Medallion Christmas Card

This "Medallion" stamp is a fun stamp to play with. I thought I would try to give it a wintry Christmas look.

First I stamped the image using VersaMark. Then I sprinkled white embossing powder over it. I heat set it and when it was cool I cut it at 3-1/2" x 3-1/2".

In the center is a snowflake from the "Northern Frost" decorative strip die. I was thinking about adding a pearl or rhinestone in the center but decided not to. Now that I see it on the computer I think that center needs something and I will be dressing it up a bit with a pearl!

The words were done on the computer and printed out on Whisper White card stock. I punched out a Marina Mist circle and a Whisper White scalloped circle and layered them together. I set the scalloped layers on the card using a few Dimensionals.

It's an easy enough and quick enough card to make but not in the running for the 2010 Christmas card.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge Card Dasher

This is my card I submitted for this weeks Sketch Challenge over at SplitCoastStampers. I must have taken a dozen photos of this card. I was having such a difficult time trying to get the rhinestones to sparkle enough, especially the ones in the antlers.

This was an extremely fun and easy sketch to do. I have a lot of stamp images that will fit in that #3 space. There were so many beautiful cards people submitted using this sketch! I can see myself using it for other cards I make in the future.

My card was fairly simple to make too. I used the beautiful paper from the "Deck the Halls" pack. This particular piece was from the edges of the sheet. I thought it was bright and pretty enough for these two strips.

I added rhinestones to the centers of the flowers but they didn't show up very well. I had such a time taking the picture of this card. And the rhinestones on the antlers and snowflakes hardly show up at all. But in person they are very pretty.

I added a black satin bow because that area was a bit empty looking. This card went together very quickly too! Gotta LOVE that!

If you have time give this sketch a try. It's fun and quick! And if you have time head on over to SplitCoast and see all the samples there are using this layout! It's so fun to see all the different ideas people have for a single layout.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Northern Flurry Snowflake Card

I am still trying to work out our 2010 Christmas card. I know I want to use the "Northern Flurry" embossing folder. I am still leaning towards the one I did back in August. I like the simplicity of it plus it has a snowman on the inside. Our Christmas cards HAVE to have a snowman on them (inside or out, doesn't matter).

I do like this card but I know I won't have enough of those cute little clips from the "Clip Assortment" package.

After the piece of card stock was embossed I added a piece of 1/4" Marina Mist grosgrain ribbon. I tied a bow to it and then added the clip.

The snowflake is from the "Northern Frost" decorative strip die. I just had to get it because it had snowflakes on it! I'm such a snowflake, snowman person!! I LOVE winter and look forward to it, especially by the end of May!!! LOL

I picked out a snowflake that I could run through the clip. I needed it to hang nicely. I added rhinestones to the open spot on that particular snowflake. Click on the photo for a closer view.

It's a very quick and easy card to do. I will probably send it out to a special friend but am thinking it won't be our Christmas card for this year. Unless I figure out another way to dangle that snowflake!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Apple Blossoms Thank You Card

I needed a thank you card but I didn't want to take one from my drawer of samples. It's not that I didn't want to let go of sample cards, it's just that I wanted a "fresh" card! I know, I'm weird that way but I just wanted this card to be a new and fresh card!

SO I got out some Real Red card stock and looked at it for about 10 minutes before deciding what to do. I got out my Apple Blossoms Hostess level 2 set and thought I would try a fun technique on the card. I took the flower image, inked it in VersaMark and stamped the image all over my piece of white card stock. Then I took my brayer and inked it up with Real Red ink and went over the stamped area. Of course it doesn't show up here. But trust me it is a nice effect on the card!

This card has lots of layers too. I first started out with a 1/4 sheet of Real Red. Then I layered on top of it a piece of Whisper White. Then I cut another piece of Real Red card stock and folded it in half and taped it to the top of the large white layer. I took the brayered piece and layered it on top of a piece of Whisper White. I taped ribbon around it and then taped it in place on top of the folded card part. I tied a bow and taped that on after I stamped the wording from the "Heard from the Heart" set.

It was a very easy card to make. I wish the VersaMark flowers would have shown up better, it's such a great effect. Oh well. You'll just have to try that technique yourself and see how pretty it looks!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Candy Wrapper Die Halloween

I got the new "Candy Wrapper" die on the 14th and hadn't had much time to play with it. Actually I had put it with my other dies and forgot about it. Plus I really didn't have any free time to play with it until tonight.

I wasn't sure where I was going to go with this wrapper so I thought I'd use some black card stock and go Halloween. I'm still unsure as to where to go with it. I was just excited that I was able to put it together. The ends were a bit tricky but after making one the second one was a breeze.

