Extra Christmas Bits

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another Christmas card made up of a variety of leftovers bit and pieces.

The card base is Stampin' Up Real Red.  The printed paper is Stampin' Up Christmas Jingle designer series paper layered on Old Olive.  The oval element was cut from Real Red and Very Vanilla with Spellbinders Nestabilities.  The Real Red layered was textured with Sizzix Holly & Berries texture plate.  The rectangular Very Vanilla panel was stamped with Stampendous Christmas Background in Real Red.  The sentiment is Fiskars Vintage Christmas stamped in Real Red on Very Vanilla.  The embellishment is a glittered Peel-Offs outline stickers.

All of the pieces on this card were pulled out of the leftover stash.  I played around with the various elements for days before settling on this final layout.  It was a real challenge to combine the oval and the rectangle.  The only commonality was the colours.  I also wanted to add this little bit of glittered holly.  For all the angst, it's a pretty good result.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Forty Years Wed

Hello everyone,

Today's post is a special anniversary card commissioned by a girlfriend.

The printed paper is DCWV Luxury Stack layered on Worldwin Beargrass Petallics and a shimmery red of unknown origin.  The image is Hero Arts Fancy Arts stamped in Stampin' Up Cherry Cobbler on Bazzill Walnut Cream.  The sentiment is Fiskars Just Married Quotes stamped in Altenew Industrial Diamond.  The card is highlighted with Platinum Liquid Pearls.

The 40th wedding anniversary is represented by the ruby hence all deep red elements on this card.  I went all out fancy with the papers so the card has a really beautiful shimmer.  The heart image was a challenge because the Cherry Cobbler ink kept smearing.  The final result however is so perfect!

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Another Glittered Santa

Hello everyone,

Today's Christmas card uses the same Santa image as yesterday but resulted in a very different card.

The image is Rubber Stampede Santa Collage stamped in Avery Elle New Moon on Recollections White and covered with Glitter Ritz Warm Highlight Micro Fine Transparent Glitter.  The image is layered on Worldwin Silver and shimmery dark and pale greys of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Fiskars Vintage Christmas stamped in Close To My Heart Pewter on Recollections White and layered on more silver.

This is another favourite in this Christmas card series.  I love all the natural colours with the glitter and shine just putting this card over the top.  I really love the layout, especially the placement of the sentiment.  The curliness of the font also coordinates beautifully with the swirls in Santa's beard.  I wish I could keep this card too!

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Pine Cones And Ribbon

Hello everyone,

Today's Christmas card uses another sheet of vintage Italian paper.

The printed paper is Rossi layered on Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow.  The images are Stampin' Up Watercolor Winter stamped in Mossy Meadow and Altenew Espresso and Mocha, on Recollections Vanilla.  The sentiment is Fiskars Vintage Christmas stamped in Mocha.

This paper has such traditional images, I couldn't resist adding it my cart.  I intended to use it for more masculine cards, and it will still work, but the ribbons are a lot more feminine than I thought they'd be.  I love this Stampin' Up stamp set.  Not only are the images wonderful but it's a two-step set that I really enjoy using.  This sentiment is also one of my favourites for vintage-style cards.  In the hopes of a masculine card, I didn't add any extra embellishments or glitter.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Another Nutcracker In Glittered Gold

Hello everyone,

A different type of glittered gold paper makes for an entirely different nutcracker Christmas card.

The image is a Tattered Lace Nutcracker die cut from a glittered gold paper of unknown origin layered on Recollections Vanilla.  The image panel is affixed to a piece of Ranger Alcohol inked glossy paper and Paper Accents mirrored gold.  The sentiment is Fiskars Vintage Christmas stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections Vanilla.

This is a another card that has sat on my desk for a week while I decided where to take it.  I could have used embellishments and made this a sentiment-less card but it would have been too much like yesterday's card.  I could have made this a French card.  In the end, I decided to go English because I love this vintage sentiment against the more 'modern' glittered, smooshed and mirrored papers.  This die cut is pretty large for these smaller card bases so it can be a challenge to find a place for a sentiment that isn't vertical.  I this case, I liked the oval shape of the sentiment and it overlaps the nutcracker's boot, just a titch.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Anniversary Silhouette

Hello everyone,

Today's post is the card I craft for my husband to celebrate our wedding anniversary.

The background image is Close To My Heart Ink Blot and Stampin' Up Gorgeous Grunge stamped in Altenew Arctic and Sea Glass.  The image is Gina K Because of You stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The sentiment is Fiskars Just Married Quotes also stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishments are Recollections Pearls.

