A Christmas Card Outside of the Envelope...

Sometimes you have to push the envelope literally! In playing with different shapes and sizes of cards I came up with this design. The card is meant to fit in a 4 1/8 by 9 1/2 legal envelope. Most folks refer to them as legal size envelopes... I thought this would be a nice change from some of the other cards I have tried. And the image from Eat Cake Graphics seems to fit proportionally to a larger envelope. If I could just get my proportions back in line too... LOL... The holidays have a way of doing that to us... Hope you all have a wonderful and safe Thanksgiving holiday!

Materials List

Cardstock - Bazzil - Light Blue
Gina K Designs Pure Luxury - White
Pattern Paper - Flair Designs - The Nativity
Memento Ink - Tuxedo Black
Markers - Copic
Stickles - Yellow - (Stars in image)
Ribbon - Gina K Designs
Image - Eat Cake Graphics
Corner Rounder - Creative Memories
Pop Dots

Grateful

There are many things I am grateful for this holiday season. And one mentor in particular comes to mind. A dear church friend has been battling cancer this year. For almost 8 months she has taken chemo treatments every other week. Each time I see her she seems more and more frail but her spirit... She is still the same vibrant and vivacious woman she always was! She is so much stronger than I could ever be! Since early this spring I have made it a mission to send her a handmade card each week. This week I received the most wonderful gift. She sent me a handwritten card expressing how much she loves each and every one. She has lined them up on her mantle and kitchen table. Her note says each time she feels down or sick she picks one out to look at and remembers me! I have to admit I cried like a baby. It amazes me that even in such a dark time she thinks of and prays for me! And so I am deeply thankful for Sharon and her love! I created this card to express my gratitude for her example and love! Hope you enjoy!

Materials List

Cardstock - Burgundy - Bazzill
White - Gina K Pure Luxury Cardstock - White
Sage Green - DCWV - Mat Stack - White Core
Pattern Paper - Reminisce - Autumn Breeze
Provocraft Gypsy - Carts - George and Gypsy Wanderings
Ink - Memento Ink - Tuxedo Black
Stamp - Close to My Heart - Give Thanks
Markers - Copic
Ribbon - Offray - 7/8 inch Sherry
Corner Rounder - Creative Memories
Pop Dots
Sanding Block

Reason for the Season

With all the hustle and bustle of the holiday season I am guilty of forgetting the true meaning of the holiday. I discovered this set of stamps by Our Daily Bread Designs and had to start my Christmas cards! As a Christian, the holiday should mean so much more than decorating, presents and traditions. What a wonderful gift we received. Ultimately he was the best gift of all! Have a blessed day!

Materials List

Cardstock - Bazzill
Pattern Paper - Adornit Carolee's Creations - Happy Holidays
Stamp and Sentiment - Our Daily Bread Designs - Blessed Christmas
Robin's Nest Dew Drops - Pearl
Ribbon - Offray - Red - 5/8 inch satin
Ink - Memento - Tuxedo Black
Markers - Copic
Ionic Punch - Ticket corners
Pop Dots

Pedestal Card - Part 2

Today's post includes my first pedestal card as well as my second one. Instructions for the first one (the poinsettia) were included on my last post. I was attempting to "perfect" my attempt at pedestal cards with the second. I hope you enjoy and have a wonderful day!

Materials List

Cardstock - Bazzill - Bling - Aquamarine
White
Pattern Paper - Bo Bunny - Jack Frost
Cuttlebug Folders - Swiss Dots (embossed on base of snowglobe and run back through Cuttlebug to "flatten" the design)
Snow Dots - Globe
D'vine Swirls - Horse Mane and Tail
Cricut cuts - Globe - Joys of the Season - Horse - Winter Woodland
Ranger Stickles - Diamond - Horse Hooves, Mane and Tail
Ribbon - White - Stampin Up
Punch - Martha Stewart
Sentiment - Inkadinkado
Ink - Memento - Summer Sky
Versamark - Dazzle - Stamp sentiment first and apply Summer sky ink for shimmer

Tis the Season - Part 1 - Pedestal Card

Today I am showing my very first pedestal card! I enjoyed experimenting with this new type of card. The base of the card is created with a 12 inch by 6 inch piece of paper. I scored it at the 6 inch point (middle of the card) and again at 3 inches. This final fold will allow you to prop up the front of the card to display it. When assembling the card it is important to pick an image that can be attached to the BOTTOM 3 inches of that fold. Otherwise, it will not "pop" up when you display it. I hope you enjoy the next few days as I show another pedestal card example and a favorite new nativity stamp! Have a great day!

