Winter's Night Shadow Box Card

I made this card for the Paper Funday January Challenge, which is anything goes or a winter landscape - not surprisingly, I went with the optional theme. I love making these Lawn Fawn shadow cards!  And the fact that they fold flat to make mailing easier {and cheaper!} is so cool.  I actually found the base of the shadow box already cut in a pile of papers on my desk so I took it as a sign and whipped up this card! 

 

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card
Lawn Fawn Happy Village stamps, #LF1591
Lawn Fawn Happy Village dies, #LF1592
Lawn Fawn Winter Skies stamps, #LF1763
Lawn Fawn Winter Skies dies, #LF1764 
Lawn Fawn Shadow Box Card dies, #LF1486
Lawn Fawn Starry Skies dies, #LF1377
Dark Blue Shimmer Card
White Shimmer Card
Silver Glitter Card
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Red Liner Tape
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers

I wanted this card to have a starry night so I cut a piece of shimmer, dark blue card, cut stars out of the silver glitter card, attached the stars to the

Stars from the top of the card

background, and set aside.  I had cut the middle pieces of the card {where all the components sit} out of white shimmer card.  It's hard to see in the photos but it's very pretty.  I set all the shadow box card pieces aside.  

I stamped all of my houses and trees onto watercolor card and colored them with my Zigs.  Once they had dried I cut them out with the coordinating dies.  I then assembled the card.  I could go through step by step, but Lawn Fawn has a wonderful video that tells you exactly how to make this card so if you are wondering what the exact process is, or want to see the construction, just click HERE.   In the video they use white tape, the type you can tear, but I've found the red liner tape works the best for me.  I guess it is all what you prefer.  However, wet adhesive would really present a problem trying to hold everything together properly so you do need to use some sort of tape.

The bright colors of the houses really pop against my night sky.  I'm very happy with how this card came out especially considering I wasn't even planning on making it! Hopefully this inspires you to join in the challenge at Paper Funday!  I hope you enjoyed my card as well.  Stay warm out there and I will see you soon!  Fondly, Christi

 

I am entering my Winter's Night Card in the following challenges:
Shopping our Stash, #461 - Something beginning with S (Stars!!)
4-Season Challenge Blog, #52 - Cottages
Inspiration Station, #21 - Winter Cityscape
Dies R Us Challenge, #184 - Anything Goes with a Company they Carry
Sparkles Christmas Challenge - A Winter's Scene
Stamping Sensations - Anything Goes with Option of Dies

Happy Fall

 I have been struggling to get motivated to write some blog posts; I just cannot get in the mood to write them!  I have been having some physical issues and I think that has something to do with not being able to get in the mood to write.  I have been creating a bunch; if you have known me for a while now you know Halloween is my favorite holiday and I have a bunch of cards and other goodies to show you.  I think what I am going to do to give myself a break on the writing process is write up just a small paragraph about the creation I am posting and if you want information on something I didn't touch on just contact me.  I will include as many links as I can in the post I just won't be making a separate list of items I used.  Again, I may not stick to this format either; it really depends on how I feel :)

Now that I have gotten that of of the way here is my first card of the Fall season - just a clean and simple little Lawn Fawn card using the Tree Before 'n After stamps and dies. Everything was stamped with the Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink on watercolor paper and then colored in with my Zig Clean Color Brush Markers and a water brush.  

I hope this finds you happy & healthy! Until next time, Christi {stay tuned, I have so many more Halloween cards & goodies to share!!}

I am entering this card in the following challenges:

Lawn Fawnatics, #86 - Halloween or Fall 

Fab 'n Funky, #498 - Keep it Simple

NBUS, #19 - First time using the Stamps & Dies :)

Krafty Chicks, #529 - CAS

Stinkin' Inkers - Shades of Fall

Sweet Stampers - Fall or Halloween

Floral Thank You Cards

I can't seem to stop making more than one card and these cards are no exception!  The floral panel is SO pretty {and I just got the stamp, first time using it!} I had to cut it in two to make double the cards.  Plus, super easy cards are fantastic and I can never have too many thank you cards {the trick is actually sending them out!}

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Bases
Gina K. Amalgam Ink in Obsidian 
Watercolor Paper {I use this}
Zig Clean Color Brush Markers 

Water Brush

Simon Says Stamp Pretty Peonies Background Stamp, #SSS101961
Simon Says Stamp Thanks & Leaves Stamp Set, #SSS101894 
Simon Says Stamp Fine Detail White Embossing Powder
VersaMark Ink 
Matching Dark Pink Cardstock

I stamped the peonies onto a piece of water color paper, using the Obsidian ink and used my Zigs to water color the image in.  I cut the paper in half, attached

One of the cards

each piece onto white card bases. Then, I was lucky enough to find some dark pink card that I think matched the peonies very well, so I used that to emboss the sentiment on.  I attached the sentiment and now I have 2 more pretty Thank You cards to add to my stash.

