Christmas Penguins

I just received the cutest set of penguin dies and could not wait to make cards. The first card I made was a tri-fold Christmas card featuring all three of the penguin die cuts. They were easy to die cut and I really like how the card turned out.

The second card I made was using one penguin inside a wreath and adding a little bow, a candy cane and hot cocoa cup. I added a Merry Christmas sentiment below the wreath. I've decided this one will be my main card this year. So cute!

Sizzix Fold-A-Long Thinlits Fox

This card was fun. A new die to make a cute fox card arrived in my mailbox a few days ago. I couldn't wait to make a birthday card to go along with the fox minagerie I was giving my friend for her birthday.

I started with a rust orange colored card stock for the fox and die cut it out. I used a cream colored card stock for the die cut accents on the fox then die cut the eyes and nose out of black. For the inside message I die cut a smaller fox shape and stamped my greeting in brown. It turned out so well, I had to make a second one in brown.

I also purchased an Owl Fold-A-Long Card die, so will be starting those soon.

Fox Treat Box

I just love making these little FOX BOXES. One of my dear friends (who just had a birthday) collects foxes, so I thought a little fox box filled with candy would be a perfect gift. I started by making a pattern for the little bag/box and cutting them out of a red card stock. I had the pattern for the eye mask, ears and tail so cut them out and attached it to the box. I die cut two black circles for the eyes (adding a little white punched circle for the light reflection) and attached it to the eye mask. Lastly I stamped a sentiment on white and die cut it out with an oval shape (cutting the bottom off) and attached it to the bottom of the fox. I made the female fox a little shorter than the male and added a couple of small bows to her ears.

Sentiment - Stampin' Up!

52 Christmas Card Throwdown - Nutcracker

I was very surprised and thankful that my poinsettia card was chosen as winner of the September 21st Flower/Flourish challenge over at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. I was asked to be a guest designer for the October 19th challenge where the theme is NUTCRACKER.

I had so much fun making the card for the challenge. I thought about it a while and then decided I wanted to make a Z-Fold type card. Before making the base card I made two die-cut nutcrackers using a die set that I recently purchased. The die, which contains several pieces, makes a really cute 5-1/2" nutcracker. It took a while to piece it all together but the end result was worth it. Once I had my nutcrackers made I began on the white z-fold base card, cutting it 13-1/2" x 4-1/2". I scored the card at 4-1/2 and 9" and folded it into a z-fold. To highlight the nutcrackers I cut out three arch panels out of white card stock (with silver dots) and framed it with a dark red frame.

On the first and last arch panel I added my nutcrackers. The center arched panel was for the Christmas greeting that I stamped in red on a white circle. Before gluing the greeting to the card I backed it with a slightly larger silver circle to frame it. The card does fold flat for mailing and can be displayed as a stand up card folded into the z-fold shape.

Nutcracker Die - KS Craft
Merry Christmas Greeting - Gina K. Holiday Tapestry
Arch Dies - The Greetery A-2 Arches

52 Christmas Card Throwdown Challenge - Flower/Flourish

When I think of a Christmas flower, my mind quickly goes to poinsettias. The latest card challenge at the 52 Christmas Card Throwndown blog is to make a card using a flower, flourish or both. I had made a few cards using poinsettia designer paper from Stampin' Up! last year, so decided to make one more for this challenge.

I started by making a stair-step card using white card stock. On the left and right panel I attached a strip of poinsettia designer paper. I then made a panel using a leaf and berries designer paper backed with a gold cardstock. I attached it to the center panel of the card. I cut out a large poinsettia image from the designer paper and attached it to the center of the panel using foam mount tape to raise it off the card. For the sentiment, I stamped "Season's Greetings" in green on a white strip and attached it to the bottom of the card using foam mount tape to raise it off the card. Lastly I added a gem on each side of the sentiment for a little bling.

Poinsettia and Leaf and Berries Paper - Stampin' Up! Poinsettia Place
Season's Greetings Sentiment - Stampin' Up! Bright & Beautiful

September Christmas Sketch Challenge

52 Christmas Card Challenge blog has an interesting card sketch for this week's challenge. I knew exactly the die cut images I wanted to use for the sketch.

I started with a red 5" x 7" base card. On a white layer I die cut my Santa at the top leaving the bottom of the layer blank. I attached die cut mini stars in the open space of the die cut. I die cut a 'Ho ho Ho' sentiment out of red and attached it to the bottom of the layer. I cut a curved piece out of red and white (adding a Merry Christmas sentiment on the white piece) and attached it under the santa.

