Thursday, December 23, 2010

Teacher Christmas Gifts


Hello there!
Popping in to share the gifts that my boys will be
handing out to their teachers for Christmas this year.
There are five teachers betwen the three of them,
since my younger two have both a teacher
and a teacher's aid at all times.
Each of them will be receiving a set of
 6 handmade notecards and envelopes
that look like this guy.


I used lots of Lawn Fawn on these gifts.
Five stamp sets, if I kept track correctly.
I'd never actually made more than one of a
card before, but aside from being time-consuming
it wasn't too bad. I just did everything
assembly-line style. It took me a LOT of hours
this week to do, but I'm really happy with the result
and I think they will be too.

Here's how I packaged them up:


For the tags, I bought some library cards
and sleeves, and stamped those with their names.


And the card slides out to display
a message from the boys.
Clever, no?
I was quite pleased with myself. ;o)


Before I go, I wanted to mention two things.
First, I will be taking a short break from blogging
over the holidays to spend time with family,
and do a little traveling -- more on that later.

Second, when I return, I have a big surprise!
I was recently asked to become part of
something really fun and exciting, and that
I hope you're going to love.
I know I am!
I'm dying to tell you all about it,
but I can't just yet. Soon -- I promise.

Until then, Merry Christmas
and Happy New Year!


Supplies:
cardstock: Georgia Pacific
paper: Core'dinations, Cosmo Cricket
stamps: Lawn Fawn "Just My Type," "My Silly Valentine," "Frosties," "Bows & Holly," and Jessie's ABCs
ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, London Fog, Ranger Distress in Fired Brick and Tumbled Glass
copics: C01, C03, C05, R22, R24, R27, R59, G01, G03, G05, G07

Friday, December 17, 2010

All Hearts Come Home for Christmas


Are you ladies all ready for Christmas?
I'm not! I still have a ton to do -- I haven't even finished up
my Christmas cards! I'm hoping to do that today though,
and get them to the post office tomorrow morning.
Any tips for mailing handmade cards?

Well, last weekend I had the opportunity to do
something really exciting -- I took a Copic class!
Our local scrapbooking store had visiting instructor
 Tammy Hershberger come in for one day and teach
 three classes, one after another. I scored a spot in the
10AM class before I went to work and had a great time.
It was a beginner's class, so most of what we covered I had
already learned from my obsessive watching of
youtube Copic marker videos or just by trial and error over
the last six months since I fell in love with this technique,
but it was still really interesting and totally worthwhile.
Plus, I got to color with some new shades, so that was nice!
This is one of the three images I colored there.



Reds, I find to be very difficult to get the shading right,
so I was glad she chose these colors for us. I really love those
colors we used on the tree and her scarf, mittens and stockings.
YG93, YG95, YG97, and YG99. I immediately
put them on my wish list when I got home late that night.

Tammy was sweet enough to give us the cardstock and
green Basic Grey paper so that we could make a card,
but I chose to just focus on coloring while I was there,
and assembled the card at home the next day.
Of course, I had to toss a few of my own supplies
into the mix, including flower soft for the fur and snow.
 Check out this post at Tammy's blog, where you can see
the original plan for the card, as well as the
other two projects we did in class.
You'll notice my sentiment is different too.
You didn't think I could color in that sweet image and
then leave without a set to play with at home, did you?
Ah, you ladies know me too well!


Well, I'm off to brave this winter weather and hopefully
get the last chunk of my gift list taken care of.
Then back to my table later tonight to get inky!
Have a great weekend, everybody!


Supplies:
cardstock: I think, Bazzill
paper: Basic Grey "Jovial", My Mind's Eye
stamp: Pure Innocence
ink: Tsukineko Momento Tuxedo Black
copics: E00, E11, R20, E15, E18, E25, R35, R46, R59, YG93, YG95, YG97, YG99, YR23, C03, C05, C07
embellishments: flower soft, ribbon from stash, gems from stash

Friday, December 10, 2010

Sing Noel (a compromise) and a wintery scene


First off, thank you so much for your sweet comments this week.
I swear, I have the best readers out there!
Thank you guys so much for always being there to reassure me
when I start to doubt myself or my sense of creativity.
It truly means a lot.

I've been thinking this week about how out of character
it was for me to spout off about having one particular style.
Not that there's a thing wrong with that AT ALL.
But anyone who knows me, knows that I have always prided
myself on my noncomformity. I am not typical.
I don't like to be "typical." I like to keep you guessing. ;o)
I like to mix, and mesh, and blend.
I like to be UNIQUE.

So I thought, if I can mix and mesh and blend styles
with wardrobe and accessories, why not with papercrafting?
I set out to do just that.


I got in my cute critters, my glitter, my funky font,
but I combined it with vintage-style papers, distress inks,
twine, and a lace border punch.
I'm happy with the result.

I also wanted to share with you girls
the little scene I now look upon when I sit down to craft,
and I apologize in advance for my dirty window! ACK!
I swear, I didn't realize it was that bad until I saw the photo.
Amazing what your flash will pick up.