And the other card

As I am trying to use up the cards I make I think I will fill this out with just a Thank You saying on the

inside and put it in my purse so that the next time I go to the grocery store, or to get gas, or anything where I depend on others to work so I can get what I need and give them the card.  Maybe it will bring a smile to someone's face.  Thanks so much for visiting and I'd love to visit you back - leave me a comment so I can pop over to your crafty space and leave you some love ~ Fondly, Christi

I am entering my cards in the following challenges:

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

NBUS - Challenge 14

Moving Along with the Times, #118 - Flowers

TTCRD - Anything Goes

Addicted to Stamps and More, #391 - Anything Goes

Arty Divas, #22 - Anything Goes

Stamping Sensations - Say it with Flowers

Critters Happy Spring

I used a bunch of Lawn Fawn products that are new to me and made this cute card {I think it is cute anyway!} I giggle every time I look at the card and see that frog and his saying.  I hope you get a giggle, or at least a smile, when you look at it :) 

What I Used to Make my Card
White Card Base
White Card
Lawn Fawn Simply Celebrate Spring, #LF1896
Lawn Fawn Spring Fling 6" x 6" petite paper pack, #LF1876
Lawn Fawn Say What Spring Critters stamps, #LF2228
Lawn Fawn Say What Spring Critters dies, #LF2229
Lawn Fawn Foursquare Backdrop, Portrait, #LF2065

Lawn Fawn Stitched Cloud Backdrop, Portrait, #LF1424

Watercolor Paper {I use this} 

Gina K Amalgam Ink Pad in Obsidian Ink

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers

Light Blue Card

The first step to making this card was I colored and cut all the animals.  Then I placed the sentiments into the word balloons and cut them out.  Ran some light blue card through my die cut machine, made the cloudy sky, as well as using white card made the foursquare frame.  I attached the clouds to the back of the

Another Peek

frame and then placed the animals with their sayings in the squares.  I finished the card off with a piece of Spring Fling paper and layered my sentiment on it.    And after an overnight under my flattening tile I was done.  I think the sentiments that go with each animal are just so cute and the set has more sayings, including more animal specific ones as well as generic holiday sayings. 

I love making funny cards almost as much as snarky cards and I think the world today needs some laughter - I know I do!  I have a post that features some snarky birds and cats, please follow me so you don't miss it, especially if you are a fan of snark!  Thank you SO much for stopping by and I hope you & yours are all healthy and doing well ~ Fondly, Christi 

I am entering my card in the following challenges:
Happy Little Stampers - Anything Goes with Dies 
Sweet Stampers, #44 - Animals/Birds 
Papercraft Challenges, #58 - Spring
Fab 'n Funky, #481 - Hand Colored Images
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Animal Fun

Let's Float Away Together

Hello everyone!  While this isn't a typical Valentine's Day card, I think it would make a cute one!  I made this card for my Design Team commitment at Die Cut Diva's where the theme this month is Anything Goes with Love and we are sponsored by the ever generous, Hero Arts.  There is plenty of time to whip up a creation and you can make anything you want {as long as it fits the theme} and enter for a chance to win a $25 gift certificate to Hero Arts. What a fabulous prize and one I'd like to win myself!  But since I can't win, maybe YOU will!

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
White, Aqua and Dark Blue Card
Hero Arts I'm a Puffer for You stamps, #CM170
Hero Arts I'm a Puffer for You dies, #DI395
Hero Arts Wave & Sea Confetti Die, #DI523
Lawn Fawn Stitched Cloud Backdrop, Portrait, #LF1424
Die-Namics Stitched Oval STAX
Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers

Dimensional Dots

The first in making this card was die cutting the clouds and the water; then I glued them onto the card base and set them under the tile on my desk to dry.  I use a 12" x 12" tile left over from a kitchen floor that was installed in my old house; it's fabulous for helping paper dry without warping.  I keep some wax paper on my desk and wrap the cards with it so I can either add more creations under the tile and/or the wax paper ensures any glue that's seeped out won't catch on the tile or any other cards and I also use it when I'm heat embossing.  Any stuck powder just flakes right off like the nothing!

While my background was drying, I stamped, colored, and cut out the puffer fish and the balloon basket.  I also stamped the sentiment and used the stitched oval to cut that out.  I adhered all the fish, the balloon, and the sentiment to the card using dimensional dots and the card was done!

