2S4Y - Laura's Sketch 44

I needed to make a retirement card for a friend at church, so I decided that Laura's Sketch 44 over at 2Sketches4You would be the perfect design for what I was thinking of doing. Unfortunately I haven't acquired any stamps that would be suitable for a retirement card yet, so the image and sentiment are both computer generated. I was able to use 2 new items I received for Christmas (fancy tags, circle nesties) so I was happy about that.

Card Details: Spellbinders - Circle, Scalloped Circle, Fancy Tags; CB Folder - Swiss Dots; CS - Recollections (blue, brown, white), Coredinations (textured blue bases); Sentiment and image are computer generated.

Playing With Pergamano

I've been in the mood lately to try some new things so I got out the Pergamano and the Diamond Glaze and made a card (Birthday Wishes). The flowers were coloured using a paint brush and ink refills. I then added the glaze to the front to give it a shiny look. I stamped the leaves on the background and then added some MS punched leaves for dimension. However, I wasn't completely happy with how this card turned out, so I moved on from there to work on different ways to add colour to a Pergamano card. The card with the lady in the garden was coloured using different amounts of pressure with the embossing tool, as well as the Gelly Roll pens. The card with the roses was coloured with water colour paints. I think it's my favourite because the colour shows up well, and was easy to work with and add dimension with lights and darks.

Handy Tip: I made the silver edge on the Labels 1 layers by using a Pilot silver metallic broad tip marker. I put a slit in the centre of the tip, put the edge of the paper in the slit, and then run it evenly around the entire edge. An easy way to add a layer without adding more bulk to your card!

Card Details
Birthday Wishes: Nesties - Labels 1, Fancy Tags; MS Leaf Punch; Stamps - Artemio (leaves), Inkadinkado (sentiment); Ink - Tinta white, MS green, Colourbox - Violet, Dusty Plum, Versamark; Ranger silver embossing powder; Pilot metallic silver marker; Pergamano tools; Judikins Diamond Glaze; Ribbon - Ruban; CS - Recollections, Bazil (silver); Green vellum and parchment paper.

Lady in the Garden: Pergamano tools; Tinta white ink; Gelly Roll pens; Parhment paper.

Roses: Pergamano tools; Tinta white ink; Water colour paints; Parchment paper.

Sympathy Cards

A friend of mine recently lost her mother so I wanted to make a card for her. I ended up making 2 cards and now I can't decide which one she would like the most. What do you think, which one would you send?

The top card has vellum flowers and leaves. The inside has a stamped verse, and on the green strip at the bottom I used the same border punch that I used on the front.

Card Details:
Top: Punches - Fiskars, Marvy, Martha Stewart; Stamp - Rubber Stampede; Ink - Colourbox; Pearls - Recollections; CS - Recollections; Vellum - Memories Forever.
Bottom: Stamp - Rubber Stampede; CS - Bazill (pink), Recollections (purple, white); Flower - Prima; EB Folder - CB Textile; Ink and Brad - Dollar Store.

Nintendo DS Birthday Invitation!

My son is having his 11th birthday next week and has asked for a sleepover with 4 of his closest friends so they can play XBox and Nintendo DS games. He just bought his first DS with his own hard-earned money (and a little help from his older brother), so he is really passionate about Nintendo right now. This morning he asked me if I could make his invitations look like the Nintendo DS, and he went on to describe what he wanted. So the design is my son's idea, I can't take credit for that, but here is what I came up with. It is all computer generated.

The front of the invitation:The inside, with his Nintendo in the background:
A closer view of the inside:

Christmas Tags

I realized once it was too late that I hadn't taken pictures of the Christmas tags I made this year. However, I lucked out when the other day as I was cleaning up, I came across one of each of them that didn't get destroyed during the gift opening process! So, although they are used, they were still okay to get photos so I could post them. I guess it's better late than never! I actually made 4 of each style of card, two with silver mats and two with gold mats. I finished each one off with a little bit of Stickles. TFL

Merry CHRISTmas

But the angel said to them, "Do not be afraid. I bring you good news of great joy that will be for all the people. Today in the town of David a Saviour has been born to you; he is Christ the Lord." ~ Luke 2:10-11

Merry Christmas everyone! May you experience the blessing and joy that comes from knowing the true meaning of the season.

