Succulent Notecards

Hi friend! Just had to share my latest notecard creations with you, as I find I get so much inspiration from the natural world these days!  I have been obsessed with succulants and terrariums lately, and I just love these notecards because they feature BOTH!

I love how simply beautiful these turned out, using subtle shades of green, blue, and gray ink (specific ink colors listed below).

Clear transparency sheets are cut and adhered to give the terrarium a realistic “glass” touch.

Here’s the whole group! I stamped a few making a background of succulents, inked using the “rock and roll” technique.

As always, thanks for visiting!

Stamps: Evergreen Sayings (FSJ); paper: lemongrass (FSJ)

Ink: CTMH juniper, sweet leaf, slate, black

D1476 Sentiments: CTMH

Nordic Noel Thank You Notes

Welcome back, friend!  I find that for as many Christmas cards I send out, I also need a stack of thank you notes for all the thoughtful gifts we receive from family and friends at Christmas time.  So, I love to set aside a few Christmas paper scraps to make up some thank you notes to have on hand to send out after Christmas Day.  I enjoyed using a two-step stamping technique on the coffee cup on the card below--if you click on the image to enlarge it, you will find that you can see all sorts of fun wintry and warm words in the swirls on the cup!

Supplies used (CTMH unless otherwise specified): Nordic Noel paper and buttons from SU, cocoa ink, cranberry ink, white daisy card bases, red baker's twine, wood grain washi tape, gold reindeer clips from SU, cocoa cardstock, SU scalloped circle punch, slate washi tape from SU

Stamps used: Wonderland workshop stamp set (CTMH, retired), October SOTM 2014 (CTMH, retired), Card chatter Christmas (CTMH, retired), 

Woodland Embossed Gift Box

I had a lot of fun this morning trying out a new technique--embossing AND stamping using an embossing folder!  I love the 3-dimensional effect this technique creates, and I think you will, too!

I used this card and tutorial for inspiration to make my gift box, as well as the Stampin' Up Woodland embossing folder, cocoa and white cardstock (CTMH), Cocoa and Outdoor Denim inks (CTMH) and a rubber brayer.  The gift box is also from CTMH (retired) and has a magnetic flap enclosure to keep photos, note cards, and mementos nice and safe!

Using the rubber brayer, I rolled Outdoor Denim ink onto the embossing folder (the side printed "Sizzix") and then stamped three trees using the CTMH's Always Grateful stamp set in cocoa ink on the same side of the embossing folder.  Then, I placed the white cardstock in the folder and ran it through my Cuttlebug.

Here's an up close view of the awesome texture of the embossed trees!  Finally, I did this a second time (without stamping the trees) and cut down the embossed cardstock to cover each side of the box, matting it with cocoa cardstock.

I am really excited with how it turned out, and I can't wait to gift it to a friend (or my MIL who LOVES trees) this winter!  I also am eager to try this technique to make a few note cards, too!

Nordic Noel Christmas Cards

When the holidays approach, I tend to hit up craft therapy to keep me calm and content!  Here are some fun Christmas cards I whipped up using CTMH's colonial white die-cut cards and Stampin' Up Nordic Noel paper pack (both on clearance!).

My favorite part is in the details--feel free to click on each image to see it closer and more indepth.  I love the red pom-pom trim and Nordic Noel buttons, and especially the gold-tone reindeer paper clips (all from SU!).

Papers used: Nordic Noel (SU!)
Ink: Cranberry (CTMH)
Stamps: Frosted WOTG stamp set (CTMH, retired), Pear and Partridge WOTG stamp set (CTMH, retired)

Woodgrain Cards in an Instant

 Back again today to share with you a few more woodgrain embossed cards that I made using MAMBI's Cards in an Instant sentiments, which I scored from Michael's craft store.  I used either a kraft-colored cardstock (crumb cake from SU) or a white cardstock and ran it through the woodgrain embossing folder (from SU) using my Cuttlebug machine for the card backgrounds.  Then, I either backed the sentiment card with patterned paper or popped it up using foam tape and adhered it on the card front.  The cards were either embellished with pink enamel dots (flamingo dots, CTMH) and/or houndstooth washi tape (also CTMH) for some added interest.

