An Apple a Day...

How's this for a get well card?  I think it's cute and the bright colours are cheerful and uplifting don't yo think?  Hope none of you are needing a get well card this holiday season and I'm lucky enough to be able to put this one in card stash (thankfully I have my blog readers to share this with instead),  

I'm so tired of doing Christmas cards and knew that I wanted to make anything but.  I went through my paper hoard for this Get Sketchy sketch and came across this fun paper.  I started putting this together without knowing what stamps I wanted to use and then finally decided to use my punches to make this apple core that I've seen on other blogs.  At that point I still didn't know what kind of card this was going to be.  Well I got all the pieces prepped and it was time to pick out the sentiment....I could have done pretty much anything but I decided to work with the old adage "An apple a day keeps the doctor away".  I thought about making something for the teachers in our lives too but I wonder if they get tired of the apple theme themselves?

The apple was made using the SU! tab punch on Very vanilla and Real Red.  I sponged the vanilla with So Saffron craft ink.  The stem was made using the 1 1/4 and 1 3/8 circle punches and the leaf is made from the 5-petal punch.  I may just make a small picture tutorial.

This was also my first time sponging (real red) on my nestabilities.  I still need some practice and I'm in no way as good as my friend Tanis but I'll find my groove.

I really like where this paper took me and the relaxed creativity that came out of it.  There was no pressure just a patient process that came out with a very nice end result.  Don't you love it when that happens?

Paper:  Real Red, Very Vanilla, Blue Bayou, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Kraft, NSU dsp

Ink:  Basic Black, So Saffron (Craft), Real red.

Accessories:  Tab punch, circle punches, 5-petal punch, nestibilities labels 1,  Red gingham ribbon, red grosgrain ribbon

From Me to You

Look!  I've managed to finish a challenge before the deadline.  The card didn't take very much time at all and it would have gone even quicker if I had the Word Window Punch for the sentiment instead of having to be finicky with the cutting and corner edge punch.  Same effect but it takes more time.  The lovely paper is not Stampin' Up! but Rich Razzleberry, Kiwi Kiss, and Bermuda Bay go well for those of you that have this dp stashed away.

I used the Whisper White textured cardstock which gives the image that partially inked look.  I was surprised to use black for the sentiment as I usually use Chocolate chip but I found that like the rest of the colours the sentiment needed to POP.  I inked the edges of the sentiment in Bermuda Bay for a faux layer and added a nice purple button. I may just pop on some bling for the flower centers.

Anyhow, now that we are enjoying couple of inches of snow and it's finally starting feel somewhat "Christmassy", it's all probably going to melt between today and tomorrow.  Hope you are all enjoying your week.  Only two more wake ups and then the Christmas holidays are upon us.  Yahoo!!!

Paper:  Whisper white textured cs, Rich Razzleberry, Kiwi Kiss

Ink:  Old Olive, Rich Razzleberry, Basic Black, Bermuda Bay

Accessories:  Small corner rounder punch, scallop edge punch, NSU purple button and brads, linen thread

Stamps: For all you do, NSU sentiment

Imagine That

I'm late for yet another sketch challenge.  That's what I get for starting a card on the cut off day!  I started Mercy's Tuesday Sketch Challenge yesterday afternoon during my down time but I didn't quite realize how time consuming the paper quilting was going to be until my hour had past and all I had to prove for it were three 1 3/4" quilted circles.  Then one thing led to another and I finally finished my card around 10 PST last night.  Too tired and not thrilled enough with the end product to bother taking pictures.  This was one of those cards that didn't finish with the same fireworks that I had in my vision....but when I got up this morning I had a clear view and new appreciation for this card.

My first step began with cutting 3/4" squares from my scraps of Razzleberry Lemonade dsp and glueing them together on white whisper white cardstock to make a panel 2 1/4" x 6 3/4".  I then zigzag stitched the inside seams (not very well since my sewing machine kept skipping stitches) and then punched 1 3/4" circles.  I was surprised at how easily my SU! punched cut through the paper and sewing.  I punched three because I planned on making a couple more.

I used my circle scissor to cut the bottom layer for the quilted circle.  I used my sewing machine again to paper pierce my bottom panes and distressed the main panel edges with my scissors.

I put the card together and instead of brads, buttons I used purple bling.   Something was missing in the top left corner so I add a bit of bling there too.  I hope to get started on the Sweet Sunday Sketch challenge tonight so that I'm not late for the Thursday deadline.  We shall see....thanks for taking the time to pop by my blog.  I hope you enjoyed what you've seen even if it is late.  IMO creativity and inspiration never has a deadline so thanks Mercy for your inspirational sketch.

Paper:  SU! Glossy White, Whisper White, Razzleberry Lemonade dsp, Crushed Curry

Ink:  Melon Mambo, Rich Razzleberry

Accessorries:  Circle Scissor, 1 3/4" circle punch, small corner rounder punch, NSU bling, Sewing machine

Stamps:  Sweet Centers, NSU sentiment

Christmas Goodies

Here are a few samples of the Christmas goodies I made for my daughter's classmates.  I did use candy but with the intent that these can be hung on their Christmas tree until the big day.  I have doubts that they will actually make it to their christmas tree but you never know.

