A Retired Halloween!

I don't typically make very many Halloween cards unless I'm helping my mom. She has about 40-too-many things going on right now but she has two aunts that could seriously use some Halloween cheer. Neither ever married, one has stayed home much of the Covid year and the other is in a rest home, and we know she's not getting any visitors of any kind. So, I had my little one color some halloweeny pictures of her choice and I made a card to send both of them! Their sister, my grandmother, is why my mom sends Halloween cards in the first place! 

I didn't buy any of the new Halloween things, and I don't have anything current at all to use, so how handy was it that the Retro Rubber Challenge was to do black, orange and white when I had to use long-retired stamps to make my cards? haha! 

Supplies:

Stamps: Sparkly Seasons, Happy Scenes (both retired, both released in 2015)
Ink: Memento Black, Pumpkin Pie, Peach Parfait (retired)
Paper: Whisper White, Basic Black, Pumpkin Pie card stocks

Accessories: Dimensionals, Seasonal Frames Dies (retired) 

This second card still works perfectly with the Retro Rubber Challenge, but it also uses the photo inspiration from Inkspirational Challenges, with the trees and the witch. This time I used a witch hat from the Paper Pumpkin kit that came in Sept 2016.

Supplies:

Stamps: Happy Scenes (released in 2015), Paper Pumpkin 2016 (both retired)

Ink: Memento Black, Pumpkin Pie

Paper: Whisper White, Basick Black & Pumpkin Pie card stocks

Accessories: Watercolor Pencils, Dark Pumpkin Pie Stampin Blend Marker

And they're going in the mail today! 

Christmas at Easter

Last month was so crazy I never managed to get my planned Christmas cards made, much less posted on the 25th as planned. And today, the day after Easter, you get a dose of Christmas cards! haha!  

On Feb 27th, I was at my mom's and got four Christmas cards done for her stash! 

The pictures are weird because I only had my phone. Funny how the close-ups turned out looking dry embossed with stamping on top... I kept it simple- it really is just stamping, and only the card front for a layer!
This card I made first- and discovered I really need to re-ink two of my ink pads!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Peaceful Wishes?
Ink: Mossy Meadow (pine), Soft Suede (pinecones), Wild Wasabi (holly), Real Red
Paper: Real Red & Very Vanilla card stocks
Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details

So I used different ink pads for the others:

Supplies:

Stamps: Peaceful Wishes

Ink: Real Red, Tip Top Taupe, Mossy Meadow, Cucumber Crush

Paper: Real Red, Very Vanilla card stocks

Accessories: Cherry Cobbler Dazzling Details

And then I put forth effort (....Friday night!!!) to make sure I added to my stash too!
I made four very similar cards, but I stamped the trees a little differently, and I used a different greeting for each card.
I started to use the TGIF color challenge, but then I had to modify the colors, lol, so you get a touch of Easter-y-ness today after all!

Supplies:
Stamps: Happy Scenes
Ink: Mint Macaron, Blushing Bride, Soft Sky
Paper: Soft Sky, Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Mint Macaron Lace Ribbon, Dimensionals

Very slowly but surely, I'm making a dent in the cards we'll need for Christmas! And that means no (less?) holiday burn out!!! 

...by the fire with care...

Today is Christmas Eve! And I really am 99% ready!! We're still going to bake and frost cookies today, and take a few plates out, but we've taken treats to most of the people we typically visit. I am finishing up one last gift that is largely home-made, but other than that, gifts are wrapped! The kids and I are going to have Christmas classic movies on (Charlie Brown Christmas, White Christmas, Frosty The Snowman...) while we do the cookies and I am excited that is all we have!

So just a bit of inspiration in case you're still looking...!

This card ended up pretty detailed so I went ahead and claimed it for someone specific, hence the number of stockings, hee hee...

