Kayla Name Frame

I can't believe my daughter had one more friend who had not received one of these name frames as a gift yet (Lol).  When we were still in our gift planning stage my daughter mentioned that Kayla said that she would love one of the frames for Christmas.  Her favorite colors are blue and purple so that is where we started. My daughter pulled out the Color Coach and started matching colors with the DSP that I had on hand. This one is retired (I thought I had used it all up) I had just gotten the Fun Flowers die so I just had to use it.  I always enjoy making these and this one was very fun to do.

Details:

Stamps: None

Paper: Retired DSP, Wisteria Wonder, Concord Crush, Pear Pizzazz

Ink: None

Accessories: Big Shot, Serif Essentials Alphabet Dies, Fun Flowers Die, Naturally Serif Alphabet Die, Basic Rhinestones, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Scallop Trim Corner Punch, Flowers and Circle from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Leaves from the Bird Builder Punch, Designer Printed Brads, Finial Press Impressions Folder

Fireplace Stockings

This card was CASED from Betty.  I love that so many of SU punches can make other things.

If you love the Stocking Builder Punch as much as I do then you must put it on your next order. Once the current inventory of this punch has been depleted, it will no longer be available for purchase. It WILL NOT be carried over into the next Idea Book & Catalog.

Card Details:

Stamps: Tiny Tags

Paper: Crumb Cake, Early Espresso, Daffodil Delight, Basic Black, Riding Hood Red, Well Worn DSP

Ink: Early Espresso

Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice Impression Folder, Word Window Punch, Bird Builder Punch, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Stocking Builder Punch

Stick Horse

One of the reasons I had to have the Stocking Builder Punch was to make this cute stick horse. The banner is sprayed with Shimmer spray.  One of the fun things that will be available in just a few short weeks (January 4th) is the Framelit Dies.  I pre-ordered one of them just to see what they were like and they are great so the other is on my order for when SAB starts. I used a skewer stick for the pole.

If you love the Stocking Builder Punch as much as I do then you must put it on your next order. Once the current inventory of this punch has been depleted, it will no longer be available for purchase. It WILL NOT be carried over into the next Idea Book & Catalog.

Card Details:

Stamps: Curly Cute

Paper: Rose Red, So Saffron, Whisper White, Pear Pizzazz, Pocketful of Posies DSP

Ink: Rose Red

Accessories: Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Impression Folder, Perfect Polka Dots Impression Folder, Socking Builder Punch, Labels Collection Framelit Die, Hemp Twine, Circle Fire Rhinestone Brads

Merry Christmas

My Husband asked me this year as I was rushing, once again, to finish my cards and get them in the mail for Christmas why I can't just keep them simple.  My 9 year old daughter turned to him and replied "Dad, for Mom that is simple."  

I guess I always love to make special cards for special people on their birthdays and Christmas is the celebration of the birth of my Saviour, so the Christmas cards I send out are His birthday cards.  He is the most special person in my life so I feel it necessary to make him a special birthday card.

I do have a tutorial somewhere on how to make the perfect circle outline with the Circle Scissors Plus and will try my best to remember to put it up once things slow down after the holidays.

I wish you all a very Merry CHRISTmas and pray that you have all accepted Christ as your Saviour and are enjoying the true meaning of Christmas.

Details:

Stamps: The Sounding of Joy

Paper: Early Espresso, Very Vanilla, Mocha Morning DSP, Brushed Gold

Ink: Crumb Cake, Versa Mark, Early Espresso

Accessories: Big Shot, Northern Flurry Impression Folder, Lace Ribbon Border Punch, Circle Scissor Plus, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Gold Embossing Powder, 1/8" Early Espresso Taffeta Ribbon, Champagne Mist Shimmer Paint/Rubber Alcohol Spray

Stocking Punch Gift Tags

So do you have all of your gifts wrapped and ready to go?  My kids have been begging every day if they can open just one.  I am holding out (it is a good chore encouraging tool). They have had their hands on all of the gifts that have their names on them and they think they have them all figured out.  I am one of those sneaky moms who hate it when the kids guess the gifts before hand.  Last year I put no names on them at all, just numbers.  When they were handing out the gifts I had a list and told them which person got which numbers. I did mess up and my son ended up with a pink Barbie Volkswagen and my daughter got a CSI kit. I am always good for a laugh. This year I put names on them (but none of them have the right names...shhh!) I made these cute and easy gift tags to put on all of our gifts this year.  I folded my DSP in half and and lined up the punch right below the fold. It worked pretty spiffy.