Santa Die - Stampin' Up!
Ho ho Ho Die - Impression Obsession

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #652

This morning I made a card for the current challenge at Freshly Made Sketches.

I decided on a 5 1/2" card so cut the base card in white. I then cut a circle in a piece of heavyweight white card stock. I embossed the top of the card with a leaf embossing folder. Across the circle I attached a die cut foil butterfly. I added a thin strip of blue foil card stock at the bottom of the circle then added a blue floral designer paper at the bottom of the layer. I backed the entire layer (using foam mount tape to lift it slightly off the card) with a piece of the same designer paper I used for the bottom of the layer (so it would show behind the foil butterfly). That layer was then attached to the white base card. Lastly I stamped a sentiment on white, backed it with the blue foil card stock, then attached it (using foam mount tape) at the bottom of the circle. For a little bling, I added two blue gems.

Butterfly Die - Marianne Designs Creatables
Sentiment - Stampin' Up! Elements of Style

Christmas Joy

I enjoy making Christmas cards each year and thought I'd get an early start to this year's cards. Inspiration came from a new challenge that I came across, 52 Christmas Card Throwdown. They have weekly challenges so I hope to participate each week. This week's challenge is Embossing.

I knew exactly what kind of card I wanted to make, a clean and simple design with an embossed background. I started with a 5-1/2" square dark red base card. I embossed a white square and backed it with a red and white larger square to form a border. On the embossed layer I wanted to add the die cut word "joy" that I cut out of a foil card stock. I cut several more of the words in a thick white card stock, glued them together and backed the foil one so it would rise off the card a bit. For the dot above the 'j' I die cut a tiny red cardinal and attached it. The layers were then attached to the base card.

Embossing Folder - Gina K Designs Tapestry
Joy Die Cut - Memory Box Joy Airy Script
Mini Cardinal Die Cut - Impression Obsession

Double "D" Challenges

Today I came across a new challenge website called Double D Challenges and decided to add it to my list of card challenges.

The theme of this challenge is 'shapes', so a square, rectangle, circle or oval could be used. I chose to use a square shape for my card and layers. I started with a 5-1/2" square brown base card. At the center I added a square layer of foil flowers and added a gold layer to the back to form a border. I stamped a sentiment (one of my favorites) on white using black ink. I backed the sentiment with a gold layer and a brown layer then attached it to the center. I added one of my favorite bird images (stamped in black and die cut) to the right top corner. Lastly I cut out a flower from some more of the decorative card stock and attached it (using foam tape) to the lower left corner. Love it!

Foil Flower Card Stock - The Paper Studio 'Pretty as a Poppy'
Nature Sentiment - Impression Obsession Art of God
Bird Image - Gina K Designs Spring Blessings

Freshly Made Sketches Challenge #651

Autumn will be here before I know it, so I thought today I would make a Summer card before starting on my Autumn cards. The card sketch idea came from the current challenge over at Freshly Made Sketches.

I decided to turn the image and make a landscape designed card using the sketch. I started with a blue A-6 base card. I cut a floral (with gold leaves) layer and a gold & pink diagonal strip and added it to the base card. On a piece of white I stamped the sentiment in black and layered it on a gold piece of card stock to give it a border. I attached the sentiment to the center of the card. Lastly I added a stamped bird image at the top right corner.

Floral Foil Layers - The Paper Studio 'Pretty as a Poppy'
God's Love Sentiment - My Sentiments Exactly
Bird Image -Gina K Designs Spring Blessings

Inkspirational Challenge #315 - Seasonal

Spring...the season of flowers blooming, changing weather patterns, birds revisiting and so much more. As I sit looking out my studio window, I can observe it all. This morning I decided to participate in the latest challenge over at Inkspirational Challenges.

The theme is seasonal, so my first thought was spring flowers. As usual, I was looking at YouTube videos for fun fold cards and came across one I really liked. Click HERE for a link to the video I found.

I started with a tan base card and folded it according to the measurements. For the two front panels I used a dark tan and white card stock. I embossed the two white panels with one of my newest embossing folders and backed them with the darker tan. I stamped the flowers and leaves, fussy cut them out, then attached them to the two embossed panels. Inside the folded card I added a sentiment panel with a flower at the top. Lastly I stamped a sentiment quote for the front and made it into a banner tag.

Flower & Leaf Images - Stampin' Up! Fabulous Florets
Embossing Folder - Cuttlebug Oriental Weave
Sentiment - Stampin' Up! Fabulous Florets
Green Ink - Stampin' Up! Garden Green
Pink Ink - Stampin' Up! Pink Passion

Inkspirational Challenge #313 - Word Prompt FOLD

I'm in a black and white card-making mood. I decided to make a double gate-fold card using only black and white for the current Inkspirational Challenge.

