Warming Up Thank You Card

I have a bunch of thank you cards I need to create, and it's a must that they fit into a regular envelope. Here is my first. 

When we visited Gatlinburg on our way back from Texas in the Fall, I purchased Bo Bunny's Whiteout collection from last year. It's perfect for what I need... snowy with a hint of Christmas, mainly due to all the glitter. I teamed it up with Kaisercraft's Frosted, Echo Park's I Love Winter solid blues, and Tim Holtz Kraft-Core Metallics. The card base I used is 4" x 5.5" white.

I used two dies on this card... Alterations Thinlits Stitched Ovals and Stitched Rectangles. The mug was fussy cut from a BB sheet and is popped up with 3-D foam adhesive.

My thank you was cut with Alterations Thinlits Celebration Words.

We woke to snow on the ground once more, so I'm thinking this "Warming Up with Hot Cocoa" sounds pretty good.
Hope you have a great day!

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Gift/Pocket Cards 2

Here are the final two pocket cards I created as gift card holders for our kids. I like making them all different to match what I think their style is. These were all embellished with whatever leftovers and scraps I had laying on my desk.

In 2014 I made a YouTube video showing how I create this type of pocket card. Please realize this is the ONLY video I have ever done. LOL! You can watch it here if you want to see how it's put together.

Thanks for stopping by!

Christmas Gift/Pocket Cards

I have a few more Christmas cards to show you. These are two of the pocket cards I made to put gift cards in for our children. I did the base pockets all at one time, assembly line style, then went back and embellished each one by one.

 Pretty basic designs using up any scraps and leftovers on my desk.

I hope your Christmas was a joyful one. So much preparation, and it goes by so quickly. Now is the time to plan those crafty projects you've been wanting to try. I have several lined up. What are yours?

Thanks for stopping by!

Merry Christmas

Blessings & Love To You & Yours,

The Penmaker & Linda

For unto us a child is born, unto us a son is given: and the government shall be upon his shoulder: and his name shall be call Wonderful, Counsellor, The mighty God, The everlasting Father, The Prince of Peace. Isaiah 9:6

Christmas Door Card

This card was one of those that you go to reach for, it's not there and you have just a brief time to make and get in the mail. Yikees!!! Not the best inspiration, but, hey, I had to get it done. Thankfully my craft table was still loaded with Christmas papers and all the embellishing goodies I had left over. The Rejoice was even stamped!

Time is really getting short, so you are all ready for Sunday, right?
The Penmaker and I bought tons of food (huge exaggeration) in Amish country. We made a stop first at our favorite spot, Amish Door Restaurant, and had breakfast. Great way to prepare for shopping!
Now I'm off to do some house cleaning and last minute tweaking.
"It's the most wonderful time of the year."

Thanks for stopping by! 

Red Deer Christmas Card

My card began with a half of a post card that I had used to die cut a Tim Holtz Alterations Mini Reindeer last year. I backed the cut portion with a piece of Bo Bunny Christmas Collage, then did some layering with more of that collection.

I added narrow, white crocheted lace and a border piece cut with TH Alterations Thinlits Stitched Ovals set. I topped that with a pretty poinsettia from Hobby Lobby and pine sprays and holly leaves cut with Thinlits Holiday Greens.

The music note clip is by Prima and I fussy cut the stamp from Carta Bella's Christmas Delivery collection.

I have definitely gone minimal on my Christmas cards this year as far as embellishments go. I'm trying to make them more envelope friendly, but this one didn't quite make the grade. I still had to send it in a padded kraft one.

I finished my final paper projects today for the holidays, and tomorrow the Penmaker and I are off to Amish country to buy groceries. The excitement is building! "It's the most wonderful time of the year".

Thanks for stopping by! 

Smoky Mountain Christmas Card

This wasn't meant as a nod to the Smoky Mountains, but with the pine branches, pine cone, and corrugate bear, is there any doubt? 

The papers are from the Carta Bella Christmas Delivery collection. I bought the darling bear at Hobby Lobby when we were in Texas last month. The tree 3-D sticker is one I purchased also at a Hobby Lobby but two years ago in Newark, Ohio.

I cut the pine and holly with Tim Holtz Alterations Thinlits Holiday Greens and the oval with their Stitched Ovals die set. The glittered red stars are from Petaloo as is the tiny pine cone and twine bow. The poinsettia chipboard piece is from the Christmas Delivery Chipboard Accents sheet. 

For some reason, I just knew this was the card to send to my nephew's beautiful daughter Jenny. I'm so thrilled she liked it!

I hope your final preparations for Christmas are going smoothly. The Penmaker and I are having a ball getting ready for the big day. I love watching the grandchildren, and can't wait until they all get here. "It's the most wonderful time of the year!"

Thanks for stopping by!

Celebrate Christmas Card

Hi friends!

We are socked-in on this icy, wintery Sunday. We've awaken this entire weekend to ice storms. I hope you are faring better in your corner of the world. Looking on the brighter side... it's a great time to wrap Christmas gifts or bake cookies... or even better... create something crafty. I made this card with Carta Bella's Christmas Delivery. What a delightful collection! 

I love the mix of the traditional Christmas colors with the black, and the variety of patterns which include this fabulous green, white, and black plaid... my favorite!

