Santa and His littlest Reindeer

Today's card is Santa and his littlest reindeer!  This card was fun to make, and I really enjoyed using my two favorite crafting items -- My Copics and my Cricut.  They are a great combination.

I started with a standard 4.25" x 5.5 inch kraft cardstock card.  I went with a lot of layers on this one for depth.  The papers were "busy" so I wanted them to have a bit more depth and definition.  The solid layers helped achieve that goal.

The first layer is 4 1/8" x 5 3/8" cut in white cardstock.  The next layer is 4" x 5.25" cut in kraft cardstock.  Then my next layer is 3 7/8" x 5 1/8" cut in patterned cardstock.  The band is cut at 3.75" x 4" with a white border paper 1/8" larger all the way around.  The band is added to the card with foam tape.

Now for the fun part!  Santa is cut at 3.5" using my Paper Doll Dress Up Cricut cartridge.  I accented his layers using my Copic Markers and my Copic Multiliner pen.  I also used the Multiliner pen to draw in the eyes and the glasses.  My reindeer comes from my Cindy Loo Cricut cartridge.  I didn't have the perfect color cardstock, so I colored her body in using my Copic markers.  For an added extra, she had to have a googly eye.  I put them together using Mono Liquid adhesive.  I added them to my card front using foam tape for dimension.

Now to the inside.  I wanted to make a gift card holder, so I cut a white strip of cardstock at 4" x 6".  I finished the edge using my Martha Stewart double loop border punch.  I thought it matched the patterned paper the best out of all my punches.  I scored the bottom end at 2" and folded it over to make the card holder.  I adhered the edges only using ScorTape.  I added a 1 7/8" x 4.5 inch strip of patterned paper.  I made it slightly wider so I could wrap it around.  Next I cut the holly border, and airbrushed it to match with my Copic marker and Copic airbrush system.  The little tag is cut using the Cricut cartridge Tags, Bags, Boxes and more.  The kraft layer is 1.75" and the white tag is 1.5".  I stamped my Papertrey Ink sentiment with Olive Pastel Colorbox chalk ink, and then lightly chalked the edges.  I adhered the two pieces together using an eyelet and my trusty Crop-A-Dile.  A small piece of twine completed the tag look.  I added the pocket to my card with ScorTape, and then added the tag with foam tape.  A nice Micheal's gift card inside, and the gift is complete :)

Have I lost you yet?  I think the end of this Christmas Card Challenge is going to require a blog candy give-away.  Stay tuned.  I am putting together a great Christmas package for one lucky reader!

Pop-Up Penquin Card

I had a lot of fun making this card, but it did take me a lot longer to complete than I planned.  The directions for this card came initially from Card Maker magazine.  There were a few things that I had to figure out a bit further from the directions, and I did somethings using my Cricut instead of the Spellbinders dies.

To get started on this one, I cut a 4" x 12" piece of red cardstock.  I used the Core-dinations red.  I scored at 2" 4" 8" and 10" using my ScorPal.  Then I marked the middle of the card 6" with a light pencil mark.  For the folds to work out, be sure to be accurate on your measurements for everything.  You are going to use the 6" middle markings on top and bottom to score an X in the middle section.  Line your score mark with the top of the 6" and the bottom of the 4", then the top of the 6" and the bottom of the 8".  Flip and repeat.  You will end up with a scored X in the middle portion of the card.  Fold all vertical lines as valley folds, and fold all diagonal lines as mountain folds.

I used my Cricut for the card front.  You can use a number of cartridges to complete this project.  The Accent Essentials, From My Kitchen, and Preserves cartridges all have scalloped circles and regular circle cuts on them.  I set my machine on Real Dial Size.  I used the Accent Essentials, and I cut my scalloped circle at 4.75".  I repeated the cut with my Preserves cartridge, and it came out a little different with the same setting.  I cut my center circle at 3.75".

I used my Inkadinkado stamp set and chose the penguin.  I stamped him first on a post-y note to make a mask.  I used Memento Tuxedo Black ink, because I planned to color my images with my Copic Sketch markers.  I stamped the center penguin first centering him visually.  I covered him with my post-y and then stamped his two friends.  I added the snow mounds using my Copic 0.5MM Multiliner pen.  I wish now I would have snapped pictures during the coloring stages to show you exactly how I created the feathered blue in the snow.  I will remember that next time.

