30 Day Gratitude Challenge: Day 15

Happy Sunday!  What a great day we had yesterday and today’s going to be another great one, football for the guys, and card class and stamping me for and the ladies (I always feel so much more relaxed after I’ve had a chance to spend some quality time creating and boy do I have a lot of projects on my To Do list that need some attention!!)  Today I have another fun and whimsical Christmas thank you card.  Have you had a chance to check out the beautiful Home For Christmas Designer Series Paper?  It was all hand painted in the design process (we learned all about the process of creating the designer paper in this years Holiday catalog and boy is it amazing!!)  These sheets have these fabulous designs and we saw this great way to cut out the individual images (Santas, reindeer, trees, etc. and use them as elements on your card.  Of course this is great but creates a lot of waisted paper, which I hate so Idecided to use one of the partial santa’s on this card and make it look like he’s peeking out. 

I started with Real Red cardstock for the cardbase and then added a piece of Whisper White cardstock for a nice clean front.  I stamped the greeting in Mossy Meadow ink using the Another Thank You stamp set (same as yesterday, yes you really do need this set!!)  I also used a stamp from Gorgeous Grunge and some Pool Party ink to stamp these lines that remind me of the lines made on ice when you’re skating.  I used some Mossy Meadow cardstock to matt a piece of Home For Christmas Designer Series Paper and attached it so my santa had something to peak out from behind.  I cut my little santa out with paper Snips and glued him onto the cardfron and then added a string of rhinestones in a waving pattern to mimic the cuts in the ice (over the top???  What do you think?)   

This card just makes me smile.  I’ll admit there is no way I could color in an image that well and cutting him out really isn’t that hard and the images in this paper package really remind me of those classic images of the holidays from when I was a kid.  It’s also nice and flat and mailable that the mailman would appreciate!

Below are easy ordering links for the products used on today’s project:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

                                                            

Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Diana

30 Day Gratitude Challenge: Day 14

Good morning!  It’s going to be a fun day, we have lots to get done today and then we’re run/walking the Snowflake Stampede again this year which is a 2.5 mile loop through the Christmas lights in Bull Run park that you normally drive through.  We have so much fun dressing up and doing this loop on foot since we get to enjoy the lights, stop and take pictures as much as we want and have fun (just hoping it’s not too cold!)  Since it’s starting to get in the holiday spirit it’s only fitting that today’s gratitude card is another Christmas one.  I had several strips of this particular DSP pattern after last month’s class and a punched out tree sitting on my desk so I decided to use those two items and see what I could come up with (it’s always a great idea to go through your pile of little pieces on your desk (admit it we all those items that didn’t work on the initial project we intended but we couldn’t throw them away, so let’s repurpose and them on something new!!)

I started with Real Red cardstock for the cardbase and then added a piece of Whisper White cardstock for a nice clean front.  I took that piece of DSP (from the Merry Moments Designer Series Paper Stack and matted it with Smoky Slate cardstock.  The little tree (that I already had cut out is from the Lots of Joy stamp set and was stamped in Mossy Meadow ink on Whisper White cardstock and then punched out with the Tree Punch).  The tree was attached to the cardfront with dimensionals.  The greeting is from the Another Thank You stamp set and was stamped in Real Red.  For a final touch, I added one of the star buttons from the Home for Christmas Designer Buttons to the top of the tree and tied a knot in the button using linen thread (hate to have a naked button!!)

This card came together really quickly since I already had a couple of elements (the “hardest” part was decided which greeting to use so it didn’t overpower the tree.  This DSP is also great because it’s really neutral and isn’t holiday specific (so I can continue to use it long after Christmas is over, and trust me, I’m on a mission to work on using up my supply stash!)

Below are easy ordering links for the products used on today's card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Have an enjoyable Saturday!

Diana

30 Day Gratitude Challenge: Day 1

Happy November!  After a wonderful family weekend and a fun Halloween we're off the start the new month.  For the last couple of years I've used the month of November to focus on all the things that I'm thankful for and it's important that we let people know we're thankful for them and a hand written message is a wonderful and heartfelt way to do that.  So everyday this month I'll be sharing different cards and projects I've created to show my gratitude.  I decided to start the month off with a super simple and easy card that's perfect for everyday and could be made with any color combination.

