Favorite Cards from 2021

Wow! These last two months went by way too fast. Time always seems to go faster after Halloween. It's like someone hits the fast forward button and the end of the year is here. We have no big plans for the evening, just a quiet night at home. So, I thought it would be fun to share a few of my Favorite Cards from 2021. I picked five that I made throughout the year and included links to the original posts if you want more details. Here they are in no particular order... 

First, is my favorite floral card: 

Second, is my favorite birthday card:

Third, is my favorite critter card:

Fourth, is my favorite sympathy card:

and my final favorite is a Christmas card with cats:

Thanks for stopping by and supporting my creativity!!! I hope you enjoy the rest of your day.

Cards Returned

Hello! When making and sending handmade cards you never expect to get them back. After my brother passed away most of the cards I made him were returned to me. Today would have been his 38th birthday, so I took the cards out to remember happier times. The cards are laying on two king size Batman pillow cases that I made him for Christmas several years ago. Up top in the photo you will see a painted rock with the word "whatever" on it. Another Christmas I asked him what he wanted and he replied "I don't know, just whatever," so I made him the rock and wrapped it in a pretty box. I'm sure I bought him something else, but I couldn't tell you what it was. He got a whatever rock and it made him laugh and that's all I remember. Thanks for stopping by and sharing in my memory. Happy birthday baby brother!

My brother:

May 20, 1983-Dec. 3, 2019

Have a Cherry Day Card

Well, yesterday was a whirlwind of various classes at the CKC Scrapbook Convention in Tulsa, Oklahoma. This was the first time for me to attend the convention. I took several classes and did a little shopping. Here is the Have a Cherry Day Card I made during the Artful Card Creations class. We used a Hot Off the Press kit to create this card, which I never do, but it is a quick way to make multiple cards. I love the colors and the class was a lot of fun.

Fishing Father's Day Card

My father-in-law is the fisherman in our family.  Since I'm pretty sure he won't be looking at my blog I thought I would share the Fishing Father's Day card I made for him.  This card was super simple to make and would be easy to duplicate if you have access to a Hobby Lobby store.

Fishing Father's Day Card Directions:

1. Make card from cream cardstock or use ready made card.  Finished size: 5" x 6 1/2".
2. Trim pebble patterned paper (item #154534, The Paper Studio) 1 1/2" x 6 1/4", trim small fish on blue patterned paper (item #444471) 3 6/16 x 6 1/4", align papers and place a couple of pieces of tape on the back to secure, ink edges, and adhere to card.
3. Trim gray cardstock, trim cream cardstock, ink edges of cream cardstock, layer, and adhere to card.
4. Adhere fishing stickers (SPJJ102 by Jolee's).
5. Stamp Happy Father's Day sentiment (C4666 by Hero Arts) with black ink, layer with gray cardstock, and adhere with foam tape.

All supplies from Hobby Lobby.

Super Dad Card

Does your dad like Superman?  Then a super dad card would be perfect for him.  Make it for Father's Day or a birthday.  You will need a few special tools to make this card.  It was made using a Cricut machine and the Cricut Superman™ cartridge    (291071).  Be prepared that this card takes some time to get all the little pieces aligned.  I used a skin white Copic marker (E00) on white cardstock to make the skin tone for Superman's face and hands.  A Xyron create-a-sticker makes the small pieces easier to adhere. 

The finished size:  5" x 6.5".  

What Is A Dad?
A dad is someone who
wants to catch you before you fall
but instead picks you up,
brushes you off,
and lets you try again.

A dad is someone who
wants to keep you from making mistakes
but instead lets you find your own way,
even though his heart breaks in silence
when you get hurt.

A dad is someone who
holds you when you cry,
scolds you when you break the rules,
shines with pride when you succeed,
and has faith in you even when you fail...

