Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving!  I hope your day is filled with yummy things, people you love, and lots and lots of gratitude.  Today will be tough for us, as it's the first holiday for our family without my brother-in-law.  But it will also be good to get that first holiday without him behind us.  And on this day of gratitude, I am so thankful that he was part of our lives, even if it wasn't for as long as we would have liked.  I will miss his smirking grin and dry humor at dinner today, though.

I thought that this card was quite appropriate today, as this card embodies Thanksgiving (at least to me!)  Before running the background of the card through my Big Shot with the Woodgrain embossing folder, I randomly stamped with the splatter stamp in the Gorgeous Grunge set.  I used Baked Brown Sugar ink on BBS card stock.  Next, I used the faux suede technique on the strips of Cajun Craze and Crushed Curry.

For the "thanks" in the center, I used the rock & roll technique with Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, and Cherry Cobbler ink.  Beginning with the Curry, ink the entire stamp.  (But don't stamp on the paper yet!)  Next, roll the edges of the stamp in Cajun, making sure to pick up enough ink to go beyond the very edge of the stamp.  I will sometimes flip the stamp and put the ink to the stamp, rather than stamp to ink.  Finally, roll the edges in Cherry Cobbler.  Breathe on the stamp to moisten the ink, and stamp.  Cut out using Apothecary Accents Framelits, snipping off the right hand side with paper snips.

I topped the whole thing off by dyeing piece of Cotton Ribbon to match the Baked Brown Sugar card stock.  I simply filled an empty spritzer with rubbing alcohol, then added a few drops of ink refill.  I spritzed the ribbon until it was the desired shade.  I prefer this method, as it's not quite as messy as using an ink pad to dye ribbon.

Supplies
Stamps:  Seasonally Scattered, Gorgeous Grunge
Ink:  Baked Brown Sugar, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler
Paper:  Baked Brown Sugar, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Apothecary Accents Framelits, Woodgrain Embossing Folder, Linen Thread, Cotton Ribbon, Paper Snips, Sponge

For All Things

This card is a CASE of this one by Angie Leach.  I thought it was so pretty, and wanted to make my own version of it. 

Tips & Tricks

• This card uses the emboss resist technique.  I first stamped the speckles from Gorgeous Grunge in Crumb Cake, then embossed the leaves with clear embossing powder.  The speckles will be visible though the leaves, which gives them a bit of interest and texture.  

• Next, I used a sponge to rub Crushed Curry ink over one end of the strip of card stock, and Cherry Cobbler at the other end.  I saved Cajun Craze for last, so that when I rubbed that in the middle, it would overlap and blend with the Crushed  Curry and Cherry Cobbler.

• Because of the texture of the leaf stamp, this image will pick up a bit of the ink as it's rubbed over the embossing.  I love the way it looks on this card, but wanted to point it out in case anyone was expecting it to be a perfectly clean image.

Supplies
Stamps:  For All Things
Ink:  Crumb Cake, Crushed Curry, Cajun Craze, Cherry Cobbler
Paper:  Cajun Craze and Naturals White card stock
Accessories:  Color Me Autumn Designer Washi Tape, Sponge, Clear Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Linen Thread

So Sorry Joy Fold Card

I love making Joy Fold cards.  They are so easy, and yet so impressive to the recipient.  They are definitely one of those "wow" cards that everyone things is so amazing, and you, the creator, know that it really wasn't that hard to make!

I thought it would be fun to show two different ways to make a Joy Fold card.  The first way, shown above, is the traditional orientation for a Joy Fold card.  But check out how it looks when you simply turn the card and have it open vertically, instead of horizontally.  Fun, right?

