Thursday, December 31, 2015

White Silhouette Poppy Card

Well, using the leftovers from the previous card I posted about earlier, I made this card using the white silhouette portion I removed from the adhesive sheets. I just could not see wasting such a pretty design. I am entering this one as well in the Mod Squad Blog Challenge for this week.


The pattern paper is from the Gina K. Designs Poppy Prints paper pack. I also used Gina K. Designs Red Hot and White card stocks. With the addition of lots of layers, white pearls and a double loop bow I finished my simple card design. And, this card took me longer to make then the other one did in the last post. But I like how it turned out as well.

The Memory Box die used is Perky Poppy Style No. 98762. The sentiment is from the Gina K. Designs Stately Flowers 8 set which is illustrated by Melanie Muenchinger.

Well, that is all I got done today as far as card making. I hope you learned a little from the last two posts on how to make use of die cuts in a different fashion.

Thanks for all the lovely comments too!

Happy New Year and God bless!
Verna

Glittered Perky Poppy

Before Christmas I watched a video done by Demo Donna at Sparkle N Sprinkle where she demonstrated the Kiss Cut Glittered Background. So I was so enthused that I purchased all the supplies needed for it but just now have found time to try it out. And, since I had a Crossover and not the machine she was using I was not sure I could get it to work, but it did a wonderful job the first try. Here is the video if you care to check it out: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7sSmFliYMB8


As you can see I used my Crossover machine and I set the dial at 5 1/4. I also used Gina K. Designs heavy weight card stock and placed the Super Adhesive sheet over that before I cut the design of the poppy. I used my Tim Holtz tool to pick up the cut portions.

Here is a photo showing more of the glittery effect of the card design.


When I had all the glitter applied and worked into the adhesive areas I then cut it to the size I wanted and layered it with black card stock before I added it to the blue card base. I then added some blue rhinestone gems to dress it up even more. This will be a card that will work for many occasions and inside I can always add the appropriate sentiment.

Sparkle N Sprinkle glitters used are:
Black Ice G1020S
Orange Surprise G1010
Fascination G1030
Bridal G1029

The Memory Box Die I used is Perky Poppy Style No. 98762.

I am entering this in the Mod Squad Blog Challenge for this week. We were to use at least one die cut. Well, I think with all the glitter used that one die cut is all I need to make an outstanding card design.

This was a fun morning. Yes, it only took me an hour to do this and I was so surprised I got it to work that well first time out.

Thanks for stopping by my blog too and since this is New Year's Eve I wish all of you a wonderful 2016. No big plans here and it will be just hubby and me in front of the tube no doubt watching the ball drop in Times Square. That is fine with me too!

God bless,
Verna

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Winter Cardinal

I had more new Die-Namite dies that I recently purchased so I decided to make another one for the December Die-Namite Inspiration Challenge. This one is a card that could be used for many occasions too!

****Notice: It was several weeks later that I noticed that I did not add the black band right above the cardinal's beak. Ooops! Oh, well! A boo-boo that slipped by me. LOL


I tried to create a similar design using the inspiration challenge photo below.


And this is the die I used called Winter Cardinal which was used for the focal image on my thinking of you card. 

Winter Cardinal

I used pattern papers from Gina K. Designs and the bluish circle was cut out with a Marvy circle punch and added to the striped pattern paper. Over the circle I glued the Winter Cardinal die cut which was colored in with Bic Mark-It alcohol ink pens.

The sentiment is from Kitchen Sink Stamps and is on the 3 Step Hearts & Roses LRGC 006 set. I fussy cut the banner for the sentiment from ivory card stock.

I love the look of cardinals and realized that they don't have to be used just for Christmas cards as they are around much of the winter in their pretty red coats. 

Thanks for stopping in and if I don't get back to blogging anymore this year I hope all of you will have a wonderful New Year.

God bless,
Verna

Monday, December 28, 2015

Winter Sunflower Sympathy

Again I went with die cuts except for the sentiment to make my sympathy card. I used a Die-Namites die and a stencil to decorate the ivory card stock front of the base card. This will be entered in the Die-Namites Challenge.


