Thursday, November 30, 2017

Winter Cardinals

Today's Christmas card combines stamps from several different companies to create a wintry forest scene.
I created a background for my cardinals by printing some pine branches from the Winter Blessings digital stamp set (Graciellie) on kraft cardstock. I sponged over them with pine needles distress ink and inked the edges of my panel with walnut stain distress oxide.
Supplies and Tools:
Winter Blessings (Graciellie Design), Jumbo Cardinals (Stampendous), Etched Holly (Rubber Stampede), Touch Five Markers, White Gel Pen, Pin Needles Distress Ink, Walnut Stain Distress Oxide, Sponge Daubers, Sentiment (Inkadinkado),

This post linked to:
4 Crafty Chicks - Anything Goes
Allsorts - Christmas Carol/Song (The Holly and the Ivy)
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

Give Your Heart

Today's card features one of Power Poppy's digital stamp sets - Poinsettia and Pomegranates. I wanted to create a Christmas card in non-traditional colors other than the blues/pinks/teals that are becoming so popular these days. (I like them, just wanted to do something different.)
Instead of coloring my poinsettia arrangement, I chose to print it off in brown and use it as a background for my Christmas card. I also alerted a sentiment from the same set, giving it a brown chalkboard look to match my main image.
Supplies and Tools:
Poinsettia and Pomegranates (Power Poppy), Sequins, Vintage Lace, Baker's Twine, Washi Tape, Fired Brick Distress Oxide, Corner Punch (Close to my heart), Joy Sentiment (Martha Stewart)

This post linked to:
Power Poppy - Portion Control
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Fusion Card Challenge - Red Christmas
Allsorts - Inspired by Christmas carol/song (My Gift Is Me)



Monday, November 27, 2017

Seaon's Greetings

Here we are at the end of November already! Today I'm sharing a bright red Christmas card I created with a 3D roses accent.
I love how bright and festive this turned out with the red polka-dot paper and glittery rose!
For step by step instructions on creating that sparkly 3D rose: Visit today's post on the Cropstop blog.
Supplies and Tools:
Red Sampler Pack (Canvas Corp), Circular Grid Border Embossing Folder (Anna Griffin), Petaloo Lace, Holiday Words (Inkadinkado), Watercolor Paper, Graphite Black Brilliance Ink (Tsukineko), Floral Petals Punch (McGill- Paper Blossoms), Paper Blossoms Craft Molding Mat, Stylus, Versamark Watermark, Red Tinsel Embossing Powder, Liquid Pearls, Holly Sprig Die (Anna Griffin - Cricut/Cuttlebug), Pine Needles Distress Ink,  Martha Stewart Border Punch


This post linked to:
Fusion - Red Christmas
Allsorts - Inspired by Christmas carol or winter song
(Walking in a Winter Wonderland - "Gone away, is the blue bird, Here to stay, is the new bird")
The Paper Players - Sketch (below)
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes


Saturday, November 25, 2017

Branch of Ornaments

I took advantage of Power Poppy's week-end sale to buy the Forest Find digital stamp set and went to work creating this fun little Christmas branch scene with one of the ornaments.
The background was created by blending distress inks and spritzing them with water before heat setting. I added a bit of faux snow to the ornament tops and some baker's twine bows.

Supplies and Tools:
Forest Finds (Power Poppy), Distress Inks (Evergreen Bough, Salty Ocean, Picked Raspberry), Whtie Diluted White Acrylic Paint, Mini Holiday Greens Die (Tim Holtz), Faux Snow, Baker's Twine, Touch Five Markers, White Gel Pen, 2220-G, All Is Calm (Repeat Impressions)

This post linked to:
Power Poppy - Portion Control
The Card Concept - Retro Holiday (Clean and layered)
Dies R Us - Anything Snow
Allsorts - Inspired by a Christmas Song (sentiment from Silent Night)



