Those Christmas cards I have been making - are you ready for them?  I have produced quite a number of different styles, so today I will show you some of them, and if time permits, I will publish more in the days to come.  This first group are in non-traditional colours, but still very traditional images.  In the first card, I have used a tree stamp, and then covered the middle tree with a tree cut from Kaisercraft designer paper, 'Silly Season Collection' - a perfect fit!

 The reindeer card uses another tree from the same designer paper, plus a reindeer die cut, snowflake die cut and scalloped edge.  The background is embossed with a snowflake pattern.

This next card is in purple colour tones, with a very sweet stamp of santa and his sleigh, coloured with Copics.

 I love this next card, for its simplicity and clean lines.  I CASED the design from Andrea Walford, of Papercrafters Library, but unfortunately I did not have any of her products, as she uses Stampin 'up - but the effect is similar.

This ornament card is very simple and needs very few products to make.  I downloaded a free template of the ornament shapes, and cut them out by hand from embossed paper, which I had coloured with Distress Inks.  Then I just had to adhere them onto designer paper and add the sentiment and a few gems.

 The next two cards are from my Australian makes - ie. Christmas cards to send to family and friends overseas, with a typically Australian feel.  I stamped the image (which is a rubber stamp by Stamp-It called Gumnut Brush) with Stazon olive green, and added the red flower soft for the flowering gum.  I mounted the first white card image on dark green, then on a lighter green houndstooth designer paper, and that was partly mounted on a red and gold designer paper depicting gum leaves.  The second card has a trim of red and green fibres which I think looks interesting, and striped paper rather than the gum leaf paper.  So I returned to the traditional Christmas colours of red and green, but with a distinct Aussie flavour.

The following two cards use a digital image of the word JOY I downloaded from Gina K designs.  Two very different looks from the same image - the possibilities are endless for this one!  I coloured the letters with water-based markers as there was no need to blend colours.

This mauve and green card uses the Flowering Christmas tree die from Memory Box - it was cut from lime green glitter paper, adhered to white shimmer card, mounted with a small border of green glitter and adhered to the mauve designer paper on a white card.  This tree is just beautiful, and always looks elegant.

These two reindeer stamped cards use a flourishing image, and various mounts on bright designer paper.  I'm not sure of the origin of the first reindeer, but the second was a gift in a magazine, and is from the set 'Enchanted Christmas' made by Hot Off the Press.

Last one for today, is a cute skater, which is a digi stamp from Sweet 'n Sassy.  I downloaded the file, resized it, and printed it out on layering weight white card stock.  I coloured it with Copics, and mounted it on a die cut shape, then adhered it to the card which was covered with designer paper.  I fussy cut the two Christmas trees from more dp, added the sentiment and a snowflake.

Well, that is all from me for now!  I hope you like the range of cards I have been making for Christmas!

Some more cards to show you - I am now busy preparing for my presentation at Probus on Wednesday, so there were a few more cards to make just to get ready! lol - I have over 200 already!  But there's always a need for one more, right?
My first card is one with a patchwork effect - no material, just lots of squares, made with strips which you stick to cardstock, then slice across, to create this effect.  I saw it on Splitcoastampers but can't recall the name of the tutor.  It is simple but effective, don't you think?  The lace embellishment is made with a die from Cheery Lyn - Francesca border.  It is beautiful, and I think is appropriate with the other 'material' elements.

The next card I am pretty fond of - it reminds me of Van Gogh's Starry starry night - not that I'm comparing myself with him, of course, but I love the atmosphere of it.  I was given some paper that had a few buildings on it, with a large space between, and I began to cut out the buildings, and put them in the spaces, but before long, I changed that to grouping them all, rather like Manhattan (not that I've been there!).  I used Ranger's Distress stains, then some smooch (on the water).  I masked the moon area, then thought it looked too pristine, so 'clouded' over it with stain.

Last one for today, is a simple sympathy card.  At Val's we stamped this Cattleya orchid, and I coloured it with Copics, then mounted it on a spellbinders beaded oval shape.  It is good to have a card like this ready - not that we want to use it!

I did say I would show you some Christmas cards, but they will keep for a few days - it is still a while before Christmas is upon us, isn't it?