For my project I used the Circle Scissors to cut 3 inch circles...looking back now it would have been better to make them a little smaller (2.75" instead) and I used the Fiskars Shape cutter for the ovals.  The top of the ornaments were made by cutting out the ornament shape in the Sweet Centers stamp set and the inside circle was easy peasy this time around with the 1 3/4" circle punch.  It didn't come so easily when I was making the Halloween treats. I didn't have the circle punch and had to rig things just right with my circle scissor.  It took to long without the punch which is why my daughter didn't hand out those sweet treats for halloween.  It was great to use up some of my SU! Christmas dp from last season (always a good excuse to buy something new LOL).

Sorry if I haven't been around to comment on your beautiful works of art.  Like you I'm busy with the celebrations of the season and bent on finishing my last minute projects.  And having a horrible migraine yesterday did not help in getting things done.  It was only my second ever migraine but it put me in bed for 6 hours.  I was extremely blessed that it was a Saturday and my husband was home.  Another thankful thing about my migraines is that I loose vision in one eye about 45 minutest to an hour before the headache part kicks in so I have time to take some pain meds and finish up the really important things before I'm stuck in bed.  I'll be making an appointment with the doctor this week...last time it was with the Optometrist.

Paper:  Old Olive texture cs, I Wish dsp, Whisper White
Ink:  Chocolate Chip
Stamps:  Sincere Salutations, Sweet Centers
Accessories:  Circle Scissors, Fiskars shape cutter, 1 3/4" circle punch, 1/16" circle punch, silver cord ribbon, treat cups, chocolates

More Button Fun

So here are a few more cards that I made using Maureen's stamp set and some of my scraps of "I wish" dsp.

The left gingerbread man card uses Sweet and Sassy Stamp Sketch #30 and the right card uses Card Patterns Sketch #43.

They're very simple which happens when trying to put together a dozen cards in a couple of evenings.  I thought I had made enough Christmas cards but I didn't take into consideration that I wanted about 10 to put away in boxes as Christmas Gifts.

Paper:  Chocolate chip, Real Red, Kraft, Old Olive, I Wish dsp.
Accessories:  Buttons, Red gingham ribbon, letter rub-ons, Oval cutting tool. small corner rounder
Ink: Soft Suede, Chocolate chip
Stamp: Not Stampin' Up!

Here's a cute and simple snowman card that I made using the same stamp set.  I used my own layout for this.

I lifted the middle of the sentiment with dimensionals just to give it a little something.  And I cut out another snowman head to lift up with dimensionals.  I added more character by using liquid applique on the snow man's hat. This card was extremely fast and easy.  I love buttons!!

Paper:  Whisper White, Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Real Red, I Wish dsp

Ink:  Basic Black, Chocolate Chip

Accessories: White buttons, Liquid applique, Real Red and Pumpkin Pie markers, Ticket corner punch, dimensionals

Deck the Halls with Buttons of Holly

Good morning All!  Amazingly I'm back with yet another post this week.  This is one of the cards I was busy creating.  I had stamped the Holly image at Maureen's house a couple of weeks ago as, sadly, I don't own that stamp set.  I finally got around to playing with it and found that Mercy's Tuesday Sketch #47 displayed the Holly very nicely.

I could have probably added some ribbon but as soon as I'm happy with a card I try to stop there.   And I liked the colour proportions of this card.  Super easy, inexpensive and yet elegant. Don't you just love the buttons?  Maureen you've got me addicted to buttons!!!  

Thanks so much for visiting.  Hope you are enjoying your week.

Paper:  SU! Kraft, Chocolate Chip, Old Olive, Real Red, SU! I Wish dsp.

Ink:  Old Olive, Chocolate Chip

Accessories:  Ticket corner punch, Scallop border punch, buttons

Stamps:  Non-Stampin Up!

White Christmas

That's what I'm dreaming of right now.   But here we have no snow on the ground to speak of and yet it is -15 degrees celsius.  I'm cold and there's no beautiful white stuff to bring that smile to my face although it is beautiful clear skies with sunshine to warm us (at least a little).

Anyhow, here are a couple cards that I did promise I would post.  And technically I'm keeping my promise because it is not yet midnight.  These cards were created using FTL 69 and my Snow Burst stamp set.  I rounded the corners to give it a softer look and I brought out the silver embossing powder for the sentiment.  I really like how these cards turned out.  They are very simple but as Natasha pointed out the placement of each stamp (and colour) is absolutely crucial.  The left hand card was my second attempt and I decided to follow the template layout almost exactly.  And then I was inspired to create my own layout on the right hand side.  It was fun to play around with my stamps which is something I rarely do these days.   I could have added some embellishments to these cards but I didn't want to ruin it's simplicity.   The one layer also makes these cards easier to mail.

Thanks for stopping by and I hope you are all having a wonderful, joyful December.  Don't be afraid to say No to the chaos of the season and instead enjoy the peace of Christmas. "Let there be Peace on Earth and Let it begin with me." I do have a bunch of cards lined up to show you this week and I will post them when I have time for my cup of java.

Paper:  Whisper White
Ink:  Not Quite Navy, Bashful Blue,  Brocade Blue, Versamark
Accessories:  Large corner rounder punch, silver embossing powder
Stamps:  Snow Burst, Snow Swirled (Season's Greetings),  Grateful Greetings (Christmas Greetings)