Christmas Cards 2012

Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year

I think I covered all of the bases.  It has been far too long since I have made a post.  I do hope to be more regular on posting.  It has definitely been a hard 2 months for our family and we are mustering through it.  So for that I have not been very creative let alone wanting to create anything just for fun.  But it is the holiday season and I love making cards and sending them to family and friends.  I only used my Cricut on two cards and the rest are stamps.  My new favorite markers are Stampin Up.  I just love how everything coordinates together.  These cards I made for my co-workers but they do not know it yet.  Disregard the small magnets.  I purchased the scrap'n'easel and the scrap'n easel ette from Contain Ya Crafts.  I so love them.  It makes doing cards and page layouts easy.  Why did I buy both -- well I have one area of my craft space that I just do layouts since my computer, expression and silhouette cameo all sit on one table together and I have another area devoted to just stamping.  Do you need both, no.  But I found it worked easier for me.  Plus both fold real nicely to take to a crop.

The following items were used:

- Micheal's recollections 8.5x11 craft card stock

- Stampendous jumbo snowfall pair (crs5018-47573)

- Stampin Up markers:

   - gumball green 

   - real red 100052

   - rose red  100063

   - sahara sand  105105

   - pumpkin pie   105115

- Zing embossing powder  "white opaque"

- Martha Stewart embossing powder "lady bug"

- Ranger superfine "silver"

- Ranger superfine "gold"

- Fiskars squeeze corner punch "something old/something new"

- VersaMagic Dew Drop multi-surface chalk ink "red magic"

- 6x6 paper packs

  - crate paper "farmhouse"

  - recollections "holly day wishes"

  - recollections "blue christmas"

The next project I am working on is almost like project life.  I am using their products but instead of weekly I am doing monthly.  My life gets to crazy and full to do weekly.  Im stressed as it is and I do not want to put any additional stress upon myself by falling behind.  I do admire those who can craft like that but I am not there yet.  Maybe in 5 years I'll be there.  I am just starting to get back into enjoying the hobby.  

To all who read, Happy Holidays, Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.....From My Family....To Yours!!!!!!

Provo Craft 2001251 Cricut Mini Electronic Cutting Machine- (Google Affiliate Ad)Ranger Industries SFJ-06961 Super Fine Embossing Powder 1 Ounce (Google Affiliate Ad)Ranger 278049 Super Fine Embossing Powder 1 Ounce-Silver (Google Affiliate Ad)Ranger 278048 Super Fine Embossing Powder 1 Ounce-Gold (Google Affiliate Ad)Tsukineko GD000-12 VersaMagic Multi Surface Dew Drop Chalk Inkpad (Google Affiliate Ad)Provo Craft 2001186 Cricut Expression 2 Electronic Cutting Machine- (Google Affiliate Ad)

Operation Write Home - Shipment 2

Operation Write Home - Shipment 2

I had thought I lost these photos.  Normally I use my IPhone to take the photos because it is always readily available.  But for these I used my digital camera.  This was my second shipment of cards for Operation Write Home.  I do hope the troops like them.  On this batch I made a 100 cards.  I have a thing about even numbers.  I just can not end on a odd number.  I used a lot of stamping.  It is just easier when you a making a lot of cards.  Paper piecing and gluing slows you down.  So I do not use my cricut or my silhouette a lot unless it is to make shapes to stamp on.  I did use the print and cut feature with my silhouette cameo to print the birds and the sayings.  I always use Stamps of Life but I also used My Favorite Things stamps as well.  Again I used the regular Recollection and Bazzill cardstocks for the base.  I replicated the designs below several times.  My second goal is to mail at least 1 box a month with 50 to a 100 cards in each.  I want to increase that but since I am limited to the weekends that makes it a little harder to accomplish.  So this goal is more attainable for me to meet.  I also want to get back in the habit up logging into my blog at least once a week.  I was doing this regularly and have gotten side tracked.  My hubby had bought me a vagabond for our anniversary and needless to say the rumors a true.  I tried to use one of the new spellbinder embossing folders that have two designs that you flip to change and it got stuck and ruined the machine.  I will not be buying another one.  I will stick with my cuttlebug and sizzix BigKick for now own for my die cutting.  But I still love Tim Holtz products.  I am trying to figure out how to incorporate my new gelatos in the next cards batch as well as glimmer sprays and mists. I have been coloring more.  I started looking for stamps that I can color.  I really love the distress markers and stampin up markers.  They are my favorite but enough of that for now.  Those will be my next blog entry.  My go to fav's for crafting.

 

Operation Write Home - Shipment 3

Operation Write Home - Shipment 3

I made 70 cards this time out.  I only to get craft on the weekends, so it took me 2 weekends to make 70 cards.  Normally I try to make about 100 cards but I fell short.  I do know that some cards are better than none at all.  It makes me feel like I am doing my part for those who are deployed can send their loved ones cards with their own personal message inside in their own handwriting.  I make so many cards that I have slacked off on my page layout.  I have decided to do Project Life this year with a twist.  I plan to start tracking "my year" with the date of my Hubby's departure.  He will be leaving for a year and I want to chronicle that year for him to review when he returns home.  I used a lot of different stamps (stamps of lie, Becky Higgins, Hero Arts, Penny Black and Recollections).  I also used my cricut (Art philosophy, Artiste, craft room basics, best friends)  I also used my favorite punches from Stampin Up (small scallop circle, modern label and oval).  I have been sticking to my guns not to buy any more paper until I dwindle my stash down to half.  All of the base cards are either Bazzill or Recollections.  The decorative sheets are either MME, DCWV and Recollections.  I stuck with my standard inks of Memento and Stampin Up.  They have become my favorites to use when stamping.  Next weekend I will start another batch of 50 cards.