I started with a 5-1/2" x 11" black card. I scored it to make the basic gate-fold card. I cut black and white designer paper (then backed the paper with white) to fit the folds and glued them on. With the card folded, I made a belly-band to go around the card to help keep it closed. On the center of the belly band I attached a black and white die cut that I stamped with 'hello my friend'. I then stamped and die cut a bee image and attached it at the right of the sentiment.

I decided on making a folded black card to hold the inside greeting. I added some black and white floral designer paper to the center and backed the card with a white layer. I attached it to the inside of the card. On a smaller piece of white card stock I stamped my inside message and attached it inside the folded black card.

'hello my friend' sentiment - Gina K. Dazzling Dahlia Stamp Set
Bee Image - Stampin' Up! Honey Bee Stamp Set
Black Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black

Spring Flowers & Hummingbird

It all started when I was searching for a wreath die to make a few spring/summer cards. I searched the Internet and the wreaths I found didn't seem to be what I was looking for. I wanted a simple but pretty leaf wreath and finally found one on eBay. It was just what I wanted but I wasn't familiar with the company that made it. As it turns out, the die comes from Spain but was being sold by someone here in the US, so I purchased it.

I received it yesterday and today cut a few wreaths to make cards. You can't tell by the package photo, but this is a large wreath die, cutting 5-1/4" wreaths. Since I enjoy making 6" square cards I thought it would be a perfect size for making a wreath frame so I could add flowers, birds, butterflies, large sentiments, etc. I began with a 6" green base card. I cut a 5-1/2" white layer and attached the wreath die cut. I stamped (and die cut) three flowers and attached it to the right side (raising it off the card using foam mounts). I then added a digital hummingbird die cut to the left. I love how it turned out.

Wreath Die - Mintopia Floral Wreath Crown
Dalhia Flowers - Gina K. Dazzling Dalhias
Hummingbird - Digital Die Cut
Stamp Dye Ink - Melon Mambo

Seize the Birthday Spring Floral

I am delighted to have been chosen for a winning design for the Seize the Birthday challenge #278. I'm a guest designer for challenge #280 where the birthday card topping is Spring Floral.

For this challenge I started with a 6" x 6" square pink card. I cut a 5-1/2" square white layer and stamped vines and leaves in green using a large cover-a-card rubber stamp. I cut a rectangle white piece of card stock and stamped Happiest Birthday at the bottom, backed it with gold card stock, added three gold brads, and attached it to the bottom of the card. I cut a piece of pink card stock (same as the base card) and scored lines down it to give it a little texture. I attached it to the left side of the card. For the floral part, I stamped flowers on white card stock and colored them in. I cut it to size and backed it with a piece of gold card stock then added a white ribbon and bow. I attached it to the card using foam mounts to lift it off the card a bit.

Lastly I die cut a foil pink hummingbird and attached to the flower.

Pink Card Stock - Bazzill Bling "In the Pink"
Leaves and Vine Stamp - Impression Obsession
Floral Stamp Image - Stampin' Up! Elements of Style
Foil Pink Hummingbird - Hero Arts Hummingbird Die
Stamp Pads - Stampin' Up! Glorious Green and Pixie Pink

Inkspirational Challenge #312 - White on White

It's a cold morning here in south Texas, so after grabbing a hot cup of coffee, I decided to make another card for a challenge. Today I'm making a white on white card for challenge #312 over at Inkspirational Challenges.

I started with a 5" x 7" white base card. I die cut a 5" x 7" white layer using my newest swirl die (leaving 1-1/4" uncut at the bottom for the sentiment). I stamped the sentiment at the bottom in black then attached it to the base card. I die cut a golden bee and added it to the swirly die cut then die cut a leaf branch and attached it at the top.

Sentiment - Close To My Heart Icons and Sentiments
Swirl Die - Crafter's Companion Grande Swirls
Leaf Die Cuts - Memory Box Fresh Foliage
Golden Bee Diecut - Stampin' Up!

Color Hues Challenge #83 - Cream and Blue

Whenever I decide to join a card challenge I get so many ideas. The colors for the current challenge at Color Hues is cream and blue.

