Be Merry

Good morning everyone!  It seems that I got a bit ahead of myself and was thinking that yesterday was Sunday.  I knew that taking a trip midweek would mess up my sense of time (or rather, lack thereof!)  If you are checking in to see if your name was drawn for the Comment Game, just scroll down to yesterday's post to check.  I promise to get back on schedule for next week (just chalk it up to old age!  That's my story and I sticking with it! LOL)  Another one of those neutral coloured Christmas cards for today's post. I had a bit of fun with this one as I decided that the paved pearl technique need not only be used as a border.  How about as an ornament decoration?  I embossed a piece of taupe card with the Holiday Magic Embossibility folder.  I used the Heirloom Ornament 2010 and cut an aperture in the centre of my background.  I used the same ornament plus the next size up to cut an ornament frame.  While still in the die, I inked it with clear perfect Medium using a piece of cut 'n dry foam.  I clear embossed it to give it a shiny textured look.  I mounted it on foam pieces above the aperture in the background.  I matted this piece with milk card so it showed behind the bauble.  Then I matted the entire piece with a thin mat of black to define it.  I picked some patterned paper (Teresa Collins design) and gave the whole piece a wider mat. Then matted the entire piece in black and pierced the inner mat layer.  I stamped my sentiment then cut the end into a fork and matted it with a matching black forked mat.  I tucked the edge of the sentiment under the tip of my ornament (just something a bit different).  I added a double bow tied from silky crush ribbon and a fancy button from my stash.  The last step was the pearl dots.  Those were done with the Cosmic Shimmer pearl PVA glue.  I randomly added different sized glue dots filling in the open space from the ornament.  I set it aside to dry overnight.  Whether you like it or it's not to your taste, you may just want to have a go at something similar and that is what I love about this card.  Hopefully it will be fun for you too  All for now, Sue x

Two Simple Cards, One Folder

Hi  bloggers!  I have two cards to share today that have been made from one embossing folder.  I thought it would make more sense to show them together so you can see what I have done.  I used the Winter Wonders embossibility folder for these cards.  I covered a piece of coconut white card with a sticky adhesive sheet.  I ran it through the folder to emboss the card, then I peeled away the backing sheet and covered it with the new Ranger Stickles dry Glitter in clear rock candy.  I love this glitter as it is a beautiful white glitter.  It does not have a pink, purple or green interference colour to it so it is a perfect choice for snow. Also, before I forget to mention, you can use the sticky adhesive sheets in an embossing folder without issue, but you cannot emboss where the tan mat is touching them as that will tear the backing paper.  So now I have an entire piece that is covered with  this lovely glitter so I cut it along the "bow" in the design to give me a top half which I used in the second card and the bottom half which I used in this card.  I stamped my sentiment on some scrap card and embossed just the top half.  I added some beaded snowflakes and some light inking to finish the top of the card.  I embossed another scrap of red card to get the "bow" and cut it out and added it atop my glittered area for a defining centre.  I finished it off with a square Dazzler embellishment and pierced the edges.

For my second card, I used some scrap blue card to emboss the bottom of this one.  I sanded it back for a distressed look and to bring out the pattern a bit more.   I stamped my sentiment and cut it out with the snowflake from the Frosty Forms set.  I cut a larger snowflake from the 2012 Pendant set and layered it behind for the focal element for this card.  Two more Christmas cards finished using one embossing folder and some scraps from that never ending pile all crafters have, huh? LOL 

I am back in town now, but haven't had a chance to get my pics uploaded yet so hopefully by Mo post.  For now though, we have winners for the week's Comment Game. They are:

 

foxyg!!!

maxine h!!!

Pam(the early bird)!!!