I actually think I prefer the vertical version, simply because it gives a little more writing space inside the card.  Not only do you have the inside of the square, but also the inside of the bottom flap.  Then again, I don't always have a lot to say in a card, so for those times, I'd probably prefer the top version. :)

Supplies
Stamps:  Thoughts & Prayers, So Sorry (retired)
Ink:  Sahara Sand and Tangerine Tango markers
Paper:  Sahara Sand and Very Vanilla card stock, Sweater Weather DSP (retired)
Accessories:  Simply Scored Scoring Tool

Simple For All Things Card

This is just a simple card that works great for Thanksgiving, or just as a thank you card.  It would be great to give to someone just to say how much you appreciate them, too.   This cute little card uses a little bit of several favorites:  stamps and ink, Simply Pressed Clay, and Designer Washi Tape. 

Tips & Tricks:

• I don't think this card needs a lot of explanation, but I will point out that the button was made using the Simply Pressed Clay and Molds, and I colored the clay using a few drops of Crushed Curry ink refill.  

• Did you know that there are a couple of great ways to speed up the process of making clay embellishments?  It takes a while for the clay to air dry, and I'm far too impatient for that!  Just pop the mold into the freezer (deep freeze works best) after putting the clay in the mold.  After about 15 minutes, the clay will be frozen and able to be removed from the mold easily.  Set it aside to air dry, or, if you happen to have a dehydrator, you can put it on a tray to dry more quickly.  I usually make a bunch using the freezer method, then put all of them in my dehydrator to dry.  It takes less than an hour.

Supplies
Stamps:  For All Things
Ink:  Sahara Sand, Elegant Eggplant, and Crushed Curry (ink refill)
Paper:  Sahara Sand, Cajun Craze, Very Vanilla card stock
Accessories:  Simply Pressed Clay and Molds, Very Vanilla 1/8" taffeta ribbon, Color Me Autumn Designer Washi Tape

Wondrous Wreath

This card is another favorite, probably because of the woodgrain in the background.  Hardwood is by far my favorite background stamp!  For this card, I inked it with Crumb Cake and then stamped off before stamping the card.  It gives a very subtle woodgrain that doesn't detract from the main focal point, the wreath.  And speaking of the wreath, can I just say how much I love the wreath bundle of stamps and framelits?  There is a little tab on all the layers of stamp AND on the framelits.  It makes perfectly lining up everything a piece of cake!

For this card, I used Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, and Cherry Cobbler.  I love these three colors together.  The wreath is topped of with a simple bow made of Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding ribbon.  If you wanted to jazz up the wreath a bit, you could add a dot of Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details on each berry. 

This card could be made in more color combinations than I can count.  I like the traditional Christmas colors, but this same card would be gorgeous in just about any color combination.  Give it a try! 

Supplies
Stamps:  Wondrous Wreath, Good Greetings, Hardwood
Ink:  Pear Pizzazz, Old Olive, Cherry Cobbler, Crumb Cake
Paper:  Cherry Cobbler, Naturals White, Whisper White card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Wonderful Wreath Framelits, Cherry Cobbler Seam Binding Ribbon

Letterpress Winter Snowflake Flip Card

I think that this card is my favorite of this batch of Christmas cards.  I just love the snowflakes in Letterpress Winter.  It takes a little bit of practice, but the snowflakes will line up perfectly with the snowflake shape on the card.  It helps a lot that this stamp set is photopolymer, and you can see right where you need to stamp.

I used all three snowflakes in the stamp set, stamping them randomly on the card background in Whisper White ink.  I then stamped the largest snowflake in the center using Lost Lagoon ink.  Lost Lagoon is gorgeous with Soft Sky, in case you can't tell from the picture!  I used the snowflake dies that come with the the card die to punch out one snowflake from silver Glimmer Paper, and the other from Lost Lagoon card stock.  I cut banners for the greeting from the same papers. 

I plan to play with this stamp set and color combination a lot more.  My little great-nieces are obsessed with Frozen, and I know they would go crazy if I could make a Frozen-like card and send it to them in the mail.  I can just hear the squeals now. :)

Supplies
Stamps:  Letterpress Winter, Teeny Tiny Wishes
Ink:  Whisper White, Lost Lagoon
Paper:  Soft Sky and Lost Lagoon card stock, Silver Glimmer Paper
Accessories:  Big Shot, Snowflake Card Thinlits, Bitty Banners Framelits, Paper Snips, Clear Blocks

Chocolate Treat Holders

I thought I'd take a little break from Christmas cards to show you this cute little treat holder my daughter made for me.  It fits two Ghirardelli chocolate squares inside, and has room for a little note on the back (that was my favorite part, although I'm not showing a picture of that.)

