I'm still backlogged...

... on cards!! Booting off to South Africa in the first week of December meant that I was behind in making Christmas cards, and my parents collect them. So I feel terrible that they didn't get one this year, and so I'm making it for them now, albeit a bit late.

I dusted off some old stamp sets that I hadn't used in some time and are retired, and had great fun with the alphabets.

Today's inspiration: My Paper Secret Friendship Card [Wonderful Words, Friends], by Christina

 

The biggest challenge was lining up the letters correctly for the sentiment on the red line of the cardstock. I used red, green and white for Xmas colors. Some years back, I fell in love with the Bohemian alphabet and bought it on a whim. I haven't used it much since, but it was appropriate for this card. On retrospect it could almost be a baby card, but it's a Christmas card. The reindeer was colored with Copic Markers.

I continued the three stripe colors inside the card and stamped the sentiment inside with Cranberry Ink. The fun thing about doing Xmas cards that isn't for a workshop is that I can revisit with all my stamp sets whether or not they're retired. I colored the little raccoon again with Copic markers.

Other:
* Solid Cardstock
* Copic Markers

CTMH:
* Bundled Buddies, retired
* Snow Flurries, retired
* Classmate Alphabet
* Bohemian Alphabet, retired
* White Daisy Ink
* Cranberry Ink
* Grey Flannel Ink, retired

It's been pretty chilly here the last few days, hope you are all staying warm!

Layering in all it's beauty

I honestly do not know what to do with myself if I didn't have foam adhesive. Seriously. I use it on all my projects, and it feels like it gives that extra bit of dimension to the card. This one was no exception. Especially since I wanted the middle tree to stand out. So, with two layers of adhesive and some scissor work, I was good to go!

Today's Inspiration: Case Study #167 - Tasnim Ahmed

As you can see I had to use one of the newest embellishments that has come out of the Autumn/Winter 2013/2014 catalogue, which shows up also with the jewellery line. The silver accent with the word 'Love' is just perfect for a card like this. As for the background, it's an old CTMH paper pack that even I don't remember what the name was! As for the funky coloring on the trees, that is the rock-n-roll technique.

On the inside I used the present stamp with the ribbon swirls to decorate the bottom and the matching sentiment in Olive Ink.

Other:
* Solid Cardstock

CTMH:
* A Timber
* Card Chatter - Christmas
* Olive Ink
* Ponderosa Pine Ink
* Base and Bling Word Accents

It's gearing up to be a balmy week this week - but that's one thing about the weather here, it always changes just as you think it will never end!!

Happy New Year!!

Wow I can't believe it has been a month since I updated my blog, but for a lot of good reasons which include family, Christmas, sunshine and wine. I was at the family summer home in Hermanus, South Africa for most of Dec. And boy, was it hard to leave but all good things come to an end.

This is overlooking the ocean from Hermanus - in the right season you can see Southern Right Whales which this town is known for. The blue umbrellas is from Bientang's Cove, a resturaunt that I have yet to try.

Happy 2014!! I'm hoping to post more pictures of cards and be more frequent with the blogging but that is goal #4 of 4 I have for this year. Also hoping for a quieter year with many successes.

The first thing I want to tell you about is that it is National Papercrafting Month!!

With an order of $35CAD or more, you can get this fantastic kit for only 15$. It includes everything you need to make 10 cute cards for all sorts of occasions.

And last but not least the stamp of the month: Cross Stitch Wishes.

As always, get this beautiful stamp with an order of $50 or more for only 5$! This would be neat to dress up Valentine's cards and scrapbook layouts.

Do you have any New Year's resolutions?

Christmas Ornaments...

... what I love about making cards for the family that isn't part of my annual workshop, is that I can use any stamp set which is Christmas based to make them. I have a few favorites that were part of catalogues past.

This one was no exception. I whipped out a mix of snowflakes and cute ornaments, my silver emboss powder and just went to town.

Today's inspiration: http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2320958

On the front I combined old and new stamps. Swirls Around provided the main swirly and the old snowflakes from the Winter 2011/2012 catalog was the perfect background. The best pop is the Cranberry Baker's Twine.

I brought a swirl from the same set up the right hand side of the cardstock inside the card and used the sentiment from the same set as the ornaments.

Last but not least is the November Stamp of the Month: Illuminate!!

Other:
Solid cardstock (kraft & white)

CTMH:
Swirls Around
Snowflakes
Holiday Cheer
Ponderosa Pine Ink
Topiary Ink
Olive Ink
Cranberry Ink
Cranberry Baker's Twine
Silver embossing powder
Opaque Pearls - Black/Grey
Adhesive Rhinestones - Blue/Green
Itty Bitty Rhinestones

The first of many Xmas cards to come!!

Holidays From The Heart Gift Guide and Christmas Workshop

Two neat things to tell you about today.

First of all, Holidays From the Heart Gift Guide!

For each $100 that you order, you can choose a free "star" item from the Holidays From the Heart gift guide. There are some gorgeous products in there that cannot be found in the standard CTMH Idea books so make sure you look through the gift guide.

Secondly here are this year's designs for the Christmas Card workshop.

Card #1: This was inspired by a Pinterest Pin from Handmade Holiday

Card #2: This was inspired by Andrea Ewen's take on Case Study #158

Card #3:This was inspired by a Pinterest Pin from SplitcoastStampers

Card #4: This was inspired by Iwona Palamountain's take on Case Study #108

Card #5: This was inspired by Anya Schrier's take on Case Study #135

Card #6: This was inspired by Iwona Palamountain's card from her personal blog

This year, I trimmed down to six cards as I found it hard to maintain 8 designs, and from last year's experience kept most of the cards to more simplistic rather than difficult designs. After all, sometimes the simplest cards are the most elegant. 

If you'd like to buy a set of cards to put together as a pre-stamped kit or purchase pre-cut cardstock along with the associated stamp sets, please let me know.

It's getting cold - we got our first snows last weekend!

Fall Babies!!

At the office, my manager is expecting with his wife a new child any day now. This is their second but will be a sibling to their first. So, one of the ladies said we should come up with a baby gift for my manager as well as a card. [update: they gave birth to a beautiful baby boy mid-September]

You know how I feel about Hallmark cards. They're great, but for all the years I've made my own, I just don't feel they're personable enough. Plus I'm getting a reputation for making amazing cards at the office. As I don't have a proper baby welcome set it's always a creative feat to make them.

Today's inspiration is Case Study Challenge 156 : Tasnim Ahmed

I was looking for a simpler card due to time restraints for getting up early the following day and Tasnim's card was so pretty. I popped up the two chicks and dressed up the swirlies. As 156 is all about coloring, the chicks got colored!!

On the inside, I brought the swirls in and added a few hearts.

Michaels:
* White cardstock
* Copics Y11, Y21, Y13, R22, R29, R20, YG63, YG67, BG72, BG75, B24, B21

CTMH:
* Love Life
* Easter Wishes
* Blue and Green Adhesive Sparkles

Nothing like a rainy day for cheery cards!

Scandinavian Wishes SOTM!

Happy October everyone!!

Wow time just flies. This SOTM has a special spot in my heart because I married someone who is from one of the Scandinavian countries - Denmark. It is always a good time to visit with the inlaws because they are always sweet, kind hearted and they know how to have a good time.

Get this beautiful set for 5$ more when you order 50$ or more.

Happy Canadian Thanksgiving,