Materials List

Pattern Paper - Kaisercraft - Deck the Halls - Holly
Cardstock - Bazzill - White, Red, Green & Goldenrod
Poinsettia - Cricut Joys of the Season
Sentiment - Stampendous Christmas Wish
Ink - Memento Rhubarb Stalk
Stickles - Ranger Ink - Yellow
Cuttlebug Folders - Swiss Dots, D'Vine Swirls
Corner Rounder - Creative Memories
Pop Dots

Friends and Coffee

There is nothing better than a good cup of coffee or a really good friend. When we spend time with friends and family it is often over a good meal or a nice cup of java. This stamp from Gina K Designs celebrates the bond we have with both. This is one of my favorite creations and I hope my coffee loving friend will enjoy receiving it! Have a blessed day!

Materials List

Cardstock - Bazzill - Brown & Eggshell
Cardstock - Image - Gina K Pure Luxury - White
Pattern Paper - Bo Bunny Back to Backs Kitchen Spice Cloves - reverse side
Stamps - Image - Gina K Signs of Autumn Collection
Stamps - Sentiment - Gina K - Thanks a Million! Collection
Ink - Memento - Tuxedo Black
Markers - Copic
Nestabilities - Petite Scalloped Ovals and Ovals - Large
Corner Rounder - Creative Memories
Pop Dots
Ribbon - Unknown

Isaiah 40:31

I love using scriptures on my cards. But until now I generated it using Word on my computer. Our Daily Bread Designs has some wonderful stamps that relate to scripture. One of my favorites is Isaiah 40:31. I love the imagery of the eagle and particularly it's meaning to the United States. Hope you soar today too!

Materials List

Cardstock - Bazzill - White and Light Brown
Image and Sentiment - Our Daily Bread Designs
Ink - Memento - Tuxedo Ink
Markers - Copic
Ribbon - Offray 7/8 Grosgrain Brown
Pop Dots

Stamping for Thanksgiving

Welcome! In my last post I pondered the difficulty of creating a Thanksgiving card. So here is my attempt! I hope you enjoy it! Thanks as always and feedback is greatly appreciated! Have a great Monday!

Materials List

Cardstock - Bazzill - light brown
Pattern Paper - Karen Foster - Pumpkin Vines
Paper for Image - Gina K Luxury Cardstock - White
Sentiment and Image - Close to My Heart - Give Thanks
Markers - Copic
Glitter (on swirls of letters) Marvy Uchida - Just Glitter Pen - Gold
Inking - ColorBox Cats Eye Chalk - Chestnut Roan
Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Ribbon - Stampin Up
Embellishments - Robin's Nest Dew Drops - Harvest
Pop Dots

My new love... stamping!

First of all, I am so sorry! I can't believe it has been two whole weeks since I posted something. Things have been incredibly chaotic at my household. We have frantically been trying to do some major property improvements over the last few weeks before Old Man Winter comes a-calling! With that said, wow, does anyone else feel like life can come at you quickly? I can't believe as I am writing this we have moved into the month of November. Halloween is now a recent memory and Thanksgiving is on the horizon! Creatively, I have such a hard time during this in-between stage. Everyone loves to make fall/Halloween cards but what in the world do you do for Thanksgiving? While I am trying to figure that out, I will continue to post other fun cards! My new card passion is stamping! I hope you enjoy looking at it as much as I had making it! Have a wonderful and blessed week!

Materials List

Sentiment Stamp - Hero Arts
Image Stamp - C.C. Designs Rubber Stamps
Copic Markers
Memento Ink - Tuxedo Black
Paper - Bo Bunny - Boo Crew Here's Looking at You
Cardstock - Black
Ribbon - Unknown