Trifold Christmas Candy Card

A colorful trifold Christmas card design based on a gift card I previously received and always wanted to emulate. I've shown it in closed, untucked and open positions to try to illustrate what I've done. The paper dimensions are 4 1/4" x 15 7/8", so it requires special-sized paper, which our XpedX store carries. I used Provo Craft's Holiday Slab V paper again, a phrase stamp by Copper Leaf Creations and a candy stamp of unknown orig

in.

Trim the Tree Christmas Card

Another simple Christmas card, again using Provo Craft's Holiday Slab V paper pad from Michaels. Also used here is an epoxy sticker from Michaels' dollar bin. Again, my thriftiness came into play! I couldn't resist the assortment of epoxy stickers, which could also be grouped or even stacked together, when I was shopping a week ago, but I realized I needed a wider assortment of papers in blues and greens to coordinate. The Slab V was the perfect complement, I think. Sometimes for me the hardest part of papercrafting is choosing the right complement between papers and embellishments!

Naughty or Nice Santa Card

A fun and simple little Christmas card incorporating Provo Craft's Holiday Slab V 12" x 12" paper pad from Michaels. I'd briefly glanced at this pad a week ago, and passed it up. Once I saw the awesome cards my friend Gwen had posted on her blog using these papers, I knew I "had to have it"! Of course, yesterday's 20% off "entire purchase" coupon really cinched the deal for me! I added a ribbon strip and Stamp Francisco stamp from many seasons ago, along with Making Memories Cheeky Board Clip, which I painted a deeper shade of red with Making Memories Red Wagon Scrapbook Colors acrylic paint.

Chipboard Coaster Gift Box

Now that I finally purchased a Crop-a-dile (by We R Memory Keepers), I can easily punch holes in chipboard, so I used coasters I've collected from various restaurants (I'm thrifty?!) and followed the Splitcoaststampers tutorial for making a treat box. Since the main decorator color in my house is "merlot", I chose this paper from DCWV's Glitter Christmas Stack (Joann's) because I could use it year-round. I left it plain (rather than embellishing with Christmas details) for that very reason. It's an easy project, though took a bit longer than I'd anticipated because you have to glue your paper to all 5 coasters (including the bottom one) and punch 5 holes evenly in 2 sides of each of the 4 side coasters. However, the Crop-a-dile punches through the chipboard like "butter" and is wonderful because you set the depth of your punch for uniformity, which is crucial to a project like this -- it must be "precise"!!! My crafting friends know that's very important to me!

Beautiful Magnolia Botanical Card

My daughter made this beautiful Magnolia Botanical card with a PSX stamp by that name I've had for many years. It's for a friend's birthday and I think it's quite stunning! She's always been very proficient with a scissors and stamped the flower several times and cut out the various petals and leaves and has curled and layered them for a very nice effect, I think. I hope her friend likes her card!

Simple Noel Hanger

Trying to get in the Christmas mood and brighten up my entryway, I cut these Noel letters from my Wishblade and covered with various papers, including burgundy and green suede papers on the "N" and "E" and a stripe from my DMD Adhesive Mat from Target and Holly Stripe on Red by Paper Pizazz from Joann's. I simply put jewelry jump rings between the letters to attach them and wire to hang it from. I'm sorry the colors are a bit difficult to see from the photograph -- could it be the photographer?!!!

Merry Little Ski Holiday

You know how sometimes you work and work on something and it just never quite looks right -- that's the case with this card. The paper is from Joann's (DCWV Glitter Christmas Stack) and I thought it was really cute and unique. I thought because there are so many colors in the three coordinating papers, I should keep it fairly simple, but maybe I needed a solid & only two patterned papers. I corrugated the stripe after stamping with the Hero Arts phrase. Any suggestions or ideas are welcomed! I've now added a little stocking cap with pompom, which I think helps the card, but I'm still not crazy about it!

Matchbook CTMH Hunting Card

This card was CASEd (as nearly as possible) from the Close To My Heart (CTMH) catalog featuring their My Acrylix D1213 Hunting set for my husband's son in Oklahoma, an avid hunter. I especially liked the arrows, as he also hunts deer with his bow and arrow. He shares his birthday in December with our son -- they are 16 years apart and fortunately he's always liked that they share their special day! I used CTMH's Desert Sand paper for the card, sponged my white cardstock scraps with Ranger's Peeled Paint ink and stamped in Versafine's Vintage Sepia, adding Darice's Hemp Cord to the arrow embellie & tied through the eyelets on the matchbook base. Hope he enjoys his special card as much as I enjoyed making it!

Cherish Pinwheel Card

Here's my version of the pinwheel card my niece sent me. I used a fall cardstock color, since that happened to be what was on my craft table, but I also think this would be a darling spring card done with pastel cardstock. So cute, so quick and so easy! Simply take a 3-inch square of double-sided designer series paper. I used Chatterbox's Scrapbook Walls for this card. From each corner of your square, cut in 1" with a scissor diagonally toward the opposite corner and then simply fold each point to the center and secure with a complimentary brad. Mine is by Making Memories In Bloom line. I chose "Cherish" for my sentiment from Stampin' Ups Baroque Motifs stamp set, since that's how I feel towards my niece!

