20+ Days of Cards: Day 20

Today wraps up the holiday cards I made as gifts. This last card is literally a gift in itself. Again, I used Jennifer McGuire's tutorial for incorporating money into the design. Who said money doesn't grow on trees?? *wink*

Cardstock/Paper: SU - not quite navy, baja breeze, sage shadow, chocolate chip
Ink: VM; SU - handsome hunter, always artichoke
Stamps: Luxe - swirls; PTI - 2009 Holiday Tags
Misc: SU - heat & stick powder; Stampendous - crystal snow; Reflections - pearls, stars; Michaels - velvet ribbon

20+ Days of Cards: Day 18

Unfortunately, I neglected to photograph all of the cards that went into the gift set so you won't get to see all 20. However, I still have plenty of things to share over the next several days.

I don't know about you, but I give a lot of gift cards these days. While I hate that it feels so impersonal, I feel like I'm saving the recipient a trip & a return. So to spice things up, I try to make the packaging fun. Just before Christmas, Jennifer McGuire posted several tutorials on the Hero Arts blog for gift card holders. I thought they were wonderful and set out to make them myself.

Today's card is a creative way to give money. Jennifer's tutorial can be found here.

Base: SL - frosted card
Cardstock/Paper: SU - delicate dots, whisper white, real red, basic black; DCWV - mi casa
Ink: CB - frost white, platinum; SU - handsome hunter
Stamps: SU - Solemn Stillnes, Happy Winter
Misc: MM - black mini brads, blue brads; Reflections - star; MS - chunky glitter; SU - crystal effects; pop dots; black pen

TIP: When using a frosted or acetate card base, be sure you have the right kind of ink to stamp on it. I didn't, which means that despite my best efforts the ink never dried properly.

20+ Days of Cards: Day 9

Simple, understated, elegant. What else is there to say about this design? I simplified it to eliminate some of the intricate cutting. But I think the end product is just as stunning.

Cardstock/Paper: DCWV - Mi Casa stack; SU - chocolate chip, whisper white
Ink: SO - timber brown
Stamps: VV - Fluttering By; SU - Thoughts & Prayers
Misc: pop dots; Recollections - black gems; orange gems; Zots; EK - diamond scallop punch; Sizzix - Texturz

20+ Days of Cards: Day 7

Everybody loves a good group birthday card. This Whipper Snapper stamp is always perfect for just such an occasion. I had stamped the image a long while ago but never got around to using it. I was a little heavy-handed when I stamped it so, in order to use it, I would have to cover up some smudges. I colored it up and set to work on covering up the boo-boo. I used the Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #17 for the palette which worked perfectly.

Cardstock/Paper: SU - notebook, candy lane, chocolate chip, whisper white; kraft
Ink: VF - onyx; SU - riding hood red
Stamps: WS - Party Kittens; PTI - Around & About Sentiments
Misc: SU - watercolor pencils, blender pens; pop dots; Recollections - red gems; Fiskars - 1" circle punch

4 Baby

This seems to be the year for babies. I have five friends with babies due before the end of the year. Needless to say, there are lots of baby gifts to give & cards to make. I really like the way this one turned out. I based it on this card by TravelingMama. I've had this SU! paper for ages and use it here & there but hadn't yet found a way to incorporate the oh-so-cute birdies into a card. I was pleased as punch when I saw the inspiration card & knew exactly what I was going to do to adapt it. (No stamps/ink required!)

Cardstock/Paper: SU - Good Morning Sunshine, pink pirouette

Misc: Prima - aloha petals; AMM - chipboard 4; Sizzix - Broadway Melody; MM - gem brad; gems; Zots; Xyron; corner rounder; chipboard; Stickles - cotton candy


Did you notice my new floral frog? I've admired Dawn's for a long time and finally happened upon this one in Michael's last week. And it was only $3 - what a steal!

Birthday Thanks

I had quite a few thank-you notes to write after my birthday. And I after I saw this card on the Amuse blog, I knew that it would be perfect so I whipped up a set to send out to my friends & family. I adapted the design to suit what I had on-hand. They turned out pretty good, eh?

Cardstock: SU - choc. chip, very vanilla; Sizzix - shantung assorted metals self-adhesive

Stamps: Studio G - typewriter alpha

Ink: StazOn - timber brown

Misc: Zots; gems; Sizzix - leaf #4

Pub Crawl!

One of the many things we really loved about our Hawaiian cruise was the fun ship-sponsored activities. We never found ourselves wanting for anything to do. On one such afternoon, we participated in a pub crawl where we got to sample a drink at each bar, play some games, and make some great friends. We laughed ourselves silly that day!


