Cards without stamps!

Even though my daughters and sister are here, I've actually managed to make a few cards! We've been eating, shopping. crafting, and then doing it all over again! My first card is for Our Creative Corner's Sketch Challenge this week! I've made two cards without using rubber stamps and love them! Fast, and elegant, you can make these cards in ten minutes or less.

This is a pretty sketch with lots of possibilities! I used the new Holly Ribbons Cuttlebug Embossing folders for the background, and Martha Stewart's new doily lace punch for the glittery red strip going across the card. The ornaments are glittery peel off stickers that I colored with Sharpie markers. I added gold pearls, peel off strips for the hanging chains of the ornaments, tiny gold trimmed bows, and a pretty sparkly red Christmas sentiment sticker. Card size: 5 x 5 1/4 inches.

This next card uses more peel off stickers, and a Christmas bow with a Chickadee (clip art I've used before) printed on Whisper white cardstock. I cut out a Nestabilities label and used the frame portion and saved the other piece for another card. I mounted the frame over the Chickadee, then added gold peel off corner stickers.


I adhered that piece to sparkly gold glitter paper with an EK Success punched border, and added gold pearls to finish the card. Card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

Happy Thanksgiving...

To all my family, friends, fellow card makers, etc. I want to wish you a Happy Thanksgiving! I am sharing a wonderful week with my children, who have come home from Ohio and Texas, and having a fabulous time! We stayed up late last night playing cards, laughing, snacking and I realized just how much I miss the girls when they aren't here! Sometimes it's not fun letting them "go"! sigh....

Gobble til you Wobble...

Well, my girls are flying home for Thanksgiving tomorrow, so I'll be extra busy for the next 9 days! I hope to post to the blog during that time, but it may not be as often as usual! Nessa has decided that we are going to craft the whole week, so I'll have a lot to show when I do post!

My first card is for the Our Creative Corner Color Challenge and I just love the colors of brown lately. I had shied away from it, but am learning that no color is ugly! As a "neutral" color, it practically goes with anything! Our colors for this challenge were to be Stampin' Up colors: Close to Cocoa, Pumpkin Pie, White and Chocolate Chip or close thereof.

This cute Turkey is by Stitchy Stamps, a digistamp that you can purchase at Digital-Ink Co. The sentiment is computer generated onto the pot before I printed the turkey on Whisper White cardstock. I cut out a scalloped circle Nestabilities using Whisper White cardstock, then sponged the edges with Memento Desert Sand ink while it was still in the die. I colored the image with Prismacolor Markers, then put it aside to construct my card. I embossed a white background panel with the Swiss Dots folder in the Cuttlebug and swiped Memento Rich Cocoa and Tangelo inks across the dots to bring them out. I wrapped a shimmery orange ribbon around the panel, then mounted it to a medium brown card. I used pop dots to raise the turkey circle up, then folded strips of ribbon in shimmery orange and brown organdy to look like feathers. Last, I added vintage buttons to finish the card. Card size 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

The next three cards is a series showing how you can use the same stamps in a scene and totally change the appearance just by using different color inks. The stamps are from Stampscapes, and are the Oak Branch and the Gulls. I stamped with Memento Tuxedo Black ink on glossy photo paper after the background sky was finished. This first scene was done with the Colorbox Stylus using these inks: Memento Dandelion and Cantaloupe, and Marvy Lt. Green, Turquoise and Oriental Blue. I punched a small circle mask for my "Alien Sun" using a post-it note. Card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

This scene represents "Twilight" and uses the following inks: Memento Dandelion, Cantaloupe, Tangelo, Rosebud, Lulu Lavender, Grape Jelly and Paris Dusk. I also used Marvy inks: #3 Blue, Pale Violet and Yellow.

The last scene represents "Night Sky" and I punched a large circle mask from a post-it note for my moon. The following inks were using in this scene: Memento Summer Sky, Paris Dusk and LuLu Lavender, Grape Jelly. Marvy inks used: #3 Blue, Prussian Blue and Pale Violet.

OCC Challenge...

The Our Creative Corner Challenge this week was a doozy! I looked at it, and my mind started to whirl as to how I would construct a house and make it look like a greeting card! This post focuses just on this card because of all the steps it took to get to the finish! I hope you'll stay with me to the end to see how this glorious card came about!

This is the sketch (above) you had to use as a basic guideline for your card. When I saw it, I knew I'd need a bigger card than the normal A2 card size! The house alone measures 4 x 5 inches! I wanted it to appear like a Victorian home with the Gingerbread scrollwork and had a lot of fun figuring out how to do that. My new Cuttlebug Christmas folders came into play for this card! I have so many elements in this creation, so read on, to see how I did it!


