Holly's Birthday Card

A long time friend had a birthday recently and this is the card I sent her. It was one of those cards that I was really happy how it came together. The white paper was embossed with the Cuttle Bug and one of its folders. Using a black pad, I ran the pad over the raised portions of the paper. Under the words is a piece of black paper punched with one of the Fisker punches. The flowers from Prisma are 2 different pieces but the same color. They come with holes in the middle so all I needed to do was to slide the brad through. The flowers were applied with a piece of double stick tape. The ribbon is from Stampn' UP!

Stampscapes White Night

Hadn't posted a stampscapes card in a while so thought today would be a good day. This is one of the cards we do in "Nightscapes", one of the classes I teach at Angela's Happy Stamper store here in Virgiania. This is a quick, easy card using only three stamps and a white pigment pad. Just ink and stamp! The trees and rowboat are by Stampscapes. The moon is just a small shadow circle stamp.

Beaded Birthday Card

A good friend had a birthday recently. She is quite the traveller of exotic places and loves bright colors. I took white paper and dabbed spots of pigment reinkers on the paper and brayered the ink over the page to give it this vibrant effect. Once dried, the images(PSX) were inked with a Versamark pad and embossed with black embossing powder. Did the same with the words (Coranado Island Stamps). The words were then mounted onto an extra set of papers, and colored thread was wrapped around the ends. The beads were stung on a piece of wire. This paper was then applied with double stick foam tape onto the card.

First Christmas Card

It's starting to look like Christmas at our house. Want to get done decorating so I can get back to making cards. Today I'm showing the very first Christmas card I stamped. Can't even remember who made these bunnies, but they were very popular at the time. The card is an oversized blank index card. The blue stars were stamped with a small background stamp from Stampn'Up!. A silver marker was also used on the background where I placed random dots. The bunny is colored in with markers and silver glitter glue. Was trying to think how long agao this was...18 years? Wow!

Give thanks card #7

Well, we've feasted and familied and now we are home and ready to begin the next holiday. But, before we do, thought I'd post one more "Give thanks" card. And that got me wondering-which "Give thanks" card did you like best? If you haven't seen them all, just go to the list and select that one to see it. Post a comment and let me know. Don't worry, I'm the only one who will see the comment. Now on to decorating!

Paper Clip Thanksgiving Card

This was a quick and fun card. Printed paper on to orange card stock. On the small orang paper a cut was made so the paper clip could slide through. Brads were used, but the paper is actually attached to the card with a piece of double stick adhesive. I've picked up a variety of these specialized clips and find they are great fun to put on cards. When a friend got one of my cards with a special paper clip, she took off the clip and used it as bookmark. The stamp is by Claudia Rose and stamped in black Versafine ink. We're heading up to PA today to be with family. Hope you all have a great Thanksgiving.

Leaf Punch Card

The orange paper today is actually double sided. It is light orange on one side, and dark orange on the other side. The PSX words were stamped with a Versafine Sepia on the light orange. The leaves were punched and turned so the dark orange showed. To do this line of punches, I started in the middle and then just "eye balled" the rest. I'm not much for precise measuring if I can get away with it. Not the best way to do something, but it works for me (usually). The punched paper was then placed on another piece of the light orange paper and glued down. I think it was a Punch Bunch punch that was used.

Wanted to also share an amazing "why didn't I think of that" idea that someone told me this week. A friend said she had taken some cards I had given her and cut off the front and glued them onto new paper and regifted them. I was pleased she had liked them so much, and loved the recycling concept. Just think how far those cards could potentially go! Just stamp a new sentiment inside each time. Love it!

Give thanks card #6

On our "Give Thanks" card today a printed paper is used in the background and some twine was wrapped around the paper with the image on it. Hero Arts came out with felt leaves this year and this is one from the pack. We'll be heading up to PA to spend the day with the folks. I'm thankful we're going up on Wed so I can get up on Thursday and watch the parades. Usually miss that since we're normally travelling on Thanksgiving. Hope you have some good plans for the holiday.

Double stamp Dress

Thought I'd take a break from all the Thanksgiving cards and show something different today. This card features a dress stamp by MSE. I stamped it with a pigment red ink onto white paper. Then I took an animal stripe stamp by Art Impressions and stamped it with a black pigment ink on top of the dress. (Reinking each time before stamping) The dress was cut out and glued onto another white paper so I didn't have to mask the dress. The words were also stamped with a black pigment ink. Placed a striped brad in the corner and layered the red paper onto dotted black paper from Lasting Impressions. My mother wasn't a flashy dresser, but she always enjoyed looking nice. Am finding that I'm adhereing more to that philosophy as I get older. Looking good helps me feel good!

