Santa and Sleigh

I am still having fun with some of the new embossing folders from Joan's Gardens.  The folder I used today is the Crafts-Too "Sleigh".  This was another quick and easy card and I love how it turned out.  This is a 5.5"x6" card.

I wanted to make the Santa and his reindeer stand out on this embossed card so I used a brayer to add Black Memento ink to the top portion (on the inside) of the folder.  It did get some ink down on the snow banks so I just wiped it off before putting in the card stock, with a baby wipe. I need to tell you that because you are adding the black ink to a plastic folder, it doesn't turn out a dark black -- which is what I wanted.   There were a few little black smudges on the Santa and I used a product I love called "Copic Opaque White".  I used a brush to picked up a little of the opaque white, then lightly brushed it over the black smudge.  I love this product because it is truly a white opaque liquid and is very easy to use.  The card stock was placed on the back side of the folder, and the top (the part with the ink) was brought down over the card stock.  If you do it the other way, it would be easy for it to slip and would give you smudges you don't want.  

The sentiment is the Impression Obsession "Merry Christmas" stamp.  On the back of the card I added another piece of card stock that was punched with the Martha Stewart "Aspen Snowflake" border/corner punches. 

Tomorrow I will be using another new embossing folder for the Weekly Challenge, so hope you will stop back by.  

All the products I used on this card can be purchased from Joan's Gardens:

Crafts-Too "Sleigh" embossing folder (CTFD4011)

Black Memento Ink

Brayer

Copic Opaque White

Impression Obsession "Merry Christmas" stamp (E8774)

Martha Stewart "Aspen Snowflake" border/corner punches

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Winter Village

I love these new embossing folders from Joan's Gardens.  This is the Crafts-Too "Winter Village" embossed design.  It fits perfectly on a A-2 size card and also on this 5.5" x  6" card. On this larger card, I had plenty of room to add some other die cuts.  Up in the corners I added the Memory Box "Snowflake Corner" and along the bottom edge is the Memory Box "Frostyville Border".  Some small snowflakes from the border were added above the church.    The Marianne Design "Tree" was added behind the border to give even more dimension to the card.  

Joan has a lot of new embossing folders for Christmas cards.  You can see them at this link.  You can create your Christmas cards very quickly when using a pretty embossed design like this on the front of your cards.  I embossed the "Winter Village" then was able to place all the die cuts on the eBosser plate and cut them all out at one time.  This was a very quick and easy card to create.

I have been watching the devastation from the hurricane.  I hope all of you on the East Coast are safe and did not have a lot of damage.  My daughter flew up to Maine last Saturday and said the winds and rain were bad yesterday, but there was not all the damage we see in the lower states. She is enjoying her vacation with her friend.

All the products used for my card can be purchased from Joan's Gardens:

Crafts-Too "Winter Village" embossing folder (CTFD 4015)

Memory Box "Frostyville Border" (98146)

Memory Box "Snowflake Corner" (98238)

Marianne Design "Tree" (LR0136)

eBosser Die Cutting Machine  

783116

A Special Day

I love creating cards with poinsettias.  Today I have a card designed with the Memory Box "Poinsettia Bloom" stamp.  I thought I would do a tutorial below on how I created it.  I don't like to copy other people's work but ran across a beautiful card created by Joy Taylor that gave me inspiration for this card and just had to try it.  Here is the link to her beautiful card.  I didn't have an old book to use for the flower, so that is why I used the Graphic 45 paper.  I love the technique she used.

Before I do the tutorial, I want to tell you that this is a 5.5" x 6" card.  I embossed a piece of card stock for the background with the Swiss Dots embossing folder.  The pretty frame is the Cheery Lynn "Scandinavian Hearts" doily.  One of the pieces behind the poinsettia is the center doily out of that same die.  I also tucked in a few Marianne Design elements listed below.  This can be a birthday card for someone in December.  The stamp in the lower right corner is from the Paintbox Poppets "Snow Princess" stamp set.  You can circle the day of that special birthday and add the year at the bottom.  This is a great stamp to have for those December birthdays.  You could even use it for Christmas Day.  A few Kaiser Craft Pearls were added to complete the card.

I used a piece of design paper from the Graphic  45 "Ladies Diary" paper pad and white embossed the Memory Box "Poinsettia Bloom".  I used "Fired Brick" Distress Ink for the flower and a combination of "Crushed Olive" and "Forest Moss" Distress Ink on the leaves.  I have this really neat little Ranger Ink Pallet you can get from Joan's Gardens that holds all the Distress Ink colors.  I used the large Ranger Water Brush to color the image.  As you see in the photo, I stamped the image 4 times because they would all fit.  I only need three of them for the flower.  Two images were painted with the red ink and one just the green petals were painted.

