Noel Tile

This is such a fun card. It was one of those ideas that floated around in my head for a few weeks before I had time to complete it.

The Sizzix snowflake embossing folder makes a lovely background as a base for the whole design. Across the bottom is a pine forest punched border from EK Success. The dark green is "shadowed" by a second punched border in gold gift wrap.

Now for the Noel Tile portion. The letters are from a Sizzix's Trixie alphabet. They have been mounted on green and then red layers of card stock.

The finished letter tiles were carefully placed evenly on gold gift wrap. The gold was then trimmed to an even border using a deckle scissors.

Fast and Easy Christmas Card

Here is the very simplest of cards. Fast, easy and impressive!

I began with a plain white card base. Use the Sizzix snowflake embossing folder to create a textured overlay to attach to the front of the card.

Now the easy part. Find a fairly large 3-D sticker and center it on the front.

Simple and elegant.

A Very Merry Christmas

Here are two cards of a very similar design. The construction is fairly simple when it is broken down into steps.

I began with a plain white A2 card base. The next step is to create a texture or in some cases a patterned paper layer to cover the entire card front. I used the Sizzix embossing folder with white card stock. My preferred white card stock is Georgia Pacific that is about $5.50 at Walmart.

The gold and the red metallic are from gift wrap and high lighting foil glued to card stock. Spellbinders are the manufacturers of all the dies.



The 3-D sticker in the center of the card is from K & Company. These are mounted on gold squares. The squares have paper egg carton attached to the back to raise them every so slightly over the next red foil large scallops squares.

I love the red foil scallop "shadow" under the gold scallop. To me the whole combination of textures and papers is very pleasing.

White and Ivory Snowflakes

Begin with a white card base. Sizzix made the embossing folder that was used to create the snowflake texture that was attached to the front of the card.

Cream or ivory card stock is the color of the Spellbinder die cut snow flakes that are over the texture. A very subtle simple card.

Thinking of You

Something a little different.
The square die cuts are from Spellbinders new
Fleur de Lis squares.

Lots of sponging and 3-d layering.
Shapes are either die cut or punched.
Textures were done with several embossing folders.

Since I will be frantically busy as of tomorrow until at least
the 12th of June there are going to be several weeks without
posts. Probably won't be doing much card designing either.
Just working real hard on the job
and maintaining sanity.

Textured Flowers 1

A fun design inspired by a wish for spring!!
The background papers on the card bases
are from a stack that I bought a long time ago
and I have lost the cover, so I have no idea
who made the paper.

Sizzix made the die for the flowers.
After cutting them out I embossed them
with Cuttlebug's Dotted Swiss folder.
I happened to have a blue glitter card stock
that matched the blues in the scrapbook paper,
so punched out a nice glitzy center for the flowers.
The flowers are 3-D, using a double-sided
self-adhesive foam.

Note that on two of the cards there is a textured
portion on the left. This was done in
another Cuttlebug folder.

Now for those gorgeous leaves.
I used a light weight medium avocado
card stock. Cut 1 inch in strips, folded those in half and
ran them through my corrugator at an angle.
I used one of Punch Bunches leaf punches.
You will be using only half your punch.
Make sure the fold is in the CENTER of the
punch, now punch and unfold your lovely leaf.

Hubby's Valentine

Here is the card that I made for my husband for
Valentine's Day.
While this is a Valentine the basic idea
would work for any "man card".

The textured layer, which is dark brown, was
done with a Cuttlebug folder. It looks like the decking
from a cattle pot. OK, let me explain, my husband
trucked cattle all over the western United
States for about 10 years. This looks
like the texture of the aluminum on the
floors of the cattle hauling trailers. It
was to help keep the cattle from slipping.
This type of texture is also used on some
of the aluminum steps put on pickups
and ramps for loading things
in the back of pickups.
Why am I blathering on about this?
Because this texture is a very manly
guy type look.

The ric rac is a Sizzix extended cut die.
The hearts are a McGill punch.
The stamp is an unknown from when
I first stamping 19 years ago.

Stilll Playing With Those Scallops

I love the color combination's of this K & Company Floral Dream stack.

The edges of the scallops and even the holes on the center die cut have been sponged with Ranger Archival coffee ink. This gives much more depth and definition to each scallop.

The largest scallops have been cut using a Sizzix extended cut die.

The two smaller sized scallops have been cut using Quickuts extended dies.