If you love the Stocking Builder Punch as much as I do then you must put it on your next order. Once the current inventory of this punch has been depleted, it will no longer be available for purchase. It WILL NOT be carried over into the next Idea Book & Catalog.

Family MDS Picture

These are my wonderful children. I am blessed to be their Mother (Mother-in-law and Grandma) I do make my cards (which you will see on Friday) and I try to include a picture that coordinates with the card.  I do my family picture-card in MDS.  Since my cards are A2 size (4.25" x 5.5") and I use an invitation envelope to send them in I have to make sure my pictures are the same size.  I have them printed in a 4" x 6".  As you can see I left the bottom 1/2" blank.  That way I can just cut off the blank part and drop them in the envelope. In MDS I use a square punch and set it to the 4" x 6" size.  I color it so I do not loose it.  I then create another punch and layer it directly over top of it leaving the 1/2" short.  Then I decorate the area I have left.  I connect them and drag the corner out to be as large as it will allow me to work on.  After I have them just how I want them I export them in a jpeg and crop them to the right size in my photo editing program.  They are then all set to be sent to my local photo printing store for printing.

Dragon Punch Art

I found this little guy on Lyssa's blog.  I had him filed away for a special occasion and today was just that day.  He was so fun to make and quick and easy too.

Card Details:

Stamps: Short and Sweet

Paper: More Mustard, Whisper White, Basic Black, Lucky Limeade, Pool Party

Ink: Pool Party, Sponging: More Mustard, Lucky Limeade,

Accessories: Big Shot, Square Lattice Impression Folder, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Extra-Large Oval Punch, Large Oval Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Circle Punch from Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, 5-Petal Flower Punch, Pennant Builder Punch

Easy Polka Dot Flowers

I know we are in the middle of winter and it is no time for flowers.  I had made this card quite a while back and forgot to post it, so no better time like the present.  I had a request for a simple card from a Sunday School teacher to send to a student who has been absent.  The stamp says "i miss you" but since they wanted it from the class which should be "We" I decided to just have it say "miss you" .  I inked the stamp up with a marker so I only got the words that I wanted to use.  I took this idea from page 98 in the catalog. It was simple a cute, just what I was looking for.  :-)

Card Details:

Stamps: Vintage Vogue, Three Little Words

Paper: Whisper White, Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder

Ink: Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Lucky Limeade

Accessories: Simply Scored Scoring Tool, Decorative Label Punch, In Color Designer Printed Brads

Fun Flowers

I have had orders coming in left and right and no time to use any of the new products so I got up early this morning and got my chores finished so that I could take a few minutes and make a card that is to go out in today's mail. I made sure to use as much of my new stuff as I could fit in. The Adorning Accents Embossing folders are soo cute. I did not order the matching Edgelits Dies yet but they will be on my first order next month! Another thing that will be on my next order is the rest of the pleated ribbons.  They are so much nicer in real life than the picture could ever show.  They will be just adorable on any baby card! Here I sponged the edged of the flower and spritz the bottom of the card and the flower with Champagne Mist/ Rubbing Alcohol solution spray. I have spent all of my extra time today so back to work I must go (still working on those Christmas cards...)

Card Details:

Stamps: Curly Cute

Paper: Early Espresso, Blushing Bride, Pear Pizzazz, Sahara Sand

Ink: Early Espresso, Blushing Bride-Sponging

Accessories: Big Shot, Adorning Accents Impression Folder, Fun Flowers Die, Bird Builder Punch, 1/2" Circle Punch, Circle Punch from the Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Basic Pearls, Champagne Mist/ Rubbing Alcohol Solution Spray, 3/8" Blushing Bride Pleated Ribbon

Mocha Morning Butterflies

So being that I have been spending so much time working on my Christmas card and gifts I stock piled some cards to post at a later date.  So even though butterflies are not seen very often in December I do love them in fall colors in which I made this card.  One day when we were on a long road trip I had time to sit and look through the catalog.  I made a long list of cards that I wanted to make that looked quick and easy.  I took this idea from page 152 in current the catalog. The sentiment that I used was just too short for the punch I wanted to use so I decided to fold over an edge.  Simple, easy card to throw together quick!

