Visions of Christmas "past"

 Here it is -- the last day of 2011.  Realized the cards from Christmas were missing from my blog.  The first card has a new/difficult/tedious technique (notice the snowman's hat is outside the circle).  I followed Gina K's tutorial video on embossing techniques. Glad I needed only one of these!

The second card, was very simple.  Used two new templates to cut out the shapes.

 The gray and white card, was extra simple.  I finally used some of the flocked paper that I had stashed away for my special friend's cards.

The last card was time consuming . . . and worth the effort.  I liked the final result.  Paper piecing technique for the stocking, which I layered over the same image.  This allows me to use a decorative background.

Safety Guy

I enjoyed making this for the grandkids. . . but no stamping involved this time.

November birthdays

1st one is from the SU's Tailor Made scrap booking kit.

2nd one was done with SU plain card stock and the SU Earth Elements felt pens.

3rd one was mostly designer paper, the focal point is an embroidered flower from SU.

September Spritz

This card has lots of shimmer, but it doesn't show up here.

I used an embossing folder for the background and Frost White shimmer spray to spritz the flower and trimmed the flower with shimmery silver Stickles.

Sure hope the recipient of this card doesn't notice that the flower is crooked.

This one is very similar technique--with the gold Stickles making more of an impact.

Masculine "Tool Time" card

 The tan "paper" is actually Stampin' Up's thin sheet of wood.  It is easy to cut with scissors and piercing.

Loads of Love get well card

Here is my latest card--made for a dear family member.  I decided on a retired stamp set by Stampin' Up "Loads of Love" and velvet paper.  The truck was stamped twice:  first on the velvet paper and then on plain paper.  The cutting/trimming takes the longest time, but worth the few moments.  The flowers were punched from more velvet paper and then attached with liquid glue.

Stockpiling Saturday

I used today as a stockpiling Saturday, making birthday cards.  It is nice to have a few ready, suitable for kids.

 Little boy's cards are the toughest right now.

I copied this idea from one I found on the internet.

May graduation and birthday cards

Graduation Card:
Sorry--the scanner doesn't capture the shiny star.  It looks a lot nicer in person.

Birthday card:
I used the Big Shot to punch the center and my bird punch for the little bird.

April birthdays

This card required some fine detail work, so I used the Stamp-a-majig to align the two half circles.  The flowers were painted with Puffy Velvet markers, taking on a three dimensional look.

Easter card

This little touch of spring has an embossed background and uses soft suede ink.

Gift Card holder

I'm happy with the way this turned out 8-) . . . especially since the gift card I purchased matched the lilac cardstock (I couldn't have planned anything more.)

I copied the pattern from a Splitcoaststampers blog entry.

The gift card slips into a slit behind the bunny.  The whole thing folds flat and will easily fit inside an invitation envelope.

Textured Navy card

I pulled out all my texture-making supplies for this one:

Cuttlebug Swiss Dot Embossing folder;
Nestabilities Large Scallop die;
Nestabilities tag die for the ribbon;
Stampin' Up's plaid background stamp;

February birthdays and babies

The month of February has several events to celebrate -- my brother Lou's birthday, a baby shower for a church friend, and a successful surgery for a friend in Florida.

These cards were fun to make, using the Versa Fine sepia ink, my punches, and the Nestabilities.

I used Nestabilities to punch and emboss the ovals.

More - Black Magic card

Two more, using the Black Magic technique.  Of course, both look crooked--now that I see them as a scanned image 8-(.

"Black Magic" technique

 I recently watched a tutorial on the "Black Magic" technique: using black (or dark) cardstock, stamp image with white ink (allow plenty of time for ink to dry), then cover white ink with colored pencil.  Highlights are done with the gel pen.

I really like the finished look.  Thanks to Splitcoast Stampers.

Silhouette sympathy card

I used only two stamps:  one for the silhouette flower and one for the frame

The sentiment was done on our computer and printed on the ink jet printer.