The center piece with the "ribbon" woven through the holes is from a Spellbinders die. All dies were cut with my trusty and dependable Wizard, by Spellbinders. Which they are no longer selling as they have come out with a new bigger machine. I am very sad about this. My stout little Wizard is so portable and remarkably tough. I have worn all the paint off the throat because I use it so much. There are only a very few dies from any company that my trusty Wizard will not cut cleanly. Sometimes I really hate change.

A Valentine

More Valentines and more scallops. The scallops with the circles is a Spellbinders die. The largest scallop die is from Sizzix and the two smaller scallops are Quickuts.

The phrase is computer generated. I cut the scrapbook paper to 8.5 x 11 and printed on it. I do like the results.

The papers are K and Company Floral Dreams stack. Such lovely colors.

Note that all the edges have been sponged with dark brown ink.

A Valentine

Oh my, scallops and more scallops.
The papers for this card are from K and Company Floral Dreams stack. Such yummy paper. It's no wonder I am a paper-holic.

The large scallop was cut with a Sizzix extended cut die, while the smaller one was a Quickuts die. The hearts were cut with Spellbinders Nestibilities Hearts.

The phrase was computer generated.

The card front was covered with paper from the stack, then all the scallops and straight edged piece under the bottom scallop were attached.

The heart is white cardstock with ivory embossing powder. Then it was antiqued with Ranger's Archival coffee ink. All edges on the rest of the card have been sponged with the same ink.

Another Valentine

The paper used here is from DCWV Rustic stack. The large scallop was cut with a Sizzix extended cut die. The smaller scallop was a Quickuts die. I carefully punched each heart in the smaller scallop. Another punch was used for the slightly larger hearts on either side of the stamped phrase.

Note that all the edges have been sponged. This really adds to the "rustic" look.

The main technique used in this card was layering. Having all the paper from one stack is a sure way to make sure that all your colors coordinate.

Ruffled Valentines

Now these really aren't ruffles, they are scallops.
The larger scallops are from a Sizzix
extended cut die and the two smaller ones
from Quikuts dies.
The papers in the top card are from
DCWV Madly In Love Stack and the lower
from DCWV Rustic Stack.

On the lower card all the edges have been sponged,
which fits very well with the vintage rustic look of
the paper.
The Valentine stamp is unknown.
Punches, larger heart, Punch Bunch,
other punch unknown.

Faithful

The phrase is one that I did myself in PSP.
The top and bottom half labels have been
cut with Spellbinders dies. The scalloped oval in
the middle was hand drawn and cut.
Ric rac is from a Sizzix extended die.
Papers are from DCWV Citrus stack and
Citrus card stock stack.

This is not a difficult card, it's all about
layers and color.

Cowgirls

This was a complicated card so I will number the instructions to help you and me keep it straight
First step is the cowgirl image and the riders.
1. Stamp cowgirl image with Range Archival Black ink.
2. Color image with colored pencils.
3. Using a stump, gently rub baby oil over colored parts.
This will create a much smoother look to your coloring.
4. Center Spellbinders Square Nestabilities over the cowgirls image.
Tape it in place with a low tack painters tape. You may have to "desticky" the tape by sticking
it to your arm several times.
5. Cut and emboss, leaving the image in the die, carefully remove the tape and lightly sponge from the edges in
with a medium brown ink. When you remove the paper from the die you will have a white "frame".
6. Now cut out a brown card stock square from Spellbinders Lacy Squares.
7. Mount the cowgirls image on the brown lacy square.
8. Stamp the retreating riders image (from Sutter Enterprises) and cut out with a Spellbinders oval.
9. Color with colored pencils and finish off with a baby oiled stump.
10. Sponge edges of oval with dark brown ink.
11. Attach oval behind the lacy square cowgirl piece.

The card base or parchment card stock and making the hinges.
1. Cut a piece of leather look scrapbook paper (Karen Foster) 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches.
2. Sponged all four edges with dark brown ink.
3. Attach to far left side of card. (by the fold)
4. Lay ruler over leather, using a stylus, gently impress a line on the paper.
5. Fold back on the impressed line.
6. On the inside of the card glue the portion of the card that is under the leather to the back of the inside of the
card. When opened the card should fold open on the impressed line.
7. Sponge around remaining three sides of card front with dark brown ink.

