Super simple Christmas card...

This card was so simply designed and so quick to make, it was almost sinful! Especially given the glittery goodness of it.

I cut my panel of gray/white glitter CS to fit my dark gray card base. Then I used an unbranded die to cut out the little forest scene.

I cut the "Merry Christmas" three times and glued them in a stack before adhering them to the card front. The only other embellishment was the line of  clear gems. Easy, peasy!

On the inside I heat-embossed a sentiment with silver embossing powder on a white panel.

I think this card has a masculine feel to it, even with all the glitter. What do you think?

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

Thanksgiving cards in fall colors...

I cut this unbranded tree die and the leaves out of some Brusho-colored watercolor paper.  After creating a "field" of DSP on my sentiment panel, I adhered my tree and the leaves that had obviously fallen from it. lol

My sentiment was created on the computer. It takes me such a long time to decide on what fonts I want to use when I do this. I'm almost as slow at doing this as I am at picking out the DSP I want to use. Sheesh! I wish I was a little more decisive when it comes to cardmaking!

Here's another card with a leafy branch (also unbranded) and a few Nuvo Drops dotted around it. When I went to find something to add some interest to the bottom of my card, I ran across the embossed sticker type paper ribbon. Isn't it pretty? I need to keep it out so I remember to use it on other cards.

The insides of both cards are simply a computer-generated sentiment panel.

 As you read this, I am still traveling but will be home soon. I hope I'll have a few good stories to share with you. I usually keep a journal when we travel, so IF (and that's a big IF) I keep up with my journaling, I should have a written record to draw from.

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

Mother's Day in September?

Well, not exactly. I made these cards last Spring and have never shared them.

These two cards were made to be sold at the thrift store where I volunteer. The store had actually given me a few pre-made card blanks, and these were two of them.

I added the Spellbinders oval, the little butterflies (Recollections punch) and the little berry branch (unbranded). The letters for "MOM" are from an unbranded set, as well. I put Nuvo Drops on all the tips of the branches.

Here's how the cards open up. I left the blank space for the giver to write a note and sign their name, without it being seen when the card is closed.

I find that making cards for the thrift store to sell is a lot of fun. I'm not so invested in personalizing them, so they come together more quickly. I also feel more relaxed in picking out the embellishments. I recommend finding somewhere you can donate a few cards for a good cause.

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

Have a boot, scootin' birthday...

Today's cards are ones I made for a couple of the masculine types in my family.

 Isn't this a fun card? I created the sentiment on my computer and simply cut it out.

The burlap panel was from a burlap stack (just like a paper stack) that my daughter gave me a few years ago. I cut it to size and then removed a few of the threads on each side to create the fringe.

I used one of my makeup brushes to add some ink shading to the hat. I also used a dark brown pen to highlight some of the design elements.

I used a black pen on the boots to darken the sole and heel and some of the edging. I also used a gold metallic pen on the fancy designs on the side of each boot.

Here's another form of the same card--this time using DSP on the front instead of burlap.

I used the same sentiment on the insides of both cards. For the second card, I added a little strip of border punched DSP at the bottom.

I loved making these cards. The burlap was especially fun. It was easy enough to adhere with some strong double-sided adhesive like Score Tape or red-line tape.

Now I've got to think of some other ideas for using these cowboy boots and hat. They're such great (unbranded) dies with a lot of detail.

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

A random Christmas card...

Sometimes I just feel like making the random Christmas card, and this was one of those times.

I had this little strip of striped paper, and it made me think of Christmas. My pretty oval is a Spellbinder's die and I think the stamp I used here was a freebie.

My little poinsettia was made with a Marianne Creatables die set. I glued some gold microbeads in the center.

This size poinsettia is perfect for applications like this.

My little fir branches were made with a Martha Stewart punch.

I was making this card in a bit of a hurry, so the interior got only a stamped sentiment. It's an old stamp that I got from someone else or maybe at the thrift store. I've no idea who made it.

It always feels good to add to my stash of Christmas cards!

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

A reworked sympathy card...

In the stack of partially finished cards I received from the thrift store was one that I thought I could make into a sympathy card. I'm not sure if that was the original intent, but with the sentiment of "Peaceful Wishes" on the front (the inside was blank), I thought it sounded caring and sympathetic.

I was able to remove the front panel from the card and adhere it to a new card base. The original card base was rather beat up. The stamping was all nicely done, and all I added to the front was some Nuvo Drops on the leafy branch and on the scalloped oval.

The Nuvo Drops on the scalloped oval are covering some little dots that had been made with a white pen. I think the Nuvo Drops look much better!

Luckily, I found some matching dark teal cardstock and used it on the inside.  The sentiment stamp is by Stampendous and the flourish came from an anonymous set of stamps (I've lost the packaging!).

I'm having quite a lot of fun remaking these cards. It's fun to build on someone else's ideas. I've been pleased with how they've turned out so far

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

Let's Craft and Create Challenge #151: Put Some Extra Layers On...

As the weather starts to cool down, we all need to put some extra layers on, and that's what this month's challenge at Let's Craft and Create is all about. I usually have at least one extra layer on my cards, but oftentimes, not more than that, so I had to give this challenge some thought!

This is a card I made for my brother's birthday. He drives an older, navy blue pickup that looks similar to this one. The pickup is an unbranded die, and I created the gift in the bed of the truck by using a small square die and a bow from another die set.

If you look closely, you'll see that I've added some vellum behind the window openings to give the appearance of glass.






For some extra layers, I added the matted red DSP behind the pickup. I also put a green mat layer behind my sentiment label.

 On the inside of my card, I also added some extra layers: a red mat behind my sentiment panel, along with a strip of DSP and green CS.













Now it's your turn to "add some extra layers." I think those layers add a nice finished look to our projects, even though they may take a little extra time. Be sure to link your project to the challenge over on the Let's Craft and Create blog.  See you there!

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

Another Christmas card re-do....

I have managed to take another partially made Christmas card (from the thrift store where I volunteer) and remake it. For this card, I only kept the card base and the one layer it had with a sentiment stamped on it. 

I was actually able to remove everything from the card base. I used my heat gun to reactivate the adhesive and carefully pulled all the elements off.

This is what it looks like now:

I added a green mat to the sentiment panel and then cut and embossed a poinsettia, using my favorite Darice die set.

I also inked the veins in the leaves while the die-cuts were still in the dies and added some Nuvo Drops to the center.

I love that this poinsettia has so much dimension. It really becomes the star of the card.

Once I added a few clear sequins, my card front was done.

The inside was kept pretty simple with just a green mat and a heat-embossed sentiment.


As you read this, I am on a month-long trip to Europe, so please excuse me if I am unable to comment on your blog as often as I have in the past. I'll try to catch up when I am home, and I'm hoping to have a few photos to share, too.

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