Valentines

I always think there's plenty of time to get Valentines made after the holidays, but then I'm scrambling at the last minute. Hurray--3 made before New Years Day!  

First is hubby's card made with SSS Highlight Frames die.  I'm entering SSS Flickr Challenge #61. 

I stacked the die cut 3 high, brushed with clear & red Spectrum Noir pens before inlaying it back into the black panel.  

Heidi Swapp alphabet stickers are used for the sentiment.  I'm also entering Word Art Wednesday.

Next is my card for Stamploration December Challenge using the sketch.

 

Pulled out the Hearts Tumbled Stencil, inked it with Versamark & embossed with Zing red glitter powder.  

The die cut edge is done with a PPP die & the AMuse sentiment is white embossed. I used a red gel pen & Diamond Glaze for the tiny heart.  The red metallic trim was part of a prize over a year ago & it matches the embossing powder perfectly!  I'm also entering Stamplorations Never-Ending Anything Goes Challenge.

The last card is for the December Altenew Challenge using the beautiful color combo for the March challenge.  

I got the Majestic Bloom stamps & dies in the 50% off sale & couldn't wait to ink it up. The package included 6 Altenew inks so I used the Jet Black which stamped beautifully. Hopefully the PTI inks are close enough to the inspiration: Autumn Rose, Lavender Moon & Ocean Tides.  

The flower is heavily spritzed with Perfect Pearls--love that shimmer! The sentiment is from Altenew Painted Greetings & PPP Marshmallow sequins provide the embellishment for this card that will go to a friend. I'm also entering SSS Wednesday. Thanks so much for stopping by & enjoy your New Year's Celebration!

Winter Hello & Christmas Card for Next Year

Funny how I never seem to get cards done ahead of time for monthly challenges, so here are 2 just before they close.

First up is my entry for Where Creativity Meets C9 & the theme is Winter. I picked up the C&9th stamp set called Flourish in a recent sale.  

Thought it'd be fun to use for a winter friendship card by using blues & silver--good color combo for winter.  The 3 layers of the bloom were stamped on Spellbinders Labels 1 die cuts using Brilliance Pearlescent Ice Blue, Sky Blue & Mediterranean Blue.  The 2 words from the set are stamped in the darkest blue which is also used to edge the die cuts.  I used the same 3 inks to splatter the card front before mounting the blooms with foam tape & adding blue & silver sequins.  I'm also entering SSS Wednesday, SSS Work it Wednesday, & Word Art Wednesday.

Next is my entry for the Memory Box challenge, Outside the Box. Couldn't miss this one since I love metallics & that's the theme.  

I used one of my older MB dies, Woodland Branch, die cutting it twice from black cardstock & mounting it to a card die cut with AJVD Polka Dot Backdrop Rectangle.  The ornament is one of my newest MB purchases--Precious Ornaments.  I opened a roll of Heidi Swapp gold glitter tape & attached it to cardstock before die cutting the ornament.  I have several colors of the glitter tapes I got on sale--so beautiful & easy to use for smaller dies.  Not sure why I didn't open these rolls sooner!  The sentiment is from Penny Black's In a Pear Tree & is stamped in Brilliance Graphite Black.  Decided to keep it CAS & just added a gold dot.  I'm also entering Country View Challenges,  SSS Wednesday & SSS Work it Wednesday.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Impression Obsession Last Minute Gifts

Didn't want to miss the Impression Obsession challenge, so pulled out my newest IO products--Vintage Ornaments stamp set & matching dies.  

I stamped the beautiful flourish ornament 3 times in Delicata Silvery Shimmer & used the matching die. Haven't used my gel pens lately, so pulled out the red one to add just a bit of color. Before attaching them to form a 3D ornament, I spritzed with Perfect Pearls.  

This is my first time to make a 3D project & even though it's really simple, I think it'll be fun to attach to a gift bag.  I'm also entering CropStop & Word Art Wednesday.  Hope you're enjoying the holiday week. Thanks so much for stopping by.

Papertrey December Blog Hop Challenge

Happy Day after Christmas everyone!  Fortunately, the weather cooperated & we drove to hubby's daughters' place. Actually, this was the first time we'd ever been with them on Christmas Day, so that was special.  She's a great cook & made a delicious meal.  My contribution was gingerbread with lemon sauce, which I hadn't made in several years.  I was relieved it came out good & everyone enjoyed it.  Both recipes are from the Betty Crocker cookbook my mom gave me when I graduated from college, so I always think of her when I use it.