Friday, November 24, 2017

JOY

Graciellie is running a sale on her digis this week so I bought the Cheery Christmas set.
I've enjoyed seeing how several different designers used this pretty wreath of late, and I wanted to give it a whirl. I decided to create a long card and use the wreath for the "o" in "JOY!"
After coloring it with Touch Five markers, I cut it out and popped it up on my embossed card front. I finished off the inside by creating a pocket  for money and adding one of the sentiments from the same digital set as the wreath.
Supplies and Tools:
Cheery Christmas (Graciellie), Touch Five Markers, White Gel Pen, Liquid Pearls, Ribbon, Christmas Quilt Embossing Folder (Couture Creations), Washi Tape, Circle Punch, Nouveau Alphabet Dies (Sizzix)


This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
The Card Concept - Retro Holiday (CAS card inspired by the wreath and teal color)
Craft - Dee Bowz - Handmade Bow
Repeat Impressions - Anything Goes




Wednesday, November 22, 2017

Warm Winter Mittens

Sometimes I enjoy making seasonal card in non-traditional colors. For this adorable mitten image from Power Poppy, I chose blues, pinks, and greens as my color scheme.
I colored my image with Touch Five markers and added a few highlights with a white gel pen. I love the frosty look the sanded embossing gives this card.
Supplies and Tools:
Bough Wow Wow (Power Poppy), Touch Five Markers, Gel Pen, Seam Binding, Pine Needles/Mowed Lawn Distress Ink, Sparkly Snowflake Stickers, Christmas Quilt Embossing Folder (Couture Creations), Phrase Set Two (Spellbinders), Deep Edge Punch (Martha Stewart), Sandpaper

This post linked to:
Little Red Wagon - Let's Get Sketchy
Dies R Us - Anything Snow
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Craft Dee Bowz - Anything Goes with handmade bow

Monday, November 20, 2017

Winter Mittens

Today I'm sharing two little tags I made to enter in several of my favorite paper craft challenges.
After stamping the middle portion of Bough Wow Wow, I colored it with Touch Five Markers and added highlights with a gel pen. I cut the sweet little mittens out and mounted them on a tiny tag before adding bits of fake snow around the edges.
 I decorated the back with a strip of matching washi tape and a punched a sliver snowflake to decorate the edge. I tiny pearl accents the center. 
Supplies and Tools
Bough Wow Wow (Power Poppy), Baker's Twine, Touch Five Markers, White Gel Pen, Chipped Sapphire Distress Ink, Washi Tape, Snowflake Punch (Martha Stewart), Fancy Corner Punch (Close to my heart), Tiny Pearls


This post linked to:
Power Poppy - Portion Control
Color Throwdown - Dark Blue, Light Blue, Silver
The Paper Players - CAS Warm and Cozy
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes


Ghirardelli Treat Holders

I recently made these Ghirardelli Treat Holders for the ladies in a card-making group I've started attending this year. I think they'd make great favors for a fall party or maybe for your Thanksgiving table. With a different color scheme and theme you could also use them for other seasons or events too! They're super simple to make and fun to decorate!
For measurements and step by step instructions on creating these fun little treat boxes: Visit today's post on the Cropstop blog.
Supplies and Tools:
Scallop Circle Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Lace, Sunflower Stamp (Heartfelt Creations), Versamark, Copper Embossing Powder, Distress Crayons (Squeezed Lemonade, Mustard Seed, Fossilized Amber, Rusty Hinge, Twisted Citron, Mowed Lawn, Pine Needles), Burlap String, Button, Fall Foliage Dies (Tim Holtz)

This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown  -  So Very Thankful
Paper Sweeties - Fall Inspiration Board


Wednesday, November 15, 2017

Vintage Holiday Children

I can hardly believe it's time to post Christmas cards already, but it is! For today's card I pulled out a large PSX Christmas stamp that I've used only once or twice before! I love this image, and it supplied the perfect opportunity to practice using my new Touch Five markers! 
 After coloring the image, I added some highlights with a white gel pen. I fussy cut around the image and layered it on a stamped music background. 
Supplies and Tools:
Vintage Children Stamp (PSX), Touch Five Markers, White Gel Pen, Music Background Stamp (Stampin' Up), Snowflakes Embossing Folder (Cuttlebut), Doily Embossing Folder (Sizzix), Pearls (Darice), Pink Ribbon, Sparkly Snowflake Sticker (Dollar Tree), Phrases Set 2 Dies (Spellbinders) Coredinations Cardstock, Graphite Black Brilliance Ink (Tsukineko)