This little cutie is so easy to make.  Just cut a strip of card stock 2" x 8 1/2" long, and score at 4" and 4 1/2".  Then punch the ends using the Scallop Tag Topper Punch.  Tie a bow through the holes, and decorate the front as you choose.  She used some retired card stock and Designer Series Paper and scallop circle punches.

Stitched Stocking Flip Card

I pulled out some retired items to make Christmas cards this year.  So many of my old stamps don't get a lot of use anymore, which is a shame, because I have so many, and I really like them all!  Stitched Stockings was a set that retired way to early, in my opinion.  It was great because the Stocking Builder Punch coordinated with it, making it so easy to punch out those little pieces for the heel, toe, and cuff of the stocking.  

For this card, I used it along with the Circle Card Thinlits, because really, who doesn't love a good flip card?  The white circle behind the stocking was embossed using the Argyle embossing folder.  I loved that it tied in perfectly with the argyle pattern on the stocking.  Argyle always makes me think of middle school, where there was a (very strict) dress code, and my friends and I wore knee socks every day.  It was always fun when we wore our argyle socks on the same day.  Oh, to be twelve again.  No, wait.  That would mean I'd have to be 13 and 14 again.  No thanks.  

Getting back to the card...I chose a pattern from the Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper Stack that looked like knitting.  I figured that it kind of went with the stocking theme.  The little strip across the bottom is embossed using the now retired Needlepoint Border embossing folders (another one that retired too quickly!)  The little "Merry Christmas" comes from Teeny Tiny Wishes, which is probably my most used stamp set.  If you're looking for a basic sentiment set that covers just about every occasion, this is it.  Let me know if you'd like to order it!

Supplies

Stamps:  Teeny Tiny Wishes, Stitched Stockings

Ink:  Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler

Paper:  Garden Green, Cherry Cobbler, Whisper White, and Trim the Tree Designer Series Paper Stack

Accessories:  Big Shot, Circle Card Thinlits, Needlepoint Border embossing folder, Argyle embossing folder, Stocking Builder Punch, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine,  2 1/2" Circle Punch

Christmas Bauble

Can I just say that it's killing me to post Christmas cards when it's still fall?  I can't stand how the minute Halloween is over, Christmas stuff is EVERYWHERE.  What ever happened to fall and Thanksgiving?  OK, so clearly this is a pet peeve of mine, but it does drive me nuts.  However, I have a pile of Christmas cards to show, and not a lot else, so that's what I'm posting! :)

This card uses the new single stamp Christmas Bauble.  I think it pairs so well with the Filigree Frame embossing folder.  I highlighted the embossed parts of this cute folder by using a sponge dauber and Pool Party ink.  It came out a little heavier on the ink than I had intended, and I loved seeing the variations different people did when making this at my Christmas card event.  Some went even heavier, and some very light.  I love that five people can make the same card and they will all have a unique element to it.  That's what creating is supposed to yield--a unique product that shows a little of the person creating it. 

The banners on the card are just pieces of three of the All Is Calm Designer Washi tapes, and I just snipped the ends to give them a more finished look.  The bauble is embossed in silver, then water colored.  See below for the exact colors I used.  It's kind of an unconventional color scheme for Christmas, but it's such a pretty combination.

Supplies
Stamps:  Christmas Bauble
Ink:  Island Indigo, Pool Party, Smokey Slate, Pear Pizzazz
Paper:  Pool Party, Whisper White, and Naturals White card stock
Accessories:  Big Shot, Filigree Frame embossing folder, All Is Calm Designer Washi Tape, Sponge Dauber, Aquapainter, Stampin' Dimensionals, and Paper Snips (yes, that bauble is cut out by hand...no Framelits for this one!)