On the second one I made I thought I would try to put a window in it. I used an oval punch and a piece of window sheet behind it. I closed one end, filled the box with candy and closed the other end. You don't even need to use tape, glue or even a tied ribbon to hold the ends shut. They twist shut. SO cool! And if you look close enough you can see that I didn't get my oval centered. If I had centered it the seam that holds the box square would have shown. I suppose that could be trimmed up too but I didn't think of that, plus it's extra work! So I left it off center and it's ok.

I didn't have any small Halloween images at hand to decorate it. I added a ribbon to the solid one and I figured the colored candies in the other one would carry them for my task tonight. I can see myself making more of these and playing with some fun small images for Christmas.

I just thought it was time to play with the die. I have several new items I have not had a chance to play with so within the next 10 to 14 days I will be playing with them and sharing my results (good or bad) with you here!

Thank you SO much for vi sting today,
Wanda

Batty for You Halloween Card

At our last DIVA day event the theme for the shoe box swap was "Halloween." It was a very fun day of making cute and clever Halloween cards.

This was the card that Angie had designed. I LOVE all the cute little characters on it. I've wanted to get this "Batty for You" set for a long time but every time I think about getting it I think it's going to retire the next catalog year and I don't buy it. I hate it when I think like that!!! I didn't buy a new Halloween set this year. I did buy the bat punch and the decorative papers though. I still have the wheel and another set that is current so I just let this set go (again!!) UGH!!!

This card was fun to make with all it's cuteness and charm! Thank you Angie for allowing me to share your card with everyone.

Stay tuned, I have been playing with some dies and have a fun weekend project to share with you!

Thank you for visiting today,
Wanda

Deck the Halls Designer Fabric Pouch Weekend Project

Here's a fun weekend project. I made a pouch using the new "Deck he Halls" designer fabric.

The one picture is with the pouch open. I used one of those pot scrubber things to prop it open so you could see the inside. I used some muslin for the inside. I didn't want to use up all of my wonderful fabric on something you wouldn't be seeing!!

Now I have not sewn in years and after I got this little gem put together you could see that I have not sewn in years!!! The top hem is not equal on both ends. I wasn't paying attention to that when I sewed it together. I forgot that you are suppose to line up "stuff" when you are sewing. I just folded edges and sewed without giving anything a second thought. After it was all done and I turned it right side out I could see all my mistakes and all those things I learned in sewing class (back in the dark ages) came back to me! SO should I ever make another one I will be paying better attention to these little details. I even forgot to sew the button on so I used a glue dot!!! I know! I need to sew it on. And I can still do it but I wanted it put together so I could show it at our last DIVA Day. No one noticed the button wasn't sewn on!!! I didn't tell anyone until last week when my stampers were here and they saw the pouch and the button fell off!!! I hate it when that happens!! LOL To tell you the truth I wasn't even sure my sewing machine would work. It's been hanging upside down in the cabinet for years. Who knows if something hanging that way for so long would ever work again. I know I wouldn't!

So now that I know the machine works I will be making another one but I will be paying better attention to the finer details! And I will get some thread that matches too!

This was a fun project. It took longer than I thought it would because I had a little bit of trouble following the instructions. But once I got it all figured out it went quickly.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Long Fellows Turtle

Sharon (who is such a sweetie) had gotten this as her Hostess level 2 set! I put the set together for her and I got to play with it! See, she's such a sweetie! I stamped a few images up and gave her back the set so she wouldn't forget to take it home with her. Though she did offer to leave it here with me to play with!!! I was fine with the images I stamped up so I let the set go home with her!

While she was here I did make her a card. If the images I stamped I picked the turtle to play with because I thought the Cuttlebug Square Texture background would fit perfectly with this. And I thought too, that this would be a fun birthday card for a child. It was a given that it was a birthday card because the wording is "birthday wishes...a little late." So it's a belated birthday card! Story of my life here lately, it seems that about all of my cards are late! A perfect image for me to use on cards! LOL

I colored the turtle in with various greens. I colored the shell in with the lightest green so the squares that were colored in show up better and they did!

The balloon image is from the "Family Accessories" set. I wanted to do something on that panel that was in "birthday" theme! It was just what that panel needed!

There was not a whole lot to making this card. It was quick and simple! And I sent it home with Sharon! I have a few more images to play with using that set once I find them on my messy worktable! I'd sure like to know who comes down in my workroom and messes it up when I'm sleeping! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge Crazy for Cupcakes

Another one of my favorite stamp sets! This is such a fun birthday set.