Wish I could take credit for it, but I actually got the idea
from the amazing Lisa Spangler. I had to modify mine slightly,
 as my window ledge is tiny. Cost me around $15 to do
($9+ was just the deer -- found on Etsy
 if you had those already it'd be super inexpensive),
but it's something that I'll be able to keep and enjoy for years
and years to come. Plus, it makes me happy to look at.

Wishing you all a very crafty day!


Card supplies:
cardstock: Bazzill
paper: Making Memories, My Mind's Eye
stamps: Lawn Fawn "Fly Free", memory box
ink: Momento Tuxedo Black, Ranger distress Vintage Photo
punch: Martha Stewart
embellishments: K&Company alpha stickers, Darice ribbon, American Crafts button, Martha Stewart baker's twine

Window Display supplies:
small pine trees, deer or other critter figurines, votive candles and holders, sea salt

Wednesday, December 8, 2010

We Three Kings - Let's Talk Style


Good Morning, ladies!
How are you on this wintery day?
Brrr! It's cold out there! But at least it didn't snow more
last night.There's still plenty on the ground from yesterday.
And oh, geez. My van just got plowed in by two snow plows!
Guess I'm going to need to leave for work earlier than I thought.

Well, before I go, let me share this card with you.




I'm not sure about this one. It's definitely my least favorite of the
Christmas cards I've made so far. I don't know what about it
exactly I don't like, I just know it's not really my "style."
After nearly a year of cardmaking, I'm beginning to see that
I definitely do have a style. And while I can truly appreciate the
beauty of shabby vintage, or clean and graphic,
or classy and elegant, and maybe even try my hand at them
from time to time, what really gets me excited and chomping
at the bit to get to my craft table, are fun and cute cards.
Whimsical creatures, punny sayings, -- that's me.

What do you think? Do you have a particular style,
or do you hop from one to the next, creatively?


Supplies:
cardstock: Hollo's Papercraft
paper: My Mind's Eye Noel Specialty Paper Pack
stamp: Inkadinkado
ink: Ranger Distress in Antique Linen and Tea Dye, Versamark
embossing powder: Zing Metalic Gold

Monday, December 6, 2010

Joy


Boy, it sure is snowing up a storm here!
It's been coming down all day, and I'm certainly glad
that I'm not out there in it. The wind comes up in white gusts
that completely block out the view from my window.
Brrr!

Let's stay nice and warm inside and look at a card, shall we?
This one is very different from my usual whimsical style,
but I kinda like it anyway. What do you think?


Supplies:
cardstock: Hollo's Papercraft
paper: Making Memories Noel 8x8 specialty paper pack
stamp: Unity itty bitty
ink: Ranger Distress in Antique Linen and Tea Dye, Colobox Fluid Chalk in Warm Red
ribbon: Darice

Friday, December 3, 2010

Season's Tweetings


Hey all!
Keeping this one super short and sweet today. Why?
I have the day off, hubby's at school, the kids are at school,
and you know the old saying about when the cat's away, don'tcha?
But in my case, the mommy will play --with her cardmaking supplies!
I hope to bang out a couple more Christmas cards
 before the gang returns.

Quick note:
Notice how the last three cards have all used the same
 sheet of background paper -- just different parts of the design?
Also I used the same stamp on this card as the one before,
but I only borrowed the little birdie this time.
I'm trying to do more of that. Use up what's already out
while the inspiration still lingers. In fact, I want to get a
box/tray for the corner of my desk for paper scraps that
need to get more use before I file the rest away.
This comes from both a severe lack of storage space
and a desire to be more economical with my supplies.
Do you guys ever craft that way?

Well, without further ado:
today's card.


Supplies:
cardstock: Bazzill kraft
paper: My Mind's Eye Wonderful Winter collection
stamp: Hampton Arts
ink: Momento Tuxedo Black
copics: R24, R27, R59
embellishments: Martha Stewart baker's twine, Cosmo Cricket Tiny Type alpha stickers, diamond stickles, white gel pen
noteworthy tool: Ranger paper edge distresser

Wednesday, December 1, 2010

Season's Greetings Snowman

Another day, another Christmas card. :o)
I hope you all will enjoy this little guy.
I stamped the snowman, colored him with copics,
then masked him off with Inkadinkado masking paper.
Then I distressed the background with
Tumbled Glass distress ink from Ranger.
I love this color. It's perfect for a winter sky.

Just a head's up: Laurie over at Hiding In My Craft Room 
is hosting a giveaway. All you have to do to enter is
submit a holiday card. I'm sure you've got one
of those all ready to go, don't ya?
Happy holiday crafting!



Supplies:
cardstock: Bazzill kraft
patterned paper: My Mind's Eye Wonderful Winter collection
stamp: Hampton Arts, Hero Arts sentiment
ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Ranger Distress Tumbled Glass
copics: YR04, YR09, G24, E57, R24, R27, R59
embellishments: Martha Stewart Baker's Twine

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