Peaceful Pinecones

When I first saw this set, I knew it would be mine!! We live in a region of Canada that is covered with all varieties of pine and spruce trees. We have groups of Red Pine trees surrounding our house ...... and everywhere you look along the roads and highways there are White Pine, Jack Pine, White Spruce and Black Spruce.

The patterned paper was the inspiration for the overall colour scheme. A Simply Chartreuse card base was used, along with a green mat layer under the main focal panel. I used the Button Card die and Button Boutique stamp set to create a frame for the sentiment and pinecone and branch die cut images. Some glittery red pearl adhesives give just the right splash of colour. The edges of the card base were sponged with Fresh Snow ink.

The inside of the card uses  a strip of patterned paper on the white card panel and a sentiment and image from the Peaceful Pinecones set. A small red dot was added for a colourful accent.I also edged the white card stock with some Simply Chartreuse ink.

Card Details:   (PTI unless noted)

Stamps - Peaceful Pinecones, Button Boutique

Inks - Simply Chartreuse, Pure Poppy, Fresh Snow;  Memento Rich Cocoa, Tuxedo Black

Papers - Simply Chartreuse; Chatterbox: Holiday Candy

Dies - Peaceful Pinecones Die collection, Button Card

Other Supplies - red glitter adhesive pearls; 3D foam Dots; corner rounder; red marker

Thanks for visiting today.

Karen C. 

JOY

Here's a set of two cards that were inspired by this design I found while surfing Pinterest. I really like the traditional colours of red and green for Christmas and the detailed wreath created with punches, die cuts and an embossing folder.

Side by Side:

Although the cards use the same design, there are some alterations in the border dies that I used, the size of the wreaths and placement of the lettering. Can you see the differences here?

Card #1

The green border was cut with the dotted scallop border punch.(EK Success). 

The wreath was made by die cutting a piece of Pure Poppy card stock with Limitless Layers 1 3/4" Circles and then using a circle punch to cut out the center. (I found that the wreath appeared a little too thin, so I made an adjustment to my second card.)  

Card #2

The wreath was made in the same way as the card above, but I used a smaller circle punch for the center. This makes the wreath a little 'chunkier' looking.
I also tried my new Edgelits border die. I really like this version better as it has a softer, more lacy look.

After embossing the wreath Stickles were added in a variety of colours. 
A plaid ribbon bow was adhered to the bottom of the wreath. 
The white card stock panel was also embossed with Petals-a-Plenty embossing folder. The Pure Poppy card base was stamped in the matching ink using a small poinsettia image from Tag-Its #9. 

Block Alphabet Upper dies were used to cut "JOY" from green card stock and then adhered to the card front.

Inside: 
I carried the green border theme to the inside of the card by stamping a narrow vertical border (Waltzingmouse Stamps) on each side of the sentiment panel. Pure Poppy ink was used to stamp the sentiments (Holiday Wishes) and poinsettia image.

Card Details: (PTI unless noted)
Stamps - Holiday Wishes, Tag-Its #9; WMS:Nordic Christmas
Inks - Memento: Cottage Ivy
Paper - Pure Poppy, Stamper`s Select White; Green
Dies - Block Alphabet Upper Die collection; Limitless Layers 1 3/4"Circles
Other Supplies - EK Success Dotted Scallop Border punch, circle punch; SU Petals-a-Plenty Textured Impressions folder, Finishing Touches Edgelits die;  plaid ribbon; Stickles

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C. 

Lovely Layers: Christmas

When Lovely Layers stamp set and dies were introduced, I loved the unique design options. I have used this set many times for spring and summer cards, but today I have a red, green and cream colour scheme for a set of six Christmas cards. 

The main inspiration for this card comes from a very talented Betsy Veldman. You can see her card here.

There's a lots of stamping on the Rustic Cream card front. I started by stamping the largest 4 leaf image with Pure Poppy ink. I then added the sentiments in Fine Linen and New Leaf.  Once those items were in place I was able to add the smaller flowers and leaf veins. Tea Dye inks were sponged along the edges of the card base. The card front was then mounted onto a card base of Fine Linen.

The main focal point was made with Lovely Layers die collection. I used Betsy's combination of vellum, coloured card stock and stamping on several layers to create this. Some sparkle was added with red glitter adhesive pearls from my stash. 