I colored the image using my Copic Sketch markers (colors listed at the bottom of this post).  I placed the scalloped circle on top of the card for centering.  (You want the scallops to cover the fold points when the card is finished).  I adhered the stamped image to the scalloped circle using Mono Liquid Adhesive, because I wanted time to be able to be sure my image was centered correctly.  I placed it aside so I could add randomd drops of Icicle Stickles for the snowflakes effect.  I then added Liquid Pearls on centered on each scallop. I  must admit that I need to work a bit more on my technique with this product.  Some of my pearls are better than others.

I Cut four strips at 3.75 x 1.75" using patterned paper, and two strips of red cardstock at 1.5" x 3.5".  I adhered complete strips centered on the outside flaps of the card.  Layering red cardstock over patterned paper.  For the folded sections, I marked the center of the remaining two patterned strips, and cut them at a diagonal.  Placing the center mark and the corner along the paper cutter line.  This gave me my long piece and my two triangle pieces cut perfectly for both sides. I adhered those on each side.

Next came the snowflakes and decorations.  The snowflake brads, snowflake die-cuts and star punch out were all random items in my stash.  I used clear Twinkle Jewels for added effects, and I adhered those using Glossy Accents.  Lastly I accented all of my decorations with Icicle Stickles.

Once everything dried, I adhered my center medallion to the center square.

And there you have it!  My very first pop-up card.  Wow, now what to try next?? The challenge ends in just a couple of days!  I have to pick something harder for my final card.  Any suggestions??

As always, I would love to hear your comments!

Products used in this project are available at Cutters Creek:

Cricut Expression
Cricut Cartridges - Accent Essentials, Preserves, From My Kitchen (circle & scalloped circle cuts)
Copic Sketch Markers

• Colors used:  0 (colorless blender), 100 (black), B0000, B000, R17, R22, R27, R29, Y38, G05, G17, G20

Copic Multiliner Pen 0.5MM - Black
Twinkle Jewels
Glossy Accents
Mono Liquid Adhesive
Core-dinations Cardstock
Ranger Stickles - Icicle
Liquid Pearls - White Opal
ScorPal
Inkadinkado Stamps
Memento Tuxedo Black Ink Pad

Other items - Patterned paper - red glitter snowflake Imaginisce - Snowy Jo
Snowflake Brads
Die Cuts snowflakes (2) & Die Cut Stars (4)

Day 27 - A little bit Country

Today's card draws on a bit of a country quilt kind of flair to me.  It is made on white cardstock with a kraft cardstock layer for a border.  The card front is smooth white cardstock with four patterned papers from the 2008 Snowy Jo Imaginisce paper line.  I cut strips at just over 1" and then used the Fiskars Apron Lace Border punch on the edges.  I mounted them on the card face using Mono Permanent Adhesive.  I wanted a little "play" time to get them even, so liquid adhesive was the answer.  The buttons were from Granny's now infamous button box, and good old DMV floss added just the right sewn on touch.  I used Glue Dots to adhere the buttons to my faux quilt pieces.  I added the eyelet lace using ScorTape, and then finished it off with American Crafts Ribbon.  I added this great ceramic button that I purchased years ago at JoAnn's using twine.  The sentiment is an American Crafts rub-on from their 2009 Christmas pack.  The entire card front was adhered to the card base using foam tape.

I love this one actually.  The hard part is picking who I will send it to!  LOL  The month of cards is drawing to a close.  I am going to have to think up some cool card for my finale :)  Stay tuned for more.

Christmas Card Day 23

Today's card features a die cut from Cricut's Winter Frolic Cartridge.  This little reindeer has a lot of of small pieces to make him so cute.  I used three different glitter papers and some shimmer Core-dinations cardstock.  Throw in a Cuttlebug embossing folder (bottom - circles) and a Sizzix Embossing folder (top - snowflakes). 

