Pot of Poinsettias and Christmas Wreath cards

Today's color challenge from SCS is Very Vanilla, Real Red and Wild Wasabi ... with the dessert (optional) being 4 layers.  I made two cards, one with dessert and one without.  I now have made so many Christmas cards that when I made my latest donation of cards to Children's Hospital in Vancouver, many of them were Christmas cards.  But I can't help myself, I'm Christmas crazy right now.  My house is decorated (except for our large tree that we'll put up around Dec. 20th) and I've been playing Christmas music and have almost finished writing my cards for this year.  It's my favorite time of year!  Hope you like these latest Christmas cards - both of which are CAS (clean and simple).

The first card has four layers and is made with all SU! products.

"Pot of Poinsettias"

Stamps:  A Flower for All Seasons, Short & Sweet (SU!)

Paper:  Real Red, Very Vanilla (SU!)

Ink:  Sahara Sand, Wild Wasabi, Real Red, Early Espresso (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Stamp-a-ma-jig, Scor-Pal, adhesives and dimensionals

I inked the stamp in Early Espresso and stamped onto Very Vanilla cardstock.  I colored in the image with Stampin' Write markers.  I cut the image to size (1 3/4" square) and mounted it one larger square of Real Red cardstock, popping it up with dimensionals.

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I cut a 4" square of Very Vanilla cardstock and scored on all four sides, 1/4" and 3/4" from the edge.  I cut an "X" in the middle section and then extended each tip of the "X" into the corner, stopping at the first score intersection ... I did this for all four corners.  I then folded back the triangles to the back, trimmed them down and adhered them with sticky strips.  I cut across diagonally on all four corners of my square, folded the 1/4" score line to the back and adhered with sticky strips.  This created a Very Vanilla frame.  I stamped the sentiment in Real Red ink on the bottom right-hand corner of the frame, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig for placement.  I mounted the frame on top of the main panel, centering the image.

I mounted the whole front panel onto a square card base of Real Red cardstock.

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The second card is for the same color challenge as above, but also qualifies for another card for yesterday's CAS challenge - Twine!  Hope you like.

"Christmas Wreath"

Stamps:  Short & Sweet (SU!)

Paper:  Wild Wasabi, Very Vanilla (SU!)

Ink:  Real Red (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  scallop circle punch, 1 1/4" circle punch, Peapod twine and Maraschino twine (The Twinery), small red half pearls, two mini jingle bells, Stamp-a-ma-jig, adhesives and dimensionals

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I punched a 1 1/4" circle from Wild Wasabi cardstock.  I centered the scallop punch over top of the hole, and punched it out creating a scalloped wreath.  I wrapped Peapod twine around the wreath and secured the ends of the twine to the back using adhesives.  I placed several small, red half-pearls randomly on the wreath.

I took piece of Maraschino twine and tied a very small bow, leaving long tails.  I threaded a mini jingle bell onto each tail, tied a knot to hold the bell in place and trimmed the end.

I cut a large piece of Very Vanilla cardstock, dry-fit the wreath on top to determine where my sentiment should be placed, using the Stamp-a-ma-jig.  I removed the wreath and stamped the sentiment in Real Red ink.  I mounted the front panel onto a card base of Wild Wasabi cardstock.  I mounted the wreath on the front of the card, popping it up with dimensionals to add depth.

Wedding Wishes and 'on my drum' cards

My first official cards as a CAS 2011 Winter Design Team member!!! :)  I'm so excited!

I had so much fun making these two sample cards for Monday's CAS Challenge (CAS147 - Twine)!  I hope these cards inspire some of you to participate.  It's so much fun and it's wonderful to see all the different creative ideas.  If you have time, check out the CAS Challenge forum on Splitcoaststampers and post a card - you won't be sorry!

"Wedding Wishes"

Stamp:  Easy Events (SU!)

Paper:  Crumb Cake, Whisper White, Soft Suede, Soft Suede DP (SU!)

