Squirrely Challenge

It has been a while since Nancy posted a Squirrely Challenge. Instead of a technique, we had a list of requirements to meet. The card needed to be masculine. It also needed to have been made using a tool, an embossing folder and something from your stash.
For my card, I chose a leaf punch for my tool. (technically not new, but then again I haven't bought any new tools in a while!) The wood banner was from my stash, as was all the card stock!

You can see Nancy's cute banner card here.

Tuesday's Tag

My friend, Nancy, gave me this wonderful collection of patterned papers and embellishments from My Mind's Eye(Ruby). The papers colors of reds, pinks, white/cream and gray are very versatile. I decided on a French twist - I think this will make a fun addition to a card!

I wasn't quite ready to put away my holiday patterned paper. So, with a bit of mixing and matching, fun winter card fronts. I cut 5 strips into 3/4 x 3 3/4 (or close to it) and mounted them to a black mat.

I added a snowflake stamp from Stampin' Up and a little "thank you". Some of my Christmas "thank you" cards are complete. And, it all came from my stash!

Ready!

Tags are done and gifts are wrapped. I even have a few left to add to a stash for next year. Hope all your Holiday plans are proceeding smoothly!

Gift Tags

I think I've made enough gift tags for Christmas. My goal to use my stash of patterned paper has worked well. I have also been using die cuts quite a bit. For the gift tags below, I folded patterned paper in half and positioned in in the Sizzix/Tim Holtz ornament die so that the fold was below the to cut line. Thus, it makes a mini ornament card. I ran a complimentary paper through the die again to cut out the top of the ornament.

I stamped and punched put the center circles. Super easy! I made the tag below similarly using the Sizzix/Tim Holtz dwellings die:

You can see the top is a bit flat due to the fold. Take a look at your dies - there may be some that would make a perfect fold over card.

Tuesday's Tag

For today's tag, I took out (of the package) a couple of new stamps. The background is by Hero Arts - love it!

It was stamped in Distress ink, but seemed a bit too dark for what I wanted to do. Enter Distress Stain in Picket Fence - it toned it down a bit. I stamped the bird (My Mind's Eye from the Merry and Bright collection) onto the tag in black. I then re-stamped it on a separate piece of card stock in Barn Door Distress ink. I cut out the bird and mounted it over the black image with mounting tape. The flowers were also re-stamped onto white card stock, cut out and mounted over the original image. I added some Straw Distress Stickles to the center.
From a scrap of Merry and Bright paper, I die cut the lace edge on the left. I used the same print to punch out different size snowflakes. I added a smear of glitter glue to the snowflakes. Here's a close up:

Last of all, I stamped the sentiment (My Mind's Eye Merry and Bright) and cut out the banner. It was also added to the card with mounting tape. Finally, I stained some cream ribbon with Stormy Sky Distress Stain. I did use the papers and tag from my stash, only the stamps were new!

Falling Stars

I recently purchased a couple of new dies, mainly for backgrounds. I love the Falling Stars thin die made by Memory Box for SimonSaysStamp. I decided to combine it with another die I bought some time ago (and never used!)

After assembling the pieces, I decided to add my "homemade twine" and a mini tag (from Stampin' Up). I added a bit of glitter glue -

Loved the way this card turned out. It may be a future Christmas card...

Merry and Bright

"Tis the season for all things holiday. I recently purchased a few (trying to stick with my "use my stash" commitment) new Christmas papers. The above background chevron's are from My Mind's Eye. Love the colors. I'm having a Holiday lunch for my gym buddies and thought it would make a great background for the invitation.
I wanted to make it simple and easy since I needed a dozen or so. I "second generation" stamped the sentiment "May all your days be merry and bright", and over stamped the "You're Invited" in a deep eggplant color. I love the subtle contrast that the two colors bring. Originally, that was going to be the entire card...but I decided to punch and stamp the mini tag (Stampin' Up!). Then, I needed twine...to match....So, out came the markers and white twine to customize the color. It was a long process making the twine for 12 cards, but I am pleased with the final product!

Merry

I have been busy with Christmas projects (a nice distraction between legal maneuverings). My holiday patterned papers are being put to good use - particularly those which are single sided. A 6x6 piece easily yields 2 fold over gift tags. I have combined a couple of papers from the same set, and used a border punch to create the tree order.

Christmas Deer...

Keeping with the theme of using my stash - a tag with a background I stamped, oh so long ago! I used a scalloped oval punch to frame the little reindeer (SimonSaysStamp) and added a sentiment. Easy, peasy!