This card was featured on my previous blog post by itself...but here's another shot of it in the grouping...

 This one features the white woodgrain (LOVE this look!) and pink chevron patterned paper (Ivy Lane, CTMH)...

 And this one features yellow patterned paper (Pemberley, CTMH) and the polka dot embossing folder (Cuttlebug) used on white cardstock for an added layer on top of the kraft woodgrain base...

These sentiment cards were a cute (and affordable!) find--check them out here to get an idea of all the ones included in the pack.  They made up into such fast, easy, and cute & trendy little cards!  Gotta love that!

Fall Leaves Woodgrain Cards

Wanted to share with you a few fall cards I made using my new woodgrain embossing folder.  I just LOVE how they turned out!  I am a big fan of birch trees for their white bark and gorgeous fall leaves, and when I saw this card on Pinterest, I knew I just had to get busy with my white cardstock and woodgrain embossing folder (SU) and crank out a few like it of my own!

Basically, I ran the white cardstock through my Cuttlebug and then swiped the raised pattern with Bamboo ink (CTMH) directly from the inkpad.   I love how this technique really made the grain POP!  Then I stamped and fussy cut several fall leaves using the Autumn Splendor stamp set (CTMH, retired) using the "rock and roll" method with the following inks: barn red, creme brulee, goldrush, vineyard berry, and olive (CTMH). The acorn was stamped with chocolate ink and cut out, as well.

The sentiment is one of my FAVORITES for this time of year--a season that just oozes with GRATITUDE!  It is from CTMH's Always Grateful stamp set and states: "Gratitude turns what we have into ENOUGH"--SO TRUE!  I selectively inked the top of the sentiment with cocoa ink and the last line was inked with vineyard berry ink (both CTMH).  Then I backed it on Cocoa cardstock, cut it into a tag shape, punched it with a small hole punch and tied some brown baker's twine through, popping it up with some foam tape.

So I hope I've inspired YOU to play around with some fall crafting supplies today!  What a perfect way to tell someone how GRATEFUL you are to have them in your life this season!

Embossing for the BOSS

 Back today with a few more cards, intended to be given to the men in your life!  I used strong, bold primary colors like black and red and my new love, the Cuttlebug machine, to dry emboss and then sand the white-core cardstock using the polka dot, chevron, and damask embossing folders (CTMH).  I stamped the images using Versafine black ink--the above card uses the sentiment from the Cloud Nine stamp set (CTMH, retired) and promotional kit die-cuts, while the card below uses the February SOTM Wild Thing stamp set images and sentiment (CTMH, retired).

Additional supplies used (all CTMH unless otherwise noted): 4" doily (Michaels), Ruby chevron ribbon, red baker's twine, black baker's twine, red glitter button, ruby ink (used to ink up the raised polka dots), assorted white-core cardstock, fine-gauge sanding block, glue dots, Tombow adhesive

Thanks for stopping by, my friend!  Hope you have a creative one!

Ivy Lane Purse and Card Kit

Hello friend!  I recently had the pleasure of putting this beautiful card kit together, thanks to the wonderfully talented Lisa Stenz.  It uses the Ivy Lane paper pack (CTMH) and a gorgeous stamp, Joyful Wishes.  I really love how it all came together!  Lisa's kit included all the Cricut-cut shapes and the purse form--I simply had to fold up the purse and adhere it using red line adhesive tape (my favorite for 3-D objects because it is such a great hold--can purchase from SU or Michael's).  The purse kit also included the Ivy Lane complement stickers and the assorted fabric and plastic flowers that I used to embellish the purse.  

Here is an up-close view of the purse decorated with the stickers and flowers.  Love that front pocket!  The purse closes with a little adhesive velcro dot.

The cards themselves were easy to stamp.  The Joyful Wishes stamp set contains ONE stamp with all the words and images in it, so it makes into a beautiful and EASY card front.  I stamped the image with chocolate ink and I colored in the flowers and leaves with watercolor pencils and added pink glitter gems (all from CTMH).  Lisa's kit came with those great bracket shapes using white and hollyhock cardstock--perhaps someday I will be able to cut these using my own Cricut cutter!