I am going to have a whole line of critter cards by the time I am finished with my challenge :)

Every Day Christmas Card Challenge #18

This is my card for Day 18.  I love these papers together.  The patterned paper on top is from PinkPaislee and the one on the bottom is from Imaginisce.  The ribbon is from Offray.  The embellishments are old buttons from my button box, a stick pen from Making Memories, and the sequin flower is from Prima (a beautiful prize provided by Peach Crop Shop).  The stamp is from Recollections, and it was embossed with super fine white embossing powder.  I rounded the corners with my WRMK corner chomper and the border punch is apron lace from Fiskars.

I think I may just have to enter this over at The Paper Variety.  I am also entering it at ChristmasStampin's Blog.  The challenge was to use two pattern papers from two different manufacturers.  Lastly, I entered at A Spoonful of Sugar's Christmas in August challenge blog.

Every Day Christmas Card Challenge #17

 WOW,  I cannot believe it is already August 17th, and that I have 17 Christmas card done!

I learned something today.  I should never emboss images before checking for stray embossing powder WITH my glasses ON!  LOL  I hate to admit it, but I now need my glasses for fine detail work.  Okay, I said it.  Enough about that!! (Yes, Dad, I finally admitted it).

I used my new Martha Stewart Border Punch today on this card.  I stopped at Micheal's to pick up a stamp that a friend wanted, and I saw this border punch on clearance.  I couldn't resist.  I also picked up the stamp set that I used on this card.  It is Merry Merry from Recollections.

The papers are kraft cardstock and Cosmo Cricket.  The ribbons are assorted ones from Offray.  The button is from my Great-Granny and Granny's button collections  The twine I used was super white, so I aged it with some Colorbox Chalk in Warm Brown.

Thanks for droppin' in to check out today's card~

EDCC & The Paper Variety Christmas Card~

Today's card is fulfilling two purposes.  It is my Day 16 for the Every Day Christmas Card Challenge at Scrappin' n Chatting, and it is my entry in Abby's challenge over at The Paper Variety.   Abby was looking for a card to scrap lift as part of her Christmas Card Challenge.

It is also my entry over at Christmas Stampin's Snowflake Challenge.

And my entry at Order of the Opis Gluei for their you've gotta move it challenge.

I decided to do a white on white layering card with added texture on texture.  The card base is smooth white cardstock.  The punched trim is textured white cardstock.  I used the Fiskars Apron Lace edger punch.  

I embossed one layer using my Sizzix Snowflake embossing folder, and then I outlined the snowflakes with an embossing pen.  I added a second embossing with super fine white embossing powder.  I love the extra glisten.

The snowflakes are made with a Sizzix Sizzlet die.  I also added Twinkle Jewels for a little added texture and shine.  The ribbon is from Offray, and the tag is an item I got in a swap.

If you click to enlarge the pictures, you can see all of the details much clearer.  I hope you like this simple and elegant card.

Every Day Christmas Card Challenge #15

If you click on the close up of this photo you can almost see the embossing on the transparency of this card.  I took the transparency and ran it through my Sizzix Big Shot using a snowflakes embossing folder.  Then I added the acetate snowflakes from Heidi Swapp and the rub-on letters and the ribbon from Making Memories.  The paper and chipboard accents are from Imaginesce.  The brad is from a swap, and I took the ends off of it and attached it with a small foam dot.

Sorry for the brief description.  It was a long day, and I need to feed everyone around here.

Every Day Christmas Card Challenge #14

Today's card is a bit whimsical.  I loved these papers from SEI.  They are a bit non-traditional as far as colors.  I can't remember  the name of this line.  I am embarrassed to say the papers are 4 years old.  I hear my friend Carol scolding me for hoarding my papers, again!  LOL

I layered the printed cardstock and solid cardstock and gave them dimension with foam tape.  The little tag is a from the office supply store.  I stamped it with a Studio G $1 stamp from Micheal's using Memento Bamboo Leaves ink. The ribbon is from the SEI kit.

I hope you like it :)

Every Day Christmas Card Challenge #13

Over at Scrappin' n Chattin' we are doing an Every Day Christmas Card Challenge.  I am going to have all my cards done in August! Yeah!  Today, we had an extra challenge -- include polka dots and plaid on your card.  For me this was easier said than done!  I struggled to find plaid paper.  I finally found a small strip of green plain in my scraps bin, and that was the starting point.

