Has it really been that long?!

Lordy! How can it possibly have been that long since I've posted? Oh, yeah, Christmas...! Besides the usual hustle and bustle of the season (two-almost-three year old!) and my procrastinator tendencies, my grandmother hasn't been doing very well. Sadly, she's in a nursing home about 800 miles away - makes for a difficult visit. According to the nursing staff she *is* doing a little better now, but the added stress was hell on the season. I've been pestering the staff everyday but it's hard to be this far away during the holidays.

Since Christmas is over, and I know that many of you are on Christmas card overload, I'll just make a quick post of some more cards that have been sent. There is something exciting - a new (??) technique that I haven't seen anywhere else. I *might* have found something all my own! :)

This first card is the *new* technique! I don't have time to write up what I did just yet - but I will! My very first tutorial - won't that be fun? Pay extra close attention to the deer... why yes, I do believe there is some dimension there! :) I think the card in general is pretty self explanatory, Martha Stewart punch on several layers (even the base), some glitter, some acrylic paint (yes, that was a hint!) and a little glitter pen.

The second card doesn't show the glimmer - but it's there! This was done using some Basic Grey paper in not-so-traditional colors with inks to match. Again, glitter pen (in the red snowflakes on the base), some piercing and a glimmery look on the sentiment panel. The gold/brown ribbon is also pretty shimmery and is quickly becoming my favorite. I'll have to get up to Fort Collins soon to get some more!

This final card is also on some Basic Grey holiday paper. This time I used some adhesive rubons and coated them with white flock. After they were all coated I realized that you couldn't see the white flock against the background... bummer! So I dusted the flock with Perfect Pearls to make the 'snowflakes' stand out. Those flakes were actually flowers, but I like them my way better! A nestie tag, sentiment (dusted with more pp) and velvet ribbon completed the look. Well... then I just *had* to add some more of my new favorite ribbon over the velvet. I *love* the look of stacked ribbon. Yes, I even stack ribbon on Christmas presents! (I'm sick, I know - but I wrap beeyoootiful prezzies!)

Thanks for visiting, hope you enjoyed my final (??) post of Christmas cards. Come back soon to see my very first tutorial!

Christmas cards galore!

I'm baaaack! :)

I've been crafting Christmas cards like a crazy woman. I know, I know. Most people have already made and sent theirs... I like to 'age' mine first! :D

I do have some more in process (one is actually done but no pic yet) but I figured I better put these up before January... or later....

First up, a funny/cute card I made a while ago. It's a shaker card with a bunch of different glitters in the shaker part. Some Martha, some from Wally world - just a hodge podge. After I was done sticking it all together I wished that I had put less stuff in there - it's difficult to get it out of the way to read the 'funny'. Oh well, I don't make them very often so I tend to forget that less is more! The 'funny' says 'May Santa grant you the serenity to accept the gifts you can't return, the courage to exchange the ones you can, and the receipts to know the difference!' - which I think is hysterical! Ho, Ho, Ho! was stamped with an alphabet set from Hero Arts. Papers are from one of those scrapbook paper sets you could get at Michaels ( but I think they're either on clearance or all gone by now). Can you tell that I drew over the 'ribbons' with a glitter pen? Hey, Christmas is about BLING! :D

Up next is one made with one of those cheapie felt stocking shapes from Hobby Lobby (like ten in a package for about 2 dollars? this set came with white, red and green ones). I painted it with a silver paint dauber (from Ranger) and then dunked it in glitter. After it was dry I glued it to the background paper that I made using Tim's wrinkle free distress technique and cut it out. The aqua panel is edged with the same silver dauber, then raised off the navy panel which I ran through the cuttlebug swirl folder. Ribbon is from Target (in the wedding/invitation section). Since the folders don't reach all the way to the edges (grrrr) I used a silver pen to dot around the border - double dots on the bottom since I can't seem to line everything up 'just so'. (another grrrr!)

This next card was made with a clear set I bought at Wally world for *cheap*. And yes, you get what you pay for! :) I dig this angel tho, so I was willing to put up with (ahem) less than perfect. You probably can't tell, but the angel is on a piece of the same background that I glued to the stocking on the previous card. This little piece gives you a better idea of what it looks like IRL - and BTW, those gorgeous flourishes are from Bea at Katzelkraft. I *LOVE* those flourishes. The sentiment took a turn for the worse when I tried to stamp it in gold (you couldn't see it!), then went over it with a black glaze pen, then decided it looked too stark - so I brushed it with gold perfect pearls. Hmpf. It does look better IRL, sorta looks like a hot mess in the picture though. The stars on the angel's dress are colored over with a gold pen. The little stars near the top are leftovers from the Martha Stewart snowflake border (the style matched perfectly!) that I glued on.

