Christmas cards

thanks to all my teammates who sent Christmas cards they are hanging in my Christmas card door!!

Working ahead! Children’s card # 1&2

I enjoy making interactive cards especially for children they get excited when they see moving parts on a card! Here’s the first one…
I finally had some free time as we had a snow and ice storm and I was bound at home. So while I was canning I decided to do some Stamping!!

 As if the cows aren’t cute enough, how about a walrus! These two sets in the stampin’ up catalog really caught my eye. I don’t usually buy things like this but I did need some new children’s things and they’re just too cute. I’m making up cards for my children’s box as I have a lot that I need to send out. Trying to work ahead! So I downloaded a video that’s very short but I can’t get it to play. The  picture Is a still photo of the card and the fish twirl around! I saw this card on Pinterest and had to try to copy it thanks so much for the inspiration, Tracy from For the Love of Stamping

One more Christmas card!

 After posting yesterday that I had my Christmas cards done, my sister-in-law who is battling cancer called me this morning. Do you have any old Christmas cards that you’ve made that you’re not using this year if she asked? I wasn’t going to send any cards this year but I think maybe I might need a few. Well I did not because I used quite a few of them for myself this year, so I whipped up16 of these this morning before I went over to take her to her two appointments this afternoon. My mother-in-law and sister-in-law both love birds and a cardinal is such a beautiful bird, this is an old set but I know that they will love this card.

Christmas -Gods Peace

I think I’m done making all my Christmas cards! I had quite a few done and realized I needed a few more so I had to get busy again today. There’s so many different ways to use the stamp set to get so many different looks. Here’s a few of them do you have the stamp set, if you do I would love to see what you have done with it! Which one of these do you like the best?
 

TSOT Challenge 438 Happy Birthday!!!

Happy December!  Has this month found you really busy?  We are always busy this time of year, not only do we have Christmas at the end of the month but in the mix are three birthdays, Dec.6,19,25!! Two of my 4 boys were in December (yes we had a Christmas morning baby-our oldest) and now I have a daughter-in-law also! 
This was  a great sketch I don't think I've ever designed a card like this before with a half circle type design !!  (I'm using a new computer and my courser keeps hopping around!)  Found myself home for a day in Nov. and I've worked ahead to get a few cards done and I'm pleased with this theme as my daughter-in-laws birthday was the 6th of Dec. this is her birthday card she loves purple.  I hope your not to busy and can play along with us.


Colors are Purple Posy, Georgeous Grape, Mossy Meadow a little Pear Pizzazz for leaves only
Stampin up mostly but the stencil is Altenew.

    Optional Theme - birthday fun
t

TSOT Challenge 437 Winter Wonder

Winter fun!  This is three of our grandchildern :0) they live beside us and I them often!! I do hope we can take them sledding this year. We have a barn hill that is fun to use, when our boys were small there were times when they could go from the top of the hill to the gate that led into the yard (around 50 yards) or through the gate out to the shed. The weather has to be just right for we drive in that area also. What do you like to do for winter fun?  show us a card it shouldn't be to hard to do.
Thanks for stopping, hope to see your idea of winder wonder.  (I'm working ahead I've a rare day at home!)

   Optional Theme -  Winter Wonder

TSOT Challenge 436 Nov. 25

Have any of you ever experienced a time in your life where you've become a care giver?  It is a blessing to be able to help in this way but it does change your life immensely!!  That is where I'm at in this season of my life.  My mother-in-law had a stroke about 5 years ago and is in a wheel chair, her right side is paralyzed. Her daughter(never married) was taking care of her and the first of the year was diagnosed with cancer.  The family is now taking care of both of them in their home.  I've become the coordinator for all the help and go to person.  So that is my "excuse" for missing some challenges lately, I'm trying my best to stay active for I need to have some down time to do what I enjoy! and believe me- I DO ENJOY STAMPING!!! and being a part of this group.  Sorry for rambling, I just  wanted to share a bit.