God Bless,
Dorie Ellen

The Last of My Christmas Cards for This Year!

Here is the last of the Christmas cards I made for this year. I just mailed 48 of them! Many of those went to people in my church congregation. I was really happy with my stash for this year. I hope the recipients will be as well! To save time, I made several duplicates of some of the cards so I don't actually have 48 different cards. It would have taken me until after Christmas if I hadn't duplicated some! I think the top 2 cards are my favourites.Card Details: CS - Reflections; Stamp - Inkadinkado; SU Pointsettia EB folder; Prima flowers/leaves; Versamark; Ranger Gold EB Powder.
Card Details: CS - Reflections; Stamp - Inkadinkado; CB Swiss Dots EB folder; Prima flowers/leaves; Versamark; Ranger Gold EB Powder.
Card Details: CS - Reflections, Bazill; Stamps - Heidi Grace; CB Dove EB folder; Versamark; Ranger Silver EB Powder.
Card Details: CS - Reflections, Bazill; Stamps - SU, Inkadinkado; SU Pointsettia EB folder; MS Lace Border Punch; Versamark; Ranger Silver EB Powder; Sticker strip - Unknown.
Card Details: CS - Reflections, Bazill; Stamps - SU, Inkadinkado; SU Pointsettia EB folder; MS Lace Border Punch; Versamark; Ranger Silver EB Powder; Sticker strip - Unknown.

More Christmas Cards

Here is a mixture of cards I did last year, but am now just getting around to sending them. I hadn't posted them on my blog before and decided I should before they're mailed out. Because they are older I don't have any card details for them, sorry.

Christmas Cards - Inside

Here are the insides of 3 cards that I made and posted below. I have finally finished them completely and wanted to post what I did. The top one is the largest card I made (wreath on the door), and was a little harder to fill such a big space. The card was made with an 8 1/2" x 11" sheet of cardstock.

Pointsettia or a Wreath?

Pointsettia or Wreath? Large card or small? Some of the choices we face while making Christmas cards...I chose both! The wreath card was cased from the talented ladies at SCS. I just loved this idea and had to try it. I decided to go with a large card for this one (5.5"x8.5"). The pointsettia card is my own creation and is a smaller card (4.25"x5.5"). As you know, I love red and white on a Christmas card, and the new SU EB folder is just perfect for that!

Card Details
Wreath: Stamp - unknown (I think it's Inkadinkado, but not sure as I borrowed it.); Punches - MS leaf, Marvy (circles); CS - Recollections, green scraps unknown; Ribbon - Ruban; Ink - Ranger Walnut Distress, Memories Black Dye; Bling - Dollar Store.
Pointsettia: Stamps - The Artful Stamper (pointsettia), Inkadinkado (sentiment); CS - Bazill, Recollections; Ink - Versamark, Memories Dye; Ranger EB Powder; EB folder - SU; CM Stencil for EB edge; Platinum Stickles.

Simple Christmas Cards

Here are some more simple Christmas cards I've made recently. I've been really enjoying keeping them clean and simple this year, not sure if it's because I've been so busy or if it's because I like the look so much. Either way, I've been pretty happy with how they've been turning out.

I've been waiting to post my favourite cards last so stay tuned! Also, I will be getting together with friends on Friday and making some more so there will still be more Christmas cards on the way.

Card Details
Snowman: Stamps - Inkadinkado, All Night Media; CS - unknown, Recollections, Colourbox ink, Versamark ink, and Ranger silver EB powder; Punch - unknown; Diamond Stickles; CB swiss dots folder and slide die cut.

Christmas Tag: Stamp - Heidi Grace, CS & PP - ATD Momenta; Tag Punch - unknown; Fiskars Threading Water Punch; Memories Dye black ink, Colourbox Ink - red and green; Ribbon - Ruban.

Stamping 411 Sketch Challenge 128

I've already posted several below using a similar sketch as this one at Stamping 411, but here is one more. I just love red and white on Christmas cards! Of course I like red and green too! TFL
Card Details: SU - Patterned Pines stamp and Pointsettia EB folder; Ranger Seafoam White EB powder and Versamark ink; Recollections CS; Bling and punch unknown.

