Peace on Earth...

 

I purchased a circle die that had some trees that were die-cut into the circle.  I thought it would make some great Christmas cards. As I looked at the die, trying to figure out exactly how I would use it, I noticed a stitched and irregularly scalloped circle on my desk that had been cut out of holographic paper. I layed my circle die with trees on top of it and realized it was just the right size to create a beautiful frame for my trees.

So, I began by cutting out more stitched/scalloped circles from holographic cardstock. Then I centered my new circle/tree die on the scalloped circle and ran it through my Big Shot again. Once that was done, I used my circle/tree die to cut an aperture in the front of my card. Finally, I adhered the holographic die-cut to the front of my card, matching the edges of the circles and the trees.

In this pic you can see how the aperture shows the inside of my card where I have adhered some starry sky DSP. You may have noticed that I adhered a tiny clear gem to one of the stars that is above the right hand tree.

I also adhered a gem to the star beneath my stamped sentiment. I have also outlined the star's rays with a clear glitter pen, but it doesn't show in the photo.

Because my DSP was so dark--and I didn't want to be signing cards with a white pen--I added a white stitched rectangle. I stamped my sentiment and left some room to sign our names. I just had to be sure that I adhered it beneath the bottom of the circle, so when the card was closed you were not able to see it.

I liked these cards, and I had enough of the starry DSP to make six of them.  I'm going to hunt through my papers and see if I can't find something similar so that I can make a few for the thrift store.

I am happy to announce that I mailed my Christmas packages and all my cards today. Whew! I hope they all arrive at their destinations in time. I'm sure some of the international addresses will probably be late, but that's just how it goes..

I finally got all of my Christmas decorations up, too. I know, I know, I'm slow. My excuse is that we were in Arizona the first week in December, so we had to play catch up when we got home. That's my story anyway, and I'm sticking to it!

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

Cheryl

New flower border dies...

 

Not long ago I purchased a couple of new flower border dies. I love this type of die for making quick cards that look pretty impressive to the non-cardmaker. 

For this card, I started with an aqua card base and rounded the two right-hand corners. Then I added a strip of DSP, my die cut and a thin strip of silver glitter paper to finish off the seam between the two.

I added the vertical "Happy Birthday" die-cut and a bit of glitter to the flower centers. No other special embellishments.

The inside featured a stamped sentiment.

This was such a quick and easy card!

This is the second floral border die that I purchased. It features lilies of the valley, which I think are really nice for a sympathy card.

I kept this card very "quiet." No embellishments or sparkle.

Once again, just a stamped sentiment on the inside.

I donated both of these cards to the thrift store. They sold very quickly, so I guess that's a sign I should make some more.

My big plan today is to finish making the last few Christmas cards for my DH and me to send out this year. We'll be sending 95 cards plus I've made more for the thrift store. 

I want to add a special thanks here to my crafty friend Lynette (My Stamping Addiction) for her donation of cards to the thrift store. She included some Christmas cards in the assortment she gave to me. I've taken them to the thrift store and they are rapidly selling. In fact, nearly all of hers have sold, and I will have to keep making holiday cards to sell right up until Christmas.

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

Cheryl

Let's Craft and Create Challenge #178: Anything Goes or Vintage Feel...

 

What? December already? I sit here shaking my head as I type. How can we be in the last month of 2021? 

Well, there's no avoiding the fact that we are almost ready to close the books on this year and ring in 2022. But before we do, let's all participate in the latest challenge at Let's Craft and Create.

This was a BIG challenge for me. I just don't do vintage cards, so I had to dig deep to come up with something that kinda', sorta' reflected a vintage feel.

I happened to have a perfectly sized sheet of the words and melody for O Little Town of Bethlehem. I tore off a border on all sides and then "aged" it with some Tea Dye Distress Ink.

My card base ws made from kraft cardstock, so I used a die to cut a manger scene from a leftover piece Then I painted it with some gold metallic water color paint. It has a nice shimmer IRL.

The star above the manger was cut from glitter cardstock, as were all my pine branches.

In this picture you can see a bit of the sheen from the metallic paint. I also added a few sparkly gold enamel dots (the smallest ones) to the pine branches at the top of my card.

I probably should have frayed the edges of my black DSP panel, but by the time I thought of doing that, it was already adhered to my card base!

On the inside I added a strip of the same DSP that is on the front and a narrow gold strip. I stamped my sentiment, and called it done!

