Sixth Day of Christmas

Happy 6th Day of Christmas and New Year's Eve! Another year went so fast although I think each year goes as fast it's just the older we get seems time goes faster.

In one of my online groups we lost a member in July, Jean. Our neighbor had a baby girl in July and two online member had new great grandkids (May & July) what a precious gift for them all.

Our oldest granddaughter turned 14 this year and has a boyfriend!! and the youngest turned 8th.

We celebrated our 29th wedding anniversary with a day trip to have lunch in Eastern Washington with my sister, great weather. 

Celebrated my 59th birthday all day starting with breakfast with my sister and then with my adopted family.

  

I continue to give cards to the heroes in my city. I started during pandemic when the some of the people I follow were saying to give cards to store clerks, nurses & doctors that were out during the shut down well I wasn't leaving the house and the only people I could see that were out the front line were the cops in my city there have been different cops over time. Since we are a small city easy to continue given them cards.

Use a new folder and matching stencil by Altenew that hadn’t used festive greenery botanical 3D embossing folder and builder stencil set with peeled painted, rustic wilderness and Copic R24, R46, G24 after doing this, wasn’t sure what I was going to do but remembered I had some flowers from the small die of the month July 2023 layered poinsettia tree not enough for all eleven cards but enough to get me started so added a layer of vellum and colored the dies cuts with mermaid lagoon, picked raspberry, candied apple, barn door, wilted violet, dusty concord, mustard seed, spiced marmalade, seedless preserves; lumberjack plaid; mustard seed, tea dye; mowed lawn, crushed olive, rustic wilderness. For message die cut 3 layers total from timeless sentiments 2 die set by Altenew with brushed rose metallic cardstock

Fifth Day of Christmas

On the Fifth Day of Christmas, show you a Hanukkah card. This year Hanukkah is from December 25th to January 2nd. This is the second year in a while that I make cards for this holiday and since I only have one stamp have to switch from between that and something else.

Started by cutting a slimline layer of Bristol cardstock then spray with distress oxide faded jeans, chipped sapphire, mermaid lagoon, uncharted mariner added some water and dried with heat gun. Then die cut the 9 candles out of candles4birthday die set by The Stamps of Life from glitter cardstock 8 were cut smaller than the center candle and then stamped the message from blessed Hanukkah set by Altenew; mounted to a layer of silver cardstock then to a layer of navy cardstock and glued to a white slimline card base

Fourth Day of Christmas

On the Fourth Day of Christmas, show you this card that was for granddaughter. Got the idea of the floor board from Nichol Sphor. I was just going to add the two backgrounds but her tip of the embossed white piece was great idea. The slippers are from Cozy toes slippers large die of the month October 2024. The legs were die cut with some paper I found in my stash the rest in white and colored with blush, coral berry, black soot, fired brick

Third Day of Christmas

On the Third Day of Christmas, I show you another card from the November 2022 Hero Arts Holiday Craft-Along with instructors were Daniel West, Mindy Eggen, Jessica Frost-Ballas, Jennifer McGuire, Nichol Spohr, Libby Hickson, Lydia Fiedler, Robin Marshall Clark, Laura Bassen & Channin Pelletier. They had a kit you could buy or use your own supplies.

This was my take to card 9 by Laura Bassen Happy Holiday. On an A2 card base added a layer of Core’dinations 65lb. emerald cardstock, then on a white layer blended a bit of rustic wilderness then added a vellum holiday mistletoe steel die by Poppy Stamps and ¼” scraps of red & green. After I was done, realized I forgot the splatter so masked everything and splatter with rustic wilderness. Finally when I decided to whom I was sending the cards I added message

The English message is from star of light stamp set by SU with VersaFine Clair nocturne

and the Dutch message is from global greetings Christmas wishes by PaperTrey Ink also with VersaFine Clair nocturne

