Sending Smiles

Hi there,

I made this card to try coloring on Kraft card with alcohol ink markers and honestly, I felt like coloring without trying to shadow or die cut.  I think this is a beautiful background stamp and perfect for this sort of technique. 

What I Used to Make my Card:
Kraft Card Base
Simon Says Stamp Spring Flowers Background, #SSS102281
Simon Says Stamp Sending Smiles Die, #SSSD112179
Simon Says Stamp Fine White Embossing Powder
Alcohol Ink Markers
Vellum
Purple Shimmer Paper

This was an easy card to make; my only wish was that the white heat embossing came out cleaner but I guess when you have a bunch of animals their hair really does get everywhere!  The first step was stamping and embossing the background stamp {I love this stamp and it was about time I used it!}. Once that had cooled, I colored in the flowers and leaves with alcohol ink markers and set the card aside to explore how {and if} I was going to add a sentiment. I decided to use the sending smiles die, which I cut from purple shimmer paper and glued onto some vellum.  I trimmed the vellum into a strip and glued it onto the inside of the card so the adhesive wouldn't show.  There you have it! Despite the embossing I love the look  of this card.

Thank you so much for stopping by and taking a look at my card! I hope all is well with you; I'm happy to report things are calming down from the move {I'm still not settled but I can see improvement} and looking up here at my house.  Hope to see you very soon! 

Fondly, 

Christi

I am happily entering my card in the following challenges I found at Challenges for Days :)
NBUS, #26 - Anything Goes this is New {background stamp and die are brand new!}
Sisterhood of Snarky Crafters, #186 - K is for Kraft
Cut it Up, #226 - Nature
My Time to Craft, #458 - Floral
The Sisterhood of Crafters - Flowers as the Focus {hope this counts!}
Frilly & Funkie - Anything Goes
The House that Stamps Built, #2621 - Embossing, wet or dry
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes
Little Red Wagon, #603 - Say it with Flowers

 

Thinking of You

I have been collecting the Little Agenda Stamp & Die sets from Mama Elephant for a while now.  I have always had a soft spot in my heart for miniature things and these adorable little critters are just SO cute!  I actually made this card with various Little Agenda animals I had hanging around and the frame was one I had made a while back.  I hope you enjoy this card!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Grey Card with a subtle dot background {frame}
Darker Grey Card {sentiment}
Uniquely Creative Circle Cover Plate Die, #UCD1801
Mama Elephant Little Agenda Stamps & Dies, Monkey
Mama Elephant Little Agenda Stamps & Dies, Chickie
Mama Elephant Little Agenda Stamps & Dies, Cats
Mama Elephant Little Agenda Stamps & Dies, Dogs
Mama Elephant Little Agenda Stamps & Dies, Bunnies
Simon Says Stamp Thinking of You Die, #SSSD111927
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink
Various Gel Pens
Derwent Inktense Pencils
Dimensional Dots

Like I said above, the critters were already stamped and colored.  I just added some gel pens for the accessories they are holding {they are tiny and I find it very difficult to watercolor in the items they are holding. Maybe someday when I learn how to use my Copic markers, I won't need to use gel pens!  But they do give a nice shine and bling to the images.}  Then I cut them out.  The frame was already attached to the card.  It had ripped while I was taking it out of the die but I still wanted to use it as I felt I could hide the rip somehow.  After I used dimensional dots to attach the critters to the card, I cut out the sentiment using darker gray card stock.  Lastly, I glued the sentiment onto the card, placed a glittery small heart I had {left over from another project} next to it, and I was finished.  I absolutely adore these Little Agenda sets and there are so many more for me to collect including little fairies, elves, reindeer, and more!

I hope you like my card!  I would love it if you'd consider following me on any of the social media sites where I am a part, including FaceBook. Feel free to let me know if you do decide to follow me and I will certainly return the favor. Thank you so much for visiting! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Use Dies and/or Punches
Addicted to Stamps & More, #405 - Dies Cuts and/or Stencils
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Four Legged Friends
Sisterhood of Snarky Stampers, #185 - A is for Animals
TTCRD - Anything Goes
2 Crafty Critter Crazies, #50 - Anything Goes with a Critter {or 9!}

Simple Slimline Thank You Card

Hi everyone! 

While I do love to get out my markers and a bunch of stamp and dies, there are times when I just need to make something a bit easier.  I love using paper packs and Birch Press Designs dies when I need to make a quick card; I especially love that the intricate nature of the dies make it look like I worked for ages to make the card, yet all it typically takes is a few turns of my die cutting machine.  This week for my Dies R Us design team post I am showing you this simple, yet elegant, thank you card:

What I Used to Make my Card:
Slimline White Card Base
DCWV Paper Stack, 12" x 12", Peri & Peach
Birch Press Designs Flora Heart Layer Set, 56120 {This is a NBUS set of Dies for me!}
(you could also use Caprice Heart Layer Set,  Dahlia Heart Layer Set or Petal Heart Layer Set)
Birch Press Designs Big Thanks Sugar Script, 57142 
Nuvo Delux Adhesive
Sequins from Stash

Once I had made my slimline card base, I set that aside and cut out a bunch of the hearts using all of the beautiful papers in the paper stack.  I recommend keeping each layer separate while you are doing this as it is easier to assemble them, I have a tendency to mix up some of the layers and don't realize it until I begin to put the layers together.  I use a toothpick to dot the adhesive onto thin die cuts like these but have found the tip of the Nuvo glue works so well with dispensing a tiny dot that I have been able to cut down on using  tooth picks! In the past I've tried the needle precision tips {and a bunch of others} but they always clog on me, not so with this glue! Putting these hearts together was a breeze! I had cut enough layers to make 5 complete hearts so I saved the other two to be used later.  I chose to use the "thanks" sentiment rather than a more formal sentiment to keep the card playful and not too elegant.  Dies R Us carries an amazing selection of Birch Press Designs Dies at the best prices I have found online - my collection is growing quite fast now!  I hope this little tutorial finds you and yours healthy and happy! 

