Winter Greetings Card

Yikes, the week got away on me. I've been busy putting together some samples for a friend and thought I would share one. Aren't they cute?

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Card Size: 5" x 7"
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It was total coincidence, but when I went to add my ribbon, it fit perfectly in between the scallops of the paper!!
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I used Liquid Applique for the penguin's hat and collar of his coat. I added Prisma Glitter to the Liquid Applique (for the bit on the hats), and then heated it.
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For the scallops around the image, I took off the guard on my corner rounder. The image is coloured using, yup, good 'ol pencil crayons.

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To give the sign a little dimension, I added Foam Squares underneath the middle, and attached the ends directly to the card.

Recipe: Stampendous Snowy Short Stacks, Basic Grey Eskimo Kisses Glazed Apple, White CS, Red Textured CS, Burgundy Textured CS, Foam Squares, Rhinestones, Corner Rounder, Pencil Crayons, Liquid Applique, Prisma Glitter, 5/8" Burgandy Grosgrain Ribbon.

Enjoy,
Deneen

Gift Box....aka Pizza Box

I found these Pizza Boxes...it sounds so unromantic so I titled my post Gift Box...over on Jen Del Muro's blog I {heart} 2 stamp.

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She didn't have a visual template, so you'll find one I did based on her instructions at the bottom of this post. They're made from one piece of CS and open just like a pizza box. I thought now was the perfect time to make a few since Christmas is looming ever closer. Take a lookie!!

Box Size: 4" x 4" x 1"

Recipe: CTMH Creative Basics Paper Pack-Jingle, CTMH CS-White Daisy, Tulip & Juniper, CTMH Ink-Tulip, CTMH SS-Playful Flourishes, Martha Stewart Punches-Arch Lattice & Arctic Snowflake, CTMH Cranberry Grosgrain Ribbon, Ranger Holographic E.P., Foam Squares.

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They were so fun to make, I made 2 designs...and yes, you know me, I made 6 of each. Phew, I should be good to go for Christmas this year. Here's the other design, I used more traditional colours.

I used Ranger Holographic Embossing Powder on the tree (and on the snowflakes on the other box), it's very glittery.

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Recipe: CTMH PP-Evensong, CTMH CS-Garden Green, Garnet & Colonial White, CTMH Ink-Black, Chocolate, New England Ivy & Garnet, CTMH SS-Beauty of Christmas, Galaxy Marker-White, Ranger Holographic E.P., Gold Brads, Foam Squares.

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Here's the template based on Jen's instructions.

Here's what your CS piece will look like before you glue it together. I cut extra slits for ease when gluing together, and I embellished it before I glued it together.

Enjoy,

Deneen

2 Fall Cards

Since I was so slow at getting a start on my cards with a Fall theme, I got busy and now I have 2 to share with you today.

Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

The first one is pretty basic. I really like how the black CS and black embossed sentiment pops off the card. The leaves are embossed with silver. I used Shapeabilities Ribbon Tags Trio DC and added the Nestabilities Labels Four DC to make a larger area to stamp the sentiment.

Recipe: CTMH CS-Vineyard Berry, Goldrush, Black & White Daisy, CTMH Ink-Black, Vineyard Berry & Autumn Terracotta, CTMH SS-Autumn Splendor & Intrinsic Backgrounds, Silver & Black Embossing Powder, Foam Squares, CTMH Vineyard Berry 1/4" Grosgrain Ribbon, Shapeabilities Ribbon Tags Trio DC, Nestabilities Labels Four DC.

The second card I have to share with you uses old CTMH B&T paper, but I really liked the fall colours in it.

Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

I used the Rock and Roll Technique on the leaf using 3 colours...Buttercup, Autumn Terracotta, and Garnet.

I didn't realize I was short on Garnet CS when I started making my cards (I usually make at least 6 at a time), and I ended up running out before I finished the last 2 cards. So, I had to alter the last 2 slightly. I used a wider grosgrain ribbon and a small piece of Garnet CS to frame the sentiment. It didn't turn out too bad, if I say so myself...a teeny tiny disaster averted.

Recipe: CTMH Paper Pack-Harvest, CTMH CS-Colonial White, White Daisy, Garnet & Sunflower, CTMH Ink-Black, Grey Flannel, Garnet, Autumn Terracotta, Cocoa, Buttercup & Tulip, CTMH SS-Autumn Splendor, Foam Squares, Grosgrain Ribbon, Martha Stewart Embossed Zigzag Punch, Nestabilities Labels Two DC.

