Happy Hallowe'en!
Here's my Community Living project from this week. My biggest joy was seeing that the participants were all able to put this together with very little assistance from their support workers. Such a great project for enhancing skills and boosting self confidence. I put the base together with the white squares then they were able to add the orange squares overtop with dimensionals and following a printed image to see where each of the pieces went. Some changes them up, too, making it truly their own. This was a great class!
Tried heat embossing the two-step squirrel stamp and am thrilled with how it turned out! Gave it lots of shine and a wee bit of texture making it actually look like fur. Next up: make a silver or black heat embossed one. The greeting is from the Christmas Words Hybrid cut in gold foil to match. Oh the squirrel work is nearly done outside as they wrap it up for another season of gathering and nesting before winter hits.
Multi layers for the win on this card! Here's one we're doing at Avid Stampers Class tonight using so many of the dies in the Branching Out bundle. When layering up a card like this I'll often start at the bottom - the cardbase - and work my way up. For the berries on the Pecan Pie stems, I coloured in with Cherry Cobbler Stampin' Blends. To create a frame as I did with the Cloud Cover layer here, use nesting dies like the Branching Out ones and cut a large one then a slightly smaller one from the inside of it. And you've got a left over label. Win-Win!
Hetty Jones sent me this card in our recent swap. Lovely texture with the Gathering Leaves embossing folder on white behind some multi-shaped banners cut from the Gathering Together patterned paper. This is my kind of card: quick to put together, easy layout and loaded with texture. I think I'll replicate this one for a Monthly card class using some other papers and embellishments. Happy Monday all!
Was on a roll making 5" x 7" cards for a friend this month with this being my very first design. I shared copies with my team for our October swap. The base is 10" x 7" with those cast off pieces kept for other tags, die cuts and labels. So you'll just get one card out of a piece of cardstock but it's worth it! Really shows off the Painterly Pears patterned paper, too. I bordered that with a piece of Petal Pink to off set the Mossy Meadow card base. The card was suitable for any greeting, but having a bunch of sympathy cards ready to go was my plan for this one. Very pleased with how it all turned out.
When investing in a stamp set, I like to know I've got multiple uses for it...the versatility of a product is really important to me! So when I got this beautiful card from my team member Jane featuring Joyful Tidings I was thrilled to know that it makes both a Christmas and autumn card design just by changing up the patterned paper. I just love the colours here and the double bow. Looking forward to seeing how Jane uses this one for holiday cards, too!
This card is from card-making royalty...Karen Duke is one of our first demonstrators and THE first Canadian to hit a $1M in sales. I'm blessed to have a beautiful card from Karen featuring the Autumn Toile patterned paper with a cute front flap feature. A total rustic feel to it, I think this makes the perfect masculine card for sharing with that special person in your life. Enjoy!
Did you know we have Washi Tape again? AND a die to cut out all the amazing images from it? Due back in stock next week, the Extradinary Flora tape and die (sold separately) is a hot commodity for your craft stash. My team member Wendy shared this gorgeous card with us at our October team meeting. The embossing on the front was trimmed from the Glass and Garden folder set and adds a delicate detail to the front. So you're wondering, how do you die cut washi tape? Well it has a backing sheet so you can use the die on it then peel off the individual images to use on your projects. Love this!
Some of my swapping friends are in multiple groups with me - how lucky am I to receive more than one of their amazing creations? Just so with Diana Langman's card today packed full of autumn beauty with the Gathering Together patterned paper, warm colours, hints of gold and some embossing on a fun fold. Thank you, Diana, as I love this card which speaks to my heart with all the autumn goodness.
Oh how sweet! The Jar of Joy and coordinating Jar Builder punch go hand in hand to make this adorable holiday card in traditional red and green. Thanks to my team member Stacey for swapping this one with us in October. The stamp set comes packed with greetings and images - 12 in total - for easy Christmas card making. Cut your patterned paper to 3" x 4" and you get 12 sets from each sheet of 12" x 12" cardstock making it a great value. Enjoy!
Have you got your pumpkins out yet? Here where I live it's been unbelievably warm for October which has kept me from picking out mine yet. Pumpkins on the doorstep is a true sign of a Canadian autumn, isn't it? My thanks to Betsy Rouw for today's bookfold card from our recent swap resplendent with the warm colours of Early Espresso, Cajun Craze (my all time fave fall colour) and Old Olive. What a beauty!
What do you think of some non-traditional colours used with the Branching Out stamp set and die bundle on this card? I was definitely going for branches, pinecones and pine needles in something other than browns and greens. This one's for my Avid Stampers class at the end of the month and it works for many seasons because let's face it, if you have pine trees and cedars, you've got branches all year round. I used the Damask Designs embossing folder as a backdrop in Blackberry Bliss to round out the colour scheme and bring a rich and regal tone to the card.
Sneak Peek of a November Monthly card class project! In this class you'll get a full sheet of embossed and die cut greetings in Real Red. For the 6 cards you'll have all different greetings and a bunch left over to add to cards at home plus your 6 Holiday Cards. Talk about a value! This class has no stamping so great for anyone. Everybody loves an embossed card in this class so I know this one will be a huge hit. See all the cards in this class and sign up to attend in person or do it as a Kit to Go
Sharing the 3rd 5" x 7" card I recently made for an order. Once again I used a large embossing folder (6" x 8 1/2") for maximum coverage on the front of the card plus some 3" square pieces of Timeless Plaid patterned paper. This was going to be a more masculine card but I couldn't help myself and reached for a retired butterfly punch. I love butterflies...they belong on so many of my creations! The greeting is from the With you in Mind stamp set which you've got to have in your stash stamped and punched out with the To the Point punch. Nicely balanced textures, colours and layers, I think!
