CASEing MYSELF!

It's amazing how two cards of the same design can look so different!

It feels soooo good to be back in the Tower again.  After a wonderful getaway for two nights with Rick, we came home determined to do it again soon.  This trip was up to the Lake George area of New York State, and we were amazed at how much wilderness is up there.  I expected to find it all built up, and some parts are; but nothing like towns closer to NYC.  Spending time on miles of 2-lane roads, tall mountains and thousands of acres of pine and hardwood forests is awe inspiring.

Meanwhile, I've been enjoying the unseasonable summer weather soaking up the sun on the deck with a puzzle book.  It has been delightful!

  

EASY CHRISTMAS DESIGN

All I had to use was one tree die, some dsp for the background and a greeting...oh, and a star punch.  

As soon as I get halfway through (at 50 cards) I plan to switch to Fall cards for awhile.  I have some October and November birthdays, plus a few Thanksgiving cards to make.

ANOTHER CHRISTMAS CARD

As I was making cards with this design (which I learned how to do in Cyndy's technique class) I couldn't help but think of the many Christmas carols that have been written in celebration of our Saviour's birth.

This card technique is simple, so I am including the dimensions of the dsp used here in case you want to try it.

Cut squares of dsp at:  3 1/4", 2 7/8", 2 3/8", 1 7/8" and 1 1/2"; then cut them in half.  You will have two rectangles of each size for two cards.  After folding down the top right and left corners of each strip, mount them on your embossed panel as shown, starting at the top.  Add a star and either a tree stand or greeting at the bottom.  I used a Crumb Cake card base and one layer of black cardstock underneath.

TODAY IS MY BIRTHDAY!

I've decided that birthdays are not about how old we are, but how long we've lasted!

'Nough said...

MADE TO FIT...

...a standard sized 6 3/4 envelope available at any supermarket.  The paper is cut to 5 1/2 x 7" and folded in half.  This size works well with strips of any widths (as shown) and easily works vertically or horizontally.

CHRISTMAS IS COMING!

This makes the 43rd card out of 105 needed!  I thought I'd do something a little different than the usual card.  Here is the inside:

I'll be posting some of the other cards as I go along.  I usually try to come up with four or five designs each year, just to keep it interesting. 

YET ANOTHER DAISY CARD

I sure am getting a lot out of my daisy punch!

This blossom has three layers of petals.  The top 2  layers are sponged with yellow ink and streaked with gold WOS.  In the center is a gem from my stash which I've had for literally years.

The birthday greeting was embossed with gold ep, and the leaves were stamped and fussy cut.

The rainbow dsp was a scrap from a previous card.and is a nice backdrop for the flower.

SILVER STAMPERS UNITE!

...well, six of us anyway... 

This is the card I'm bringing for everyone to make.  The kits are all made up and ready to go for our get-together next week..  

Pop-up cards are always a lot of fun!

NO DAISIES TODAY!

Talk about easy...

This was done with a few peg stamps and a hand drawn vine wreath for a late September birthday card.

The greeting is from an old wooden stamp set.

Before mounting this peach panel, I punched out the daisy and glued a piece of dsp behind it.  For some glimmer, I added a flower gem from my stash.  Then I used dimensionals to attach it to the card front.

Using a scrap of coordinating cs, I die cut "birthday" and coated it with clear WOS.  The "happy" was stamped on a scrap of vellum, cut to size and glued to the card with Glossy Accents.  It was then coated with WOS to keep the glue from showing.

Another easy card!

ANOTHER DAISY PUNCH CARD

This card was "built" on a foundation of embossed white cardstock, lightly sponged with green ink and mounted on a white card base.


After punching two daisies and coloring the top one with yellow ink, I added white gel pen lines from the center outward.   I then layered it over another daisy punched in white cs and lightly sponged with the same yellow ink as the top one.  After stamping the center, I used a glue dot to hold them together.  Then I added the gold sequin in the center and mounted the daisy on the card front with a dimensional.