The Chipboard Accent sheet is a must have. I combined this wreath with Tim Holtz Alterations Thinlits Stitched Ovals cuts and a fussy cut sentiment from the Christmas Tags sheet.

My florals are a mix of Petaloo with die cuts using Thinlits Holiday Greens and a snowflake charm from The Funkie Junkie Boutique.

Have a wonderful, crafty day!

Thank you for stopping by!

The Savior is Born! Christmas Card

Hello friends!

Our temperatures are dipping more and more... a good time to stay indoors and try to get caught up on Christmas cards. 

 I did this one on an ivory 4" x 5" card base using the Kaisercraft Frosted collection, Tim Holtz Metallic Kraft-Core and some vintage Prima called Antique Mistletoe - Raspberry Mocha. The fabric flower in oatmeal was from their Millinary collection. My glittery pine sprays were cut using Tim's Alterations Thinlits Holiday Greens, and the ovals with Spellbinders Oval Floral dies. The stamp set is discontinued... it's by Sweet 'n Sassy.

Have a great Wednesday! 

Make some hot cocoa... bake cookies... hug your kids/grandkids... enjoy the season.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Thanks for stopping by!

Silent Night Holy Night Christmas Card

Happy Monday, dear friends!

I have a feeling my schedule will not be normal again until after the holidays, as I'm sure you're all experiencing, too. On a glad note, I now have one Christmas card complete. LOL!!! It's a pretty basic model, but at least I have a start.

The base is 4" x 5" ivory cardstock, and the papers are from the Kaisercraft Frosted collection. I did some simple layering with 3-D foam tape.

For a bit of bling... glittered paper, Alterations Mini Snowflakes die, and a Prima gem.

This looks like the beginning of a cold week here in our part of the US. Hope you stay warm wherever you are, and enjoy the season. "It's the most wonderful time of the year!"

Thanks for stopping by!

Rejoice Christmas Wall Hanging

After much travel and home reworking (some minor remodeling), I was able to squeeze in one Christmas project. The movie premier was a big hit and our son has already started the next, with The Penmaker and I in tow to watch the shooting (in West Virginia). After Texas and Arkansas, we did some Civil War battlefield touring, did part of the Natchez Trace, and ended up in Gatlinburg and Pigeon Forge, thankfully two weeks before the fire struck. We traveled through nine states this time, in celebration of the movie and our 50th wedding anniversary. All in all, a most wonderful time!

The base is Tim Holtz Kraft-Core Metallic gold paper cut to 5" x 9" and backed with an ivory wool fabric. The layers are Core'dinations Foundations cardstock in a dark blue, a gold glittered paper I picked up in Pigeon Forge, and Bo Bunny's Whiteout collection from last year. The flowers and berries are by Petaloo and my foliage was cut with Alterations Thinlits Holiday Greens. The frame was cut with Spellbinder's Oval Floral dies and the labels with Thinlits Labels. My sentiments were stamped using my old Jesus Is Born Sweet 'n Sassy stamp set, which is now discontinued (but they have some other great Christmas sets).

I still haven't gotten started with my cards, but hope to soon. Have you? I'm sure I'm the only one who hasn't.

Have a great weekend!

Thanks for stopping by!

Sweet Lovely Day Art Journal Spread

Working in my Photos art journal again with a different color pallet. I'm definitely not one for pink, however all of our granddaughters say it's their favorite color. So this one's for Katie, Penny, Dixie, Faith, Adelaide and Jesse.

This gorgeous Queen Anne's Lace was dried and given to me by a friend. While my super heavy gesso was still wet, I laid it down slightly patting it in. It stuck perfectly.

This texture was created with Tim's Speckles Layering Stencil and light molding paste.

I sprayed and dabbed on some color using Lindy's Pink Ladies Pink Flat Fabio, and Starbursts in Cotton Candy Pink and Salt Water Taffy. When they were thoroughly dry I sponged on Spun Sugar, Worn Lipstick, and Evergreen Boughs Distress inks.

The Sweet Lovely Day stickers are by My Mind's Eye.

The papers and tissue were all scraps...

and I fussy cut the butterfly from a scrap piece that I believe is vintage Bo Bunny.

Just a bit of stamping with a Tim Holtz text stamp from his Nature Walk set using Jet Black Archival ink.

I defined the lines with my black Faber-Castell Pitt Big Brush pen, smugging with my finger. Then to top it all off, I went back over it all with my extra soft charcoal pencil to give a bit more depth in some areas.

Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Third Time's The Charm

You know that old saying Third Time's the Charm... it's true. In this case anyway.

I created this card ages ago, but was never satisfied with it. A while ago I revamped it and added it to my Etsy collection as a back to school card. WhenI was thinking about what I could make for our granddaughter Dixie's birthday, I thought of it because she loves school.

I redid the florals (Alterations Thinlits Garden Greens), put in some red I Am Roses rosebuds, and added the Birthday Wishes tag (Alterations Tiny Tabs & Tags) along with a May Arts red burlap string bow.

I put on a Queen & Co ivory pearl half to match the pearl head pins.

Now I'm happy with it...

and Dixie loved it! Well worth all the effort!

Her mom and dad had her party a little early because we'll be away at our son's movie premier... going on today!

Thanks for stopping by!