Three of the cards use sentiments from Love Lives Here:Holiday

Inside Sentiment and Floral Details

The other three cards use sentiments from Holiday Wishes.  

Inside Sentiment and Floral Details 

Card Details (PTI unless noted)
Stamps - Lovely Layers,  Believe, Holiday Wishes, Love Lives Here: Holiday
Inks - Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Fine Linen, Tea Dye Duo, CTMH: Cranberry; Memento: Cottage Ivy
Papers - Rustic Cream, Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Kraft;  SU: Vellum
Dies - Lovely Layers Die Collection
Other Supplies - red glitter adhesive pearls,  foam dimensional dots, 

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Snowflake Medley

Snowflake Medley by Papertrey Ink makes a beautiful one layer card, but also provides opportunities for a multilayer design.  I created a set of 8 cards, using this card by Nichole Heady as my inspiration. The card design lends itself to so many colour combinations, so I experimented with a few options. Here's a group of eight cards, using a variety of colour combinations:

Supplies used for All cards: 
PTI Stamper's Select White, Snowflake Medley,  Holiday Photo Finishers; EK Success Clear Dots

*Aqua Mist and Twilight (Close To My Heart)  

Other Details: Linen Impression Plate;  core'dinations: Bahama Blue card stock

*Lavender Moon, Royal Velvet and Lovely Lilac (SU)

 Other Details: Linen Impression Plate, Royal Velvet card stock, Framed Out #7

*Aqua Mist and Tempting Turquoise (SU)

Other Details:  
Swiss Dots Embossing Folder; Snowflake Medley dies; Tempting Turquoise card stock; 3D Dots

Other Details:  
Snowflakes Embossing Folder; Snowflake Medley dies;  Tempting Turquoise card stock; 3D Dots

*Winter Wisteria and Royal Velvet

Other Details:  

Linen Impression Plate, Snowflake Medley Dies, Royal Velvet card stock, 3D Dots

A variety of card interiors:

 Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

'tis the season

 Wow ... it's almost Christmas and this is my first "holiday" post.!!
 I'm hoping to get 'caught up' with some of my Christmas project posts in the next few days.

I was busy with holiday preparations in November and the early part of December and have finally found some time to share cards and tags, sewing, knitting and gift wrapping projects that I've completed.

Happy Harlequin stamps and cover plate were the inspiration for the Christmas card I sent to my son and his girlfriend.  This is the first year he won't be home for the holidays and he will be missed. 

* Several different Harlequin patterns were stamped directly onto the Rustic Cream card base with Pure Poppy ink and then the Kraft frame was glued over the front images. 
* The sentiment (Fillable Frames #8) was heat embossed onto a strip of Kraft card stock and then mounted onto a Holiday Photo Finisher die cut from Pure Poppy. Two small green pearls accent the sentiment.

* The Pure Poppy Bloom Builder's #3 flower was layered onto a Doily Details die cut (vanilla card stock stamped with Text Style) and a scalloped circle, (embossed with Swiss Dots folder) A wooden button and embroidery floss accents the center of the flower.

* The inside sentiment (Love Lives here: Holiday) was heat embossed.
* Green boughs were stamped on the top left side and then a stamped diamond die cut (from the Harlequin cover plate) was glued on top. A small red `bow` was added to the top, along with a little red sparkle dot. A dotted line was stamped above this to create a hanging Christmas ball.


Card Details: (PTI unless noted)
Stamps - Happy Harlequin,  Tiny Treats: Christmas,  Love Lives Here: Holiday,  Text Style,  Fillable Frames #8, 
Inks - Pure Poppy, New Leaf, Tea Dye Duo; Versa Mark;  SU: Creamy Caramel
Papers - Pure Poppy, Rustic Cream;  SU: Very Vanilla;  Anna Griffin: Calisto Christmas Designer Mat Series
Dies - Happy Harlequin Cover Plate, Bloom Builders #3; Doily Details Die, Limitless Layers 2.5" Circles, Photo Finishers Die Collection
Other Supplies - Martha Stewart: Ladybug Embossing Powder; Swiss Dots Embossing folder; My Mind's Eye   wooden button, embroidery floss; Kaisercraft green adhesive pearls; small flower punch (image altered to create the bow)

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Papertrey Ink November 2012 Blog Hop

 

 It's been a Christmas workshop here, as I'm trying to create many cards, gifts and tags for the holidays. I've been sewing, quilting, knitting and card making for the last few weeks, but decided to try out Papertrey Ink's November Blog Challenge. (details can be found here)

 

When I first saw the challenge pictures, I was at a loss ... but after deciding on the bottom left red/green/cream cover design  (since it reminded me of Christmas, and that's where my brain is right now!!) I looked through my Christmas and holiday stamps to find some direction.