Now it's your turn! You are probably WAY better than I am at making vintage cards, so I can't wait to see your creations. For some additional inspiration, check out what the Design Team has posted on Let's Craft and Create.

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

Cheryl

Would anyone want a card with an orange truck?...

 That is the question I asked myself before I made this card. I had some glossy orange packaging material that I thought would be fun to use for a die-cut truck. I would donate the card to the thrift store, but would anyone actually buy it?

I had been given a roll of the banner you see at the top of my card. It's made from different sized triangles sewn in a continuous line. The triangles are a good number of different colors, so I just found a section of it that would go well on my card, cut it from the roll and applied it to my card. 

The orange packaging material was thicker than cardstock, so the embossed details of the truck showed up nicely.

Although it's hard to see I added some vellum to the windows so that it looked like there actually might be panes of glass there.

I also cut the wheel centers from silver metallic cardstock and gave my truck a door handle that was fussy-cut from the same silver CS.

The birthday strip sentiment is one I had in my stash and is popped up on foam tape.

On the inside, I added a piece of the same blue DSP I had used on the front and a stamped sentiment.

So, did it sell? It sure did--almost immediately. I think I don't donate enough masculine cards to meet the customers needs, so they are in big demand. Even simple cards like this will sell pretty quickly.

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

Cheryl

Simple sympathy card...

 

I really like using a silhouette-style stamp on a sympathy card. For this one, I used a mask to create my circle with a blending brush and some Distress Oxide ink. 

Then I stamped my image with Versafine ink and added a little bit of sparkle to the "open" spaces in the image with a glitter pen .

The sentiment on the front of my card is a My Sentiments Exactly stamp.

On the inside, I stamped the image again, after stamping off, using the same Distress Oxide ink that I used on the front. Then I stamped my sentiment right on top of it.

As a final touch, I added the ribbon. It actually matches much better IRL.

As you read this, we are visiting friends in sunny Arizona. It's so nice to get away for a few days before the Christmas rush sets in. I have most of my holiday shopping done, so when we return, I just need to work hard to finish up my cards.

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

Cheryl

A funtastic 15th birthday card...

 

This is a card I made for my granddaughter who recently turned 15. I decided it was time to try a new (to me) fun fold. I saw a video tutorial for this card , but when it came time to make it, I couldn't find the video anywhere! I couldn't remember the name of the fold, either, so I simply had to "wing it."

I started by creating my two z-folds, one larger than the other, with DSP glued to the larger one and a medium blue CS to the smaller one. I adhered them together as you can see in the photo below. Then I focused on the front sentiment panel. I used a die to cut the word frame from glitter paper. I added a couple lengths of paper rick rack on each side of it to fill out my panel.

When the card is opened, the other two smaller panels appear. Fun, right?

One of my pocket dies came in handy as a money holder on the middle panel. "Funtastic" and "15" were cut from the same glitter cardstock as the word frame on the front. The dotted yellow paper is the backside of the light blue DSP.

The sentiment on this panel was computer-generated. A few more enamel dots finished it off.

The card stands nicely on its own. It was definitely a fun card to make.

I hope you all had a lovely Thanksgiving yesterday. We ate at my daughter's home. The food was all so delicious. I was charged with bringing the pies (apple, pumpkin, cherry) and the cranberry relish. It's so nice when the next generation takes charge of the main part of the meal, isn't it? I know I certainly appreciate it!

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

Cheryl

Thanksgiving wreath...

The thrift store where I volunteer often gives me crafting supplies, particularly opened or partly used packages of stickers, ephemera, etc. This wreath sticker (and the little leaves) was in one such package. 

The background paper is from Stampin' Up, and the grosgrain ribbon is from my stash.

I did add the gold dots (Viva Decor pen), just for a little something extra. 

I don't use a lot of stickers on my cards, but I thought this one was particularly nice.

The sentiment was heat embossed on dark brown cardstock and cut out with a sentiment die. I've popped it up on a strip of foam tape.

On the inside I stamped a sentiment and added another of the little leaves.

My poor DH now has to have a basal cell carcinoma removed from his outer ear. He has had spots on his face removed in the past; this is the first time one has appeared on his ear. We're not sure when they'll want to do it yet, but it'll probably be quite soon. I can't help but think about those who, a few generations ago, didn't have the possibility of detecting these skin cancers early so that they could be removed. We're so lucky to have the level of health care we have today.

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

Cheryl