DIE CUT NATIVITY

Thanks to Evelyn, who lent me this die, I now have 20 of these cards ready to go.  The inside reads:   "May your season be peaceful, your New Year be bright."

Sharing supplies is a great way to expand your possibilities!

THREE OF A KIND--Always Artichoke panel

I had some precut green panels laying on my work table, so I used them for these cards.  The wreath was very simple to make and embellish.


The second card was even easier. I used glitter pens for
the ornament and silver cording for the bow.  The "blessings" die cut was time consuming to cut and glue, so I made only one card with it.  (Not practical for making a lot of cards.)

The large oval ef served the purpose well with the flower on the side and the gold embossed verse in the center.

ALL 101 CARDS DONE--yay!

This was the very first design I came up with for this year, and I really like the way it came out.

Starting with the top panel, I used my MISTI to stamp the words.  Next, I die cut the largest star and mounted it to the card front with dimensionals.  Then I die cut the silver fancy star and glued it to the white cs underneath.  For embellishment, I glued a smaller gold star in the center and later added a small gem (hard to see here.)

Thankfully, the MISTI made stamping the front sooo easy!

75 DOWN & 25 TO GO!

With everything that was going on here this Fall, I got off to a later start than usual with my 100 cards for Christmas.  I'm coming into the final stretch now, though!

This is the only design I came up with this year that uses dsp.  Thanks to Evelyn for loaning me her pine ef and SU Peaceful Wreath stamp set.  I like how this turned out--not only for the look, but also for the ease of using the assembly line technique.

I highly recommend using a stamp positioner like the MISTI or the ones from SU and Tim Holtz.  It really helps things go much faster with less errors, especially when you have a bunch of cards to make at one time.

IT'S BEEN A MONTH!

...RIGHT TO THE DAY!

A lot has happened since my last post.  Sometime before the end of August I started feeling extremely tired.  I thought it was just a case of anemia, so I took iron pills; but other symptoms started up.  When I went to the doctor, she took a urine sample.  Since it was Labor Day weekend, it took a week to come back--I had a serious kidney infection.  The first round of antibiotics had to be repeated before it finally started to clear up.  It was actually quite scary, and it took 3 weeks to regain my strength; but I'm fine now.

Meanwhile, my elderly diabetic cat was also quite sick and losing weight.  After running numerous tests, the vet could not find any reason for her deteriorating condition, so we had to put her down.  It was very sad, especially since she was our last pet.

Yesterday was my first day back in the Stamping Tower, and I made 15 Christmas cards to give our pastor for his use.  Love that MISTI!  

NINE GIFT CARDS!

Gift Card giving is here to stay!

Not only is it easier to give and receive,

but it's also a creative opportunity to personalize the gift

with holders that fit the person you're giving to.

These were fun to make, and I also

have some small gifts to go with them in my next favorite

gift giving help--the gift bag!

  No more endless wrapping of awkward gift boxes.

Oh, and the car (or sleigh)

is easier to pack, too!

 

SHIMMERY SNOWFLAKE

I made a few New Year's cards for those Christmas cards that come in from people I didn't send one to.  This one is shinier in real life, and the pattern behind the snowflake doesn't show through as much.




The inside was done with silver embossing for the sparkler and Gold Tinsel ep for the greeting.  The stamp set I used was "It's a Celebration."


The photos were taken with my new camera!

THREE OF A KIND--Wreaths

My new wreath die arrived the other day, and I finally got a chance to use it this afternoon!  I've seen so many beautiful cards made with this die, including non-holiday ones.  I hope to get a lot of use out of it!

(Please click on the image for a closer view.)


 

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.

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. 

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!

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!

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.

THREE OF A KIND--CHRISTMAS

These were easy to make, thanks to a pad of Christmas dsp I purchased at AC Moore few weeks ago.

First I chose a base color for each design.  Then I cut the dsp to 4 x 5 1/4" and glued them to the card front.

Next I ran the "Joy" die through the Big Shot for each of the foil colors needed.  After gluing them to the front, I stamped the inside and added them to the cards I've finished so far. 

This brings the count to 72 (of 100) done!

THREE OF A KIND--Christmas

I've been on a roll getting more Christmas cards done.  These three were done with the SU! set, "Wonder of Christmas."  All three were silver embossed and colored with markers.

The top left card has a typing paper folded insert with the angel on the top (like a card within a card.)  The inside reads "The Lord is come."  The silver cording is held in place by a notch at the top and bottom of the card front.

The upper right card is a flip card with an additional verse on the inside.

The bottom card has an added scallop on the bottom of the white panel made with a die from W Plus 9.

My total of Christmas cards done is now up to 67--YAY!

LITTLE TREE, BIG WISH

Since I'm teaching "De-clutter de House" at Bible Study this Fall, (along with Scripture references each week)  I figured I need to practice what I'll be teaching!  After spending Sat. afternoon purging my stamping room closet, I packed up 4 shopping bags/baskets full of giveaway stuff and called Joan to take it to her DIL.  She is a new stamper who will appreciate some free stamping items.

This embossing folder oval has a tree at the bottom which can either be used for Christmas or covered over for a different card anytime during the year.  It's been in my stash for a long time, so I'm ready to let it go, however.  I think I'll give it to one of my "J" friends!

RECYCLED CHRISTMAS CARD

I came across this oval die cut in my stash the other day and decided to put together another card.  All I did was attach the oval with double stick tape, mount the silver tree with dimensionals, stamp the greeting and tie the silver  cording on the side.  As Frenchie would say, "Voila!"

This card is now in the box with all the Christmas cards I've made so far.

I will add this post to the Christmas Challenge blog HERE