Holly Buttons

Here is my third (and last for awhile) Holiday Button Bits (PTI) card. Very self-explanatory, but with a note of interest. The HO3 be-ribboned tag is actually covering up the year 2008! A clever way to make use of an out of date pre-printed card, if I do say so myself!

Off to stamp some more!

More Holiday Button Bits

This is another card made with PTI's Holiday Button Bits set. The card base is white (PTI) with a layer of Always Artichoke cs with distressed edges, and then a layer of pre-printed cs made for framing a photo. I pierced around the edges of the stitched design. The sentiment was stamped in Encore Gold and then dusted with Antique Gold Pearl Ex.

Because of the bulky buttons, this card will most likely be one that is hand delivered!

Off to stamp some more!

Sweet Sunday Sketch #46

I used PTI white and Garden Green cs, along with Merry Moments DSP to make this 5.25 square card, for Sweet Sunday Sketch #46.
The ornament stamp is from Stampers Anonymous.

Off to stamp some more!

Holiday Button Bits

First of all let me remind you that I am a purest when it comes to stamping. I like my stamps wood mounted and I don't especially care for pre-printed card kits. However this clear stamp set from PTI found its way to my mailbox and I've been having fun with it, using some pre-printed cards - gasp!

What drew me to this stamp set (as well as, Everyday Button Bits!) was the fun factor of having little bits of stamped elements that work along with buttons to complete an image.

When I had this card completed I realized my tree was not centered in the cut out frame, so I added a punched snowman (SU, retired) to help balance it out. Not sure if I succeeded with that, but I'm loving the card no matter what!

Off to stamp some more!

Gift Card Holder

Here is a different style of gift card holder using the Sock Monkey image from SU.

You can find other awesome gift card holders on Splitcoaststampers. This one shows a step by step tutorial!

Off to stamp some more!

Stay At Home Gifting

Now that many of us will be starting our holiday gift lists and shopping, I thought I'd share a versatile holiday card idea with you today.

This holiday card has a pocket on the inside that will conveniently hold cash, a check, or a gift card(s)!

It began as a piece of 6 3/4 x 7 1/2 cs scored at 3" and 6". The 1 1/2" section will fold to the inside of the card and then taped or glued on the outside edges to form a pocket. The top edge of my inside pocket was cut at a slight angle (1 1/2" at the left end to 1" at right end) for interest.

Decorate as desired. This is a quick and easy project, so perfect for last minute gifts, if you have some extra cash or gift cards on hand!

Off to stamp some more!

Happy Thanksgiving!

Jingle Bells

Not much needs to be said about this clean and simple card.

Off to stamp some more!

Christmas Classics

Christmas Classics (stamp set) meets Merry Moments (DSP) on this card for Saturday's sketch #32 courtesy of Unscripted Sketches.

The main image was stamped in Chocolate Chip ink twice onto Naturals Ivory cs. The second image was cut out and foam mounted onto the first. The bling on the ornament is actually red and light green rhinestones.

The ribbon treatment is a red grosgrain ribbon layered over a slightly wider brown grosgrain ribbon, then threaded through a tree shaped ribbon slide brad.

This is one of my favorite Christmas cards made over the weekend.

Off to stamp some more!

C4C#12

Another coded title! This one translates into the sketch challenge provided by Crazy 4 Challenges. I love the clean lines of this sketch, my kind of card!

For this Christmas card I started with a Real Red base and then a slightly smaller RR layer embossed with SU's Petals-A-Plenty folder. Next up, a strip of Merry Moments DSP.

The main image is an ornament punched from SU's Christmas Cocoa flocked paper. A scrap of gold paper was punched for the ornament topper with a snippet of gold cord for the hanger. This was foam mounted onto Naturals Ivory, Chocolate Chip and Old Olive cardstocks.

The sentiment is from SU's Holiday Collection, stamped with CC ink onto NI cs and layered onto OO. Two red metallic brads were added for embellishment




Off to stamp some more!

Aly's Sunday Challenge #6

For my second post today (!), I made this card using Aly's Sunday Sketch #6.

I used a set from SU called The World Over and stamped it twice to fit inside this large Nestie circle. The image was colored minimally with SU markers: Real Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip, and Brocade Blue. I also used a shadowing Copic (Frost Blue) to outline the snow people's bodies. Chocolate Chip ink was sponged around the very edge of the circle.

Three Felt flurries were used for embellishment. I punched two holes in the center of the image circle to tie the white flake on with red grosgrain ribbon, after wrapping it around the main layers.

The base of the card is Baja Breeze, with a layer of Real Red and then a layer of DSP: Ski Slope.

Off to stamp some more!

Chocolate Reindeer

I should have been cleaning the house, but instead I entertained myself with sketch challenges. This card was made for the challenge on Sketch Saturday I don't normally make square cards or use this much detail, but after seeing the sample cards, I wanted to give this style a try. I'm very pleased with the results!

Starting with the Chocolate Chip base, there is a layer of Naturals Ivory, then a layer of DSP; Merry Moments.

The main image is stamped with black ink on Close To Cocoa cs, cut out/torn and layered onto another piece of CTC. Details on the image include Glaze pens in clear and yellow. Red and gold Spica pens and a VersaMark marker.