Card Details:

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Soft Suede, Crumb Cake, Very Vanilla, Mocha Morning DSP

Ink: Soft Suede

Accessories: Eyelet Border Punch, Modern Label Punch, Big Shot, Finial Press Impression Folder, Beautiful Butterflies Die, Basic Rhinestones

Heritage Book-Family Record Page MDS

I am still plugging away at my Mother's Heritage book.  It may not make it for Christmas.  Since she wanted it right up to the day I send it to the publisher I thought that I would need to include a page or two for her to write any additional births or marriages.  I found the top part as an image in a Google search.  I added a punched squared background and matched it to what was already behind the image so that it blended.   For the corners I wanted something ornate.  So I opened my photo editing program, brought in the Frame It Stamps and cropped a few corners and sides.  I then saved them right back in the same folder with a slight change of the file name.  I was then able to open them just like any other stamp in MDS and alter them just like normal.  The lines I also created in my photo editing program (Microsoft Picture it) saved it as a png file in  the Frame It folder and I was able to alter the color to match once I placed it on my page.  So if there is ever a stamp in MDS that you just want a part of, you don't have to mask it, make it work for you! (If you do accidentally save it without changing the name after altering it, you may have to re-install or re-download)

MDS Monday-Heritage Book

One thing I get stuck in a rut with when doing the heritage book is what to journal on.  I have soooo many census and immigration sheets and write out what they say, since they sometimes can be hard to read.  Here I layered a bunch of oval punches (since they seemed to match the background pattern. )After I had them how I wanted them, I grouped them together and added a drop shadow.  Then I threw a couple of antique brads on the end.  I think it had a cool look to break up the monotony of all of the charts.  Now to get this book done and sent it to print before Christmas gets here....

Happy Rhinestone Birthday

These colors are sooo out of my norm but when I was going through the catalog and I saw the cute card on page 168 I wanted to keep it bright and cheery.  I used the color wheel to decide what colors I wanted to use.  There are so many different avenues to get inspiration from.  

Card Details:

Stamps: Bring on the Cake

Paper: Whisper White, Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso

Ink: Real Red, Daffodil Delight, Pacific Point, Pumpkin Pie, Early Espresso

Accessories: Big Shot, Elegant Bouquet Impression Folder, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack-Flower, Basic Rhinestones, Early Espresso Quilted Satin Ribbon

MDS Heritage Book

I am still working on my Mother's Heritage book.  Do you think I will get it done for Christmas?  Why is it that the month of November always seems to be the busiest month for me?  This is a page that I did with my Great-Great-Great Grandmother.  I love seeing these old pictures and reading about the history behind these wonderful people.

Velvet Chair

This card was a complete accident on my part so I guess it just designed itself.  I cut the paper for another card and did not like how it fell together so it just sat on my shelf for a few days until I decided that I needed to use it.  I love how the chair fit perfectly in the frame of the impression folder.  I embossed the chair to give it some dimension since the paper flowers are a velvet.  I think the 2 1/2" circle punch is a perfect backing for the frame.  Now if we only have an oval punch that fit it so I did not have to cut it out. Lol

Card Details:

Stamps: Have a Seat

Paper: Crumb Cake, Basic Black, Mocha Morning DSP

Ink: Versa Mark

Accessories: Black Embossing Powder, Big Shot, Vintage Wallpaper Impression Folder, Flower- Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Basic Pearls, Designer Frames Impression Folder, 2 1/2" Circle Punch, Basic Black Grosgrain Ribbon

MDS Monday-Grand Daughter

I have not had much time to work lately with my MDS.  I do have a good reason though.  My son, daughter-in-law and grand-daughter came and spent the week.  I took lots and lots of pictures so I have plenty of pages to work on when I find the time.  She loved playing with a puppy app on my phone and would talk to it, scold it when it was naughty and give it lots and lots of kisses.  I do not have much use for the Play Date set in MDS (but I had to have it) since my kids are older but it looks so good with her pictures and will work great on my outdoor pictures of her playing in the woods.

Speedy Birthday

Details:

Stamps: Need for Speed, Bring On the Cake,

Paper: Lucky Limeade, More Mustard, Early Espresso, Island Indigo

Ink: Lucky Limeade, More Mustard, Early Espresso, Island Indigo

Accessories: Big Shot, Houndstooth Impression Folder, Stripes Impression Folder, 3/4" Circle Punch. 1" Circle Punch, Curly Label Punch

Happy Birthdeer

My son needed a birthday card for a friend who is an avid hunter.  He went through my sets and picked this one out and asked if I could make him one with a deer, please.  How could I say no?  Of course I headed to my Designer paper to try to get a color idea of where I wanted to go and of course I was drawn to the Well Worn DSP that I love sooo much.  I thought the wood grain background would be perfect for the background but after I roughed up all of the edges and laid it all together ( I never glue it all together until it is just the way I want it, plus  I hate brads etc showing on the inside of the card.) it needed just a bit more color, so I added the small squares panel under the deer and it added the perfect amount of extra color.  Plus it gave me a place to tie a bit of Baker's twine which I had been trying to find a home for.  The edges were roughed with the cutter's tool and sponged around.  The background behind the deer was done with  sponges rubbed on the ink pad.  To do the sun I punched out a circle and sponged around it with Daffodil Delight, then I used the punch out to sponge the Bashful Blue through it.  I sponged over some of it with the Calypso Coral and the dark areas with Cajun Craze. 