Enjoy,

Deneen

Gift Card Card

No, I don't have a stutter, lol. This card can be used as a gift card holder, or as a special card with a pocket. I wanted to make another sample with Christmas papers and a gift card, but I ran out of time.

The colours are much brighter IRL.

Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

It's really a quick and simple card to put together. Cut a strip of patterned paper for the inside front cover of the card. Glue only the edges so that you create a pocket. Slip a Gift Card, or create a sentiment card piece to stick in the pocket. I saw a similar card in Paper Crafts 2006 Card Creations and really thought it was neat idea. And that's it, quick and easy, I finished it off with some buttons, and Prima Flowers with Stickles for the flower center.

Here's the extra piece I made for the pocket.

Recipe: CTMH PP-Sweet Home, CTMH CS-White Daisy, Garnet, Colonial White & Indian Corn Blue, CTMH Ink-Black, Indian Corn Blue & Garnet, CTMH SS-You're Special & Friendship Blessings, CTMH Colonial White Buttons, Nestabilities Labels One DC, Corner Rounder, Martha Stewart Arch Lattice Punch, Stickles Silver Ice, Prima Flowers, Foam Squares, Glue Dots.

Enjoy,
Deneen

The Pumpkin Patch

Aren't they the cutest things you ever did see?

Laurie had posted them on the CTMH Consultant Bulletin Boards, with very brief instructions. I figured she must of posted more thorough instructions on her blog HERE. What I didn't realize, until now, when I went to link to her pumpkins, is that she didn't post her instructions at all....she was offering it as a class.

So, {gulp}, do I go ahead and post how to make them when it wasn't my idea in the first place? Well, I just wouldn't feel right without her permission, so I emailed her and said something like "Laurie Dahling...your pumpkins are absolutely divine..." Oh, all right, I didn't ask quite like that...more like "Yadda, yadda, please, yadda, pretty please, yadda...thanks." And guess what!!!! She said "Yes", her class was now over, so it was okay to post the instructions...and I feel waaaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyy better for asking than just going ahead and posting without her permission.

So without much ado...or actually, alot of ado, lol, here are some pumpkins I made. (And be sure to go check out Laurie's, 'cause that's where I got the inspiration! You can find her blog, Westman Scrapbooks, HERE!) [Hi Laurie, fellow Manitoban & CTMH Sista!!!]

I used the Nestabilities Scallop Oval DC to make the ovals. Both pumpkins use the same sized oval, they're just scored differently. For the pumpkin on the left, the oval is scored across the width. For the tall pumpkin, the oval is scored down the length.

Oh, all right...I went and took a picture of what I just said in the paragraph above. Same oval size, scored differently.

Hey, did you know that the oval DC's are not symetrical??? I kept thinking I was folding them crooked, but it turns out I was doing just fine, it's the ovals that have the problem....yup, that's my story and I'm sticking to it.

I used 2 different sized ovals, so I had a varied pumpkin patch.

With all my yappin' I forgot to tell you the rest of the instructions.

Instructions:

• Cut 11 ovals per pumpkin.
• Score & Fold.
• Sponge Daub edges in coordinating colour.
• Attach half an oval to the back of another half an oval, don't glue right to the edge, you'll need a little allowance or give in the center for your stem.
• Cut a piece of green CS slightly longer than your pumpkin.
• Spray green CS with water, wait 10 seconds, then roll. (Let me tell you that it is so much easier to wet your CS for rolling), glue edge down to keep it from unraveling.
• Cut leaves out of green CS (I drew one, cut it out, and used it as a template to make the rest.), ink edges in a dark green ink.
• To make curls, just wrap a narrow piece of green CS around something round, I used a paintbrush.
• Attach stem, leaves, and curls.

And that's it. I think I remembered to cover all the bases.

Enjoy pumpkin making,

Deneen

Won't Cha Be My Friend?

I had a little panic attack about what I was going to post today, and I ended up with 2 posts. Busy for me...good for you. (You can read about it in the post above.)

Since I hadn't posted any Fall type cards yet, I decided to make a card using Fall colours.

Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

The image took up alot of room on the front of the card, and I didn't want to cover it up, so I used vellum to help with the sentiment. For some reason the image seems more colourful in real life, but you get the idea, Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter.

I used the Cuttlebug Textile EF on the front as well.

