ORGANIZATIONAL UPDATE

Of all the organizing I've done here in the Tower, this system is the one that has continually worked the best.  Since I send out over 100 Christmas cards each year, I'd be lost without this ring binder.

On the right, you can see the cards I designed for this year which I copied on my scanner.  On the left, which I removed from the rings for this photo, is the list of names:  50 friends and family on the left and 50 Silver Stampers on the right.  In the lower right there is a "key" used to record who got what card.  (Click on photo for a closer look.)

This list is stored in my computer so that next year, I can reprint it (with any changes and additions) and repeat the process. I hope this gives you some ideas on how to keep track of what cards you've made in the past and who got which one.  It's also like a trip down memory lane whenever I look at the cards I've made over the past ten years!

SWEET 16 BIRTHDAY CARD

Since our grand daughter hates pink as much as I do (I wonder if that's hereditary???) it was a challenge to make a card with bolder colors that would still be feminine.

I can't believe she's now sweet 16--where do those years go?

Anyway, since I couldn't fit 16 candles on this card, I  tilted the flame on this one as though it were being blown out.  The "sweet" was hand printed on the leaf, after which I discovered a small stamp in one of my other sets with that word...duh...

The final touch was the strip of  "lace" on the top of the white panel where I thought there was a little too much empty space.  Once I was satisfied that it was done, I mounted the white panel over the striped dsp.

ONE LAST CHRISTMAS CARD (AGAIN)

I made a dozen of these for our pastor.  It took about an hour for all 12 since they were so simple.

Using the Christmas star die really helped it to go fast.  I attached it with a SU dimensional after silver embossing the message.  Doing cards "assembly line" style is what works best!

CHRISTMAS TAG CHALLENGE #3

This tag started with a piece of plaid dsp from a SU pad I rediscovered in my stash.  Next I used die cutting and paper piecing for the quilt square.  After stamping the greeting in red, I added a gold sequin and large pearl for embellishment.

Click HERE for a look at other tag entries.

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS TAG

For the 12 Tags of Christmas challenge, I created this one using stamping, embossing and water coloring with Distress inks. 

I hope you can see the shine on this one--I used Wink of Stella over the leaves and berries.

It truly is challenging to use 2 other media in addition to stamping.  However, on some of the other tags I made (to use on Christmas gifts) I've enjoyed being able to use larger embellishments that wouldn't go through the mail on a card.

To see the other entries, click HERE.

CASEing the iPad

I liked Kim Singdahlsen's card so much, I just HAD to CASE it! 

I started with the leaf ef and the scalloped frame as my base.  Instead of flowers, I used a few leaves and acorns for a Fall theme.  Although I also liked her larger verse, I chose a small oval one instead.

Thanks for such a lovely card, Kim!

LOLL'S 12 TAGS OF CHRISTMAS

For this challenge, we were to stamp and choose two other mixed media elements.  I chose to heat emboss and sponge on the color.  I made 30 of these to use as nametags at our Bible Study Christmas brunch.

Here is the link to the challenge:  CLICK HERE

SUNFLOWER THANK YOU

This sunflower was clear embossed and water colored to make a simple thank you note for a friend.

The little SU greeting was attached with a glue dot.

I think I'm finally getting the hang of water coloring.
...took me long enough!

ONE LAST CHRISTMAS CARD

I made this card for a friend who loves to display angels at Christmas time; so I send her an angel card every year.

Since I love the colors used in the dsp, that's what I started with.  I also wanted to use the copper embossing powder I just added to my collection.  So I layered all the various pieces as shown:  copper foil cs, coordinating dsp, Rich Razzleberry cs and copper embossed angel.  The only embellishment  I used are the tiny pearls.

I love using non-traditional colors and patterns.

CAS(E) THIS SKETCH #197

This would make a good masculine card.  The only embellishment is the gold cord between the two pieces of dsp and the gold-embossed greeting.  The bold geometrics and font help make it more masculine also.


Check out the original sketch and other entries HERE..

A HAPPY AUTUMN HELLO

This is my first try with the zig-zag die I recently acquired (sorry, I don't remember where I got it.)  Continuing with the autumn leaves theme, I used a strip of dsp for the colored leaves behind the bare tree.  I used some black foam tape on the tree trunk to pop it up off the card front.

THREE OF A KIND--Part II

All three of these are die cut on glitter paper, and two are mounted on a plain piece of cs so that the word "JOY"  shows up better.  The inside reads, "Let the heavens rejoice and the earth be glad." (Psalm 96:11)

These finish off my Christmas cards for this year--all 100 of them!  How did I do that you might ask?  Unfortunately, depending on how you look at it, I've been housebound this week with a nasty cold and a car in the repair shop.  To keep from going stir crazy, I stamped and die cut for pure joy!



Die:  from Frantic Stamper
DSP:  SU!

ENCOURAGEMENT CARD

 This card was inspired by the SU dsp "Petals and Paisleys" with the copper ep and coordinating cardstock.  As a matter of fact, that's what I like about SU--how everything coordinates so beautifully.

Since I had some of the matching cs in my stash and a number of other stamps and die cuts that were compatible, I opted out of getting more than the dsp this time.  The die cut leaf is from LaLa Land Crafts.  To highlight the leaf and greeting, I added a strip of dsp which was on the opposite side and mounted them on that.  I also included a closeup of the copper embossed greeting below.

This card went right out to encourage someone in our Bible study group.