*Merry Christmas* Birds

How was your weekend? Mine included a few crafty hours as I needed to get my mind off some personal things. Although not one thing has changed, at least I had a few hours respite from thinking about it. Does crafting help your mental health too?

I cut and colored several of the birds from the My Favorite Things Winter Songbird stamp and die set including these cuties during the latest #thedailymarker30day challenge. You will see more of them later in the week as I colored enough for at least four cards in total. I generally followed the current My Favorite Things Wednesday Sketch Challenge #560 for the layout. The sentiment and tiny snowflakes from the Hand Lettered Holiday (apparently retired) set were stamped in cherry and lazy day ink. 

Products: My Favorite Things stamps and dies, Avery Elle dp, PTI and Ellen Hutson cs, Atenew, The Stamp Market and MFT ink, Copic Markers

Copics: Birds-B21, B23, B26, W00, E81, Y31; Scarf/Hat-R21, R22, R27; Leaves-YG01, YG03; Berries-E81; Acorns-E50, E53, E55

Thank you for stopping by. Have a great week!

From His Abundance

Today is a faith based card I created using this week's Color Throwdown Challenge (#661) colors of black, gray, cream and kraft. 

I stamped the sentiment from The Greetery Grace Upon Grace onto subtle patterned paper using licorice ink, then cut out with a wonky stitched die. I prepared the kraft cardstock card base by adding a simple patterned paper border at the bottom, then attached the sentiment piece. Lastly I used The Greetery BotaniCuts Wheat Die to cut from cream cardstock, then sponged with antique linen distress ink. I bundled them together and used a die from the The Greetery Fit to be Tied set to cut from black cardstock and layered over the wheat as if the stalks were tied together. 

Products: The Greetery stamps and dies, Memory Box and Sunny Studios dp, Neenah and Reverse Confetti cs, MFT die, Pinkfresh Studio ink

Have a blessed Sunday! 

{The Cat's Pajamas} Back 2 School

The school year is in full swing whether students are attending in person, zooming or home schooling. I have a sweet family member who is an elementary school teacher. So after seeing how beautifully she decorated her classroom this year I decided to surprise her with a school themed card in a box. 

I used the new Back 2 School Card in a Box Cutables to cut from gray, white, black, gold, yellow, pink and aqua cardstock and a bit of patterned paper for the shrubbery using my Silhouette Cameo 3. The results are a lot of pieces! As Alma notes in the how to video, a Xyron X is very helpful so that you already have the glue on each piece and it also helps to corral the smaller pieces.

To reduce your cutting time, I recommend planning ahead and listing your colors for each of the parts. 

You will note that I left off the "writing" on the book and school name so I could personalize for my recipient. 

This was fun to make and the recipients are always amazed when they open the envelope containing a card in a box. 

A Forest Friends Christmas {Purple Onion Designs}

Today's Christmas card uses images by @juliancharlton for Purple Onion Designs. 

I stamped the Autumnal Tree onto Copic friendly cardstock, cut out with with a wonky stitch die and colored with Copic markers. I then stamped one of the birds from the Happy Winter Forest Friends, colored with Copics, fussy cut out and then superimposed over the original bird in the tree. And then there it sat for a long time because one of my awesome teammates created a card so similar to my idea that I decided to hold on to it for a while.

During the latest #thedailymarker30day challenge I colored up more images from the same set and attached to the already completed background using a layer of crafty foam. The sentiment from the Handwritten Holiday set was stamped directly onto the background panel using gala red ink

Products: Purple Onion Designs stamps, MFT cs and die, Altenew and WPlus9 ink, Copic Markers

Copics: Bear-E30, E31, E33, E35, E37, E40, E41, E42, E44, E45; Sweater-G000, G00, YG01, YG03, BG01, BG02; Hat-BG000, BG01, BG02, G000, G00, E81; Tree-W00, W1, W2; Leaves-YG01, YG03; Lights-C3, BG02, R24; Bird-R20, R22, R24, E81, YG01, YG03, BG000, BG01, BG02; Shadows-BG0000, BG70; Fox-W00, E81, YR23, YR24, YR27; Log-W00, W1, W2; Gifts-R21, R22, R24, R27, YG00, YG01, YG03, E81

I hope your Monday is not too Monday-ish! Thanks for stopping by.

Merry Christmas

It's Fri-Yay! I am hoping for a weekend of relaxation, college football and a bit of crafting. 