I hope you can enter this challenge; I'd love to see your cards!  I hope you think my card is as cute as I think it is.  It's fun to make something so colorful.  It looks so cheerful and since today is cloudy and overcast as it's been for a few days here in Colorado, I needed some color.  I hope to see you soon. ~Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Let's Float Away card in the following challenges:
Creative Friday - #223, Love is in the Air
Take It, Make it - M, Anything Goes
Happy Craft Challenge - M, Anything Goes
Moo-Mania - #184, Love is in the Air
Creative Inspirations - With Love!
TTCRD - Anything Goes {week of 2/5}
Cuttlebug Mania - Be my Valentine
A Blog Named Hero - M, Crafter's Choice {entry 2}
Brown Sugar - M, #287, Love

Plane and Simple

I get a huge kick out of a good play on words {almost as much as a good snarky sentiment} and this card just makes me smile!  It's difficult for me to make a sweet card that isn't too feminine looking - with all that pink and hearts and stuff.  But this year I am determined to make a "manly" lovey card for Valentine's Day; I think I did a good job, what do you think?

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
DCWV Maps, Text and Ledgers 8" x 8" Stack, #CS-019-00018
Lawn Fawn Plane and Simple stamps, #LF1409
Lawn Fawn Plane and Simple dies, #LF1410
Lawn Fawn Candy Hearts, #LF1827
Tutti Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Circles, #TUTTI-419
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
VersaMark Ink
Simon Says Stamp White Fine Detail Embossing Powder

Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Zig Clean Color Brush Markers
White & Red scrap card
Vellum

I started by making a collage with a bunch of the papers from DCWV.  I ripped up some of the maps and collaged them on scrap white paper.  Then I trimmed the panel down and attached it to a white card base.  I didn't want anything to be recognizable on the map and ripping up the papers and mixing them up worked beautifully to get the background I wanted.

Although this is an older stamp set, this is the first time I've used it.  What better occasion than Valentine's Day or even just an every day "I love you" card to break out a some new goodies?  I love the planes and the puffy clouds, especially the puffy heart exhaust.  I think this set is perfect for a masculine card as it gets the point across without being too frilly and girly; plus you can always raise the cuteness factor by giving your clouds one of those adorable smiley faces that are included in the set.  Once all the images were stamped, colored, and cut, I realized I

Another Peek

had a dilemma.  How to add all the elements without covering up the map? I suppose I could have made a larger card but I am so used to designing for an A2 {4 1/4" x 5 1/2"} size card that I honestly didn't even think of making a larger card until I was faced with the placement of the pieces.  After some thought, I chose to use vellum to act as a buffer between the map and the components of the card.   I just bought some new Tutti Designs dies {and I HAD to try them out!} so I used the scalloped circle die for the vellum.  I attached the vellum to the card, hiding the adhesive under the clouds, plane, and heart.  I embossed part of the sentiment with white embossing powder and added the heart with white scrap layered behind it to finish it off.

And there is my "manly" love card.  I am pleased with the design and I think the recipient is going to enjoy it as well.  What do you use to design a masculine card?  I'd love to hear your tips and tricks.  Just leave me a comment and be sure to leave your contact information so I can visit you back.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope to see you soon! Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Plane and Simple card in the following challenges:
Lawn Fawnatics - #45, Lots of Love {graphic below}
Unicorn Challenge -M, #39, Things with Wings
Cardz for Guyz - #211, Trains, Planes & Automobiles
Work it Wednesday - Something New {the stamp & dies are new to me}
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Have a Heart
Southern Girls Challenge - Love is in the Air 
Moving Along with the Times - Have a Heart
Dies R Us - Anything New {the stamp & dies are new to me}

Birthday Wishes for You

My very best friend is a little over a year older than I am and she is fighting aging like a spitfire!  She's trying all manner of treatments {not going to go into that, you can imagine!} to hold back the hands of time.  We are incredibly different in that aspect; I don't do anything special since I've begun to age.  I refuse to color my hair, although I'm sure it would make me look younger, no shots of chemicals in my face, no special wrinkle creams - none of that for me! This year I made a birthday card that would remind her of her {our} younger years when we both were figure skaters.  I actually had a blue skating outfit like the the girl on the card is wearing.  I also included some little trinkets that will hopefully brighten her day and remind her that getting older really isn't THAT bad.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base

Watercolor Paper {I use this}

Zig Clean Brush Markers
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
MFT/Die-Namics Pure Innocence stamp, Have an Ice Day
MFT/Die-Namics Pure Innocence die, Have an Ice Day
MFT/Die-Namics Stitched Oval STAX
Lawn Fawn Bayou Backdrop, #LF1624
Metallic Blue Card
Find it Trading, Jeanine's Art, Frosty Ornaments Paper Pack, #JPP10006
Your Next Stamp, What Not Sentiments Four, #CYNS-172
Hero Arts Ink in Amethyst 

