DRS Designs Silent Night

Well, I have been working on some Christmas cards little by little.  I had received some Christmas stamps last year and never got a chance to ink them up.  I don't try to make all my cards as I send out so many each year, but I will have some creations to show you over the next couple of weeks.

I just love the Silent Night Sheet Music stamp by DRS Designs.  It is perfect as a background.  On a piece of Handsome Hunter paper I stamped the music in VersaMark and embossed it with gold embossing powder and a heat gun.  At the bottom I stamped a few flourishes in Handsome Hunter.

Next, I cut a piece of Shimmery White paper with a Spellbinders Labels Fourteen #4 die.  The Christmas tree was stamped in VersaMark and embossed with gold embossing powder.  The edges were sponged with Sage Shadow and clear rhinestones were added.

Silent Night was stamped and embossed in gold on a tag label and popped up.

For the inside I cut a piece of Shimmery White paper with the Labels Fourteen #5 die and stamped the sentiment in Handsome Hunter with clear embossing powder.  I added a small gold snowflake with a clear rhinestone to coordinate.  Snowflakes were stamped on the Handsome Hunter mat in Handsome Hunter.

Everything was mounted to an aqua marine metallic card.  Happy stamping!

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  DRS Designs Silent Night Sheet Music, Hero Arts Silent Night Border, SU Snow Swirled, Stampabilities Joy, Love & Peace Sentiment
Paper:  Aqua Marine Metallic Card, Handsome Hunter, Shimmery White
Ink:  VersaMark with Gold EP, Sage Shadow, Handsome Hunter
Accessories:  SU Clear Rhinestones, Spellbinders Labels Fourteen #4 & #5 Dies, Tag Label
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

Gobble Gobble

Today is Thanksgiving Day and like many Americans we will be celebrating with a feast.  There is nothing like watching the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade, spending a lazy day with family and relishing the promise of an amazing meal you have looked forward to all year long!

Topping my lists of blessings this year are family, friends and my blog followers.  Counting our blessings is a good thing.  I know during difficult times it is easy to think we don't have much to be thankful for, but it's important to acknowledge the less obvious things.  I know I have so much to be grateful for.

"Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow." ~ Melody Beattie

This is the card I created for my brother and sister-in-law.  Here's to a Thanksgiving full of memories!

I used the pretty Autumn Spice Designer paper for the background. 

Gobble ... Gobble

A peek at the inside embossed leaves.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  PrintWorks Gobble Gobble, PSX Happy Thanksgiving, SU Day of Gratitude
Paper:  Desert Storm, Autumn Spice Designer Paper, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Old Olive, Very Vanilla, Turkey - Chocolate Chip, Creamy Caramel, More Mustard, Basic Black
Ink:  Chocolate Chip, VersaMark with Gold EP, Cajun Craze, More Mustard, Pretty in Pink for Turkey's Cheeks
Accessories:  Offray 1/4" Satin Ribbon in Light Orange, Nesties Labels One #3, Small Classic Ovals #2, Large Classic Ovals #2, Large Classic Scalloped Ovals #2, Sizzix Turkey #2 Die, Bow-Easy, White Gel Pen

Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

ODBD Randi's Song in Fresh Greens

This is the third card I created this year using the Randi's Song set by Our Daily Bread Designs.

I started by stamping the Ecclesiastes 3:1 in StazOn Old Olive on a piece of Shimmery White paper, which was cut from a Spellbinders small long rectangle die.  I then sponged around the edges of the paper using colors from a Kaleidacolor Fresh Greens ink pad.  This piece was layered onto a piece of Old Olive cut from a large long rectangle die.

The leaf image was stamped on Shimmery White paper also using the Kaleidacolor Fresh Greens ink pad then I sponged the leaf in So Saffron, Summer Sun and More Mustard.  I used a corner rounder on the edges.  I adhered this to a piece of More Mustard cut from a Nesties small classic square #5 die, which I also used a corner rounder and layered it onto a piece of Old Olive cut from a small classic scalloped squares #4 die.  The card base is Old Olive with a Kiwi Kiss mat, which I ran through my Big Shot using the textured impressions square lattice embossing folder.

The inside sentiment by DRS Designs was inked first by loading it with VersaMark then Fresh Greens and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  The edges were sponged in Kiwi Kiss and Old Olive.

The little leaf is from SU's With Gratitude set.  This image was stamped in StazOn Old Olive, embossed with clear embossing powder and sponged with Kiwi Kiss and Fresh Greens.