Had a few minutes this morning and since I had some pieces left from a card class I decided to use them for this card as they fit the pattern beautifully.  I did rearrange the the pieces a bit-  that's what is fun with challenges - just use all the parts in your own way and you've created something that is unequally yours.  Here is my vision of this challenge. I just LOVE this plaid DSP that Stampin' UP has in the winter mini catalog, it is so versatile. Thank you for stopping and I do hope you will add  a card so we can see your creation.  Oh and Happy Thanksgiving.

Optional Theme - Cozy Patterns

TSOT Challenge 434 Nov. 11

Welcome and I’m glad you stopped by this week. Well I took a little liberty on this sketch. Changed the circle to a rectangle to go with my chosen image. I also put the homemade piece if DSP the other direction. To top it all off I completely turned the card. I couldn’t find a bling that I like with this so I left it off. This is an easy sketch to make a card for - any season hope we’ll see yours! Check out the other designers 😀

Stamp set: Beauty and Joy

Checkered background

Colors: Crumb cake, early espresso, cherry cobbler, crushed curry

Pine wood planks dynamic textured embossing folder

    Optional Theme - Put some Bling on it

TSOT Challenge 432

Put this card together pretty quickly with the different designer series paper’s. Love these papers they are so beautiful, if you don’t have them you should get them! Glad it went together quick, today is my mother-in-law’s 96th birthday we’re heading back to her house this evening. Thanks for stopping bye don’t forget to check out all the other designers.

  Optional Theme - Pattern Mixing

happy halloween Challenge #431

My oh my where is this month going? Hey not just this month This YEAR!!!!
I have been wanting to use my embossing  paste lately  so I decided to use my stripe stencil. After the embossing paste dried I decided to put some color on it using the Momento black. It really seeped when I did the black and I was going to pitch it. But then I decided hey it’s Halloween I’ll make a card for Halloween and it doesn’t have to be perfect. I am not much of a ghost person so I put pumpkins/jack-o’-lanterns on the card. Since my black was still wet some of my pieces and my fingers were picking up the black ink so I just did a distressed look on all of them.
I’m wondering what you will do with this sketch and our theme of stripes. Can’t wait to see it!

    Theme - Stripes

TSOT Challenge 430 Fall time!

              Yea!!!!! I’m back— sorry to have been AOL for so long.
Wedding out of state and cleaning out my parents house in a different state have been keeping me busy!!! I’m not sure I’ve even been  in my craft room for weeks!!! Cleaned my desk off  had to my grandson turned 5 and I had to make a card for  him. I’ll post it in a few days.

I LOVE fall so this is a good theme for me to get back at it with.   I do hope you’ll join us this is a throwback challenge, it’s from way back Challenge #3.  When our children were younger they liked to rake the leaves and then jump in them, Fun!!


    

Theme- Fall Fun

Challenge 423 lovin’ in plaids

Hello everyone, so glad to be able to get a card done for this great challenge I turned the sketch for the focal point I water colored it at my mother-in-laws house during one if my days there. Seems my life has been a whirlwind lately!!
We have a nice and husband who are expecting and due in October. This will be a well loved little one as they had a miss carriage last year. Everyone is doing fine!!!  I have had this stamp for years and send a card to all the excited couples to let them know that I’m thinking and praying for them. Thanks for stopping by, be sure to check out all the other designers lovely cards. .

Theme:  plaids or checks

Taking flight with Challenge 421

HELLO!!! I wasn't sure what I was going to do with this sketch and theme and then I was at a family members house with some of my Art Impressions stamps and remembered I had this new stamp set, it fits the theme.  I changed the sketch up just a bit by layering a bit differently since my focal point was a rectangle shape.  I enjoyed making this, I need to use my Art Impressions stamps more!!!
Thanks for stopping by and have fun coming up with a card for this oldie but goody sketch from the past.

TSOT 419 - Embossing and Stamparatus tips!!