I had recently purchased a designer paper tablet that has all light blue designs, so chose a sheet from that for the blue. As usual, I wanted to have a little sparkle to the card, so used a blue floral paper with a little silver (an allowed neutral) in the flower designs. I started with a 5-1/2" square cream color base card. I cut my designer paper to 5" x 5" then backed it with a layer of black to make a border. I attached this layer to the base card. On a piece of cream colored card stock I stamped 'just a note' and die cut it out. I attached it to the bottom right using foam mount tape to lift it off the card a bit. I die cut a fountain pen out of black and silver and attached it on the left side of the card.

Just a Note Stamp and Die - The Greetery
Fountain Pen Die - The Greetery

Easter 2024

I thought Easter Sunday always came in April. I was surprised to see it falls on March 31st this year, so I needed to get started on my Easter cards. I recently purchased a set of hexagon nesting dies and then I saw a card I just had to case. It uses hexagon shapes in three different paper designs across the card with a few accents.

I started with a 5" x 7" white base card. I cut a smaller white layer and backed it with a color layer. I attached the designer hexagon shape papers first then did the stamping. On a seperate white hexagon shape I stamped "sending Springtime smiles" and attached it to the card. I put a small pink bow under the sentiment. At the top I stamped "HAPPY Easter" then added a small white butterfly and three gems to the card.

Easter Sentiments - Stampin' Up! Easter Blossoms Set
Butterfly Punch - Martha Stewart
Teal Solid Cardstock - Bazzill
Pink Bow - The Paper Studio

Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue

I'm not affiliated with this company but wanted to share a little about the glue I use for 3-D paper projects. I had been using the Tombow Multi Mono Liquid Glue and it works fine for card layering. I used it on a couple of 3-D projects (like my little purses) and it just didn't hold well. I found some Aleene's Quick Dry Tacky Glue at Hobby Lobby and gave it a try and it worked great. It does just what it claims to do...it's fast drying, fast tacking and holds very well.

So if you are having problems with your glue holding your dimensional papercraft projects, you may want to give this glue a try. It's very reasonably priced...I paid only $2.49 for a 4-ounce bottle at my local Hobby Lobby.

Seize The Birthday Challenge #278 - The Color Red

My daughter's birthday is coming up on February 28th and I decided the perfect gift would be cash, candy and lottery tickets. She loves all three. So today, when I saw the newest challenge at Seize the Birthday I decided to make a little purse to put the goodies in.

The challenge is to use red as the main color, so I went with just red and white for the purse. I recently purchased the purse die, so it was easy to die cut the pieces out. I used a heavyweight white card stock for the base of the purse then red for the designer die cuts and heart. I stamped and embossed 'Birthday Wishes' (in white) on the red heart and attached it to the handle.

Purse Die - Crafter's Companion Arizona Bag
Red Card Stock - Bazzill Ruby Slipper
Birthday Wishes Stamp - Darcies
Embossing Powder - Recollections Snow
Bow - The Paper Studio

Blessed To Call You Friend

I like sketch #622 over at Freshly Made Sketches, so decided to play along.

When I first saw the top layer I thought of a frame for the center. If you have seen past cards I've made, you know I like to add a bit of gold to my cards whenever possible. For the center of the frame, I added some golden leaves then a sentiment image I just purchased. Love it!

Flower Frame - The Paper Studio Pretty As A Poppy
Leaves Die Cut - Penny Black Leaves
Black Ink - Memento Tuxedo Black
Black Cardstock - Park Lane
Gold Cardstock - Park Lane
Sentiments - The Greetery

The Paper Players Challenge #675 - Love

I will say one thing...these challenges I am participating in help me stay creative and get cards made. The latest challenge over at The Paper Players is LOVE.

With that theme in mind I made another Valentine card. I started with a decorative layer that I attached to the center of a 4-1/2" x 6" white base card. I added a small strip of gold card stock to the top and bottom of the decorative layer. On the left side of the card I put a die cut gold and red heart. I die cut a "With Love" script sentiment in gold and layered it with a solid red shade die cut. I attached it to the lower right. I stamped 'Thinking of You' in red on a white banner then backed it with red. That was attached at the top right. I am very pleased with how this card turned out.

Base Card - Semi-Gloss White Card Stock
Decorative Layer - The Paper Studio
With Love Die - Crafter's Companion
Thinking of You Stamp - Bo Bunny
Heart Die - Team JB Hobbies
Gold Card Stock - Park Lane
Red Card Stock - Bazzill

The Greetery Rubber Stamps & Dies

Why didn't I know about this company? I recently saw some cards on Pinterest that grabbed my attention. I had never heard of The Greetery, so I checked out their website. I was impressed at all the great stamps and dies they carry. My birthday was coming up so I decided to give myself a birthday gift. I ordered two sets of stamps and 2 die sets. They just arrived (quick shipping) and I can't wait to start making cards with them.