Second Day of Christmas

 On the Second Day of Christmas, show you this card that made with layering holiday bells honey cut dies by Honey Bee Stamps. Started by hot foiling with gold glimmer foil variety pack and crossed lines card front hot foil plate by Spellbinders, then die cut with white cardstock the pieces as well as some in gold glitter cardstock, the ones in white colored with lumberjack plaid, candied apple, dusty concord, villainous potion and Altenew enchanted gold pigment rich & vibrant ink also the SCT Crop & Create Fall 2023 Honey cut die by Honey Bee Stamps with ground espresso, vintage photo & forest moss

First Day of Chrismas

On the First Day of Christmas, show you another card from the November 2022 Hero Arts Holiday Craft-Along, where the instructors were Daniel West, Mindy Eggen, Jessica Frost-Ballas, Jennifer McGuire, Nichol Spohr, Libby Hickson, Lydia Fiedler, Robin Marshall Clark, Laura Bassen & Channin Pelletier. They have a kit you can buy or you can use your own supplies.

This was my take to card 10 by Channin Pelletier Rainbow Christmas Stars. On an A2 card base added a layer of Park Lane 65 lb. black cardstock which was die cut with infinity nested rectangle die set then splatter with brilliant gold pearl ex-press watercolor. On a layer from watercolor artist pad Royal & Langnickel essential hot foil with opaque black glimmer foil with wishing tree hot foil plate then smooched with candied apple, spiced marmalade, mustard seed, mowed lawn, prize ribbon, wilted violet, after it was completely dry die cut with matching die

Then picked one of the reverse foil messages from drawers mini Christmas sentiments strips hot foil plate & die set 

Feliz Navidad & Merry Christmas to all

Wishing a peaceful holiday full of love, health and everything you all wish for today. Don't forget what today we celebrate.

Took the November 2022 Hero Arts Holiday Craft-Along which was a nice two day event with the instructors Daniel West, Mindy Eggen, Jessica Frost-Ballas, Jennifer McGuire, Nichol Spohr, Libby Hickson, Lydia Fiedler, Robin Marshall Clark, Laura Bassen & Channin Pelletier. They have a kit you can buy but but you can also use what you have in your stash.

This was my take to card 4 by Jennifer McGuire Holiday Greetings. On an A2 card base added a layer of 65 lb. red cardstock then on another piece bit lighter hot foiled with ornament border hot foil plate with glimmer red hot foil variety pack then blended with aged mahogany. With the bulb ornament infinity dies die cut of vellum the biggest ornament and with red the top of the ornament. Then also punched two 1/2” circles by EK Success and added a replenishment spin & slide disc by MFT in between the circles and ornament. On top glued the bow from layering holiday bells honey cuts dies by Honey Bee Stamps then die cut bright holly tall curve border steel craft die by Poppy Stamps on the berries used glitter. For the message used same glimmer red hot foil with two plates one elegant holiday glimmer sentiments hot foil plate (from our family to yours) and mini Christmas sentiments strips hot foil plate & die set (sending wishes across the miles)

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a blessed and happy Thanksgiving. We were lucky to celebrate Thanksgiving at the Assisted Living with my adopted family on Saturday. Company was awesome as we still have the older relatives and food was good. They even have a teenage boy playing the violin which I thought it was great that he was spending his time with the old folks. Nowadays kids don't like to be with family specially with elderly. Today was another gathering but very small, again my chosen family.

For my card, I loved Altenew's released from last month, I think, because it was all about fall and no flowers. I have nothing against flowers I love flowers but seems like every company is coming out with only flowers and you can only have so many and at some point they're all the same no matter how pretty they are. This release were pumpkins and leaves. The leaves have been on backorder forever but the pumpkins are available and if you took the Cozy Comfort retreat there were more great products again fall theme that match with this release. I picked pumpkin patch bundle which includes embossing folder, simple coloring stencils and stamp set (and three matching word dies which again backorder forever) but not using these, also using also pretty pumpkins layering die set & stylish greeting die set to make cards. For inks decided to play with PinkFresh Studio’s dye inks got them for their last retreat and been trying to play with all colors to get used to their tones as ink wise they're pretty much the same as Altenew's just a bit lighter I think and they have some other colors to complement so you can mix and match.