Operation Write Home (OWH) - 105 cards

OPERATION WRITE HOME 

 

I came across this site about a week ago.  You see as I mentioned in an earlier post, I have been con convelescent leave due to surgery and decided that since this is such a worthy cause and the fact that I love to make cards I thought why not give it a try.  Well I did and in a week I made 105 cards to send out to Operation Write Home (http://operationwritehome.org/).  So far OWH has sent out 1,749,393 handcrafted cards have been deployed since 2007!    This is so amazing and I just wanted to contribute something to my fellow brethern in uniform who are away from home and are in some location where they can not buys cards to send home to their families on special occasions or just to say "I Miss You".... So below is just a few pictures I have taken of the crads I created that will go out in the mail today.  So if you get a chance, check out the website.  They also have a YouTube videos as well ( http://www.youtube.com/user/OperationWriteHome?feature=watch                                     For the few members I have that follow me, let me know what you think.....

 

 



Me & Dad Clowning Around

This was one of those rare moments with my dad.  Often we take the normal family snap shot before he leaves to go back home but this time was different.  We decided to be a little corny for the camera (sorry for the bad camera shot - pic is not this dark or red).  My dad will pick a weekend that we have as a holiday and drive down and stay a couple of days.  We end up having to pack in a lot of family time into a couple of days.  My dad has since retired from the military and teaching so he has some free time on his hands when he is not vacationing.  We don't get to see him as often so we try to make all time count.  The paper is warped becasue I sprayed different mists on it and it did not dry flat.  I wanted to try some different techniques on this page.  I deceided not the mat the pics so instead I took a marker and went around the photo.  I used embrodiery thread to tie the banners together.  Im trying to venture outside of my comfort zone and try different things.  I want to broaden my scope and increase my creativity range.

ITEMS USED:
K&Company 12x12 designer paper (no name on the pad - very odd)

CTMH Cricut cartridge - Art Philosophy with coordinating chipboad pieces for the banner

Cricut Cartridge - Everyday paper dolls (grass)

Cricut Cartridge Accent Essentials (for the sun)

Mamking memories 6x6 paper pad EMMA

Tattered Angels glimmer mists: turquoise blue and slate

Tattered Angels chalkboard mists: chalk and strawberry shortcake

Craters workshop 6x6 templates: mini gears, mini ledger and mini chicken wire

Memento tuxedo black ink

Classic Stampin Up Lucky Limeade ink (used to edge the banners)

American Crafts Samp Marker - Apricot and sunflower

Gallbladder Long Gone - Aug 2012



Well as I mentioned in my last post, I had surgery a couple of days ago and I thought I would scrap it.  Of course I do not have actual photos of my non-functioning gallbladder (YUCK!!!).  So I did the next best thing.  I went and googled a photo.  All the paper is from Micheals Recollection collection ( Bold Basics patterned paper and Soda Pop).  I could not get into the CCR today because they are having issues with the site so I decided to use my Thickers that I purchased from Archiver's several weeks back and it worked really nicely on the page (chocolate in color).  The journaling I did through Microsoft word and just did a simple text box at 3x7.  I had a lot to say on the procedure and I knew my chunky handwriting would not allow me to make it all fit in such a little space.  I love the colors.  I had a hard time matching the folder but when I finally came across the paper (I have lots of paper packs) it really fell into place and worked great.  Nothing fancy...Just real simple and easy.

Cricut BIrthday Card -CCR and Wild Card 2

It has definitely been a long while since I have posted any projects.  I have created a lot but have not added them to my blog.  I am currently working on an album for my In-Laws.  Plus I just had surgery yesterday so I will be on Con Leave for about a week and thought what a perfect time to catch up on some much needed projects.

My youngest is turning 10 this month and she so loves her Ipod touch.  So I decided to make a card for her that presents her Ipod and her headphones that she always has with her.  The following materials listed below are what I used to make this card.  I used the Cricut Craft Room (CCR) and the new cricut cartridge "Wild Card 2".  Its one of my favorites.

Items and sizes:
- Wild Card 2 cricut cartridge page 40 for headphones
- envelope cut at 10.931x10.77 used bazzill papaya puree medium paper
- envelope insert cut at 5.333x5.167 my mind's eye Fine & Dandy Danny Boy 6x6 paper pack
- card cut at 10.431x5.181 core dination polar ice
- card insert 4.611x4.375 DCVW Brights collection - yellow
- card topper layer 5.125x5.153 my mind's eye Fine & Dandy Danny Boy 6x6 paper pack
- heaphne 4.028x4.542 my mind's eye Fine & Dandy Danny Boy 6x6 paper pack
- hdphon-s 4.042x3.819 my mind's eye Fine & Dandy Danny Boy 6x6 paper pack
- layer 4.028x2.208 my mind's eye Fine & Dandy Danny Boy 6x6 paper pack
- layer-s 1.694x2.194  bazzil 2x6 blue and orange
- texture boutiques
- kassie brocade embossing folder

Klubes Family Pic

CTMH Art Philosophy cartridge - pennants
Recollection flowers
Tattered glimmer mist - suede, snow angel and Santa baby
Making memories gold brads
Recollection Kraft card stock
12x12 My Minds Eye Madison avenue paper
Paper glaze
Thickers letter stickers