I cut the die first with green card stock and then again cut it with yellow. To make the red/orange center I used Galaxy Markers to color it in. I also used a fine Bic Mark-It to add some petal lines too.

The background was made with the Sheena Douglas Graphic Equalizer decorative stencil which I purchased at Crafter's Companion. I moved it slightly over and re-inked the stencil to make more lines in the design. The sentiment is from Rubberstamp Avenue.

Here is the inspirational photo we were to use.


And here is the die I used for the focal image of my card design.

Winter Sunflower

Now this can be used for either a man or a woman in my opinion so I will consider it a more neutral sympathy card. I saw that beautiful die and since I am a great lover of sunflowers I was surprised to see there was even a winter one around. I even looked online to see what colors were correct for it and it resembled more of a red center then the brown ones I see in our neck of the woods.

Well, time to call it a day for crafting and make my evening meal. It is going to be another chilly night I think and last night we had the wood furnace burning all night long which kept us nice and cozy warm. If you are in the colder climate, I wish you a nice warm night too.

God bless,
Verna

New Rules For Following Google Blogs

Apparently new rules have been applied and many of you might notice that in your blogs you are losing followers or that blogs you used to follow you are no longer getting notices about. Now you need to have a Google Account in order to follow. The explanation below might help you out.

In 2011, we announced the retirement of Google Friend Connect for all non-Blogger sites. We made an exception for Blogger to give readers an easy way to follow blogs using a variety of accounts. Yet over time, we’ve seen that most people sign into Friend Connect with a Google Account. So, in an effort to streamline, in the next few weeks we’ll be making some changes that will eventually require readers to have a Google Account to sign into Friend Connect and follow blogs. 

As part of this plan, starting the week of January 11, we’ll remove the ability for people with Twitter, Yahoo, Orkut or other Open Id providers to sign in to Google Friend Connect and follow blogs. At the same time, we’ll remove non-Google Account profiles so you may see a decrease in your blog follower count.

We encourage you to tell affected readers (perhaps via a blog post), that if they use a non-Google Account to follow your blog, they need to sign up for a Google Account, and re-follow your blog. With a Google Account, they’ll get blogs added to their Reading List, making it easier for them to see the latest posts and activity of the blogs they follow.

We know how important followers are to all bloggers, but we believe this change will improve the experience for both you and your readers.

Posted by Michael Goddard, Software Engineer

So far I have not noticed much of a drop in followers but then again I was not followed by that many. But regardless I thought I should post this for any of you who are experiencing issues.

God bless,
Verna

Winter Sympathy

I find that this type of card is the most needed at this time and I am finding it hard to keep up so I decided to work on a few sympathy card designs this week. This one used mainly Cheery Lynn Designs dies and therefore, I am entering it in the Cheery Lynn Designs Blog Challenge for this week. I wanted this to be for a more masculine looking card and again I went with a clean and simple design.


I cut out the birch tree die and the critters on ivory card stock and then sponged on the tree and colored the critters in with Bic Mark-It alcohol ink pens. Below is a view from a different angle.


The sentiment is from Rubberstamp Avenue. I also used the complimentary verse that went with that set for the inside of the card too.

The skyline was sponged onto the die cut panel with light blue ink on Stampin' Up Shimmery White card stock. And, then I added the other die cuts and sentiment. The shimmery card stock really looks great and I hope this next photo will show you the shimmer in it and how it resembles the sparkling snow and little flakes falling in the sky too.


Sorry this photo is so big but in order to see the shimmer I needed it to be larger. It looks much better in real life.

Cheery Lynn Dies used are:
Card Maker's Stackers Nesting Dies ST 014 Rectangle
Birch Tree with Cute Critters B370

Well, I need to work on more sympathy designs now. I wanted to try out this new set that I purchased this Fall and never got around to using it. I think it looks nice and this would work for a card for many other occasions as well.

Thanks for dropping by and as always I appreciate all the wonderful comments.