- Unknown

Abstract Card

Growing up I loved to make collages out of construction paper and pictures from magazines.  I used to save all the wrapping paper from my Christmas and birthday presents to make collages.  It was cheap entertainment for a country girl.  This love of paper evolved through the years.  In college I took several art classes and that's where I realized my love for abstract art.  One thing I love about abstract art is there are no rules, anything goes.  This abstract card was a lot of fun to make.  So, get the scissors and adhesive out and go abstract!    

Abstract Card Directions:

1. Make card from cardstock, or use ready made card.  Finished size: 4.75" x 6.5".
2. Trim white cardstock slightly smaller than card.
3. Cut desired shapes and adhere to white cardstock.
4. Stamp sentiment, punch holes, attach and wrap twine around cardstock, adhere brads, and use dimensionals.
5. Adhere abstract image to card. 

Happy Birthday Polka Dot Card

Happy Birthday to me!!!  Yes, today is my birthday.  So I thought I would share one of the cards from my stash.  I came up with the Happy Birthday Polka Dot card design for one of my customers who requested a black and white color scheme.  The design is savvy, simple, and easy to duplicate.

Happy Birthday Polka Dot Card Directions: 

1. Make card from cardstock or use ready made card.  Finished size: 4.5" x 6.25".
2. Trim polka dot chipboard (Recollections), pearl white cardstock, and adhere.
3. Adhere black glitter tape (Recollections).
4. Stamp cake image (Hampton Art, PS0518 Sparkling Birthday Cake) and sentiment (TPC Studios, Greetings ST93416), with VersaMark watermark stamp pad, apply embossing powder (Zing! Black glitter finish, 27148), and heat emboss.
5. Layer embossed image with black cardstock, accent cake image with Gelly Roll pen in clear star, adhere with dimensionals and add rhinestones.

Zebra Just a Note Card

I love Zebras and zebra patterned paper, fabric, etc.  The Zebra Just a Note Card was made for this weeks ColourQ challenge.  The colors in the challenge happen to include three of my favorite colors so I knew I had to play along.  With this card I took the less is more approach.  The zebra paper deserves all the attention.

Zebra Just a Note Card supplies:  Gray cardstock by The Paper Studio, white cardstock, wisteria wonder cardstock by Stampin' Up!, lucky limeade cardstock by Stampin' Up!, patterned paper by The Paper Studio (Zebra - Turquoise/White, #452086), eyelet border punch by Stampin' Up!, lucky limeade baker's twine by Stampin' Up!, clear stamp by TPC Studios (Greetings ST93416), lucky limeade classic stampin' pad by Stampin' Up!, and stampin' dimensionals.

Dare to Dream Card

Well, when I started creating a card this afternoon for the Moxie Fab World Tuesday Trigger Challenge this is not at all what I pictured.  The bright bites photo supplied for the challenge gave me the color scheme to work with.  The bright cookies put circles in my mind.  I searched through my stash and found the perfect patterned paper to work with.  Then I laid out coordinating cardstock colors and the card just evolved one idea after another.  This is how some of my favorite cards are created.

Dare to Dream Card supplies:  White cardstock, lucky limemade cardstock by Stampin' Up!, patterned paper by The Paper Studio (Watercolor Bubble Stripe, #230011), scrap yellow patterned paper, orange glitter cardstock by Core'dinations, pink cardstock, Fiskars multiple circles decorative corner punch, Studio g rubber stamp, lucky limeade classic stamp pad by Stampin' Up!, and dimensionals.

Bright Bite Trigger Challenge Photo

Bird Sympathy Card

The bird sympathy card was carefully made with two challenges in mind.  The first challenge is from CAS-ual Fridays and the challenge was to incorporate a bird into the design.  That was easy because I love birds and recently bought the Stampin' Up! bird builder punch and Language of Friendship stamp set.  The second challenge is from Moxie Fab World and their challenge calls for the use of gingham.  The design I came up with isn't fancy or frilly.  I was going for a sweet and heartfelt look, because unfortunately, I have reached the point in my life where sending sympathy cards has become a regular occurrence.