 

Congratulations!  Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your prize.  All for now, Sue x

Peace And Love

 Good morning all!  Just sneaking in another of the Christmas cards to remind you it's time to start making them as it will be upon us before we know it!  This one appeals to my sense of a more non traditional styling in the grey and white colour choice.  I started by embossing my white card with the Holiday Magic embossibility (my personal choice for a holiday embossing folder, I just love this one!)  Next I stamped my sentiment on some patterned paper.  I picked a grey tone on tone so the black archival ink would show up nicely.  I really love stamping over papers like this as they add so much interest without being too distracting (there is a close up below).  I cut the top of the paper on a freehand angle just to give it a bit of playfulness.  Next I selected two shades of grey and all the snowflake dies from the Snowflake Pendant and Create a Flake sets to use.  I wanted a random assortment of sizes and shapes.  I covered my grey card and some white card with a piece of our self adhesive sticky sheet and cut all the snowflakes.  Remember, do not emboss when using these adhesive sheets or the backing paper will split.  I peeled the backing paper off each one and dipped them in my clear micro beads, giving them a fun shimmery textural look.  Next, I layered them up and cascaded them across my cut edge and glued them into place.  For the centres of the snowflakes, I used the Cosmic Shimmer silver PVA glue to give a faux pearl look to them.

I added a spray of pearl swirls to the bottom of the card as an accent and pierced the edges to complete the piece.  Think how pretty this would be in golds too!  There's your Christmas cards sorted!  All for now, Sue x

Trying It Again!

Hello guys!  Yes I am trying another laced card to make up for last month's effort.  I am limited to the type of ribbon I am allowed to use, but I have used a wider zigzag this time, showing off more of the background.  I love this one!  I hope it will appeal to more of you this time too.  I started with a flowery background paper in a cream and brown pattern.  I covered it with micro beads for texture, (yes, I am quite addicted to my micro beads and think they make lovely texture for cards!)  Next I cut the top and bottom "lacing" strips using a combination of edgebility dies to achieve this.  I used two inserts together with the scallopy cutting edge.  I added mounting foam to raise these pieces for dimension (and to make the lacing process easier too) and added them to either side of the card.  A quick note here, even though I have used foam pieces for this, because they are seated on to the micro beads, you need to use some Cosmic Shimmer glue for really good adhesion on top of the beads.  Next came the lacing.  I started by attaching the seam binding on the right side to the back of the card and then through my holes, skipping every other one up and down  until I reached the other side.  I tucked the other end behind the card and then added a messy bow and flower on top.  The flower was made using Sam Poole's Button Floral stamp (tutorial for this is on the Creative Expressions website).  Next I stamped my centre focal element using the Justrite Kindness set.  I stamped it using a clear perfect medium pad and clear embossed it over decorative dotty paper.  After I cut it out with the matching Labels 20 die, I added some pearl Nestabling as an accent and cut a dark faux nestie as a mat for it.  I stamped my sentiment and cut it out with a smaller Labels 20 and used a light inking of Antique Linen while in the die.  Pierced the edges to finish it as I usually do.  A quick note, I have started to photograph the new cards that I am making using a ruler in one of the pictures (I won't post the ruler pics) so I will be able to give you card measurements when I start posting those.  There is usually such a lag between when I make the cards, do the shows and post the cards, that I can never recall what size they were and they are rarely still in my possesion by that time to check them!  Today's card was rather large, in the neighborhood of 8" x 8 1/2" in size.  Anyways, I hope that you like this one, as I was kind of fond of it!  All for now, Sue x

A First For Me!