Oh Christmas Tree

I found this tree stamp at Michael's in the $1.50 bin! The sentiment came from the same bin last year. Gotta love a good deal! So this is my first card with the tree stamp. The holly are my own stamped embellishments. I'm really into the clean and simple look this year for cards.

One of my favourite tips I once learned is to take a silver (or you can use gold too) metalic broad tip marker, use an exacto knife and cut a small slit in the middle of the broad tip, and slide it along the edge of your cs for a nice silver edge! It comes out straight and even, and looks like another layer without having to mat it.

Card Details: Stamps - Recollections (tree), Studio G (sentiment), Heidi Grace (holly); Pilot silver metalic marker; Bling - Hero Arts; Candy Cane Stickles; Diamond dust Gelly Roll pen; Ink - Colourbox (pheasant gold), Versa Colour (Bark), Memories black Dye, Versamark; and Ranger silver EB powder.

Another Christmas Card

Here is a winter scene I made with my new SU Lovely as a Tree stamp. I frosted the ground and tree branches with Diamond Stickles to give it the look of snow, and sponged on a grey/blue winter sky behind the trees. Sentiment is embossed in silver.

Card Details: Stamps - SU, All Night Media; Memories Dye Ink, Versamark, Colourbox; Ranger silver embossing powder; CS - Recollections; Diamond Stickles.

Finally! Time to Post Christmas Cards (365 Cards Day 275)

I have been sooo busy lately it's been unbelievable! However, I have managed to squeeeeeze in some time to work on Christmas cards. I just haven't been able to get the chance to take pictures and post them until today. I'm going to post a few a day for the next little while as I finally have them all ready to be posted, I just don't want to do it all at once. I need to give you a reason to keep visiting me here!

These 3 cards are all fitting for today's challenge at 365 Cards. The 'Tis The Season challenge calls for using lots of red and green on your cards. They are my favourite colours to use on Christmas cards - I'm a traditionalist as you will see!

I made my own embellishments using a couple of different holly stamps and a flower punch. I punched out the star shaped flower in red and green, and pieced it together to make my own pointsettias. The holly stamps were embossed in gold, cut out and popped off the page with 3D foam tape. TFL!

Card Details
Top: Stamps - SU Patterned Pines, All Night Media (Sentiment); Ink - Versamark; Ranger Seafoam White EB Powder; CS - Recollections; Ribbon - Ruban "Berry Christmas"; Popped with 3D tape.

Middle: Stamps - SU (Lovely As a Tree), All Night Media (Sentiment), Whispers (holly berries);
Ink - Versamark and Colourbox; Ranger Gold EB Powder; Stickles -Candy Cane, Diamond; CS - Recollections, Unknown.

Bottom: Stamps - Inkadinkado (snowman), Heidi Grace (holly); Ink - Memories Dye Black, Versamark; Ranger Gold EB Powder; Stickles - Candy Cane, Platinum; CS - Recollections; Punch - McGill (Petite Petals); CB Swiss Dots Folder.

The Baby Card

This is the baby card I made to go with the gift for my niece's baby shower. I used a Fiskar's border punch to make the fancy square. It is popped off the page with 3-D 2 sided tape. I stamped the rattle (using a dollar store stamp), cut it out, then added glitter and a bow to make my own embellishment. I will try to add the card details tomorrow if I can find the time.

Why I've Been So Busy, Busy, Busy!

My niece is expecting a baby girl (her first) in February, and several of us got together and threw a big (and I mean BIG!) shower for her inviting all sides of her family. A total of 75 women attended! I made several craft items for the shower beginning with the invitations.

I owe a huge debt of gratitude to the talented ladies at Splitcoast for their wonderful inspiring ideas. I couldn't have done it without them! The invitation, favour, and thankyou card ideas all came from the Splitcoast gallery.

Can you see why I haven't had time to post anything for a long time?

The Invitation!

All 75 invitations!

The Favour
The favour, showing what I put inside.

75 Favours!

Thankyou card.75 Thankyou cards.

Table card I made explaining information about a couple of the games.

All 9 table cards.

Advice card I made for a special album. We also used it to draw for door prizes.
All 75 advice cards.

Helpful Hints album.
I bought a cheap photo album in the dollar store and exchanged the covers for ones that I made. This is the front cover and is computer generated.

Back cover of Helpful Hints album. Also computer generated.