Autumn Blessings

I know I'm all over the place with seasons, but I wanted to try my hand at autumn leaves.  I'm not sure if I like them or not, but I think it's growing on me.  The papers are free papers from 'Thanksgiving Leftovers'  and I embossed the olive colored paper with the D'Vine swirls folder.

Have your Elf a very merry Christmas!

Technically, this little guy isn't an elf.  He is a Swedish pixie, one of the Nøël desTømtes.  There are a bunch of illustrations to be used as coloring pages here and here.  I, of course, have used him as a stamp.  There are many more so I will probably be doing several cards with him as the star.  I used the 'Believe' papers from Summertime Designs again as well as one of her elements for the tag.  I just added the script and printed/cut it on my Silhouette.  You cannot see it in this picture (or any others I took) but I used some snowflake stickers I had laying about as well as stickles on the main snowflake he cut out.  Looks really pretty at night under a small lamp, no so much in the Florida sunshine.

Spectrum Noir markers used:
Skin (FS2, FS3, PP1), Hat & Shoes (DG3, DG2,DR7, DR5), Scissors (BGR1, BGR3) Shadow [in beard as well](BGR1)

Children's Choir

I won't even say this was an idea I was inspired by.  I loved the original so much I basically tried to duplicate it.  The original, inspiration card is at Kreative Korner by Kelly.  The background sheet music is at Noel Noel Noel and the stamp is 'Choir' at Mo's Digital Pencil.  I have the pale hues pack of markers, but I am not yet skilled at coloring skin correctly or in such a tight space so I wasn't able to get the depth and shading I like but otherwise, I am really pleased.  As always, I distressed my edges to give it a more vintage feel.

PS- I KNOW my camera sucks for this.  I'll be getting a new camera in the New Year.

Spectrum Noir colors:
Skin (FS2, FS3, EB1, EB2, EB7, TN2, PP1), Hair (EB7, GB5, OR1, EB1, EB2, True Black), Gowns (CT1, CT2, DG2, DG3, DR5, DR7), Song books (BGR1, BGR3), Star (CT2, CT3, gold glitter glue from Dollartree)

FALALALALALALA

I have searched and searched ad I cannot tell you where the stamp is from.  As soon as I can, I will reference it for you.  I fell in love with this little guy the second I found him but had no way to color him in before.  The HOHOHO paper is from Scrapdot. This is another one of those sites FULL of awesome papers and embellishments for free.  The one caveat is it takes FOREVER to download a file due to the hosting site.  Well, worth the wait, but it can take 15 mins on a fast connection. Also, it doesn't appear to have been updated in a few years but plenty of archives to wade through.  I went out of the lines a few times simply because with my cardstock, the red likes to bleed.

Spectrum Noir markers used:
Skin (FS2, FS3, PP1), Hair & Shoes (EB7, EB2, EB1), Shirt/Sweater (CT4, CT3, CT2, CT1), Pants (BGR3, BGR1), Holly (DG3, DG2), Candle and Holly Berries (DR7, DR5), Lights [string] (JG6), [lights] (CT2, DR1, GG1, BGR3, OR1), Eyes (BGR3), Shadow (BGR1)

Making Spirits Bright

OK, so here is fair warning for anyone who actually reads my blog (Hi, Mom!), I just received the first of my Spectrum Noir markers.  This means that I, with my zero experience in alcohol markers, will be posting poorly colored, stamped cards for the foreseeable future.  Somehow, watching a plethora of Copic/Spectrum Noir tutorials has not yet made me an expert.  I am, however, LOVING THEM!  I have read scores of complaints that when using digital stamps, there is excessive bleeding of the printer ink.  I have a Canon MX410 and haven't had any problems, even using the blender pen directly over the ink.  I am just using standard, 110 weight cardstock and that bleeds like the devil though I'm trying to be careful (especially with the reds).  Anyway, back on topic for this mornings first card (Oh yes, there will be dozens in the next few days with no cohesive theme *evil cackle*:

This one wasn't inspired by anything but the stamp itself.  The stamp is from Stampin' Up Making Spirits Bright stamp set.  The candy cane paper is a from a free digital paper pack, 'Believe' from Summertime Designs.  If I haven't already mentioned it, her designs are GORGEOUS and the absolute BEST quality.  Seriously, go grab every single pack she offers.  I imagine you'll see tons of her papers here.  The branches are, of course, the Martha Stewart medium branch punch.  For the greencardstock, I didn't want to use a bunch of printer ink for 5.5" of cardstock that would be mostly covered, so I coordinated by using one of my markers to border it.  I then distressed my edges.  I'm pretty happy with how this turned out.