I had the idea for this card in my mind for quite a while.  I really liked the idea of a very soft and subtle background for this silhouette image.  I thought it would rather be like the couple were dancing in the snow.  The background is a little more subtle than I anticipated and I probably could have gone just a shade darker in ink.  This still turned out to be one of my favourite anniversary cards.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Boots & Hats

Hello everyone,

Today's post is one of the most unusual wedding cards I've ever had the pleasure to craft.

The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on a grey also of unknown origin.  The images are Rusty Pickle Git R' Dun and TPC Studio Hugs & Kisses stamped in Close To My Heart Dutch Blue on vellum and a white of unknown origin and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The sentiment is Fiskars Just Married Quotes also stamped in Dutch Blue.  The embellishments is Recollections.

This wedding was all cowboy boots and hats but still having a fair bit of formal flourish.  I replicated their wedding invitation in regards to the elements but added a few bits to make it an I SPI card.  The invitation came in a vellum envelop and I really wanted to incorporate it.  I love the result but it didn't photograph worth beans.

The wedding was the most beautiful I've ever had the honor to attend.  They loved the card too!

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Nutcracker Suite V

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another breathtaking silver nutcracker.

The image is Tattered Lace Nutcracker die cut from Paper Accents Mirror Silver glossy paper.  The die cut image is layered on a piece of Ranger alcohol inked glossy paper, more Paper Accents Mirror Silver glossy paper, and Close To My Heart Indian Corn Blue.  The sentiment is Fiskars Vintage Christmas stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishments are Eyelet Outlet Enamel Dots.

This silver paper against the blues of the alcohol inked paper is utterly glorious!  I didn't have a big enough leftover piece of the alcohol inked paper for much more than layering under the die but it allowed me to add these two rows of sparkling silver enamel dots.  I love the rows of dots with this image.  It just works.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Christmas Greetings

Hello everyone,

These next few posts are Christmas cards that I designed for an afternoon carding party.  As part of the Fall charity campaign at my work, there is an auction and I put forward an afternoon of carding.  I did a similar prize last year that was really well received.  This year, three of my colleagues, with no carding experience, are going to craft ten Christmas cards.  Once again, I had to keep the designs simple but still wanted the ladies to be happy with the results.  I hope these don't disappoint.

The printed papers are Stampin' Up Letters to Santa layered on textured Old Olive.  The image is Stampin' Up Merry & Type stamped in Olive Olive on Whisper White, highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen and layered on Ridinghood Red.  The sentiment is Fiskars Vintage Christmas stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishments are Crafts Rhinestone Strips.

One of the great things about Stampin' Up is how easy everything works together.  I really took advantage of this capacity when designing these cards.  The cards are striking without using lots of elements.  I really love how the different pieces all come together.  The diagonals just make the vertical strip and focal image pop.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Diamond Beauty

Hello everyone,

I've been wicked busy the last few weeks designing and crafting Christmas cards.  It has been a crazy, crazy time.  Now its time to, hopefully, get back to something resembling normal

Today's card was commissioned by a colleague for a wedding.  I wanted to try something different and I had some fun crafting this fancy-folded beauty.

The card base is Recollections White.  The printed paper is of unknown origin.  The remaining papers are American Crafts Charcoal Damask glitter paper and Worldwin Shimmery Black.  The images are Technique Tuesday Fan Fare stamped in Ranger Glacier White pigment ink heat embossed with Stampin' Up white embossing powder.  The sentiment is Fiskars Just Married Quotes stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Whisper White and layered on a silver of unknown origin.  The embellishments are Stampin' Up Frosted Finishes and Crafts Rhinestone Strips.

I think this card is an absolute thing of beauty.  The diamond fold was a bit of challenge to figure out but when I finally got it, I fell in love.  I was inspired by a tri-fold wedding card that I crafted in September.  It turned out so well, I got ambitious.  It paid off.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Another Wedding Butterfly

Hello everyone,

As I wasn't completely satisfied with yesterday's wedding card so decided to try again going in a somewhat different direction.

The image is Stampin' Up Swallowtail stamped in Illuminate ink on Concord Crush and layered on Precious Metals Pearlized Gold Leaf.  The sentiment is Fiskars Just Married stamped in Elegant Eggplant on Whisper White and layered on more Pearlized Gold Leaf.  The embellishments are ZVA Creative Self Adhesive pearls.