Here's the inside:

Recipe: CTMH CS-White Daisy, Tulip & Sunflower, CTMH Ink-Black, Cocoa, Tulip, Buttercup, Garden Green & Autumn Terracotta, CTMH SS-Four Seasons & Joy Forever, Cuttlebug Textile EF, Corner Rounder, Silver Brads, MS Publisher Fonts, Vellum, Foam Squares.

Enjoy,
Deneen

(Unexpected) Window Card

Happy Thanksgiving Monday! And I don't even have a Fall card to share with you today, but I think you'll enjoy this card.

So, where's the window you ask? Hold your horses, that's the unexpected part!

Can you handle the suspense???

All together now......(rhymes with 'who') OOOoooooooo. There it is!!!

Ta-da. Isn't that cool? Or, what's the 'in' word these days.....rad?

Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

Now on to the good stuff...the instructions.

Cut a CS piece 5.5" x 12".

Score at 4.25", then at 7.75" , and then at 11.25".

Fold on the score lines, alternating Valley and Mountain folds.

Cut another piece of CS 4.25" x 5.5".

Glue this piece to the Tab.

Glue the middle sections together and punch a window.

Embellish away.

I saw a card similar to this in a Cardmaker Magazine from May '07, pg. 48. They had different dimensions but I wanted a regular-sized card, so I came up with new measurements.
Here's the one side of my card:

Here's what it looks like on the other side of the flap:

I used the Rock & Roll Technique for the flowers on the inside of the card.

(Rock & Roll Technique--Ink your stamp in a light colour, without stamping, roll the edges of the stamp in a darker colour, stamp on your paper.)

Recipe: Patterned Paper-My Mind's Eye "Lovin' Life" Fruity Stripes Paper, CTMH CS-Tulip, White Daisy & Juniper, CTMH Ink-Black, Juniper, Buttercup, Tulip, Cocoa, Autumn Terricotta, Baby Pink, Blush, Indian Corn Blue & Garden Green, CTMH SS-Instrinsic Backgrounds, Be Yourself, Friendship Blessings & Cupcake Sprinkles, Ice Stickles-Silver Ice, Rhinestones, Dashes Dots & Checks Ribbon, Nestabilities Labels Three & Labels Four DC, Corner Rounder, Dollarama Edge Punch, Hole Punch, Foam Squares.
Enjoy,

Deneen

New Profile Photo

I figured it was time to update my Profile photo...LOL! The last picture was taken a year before my son was born...he's now 18 months.

So, {sigh} I posed for a photo...I'm usually behind the camera, it's very uncomfortable being in front of it....and then cropping it so that people can see your cheery smile, and all the wrinkles, and zits, and age spots....ugh.

Oh well, it's done, enjoy,
Deneen

A Wedding Card

Happy Thursday! Just thought I'd share a Wedding Card with you. My stash was low on Wedding/Shower Cards, so I thought I'd make a few. I wanted to use the bouquet from the CTMH SS Now & Forever, and so I created this card around that image.

Here's my creation.

Card Size: 4.25" x 5.5"

I layered the bouquet by cutting out individual flowers and attaching them with Foam Squares. It seems to make the bouquet 'pop' off the card.

I added Prisma Glitter to the edges of the one Nestabilities Labels 4 DC. I coloured the bouquet with good 'ol pencil crayons, and used Chalk to shade under the bouquet.

Here's the inside of the card.

Recipe: CTMH CS-White Daisy, Pansy Purple & Amethyst, CTMH Ink-Black, Grey Flannel & Pansy Purple, CTMH SS-Now & Forever, Twas the Night Before Christmas (flourish inside card) & Gracious Greetings, Pencil Crayons Prisma Glitter, Thinestones, Cuttlebug Textile EF, Nestabilities Labels 4 DC, Corner Rounder, Sand Paper, Foam Squares.

Hope you enjoyed the Wedding Card!
Deneen

A Wallet Card

I found this neat idea for a wallet...they called it a purse...over on Double Dutch. Their instructions are in metric, you can find them HERE, but I came up with some imperial measurements which you'll find at the bottom of this post.

Card Size: 3.5" x 4.25"

The wallet is made so that there are four pockets, but it's not glued down in the middle, so you could actually put some money in there.

I don't have a tag punch so I used the smallest Nestabilities Labels 4 DC, and folded it in half to make a tag.

Each wallet holds 4 tags that you pull out.