Spectrum Noir markers used:  Reds (DR7, DR5), Greens (CG1, CG2), [for the drink] Pale Hues (FS2), [the ribbon] Citrus (CT1, CT2) ad to shadow Blue Greys (BGR1, BGR3)

Joyeux Noel

There was no file, just a inspiration card here that's been siting on my Pinterest board just waiting for me to make it.

I made a square card and found a random star file to cut out.  This was the first time I tried a 3D star so after I cut it out, I scored the lines in from both the points of the star and the recessed edges.  I distressed the edges a bit.  I used the script embossing folder and some old, gold ribbon I had laying around.  The paper I used for the star was some sheet music themed paper I had.

Christmas Pudding Easel Card

So I finally ordered some Spectrum Noir markers that are arriving this week.  I am thinking you will have a plethora of digi stamps, stamps and color swatches to wade through at that time since I am completely new to alcohol markers.  In the meantime, I am going through my Pinterest boards and doing some inspiration cards.  I will list the inspiration site as long as I have one.  If there's no source, I will do my best to hunt down the originating site to tell you where it came from.  The first card is from a free cut file at Bird's Cards .  They also have a free digi stamp of the same pudding if you don't have a cutting machine or just prefer to break out the markers.

I used the free digital paper pack from Summer Designs "Believe" kit .  I added a little sparkle with some stickles on the holly berries.  For the banner, I used a free file from the Silhouette store and placed it on with dimensionals so the plate had something to prop itself up on.

Matryoshka

 

This is a thank you card for MIL who studied Russian history.  I was looking for something unique and I found this in an old Papercraft Inspirations magazine with template .

 I opened the templates in my Silhouette and used pattern fill using the Sweetly digital paper pack from Granny Enchanted . I also used various elements for the basic shapes that came with my Silhouette.  Distressed edges using Distress ink vintage photo and embossed with the Cuttlebug Birds and Swirls embossing card.

Hey Pumpkin!

So this is probably the hardest stamp project I've ever done, lol. First of all, Can I tell you how much I love the Simon Says Hey Pumpkin stamp set?  I've been wanting it FOREVER...well okay, since it came out and I saw Kristen using it (who also designed it).  There are several parts so you can change it from Autumn to Halloween just by adding/omitting elements.  Anyway, what made it so hard is the fact I cannot cut out anything correctly even by following a line.  I'm serious.  I look at videos of card makers and they can cut a circle with no guideline, cut out designs without decapitating them, etc.  Not me!  One of the main reasons I got the Silhouette was so I'd never have to attempt to cut anything out ever again.  Fast forward to today and me wanting to cut out the cat and pumpkin stamp.  Most people would just keep trying until they stopped cutting off an ear, but not me.  I did it the hard way.  I stamped the whole sheet onto a white paper, scanned it in, cleaned it up in photoshop then upload them into my Silhouette to trace and cut.  All that because I got a bug up my butt to cut it perfectly.  Ah well, the bonus is I can now manipulate the size and maybe use a fill pattern on it.  Not sure if I'll ever need either of those options but it makes me feel better thinking I didn't just use 3 hours for one stamp on one card. The one con is the inability to heat emboss the design as well as difficulty using my watercolor pencils due to the inkjet ink.  Ah well....

The paper in this design is from Summertime Design 'Thanks For Giving' collection.  If you haven't been to her sight, seriously check it out!  Her paper packs are all free and amazing!  The stamp is again from Simon Says stamp! .  I have been on a fall kick lately since, just like last year, it is over 90 degrees everyday and I am wishing so much we had autumn here!

A Little Nutty

This was just a fun card that was inspired by a card I saw on Pinterest.  I liked the layered design and decided to recreate it but with a squirrel stamp from Images © Pink Cat Studio.   I colored the squirrel in with some watercolor pencils I have.  I used a free paper pack called 'Boy oh Boy' from Summertime Designs to make the layers.  I have been on a kick of distressing the edges of my paper especially since using digital paper to define the edge as well as get rid of any visible white from the card stock.  I really like the warm effect! 
I decided not to put a sentiment at this time because I am not sure what I will use this for , but I really enjoyed making it.

Bon Voyage!