Ink:  Early Espresso, Old Olive, Real Red (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  paper-piercing tool, embroidery needle, Cappuccino twine (The Twinery), adhesives and dimensionals

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I stamped the main image in Early Espresso ink onto Whisper White cardstock and trimmed the image to 2 1/2" square.  I used Stampin' Write markers to color in the leaves and the heart.

I paper-pierced a border 1/4" in from the edge on all sides.  I threaded an embroidery needle with the twine and stitched all along the border, starting and stopping at the bottom right-hand corner (leaving a good-sized tail on both ends).  I wrapped a second piece of twine around two fingers, three times and then used the tail ends from my stitching twine to tie a knot in the middle of the bundle.  I separated the loops by gently pulling them apart.  I mounted the main image onto a frame of Soft Suede cardstock.  In hindsight, I should have mounted the frame before stitching as it would have made the main image stronger ... I'll know for next time!

For assembling the card, since the main image was square, I wanted to mount it in an area of the card base that was square ... so that determined that my strip on the left-hand side would be 1 1/4" wide (leaving the plain crumb cake portion of the front of the card to measure 4 1/4" x 4 1/4").  So I cut the side Soft Suede cardstock strip 1 1/4" x 4 1/4" and cut the Soft Suede DP strip 1 1/8" x 4 1/4".

I mounted all the pieces, popping the main image up with dimensionals to add depth.

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Here's my second card for Monday's CAS Challenge (CAS147).  Hope you like.

"...on my drum"

Stamps:  None - the image and sentiment were both computer-generated

Paper:  Pacific Point, Whisper White, Garden Green

Ink:  Garden Green Stampin' Write marker

Accessories & Tools:  paper-piercing tool, embroidery needle, Denim twine (The Twinery), silver mini brads, wooden skewer, wire cutters, emery board, Tombow glue, adhesives and dimensionals

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I "googled" musical drum images and found this image on-line.  I printed it off twice, once on Garden Green cardstock and once on Pacific Point cardstock.  I cut out the whole drum from the Garden Green and used that as my base.  I cut out the top and bottom pieces from Pacific Point and glued them on top of the Garden Green drum base.

I used the paper-piercing tool to pierce holes and then stitched the Denim twine across the middle part of the drum.  I added mini silver brads through the same pierced holes.

 

I used the wire cutters to cut two small pieces (each about 1 1/2" long) from a wooden skewer.  An emery board  was used to sand down the rough edges.  I used the Garden Green Stampin' Write marker to color a strip of green around each drumstick.

I printed the sentiment from my computer onto Whisper White cardstock and mounted it on a card base of Pacific Point.  I mounted the drum onto the front of the card, popping it up with dimensionals.  The two drumsticks were glued on top of the drum.

Old World Santa

I've been busy the past few days, putting up lights on a few bushes and trees in my front yard and writing Christmas cards.  Today I'm hauling out the Christmas decorations and starting to decorate the house.  Starting because it takes me a few days (I'm a little Christmas crazy with my decorations!).  I'm hoping to get the bathroom done today ... that's right ... the bathroom :)  I have a small tree (about 2 foot) that sits on the bathroom counter and it's decorated with all things "reindeer".  I have three shelves above the throne, that I also fill with reindeer along with the window sill.  I have many handmade reindeer (made by me!) ... along with several from craft fairs that I collected over the years.

On to the card for today.  I was decorating the house and listening to Christmas music ... so, of course, I had to make another Christmas card.  This is an adorable digi stamp from Bugaboo (it was free!).  I added glitter glue to the fur cuff on Santa's coat ... and his mustache and beard are done with Sparkle Texture Effect from Martha Stewart which adds lots of texture (not sure if it comes across in the photo).  The sentiment is a from a stamp set that my friend, Kelly, gave me a couple of years ago.

"Old World Santa"

Stamps:  Old World Santa (Bugaboo digital stamps); small snowflake (Hero Arts)

Paper:  Always Artichoke, Whisper White, Cherry Cobbler, Autumns Traditions DP (SU!)