Started by embossing 6x6 panel then used the stencils to color with berrylicious, coral reef, clementine, marigold, Spanish moss, grassy knoll, citron, lemon whip, sunshine, doe.

at this point decided image it's too full and I can get two cards out of one panel so cut it in half then on another white panel using infinity nested rectangle die set by HA made a frame which glued on top then picked two colors of cardstock that went with the colors I used and die cut it with Cindy Echtinaw Designs Card Creator Perfect Layers A and mounted to an A2 white card base. Then die cut in white the pumpkins and color with same colors but used 3 tones for each pumpkin. For all steams used doe, for the orange card: sunshine, sweet mustard, marigold; mimosa, mango sorbet, fruit punch; peach fuzz, apricot, clementine. 

and for the pink card coral reef, passion fruit, berrylicious; citron, bay leaf, Spanish moss; peach fuzz, apricot, clementine

for the message die cut 3 layers of scraps of brown cardstock. Didn't make give too many cards this year but did gave these cards to the heroes in my city the Algona Police Department.

Feliz Día de los Muertos

Today is Day of the Dead, day to welcome for one day & honor our loved ones that have passed on. Over the last several years there has been lots of things for this holiday so I have been able to do a big Altar to honor my deceased family & friends. 

    

I don't make many cards for this holiday but made these which were so much fun, dies by Spellbinders. One was with the Dancin' girl Day of the Dead and the other Dancin' boy Day of the Dead cutting dies by Spellbinders. Both backgrounds are the same started by masking part of the layer and then with ray of light mix-ables stencil by MFT and distress ink tea dye removed the stencil but kept the mask and without adding ink on brush added more tea dye ink so the background wouldn't be white. With the rosette stencil set & coordinating die cuts by Pinkfresh Studio made bunch with distress inks twisted citron, tumbled glass, wilted violet, milled lavender, carved pumpkin, kitsch flamingo, mustard seed. Glued the rosettes in different layers covering mostly the upper part. Mounted the layer to an A2 black layer and an A2 white card base. Die cut the boy & girl in white and colored with distress inks 

Girl candied apple, fossilized amber, picked raspberry, mermaid lagoon, mowed lawn, spiced marmalade, twisted citron, black soot. Also, added some essential ice clear drops from Pinkfresh Studio

for the mechanism used 5/8" circle punch and MFT spin & slide discs

Boy: black soot, candied apple, tea dye, salvage patina, dusty concord, mustard seed, twisted citron

for the mechanism used 5/8" circle punch and  MFT spin & slide discs 

Happy Halloween

Hope you all have a fun Happy Halloween! This is my second favorite holiday, lots of Snoopy decor so I'm able to decorate almost as big as Christmas.

I got this die set on clearance or discount at Spellbinders last year after the holiday and couldn't wait to play with it so of course first Halloween card was with it. The set is Boo-licious fall cupcake large die of the month September 2023 (there is an add on for Christmas/Winter and Valentine's) used distress inks to colored my die cuts villainous potion, carved pumpkin, black soot, lost shadow, milled lavender; for the bats and the top of the eye used glitter cardstock black and for the cupcake purple

On a Hammermill layer used Glimmer rainbow foil and dazzling diamonds hot foil plate then mounted to an A2 card base, then die cut black frame from ornate rectangle essentials frame die set by Pinkfresh Studio in black twice and mounted with foam strips then mounted the cupcake with is very dimensional

made another with the jack-o-lantern which I colored with wild honey then mowed lawn towards the top and carved pumpkin towards the bottom, black soot for hat with a bit of purple glitter cardstock 

Boo

I got this die set on clearance or discount at Spellbinders last year after the holiday and couldn't wait to play with it so of course first Halloween cards was with it. The set is Boo-licious fall cupcake large die of the month September 2023 used distress inks to colored my die cuts villainous potion, carved pumpkin, black soot, milled lavender, wild honey, mowed lawn; used glitter cardstock purple and black for the top of the eye.

