A Few of my Favorite Things...

I saw the cutest Yankee Candle display in the store the other day--it was inspired by "The Sound of Music" and featured various candle fragrances entitled "Whiskers on Kittens" and "Brown Paper Packages"--so adorable! Of course, for me, my favorite things have to include ink, stamps, and paper!

As the year draws to a close, I love to establish a sense of closure on things...crafty projects included!  I wanted to post a few of my favorite card projects that I have made throughout the year...in no particular order!  Feel free to click each image to see it larger and in more detail.  Here we go...

This is a fun card (above) that I made using the Cottage Floral stamp set (CTMH, retired) and SU brights collection of inks and cardstock.  The sentiment, stamped in black, is from a wood and rubber stamp I found in the $1 bin at Michaels--like I've posted before, I LOVE sentiments that feature two different fonts!  A little bit of glitz glitter gel was applied to a few flower centers for some extra sparkle.

 

 

This card has a Victorian feel to it--I used CTMH's Find Your Style stamp set (retired) in chocolate ink with Perfect Day paper pack (retired) and Juniper card stock.  Mocha adhesive pearls finish it off.

 

 

I have made a slew of these baby cards that feature either hand or foot prints, for both boys and girls!  These stamps were some I picked up at Michaels years ago--I want to say they are Hampton Arts.  The sentiment is a clear set I bought at Target, also years ago.  This card is directly inspired by these clean and simply cards by the uber talented, Lisa Stenz--check her version out here.

 

 

This card was directly inspired (aka copied) from a SU catalog several years ago.  It features olive green and black--definately a different color scheme for me.  I used CTMH's Connections stamp set (retired) and then the sentiment is from Fiskars thank you stamp set.  The ribbon was a perfect match, and I also used CTMH's Simple Stitches stamp set (retired) for the faux stitching above the scallop border.

 

These next two cards feature a few Stamp of the Month stamp sets from CTMH that they offered earlier this year.  The above card features Juniper and black--again, a new color scheme for me--perfect for a masculine birthday card (gave this one to my brother-in-law).  I basically used the entire You Are...stamp set (April) for the card--it has sentiments, banners, borders, and backgrounds (diamond) that I thought was really neat!

 

 

This card uses the Life is Tweet Stamp of the Month (June) and the bright colors of the Dotty for You paper pack (retired) with some Paradise flowers.  I stamped the sentiment in Lagoon ink (inside reads..."it's your birthday").  I paper-pieced the bird--this was a fairly new technique for me and I really liked the results!

 

 

So that is a look at some of my favorite card projects that I did throughout the year.  As you can see, I like to use new and old products--I figure, if I don't use it...I need to lose it!! 

 

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Handprint Christmas Wreath

We made this adorable little handprint Christmas wreath on Christmas Eve this year.   My mother-in-law, Judy, had seen a handprint wreath picture done by a friend, and came to visit us for Christmas with this art idea to do with the kids.  We started with a 16x20 inch canvas and traced a circle in pencil, using a pot lid as a guide.  Next, we used two shades of green paint and red paint for the wreath.  Each of the kids used their hands to paint--the oldest was in dark green (Natalie), the middle was light green (Isaac) and the baby (Cynthia) was in the red (top of bow).  Then, we added a ribbon bow and buttons adhered with glue dots.  So cute and such a precious memory!! 

 

Here's a look at my mother-in-law's canvas--we chose to do the hand prints all lined up--it makes a tighter fitting wreath.  We used a true green and a darker, olive green for the wreath, and then finished it with buttons and ribbon, as well.  She used Cynthia's handprints for the streamers, too--so cute!!

 

 

Hope you make a special Christmas memory in a creative way this year!  Thanks for stopping by!!

Stamp and Heart Card

 

I know, I know--let's just get through Christmas, right?  Well, sometimes I like to take a breather and do something NOT Christmas related in the month of December!  Here is a super simple card I made using two punches--a Marvy heart punch and the CM stamp place n' punch.  I just layered the punched shapes into a grid--I've done this design many times for various holidays and for everyday sentiments!  Inside of the card reads "I heart You"--sentiment is from Card Chatter Love from CTMH.  I added a silver heart brad to the center square--easy peasy lemon squeezy!

 

Hope you have a creative day, my friend!

Remarkable Wreath Cards

 

 

 Had a great time stamping with this beautiful stamp set this week--it is called Remarkable Wreath by CTMH.  It has a twig wreath, bow, banner sentiments, and various wreath fillers, such as berries, leaves, flowers and such.  It is a fun and easy set to layer since they are all clear stamps--love that!

I am ALWAYS in need of Christmas thank you cards, so I made a card featuring a Christmas style wreath with a "thanks" banner inside.  I stamped the wreath with Cocoa ink, the leaves in olive ink, and then used Riding Hood red ink (SU) to paper piece the bow and banner sentiment.  Then, I had fun adhering green and red gems in the wreath (do this using a paper piercing tool to make it easy on yourself!), and I placed larger red gems on either side of the focal image (which I popped up with foam dots).  I don't recall the source of the patterned paper, but the cardstock used was Sweet Leaf and Cocoa (CTMH).