God bless,
Verna

Saturday, December 26, 2015

A Major Award

I was watching the A Christmas Story 2 and was reminded of the story line of the first movie and then I recalled a card I made for my daughter one year. I thought I would share it with you and for the life of me, I don't remember whose companies the stamps are from anymore. I think the balloons were Posh Impression. But it was a big hit for the occasion. I hope it brings you a little smile too!

Here is the outside of the card. Excuse the poor quality as at the time I only had a scanner to make images of my cards.


Here is the inside:


I always loved the original movie and enjoyed the second version too when Ralphie is a teenager.

Well, busy with family but thought I would just touch base with you a bit. Have a great weekend all.

God bless,
Verna

Thursday, December 24, 2015

Last Minute Christmas Card

This will be my last Christmas card post for the 2015 season. I made this using stamps from the Sparkle N Sprinkle Stamp Set 507 Christmas Holly. This card will be entered into the Mod Squad Blog Challenge for this week which is Anything Goes.


This is a clean and simple style with just the stamping of the lantern and the sentiment. I then colored the image in with my Bic Mark-It alcohol pens. I finished the card by adding three red rhinestone gems.

Well, thanks for looking. My family arrives tomorrow to spend our Christmas celebration together. I am hoping we will be able to Skype with the family in Japan as well. That is usually the way we try to spend a little togetherness.  I pray the internet will be working properly at that time.

Everyone have a wonderful and blessed Christmas and see you again afterwards with more posts.

God bless,
Verna

Sunday, December 20, 2015

Thank You Blogging Friends

As much as I would like to do so, I cannot possibly send Thank You cards to all of my blogging friends. So I am doing the next best thing by posting one card for all of you to share by looking at my entry for today. A card like this will also be used to give to someone as a thank you for my Christmas present.

I used all die cuts for it except for some snow flake sequins that I am finding come in really handy. I am so glad I die cut a few extras here and there so that I found items I had on hand that would work great for this card. I put all of my card making supplies away yesterday when I cleaned up for the Christmas holiday weekend.


As you can see it is not a very complicated design and I am always preferring to work with more clean and simple ones. I have another view so that you can see the card from a different angle too. Notice how the sequins pick up the different colors when the light shines on them in certain ways. I think that is so pretty! I also added a couple blue rhinestones to the centers of two of the flakes.


I am entering this in the following challenges:
Cheery Lynn Designs Blog Challenge
Scrapy Land Blog Challenge

Cheery Lynn Dies used:
Lace Corner Deco B  B162
Snowflake 2 DL 166
Thank You 2 B540

Well, my next few days will be doing last minute things before the family arrives the evening of the 25th. I furnish the first meal and then on the next days the kids will do the cooking and I will watch and just sit back and relax.

Well, have a wonderful Christmas week and weekend. May your days be merry and bright! And, remember Jesus is the reason for the season. Tonight we are going to see the children's program at church. I always look forward to that event.

God bless,
Verna

Friday, December 18, 2015

Poinsettia Christmas

I worked again today with some dies from Cheery Lynn Designs. I especially love the poinsettia and the holly. I had a few cut ahead for future cards so worked with them this morning and this time I used different shades of red to pinks to make the poinsettia. The card stock for all the card elements used are a shimmery type which I purchased from Crafter's Companion and also from Sparkle N Sprinkle.




Here is also a photo of it at a different angle. On this one you can see the shimmery look of the card stock better.


The sentiment is from Gina K. Designs.

The Cheery Lynn Designs dies used:
Poinsettia C145
Holly Leaves B183
Oval-Classic XM-7
Oval-Inverted Scallop XM-9

This is being entered in the Scrapy Land Blog Challenge for this week.

Well, I hope I get this post up before the internet goes down again. Ever since we had this storm it has been in and out. Sure makes things tough to keep in touch with my cyber friends. So if you notice me missing in action and not always commenting on your posts that may be the reason why.

Thanks for checking out my blog.

God bless,
Verna

Thursday, December 17, 2015

In My Thoughts

I did another card that would work for many occasions depending on what sentiment you stamped inside. This time I used Kitchen Sink Stamps. And, this will be entered into the Mod Squad Blog Challenge too.