This post linked to:
Mod Squad - Merry and Bright
The Card Concept - Retro Holiday (Retro, Wreath, Colors - clean and layered)
Addicted To Stamps - Use More than one stamp
Really Reasonable Ribbon - Anything Goes with Ribbon/Lace/Trim

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Thanksgiving Greetings

I recently discovered and Etsy shop that sells beautiful digital collage sheets. The Digital Collage Club was running a sale and I bought several sheets for $1. After purchasing, they sent me an email to join their club (unlimited downloads for the next year) for $17! That's a HUGE savings, and I took them up on it.
The image I used above belongs to a Vintage Thanksgiving ATC set. I printed it and distressed the edges before adding it to my card-front.
Supplies and Tools:
Vintage Thanksgiving ATC set (Digital Collage Club), Polka Dot Embossing Folder (The Paper Studio), Lace, All Complete Boy Paper Stack (My Mind's Eye), Deep Edge Border Punch (Martha Stewart)

This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Tuesday Throwdown - So Very Thankful
4 Crafty Chicks -  Give Thanks
Allsorts - Colors of Autumn






Monday, November 13, 2017

Leafy Blessings

I have another clean-and-simple card to share with you today. It’s my personal opinion that the Zentangle stamps are so beautiful that you don’t really need to add a lot of extra’s when you create with them. Just look at all the details in this stamped leaf!
 The last time I showcased this stamp I used distress inks to watercolor it.  This time I chose to let the design of the leaf  stamped in  distress oxide shine by  keeping it plain.
 Supplies and Tools:
Be sure to stop by the CURRENT LINK PARTY on Cropstop and show off the projects you've been working on!

This post linked to:

Little Red Wagon - Harvest Time
My Favorite Things - Sketch Challenge
4 Crafty Chicks - Give Thanks
Fusion - Grateful (both the sketch and photo)
Allsorts - Colors of Autumn

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Handmade Journal

Today I have a handmade journal to share with you. I started out to create a gratitude journal, but decided to make it do double duty by adding currently journal pages to it as well.  I sent this fun little canvas book to my niece along with a set of colored pens.
 For step by step instructions on creating this little canvas book: Visit today's post on the Cropstop blog. 
If you'd like to make your own Currently/Gratitude Journal - Click here to download the FREE PRINTABLE I created for the gratitude journal and HERE for the Currently Journal page.

Supplies and Tools:
Canvas, Garden Gate Stencil (TCW), Gesso, Peeled Paint Distress Stain, Spiced Marmalade Distress Stain, Frayed Burlap Distress Paint, Graphite Black Brilliance Ink (Tsukineko), Holiday Bliss Julie Nutting Doll (Prima), Distress Crayons, Tim Holtz Stamps (Bitty Grunge/Inspirational), Petaloo lace and flower, Burlap String

This post linked to:
Mini Album Maker Challenge
Addicted to Stamps - Autumn
Repeat Impressions - Falling For You
Paper Sweeties - Inspiration Photo (below) - Inspired by autumn/thanks
Color Throwdown - Brown, Orange, Green, Kraft



Tuesday, November 7, 2017

Power Poppy Hues To Use


I was thrilled (and honored) to be ask to guest design for the Power Poppy Hue's to Use today!  Since I like to "think outside the box" when I create, I turned this floral inspiration board into a Christmas card using the Glittering Glass Santa Digital Stamp Set from Power Poppy. For more photos (and all the details of how I put this card together), visit today's post their blog. 
 Supplies and Tools:
Glittering Glass Santa digital stamp (Power Poppy), Prismacolor Pencils, Markers, Beaded Ovals Nestabilities (Spellbinders), Victoria Embossing Folder (Cuttlebug), Christmas Quilt Embossing Folder (Darice), Pearls, Ribbon, Lace, Old Sheet Music, Glitter, Flower Soft, Festive Flower punch (Stampin' Up), Deep Edge Punch (Martha Stewart), Distress Inks (Abandoned Coral, Mowed Grass)


This post linked to:
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes
Really Reasonable Ribbon  - Anything Goes with ribbon/lace/trim
The Paper Players - Holiday  Pines