My life has been so busy lately that I've not had time to think let alone stamp!  BUT sometimes one just has to take a few moments for relaxation and that is me when stamping.  I squeezed this card in on Sat. when I finally got home for a few hours. I made time for it even though there were a "million" other things I could /should have been doing.
 Our theme is embossing, did you know there’s a couple of ways to emboss?  Dry embossing and wet embossing, I’ve done both on this card. After I stamped the background, I dry embossed and de-bossed the background where the leaves are. By that I mean I ran the card through both ways, I  first de-bossed , made the images sink in and then I embossed regular and had the leaf image pop up from the card. Not sure you can see that in the picture. The frame is embossed also, I made 2 cut them and then pieced the brown one that I cut down over the green one. The brown one I colored the detail on the die with my marker and then put it through the big shot.
      The wet embossing is on the flowers and the sentiment. I used the same ink on both but the sentiment is on vellum and may be why it is lighter. Using the stamparatus made this sooo easy! I had The flowers cut already on my desk left over from a card class where we did this technique.
 Template stamping and re-stamping.
1. Cut all your shapes out of your desired card stock. Make extra so you can test out your stamp placement. (step 4)
2. Take a scrap piece of card stock and cut your shape out of the center of it. You don’t want this piece too small I did most of mine out of a quarter piece of card stock. This piece can also be reused many times. This is your template piece
3. Place your template piece in your stamparatus.
4.  Lay your stamp over the cut out shape in the stamparatus. Pick it up with acrylic plate.
     Place one of your cut shapes into the template. It’s like a puzzle piece😊
     Ink up your stamp and stamp. If your not pleased with the placement move stamp and try again.
*** When you have it aligned to your satisfaction you can stamp as many pieces as you have cut. Really makes for a quick stamping of  pieces and no worries that it will not be lined up to your satisfaction.   Just thought I’d mention this is also a lot easier than Stampin and then cutting your shape with the big shot. I don’t know how many times I did that and the die would move and it would ruin what I had stamped.
Always remember that the stamparatus is a super, wonderful, fabulous tool for re-stamping!!! If you don’t get your design stamped good the first time or if you want to emboss with a color that you don’t have in embossing powder for, then the stamparatus is the tool for the job. Re-stamping is a breeze as long as you don’t move anything.  Just ink the Stamp again and it will stamp over the image exactly!!  You can do this as many times as you want to get the color as rich as you want.
   If you want to emboss with a color  that you don’t have embossing powder for. Just leave everything where it is in your stamparatus,  clean off your stamp, and using your embossing pad ink up your stamp and Stamp over your image that you still have in your template. I did this a couple times so I was sure that my embossing pad was inking  up the Image well . Then I took out and covered with clear embossing powder and viola I had early espresso embossed flowers. I did the same thing with the sentiment on the vellum, just be sure when you heat set your vellum that you don’t hold it too long in one place or it could warp it.
    Thanks for stopping by and letting me ramble about all of that, maybe you knew all of it but maybe you didn’t and now you have something new to try. Below is the suggested sketch for this challenge #419 guess I didn't really follow it, but that's okay we just want you to stamp and give you suggestions to help jump start your creativity!  don't forget to check out all the other designers lovely creations!!

A favorite vacation - TSOT #417

When I saw the theme for our challenge at Try Stamping on Tuesday I decided I wanted to try my hand at doing a card with the sand dunes. One of our favorite spots to go when our children were growing up, we had four boys, was the Sand Dunes in Colorado. Seems like there was never an end to them. You would get to the top of what you thought was the tallest one and see more spread out before your eyes! I know I didn't capture it as well as a photo but I've never claimed to be an artist, just trying to be creative with my stamps.  I asked one of the boys what the card reminded him of relating to vacations and he said the Sand Dunes, maybe I didn't do a terrible job of depicting them?  The pictures below my card was from  a few years ago but I couldn’t resist. One of those boys is a Daddy three times over and another one will be getting married in Sept.  Out youngest two still live at home and we love having them even though they are 25 and 27.
 Thanks for stopping bye why don’t you give it a try.  What was one of your favorite vacations with your family or by yourself show is on a card you make for this fun challenge.