From the moment I saw the Illuminate ink in the Stampin' Up catalog, I've been intrigued by it.  I've done a bit of layered stamping with it but the results were less than anticipated.  I did some research online and found a few explanations.  The Illuminate ink is considered a watermark ink.  It shows up better against dark background as opposed to lighter ones.  On the dark Concord Crush the depth of the image depends on the angle of the light.  I had hoped for more shimmer but it actually came out more grey than shimmery.  The final result is actually pretty simple thus the addition of the gold pearl  embellishment flourish.  I'm completely undecided on this one.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Elegant Ornaments

Hello everyone,

There are times when I end up crafting a Christmas card that just takes my breath away.

The printed paper is Kaisercraft Just Believe layered on silver Momenta.  The image is Stampin' Up Merry & Type stamped in Versafine Onyx Black on Recollections Vanilla, heat embossed with Close To My Heart Silver Pearl embossing powder, and layered on a shiny silver of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Fiskars Vintage Christmas stamped in Versafine Onyx Black.  The embellishments are Mark Richards 3mm silver metal.

I'm utterly in love with this card!  The silver pattern on the printed paper is truly lovely and it is amazing against the two-tone silver background layer.  These silver embossed ornaments, my favourites, are stunning with all the silver.  The tiny flourishes in the sentiment are perfect with the printed paper.  All in all, this is one fabulous OMG Christmas card!

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Scrolls of Blue

Hello everyone,

I was still in the mood for a wedding card today even though I only needed the one.  That's the beauty of my list, I don't really have to follow it if I don't want to.

The printed paper is K&Company Wedding Blue layered on a shimmery blue of unknown origin.  The image is Hero Arts Fancy Hearts stamped in Close To My Heart Twilight on Recollections Vanilla, heat embossed with Silver Pearl embossing powder and layered on more shimmery blue as well as a shimmery vanilla of unknown origin.  The sentiment is Fiskars Just Married Quotes stamped in Twilight on Vanilla, layered on more shimmery blue and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.  The brads are of unknown origin.

When I pulled this printed paper from my stash I knew I wanted to stamp some swirls but I didn't have the kind of swirl stamped I was hoping for.  I think it was quite inspiring to use this heart swirl stamp without actually stamping the heart.  You'd probably never know if I hadn't told you!  I wish I'd had two shimmery blue metallic heart brads but that would just put my stash way over the top!

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

From This Day Forward

Hello everyone,

Today I posting a card that I crafted for my cousin who is getting married.  She has a real 'green thumb' so I had a great excuse to go totally floral.

The printed paper is Carta Bella Beautiful Moment layered on Stampin' Up Always Artichoke.  The image is Stampin' Up Stippled Blossoms stamped in Ruby Red, Close To My Heart Whisper and Slate and StazOn Black Cherry, on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more Always Artichoke.  The sentiment is Fiskars Just Married in Early Espresso.  The embellishment is of unknown origin.

I was going for a natural and really spectacular card.  I believe I succeeded!  I love how the stamped images work so well with the printed paper.  I think I tested every red ink I own to find something that worked.  This is a metal butterfly that I found in a bin on the counter of my local scrapbooking store, Crop A While.  My cousin likes butterflies as much as I do so I thought I'd add this special embellishment to her card.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Hearts and Love

Hello everyone,

Today's card is one of two cards I've crafted for a cousin who is getting married later this month.

The card base is Recollections Vanilla. The printed paper is BoBunny Trail Mix Meadow.  The sentiment is Fiskars Just Married Quotes stamped in Close To My Heart Outdoor Denim on Recollections Vanilla and layered on more BoBunny Trail Mix Meadow and Recollections Vanilla.  The ribbon is Crafts.  The embellishments are ZVA Creative Pearls.

This is the card my Mom will be giving to my cousin.  She, my Mom, asked for a money holder after she saw this post in April.  My cousin loves the outdoors so I picked up this paper especially for this card.  I loved the leaves and the birds.  I added the ribbon and bling as nod to the wedding aspect because this seems a rather non-traditional weeding card.  My Mom loved the card and I am pretty sure my cousin will as well.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Santa's Greetings

Hello everyone,

Today's post is another vintage inspired Christmas card.

The printed paper is Bazzill Believe layered on Stampin' Up Mossy Meadow.  The image is Fiskars Vintage Christmas stamped in Ridinghood Red on Very Vanilla and layered on more Mossy Meadow.  The sentiment is also Fiskars Vintage Christmas which is stamped in Mossy Meadow.  The ribbon is from Multicrafts.

For some reason, I feel as though I'm really into adding ribbon to my cards lately.  I have not had to buy any as I've more than I will ever possibly use in my stash of craft supplies. I particularly love this checkered ribbon.  It is not a traditional white/colour checked gingham which makes it perfect for vintage inspired cards.  This is another new stamp set that I found at the end of last year.  I think I'll get a lot of use from it because the images are just lovely and perfectly sized for these smaller cards and gift tags.  I may even colour them a wee bit.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Wonderful Wedding

Hello everyone,

Today's card was commissioned by my sister-in-law who asked for a money-holder wedding card in aqua with flowers.