Got some leftover strips of coordinating patterned paper? Here's a way to help use them up: cut them to anywhere between 1/2" and 3/4" and evenly space onto a matte of 4" x 5 1/4". Slap a focal point and greeting on the front with embellishments and you've got a multi-textured card. Today's creation features the Painterly Pears designer series paper with bold colours like Secret Sea and Darling Duckling. I'm so pleased with how this turned out!
Happened upon this sweet greeting in the Inspiring Imperfections stamp set for those times when you've got a special thank you to send to your supportive friends and family. It really goes with the vibe of the stamp set and paper that features Kintsugi - the Japanese art of repairing broken pottery by mending the cracks with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum. The soft Petal Pink and Old Olive combo is so elegant and pretty. Enjoy!
It's fall...I know....but I'm still enjoying the Floral Charm patterned paper which is full of pretty images to send along on birthday cards. I mean...my birthday is in January and I wouldn't want to only get cards with snowmen on them! This is a quick and simple layout with a 3" x 5.5" strip of paper across the middle, greeting and a few leaves from the corresponding stamp and die bundle called Charming Day. Have a happy Tuesday!
Happy Thanksgiving Monday! Wishing you a wonderful holiday enjoying what is turning out to be a gorgeous day - at least here in Ontario. Love seeing the sun shining through the trees with their changing leaves. For us it's a quiet day hanging out around the house eating leftovers. Whatever you do and wherever you go, may you gather happiness!
A second 5" x 7" card I made for my friend Carla to share with her work colleagues. I loved the challenge of "upsizing" my creations from a standard 4 1/4" x 5 1/2" card. Why did she want this size? So there's more space for everyone to write on. I get that! Our newer embossing folders that measure 6" x 8 1/2" are perfect for adding a layer to these larger cards. The photographic image used for the focal point is from the Beautiful Gallery DSP pack and works for every occasion. Enjoy!
A "blast from the past"...not so long ago as to be using the Lovely as a Tree stamp set but...this gorgeous die cut came from the Lovely and Sweet Bundle with coordinating paper. It's hard to tell in the photo but this card is 5" x 7" and I created a set of 6 for a customer. So grab that gold flecked paper you're hoarding and using a blending brush or sponge or spong dauber to add a flash of ink to the centre then pop up an image. I stamped right on top of the patterned paper, too.
Thanks for stopping by!Hallowe'en is coming up and this year I'm thrilled to be going trick or treating with my grandson, Allistair! I'll also be in Stratford that weekend for the semi-annual Scrapford Crop with 50 besties. Of course we've got a Hallowe'en theme going on with some table trick or treating to be enjoyed as well. This cards brings a smile to my face so not your spooky Oct 31 card at all. Love the colours in the patterned paper for a fun card. What do you do for Hallowe'en?
Received this seasonal card in the mail from Diana Langman who "swaps in the same circles" as me! I'm often the pleased recipient of her beautiful creations. On this card, Diana used my current favourite patterned paper, Gathering Together for which has been embossed along with the full front panel of the card. Beautiful! Thanks, Diana.
Such a sweet card for any occasion, Jane brought this beauty to our Team swap in September. The pears canbe stammped and die cut or cut out of the coordinating patterned paper - how versatile! The colours are soft and muted and the pears look oh to real you could almost take a bite out of them! Thanks Jane for this pretty card.
A nice block technique for today's card from Holly! Her swap features 4 different colours using the Forever Plaid 3D embossing folder as layers instead of a boring single layer. Love it! The Sweet Jar stamp set and matching punch make a cute focal point on the card surrounded by stiched shapes. What a happy and cheerful birthday card. Thanks, Holly!
https://s.tamp.in/V7r90m
What a beautiful punch of colour with TImid Tiger and the Floral Impressions Patterned Paper pack and layers upon layers! Today's card was shared by Wendy at our Team swap in September and features the Nested Essentials dies and all kinds of stitching. There's an idea for you when you have a white layer and words, stamp an image in a lighter colour behind it to take away from of that white space. Turned out beautifully.
Jaime Spyksma sent me this stunning sympathy card using the book fold layout in a recent swap. The labels are from the Peace on Earth die set. The iconic dove is a sign of peace and tranquility and so fitting for this occasion. Perfect colours for sending condolences. Thanks for stopping by today!
Ha! one of my first Christmas cards of the season. This is the Jar of Joy stamp set that my friend Staceyn lent me to play with. I usualy make 4 cards from every stamp set to have a nice selection and test it's versatility! This trio of ornaments is stamped 3 times in a row. Did I get them in a straight line? Ah...no but the baker's twine helps hide that. I made a bunch and swapped them with my team in September. One Christmas card down.....so many to go!
Yeah it's Friday! What have you got planned for the weekend? It's going to be another beautiful one with summer hanging on. Today is set to be 23C. Perhaps a night out on the patio? A hike along a local trail? Hanging out with friends? Crafting? For the latter, I hope this will bring you some inspiration: a fun fold card featuring the Celebratory Sips Suite. Bright beautiful colours to keep the summer vibe flowing.
The squirrels...they're everywhere these days - busy, busy, busy!
Here's my rendition of a grey one on an embossed silver foil layer of leaves. I was drawn to design this one using colours not so traditionally fall. Love how it turned out! Experiment with colour and see what you come up with.When designing a sympathy card, I find less is best. A simple greeting with a touch of ribbon and a couple of layers works well to convey your heartfelt feelings. Leaves, butterflies or a single flower in muted colours are a great choice. On today's version, we have some embossing around a greeting in Misty Moonlight with coordinating soft ribbon. I think it works well.
