Owl always love you...

I was going to join in on the Twofer Card Challenge for January, but I was a tad too late. No matter. I decided to use the theme of "Birds" as my own personal challenge anyway, and this is what I came up with.

My little stack of owls and birdie is an unbranded die. Isn't this die perfect for the theme? This one die puts four birds on each card!

For my Valentine, I thought the little red bird should be singing (tweeting?) a love song, so I used a small note punch and a few of the little hearts from the heart borders (also unbranded). My sentiment is computer-generated, except for the word "Love."

My inside sentiment was also computer-generated. And I thought another little heart border would spice up the inside just a bit.

The fluffy clouds on this card were cut with Impression Obsession dies, and the sentiment is computer-generated. Can you see that I used a very light gray marker to add a bit of shading to their undersides.

My stash of cards is seriously low, so I really needed to make these. Thanks, Darnell, for your inspiring challenge blog!!

We are bracing for 72 hours of dangerously cold weather.   They've even closed many of the schools in the metro area for the next couple of days. And it's really rare for them to be closed because of cold. Tomorrow night our temperature is forecast to hit -25 F (-31.5 C) with winds that will make it feel like -61 F (-51.5 C).

I hope to get out to the beauty salon to get my hair cut tomorrow. Hopefully, we won't have any trouble starting our cars!!

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

Simple birthday card...

This birthday card was one I included in two sets of ten all-occasion cards that I made for friends we visited recently in Arizona. I liked the Stampin' Up background paper, as it reminded me of tile work you might have in your kitchen or bathroom, so I just selected colors from it for making the rest of the card.

My card base is navy blue. I know you can't really see it against the black background, but it's there! The stars were cut from pale blue glitter paper, the banner is a coordinating Stampin' Up paper and the "Happy Birthday" was cut from the same navy blue as the card base.

My sister sent me a bunch of crafting supplies for my birthday and the square brads at the top of my banner were part of that gift.

On the inside of my card I used a Fiskars stamp for my sentiment, along with a solid star stamp. I thought this card would work well for a guy.

In my sets of cards for my friends, I included four birthday cards (2 male, 2 female), two sympathy cards, two thank you cards and two thinking of you cards. They seemed to really appreciate them. They, themselves, or family members are dealing with difficult health concerns, so it can be difficult for them to go shopping for a card when they need one.

I renewed my driver's license today. I had to wait in line for nearly two hours after I got there to actually take the vision test and get my photo taken. It was such a cold, wintery day, that I was hoping few people would actually venture out to the County Service Center. Boy, was I wrong! I think it must have been the number one errand on everyone's to-do list.

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

Robot Valentines...

I made a couple of Valentines that feature some cute little print-and-cut robots from the Silhouette Design Store.

I used a Sizzix Framelits die set  by Stephanie Barnard to create my card base. The hearts were all made with various heart dies. My little robot was Design ID #113365 from the Silhouette Design Store. Since she's a print-and-cut item, it's really quick and easy to print out several and then let the Cameo cut them out. No fussy cutting!

In this photo you can see that I've dry-embossed some of the hearts to add a little texture. I also popped the polka-dotted hearts up on foam squares.

The inside of my card has a simple stamped sentiment.

This robot was Design ID #113368 from the Silhouette Design Store. I think this little guy is great for a "boy" Valentine. Both this robot and the previous one are popped up on foam squares, though it's difficult to see that in the photos.

 

Once again, the inside of my card is pretty simple with just a stamped sentiment.

These cards may look complicated, but with the Sizzix die set and the print and cut feature of my Silhouette Cameo, they're quick and easy.






We returned from Arizona last night to some freezing temps in Minnesota. Guess we'll have to tough it out from now on until Mother Nature turns up the heat a bit around here.

We had a great time in Phoenix visiting with old friends. They have a pool, and while we didn't go swimming, we did sit out by the pool and enjoy the warm sunshine.

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

Valentine flip card...

Quite a while ago, I bought this unbranded die set online. I wasn't absolutely sure how one would make a flip card with it, but I thought I'd figure it out once I was able to play with it a bit.

After a little bit of trial and error and some mathematical calculations, I came up with some instructions that worked for me. I am able to make this cute card, which ends up being 4 1/2" X 6" when closed, out of a piece of cardstock that is only 6 3/4" X 6". I make this size of card because I still have hundreds of envelopes this size. I'm certain I could calculate the dimensions and figure out the instructions for an A2 card, as well.

I used a Fiskars border punch for the scalloped edge and a corner rounder for my corners.

This picture shows the flip a little better.  The dies that I have used on the white oval are also unbranded.

Here's a peek at the other side of the oval. The sentiment here is a stamp from Simon Says Stamp.

Here's a peek at the backside when the card is folded.

This type of card works especially well for Valentines. I usually don't write long notes inside my Valentines, and since this really doesn't offer space for that, it's perfect!

This weekend, we are enjoying the warmth and sunshine of Arizona. We're staying with friends and enjoying a reunion of sorts with some of my DH's college roommates.

I hope you have some fun plans for the weekend, too.  Thanks so much for stopping by, and remember to laugh--a little or a lot--every day.
Cheryl

Striped Valentines...

I had a couple of black-and-white striped card bases left from last year, and I was determined to use them.  They're a little smaller (3 1/2" X 5") and had heart apertures on the front, so they were perfect for Valentine's Day.