This final one is something I've seen versions of all over. The top panel is shimmery white c/s run through the cuttlebug folder then cut with a small nestie. The inner card is also cut with a nestie so you can see the sentiment through the window. The ribbon is sandwiched between the layers and bling added to the ribbon. Since the bling didn't have anything to relate to, I went over the sentiment with a glitter pen (it says 'Peace' and is also from the cheapie Wally world set). That makes them look like they belong together - color and bling wise.

Since I'm putting up so many cards in this single post, I hope you'll forgive me for not listing the recipe like I usually do. If you have ANY questions about supplies or techniques, please leave a comment and I'll get back to you ASAP! Thanks for visiting!

A square card

Can you believe how fast time is moving? These last few weeks seem to move like lightning! Between shopping and being crafty - well I just can't believe we're so far into December already. It must be true that the older you get, the faster time moves! lol

I do have some Christmas cards to share, but not today! (read: I can't find the bloody camera) I usually make cards in the 'regular' size. Mostly because it's easy to cut c/s, or if you're even more crunched for time, buy the appropriate size. Today I used a premade blank that measures about 5 1/2 inches square. I think I've had the package for at least five years... what does that tell you? (HA! It should tell you that I have *way, way too much paper*.)

The panel itself was just me slapping some color on some white cardstock. All Distress Inks (yum, I do love me some distress inks!) in greens, blues, purple and orange over a base of the new VersaMark Dazzle Frost. The VM gave it a nice shimmer, very understated. [ed. note: I have bought the VM champagne color also but haven't tried it yet. I didn't really see any difference between using this VM or another shimmery ink like Opalites. I don't think I'd buy it again, I have too many other inks that basically do the same thing.] I liked the background enough that I didn't want to cut it down to fit on a regular card - hence the square size.

First I stamped the birds in a platinum color, but you really couldn't see them. So I over stamped the birds (and the flourish) in Brilliance Lightning Black which makes them look a lot closer to the color of the base IRL.

Here you can get a closer look at those bead type thingys (yes, very technical!). I'm not sure who makes them, I know I bought several packs at Hobby Lobby when they were on clearance. I *think* they might have originally be for decorating tee shirts? They aren't black, more of a hematite color, which bridged the gap between the c/s and the deep black of that sticky back felt swirl.

And, can I just say, that sticky back felt is the very *devil* to work with?! Trust me, that stuff STICKS. To everything. Including your hands while you're trying (really, really hard) to keep your temper! lol It's just as well that I didn't buy a whole lot of it... dh would have to bring the jaws of life and an enormous bottle of Undo to get me free. Wouldn't that be a pretty picture! :D

Thanks for taking time out of your day to visit me, I truly appreciate it!

Recipe: square card base from Stampendous, Distress Inks in Shabby Shutters, Broken China, Faded Jeans, Dusty Concord, Dried Marigold, VersaMark Dazzle in Frost, Brilliance Lightning Black & Graphite Black, sticky back felt from Queen & Co, beady thingys from Hobby Lobby, gorgeous Flourish from Katzelkraft, Birds from Inkadinkado, sentiment from Hampton Art, Glossy Accents

Another Christmas card

Hi there! Have you started your Christmas shopping yet? I can say that we *have*, just... not the really important gifts. You know, the ones for your nearest and dearest? :)

I spent time making a couple more Christmas cards, but I think I'll only post one today. Today's card uses the awesome clear set from Inkadinkado that I've been dying to find. I've been hunting this set for a while now and *finally* managed to get the VERY LAST ONE! I was so excited that I had to come home and play with it immediately!

There isn't too much that isn't self explanatory, except maybe the ribbon. Yes, I folded the ribbon over a couple of times to create more of a 'present' look. Then I just needed to add a little bling. I know the picture doesn't show the color of the crystals very well, but they are *RED* in real life and match the Basic Grey paper very well. A little touch of gold on either side and it was good to go. Those are gold snaps (not brads) so I used my Crop A Dile to put the holes through the ribbon & set them. Good thing you can't see the backs... am I the only one that can't use the CAD and make the setting in the back look good?!? Sheesh, what a mangled mess!

Oh, and the other thing you may not be able to see well is the glitter. I sprayed both the bird panel and the BG panel with Pearl Glimmer Mist and let dry overnight. Then I used my Sakura glitter pen to go over some of the white parts in the bird and around the embossed edge of the panel. Gives just a little glimmer IRL.

I hope you like it!

Recipe: Stamp from Inkadinkado, Warm Red Chalk Ink, Frayed Burlap Distress Ink, Sakura glitter pen, SU! ticket corner punch, Basic Grey paper, Bazzil c/s, red Swarovski crystals, gold snaps, Cuttlebug & Nestabilities, pop dots