I had some left over pieces of card stock from other projects and used them to make this card. I went with the green and pink tones for this rose design. The stamp set from Kitchen Sink Stamps is called 3 Step Hearts and Roses LRGC 006. Don't you love the font on that sentiment? I know I sure am pleased with it.

Well, time to work on our evening meal. I am wishing you all a wonderful weekend. Mine will be extra busy I guess as I should not have played making this card but a girl has to have some fun, right?

Take care and God bless,
Verna

Winter Wonderland

Well, this week we had a snow storm and now our world pretty much resembles this scene I made with a neat new set I purchased from Sparkle N Sprinkle. I immediately thought of a fun winter scene when I saw it and since we have a similar view outside our window now I decided to make a few of these up. Good thing I did as some were sent off as last minute Christmas cards with the greetings inside.

But one thing about this set is that it can be used all winter long for fun cards and for lots of different occasions. This one is not designated as yet and could be a Thinking of You, Get Well, New Year's or a Birthday just by adding a different inside greeting. And it sure looks like it would be fun to take a sleigh ride.


I cut a piece of junk mail by making curves and used that as a mask to make a bank of snow by just sponging on the blue above the mask. I then stamped the trees and the sleigh. And, the final touch was to add some snow flakes and some snow also on the trees and the sentiment. I used a white gel pen for that. Then the scene was layered to red card stock and placed on a base card of white.

Very easy card to make and I just love the stamp set which is Sparkle N Sprinkle Stamp Set 744 Sleigh Ride. I also made several of these on some Stampin' Up Shimmery White card stock. In the sky portion it looks like stars or snow falling when tilted and in the snowy part it looks like sparkling snow. I decided I need to get more card stock like that for my winter scenery cards.

Since this is not a Christmas card I am going to enter this into the Mod Squad Blog Challenge for this week. At least I got one card posted this week on my blog. Now it is back to cleaning. Ugh!

Thanks for stopping by and I so appreciate your wonderful comments. Keep them coming!

God bless,
Verna

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Sparkle and Shine

I find myself a few cards short so I am working late to try and catch up again. This is one I did and I used mostly die cuts and just stamped the sentiment which is from the Gina K. Designs Winter Cheer set. I am entering this in the Cheery Lynn Designs Blog challenge for this week and also in the Mod Squad Blog Challenge.



It doesn't show quite as much in this top photo of the glitter that is embedded in the holly leaves so I tried to get a better view of it. It is a bit blurry but I think you can see the glittery effect. The paper I used with the glitter for the leaves is a varigated green throughout it. Oh, and I used Stardream card stock for the layer and the main card base,



I cut the oval out of the bluish layer of Stardream card stock and attached it to the base card of white Stardream card stock. I then placed the holly leaves and red rhinestone gems around that oval cutout. The sentiment was stamped with red ink, The last step was to add the double loop bow of red chiffon which was trimmed with a glittery gold edging.

The Cheery Lynn Dies I used:
Stackers Nesting Dies Ovals-Classic XM-7
Holly Leaves B183

I have had a productive day. Started off with making a casserole to take to the church pot luck. We Lutherans like our casseroles. LOL And, then after church I came home and made some peanut clusters and then later in the day made some chocolate covered pretzels. I had so many pretzels in the sack so decided to use them up somehow.

I have another full sack of pretzels. Hubby was sent to the store a couple weeks ago to get me a bag of pretzels and since they were two for a certain price, of course he came home with two big bags. The rest of them will be put into the Chex Mix which will be done this week some time. Then I think all my snacky things will be done for this season.

Well, thanks for stopping in and looking and now I think this old crafty lady has to get to bed and try and get a good night's rest. I hope all of you rest well too.

God bless,
Verna

Saturday, December 12, 2015

Cookies & Pretzels For Christmas

Well, it has been several days since I last posted. Sorry about that but since my hubby had surgery last Wednesday I have been preoccupied otherwise. I got him home Thursday but then there were other things needing my attention like lots of laundry and caring for him. Well, today he was feeling a bit better and since I had baked the cookies yesterday he asked if he could help decorate them. So here is our project for today. We made snowflakes, bells and Christmas trees. Hey! The guy is housebound now so I have to entertain him somehow. LOL


I take the lazy way of doing it. I melt some almond bark and then drizzle it on the cookies and then add some sprinkles. However, the snowflakes as you can see got a little heavy with the almond bark but I am sure they will still disappear regardless. While I write this they are cooling and hardening up so that I can tin them and store them later.

