A smile is the best Christmas Decoration

 

Hello Crafters!

Just popping in to share a card I made for the Kraft Journal challenge this week.  The challenge was to make a card using this sketch:

The card was made using Quietfire's gorgeous sentiment A Smile is the best Christmas Decoration stamp:

The tent fold card base was made from white Kraft paper.  Two patterned papers from My Mind's Eye mini pad All Is Bright were mounted on kraft paper.  The edges were distressed using my newly purchased Zutter.  A piece of lace was placed along the seam and red/white baker's twine wrapped around the assembly.  Next was a piece of vellum dry embossed using a Couture Creations embossing folder.  Kraft paper was die cut using Spellbinders Opulent Ovals.  The stamp was heat embossed in black and die cut using Spellbinders Oval.  A double bow made from seam binding was adhered and a poinsettia was die cut using Marianne Design's poinsettia die.  Of course, Stickles was added.  :)

Hope you enjoyed the card!  

Thanks so much for stopping by and have a great week!

Hugs,

Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:

Kraft Journal, Sketch

Word Art Wednesday, AG

613 Avenue Create, AG

TTCRD, AG

Sister Act, AG

Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Extra, AG

Crafty Hazelnut, Patterned Paper

Winter Wonderland card using Graphic 45's Twas the Night Before Christmas paper

 Yay!  It is Saturday!  FINALLY.

This week I was fortunate to find time to craft.  The Christmas card stash increased and I am feeling confident that this year there will not be any last minute cards to make!  Woo-who!  I owe it to my New Year's Resolution (make one Christmas card a month) and all of the gorgeous holiday stamps from Quietfire (they so inspire me to use them...Suzanne Cannon...you rock).

The card I am sharing now was based off a sketch by a sweet blogging friend, Jessi.  She is a designer at Tuesday morning sketches and came up with this great sketch this week.  The sketch made it easy as the card took less than 1.5 hours to make.  That is honestly not bad for me as I do nothing quickly in my crafty room.

Right away I thought of the new Graphic 45 paper, Twas the Night Before Christmas, and Quietfire's new stamp set, Winter Wonderland:

Ok. Ok.  I know what you are thinking.  Shouldn't it be snowflake paper?  Nope.  I wanted to use the holly paper.  Call me a rebel. 

Here is a side view of the card.  Stickles was used (big surprise) on the fussy cut holly and all of the holly on the background paper.

Flat view of the card.  Guess what?  I can actually mail this one.  

Edges were distressed with Antique Linen.  Green button was from my stash and gold metallic twine was used on the button.

Hope you enjoyed the card and I hope your Christmas stash is doing well!

Thanks for the awesome sketch, Jessi!  

Have a good weekend and thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
Tuesday Morning Sketches, Sketch
Word Art Wednesday, AG

Spellbinder and stamp GIVEAWAY! Woo-who!

Happy Friday, All!

Have you visited Quietfire this week?  Every week Quietfire has a giveaway and this week it is this Spellbinders die set...

...and this beautiful Quietfire stamp sentiment...

What a fabulous combo!  Entering into the draw is easy.  Just click on this link here to go to the post and follow the easy-peasy instructions.

Good luck and have a great Friday!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

Peace Christmas card using Quietfire's new stamp release

Hello!  How is your Christmas card making going?  Can you believe that Christmas is just around the corner?  Canadian Thanksgiving seemed like a long time ago and American Thanksgiving is fast approaching.  Then it is that time of year that I refer to as "Oh My Word! I need to make more Christmas cards!" :)

To try to reduce the panic Christmas card making rush, I made another card for my stash.  This one used the newly released Quietfire Peace stamp.  Here is the set:

Peace was stamped in black and heat embossed onto vellum paper.  Tim Holtz Distress marker in Peacock Feathers was applied in the gaps as shown.  White out was applied behind the stamped letters.  (The white out gives a nice rich color to the letters, adds white to the small gaps and also prevents the die cut from being seen through the stamp.)  It was die cut using Spellbinders Labels Thirty Three.

Next, ivory paper was die cut using Becca Feeken's beautiful Spellbinders die set Lacey Tiers.  Black marker was run along the edges.  The dies were glued onto card stock and then mounted on an ivory tent fold card.  Black gems were adhered at will.  :)

This card will be easy to mail and would also look great in other colors.  I think I will make a red one next.  (Another card for the stash!)