It's been a while and I think I have to learn how to post all over again - I had written quite a bit, and then lost it all while I chose pictures to post!  I'll save as I go now, and probably write something quite different to what I originally planned.
As I was saying, it's been nearly 3 months since my last post - I've been busy as usual, but amongst the regular busyness, we have had a few family birthdays to celebrate.  Firstly, it was Jarrod, turning 18 - a big one!, so his card needed quite a bit of thought.  I spoke about this in my last post, and promised to post a picture of it after he had received it.  The gears are a reference to his 'refurb' of his beloved 1967 Mustang, there are references to his becoming an adult, and also to his birth.  I created the background using various stamps and media, but hoped it reflected a modern young culture.  So here it is:  what do you think?

The next birthday was Brodie's - Jarrod's brother, who turned 15 in September.  His card had stars, because he is a shiny star himself!  I have used dies from My Favourite Things for this card, and MFT is almost my favourite thing right now!

The last card (until next week) was for Lucy - she is now 6 - so far away, but always in our hearts.  She is the sweetest young lady - so this is her card:

I have been busy making Christmas cards, but will save them for another post.  So the last ones for today are some cards I have had fun making.  I will credit their source if there is one, as I go along.  I CASED a card made by Giovanna Smith with this Fall card - she gave instructions for creating the glittery leaves, which are beautiful - the grass is another die from MFT - I did say they are one of my favourite things didn't I?

Now, although we don't celebrate Halloween in our family, in the US it is big - so I couldn't resist making the girls a card each - I took a photo that Marisa sent us by email, and created these cards - a bit messy, possibly, but great fun!  Aren't they just too cute?

Finally, this shaped card - yes, using another MFT die - this time the perfect bracket.  I just love the shape - and the scalloped edge at the top.  I tried my hand at making little flowers, and I guess they look OK - I'll get better.

Well, that is all for now - next time I will show some Christmas cards - you may see something you like yourself - if you do, just let me know!

ABS challenge for August

I am entering this card for the August challenge at ABS, called Flower Frenzy.  Not sure if there is a frenzy going on here, but I liked the result.  I've used a layout I saw by Giovana Smith, at Latinacraft - it worked well to complement the flowers.

Butterflies and Christmas cards

At last, here is the effect I mentioned I was aiming for from the ABS tutorial last post -  not a message popping out, but a butterfly!  Pretty isn't it?

As well as playing around with butterflies and flowers, I am continuing my collection of Christmas cards.  I will be doing a lot more stamping and die-cutting this year, and so that makes them more interesting for me to produce, and I hope better to receive!  Here are a few more - the swirly Christmas tree is another Annabelle Stamp, and is so versatile.  I'm enjoying using non-traditional colours for my cards so far, but will probably revert to red and green at some stage, as they still look good.

 A bit pink for Christmas, but a cheery look.

Pink trees???

Tomorrow the family is celebrating Jarrod's 18th birthday, so after that, I will be able to publish the card I have been working on for him.  I so enjoyed making it - knowing the person it is to be for makes a huge difference to the process.  I'm hoping he likes it - but if not the card, he's sure to appreciate his present!

I have been busily making my cards, even preparing for Christmas nice and early by starting on those.  Quite a jump to start thinking about seasonal themes, but you can never prepare too early!  I have to admit, my projects are a lot better than they were last year, so that is an indication of how much I have learned so far this year.  As well, I have been following ABS - their Topical Tuesday tutorials are always interesting, and this week's was no exception.  Therese demonstrated background stamping with a nifty cut out sentiment which looked stunning, so I copied it (as usual, because I like to know how it will look before I start) and then I tried a couple of different looks.  I'm still working on those, but you can see my efforts so far in the pics below.

 This was the straight copy

 This one used different stamps, so a more delicate look

 One of my Christmas cards

Ditto - I love the detail of this little stamp - it shows up better without the embossing, which is good, because that is quicker!

This card was coloured with Copics, but the stamp really makes it.  I love its shape, but also how the overall colours of the card work well.

Without the stamp above, I 'created' a flower image because I just love to colour!  Not as lovely as the original but sometimes we must make do!

