Sixth Day of Christmas

Happy New Year's Eve! WOW another year bites the dust. For my family wasn't a good year again, we had just celebrated a year of losing our mom and youngest sister when my dad passed away at age 85. He had been wishing to join them for a year so he went home to them on February 18 a bittersweet day.

Three days prior of his passing, my foster mom also passed away at age 95, February 15.

to add to our loses our favorite brother-in-law, Steve, passed away at age 73 on June 15th

There were other loses in with family and friends or family of friends but people that affected us directly were as they were someone we knew or got along at one time or another were

my cousin Ivette in September 24 age 58,                           stamping friend Rosemary 

                                                                                                     October 2nd age 83, 

             

the ex of a cousin, Mario in October 31 age 69,            my SU demonstrator Barbara 

                                                                                                      November 11

  

A couple friends had new grandchildren so after all these loses at least were some new babies not as many but at least not just loses. 

Bret celebrated his 62nd birthday and his retirement after 28.5 years at Port of Seattle this summer. 

We celebrated his retirement and our 28th anniversary driving partly to Mexico to clear my parents house, 59 years of accumulation not easy job but something that had to be done sooner rather than later. We spent 3 weeks working non stop on the house except for our anniversary day that we took off to go to Teotihuacan sightseeing with one of my cousins and afterwards we had dinner with her family. 

 

We also were able to see friends we hadn't seen in over 20 years give or take. We stayed with my nephew which we hadn't seen since 2013 as well as my brother which this year he was blessed enough to turn 60 in October!!

On the way back from Mexico we spent some time with my relatives in Texas that I hadn't seen probably since my last trip there before my move to Acapulco in late 1990 and on our way home we stopped in San Antonio to visit my niece that is going to college there

  

we also got to see friends along the way in AZ and UT, it was easy making stops as we were driving with our 5th wheel our home away from home. Was a long but fun trip except for the work in Mexico and not being able to have our cat Reva with us but still was nice to see everyone.

As part of my 58th birthday celebration in November we visited my adopted family that now live at an assisted living not far from here, they don't go anywhere but it's a nice place and their apartment seem nice and they have each other plus they do have company all the time.

Now for the card, if you are not interested in catching up on my personal life. This was from a class by Altenew educator Pam Boedeker backgrounds with cover dies. For this first card, I actually used an stencil to emboss as well as colored, she had done a similar card with a cover die by Altenew that has the building so I thought it was a nice way of using my stencil to duplicate her card, the embossing is very settle should have used another shim with my city scene stencil oh well next time, the inks are distress ink black soot, crisp dye inks ultraviolet, azurite and lagoon then because I don't do splatter instead used one of the stamps from gorgeous grunge stamp set by SU with Hero hues unicorn pigment ink then stamped the Santa sled by Stampa Rosa with VersaFine Clair nocturne several time to get it pretty dark 

this other card I made was blending the background and then adding the outline die. For my card started by adding crisp dye ink magenta and ultraviolet until I was happy, leaving the center on the light side then die cut pillar candle trio by MB with gold paper then decided to add some ferns from through the window die set by Altenew and since I did purple used enchanted garden enamel dots also by Altenew as berries

Fifth Day of Christmas

On this Fifth Day of Christmas, I show another challenge card from the Free Saturday workshop with Bridget. For this one the challenge was shaped card, no green or red, used of deer and washi tape

For the card used oval collections Framelits dies by SU to die cut every layer. First the card base then a layer in gray then stamped with Denami’s background stamp and VersaFine Clair morning mist ink then picked where I wanted to die cut the oval then with blending brush added some Tim Holtz distress ink lost shadow all around and mounted to the rest the pieces. Then die cut 4 deer from wildlife designer cutting die set by Little B, then used the die set through the window by Altenew to cut the grass so the deer wasn’t flying and for the washi tape I glued a piece of shine red to cardstock then die cut the circles that came in the set to use for the nose

Fourth Day of Christmas

On this Fourth Day of Christmas, I show you a card I made for a mingle also know as swap in one of my groups. It was using primary colors so decided to make it a Christmas card different kind of card but I like to make things different. So what I did on my panel die cut with double stitched rectangle die by Kat Scrappiness and Spellbinders nested pennants die set and on another layer which was die cut with Cindy Echtinaw Designs Card Creator Perfect Layers A blended the 3 primary colors Tim Holtz distress oxide lumberjack plaid, mustard seed and blueprint sketch making sure colors over lapped a bit, make sure the opening got covered. then mounted the layer with the opening and picked one of the message in my drawer of messages.