Bird Sympathy Card Directions:

1. Make card from cardstock or use ready made card.  Finished size: 4" x 5.5".
2. Trim gingham paper, ink edges, wrap and secure twine, and adhere.
3. Trim cardstock strip, rough edges with scissors, ink edges, stamp sentiment, and set aside.
4. Trim kraft paper (I used a kraft shopping sack, recycling at it's best) with Fiskars paper edgers deckle scissors, stamp and punch bird pieces, run pieces through a Xyron create-a-sticker, adhere to kraft paper, and adhere to prepared cardstock strip. 
5. Slide cardstock strip behind twine and adhere; tie bow.

Brocade and Butterfly Card

The card I made today was created with two challenges in mind.  I used the sketch from the Mojo Monday challenge and I used brocade patterned paper for the Moxie Fab World damask and brocade challenge.  This was a fun card to make and I love the green and pink together.

Damask Halloween Card

Is it too early for Halloween?  Well, I hope not because I entered this damask Halloween card in the Moxie Fab World damask and brocade challenge.  I love the Haunted Hallows Damask paper by Teresa Collins it's wickedly fun! 


Damask Halloween Card supplies used:  Black  cardstock, patterned paper by Teresa Collins (Haunted Hallows Damask, HH2608), patterned paper by Echo Park (Black Diamonds, BM9009), orange glitter cardstock by Core'dinations (GX-CT240-12), black dotted swiss cardstock by Bazzill Basics, white cardstock, Fiskars paper edgers deckle scissors, ColorBox chalk ink in Blackbird, clear and rubber stamps by Inkadinkado (Happy Halloween sentiment 99477, and cat 95801), Cricut machine for oval shapes, and dimensionals.  

Splatter Challenge Card

It seems I've caught the challenge bug!  The card featured today was made specifically for the Moxie Fab World splatter challenge.  I have to admit before this challenge I've only used my glimmer mist a couple of times.  But now that I've found some inspiration the possibilities are endless!!!

Splatter Challenge Card Directions:

1. Make card from cardstock or use ready made card.  Finished size: 4.5" x 6.25".
2. Trim pink cardstock and use Fiskars edge punch on one end, trim white cardstock slightly smaller and emboss using an embossing folder and Texture Boutique machine.
3. Spray embossed cardstock with glimmer mist and let dry, wrap and secure ribbon, layer with pink cardstock, and adhere.
4. Stamp and heat emboss floral image (Stampendous! rubber stamp, M217 Dandie Trio and Recollections embossing powder in Glacier), corner punch, ink edges, trim silver cardstock, corner punch, layer, and adhere.
5. Punch 1.5" circle, stamp sentiment (Stampabilities rubber stamp, D1200 Thank You Circle Seal), punch 2" scallop design, layer, and adhere with dimensionals.

Mother's Day Gingham Floral Card

Well, I thought I was done with Mother's Day cards until my husband requested I make another.  Today I read about the Moxie Fab World Gingham Challenge and I decided to incorporate gingham into my husband's Mother's Day card request so I could participate.  When I started looking through my paper stash I didn't have a lot of gingham to choose from.  Given what I had to work with I'm really happy with the way this card turned out.  If you want to check out other cards entered in the Moxie Fab World Gingham Challenge just click on the link.  Who knows maybe you will decide to enter the challenge.  Have a creative day!

Mother's Day Gingham Floral Card Directions:

1. Make card from cardstock or use ready made card.  Finished size: 4.75" x 6.5".
2. Trim purple cardstock, corner punch all edges (Fiskars decorative corner punch, Three Petals #01-005488), and adhere.
3. Trim patterned paper, measure and mark corners, punch with a 1" circle punch, and adhere.
4. Stamp sentiment on white cardstock, round corners with corner punch, wrap and secure  twine, corner punch and ink edges of gingham paper, layer, and adhere.
5. Cut leaves with Cricut machine, adhere leaves, punch flower layers, adhere layered flower with dimensionals and adhere rhinestone.