Here is a close up to show you how I did this.  I cut out the larger flower, the smaller center flower, so I could create a 3 layered flower.

Here are the three layers cut out.  Notice how I cut out the green leaves.  I cut around the outside edge but didn't cut them off.  I just cut up into the flower image a little way but cut the piece so it was all in one piece.  By doing it this way, it was easy to layer just like the stamped image.

After I had all the pieces cut out, I used the "Brushed Pewter" Metallic Distress Stain to cover each piece.  There is a dauber on the end of these stains, so you shake the bottle really well then just swipe it over the design.  After covering each piece with the stain, you need to dry it.  I used my heat gun.

When the pieces were dry, I used the tools from the Flower Tool Kit to shape them.  Before doing that, I did use scissors to cut around the petals, up toward the center of the flower, so it was easier to shape each individual petal.

This picture shows you the difference in the color of the flower when using the Distress Metallic Stain.  It is pretty without the metallic shine but I really like the muted look.

I guess I will have to go out and purchase an old book because I would love to try this technique doing it the way Joy did.  I do have that Penny Black stamp.  I think you will have lots of fun playing with the new Tim Holtz Metallic Distress Stains.  

Memory Box "Poinsettia Bloom" (G1788)

Ranger Ink Pallet

Ranger Water Brush

Distress Stains "Brushed Pewter" Metallic

Paintbox Poppets "Snow Princess" stamp set

Cheery Lynn Scandinavian Hearts Doily set (DL155)

Marianne Design (LR0192) Flourish

Marianne Design (LR0236) Flourish

Kaiser Craft White Pearls

782072

Joy

Are you working on your Christmas cards?  Joan's Gardens has lots of beautiful dies and stamps to help you create one of a kind cards.  Last year I created a card using the Memory Box "Pop Up Joy" die that was really popular so I thought I would create something different with it this year.  The "Joy" was die cut in the center of a 5 3/8" x 5 7/8" red card stock.  I wanted some texture going down to the bottom of the "Joy Pop Up" so I pressed the letters of the "Joy" down toward the bottom of the card and placed the Sizzix "Dots" embossing folder edge down to the bottom of the letters, then ran it through the eBosser.  

Just below the pop-up, I added the Memory Box "Valencia Border".  Along the very bottom of the card I added the Poppy Stamps "Pine Tree Border".  To die cut the pine tree border, I taped the die close to the edge of the card stock in order to get a nice straight edge along the bottom.  This die cut does not completely cut out - it is cut like a "pop-up".  I then just cut up each side to release the die cut. 

The flower is the new Poppy Stamps "Blooming Poinsettia".  This is such a quick and easy way to assemble a poinsettia.  There are three sizes of petals, the center, and a leaf.  I like to shape the petals with the white tool from the Flower Tool Kit then just glue each layer together.  So quick and easy.    The corner is one of the dies in the Cheery Lynn "Lace Corner Deco F" die sets. 

I took a picture of this card from a different angle so you can see how the "Joy" pops up. 

My company was able to fly out this morning.  They have had so many "airplane" malfunctions and had many delays coming here and now are having lots of the same problems going home.  It seems so unreal.  My daughter flew out yesterday to visit a friend in Maine.  She has never been to the East coast so is very excited about this vacation.  I am praying the hurricane  doesn't get all the way up there. They are suppose to be out doing a lot of sight seeing.  

You can purchase all these products from Joan's Gardens:

Memory Box "Pop Up Joy" (98192)

Memory Box "Valencia Border" (98290)

Poppy Stamps "Pine Tree Border" (809)

Poppy Stamps Blooming Poinsettia (861)

Cheery Lynn "Lace Corner Deco F" die set (B166)

781224

New Window Card

Poppy Stamps had a lot of new beautiful window dies in the last release.  You can see all them them over at Joan's Gardens.  The window I used on this card is the "Grand Gothic Iron Work" window.  Isn't it beautiful.  I used the Memory Box "Window Collage" stamp for the background behind the window.  It was colored with Distress Markers then sponged with Tea Dye Distress Ink.  The window was glued over it and then cut out around the frame.

The embossed background on the left side and bottom of the base card was done with the Sizzix "Corner Flower Vine" embossing folder.  The flower was created with the Cheery Lynn Build A Flower #2.  Behind the flower I added the Memory Box "LaRue Flourish", Marianne Design "Garden Branch", Decorative Elegance" die cuts, then tucked in some of the new Cheery Lynn "Rose Leaf Strip" leaves.  

This is just a quick post because I am now off to go spend more time with my family from Colorado.  