I wasn't sure I was going to get to play with the sketch today. I was having computer issues. Apparently some websites usdate their pages. I was able to get to my gallery but I wasn't able to get to the main page nor the sketch challenge page at SplitCoastStampers. And apparently my computer has never been able to download updates. SO when all was said and done there were 42 updates to be downloaded to my computer. I was amazed that it really didn't take as long as I expected it to. I'm SO grateful my son was able to just connect to my computer from his computer and fix everything and set up the installation. And I was also grateful that it wasn't something I had done to the computer. I hate it when I get the computer to the point to where I can't use it! I've done some pretty "interesting" (and creative) things on computers that my son had to fix for me! And he's SO nice about it too. Yesterday was his birthday. We went out for dinner on Sunday to celebrate it because it's too difficult to do during the week. I did text him today and wished him a happy birthday.

SO onto my card. I used the "Crazy for Cupcakes" set. One of my favorite sets! I usually pick my sets by the size of the focal piece on the sketch. The balloon was perfect for this sketch and it had words in the set too. The only problem with the words was they were not long enough for the piece in the sketch. SO I just stamped a cupcake from the set and cut it out. I punched out a 3/4" and a 1" circle and layered the cupcake on top of them. I like how it turned out.

My papers were Basic Black, Whisper White and decorative paper from the Regals pack. I'm having fun using those packs of decorative papers and it's great to have all the colors I need too!

If you have time play with the sketch! I find it a fun challenge to do these every week. I am especially challenged when it comes to square cards. Not my favorite to do but I will at least give it a try!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Jolly Jingles Simple N Quick Christmas Card

I just love it when I can do a card that doesn't take long at all to whip up. But yet it doesn't have the look of being "whipped up!"

For this card I used the "Jolly Jingles" jumbo wheel with Riding Hood Red ink. The words came from the "Heard from the Heart" set. Perfect for this card! I made a card with this layout a couple of weeks ago. You can view it here. I didn't realize when I found that card that I would be using it again on another card. Now that's a real find!!!

I was digging in my stash of ribbons and was fortunate enough to find some 5/8" grosgrain ribbon that matched the Riding Hood Red ink perfectly! It's not close, it's a perfect match!

And for the final touch on this card I added 8 of the tiniest pearls from the "Basic Pearls" pack to the bulb in the center of my card. I didn't plan for the pearl to be there, it just happened that way but I do like how it turned out. Now if I were to try to get the bulb there I wouldn't be able to do it!

If I were to make more of these I would try to get the bulb centered and I would dye some white ribbon with the Riding Hood Red to match.

It was fun and quick card to make!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Friends 24-7 Weekend Project

A while back I had downloaded a card with a bird on it and some fun background papers. It had gotten misplaced (imagine that in MY workroom!!!). A week or so I ran across the card I printed out and realized I didn't have the bird. SO I had been using the bird from the "Friends 24-7" set and thought I would work it into an altered notebook.

I have had these notebooks for a while now and I thought it was time to work with them. I would really like to get the ledge in my workroom cleared off, even it it means working on things like this one at a time! I altered 3 notebooks so now there is a little space on the ledge. The REAL trick here is to NOT put anything else in it's place!! Wish me luck on that one!

For my fun altered notebook I opened up the prongs just enough to slip my punched piece of Crumb Cake card stock in place. I had punched the holes with my Zutter punch and binding machine. I have yet to bind anything with it since I've just been altering stuff that is already bound. One of these days I'll get to break open the package of metal binders I have!! But for now I'll just alter until I have used up the notebooks I've purchased! I have stopped purchasing them. It's great when you can get these fun notebooks for a dollar but how many do you really need???

On the bottom of the cover I ran the "Very Vintage" wheel over it using Crumb Cake ink. Then I added a piece of Marina Mist satin ribbon just above the edge of the wheeling. I stamped, colored and layered the bird and words and taped them in place as you see on the cover. On the inside I added a piece of Whisper White card stock to cover the edges of the ribbon. I wanted the inside cover to have a clean look. And for the final touch I added 5 pearls from the "Jewels" pack. I am having SO much fun with those pearls and rhinestones!

And that is it. It was a very quick altering job and I like how it turned out.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Cute Aviary Set Owl Card

Today I have a fun card to share with you. This card was made using the "Aviary" set. It is a set I have had a lot of fun playing with. It was actually the first set I ordered when the new catalog came!!! There was just something about it that made me want to have it.

I did not design this card. It was done my the ever so talented Angie, a sister stamper in our DIVA group!

I LOVE the little strip of decorative paper on the right side. And of course the Bashful Blue is such a fun color, among my favorites.

I LOVE how this little owl is spotlighted near the center of the card. What an adorable focal point on the card. And it doesn't help that the owl is SO darn cute!!!

The base of this card was made using a half sheet of Crumb Cake card stock. It was cut on the short side at 4-1/4". The little strip is about 1-1/2" wide and 4-1/4" long. The Bashful Blue piece is cut at 4-1/4" long and 1-5/8" wide.

The birds were stamped using Bashful Blue ink. The cages were stamped using Crumb Cake ink. The owl was stamped using Soft Suede ink. The own was punched out with the 1" circle punch and the words were punched out using the Modern Label punch.