I cut out my main house shape then embossed it with the new Holly Ribbons Cuttlebug folder. Next, I punched a doily strip using the new Martha Stewart punch, cut it lengthwise and glued my "gingerbread scrollwork" to the eaves of my house. Then I colored a wavy strip of peel-off stickers with a brick red permanent marker to use as the flat line of the roof. I mounted my "window" (see instructions below), added more "gingerbread", a wavy strip and a small holly button. My door is made using the new Tartan Cuttlebug folder from HSN, which gave the nice carved indents I wanted. I added a pearl for a doorknob, colored peel-off stickers for scrollwork, and used my white Signo gel pen for contrast. I embossed a companion piece of brown cardstock for my chimney and topped it off with a brick red strip. I added a "Merry Christmas" button and a Holly button to finish the house! On to the background!

I laid a circle mask on Whisper White cardstock (Stampin' Up!) for my moon, then sponged Memento Summer Sky on the entire panel using the Colorbox Stylus. I next added Marvy #3 Blue and Prussian Blue inks to finish my sky. I removed the mask, then stamped Santa and the Reindeer (Encaustic Art Stamp) with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I sponged more black ink in all four corners of my card to darken my sky, then added small dots for stars using my white gel pen. The moon was a bit "too white", so I added Summer Sky ink to the surface for contrast.

My window is a digistamp from "Jules Junk" and worked absolutely PERFECT for this card! I colored the image with Prismacolor markers, added another piece of "gingerbread scrollwork" to the top of the window, a colored peel-off sticker and a holly button. I used the Signo gel pen for highlights!

I glued my house to my "sky" panel, added puffy paint and glitter for my snow on the roof , chimney, and ground, then heated it to make it "puff". I mounted the entire piece to a soft blue card. Now that my scene is finished, it's hard to imagine that there is only ONE stamp used on the entire card!!! Card size: 5 1/4 x 7 inches

Challenge Monday....

Yesterday was my day to make some cards for a few challenges! The challenges tend to stretch my imagination to create cards according to specific guidelines. My two Challenge cards today are from Our Creative Corner and Taylored Expressions.

Our Creative Corner sketch challenge was to make a card that looked like a postcard! I had fun with this one. I aged a panel of Whisper White (Stampin' Up!) cardstock with Memento Desert Sand ink. I took the ink pad and swiped it across the card, heavier in areas for a "vintage" look. I stamped my "Christmas Script" (Rubber Stampede) with Adirondack Lights Peach Bellini in the center of my card. Next, I stamped my reindeer, and sentiments (Inkadinkado, River City Rubber Works) with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, then wrote in the address, names and line with a black pen. I stamped the "North Pole Postmark" with Memento Angel Pink ink.

I mounted my Holly background paper by Anna Griffin onto a red card, then proceeded to put my card together. I tore the edges of my postcard panel, applied Memento Rich Cocoa ink on the edges for more "aging", then adhered it to my card. I added a satin bow, a pretty fabric poinsettia with yellow rhinestones, an acetate diecut, and gold pearls to finish the card. Card size: 5 1/2 x 6 inches.

My next challenge card is for Taylored Expressions Sketch and uses a digistamp from Pink Cat Studio. I just love their images and they've just released more for Christmas! I printed my turkey family on Whisper White cardstock and colored the image with Prismacolor markers. I cut the colored image with the Circle Nestabilities die using the Cuttlebug. While the image was still in the die, I used the Colorbox Stylus to sponge Memento Tangelo and Desert Sand ink on the edges. I mounted this piece to a Scalloped Circle Nestabilities cut out and laid it aside to put my card together.

I cut two strips of Debbie Mumm background paper from her Harvest Stack (I got it at JoAnn's), then mounted them to my cream colored card. I punched a decorative edge with a Martha Stewart punch on my word paper (The Paper Studio) and adhered it to my card. I tied orange twine with a bow to the card, then added faux stitching on the Debbie Mumm strips and Turkey piece with a brown ink pen. I used pop dots for the turkey piece, then added drops of Glossy Accents on the turkey's eyes. Card size: 5 x 6 inches.

My last card was created using a tutorial by Michelle Zindorf. As you know, I just love her work and this beautiful cardinal was begging for my attention. Follow Michelle's tutorial for how to create the snowy scene (a list of supplies is included with her tutorial).

Once my cardinal piece was made, I cut it out with the Circle Nestabilities die, then mounted that panel to a glittery white Scalloped Circle cut out. The fabulous snowflake edged glitter panel was made using the new Snowflake corner and edge punch by Martha Stewart. I mounted my cardinal panel to my snowflake panel, then glued it to a white card. A pretty satin bow and snowball pearls finished the card. Card size: 5 x 5 inches.

Winter Trees ...