Hinges
1. I used a leather look gift wrap, since it is fairly light weight I attached the gift wrap to card stock.
2. Cut the hinges out using Sizzix die or any hinge die cut that you have on hand.
3. Fold hinges in half, this will make it easier to attach to and open card.
4. Place brads in all four holes of each hinge. You will have to cut off one of the little "arms" of the brads
as they will stick out past the edge of the hinge.
5. Glue hinges to card, matching the fold in the hinge to the fold on your card base.

Finishing
1. Attach cowgirl layers to card front.
2. Stamp horse shoes towards bottom of card.

I Cor 1:4

Often the simplest cards are the most dramatic.
The card front has been covered with a visually
low impact scrapbook paper.
The maroon and tan square is scrapbook paper
that is from the same stack as that that is
covering the card base.
I used a delicate filigree-vining
background stamp and embossed with
a dark red embossing powder.
It has been layered on a red/brown
piece of card stock.

The phrase is from
Our Daily Bread Designs,
which has light tan fine lined
flourishes stamped as a background.
This has been layered over a dark brown card stock.

The Sizzix die cut in the lower right hand
corner is made from dark brown card stock.

HINT - for coordinating papers, use scrapbook
paper stacks with matching plain card stock stacks.
While these are a little expensive, they go a long way
when making cards.

Leaves Everywhere

A beautiful scrapbook paper attached to the
entire front of the card base will
be the beginning of this design.
The "friends" stamp is from Art Impressions
and is stamped in black.
An Art Impressions leaf border has been
stamped in a pale green.
Then die cut it all with a Spellbinders label
and sponge dark green around the edges.
The dark green die cut flourish leaves are
an extended cut border from Sizzix.
The finishing touch - a dragonfly brad.

Sending A Smile

Since I have a precious and naughty Scottish Terrier
guarding (LOL) the house, it seemed appropriate that
I use one of the Scottie stamps that my
friends have given me. This little guy is so cute.
I made the eyes and nose stand out with careful
application of Diamond Glaze.
The entire image has been colored with pencils.
The Scottie image was cut out with a
Spellbinders Label die and the edges were lightly
sponged with black ink.
The paper clip is a die from Sizzix and
the strip on the left is a Quickuts die.
Scrapbook paper was used to cover
the front of the card base.

I really like the Hero Arts phrase that
is stamped, punched out with a Punch Bunch punch
and attached to the center of the paper clip.
Here is a sad tale, that most of you can relate to:
I bought this paper clip die (there are three different ones
on the same die) years ago. I just liked it. This is
the first time I have used it. Sigh, I hate to think
how many things I have sitting and waiting for
the creative inspiration to strike, so they
can be used.

A few more thanks

Should be obvious by now that I went a little overboard this spring when it came to this particular design. What was really fun about it all was that NONE of the designs are exactly the same. Similar, but not the same.

A lot of die cut and punched flowers in various sizes and colors are used. That's it! Some sponging around the edges of the card bases and a Sizzix extended cut flourish.

I hope you are inspired to create your own version of this design.

Fanciful Paper Quilting

Well I spent the past week in Lincoln NE attending workshops for my part time job with Nebraska Agricultural Statistics Service, reviewing up coming surveys and reports that I will be doing. I travel around talking to farmers and ranchers about what they have planted and what they intend to plant. It is a very interesting job and I get to work with a great class of people, even if they refuse to answer my questions, they do it so nicely.

This card is very basic. The lacy dark brown border is a Spellbinders die cut. The narrow dark brown over the quilted looking squares is from Sizzix. The phrase is computer generated.

There is lots of sponging around the edges of just about everything. Adds a lot of depth. More later, I am still tired from sitting around all week and doing nothing. I suspect brain workouts are more tiring than physical work outs. I need a LOT of both. LOL

The Wild Women

I belong to a stamping group called The Wild Women of the West Stampers. Also known as just the Wild Women. It tickles me when my husband asks where I am going and I get to say, "To play with The Wild Women".

The stampers meet every Tuesday. I manage to make about half the meetings. The theme for the past two meetings has been paper piecing and using our scrap papers. This is one of the cards I created yesterday with "The Wild Women". (it's even fun to type it!!!)

A hexagon punch from Creating Memories (thank you Rose) was used for the quilt pieces. I sponged each edge to give added depth and definition to the hexagons. The frame was cut from Sizzix die and embossed in a Cuttlebug folder, then dark brown ink was brayered over to accent the embossing.

Sometimes I want to have the focal point be a special technique, like this quilt card, that is when I want a very small phrase or none at all.

The scraps for the hexagons are from DCWV Old World Stack.