Some of what I created for Christmas

Well here it is the day after what was a very Blessed and Merry Christmas for me. I definitely have a "Turkey Dinner" hang over from all the good food and fun I had with visiting either in person, on the phone or via Skype with all my friends and family.
The following is a montage of just some of the cards and gifts I was fortunate to be able to create to give to those I love.

This is a card that I created after seeing a video on by Gina K. http://stamptv.ning.com/video/shimmering-background-paper

These next ones are a gifts I made for a friend who loves "Bling". The idea for the Kleenex box cover was posted on one of the yahoo groups that I follow but I believe the original posting came from Splitcoaststampers.  The other part of her gift was a "blinged" covered daytimer.

This card was copied from an idea posted on blog from a wonderfully creative gal in Australia
http://croppinrose.blogspot.com/2010/12/white-christmas.html

These last 3 cards I think are actually made just using ideas that I came up with myself. I truly did have fun this year creating my cards. They were made with love for who they were going to be given too.

I realize now that there are a few cards missing. I guess I did forget to scan some. Oh well, the important thing is that they got to people they were suppose...right?

I hope that everyone had as Merry a Christmas as I did!

Thanks for dropping by,

Sandy

I have been creating

This is just a note to let you know that I have been creating. However, I can't share a lot of it with you right now as I don't want to post here before I know the cards and other things have been received.  I have found out that a lot of my friends and family read my blog. So I don't want to spoil any surprises.
Thanks for dropping by,
Sandy

Getting Together with Gal Friends

Tomorrow evening I'm getting together for dinner and an early Christmas celebration with 3 of my great gal friends.

We will be exchanging small gifts. These are the gifts wrapped and the cards I have made to co-ordinate with the wrappings. Making these card were really fun as I challenged myself to make each card unique to match its gift.
So looking forward to tomorrow evening!

Thanks for dropping by,
Sandy

My Basic Christmas card for 2010

With what I have titled this posting you would think that I had a basic card every year. To be honest this is the first year I have attempted to make a "batch" of the same card to send out at Christmas. I just hope that I haven't bitten off more than I can chew!

This is the card that I came up with. It fits in a standard #10 envelope, for ease of postage. It also allows me lots of room inside the card for writing a personal message.  The stamp I used is from Hero Arts. I stamped it with green ink from a set of Color Box Petal Point called Pageant. The bough has been stamped off set on 1 3/4" squares. I coloured the cones with Prismas and OMS. The stamped squares were mounted on red  2" C/S squares. Once three of these were mounted on the card I used my newly acquired Stamp-a-ma-jig to place the Merry Christmas.  The final touch, which doesn't show-up at all in this scan, it a few dots of Stardust Stickles to give the idea of a little snow on the pine cones and and star in the sentiment.
I have 5 cards completed and all the squares stamped and coloured. So now I just have to get the rest of the assembly done.  I really hope to get them completed by this week-end.  Then I can get going on some of the other individual cards and projects I have in mind. 
Gosh here it is the end of November, I better get busy as it is soon going to be too late and I can't burn the midnight oil on these the way I use to.
edit added Dec 2, 2010

Here is of picture of 4 more that I got finished last night.


Thanks for stopping by,
Sandy

6 Year Old

I have a favourite little buddy who is turning 6 years old next week. His is having his "Friends" party on Saturday.

This is the card I made to accompany the book I am giving him.

The idea for this card came from a video by Gina K. on Stamp TV. I used my Nesties to create the ovals and embossed the raised frame part with the CB  Number Collage folder.  The 6 was made using the Oliva alphabet set and the stamps are from a SU set I purchased from a friend. Sorry, I don't have the name of the set. The DP on the inside oval is some I had in my stash that co-ordinated with the pre-cut card base I had.


Thanks for dropping by,
Sandy

The first Christmas Cards of 2010

Stickers & Stickles

A few weeks ago M-J and I visited a great store in Didsbury called Rose's Stuff. They carry all sorts of stamps, cardmaking and scrapping supplies. While there I picked up some fabulous "Stickeroos" by Penny Black. They are something I had not seen or tried before.  Using one of the sets I started my Christmas cards for 2010. Talk about an easy way to create cards. I just had to mount the images on the green and red C/S. Then using some pre-cut ivory A2 card bases they almost done.I added a few drops of Star Dust Stickles in appropriate places and that it.

How easy was that!

Thanks for dropping by,
Sandy



Birthday card for my Nephew

This week I made a Birthday card for my nephew. I won't say how old he is as that would be telling. Just  suffice to say he is old enough that we can reminisce about "when he was little".

I always struggle with makng male adult cards. This time I was up at M-J's and so I was able to use some of her stamps. Always helpful for sure!
I had seen the idea of using Nesties to make a shaped card. So with that idea along with the stamp of the tree with the single bird flying in the corner and the "one of a kind" sentiment, it came together into this card that expresses exactly what I wanted to say without getting "mushy"

Chris and I went out for breakfast this morning and had a great time catching up.  It was great to just spend some one on one time with him!