Ink:  Cherry Cobbler, Soft Suede, Pretty in Pink, Basic Black (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  computer printer, small paint brush, small sponge, adhesives, Tombow glue and dimensionals

* * * * *

I printed the image onto Whisper White cardstock.  I printed the image two more times, once on the tree DP (Autumn Traditions) and once on Cherry Cobbler cardstock (Santa's coat).  I stamped the small snowflake in Cherry Cobbler ink onto the coat (it's very subtle) and then cut it out and glued it on top of the main image.  I cut out the tree and glued it on top of the main image.  I used Stampin' Write markers to color in Santa's glove, nose, and the trunk of the tree.  I sponged pink for Santa's cheeks with a small make-up sponge.  I used a small paint brush to add glitter glue on the cuff of his coat.  I used another paint brush to add the sparkle texture to Santa's mustache and beard.  Once everything was dry, I mounted the image onto a frame of Cherry Cobbler cardstock.

I stamped the sentiment onto Whisper White cardstock and mounted it on a frame of Cherry Cobbler cardstock.

I mounted the main image and the sentiment onto a card base of Always Artichoke cardstock, popping them both up with dimensionals to add depth.

I made the team!!

Today was the reveal party for the CAS 2011 Winter Design Team for Splitcoast stampers ...

I made the team!!!

I'm so excited (and honored!).  I've been nervous for days now ... maybe I'll actually get some sleep tonight! :)

Congrats to LilLuvsStampin and Nancy Littrell for also making the team!!  It's going to be a fun three months!!

There are also twelve guest designer spots that were secured by:  scofield27, darsie1, star, tilly, vdutchr, stinkincute, tenia sanders-nelson, momof5sons, mamaxsix, janellelarson, kthaman and allee's - congrats to all these very talented ladies!!

Everyone that entered the challenge made fabulous cards ... it was wonderful to see all the different creative ideas.  I really happy that I entered into this challenge - it was a fun time!

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I can't believe it's December already ... this year has flown by!!  Today I went out with my SIL, Moe and picked up some groceries at Bosa (an Italian market in Vancouver).  I love shopping there!  Also stopped on the way home at Charlie's Chocolate Factory in Burnaby.  I picked up lots of treats for Christmas and also lots of Belgian chocolate for making desserts - yum, yum!!  After shopping we had out last stop at Esquire's ... it's a wonderful, small coffee chain in the suburbs of Vancouver.  I like it better than Starbuck's.  Moe treated me to a Gingerbread Latte - it was delicious!!

Once I was home, I had the afternoon free to spend time in the art studio.  I had an idea for a couple of cards for November's Fan Club challenge, using some of my new twine I bought on-line from "The Twinery".  November's theme is "Child's Play" ... and I wanted to try doing the "More is More" Challenge - make a simple version of a card, and then make a stepped up version (they are still both CAS cards, in my opinion).  I decided to combine both challenges ... hope you like.  FYI, the stepped up version has sponged sky that is very faint in the photo, but much darker in real life ... sorry for the photo quality :(

 "The Sky's the Limit #1"

"The Sky's the Limit #2"

Stamps:  Up, Up & Away (SU!)

Paper:  Whisper White, scraps of Daffodil Delight, green DP, orange DP, yellow polka-dot DP

Ink:  Green (ColorBox), Bashful Blue (SU!)

Accessories & Tools:  Twinery twine (Peapod, Lemondrop, Mandarin), ScorPal, sponge, Tombow glue, glue dots and adhesives

* * * * *

I cut out scraps of DP to make the kites and layered alternating colors on top.  I scored each kite down the middle and from tip to tip on the sides.  I bent the score lines to give the kites dimension.

I used Tombow glue to adhere the "tail" for the kite.  On the stepped up version, I tied knots of alternating colors of twine down the tail.

Also for the stepped up version, I made a template of randomly sized scallops and used it for sponging the sky.  I mounted all the pieces as shown in the picture above, attaching the kites using one glue dot at the tip of each kite.

I stamped the sentiment in green ink.