End of Year WOW

Today was the last day to post a project for the White On White challenge on the message board I frequent.  It's been a long time since I made one of these.

I started by embossing a piece of white glimmer paper (Brocade embossing folder from Fun Stamper's Journey).  This piece was cut to 4" x 5 1/4" so that it would fit with a bit of a border around it.  Before I added it, I created the border at the bottom.  I started by adding a strip of double-sided tape to which I added a piece of netting - ruffling it as I went.  Then I added another strip of double-sided tape and wrapped a piece of satin ribbon around to cover the tape (used scotch tape to fasten it to the back of the panel.  I found a narrow paper ribbon that I added to the top of the satin ribbon - again taping it in back - before gluing the panel to the card front.

To finish the card, I added a double layered die cut sentiment (Moonstone Happy Anniversary cutting die) - cut from white card stock, and 3 white butterflies that I had gotten from the dollar store.  Looking at it, it might have been better if the border had been raised a little to divide the card in thirds, but it is what it is.

KCC16 - Feels Like Frost

It's been awhile since I did a KCC, so I thought I'd do another KCC16.  I used papers from a Stampin' Up set called Feels Like Frost.  The papers were double-sided, but one side was a beautiful silver and white foiled pattern while the other was printed winter scenes and the two sides really didn't go together.  I found I generally had to choose to use one side or the other for all of the pieces as I was working with these.  As usual, I made the full set of 15 cards:

However, because the silver side didn't work well with the pictoral side, and some of the pictorals didn't go together (though quite pretty).  I left some pieces off of them - and then made a 16th card using those leftover pieces (see at the end of this post).  Below is a more in-depth look at each card I made.

December Swaps 2024

Card Swap: (see above) Today I'll start with the card I made for the regular card swap.  The theme was WINTER and I think that snowy scene is definitely winter-like.  I like the pop of color the little fox makes.  He's a die cut from Karen Burniston (Forest Animals).  The paper is some from Stampin' Up - from the pack of 6 x 6 papers called Feels Like Frost.  As you can see, I used it to make a center step card.  The ribbon and bow are from my stash.  The greeting is one that was stamped/die cut using one of my mom's sets.

Materials Swap - Snowflakes - My Materials:

These papers are again from the Feels Like Frost set.  It is double sided with one side picture scenes like I used for the card swap, and the other side silver foiled designs like you see here.  To this I added, white card stock, silver card stock, Snowflake Foiled Fancies from HOTP, a sentiment from Hunkydory, and a length of silver ribbon from my stash.

My swap card uses pieces of both papers cut a bit wonky and arranged as you see here (I actually cut the papers as per a sketch template and will get 4 more cards from these pretty papers).  Before gluing the papers in place, I wrapped the ribbon around them near the bottom.  After gluing them in place, I added the largest snowflake - then the middle one on top of it with foam tape.  I added a ribbon bow in the lower right corner, on top of which I added the sentiment.  Finally, I added the smallest snowflake in the upper left corner.

Materials Swap - Snowflakes - Partner's Materials:

My partner sent me a light blue/white patterned paper, an A2 card blank, a piece of snowfall acetate, and two colors of card stock.  In addition, there were several die cut snowflakes, a sentiment, and a rhinestone type embellishment.  This is what I made from these materials:

It's a little hard to tell from the picture, but the front has an acetate-covered aperture - die cut with a hexagon die from Fun Stampers Journey.  I cut through all layers after gluing the darker aqua, and the patterned paper in place - with the darker aqua forming a very narrow mat for the patterned paper.  I cut the remaining patterned paper with nesting rectangular stitched dies from Fun Stampers Journey and double-stitched dies from Crafti Potential (Stitched Rectangles, Dots, and Stars) into frames to use inside the card.  Then I took the middle piece and fussy cut a mat for the sentiment from it.  I cut apart the leftover piece outside of the frames I had cut - and used these pieces to border the hexagon shape on the outside.  Before I could finish the outside of the card, though, I really had to work on the inside.

 

First, I used the rectangle to cover the edges of the acetate where I had glued it to the inside of the card.  I was careful to ensure that it wasn't seen from the outside of the card.  Then I positioned the large snowflake so that it could be seen centered in the acetate window I had created on the outside of the card.  Then I went back to the front of the card and added a couple layers of snowflakes that centered on the acetate over the large snowflake when the card was closed.  I once again opened the card and glued a snowflake to the inside of the acetate to cover the glue.  Finally, I tossed several other snowflakes around the outside of the card to finish it before returning to the inside.  I had wondered about using a smaller frame I had cut, but decided it didn't work well with the large snowflake.  I decided that a bit of the darker aqua near the bottom would be nice, though, so I used up my scraps to form the border that you see.