It was such a fun and adorable card to make. Thank you Angie for allowing me to share your fabulous card with everyone!

Thank you SO much for visiting to day,
Wanda

For All You Do Card

Here is a card that is TOTALLY out of my element! I saw a card done like this a long time ago and had admired the layout. I have always wanted to make one but just never took the time to do it. It was SO long ago when I saw this layout that I don't know who to give credit to! So if you know who did a layout similar to this please let me know and provide me with the link and I will be more than happy to give credit where credit is due!

For my card I used a half sheet of Bravo Burgundy. On that folded piece I stamped the swirl from the "Priceless" set. I took a 2-1/4" piece of Basic Black card stock and ran it through the embossing folder. I then taped it in place. I did leave a space not taped for the ring to go under.

I stamped the words and punched them out. Then I stamped the center design (from the Circle Circus set) and next I punched out the ring. I taped the punched pieces in place. The center piece is set in place using a Dimensional. I did sponge the circle with a little Wild Wassabi and then some Bravo Burgundy.

And finally I just added a bunch of pearls. I LOVE those pearls, as you can tell!!! I had fun just placing them everywhere I thought they would look pretty on the card. The card is one of those "kind of pretty, kind of plain" cards.

I thought it was a nice "thank you" card but I think this could be a VERY pretty wedding card with the right wording and some brushed silver card stock!!! Hmmm, I think I may have to give that a try the next time I need a wedding card!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Simple Halloween Card

I don't usually do very many Halloween cards. I do like how quick and simple this one is. Though I think I would be much happier trying this out with other decorative papers and making it into a birthday or thank you card.

For this quick card I just cut some strips of Halloween decorative paper and taped them together on the back. I measured the piece and cut out the Pumpkin Pie layer for the back.

The base of the card is white and I taped the Pumpkin Pie layer on towards the bottom.

The "Have a Wicked Halloween" is from the new "Wicked Cool" set. I just stamped the words and punched them out. I layered them on a piece of Pumpkin Pie card stock to tie it in with the layer around the strips and I punched out a Basic Black scallop and layered the words on top of that.

This is a very simple card to make. But like I said I would like to use some DP and make this card for some other occasion.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Baby Swipes Technique Page

Well, it's about time!! I have so many things going on that I forgot about the technique pages. This technique is SO much fun and SO simple too!

You just put some inkers on a baby wipe and swipe it across your card.

I had made this card a while back and I had set it aside and it got lost in my messy workroom.

The colors I used here are Ballet Blue, Pretty in Pink and YoYo Yellow. These colors can be replaced with Marina Mist, keep the Pretty in Pink and add the Daffodil Delight. Use Marina mist for the base of the card and it now has the current colors available from Stampin' Up!

The words are from the "Sincere Salutations" set (one of my favorite word sets!).

The flower is from the "Hello Again" set. I just stamped it in black on top of the "swipped" colors.

You must make sure the baby wipes are very moist so you get good coverage with it. You don't want them sopping wet but moist enough to show that they are wet when you wipe it (without the ink) across your skin.

I no longer show the actual technique pages here. You will get to see a group photo of them when they come available for sale. The page is still set up like the other 3 sets have been. Nothing has changed except for me showing the technique on a card instead of the technique page itself.

I thought this card turned out pretty cute. I do like the colors and I may try this technique again using current colors.

Thank you SO much for visiting,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge Card Friend 24-7

This is the card I made for this weeks Sketch Challenge.

It was so odd. I had the set sitting on my worktable. Ok, that is not so odd. I usually have a bunch of sets sitting on my worktable waiting to be put away. But I had been using this set just before the Sketch Challenge came in my email. I printed out the sketch and saw that the bird fit in the oval so I ran with it! I did get a bit hung up on the #5 layer but managed find something to fit in it. It's not that I didn't have words to fit in it, I was looking for specific wording. I didn't want to just put any ole words there. I wanted to be able to use the card because I NEEDED to use the card!!

This was a very easy card to do too. I think the cards with many layers like this are easy when you use the decorative papers. Especially the reversible ones! The two designs you see here are from one piece of DP. The stripes are on the reverse side of the lighter design on the #3 layer.

To make the bird fit in I colored in the belly part with Marina Mist. For the branches I colored them in with a blender pen and Crumb Cake ink. I then added just a hit of Early Espresso. The feet are done in More Mustard, again using the blender pen. And the leaves were blended in using Wild Wassabi. Wild Wassabi is a color I don't use much at all. I don't know why, it is a very pretty green. I think now that I'm adjusting to the colors more I am finding that some of these colors I hadn't used much are becoming more popular in my stamping.

The words on the card are from the "Thoughtful Friend" wheel. It was the first time I used it! Finally! I just purchased two new little wheels from the Holiday Mini and haven't touched them yet. Hopefully I can play with them by the end of the month.