Thanks for stopping by,
Sandy

Two cards for two very different occasions

Last week I needed two cards. The first is a Birthday card for a wonderful neighbour of mine who was turning 92 years young.

I used the purse idea that I got from Iona, a cardmaking friend from Scotland. I just realized as I'm writing this post that the lady receiving this card is from Scotland as well.  Now that seems so very appropriate.

The upper flap of the purse has been embossed with a CB folder that M-J had. Sorry I can't remember the name.  The edge of the flap was cut using one of her Nesties as a template.

The second one is another birthday card. This one I am sending with a young lady who is leaving today for N. Africa for a one year mission. I have known her since she was 6 or 7 years old and have watched as she has grown into the wonderful woman she is today.  We have been "Scrabble Buddies" on the computer for several years. Hence the theme for the card. We have been requested to keep all of the communications that we have with her in this next year very generic. Which means not mentioning religion etc.  I was at a family dinner for her on Saturday where we celebrated her birthday which is later this month as well as giving her all our blessings and good wishes for what is going to be a very exciting year for her.

So that's what I made last week.
Thanks for dropping by,

Sandy

Autumn Theme's

I have been challenged this week to work on cards with an Fall/Autumn theme.

The first card is one where I created my own background using a leaf stamp that I painted on with several colours of watercolour pearlescent/metallic paints and then stamped on white CS. This is a technique that I saw done  by Jennifer McQuire on a Hero Arts video. It is something that looked a lot easier than I found it. With a little practise I got a couple of usable card fronts. The words are from the CB Autumn Type embossing folder. Unfortunately, this scan doesn't show all the colours in the background. There really are browns and coppers which aren't coming through in the picture.

The second card used the same Autumn Type embossing folder. This time I used copper paint to highlight all of the embossing. Then I mounted it on dark brown CS. I'm going to use this card to enclose a letter in. This will make me get at it written quickly as  I am a real procrastinator when it comes to letter writing.

Both these cards were a bit of a challenge for me as I discovered that fall colours are not my favourites to work with. However, it is good to work outside your comfort zone sometimes, isn't it?

Thanks for dropping by,

Sandy

Productive Weekend

This weekend I enjoyed myself getting a couple of cards put together. For me these days two cards produced is a fantastic feeling!
The first is one that I will be sending out for a "Mingle" on one of my Yahoo groups.

The theme for this mingle was "a square card". So this one measures 4 1/2" square. I will be able fit it into an A2 envelope and then can avoid having to pay the extra postage for an off size envelope. Yes, my heritage is Scottish! However, I was really surprised at what a cute little card this size is.

I used the Snow Dots CB embossing folder. The verse that is stamped on the inside is one that talks about the unique beauty of each friend. The same way each snowflake is different, so are our friends.
Honest I made this card before I heard the weather forecast for this Thursday! We can only hope that it is just a cruel joke that they are saying we going to have some of the "white stuff", say it isn't so!

The second card is one that I made for my cousin who is recovering from surgery.
I went back to one of my favourite CB embossing folders these days... Jules Jewels. Then I used the butterfly die cuts to embellish it. The inside I have just stamped with three butterflies  near the top and the saying "something special". This left me with plenty of room to write my own personal wishes for a speedy recovery.



Thanks for dropping by,

Sandy

"Rose" Birthday Card

Tomorrow is the 89th birthday for a very special neighbour. She loves roses and has often told me how her husband use to grow them for her in their garden back in England. So that was my inspiration for this card.

The image is one I received in an image swap a couple of years ago. I coloured it with my Prismas and OMS, then I added some highlights and just a touch of glitter (which doesn't come out very well in the scan).

Then I cut it out and put in a scalloped oval cut with my Nesties.

On the inside of the card I stamped a verse that fits how I feel about this wonderful lady.


The DP I used is a double-sided CS by Fancy Pants Designs called Simplicity. I love it when you can just turn the paper over and it co-ordinates perfectly! It makes things so much easier.

 Thanks for dropping by,

Sandy

Folded Frame Card "Improved"?

I really felt that this card needed something more, so I added a metal "friends" embellishment. Again this was in my stash of things I've had for a long time and just don't use very often. I think I'm finished now!

Wow, does this count as two postings in one day...I guess not really?

Sandy

Folded Paper Frame Card

I really needed to get busy as I have several Birthday cards that are a must this month. The idea for the card came from one of my Yahoo card groups here. It is called a Folded Paper Frame, it was surprisingly easy once I got the colours figured out.  The image is one that I had in my stash of already stamped from a long time ago. I coloured it with my prisma color pencils and OMS. Now I have to keep going and get the other cards I need done.