Supplies:
Stamps: Festive Fireplace, Jingle All The Way
Ink: Memento Black, Island Indigo, Real Red, Tangelo Twist, Chocolate Chip marker, Soft Suede marker, Real Red marker, Tangelo Twist marker, Hello Honey marker, Crushed Curry marker
Paper: Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Lost Lagoon, Real Red, Crushed Curry, Tangelo Twist card stocks, Nov 2015 Paper Pumpkin (Old Olive stocking)
Accessories: Big Shot, Festive Fireside Framelit Dies

And I ended up needing one more card (how does that happen? I write a list...I make all the cards I need...I don't get addresses for some, I add two...and I end up short on cards???) so I gratefully used the latest sketch from NAC and put this one together for a friend who likes kitties:

Supplies:
Stamps: Festive Fireplace, Happy Scenes
Ink: Memento Black, Soft Sky, Tip Top Taupe, Pool Party marker, Real Red marker
Paper: Whisper White card stock, Holiday Fancy Foil Vellum
Accessories: Big Shot, Hearth & Home framelits, Festive Fireside framelits, Hexagon Punch, Dimensionals

I do have a post scheduled for tomorrow (truthfully the last week or so has been scheduled way ahead of time) so feel free to stop by! And if you don't, I hope you have a very merry Christmas too, or just a nice Friday, whoever and wherever you are!

Snow time!

Well, we got the snow we've been hoping for.... hahaha! We only got 4.5 inches, but it fell from about 11pm-4pm the next day, and the roads were pretty scary. The kids were overjoyed tho, so I spent an hour at the sledding hill snapping pictures of them loving it. Some areas got as much as 18 inches in the same amount of time! I'm glad that wasn't us....!

Anyway, in honor of the snow we finally got, here is a pretty, snowy stamped scene for you. I love how this card turned out. I like the stripes as wallpaper, and I like that view! I also gotta say, I like how the greeting turned out! I stamped "celebrate the season" in Soft Sky, and then the "peace" in black. Very cool!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Happy Scenes
Ink: Memento Black, Soft Sky, Pool Party marker, Real Red marker
Paper: Soft Sky, Whisper White card stocks, Season of Cheer DP
Accessories: Big Shot, Hearth & Home framelits die, Hexagon Punch, Dimensionals

Dies & Scraps!

Ok, as the week continues, you will see just how much I am getting out of the most recent Paper Pumpkin kit. But today I'm working with a deadline, haha, so these got bumped up to first. For today's cards, I used the latest from Freshly Made Sketches. They are CAS style cards, and kinda cool actually...

You see this wreath? It was cut out of the left over scraps from the die-cut mistletoe you can see HERE. Cool huh??

Supplies:
Stamps: Festive Fireplace
Ink: Real Red
Paper: Whisper White, Old Olive, Real Red card stocks, Into The Woods DP, Nov 2015 Paper Pumpkin
Accessories: Big Shot, Festive Fireside framelit dies, 1/8 inch striped ribbon, Nov 2015 Paper Pumpkin (pearl), Dimensionals

Next, these green stockings are cut out of the left over scraps the die-cut holly leaves found in the same link above! And the other stockings were cut out of scraps in my card stock packages! LOVE!

Supplies:
Stamps: Festive Fireplace, Hardwood, Happy Scenes (words)
Ink: Real Red, Chocolate Chip, Mossy Meadow
Paper: Very Vanilla, Old Olive, Real Red, Crushed Curry, Soft Suede, Mossy Meadow, Pear Pizazz card stocks, Nov 2015 Paper Pumpkin

and then I just kept going! Today I'm only sharing the cards I used this sketch with, but I got so many stockings out of the scraps that I got sick of making stocking cards and gave the rest in a baggie to my mom! HA! Yeay scraps!!!

Supplies:
Stamps: Festive Fireplace, Happy Scenes
Ink: Mossy Meadow
Paper: Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Old Olive & Real Red card stocks, Red Glimmer DP, Nov 2015 Paper Pumpkin
Accessories: Big Shot, Festive Fireside framelit dies, Dimensionals

Supplies:
Stamps: Festive Fireplace
Ink: Island Indigo, Mossy Meadow, Real Red
Paper: Island Indigo, Lost Lagoon, Whisper White, Very Vanilla, Smoky Slate, Real Red, card stocks, Holiday Fancy Foil Vellum
Accessories: Big Shot, Festive Fireside framelit dies

and here's the used up pieces! thaaat's a lot!

A winter view...