Card #2:

I had some pieces left over, so I embossed a card front (Darice - Snowflake Swirl embossing folder), added the remaining dark aqua piece (it had the center cut out for the sentiment's mat on the last card.  I die cut a snowflake (Paper Artist (HOTP) - Snowflakes) from the lighter aqua - one that would fit the hexagon piece I had cut from the previous card when making the aperture.  Then I pulled in one of my foiled fancies snowflakes to add to the center of that die cut.  I finished with a sentiment from Hunkydory (one of their Christmas sentiments books) and added a few snowflake Dazzles to finish things up.

Digi-Swap:

 

Both of these pretty papers were digital downloads.  After cutting them as you can see in the photo above, I added a strip of washi tape to form borders between the two papers.  I added a white ribbon bow from my stash.  Then created an embellished sentiment piece - using punches with black and white card stocks, a Dazzles sentiment (HOTP), and die cut music pieces (Music Panels cutting dies from Paper Discovery) - which I added with foam tape to the upper left corner of the card.

 

Then, I needed to use up the rest of the digi paper I had printed - that made 3 more cards:

 

Digi-Card #2:

 

As you can see, I used both papers again here - this time mostly the striped paper - and again divided with washi tape. I noticed that some packaging material that had come with the Snowflake Foiled Fancies from HOTP was a glossy black card stock - perfect for matting & such.  I used it to die cut the largest Splendid Circles cutting die from Spellbinders - then a smaller one out of white card stock.  To this, I added a Dazzles sentiment (HOTP) a couple more music elements from the Music Panels dies, and a couple of decorative gold stickers.  Finally, I used some layered black and gold Jewel Dazzles in the lower right corner.

 

Card #3:

 

This time I started with just the music print.  I didn't have quite enough to cover the entire card front, but wanted a black border anyway - which stretched my paper just enough!  I inked the edges of this paper before attaching it to the card front.  Both the black border and the mat behind the focal sentiment were again cut from the packaging material.  The sentiment focal is again created with Dazzles sentiments and the same music elements I've used before.  I also created an embellishment piece - punched from white card stock, inked along the edges and decorated with more music elements.  Finally, I added a black ribbon bow to complete the card. 

 

Card #4:

 

I just had a little bit of the striped paper left.  I decided to emboss the card front with a Sheet Music embossing folder from Darice.  I lightly inked the raised areas, then a fine-line black marker to go over the notes and symbols.  I used more of the black card stock to mat the striped paper - and the same to mat the sentiment (Sassy's LLC).  I finished it off with a black ribbon bow from my stash.

Not Really Patchwork Stack and Swap

 

I wanted a last minute Christmas gift and decided to see if I had cards from a KCC challenge from which to create it (since I wanted them all to coordinate).  I looked through my stash and found some of these:

I only had 9 left - mostly thinking of you type cards and NO birthday.  I wanted an assortment to cover a variety of occasions so certainly wanted to include some birthday cards.  I knew I had more of the set of papers that I had used (a DCWV Mat Stack from years ago), so decided to make some more to go with that.  My papers were 4 1/2" x 6 1/2", so I went looking for a quick KCC-type cutting guide & sketch(es) that would work with those.  I found a set using A2-sized papers by Robin Armbrecht and decided to go with that (figuring I could use the 1/2" and 1" scraps on the insides of my cards.  The cutting/sketch guide was called Patchwork Stack Cut and Shuffle, and used 5 different 4 x 6 papers (actually 4 & some card stock) to make 5 cards like the one at the top of this post.  As you cut the papers, you arrange them in 5 different stacks and when you make the cards you make sure that for each card you have a paper from each stack that doesn't match the others - forming the same sketch but different papers in each position from card to card.  I don't like making cards that are all alike, but hoped that I would find that by having different papers in different spots I'd like it okay.  So, I cut all the papers and started working with them.  Below are the cards that I ended up with.

Fun Gift Card Holders

Today I made some cute gift card holders.

For this first one, started as an idea by Jen Causey-Kidder here.  I used two canning jars, gluing their lids together. The smallest one - on top - is filled with candy. The bottom one has the gift card along with some colorful mylar threads.

2nd Type - started with an idea by Lina.  Instead of a snow globe, it's just a little decorative piece related to the type of gift card.

I made a lid for the jar lid by die cutting several layers of card stock and gluing them together.

 

After putting in some gauze, I added a Barnes & Noble gift card attached to a small binder clip to hold it in place.

 

Then, I made 3 little books (see YouTube video here) after stacking them and tying them with baker's twine, I placed them in front of the gift card. Last, I sprinkled some confetti all over the gauze before finishing the outside of the jar ring.