And another view of the card and purse set all set out...

This will make up into a beautiful gift (like for a teacher or Mother's day)...and then the recipient can reuse the purse as a gorgeous gift bag!  How fun!  Thanks again, Lisa!

Embossed Beauties

Hello friend!  Back again today with some more fun creations made with my new Cuttlebug machine and embossing folders!  I ordered a few folders from CTMH and they arrived the other day--YIPPEE!  I was excited to run some of CTMH's white-core cardstock through the Cuttlebug and sand down the embossed designs to get some neat effects and texture on my card fronts.   As you can see, I used virtually NO patterned paper--that is HUGE for me!  I have NEVER made a card with JUST cardstock before, but as you can see, there is a lot of visual interest and PUNCH with these embossed designs, you really don't miss it!  I also used CTMH's April stamp of the month, Balloon Talk--I can already tell I am going to LOVE this set and use it a lot!  Isn't it fun?

The card below uses the quatrefoil (pink--cotton candy cardstock) and damask (green--pear cardstock) embossing folders from CTMH.  I also used pear ink to stamp the "hello" word bubble.  I finished it off with some green baker's twine (local scrapbook store) and some Flamingo dots (CTMH).  The cloud die-cut shape is a left over I had from making these cards with the January promotional card kit.

 This card is similar, but uses the chevron embossing folder (cotton candy cardstock) and the quatrefoil folder (pear cardstock) and then I stamped a few more word bubbles using pear and blush ink and just fussy cut them out...

 The background with this card is the polka dot folder (Cuttlebug brand) and the chevron design is on top...and few more of those clouds and dots...

 I used a teeny bit of patterned paper to use up some scraps from the Lollydoodle paper pack (CTMH) and backed it with cotton candy cardstock...

Well, as you can see, you get a LOT of POP by sanding the embossed designs with fine gauge sand paper--love how that white cord shines through!  Each large word bubble I also popped up with some 3D foam tape for even more POP!

Stop by next time to see an inking technique with the embossed designs!  And be sure to have a creative one, my friend!

Jubilee Teacher Cards

 I had a fun time piecing together these cards using CTMH's Jubilee paper pack yesterday.  It is a summer-themed paper pack that I used to scrapbook a few County Fair pictures...and I had a few scraps left over for some cards.  I decided to make my kids' teacher cards using the scraps, so they are sort of "thank you" themed, but in a "county fair" sort of way!  Also, no stamping was required, making them quick and easy!  I just used images and sentiments from one of the patterned papers in the pack or the zipstrips.  Love that!
Here is one for the kids' teachers stating "Best in Show"...

 This one features a calendar of the month of June and a "Good Luck" sentiment for the summer...

 And I thought this sentiment was cute to reflect upon how FAST the school year has flown by!

Supplies used (CTMH):  Jubilee paper pack (features Indian Corn Blue and Cranberry cardstock), ruby Chevron ribbon, red baker's twine, red glitter buttons, 3D foam tape, 1 1/2" scalloped circle punch (Marvy), glue dots (for bows)

Look to the Light Ivy Lane Cards

Here's my last post using the beautiful Ivy Lane paper packet from CTMH!  I LOVE these cards and was super excited with how they turned out!  I used CTMH's Look to the Light stamp set (one of my favorites for inspirational sentiments) using Hollyhock ink.  I also used the Avonlea Cardmaking WOTG stamp set (retired) for the flourish and stamped it using Smokey Plum ink.  I popped most of the sentiments up a bit using 3D foam tape.  Lastly, I embellished a few of the cards using Flamingo dots (CTMH).  It seems I can never have enough inspirational and encouraging cards these days, for family and friends going through a LOT right now!

Love, love, love this chevron pattern of course!!...

A little paper-piecing using scraps!

Thanks for stopping by, my friend!  Hope you have a creative one!

Ivy Lane Butterfly Cards

Back again today with a super simple card design to use up little bits and scraps of your favorite patterned paper.  I simply used a Martha Stewart butterfly punch on the patterned paper and cardstock pieces from the Ivy Lane paper pack (CTMH) and then used SU's Modern Label punch for the sentiment at the bottom of the card.  I stamped the Card Chatter--Sympathy (CTMH) stamp set with Smokey Plum ink both inside and out.  Super easy and CUTE!  Thanks for stopping by!

