Countdown to Xmas: 25 Days, 25 Cards - Day FIVE

Greetings!  It's Day 5!  Today's card looks simple, but it took me longer than I imagined it would take.  I had a little trouble with my embossing powder sticking everywhere -- and I even used the powder tool to help.  Oh well.  For this card, I used the Boutique Borders stamps from Mama Elephant and the Sparkle and Shine stamp and sequins from Simon Says Stamp.

Materials:

• White card base: 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
• Dark green card insert (4"W x 5.5"H)
• Dark red card front (3.5"W x 5.5"H)
• Simon Says Sparkle & Shine stamp and sequins
• Mama Elephant Boutique Borders stamps
• Sizzix Fancy Label Framelits Dies
• Ranger Liquid Platinum Embossing Powder
• Tsukineko Versamark Clear Pigment Ink Pad

Directions:

• Stamp Boutique Borders (5 stripes and candy cane pattern) onto the red card stock at an angle using Versamark Ink.  
• Heat emboss the patterns using the Liquid Platinum power.  You may need to alternate between the stamping and embossing to make sure everything is evenly spaced and to prevent messing up (as I mentioned earlier, I messed this up a few times).
• Cut a window in both the red and green card stock using the Sizzix Fancy Label Framelits dies.
• Measure where the "Sparkle and Shine" should be placed on the white card base.  You can figure out the center line and stamp accordingly.
• Stamp the "Sparkle and Shine" stamp onto the white card base using Versamark ink and heat emboss with Liquid Platinum.
• Adhere all the pieces and finish it off with some sequins on the front
• This card would be easy to replicate in larger quanities if you can get all the heat embossing done at once.

Have a Sparkly Day!

Countdown to Xmas: 25 Days, 25 Cards - Day FOUR

Day 4.  One of my favorite holiday scents is gingerbread.  I remember decorating gingerbread houses using graham crackers and store-bought frosting as a kid.  As I got older, I learned how to make my own gingerbread, but boy was it painful to make a house... so I just stuck with cookies.  A few years ago (or maybe longer), I made a gingerbread house with my nephew.  He haphazardly placed candy pieces all over the rooftop... when he wasn't looking I reordered the pieces in rainbow order and made sure they were evenly spaced.  I know, I was an awful aunt... stifling child creativity.  I just like things in rainbow order.  Haha! By the way, Trader Joe's has a fantastic gingerbread mix too... it's fast, easy and delicious!

Anyhow, today's card is inspired by all those fond memories.

I used Lawn Fawn's awesome Sweet Christmas stamps and matching lawn cuts die set.  This set is so great because it comes with tons of little goodies (stars, heart, squiggles, candy pieces, gumdrops, lollipops).  These can be used to decorate the gingerbread house, but they can also be used year round for birthday and other special cards.  I colored the trees, candy and windows using Copic markers.  I used a white gel pen for the gingerbread highlights.  Super fun card!

Materials:

• Red card base: 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
• White card stock for greeting and main base: 4"W x 5.25"H
• White card stock for snowy slopes: 4"W; cut the slope shape freehand
• White and kraft card stock for the shapes
• Lawn Fawn Sweet Christmas stamps and coordinating dies
• Copic Markers
• "Christmas Wishes" sentiment (The Stamps of Life - ornaments4christmas)
• Foam Adhesive
• Adhesive Tape Runner
• Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen
• Zig Wink of Stella Glitter Brush Pen, Clear

Directions:

• Stamp the trees, candy canes, lollipops, windows, and candy wreath on white paper
• Color each shape with copic markers
• Die cut each shape using the coordinating dies
• Stamps the house and gingerbread people on kraft card stock
• Fill in accents (stripes, etc...) using white Gelly Roll pen
• Cut two slopes to create a landscape; outline the edges with stitching using black pen 
• Use foam adhesive to pop the top slope out giving the scene more dimension.
• Glue pieces in place
• Add "Christmas Wishes" sentiment
• Use Wink of Stella glitter pen to add some sparkle to the trees and candy

Yummy! Enjoy! 