Thanks for dropping by,

Sandy

Sharing Wedding Projects

This past month all the projects I have been doing were for M-J's DD who is getting married tomorrow. Her friends held a shower for her last Saturday and one of the great ideas they had was to give her a scrapbook ...each of us that attended were asked to create a page with a memory or piece of advise etc. for her.  This is the page I created. I don't scrapbook so found it quite a challenge. It is a lot different than cardmaking.  Same supplies but different  concepts to use.

To follow is the card I made to give Ali with her shower gift.  It is an idea I got from one of my CCB friends, Iona, from Scotland.

 

It is in the form of a little purse, which opens up to give you lots of room for your message.  Thanks Iona!!!

This is the card I made to give with their actual wedding gift.  I used my CB Swiss Dots and With Love embossing folders.

So many good wishes go with them...I know that tomorrow is going to be a wonderful celebration of their love as they begin their life together.

Now you know what I've been working on for the last month!

Sandy

M-J's Birthday

Yesterday was M-J's birthday I was able to see her today and  this is a card I made for her.  It is called a "Secret Message Card". The idea is from Dawns Stamping Studio Blog (posted May 28/2010). She made an easy to follow video here is the link http://www.dawnsstampingthoughts.net/2010/05/secret-message-card-.html .   I used the Jules Jewels CB embossing folder on the front and as for the inside, it looks like a normal Gatefold card until you activate the secret message part.  I think I will be trying this type of card again soon, it was a fun!

Sandy

A card I CASed!!!

This is an idea I "borrowed" CASed from an card I received several years ago. I wish that the person I received it from in a "mingle" had signed the original so I could give them credit. I used some DP to give me the colour pallet, then tried my hand a tearing the edges of it and the green CS. This is something that I am always leery about doing.  I usually obsess over whether or not I've trimmed everything exactly even!!! The two circles embellishments are some I had in my stash and the "thinking of you" is a rub-on.
The card itself is off in the mail to a friend who I just want to know that she's in my thoughts.

Sandy

Birthday card for a friend

This is a card I have made for a friend's birthday this week-end. She is an avid gardener and loves flowers as much as I do.  This stamp of a old fashion bearded iris reminds me so much of those I used to have in my garden. Not to mention that right now in south westerner Alberta we are still waiting for the warmth of Spring to arrive!!!
The base for this card is a "match book" idea a saw on Susan R.'s blog http://simplicitybylateblossom.blogspot.com/  last week (June 6th).  I changed it just a little by embossing the front using my CB.  Then after colouring my image with  prismacolor pencils and OMS I cut it out and mounted it directly to the embossed front.  The five little flower brads that hold up the closure flap are some I had in my stash.
I want those of you who know me well to notice that there is absolutely nothing pink on this card!!!! That brad that looks pink is actually orange, honest, it just scanned looking pink.
Enjoy!
Sandy

Once a month is not enough?

Ok, I know that once a month is really not enough for me to be making a card, however, that seems to be what I'm up to these days.
This is a "little flower pot" idea that I saw on Papercraft Planet Cuttlebug Challenge #73.  The top four flowers and leaves pull out of the flower pot to reveal a note card.
Had fun making it...thanks to M-J for helping me out with the tiny heart shaped brads in the centre on the flowers.  I can always rely on her to have "just what I need" to finish a card.
Enjoy,
Sandy

"Asian Inspired" first of many!

This is the first of what I know is going to many of the cards I will make using this wonderful Fiskars stamp set called "Asian Inspired". I had to put a black piece of paper behind it in the scanner to get it to show anything close to the actual colours of the blossoms.  I did the colouring using my "rose" prismacolor pencil and blended with OMS.  I mounted it on black CS for a border then onto a pre-cut A2 card. The inside of the card is left white with a couple of blossoms stamped and coloured, then finish it with the Japanese "peace symbol" stamp.

I'll be sending this off to a card buddy who just needs a little "something".

Thanks for dropping by,

Sandy

I'm So Blessed

I'm so very blessed! Mary-Jane went on a trip down to Boise, Idaho to take a class from Michelle Zindorf and did some shopping along the way. She brought me back some wonderful stuff as you can see by the picture. The Fiskars clear stamps are called "Asian Inspired" and they definitely inspired me. I'll share with you in another post the card I've already made with them. Also, included in my goodies was a MS pansy border bunch (I have a passion for pansies), a package of Georgia-Pacific 110 LB CS (we can't get it in Canada), Tombo Mono glue (again unable to find here), a great stack of pre-cut card bases and a Signo "white" pigment ink pen. 

Here's a sample of what the MS punch can do...

How much fun is it going to be to play with this?

Thank you so much M-J!

Sandy

It's been a long time!!!

This card represent a lot! It is a Birthday card for my cousin, however, is a lot more than that.

I usually don't share much about my personal life on my Blog, but due to health issues I have not been able to do much in the way of card making for almost a year.  This is my first card since May of last year and it feels so good to be back!!!