Hello crafty friends and Happy Halloween!  I took a drive on Monday up to Ocala, which is the largest town near my Mom.  I heard that there was a stamp store there and wanted to pay it a visit.  I had a lovely surprise as I saw my Vintage Lace Motifs on their shelf and that is the very first time I have seen them for sale anywhere in the States.  It was very cool to see them displayed on their die wall!  I felt like a proud Mom!  In their honour I have chosen a card for today that I made recently which uses them.  I started with a piece of decorative paper from my stash and used the edgeability dies to cut the top and bottom to give it a scalloped look.  Next I set to work on the focal element.  I cut two of the Parisian Motifs, one in blue and one in white.  For the white one, I nipped away the inside piece by cutting right at the base of the lacy edges.  Then I tucked those edges underneath the shorter pieces on the blue die cut.  It probably is difficult to follow that, but if you have the die cuts in hand, you will probably be able to see exactly what I have done by looking closely at the pictures.  Next I cut two of the Vintage Lace pieces and scored through all the sections.  I nipped into the centre and then concertina folded all the score lines.  Do this to both pieces then glue them together to form a round piece.  I stamped my sentiment and cut it out with a small circle die and mounted it in the centre to complete my focal element.  I cut several of that lovely swirl from the Heartfelt Creations Dutch Iris die set and added them cascading across my card.  I wrapped some silky crush ribbon around the card and tied a double bow and added it to the side.  A pearl embellishment and a couple of pearl stick pins were thrown in for good measure too.  Pierced the edges to give it a nice frame and finish it off.  The demo version of this card that I did on Create and Craft had a butterfly in the corner.  I rather liked it but they whisked it away before I could get a piccie of it for you, so you just have to imagine one there on this one!  All for now, Sue x

 

Thank You

Hello there!   More of the Labels 20 samples to show today.  This is one of my personal favourites as I was very pleased with how it came out.  Sometimes I start a card with an idea in mind and then end up veering off course, but this one came out exactly as I had envisioned it from the beginning.  I used the Heartfelt Lace border twice to simply emboss the design on the background. If you find that your embossing tends to cut into your card, try using a sheet of copy paper between the die and your card.  You can also use your die while there is a cut die still in place in it as that helps to cut down on the depth of the embossing.   I then cut a frame using the largest size of the Labels 20, skipping a size of die and used the next one for the inside of the frame.  I embossed it while still in the die using the Enchanted embossibility folder.  To do this, you much place your die on one side of the folder and keep the folder open!  Cover with your tan mat, add a few sheets of cardstock to make up the depth that you lose by keeping the folder open, then cover with your raspberry adaptor plate and run through the machine.  If you close the folder, the die will cut into your folder and ruin it!  I added the matching pearl Nestabling to the edge. Next I stamped the Labels 20 from the Justrite Kindness set using a clear perfect medium pad onto vellum.  I heat embossed it with white powder and mounted it behind my frame and trimmed the excess away.  I stamped my sentiment in coffee archival and cut it out with a small circle die.  I inked it with Antique Linen and mounted it with foam in the centre of my focal element.  Next I used the Justrite scallop border stamp on taupe card and white embossed it.  I cut it out with the matching edgeability die.  I added a mat piece in camel card to match my focal piece and cut it also with the same edgeability die.  I matted the pieces up and added them to the side of my card as an accent.  I tied a double bow out of white silky crush ribbon and added a pearl embellishment to the centre.  Two pearl stick pins finished off my bow and pearls in the corners and piercing the edges finished off my card.  I just love the sheerness of the vellum in the frame, I have to remember to use vellum more often! 

Just a little note before I go, I am taking a short trip up to Savannah Ga this morning for a few days.  I'll post piccies on the weekend from it and tell you all about it.  I have scheduled posts for each day, but I may not be able to answer emails while I am away.  All for now, Sue x