Use it Up in Silver

 

I had two sheets of silver patterned paper that were part of a materials swap (from Stampin' Up's Feels Like Frost 6 x 6 paper pack).  I decided to use a double one-sheet wonder layout to make 5 cards from them. One of those cards was used for my materials swap (card #1) - here are the rest of them. 

Card #2: (picture at top of this post) - This card started as simply a gate-fold card.  I cut an extra piece of white card stock to mat the overlapping silver piece - glued this to the right side of the gate-fold - and then cut away the rest of the right side of the gate-fold.  I had started this card with one piece of each patterned paper.  I chose to cut one of those pieces into 2 squares and a leftover piece.  I matted all three of these with silver and added them to the left panel as you can see.  I found 3 identical die cuts (Snowflake Foiled Fancies from HOTP), backed them with white, and added them as you can see here (the one in the lower right was added to the inside of the card after matting it with silver glimmer paper.  The one in the upper left corner was added with foam tape and serves as a "latch" to hold the card closed.  I also added a Hunkydory sentiment in such a way as part of it shows above the flap and the rest is hidden inside the card (again added to the inside of the card after matting the inside of the card).

Inside:

 

Inside, I added a silver glimmer paper to the flap (to cover the join) and to the inside.  In addition, I cut a strip of white for a greeting - cut to fit behind the left flap.

Card #3:

 

Once again, I had two pieces of patterned paper.  This time I matted the whiter one.  The one with more silver was attached to the bottom of the card.  It would have been better to wrap with the white ribbon before I added it, but I did not, so had to cut it and hope the adhesive will hold it and keep it from raveling.  I added the matted piece to the upper left side.  I found another of those snowflake foiled fancies - again backing it with white before adding it and a Hunkydory sentiment.

Card #4:

 

This was a really quick and easy card with just one piece of patterned paper matted on silver before adding it to the card front.  Again I backed the foiled fancy snowflake before adding it to the center.  The last step was a greeting (again from Hunkydory sentiment book) added to the center with foam tape.

Card #5:

 

The last card made use of a narrow strip of paper that had been left over from another card.  I trimmed it to fit and put it between the other two pieces of paper that made up the rest of the card background as you can see.  I added a white die cut circle and another foiled fancy snowflake for the focal - then added another Hunkydory greeting to complete the card.

HD A Cuddly Christmas - Peace and Joy

Even though the card you see above doesn't look much like a Christmas card, these cards were all made using materials from a 2016 Hunkydory Kit called A Cuddly Christmas - the set called Peace and Joy.  As you can see from the picture below, a lot had already been used from the set, so this was a "use it up" project.

All that was left from this set was two partial sheets of AS (Adoreable Scoreable printed card stock), and a mostly used up die cut sheet (just had a focal, border, 2 embellishments, and a sentiment left.  Obviously to make much use of this, I had to pull from my stash.  Here are the 6 cards I made from these materials:

As you can see, I made 3 Christmas cards, and 3 cards for other occasions (since I had already sent out my Christmas cards for this year I didn't figure they all needed to be Christmas!).

Below is a closer look at each card.

Card #1:

My first card made use of the focal that came with the set.  I pieced together AS from the set to create the left side of the card, and added a couple of sentiments (one from the set & one from a Hunkydory sentiment book).

Card #2:

It's a little difficult to tell from the picture, but the background is blue & snowy.  I used the green border to increase the size of the snowy AS enough to work for my card.  But, that meant this card needed to be a Christmas card.  I found these snowmen in my stash that were dressed in red and green - figured they would do nicely for a focal.

Card #3:

I had cut all my AS to create the backgrounds for most of my cards and had this strip of holly border left.  I decided to emboss the card front (Snowflake Swirls from Darice) and then add the strip at the bottom of the card.  I found a tag in my stash, added a stamped/embossed sentiment and some red Jewel Dazzles for holly berries, glued it all together & called it done - that is after I added a jaunty bow at the top of the tag.

Card #4:

Next up was a cut panel of AS that would make a good any-day background.  It's sort of a peachy color print.  I decided to use some of my die cuts to create a spray of flowers on the left side (Spellbinders Build-a-Wreath).  Next I matted the panel and added a die cut sentiment (Card Making Magic - 5x7 Card & Box die set).  I used a few dazzles from HOTP to decorate the corners and cut a narrow brown mat to complete this card.

Card #5:

I had a narrow panel of the peach AS that had a robin border.  I trimmed a peach piece to go below the robins & then added pieces of coppery Mirri board from Hunkydory to create borders top and bottom.  I added a white piece of lace from my stash, a HD sentiment from one of their sentiment books and finished it off with a white ribbon bow.  I thought I was finished at this point, but then decided to come back and add a focal.  The owls are variations of Karen Burniston's Feathered Animals & the branch they are sitting on came from Spellbinders Tropical Friends die set.

