A card kit...

While crafting for three days in my studio, I came across this kit I had purchased last year and had not done.  I almost set it aside for next year (since Christmas is over for OWH) but then thought, "Let's just do this!"  So glad I did, it was quite fun!  The kit is from Close to My Heart and is part of their "Workshops On the Go" collection.  This one is called Pear and Partridge.  I was originally attracted to the color choices.  All paper, ribbon, gems, a stamp set and directions are included to complete five of each of these three designs.  The only one I didn't follow was the one to the far left.  You were supposed to stamp "Merry Christmas" about a billion times on cream paper to create your own background paper.  I failed miserably at that.  Off I went to Hobby Lobby to find paper that would substitute as a close second. This one was by Paper Studio.  Hmmm, just may have to do another Workshop on the Go.  That was fun!  AND, I can CASE my own card... :)

Using up those Scrappy backgrounds...



Last January, the only "crafty" thing I could do while visiting Ernie during the renovation was make Scrappy Backgrounds. I made over fifty. I loved picking what colors to use and I picked all kinds of color combos, including some with Christmas and Winter colors...



 

 

FINALLY, an opportunity to use them!

 

I turned two into Christmas cards which will be shown in a future post and then two like this.  The sentiment is one I stamped while visiting Sherry last week.  She has such cool sentiments that I've never seen.  And the snowflakes are from some she sent me last year.  It doesn't show up clearly in this picture but, the Scrappy background (cut 4.875"x 3.625") is mounted on navy blue then white.  I think it looks stunning in person...

 

Random Christmas Cards...

 

The last two cards I made this weekend were these two.  The ornaments on the one on the right are from a swap I did when I belonged to Scrap to Treasure last year.  The one on the left is just miscellaneous pieces from other disassembled Christmas cards.  I rarely make "one of a kind" as I prefer multiples so it'll be interesting to see where these will end up... 

 



Another craft day...

 

Yesterday, I was very productive in my studio and am very excited to have another craft day all to myself.  I completed one special project, eleven Christmas cards and prepared a dozen or so cards for shipment to OWH.  So, today, my goal is to complete a minimum of twenty cards from a box I have of partially assembled cards.  For example, the starburst, all the pieces were cut but not adhered to anything.  It also needed a sentiment and I used one I stamped at Sherry's house last week.  The Christmas card, all the pieces were cut, not mounted and no sentiment and the missing you card only needed the sentiment.  I've been up since 6am, have completed five in four hours.  Will I make my goal?  Might need another coffee break before I hit a wall...



Missing you...

 

One of many projects I hope to accomplish this weekend.  This is in response to Sandy's call for "missing you" cards.  It's funny, I went thru every single stamp I own and pulled out all the miss you, missing you and I miss you stamps... I only had two.  Really?!!  Wow!  Now I'm on the hunt for more.  After all, our troops would probably want this sentiment more than any other...

 



Too simple?

 

Once I figured out what I wanted to do with this paper and sentiment, it was a breeze.  Is it too simple?  I think Dixie would call it Clean and Simple (CAS).  The chevrons are from paper I owned, punched while I was at the Cozy Crop House last April.  I punched zillions and then didn't use them during the up-heaval of my life (wedding, son's graduation, my move AND son's move to college).  The sentiment was done while my husband and I visited Sherry in Ohio this past week.  She and I spent a couple hours in her craft space just yapping, punching and stamping sentiments.  She also took us to one of her favorite places, Hollo's Paper Store... I LOVED that!  The brown, red, and base white paper are from there.  I love the texture to all of their paper.  AND they sell it by the pound... how cool is that?

My five for October

 

I rarely am able to do a challenge when it's first presented.  Just a slow poke, I guess.  I need to savor the thought and think it thru a little, THEN I tackle it.  This is a Tuesday Tutorial from the Operation Write Home website from two weeks ago and it fits in with my challenge to make five Christmas cards a month.  I have no idea where the paper came from (it just appeared in my stash when I was unpacking) but it's delightful.  Ernie and his son Ben helped me fold some of the tree pieces.  As we were doing this I thought, "Wouldn't this be a great family project for our own Christmas cards?"  :)