festive wreath (Inkspirational, CASology)

How about a non-traditional card for the holidays?  Don't think I'd actually mass produce and send this one, but...

Found these little neon punched circles in my ironing board cleanup and decided to make them into a wreath. What goes with neon?  Not much.  Black. (Catch the hint of a front door?)  And gold, maybe.  Circles = polka dots, right?

Playing at:
Inkspirational - #42 Wreath
CASology - #68 Black (I'm stretching the definition of CAS with this one, I know)
Rudolph Day - October - Festive

I'm also sending this to Vera Y. for this year's Caring Hearts Card Drive.  Make cards and write notes in them.  They will be distributed to nursing home residents during the holiday season. Having had a grandma in a nursing home (back in the 70s), I feel the need to support this wonderful drive.  Check it out here.

Appreciate your visit.

Supplies happy holidays:

Paper: cardbase The Paper Studio, PP Fancy Pants

Stamps: WMS, sentiment Hero Arts

Ink:  Versamark 

Tools: circle punch, square die and embossing plate Sizzix

Other:  twine, gold embossing powder

jennifer m. technique (Hero Arts, Caring Hearts)

My last two cards for the Caring Hearts card drive.  I had bought some wooden ornaments and knew I wanted to incorporate them on a card for the nursing home.  But how?  Along comes Miss Card Technique herself, Jennifer McGuire posting an oh-so-cool technique over at Paper Crafts Connection.

Here are my takes:

Brief recap of the technique:  heat emboss panel, die cut panel, ink the positive (Festive Berries DI) and negative (Pumice Stone DI) and adhere, adhere two green CS strips, stamp sentiment (Iced Spruce DI), attach ornament after adding ribbon/twine.

Hope you're still reading cuz this is where I give a big virtual hug to my followers.  I missed out on the chance to greet you all by name (like Darnell does, have you seen that?)  Let me just say I am 1) amazed that you are here and 2) so appreciative of your lovely comments.  I have a few of the wooden ornaments left over and would like to share them with you, my followers.

If you'd like these, please leave me a comment.  I would love to know from you  if you've sold your handmade cards, where? (shop, fair, etsy) and  which type of card (CAS, fancy, mailable) sells best.  I've only sold a few to friends but my stash is growing.  Of cards and supplies that is.  Thus the idea to perhaps sell more...

Please comment before Dec 1.  DD will pick a number and I'll send these ornaments off to the winner!

As always, thanks for stopping by.  And hugs to ya.

Supplies for Celebrate the Season

Paper: cardbase Papermania, CS Neenah and Doodlebug

Stamps: CHF, sentiment Hero Arts

Ink : Versamark, Distress Ink

Tools: die PTI

Other: embossing powder Ranger, wooden ornament, ribbon, twine

midnight blue friday (ATCAS, CFC, Caring Hearts)

No Black Friday for me, but here are two cards using some midnight blue.  Heat embossed the snowflakes onto CS and then die cut it, making two panels for the two cards.  At times like these I wish I had more PTI dies, but I made do with a Spellbinders shape.

I love how this sentiment seems to tuck right into the curve of the die cut piece.  As for the "curtain" of sheer ribbon scrap ... not sure what possessed me to put it there but I couldn't leave it off once I had considered it! Just a little touch of color with the red gem.

Here I used part of the negative die cut, a strip of PP and a strip of washi over it.  A little bow to bring out the green from the PP and a sentiment in gold.  Actually followed the Freshly Made Sketch #61 for this.  Really like the sketch - but I'm too late to the party.

Joining the parties at:
CASual Fridays #79 - Winter blues
Addicted to CAS #1 - Snow
Young Crafter's Unite #16 - Happy Holidays
And these are going to Vera Y.'s card drive, too.

To share with you my torn tree that was missing something.  He got some sequins.  Better now.

Thanks for visiting.

Supplies for Winter Wonders:

Paper: cardbase Papermania, CS ?

Stamps:   snowflakes Inkadinkado and Prima, sentiment Autumn Leaves

Ink : Versamark, Jenny Bowlin

Tools: die Spellbinders

Other: embossing powder Knorr Prandell, bling, ribbon

Supplies for merry and bright:

Paper: cardbase Buttinette, PP Penny Black, CS ?

Stamps:   snowflakes Inkadinkado and Prima, sentiment  WMS

Ink : Versamark

Tools: die Spellbinders

Other: twine, washi tape, embossing powder Knorr Prandell

thankful (CAS(E), ATCAS, JayGees, Caring Hearts)

Although today I'm really missing my family in the US, I've got plenty to be thankful for.  My family here.  Our health.  Good eats to come our way when we celebrate on Sunday.  And on the cardmaking side... stamps sets won from generous online stores.  And that oh-so-teensy-Christmas-light-stamp-nestled-in-between-others on one of the zillion stamp sets in my stash.  Whuddathunkit?

What the heck am I talking about?  Meet this CAS-color-me-happy Christmas card.

Wanted to use this stamp from the set I won at JayGee's Nook to send Judith G. holiday wishes.  Wanted to stick to B/W and just color the string of lights on the house.  Also wanted to use this sketch from CAS(E) This Sketch #6:

Feared that using PP behind the focal image would be too much for the outline image.  Thought about a dry embossed panel.  Then something (who knows what) made me peruse my holiday stamps and sure enough, there on that tiny Hero Arts robot stamp there was this single light.  Problem solved!  Hand drew the strings, stamped the lights and colored them in.   Just a bit of glitter on the snowcovered roof and a touch of twine... I'm likin' the result.  Here's a second version.

Also playing at the new CAS challenge blog, Addicted to CAS #1:

Enjoy your holiday with your family.  Actually, let me use the past tense cuz you shouldn't be online on Thanksgiving!!!.  Hope your enjoyed your time with your family.

Hmm.  Just rethought that.  What better way to spend the three hours when the kitchen is cleaned up and the guys are doin' the football thing...  Go girl!

Supplies for Holiday Wishes:

Paper: cardbase Papermania, CS Neenah

Stamps: Hero Arts

Ink : Memento

Tools: 

Other: Sharpie markers, twine, glitter