Third Day of Christmas

On this Third Day of Christmas I show you the make up card I did since I messed up not making a 6x6 card. For this card which I technically didn't make a card as I don't do 6x6 I just did a card front to show as my challenge, used city scene stencils by Altenew with the color combo as closed as I could get to them so started with Tim Holtz distress ink old paper for the beige, switched some of the other colors Altenew crisp dye inks for the rest of the colors teal cave for teal, volcano lake for mint gray, winter lake for bondi blue and finally dark night for dark blue. Then masked the buildings to stamp Space Needle stamp by Impress with VersaFine Clair nocturne ink then made my sky with DIY template and Tim Holtz distress oxide blueprint sketch and uncharted mariner then stamped Santa sled by Stampa Rosa several times to be very dark finally stamped the flag sending love from Seattle also with VersaFine Clair nocturne ink

to use the card I cut down the card and mounted to a layer of navy cardstock and then white card base, it was a bit bigger than and A2 since I left the 6" high on the front panel

Second Day of Christmas

On this Second day of Christmas I show you a card I made from the Free Saturday workshop with Bridget, one of the challenges was 6x6, winter wonderland, Santa and then she picked number 101 on the color cube by Sarah Renae Clark which was beige, teal, mint gray, bondi blue & dark blue. I really wasn't into Christmas but to create the card grabbed a layer of white then using wintry forest stencils by Pinkfresh Studio with the color combo as closed as I could get to them so started with Tim Holtz distress ink old paper for the beige, Memento dew drop teal zeal for the teal, Altenew crisp dye inks for the rest of the colors volcano lake for mint gray, winter lake for bondi blue and finally azurite for dark blue. Then die cut layer with double stitched rectangle die by Kat Scrappiness then cover with double sided adhesive and then cover with a used dryer sheet then mounted to a layer of navy that was die cut with Cindy Echtinaw Designs Card Creator Perfect Layers A and then mounted to an A2 card base Recollections 110 lb. white cardstock. For the Santa used 4 layers of just the Santa and one reindeer from Christmas magic slimline series coordinating die set by Trinity Stamps and ran Spectrum Noir sparkle Crystal clear glitter brush all over it.

When I finished the card realized I forgot the little detail it was 6x6 so had to come up with another idea. Normally don't add messages until I need the card and for this card since it was going for someone that spoke English I picked a message from my stash which I colored with whatever ink I had in my blending brushes

First Day of Christmas

On this First Day of Christmas, the card I show you is one I made on a class I took with Educator Amy Hill from Altenew called Shape Up. We were doing 2 cards and custom-made envelope. I didn’t make the envelopes since I have envelopes of all sizes. 

This card really is not really a card more of a tag as there is not much room to write but still cute. 

We used the bundle mistletoe wreath. I chose not to use the stamp set just the die of course and the stencils. I also decided since I have OCD not to do the card the way they did it. I die cut 3 wreaths, 2 out of Recollections 110 lb. white cardstock and one of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 120 lb. cover smooth white cardstock. On the wreath of Accent Opaque used the simple coloring stencil set with crisp dye inks frayed leaf, evergreen, bamboo, olive, paper bag, ruby red, canyon clay. Then glued this layer to one of the other wreaths, on the third one score and fold then glued to make a card. Die cut 2 banners glued one inside one on top and then stamped from a SU stamp set Ven a Belén with obsidian pigment exceptionally crisp ink

Feliz Navidad & Merry Christmas to you all

Wishin you all a Merry Christmas. For us since last year is a bitter sweet holiday since my sister that was a Christmas baby wasn't with us but Christmas still my favorite holiday and even if she's not with us in body she will always be with us in spirit so we have to celebrate for her. She might not have the blessing of a birthday but we have the blessing of another Christmas. 

The card I share with you is the card I gave to honor the police in our town. I loved the candy cane die by Honey Bee Stamps, I had bought one in the past that thought it was layered but wasn’t you had to piece it together and not that I don’t like piecing but was more of a tag and the piecing and this one was perfect. The set is lovely layers candy cane honey cuts dies. I die cut a layer of green cardstock with infinity nested rectangle die set by HA then cut a layer of dazzling diamonds glimmer paper by SU, finally almost out of this awful flaking glitter paper that is not the right paper for the police department but all I had. Did order some that hope is better do have to figure something for layers since 6x6 packs are more for embellishments than for layers as two sheets won't last anyway, then went through my scrap drawers of red and green and also grabbed white and die cut the pieces. For the bow was glitter paper colored with Copic marker C5, for the messages used VersaFine Clair tulip red ink with Honey Bee Stamp heart be light stamp & honey cuts die set

Feliz Noche Buena, Happy Christmas Eve

Can't believe we are again on Christmas time!! 

