Thanksgiving Splendor

I'm just loving the easel cards I've been seeing all over on other blogs and SCS, so I decided to make another one...this time for Thanksgiving.
The More Mustard base is cut to 4 1/4" x 8" and then scored at 2" and 4" to create the easel stand for the 4-1/4 square card to be adhered to. I used the Bright Blessings Jumbo wheel inked in Really Rust for the base. I also used Autumn Splendor along with the coordinating papers - Autumn Meadows. I really love the colors and the distressed look to these papers...I took that a step further by also distressing the edges of all my layers with Chocolate Chip ink. For even more texture, I used one of my Texturz Plates that looks like tree bark on the Really Rust layers and paper pierced the edges of Chocolate Chip layers. The greeting is from Teeny Tiny Wishes cut with the Word Window Punch and layered on a Modern Label punch. Also used: Aqua painter, Button Latte, Chocolate Chip Grosgrain, Copper Vintage Brads (retired), Copper Cord (retired)

Here's a close up view.

Love the colors, paper and the stamps, but just don't have much time? Here's a card we did at my last card class which uses the same supplies, but is much simpler.
Have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!!!

Easel Card for a Friend

I created this 6x6 page using My Digital Studio (MDS) and then had it printed through Stampin' Up! I originally was going to put it in a frame and give it to my friend, but after searching for a 6x6 frame with no luck, I had to come up with something else. So I made it into an easel card.
I made the easel part of the card by cutting down a 12x12 piece of Baja Breeze textured card stock to 6x12 and then scoring it at 3" and 6". I used some of my favorite patterned papers which are now retired...Parisian Breeze. The only stamping on this card was the word friends shown inside the HPH Designer Label.

Since MDS uses some of the retired In Colors, like Kiwi Kiss and Baja Breeze, as shown on my layout, I pulled out some of the accessories I've been saving...Baja Breeze Corduroy Buttons, Kiwi Kiss Satin Ribbon & Baja Breeze Striped Grosgrain...I also used a chocolate chip flower button from the Button Latte pack. All of the "real"embellishmentss are used on the base of the easel card. The buttons and brads on the 6x6 layout are all digital...it's hard to tell, isn't it?
I'm going to have a lot of fun with this program! If you are interested in learning more about MDS, please contact me. I am now officially certified, or certifiable!? ;-) SU! just released several new digital downloads to use with MDS with a holiday theme. You can purchase these instantly from my demo website.

Well, need to run...I'm getting together later to celebrate my friends birthday (the reason for this card!) and I'm in charge of bringing the lasagna...so I need to get busy making it! Have a great weekend!

Bella Blue Patterned Pines

I've been loving the colors of the Bella Blue papers so here's another version of the card I shared on my last post.

As you can see, I just changed the stamp set, using the Level 1 Hostess set Patterned Pines. I inked the stamp with Not Quite Navy Craft ink and then embossed it with Iridescent Ice Embossing Powder. It has such a beautiful sparkly look in real life. I tried to capture that in my photo, but it made the color look a bit off. I guess you'll just have to pretend. ;-) The Corduroy Button is one of the Baja Breeze buttons I had left...I used some NQN ink and my aqua painter to darken it up a bit. The paper pieced scalloped background was made my punching out 6 scalloped squares with the Scallop Square Punch and trimming down the sides so they fit together nicely.

Have a wonderful day!

Double Delightful Decorations

This card was inspired by a scrapbook page shown on page 26 of the Holiday Mini. They used Bella Blue Designer papers cut with the scalloped square punch. I really hadn't noticed the papers before and I just loved the colors and patterns used for holiday/winter theme. I paired the paper with one of my fav new sets...Delightful Decorations.
I created this card with an upcoming card class in mind. However...I started adding too many details like the textured background using the Perfect Details Texturz plate, the paper piercing, and fussing with the cord, etc... I decided if I were to do this in a class, where they would be making several, I'd have to come up something a bit simpler. Also, I didn't have any SU! ribbon that worked with my design, so I also had to change my colors and work with what I had on hand. Here's the card that my class will be making tomorrow.

As you can see, I used the same stamps and idea, but totally changed the whole look of the project. The top one looks elegant and the bottom one looks fun & festive...I like them both and I hope you do too! Have a delightful day!

Christmas Cheer

I heard a heartbreaking story about an adorable five year old little boy who is in his last stages of a 2 1/2 year battle with cancer. This year his family is celebrating Christmas early, and Noah loves to receive cards, so I got busy and made him one I hope he will like. I just loved this old fashioned image of Santa and his reindeer from the instant I saw it.If you want to hear more about this story here is the link. If you would like to send Noah a card, here is his address:

Noah Biorkman
1141 Fountain View Circle,
South Lyon, MI 48178 USA

His family has asked that if you would like to, you can also include $1 inside Noah's card which they plan to donate to the Make-A-Wish Foundation and to U of M for Neuroblastoma research. They have already received thousands of cards and gifts from around the world.

I inked the stamp using my Colorbox petal point chalk inks (which SU! unfortunately retired several years ago.) These inks worked perfectly in that I could easily color the area on the stamp in the colors I wanted without it drying too quickly and then I could still watercolor the other areas without the ink bleeding like it would if I had just used my markers.

Stamps: Good Cheer, Christmas Punch (hostess set)
Card stock: Ruby Red, Old Olive, Chocolate Chip & The Write Stuff Specialty paper
Ink: Colorbox petal point chalk inks, Old Olive & various for water coloring
Accessories: Aqua painter, Boho Blossoms punch, Earth Elements brads, Chocolate Chip & Old Olive grosgrain ribbon, mat pack, piercing tool

Thanks for stopping by and if you send a card to Noah, thank you for that as well!