Monday, November 24, 2014

Heartfelt Thanks among the trees....

Hi everyone!

With Thanksgiving around the corner, I'm popping in to just quickly share a card I created yesterday. I'll be entering this card into several different sites:
1. Simon Says Wednesday blog--the challenge was to make a "thanks" card.
2. Moxie Fab World--our card had to have tons of trees on it. The "tree-mendous challenge".
3. Word Art Wednesday--"anything goes".

Here's my card:
So, this stamp is a new one for me. I went shopping at a local craft store and a friend of mine ended up winning a prize package. Since all the prizes were paper craft related, she deferred her selection to me! And, there was a nice package of Hero Arts stamps and goodies!

I stamped this image (Winter trees) in brown pigment ink and heat embossed it. Then, I masked off the ground portion so that the "horizon" would be easy to color in. I used my distress inks to make this sunset. I started off with some squeezed lemon. Then I used spiced marmalade and then dusty concord. For the ground, I used Wink of Stella to add some shine but the picture didn't pick that up. I also wanted to try to add some snow on the trees. I used the white picket distress marker and added touches of white to a few trees but it's hard to see here. I layered the image on cardstock that I distressed to match the sunset and then added some twine. Anyway, it was a fun image to play with! The sentiment is also from Hero Arts.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. Remember your blessings as you sit with your friends and loved ones. I'm grateful to have a place to share my cards and I'm thankful for the kind messages left, too.

Pat

Sunday, November 16, 2014

Christmas ornaments

Hi everyone!

I'm here to share a card that I had a lot of fun making! With Christmas under 40 days away (yikes!), I spent some time figuring out what card I'd like to make and send out to friends. I think this may be it. I'll be entering the card in a few different challenges listed below:
Word Art Wednesday--they always have an "anything goes" challenge so I try to play along often.
Cute Card Thursday--the challenge was to use "red and green".
Just Add Ink--the challenge was to add texture.

Here's my card:
I wish the picture would've been better. What you don't see is that the front panel is embossed with tons of Christmas words like "joy" and "peace" (Sizzix). I then used Sizzix dies to cut the ornaments and then cut them out again on a shiny, red cardstock. I took some stamps (flourishes, and a snowflake) and added the designs to the snowflakes. I like that each ornament is unique in its design. I heat embossed them in silver and then added some green gems as accents. The sentiment is from Hero Arts. I debated for a long time whether or not to "hang" the ornaments with string but chose instead to just put some white bows on each ornament.

The card was easy to make and tons of fun because you got to be creative with the actual ornament die cut. And I love the texture from the embossing folder that covers the entire card and the silver embossing that really adds a nice punch of color to the card, too.


Thanks for stopping by and have a great week!
Pat

Sunday, November 9, 2014

Deck the Halls!

Hi friends!

I know, I've been MIA for a while! But, there's some great challenges that I got to play along with tonight and I'm here to share a Christmas card. Hard to believe Christmas is a little over a month away!

I'm submitting my card to the following challenges:
Freshly Made Sketches--they provided such a fun sketch and I immediately knew what I'd make.
The Paper Players--they provided the color inspiration.
Simon Says Stamp! Monday challenge--having "ornaments" on the card.
Word Art Wednesday--"anything goes" challenge...my FAVORITE!

Without further ado, here's my card and the challenge badges will be underneath the card.


 I was delighted to find this stamp on clearance several months ago. I believe it's from Hero Arts and I loved using it as a background. (I might make my own stamp pad next time so I can have several colors on the background and not just one). I stamped and clear embossed it. Then, I used a Sizzix die for the ornament and stamped and embossed several snowflakes on the ornament. I layered the pieces on some red metallic/shimmery cardstock from Die Cuts with a View. The final touch was to add some red gems to the snowflakes and the string of lights. Super easy to do--and could be mass produced, too--but still looks elegant because of all the shimmer and embossing.

Have a great week, everyone! Thanks for stopping by!
Pat