On the Saturday free workshop with Bridget one of the challenges was a Christmas card, stencil, paste, bling or shine. I couldn't do the paste so decided to do hot foil for the bling or shine. 

Started by foiling with green glimmer foil the wishing tree hot foil plate by HA on black cardstock die cut with HA infinity nested rectangle die set by HA then mounted to a layer cut from Christmas glitter paper pad by Recollection because the paper was one that flakes or sheds I added glossy accent all around it. When dry mounted to an A2 Recollections 110 lb. white cardstock

then decided to give a go on reverse foiling on red cardstock but still didn't work very well as usual not sure if this time was the textured cardstock but gave better results than on white cardstock

Sunday Tip or Technique Christmas

In one of my groups we had this as a Sunday Tip or Technique, the tutorial was from Creating with Cristina which it was to use scrapas but I didn't use scraps I wanted to finish up this sale-a-brations DSP from 2021 peaceful prints so cut the paper to fit the A2 cards then mounted to a card base of Recollections 110 lb. white cardstock. For my center piece, punched 2-1/2" circle with Sahara sand cardstock and added the deer builder punch by SU with a rhinestone as a nose. The message in English is Merry Christmas stamp by Impress and the one in Spanish is from hostess set felices fechas both stamped with classic stampin spot soft suede ink

for this one didn't add any message to make it more a winter card than a Christmas card

Peaceful Christmas October 2021 Paper Pumpkin

This is an alternative to my October 2021 kit. The cardstock on the kit's are always so flimsy so I normally mount on something else I know most people probably don't care as there was a time I didn't care I was used to the cardstock we found then I found the thicker cardstock and I love the heavier weight for card base and thinner for layer. Anyway for these cards I made them as a "s" fold or like you call "z" fold mounting to a card base of Recollections 110 lb. white cardstock I did cut smaller so I could mount to a layer of black cardstock to give about 1/16" border. Using scraps of white cardstock used the free silver foil that came with the Hot Foil Glimmer System and one of the dies from stitched nested labels by SU then I fussy cut them I did two one for the front and one for the inside.

I screwed up on how I glued the label so had to find messages that would fit on the vertical so on the front I used heartfelt love notes paper pumpkin January 2018 with VersaFine Clair nocturne ink for the inside message I used pocketful of cheer paper pumpkin March 2016 also with VersaFine Clair nocturne ink

Gift galore November 2021 Paper Pumpkin

This is an alternative to my November 2021 kit. This kit was to make treat boxes and bags which is useless for me. I really don’t know why companies make holiday kits to send when not everyone celebrates ALL holidays and yes, I do celebrate Christmas and it’s my favorite holiday but I hate that companies assume we want a holiday kit when we have a subscription. Stampin Up do have a bit of time to pass but if you don’t check emails to see the hint of what is coming as it's a surprise, you’re out of luck would be a lot easier if they didn’t send any holiday type kit.

The printed elements were too big for A2 card size but perfect for slimline cards. My size for slimline cards for the most part are 3.5” x 8.5” as I use #10 envelopes as there is plenty of room for embellishments if I want to.

Cut the card base of Recollections 110 lb. white cardstock, layer of old olive cardstock, and top layer of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 80 lb. cover smooth white cardstock giving a 1/16” border all around between all layers.

Cut the printed treat box tree topper so it wasn’t completely covering the front added a trunk with scraps of brown cardstock mounted all to layers then added a message from pining for plaid paper pumpkin stamp set October 2017 with classic stampin spot old olive ink. 

The leftover piece mounted it on the inside so it wouldn't go to waste.

For this one, the layer of color cardstock was pool party then cut the printed treat box stacked gifts topper so it wasn’t completely just like before so they didn't cover the front mounted all then added a message from to you and yours paper pumpkin stamp set November 2018 with classic stampin spot pool party ink twice as this ink spot  didn't seem dark enough.

again the piece that cut of the front mounted on the inside so it wouldn't go to waste

Merry Christmas

Recently there was a workshop of using our stash not our wallet and one of the classes was using scraps to create different designs on cards well for this card is the same concept except I used washi tape as I have lots of them I'm getting better and not buying just to buy as I only have one drawer for my washi tape so if it doesn't fit there I can't buy any more. 