I'm not going to lie.  I am my own worst critic and I just love this card! 
I don't have a lot of money after bills (who does) and I always feel guilty spending it on indulgences.  Well, outside of the equipment I already have on hand, this didn't cost me a penny.  I got some free digital paper here: No Reimer Reason . This was the American Heroes paper pack. After I printed the different sections (print and cut feature on the Silhouette), I distressed the edges with Distress Ink in Vintage Photo. I found the passport stamps on google for the different places my parents will be going on their European/ Transatlantic cruise: England, France, Ireland, The Faroe Islands and Iceland. The cruise ship stamp was found at Free Vintage Digital Stamps . Finally, the inside sentiment was from a vintage, promotional postcard.  All in all, I am really pleased with how this turned out.

3D box card

We couldn't celebrate Father's day until today due to scheduling issues so my father's Day card is a bit late.  I've been seeing these 3D box cards all over  and was trying to find a good theme for my dad.  My father has an ongoing war with the neighborhood squirrels (as most dads do) and I got him a fun mug:

 

He also has a squirrel proof feeder called a Yankee flipper (I think).  The feeder functions by sensing the weight of the squirrel and then spinning the bottom rung until the squirrel flies off.   For this card, I was going for the squirrel theme.  I used a free Paper Smooches stamp and cut the word 'hi' he was dangling from off and made it look like he was hanging from the feeder.  I used a couple of the lawn fawn tree stamps for the trees in the back.  I had purchased a box of transparencies from a thrift store a few years ago and used those to hold up the elements and hand wrote the sentiment.

Congratulations, you're pregnant!

 

I never know what to say with certain sentiments and this is one of them. "Congratulations you're pregnant" is the thought, but not what I literally wish to say, lol.  I went with just a "Congratulations" and let the card show the sentiment.  As usual, I have almost no punches so I found an elephant shape and copied it to my Silhouette.  I didn't have any "baby" papers so I used some of the patterns on the Silhouette to fill and used the print and cut feature.  The ears, I just eyeballed, lol.  I had a balloon cut file already from on of the free shapes of the week.  In retrospect, I should have used the swiss dots to emboss, but this was the hubby's choice since it was from the two of us, I deferred to his wishes :D.

Mother's Day card

A little late on my Mother's Day card this year (at least posting it).  I found a teapot easel card that I fell in love with but this teacup card caught my eye.  This one is from the Silhouette store.  No instructions, but I think I figured it out OK.  I added a small, embossed tag to look like the teabag label and the brad so it would stand up.  Sorry about the picture quality, I used my phone, at night, when I was leaving my Mom's because i forgot to take a pic ahead of time.

Mea Culpa

I have been in absentia for the beginning part of this year.  I would love to say it was because I was in mourning for the broncos (that didn't capitalize but I'm going to keep it because they need to be punished) but really it's because I let other things take some precedence.  You probably don't know me, but i am morbidly obese and my sedentary lifestyle was going to kill me.  When my wii fit board said I was too fat to use it...well, wake up call.  Since then, I have counted calories and worked out and I am down 43 pounds.  I have 140 to go, but it's looking possible now.  I feel much healthier and I don't hide in my house as much.  My husband had an injury at work and was out for a bit, so that also occupied my time.  OK, enough about me, on with the blog. 

Today's card will be used as a thank you card, but really it could be for anything.  I do not have Memory Box dies, but I cloned their Leaf Canopy on to my Silhouette.  I also found a generic leafless tree clip art for the trunk. I didn't want to use a sentiment mainly because I just want the motif to stand for itself.  Enjoy and as always, if you have any questions about supplies, let me know.

PS- I had to share this pic of my youngest kitty, Lady, "helping me".  When you see little grey and black hairs in my pictures, this is one of the culprits.  I would have a pic of my black kitty, Liberty, but she is currently hiding in the closet :)

Superbowl Shrine

So I haven't made a bunch of cards lately because my crafting station had to get stored to make room for the Christmas tree.  While the Christmas tree has been down since the st, I'm just now getting my area set back up.  Anyway, I am a huge Dolphins fan who married a huge Broncos fan so in honor of my husband and the Broncos, I made a little mantel display.

On the left is our Beethoven bust wearing a Broncos....hat.  The Bronco Logo was made with my Silhouette using this free file from Scrappy Cath.  I didn't like the looks of it on a plain, white background so I took a sheet of green cardstock and just marked some lines with a corrector pen (I don't have a white pen, lol).  The banner is from a generic pennant cut file and the letters are the Denver Broncos font found here.  I was going to use Easter grass in the jars, but I couldn't find any at the dollar store so I just used some rice and dyed it green (using this tutorial) with some Wilton green paste food coloring and vinegar.  Finally, the football was a cut file from the Silhouette store.  I didn't have any brown paper so I used part of a paper bag (necessity is the mother of invention).  Anyway, I hope you enjoy.