Details:

Stamps: Teeny Tiny Wishes, Natures Silhouettes

Paper: Well Worn DSP, Cajun Craze, Early Espresso, Very Vanilla

Ink: VersaMark, Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight, Calypso Coral, Bashful Blue

Accessories: Word Window Punch, Early Espresso Bakers Twine, Cutter Kit for Distressing, Metallic Brads, Black Embossing Powder

Heritage Book MDS

This is the wedding picture of my grandparents. I so enjoy working on these books.  I love finding out where my past generations came from and what they had to sacrifice to come to America.

Lattice Quilt

I have seen faux quilt cards made with the new Embossing folder and the Lattice Die.  So today I just had to give it a try. It was so quick and easy and I think it is a great look.

Details:

Stamps: Bring on the cake.

Paper: Crumb Cake, Cajun Craze, Well Worn DSP, Very Vanilla

Ink: Cajun Craze

Accessories: Big Shot, Word Window Punch, Modern Label Punch, Lattice Die, Lace Ribbon Border Punch

Happy Birthday

I am working on a bunch of card cases from the catalog.  This one came from page 66 in the current catalog. I did make a few changes to make it work for what I had.  Another very simple, easy, quick card.  I noticed that I have been using the Flower punch quite a bit lately.  It sure does add that small touch and is well worth it's money.

Card Details:

Stamps: Bring on the Cake

Paper: Whisper White, Pocketful of Posies DSP, Baja Breeze, More Mustard, Cherry Cobbler

Ink: Calypso Coral, Wisteria Wonder, Daffodil Delight, Bashful Blue, Certainly Celery, Pretty in Pink, VersaMark

Accessories: Flower- Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Basic Pearls, Big Shot, Square Lattice Impression Folder, Scallop Edge Border Punch, Cherry Cobbler Baker's Twine

Grandfather MDS

Here is another page out of my Mother's Heritage book.  Finally I got to a page where I had a picture that I could incorporate into the page.  This is my grandfather as a baby.  I am so thankful that my mother has so many wonderful pictures I can use.

Love a Wedding

I had a request for an elegant wedding card.  It had to be big enough so that a few families, that were going in together, could sign.  I have wanted to make the punch art wedding cake for awhile so this seemed like a perfect opportunity.  Since I had the extra room, the card is 5.5" x 8.5", I was able to add another element that I have wanted to do to the side.  I used the Round Tab Punch for the cake base.  I just punched it once and then put it back in to make it slimmer.  What a fun card to make,  I almost did not want to send it out. Lol  The inside was printed on Whisper White cardstock from the computer with a wedding poem.  I did not notice that my photo was blurred until after it was already gone.  I also alternated pink and white hearts across the bottom.

Card Details:

Stamps: None

Paper: Whisper White, Pink Pirouette

Ink: None

Accessories: Big Shot, Elegant Lines Impression Folder, Leaves-Bird Builder Punch, Flower- Itty Bitty Shapes Punch Pack, Beautiful Wings Die, Serif Essentials Alphabet Die, Punch Windows Die-Heart, Corner Rounder Punch, Scallop Trim Border Punch, Round Tab Punch, Basic Pearls

Birthday Balloon Catalog Case

So I have been working on some Cases from the catalog.  This card comes from page 163 in the catalog.  Since I was making this for a friend who is crazy about purple, especially the new Wisteria Wonder, I changed up the colors a bit. It was a very simple card to make and took me noting to through together in just a few minutes.




Details:

Stamps: Bring on the Cake, Patterned Party, Teeny Tiny Wishes

Paper: Lucky Limeade, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Crumb Cake

Ink: Lucky Limeade, Whisper White, Wisteria Wonder, Cherry Cobbler, Elegant Eggplant, Early Espresso

Accessories: Big Shot, Stripes Impression Embossing Folder, Piercing Tool and Mat Pack, 2-1/2" Circle Punch, Concord Crush Stitched Poly Ribbon