Fondly, 

Christi

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Addicted to Stamps & More, #405 - Use Dies and/or Stencils
Pammie's Inky Pinkies, #2119 - Anything Goes
Dragonfly Dreams - Add Some Sparkle {paper I used & sequins}
Just Us Girls, #583 - Trend Week, Layers
Carlin's Cards, #34 - Flowers & Hearts {Flowers = patterned paper}
Craftyhazelnut's Patterned Paper Challenge - Anything Goes w/ Patterned Paper
Mix it Up, #49 - Anything Goes w/ 3 or More Layers {each heart is 3 layers}
NBUS Challenge, #26 - Anything Goes with Never Before Used Schtuff

Hugs and Houseplants

 Hi everyone!

If you read my other post about the card kit I purchased from My Favorite Things then feel free to jump right on to the main card making part of this post; if you haven't, go ahead, I'll wait here. Stamping was the first craft I felt I could actually do, meaning I could make things that I felt were good enough to share with other people. Since I started stamping I have branched out into so many other crafts, stamping is my gateway craft! So, to make a card with NO stamping at all is something I am trying. Of course, it is much easier with the amazing selection of dies that are available; including these cute stand alone houseplant dies!

What I Used to Make my Card:
Cream Card Base
Die-Namics Houseplants Die Set
Die-Namics Cats & Plant Perches Die Set
Die-Namics Sending You Hugs Die
My Favorite Things Wallpaper Patterns Paper Pad
Gold Shimmer Card
Various Colors of Brown Card
Various Colors of Green Card
Scraps of Card 

After I made my first card I was a houseplant making fool. I made so many of them I even had leftovers after using them to make two cards!  But it was SO fun to just cut everything out of greens and browns and then add a pop of color using nothing but scraps!  The only thing I

used a new piece of paper for was the "hugs" sentiment and that was due to the fact that the color I liked just hadn't been used yet!.

So this card is fairly easy to figure out but I can't do a blog post without telling you how I made it, so here goes!  I started with a cream card base, trimmed down a piece of patterned paper from the pad and adhered that to the card.  Then, once I found the color I liked for the sentiment, I cut that and a small perch from it. I saved the scrap from the sentiment and used it in my next card. I placed the sentiment onto the card, (yes, the G is a tad off but, like I always say because it is handmade it isn't supposed to be perfect) and glued it down.  I then proceeded to pick and choose from the plants I already had made which ones to include on this card.  Easy peasy! I wanted to make this card feel a little more masculine while still using a heart felt sentiment and I think I made that happen!

I hope you like the card as much as I do! It reminds me that I truly don't have a style that I stick to when I am creating; I just go where the muse takes me!  

Thanks!
Christi

I am entering my Hugs and Houseplants card in the following challenges:
Creative Fingers Challenge Blog, #207 - Anything Goes
Cardz TV, #140 - Anything Goes
Just Us Girls, #583 - Layers
LTSCB, #145 - Anything Goes
LTCCB, #58 - Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes with Dies
Classic Design Challenge Blog - Anything Goes
Word Art Wednesday - Anything Goes

You Are So Much More to Me

Hi everyone!

I hope this post finds you all well! I have been insanely busy for what seems like forever, I found out that moving is not as easy as it used to be! In addition to moving all of my stuff, I have been helping a friend pack his home to prepare for his move back to the East Coast and then I got hit with a horrible sinus infection!  Finally things are settling down and I made this card to remind me that there are new beginnings all around us as Spring has Spring, which just so happens to be the May Twist {all of our challenges are always Anything Goes, but feel free to use the twist} at The Paper Funday Challenge this month!

What I Used to Make my Card:
5" x 7" White Card Base
Simon Says Stamp You Have My Heart Bundle, #SET382YMH
Pinkfresh Studios Simply Sentiments: You, #PFSA0120
Pinkfresh Studios Sentiment Suite You Die Set
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink
Distress Ink in Hickory Smoke
Grey Cardstock

Once I had stamped and colored the flowers I realized I wanted them both on one card but they wouldn't fit on the standard A2 cards I typically make; so, this is my third 5" x 7" card in less than a month. It's strange because I rarely make them t his size. Anyway, after the flowers were cut out and I had figured out the placement I wanted, I stamped the sentiment on white card using grey ink before die cutting the "you" from grey card.  I trimmed the sentiment down to fit where I wanted, glued it on and attached the word die cut above it. 

As I said in my opening I have been crazy with both moving and helping my friend move back to the East Coast.  By the time you read this he will have gone home and I hope to have gotten my new space in some order.  At least now I can open the windows and let the breeze in! This card is one of my favorite cards ever; it really says spring to me! I adore the flowers, the sentiment, the coloring, everything. I am going to be sending this to my sister, just because she does mean the world to me. Thank you all for stopping by, and for reading my post! I appreciate you more than you know!

Fondly,
Christi

I am proudly entering my card into the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Feminine
The House that Stamps Built M521- All About Moms
Addicted to Stamps, 404 - Any Occasion
Double D Challenges - Flower of the Month {honestly, I have NO idea about flowers LOL}
Simon Says Stamp Monday Challenge - Feminine
Dare 2B Artsy - Flowers
Allsorts, 622 - Flowers
Happy Little Stampers Watercolor Challenge - Anything Goes
Moving Along with the Times 130 - Bouquet