The printed paper is Craft N Craftin' Best Creation Inc. Basic Glitter paper.  The vertical element is Stampin' Up Bermuda Bay textured with Craft Concepts Butterfly Kisses embossing folder and highlighted with LuminArte Mediterranean Blue Twinkling H2Os.  The sentiment is Fiskars Just Married Quoted stamped in Bermuda Bay on Whisper White and layered on more Bermuda Bay.  The embellishments are Martha Stewart Doily Lace Dimensional Flowers and Close To My Heart Bitty Opaques.

This card did not come together easily.  I've never done a money holder card and while it's not difficult, sizing it to fit into the envelop I had available was a challenge.  I also started with the base in Bermuda Bay which was nearly impossible.  This colour combination is sooooo much better.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Sparkly Snowflake

Hello everyone,

Another of my Christmas cards for you today.

The printed paper is of unknown origin layered on Worldwin Silver Ore.  The embellishments is K&Company Visions of Christmas.  The ribbon is Paperchase glitter ribbon.  The sentiment is Fiskars Vintage Christmas stamped in Colorbox gold on Stampin' Up Whisper White.  The embellishments are Close To My Heart Bitty Sparkles.

Some times cards come together easily, some times not so much.  This is one that didn't come together so easily.  In hindsight, it turned out well so why was it so hard?  I know I wanted to use one of these sparkling snowflakes embellishments but I couldn't seem to get the elements to come together.  It can be so frustrating.

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Sparkling Snowflakes

Hello everyone,

As much as I wanted to keep using the K & Company paper, I decided I was in a blue snowflake mood.

The printed paper is BoBunny Powder Mountain layered on Worldwin Elan Steel Blue Metallics.  The vertical element is a shimmery white of unknown origin textured with Darice Snowflakes embossing folder and layered on more Worldwin Elan Steel Blue Metallics.  The focal element is a Spellbinders Create-A-Flake 3 cut from Stampin' Up Brocade Blue that was covered with Glitter Ritz Cool Highlight microfine glitter.  The sentiment is Fiskars Vintage Christmas stamped in Brocade Blue on Whisper White, layered on Worldwin Elan Steel Blue Metallics and highlighted with Sakura Clear Star Gelly Roll pen.

This is another really lovely sheet of paper.  I used the primary images on a couple of Winter Wonderland cards (here and here) in January.  There is a shadow of a cardinal on the left side of the card.  The leftovers are not useful for anything more than background layers for cards at this point but it's such a wonderful blue I don't expect to have any problems using it all up. 

I hope you enjoy this card and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle

Sweet Romance

Hello everyone,

I've taken advantage of Karen Giron's Sweet Sunday Sketch to create the third of three cards that I was commissioned to make for a colleague. He is proposing this Christmas and will use each of the cards below in his proposal. The holidays are a very special time for them and this proposal is to be a complete and utter surprise. He asked for three holiday cards that offered just a little extra-special sentiment. How romantic is that!

For this first card, I turned Karen's sketch sideways. The paper is from Fiskars and Recollections. The images are both Gina K Vintage Borders embossed with Close To My Heart Silver Pearl. I found the placement of the images on Selma's card at Splitcoast. The sentiment is Stampabilities and it gives me the chills every time I use it. The ribbon is American Crafts.


This second card is one that I used for the Just Christmas and Birthday Cards blog design challenge. My colleague was very taken with this card and asked for cards with this feel. I figured if he liked it that much, I would just change the sentiment and he could have it. I used Stampin' Up Warm Words for the new sentiment, backing it with a couple of punched bits from my scrap bin.

This third card has more of the look and feel of what my colleague is expecting. I textured my card base with the Stampin' Up Sizzix Pattern 1 then highlighted with Pixie Dust Shimmerz. The cards combine my two current favourite techniques - alcohol ink and glamour dust - which I used on the three ornaments and a snowflake. I layered each ornament with Martha Stewart punched snowflakes. The sentiment is Stampin' Up Short and Sweet. The ribbon is white organza from Offray.

I really like all three cards. I tried to keep in mind Christmas romance and I think all three cards really convey that feeling without being three of exactly the same card.

I'm hoping my colleague loves them. Better yet, I'm hoping his girlfriend loves them. I'll be sure to keep you posted on her answer.

Enjoy the cards, and come back to SPI again soon.

Gisèle