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day!
Big Hugs!
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
A Crafty Mess, AG
Crafting by Design, AG
Sweet Stampin', To die for
Word Art Wednesday, AG
Crafty Calendar, Christmas
Love to Create, Christmas
Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Extra, AG
Dies R Us, Christmas

A Smile is the Best Christmas Decoration of All

Hello All!  Today is my day to share a project at Quietfire.  Above is a sneak peak of the card using Quietfire stamp A Smile is the Best Christmas Decoration.

Feel free to hop over to Quietfire for step by step instructions on how to make the festive card.

OH!!! And don't forget to check out Quietfire's Super Amazing Awesome sale!!!  U.S. shoppers will love the dollar conversion.

Have a great day and thanks for stopping by!

Hugs, Kathy Jo

Tidings of Comfort grungy/vintage card and gold gem technique

Hello Crafters!

Sunday night in bed I thumbed through a new magazine and fell asleep.  I must have dreamed about making cards because I woke up Monday at 5:30am- bright eyed with a card idea in my head.  Into the craft room I went and made this card.  All of it was made before I went to work except the poinsettia.  The poinsettia was made about two months ago and was waiting patiently for its project.  I hope it was well worth the wait!  :)

The card used a Quietfire Christmas stamp Tidings of Comfort and Joy:

The corrugated card base (Recollections) had Distress Ink in Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain applied along the edges.  Green distress paper (Tim Holtz 8x8 pad) was dry embossed with Couture Creations "Trellis" embossing folder, cut to size and edges were distress inked.  It was mounted on gold paper.

The poinsettia was fun to make: a piece of card board from an old paper pad was die cut using Sizzix' poinsettia die.  Distress inks in Fired Brick, Scattered Straw, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain was applied to the die cuts.  Clear Crackle was applied and dried.  After drying, more Fired Brick, Vintage Photo and Walnut Stain was applied.  The flower center was finished using Stickles in Golden Rod.  The cool crackle poinsettia was adhered to the card as shown.  Here is a closeup of the front...

...and a side view...  

The Tidings stamp was applied to more distress paper with black dye ink. Distress ink was applied along the edges.  Gold bling was added.  

A front view of the card:

Now, it wasn't until the weekend when I was scrounging in my room trying to find a metallic embellishment that I had a crafting Eureka! moment.  I took some gems I hardly ever use (in this case yellow) and used Sakura's Pen Touch in gold on the gems.  After the gems dried I used my tweezers to add the gems to the card.  The surface is durable and my sharp tweezers did not scratch the finish.  Here is another tip: for a smoother look use the pen on the entire gem and then press the pen nib on top of the gem- the gold flows out on top of the gem and gives it a smoother finish.  Cool, huh?

I hope you enjoyed the card and the metallic gem tip!  Thanks for stopping by and have a terrific Tuesday!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
A Crafty Mess, AG
Crafting by Design, AG
Crafty Sentiments Designs, 2 or more papers (4 on the card)
Brown Sugar, AG
Scrapping for fun, AG with bling
Sweet Stampin', To die for
Word Art Wednesday, AG
Crafty Calendar, Christmas
Love to Create, Christmas
Christmas Stampin all year long, AG
Suzy Bee's, AG vintage
Crafty Hazelnut Christmas Extra, AG
Dies R Us, Christmas

Serenity Matchbox using Graphic 45's Botanical Tea

Hello Crafters!

Not too long ago I lucked out and picked up a used Sizzix matchbox die set.  It had been on my wish list for a while and it was a great price by the seller.  Yay!

After playing with scrap paper I decided to move on...be brave...and cut up some Graphic 45 paper (GASP!).  The Serenity stamp from Quietfire matched the paper well and had to be used.  I love how it looks in gold.

The set had some fussy cutting around some of the beautiful Graphic 45 images.  The Serenity was free cut around the stamped text and Tim Holtz ink in Spun Sugar was applied along the edge.  Foam tape and Stickles was used to add pop and emphasis...

The compartment housed a wee tag with hummingbird.  The tag was die cut from kraft paper and Distress Paint in Picket Fence was applied...

More foam and Stickles...

In lieu of having a button or know on the box end, I used Spellbinders die Labels 4 to cut a base for the underside of the box.  It serves as a decorative handle.  Also, you may see that some of the edges of patterned paper has gold edging.  It was applied using a gold leafing marker.  

Another view of the combo.  I am very happy with my first matchbox project...although my photos could be better!