A peek at the inside.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Our Daily Bread Designs Randi's Song, SU With Gratitude, DRS Designs (G1122)
Paper:  Old Olive, Kiwi Kiss, More Mustard, Shimmery White
Ink:  Ecclesiastes 3:1 - StazOn Olive Green (sponged with colors from Kaleidacolor Fresh Greens Ink Pad); Maple Leaf - Kaleidacolor Fresh Greens (sponged with So Saffron, Summer Sun & More Mustard); Inside Sentiment - Fresh Greens with Clear EP; Inside Leaf - Old Olive with Clear EP sponged with Kiwi Kiss and Fresh Greens
Accessories:  Maple Leaf Brad by Creative Impressions, Corner Rounder, Nesties Large Long Rectangles #4, Small Long Rectangles #4, Small Classic Squares #5, Small Classic Scalloped Squares #4, Textured Impressions Square Lattice Embossing Folder
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging

Halloween Staircase

I have had these Memory Box stamps for several years and decided it was time I finally inked them up.  I stamped the staircase and chandelier in StazOn Black onto Shimmery White paper, which was cut from a Nesties small long rectangles die.  Using a post-it note I masked off part of the card to create a wall and sponged Distressed Antique Linen, Brilliance Pearlescent Beige and Distressed Vintage Photo.

The chandelier bulbs were colored with a lemon spica pen and the pumpkin with Prismacolor pencils.  I adhered this piece to a small long scalloped rectangles die cut from Basic Black.  The background paper is from the Memory Box Twilight pack, which I mounted to a piece of rust paper then onto a Black Linen card.

I decided to stamp the staircase again onto a piece of the Twilight paper and cut out the wall of the staircase and glued it below.

Drop on in was stamped in StazOn Black on a piece of More Mustard and then layered onto rust.  Both pieces were cut with the Labels Fourteen Dies.  I finished the card with a bow in rainbow pearl ribbon and glued a bat.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Memory Box Staircase, Chandelier & Drop On In Sentiment
Paper:  Black Linen, Rust, More Mustard, Basic Black, Memory Box Twilight Paper, Shimmery White
Ink:  Images - StazOn Black; Sponging - Distressed Antique Linen, Wall - Distressed Antique Linen, Brilliance Pearlescent Beige, Distressed Vintage Photo; Pumpkin - Prismacolor Pencils
Accessories:  Rainbow Pearl Ribbon, Lemon Spica Pen, Martha Stewart Bat Punch, Nesties Small Long Rectangles Die #4, Small Long Scalloped Rectangles #4, Labels Fourteen #1 & #2, Bow-Easy

Techniques:  Sponging

Migrating Birds

Does anyone recognize this picture?  My inspiration for this scene was the late summer L.L. Bean catalog.  When it arrived in the mail I thought to myself I can try to re-create that.  Well, you can let me know how I did.

I started with a piece of glossy paper and stamped the birds in StazOn Black.  Next, I added a post-it note for the horizon line and sponged the sky in Baja Breeze in a bouncing motion to look like there are clouds.

I tore another post-it note for the water and sponged the field in So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Crumb Cake, Close to Cocoa, Soft Suede & Chocolate Chip.  Removed the post-it note and sponged the water in Baja Breeze & Marina Mist with some ColorBox Frost White.

Cattails were added in StazOn Timber Brown.  Sky Blue Shimmerz Paint was applied to the water.

I think I am still missing something the catalog picture was able to capture, but at least this gave me a chance to try something different.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Stampscapes Migrating Birds, Cattails 
Paper:  Kraft, Soft Suede, Glossy White
Ink:  Birds - StazOn Black; Sky - Baja Breeze; Field - So Saffron, Crushed Curry, Crumb Cake, Close to Cocoa, Soft Suede, Chocolate Chip; Cattails - StazOn Timber Brown, Water - Baja Breeze & Marina Mist with ColorBox Frost White
Accessories:  Sky Blue Shimmerz Paint, Post-It Notes
Techniques:  Sponging

Survivor Calligraphy

For "Breast Cancer Awareness Month" I created several of these cards, which I gave to those near and dear to me who have been affected by breast cancer.

Both the sentiment and butterfly were stamped in Pink Passion and embossed with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  I added some PearlEx micropearls to the butterfly.

The pretty floral paper is from the Lost & Found Blush paper pack.

Have a great weekend everyone!

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  Paper Inspirations Survivor Calligraphy Stamp, SU Strength & Hope
Paper:  Solar White Linen, Pink Passion, Lost & Found Blush Designer Paper, Shimmery White
Ink:  Pink Passion with Clear EP
Accessories:  Victoria 5/8" Crochet Ribbon, Prima Fairytale Pink Rose, PearlEx Micropearl, Kaiser Snow Pearls, Nesties Large Long Rectangles #3, Tim Holtz On the Edge Brackets Die
Techniques:  Embossing

Crackled Halloween Words

This card was an experiment and I wasn't sure if it would turn out the way I envisioned.  You know how that goes!

