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.