All the products I used can be purchased from Joan's Gardens:

Poppy Stamps Grand Gothic Iron Work" window die (850)

Sizzix "Corner Flower Vine" embossing folder (657783)

Memory Box "Winter Collage" stamp (G1830)

Cheery Lynn "Rose Leaf Strip" leaves (B241)

Marianne Design "Decorative Elegance" (LR0157)

Marianne Design "Garden Branch" (LR0151)

779958

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge

It is time for a new challenge at Joan's Gardens.  This week Joan wants us to create a Fall themed card.  Please go over to Joan's Gardens for all the challenge rules and to see what the prize will be for this week's challenge winner.  

I used a piece of design paper from another new pad from Memory Box called "Pixie".  Joan has several new Memory Box designer paper pads I'm sure you will like to work with.  I used the Poppy Stamps "Grand Madison Doors" die and added a piece of orange card stock behind it.  The sentiment is from the JustRite "Spring Rose Medallions" stamp set.  

I used a new Cheery Lynn die for my Fall theme.  The two pumpkins are the "Fall Pumpkins" dies.  This set has two smaller sized pumpkins with a lot of detail and 4 different vines to place around the pumpkins.  I love the smaller size of these pumpkins. 

I used the new Tim Holtz Distress Metallic Stain Daubers and Distress Reinkers to color a piece of card stock in "Autumn" colors for my leaves. The three metallic colors are "Brushed Pewter", Antiqued Bronze" and Tarnished Brass"; I used the Brushed Pweter on my leaves.   You are going to love working with these three beautiful stains for that metallic look. I added some of the metallic stain on my Craft Sheet and then added three Distress Inker colors around it.  The card stock was swirled over the inks to blend it.  I just kept swiping it over the ink until the entire piece was colored.  The metallic look does not show up really well until it is completely dry.  It blends so well with the reinkers and gives a nice blended metallic look to it.  I dried the piece with my heat gun before die cutting the leaves.  I used a lot of the leaves from the Spellbinder "Fall Foliage" die set and a couple of leaves from the Cheery Lynn "Small Leaves" die set.  

Have you seen the new Cheery Lynn "Expandable Tiny Borders" die?   There are a lot of very small borders on this one die plate and you can make them as long as you want.  Joan has a video on her blog showing all the new dies in this month's Cheery Lynn release.  I added one of the tiny borders along the bottom of my card. I used a piece of textured card stock to cut the borders.   I had a small piece that was cut off so I added it at the top of the card.  I know it doesn't show up very well, but I stamped the bird from the JustRite "Signs of Life" stamp set and added it to the top corner of the card.  

There are lots of new products at Joan's Gardens that I'm sure you will want to check out.  Remember, she usually charges $1.00 less than retail suggested price (to save you money) and she only charges you exact postage costs.  Joan offers very personal customer service and if you call in your order, I know you will enjoy talking with her. I also want to remind you that you can still order the new eBosser die cutting machine at a special sale price.  The embossing folders can now be ordered too.  I absolutely love the eBosser.  You can get more information about this great machine over on Joan's Blog.

I hope you will join us this week in our challenge.  We always look forward to seeing your entries.

All the products used on this card can be purchased from Joan's Gardens:

Poppy Stamps (Grand Madison Doors" (849)

Cheery Lynn " Expandable Tiny Borders" (B215)

Cheery Lynn "Small Leaves" (D133)

Cheery Lynn "Fall Pumpkins" (B240)

JustRite "Signs of Life" stamp set (CL-02125)

JustRight "Elegant Fronds Background" stamp (CL-3695)

JustRight "Spring Rose Medallions" stamp set (CL-3685)

Spellbinders "Fall Foliage" leaves (S5-120)

778429

Christmas Window Scene

Have you been having fun working with the Poppy stamps windows?  There is a new one out called "Grand Madison Doors" that is just as fun to work with.  You can order this fun window from Joan's Gardens.  I used a piece of design paper from the BoBunny "Father Christmas Collection" pad for my background.  This is a 6"x6" card.

I used the new Cheery Lynn "Wreath Strip" to create a dimensional tree and thought I would show you how I did it.  I cut a piece of card stock to fit behind the window to build the tree on.  A lot of the "Wreath Strips" were die cut using two shades of green card stock, then were glued down one at a time in the shape of a tree.  I placed one in the center at the top to know where I was going to end up, then started layering them from the bottom up so they could be overlapped.  I used a very thin gold cord as garland and very small rhinestones for the lights.  A "star" button was used for the top of the tree; gold Stickles was used to cover it.  I used some yellow chalk around the edges of the tree to give it a glow.  Dimensional tape was used around the edges of this piece, then the window was pressed down on it.  It was attached to the card with ScorTape.  