My skater was stamped on watercolor paper and colored using my Zigs.  The blades of her skates are silver gel pen just to add some sparkle.  While she was drying, I cut a panel of the background paper and attached it to the white card base.  Then I used the Bayou Backdrop's water die to make my iced-over pond which I cut from a metallic, light blue, paper.  I stamped the sentiment onto some white card, cut it out with the oval die, and then proceeded to attach all my components to the card.  I think it's really cute!  Coloring the skater was an experience; I'm trying to get used to coloring people and, while I didn't use alcohol markers, I don't think any practice can hurt!

I hope you enjoyed my tutorial.  The Pure Innocence line of stamps and dies are just so cute and the uses for the characters are endless!  Plus, they are fairly inexpensive.  Now that you have heard all about my best friend's war against time, what do you do to try to stop the clock?  Are you an anything and everything person or like me, a nothing at all person?  I'd love to hear your comments!  Be sure to leave your info so I can stop by your blog and leave you some love!  In fact,  I'd love for you to follow me on any social media platform you choose, be it Blogger, Pinterest, or Instagram.  All the subscribing buttons can be found on the right side of my blog.  Have a wonderful day!  Christi

I am entering my Birthday Wishes for You card in the following challenges:
The Artistic Stamper - M, Anything Goes
Just for Fun - M, Use Blue & Silver
Sweet Stampers - #28, Winter/Snow
Creatalicious - #155, Anything Goes w/ Option of Winter Fun
Die Cuttin' Diva's - #403, Birthday
Stamping Sensations - Fabulously Feminine 
My Time to Craft - #388, Winter Birthday
Crafty Catz - #444, Anything Goes w/ Optional Twist of Birthdays
Cut it Up - #165, How's the Weather? {my skater is outside in the cold!}
Double D Challenges - Looking Back in Time
Bastel-Traum - #73, Stencil and/or Die

Little Santa with Die Cut Diva's

I made this card in September, thought I had posted it, but I can't find it.  I'm

hoping I am not writing this post up only to find that I actually DID post the card.  Enough about that; let's pretend that I didn't post it.  We would love to see you at  Die Cut Diva's December Challenge of "Winter or Winter Holidays" sponsored by the generous Di's Digi Download's - although the holidays are over, it's still winter!

I am a huge fan of Mama Elephant's "little" stamps - I have every one except the newest release!  I love coloring these little stamps and I thought having Santa peeking out of all of these circles was a fantastic way to showcase him.

What I Used to Make my Card:
White Card Base
Red Card
Authentique Festive Paper Pad, 6" x 6", #FES009 {retired but available}
Watercolor Card {I use this}
Mama Elephant Little Santa Agenda stamps
Mama Elephant Little Santa Agenda dies
Lawn Fawn Say What? Christmas Critters stamps, #LF1778
Uniquely Creative Circle Cover Plate, #UCD1801
Ranger Archival Ink in Jet Black
Zig Clean Color Markers
Sakura Gelly Roll Pens, Stardust

I began by stamping, coloring, and cutting all the Little Santas - there are more in the set, but I chose the ones I felt would fit this card the best and set them aside.  I cut the cover die out of the patterned paper, flipped over the surrounding square and one of the circles, and attached all of the background to the red card except for the green circle.  On the green circle, I stamped the sentiment and attached it to the middle of the cover plate.  I arranged the Santas around the circles and glued them all in place.  Lastly, I attached the entire front to the red card and that to the card base.  It was an easy card to make even though I think it looks complicated.  The longest part of making the card was coloring and cutting the Santas and that only took a while because matching up those tiny die cuts with the correct Santa can be a bit time consuming.  In fact, what I finally did with the Little Cat Agenda set was I copied the dies and put them under the stamps so when I used a stamp it was easy to find the die that went with it.  The Santas are easier to find the matching dies because their shapes are distinctly different but I may end up doing that little trick to all my Little Agenda sets.

Thank you for stopping by and reading my little tutorial!  I hope I've inspired you to grab some of your stamps and dies and combine them in a way that's new to you. And don't forget, come play with us at Die Cut Diva's!!  I appreciate you taking the time to visit and hope that your holiday season has been creative and crafty!  Fondly, Christi

I am entering my Little Santa's in the following challenges:
Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes (entry #2)
Crafting by Designs - Holiday Anything Goes
Winter Wonderland - Anything Christmas Goes
CARDZ TV - #79, Anything Goes
CHNC - #418, Anything Christmas Goes
Sweet Stampers - #27, Anything Goes