Christmas Cards!

In January 2013 I decided that I would make one Christmas card each week.  By the time December rolled around, I would have lots of handmade cards to mail.  That SO didn't happen.  Oh, I mailed out quite a few handmade cards but 95% of them were made beginning in late November.

So this year what have I done?  Once again I plan on making Christmas cards throughout the year. My goal is four each month; and (drumroll, please) I have accomplished that for January, 2014! 

Take a lookie......

Why not join me in this endeavor?  Anyone interested?  

Vintage ChrisMouse

There is a Vintage Christmas challenge going on over at the Kraftin' Kimmie blog.  Take a look at the card I made for the challenge.

Okay, I know that mice usually aren't cute....but this little guy is adorable...especially since he is asleep and not running around my house!   

Supplies used:

Kraftin' Kimmie Stamp - The Dormouse

Stampin' Up - snowflake stamp (used to "decorate" the teacup) - Confetti stamp set

October Afternoon - sentiment from Make It Merry 8x8 pad 

Martha Stewart - colored pencils (for bow)

Stampin' Up ink pads - Crumb Cake (mouse/cup image) and Riding Hood Red (teacup decoration and distressing around edges of cream cardstock)

Cream and red cardstock - Bazzill Basics Paper

Sleigh Bells Ring

......are ya listening?

Supplies used:

Red cardstock and silver bells - Stampin' Up

Patterned paper and sentiment - October Afternoon:Make It Merry collection

Season's Greetings washi tape - Recollections - (Michaels)

Jillibean Soup

No, Jillibean Soup isn't some new recipe - it is the name of one of my favorite paper craft companies.  Each of their collections has a soup name.  I've been working on some simple Christmas cards using Jillibean's Winter Tortellini and Spinach Soup collection.  Take a lookie.....

 

 

With the exception of the "Merry Christmas" sentiment (2nd card), gingham bow (3rd card) and the cardstock, all supplies used came from the Winter Tortellini and Spinach collection.  

Supplies used:  

Jillibean Soup - Winter Tortellini and Spinach Soup Collection:

6x6 mini pad

soup labels 

pea pod parts (12x12 die cut sheets)

bite size bits

Merry Christmas sentiment (2nd card) - Stampin' Up Teeny Tiny Wishes Stamp Set

Cardstock - Stampin' Up and Bazzill Basics

Gingham ribbon - stash

Hope this inspired you to get your craft on.....along with a pot of homemade soup!

CAS-Fridays Card Challenge (and one more Christmas card done!)

As I mentioned earlier this week, I am getting my Christmas card craft on....BIG TIME!  Maybe next year I won't wait until six weeks before Christmas to start making Christmas cards.  Here is a card that I made today - very quick and easy....which is just what I need.  I am entering this card in the CAS-Fridays Clean and Simple card challenge 119 - Embossing.

Supplies used:

Cardstock - Bazzill Basics Paper

Embossing folder - Cuttlebug Lace Tree

Gemstones - Hobby Lobby stash

Sentiment - Stampin' Up - Short & Sweet

Guess It's Time to Start Thinking About Christmas Cards!

At the beginning of 2013 I had a goal to make one Christmas card each week.  Had I actually *kept* that goal, I would have lots of handmade Christmas cards ready to send out next month.  I think I kept up with my goal for one week.  So, guess what I'm going to be working on for the next few weeks!

PaperCrafts magazine had a cute Christmas card posted on their Facebook wall today.  I tweaked the design a little and came up with this card.

Supplies used:

Red cardstock - Stampin Up Riding Hood Red (same color ink also)

White cardstock - stash

Green paper - Authentique 6x6 Bundle - Festive Collection

Embossing folder - Stampin Up Snow Burst

Striped Ribbon - Stampin' Up Riding Hood Red

Labels Die Cuts - Spellbinders Nestabilities Labels Four

Sentiment - Inkadoo Holiday Expressions stamp set (which I found last year at T.J. Maxx for $1.49...set of 5 Christmas sentiments)

Christmas is coming!  Better get your craft on NOW!

Recent Cards.....or maybe not

The photos of these three "recent" cards have been in my blogger draft folder since February.  At that time, I titled the draft "Recent Cards".  But, since that was eight months ago, I have added ".....or maybe not" to the title.  