Just Wanted To Say Hi

Hi bloggers!  I hope everyone had a great weekend and got to do some crafting!  I know I did!  Today's card has some of my favourite things, my new blush card, micro beads, matching stamps, embossing, to name but a few!  I started with a white background and embossed it with the Mystic embossibility folder for texture.  Next I stamped the large Fleur de lis patterned stamp using a clear Perfect Medium pad onto blush coloured card.  I heat embossed it with white powder.  I used some Victorian Velvet around the edges to bring out the pattern a bit more.  Next I cut an aperture in this piece using Labels 20 (the die that is one size down from the largest in the set).  I used the matching stamp from the Justrite Kindness set and stamped it on white card with a clear Perfect medium pad.  I heat embossed with white powder again.  I like the look that you get with the white on white stamping.  It is very subtle but it is enough to add interest to your card, but doesn't distract.  I mounted my aperture over this piece using foam mounting squares.  I stamped my sentiment on blush card and cut it out with one of the fancy tags two dies.  I like the way that this one can be easily used vertically.  I used a bit of Victorian velvet while still in the die to highlight the sentiment.  I mounted it on foam pieces and placed it in the centre of my aperture.  I made three beaded flowers using the Bitty Blossoms dies and sticky adhesive sheets over my blush card.  To make this process easier, I always recommend that you only peel back the backing paper a little bit at a time, then dip it in the beads and then do another section.  These flowers can be very bouncy since they are spiral and you have to be careful so you don't get parts of it stuck to itself with the sticky adhesive paper.  I added pearls to the centres and cut some leaves out of white card as accents.  I pierced the edges to complete the card.  This is exactly the kind of card I like sending "just to say hi!"  All for now, Sue x

Holiday Tree

 

Happy Sunday morning!  It has been awhile since my last Christmas card so here is one that is very simple and elegant.  It is so simple that it probably doesn't even need an explanation (but I will!)  I embossed a piece of my soft gold card using the Holiday Magic embossibility folder.  I cut it in half once embossed and added it to the sides of my card with a black mat below it.  I added a centre panel that consisted of a black mat, then a taupe panel strip.  I cut the Holiday Tree 2012 out of soft gold card using some wax paper so it was easily removed from the die.  I added 5mm black pearls to areas of the tree as accents.  Then I cut two of the borders from the Frosty Forms set out of  black card.  I added the swirly borders cut in black above and below my tree.  I pierced the edges of the mat to complete my card.  See how simple that was.  If you need a special card for a friend and not much time to spare to make it, this is the one for you.  Easily finished in record time! 
It's Sunday so time for the comment game winners and since we had a post with over 200 comments this week, there are two sets of winners!  This week's winners are:
                                                       Wendy Hewings!!! 
                                                           Donna Jones!!!
                                                          "P" in Wales!!!
                                  and from our post with 200 comments, the winners are:
                                                          June Fletcher!!!
                                                         Snowqueen62!!!
                                                           Carol Yates!!!
Congratulations!  Please email me at americansue1@gmail.com to confirm your address and claim your prize!  Thanks again for all your great comments left on the blog, I so enjoy reading all of them!  All for now, Sue x
 

Sweet Thoughts

Good morning all!  A really simple card today to remind you not to forget to use your dies to simply emboss with.  They are absolutely stunning when used in this method.  I hear it time and time again from people that they have forgotten that they can do this!  This technique is especially effective when using detailed dies as it really shows them off.  I have used my Vintage Lace dies for it on today's card.  I used the large motif with one of the smaller dies inside of it.  Once embossed (using the tan mat and pink plate), I inked over the dies with Antique Linen to highlight the embossed areas.  I stamped my sentiment below the embossing and on the other side of the card.  I used a black rhinestone swirl as an accent between them.  For the card, I created a sort of petticoat using the krinkly kraft paper (aka twistwrap kraft paper).  I cut two strips of it and by running my thumb firmly across the edge, it creates a ruffle in the paper.  I  did not have to actually gather the paper to create the ruffle which makes it so easy to do. I used some Black Soot distress ink to distress the paper ever so slightly on the edges. I glued them to the bottom of my card with a slight offset to them.  I cut a Vintage Lace border in black and glued it across the top of my border.  I added some black rhinestones along the edge as accents.  I matted it in black and pierced the inner mat to finish my card.  It would be nice in other colours if you are not a lover of the earth tones like I am.  All for now, Sue x