Simple Happy Thanksgiving Door Hanger

A very simple Thanksgiving door hanger, which I left that way since I thought the leaves in the paper were so gorgeous that I'd just let them be. The 12" x 12" leafy sheet is by Provo Craft and is from Michaels. The phrase stamp is from many years ago, as are the ribbons and leaf brads. Since we're seemingly unable to get any very cool weather here in Arizona yet this year, this paper made me remember Thanksgivings from long ago in the Midwest and memories of cooler days!

Blessed!

I received this darling pinwheel card in the mail today from my sweet niece, Kristine, who visited us last month. The blessing is mine because I have her in my life; she's simply a delight to know! Though she makes cards, she didn't make this one, but her husband's cousin did. She knew I'd like it and she's right! I'm going to have to make some of these. When I do I'll upload a photo & directions for the pinwheel which is very easy to create.

Another Cream and Black Damask Card

This 5" square card is done on cream cardstock with the damask stamp (JudiKins) in black ink embossed with clear embossing powder. It is accented with a glossy black strip of cardstock and sheer black ribbon threaded through a Making Memories chipboard Halloween button from Target, which seemed more "damask" than Halloweeny to me!

Black & Cream Linen Damask Card

A very simple card done on black & cream linen card stock using JudiKins Regal Damask stamp. It didn't turn out quite like I'd envisioned, probably due to how the Versafine ink looks on the linen textured paper. I might like it better on smooth paper, but I decided I'd just add the double-scalloped edge & keep it simple. I think this stamp could be used for many occasions and have a couple more ideas in mind to try.

Photo Clips/Place Card or Recipe Holders/& More?

I found this darling idea for photo/placecard/recipe holders on Nancy Grant's Blog @ http://inkcicles.blogspot.com/ (plus several similar ones on others' blogs since) and she graciously said I could share this idea with my card group on Sunday. First, I discovered DMD's Adhesive Mats @ Target, which I knew would be perfect for adhearing the paper to these clips. Next, in searching for binder clips in colors other than black, I discovered a package of red, blue, white & yellow "Bind-it Flags" @ Staples. The package said they were "writable with permanent marker", so I just had to try StazOn ink, which works beautifully! I knew that a rub-on would work, which I used on the red one shown here to hold a photo of my BFF and me! Since these were quite small, I simply added a ribbon tie to finish mine. Wouldn't these be great for Thanksgiving or Christmas place cards for seating @ your dinner table, wonderful little stocking stuffers for family photos on a desk -- the possibilities are endless! Next, I'm going to try painting the clips, as I "need' more color choices!!!

Copper Snowflake Card

Deva brought a second card to share which is unique in that the snowflakes were 3-D decor items from Ikea, which she ingeniously cut apart (giving her twice as many!) to craft this stunner! Adding to it's beauty is her snowflake stamp by DeNami Designs and darling snowflake phrase by Hero Arts. Sure glad she brought this, "in case we had time and wanted to do another card". Who could go home without it after they'd seen it -- not me!!!

Santa Snowflake Card

This blue and white z-fold Santa card is a vision to behold! Gwen shared this card inspired by a tutorial on the Stamping Moments blog. The blue, silver and white metallic papers in multiple layers, snowflakes (Martha Stewart punch from Michaels) with "bling" brads and snowflake roller (Stampin'Up) all add to the card's true elegance! It's always so fun to have a new fold to ramp up our card making!
 

Daisy Stripes Card

Our hostess, Caryn, shared this adorable card incorporating pink/brown Daisy Stripe paper by Sandylion from JoAnn's, which I also happen to have in my "paper stash". In addition to the pretty paper, she adorned the front with a flower stamp and flower brad, round pink brads and soft fibers. She ingeniously created the inside with brown and pink panels, additional flower stamps and a creative friendship phrase layout! Another marvelous creation from Caryn, as always!

Two Thanksgiving Cards Shared by Friends

(Sorry, photo corrupted/lost!)

Deva's green Thanksgiving card includes gorgeous silk leaves that I believe she said were from Dollar Tree (they're magnificent), pretty ribbon, brads in fall colors and cute phrase stamp. She added orange & green Stickles to the leaves & acorn for added pizzazz -- truly a beautiful card "in person"! Ilene's card with pumpkins, swirly "vine", phrase and silk leaves all by Close to My Heart (I think) and added punched leaves, bow and Stickles glitz is a vision of fall loveliness also! Now you know why getting together to craft with these ladies is so much fun -- they never cease to amaze me!!!

You Are in My Thoughts

There's no better way to top off a busy week than getting together with my awesome stamping friends to enjoy crafting together! This is the card I shared which uses red (speckled) paper from XpedX , DMD adhesive mat stack from Target, my favorite new stamp convention purchase, Calligraphic Flourish by JudiKins, and phrase from Hero Arts LL159 Personal Message Set. Tomorrow I'll publish my other share and all the beautiful cards my talented friends created.

Silver Snowflake Card

Yesterday was our semi-annual Mesa Stamp Convention, as well as XpedX's Unconventional Sale in Tempe, so it was a busy day. Stampendous featured this snowflake card for its make & take @ XpedX which uses their acrylic holiday phrase in Mediterranean Blue Brilliance ink and Stampendous Class-A'Peel snowflake holographic silver stickers on vellum and silver Brilliance-inked snowflakes underneath on white cardstock. My photo doesn't do this card justice!