I couldn't decide on a sentiment for this card...

 ...so I used a bunch of them!

My brother, who volunteers at the thrift store with me, had a birthday in September. We are only 16 months apart in age, so we've always been close. We played together as kids and see each other every week now--sometimes more often. 

I started out by making a gatefold card. The red and black plaid is actually some self-stick vinyl. It works great on cards!

I wanted a fun sentiment on the front. When I couldn't decide which sentiment to use, I decided to use several of them. I also scattered in some LOLs and Tee Hees, because you know I'd be giggling at the fact that he is SO much older than me!. 

I scattered some enamel dots among the sentiments for a bit of color.

On the inside, I used my die-set that reveals a sentiment in the circle when the card is opened. I added the white rectangle so I would have some place to write a brief note and sign our names.

Although my brother is not very effusive (he's too much like our staid, Norwegian father), he seemed to like this card. At least it made him smile!

This week I am helping to care for my daughter's five dogs and cook meals for a couple of her children while she, her husband and her oldest daughter are in Greece. It's been a little hard to get some good, steady, card-making time worked into the schedule. They'll be home toward the end of next week, and then I'll really have to get in gear!

Thanks so much for stopping by and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

A couple more Christmas cards...

 

I had the background DSP of a starry sky and the die-cut sentiment lying on my desk, so I decided to use them both on a card. After I die-cut three trees and my snowbanks, I arranged them as you see above. I had also done some ink-blending on my snowbanks to give them more dimension.

I liked how I was able to place the top of the tallest tree just under the biggest star.

The trunks of the trees were tucked behind the foremost snowbank. In fact, the trunks were very long, so I cut them off quite a bit before adding them to this card

This is the sentiment I stamped on the inside.

This card was inspired by the sentiment and the little cat die. He looks like he's happily singing Christmas carols, doesn't he? 

I embossed the background panel, added the die-cut holly, and popped up the arched rectangle.

The cat was die-cut from some dark gray cardstock and the mouth and ear openings were backed with pink cardstock.

The Santa hat die-cut came from a set of Santa hat dies that I've had for a few years. I don't remember how many different little Santa hats they make, but it's quite a few. 

To see another card I made a few years ago using a couple of the hat dies in the set, click here.

Isn't that just the perfect sentiment to go with that little singing cat? 

I stamped a sentiment on the inside that was from the same stamp set as the one on the arched rectangle.

I had so much fun making this card that I made 10 of them!

Now I'd better get back to making those Halloween cards. lol

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Dramatically different Christmas cards...

Shortly after Christmas 2024, I stopped in at Michael's to see if they had any of their Christmas cardmaking supplies on clearance. I found a pack of 24 card bases with envelopes for just over $3.00, so I bought them. The card bases all had a red and white striped border. I tried a couple of different ideas in using them.

 This was my first idea. I cut a red panel to fit the center, then embossed it with a 3D poinsettia embossing folder. I used a dark red ink pad and lightly swiped it over the embossed panel to highlight the pretty design.

After gluing the panel to the card base, I die-cut a sentiment from some red, heavy vinyl I had on hand. I also die-cut a white shadow and glued them together.

This is a 5" X7" card, so the large sentiment worked well. 

As a final touch, I die-cut a sprig of holly and glued that onto my card front, too.

Next, I tried using the blackout technique, where I swiped a black ink pad over the debossed side. 

Because this card seemed a little dark for such a joyous occasion, I decided to add a few gems for some sparkle.

The sentiment was stamped, matted and glued to the card front (I tried to keep these cards easy to mail).

This is what I stamped on the inside of this card. I stamped the same thing on the inside of the first card, only with red ink.

I decided to make the remaining 22 cards like the first one. That card design just seemed "merrier" to me.

Which one do you prefer? Do you ever make holiday cards that have a lot of black in them?

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

I'm batty for you...

If you've read my blog for any length of time, you know I like to use AI images whenever I think they'll look great on cards. I recently found one of a little bat that I thought was so cute. I printed out four of the same image to make cards to donate.

I sized the image to fit in a 4" X 4" space and used it on a bookbinder card. The DSP on the spine is from an old 12" X 12" Halloween paper stack. I've had it for years and can't seem to make a dent in it.

The sentiment was printed with my computer and popped up with foam tape. The only embellishment was a bit of purple twine tied in a bow around the spine before it was glued down.

I thought this image was neutral enough that it would work for either a girl or a boy. I didn't add any gems or sparkly embellishments so as to keep it gender-neutral.

I created a mini-explosion pop-out for the inside sentiment. This DSP is another piece from the same 12 X 12" stack I mentioned above. If you want to know how I made the pop-out, check out the instructions in this post.