I started with Bermuda Bay cardstock for the cardbase and then added a piece of Whisper White cardstock.  I just got the Watercolor Wash background stamp last week (thanks to the stamp sale last month, yeah!!) so I decided to ink it up with some Smoky Slate ink for a fun background effect.  For the greeting, I used the Another Thank You stamp set and stamped the greeting in Bermuda Bay ink.  For a little bit of bling I added a string of rhinestones to help accent the greeting.

I love the simplicity of this card, and I'll admit it came together in less than 5 minutes (sometimes you need a card in a rush.

Below are easy ordering links for the products used in today's card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

Enjoy!

Diana

Create with Connie and Mary Sketch Challenge Meets 30-Day Gratitude Challenge: Another Thank You

Welcome Wednesday!  I’ve been enjoying a busy but productive week so far, there’s a lot I want to take care of before Thanksgiving so I’m trying to fit it all in or make up project kits to take with me (if you see my car on the highway on Wednesday afternoon I’ll be the one making Christmas cards in the passenger seat, haha!)  I today I’m sharing two different projects this is my 30-Day Gratitude card challenge card and I have another project that you’ll have to come back to enjoy.  Today I decided to play along with the Create with Connie and Mary Sketch challenge to provide some fresh inspiration for today’s card.  I used Pool Party for the cardbase and then embossed a piece of Smoky Slate cardstock with the Big Shot and Modern Mosaic Embossing Folder before matting it with Real Red cardstock.  Next I used two different patterns of DSP from the Flashback Designer Series Paper for some fun patterns.  For the greeting I used the Another Thank You Photopolymer stamp set and stamped in in Real Red ink on Very Vanilla cardstock and cut it out with the Circle Collection Framelits.  It’s matted with a piece of Real Red cardstock that had been cut out with the Starburst Framelit Collection.  The final touch was to add some Silver Baker’s Twine that I tied into a bow (I used two pieces for a doubly fancy bow, haha!)

This card is so bright and cheery it really helps on these cold fall days when I just want to snuggle under the blankets.  I hope you’re still playing along with this challenge, if you are you should have quite the collection of cards to show your appreciation.

 

 

 

 

 

Below are easy ordering links for the products used on today’s card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

 

Enjoy,

Diana

Sketch Frenzy Friday Sketch Challenge and 30 Days of Gratitude Day 7: Lovely as a Tree

Good morning!  We’ve arrived at the weekend (or will in a few short hours if your working today).  It’s another race weekend for me and this is the first time I’m traveling to a race so Chris and Aidan are coming along so we can check out Annapolis, MD (we’ve never been).  This does mean there won’t be much time for crafting but I may be able to get a little digital scraping done using MDS.  Today I combined my Sketch FrenzyFriday design team card with my gratitude card and boy does this one have some fun bling!  I started with Sahara Sand for the cardbase and added a piece of Soft Suede cardstock that I embossed with the Big Shot and Perfect Polka Dot Embossing Folder.  Next I added a square of Champagne Glimmer Paper that’s matted with Sahara Sand cardstock and I added a little leaf that I cut out using the Big Shot and Fall Fun Framelits.  The leaf is Soft Suede and I sponged it with the same ink before attaching it with a dimensional.

For the main stamped image I first stamped with the Hardwood stamp on Very Vanilla cardstock using Sahara Sand ink.  Next I stamped the leaf from Lovely as a Tree in Versamark ink and then heat embossed it using the Heat Tool and Whisper White Embossing Powder.  Next I used some Lost Lagoon ink and sponged all around the leaf and then when I wiped it clean and the heat embossed image resists the ink and really stands out.  I also sponged around the edges with Soft Suede ink before matting it with Lost Lagoon cardstock.  I added some Gold Baker’s Twine around this layer before attaching it to the cardfront.

The greeting is from the Another Thank You stamp set and is stamped with Soft Suede ink on Lost Lagoon cardstock and then punched out with the Large Oval Punch and attached to the cardfront with dimensionals.

I really like how this card turned out, nice and soft, with lots of texture to really make a WOW statement.

 

 

Below are easy ordering links for the products used in today's card:

Built for Free Using: My Stampin Blog

 

I hope you have an enjoyable weekend and make sure to check back as my 30-Day Gratitude challenge continues, and play along for your chance at some FREE blog candy!