Ok, back to my card. I stamped the bird in Early Espresso. I have found with images that have solid areas, they tend to have spots on them that don't stamp well. I ink up my stamp and then huff on it. The moister from my breath is enough to moisten the ink just right to get a nice solid image. I even do it on the words too. It seems to work for me!

I sponged the edges on the background and the oval in Marina Mist. Oh and did I mention that Marina Mist is my newest favorite color??? I am LOVIN' that color SO much and I'm going to be using it on our Christmas cards!

Well, that's about it for this card. Nothing special on it, no brads, buttons or ribbons! Just plain and simple! If you have time I highly recommend you playing with this layout.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Halloween Test Tubes

I just thought it would be fun to play with these test tubes and you know what? It was VERY fun! I did have a bit of a problem trying to find a "spooky" looking font. I made these for the gals who attended "DIVA" day on Sunday. Click on the photo for a closer view.

The words were printed out on the computer using a full 8-1/2" x 11" label sheet. I punched them out using the new label punch.

I punched the bat out and used my gel pen to give him two little beady eyes!! I stuck him in place right on top of the knot using a glue dot.

There was not a lot to making these. I just filled them with some pretty blah looking M & M's. These were peanut M & M's. I wanted the "normal" size ones but they were all gone at the store. I think these were more of a fall color package than a Halloween one. But it still worked for the "theme."

These would be fun at a Make n Take or even a Stamp Camp item. You could use them at your kiddies Halloween party or for school treats though I think that has changed some since my child was in school. I think they lean more towards the healthier foods and peanuts may be out of the question. Don't know anymore!! But they can be filled with other candies or small age appropriate toys too. Use your imagination!

They were fun and easy to make! Get your hands on some and have some fun yourself!

Thank you for visiting today,

Wanda

Halloween Box Weekend Project

Here is the Halloween Weekend Project I promised I would share with you.

I used the Milk Carton die to make it. When you put the carton together ignore the top score marks. Just fold the scores on the bottom and on the sides only. Tape or glue the seam and the bottom of the carton.

I wrapped a piece of the new "Wicked Fun" specialty paper around the box.

Once again I used the "Eek" from the "Sweet Centers" stamp set. And the bat punch. Make sure you give the bat some eyes! I just used my gel pen to do that. SO simple.

The box was very easy and fun to put together and it doesn't take long either. If you don't have the milk carton die you can always make this using the 2-3-6-8 box. You can find the instructions for that at SplitCoastStampers.

As you can see I filled the box with Pixie Sticks and it sure added a lot of color to the box. It gave it a pretty cheery look.

This was a fun Weekend Project and it doesn't take all weekend to make either! This would make a fun Stamp Camp item or even a quick Make n Take.

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Halloween Shoebox Swap Card

This is the card I made for the DIVA shoe box swap today. I will share with you the fun cards I will be making today! DIVA day is always SO fun, I always have a great time and look forward to it!

The theme was to make a Halloween card.

I kept mine CAS (clean and simple).

I used the new "Wicked Fun" decorative paper. I cut two strips of it for each card and a strip of Basic Black. You can cut these strips any size. I cut the decorative paper ones about an inch wide and the black piece I cut around 1-1/4" wide. You can cut the length any size you want.

The "Eek" is from the "Sweet Centers" set. I didn't have any new Halloween stamps this year. I bought the Bat punch and the decorative paper and that was it for my Halloween purchasing. I stamped the "Eek" with Black StazOn and punched the center out. I added a Cajun Craze scallop to it and taped the two pieces together.

I punched out the bat and used my white gel pen to give him some eyes and I taped him in place. That was it. Clean, simple and quick too!

Tomorrow's post will be a fun Halloween "Weekend Project!"

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Medallion Card

The "Medallion" stamp is such a fun stamp to play with. I like it because it can cover a big area in no time!

This is one of the cards from our last DIVA day. I had it written down on a piece of paper who designed what cards and I lost it. If you saw my workroom you'd understand.

I like this card because it's a very simple, quick and easy card to make.

I stamped the Medallion image in Old Olive. Then the center was stamped and punched out. It was set in place with a Dimensional. A brad was added before the Dimensional went on. Ever do that? Try to add the brad after you've taped it in place? I can not tell you how many times I've done that.

This is also a very versatile card.

I have a winter card planned for this stamp. I am hoping to get to it next week. If I don't forget!!! I guess I should write myself a note so I will remember!!! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

A Finished Project

This project has been in the works for almost 2 years. I had made one of these frames and had it on a table for SO long. I had borrowed the stamp set from my sweet friend Katie. I even made her the first frame as a "thank you" for letting me borrow the set. I have plans on giving her back the frame next week. She will finally be able to have it on display this Christmas! It's about time!