That view we've been looking for is on my card, haha...! Tho it does say snow should come this weekend...! Anyway, today's project uses the latest from Mojo Monday. I used the window die, and a snowy scene. Also, instead of one wide strip I did three little strips of the same ribbon. I like that look. Otherwise a very simple, straightforward design!

Supplies:
Stamps: Happy Scenes
Ink: Memento Black, Garden Green
Paper: Garden Green, Whisper White, Soft Suede card stocks
Accessories: 1/8 Striped Ribbon, Big Shot, Brick Wall Embossing Folder, Hearth & Home Framelit Dies, Decorative Label Punch, Dimensionals

White Christmas Card!

and today we're back to the Christmas Card class...! haha!
Today's card is simple, but it also puts the Big Shot to good use! It also uses the most recent Freshly Made sketch, along with the TGIF Challenge blog, which said "White Christmas"...I think this qualifies. And the whole card is made with one sheet of cardstock!

Supplies:
Stamps: Happy Scenes
Ink: Memento Black, Watermelon Wonder marker
Paper: Whisper White card stock
Accessories: Big Shot, Brick Wall embossing folder, Hearth & Home framelits dies, Dimensionals

Don't forget the Online Extravaganza began this morning, and today there is a flash sale!! Check out the PDF list HERE!

And while you're shopping, check out the Holiday Mini retiring list so you don't miss out on any of those great products either!
See that list HERE.

More CITM!

Nothing new from *me today, but I do have these four fabulous cards other demonstrators have made and sent me! Seriously, I love this!

Happy Halloween!

Yep, another Saturday post, haha!
Today is Halloween so I'll show off the collage I made with MDS to share on facebook yesterday. The kids got to dress up for school and my husband and I could dress up for work. So here you have Link (from Zelda games), Batgirl, a teenager, and "a daddy who makes awesome chili for the office party", hahaha!
(my shirt says "I never argue I just explain why I'm right")

I did get to stamp a little today, and when I went outside to take pictures, I found the flower garden literally buzzing with bees! What the heck?! It's October 31, there is snow on all the mountain tops and it has been cold- even in the house!!

Anyway, the real reason for the post is my card. I totally switch gears (especially from the flowers out there) and created a Christmas card!
As soon as I saw the sketch from the Nacho Average Challenge blog, I thought of the fireplace that I haven't got to play with yet! I added some stripey "wall paper" and the wreath and voila! It's pretty simple, but I really like how it turned out!

Supplies:
Stamps: Festive Fireplace, Happy Scenes (greeting)
Ink: Cherry Cobbler, Mossy Meadow, Memento Black
Paper: Whisper White, Smoky Slate card stocks, Season of Cheer DP
Accessories: Hearth & Home framelits, Festive Fireside framelits, Big Shot, Dimensionals, Blender Pens

I stamped the fireplace in Cherry Cobbler and used a Blender Pen to color over the lines and make it look brick colored. The wreath has a little notch on the stamp, and then matching notches on the die pieces. This is important to note so you're not spending a lot of time fitting the stamped image in the die! haha.... I trimmed off the bottom of the fireplace, and used a rectangle of Smoky Slate card stock for the inside of the fireplace.

A spider experiment!

I gotta say- experimenting with cards is not actually my favorite thing...but I keep doing it! This time, I had seen a really clever Halloween card idea on Pinterest and wanted to recreate it with all current supplies that I already had.

I started by figuring out how to do the spider web. The original creation used a silver ink pad and marker. I don't have either. I thought I'd do a white web. This took a few tries...
First I stamped the sunburst with Versamark, and added webbing with my Versamarker, and then did white heat embossing to make it stand out.

Then I realized my webbing was turned the wrong direction, and, I'd forgotten to attach it on the outside edges...haha....
So my second try was done correctly, but differently. This time I embossed the sunburst stamp, but I added webbing with the white chalk marker. It takes a little bit of time to show up well, but this is as dark as it got. Hmm....

Finally I got the web the way I liked it, but that'll show up at the end. :)

Next I made my spider legs by using my oval punch, which is exactly how the original card was made too. I took a picture just in case it isn't clear to you how to punch thin slices of card stock.