The poinsettia was created using the new Cheery Lynn "Rose Leaf   Strip".  I shaped the petals with the tools from the Flower Tool Kit then used a base from the Build A Flower Embellishments to build the poinsettia.  In the center I added gold Stickles.  The Cheery Lynn "Holly Leaves" strip was used for the green leaves.  

My sister, her husband, and my niece are arriving today from Colorado. We plan to be away from home a lot , so if you email me I may not get back to you right way.  

All the products used on this card can be purchased from Joan's Gardens:

Poppy Stamps "Grand Madison Doors" die (849)

BoBunny "Father Christmas Collection" design paper pad

Cheery Lynn Rose Leaf Strip (B241)

Cheery Lynn Wreath Strip (B216)

Cheery Lynn Holly Leaves Strip (B183)

Cheery Lynn Build A Flower Embellishments

ScorTape

Stickles

777690

Black and White Merry Christmas

Today I have another quick and easy Christmas card for you.  This card only took three dies and one stamp.  There are so many dies available from Joan's Gardens, that will work in any of the die cutting machines, that will help you make any style Christmas card whether it be really detailed or simple like this card.  

This is a 5.5"x6" card.  I first die cut the Memory Box "Country Landscape" using white card stock.  The village was cut at the top of the card stock so I could cut it off at the bottom to fit where I wanted it.  I love the beautiful script on this "Impression Obsession" Merry Christmas stamp.  I used VersaFine black ink and clear embossed it.  I like to use the black ink and clear embossing powder because I don't particularly like working with black embossing powder; I usually end up with some black specks even though I use the static pad first.  The VersaFine ink stays wet long enough to emboss, but you don't have to emboss it if you don't want that look.  

A piece of black card stock was cut and placed at the top of the card, then the "Country Landscape" was placed over it.  To make it a wintry scene, I added the Memory Box "Frosty Border" across the top.  To complete the card I die cut, and assembled the new Poppy Stamps "Blooming Poinsettia".  

Hope you are having a great weekend.  We don't have many entries in our challenge this week so I am hoping you have time to work on a card and enter it.  We love to see your work.  Someone will win a Savvy Die and then be entered in the drawing for the $100 gift certificate to Joan's Gardens.  If you haven't read the challenge rules, please go over to Joan's Gardens and click on the link at the top of her blog.  

You can purchase the products I used from Joan's Gardens:

Impression Obsession "Merry Christmas" stamp (E8774)

Memory Box "Country Landscape" die (98239)

Memory Box "Frosty Border" (98171)

Poppy Stamps "Blooming Poinsettia" (861)

VersaFine Black Ink

Ranger Detail Clear Embossing Powder

776368

Nellie Snellen Embossing Folders

I have been so excited to show you this card.  For those of you who want to create beautiful, but very easy cards, this is the way to go. I used one of the new Nellie Snellen "Winter Scenes" embossing folders for this card.  You can get these embossing folders in six different scenes from Joan's Gardens. These embossing folders are a pre-order item and will appear on Joan's site tomorrow (Saturday). I was amazed at the quality of the embossing.  The folder I used is the "Snowy House".  I thought it would be fun to dress it up even a little more by adding some die cuts.  In the very front I added the Marianne Design "tree" (LR0136) kind of off the side, cutting off the portion that over hangs the edge; I did this because I didn't want to cover up the embossed house.   In the center bottom I added two of the deer from the Memory Box "Deer Trio", then along the very top is the Memory Box "Frostyville  Border", which adds snow to the scene.  I saved some of the tiny snowflakes that came out of this die cut and added them onto the tree.  

This is a 5.5" x 6" card but added a Martha Stewart punched "Aspen Snowflake" border which makes the card a little larger.  That was easy -- one embossed piece and three die cuts.  You should go over to Joan's Gardens and check out the other five winter scenes.  I so wanted to add a white poinsettia up in the corner of this card, but thought it would take away from the beauty of this winter scene.  

Tip:  If you wanted to make several of this type card, I am sure you could emboss several of these scenes at one time if you use a thinner type card stock and, depending on your die cutting machine, could cut several die cuts at the same time.  I used the card stock Joan and I use for creating our flowers.  I can see an assembly line for this card!!!

All these products can be purchased from Joan's Gardens:

Nellie Snellen "Snowy House" embossing folder (Pre-order items)

Memory Box "Frostyville Border" (98146)

Memory  Box "Deer Trio" (98166)

Marianne Design "Tree" (LR0136)

774872

Joan's Weekly Challenge

It is time for another challenge at Joan's Gardens.  This week we want you to create a card that shows a winter activity; such as building a snowman, skiing, ice skating, etc. 