Cardstock/Paper: TLC - Slumber Party
Misc: chipboard; pink gems; Sizzix - Broadway Melody; Uniball - Signo white gel pen; DCWV - rub-ons; misc. satin ribbon; Zips; Zots; Xyron; pop dots

Blooming Birthday Gift

I'm waaaaaaaay far behind on Dawn's color challenges, but that does not mean that I opted not to do them altogether. On the contrary, I continue to think on them and use them as inspiration hits me. Like with this gift card holder, for instance. It was my co-worker's birthday this week, and I wanted something fun, yet feminine, for her "card." Raspberry Suite Color Challenge #3 was perfect!

So here's the color combo:










And here's my take on it. What do you think? (I got the gift card holder idea from this post on Sheetload Shortcuts.)

Cardstock/Paper: TLC - Slumber Party; SU - Autumn Vine; kraft
Stamps: PTI - Around & About Sentiments (inside tag only)
Ink: VF - onyx
Misc: red flowers; Imagination Project - save the date circles; MM - lg polkadot brad; pink gem; SU - grossgrain, eyelet border punch, scallop circle punch; TLC - Slumber party circle tags; Zots; Tacky Tape; SS - gift card holder

Around & About Thanks

Using another of my new PaperTrey Ink sets, I made a whole set of these thank-you cards. This set of stamps is so versatile. I'm really liking what I can do with it, like stamp on ribbon as I did here.


Cardstock: kraft; red; black; white
Ink: SU - real red; VF - onyx; CB - frost white
Stamps: PTI - round & about sentiments
Misc: SU - scallop border punch; red gems; Zots; Zips; red grossgrain; pop dots; Sizzix - Circles #2
Inspiration

Variation on a Theme

Using the same inspiration as yesterday, I made a second thank-you card but changed up the color scheme a bit.

Cardstock: SU - old olive, chocolate chip; kraft

Ink: SU - chocolate chip

Stamps: SU - cheery chat, frames with a flourish

Misc: SU - felt double-stitched ribbon; gems; pop dots; Zips; Zots

Thanks

It's that time of year where you send out oodles of thank-you notes for all of the wonderful Christmas loot. I'm a wee bit behind the eight ball this year, but I figure it's better late than never. *grin* (Although, in my defense, I didn't get some of my gifts until last week so technically I'm right on time ... at least for those. *wink*)

Cardstock: SU - windsor knot, baja breeze; kraft

Ink: SU - chocolate chip

Stamps: SU - cheery chat, frames with a flourish

Misc: SU/Sizzix - top note; pop dots; brown stitched grossgrain; yellow button; twine; gems; Zots; Zips

Inspiration here

Thinking of a Friend

A friend of mine has been very sick. She has had appointments with numerous doctors & specialists and no one seems to have an answer for her. She tends to be a bit of a worrier, so the myriad of appointments and tests without answers have really been tough for her. I made her this bright & cheery card in hopes that it brings her a little smile.

Base: white pre-scored card

Cardstock: SU - so saffron, real red; TLC - runway meadow brook circles; white

Ink: SU - real red, so saffron, pumpkin pie, old olive

Stamps: VV - petals & stems; SU - frames with a flourish

Misc: TLC - iceberg outerwear slumber party; SU - filigree brads; SU/Sizzix - Top Note; pop dots; Zig - o5 pure red; gems; Zots; Xyron 250

Inspiration here

Gift Set No. 15

And now ... {drum roll please} ... the last card of the boxed set of twenty cards. This is the fifth sympathy card that was included in the box. I really like it for its elegance & simplicity.

Base: white pre-scored card

Ink: VF - onyx; SU - bashful blue

Stamps: VV - Filigree Fantasy; SU - Little Hellos (sentiment)

Misc: ScorPal; gems; Zots; SU - black grossgrain; Zips

Inspiration here

Gift Set No. 10

It's a great time of year to drop a note & say hi. And what better than a winter-themed card to do just that?! Snowmen are my favorite. *grin*

Base: DCWV - brown pre-scored card

Cardstock: DCWV - Luxury Stack; navy; PTI - white shimmer

Stamps: SU - Happy Winter

Ink: SU - old olive, always artichoke; VF - onyx; CB - frost white

Misc: Stampendous - kaleidoscope ep; gems; Zots; SU - watercolor pencils, scallop edge punch, hodgepodge; Zips; Michaels - lt aqua grossgrain; navy grossgrain; Cutterbees (edge distressing)

Inspiration here

Gift Set No. 8

Sometimes I like to drop a little note to friends for no reason in particular. Doesn't everyone? That's why I included five all-purpose cards in the gift set.

Base: white pre-scored card

Cardstock: red; hunter; DCWV - luxury stack; PTI - white shimmer

Ink: SU - real red

Stamps: VV - Fluttering By

Misc: green gem; Zots; Zips; Michaels - Berry Christmas ribbon; pop dots

Inspiration here

Gift Set No. 3

Today's card is the third in a two-week series from a gift set I gave to my grandmother for Christmas.