Countdown to Xmas: 25 Days, 25 Cards - Day THREE

Hi everyone,

We're on a roll.  Day 3 already!  Shaker cards are all the rage these days.  I made a Chibitronics Halloween shaker card a few months ago.  Today I decided to make a snowy shaker card.  The Polar Pals stamps and matching creative cuts dies from Mama Elephant are two of my new favorites.  Get ready to see more of these characters in future cards.  For this card, I cut out the female penguin... and colored her PINK... my favorite color (in case you couldn't tell from this blog).

Materials:

• Pink card base: 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
• Patterned Paper from Carta Bella (the tinseled trees and blue polka dots are on the same piece of double-sided paper from this Merry and Bright collection, this is by far my favorite holiday collection)
• 4"W x 5.5"H - tree patterned paper
• 3"W x 5"H blue polka dot background
• 3" Square from which the scalloped frame will be cut
• Acetate paper for window: 3" Square
• Craft foam: 3"W x 5"H
• Sizzix Scalloped Circle Framelits
• Mama Elephant Polar Pals stamps and matching dies
• Green polka dot ribbon
• White glass beads
• Copic Markers
• Tsukineko Tuxedo Black ink pad
• Liquid glue or other strong adhesive

Directions:

• Choose two scalloped circle dies (I use the 2.125" and 2.5" dies); cut  window using the smaller one in the tree paper.  Cut larger window in the craft foam. Use both dies to cut the blue frame on the front.
• Glue scalloped circle to front of the card to frame the window.
• Glue acetate to back of the window.
• Tie ribbon to the front panel.
• Stamp "cheer" on the blue polka dot background
• Color the penguin using copic markers and die cut accordingly
• Adhere the penguin to the back window
• Adhere the craft foam on top of the blue background making sure the penguin and "cheer" show through.
• Once glue dries, add glass beads.  Attached top of card with liquid glue and allow to dry completely.
• Adhere shaker section of the card to the card base.

Shake it up!  Enjoy!

Countdown to Xmas: 25 Days, 25 Cards - Day TWO

Hi all,

Day 2 - Peace, Love and Joy.  It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas.  Well... at least the skies are cloudy (not smoggy).  All the news stations are covering the BIG STORM which in LA means rain.  Luckily I have a great commute, no traffic!

Here's the card for today:

Today's card is made with one of my favorite die cuts: the Sizzix Triple Circle Flip-its die by Stephanie Barnard.  I'm a huge fan of Stephanie Barnard's The Stamps of Life line of stamps... and the dies she makes in conjunction with Sizzix are awesome as well.  This card also uses the "hidden panel" technique which you can learn about on Stephanie's YouTube channel here.

Here are a few more images highlighting the "Love" side and the hidden panel:

Flip it over to see the LOVE!

Add your greeting to the hidden panel!

Materials:

• Kraft cardstock
• Sizzix Triple Circle Flip Its
• Patterned Paper (My Mind's Eye and Carta Bella)
• trees4christmas stamp set (The Stamps of Life)
• Snowflake sticker (Michael's)
• Green polka dot ribbon
• Green card stock for center circle
• Mini pearl embellishments
• Adhesive tape runner
• Strawberry Ink Pad (The Stamps of Life)

Enjoy!

Countdown to Xmas: 25 Days, 25 Cards - Day ONE

Hi everyone,

I LOVE Christmas - the music, the shopping, the gift wrapping, the eating, the smells of gingerbread and cinnamon and most of all the family gatherings.  Growing up in MA, I had the pleasure of a White Christmas every now and then (almost every year).  But here in LA, we're ringing in December with rain!  Yay!  We could really use it.

Actually, I love Christmas all year round, not just during the month of the December.  Those who know me know that I have more holiday songs on my iTunes playlist than any other genre.  When our local LA radio station, KOST, starts playing Christmas carols all day long I get giddy.  I find excuses to drive just so I can sing along.  Although lately, I think KOST could add a few more songs to their mix.  I've heard Band Aid's "Do They Know it's Christmas" too many times.  It's a great song... but it plays way too often.

