Merry Christmas (#christmasinjuly2017)

Summer is a wonderful time of the year but then again so is Christmas so I am doing a Christmas in July series. My goal is to make at least 20 cards this month but I am not going to stress over the goal. The point is to get a jump start on my Christmas cards while enjoying the process. See below on how to participate too.

I'm back with another Christmas card that I am submitting for both the Paper Smooches July Anything Goes challenge and August Guest Designer search.

After stamping five of the Christmas icons from the Paper Smooches Merry Motifs set, I cut out withe the matching Motif Icon dies and colored all with Copic Markers. I used a Sakura Clear Gelly Roll pen on the tree and ornament pieces. I cut the background panel from watercolor card stock using a die from the Simon Says Stitched Rectangles set. To prepare the background I messily water colored with tumbled glass distress ink and stamped the sentiment with pure poppy ink. I grouped the icons together attaching with a foam tape.

Products: Paper Smooches stamps and dies, PTI and Master's Touch watercolor cs, PTI and Ranger Distress ink, Copic markers
Copics: G40, G43, G46, YR30, YR31, YR20, RV10, RV11, RV13, R20, R22, R24, R27

If you feel like joining me to get a head start on your Christmas cards, please link up below. I would love the inspiration and promise I will stop by to take a look and comment. If you post to instagram, use #christmasinjuly2017.

An InLinkz Link-up

Tag You're It #72 - Week 2

As you have probably clued in by the graphic above, I am guest designing for the Tag You're It challenge this month.

Lindsey Larsen is the featured artist this month and just look at that pretty tag she made as the challenge inspiration.

I loved the rectangular shape in white so I started out by cutting a tag from plain white card stock using the Papertrey Ink Tag Sale: Quilted die. I also loved the lacy background but I didn't have any dies to emulate that look so I used the largest die from the Paper Smooches Roses Die set for the cut out, then cutting again from harvest gold card stock. I backed the rose with a water colored piece. The sentiment from the Inspired: Blessed Mini set was stamped in black ink directly onto the tag. I cut out the word suing the Inspired: Blessed die twice from black card stock and then once from berrylicous a drop shadow affect. After attaching the word to the tag, I added a paper bow cut from the same berrylicous card stock using a die from the Pretty Pink Posh Twine and Bows die set.

I plan on putting this on a sympathy card later.

Products: Papertrey Ink stamps and dies, Ranger, MFT and PTI cs, Paper Smooches and Pretty Pink Posh dies, Simon Says, PTI and Stampin Up inks

Now head on over to the Tag You're It Challenge blog to see the amazing inspiration from the design team as well as how to join in on the challenge.

Christmas Blessings

I created a trio of tags back in August that I decided I needed for cards since I was a bit short of the number of Christmas cards for mailing.

I created very simple backgrounds using patterned paper since the tags were really oversized and detailed enough. Plus frankly, I didn't have much time to get that creative anyway. Here are the individual photos:

Products: Essential by Ellen dies, Paper Smooches stamps and dies, Carta Bella, My Mind's Eye and Illustrated Faith dp, Bazzill and PTI cs, Michael's mirrored cs, Hemptique cord, MFT ink, Copic Markers
Copics: W00, E81, YG0000, YG01, YG03

Thanks for stopping by.

Christmas Blessings

Today's project is a trio of Christmas tags I created for the  Ellen Hutson Calling All Artists Pin-Sights Challenge. Unfortunately, my photos are a bit dark. It's gloomy here!

I used the largest die from the Paper Smooches Gift Tags 2 set to cut two tags from white linen and a third one from kraft cardstock. I stamped the same sentiment from the Paper Smooches A Blessed Christmas at the bottom of each tag. I then used the Essentials by Ellen Laurel Wreath die to cut wreaths from Green Parakeet, Pinefeather and gold mirrored cardstock. I cut additional ones from plain white cardstock in order to layer the wreaths for dimension and stability.

For the "glamour" tag, I added a metallic red bow using a die from the My Favorite Things Blueprints 3 set and gold and red metallic stars cut with dies from the Essentials by Ellen Home & Hearth set. Some gold metallic thread in the tag hole finished it up.

The "rustic" tag includes a small house cut with a die from the Essentials by Ellen Home & Hearth set and a small plaid bow cut with the Mama Elephant Dainty Bow die. Natural cord was threaded through the tag hole.

For the "clean and simple" tag I stamped the dove from the Paper Smooches A Blessed Christmas set onto Copics X-Press It cardstock and then cut out with the matching die from the Blessed Icons set. After coloring with Copic makers, I threaded lime green cord through the tag hole.

Products: Essential by Ellen dies, Paper Smooches stamps and dies, Bazzill and PTI cs, Michael's mirrored cs, Hemptique cord, MFT ink, Copic Markers
Copics: W00, E81, YG0000, YG01, YG03

Just like the tags I made earlier this week, these will most likely be placed on cards. It's been fun getting back to crafting this week. We are have a busy weekend ahead with my granddaughter's birthday party and an open house. I need to do some shopping and get this house cleaned for it. Have a great weekend.