Base: white pre-scored card

Cardstock: navy; red; white; SU - bashful blue

Stamps: VV - Petals & Stems; SU - Framed Greetings

Ink: SU - old olive, more mustard, night of navy

Misc: Crop-a-Dile; red gem; Zots; MM - red brads; pop dots

Inspiration here

Finishing the Gift Set

Today I'm finishing up the set of cards I started a couple of weekends ago. I wanted lots of variety, so I've made 15 cards spanning everything from friendship to holidays to thanks, and one or two I've made with specific upcoming events in mind, like the wedding card.

Birthday
Base: White pre-scored card
Cardstock: SU - Rose Red; Luxe - Pashmina Piggy Bank; white; black
Ink: Versafine - onyx
Stamps: SU - Big Celebrations
Misc: SU - watercolor pencils & blender pen; Stickles - crystal; SU - black grossgrain ribbon; Zips; SU - pewter hodgepodge hardware; gems; pop dots
Inspiration

Wedding
Base: white pre-scored card
Cardstock: navy; white; SU - bordering blue
Ink: Versafine - onyx; Versamark
Stamps: SU - Big Celebrations, Delight in Life
Misc: Stampendous - white pearls embossing powder; gems; TLC - circle memory gems; Zots; CM - circles; MM - pearl glaze
Inspiration

Thankful
Base: DCWV - brown pre-scored card
Cardstock: white; SU - Western Sky, really rust
Ink: Versafine - onyx
Stamps: SU - Thoroughly Thankful
Misc: MM - light orange brads, green ribbon; K&Co - rust ribbon; Zips; pop dots; corner rounder; SU - watercolor pencils
Inspiration

Thanks
Base: white pre-scored card
Cardstock: white; dk. green; SU -really rust
Ink: SU - handsome hunter, really rust, more mustard
Stamps: SU - Flower Filled, Framed Greetings
Misc: MM - orange eyelets; SU - pewter hodgepodge hardware; Stickles - crystal; Zig - pure green pen
Inspiration

Birthday
Base: DCWV - lt. orange pre-scored card
Cardstock: white
Ink: Versafine - onyx; SU - pumpkin pie
Stamps: SU - Fun Filled
Misc: Zig pens; MM - eyelets

Sympathy
Base: white pre-scored card
Cardstock: SU - certainly celery, notebook; white
Ink: SU - certainly celery, so saffron; Versafine - onyx
Stamps: Verve - Floral Whimsy
Misc: SU - barely banana & certainly celery grossgrain, watercolor pencils & blender pen; Zips
Inspiration

I'm Back...and a Card

I haven't really been in the crafting mood since I got back from my trip. I did actually make two very cute cards, but I made them on the run & forgot to take photos. =( Today, I have a free day at home since my office is being recarpeted at work. So I'm catching up on some of the cards on my list. You'll get at least two posts out of me this week. lol

Birthday

Background: SU - Bashful Blue
Cardstock: SU- Bashful Blue, Rose Red, Wintergreen; white
Ink: SU - Mellow Moss, Always Artichoke, Garden Green, Rose Red
Stamps: Verve - Floral Whimsy
Misc: K&Co - Amy Butler chipboard letters; SU - pewter Hodgepodge Hardware; CM - circle & wavy cutters; gems; MM - square brad; Stickles - pink; tacky tape; white satin ribbon; button; flower; pop dots; Zots
Inspiration: Verve gallery

Just Because

I have a friend who's currently trying to "make it" in NYC. Pretty tough. But I really admire him. He's exceedingly talented. And I hope to see his name in lights one day. While he's on the long, hard road to stardom, I like to send him random notes of encouragement. So necessary when you live in THAT city! (My inspiration comes from here.)

Background: white pre-scored card

Cardstock: SU-certainly celery
Stamps: Verve-Petals & Stems, Fluttering By
Ink: SU-certainly celery, pumpkin pie, summer sun; VF-onyx
Misc: Stickles-crystal; pop dots; tacky tape; orange polkadot ribbon; rhinestones; Zots

My Thank-Yous

Whew. Now that I got Derek's set of cards done, I could get started on my own. I have several people I need to get some thank-you notes out to, and I was able to get those done today. I'm glad to have them finished! Still have several more to do. Hope to get them done tomorrow. It would be nice to have a clean slate when I leave for Ireland next Friday!

Background: white pre-scored card
Stamps: Verve-Petals & Stems
Cardstock: white; Crate Paper-Red Boots; SU-Summer Sun, Pumpkin Pie
Ink: SU-old olive, ruby red, summer sun, pumpkin pie, more mustard; VF-onyx
Misc: orange brad, olive grossgrain, tacky tape, pop dots, black pen
Inspiration

Background: white pre-scored card
Stamps: Verve-Filigree Fantasy
Ink: SU-chocolate chip
Misc: rhinestones, tacky tape, chocolate grossgrain, Zots
Inspiration