 When the country side is covered with snow, I always think about going for a sleigh ride.  I just love getting all bundled up and being pulled along in the snow to see the gorgeous snow covered trees and mountains, then getting back for a nice cup of hot chocolate. Please go over to Joan's Gardens to get all the details about this week's challenge.

The background for my card is the JustRite "Christmas Holly background".  The holly and berries were colored with Distress Markers.  The center of the frame was sponged with "Scattered Straw" Distress Ink.  The area around the frame was sponged with "Tea Dye" Distress Ink then the edges around it sponged with "Aged Mahogany" Distress Ink.  It was cut out with a narrow border around it.  This is a 5.5"x6" card.  The frame is not that wide so I stamped one of the borders from the JustRite "Classic Lace Edges" stamp set on the edge of the base card.  It was also stamped in black and clear embossed.  This was also sponged with the Distress Inks. The Christmas Holly background was attached to the left side of the card.  

For the sentiment I used one of the stamps from the Paintbox Poppets "Snowy Pine Landscape" stamp set.  The image over the frame is a stamp from the Paintbox Poppets "Sleigh Ride" stamp set.  It was black embossed and colored with Distress Markers, then cut out.  When I placed the "Sleigh Ride" image over the edge of the frame I felt like the background was too plain.  I thought I would show you the difference it made to stamp the trees behind the children and horse.  The stamp I used is the Memory Box "Snowy Pine Landscape".  Below you can see what a difference adding the addition of the trees made.  Maybe when you create a card and you feel something is not just right, you can add another stamped image.  The stamp was a little longer than the center of the frame, so I placed Post-It notes on each side, so the trees would only stamp in the center of the frame.    

I hope your will  join us in our challenge this week. I'm looking forward to seeing your creative cards showing some type of winter activity.

All the products used on this card can be purchased from Joan's Gardens:

Paintbox Poppets "Sleigh Ride" stamp set

Paintbox Poppets "Winter Pastime"

Memory Box "Snowy Pine Landscape" stamp

JustRite "Christmas Holly Background Stamp" (CL03800)

JustRite "Classic Lace Edges" stamp set

Distress Inks:  Tea Dye, Scattered Straw, Aged Mahogany

Distress Markers 

773262

Merry Christmas Poinsettia

Today I have some more new products from Joan's Gardens to show you.  The design paper is from the Graphic 45 "Nutcracker Sweet" paper pad.  The embellishment on the left side of the card is a new die from Spellbinders called "Diamond Strips and Accents" Shapeabilities.  I was excited to  see this die because I used to make "cut and tuck" designs like this by having to cut them out with a craft knife.  How much easier it is to do it with a die.  I taped the two dies, that create this shape, together on the card stock then die cut them.  You fold down the narrow strip and tuck it under the point below it.  

The poinsettia is the new Poppy Stamp "Blooming Poinsettia".  This die has 3 sizes of petals, the leaf, and the stamen for the center.  I added  gold "Stickles" to the circles of the stamen. The foliage above it is the Memory Box Lorelai Leaf lined with the Lorelai Outline Leaf.  One die is solid leaves and the other is the same pattern but just an outline of the leaves.  I glued the two together and sponged them with distress ink.  Both these leaf die cuts will look great used alone.

Behind the poinsettia, I added the pretty Memory Box "Tiffany Frame" which is attached to the "Cherise Label".  The label gives a solid background to this delicate frame.  The background on the design paper is tan so I sponged "Tea Dye" Distress Ink" over this frame. The sentiment is used is from the JustRite "Large Fancy Holiday Sentiments" stamp set.  Isn't that a beautiful font!  To complete this card I attached some Kaiser Craft green pearls to the Diamond Strips and to the corners.

All these products can be purchased from Joan's Gardens:

Poppy Stamps "Blooming Poinsettia" (861)

Poppy Stamps "Lorelai Leaf" (839)

Poppy Stamps "Lorelai Outline Leaf" (840)

Memory Box "Tiffany Frame" (98401)

Memory Box "Cherise Label" (98402)

Spellbinders "Diamond Strips and Accents" dies (S5-137)

JustRite "Large Fancy Holiday Sentiments" (CR03800)

Graphic 45 "Nutcracker Sweet" paper pad

Kaiser Craft green pearls

  

772210

New Cheery Lynn Release

I have some more new products from Joan's Gardens to show you today.  The new Cheery Lynn release is out and you can see all the new dies at Joan's Gardens. One of the dies Joan and I have been wanting for the Build A Flower Series is the branch which can be used for so many things.  I created a wreath with the branches from the "Wreath Strip".  There are two sizes of branches with a total of seven on the strip.  It makes it so easy to get a lot of these branches at one time.  I plan to use these die cuts for fill-ins around flowers.  This is similar to the Martha Stewart Branch punch that has been discontinued.  The bow on the wreath is from the "Special Occasions" set.  There are a lot of dies on this plate.  I used the tools from the Flower Tool Kit to give the bow some shape.