INSTRUCTIONS:

• Cut a strip of CS 3.5" x 8.5", score & fold in half (at 4.25").
• Cut a strip of Patterned Paper 5.5" x 8.5", score and fold (the long way) at 2 3/8".
• Slide Patterned Paper onto CS and glue just the edges down, (front & back) to create 2 big pockets.
• Score and fold in half again at 4.25", you'll now have your 4 pockets (I had problems with my Patterned Paper bubbling up, so I had to fiddle with it to make it lay flat).
• Cut 4 inserts 3.25" x 3.5"
• Optional: For the inside pocket piece cut a strip of CS 1" x 4"
• Embellish

For the visual learners, if you want instructions with photos, just let me know and I'll put some together...so often pictures are worth a thousand words.
Recipe: CTMH Paper Pack-Boom-Di-Ada Creative Basics, CTMH CS-Cuttercup, Olive, Watermelon & Colonial White, CTMH Ink-Black, Watermelon, Cocoa, Garden Green & Buttercup, CTMH SS-Simple Beauty, Friendship Blessings, Baroque Alphabet & Adorable Backgrounds, Foam Squares, Pencil Crayons, Rhinestone Brad, Green Grosgrain Ribbon, Martha Stewart Embossed Zigzag Punch, Pewter Brad, Nestabilities Labels 4 DC, Coluzzle.
Happy Wallet making!!
Enjoy,
Deneen

More Castle Cards!!

I made a couple more Castle Cards to get your creative juices flowing. If you missed my post on Monday, I posted a Girl's Castle Card, Template & Instructions....you can find that HERE.

I got to thinking that castles aren't just for girls....boys like them too! Here's my idea of a Castle Card for a boy.

Card Size: 8.5" x 5.5"

Here's what it looks like opened up. I didn't have a dragon stamp, so I altered the dinosaur stamp that I did have, lol. He's not so fierce looking, but adds a bit of fun to the card.

I used the Parchment Font from MS Publisher, printed it on CTMH Bamboo CS, and sponge daubed the sides with CTMH Cocoa Ink.

The other side opened.

Here's a close-up, I even got to use glitter!!!

For the 'gate', I used Martha Stewart's Embossed Zigzag Punch and snipped the embossing part off to make it look like a gate. I used Square Brads on different parts of the card, to keep to a boyish theme.

I stamped the '2' on CTMH Tulip CS and covered it with Liquid Glass. I let it dry overnight and then cut it out.

Recipe: CTMH Paper Pack-Stardust, CTMH CS-White Daisy, Honey, Cocoa, Moonstruck, Tulip, Bamboo & Crystal Blue, CTMH Ink-Black, Olive, Moonstruck, Grey Flannel, Cocoa & Honey, CTMH SS-Little Boys, Doodle Alphabet, Star Impressions, Rustic Numbers, Atomic Caps, Atomic Lowercase, Come Unto Me & Class Of, CTMH Square Silver Brads, Foam Squares, Martha Stewart Embossed Zigzag Punch, Prisma Glitter, Corner Rounder, Liquid Glass.

And here's another Castle....a Sandcastle!

Card Size: 8.5" x 5.5"

I couldn't decide if this would be a good Bon Voyage card, or a Retirement card (maybe something about having so much time on their hands now, they can build sandcastles). So I left it neutral so that I could use it for either.

I didn't have any starfish stamps, so I used a star punch for the castle. And yes, that's sandpaper, lol!!

I didn't put sandpaper on the whole card, I figured that was a little much, but it adds just that right amount of authenticity. (I used 2 different grits.)

I added Prisma Glitter around the words 'splish splash', and around the edge of the flag.

It's a little difficult to see, but I gave the inside of the card a 'sand texture' look with ink.

I used the CTMH Black Texture Tool to do this. Dab it a couple of times on your ink pad, and then 'pounce' it on your paper, you continue going back and forth-ink pad to paper-until you achieve the look you want. I started with (all CTMH Inks) Cocoa, then added Desert Sand, and then Grey Wool, and finally Tulip.

Recipe: CTMH CS-Bamboo, Tulip, Moonstruck, Sunny Yellow, Orange, Desert Sand & Colonial White, CTMH Ink-Black, Moonstruck, Desert Sand, Cocoa, Grey Wool & Tulip, CTMH SS-Splish Splash & Nantucket Retreat, 100C Medium & 40D Extra Coarse Sand Paper, Foam Squares, Toothpicks, Chalk, Versamark, Circle Coluzzle, Fiskars Star Punch, Prisma Glitter, Pencil Crayons.

Enjoy,

Deneen