Paper Inspirations Thanksgiving Card #2

Here is another version of the card I posted yesterday. Same stamps, the only difference is the choice of colors. When doing multiples of a card, I enjoy doing slight variations to help keep things interesting for me. And, as you can see, Paper Cut offers color options to their paper kits.

Paper Inspirations Thanksgiving Card

This is one of the quickest cards that can be made. Paper Inspierations makes both the vertical word stamp and the leaves background that goes perfectly behind the sentiment. And both of these stamps fit beautifully with the card. The card part comes in a kit from Paper Cut. The frame, front color, and inside paper all come together. All you have to do is glue it on. The inside piece comes folded, so you stamp on the front (which shows through) and then on the inside you can write a message without it showing. The acorns are actually a button glued onto the card.

Give thanks Card #5

Back to our theme stamp for the month. Went for a more modern simple look on this card. What is hard to see is that on the white paper I spritzed it with a little bit of Gold Glimmer Mist. It gives it a mottled gold sheen. I ran an orange glaze pen over the wheat and once again, it looks better in person. But, at least this time you can actually see the orange color better.

Inchies Dessert Card

Since we're on inchies, here's one more card that I made for my husband. The pie is by Lockhart stamps. As you can see I stamped it three times and colored in the pie a different color each time with Copic markers. Each piece was framed with card stock paper onto Graphic 45 printed paper. The ribbon is a brown twill and the word stamp is by Stampablitites. It was inked with VersMagic "Java" brown and edged with Versamagic "Gingerbread". Am writing this after my husband crawled up in the attic to empty a basin that is catching water from a leak in the roof. Not many would wake up and get out of bed to do that. But, he knows I can't sleep if I hear water dripping. So you can see why he deserves a nice card.

Twinchies Card

Yesterday an inchies card was posted, so today I thought a "twinchies" card would be a good follow up. "Twinchies" are two inch sized images. On this card though, I chose to use printed paper rather than stamp any images. A slightly larger punch was used to create the frame the two inch paper is on. Around the edge of the base card is a layer of brown pigment ink sponged on. A button was glued onto the center square. This makes for a fairly quick card, and is a great way to use up scraps of paper. It would be very easy to take out one printed piece in the corner and add a sentiment if you needed one.

Inchies Card

Sent this card to a friend who loves fall. These one inch squares are specifically made for inchies and are slightly thicker than card stock. Inkadinkado has set of stamps that are designed for inchies and one of them is about leaves and trees. I used one stamp from that set and inked it with a Kalidacolor multicolored pad. The squares are glued onto card stock and then layered onto another color, then added to the card. The stamp in the corner was stamped with a Versafine Sepia. It is a stamp by Eureka and is a two part stamp all on one piece of wood. That way you can put one part on the front and the last part inside. The inside message says "I think of you with thanks"

Memory Box Wreath

Just love the hymn this phrase is from. It's paired with a wreath from Memory Box which is stamped in a pigment brown. On top of the wreath and beside the words are silk leaves that come as a ribbon from May Arts. Aren't they great? Also on the wreath are yellow/orange gems from Memory Box. Some sponging on the edges of the card help to soften the image. A piece of velvet brown ribbon is also used between the two papers. Was really happy with how this card turned out.

Give thanks card #4

Speaking of color, here's a bright one for a friend who loves color. The printed paper is layered onto a Memory Box black card (which is white inside so makes it easy for writing a message). The black satin ribbon went around the printed paper and was tied in a knot. I tend to prefer knots over bows. They are easier to mail, and more adjustable to size. On this card, a circular paper clip was then slid over the ribbon.

Cancer Card

Been praying for a lady at church who recently found out she has cancer. I sent this card to her after seeing this stamp at the shop. Am hoping this will be an encouragement to her.

The words were stamped with a pink Color Box Chalk pad. The background paper is by Memory Box. A Fiskars punch was used to create the lattice work on the side. A piece of velvet pink ribbon was glued with Tacky Glue to the side.

Embossed Leaf

The leaves this fall finally brought on their glory and have been really enjoyable to see. I've come late to bright colors, but am now having fun with them. This card is certainly bright! The stamp by Stampersanonymous was heat embossed with black embossing powder onto red/orange paper. On the card, I stamped one of Impression Obsessions cover stamps in black dye ink to give it the distress look. A sticker is attached that says "falling leaves". Two black jewels are on either side of the sticker.