This is a 5.5" x 5.5" card.  The background was embossed with a new Sizzix embossing folder called "Dots".  It has different sizes of small dots that resemble snow.  I added a little piece of design paper from my "stash" along the left side.  It has silver embossing in it.  The snowflakes are from the new new Cheery Lynn dies; Snowflowers Set 1, and Snowflowers Set 2.  I love the small size of these snowflakes.  The sentiment is from the Cheery Lynn release last month; it is called "Merry Christmas Set"; it was die cut using shiny silver card stock.  I am wearing a red shirt and I see it picked up the red it.  To finish off the card, I added Kaiser Craft clear rhinestones to the wreath and in the center of the snowflakes.

Be sure to go over to Joan's Gardens to check out all the new dies. 

Products used on this card include:

Sizzix "Dots" embossing folder (658285)

Cheery Lynn "Wreath Strip" (B216)

Cheery Lynn "Merry Christmas" sentiment set (B186)

Cheery Lynn "Snowflowers Set 1" (DL225) (three to a set)

Cheery Lynn "Snowflowers Set 2" (DL226) (three to a set)

Cheery Lynn "Special Occasions" (B242)

770770   

Eggshell Mosaic

Today is the last day of workshops over atJoan's Gardens. Joan will be posting the projects later.   One of the projects we planned included an "Eggshell Mosaic Background".  We saw this great tutorial over at SCS here. Rather than post the same card as Joan, I decided to show you another project with this technique. To create this background, you need to clean eggshells then glue them down onto a piece of card stock using Matt Mod Podge.  To get the beautiful colors, you use drops of Adirondack Alcohol Ink.  The colors of Adirondack Ink I used are; Ginger; Rust; and Adirondack Gold Mixatives.  I did not have a yellow Adriondack ink so when I was finished using the other inks, I sprayed my piece with "Butterscotch" Adirondack Color Wash.  It gave me exactly the colors I wanted for my mosaic.

I used the Cheery Lynn "Notre Dame Cathedral Doily" die, cut out of gold shiny card stock, to cover my mosaic.  The mosaic was larger than my doily, but it is very easy to trim it down around the doily with a pair of scissors.  I wanted a background around the mosaic so I used the Cheery Lynn "Large Sunflower Doily".  

My card is 5.5" x 6".  Someone asked me how I get this size of card.  I use an 8.5" x 11" piece of card stock and just cut off 2.5" off, down the long side.  I then have a piece 6" x 11".  When you fold in half you have the 5.5" x 6" size card.  I then use that 2.5" strip I cut off for lots of my smaller die cuts -- especially long borders. 

The green background on this card was embossed with one of the Sizzix "Corners & Lattice Set" embossing folders.  The flower was created using the Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower #1" dies.  A gold bead was placed in the center of it.  I used foliage around the flower from Cheery Lynn "Mini Flourish One", "Princess Tree"; and one of the Marianne Design "Decorative Elegance" dies.  The corners are from one of the Cheery Lynn "Lace Corners-Deco J" set.

This is a very fun way to create a very realistic mosaic. 

Products used:

Cheery Lynn "Notre Dame Cathedral Doily" (DL224)

Cheery Lynn 'Large Sunflower Doily" (DL181)

Cheery Lynn "Build A Flower #1" (B181)

Cheery Lynn "Mini Flourish One" (B170)

Cheery Lynn "Princess Tree" (B180)

Cheery Lynn "Lace Corner Deco J" (B175)

Marianne Design "Decorative Elegance" (LR0157)

Mod Modge

Adirondack Inks in many colors 

Adirondack Color Wash (Butterscotch)

Sizzix "Corners & Lattice Set" embossing Folders (656979)

Gold card stock

Clear Mailing Boxes

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Merry Christmas

Today I thought I would create a card in non-traditional colors.   For my background, I used the Marianne Design (DS0908) embossing folder.  This is a 6"x5.5" card and the folder was placed across just the top portion so I could add the flower arrangement below it.  This folder has the perfect frame for my sentiment which is from Cheery Lynn.  

The large flower was created with the Heartfelt Creations "Layered Poinsettia" dies.  The smaller flowers were die cut using the Marianne Design (LR0142) Poinsettia.  The holly was die cut using the new  Marianne Design Holly Branch.  There are two sizes of holly branches in this package.  The tips of the holly were sponged with "Seedless Preserves" Distress Ink and brushed out with the largest Ranger Water Brush to blend the color.  Martha Stewart "branches" were tucked in around the arrangement.  Kaiser Craft Rhinestones were added to the center of the flowers and to the embossed "berries" in the holly branches.  