Squirrely Challenge

It has been a while since I participated in my friend, Nancy's, "Squirrely Challenge". This was a simple charge - use Washi tape. If you have read my blog for some time, you know this was right up my alley! It seems as if Washi tape is everywhere - but is it actually Washi Tape?
Washi is a type of paper from Japan, often used in Origami. The tape is made similarly - often from pulpy paper sources. It has a distinctive weight and finish (both the paper and the tape). There are a lot of decorative tapes out now - some are true Washi, while others are tissue or craft tape. The Tim Holtz/Ranger products are tissue tapes. They are made differently, have a different texture and adhesive. The behave differently, particularly with wet media.
All that being said, I used a variety of tapes on this card for the challenge:

The trees and striped tapes are "craft/tissue" tapes and the blue text is actual Washi tape. The "Keep Calm and Merry On" is from a clear set of Darcy's Christmas stamps. Had a bit of a problem as the stamp is not very deeply etched. It will definitely require "surgery"! The embossing folder used on the card is by Stampin' Up. I made my own red and white twine with string and a Sharpie!

Happy Thanksgiving

Wishing you all a wonderful Thanksgiving with family and friends...

Grateful

A little bit of masking, stamping and sponging for a festive fall card. I am grateful to all the support many of my friends have given!

Just for Fun

I am trying out ideas for possible Christmas cards. I had been thinking of using my ornament die from Sizzix as a focal. After die cutting the shape, I decided to punch an oval and insert a mini tag I was making. This definitely sparked some ideas of pairing punches and die cuts!

Faux Fresco

I signed up for an online card class, Holiday Card Workshop, to get back into the spirit of creating. Plus, I really need some Christmas card ideas for this year's cards. One of the techniques demonstrated was a "Faux Fresco" using an embossing folder,markers and paint or Distress Stains. I cut my embossed card stock in half to create 2 cards using this technique - one with white paint and one with white Distress Stain.

The folder is by Cuttlebug, actually both folders used are from them. After running a piece of card stock through my Big Shot, I very sloppily colored with light markers (an eggshell/light tan and a light blue/aqua). Once dry, I dapped a Ranger  white paint Dabber (top card) and Picket Fence Distress Stain (bottom card). When the panel was dry, I sponged along the edges with Old Paper Distress Ink. I used glossy card stock, since I already had it on my desk. I think I might try again Bristol for a different look.

Using My Stash

As much as love this paper collection, I am determined not to hoard. So, I made this cute little card using a scrap and a sticker. Add a stamped greeting - 10 minutes of less!

A Bit of Inspiration...

I was in need of a baby card - but was a bit stumped. I am having issues with my mom (in rehab, refusing physical therapy and a cousin who is a nightmare....think Jerry Springer) so I have not been feeling terrible creative. While out looking for some wrapping paper, I found this tissue paper in the same colors as the outfit I bought.

I love the color combination of pink and grey! So, I pulled out an embossing folder,ink pads,  some stamps and punches:

I was very pleased with the clean and simple look of the card. From what items have  you drawn inspiration lately?

Squirrely Challenge

It is Squirrely Challenge time! Nancy posted the "Spritz Distress" technique from the current edition of the Technique Junkies Newsletter. I have been on a green kick - so I used 3 different shades of green Distress Ink, a leaf stencil and a "spritz" of water:

Card stock is from Club Scrap. Stamps are from Stampin' Up and Silver Crow. Sans Souci roughly translates into without cares/worries. To see what the other "squirrel girls" are doing, us this link.

Travel Book

I am off on a trip to Paris. At the last minute, I decided I did not want to bring my datebook with the information on tours and times. I did want some envelopes in which to stuff small pieces of ephemera. So, late one night, I sealed some small envelopes and cut off one of the sides. I oriented them vertically and added some filler pieces of card stock. It was all put together using my trusty tape gun. I still need to fill in some information, but below is a sampling of the pages:

I did mention I put this together LATE at night! I circle punched the envelope to make filing bit and pieces easier. I used a bit of patterned paper from a Tim Holtz pad for the cover - again relying on my trusty tape gun!

I thought the French ads and script were a perfect cover. Now to make my little additions, and into my purse it will go!

Squirrely Challenge

The technique for this Squirrely challenge is in the current Technique Junkies Newsletter. It is the Tag Fence technique:

I ran white card stock through my Sizzix, using the tree bark embossing folder by Tim Holtz/Sizzix. Stampin' Up's tag punch was used to punch the tags. I stamped the floral branches and cut them out, mounting them on the outside of the fence. I love the background paper - actually the whole pad of paper! It is from Basic Gray "What's Up". To see Nancy's version for this challenge, go here.  Have fun trying this for yourself!