I had all of the baby Jesus pieces made and baked. I had all of the images stamped and a few weeks ago I finished coloring them all in. I was on a roll and had NO excuse for not finishing them up.

I got out the colors of clay I needed and sat down at the dining room table and worked on the clay. I had my computer in front of me and turned on NetFlix and played some movies I had in my Que while I worked. It hardly seemed like working!

I finished the 24 boxes I had. I got them all put together and wrapped up for the November craft fair. I have not done a craft fair in a few years and feel a bit out of touch with it. But I'm sure it will go fine! I will be cleaning off the dining room table and will be starting some other clay projects. I forgot how much I love playing with the clay and how much fun it is!

I'm SO glad to be done with this project (finally) and it will be fun to move onto something else. And of course I'll show it to you. Hopefully I will have them all done instead of dragging it out for so long!

Click on the photo for a closer view!

Thanks for looking!

Wanda

Greeting Card Kids Christmas Card

When I first saw this set the Campbell's Soup kids came to mind and I passed the set over. Now as I see more things done with it I am really starting to like this set. This was one of the cards from last month's DIVA day. This one was made by our mighty leader Sue! She is such a talented lady! I still have more from DIVA day but have not had time to post them all here yet.

I LOVE the richness of this card. The decorative paper is from the new "Deck the Halls" paper pack. I've used this paper recently on a card. It's SO pretty. I have to give some kudos to Sue for using her paper for the swap. My pack is new and I do tend to hoard right away. But I have learned to let go but only after a few weeks!!

I also love the distressing on the bottom part of the card. I need to purchase that distressing kit. It's on my wish list!

I love the brad on the card and I liked how we used the silver Smooch Accent ink to color in the white of her coat. I have not purchased that yet either. Once again, it's on my wish list! Anyway, this ink just made the card even more adorable, if that was at all possible.

The ribbon was stained with the Cherry Cobbler ink pad. It gave it a very vintage look.

The edge of the circle was distressed too. I think I may color in the Christmas tree. I am not sure. I like it with just the star colored in but I may just go ahead and add a bit of color to it.

The Color Spritzer Tool was used to make the "splatter" on the circle. I think that is such a fun tool. I do own one and I have used it a lot. Though it is one of those things I put away and forget about for a while until a card like this comes up and then I remember I have it. It's so easy to use and it creates some wonderful effects on cards!

This was a very fun and beautiful card. Thank you Sue for designing it and also for allowing me to share it with everyone! We meet again this Sunday and I can't wait to see what card she has for us this time! No pressure or stress there Sue! LOL

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

Sweet Treat Cups Snow Globe Christmas Card

I played with several sets here when making this card. First of all I played with the "Jolly Bingo Bits" set. That would be the little snowman and the trees. I stamped them and then cut them out individually.

I punched two circles to fit the Sweet Treats cup and then tore them for the snow layers in the background. I set the trees in place first and then the snowman. Then I taped it in place on top of a sponged piece of card stock. The tricky part here was getting the circle of the cup to fit over the area I wanted. Oh not such a big deal you say??? Try it with the no hole clear beads in the cup!!! Once the cup is in place you can see all the spots where the tape went beyond the shapes a bit. The beads stick to it. If you REALLY want to see it just click on the photo for a closer view!!

The snow globe holder is made using the tab punch. I punched the top of it with the 1-3/4" circle punch so it fit nicely along the edges of the cup. I added a couple of rows of rhinestones and prettied it up!

The background paper is from the new "Candy Cane" speciality paper. And the "Merry Christmas" is from the new "Jolly Jingles" wheel. I just colored in the words I wanted with a marker and wheeled them on a piece of card stock (four times). Each time I did it I didn't catch the whole "Merry." SO I reinked it up and repeated my mistake 2 more times before I finally got it right! It's a little crooked but that was ok, I wasn't going to do it again! I layered it on a piece of Marina Mist and put the card together.

I think it's cute but it's not in the running for this year's Christmas card. I don't want to pay the extra postage to mail this cutie!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge Card Christmas Cardinal

Here is my card for this week's Sketch Challenge over at SplitCoastStampers. I actually remembered it was Wednesday! I hate it when there's a holiday in the week, it messes things up but I'm doing pretty good remembering what day it is and the week is half over!!! But fortunately there is nothing very pressing the rest of the week so I can just plug along and get by!

My card for this weeks sketch was done using the "Christmas Cardinal" stamp. And if you notice, I did flip the sketch to fit my card. I wanted my bird to face to the left. It looked strange facing the other way. I don't know why it was so important to have it face the other way but honestly it just didn't look right!

I used the new "Deck the Halls" decorative paper. It's SO rich and pretty looking. Every sheet in this pack is beautiful!