The corners are from the new Spellbinders "Marvelous Squares" die set.  I didn't realize at first  that one of the smaller square dies in this set has four corners that die - I thought it was a doily die.  I love that you only have to run this die through one time and you get four corners. 

Marianne Design embossing folder (DS0908)

Cheery Lynn "Merry Christmas Set" (B186)

Heartfelt Creations "Layered Poinsettia" (Spellbinders) die set

Marianne Design Poinsettia (LRO 142)

Spellbinders "Marvelous Squares" (S4-383)

Seedless Preserves Distress Ink

Ranger Water Brush

Kaiser Craft Rhinestones 

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Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge

It is time for a new weekly challenge at Joan's Gardens.  This week you are to create a card with three vertical strips on the front. 

For my card I used design paper from the Memory Box "Viola" paper pad.  I use the design paper from this pad a lot because I love every sheet in it.   My card is 5.5" x 6".   I cut three pieces of the design paper and attached them to a white piece of card stock that is slightly larger, then attached each strip to the card base.  The pretty doily in the center is one of the Spellbinders "Marvelous Squares" dies; it was attached on dimensional tape.  The corners are also from this Spellbinders die set.  The sentiment is a Savvy die.  It was die cut and attached with Glue N' Seal.

The flowers are from the new Heartfelt Creations "Mini Vintage Floret PreCut Set".  They were white embossed and die cut with the matching Spellbinders dies.  I used both sizes of this flower from this stamp set.  In the center of each flower I added a Kaiser Craft Black Pearl.  The leaves around the flowers are the Cheery Lynn "Flourish Leaf Strip".  

I hope you will join us this week in our challenge.  Be sure to go over to Joan's Gardens to check out all the rules for this challenge and to see what the prize will be.  I bet all of you who have entered our challenges, and been selected as a winner, are anxious for that drawing that will be held at the end of the year for the $100 Gift Certificate to Joan's Gardens.  There is still plenty of time to win by entering the challenges each week.  

Heartfelt Creations "Mini Vintage Floret PreCut Set" (HCPC 3502)

Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret dies

Spellbinders "Marvelous Squares" (S4-383)

Cheery Lynn "Flourish Leaf Strip" (B178)

Memory Box "Viola" Paper Pad

Savvy "Hello" (SV10014) 

Glue N' Seal

Kaiser Craft Pearls 

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Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret Collection

It is time for a new release from Heartfelt Creations.  The Vintage Floret release is a beautiful collection of ancient luxury. This month's paper release is similar to the wallpaper of a quaint Parisian café. The textured flower stamps add a quiet delicacy to every project. The typography is a delightful combination of botanical growth and grandmother's old typewriter stored away in the attic. There are 5 new PreCut Stamp Sets, one 12x12 Paper Collection, and one beautiful new exclusive Spellbinders die designed for Heartfelt Creations.

For my card today I have used the "Bold Vintage Floret Background PreCut Set".  It was white embossed on white card stock.  To bring out the design, I used the Tim Holtz Blending Tool and "Iced Spruce" Distress Ink.  I love this color but it does not show up well in my photo.  It is kind of a bluish green and looks very pretty with pink.  The flowers from this set were white embossed on pink vellum and cut out with the matching dies.  Two flowers were stacked together after shaping them with the tools from the Flower Tool Kit.  The sentiment is also from this stamp set.

The butterfly is from the Heartfelt Creations "Delicate Asters and Butterflies PreCut Set" that was release last month. There was not a die for this stamp so the butterfly was cut out with scissors.   It was sponged with the "Iced Spruce" Distress Ink then Distressed Stickles Dry Glitter was added over it.  (I lightly brushed on some "Glue n' Seal" before putting on the glitter.  Two Spellbinders "Parisian Accents" corners were added as well as some Kaiser Craft pearls to complete the card.

You can order all these products from Joan's Gardens.  As she does each month, Joan has a great discount if you purchase the "I Want It All" Heartfelt Creations Vintage Floret  release.

Heartfelt Creations "Bold Vintage Floret Background PreCut Set" (HCPC 3504)

Heartfelt Creations "Delicate Astors and Butterflies PreCut Set" (HCPC 3499)

Heartfelt Creations "Bold Vintage matching Dies"

Ranger White Embossing Powder

Ranger Distressed Stickles Dry Glitter

Ranger "Iced Spruce" Distress Ink

Vellum Paper

Spellbinders "Parisian Accents"  (S5-034)

Glue n' Seal Adhesive

Kaiser Craft Pearls

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World Card Making Day Challenge and $50 Prize

Today is World Card Making Day. This is your chance to have a fun filled day making cards, and Joan's Gardens is offering a special challenge for you today.  If Joan gets at least 100 cards entered into this challenge, on her blog,  one lucky winner will receive a box worth $50.00 in free merchandise from Joan's Gardens. The winner will be decided by all of you, as you will be able to vote on your very favorite card.  