Ivy Lane Cards...No Stamping Required!

These little beauties were EASY to piece together using scraps from CTMH's Ivy Lane paper packet.  The sentiments came from the zip strip atop one of the patterned papers, and a few flamingo dots (CTMH) serve to embellish the one on the right.  Love how this technique uses up little pieces of scrap paper and yet looks neat and clean on a card base!  Easy peesy, lemon squeezy!  Thanks for stopping by!

Monogrammed Ivy Lane Cards

Here's another take on the monogrammed cards I have made a few times over, inspired by Lisa Stenz! Check out these other color schemes I have done here and here.  Love these cards, anytime of year!

Supplies used (CTMH):  Ivy Lane paper pack--chevron paper, green cardstock, R monogram stamp, Smokey plum ink, flamingo dots, Perfect Fit Frames stamp set,  1 1/4" circle punch, 1 1/2" scalloped circle punch, colonial white cardstock, colonial white card bases, 3D foam tape

Matryoshka Doll Cards

One of my favorite parts of teaching my first grade daughter geography this year was how we were able to "travel" to so many amazing and interesting countries.  Russia was no exception!  When I saw this matryoshka doll stamp set (Happy Place by CTMH), I thought of my daughter and our "trip" to Russia...but also how mothers are like daughters...and how daughters are like grandmothers, and how we all interact as women in both our biological and our spiritual families...sort of like these nesting dolls!

Here's what the entire stamp set looks like--it has cute family-oriented sentiments, too.

I am over the moon excited about a new purchase I made--a Cuttlebug!  It is an embossing/die-cutting machine that I saved up for and bought with my Michael's coupon yesterday.  Yes!  Yesterday!  It did not take long to crack open that box and give my new dotted embossing folder (another purchase yesterday) a try!  After I ran the cardstock through the machine, I simply sanded down the raised pattern with a fine-gauge sandpaper block (SU) and the white core shows through!  This is true with all CTMH cardstock--it all has a white core (unlike SU's or Michael's cardstock...I like both for different reasons).  Even the kids got involved this morning--my son and daughters all had to give it a try before we started school today!  Very fun!

I must say that the color scheme for these cards and even some of the card patterns were directly inspired/CASE'd from these beauties made by Karen Pedersen.  I had fun paper-piecing many of the matryoshka dolls using patterned paper from the Jubilee paper pack (CTMH) and ruby or Indian corn blue cardstock.  For those I did not paper-piece, I simply colored in using CTMH's coordinating watercolor pencils.  I honestly love how BOTH techniques turned out!

Supplies used: Happy Place stamp set (March SOTM by CTMH), Jubilee paper pack ((CTMH) which includes the Indian Corn Blue cardstock), black ink, scalloped scissors (Michaels), Ruby cardstock (CTMH), ruby chevron ribbon (CTMH), 4" paper doily (Michaels), red baker's twine (SU), random assorted buttons, watercolor pencils (CTMH), dotted embossing folder (Cuttlebug), watercolor pencils (CTMH), fine-tipped scissors, 3D foam tape, red adhesive dots (for cheeks in first card pictured, Michaels)

I will have to post more about how to make these fabulous bows--they are actually not tied like a traditional bow and they always come out looking perfect!  Learned it from Karen Pedersen's blog--I will try to post a link!  In the video (at 3:20), you will see her tie the bow with waxy flax, but I used baker's twine for the same effect and just strung it through a button to tie it off.  Love!

Karen has also posted a wonderful embossing technique tutorial here.  I plan to use the inking technique with my embossing folders soon, and plan to purchase a few more folders from CTMH this month...hello, can we say CHEVRON?!!

If you want to join in the embossing craze, here is a link to a killer deal for a Cuttlebug (I paid just a few bucks more at Michael's with a coupon).

I also put together a "like mother, like daughter" one-page layout using these beautiful matryoshka dolls!  I will post that later when I find the perfect 5x7 picture of me with my girls!