For my first card I added a pink insert and some tiny little heart borders. The border die and the stamp are both unbranded.

The inside is very simple. The sentiment stamp is an old one that I have cut into two pieces to better fit my card.

I also added another one of those cute little heart borders.

I had heart confetti on my work desk when I was done die-cutting. I should have saved all those tiny hearts for a shaker card--but I didn't. Oh well, I know how to make more!!

Here's the second Valentine I made. I embellished the front with another heart border die-cut (unbranded) to which I added a few tiny red pearls. My sentiment stamp is by Recollections.

This card interior was made the same way as the first one. I had to use a color other than red for my little heart border, though, or you wouldn't have seen it.

Both of these Valentines were donated to the thrift store to sell along with several others that I have made. I have a great time making cards for the thrift store, as it really helps me see what kinds of cards attract customers.

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

Somebunny loves you...

I am now into Valentine-making mode. I first made some Valentines to be sold at the thrift store (I like to display them among the seasonal jewelry items in the jewelry cases).

This is the first Valentine I made using a From the Heart digital stamp called Bunny Love.

I thought this little bunny was so cute.

I printed three of the bunnies for each card. I used the extra two bunnies to create a layering technique that would give my bunny some dimension.

I fussy cut just the face, then shaped it with a flower-shaping tool and added it to my original image with a foam square to maintain the dimension. Can you see it?

Then I fussy-cut the heart and hands, also shaping them and adhering them with small foam squares.

Finally, the little feet were fussy-cut and given the same treatment, however, this time they were adhered with small glue dots that I had made with some Aleene's Tack It Over and Over glue. And that reminds me...I need to make some more of those today!!

My oval die is by My Creative Time and my loopy edge was cut with an unbranded die.

The sentiments on the front and the inside were computer-generated. The string of little hearts is just a leftover piece from a die-cut for a different Valentine. As they say, "Waste not, want not." Nah, that doesn't work for craft supplies. No matter how many scraps we keep and use, we still "want" more supplies.

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

Cherries--one of my favorite fruits...

and one of my favorite images for cards, too!

I had this wonderful Stampin' Up paper in my stash and I really wanted to use it on a card. Since the back of the cherry design was the green  stripe design, I decided to use both as they were wonderfully complementary.

I dug out my wavy sentiment stamps and die (unbranded) and went to work. There are a number of very usable sentiments in the set, but I decided to make this card generic so it would work for a number of purposes.

My little cherries embellishment was also made with an unbranded die that was part of a cupcake set. I popped them up on some foam squares and added a little "shine" with a white gel pen.

The inside of the card is virtually blank, but I did add a scalloped rectangle so that it didn't seem quite so "bare."  Also, when I have more than one layer on my card front, I like to add a layer to the inside, too, so that the two halves of the card are more or less weighted evenly.  It just seems to add a sturdier feel to the whole card.

This card was so quick and fun to make that I actually made three of them.

I have stowed the Christmas decorations in the attic for another year, and, with DH's help, have cleaned the house. But the one area that suffered the most neglect and messiness is my craft area. I worked hours yesterday trying to get it back in shape, and I'm almost there. I had created such a big mess with my frantic Christmas card making. I have vowed to get more done ahead of time this year. In fact, I've already made more than 25 cards for 2019!

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

Time for thank you notes...

It's definitely time to write those Christmas thank you notes, so I made some simple thank you cards.

The pretty background paper came from a Christmas pack of cardstock that I bought last year at Michael's .  I believe it was Reflections or some other store brand.

I inked the edges of the center die-cut panel (unbranded die) and popped it up on some foam tape.  The pretty "thank you" was also cut with an unbranded die out of some heavy cardstock that had a nice sheen to it. It really is a lot prettier IRL and perfectly matches the red color in the background pattern.

When I have an intricate die-cut like this thank you die, I almost always use spray adhesive to adhere it to my card. I just have to be very careful in setting it down as the adhesion is pretty instantaneous. If I'm doing a lot of them, I will sometimes make a die-cut of my panel out of scrap paper, then center and cut the thank you out of that and use it as a sort of stencil-type guide. I lay this guide on top of the panels I'm using to help place the die-cut sentiment. Since this sentiment is all one piece, I don't have to worry about the intricacy of it. I just need the outer edge all the way around as a placement guide.

If this is as clear as mud, let me know, and I'll take some photos of the process and post them.

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

Another forgotten card to share...

I am continuing to go through my photos, and I found this not-yet-shared card that I made to sell at the thrift store.

The flower stem was stamped directly onto my white panel, but the flower head was one that I had stamped a long, long time ago. It was colored with Promarkers, then I added some micro beads to the center and promptly put it in my card parts box. It languished there for more than a year--quite possibly more than two!

Finally, when I was making a few Mother's Day cards for the thrift store, I pulled it out and used it on this card.

I am not sure what brand the sentiment stamp is. I made this card way back in April 2018, so I'm a little fuzzy on the details.

The inside of my card was pretty plain--just a computer-generated sentiment on a white panel.

My card base was made with a double-sided cardstock that had a deep turquoise on one side and a light turquoise on the other side, which you see here.

We had a very quiet New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. We stayed home and watched a few of the festivities around the world on TV. We ordered some Chinese food on New Year's Day and avoided the cold temperatures outside. I even worked on some Christmas cards for 2019!!

I hope your New Year's celebrations were perfect for you--wild and raucous or something on the tamer side.

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