Christmas bell card

This morning I saw a beautiful card on Yvette West's blog and had to attempt to recreate it. I love being inspired and Yvette's work is soooo inspiring! Mine turned out alright, but it does not even compare to her creation... but I thought I'd share what I made. I've been too busy to create lately, so it's was nice to do a lift today! Thanks, Yvette! :o)


What I used:
Provo Craft Christmas Slab III papers (from Michaels, I think, about 2-3 years ago)
Coluzzle Oval (CTMH)
White Daisy organdy ribbon (CTMH)
Martha Stewart branch punch (WalMart)
Liquid Glass (CTMH)
Prisma Glitter (CTMH)
Colonial White brads (CTMH)
Paper Piercer (CTMH)
Scallop scissors - retired (CTMH)
Corner Rounder (CTMH)
Chocolate ink (CTMH)
Prima flowers (LSS)
Make-up sponges (other)

Frosty... a snowman card

Just using up a scrap piece of striped paper. I also used my Nestabilities because I just got my embossing mats on Friday night -- yay!

What I used:
Magical Season stamp set (CTMH)
Christmas Scripts stamp set (CTMH)
Ski Slope striped paper (SU)
Real Red C/S (SU)
White Daisy C/S (CTMH)
Chocolate Chip ink (SU)
Waterbrush (CTMH)
Copics (YR16 Apricot, BG10 Cool Shadow, B02 Robin's Egg)
Nestabilities Scallop Circle
Chocolate Chip ribbon (SU)
Martha Stewart snowflake punch
Blue dew drop

Christmas card for Lee from Cole (no peeking Lee!)...

Cole wanted me to make a card for him that he can give to his Dad for Christmas. I let him pick out the B&Ts and this is what I made... (He'll be home from school in a couple of minutes, so hopefully he'll approve! LOL)

What I used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Originals - Background Blocks (I made this one 5x5)
Warm Memories stamp set
Oh Christmas Tree stamp set
Sans Alphabet stamp set
Holiday CB B&T
Ponderosa Pine, Cranberry, Desert Sand and Colonial White C/S
Ponderosa Pine, Cranberry and Chocolate inks
Cranberry bigger brads
1", 1 1/8" and 1 1/4" circle punches (EK Sucess)
Snowflake punch (Martha Stewart)
Clear gemstone brad (Making Memories - I think?)
Pop-dots (other)
Make-up sponges

My really ugly photobox... LOL

I've had quite a few people ask about what I'm using for my backdrops in my photos of my artwork. I made my own photobox out of a large cardboard box, tissue paper, white poster board and painter's tape. Here's a picture of my photobox, and I wasn't lying about it being UGLY... LOL. But hey, it works!

I first cut the flaps off the top part of the box. I then cut out the three sides of the box, leaving about an inch border on the edges. I taped on the tissue paper over these openings, covering the three sides that were just cut out. Then you just take white poster board and tape it in place -- do not give it a crease so it will give the illusion of your artwork floating.

Now what I don't have is proper lighting. You are supposed to have some terrific lighting coming in from both sides, but I don't have any special lighting. I just take my pictures in a well-lit room.

Oh, and on a side-note, you can buy actual photoboxes online. But these work well enough and I like that I'm recycling/reusing a cardboard box!

Key To My Heart card...

Key to My Heart is Close To My Heart's promo for National Papercrafting Month from December 16, 2008 - January 31, 2009. I was able to get my set early as a Consultant and it's been sitting here for awhile taunting me daily to come and play. So I took out the stamp set this afternoon and made a 6x6 card. (I haven't cut into the papers yet; I must be hoarding them for something special or something.) For my card, I wanted to go for a more "masculine" feel with the darker colors and this is what I came up with. You're welcome to email me for the details on how to get your very own set. ;o)

What I used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Originals - Side Focus
Key to My Heart stamp set
Aspen Plaid B&T
Outdoor Denim, Twilight, Creme Brulee and White Daisy C/S
Outdoor Denim, Twilight, Creme Brulee, Grey Flannel and Parchment inks
Pewter brads
Outdoor Denim Organdy ribbon
Pop-dots (other)
Make-up sponges (other)

More Christmas Cards..

I ran out of Christmas cards, so I thought I would use fellow CTMHer Marjorie Ann Eno's pattern she shared to make 12 cards. Yesterday was my Monday crafting day at my friend's and this is what I worked on. While I was working on them, I got a call from my husband looking for 4 cards for a co-worker, so I sold 4 from my set of 12. Which is why there are only pics of 8...

What I used:
So Many Scallops stamp set (SU)
Ski Slope designer paper (SU)
Old Olive designer paper (SU)
Chocolate Chip and Real Red C/S (SU)
Chocolate Chip, Real Red and Old Olive inks (SU)
White Daisy C/S (CTMH)
White Grosgrain Ribbon (Walmart)
Mega Scallop circle punch (Marvy Uchida)
2" circle punch (Fiskars)
Scallop circle punch (SU)
3/4" circle punch (EK Success)
Snowflake punch (Martha Stewart)
Blue dew drops (Michaels)
Pop-dots (dollar store)




Since I sold 4 of my cards I made yesteday, I decided to make 4 more today, using different papers/colors.

What I used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Christmas Melodies stamp set
Season of Joy paper (ScrapWorks)
Vineyard Berry, Olive and White Daisy C/S
Vineyard Berry, Olive and Honey inks
White Grosgrain Ribbon (Walmart)
Mega Scallop circle punch (Marvy Uchida)
2" circle punch (Fiskars)
1 3/4" circle punch (EK Success)
Mega Snowflake punch (Marvy Uchida)
Clear gemstones (dollar store)
Pop-dots (dollar store)

I've Joined the Humble Artists Swap Group...!!!

I am pretty excited! Can ya tell??? I was invited to join a swap group (invite only) called Humble Artists. I've been seeing work done by these talented ladies for quite awhile now and always thought it would be so cool to be able to join a fabulous group like this! Well, low and behold, I was extended the opportunity! I am feeling pretty elated and so excited! I have to try to get my first swap submission done pretty soon, for time allowances (Christmas is such a busy time of year). Anyways, I made this card for my first submission for the next swap, and hopefully my paper selection will work for the guidelines. (Keeping my fingers crossed.) If not, I better get at creating another! LOL

What I used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Friendship Word Puzzle stamp set
Goodness of Life stamp set
Creative Basics Silhouette B&Ts (Spring 2008)
Black, Colonial White, Hollyhock and Creme Brulee C/S
Black, Hollyhock and Creme Brulee inks
Black floss
Black brads and bitty brads
Hollyhock ricrac
Oval Coluzzle
Corner Rounder
Marvy Uchida Giga scallop square punch
Fiskars hole punch
Make-up sponge (other)
Pop-dots (other)

Sad to see you go...

I learned after getting back from our weekend in Banff last week that a friend of mine is moving to Calgary. Her husband is taking on a new job in the new year, so they are leaving fairly soon. :o(

This is the card I've made for her and I will give it to her soon...

What I used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted):
Inspiration stamp set
May Word Puzzle stamp set
Best Yet stamp set (SU)
Silhouette B&T
Paper Garden B&T
Black and Petal inks
Colonial White, Black and Garden Green C/S
Clear Detail Embossing Powder
Marvy Uchida scallop cirlce punches (Mega and Giga)
2" Fiskars cirlce punch
Martha Stewart leaf punch
Coluzzle Circle
Curly Label punch (SU)
Scallop edge punch (SU)
Black journal pen
Make-up sponges
Pop-dots