Handmade Good Job Cards

Many kids will soon be on summer break.  That means their parents will receive their final report cards for the school year.  If your daughter or son did a good job let them know you're proud of them with  handmade good job cards.  Kids need encouragement and this is a great way to let them know you acknowledge their accomplishments.

For this card pick two coordinating patterned papers with stars, confetti, or something fun your child likes and follow the good job card directions.

Handmade Good Job Card Directions:

1. Make card from cardstock or use ready made card.
2. Trim patterned paper and adhere.
3. Adhere Recollections glitter tape strip, (you can buy this a Michaels).
4. Stamp sentiment (Good Job stamp from the Stampology collection by Autumn Leaves), use corner rounder punch, ink edges, layer, and adhere.
5. Adhere rhinestone. 

Handmade Graduation Card

It's getting close to graduation time and I realized I needed to make a couple of cards.  The handmade graduation card featured was super simple to make.  The patterned paper was a little busy so I kept the lines simple and made the embossed sentiment the focal point.

Supplies used: Black cardstock, patterned paper by The Paper Studio (Black & Cream Diamonds, #864899 & Graduation Icons, #169961), gemstone cardstock by Core'dinations (Jasper, GX-GEM570) cream cardstock, clear stamp by Autumn Leaves (Congrats Graduate by Tia Bennett), gold metallic pigment ink by K & Company (137295), Pearlustre pearl white embossing powder by Stampendous!, heat tool by The Paper Studio, dimensionals by Stampin' Up!, and Recollections rhinestone.

Finished size: 5" x 7" 

Mother's Day Butterfly Card

If you're still looking for inspiration for a handmade Mother's Day card here's one more example.  The layout design for the Mother's Day Butterfly card is pretty simple.  I heat embossed the butterfly stamped image but if you don't have the tools or supplies for that a stamped image works just fine.  If you can't find the perfect stamp you can always use a butterfly dimensional sticker.  Get creative and have fun, your mom will love it!

Supplies used: Recollections black folded card, The Paper Studio patterned paper (Moire Fleur-Floral, item #465005), Recollections patterned paper (Black Small Dots), white cardstock, Core'dinations gemstone cardstock (Rose Quartz, GX-GEM380),  Inkadinkado butterfly rubber stamp  (60-00048), Hero Arts Mother's Day sentiment stamp (C2962), VersaMark watermark stamp pad, Recollections embossing powder in Party Pink, Hero Arts chalk ink in Grass, Offray ribbon, and Recollections rhinestones.

Mother's Day Butterfly Card Directions:

1. Make card from cardstock or use ready made card.  Finished size: 4.5" x 6.25".
2. Trim patterned paper, ink edges, and adhere.
3. Trim polka dot paper strip, ink edges, layer with gemstone cardstock, cut a strip of ribbon and adhere to paper strip, cut a 8" piece of ribbon and tie bow at center of attached ribbon, trim ribbon as needed, and adhere to card. 
4. Stamp butterfly with VersaMark stamp pad, heat emboss, stamp sentiment, ink edges, and adhere.
5. Adhere rhinestones.

Mother's Day Handmade Card

Here is one last Mother's Day Handmade card idea for this year.  In case you've missed my other examples here are links to them:

• Pink Zebra Mother's Day Card
• Stampin' Up! Mother's Day Card
• Handmade Mother's Day Card
• Mother's Day Bird Card

Don't wait!  Get inspired to make a Mother's Day handmade card.