The message is by two companies as I wanted to split it so use Merry Christmas 2 stamp by Rubber Marbles and Merry Christmas large stamp by Sweet Impressions both with Memento dew drop lady bug ink. The rhinestone is from my stash

Santa Black & White

I love black & white cards as well as clean & simple and because I had sent card to many people either donation or at one point my mailing list was close to 300 had to figure out how to make many cards that were nice that still had work but easy to mass produce and this was one of them. I picked damask brocade page embossing folder by CB and my Santa stamp love his face then from there I started embossing my paper and then stamping until I got tired of the same image then punched the Santa with 1-3/4" circle punch, cut the embossed layer to the size I wanted and then cut my black layers to mat both finally used a black glitter tape ribbon and finished the cards

SW Christmas

I like some SW images so when I saw this stamp at the stamp show years ago had to have it for a different kind of card. Some areas in México have a lot of cactus and I love tunas mostly the green, but I can eat the red, I do hate to peel them though. For this card I stamped the image with Memento tuxedo black and colored with Copic markers for the Christmas lights used glaze pens and for the star used a star shape rhinestone in my stash

Peel-off Christmas

More quick and simple Christmas card. These were done with peel-off stickers, homemade glitter paper and Spectrum Noir alcohol markers

For the first three used Merry Christmas stamp by Impress with the first and third with Memento tuxedo black ink and the second with Memento dew drop love letter ink

for this last card used cute & curly stamp set by SU and oval punch with Memento dew drop northern pine ink

Christmas ornament

This is another Christmas card that is quick and easy and one that you can make multiples very easy. I embossed the layer of red with Christmas set the one that had words by Cuttlebug then used SU's ornament punch then on the area that I had the opening but on the card base I used a bunch of washi tapes from my stash to cover the opening then mounted the embossed layer finally added the polka dot ribbon by Offray

Clean & simple Christmas

These two cards are on the very clean and simple great for making multiples very easy. For the first used holly embossing folder by Cuttlebug then stamped one of the 2010 Heirloom ornaments with Memento rich cocoa ink from nesties ornament stamp set by Sparkle N Sprinkle that matches with the ornaments die set by Spellbinders which I used to die cut it mounted it on the layer as if it was hanging from the branch added the 3/16" feather edge white ribbon by Offray; for the message used a scrap to stamp one of the messages from Tradiciones Navideñas stamp set by SU with Memento rich cocoa ink then punched it with extra-large oval also by SU

For this one switch the embossing folder to winter wonderland also by Cuttlebug and used Memento tuxedo black ink, added berry pearls stickers by MB as berries and the ribbon is 1/8" double face red satin by Offray

Hanukkah

Found another Hanukkah card I made with the same festive Menorah stamp by American Art Stamp that I put in my donation box last month. For this was very similar to yesterday's card except I used a lighter blue A2 size on top of a white card base and then a silver shimmery paper then die cut the circles with Small circles and small scalloped circles dies sets by Spellbinders on the white circle stamped the Menorah with Brilliance platinum planet ink and colored with Wink of Stella glitter brushes yellow, silver and blue. For the message I typed it on the computer and then punched with word window and mounted on a layer punched with modern label both by SU

Happy Hanukkah

 Hanukkah started last December 7th at sunset and will end December 15th at nightfall. I started sending cards to the parents of a stamping friend who are Jewish with this card. I wanted to have texture on the card but wasn't sure how to add it with the only stamp I have so I used glitter paper for my top layers. I will think of something else for next year but for this time which I had to come up with in a day as I wanted it to arrive on time I made the card base of Accent Opaque Digital International Paper 120 lb. cover smooth white cardstock then die cut a layer of Navy 65 lb. cardstock by Recollections with Cindy Echtinaw Designs Card Creator Perfect Layers A and then cut with trimmer the dazzling diamonds glimmer paper by SU then decided to cut a strip of navy and another glimmer paper then on another piece of glimmer paper stamped a few time with Tuxedo Black memento ink the Menorah which is a stamp by American Art Stamp then colored with Copic Markers. In the center there was a star so I added an epoxy star which I also colored with a Copic marker then punched the pieces with a 2-1/4" and a layer of navy of 2-1/2" both punches by EK Success. Mounted all flat