The little holly leaves in the corner are from the backside of the decorative paper. I just cut them out and taped them to the corner.

I used the "Petals-a-Plenty" embossing folder on the Garden Green background piece (layer #1).

The layer #3 was a bit tricky for me. I wasn't sure where I was going with it. I ended up just taping the black layer to the card and adding some black satin ribbon around it and tying a knot. I didn't want to add any color there, I thought it would be distracting.

The cardinal was colored in using the Riding Hood Red marker. Yup, just colored directly from the marker. The design of the image allows you to do that and have it look shaded. Gotta LOVE that. It's difficult to ruin this image when coloring it in. Ok, you can ruin it if you keep coloring over the same area.

If you have time play with this sketch. There's a LOT of sets in the Stampin' Up! catalog that will fit in the #4 space. It's another fun sketch and I can see myself using it again on other cards. Perhaps the masculine birthday I need to make sometime this month!

I have a weekend project for you! A fun, quick and simple Halloween one so stay tuned!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

Jolly Bingo Bits Snowman Card

I'm a bit late in posting tonight. It was such a busy day. Why is the day after a holiday so stressful? I think it's all that catching up you have to do to get back in your regular routine! It is for me anyway!

In my quest for our Christmas card for this year I am still playing around. I really thought I was going to go with the embossed snowflakes in the corner and the "Season's Greetings" one I made a week or so ago. But I'm not sure I am liking that one as much. I think I'm feeling guilty about not having any layers on it. It's just too simple for me.

This card is one that is up for our possible Christmas card. I do like it and it is simple enough to make. I'm not crazy about the idea of making 390 white circles and 390 colored ones. I have 130 cards to make so I will keep this one on the list of possibilities.

I used the "Jolly Bingo Bits" snowman. That set is FULL of fun little images. Like I had said before, I didn't buy the "Bingo Card" image. I had no intentions of making a game with these cuties. I have lots of ideas for these images and I hope I get to use each and every one of them in this set!

The words used here are from the "Teeny Tiny Wishes" set. A set I am sure getting a LOT of use out of too!

My card base is Marina Mist and I used Whisper White card stock. I stamped my snowman in StazOn and the snowflakes (which are from the "Jolly Bingo Bits" set) are stamped in Marina Mist. I added a piece of Marina Mist satin ribbon, it was just what the card needed.

Oh and don't forget the pearls! I did tape those little dots under the "Merry Christmas" before I stamped them on the card. I added a little strip of pearls under it. And I also gave the center snowman pearl buttons. Like that is going to happen on my snowman this winter! Pearls on a snowman!! TOO funny! And that is it, pretty simple and quick too! If you aren't making a bunch of them that is!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,

Wanda

Two-Step Bird Punch Card

Ok, the title of this post does say "Bird Punch" but there is no bird on this card. These fun leaves (branch) are from this punch. I saw a card by a gal named Michelle but I do not have a link to it, sorry. She used a leaf image from another stamp company. Her leaves mostly went in the same direction. I started to do that too. I got them all taped in place pretty much on the same edge on each square. I set them on the background piece and didn't really car for what i saw so I thought I would turn each square a quarter turn and I liked what I saw. I wasn't sure what else I was going to do with the card so I just put it all together and stepped back to take a look.

Embellishments came to mind. But what? Brads? Eyelets? Rhinestones? Nope, the new pearls!!! I grabbed my package of them and then I didn't know where I was going to put them. UGH! On the leaves like rain drops? I punched out a 1-1/4" circle and set it in the center of the squares. I held it in place while I set the tiny pearls in place. I got them on in a sort of circle. I just put them on the squares only. But it still wasn't enough. So I added one to the opposite corners. Like that was going to really do it!!! But I did like the tiny ones in the corners. SO I thought I would add larger ones to the opposite corners and Tah Dah! I liked it!

It's a versatile card but with the pearls on it, it's not really a masculine card. Remove those pearls and come up with something else in the center and it would be great for a masculine card!

It's a different card, that's for sure!!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Just Believe Card

I have had this stamp set for a few weeks now and have not played with it. I've been so busy with so many other things that I just don't have enough time in a day to do all the things I want.

For this card I did use the Sketch Challenge layout #196. I wanted to find a layout that was just the perfect size for the flower and stems image. When I got to this layout I quit looking. There are probably others that would fit but this was the first one I ran across so I went with it.

I like how it turned out. I kept it simple and clean too. And yes, there are a bunch of layers on it but the black makes the other colors just pop so I had to use it!

The decorative paper is from the "Brights" decorative paper pack. I'm SO glad to have those packs. It's nice to have dp in every color you need. The color here is Pacific Point. Isn't it beautiful? I LOVE that color!

I tied a piece of Old Olive ribbon around the focal piece on the card and then I taped it to the black panel.