The challenge is very simple.  The only qualification is you have to use a product that Joan carries in her shop. You can design whatever you wish, just keep in mind your card will be judged by your peers, so create the best card (s) you can create.  We can't wait to see them.

You can enter as many cards as you can get done today. Please be honest and only enter those you make today. You will be able to vote on your favorite card starting Sunday at 6:00 AM.  Remember, there has to be 100 entries to have a winner, so call all your friends, family and aquaintances to tell them to enter their cards at Joan's Gardens.

Today I made a 4.25" x 5.5" card.  I have used some new products from Joan's Gardens.  The green doily is the Spellbinders "A2 Polka Dots" doily.  The sentiment and snowflakes are from the new JustRite "Large Fancy Holiday Sentiments" stamp set.  There are a lot of sentiments and different sizes of snowflakes in this set.  I used another new product called "Ranger Emboss It Dabber" to apply ink directly to the stamps, then it was white embossed.  The Dabber was used instead of using a VersaMark Pad.  It has a sponge top and that makes it very easy to get ink right where you want it.  This is especially great if you only want to use part of a stamped image or part of a sentiment.  I used Ranger's white embossing powder.  

The cute ice skates are from Marianne Design.  I added some embroidery floss to the lacing holes in the shoes.  I placed a piece of Scor-Tape on the back and pressed the ends of the floss down on it.  I think I should have used a thin string instead of embroidery floss because the floss wanted to separate. 

Did you notice my card was sitting on a stand?  I think this is so cool!  This is a die cut stand for your cards.  It is by Joy! Crafts.  The stand I have is for an A-2 size card but there is another  stand for this size card, plus one larger that will hold the larger cards such as 6"x6", 5"x7", etc.  Be sure to check these out at Joan's Gardens. 

Well I hope you join in the fun for the chance to win the $50 prize package from Joan's Gardens.   Please go to Joan's Gardens for all the details.

Products used:

Marianne Design "Skates" (LR0247)

JustRite "Large Fancy Holiday Sentiments" (CR-03800)

Spellbinders "A2 Polka Dots" dies (S5-133)

Joy! Crafts "Stand" (6002/0122)

Ranger "Emboss It Dabber"

Ranger "White Embossing Powder"

Joan's Gardens Weekly Challenge

Our weather today is pretty cold so it was easy to create this cute winter scene.  This is my card for the challenge at Joan's Gardens.  The challenge is to create a winter scene using both stamps and die cuts.You can get all the details over at Joan's Gardens.

Joan and I have been very anxious for the new rafter's Companion  "Paintbox Poppets" stamps to arrive.  They are posted at Joan's Gardens.  This stamp line has such cute images and I just had to start with this "Winter Pastime" set because I can never resist a cute snowman.  

To build my winter scene I started by using the Memory Box "Snowy Pine Landscape" for the background. I added the new Marianne Design die cut tree.  I have used this tree several times before, always in white, but today wanted it to be green to match the trees in the background.  After you die cut this tree, you need to run it through again to  emboss it so the branches show up.  I added glue to the embossed areas, then added the new Tim Holtz Distress Stickles Dry Glitter "Clear Rock Candy".   This glitter has a unique combination of variegated glitter sizes and a matte look to complement the nostalgic palette of Distress Inks.  It looks like real snow on the card.  I also added some glue below the stamped trees and added the same glitter to that area.  

I stamped the "Winter Pastime" image on watercolor paper then colored it with Distress Markers and the Water Brush.  I love how well you blend out the color when using Distress Markers.  The image was cut out with scissors.  The snowman was glued to the background but I added a piece of the X-Press It "Double Sided Tape" to the top portion of the little boy to make him appear to be a little in front of the snowman. 

The sentiment is from the same stamp  set.  There are three sentiments in this set.  To complete this winter scene,  I added Polar White Flower Soft around the base of the card. 

I hope you will join us this week in our challenge at Joan's Gardens.  We always love to see your cards.

All the products I used can be purchased from Joan's Gardens:

Crafter's Companion "Winter Pastime" stamp set

Marianne Design "Tree" (CR1224)

Memory Box "Snow Pine Landscape" (F1900)

Watercolor Paper

Ranger Distress Markers

Ranger Water Brush

Ranger Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles Dry Glitter

X-Press It Double Sided Tape

Polar White Flower Soft

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