I stamped the Memory Box Vintage Halloween Words in StazOn Timber Brown onto a piece of matte marble camel paper.  Next, I covered the words with Distress Rock Candy Crackle Paint.  I let the paper sit overnight to dry.  In the morning it was dry, but the paper had curled up on all sides - ugh!  I borrowed one of my husband's heavy books and placed the paper under it for another day.

I then sponged Distressed Tea Dye over the words letting it get into the cracks.  I was pleased with the outcome :-)  Now, this is where I ran into trouble.  I didn't want to cover up the words so using my Sizzix pumpkins #7 die I cut out a pumpkin for the bottom of the card.

After distressing a piece of Crushed Curry, sponging the edges with Chocolate Chip and adding some Martha Stewart Halloween ribbon I assembled everything onto a Coco card.

A closer look at the crackle.  Well, you can't see it too well in this picture, but it is there.

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Memory Box Vintage Halloween Words
Paper:  Coco, The Paper Company Matte Marble Camel, Crushed Curry, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip
Ink:  Halloween Words - StazOn Timber Brown; Sponging - Distressed Tea Dye & Chocolate Chip
Accessories:  Distress Rock Candy Crackle Paint, Martha Stewart Halloween Ribbon, Edge Distresser, Bow-Easy
Techniques:  Sponging

The Grim Reaper

This card was created for a co-worker.  He liked the purple-cloaked grim reaper.  The Grim Reaper was born from post-plague visions of death.  As the plague swept through Europe and Asia, it makes sense that artists and illustrators began to depict death as a skeletal figure.

I stamped the Grim Reaper in StazOn Black onto glossy white paper and colored his cloak in Adirondack Purple Twilight and Elegant Eggplant.  I applied Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint to his face.  Sponging around the image was done in Distressed Black Soot.

I used my Cuttlebug spiderweb embossing folder and rubbed one side of it with ColorBox Frost White ink, then placed a piece of shimmer purple paper inside and ran it through the Big Shot.  A simple and easy technique I have used before.

I added some Martha Stewart Halloween ribbon and a spider brad before mounting everything to a piece of Basic Black paper then onto a Grape Jelly card.

The inside sentiment was stamped in Adirondack Purple Twilight and embossed with clear EP.  The bats and crow were stamped in StazOn Black with a corner spiderweb in silver.  Sponging around the edges was done in Distressed Black Soot.

A spooky inside ...

Card Recipe:
Stamps:  Grim Reaper by Rubberstamp Ave., SU Graveyard Gala, SU Wicked Cool, Terrifying by Penny Black
Paper:  Grape Jelly, Basic Black, DCWV The Shimmer Matstack Purple, Glossy White, Whisper White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Adirondack Purple Twilight, Elegant Eggplant, Distressed Black Soot, ColorBox Frost White
Accessories:  Martha Stewart Halloween Ribbon, Spider Brad from Eyelet Outlet, Rock Candy Distress Crackle Paint, Cuttlebug Spiderweb Embossing Folder, Nesties Large Classic Rectangles #4, Small Classic Rectangles #5, Silver EP
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging     

Tri-fold House of Haunts

This tri-fold card was made for my brother and sister-in-law.  The quartz paper was sponged with Distressed Black Soot and using dies I cut the spider web and cat.  They were popped up on the front of the card along with the spooky clasp I created.

I stamped the haunted house in StazOn Black on glossy white paper then created a mask for the moon using a 1 3/8" circle punch.  The clouds were stamped in Close to Cocoa.  The background was sponged in Crushed Curry, More Mustard, Dusty Durango and Distressed Black Soot.

On the right side of the card I stamped the sentiment in VersaMark then Dusty Durango and embossed it with clear embossing powder and a heat gun.  The bats and crow were stamped in StazOn Black and also embossed. 

To keep the card closed, I added craft magnets and a piece of 1/4" grosgrain ribbon in Basic Black as a pull tab.

The creepy web die is from Memory Box.

Middle portion of the card.

Right side of the card.

Since I mailed this to him in a clear box I decided to wrap it like a present.

Card Recipe:

Stamps:  SU House of Haunts, Wicked Cool, Graveyard Gala, Stampscapes Soft Hill, Tall Grass, Cloud Cumulus, Terrifying by Penny Black
Paper:  Quartz, Black Pearl, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango, Basic Black, Glossy White, Shimmery White
Ink:  StazOn Black, Crushed Curry, More Mustard, Dusty Durango, Distressed Black Soot, Close to Cocoa
Accessories:  1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon in Basic Black, Vintage Brad, Bat Brads from Eyelet Outlet, Magnets, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Memory Box Creepy Web Die, Halloween Fence Scenes Die, Nesties Small Deckled Rectangles #2, Large Deckled Rectangles #2, Small Deckled Rectangles #3, Green Spica Pen
Techniques:  Embossing, Sponging