This is a gift card holder, which I learned how to make following a tutorial on ABS.  I downloaded the digital paper, which I think worked out well.

Had a wonderful week with our daughter and her two daughters - they have left here for Brisbane now before heading home to Wisconsin later this week.  The little ones wanted to 'make cards with Nanny' and they did!  We had a ball!  But card-making for me was definitely on the back burner, as I didn't want to waste a precious moment while they were here with us.  Today I have picked up the bug again, and made these CAS cards - have been wanting to try out my new stamp set from Annabelle Stamps - Garden Silhouettes and one that I've had for a while, Fanciful Flowers.  The flower shapes are so interesting, and I thought suited to a simple, no fuss card.

Gina K has a new release out today, and of course I took a look - her site never fails to encourage, entertain and inspire me.  While there, I noticed another challenge that took my fancy - Pretty in Pink - but it had to be something not usually pink.  No pretty flowers allowed!  So I looked at my Wild at Heart set of stamps and chose the giraffe, as it is so cute.  Here is my card.

The challenge was to feature Texture - and use an Annabelle stamp, so here is my response.  I sandpapered glossy cardstock to create a scratched surface, then stamped leaves and a flower from Annabelle's Floral Stems set.  I blended Distress Ink (Antique linen) over the card, then used Spiced Marmalade direct to paper.  The idea was to achieve a faux linen look - extra texture was added with orange hemp 'ribbon'.

Entering another ABS challenge - this time for a sketch.  This is my entry

Following the Peacock theme, I am adding a few more cards - there are endless possibilities with this beautiful bird, but these are just a few.  Hope you like these efforts Lucy - not a patch on the beautiful picture you made of a peacock at school.

By the way, I am thrilled to have been a runner-up in the ABS challenge I entered last week - they are so encouraging at Annabelle Stamps!

Peacock Lady

Just wanted to add my latest card - my friend Val supplied the stamp, which is gorgeous, and I have just completed it.  Quite exotic!

Stamp Embellish Create challenge ac073

Possibly rashly, I am entering this card in this week's challenge at Annabelle Stamps.  Lime and Orange were the challenge criteria.

I'm so immersed in my card making, I haven't had time to write a second post till now!  But I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge the generous help I've been receiving from so many sources.  I commenced this year as a novice at card making, but through support now feel part of this lovely 'community'.  Last year I attended a class at U3A - one afternoon a week for six weeks, which was an enjoyable introduction to the world of cards.  This year, I have visited my dear friend Val, who shares her home with a few friends one afternoon a week, and she has taught me so much - I am so indebted to her!  I have thrived under her guidance, and love our afternoons together.  Then there is the internet - for the first time I have turned to the internet to learn a skill:  from Gina K (who seems like an old friend now with her no-nonsense style and approach), to Splitcoastampers, who seem so young and professional I wonder what I'm doing visiting them, but they have such a lot to teach me too, to more local sites, such as Stamp Embellish Create (through Annabelle Stamps) who are equally professional and talented.  So there I am - caught up, or should I say addicted? - but enjoying myself immensely!  My dear husband is so supportive, as always!

My first post.  What do I want to say?  I guess, Welcome! if you are a visitor to this site, and then an explanation of why I have created this blog.  Not because I want to talk about myself, because that is something I find quite difficult, but probably because I have just commenced card-making and have been helped enormously by the blogs of others.  I intend my blog to be about cards - I just love card-making because they are SMALL!  Therefore, everything you want to say or convey, must be economical, succinct - the message must be there on the card - 4"x6" or 5"x7" - not a lot of room really, to say:  I love you, or you mean so much to me, or how sad - I'm so sorry, best wishes, enjoy your life, have a happy marriage, congratulations on the arrival of your much-wanted child, don't despair, things will improve.  There can be cards for every eventuality in life, and how much better it is to make a card for a specific recipient.  So that is what initially encaptured me about cards - but of course, that was only the beginning. Then it became design, technique, and all the paraphanalia needed to 'do a good job'.  I am a beginner, but have already created a small empire in my home, with all my stuff!  So that is what you can expect to find here - my journey (a much over-used term).  But like life itself, a new project, a new learning experience, a new love a new hobby, is a journey of sorts.