The main image piece of this card has been stamped a long time. Since 2017 to be exact! I know that because I looked back on my blog here where I used the same set but decided on different colors. The stamp set is Simon Says Christmas Graphic and is apparently retired as I could not find it on their site. All the sequins had fallen off so I replaced them and then colored up this sweet reindeer from the Mama Elephant Little Reindeer Agenda set which was cut out using the matching dies. After coloring with Copic Markers, I attached to the stamped piece using foam dimensionals. I attached the entire piece with a layer of craft foam to a background panel which was completed by blending mowed lawn distress ink over the Pinkfresh Studio Slim Diamond Plaid Layering Stencil. 

Products: Simon Says stamps, PTI cs, Doodlebug sequins, Pinkfresh Studio stencil, Simon Says die, Alltenew, Ranger Distress, Tsukineko Delicata and PTI ink

Reindeer-W00, W1, W2, E40, E42, E44, R20; YG03

I am submitting this to the September CAS Christmas Card Challenge. 

It looks like I need to color up a few more tiny reindeer, doesn't it? Thanks for sharing your Fri-YAY with me! 

Just for You {Purple Onion Designs}

Today's card features an image from Purple Onion Designs illustrated by Stacey Yacula. I never get tired of Stacey's sweet, sweet images. 

I started out by using a storybook die to cut from a sno cone cardstock rectangle. I then laid it over Copic friendly cardstock and lightly traced the openings with a pencil to use as a guide for the placement of the images and sentiments. Jackson & Bubbles and then the sentiment from the Hopscotch Sentiments were stamped onto the panel. I also stamped the flowers from the Flora End Notes set seprately and fussy cut out. All images were colored with Copic markers. 

Products: Purple Onion Designs stamps, MFT cs, Pretty Pink Posh die, Altnew and Ranger Distress ink, Copic Markers

Copics: Bear-E40, E41, E42, E31, E33, E35, R22, R01, R02; Wand-B000; Bubbles-B000, B01, RV000, RV00, Y00, Y02; Ground-W1, W2; Flowers-B21, B23, G40, G43

Thanks for stopping by my little corner of the world. 

Waving Hello {Purple Onion Designs}

After watching all the 9/11 tributes and programs this weekend which were very moving, I felt I needed to spend time in my craft room to take my mind off all the sadness. It may have been twenty years ago but it is still raw as I am sure it was for you. Purple Onion Designs stamps are always so cheerful and innocent so they were a panacea to the somberness I was feeling. 

I stamped the S.S. Minow onto Copic friendly cardstock, colored with Copic markers, then fussy cut out using scissors and my Fiskars Fingertip craft knife for the more intricate areas. To create the background panel, I embossed a cloudy day cover panel onto a white linen cardstock rectangle and added the waves in three different colors of cardstock. I slipped in the sailboat between the waves using thin foam dimensionals. The sentiment from the Journey Sentiment Set  was separated and stamped onto a cloud cut with a cutting file and another one cut with the cover panel. 

Products: Purple Onion Designs stamps, MFT and PTI cs, Reverse Confetti and Impression Obsession dies, The Cat's Pajamas Cutables, Altenew and WPlus9 ink, Copic Markers

Copics: Sailboat-W00, E81, B0000, B000, B02; Buoy-R21, R35; Bird-B91, B93, YR31. W00, W1, YR01, YR02; Bunny-C1, C3, R01, R02, YG01, YG03, B91, B93, B21, B23

I am submitting this to the current Fusion Card Challenge. 

Have a blessed week. May all our tomorrows be better than 9/11.

{The Cat's Pajamas} A Nutcracker Christmas

My project for today features the sweet Nutcracker Digi stamp from The Cat's Pajamas. 

I used the Print and Cut features in the Silhouette Studio software to print and cut out both the nutcracker and the sentiment. I also changed the color of the sentiment with the software. The size of the card is a mini slimline (3.25 by 6.25) and the background was accomplished by blending broken china distress ink onto the panel. Both the sentiment and image were attached using foam dimensionals. A few clear jewels finished it up. 

Products: The Cat's Pajamas Digital Stamps, Catherine Pooler dp, PTI cs, Ranger Distress Ink, Copic Markers

Copics: Skin-E000, E00, E11; Eyes-B41, B34; Lips-R01, R02; Mustache/Hair-C00, C1, C3; Clothing-R20, R22, R24, R27, B000, B01, B04, W00, E81; Shoes-N1, N3, N5, N7

I hope you have a great rest of the week. Thanks for stopping by.