We also did some pretzels and covered them too. That is one of my hubby's favorite things, and while we were doing them he told me to freeze them because he knew if they were out he would indulge. He is diabetic so this is one time of the year I do make a few more goodies.


I might make a few more goodies such as cranberry bread and perhaps some other peanut clusters and that will be about the extent of my holiday treat making. Oh, and a big batch of Chex Mix. That is a "must" as I am not that fond of the sweets but do like that salty mix.

I hope all of you are having a great weekend. Thanks for stopping by.

God bless,
Verna


Monday, December 7, 2015

Toadally Awesome!

Now that I have my Christmas card making pretty much under control I decided to take a break and do a card using a different theme. I decided on a card that might appeal to my grandkids.  I know I will be needing cards for them for various reasons. And, this Great Impressions set would work for a birthday, get well or even for a valentine design with that sentiment.



To compliment the image I used my Memory Box Cross Stitched Dies to add layers. The image was colored with my Copic markers. And, once all the layers were together on the white card stock base I then added the double bow of green gingham ribbon to finish it off.

I am entering this in the Great Impressions Blog Challenge which is Anything Goes. The stamp set I used is called Toadally Awesome SKU: OHW101

Well, most likely this will be my last post of the week as I have to concentrate on cleaning and baking pretty much from now on. And, once I get the house cleaned I don't want to get paper snips and such all over the place again. LOL And, I love to watch Christmas movies in this season of joy so that is part of my plan too! I may post things I bake or concoct.  I know Chex Mix is on the list. In the meantime take care and have a great rest of the week.

God bless,
Verna

Sunday, December 6, 2015

Another Traditional Colored Christmas Card

Well, I wrote out all the cards I had made and found I was still short quite a few so I am back into the card making mode again. That is okay! I enjoy it. This one features the traditional colors of red and green. Those are always a "hit" at Christmas time.


I used the Poinsettias set from Inspired by Stamping. I really like that set with it's images and beautiful font for the sentiment. I stamped the poinsettia and colored it with my Spectrum Noir Aqua markers and for the holly leaves I stamped them with Christmas Pine ink from Gina K. Designs as they are a solid stamp image. I used a masking technique. I then fussy cut them out.

I used a base card of white and then added a green and white layer using my Memory Box cross stitched dies. I then stamped the sentiment in Christmas Pine and added some paper ribbon using Allison's Ribbons from Cheery Lynn Designs. The popped the poinsettias and holly leaves design over the top of the card and putting it on so that a portion of it went over the paper ribbon. The final touch was to add some red rhinestone bling to the card.

So I used a combination of stamps, dies, bling and flowers (if you consider the poinsettia one).

Cheery Lynn Die used:
Allison's Ribbons B335

Memory Box Die used:
Cross Stitched Frame Borders Style No. 99124

I am entering this in the following challenges:
Mod Squad Blog Challenge 
Scrapy Land Challenge
Cheery Lynn Designs Challenge

Friday, December 4, 2015

More Ornaments

Today I made more ornaments so that when I am ready to write out my cards to my sisters they will be gifted an ornament or two to put on their tree. And, again! These are all kid safe as they won't break that easy as they are made of paper. We don't spend a lot of money on each other but instead try to make something instead. And, these mail really easy too.


I used star dream card stock and also metallic colored card stock to make them. They are made using dies from Memory Box.

Memory Box Dies used:
Globe Ornament Style No. 98927
Portia Ornament Style No. 98920

They are decorated on both sides of the inner globe ornament so that if they turn they will still show a pretty decorated side.

I am entering this into the Scrapy Land Challenge. The theme is Anything Goes.

Well, back to my kitchen table to clean up my crafty creative mess and then work on something for our evening meal. I guess one never knows what I will concoct up in my kitchen these days. LOL

Hope your weekend is great. I plan to try and get some cards ready to send out. Thanks for stopping by.