You are in My Prayers

Good morning. I hope you had a great weekend. We had a nice relaxing one and of course watched the Super Bowl last night. I am not necessarily a Broncos fan but I am very happy for Peyton Manning. Now onto today's card created for the March Paper Smooches Guest Designer search.

I first prepared the background by messy  water coloring using Ranger (Tumbled Glass) Distress ink onto Ranger water color cardstock  which was then cut out with a stitched rectangle die. While the background dried, I stamped the the bird, wreath, leaves and two leafy branches from the Natural Beauties set. The images were cut out with the matching Natural Beauties Icons dies and then colored with Copic Markers. The sentiments from the Spiritual Sampler set were stamped directly onto the background. The images were attached using a combination of glue and foam tape for a dimensional look. I cut a cross from gold mirrored cardstock using one of the dies from the Crosses die set and slipped it underneath the images, adding a few sequins to finish it up.

Products: Paper Smooches stamps and dies, Ranger water color cs, PTI cs, Doodlebug and Lawn Fawn sequins, Ranger Distress ink, MFT die, Memento ink, Copic Markers
Copics: Bird-Y0000, Y21, Y23, y35, Y38; Wreath-E30, E31, E33; Leaves-YG0000, YG11, YG13; Leaves and Wreath Background-B0000, B000, B01

Thank you for stopping by!

Peace on Earth

Did everyone survive Black Friday? I did not do any shopping, not even online. I started decorating for Christmas instead which is my usual routine for the day after Thanksgiving.

Today's Christmas card is for the Paper Smooches November Challenge to include gold on a project.

Back in October for The Daily Marker 30 Day challenge, I colored up the image with from the Paper Smooches A Blessed Christmas with Copic markers and cut out with the matching die from the Blessed Icons die set. I am just now getting it onto a card. I cut out a circle from Ranger Watercolor cardstock and then sponged a night sky using Scattered Straw, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans and Black Soot Ranger Distress inks. I then cut out a circle out of textured cardstock and a layer of craft foam and the old world city from muted gold card stock from my stash using the Cityscape 1 Die. I layered all together and then stamped the sentiment and added the image piece also with craft foam. A few sequins and a star/cross in the sky finished it up.

Products: Paper Smooches stamps and dies, Bazzill, Ranger Distressed Watercolor and PTI cs, Lil Inker Designs die, Simons Says die and ink, Memento and Ranger Distress inks, Copic Markers
Copics: Skin-E0000, E000, E00, E13, R20; Clothing-W00, E81, B91, B93, B95, C1, C3, C5, R56, R59, R89

Thanks for stopping by.

God is Love

It's hard to believe it's September already. The summer has just flown by for me. How about you?

Today's card is for the Paper Smooches Sparks "Anything Goes" challenge.

I combined two tags cut from plain white cardstock and watercolor cardstock using the largest tag die in the Paper Smooches Gift Tags 2 set. I used the watercolor smooshing with acetate technique on the watercolor tag. I cut the largest flower die in the Roses set on the top tag which allowed the ink on the bottom tag to show through. I combined the two to create a shaker tag filling it with pink and white iridescent sequins. The sentiment from the Spiritual Sample set was stamped with Hibiscus Burst ink onto the smallest tag from the same Gift Tags 2 set using and was attached to the shaker with baker's twine. I used the same smooshing technique on the background piece with the same Hibiscus ink. After attaching the completed shaker to the background I added a sequin and rainstone.

Products: Paper Smooches stamp and dies, Ranger Watercolor and Strathmore cs, PTI cs and Rainstones, PTI ink


I'm off to physical therapy once again. Thanks for stopping by.

Peace On Earth

Today's card is for this week's Merry Monday #168 Challenge to create a card using pastels and I am also submitting it to the Paper Smooches Anything Goes challenge.

I created a shaker card by using a Lil Inker Designs Stitched Mat rectangle die to cut the top piece from white cardstock and then again from craft foam. I then used a LID Stitched Mat circle die to cut the center from both pieces. I cut the shaker mat piece from Sno Cone cardstock sprayed with Hero Arts Unicorn White opaque ink to represent snow. The shaker was filled with white seed beads and pink sequins. I then stamped the group of trees from the Paper Smooches Warm Hearts set and cut with the matching die from the Warm Hearts Icons set.  After coloring with Copic markers I attached to the shaker front with craft foam. The sentiment from the A Blessed Christmas was stamped with Pool Party ink.

Products; Paper Smooches stamps and die, PTI and MFT ink, Hero Arts Spray, Lil Inker Designs dies, Stampin' Up ink, Copic Markers
Copics: G0000, G00, G00, G02, R30, R32, R22, R35, E40, E41

Happy Hump Day!

Blessed

Today's card is another faith based Easter card.

I cut the cross using the Paper Smooches Crosses die set from a wood grain patterned paper and mirrored gold cardstock. I placed it on a domed piece cut with an MFT die using dimensional dots. I then attached it to the card base using dimensional tape. I used a die from the Religious Words set to cut out from gold mirrored cardstock and cut twice more from plain white cardstock, sandwiching them together to raise the word up. I added colorful flowers and leaves using the Flowers Dies to cut from various patterned paper and cardstock scraps.