 

 

And...now for a Valentines' version!  It is never too early to craft for the next holiday! LOL!  Again, I stamped the wreath in Cocoa ink, and then stamped the sentiment and berries in red ink.  I punched the wreath out using a 2" circle punch--I like how the wreath can either be in a circle or square focal point--can't decide which I like better!  Again, used adhesive gems, this time in red and pink, for the wreath.  Patterened paper was from the Sweetheart paper pack (CTMH, retired) with cranberry and cocoa cardstock.

 

Hope you, too, have a creative day!  Thanks for stopping by!

 

 

Year Round Cheer Cards

Took a little time today to play with a new arrival for me--CTMH's December stamp of the month, Year Round Cheer.  This is an adorable little set that has a picture and sentiment for every month of the year!

 

My first card is for the month of January.  I love the sentiment that goes with this one--I got married in January, had my first baby in January, joined a gym in January...this month truly has proven to be a FRESH START in my life over the years!

I used Enchanted paper (CM), Juniper ink (CTMH) and black ink, epoxy gems (CM), and glitz glitter gel to add a bit of sparkle to the focal point snowflakes.  Love how this patterned paper suddenly looks wintery when you pair it with snowflake stamps!

 

 

Next up is the February image--did this in both a horizontal and vertical style (had to do with the scraps I had left of the patterend paper), and I stamped in both Blush (CTMH) and Riding Hood Red ink (SU)--can't decide which color ink I like best--either one works, I suppose! Patterned paper is from the Sweetheart paper pack (CTMH, retired). Sentiment was stamped in black and square epoxy gems add a finishing touch (CM).

 

Finally, March!  As a Christian, I am not a big "luck" person, but I went ahead and stamped the sentiment along with the clover, just to keep the focal point nice and squared off :)  Used the Miracle paper pack (CTMH, retired) and some adhesive gems (CM).

 

Hope you enjoyed these ideas!  It is fun to do multiple holiday themes in one sitting--as crafters, that is how we roll!!

Badge Button Christmas Cards

Back again today to show you some more little Christmas cards! 

Here is what I did...

I basically opened up my Christmas paper project folder--which contains discarded paper scraps from the past 6 years or so--and just went nuts with every little scrap I could find.  If a scrap was big enough for a card front, I used it.  If it was big enough for a scalloped circle or star punch (CM), I used it. Not all the papers coordinated, and I honestly do not remember the source of most of these papers, but they all worked together--that is the fun part!

 

 

 

I stamped in Riding Hood Red (SU) using sentiments from CTMH's Card Chatter Christmas stamp set.  And then for little embellishments, I used a few Christmas badge buttons from Evalicious.

 

For the last two cards, I used CTMH's die cut White Daisy cards--love the scalloped edge they have!

 

Hope you have a blessed and inspired day!

Jesse Tree Box

 

Have you ever heard of a Jesse Tree?  It is a tradition I do with my kids each year in December.  Starting December 1st and going to December 25th, you sort of "walk through the Bible" hitting upon all the major Bible Stories from Creation to the Birth of Christ.  Last year, we were embarking on a major move from Maryland to Florida during the month of December, so instead of having a true tree for each daily ornament, I made this little box which contained pictures of each ornament (printed and colored by the kids).  That way, we could still enjoy our Jesse Tree devotions each morning!

 

For this project, I used CTMH's Mistletoe paper (retired), Red grosgrain striped ribbon (SU), olive ink (CTMH) and the My Creations Memory Game box from CTMH--it contains all 24 cards and has a magnetic flap closure.

 

Below are two of the ornaments--Joseph's multicolored coat and Noah's ark.  The year prior, I had printed out pictures, cut them into squares and had the kids color the pictures.  Then, we used a hole punch and hung them on our twig tree each day.  So for this project, I just trimmed down these ornaments and adhered them on each paper-covered card.

 

For the date, I punched out a 1" circle stamped in red from CTMH's Connections stamp set and then stamped the number (Friendship alphabet, small) inside.

 

I had a great time putting this together and combining my papercrafting with the kids' artwork--such a treasure!  And something we really used and got a love of enjoyment from as we celebrated the TRUE reason for the season!

 

God Bless!

Dotty for You Mini Note Set

 Hello there!  I wanted to share with you a cute little note card set I made using the My Creations card box from CTMH.  It can be covered with paper or inked and has a magnetic closure flap.  I first learned how to make these little note card sets using the Pemberley paper with Lisa Stenz's club kit about a year ago (see her post here). 

 

This project uses the Dotty for You paper pack (retired), Paradise paper flowers, colonial white mini medley accents, Paradise bakers twine (lagoon), and pink pleated ribbon (SU).  I used He Said, She Said stamp set (CTMH, retired) for the "notes" flower center on the box lid stamped in Sweet Leaf ink.  I also inked the entire box edges/flap with Sweet Leaf ink. 

 

 

 

 Inside view--little handmade compartments for the 3x3 notes, envelopes, and matching pen.