The edges of the CTC were pierced before layering onto Naturals Ivory and CC cs. A pair of red brads were added to two corners.

The trio of circles are stamped with snowflakes in White Craft ink from the set Snow Burst. CC ink was sponged on the edges. Sparkly "Snowballs" from Impress were added to the centers.

The sentiment (unknown, foam stamp) in the oval was stamped in CC ink onto CTC cs and two brown brads were added before mounting to card with foam tape.

The ribbon is SU.

I'll be posting more challenge cards this week! Yes, I know, I should be cleaning!

Off to stamp some more!

TESC#92

The title of this post is code for Taylored Expressions Sketch Challenge #92. Now that is a mouthful, thus the coded title!

More handmade paper was used for this card! Yes, I'm getting down to the last few sheets! The colors for this card are Old Olive, Bravo Burgundy, and Naturals Ivory.

Stamps sets used were: Pocket Silhouettes in the layered circle and for the main image DD Ferns.

Misc. ribbon, 3 sizes of circle punches, and a MS punch.

Now here is a little background on my DD Ferns. It is an SU set of three beautiful fern fronds that came out about 2001. I had to have it, but then it sat and sat and sat some more! Until last night when I finally pulled it off the shelf, trimmed it up, and mounted it.

Yes, I am a stamper first, but also a stamp collector at times, who will eventually use the stamps I buy! Patience is a virtue!


Off to stamp some more!

LHM TSC #48

This card is based on sketch challenge #48 from Lord Have Mercy.
It also was made to fit into a surprise theme for another online group. The main image opens up to reveal a sentiment and then the main card opens to reveal a gift card to a coffee shop. Surprise and surprise!

Cardstock: Kraft, Basic Black, Whisper White
Ink: Black and Bravo Burgundy Marker
Misc: Flourish rub on with bling and a photo anchor w/brad

Off to stamp some more!

Argyle Christmas

This card is based on a sketch from one of my Yahoo groups. I decided to use the sketch to make a Christmas card; just because!

The colors are Always Artichoke, Mellow Moss, Shimmer White, and Purely Pomegranate.

Bling, satin ribbon, and a cuttlebug folder were used, along with some retired SU DSP on this top fold card..

Off to stamp some more!

Card Making Kit #2

These are cards from the second card kit I purchased. This photo does not do them justice, but you can view the individual cards on the slide show at the top of the blog on the right side.

Starting from the back left; this card has an added layer behind the DP and another behind the birthday greeting. I also added eyelets and rhinestones to the four corners.

The colors are way off for the middle card in the back row. The DP is actually close in color to Ruby Red. White and Ruby Red cs layers were added behind the DP. I upgraded the ribbon used on the corner of the card and added the butterfly stamped in Ruby Red ink onto Summer Sun cardstock. This was punched out with SU's matching punch. Ribbon was added for the butterfly's body. The sentiment is also SU.

In the back row on the right is one of two versions in the kit. It is a baby card and they provided both a boy and girl version. For each card I added a Chocolate Chip cs layer behind the DP and behind the sentiment panel. Since the pattern on the paper is buttons and the verse uses the word button, I switched out the plain brads provided and replaced them with button brads. Oh how I love little coordinating details like that!

The front card is actually my favorite of both kits, but the photo doesn't do this card justice.
Instead of using the tan cs provided as the card base, I used it as a layer. I then used SU's Basic Gray for the card base. I also put a BG layer behind the sentiment. Instead of trimming the golden orange layer I left it longer and then added some embossed satin ribbon tied in a bow. At the bottom of the sentiment I added a row of smoky gray rhinestones. Believe me, this card is very rich and elegant looking!

Hmmmm, I wonder if either of my DSs would be willing to stop at the scrapbook store in their college town and pick up a card kit for me each month? Can't hurt to beg ask!

Off to stamp some more!

Card Making Kit #1

A few weeks ago when I was out of town, I visited a scrapbook store and bought two of their card kits. The card designs were very basic as I expected, but I had fun upgrading them as I went along.

For the card on the left in the back row, I added red flocking to the holly berries, red and green bakers twine and the tag charm.

The standing card in the middle did not photograph well. the paper is a very pretty fall design in a glossy finish, thus the glare. For this card I added an extra layer behind the large DP piece and behind the narrow DP strip. Actually the back side of the DP strip was to be used, but it didn't look as good in my opinion. I added the three leaf brads. I also punched the sentiment with the smaller SU tag punch and then made a layer with the larger SU tag punch. A square eyelet was added as well as, the gingham ribbon.

The card on the right in the back is my least favorite. I should have changed the ribbon provided, but did not. The card is pretty much as is, except for the sentiment which is SU.

The front card is the first one I started with. I added extra layers behind the DP. And added an embossed layer on the white card base. Wiggly eyes were added to the frog for fun and i folded the ribbon before trimming the ends. I also chose to sponge the circle. The sentiment is SU.

The individual cards can be seen on the slide show at the top of my blog on the right side.

For the simple entertainment value, this card kit it was worth it, but otherwise without the added layers and embellishments it was far too basic for my taste.

Tomorrow I'll show you the second card kit.

Off to stamp some more!