Another Christmas Card

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

The card I'm sharing today is very similar to the monochromatic one I shared here, but I've changed up a few things... added the silver mirror card elements and used a Nuvo pen for the shimmer instead of glitter embossing powder. 

Card: SU's Whisper white and silver mirror, and Tonic's Denim Ripple
Tools and embellishments: SU's Star of Light thinlits, X-cut Merry & Bright dies, Nuvo Sparkle Shimmer pen, Ranger Glossy Accents, and unbranded rhinestones. 

Challenges...
#341 Use Snippets at Pixie's Snippets Playground (all dies cut from snippets, including the 'invisble' white layers used to pop up the sentiment)
#382 Super Scraps Saturday at HIMCR (see above for scraps used)
AG at TTCRD

This is my last post of 2018, so THANK YOU for all your love and support during the year.  I'm busy planning some new projects for 2019, so I hope you'll join me then, and in the meantime I will still be commenting on any of your posts I see. 

Mini Wrap Journal Pictorial

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

I've shared a number of mini wrap journals recently, and as mentioned in one of the posts, I did get around to creating this pictorial for you.  Of course, by its nature, the post is image heavy, but I hope you'll agree the process is really easy.

What you'll need...
Card: (Shown in image one) Covers (two) 5 3/8" x 6", Spine 1/2" x 6", Center panel 4 1/2" x 6"
Papers: Various folded sheets (I used 5), cut 1/4" smaller than the covers
Twine: Approximately 42" (though the first time you make one, it's better to keep it on the reel until you're sure how much)
Adhesive: Strong glue or double sided tape (I used both Tombow glue and double sided tape)
Optional extras: Additional card for cover elements, inks, dies etc (Distress Inks, my favorite Birch Press Delfina background die, and an SU Timeless Textures stamp used here)

This image, or at least the notes on the post its, is a little confusing, as I mention the front cover twice.  Sorry!  I just found it easier to cut the front 1/2" wider, then cut the spine from that...

Decorate the card pieces as desired.  I used the same direct to paper technique for this one as I have with the others, but kept the front of the front cover plain, so the detailed die cut piece would be the focus.

Score both front and back covers at 1/2" and 3/4" on the short side.  I did this after adding the die cut piece to the front (and trimming 1/8" off the height of everything to match the die cut)...

Attach the covers to the center panel using adhesive of choice.  Because I inked everything, the join is near enough invisible, but if you look closely you can see it...

And the join is clearer on the reverse, where you can see the uninked front...

Not for long though, as it's now time to add the spine piece.  You can use glue, but I used tape for added strength...

Now it's time to wrap the twine around the center panel allowing a little wriggle room.  If you're thinking this is where the journal gets its name, you'd be right.  I wrap mine 3 times, but it's up to you, and another reason to not cut the twine before creating the first.  I tie mine at the bottom, then move the knot as shown...

We're almost done.  All that's left now is to slip the pages into the twine on both sides...

And admire your work...

What do you think?  Will you be trying it, in this or another size?  It's pretty handy as it is, but could be made any size you like.  If you do, I'd love to see your creations.

Challenges...
Create your own Background at Incy Wincy (created the inked background before cutting with a background die for the cover)
Linky party #46 December at Crop Stop
#431 Crazy Egg (AG) at 4 Crafty Chicks

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

End of Term Blog Hop at House of Cards

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

The end of the 6 month long DT term at House of Cards would usually mean it's time for a Blog Hop.  Today is no different in that regard, but after much thought and deliberation between HoC's owner Mynn and DT Co-ordinator Judy, they have come to the very difficult decision that this month will be the last challenge at House of Cards.

It is, of course, a decision which myself and the other Design Team members fully understand.  I'm sure we'll all continue to support both amazing ladies, as well as each other, when the doors to our House close. 

I am beyond honored to have been with the team for SEVEN terms, or 3 and half years, plus a GDT spot in early 2015 before joining that July.  And have been utterly inspired by all the amazing creations, not just from the DT, but challenge participants too!  Thank you! 

We're not done yet, and this month's challenge will run until December 15, after which the winners will be posted.  Here's the gorgeous inspiration photo...

Our hop sponsor is Beccy's Place...

