Auction Christmas Cards

Many of you may know that every year our church holds an auction. I usually donate 40 Handmade Christmas Cards. I design 4 cards and the winning bidder gets to choose which design(s) they want and I make the cards. Here are two of the designs. These two were not selected by the winning bidder, but I liked them enough to share them with you all. I'll post the other two tomorrow. The first one uses the new To You and Yours set. I cut it out with the Coluzzle oval and then mounted it on a Nestabilities oval die-cut from Artichoke paper. I also used some of that wonderful striped grosgrain 1-1/4" ribbon in Riding Hood Red/Vanilla stripe. The sentiment is stamped with Artichoke craft ink and embossed with clear embossing powder. Here's the recipe:

Stamps: To You & Yours, Many Merry Messages
Ink: Always Artichoke Classic and Craft inks
Paper: Very Vanilla, Always Artichoke, Riding Hood Red
Accessories: 1-1/4" striped grosgrain ribbon Riding Hood Red/Vanilla stripe, Coluzzle oval cutter, Nestabilities scalloped oval dies, Cuttlebug, clear embossing powder, heat tool, dimensionals.
Here's the second card. It uses the Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder. Also the Snow Burst stamp set. I like the Blues together. The card is a bit busy, so I'd probably lighten up the stamping if I make any more of these. Enjoy.

Stamps: Snow Burst, To You & Yours, Striped Label from the Curly Label Punch bundle
Ink: Pacific Point, Whisper White Craft Ink, Baja Breeze
Paper: Whisper White, Pacific Point, Baja Breeze
Accessories: Cuttlebug Snowflakes embossing folder, Cuttlebug, Curly Label Punch bundle, Large and Small oval punches, White Tafetta Ribbon

Holiday Card Bonanza!

Thursday was a Holiday card-making Frenzy at my house. Here are a few of the results with more to follow. I just got the SU exclusive Top Note Sizzix Bigz die and the "Birds and Blooms" Sizzlit dies. So I had to play! Sassy 7 ladies, watch out, this one comes your way in November, as does the "red card."

Stamps: All Holidays
Ink: Not Quite Navy Marker
Paper: Whisper White, Not Quite Navy, Brushed Silver, Designer Series Paper Ski Slope
Accessories: Birds and Blooms Sizzlit Dies, Top Note Bigz Die, Small and Large Oval punches


The red card is made with the level I hostess set Punches Three and the great new Riding Hood Red striped ribbon from the Holiday Mini. I love the stuff! This card is very quick and easy.

Stamps: Punches Three (hostess), Baroque Motifs
Ink: Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke
Paper: Very Vanilla, Riding Hood Red, Always Artichoke
Accessories: Scallop Square Punch, 1.25 inch grosgrain Riding Hood Red/Very Vanilla

Many thanks to my friend Cindy W. who brought over this great Sleigh die from Spellbinders. Had to play! No stamps here, friends, just those great Season of Cheer rub-ons and the die-cuts. This is the copper version. Next up is the Silver version.

Again, no stamps, just rub-ons and some Designer Series paper to highlight.

Enjoy your weekend. I'll have more next week.

Very Vera

This "Thank You" card was inspired by a Vera Bradley "Java Blue" invitation I received recently. I'm making a bunch of these as a gift. I loved the color combination and believe it or not, I had a paisley stamp that almost matched. I also used my Nestabilities scalloped oval die for the Chocolate Chip piece. Everything else is from Stampin' Up! The corners are just Signo White Gel Pen dots because I didn't have any white brads. Enjoy.

Stamps: Paisley background, Short and Sweet
Ink: Chocolate Chip, Taken With Teal
Paper: Soft Sky (retired), Whisper White, Taken With Teal, Chocolate Chip
Accessories: Ticket Corner punch, White Grosgrain Ribbon, Small and Large oval punches, Nestabilities oval die, dimensionals

Too Cute!

What happens when you get a bunch of ladies stamping cards on a Thursday morning? Really cute New Baby greetings, that's what! Thanks gals for inspiring me on this one. Here's how it turned out. I'm still sold on the Nestabilities (the large yellow scallop) and the All in the Family set (I finally used it!) was so much fun. Here's the recipe:

Stamps: Background Basics, All in the Family, Fun and Fast Notes
Ink: Pretty In Pink, Barely Banana, Basic Black
Paper: Pretty In Pink, Whisper White, Barely Banana
Accessories: Crimper, Soft Subtles Brads, Scallop Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Nestabilities, 1-1/4" circle punch, 1-3/8" circle punch, Word Window punch, dimensionals

The promised sample

After a frustrating attempt to go to our newly-opened neighborhood grocery store (full parking-lot, parking vultures, crowds, you get the picture?) I decided to come home and get stuff done. So, for my break from cleaning the basement, I made the aforementioned sample from this morning. This time, I used SU paper and stamps and the Crystal Effects for some shine. I also changed the orientation. However, I couldn't resist using another one of the cool tools I got at CK Manchester: Scalloped Oval Nestabilities. They're great, I'm sold. They work with all sorts of die-cutting machines, including my Cuttlebug. Check out the link for more information. They had a booth at CK-M and were impressive. I hope we'll see them in stores soon, but until then, search for them on-line. You'll see them used a lot in my future posts, I can tell. No more 2-post days, I promise.

Stamps: Simply Said
Ink: Basic Brown, Wild Wasabi, Apricot Appeal marker
Paper: Wild Wasabi, Chocolate Chip, Whisper White, Apricot Appeal DS paper from the Print Pack hostess gift
Accessories: Wild Wasabi Stitched Grosgrain ribbon, Blender Pens, dimensionals, Crystal Effects (on the flowers for some shine), Petite Scalloped Oval Nestabilities