* My card uses Love Lives Here: Holiday (sentiments) and the tree, present, Santa and wreath images from Believe. 
 * The trees and sentiment were stamped directly onto the Vintage Cream card front and then coloured with copic markers. 
* The Santa, presents and wreath were stamped onto white card stock and then coloured with Copics, fussy cut and then arranged onto the front. Santa and a few of the presents were mounted with foam dimensional dots.
* The gold medallion stamp (Neat and Tangled Stamps) and the small "stars" (Framed-Out #7) were both stamped with Versamark and then heat embossed with Gold Detail embossing powder.
* The finished front panel was then mounted onto a Vintage Cream card base. 

* The inside sentiment was stamped and embossed and the present image was also added to the bottom corner.

Thanks for visiting today. Enjoy hopping!!
Karen C.

Child's Apron & Crayon Art Portfolio

I like sewing small gifts for my grand nieces and nephews. I sent several homemade gifts along with a card and colouring folder (seen here) to my grand niece for her November birthday.

Mattie really has a lot of interests and hobbies. She likes Matryoshka dolls (Russian nesting dolls) and when I found this fabric in the quilt shop I knew it would be perfect for her. I made a little fabric art portfolio based on a design 
from Gingercakes.

When closed the dimensions are 8" x 11" and 

when open, it measures 16" x 11". Pockets hold 

crayons, a colouring book, papers and or stickers.

Velcro was attached to the top of the case on either side to 

hold everything in place. I repeated the printed fabric on 

the crayon pocket and the divided pocket on the right side.  

A pink and white striped fabric was added to hold the colouring book.

Here's a close up of the crayon pocket. 

It easily holds 16 crayons, with room for a few extras!!

I thought a craft or art apron would be a great addition to her 

birthday gift!! I don't have a 'little one' close by to act as a model, 

so the matching apron was attached to a pillow for this picture!! 

Kinda looks goofy ... but hope you get the main idea!!

 

I used the same printed fabric and accented it with blue straps and ties as well as trim on the top of the pockets. You can see how  I matched the fabric pattern so the pockets sit perfectly onto the main body of the apron.

I'm sharing these projects at Sew Many Ways:  

Sew Darn Crafty Linky Party.

 

Thanks for visiting today!
Karen C.

Ballerina Birthday

My grand niece celebrated her 4th birthday this month. She's been taking ballet lessons and is enamored with Angelina Ballerina. 
* I found several cute pages of Angelina and her 'friends' on this website. (free printable colouring pages are provided). I printed one of the images onto white Bella card stock so that I could colour it with my Copic markers. 
* The number '4' was stamped onto the trophy. There were other images behind the ballerinas that I didn't want, so I ended up 'fussy' cutting the ballerina image and then mounting it onto a prepared white card base.

* To create the card front, I stamped a star with five different colours of ink and then added Diamond Dust Stickles over the whole front. It really looks sparkly and very magical.  
* I wasn't sure how I was going to add a sentiment, so I experimented with a few options before deciding on a little triangular sentiment panel in the top corner (Star Prints). It adds just the right touch to the card without overwhelming the coloured images. Several stars were punched from Harvest Gold card stock, glued together and then added to the top corner.

* The inside of the card uses sentiments from Peace, Love & Joy (Wishing you) and Movers & Shakers Sentiments. A set of stars was stamped across the bottom along with the age stamp from M&S Sentiments.        


Card Details: (PTI, unless noted)
Stamps - Star Prints, Movers & Shakers Sentiments,  Peace, Love & Joy
Inks - Spring Moss, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Hibiscus Burst, Aqua Mist; CTMH Blush
Paper - Stampers Select White, Hibiscus Burst, Harvest Gold; Bella White
Other Supplies - Canvas Impression Plate; star punch; Copic markers; Diamond Dust Stickles


While I was searching the internet for ideas, I found this image of 
ballet slippers and decided to create a mini colouring folder with 
some colouring pages for the birthday girl. 
* The image was printed on Bella card stock and then coloured with 
copic markers before fussy cutting it. It's mounted onto patterned paper 
(My Mind's Eye: Tickled Pink) and then attached to a pink card base.