God bless,
Verna

Wednesday, December 2, 2015

O Holy Night

I love this die cut design and I made several of them this week and in different colors. But this one was my favorite color combination.


For my card I used the Gina K. Designs Pure Luxury card stocks in Cranberry Tart and Ivory. I also used a Gina K. Designs sentiment which I stamped on the open area. This sentiment is from the Christmas Joy set by Rupa Shevde.

The die is from the Die'sire Create-a-Card line which is from Crafter's Companion. It is called O Holy Night. It is the perfect size for an A2 card. And, it is flat enough so that you don't need to add extra postage either when sending through the mail.

I will be entering this in the Mod Squad Challenge and for my recipe choices I picked my favorite Christmas colors, a beautiful stamped sentiment and a die cut design.

I am also entering this in the Scrapy Land Challenge for this week which is Anything Goes.

Wow! And here I thought I would not be posting much this week, but as it turns out things are coming along quite well in my card making venture. I even got a short note printed out giving a little of what went on in our lives this year. After a doctor visit tomorrow and some shopping I will then start sending out Christmas cards this weekend.

Until next time have a wonderful life!

God bless,
Verna

Carnation Sympathy Card

A few weeks ago I made this sympathy card using stamps from Kitchen Sink Stamps. It is a fairly clean and simple card but I thought it was perfect with the single flower design. It was for a lady friend who had passed away so I went with the pink tones.


The Kitchen Sink Stamps used are from the Multi Step Carnations LRGC 045 and Simple Sentiments MINI 006.

I am entering this in the Mod Squad Blog Challenge in which we were to pick three items at least from the listing and create a card. To qualify I used favorite colors, a favorite flower stamp and some bling.

Thanks for stopping by and for all the wonderful comments you leave me. I love them all.

God bless,
Verna

Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Stippled Christmas Trees

Well, here I am again. And, this was a really quick card to make as I used a left over negative  of a die cut pine tree and created a stippled design. I used the Gina K. Designs Edible Eggplant dye ink to stipple in the trees and then added some rhinestones. I then finished it by adding the Gina K. Designs sentiment from the Winter Cheer set. Really an easy peasy card design. Oh, I also brushed my stipple brush along the bottom to sort of give the illusion of a snow buildup beneath the trees.


It pays to go through the left overs from die cuts and see if the negatives can be used in a creative way. I am really liking this and might have to do a few more as it went so quick. And, I am in the rush mode now. LOL

Thanks again for stopping in and for all the nice comments.

God bless,
Verna

Going Non-Traditional

Since I am still in need of Christmas cards I decided to join the Cheery Lynn Designs challenge and use some non-traditional colors for my clean and simple card. I really love these colors anyway so it was a given that I would choose them.


I chose to use the colors of Gina K. Designs card stock in Edible Eggplant and Lovely Lavender. I also used Gina K. Designs Edible Eggplant dye ink too. It was mainly done with all die cuts from Cheery Lynn Designs and the sentiment which is from Gina K. Designs Winter Cheer set. For the center of the poinsettia I took a rhinestone flower and used a Copic Marker to color it a coordinating color. And before I assembled the poinsettia I took a sponge and lightly added some Edible Eggplant to the Lovely Lavender poinsettia to make it pop a bit more. The finishing touch was to add the faux die cut ribbon across the front.

Here is a different view.


Cheery Lynn Dies used:
Poinsettia C145
Holly Leaves B183
Allison's Ribbons B335

And on a personal note just wanted to say we had a wonderful time at our oldest daughter's wedding this past weekend and I wanted to share a photo of the bridal couple that I took. I am so happy for both of them and wish them a lifetime of happiness together.


Well, if I am missing in action  now and then before Christmas it is because there is a lot going on yet in our lives. But I will try to post occasionally. In the meantime, I hope all are enjoying this Christmas season. We have a white one going on now. And, sounds like more to come.

Thanks for stopping and for commenting.

God bless,
Verna

Fluttering By

 First of all I want to wish all my Canadian friends a Happy Canada Day! I hope your day is extra special. This card I am showing uses an Al...