This morning I couldn't help myself and ordered another set of sentiments with dies. I think I need to stay off their website before it becomes an uncontrolable addiction. I love their stamps and dies!

The Color Hues Challenge #80 - Red and Pink

Red and pink, a perfect idea for a February challenge over at The Color Hues challenge blog. I just mailed off a batch of Valentine cards to stamping friends, so I made a few more to send out using the red and pink theme.

I started with a white layer and at the bottom stamped one of my favorite Valentine script sentiments in red. Above the sentiment I scored several lines across the top using my Martha Stewart score board. I die cut two cute birds in red and backed them with a glittery pink paper. The die set I used has birds facing both directions, so it was perfect. I attached them to the top of the card with foam mount tape then added a little red heart between them. I backed that layer with black and attached it to a hot pink base card. Lastly I added a little gold gem on each side of the sentiment.

Bird Die Cuts - Elizabeth Craft Designs
Pink Glitter Paper - American Crafts
Valentine Sentiment - Inkadinkado
Hot Pink Base Card - Bazzill
Red Card Stock - Bazzill
Gold Gems - jolee's Boutique

Poppies and Dragonfly Card

I love designer paper and cardstock that have a foil accent to it. I recently went to Hobby Lobby to see what they had and I was not disappointed. Aside from the gorgeous 12" x 12" Eucalyptus paper (with golden foil accents), I found some gold foil dotted paper, some gold floral paper and a paper (actually cardstock) pad from The Paper Studio called PRETTY AS A POPPY.

So many pretty designs and most with a foil accent. Today I made a dragonfly tri-fold card using the foil accented Eucalyptis paper and a sheet of the PRETTY AS A POPPY card stock. For the center design I die cut a 3-layer circle (with designer foil paper on top) then added a die cut golden dragonfly.

PRETTY AS A POPPY Foil Cardstock - The Paper Studio
Eucalyptus Foil Scrapbook Paper - The Paper Studio
Dragonfly Die Cut - Dee's Distinctively Dies
Gold Card Stock For Dragonfly - Park Lane
Base Card - Bazzill Bling Atlantis

Color Hues #79 Copper and Green Challenge

First, a question...why, when you make a card, does your trash can get mysteriously full? I think the answer to that is impatience. I want to make a card I like, and if it doesn't fit that description, (which means I usually find a flaw in it because I hurried through the process), I throw it away. Am I a perfectionist? No, I don't strive for perfection. I think I'm a purest. I want to follow certain rules exactly — to the letter, and be absolutely pleased with the results. I am (finally) pleased with this card I made for the current Color Hues challenge.

I started with an A-2 light green card. I die cut a lattice frame in white and backed it with a green and white floral paper. That layer was attached to the card. I die cut a white oval for the front of the card and stamped and embossed (in copper) a butterfly and sentiment. I backed that oval with a larger green oval and attached it to the center of the card using foam mount strips. Lastly I added some green leaves (at an angle) to the top and bottom of the card.

Lattice Frame Die - Waffle Flower Triple Line Diamond Panel
Butterfly Stamped Image - Bo Bunny Beautiful Butterflies
Sentiment Stamped Image - Darcies Butterfly Birthday Wishes
Embossing Powder - Ranger Copper Embossing Powder
Leaves Die Cuts - Memory Box Fresh Foliage
Oval Die Cut - Spellbinder's Nestabilities
Base card - Stampin' Up! Pear Pizzaz

Seize The Birthday #275 Embossing

Time for another birthday card. This is my first time making a card for the Seize The Birthday challenge. The challenge this week is to make a card with embossing (wet or dry).

I had recently die cut some golden bees, so decided to make a bee-theme birthday card. I began with an A-2 tent-fold black base card. I embossed a white layer with a honeycomb embossing folder and attached it to the front of the card. I stamped "Thinking of you SWEET FRIEND" on a white square then backed it with black and gold. Under the sentiment I attached my golden bee and attached the layer (using foam mount tape) to the top of the card. At the bottom I added a strip of designer paper and added two golden dots. Between the dots I added a stamped "HAPPY BIRTHDAY" strip.

Happy Birthday Sentiment - Stampin' Up! From the Heart Stamp Set
Thinking of You Sentiment - Stampin' Up! Honey Bee Stamp Set
Honeycomb Embossing Folder - Sizzix Stampin' Up!
Bee Die Cut - Stampin' Up! Detailed Bee Die
Gold Card Stock - Park Lane Gold Paper Pad
Black Card Stock - Park Lane