Card #6:

My final card is another made using a panel of the peach AS.  I inked the edges in black, then added a bunch of die cuts from Spellbinders Grand Tropical Flamingo and Tropical Friends die sets.  The last touch was a Hunkydory sentiment from one of their sentiment books.

Th - th - th - th - at's all folks!

HD A Cuddly Christmas - The Teddy Bear's Christmas

 

Hunkydory's A Cuddly Christmas set called The Teddy Bear's Christmas was only partially intact for creating this set of Christmas cards as you can see in the picture below:

 

As you can see, there was very little left - a partial sheet of AS (Adoreable Scoreable card stock) and a few remaining die cuts.  Because of the sparseness of the remainder of this set, I added some LB pages to create more focals and created 5 cards as you can see in the picture below:

 

Below is a close up of each card.

Card #1:

I started with the one remaining focal, placing it on a white card with embossed card front.  I added a greeting from a Hunkydory essential book of greetings.  I didn't take pictures of the inside, but the tag worked great with a border scrap on the inside.

Card #2:

I cut the AS into 4 pieces to use as backgrounds for more cards.  This time, I cut a LB page, matted it on gold and glued it in place.  I also added another sentiment from the essential book of greetings.

Card #3:

This time the AS piece had a border on it, but only covered about 2/3 of the card.  I then fussy cut the focal from another LB sheet.  To create the look of something on which this focal needed to sit, I die cut a fancy border piece to add it.

Card #4:

 

This one started with a similar background piece to the last one, but I added a cut piece of another LB page at the top.  To this, I added a gold die cut border strip, "hung" a bit of a border sticker to hold another sentiment piece.  The card was completed with fussy cutting the bird and adding it in place.

Card #5:

This time I have another full size piece of AS for the background, I inked the edges before adding it to the card blank.  I cut another LB piece and inked the edges.  I die cut the border below this - and added a mat. The sentiment was the last die cut from this HD set.

A Cuddly Christmas - There's Snow-One Quite Like You!

This time I have cards from the Hunkydory A Cuddly Christmas collection - the set called There's Snow-One Quite Like You!   Here is what the set looked like when I started:

As is normal with a standard (not deco) set, this set had a sheet of die cuts and two sheets of AS (adoreable scoreable card stock).  To this, I added things from my stash to make a total of 8 cards:

While I'm only showing the card fronts here, they ARE finished on the inside - mostly with scraps, but some die cuts were used there as well.  Below is a closer look at each card front.

Card #1:

For this first one, I just used a piece of the AS for a backdrop and added a focal image and sentiment - easy peasy!

Card #2:

 

This one was also pretty straight forward - a piece of the AS (I inked the edges in gold) along with a border strip (split behind the sentiment because it wasn't quite long enough) and a sentiment piece.

Card #3:

 

I chose to make this one a birthday card because I didn't think the artwork was particularly Christmasy - even with the colored lights.  The background was created from pieces, so I added the ribbon to hide the join - then added the sentiment (from a Hunkydory Essential Book of Sentiments).

 

Card #4:

 

This time I made a fold-back card because I was dealing with leftover pieces of the AS.  I used the wider strip on the folded back card front and the smaller strip on the right hand side - along with a border strip.  As you can see, I enhanced the small reindeer square die cut by matting and framing it to create a stronger focal.  I then added the sentiment to the lower right.

Card #5:

 

For the cards made with the blue AS, I cut most of it to create four A2 panels.  This gave me two pieces that were just the blue print and two with borders on them.  It also left me with a strip of striped AS that I used later.  For this one, I just took one of the panels that had no border on it, inked the edges, and added the focal and sentiment.  

 

Card #6:

 

This card uses the other plain blue panel, but I used the cut off strip top and bottom - along with scrap from the die cut sheet - to create borders.  Once again I needed to enhance the focal square - which I did by cutting a piece of scrap from the die cut sheet that gave me the frame shape.  There were a few places where I used a gold Sharpie to "fill in" missing gold foil.  The sentiment added to the bottom right completed the card.

Card #7:

 

By this point I didn't have much left beyond the two bordered pieces of AS - both of which had gold Sharpie drawn around the edges.  I DID have a long border strip, so I took part of that to add a bit more interest to the border.  I also had the sentiment.  I went looking through my stash and found this little elf-like creature that I decided would work for a focal.

 

Card #8:

For this last one, I added the remaining border piece at the top - then found a printed greeting in my stash and mounted it on gold before adding to the border.  For a focal, I found this printed and fussy cut person sledding and added it to the lower right as you can see.