Prize - $10.00AU Gift Certificate 

And here's my card, using a gorgeous poinsettia from one of Beccy's sets which I printed twice...

Card: SU's Whisper White, Basic Black, and Cherry Cobbler

Markers: Spectrum Noir
Tools and embellishments: Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions Noble Ornate Pierced Squares and Intermediate Weaving dies, Die'sire Downton Abbey Bow die, and Nuvo Sparkle Shimmer pen

Challenges...
#340 Use Snippets at Pixie's Snippets Playground (bow cut 3 times from cherry cobbler card and stacked)
AG at TTCRD
Wk 47 AG at Polkadoodles

Here's the hop order...

House of Cards Blog

Cohenna 

Donna 

Em <--- you are here

Judy 

Karen

Michele

Rocky 

Rosi 

Sue N. 

Susan 

Make sure you leave a comment at each person's blog along the way because the prize is hidden and we'll be doing a random drawing from the blogs where it is hiding! :) 

 After you're done, we would love for you to make a creation to share with us, too.

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Jim & Jill

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

Today's card is another direct to card inked and stamped creation.  Yet, it's stepped up a notch with the addition of some unbranded letter dies...

Created for Jim and Jill's anniversary, the letters were cut out from off cuts from their mini wrap journals.  As you can see, I changed up the colors and ink a bit for his by using my NBUS Distress Oxies.  The card background is a piece of unstamped lavender over Tumbled Glass Oxied card.

Card: Unbranded white, lavender and linen card
Ink: Tumbled Glass and Mowed Lawn Distress Oxides, Milled Lavender, Dusty Concord and Antique Linen Distress Inks
Stamp sets: SU's Timeless Textures
Tools and embellishments: Birch Press Delfina Layer Dies, Unbranded letter dies, and Glossy Accents

Challenges...
AG at TTCRD
#380 Any Holiday (anniversary) at HIMCR
#11 AG at Crafter's Castle

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Gold & Pearl Accents &/ or Colors with HOC Team 4

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

House of Cards Design Team 4 are sharing our creations with you today for our current challenge. This month it's to create a card or project featuring gold and pearl accents, and or use the colors in this inspiration image...

And here's a reminder of my card...

Full details can be found on the original post here.

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.  In the meantime, please take a look here at what my Team 4 teamie Sue has created.

Mini Wrap Journal

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

Today's project was created using more of the direct to paper inked and stamped background card I used to create last weeks cards.  But, as you can see, I didn't stop there!  Oh no, using the same stamp from SU's Timeless Textures set, I skipped the first step and randomly stamped 5 sheets of lavender card on both sides to create the journal pages.

To create the front cover, I inked both sides of the white card.  But only stamped one because I wanted the die cut piece to stand out...

I didn't think about creating a pictorial at the time, but love the style and will try to remember to document it when I create a few more.  In the meantime, to see how the journal was created, hop over to YouTube and search Mini Wrap Journal for instructions.

Card: Unbranded white and lavender
Ink: Milled Lavender and Dusty Concord Distress Inks
Stamp sets: SU's Timeless Textures
Tools and embellishments: Birch Press Delfina Layer die

Challenges...
#339 Use Snippets at Pixie's Snippets Playground (large snippet used for front die detail)
AG at TTCRD
#378 Super Scraps Saturday at HIMCR (large scrap used for front die detail)

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.

Sending Hugs & Thanks

Hi everyone,

Thanks for stopping by and for all your wonderful comments. I'm honored to have you here and I truly appreciate each of you more than you know!

The cards I'm sharing today were created with some of my new favorite Birch Press dies...

The background card was created with the direct to card inking technique... amazingly the first time I'd done it... then stamping with one of my favorite stamps from Stampin' Up!  I created a number of other similar pieces... no point in getting inky fingers for a single piece... so will show you more of the creations next week

Card: SU's Whisper White and Vellum
Ink: Milled Lavender and Dusty Concord Distress Inks
Stamp sets: SU's Timeless Textures
Tools and embellishments: Birch Press Delfina Layer Die, and their Sending, Hugs, and Thanks Big Sugar Script Dies, and Glossy Accents

Challenges...
#178 Thankful at Crafty Gals Corner (card 2)
AG at TTCRD
#215 AG at 613 Avenue Create

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.