 

 

For the notes, I used 3x6 pieces of the gorgeous flower pattered paper from the paper pack (instead of random stamping), folded in half, and I rounded the corners with my corner rounder (CM).  For the sentiments, I adhered the cut-out brackets (using foam tape) from the CTMH stamp set Crafted with Love in coordinating inks (Smoothie, Sweat Leaf, Lagoon) with various sentiments from the CTMH Card Word Puzzle stamp set.

I also stamped coordinating 3x3 envelopes using a flower from the Card Word Puzzle stamp set and then slipped a bit of paper inside a Pentel pen to make a matching pen for the set.  Thanks to Lisa for this great idea--I've made several of these in various paper patterns for gifts throughout the year! 

Monogram Christmas Cards

Hello there!  Today I'd like to show you some monogram Christmas cards I put together the other day.  This is a design directly inspired by Lisa Stenz--check out her blog post here.  After doing her club project with the mauve and brown color scheme, I decided to give it a try using some Christmas paper I had on hand from a few years ago (CTMH Mistletoe, retired).  These cards feature the Perfect Fit Frames stamp set (CTMH), which coordinates with the Cricut (but honestly, the shapes are really easy to trim out, so even if I had a Cricut to do the work for me, I'd probably just do it by hand to be quicker!) and the F Monogram stamped in Olive ink.  I also used a 1 1/4 inch circle punch (for the monogram) and a 1 1/2 inch scalloped circle punch (for the red cardstock).

 

 

 

 

(looks like that bracket should have been slid a bit to the right!  Oh well...that is handcrafting for you...never perfect!)

 

Here's a group shot...

 

And finally, all four are packaged up with envelopes in a clear card box (PTI), wrapped with red striped grosgrain ribbon (SU!) and a Christmas gift tag (SU curly label punch with coordinating Christmas stamp, retired) tied on with some red baker's twine.  Adorable!

 



Perfect for a Filbey family member or teacher gift--both of the kids' teachers have last names that start with F  this year :)  Hope you have a creative day!  See you back again real soon!



Snowman Button Cards

Been thinking of some creative ways to send out Christmas thank you cards recently--I love to have plenty of those on hand!

 

For these cards, I used the little snowman from SU's Button Buddies stamp set with a few clear 3/4" buttons and some red baker's twine. 

 

The snowmen are stamped in black and then sentiments are from CTMH's Say it in Style stamp set and stamped in red

A little bit of glitz glitter gel finishes off the tophats for a bit of extra sparkle!  So easy--even my 5 year old did these with me!

My Personal Mantra

 

Saw this gift card tin at Michaels the other day and knew it had to find a permanent home in my craft room!  This is my personal mantra anytime of the year, but especially around the holidays when things can be busy and stressful!!

Avonlea Display Tray

 

 

I had such an enjoyable time crafting this beautiful display tray using the Avonlea papers from CTMH. I used a club kit from Lisa Stenz (check her post out here) but deviated a bit to make it my own (for example, I wasn't a fan of the satin bow). I love the look of the black and white photos--it really makes the display very classy, in my opinion. 

Here is a closer look at the focal picture of the five of us as a family: 

 



 

Just some upclose details of the various textures of the different cubbies--I love the pinwheel, pearls, glitter gems, monogram, burlap, ribbon rosettes...I could go on and on!  I did decide to cut down a picture and place it in the stamped ornate frame--I love that little personalized touch!

 

 

Hope you can make some time to make a family-inspired home decor project soon!  It is a lot of fun to make and truly a treasure to keep!

Aspiration Boxed Card Set

By now, you've probably guessed that one thing that I LOVE giving my friends for Christmas or birthday gifts are boxed card sets!  (Check out yesterday's post for some more ideas here).  They are fun to either stamp or papercraft and are a great way to use up your scraps and also personalize your gift for a particular person.  This boxed card set was directly inspired by Lisa Stenz--see her post here--and uses a retired CTMH stamp set, Aspiration.  I love the simplicity of this tree image and it's Eastern feel.  I stamped the tree in chocolate ink and then used Sorbet ink in first and second generation for the flowers--I love how you get the look of two different colored flowers, all while using ONE ink color!  Each card in the set features a different sentiment--these sentiments are from Papertrey Ink (PTI).

 

 

 

 

I wrapped up the clear card box with dark brown grosgrain ribbon and then used a stamped flower from the set, a gem brad, and a little bakers twine as a cute gift tag.

 

Thanks for stopping by!!

Dotty for You Boxed Card Gifts

 

Back with you today to feature a few boxed card sets I made for some Christmas gifts.  These came together super quick--they feature the Dotty for You paper pack (CTMH, retired), lagoon cardstock, Paradise baker's twine (sunset and lagoon colors) and assorted buttons from my stash.

 

 

 

 

Sentiments are from Say it in Style stamp set (CTMH) stamped with Sunset and Lagoon ink

 

 

Each box contains four assorted cards, featuring various patterned papers from the Dotty for You paper pack, with assorted generic sentiments.  These will make great Christmas gifts for friends, teacher gifts, or I can tuck them away for the New Year as they will fit any time of year or occasion!

 

Thanks for stopping by--hope you have a creative day!