Supplies:  Bazzill card stock

Tag die cuts:  Sizzix-Tags, Scallop Combo #2

Stampin' Up Tea Shoppe stamp set (tea cups)

& Swirls and Curls Verses (sentiment)

Supplies: Bazzill Paper - red card stock

Jillibean Soup - Winter Tortellini & Spinach Soup (patterned paper)

Fresh Squeezed Stamps - Subway Series Holidays

The Paper Studio - red gemstones

Twine -  stash

Supplies:  Teresa Collins - Everyday Moments (patterned card stock)

Our Daily Bread Designs - You Will Find Refuge stamp set & coordinating die

Colored pencils - Martha Stewart

 

 

I have one more post left in my draft folder.  It is from December 2012!  Maybe I can get it finalized and published before December 2013 rolls around!!





Two New Cards & A Reminder

Isn't this autumn weather fabulous?  Before too long the snow will be swirling and fireplaces will be roaring.....oh wait a minute.....forgot that I live in Tennessee and we don't always see snow swirling and the fireplace sometimes doesn't get used too often.  But I can always dream for this.......

 

 

Are you in the mood for Christmas?  Have you started making your Christmas cards yet?  I signed up for a Christmas card swap with Bazzill Basics Paper.  It's not too late for you to participate!  Anyhoo, I make 10 cards (same design), mail them to Bazzill and get 10 cards back (1 of my own along with 9 from other card crafters).  I also participated in their Halloween card swap a few weeks ago (see my October 2 blog post).  Without further ado, here is a photo of the card I made for the swap:

 



supplies used:

green cardstock - Bazzill Basics

tree trunk & "branches" - Bazzill Basics - Believe collection

snowflake & Merry Christmas stamps - Stampabilities

garland - Wrights gold metallic baby rick rack

star & red gemstone embellishments - stash

 

 

I *love* the garland on the tree.  I found the baby rick rack at Joann's.  I had planned on either buying red or green baby rick rack to use as garland but when I saw the metallic gold I immediately changed my mind! 

 

I have also been working on a card to submit to the Word Art Wednesday weekly challenge.  The Bible verse that they are suggesting for this week is from Ephesians:  "And be ye kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you."  Here is the card I made for the challenge.

 

supplies used:

green cardstock - Stampin' Up

printed cardstock - Prima - Londonerry collection

hearts background stamp - Stampin' Up - Confetti stamp set

green netting - Webster's Pages vintage inspired netting 

 

The Prima paper, which pictures three girls along with a bunny in front of them, had "sweet and kind" written all over it.  I printed the Bible verse using a handwriting font, added a background stamp (hearts) and a green netting bow and adhered it all to green cardstock. 

 

Finally, I wanted to remind everyone about my giveaway.  You have until midnight Sunday night/Monday morning to leave your comments on the October 12 blog post. 

 





Oh My!!

Today was the grand opening of the Archiver's store in Franklin. I usually don't get in "grand opening" mobs; however, we are talking cardstock, decorative papers, ink pads, rubber stamps....need I say more? I'll have to post some pics of the *cute* cardmaking supplies that I bought. In the meanwhile, I do have a picture of the free make-and-take card that I made at the store.

Red cardstock was used for the actual card. A gold paint-pen (made by Krylon....the spray paint people) was used to draw a border around a smaller piece of green cardstock....doesn't it look like the card has a piece of green cardstock adhered to a piece of gold cardstock? The Christmas trumpet and "Joy to the World" was stamped on the white die-cut piece using black ink. The ribbon on the trumpet was colored red using red marker; the red marker was also used to color the holly berries. A green marker was used to color the holly leaves. Gold glitter paint (in a squeeze bottle) was used to color in the trumpet. The gold paint pen (I think I may have to get me one of those) was used to make the gold border, which is hard to see in the picture, on the white die-cut.

The green cardstock was adhered to the red cardstock using tape adhesive. The stamped piece was adhered to the green cardstock using foam adhesives for dimension.

If you are not familiar with Archiver's, you need to stop by the store to see all the goodies they have. They also offer classes and have a "Free Crop Night" on Friday nights where you work on your projects using their equipment (die cutters and dies, heat embossers, etc).