Supplies used: White cardstock, Island Indigo cardstock by Stampin' Up!, Sizzix Texture Boutique, Cuttlebug embossing folder (Perfectly Paisley, 37-1619), Martha Stewart Crafts ink stack (colors used: blue dusk, and stem green), ColorBox pigment stamp pad in Ocean (15201), Inkadinkado paisley rubber stamp (95784), Hero Arts Mother's Day rubber stamp (C2962), classic stampin' pad in Lucky Limeade by Stampin' Up! (122935), Stickles in Crystal by Ranger, Blossom punch by Stampin' Up! (125603), Offray ribbon (sku # 388241), small scissors, and stampin' dimensionals (104430).

Mother's Day Handmade Card Directions:

1. Make card with cardstock or use ready made card.  Finished size: 4" x 5.5".
2. Trim island indigo cardstock slightly smaller than card.  Trim white cardstock slightly smaller and emboss using Sizzix Texture Boutique.
3. Use ink stack and ocean pigment ink to accent raised parts of embossed cardstock.  Wrap with Offray ribbon, layer, and adhere to card. 
4. Stamp paisley image with Lucky Limeade, cut out paisley image, and accent with crystal Stickles, let dry or use heat tool to accelerate dry time.
5. Stamp sentiment, layer, and adhere.
6. Punch blossom, accent with ink, adhere, and adhere paisley cut out with dimesionals.

Happy 60th Birthday Handmade Card

May is full of birthdays in my family.  This year my dad is celebrating a milestone birthday of 60 years.  Here is the Happy 60th Birthday handmade card I made him.  The colors and design coordinate with the theme for his "surprise" party. 

Supplies used:  Recollections ready made card, patterned paper by Recollections (Black Equilibrium), yellow cardstock, blue cardstock, white glitter cardstock, ColorBox chalk ink in Blackbird, Cricut machine, Cricut cartridges (George and Basic Shapes and Stamping), Xyron create-a-sticker, Fiskars paper edger deckle scissors, Bubble•A•Bilities primary stars stickers by The Paper Studio (501379), and Martha Stewart Crafts fine glitter in Sugar Cube.

Happy 60th Birthday Handmade Card Directions:

1. Trim patterned paper, ink edges, and adhere to card.
2. Cut sentiment and numbers with Cricut machine and run sentiment through a Xyron create-a-sticker.
3. Cut yellow cardstock with deckle scissors, adhere sentiment and numbers, and adhere to card.
4. Sprinkle sentiment and numbers with glitter and shake off excess (sometimes I use a foam art brush to remove more glitter if needed).
5. Adhere star stickers.

 

You Rock Zebra Card

Okay, let me say I love this card.  I made the You Rock Zebra card for my youngest niece.  She is turning eight.  The inside is stamped with a happy birthday sentiment.  I knew I wanted to use the guitar and you rock stamp, then I used her favorite colors and tried to make it look as young and hip as possible. 

Supplies used: Recollections black folded card, Recollections B&W Zebra glitter chipboard paper, Recollections Lime Green glitter cardstock, white cardstock, aqua net ribbon by Creative Impressions (I buy this by the yard at Sooner Scrapbooks), Inkadinkado clear stamps (98693 Rock Star), VersaMark watermark stamp pad, Zing! Black glitter finish embossing powder, Zing! Neon Pink florescent embossing powder, embossing heat tool by The Paper Studio, Copic markers in Robin's Egg Blue (B02) & Yellowish Green (YG06), Fiskars paper edger deckle scissors, Spare Parts gemstone brads (D71-CLR), and Stampin' Up! dimensionals (104430).

You Rock Zebra Card Directions:

1. Trim zebra chipboard and attach ribbon. Set aside.
2. Stamp and heat emboss guitar, color with markers, and layer with lime green cardstock.
3. Measure and punch holes for gemstone brads, use a powerful adhesive, attach image layer to zebra layer with brads.
4. Adhere design to ready made card, finished size: 4.5" x 6.25".
5. Stamp and heat emboss You Rock sentiment, trim with paper edging scissors, layer, and adhere with dimensionals or foam tape.