I was in a "scenic" type of mood yesterday and created two scenes, one for Christmas and one for Thanksgiving. As most of you know, scenic stamping is my passion. You can evoke so much emotion into a scene, with the right color, trees, etc. Take a look at my creations from yesterday!

This scene is for the OCC Sketch Challenge (sketch below), and I had a specific idea in mind for this card. I wanted wintry trees against a blue background and had fun creating this scene. On Whisper White cardstock (Stampin' Up!) I used the edge of my ink pad and swiped color across the card using Memento Summer Sky first, then added a touch of Marvy Pale Violet to the mix to soften the blue. I added swipes of Marvy #3 Blue, and Marvy Prussian Blue to add the mountains, shore line and reflection in my water. I stamped my tree (Judikins) in Memento Tuxedo Black on the right and left side of my card, then overstamped it with Versamark and embossed it with white embossing powder.

(OCC Sketch - you should play along!)

Once my scene was finished, I mounted it to a white panel, adhered my DP (Hot off the Press) to another white panel, tied a ribbon, and glued it to a navy blue card. I added iridescent rhinestone stars to finish the card! Card size: 5 1/2 x 6 inches.

You know my love of blue and brown, and this snowman from Plum Purdy Designs begged to be used for this card. I stamped him on Whisper White cardstock, colored him with Prismacolor pencils, then added a bucket of glitter to give him a lot of sparkle! I then mounted him to glittery cardstock, and put him aside. I put together my card with DP from the Paper Studio, added a brown organza ribbon, rhinestones and pearls and topped it off with a glittered brown felt snowflake! Card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

My second scenic card gives a warmer fall look with my wheat and sunset. My inspiration for this scene is from Michelle Zindorf's blog. I cut out a panel of Whisper White cardstock with the Labels 4 Nestabilities. I cut off the lower half and laid it aside. On the larger half of the panel, I sponged Memento Dandelion ink in the center with the Colorbox Stylus. I added Memento Tangelo and Marvy #3 Orange above the yellow, not covering it entirely. I then added a touch of LadyBug Red to deepen the sunset. Next, I laid a post-it note across the upper portion of the yellow, then added Orange, Tangelo and Ladybug Red to the exposed white area which would be my "water". I turned my post-it note around and sponged Memento Rich Cocoa ink along the edge for my shoreline. I stamped my wheat (Inkadinkado) twice with Tuxedo Black and highlighted it with my white Signo gel pen. I sponged Tangelo, Orange and Ladybug Red onto my second piece and stamped "Happy Thanksgiving" (G Studio) with Rich Cocoa ink. I mounted these two pieces to my punched DP (Hot off the Press) which was adhered to an orange card. I added my ribbon and decorative rhinestones to finish the card. Card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

More Christmas cards...

My first card is for the Our Creative Corner Sketch Challenge and I really love this card! So wintry and majestic, and perfect for Christmas. This would make a great male oriented card as well!

I laid down a circle mask for my moon and post it notes with torn edges on the lower half of the card for my snow. With the Colorbox Stylus, I added my sky using Memento Summer Sky and Paris Dusk, then Marvy #3 Blue and Prussian Blue inks. I removed my masks, then stamped the buck from Nature's Silhouettes (Stampin' Up!) using Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I tore more post it notes with ragged edges to make my snow drifts. Laying the torn edge down, I sponged Paris Dusk along the edge making sure to leave a lot of white for my snow. I embossed my sentiment (Hero Arts) with white EP, then mounted it to a white panel. I adhered my piece to an icy blue card, added a ribbon, a glittery snowflake and finished it with rhinestones. Card size: 6 x 5 1/2 inches.

This next card focuses on a new designer of digistamps and this is "Danika", her first stamp! Lee of Ethereal Forest Designs draws the sweetest, cutest girls and images I've ever seen! I printed her on Whisper White cardstock (Stampin' Up!) then colored her with Prismacolor markers and added highlights with a white Signo gel pen. I stamped my sentiment (Inque Boutique) with Memento Tuxedo Black ink. I glued her to a glittery green panel, my designer paper is from Die Cuts with a View, then added a fancy ribbon. I added pretty pink rhinestones for her necklace, with more rhinestones and pearls to finish it off. Card size: 5 1/4 x 5 1/4 inches

This last card uses clip art I purchased from D.A.I.S.I.E Company. I just fell in love with the red bow and chickadee! I printed it on Whisper White cardstock, then cut it out with Labels 4 Nestabilities and the Cuttlebug. My frame is a leftover piece from another label I had cut, and I punched the corners with my All-in-1 corner punch then embossed with the Swiss Dot folder in the Cuttlebug. I mounted both pieces to green mirrored cardstock, added pearls and adhered the panel to a red card. Card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches

Christmas Roses...