This is PTI Blog Hop day & my card was made & mailed days ago. Intended to write the post then, too, but put it off.  Still looking for that Blog Writing Genie--haha!  The pretty inspiration photo actually made me think birthday, more than holiday, so that's what I made.  Loved the girly color scheme of green, yellow, blue & pink.  The wrapping papers have sort of a graphic look & made me think of PTI Background Basics: Medallions which I stamped in PTI Vintage Jadeite, Lemon Tart, Blueberry Sky & Pale Peony.  

I used my Mini MISTI to stamp the 2 words from PTI A Wreath for all Seasons in Blueberry Sky.  The 3 little gems are a pretty close match to the blue.  I really wanted some sparkle, but instead of using glitter glue, I heat embossed the frame around the circle window & the edges of the card with JudiKins Iridescent Sparkle--so pretty in real life.  I'm also entering SSS Monday, SSS Wednesday & Word Art Wednesday.  Thanks so much for stopping by.

Merry Christmas Eve!

Wishing everyone a lovely holiday.  Fritz got his wish--a brief sunbath on the deck.  Nice to have sun even though it's kind of chilly.  Here's the card I'll give hubby tomorrow.

I was inspired by the inspiration board for Ellen Hutson Pin-Sights Challenge.  I used the red & white color combo in many of the pictures as well as the pine cone wreath. Couldn't resist ordering a few 40% off items in the EH sale including the wonderful deer die.  I stacked 3 cut from kraft cardstock so that there was a shadow.  The top layer also has some shading done with Memento Rich Cocoa. Fun to use a Tim Holtz jingle bell brad with a bit of red sparkly twine.  The same brown ink was used to stamp the card front with the pine cone from Winnie & Walter Frenchy's Festive Florals.  The sentiment is from EH Merry & Bright dies.  I stacked them 2 high & white embossed the top layers.  The deer & the red circles are mounted with foam tape.  I'm also entering SSS National Christmas Card Day, CASual Fridays, Christmas Card Challenges, HLS Anything Goes with Dies, Die Cut Divas & Word Art Wednesday. 

Here's my very simple card for PTI MIM Photo Cards.  I had already printed some other photos of Fritz, so used one for a circle card with PTI Snowflake Flurries stamped in Delicata Silvery Shimmer.  Added some snowy dots with Nuvo Ivory Seashell Crystal Dots.  May use this for the Vet's card next year or it can be a winter note card.    

"Thanks be unto God for his unspeakable gift." II Corinthians 9:15

Birthday & Christmas

Just had to have the beautiful new Winnie & Walter stamp set called In Bloom: Frenchy's Festive Florals.  

It's not just for Christmas & in fact, I made a birthday card which I need to mail next month.  Vanessa's gorgeous card for W&W Rerun No. 17 inspired my card.  

All my stamps are from the new set, as I don't own In Bloom: Hollie's Festive Florals--another great stamp set!  I used Vanessa's layout with different colors & for a square card.  The inks are Delicata Silvery Shimmer, Brilliance Graphite Black, PTI Vintage Jadeite, Limeade Ice & Blueberry Sky.  The sequins are from the little stash included in every W&W order.  Here's a close-up so you can see the smaller ones actually have a bit of a green tint to tie in with the greenery.

Had to add a few silver splatters--adds just the right touch, I think.  I don't hoard my printed paper--just have trouble using it. However, when it comes to my favorite gold & silver metallic paper I admit to only using it for very special people!  A craft store in my town that went out of business many years ago carried this double sided text weight paper & it wasn't even very expensive. Now I wish I'd bought tons of it as I actually like it better than anything else I've found. Another card in the Fresh & Clean style I really love. I'm also entering at The Playground, SSS Monday & Word Art Wednesday.

I also wanted to share the cards I made for the Vet & Groomer this year.  I always take them some goodies for the holidays.  It was fun to be able to take a picture of Fritz in the snow this year for a more festive look.  

Love how these turned out using the SSS Holiday Frames die & MFT snowflake dies.  I really like both versions, but hubby prefers the silver. What do you think?  I'm entering SSS National Christmas Card Day.  Hope you're enjoying the holiday season & travel safely if you're not staying home. Thanks so much for taking time to stop by.