Inside, I created a folder on one side that holds several pages that I 
printed from the colouring book website as well as a little "framed" mouse. 
The design (Framed Out #3) around the circular frame was stamped with Raspberry Fizz and Simply Chartreuse. 'Ballerina' was stamped with 
"The Works" alphabet set (Close To My Heart).

This is a simple and fun little packet to add to her birthday gift.

I also made a few hand sewn gifts for Mattie's birthday, so be sure to check back for a look at those.
Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.

Leaf Prints Birthday

This is the second card I made for my husband's birthday ... this is the one that I gave him. I used Cheryl Rowley's Autumn Tag , as my inspiration. I experimented with several ink combinations on the leaves to create the multi-coloured and weathered look. 
  

* Leaf Print stamps and dies and the beautiful colours of the autumn season make a great masculine birthday card and are much easier to look at than all of the leaves that keep blowing around in our yard!  
* I used a patterned paper from Postmarks paper pad, machine stitched with brown thread, swiped some Tea Dye inks along the edges and then mounted it to a  Kraft card base.

* Tag Sale #3 die was cut from Kraft card stock and then impressed with the Wood grain Impression Plate. Three different leaves were cut from Rustic Cream card stock and then stamped with various colours to create the mottled look. I also curled the edges of the leaves and added some more Tea Dye inks.  
* The leaves were then attached to the tag along with a Tiny Tag and a Linen Thread bow. Two brown Stamping Bella Dots were added to the Kraft tag and another two were added to the top corner of the card.

 * The largest sentiment was inked with Pure Poppy and then the lower part of (Birthday) was edged with Vineyard Berry before stamping. The smaller sentiment was stamped in Rich Cocoa ink.
* The bottom of the card is stamped with several of the smaller leaf images in the corner. The date was also added in brown ink.

Card Details (PTI, unless noted)
Stamps - Leaf Prints, Tiny Tags II, Movers & Shakers Sentiments, Library Ledger Year Additions.
Inks - Kraft, Fine Linen, Berry Sorbet, Pure Poppy, Harvest Gold, Summer Sunrise, Canyon Clay, 
Vintage Touch Tea Dye Duo;   CTMH: Vineyard Berry;  Memento: Rich Cocoa
Papers - Kraft, Rustic Cream, Postmarks
Dies - Leaf Prints die collection; Tiny Tags, Tag Sale #3
Other Supplies - Wood grain Impression Plate; Stamping Bella Dots; SU Linen Thread; Sewing machine

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C. 

Fly a Kite - Ride a Bike

My husband loves to ride his bicycle - he will go for 25 - 50 km rides in a day!! 
So when I got this bicycle stamp from Close to My Heart I thought it would be perfect for a birthday card (this is the one that my son gave to his dad). I had a paper pack from Webster's Pages with kites and stripes so decided to combine it with the kite images from Papertrey Ink`s  Up, Up and Away stamp set to make this colourful card.

* I stamped the bicycle onto the patterned paper so it appears to be riding along on a grassy pathway, with a contrasting patterned sky. 
* This piece was then cut to size so that it would fit behind a Fabulous Frames die cut. Striped patterned paper was layered on top of a chipboard die cut and then the edges were sponged with Pure Poppy. 
* The frame was then mounted onto another piece of patterned paper and a card base of Hawaiian Shores. The sentiment (Tea for Two Additions) was stamped onto a strip of paper and then attached to the bottom portion of the frame.

 In this picture you can see the dimension created my cutting the frame from chipboard and adding the  kites (Up, Up & Away) with foam tape. The kite tails were selectively stamped with orange ink so they appear to be attached to the bicycle's handlebars.

The inside of the card has a paper pieced kite, sentiments from Movers & Shakers and It's Your Day (CTMH)
















Card Details (PTI, unless noted)
Stamps - Up, Up & Away, Tea for Two Additions, Movers & Shakers Sentiments; CTMH: It`s Your Day
Inks - Spring Moss, Hawaiian Shores, Harvest Gold, Pure Poppy, Smokey Shadow; CTMH: Orange
Papers - Hawaiian Shores; Webster's Pages: Sunday Picnic & Everyday Poetry
Dies - Fabulous Frames
Other Supplies - chipboard, 3D Foam tape,

Thanks for visiting today.
Karen C.