I'm still working on Christmas cards in between preparing for my upcoming Stamping party on Saturday. I got to play with a few new things, as several of my orders came in from Oh My Crafts, and I received some of the new Inkadinkado single clear stamps. Of course, I had to have as many of them as I could get. There is so much versatility with them!

This first card uses a beautiful rose digistamp by Jules' Junk and you can purchase any of her digistamps at Digital Ink Co. I colored the roses with Prismacolor markers on Whisper White cardstock by Stampin' Up! then cut them out with the Labels 4 Nestabilities die in the Cuttlebug for the design. I sponged Memento New Sprout ink on the edges (before removing it from the labels die). I received my Cuttlebug embossing folders (Holiday Release 09) from Oh My Crafts and was surprised to see that some of the folders fit a 5 x 7 inch card front! Now we can emboss our entire cards instead of just the front panel! This folder is called Holly Ribbons and it is so pretty! I didn't do much more to the card, as I wanted the roses to stand out, except adding a red satin ribbon, a peel off sentiment, and rhinestones. I mounted the panel to a white card, sized 4 1/4 x 6 1/4 inches.


This next little darling is another digistamp, and comes as one of three angels. You can purchase these cutie pie's at All That Scraps. I printed the angel on Whisper White cardstock then colored her with my Prismacolor makers. I cut her out with the scalloped rectangle Nestabilites then sponged Memento Cottage Ivy ink on the edges while it was still in the die. My designer papers are from Die Cuts with a View Christmas stack. The lacy border is from Martha Stewart's new doily punch which punches out that strip! I also punched one of the coordinating papers with her new Holly border punch. I wrapped a pretty satin ribbon around the card, attaching a pink button to the bow portion instead of a traditional knot. I added a peel off sentiment and stars to finish the card. Card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

This last card uses one of the new Inkadinkado clear single stamps! I stamped the cardinal frame with Memento Tuxedo black ink on photo paper then colored it with Prismacolor markers. I then cut it out and mounted it to a glittery black card panel. I stamped the holly leaves (Inkadinkado also) on my card front of photo paper, then stamped both sentiments from Close to my Heart. I attached the cardinal frame to my card panel with pop up dots, adhered the entire piece to a black card and finished it off with rhinestones. Card size: 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches.

Digistamps and a challenge...

My first card is for the Mojo Monday 111 Contest Challenge and I used a darling digistamp from Pink Cat Studio! It's a quick and easy card, and I spent more time coloring than I did putting it together! This little penguin is just one of the cute digistamps they have! The images print out crisp and are easy to color on your favorite cardstock.

I printed the penguin on Stampin' Up! Whisper White cardstock, then cut him out using the scalloped square Nestabilities in the Cuttlebug. I sponged the edges, before removing the piece from the die, with my Colorbox Stylus, using Memento inks: Cottage Ivy and Rhubarb Stalk. I then colored him with my Copic markers. The designer paper is from Debbie Mumm's Harvest Stack, and I added satin ribbon at the break between papers. I glittered and attached a Stampin' Up! felt snowflake, mounted my penguin onto the background paper, and adhered it to a white card sized 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches. I finished it off with decorative rhinestones.

(Sketch for the Mojo Monday 111 Contest)

This delightful image is a digistamp as well! This stamp is from Stitchy Stamps and you can find these images as well as a lot more over at Digital-Ink Co. I like the freedom of the digital stamps as I can size or resize them to fit my needs.

I printed the turkey onto Whisper White cardstock, then cut him out with the scalloped oval Nestabilities in the Cuttlebug. Before removing him from the die, I sponged Memento Desert Sand on the edges with my Colorbox Stylus. I then proceeded to color him with my Prismacolor markers (Yes, I have all kinds of markers)! I added some highlights with my white Signo gel pen. I stamped the sentiment (G Studio) using Memento Rich Cocoa and punched it out with a scalloped circle punch. I sponged the edges with Memento Dandelion and Tangelo inks. Next I punched two small holes and inserted my satin ribbon and adhered it to my designer paper (K & Company). I did use pop up dots to raise up my tag. I mounted my paper to an orange card sized 5 1/2 x 4 1/4 inches, glued my turkey on, added a pretty bow and finished it off with pearls.

This last card uses one more digistamp by Jules' Junk and you can purchase her darling creations over at Digital-Ink Co also. This was another quick card, and can be used for January birthday's, Winter or Christmas. I printed the snowman on Whisper White cardstock, then cut him out and colored him with Copic markers. I glittered the large Stampin' Up! felt snowflake and added a large satin bow. My designer snowflake paper is by The Paper Studio and I cut it into three strips and mounted it to a 5 1/2 x 6 1/2 white card. I added the snowflake, snowman and a shimmery peel-off Christmas sticker to finish the card.