brown Sugar Challenge - Not a Card - #140 - *
ITD's Creative Playground - Anything Crafty - #35 - *
Pixie's Crafty Workshop Challenge - #313-14 - Snippets - #55 - *