Thanks for stopping by to see the matchbox.  Hope you all have a fantastic week!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This project is entered into the following challenges:
613 Avenue Create, AG
Craftin Desert Divas, Tag
Crafting Musketeers, AG but a card
Word Art Wednesday, AG

Christmas Waves a Magic Wand

Hi Crafters!

How is your weekend?  I hope it has been filled with fun, friends, family and crafty time.

The challenge ending today at the Kraft Journal is Tall and Skinny.  (Thank goodness that meant card shape and not the crafter shape as I would not be able to play. LOL)  I hardly ever make tall and skinny cards so the challenge was accepted.

Continuing on the Christmas theme from yesterday's blog post, I used Quietfire's Christmas Waves a Magic Wand stamp as the sentiment.  It was stamped and die cut on white card stock.  

Next, kraft paper die cut using Spellbinders' Captivating Squares and Picket Fence Distress Stain was applied on the edges.  The ever so cute snowflake paper is Little Yellow Bicycle's Making Merry paper.  The finishing touches were shimmering bling around the sentiment and a red sheer bow with red tinsel edging.

 

Hope you like the tall and skinny card!  Have a super Sunday!
Thanks for stopping by!
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
The Kraft Journal, Tall and Skinny
613 Avenue Create, AG
Crafting by Design November, AG
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra November, AG
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper November, AG
Sister Act, AG
TTCRD, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG

Take Time to Delight in the Joys of the Season card

Happy Saturday, All!

Well, I am slowly getting back into the craft room.  It felt so good to play with my paper crafting pretties.  For inspiration I followed this week's MOJO Monday sketch again...

...and used Quietfire's Take Time to Delight stamp.

The paper used was my pristine Websters Pages paper set, Royal Christmas.  Spellbinders die set Poinsettias was used to die cut more Webster's paper.

Here is a closeup of the stamp and poinsettia:

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I hope you all have a great weekend.
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
MOJO Monday, Sketch
613 Avenue Create, AG
Crafting by Design November, AG
Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Extra November, AG
Crafty Hazelnut's Patterned Paper November, AG
Dies R Us, Christmas
Sister Act, AG
TTCRD, AG
Word Art Wednesday, AG

Butterfly Thank You card and reason for absence

Hello All.

It has been a while.  My last post was October 20th and actually that card and post were made at the beginning of October.  I feel like I owe many of you an explanation as some blog friends have emailed me and I have not responded.  Nor have I really visited any blogs in a few weeks.  This past month has seen a lot of changes in my life.  Although I try to keep personal information off of my blog, this post will be personal.  You do not need to read this but I need to write it.

Last month my husband and I went home to visit my parents on their anniversary.  Unfortunately before I went home my mom was placed in the hospital.  She was released the day we arrived so that was encouraging.  However, it was difficult to see my mom in her condition as she had been through a lot.  By the end of the week she was walking on her own with a walker and I thought all would be well.  My husband and I returned to Nova Scotia.  The next few days I spoke to my mom on the phone and she seemed to have more enthusiasm in her voice.  My dad said she had more energy and we started to feel as if she would recover.  Her health quickly changed and by the end of the week she was back in the hospital.  By Sunday she could not fight any more and she passed away.  That was two weeks ago.

My world is different now.  The most beautiful person I ever knew is no longer here.  My best friend, my confidant, the heart of my family is gone.  Because of this, I have avoided my craft room among other things.  Luckily I have the best husband and a fantastic group of friends that have provided a shoulder to lean on.  Also, the Quietfire Design team has been incredible- providing support and filling in for me.  Gloria Stengel and Hazel from CraftyHazenlnut have been so understanding with my lack of guest designing duties.  I cannot say how fortunate I have been to have received so much comfort during this time.

I pushed myself to return to the craft room last night and a return to the room tonight.  It took a while but I finished a thank you card using MOJO Monday's sketch.  Hopefully finishing this card will make it easier to return to the craft room more often.  

Here is the sketch this week:

The Thank You stamp is from Quietfire:

The paper is from Prima (Forever Green) and a scrap piece of wood paper was used for the background.  The antique button on the bow was a gift from my mom.  Seemed fitting to have it on the card.

Thanks so much for stopping by.  Thanks to all of you for listening and for sending kind thoughts.  I cannot express how much your kind words and thoughts have meant to me.

Have a good evening.
Hugs,
Kathy Jo

This card is entered into the following challenges:
MOJO Monday Sketch
Word Art Wednesday, AG
613 Avenue Create, AG