Time to give thanks #3

This is a plain and simple version of the Hero Arts stamp that I've already shown on two cards. It appealed to me though, because the ribbon and button really make the card. I ran some twine through the button and attached it over the ribbon. The image was stamped with Versafine black. Am thankful my November cards are all done-now back to finishing the Christmas cards.

Colored Pencils Pumpkins

Spent part of yesterday finishing up my Thanksgiving cards. This is one I did at the very end. I had the card left over from doing some papers on the Accu-cut from last year. I thought the pumpkin stamp would fit in the circle, and it did. I stamped it with a Versamagic pad onto a cream coated paper and colored in the pumpkins with two orange and two brown pencils, and a blender pencil. It was quick, and I was pleased with the results. The image was then punched out with pink Marvy circle punch and glued onto the card. The stamp is by Love you to bits.

Rubberstamp Tapestry Thanks

This is a great time of year to be using the wreaths you can make with Rubberstamp Tapestry sets. This set is a good one for the holidays. I used it for a thank you card, but it could make a good Thanksgiving day card or Christmas card. Each image is on an individual stamp peg, so you create the wreath. Some of the images were done with a gold metalic pad. The rest were done with dye ink pads. A gold Krylon pen was run over the edges of the white paper before mounting it onto the card.

Hero tree with vellum

This tree is by Hero Arts. It was colored in with Copic markers. To help enhance the tree, yellow was sponged over the tree. On the side is a piece of vellum. A Great Impression stamp was stamped on the vellum. Color was added on the backside of the vellum with markers. Tompbo makes a great glue stick that you can use with vellum which will dry clear. That was how the vellum was attached to the card.

Hope you all are enjoying your extra hour today-more time for stamping!

Native American Copic Card

My sister-in-law loves anything to do with Native Americans so I made this card for her for Thanksgiving. Can't remember the company, but I enjoyed making this card. She is colored in with Copic markers on a coated paper. The front cover of the card is short, but the maiden covers the inside saying. The whole card is then mounted onto a piece of black cardstock paper. Got the feathers in a bag at the local box craft store. Am off to go teach at Angela's Happy Stamper store. One more class after this and then I'm done for the rest of this year. Have been planning the schedule for next year, though, so will post those classes soon.

Time to give thanks card #2

Here is another version of the Hero Arts stamp "Time to give Thanks". I used Tacky Glue to attach the buttons. Works really well, and dries clear. The wheat stalks picked up some sort of reflection from the flash-they are actually an orange color which was added with a glaze Gel pen. The printed paper is by Bo Bunny and comes with this pattern is several different colors.

Covered Bridge with Colored Pencils

I'm off to PA today to check up on Dad. PA is full of covered bridges especially around the Philly area. This image always reminds me of those areas. This stamp is by Impression Obsession. The coloring was done with three colored pencils, a red, and two shades of brown. I wanted to keep it fairly simple because this was a card we did at the shop for a make it take it. Pencils are a great look but can take more time to do, and I wanted to show how you can get a great look realtively quickly even with pencils. There is a bit of extra color added in the corners with a sponge and a brown ink pad.

Vellum Give Thanks Card

The cornstalks are by Northern Woods. They are embossed and then colored in with markers. The stalks are on a light tan cardstalk and then glued onto the darker brown paper so they'll show up better. Behind the stalks is a piece of printed vellum. Under the vellum is a yellow circle that rather looks like an autumn moon. Since I was using vellum I wanted to get the most out of it and thought this worked out pretty well. Can't remember who does the "Give thanks" stamp. The pumpkins are part of the cornstalks. There are only two stamps used on this card.

Count your Blessings with Markers

Really enjoyed doing this card. Each image was inked with markers made for stamping. Colors can be layered so long as you go from light to dark. That way the markers aren't contaminated. It does take a little more time to do a card this way but the results are worth the effort. There is a total of 7 stamps used. The pumpkin and script background are by Stamp in the Hand, gourds by Stampn' UP!, leaves by Printworks, and words by Hero Arts. Some extra sponging was done especially in the corners. White glossy paper was used. The pumpkin was masked and then the gourds were stamped so they look like they are behind the pumpkin.

Time to give thanks card

Yes, time to put the bags of candy away, and time to focus on all the blessings of the year. Guess that's why I like November and Thanksgiving so much. It's stripped down of all the glitz and is a quiet time with friends and family reflecting on the good in one's life. I've made a bunch of these "Time to give thanks" cards. I get bored easily making the same thing, so they will all be slightly different. Will post some through out the month. The stamp is a Hero Arts stamp done with dye ink.