Happy stamping,

Diana

 

 

30 Day Gratitude Card Challenge: Day 19

Good morning!  Boy is cold, I enjoyed our nice mild weather we had yesterday and then was smacked in the face this morning on my run with a reminder that it is indeed fall and winter is coming.  I decided to do another combo for today's gratitude challenge card and mix it with the Paper Craft Crew sketch challenge for another soft wintry Thank You card. I had the Winter Frost Speciality Designer Series Paper sitting out on my desk from another project I was working on and just knew I could come up with a simple and pretty card. 

The card base is Smoky Slate and I added a layer of Pool Party cardstock that was embossed with the Big Shot and the Stylish Stripes Embossing Folder.  Next I took a piece of Island Indigo Textured cardstock and used it as a mat for a strip of the Winter Frost Speciality Designer Series Paper.  I wrapped a piece of Silver 1/8" ribbon around the DSP piece and tucked a piece of Silver Glimmer paper that was punched out with the Label Bracket punch for some sparkle.

The greeting is from the Another Thank You Photopolymer stamp set and was stamped in Island Indigo ink on Whisper White cardstock before being matted with a piece of Bermuda Bay cardstock.  I used dimensionals to attach the greeting and the final sparkly touch is a Frosted Finished Embellishment attached with a glue dot on the bottom right corner.

 

I have to admit this card came together in about 5 minutes (which was good since I was running behind and didn't start working on this until 10:30 last night and needed something quick before I fell asleep.  It just goes to show you can make beautiful and heartfelt cards in no time.  I love it!!

 

Hope this gives you some inspiration, you could very easily change out the greeting and make this a Christmas card that people would love to receive.

 

Happy stamping!

 

Diana

30 Day Gratitude Card Challenge: Day Six, Create with Connie and Mary Color Challenge

Good morning!  It's amazing how not having any after school activities this week has liberated our schedules, I feel like I have lots of extra free time but the change in Daylight Savings Time this weekend is hitting us pretty hard so we've all been falling asleep early, even Aidan.  Anyway, for today's 30 Day Gratitude Card challenge I decided to combine it with the Create with Connie and Mary Color Challenge.  Of course as soon as I saw this color combination I thought of Christmas and our Season of Style Designer Series paper.

The cardbase is Old Olive and I added a layer of Whisper White cardstock.  I matted the Season of Style DSP with Crumb Cake cardstock before wrapping around a piece of 1/8" Old Olive Taffeta Ribbon.  The greeting in the bottom right corner is from the Another Thank You Photopolymer Stamp Set and was colored with Stampin' Write Markers. 

 

For the main image I stamped the cute little reindeer from the Color Me Christmas stamp set in Early Espresso Ink and colored it in with Stampin' Write Markers.  This piece was cut out with the Big Shot and the Circle Collection Framelits and is matted on a piece of Cherry Cobbler cardstock punched out with the 2 1/2" Circle Punch.  I used dimensionals to attached the circle element to the cardfront.  The final touch was to use the Essentials Paper Piercing Pack and Paper Piercer.

 

This card is great for the holidays, not only is it fairly flat, which makes the post office happy, but you could make this card and have your kids color in the image so the recipient would receive a piece of artwork with their thank you.  I know my parents and grandparents love to get art from Aidan so I try to have him do something in cards we send out, even if it's just his name something.

 

I hope you enjoy and have a great day!

 

Diana

Day of Gratitude Card Challenge: Day 5

Good morning and welcome back.  I'm just popping in quickly to share today's gratitude challenge card with you before the day gets started.  This card is fun and uses the new Another Thank You Photopolymer stamp set and a fun coloring technique.  The cardbase is Marina Mist and I layered the cardfront with a piece of Whisper White card stock.

For the greeting I stamped it first in Whisper White embossing powder and then embossed it with the heat gun and Whisper White embossing powder.  Next I used sponges and different colors of ink to create the rainbow effect.  The top of the the card is Pool Party, then I added streak of Marina Mist, and then Island Indigo.  I blended in the matching lines for the colors for a more graduated effect.  The final touch is to take a paper towel and rub off any excess ink.

 

This card is so bright and cheery and I love that you can use this technique with any color combination for a fun effect.  I hope you enjoy and that you fall in love with this card and decide to make this at home as well.

 

Have a great day!

 

Diana