Yummy Yellow at Rainbow Card Challenge

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!

It's the first of the month, so that means it's time for a new challenge at Rainbow Card Challenge.  Our theme this month is Yummy Yellow although your card does NOT have to be yummy, if you don't want to!  What we do ask is that it is MONOCHROMATIC YELLOW, but we don't mind a hint of another color if necessary.

And here's my card...

Card: SU's whisper white, daffodil delight, and so saffron
Ink: Antique linen Distress Ink
Stamp sets: SU's Timeless Textures
Tools and embellishments: Sue Wilson for Creative Expressions Petite Petal Mini Striplet, SU's Petite Petals punch, Nuvo sparkle shimmer pen, and unbranded rhinestones

Challenges...
AG at TTCRD
Wk 9 AG at Polkadoodles
#218 AG at 613 Avenue Create

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

Orange Opulence at Rainbow Card Challenge

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!

It's the first of the month, so that means it's time for a new challenge at Rainbow Card Challenge.  Our theme this month is Orange Opulence although your card does NOT have to be opulent, if you don't want to!  What we do ask is that it is MONOCHROMATIC ORANGE, but we don't mind a hint of another color if necessary.

And here's my card...

Card: SU's whisper white, cajun craze, and tangerine tango
Ink: Wild honey and carved pumpkin Distress Inks
Marker: Dark Orange 1 Spectrum Noir (to color the rhinestones)
Stamp sets: SU's Timeless Textures
Tools and embellishments: Birch Press big sugar script dies, Ranger Glossy Accents, and unbranded rhinestones

As regular readers will know, I love joining challenges at Pixie's Snippets Playground... indeed, this card is no exception!  You'll also likely know that I'm finding crafting time difficult to come by, so am cheating a bit and also entering this card into Darnell's very special Thank You Di Blog Hop!  I had wanted to create something special for Di, but given the sentiment on this card, made from snippets of card, it's also worthy.

Challenges...
Thank You Di Blog Hop at djkardkreations
#344 Use Snippets at Pixie's Snippets Playground
AG at TTCRD

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

Happy New Year!

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 know it's VERY late to be sharing this card, but I had to make sure it had reached the recipient before posting.  Even more so because the Christmas card I sent her was returned thanks to an incorrect address.  Oops!

Late last year I found... and quickly became just a tad obsessed... with the Groovi parchment craft system from Clarity Stamp.  The daisies in the card design came from my first "baby plate" purchase, which was rapidly followed up with subscription to their New Design Groovi club, which resulted in the arrival of the other elements.  Grin.

I've had an ahem, bunch of fun playing with the plates I've got and will show you more of the creations later this month, around the time my next one will arrive.  Grin.

Card: SU's Whisper White and Sahara Sand, and Clarity's parchment
Marker: Dark Purple one from Spectrum Noir
Tools and embellishments: Clarity Stamp's Daisy Flowers Groovi Baby Plate, Alphabet A5 Square Groovi Plate Mate and Labels insert, and embossing tool.  Silver brads from my stash

Challenges...
#13 Fun Technique at Crafter's Castle
AG at TTCRD
#343 Use Snippets at Pixie's Snippets Playground (large snippet used to back the parchment)

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

Red Romance at Rainbow Card Challenge

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!

Happy New Year!  I'm incredibly honored to be kicking 2019 off with my first Design Team post for Rainbow Card Challenge!  Yep, my pretty much suck up application in November was successful, and together with six other amazingly talented ladies whose links can be found in my blog side bar, we'll be bringing you MONOCHROME challenges on the first of the month.

Although it's only the first of the year, our theme this month is in anticipation of Valentines Day, although your card does NOT have to be romance card, if you don't want to!  As you can see by my card, while we require the majority to be RED and NEUTRAL, we don't mind a hint of another color if necessary.

And here's my card...

Card: SU's whisper white, cherry cobbler, mossy meadow and Sahara sand
Tools and embellishments: Tonic Roseanna's Terrace, and Die'sire Floral Delight dies, and Nuvo Sparkle Shimmer pen

Challenges...
#342 Use Snippets at Pixie's Snippets Playground (all elements created from snippets)
#181 AG at Crafty Gals Corner
#216 AG at 613 Avenue Create

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

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.

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.