And then, I don't have any googly eyes, so I used my Versamarker again and drew a smiley face on the spider to make him friendly, not scary, haha! But THEN I found out we no longer carry the Versamarker! So before my class, I'll buy some googly eyes and we'll use those instead. haha...

But here's my finished product, and I used the latest TGIF Challenge for the sketch.

Supplies:
Stamps: Kinda Eclectic, Happy Scenes
Ink: Versamark, Memento Black, Versamarker
Paper: Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Blackberry Bliss, Basic Black card stocks
Accessories: 1 inch circle punch, Wide Oval punch, White Embossing Powder, Heat Tool, Dimensionals

Cards In the Mail!

I have mentioned before, I love being a part of this swap group! I love getting beautiful cards in the mail and seeing so many fun and lovely designs! Last week I got a bunch in the mail and I don't have anything that I created to share today, so here you go!

Aren't they all so beautiful??

Experimenting....

Yep, a Saturday post! My creating has been sporadic this week so you get a bonus post. I was playing around, trying to design cards to complete my Halloween card class (no date yet!) and I put this together. I liked the Basic Gray card stock for the base and window frame, sponged with white ink to make it look worn out and dusty. I used Smoky Slate for the outside scene, and I like that...

Supplies:
Stamps: Hardwood background, Happy Scenes
Ink: Memento Black, Whisper White, Tangelo Twist marker, Hello Honey marker
Paper: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate & Crushed Curry card stocks
Accessories: Big Shot, Hearth & Home die, 1 3/8 inch circle punch, Stamping Sponge

I liked the addition of the moon but maybe it should be white instead of yellow.....

Supplies:
Stamps: Hardwood background, Happy Scenes
Ink: Memento Black, Whisper White, Tangelo Twist marker, Hello Honey marker
Paper: Basic Gray, Smoky Slate & Whisper White card stocks
Accessories: Big Shot, Hearth & Home die, 1 3/8 inch circle punch, Stamping Sponge

Still not sure if we'll use it for a class, but here's something to inspire your weekend anyway!

At the Pumpkin Patch!

I got my pages done! Not til after kids were in bed last night, but I got them done! This time I used the color combination from the TGIF Challenge blog, and photos that are a few years old. The layout is quite simple, but everything is current, unlike last time. I even included a stamped image from one of the Holiday Mini sets! *grin!

Supplies:
Stamps: Happy Scenes
Ink: Tip Top Taupe, Rich Razzleberry, Tangelo Twist marker, Hello Honey marker, Rich Razzleberry marker, Always Artichoke marker
Paper: Old Olive, Pumpkin Pie, Rich Razzleberry, Very Vanilla card stocks
Accessories: Decorative Label Punch

and here's a little closeup of the stamping:

Autumn Thanks!

How is your Labor Day weekend going? Ours is busy and I can't seem to shake this migraine...ugh. In happier news, wow- I stepped outside this morning and it was almost too cold! Maybe fall is coming after all?? How exciting is that?! I am so done with the heat, and fall is my favorite anyway! And the new crisp air leads into today's cards perfectly!

When I saw the latest Freshly Made Sketch, I thought of two ways it could work, and I went ahead and did them both!!
The first card shows basic card making supplies, using the sketch and also shows how the stamp set works just fine without the coordinating die.

Supplies:
Stamps: Happy Scenes
Ink: Memento Black, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Soft Sky, Delightful Dijon marker (leaves)
Paper: Old Olive, Early Espresso, Whisper White
Accessories: Into The Woods ribbon, Gold buttons, Olive Baker's Twine, Blender Pen (pumpkins), Stamping Sponge (sky and grass)

And this one uses the super fun die instead of the ribbon, and moves the sentiment just a bit.

Supplies:
Stamps: Happy Scenes
Ink: Memento Black, Early Espresso, Pumpkin Pie, Old Olive, Soft Sky, Delightful Dijon marker (leaves)
Paper: Old Olive, Early Espresso, Whisper White
Accessories: Big Shot, Hearth & Home Thinlits, Gold buttons, Olive Baker's Twine, Blender Pen (pumpkins), Stamping Sponge (sky and grass)