Recycled Christmas

The intent of this card was to use as many things as I could that started out as packaging.  So I went to work and let the creative juices flow.  I had a few false attemps with plastic, StazOn ink and embossing (don't try it, trust me), but I didn't give up and this is the end result. 

The tree is embossed on plastic that was originally the package that a stamp set arrived in.  The silver paper was a scrap from a wedding album that I did for my sister.  The polka dot paper was the wrapper band that came around a stamp set.  The white cardstock was a thank you card that came with my order.  The only things new from my stash are the Pure Poppy cardstock base and the Pure Poppy twill ribbon.  Kinda neat, huh?  I'm not sure I'd want to do this every day, for every card, but it was nice to see how much I could recycle into a nifty Christmas card. 

Signature Christmas stamp set from PTI, SU scalloped oval punch, Fire rhinestone brad from SU as well.

Thanks for looking!

Fruity

I'm trying to come up with a companion card to the Strawberry Gingham cards that I've made.  Each note card set gets 2 designs, 4 of each.  So I thought I'd stick with the "fruit" them and diversify a little. 

This card is my first attempt.  I'm kinda so-so about it.  So please be honest.  What could I change to make it better?  I want to keep it fairly simple as I have a bunch of these to make, LOL. 

SU Mambo Melon and Rich Razzleberry cardstock, Mambo Melon polka dot ribbon, SU large and scalloped oval punches, SU Whisper White cardstock.  Fruitful stamp set by PTI for fruit, sentiment by Flourishes. 

Thanks for looking and constructive criticism always welcome!

Happy Rosh Hashanna!

Well technically, I guess I'm a bit early as the holiday doesn't start until sundown.  But I wanted to offer my felicitations to all my Jewish friends. 

I made this card for my secretary.  She is the sweetest lady who drives everyone crazy trying to do a good job.  I don't think that she understands that perfection is the enemy of excellence.  But her heart is as big as Texas and is definitely in the right place.  I've taken her under my wing even though she's 20 years older than me. 

The smallest things seem to mean the world to her.  I've made two or three cards for her and each has sat on her desk for over a month.  Then she takes them home and puts them in an album.  As a newbie cardmaker, that's some of the highest praise I'll ever receive. 

I made this card for her to celebrate Rosh Hashanna.  She is the only Jewish person in our office, so most of the guys (sweet, but can't remember their own anniversaries let alone Jewish holidays that move every year, LOL) don't acknowledge her important days.  I love learning more about judiasm and she's always willing to share without making me feel dumb for not knowing in the first place. 

The card is made from SU Ivory, Kiwi Kiss, Chocolate Chip and Riding Hood Red cardstocks.  The punch is SU, the patterned paper is unknown from my LSS.  The stamps are from PTI. 

Thanks for looking!  Mazel Tov! 

O Holy Night

I'm not one to send generic "holiday" cards for the most part.  I celebrate Christmas and so that's what I send, religious connotations and all.  I do make Hanukkah cards for my Jewish friends and Rosh Hashana which is their big card-sending holiday. 

But if you are on my Christmas card list, you are getting a Christian card, LOL. 

So this is 6 dozen cards now.  Everything on the card is SU except the gold paper which is unknown from my stash and the sentiment which is from PTI. 

Now I just need to get moving on my holiday gifts.  I make note card sets for all the women in the family, and that's beginning to be a big number.  About a dozen ladies these days.  And I only have 3 sets done thus far.  Uh oh.  Better get cranking on those.  I try to personalize them somehow, either with a monogram or a theme that is something they like.  My sister-in-law LOVES coffee of all types, so her's usually have a coffee theme.  Maybe tea this year, though.  My mom is gardening.  My sister will be Paris this year, as that's where she honeymooned. 

If you have any good suggestions for "themes", I'd love to hear them. 

Have a great weekend!  Thanks for looking.

Home Sweet Home

My sister just got married in June.  I love her dearly, even if she did make me wear a yellow dress that reminded me of the scene in Grease (on of favorite movies ever) where Didi Conn has failed dye class and has yellow hair and a yellow dress at a the dance.  Her date tells her she looks like a beautiful pineapple. I felt like a pineapple in a juicer as the dress had one of those rouched waists that made it nearly impossible to breathe or eat.   :-)

Anyway, I digress.  Sis and her new husband also bought a new house in July and moved in middle August.  So I made this card for her to celebrate the occasion. 

Pumpkin Pie and Handsome Hunter SU cardstock.  Stamps and patterned paper are PTI.  Colored with Copic markers.  Ribbon and punches are from SU. 

I really like the way this turned out.  I hope my sister enjoys it as well.  I'll enclose a gift card to Bed Bath and Beyond to help decorate the new digs. 

Thanks for looking!

Strawberries and gingham

I just got this adorable new set of strawberry stamps a few weeks ago and decided to ink it up.  I was at a crop at a local scrapbook store and was the only one stamping, LOL.  I'm guessing that they don't get many stampers there because there was much interest in things like Copics, unmounted stamps, etc.  And the tables were the long white plastic ones from warehouse stores that are NOT good to stamp on.  I thought my stamp was defective the first 4 times I tried to stamp and couldn't get a decent image.  So I had to use the countertop that they keep the die cutting machines on to stamp.  Oh well, I had fun and met a lot of new people. 

Anyway, on to the card.  Stamps are from Flourishes, gingham paper is from a stack, Citronella, I believe, ribbon is generic from the Offray outlet, green cardstock and buton are New Leaf from PTI.  The Copics pictured are the reds that I used on the strawberries. 

I showed this card to DH and got stellar praise from him.  He said "Oh, that's so adorable!" instead of his usual "That's cute, dear."  I plan to make a few sets of these to give as Christmas gifts to friends and relatives.  I couldn't find a good place on the front for a sentiment, but I don't think it really needs it.  It seems to stand alone okay to me. 

Thanks for looking!

Progress is being made

One more dozen Christmas cards are done.  :-) 

I got up early on a Saturday and took a drive to Joan B's stamp and craft sale.  She had SO many cute things for sale.  My imagination was running wild thinking "If this is what she's selling, how much great stuff is she KEEPING???"  LOL~ 

One of the wonderful finds I made was this Thomas Kinkade stamp.  I knew at a glance that it was perfect for some of our Christmas cards.  My DH and I love G. Harvey, Thomas Kinkade and other artists like that.  There was another lady looking at this stamp, so I waited patiently until she put it down and walked away and then I nabbed it!  I felt just a bit guilty, but not enough to let it stop me. 

But I feel that my card needs "something".  I don't know what that something is, but maybe you do.  Please let me know if you have a great idea.  I don't want to detract from the beautiful image, but it feels a bit empty.  Please excuse the black line at the top right of the image.  My camera needs to go in for maintenance; something is wrong with the zoom lens :-( 

PTI Scarlet Jewel cardstock; SU Handsome Hunter CS; Kaiser Pearls; random Offray Outlet Ribbon; Sepia Versafine ink; CHF Thomas Kinkade stamp. 

Have a great day and thanks for looking!