Lavender Thank You

Hi bloggers!  I have really been enjoying all your comments lately as I feel a bit removed while I am here in the States.   It is really nice to feel like I am not being forgotten while I'm away!  Thank you for that! Sorry to hear that the weather has been rather dull lately too, but hopefully today's card will brighten up your day!  Those lavender lovers out there should take a shine to it at least. I started by cutting two of the Heartfelt Decorative Lace borders in white.  I cut two strips of lavender card and used them behind the lattice portion of the border as an accent.  I glued the borders on to my background with the lattice areas flanking the top and bottom of the card.  Next I cut the largest die in the Labels 20 set out of lavender card.  I picked a deeper purple and cut the Heartfelt Oval Window die.  This die has lovely big swirly areas so I used it to hug the next layer on my focal element.  I stamped the large Labels 20 from the Justrite Kindness set using a clear Perfect Medium pad and I heat embossed it with white powder.  I cut it out with the matching die and tucked the swirls from the window around the curves of the die.  Such a nice fit!  Next I used the small Labels 20 stamp from the Fleur de Lis set and embossed it with white on a lavender card.  I stamped the sentiment in the open area using a black archival ink pad.  I cut it out and mounted it with foam pieces in the centre to complete my focal element.  I tied a messy bow out of three pieces of mauve (their name) seam binding and added two pearl stick pins and a round Dazzler to the centre.  I added my bow to the side of my card with glue dots and pierced the edges of my white mat to finish the card.  Almost as girlie as yesterday's card, but not quite!  All for now,

Sue x

Girliness Today

Hi guys!  This is definitely a girlie girl card, from the lace border to the swirly die to the messy bow and embellishment.  Every inch of it is all girl today.  I started by cutting an aperture in the background with the Heartfelt Decorative Window.  Leaving the die in place, I placed it on the tiny polka dot mask and embossed the background.  I stamped my sentiment on coconut white card and embossed a bit of texture into it using the Creative Expressions Flourish folder designed by Sam Poole.  I placed mounting foam on the back of my aperture and mounted it over my sentiment so it was raised for dimension.  I cut one more of the Decorative windows in pink blush card and glued it to the inside of the aperture piece.  Next I cut one of the Decorative Lace Borders from Heartfelt Creations.  I cut the border into three sections.  The first section was the lattice part of it.  I backed this with a piece of the Blush card to give it a bit of colour.  I used the remaining sections of the border by slightly overlapping them for a lacey effect.  I tied a messy bow out of seam binding and added a pearl embellishment to the centre.  To complete the piece, I used Cosmic Shimmer pearl PVA glue to add dots around the top half of the card.  I hope it isn't too girlie for you!  All for now, Sue x

You Are Pretty Amazing

Hi bloggers!  Today's card is a really simple layout, but I just love the negative space from swirl dies myself.  I picked out some Graphic 45 papers for this one.  They may not appeal to everyone, but I just loved the colours in them.  The patterned stripe paper was light enough to be used on top and show off my sentiment.  I really liked the darker background paper, which has small butterflies on it (so appropriate I thought) and thought it would look smashing peeking out through the swirl cut outs.  I used my favourite swirl die for this one too.  It is part of the Heartfelt Creations Dutch Iris die set.  I taped it into place in the lower corner and ran it through the machine to cut my first swirl.  Adding a small piece of waxed paper between the die and your card really helps aid in the removal too.  I used the die a second time to create the look of one long die cut by slightly overlapping the cutting edge on the die with the area that was previously cut.  I stamped my sentiment using a black archival ink pad and then added 3D foam mounting pieces to raise the entire piece over the background below.  Using the same paper that is showing through the swirls, I cut two of the butterfly die that is part of the Heartfelt Creations Butterfly border set.  One was simply cut and embossed, but one was cut with a sticky adhesive sheet attached.  I micro beaded that butterfly and adhered it to the top of the other butterfly by gluing only the body.  The butterfly wings were left free and were formed to show off both of them.  I added three black rhinestones to the body as an accent.  The entire piece was matted with a thin mat of soft gold to give it a frame, then I finished with a black pierced edge layer.  Can you see the tiny butterflies in the background?  All for now, Sue x