The technique used here is Direct to Rubber. This is where you just color with your markers right on the rubber. Then you huff on it. The steam of your breath moistens the ink and you get a nice clean image. I don't think I huffed enough on mine. But it's ok, I do like how it turned out.

On the upper left side I added some brads to finish off that corner. I was happy with the way the card turned out. I'm not sure what I'm going to use it for but I do like how it turned out!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Very Vintage Wheel Simple Card

WOW! I have found another fabulous and super simple card to make. Quick and easy too! I found it at Dawn's "DO Stamping" website. I think it was a card she had gotten at convention. When I ran across it I knew I just HAD to make it. I knew it would be quick and simple to do too.

For my card I used Very Vanilla card stock. I used the "Very Vintage" wheel and Crumb Cake ink. The words are from "Heard from the Heart" set and again I stamped them using Crumb Cake ink. I tied a Very Vanilla grosgrain ribbon around the card and trimmed the ends.

What is so amazing about this card is that it was so quick to make, so simple and yet it has such a rich elegant look to it. I could make a ton of these and never grow tired of them.

Isn't it just LOVELY? Give it a try. You will spend more time cleaning up and putting things back than you did making the card!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Lovely as a Tree Christmas Card

I have used this "Lovely as a Tree" set for SO many years now and it never gets old. It can be used all year long too just by using the right color of card stock for the season. Here I used Night of Navy for my background color. I used the "Top Note" die on a piece of Night of Navy and a piece of Brushed Gold card stock. I cut on the scored lines so the gold could be layered behind the navy. I did cut the navy card stock before I stamped on it. I didn't want to stamp, emboss it in gold and then have it cut wrong. I'm SO good at not getting things lined up right. Ok, maybe I get them lined up but by the time they get through the machine they come out crooked. Just lucky I guess! LOL

This card is a very easy card to make too. After cutting the card stock out, emboss the image with VersaMark, sprinkle on the gold embossing powder. Heat set it. Layer the Top Note pieces, tape them in place on the folded half sheet of card stock and you are done. No kidding, it is that simple. On the inside I will add a piece of white card stock and stamp some verbiage or maybe write my own, depending on who I send it to!

It's elegant and easy at the same time!

I have a weekend project coming up so be sure to stop back!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Upsy Daisy Versatile Card

I really wanted to play with the Pacific Point card stock but ended up with the Not Quite Navy. But it's ok because I love the richness of that color too. I think this color looks more rich this catalog season. Once the other colors were removed from the roster some of the older colors mixed with the newer ones began to take on a new look! I LOVE it, it's like starting all over!

My card was very simple to make too. I often say how much fun I had doing the SplitCoast Sketch Challenge and I say I want to try it again. Well, this is the second time I've done the sketch in the same week. I've used the other sketches in cards but never in the same week and like I said I wanted to do!

I just love this layout and with the simple image I used it made this card an even quicker card. Scroll down to see yesterday's card and sketch layout. It's just simple pieces layered on top of each other. I am really liking this layout a LOT!

I used the "Upsy Daisy" set for my card. I just stamped it in Not Quite Navy ink. I did huff on the image after I inked it up. I find it gives those flat areas a better chance of covering. I think it works! I sponged the edges and it was done! How simple is that? Love it! Love it! Love it!

The decorative paper is from the new Designer Series "Regals" Collection. I like polka dots so I used a piece of that paper and on the back side was the typed words that I used behind the Upsy Daisy flowers. I sponged the edges of the flower image and taped it all together.

No ribbons, no bows, no brads or eyelets! Just clean and simple! And not to forget versatile. This card can be used for SO many occasions and events!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda

Wednesday Sketch Challenge Card Owl Punch

I SO love this owl punch. It should have come with a branch too! I had to use the branch from the Two-Step Bird punch. But that's ok, I had that punch and worked it in with this card. Along with the new Two-Step Owl punch I got to play with the new Bitty Bat Large punch. "Bitty Bat Large" Bitty and large in the same description! I didn't catch that before!!! LOL

I really didn't think I would have time to play with the sketch today. I usually do them earlier in the day but I was just too busy to do that today. Fortunately I found some time after dinner to play!

Ok, onto this fun card. I had some K & Company Halloween DP and though it would look cute with this owl. And it did. It has such a "Halloween" look to it, doesn't it?

I probably should have used the Daffodil Delight for the moon instead of More Mustard, it may have looked a bit brighter. Oh well, what's done is done and I'm not going to change a thing now!

I just love that Bitty Large bat! I thought he'd be the finishing touch on the card!

This was a very fun and easy sketch to play with. If you have time give it a try. The pieces are easy to cut and set in place on the card. I am seriously thinking about giving that sketch another try. I like how I can use DP to fill in those bigger areas and be done with the card so quickly too!

Thank you SO much for visiting today,
Wanda