Monochromatic Christmas

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 one of five identical ones which have been sitting, unphotographed, on my desk for a couple months.  And yep, they are the only Christmas cards I've created so far.  Eeek!

That said, they are appropriate for a job application, I hope!  The amazingly talented Mynn of On A Stampage and other sites, has started a new challenge blog, Rainbow Card Challenge and is currently holding a Design Team Call...

As per the DT Call request, my style is mostly CAS.  I love white space, and you could say this card is CAS, but with the white and color flipped?  I would love to join the new team, not least because it would be my third such team led by Mynn.  She's a precious friend and I love her creativity. 

Hopefully that doesn't sound too suck up, and if it does, I'll try to distract you with the card recipe...

Card: SU whisper white base and snippets, and Tonic's Denim Ripple specialty card
Ink: VersaMark (although it might not be obvious the dies are all cut from glitter embossing powered card)
Tools and embellishments: SU's Star of Light thinlits, and X-Cut Merry & Bright dies, WOW clear sparkle embossing powder, and unbranded rhinestones

Challenges...
#214 AG at 613 Avenue Create
#427 Christmas at 4 Crafty Chicks
AG at TTCRD

I'll be back soon with another creation, so I hope you'll join me then.  In the meantime, please wish me luck?

Enjoy the Little Things

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! 

If you've already taken a peek at the card, you aren't seeing things.  Again.  It IS completely different to my usual, or even long forgotten style.  And is something completely new to me, cold foiling...

The foiling was so easy and I look forward to doing more of it with the few rolls I bought.  The sentiment, which I double stacked for stability, will get a lot of use too.

Card: SU's Cherry Cobbler and Gold Mirror
Tools and embellishments: Crafter's Companion's matt gold foil and Flourishing Vines foil transfers, Couture Creations Intricutz Enjoy the little things die, and SU's Lots of Labels framelits

Challenges...
AG at TTCRD
#337 Use Snippets at Pixie's Snippets Playground
#374 Super Scraps Saturday at HIMCR
AG at Crafter's Castle

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

Smile smile smile

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 the one I created for my dear friend, Jim's birthday last month.  He has Cherokee heritage, so the design, created some magazine freebies, is perfect for him.

Card: Unbranded white blank, and SU's Crumb Cake and Whisper White
Ink: SU's Crumb Cake
Stamp sets: Magazine freebie
Tools and embellishments: Freebie embossing folder and dies, and Nuvo Sparkle Shimmer pen

Challenges...
October CARDS challenge at Pause Dream Enjoy
AG at Crafter's Castle
AG at TTCRD

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

Autumn Flowers and/ or Colors 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!

It's the 1st of the month and that means it's time for a new challenge at House of Cards.  This month we're asking you to create a project using fall flowers, and or the colors from the inspiration photo...

And here's my cards...

I used both the inspiration photo and colors to create twin backgrounds, inlaying the fall away pieces from one into the other

I changed the popsicle to an ice cream, but kept to the color palette.

Card: SU's whisper white, early espresso, so saffron, peekaboo peach and tiny snippets of mossy meadow for the leaves
Ink: Mowed Lawn and Wild Honey Distress Inks
Tools and embellishments: Birch Press Delfina layer die background die, Sue Wilson's Sweet William (leaves) and Striped Nasturtiums

Challenges...
#336 Use Snippets at Pixie's Snippets Playground (used snippets for flowers and leaves)
#175 Anything Fall Goes at Crafty Gals Corner
AG at TTCRD

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

Stained Glass Tower Twofer

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!

You might be happy to hear that today's cards are the last of those I created way back when with Stampin' Up!'s Painted Glass bundle...

I love the label on the last card contrasts but also compliments the other colors.

Card: SU's Cherry Cobbler, Soft Sky, Whisper White, Basic Black and Crumb Cake
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Markers: Spectrum Noir
Stamp sets: SU's Stained Glass
Tools and embellishments: SU's Stained Glass thinlits, Decorative Label and Petite Petal punches, Stick It adhesive sheets by Ken Oliver, and Black Pearls from Creative Expressions

Challenges...
#9 AG at Crafter's Castle
#174 3+ Layers at Crafty Gals Corner - second card and I'm perhaps cheating by counting the black pearls as a layer
Wk 38 AG at Polkadoodles

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