THEME- Vacation

Christmas in July for TSOT!#416

I thought it was fun to do a Christmas card in July. When it’s hot and humid outside using  a set that  makes you think of cold weather is wonderful. That’s what I did on this one thanks for coming by!

TSOT challenge 415 Melt!!!

Yea another Try Stampin' on Tuesday challenge - we've a combo again.  Sketch, Inspiration or both

 When I think of the word melt I think of all the summers that we have baled hay and let me tell you, you melt when you’re on the wagon stacking or driving in the heat and sun.  We make small bales they are stacked about 5 layers high.   I chose not to follow the sketch and just use the inspiration word.  Thanks for stopping - how do you think I did with the inspiration? Have you ever experienced this kind of melting?  Don't forget to check out all the other designers.

TSOT 414 summer fun

 When I saw the theme of summer fun, and knew I need some cards for a couple little boys. This stamp set jumped into my mind even though it’s an old one-- it just said please use me again!! I’ve always liked this set for young children since it definitely goes with summer and what child doesn't like summer. I dissected my stamp by taking it off the block and putting it in my stamparatus that way I could color my bicycle many different colors and stamp it over and over again and it lined up exactly!!!! That's just one of the many things I love, Love, LOVE about the stamparatus!!  If you don't know what it is and would like more information on it just leave me a question in the comments below and a way to get back with you and I'd be more than happy to share my LOVE with you on the fabulous "power" tool in the stamping world.  I stamped the sunglasses all over the white piece to make my own background paper.  When riding a bicycle in the summer one needs sun glasses on right?😉  thanks for stopping.

                                           

Optional Theme: Summer Fun

TSOT 413 Nature

I spent the day with a dear friend and we stamped this is what I came up with I hope you like it. I turned the image so I would have more room for the leaves and my branch and the bird. I made the branch myself the leaves and The bird are from the new Free as a bird stamp set from Stampin Up and I cut it out after I colored it.  The Lacey piece on the right hand side came from the new die called - stitched lace dies from Stampin Up it’s a lovely die and the pieces come out really easy. Guess that’s about it have a great day.

Optional Theme: Favorites in Nature

The Joy of Sets Blog Hop- Beautiful Magnolia

     



Oh my, here is a good sized blog hop for you, 12 of us in all. 😊  I have been thinking that I'd like to work on my project and decided I'd better get it done before the card stock comes in for my sons wedding invitations that I'm making.  sooo I finished this a couple weeks ago and I had a good time putting it together.  I made the shadow box then decided to use my new magnolia set from Stampin' Up.  This image is so big that it fills up a card and in this case my shadow box.  I put a piece of designer paper behind it and colored the images with blends-alcohol markers from St. Up and Copics.  The Welcome I cut with my Scan N Cut. (That machine will be a life saver when I get ready to cut the initials for the wedding invitations.)    I know this is a long hop but if you break it up and do so many a day I'm sure you'll find a LOT of wonderful projects from all who contributed.  Thanks for stopping by my little spot and if you would be so kind you could leave me a little comment letting me know how you like my new wall hanging I'd appreciate it.  There is a list with links listed below so be sure to hop on to the next one.

                                             

Here it is hanging on the wall  💗😊

Here are the links for all the blogs for you to hop around to.

  Just click on the name of the post and another mini screen will pop up for you to click on, it will take you to that blog. Sorry if it's confusing this is the only way I could get it all to work.

Jane Allmark https://amethystarcrafting.blogspot.com/2019/06/joy-of-sets-something-new-blog-hop-june.html?fbclid=IwAR2__GtIV9iBIPWszKzzQfuwZyaAl0duEHUovmsBDLVEsNH46TJJlPpbXpc

Jennifer Arent https://jenniferarentstamps.wordpress.com/2019/06/15/proud-peacock-for-the-june-jos-blog-hop?fbclid=IwAR0LkOJN0K0FIcylHRLf1i9LKycczYYcE6UDVhL6DS2K_ikaLhmscvR_VpI