The greeting with stamped on a scrap of white cs and mounted over the "birthday" die cut (2 layers) which is coated with clear WOS.  The leaves were stamped, fussy cut, and slipped under the flower with liquid glue.

After adding a few more sequins for embellishment, the card was done.  I can see why this daisy punch has been selling out--it surely is delightful to use!

FLOWER PUNCH

 Even though I enjoy using my dies, punches can be so handy.  This was done with 3 layers of sponged flowers with a smaller size in vellum on top.  The silver strip on the side is actually a border of washi tape.

After stamping the greeting, I splattered the front with purple ink and added the three green accents.

This was a quick card to make!

DELIGHTFUL DAISY DUO

This card could not have been easier!

First, I used the Daisy punch on the card front as shown.  After choosing a simple design of dsp, I trimmed it to 4x5 1/4 and mounted it behind the cut outs.  Next, I added the two little white daisies with rhinestones in the center of each.

Using a tiny scrap from the dsp leftovers, I stamped "Happy" and mounted it above the first daisy.  Then I die cut the larger word from a scrap of green cardstock.  After mounting it and adding the inside greeting, the card was done.

This punch will definitely see a lot of use!

WHERE DID JULY GO?

For the first 3 weeks of July the heat and humidity kept me out of the Stamping Tower with its western exposure to the afternoon sun.  The last week was spent on the Outer Banks for our family vacation (and then the recovery from the long ride home.)  So just for the record, I haven't fallen off the face of the earth!

I hope to be posting soon...

CARDS FROM SCRAPS

 Today I decided to make two cards using the scraps on my table.   There were two panels, some dsp and two small strips.

Also on my desk was "Flowering Fields," a Stampin' Up Sale-a-bration stamp set.

For the first card, I chose a confetti card base.  After attaching the panel with Fast Fuse, I stamped the circle with one of the flowers from the stamp set.  Then I used colored pencils to color in the flowers and leaves, which covered up the underlying design.   I then chose a bold sentiment which is stamped on the dsp strip.

The second card started with a textured white card base and the gray panel.  After adding the strip of dsp on the left, I stamped and colored the flowers on a white rectangle.  I used a pale yellow for the flowers, matching it to the yellow in the dsp.  After tying some bakers twine around the bottom, I added the greeting on the other strip using Versafine Warm Gray to keep it soft.

This was a fun self-challenge!.

BUTTERFLY EASEL CARD

I received this beautiful card last week from a blogger friend.  Isn't it beautiful!

QUICK AND EASY

This easily could have been a Simple Saturday card since it was assembled in less than 10 minutes from scraps on the table.

The dsp was just large enough to cover the oval opening, so I taped it to the back of the blue cs and mounted the panel to the white card base with dimensionals.  Next I glued the dragonflies, left over from a previous card, to the panel.

The greeting is from a wavy banner set from Frantic Stamper which includes 2 banner dies.  Once I attached the greeting, the card was done!

CRAFTING FOREVER CARD

 I can see I'm going to enjoy using this new set from Stampin' Up.  In addition to some fun images having to do with stamping and coloring, the sentiments are also very appropriate.

 

 After fussy cutting the scissors, I coated them with Versamark and clear EP to give them a realistic shine.

(The enlargement below is blurry, but
you get the idea.)

MORE THANK YOU NOTES (See previous post first.)

These first two cards were for some of the gifts we received for our anniversary.





 
The daisy card (and matching envelope) was for our DIL who collaborated with our daughter in some of the decorations and also for the gifts she and our son and grandchildren gave.

ANNIVERSARY THANKYOU

Last Sunday our daughter hosted a Golden Wedding Anniversary party for us at her home, and this was the thank you card I sent her.  The flower is glued to the bottom left of the embossed square barely visible in the photo, but visible IRL.

This card is very appropriate in style since she decorated the table and even the cake in white on white with gold accents.  Our whole family was there, including my sister from Long Island.  They showered us with gifts, which are much appreciated.

I can't believe how fast the last half century has gone by!