Die cut background paper & black layer from stash with HA infinity rectangle dies & Cindy Echtinaw Designs Card Creator Perfect Layers A then punched mice edge punch by Martha Stewart mounted to the bottom with foam to be same level as the cupcake then mounted to an A2 layer from the purple passion paper pack and then to an A2 white card base

Another 4th of July

Wanted to make a card with my new June 2024 large die of the month summertime vacay by Spellbinders. Started by die cutting the wave & sea confetti die by HA on ocean cardstock then cut just below half and blended a bit of distress ink prize ribbon set aside and then die cut the pieces of club’s die set all in white card stock. Colored with distress inks on the clouds and water breaks or whatever is called used the leftover of the brush from lost shadow, on the chair and pole of the umbrella full straight with lost shadow, for the chair and umbrella candied apple, prize ribbon for the inside of the umbrella fired brick, for the sun fossilized amber and spiced marmalade, for the sand brushed corduroy and gathered twigs.

Placed everything on the card on another layer of ocean cardstock then mounted to an A2 white card base

4th of July

It was time to make cards for the Heroes in my city the Algona PD this time around used sketched flag background stamp by Taylored Expressions with classic stampin spot cherry cobbler and distress oxide prize ribbon then die cut with infinity nested rectangle die set by HA then mounted to some cardstock that had given to me by a friend that was already cut so just had to cut a bit more, this card was just over A2

For the center die cut the map from stars & strips stamp & die combo also by Taylored Expressions three layers blended with distress ink vintage photo and stamped message with prize ribbon 

while was making these decide to also make a couple cards for 4th of July so used message from july2stamp set by The Stamp of Life

 

Happy Birthday

Today is Bret's birthday and for his card I wanted a fun fold and using multiple dies that either haven't used or barely used. My original plan was a regular A2 card but very quickly decided that A2 was not going to fit so played with die cuts and figured out the size with that so card it's big but since it's not going to be mail didn't matter. All panels were mainly made the same used distress oxide inks. For the sky masked the sun and horizon and blended with dried marigold, carved pumpkin and tumbled glass then removed the horizon mask and blended the water with tumbled glass, broken china, mermaid lagoon, salty ocean & peacock feathers then removed the sun mask and added scattered straw. 

All dies were cut in white cardstock and colored with distress inks. From wooden rowboat die set by Altenew used hickory smoke, scorched timber, vintage photo, ground espresso, tea dye

For the fishing pole from lovely layers rod & reed by Honey Bee Stamps used hickory smoke, vintage photo, ground espresso, old paper

Caribbean dreams die set also by Altenew used lost shadow, Copic marker, calligraphy pen

Underwater marine life cutting die set by Spellbinders used hickory, candied apple, mustard seed, twisted citron and pearls by Recollections

Mounted the panel into a layer of light blue from ocean pack by Recollections

Caribbean dreams die set also by Altenew used lost shadow, Copic marker, calligraphy pen, vintage photo, candied apple. Crisp dye inks dark night, misty morning, cloudy sky, nimbus

For the background did the same but skipped the salty ocean

I also mounted the layer to the light blue cardstock from ocean pack this layer is smaller than the first.

for this is again same background as second but also added whatever red I had in the blending brush on the sun and the two leftover seagulls from the dies. The 63 and message are from number of years stamp set by SU with VersaFine clair nocturne 

This layer once again is smaller than the other two and was glued straight into the card base

the first layer was glued to the top flap, the second to the second flap so when you open you see one then the other and finally the 3rd

Happy St Patrick's Day

We are not Irish or really celebrate this holiday but it's always fun to make cards for any fun holiday.