Annette Ball https://stampinwiththebees.blogspot.com/2019/06/something-new-joy-of-sets.html?fbclid=IwAR0FCnlvwMElH_CbWFzoOSma2Kul9RcYjYNQqBY5ydBmYPGz096O6XAR96Y

Linda Handford https://stampinbythebeach.blogspot.com/2019/06/june-joy-of-sets-blog-hop-something-new.html?fbclid=IwAR3vUCNZ70zmT1H3bi_EuKdwBxZkv_k4duUhpBi56-2m9Vev0QED9t7IYhE

Anne-Marie Maclean https://wordpress.com/post/traighpapercrafting.wordpress.com/5640?fbclid=IwAR3ngaI2P2VyjjvjcIrDIJvTlsZPymYiV3wippEc-9lrPwmXSgv4XoXVQ2o

Angie McKenzie https://www.naturesinkspirations.com/2019/06/the-joy-of-sets-blog-hop-something-new.html?fbclid=IwAR3ioftYXKsSgFHqfKcH4fiebJaP2Sn53BkSvZj9sXzeoKaLJD3y7vi05jg

Vicki Milyard https://stampingvickisvisions.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-joy-of-sets-blog-hop-beautiful.html?fbclid=IwAR3r355GPyPjc2vjtUOrPA8Qs3Ze8tz14gsUqNqFI6oywnto6YFbkWlYADs

Andrea Parr http://www.craftylittleblog.com/2019/06/joy-of-sets-blog-hop-june-2019.html?fbclid=IwAR0Aroxz-uPZTmxkyHrfYW8dlDdXL6kaVISBlwBxu31diluLITcXxJ2yTFE

Karen Pearmain https://www.craftylittlemissk.co.uk/2019/06/jos-blog-hop-something-new.html?fbclid=IwAR2M5_9OURKugCUKc0A1pTpklcEAUrUdP2tjoimxfSnTAqUaR6Np9XXguOY

Susan Simpson https://craftyduckydoodah.blogspot.com/2019/06/joy-of-sets-blog-hop-group-something-new.html?fbclid=IwAR2s3npJXtFc-YFjqtbV40VEUFfXS4p4vRdOj5Iuczy0P4p6QY3y3H-z-g0

Rebecca-Jo Unwin https://rebecca-jounwin.blogspot.com/2019/06/the-joy-of-sets-blog-hop-june-2019.html?fbclid=IwAR2UA5iCxayRtQQC3zKQAw574PwlasZMWx0q1454UWgHaQuFAtHUAQFj2PY

Fiona Whitehead https://craftystamping.blogspot.com/2019/06/joy-of-sets-blog-hop-whats-new-with-you.html?fbclid=IwAR0hVV22QyQ2ZCNDT1hc-cNY6Bp_eaEq9FkaGndTcezdqu2Tsza26vjvIt8

TSOT 412

We have a  fun one for you this week.  So many different choices hope that won't overwhelm you. If you were to go on Pinterest and search for fun fold you would find a LOT.   I made 2😊 just  because I felt like it.  The first one follows the technique and the sketch. I used a new Stampin' Up set, I don't live by water but I have two sisters that do so I now have 2 cards to send out.
                           
                      I turned the sketch,  the sailboat piece takes the place of the square and I                                                     off set it.  The rope is the strip on the side.  I guess I might have taken a                                                 little bit of freedom but all in all think it followed fairly well.           

       This next picture shows the fun fold - the top lifts up and the bottom folds down  to see inside. I used the crumb cake piece on the inside that I used to cut the backing for the sailboat. I'll add my sentiment when I decide what I want on it.

Card Number two just follows the fun fold technique.  I've been wanting to make another bridge card and thought this set would look great with that fun fold.
                                       

                         side view                                                lays flat for mailing

Thanks for stopping by if you have any questions on these cards, colors, how to's....that sort of thing just leave your question in the comments and where I can get back with you and I'll be happy to help.  If you love this set and would like it, AND don't have a demonstrator I would love to be yours and help you in any way I can.   Have a wonderful day and make it great go stamp a card for someone you love... just because😉