Valentine

'Tis the time of year to make a little something for your Valentine. I whipped this one up using a technique called Emboss Resist. Several stampers have demonstrated this technique recently (check out this one). In fact, Nichole Heady over at Papertrey issued a challenge using this technique. While I didn't get my card done in time to participate in the challenge, it was fun to learn & use a new technique with such great results.

Cardstock: SU - riding hood red, very vanilla, Candy Lane
Ink: SU - creamy caramel, pink pirouette, riding hood red; VM
Stamps: SU - Happy Hearts; PTI - Text Style
Misc: SU - clear embossing powder, pink pirouette grossgrain; PTI - rustic twine; ScorTape; Magic Scraps - red glitter; Stampendous - white ultra fine glitter; misc. buttons; Zots

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 16

This is a re-run of a card I did in September, but I liked it so well that I felt it should be included in this year's bundle.

Cardstock/Paper: SU - pink pirouhette, whisper white
Ink: SU - mellow moss, pink pirouhette
Stamps: PTI - With Sympathy
Misc: SU - pink grossgrain; Reflections - pearls; Stampendous - black embossing powder; pop dots; Zips; ScorPal

Close in Love and Prayer

In the last week, I've had need for several sympathy cards. I designed this simple card using one of my favorite sets from Papertrey.

Cardstock: SU - pink pirouette, whisper white
Stamps: PTI - With Sympathy
Ink: SU - artichoke, pink pirouette; VM
Misc: Black embossing powder; Reflections - pearls; MM - pink ribbon; Zips; pop dots

Good Luck

This week my most favorite bus driver is leaving. It's an unfortunate part of riding the bus. We only get to keep our drivers for six months before they move on to other routes. I've been riding the bus for six years, and I cannot recall a driver I have liked more. Michael is courteous, polite, and takes a genuine interest in his riders. He notices when we don't ride. He holds the bus a few minutes when we're running late. He takes pride in his job. And it shows: he was selected as Driver of the Year for 2008. In short, Michael is a real gem. I made this card to wish him farewell and good luck as he moves on.

Cardstock/Paper: TLC - black, cream underground; SU - real red, very vanilla

Stamps: Luxe - Swirls; SU - Figures of Speech

Ink: Versamark; SU - real red

Misc: Stampendous - midnight black embossing powder; MM - red star brads; white satin ribbon; red velvet ribbon; Zots; Zips; pop dots; Sizzix - top notez; circle cutters; star punch

Inspiration layout

Sweet One

I was hired to make this card for a baby shower. The mom-to-be is having a boy, but I didn't want to make the card too masculine so I pulled the softer, more neutral colors. I wanted it to look like a wall with beadboard (though that is really difficult to see in this photo...sorry!), chair rail, textured wall on top with a baby-themed wall hanging. It turned out even better than I'd hoped.

Cardstock: white; SU - barely banana, bashful blue (banner), brocade blue (frame), so saffron (moon)

Stamps: SU - So Many Scallops

Ink: Versamark

Misc: Stampendous - midnight black e.p.; Sizzix - Texturez Tween Stripes; MM - FA Trims (Sidney), silver star brad, thin black wire; Zips; tacky tape; CM - circle cutters; Xyron

Sympathy

I made this lovely card for a friend of mine who rides the bus home from work with me. Her daughter-in-law passed away after a very long battle with cancer. I found this card on SCS and used it as my inspiration - only tweaking a few things here & there. Very simple design but stunning none-the-less.

Base: white pre-scored card

Cardstock: black; white

Ink: SU - pink pirouette, always artichoke; VF - onyx

Stamps: PTI - With Sympathy

Misc: flowers; MM - large gingham brad, FV trims (Ruby); SU - eyelet border punch; Stampendous - midnight black embossing powder

Christmas Card

It seems a little late to post this now. I really did intend to put this up the week after Christmas, but somehow, that plan got derailed. Anyway, better late than never, right? I'm particularly proud of this year's card - it's simply beautiful.

Base: white pre-scored card

Cardstock: SU - shimmery white, chocolate chip, baja breeze

Ink: SU - chocolate chip; CB - frost white craft

Stamps: Luxe - swirls; SU - holy triptych

Misc: Stampendous - white pearls e/p; MM - pearl glaze; SU - watercolor pencils, blender pen, ticket corner punch

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

Sneak Peak No. 2

Because I give a lot of birthday cards, I included two in my gift sets. This one is my favorite from the entire set.

Base: white pre-scored card

Cardstock: SU - chocolate chip, old olive, windsor knot, shimmery white

Ink: CB - craft white

Stamps: SU - So Many Scallops

Misc: stitched ribbon; Zips; kaleidoscope ep; silver glitter pen; SU - scallop border punch, scallop circle punch

Inspiration here

Busy, Busy

I realize I haven't posted in several weeks, but I really have been busy in the craft room! And to prove it, here's one of the projects I've been working on. When Papertrey Ink first released this set, I knew I had to have it. Aside from recipe boxes like this one, it's great for other gift boxes, as well.

Base: PTI - Egg carton box

Cardstock: DCWV - Luxury Stack; PTI - shimmery white; white (not visible - to reinforce dividers)

Stamps: PTI - Recipe Box

Ink: ColorBox - white craft; SU - chocolate chip

Misc: Stampendous - white pearls ep; Mod Podge - glossy; Zips; brown ribbon; CM - circles

Gift Card Holders

These are all part of the card assortment I'm making for my friend. I just loves these bases from Sheetload Shortcuts. It makes it soooo easy to whip up a super cute gift card! And since gift cards are becoming the gifts of choice these days, I thought it would be nice to have a few in her bundle.

Celebrations

Base: Sheetload - Gift Card Holder
Cardstock: SEI - Polka Party
Misc: MM - blue crystal brad; spiral

Holidays
Base: Sheetload - Gift Card Holder
Cardstock: SU - Wintergreen; white
Ink: Versamark
Stamps: So Many Scallops
Misc: SU - gold embossing powder; MM - green crystal brad; pop dots

Thanks
Base: Sheetload - Gift Card Holder
Paper/Cardstock: SU - Rebecca, rose red
Ink: Versamark
Stamps: So Many Scallops
Misc: Stampendous - white pearls embossing powder; brad; pop dots

Thanks
Base: Sheetload - Gift Card Holder
Paper: SU - Pool Party
Misc: SU - certainly celery grossgrain ribbon; lt. blue ribbon; Zips; MM - metal tag