Wanted to make Bret’s card using a new fun fold that was in my to do list so checked Jeanie Stark tutorial from Just Stampin here for this cards.

Started by cutting my card base then cut the guava 65 lb. Core’dinations cardstock then from scraps cut another layer which ran through simple charmed set embossing folder 1 by Cuttlebug & Provo Craft then blended some distress oxide mowed lawn. This is the back with except for one panel and the center was almost identical. 

I added a notecard on back for personal message as I don't like the personal message to be on the open. Thought of covering the other panel but this way Bret would know that only the one panel opened and it closes with magnets. 

Cut another panel of white and green for the front panel. With some more white scraps used the leprechaun2stamp coordinating die set by The Stamps of Life which colored with Copic markers E23, E25, G43, G46, E000, E00. E01, C9, C7, C5, C6, C4, C1, Y28, Y26, Spectrum Noir sparkle Crystal clear glitter brush, and then also die cut a piece of green with pasture grass steel craft die by MB mounted all to the front panel and finally stamped with Memento dew drop cottage ivy the message from shake your shamrocks stamp & die combo by Taylored Expressions.

The card folds flat for mailing, it folds under the front panel. Due to the card base weight and all the layers I used this card is too heavy so it does cost extra IF I was mailing but if you used lighter cardstocks maybe it would be normal postage as it does fit in regular envelope. 

Happy St Paddy's

For this quick & simple card, started by embossing a layer of white cardstock with one of the embossing folders in the simply charmed set by Cuttlebug & Provo Craft cut just a bit smaller than an A2 size then added distress oxide pine needles ink all over the border and mounted to an A2 white card base. Die cut the hat in black, the belt in gold, three buckles in black, four shamrock die cut. one in green and the others in whatever scraps I had closed by some were white some black didn’t matter as they weren’t showing. For the message stamped the happy on half of the rounded tab punch by SU and then stamped the rest of the message on the modern label extra lg. punch also by SU they were from shamrock top hat stamp set by Clearly Whimsy Stamps with VersaFine Clair nocturne ink. Finally added some rhinestones

Hello

Wanted to play with this new die by Spellbinders which is older die hiking through the meadows that was the small die of the month September 2023, die cut all the pieces in white scraps of cardstock then colored then colored with distress inks fired brick, fossilized amber, vintage photo, mowed lawn, vintage photo, mustard seed, spiced marmalade, tea dye, scorched timber, mowed lawn, rustic wilderness, peeled paint, crushed olive, scorched timber, vintage photo, tea dye, fired brick.

Then on a layer white layer blended some distress oxide salty ocean and, on the bottom, added rustic wilderness and mounted the boot. Finally added message from drawers which is from HA

 

With caring thoughts

Started with a layer of white cardstock then with botanicals and butterflies layered stencil set by Pinkfresh Studio and Altenew crisp dye ink added color. Leaves: grass field, shadow creek; Flowers: lavender fields, deep iris; Butterflies: rocky shore, pink diamond, pinkalicious, rubellite

after I was done found out needed the stamp because the butterflies didn’t have the antennas as well as some of the greenery but decided to just get the stamp and only used it for the butterflies for this card, and did it with VersaFine Clair nocturne ink using a mask by die cutting and masking everything but the butterfly areas

Finished the card by die cutting the layer with Cindy Echtinaw Designs Card Creator Perfect Layers A then added dryer sheet to make I think was called faux silk technique and mounted to a die cut layer of lavender cardstock with infinity nested rectangle die set by HA and mounted to an A2 white card base finally just picked a message from drawers. 

Thank You

It was time to honor the heroes in my city, the Algona Police Department, we now have 12 people in the department 9 officers, the Chief and two people in the office. For this time around I made simple clean and simple card which end up having extra cards for my donation box because when you cut paper of one color and you mix and match the papers you end up with more cards. 

The message is from timeless sentiments die set by Altenew the shadow in vellum and 2 black and finally added some primary pack diamond dotz freestyle black or orange rhinestones