Products: Paper Smooches dies, Pebbles, Simple Stories and Doodlebug dp, Recollections and Bazzill cs, PTI cs and buttons. My Favorite Things die

I am entering this card for the current Paper Smooches Spark challenge of anything goes.

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Easter Faith

I am steadily working on my Easter cards. Today's card is another faith based one.

It's rare that I do a diecut only card but this one just worked out that way. I started out by cutting the main image panel from textured cardstock using a Lil Inker Designs Side Stitched rectangle die. I cut out the church from brick patterned paper using the Paper Smooches Church die and then again from cardstock gluing together for stability. I attached it to the panel with dimensional tape, adding another cross inside. I then cut flowers and leaves from cardstock and a small amount of patterned paper using dies from the Flower Dies set, staggering them around the church. The image panel was attached to the card base using dimensional tape.

Products: Paper Smooches dies, Simple Stories dp, Bazzill and MFT cs, Lil Inker Designs die

I am entering this card for the current Paper Smooches Spark challenge of anything goes as well as the Paper Smooches April Guest Designer search.

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You Make Me Smile

Today's card is for the Paper Smooches Sparks "Anything Goes" challenge.

I cut two tags from yellow paper and white card stock using the Tag Stitched Die and then stamped the sentiment from the from the We Totally Click directly onto the white tag. After coloring the polaroid camera image from the same set with Copic Markers, I fussy cut out and attached it to the tag using dimensional dots. I just found out there are matching dies for this set so I immediately put them on my with list. I like to fussy cut but not graphic type designs. After preparing the card panel using strips of patterned paper from the American Crafts Plus One pad, I attached the tag set and added a scattering of enamel dots for another clean and simple design.

Products: Paper Smooches stamps and die, American Craft dp, PTI and Bazzill cs, Divine Twine, My Mind's Eye enamel dots, MFT die, Copic Markers
Copics: W00, W1, W2, W5, E81, Y0000, Y11, Y13, Y15


Thanks for stopping by.

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O Holy Night

I have another Christmas card today that I created for the current Merry Monday Silent Night (#130) Challenge.

This challenge gave me a great excuse to break out my new Paper Smooches A Blessed Christmas stamp set. I stamped the angel onto Neenah Classic Crest Natural White card stock, cut out with the matching Blessed Icons Dies and colored with Copic Markers. I cut the old world city from muted gold card stock from my stash using the Paper Smooches Cityscape 1 Die. I attached both to a panel cut from October Afternoon patterned paper using a Lil Inker Designs Stitched die. The sentiment was stamped with Stampin' Up Midnight Muse ink onto a circle cut a My Favorite Things Pierced die. Both the angel and sentiment were attached with dimensional dots. Ranger Patina and Diamond Stickles were added to the angel wings.

Products: Paper Smooches stamps and dies, October Afternoon dp, Neenah cs, Ranger Stickles, My Favorite Things die, Stampin' Up ink, Copic Markers
Copics: Skin-E0000, E000, E11; Hair-YR30, YR31, Y21; Dress-B41, B91, B93; Wings-W00, E81

It's another football Saturday around here but I will definitely work in some stamping too.

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Just a Note

Happy Monday to you. I hope your week is off to a great start.

Today's card is a clean and simple one. I stamped the typewriter from the Paper Smooches Just a Note set with black ink and then again with pink again. I fussy cut out the black typewriter and then the pink keys on the second one and layered together with dimensional dots. I cut a slit at the top of the image with my craft knife and then inserted a sheet of paper with the sentiment stamped on it. I attached the image to the background panel with a bit of glue and the bottom and craft tape at the top in order to tilt it forward slightly. A paper clip for the Doodlebug Halloween Mini Paperclips package completed the "office" look.

Products: Paper Smooches stamps, Avery Elle and Studio Calico dp, PTI and Bazzill cs, Doodlebug mini paper clip, Darice sequins, Lil Inker Designs die, Simon Says and Memento inks

I am submitting this to both the current Curtain Call and Paper Smooches Sparks Anything Goes challenge.

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You Brighten My Day

Good afternoon!

Today's card is pulling double duty today as it is for the Paper Smooches Sparks Designer Drafts challenge as well at the Hope You Can Cling To Shine On Challenge (HYCCT1401B) going over at Splitcoaststampers.

I used a combo of patterned paper from the Studio Calico Brighton Pier pad as well as two cuts using the PTI Hello Sunshine die set to create the "rays" at the top of the image panel. The image and sentiment from the Paper Smooches We Totally Click directly onto the image panel and then colored with Copic Markers. Very and clean and simple.

Products: Paper Smooches stamps, Studio Calico dp, Bazzill cs, PTI cs and die, Doodlebug enamel dots, Lil Inker Designs die, Copic Markers
Copics: N1, N3, Y0000, Y11, Y13, Y15

That's it for today. Thanks for stopping by.

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