Anyhow, I also love paper crafting.  So this year, I've decided to challenge myself to create 25 cards in 25 days.  I will warn you ahead of time...  some of these cards will be be quick and easy (i.e. I need to post something ASAP) kinds of cards, others will involve more detail and cool techniques.  Depends on how I feel that day.  No guarantees that I will make it through all 25, but it's worth a try.

So here goes... Day 1.  A simple quick and easy card.  I will try to include materials used and links where appropriate.

Materials:

• Kraft cardstock 4.25"W x 11"H, scored at 5.5" mark
• White card stock for front card frame and inside panel: 4"W x 5.25"H
• Patterned paper: 3.75"W x 5"H
• Maroon paper: 3"W x 2"H
• Sakura White Gelly Roll Pen
• Snowflake White Pearl Embellishments (Queen & Co)

Directions:

• Cut out all the paper and layer each one according to the picture above. 
• Write "merry christmas" in pencil and then use the white gelly roll pen to make it feel like faux calligraphy.  (Side note: I've always wanted to learn real calligraphy, but I am a lefty and it will take me a while to figure out the best technique for holding a calligraphy pen.  For now, this faux technique works.)
• Add white stitching to to the red paper
• Add the white pearls

This card is so easy to make, I was able to crank out four of these in less than an hour.  It was the writing that took a while.  Everything else is SUPER fast.

Happy Day 1!

Happy Thanksgiving -- Video Greeting!

Hi everyone,

Happy Thanksgiving.  I have a new card to share with you... but this time, I'm using the Flipagram app to show you how I made the card.  Hope you like it!

Happy Turkey Day!  May you and your family have a wonderfully happy, hearty Thanksgiving filled with laughter, joy and bubblegum!

Bubblerific Paper Find: Ferme a Papier "Joie du Jour" Journal

Happy November, everyone!

I recently traveled to Boston to visit family and attend a conference.  My love for stationery dates back to the 1980s when I was the ULTIMATE sticker collector in my circle of elementary school friends.  I had puffy stickers, oily stickers, you name it... I had it.  In fact, I even wrote in a 3rd grade journal that some day I would grow up and be a "sticker maker."  Thanks to double-sided tape and the Sizzix adhesive sheets, that dream is *almost* a reality.  Haha!

I spent the summer after my junior year in high school at Harvard Summer School and discovered the Bob Slate Stationer store in Harvard Square.  I later attended college and grad school in Cambridge/Boston, so I would often head to Bob Slate when I needed a break from studying or a "pick me up" from a rough week.  A cute little notebook or fancy folder for my school papers usually did the trick!

Flash forward many years later and here I was, sneaking away from the conference, to check out one of my favorite stationery stores.  I walked every aisle and when I got to the journal section, I saw so many cool designs.  Now, do I need another journal to add to my collection at home?  Probably, not.  But I couldn't help myself (confessions of a paper-shopaholic).  So after several minutes of picking up each journal, inspecting the paper quality, feeling the texture of the paper and cover... I kept navigating back to this one journal.  I was just drawn to the design and cover.  "Joie du Jour"... Joy of the Day... How perfect would this be for my greeting card sketches and creative projects?

Ferme a Papier Joie du Jour Journal

This journal is designed by Ferme a Papier by Cat Seto, a studio based in San Francisco.  I LOVE the cover, but I also love the inside page and back cover designs.  I'm a sucker for chevron print, so this journal was perfect.  This 6"x8" journal contains 168 smooth cream pages.  The edges of the pages are covered in gold foil... so glamorous!  When you open the journal, the pages lay flat! Yup, I really dislike when you have a thick journal and you have to use one hand to hold it open while you write with the other.  Not the case here.  The pages lay flat and allow you to freely draw, color, write... whatever your heart desires!  You can purchase this journal from the Chronicle Books website here.

Front Cover, Inside Cover, Back Cover

The pages lay flat... even in the center of the journal!

Now, I suppose it's time for me to fill the pages with some card designs.

Happy Journaling!