*****

We arrived home from our camping adventure on Wednesday afternoon after spending four days in Itasca State Park, site of the headwaters of the Mississippi River.

This is the plaque located at a point on the banks of Lake Itasca where the Mississippi begins its journey to the Gulf of Mexico.

My DH and our dog Mickey enjoyed a little time in the shallow water. The rocks you see in the photo show where the lake waters end and the Mississippi begins (it flows to the right in this photo).

Here's a photo of our little camper, parked near the Headwaters Interpretive Center. A lot of people might find it too small, but it works perfectly for us!

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Sympathy cards using scenic papers...

 

I recently bought a pack of 6" X 6" papers that all depicted different outdoor scenes. I thought they would be great for sympathy cards. The group of cards above doesn't include all the cards I made. I think there were three more of them for a total of eight cards.

Some of the sentiments were die-cut and glued directly to the card fronts; others were stamped, cut out with an oval or rectangle and popped up, as you see above. 

You may have noticed that I matted some of the images, and some I did not. It just depended on how it looked and whether I thought a mat would enhance the look of the card.

This is a close-up of one of them. They are all such peaceful scenes, and I thought they made lovely sympathy cards.

Becausse the papers were 6" X 6", I had 2" left after cutting a 4" piece for the front. I cut it down to 1 1/2", I believe, and added it to the inside. I loved the way it continued the peaceful scene.

Finally, I added a white panel, stamped with a sentiment.

This card is not shown in the first photo, so I thought I'd share it with you here. I cut the scene down to fit my card front, which was cut 3/4" shorter than the card back. 

I heat-embossed the sentiment onto a 1" piece of purple cardstock and glued that to the bottom of the inside.

This is how the card looks when opened.

I am pleased with how these all turned out. I now have enough sympathy cards for my stash and to donate for the next few weeks.

It's a comfort to me that I can now immediately send a card to comfort someone else.                                        

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Double Z-fold card...

 

This was an interesting card to make, and when finished, it fits nicely into an A2 envelope.

The aqua plaid cardstock was cut to 8 1/4" X 5 1/2", and with the 8 1/4" side across the top, it was scored at 2 3/4" and 5 1/2".

A second coordinating cardstock was cut at 81/4" X 4 1/4". Again, with the 8 1/4" side across the top, it was scored at 2 3/4" and 5 1/2".

After folding and burnishing the folds, I adhered the two pieces together so that the finished card was 4 1/4" at its widest point and 5 1/2" high.

This is how the card looks when opened. The two white panels that I stamped, ink blended and embellished with flowers measured 2 1/2" X 4".

I added a little double-sided tape under the ribbon tied around the card front so that it wouldn't slip off.

Here's a closer peek at the two inside panels. This picture more clearly shows how I used gems for the flower centers. 

I learned how to make this card from watching a video from Connie Stewart of Simply Simple Stamping. If you'd like to watch the video you can see it here.

Connie shows how to make two of these cards at once, and you can download her measurements and supply list on her blog post here.

As you read this, we are on a little camping adventure in northern Minnesota. We'll be home soon, and I'll share a little more about our trip then.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl

Mini-explosion birthday card...

The succulent wreath image is one I found on an AI Facebook site. I loved its soft colors, and since it was offered to anyone for personal use, I decided I'd use it on a few cards.

Edited to Add: Carol C asked, in her comment below, where I get images like this one. I get most of them from AI sharing sites on Facebook like "Free Printables + AI Art Sharing" and "Free Printables."

I made a bookbinder fold for my card base ( 4 1/4" X 11", scored at 5 1/2" and 6 3/4") and matted the image before gluing it down. Then I used the same DSP on the "binding" as I had used to mat the image.

I tied a bow with some twine around the binding before adhering that section together, and that was it!

The "mini-explosion" happens when you open the card. I made this by first cutting a piece of DSP that was 6" X 6". I folded it in half one way, then in have again the other way, and, finally, once on the diagonal. The diagonally folded squares fold inward when the card is closed.

I cut two 2 3/4" squares from white CS so I could stamp a sentiment and have a place to sign.

I folded my explosion piece together, making sure it was right side up, and then carefully glued it down so that each point was at the middle (2 1/8") of each side of the card interior.

This card is made in a similar way, but without the DSP. I used textured cardstock, so I didn't add any matting or DSP to the binding - just a little ribbon with a bow.

For extra embellishment, I added two tiny, punched butterflies and a couple of gems. Do you see them?

Here's what the explosion piece looks like on this one. I added two more little butterflies here.

These were so much fun to make, so I hope you'll give them a try. If there's anything that's confusing about how they're made, just message me and I'll try to clarify.

Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.

Cheryl