I used my Cuttle Bug 5 x7 Polka Dots folder to emboss the green DCWV cardstock.  I distressed the edges with my Making Memories Distress Tool (love this!).  The rest of the patterned papers are scraps from various companies - black polka dot - Quick Quotes, Red Polka Dot - SEI.  The tinsel fibers are scraps from a page kit I got so long ago.  The typewriter key letters are a throwback from the 1980's.  I tied them together with DMC Floss in black.  I popped the letters off the card using one and two layers of 3M foam tabs for more dimension.  The plaid piece is also popped off the card using foam adhesive.

Hubby decided to sneak back in my craft room with the camera while I was finishing this project to snap some pictures of Hailey in her dog bed -- to compare with the previous ones of Scooby :)  Her is Miss Hailey in her scrappin' bed.

Hailey ~ Relaxin'

Scrappin' is hard work - I need a nap.

I don' see what the big deal is.

This bed is Puggle approved!

This bed is perfect for a boxer -- really!

Magnolia Christmas Slider Card

Today's card is a double challenge card.  At Scrappin' n Chattin' on Yahoo Groups, I am in an Every Day Card Challenge for Christmas cards.  Over at Scrappy Frogs Challenge Blog, our challenge is to make a slider card.  Sherri found these great directions on You Tube ~Click Here~ for making these fun cards.  This is my first ever slider card.  It was fun to do :)

I started working on my project in my so organized craft room ~laughing hysterically~.  It is hard for me to believe that I actually cleaned my entire room 2 weeks ago.  From the looks of this photo, it looks like a hurricane hit recently.

As I was working away, I looked down to find my Boxer Scooby Doo asleep in Hailey's little dog bed.  You see Hailey is always in the craft room with me, and normally, I am trying to get her out of my chair.  She loves to sit right behind my back.  In fact, that is where she is as I type this.  A 100# Boxer Dog doesn't fit well in a Puggle bed.  LOL

So back to my card.  I used another Magnolia image, and of course, she is colored using my Copic Sketch Markers :)  I added some Stickles Glitter Glue and some bling from the Copic Spica pens.

The slider part is so cool.  You will see the "secret" is a plastic shopping bag if you watch the video.  Here is the the card closed:

And then sliding a little ways:

And then all the way open:

Since I added so many pictures, I won't bore you with all the directions!  The papers are from Imaginisce.  The ribbon is Offray.  The button is from Making Memories.  The stamp sentiments are from Inkadinkado and Papertrey Ink.  I used Memento Bamboo Leaves ink for the sentiment, and Colorbox Chalk Ink in Olive for inking the sentiment edges.  For the Magnolia image, I used the Ranger Distress Ink (Tumbled Glass) for the edges.  I also used a white gel pen from Inksentials for accenting the image.  Of course, all coloring was done with my Copic Sketch Markers~

Peace on Earth ~Flower Soft Card ~

This was a fast and easy card to make.  It took more time to drag out supplies than to finish the card.  I sprayed some of my Bazzill white cardstock with the Tattered Angels Midnight Blue Glimmer Mist.  I let it dry overnight in anticipation of making this card, and another similar one.  I cut the branch using my Winter Woodland Cricut Cartridge.  I only cut the branch layer at 2" using brown cardstock.

I stamped my sentiment on my dry and misted cardstock (cut at 4" by 5-1/4") using Tuxedo Black Memento Ink.  I matted the piece on a midnight blue cardstock cut at  4-1/8" x 5-3/8" using my Glue Glider Pro.

I added my snowflakes using some glitter stickers I had in my stash, and I covered them with Polar White Flower Soft instead of glitter.  I added more Flower Soft Glue to the snowflakes to make them fluffier, and then added more Flower Soft.  I also used my Flower Soft Glue to add "snow" to my tree branch.

I really wish the picture could show you the "glisten" a bit better from the Polar White Flower Soft  It does look like falling snow!  It must look good.  My hubby actually called it "cool".

Products Available at Cutters Creek:

Cricut Winter Woodland Cartridge
Cricut Machine
Cricut Spatula
Flower Soft Glue
Flower Soft Polar White
Tattered Angels Glimmer Mist in Midnight Blue
Glue Glider Pro