Our Christmas Card-2010

Hi friends! Thought I would share my Christmas cards with all of you. I started out with a picture of Alex from his band's photo shoot this year, knowing I wanted to use something about a drummer boy in the card. I love that pic of him holding his drumsticks. So, I printed a whole bunch in a 2x3 size.

Here is the outside of the card...(sentiment-Hero Arts, patterned paper-Jillibean Soup)

A peek at the inside...Last year I included hot cocoa in my Christmas cards and this year I wanted to give a little something again so I created handmade gift tags. Here's a close up of the pocket that held them...

and the greeting on the inside...

Now for a closer look at the tags... I bought THIS stamp set and knew I wanted to create the tags out of it. It seemed like such a good idea until I had to stamp and color all 100 of them! LOL
The backs of each tag...

Believe it or not, I'm already thinking of next year's card. Yep, I'm crazy like that. lol

BTW, If you are new to my blog and want to see my Christmas cards from previous years, click HERE and HERE.

Okay, off to wrap some more presents. Thanks for stopping by! Be back soon...

Personalized Cards & Color Recipe

Today, as I was going through my Christmas shopping lists (yes, I'm still not done yet!), I felt like I needed something to add to Betty's gift. Betty is my next door neighbor and the sweetest lady you will ever meet. She is in her mid 80's and I always find it hard to shop for her because she has everything. We go to the same hair salon and I always get her a gift certificate there and homemade buckeye and peanut butter fudge candy....but I wanted to add a little something extra so I got crafty today...I decided to make her a set of personalized cards since I know she sends out many because most of her family lives in other states. I also wanted to create a Color Recipe to show what color ink and color card I paired together, for anyone wanting to whip up a set of these for a last minute gift. If you're like me and are a HUGE Hero Arts fan, then this will be easy peasy.

To get started, pick out a background stamp. I used THIS one like I did in my last post. I thought it was elegant and classy just like Betty. ;)

I'll start with the RED group first...

You will need THIS multi pack of cards. Here's a breakdown of each card...
1. Carnation card stamped with Soft Blossom Ink
2. Punch card stamped with Punch Chalk Ink

3. Grenadine card stamped with Ruby Dye Ink

Next, the ORANGE group...

You will need THIS multi pack of cards. Here's a breakdown of each card...

1. Poppy card stamped with Poppy Chalk Ink

2. Mandarin card stamped with Poppy Chalk Ink

3. Daffodil card stamped with Soft Yellow Shadow Ink

Next, the GREEN group...

You will need THIS multi pack of cards. Here's a breakdown of each card...
1. Celadon card stamped with Soft Green Shadow Ink
2. Grass card stamped with Grass Chalk Ink
3. Pine card stamped with Grass Chalk Ink

Next, the BLUE group...

You will need THIS multi pack of cards. Here's a breakdown of each card...
1. Powder card stamped with Soft Pool Shadow Ink
2. Cerulean card stamped with Cerulean Chalk Ink
3. Azure card stamped with Cerulean Chalk Ink

and finally, the PURPLE group...

You will need THIS multi pack of cards. Here's a breakdown of each card...
1. Lilac card stamped with Soft Purple Shadow Ink
2. Iris card stamped with Iris Chalk Ink
3. Aubergine card stamped with Iris Chalk Ink

Onto presentation. I LOVE THESE clear boxes from Papertrey Ink. I put each card inside the envelope flap and then place them inside like this...

except for the card that goes in the front....The final product...
I think Betty is going to love them. Thanks for stopping by!

Hero Arts 2011 & Tutorial

Hello! Hello! Hello! I am back and ready to share! I am happy to report that my Christmas cards are complete and will be mailed out tomorrow. Woohoo! I'm a happy girl. :)

Today, I have a tutorial using a NEW Hero Arts stamp from their 2011 Catalog. I purchased THIS stamp and I have to say it was love at first sight. lol Here is a quick card set I made with it...I have a tutorial for you on how I made these. It is a technique I use to turn regular cardstock into glossy/texture yumminess. :) See.....
Here is the play by play in case you want to try this technique...

(That great banner die is from Papertrey Ink)

A few more close up shots...

Thanks for visiting and not giving up on me. lol

Okay, off to take a hot shower and relax. Had a bad spin out on the expressway tonight due to icy roads and so happy that Alex and I are okay but I have some serious stiff muscles from tensing up! Feeling blessed. Night.

Publications & Music Monday

I've been under the weather but wanted to log on and share some recent publications of mine. :)

This specialty issue...features these snowflake embossed cards/tags....
and this issue...features my Christmas Card from last year. The hot cocoa card...
I also wanted to do another Music Monday. Here's some songs I've recently downloaded to my i-pod...

1. THIS song is my new favorite. She is so talented.

2. THIS song is so pretty.

3. I can't get THIS outta my head. What a fun song and the video is so funny.

4. You know how much I love PINK....THIS song makes me dance.

5. Love this artist's spunk...I just downloaded THIS song. :)

Alright. Off to rest and try to beat this cold. Thanks for stopping by!

Random Cards

Hi.

I have been so busy with to-do lists, creating Christmas cards, cleaning for a party, and work around here that I haven't had anything to post on the blog lately. Sorry. My life is simply crazy right now. I really need some R&R but I don't think that is going to happen anytime soon so I thought I'd share some random cards that I've been creating. Some holiday, some not. Just want to share. :) Enjoy! ...

This gift card holder card was inspired by one of Jennifer McGuire's cards. She rocks...

Well that's really all I've got for now. I'll be back soon with some recent publications. Thanks for stopping by!

Thankful...

Hello! Just wanted to wish you all a Happy Thanksgiving and to let you know that I'm so thankful to have such great blog friends. Thank you for taking time out to stop by and read my blog and leave such sweet comments/emails. It makes my heart happy. Thank you.

Have a terrific holiday. Be back soon...

A day of creating...

Hello! I'm expecting a few friends over soon for a day of crafting so I'm going to keep this short but thought I'd show a card set I made recently...

I love to make multiple cards with the same layout but change the color. I am thinking of making sets similar to these as Christmas gifts.

To make this card:

-I started by stamping a different Hero Arts background on each card in the coordinating card color.

-I cut off a 1/2 inch strip from the bottom of the front of the card and glued it on top of the bottom of the inside of the card. I did this so when you open the card, you have some decoration on the inside.

-I embossed dots with my Cuttlebug on the white label die (from Sizzix) and stamped a Hero Arts Greeting in the center using black ink.

-I applied coordinating distress ink to the outside to make them pop using my distress ink blending tool.

-I added dimensional adhesive to the back of the label die and attached it to front.

-I strung three coordinating buttons with white string and attached them around the label.

-(Difficult to see in the picture) Finally, I sprayed the entire card with pearlized water to give it some shine.

That's all I got for now. Hope you had a great weekend! :)