Simple Card Saturday - hello friend

Happy Saturday! For this week's simple card, I'm sharing a card that I made for my monthly Christmas card class at my local Real Deals. I'm also playing along at CAS-ual Fridays:

CFC46: Create a Clean And Simple project based on a song.

I was inspired by Frosty the Snowman. Now for the paper yummies:I just love that lil' snowman and his birdie friend. Too cute!

I'm playing along here:

CAS-ual Fridays CFC46: Name that tune

The Ribbon Carousel Challenge RCC46: Anything goes

Thanks for looking!

Supplies: cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), The Paper Studio (kraft); patterned paper: Recollections; stamp: Hampton Art; ink: Tsukineko; markers: Prismacolor; pom-pom trim: Michael's; white gel pen: Uniball Signo; corner rounder, hole punch: We R Memory Keepers, dimensional adhesive: American Crafts

CPS Day 8 - Christmas

I'm back with my second post of the day: my card for day 8 of Card Positioning Systems 5th anniversary celebration. Here is the sketch (#102):

Again I went with a Christmas card, since I needed one more card to round out my Christmas in February card class. I got to use my new Christmas Word Block Stamp by Darkroom Door. I just love the look of white ink against kraft paper. I also used the ornament stamp from the Christmas Sentiments set by TPC Studio. I kept this card pretty simple, as the sketch lends itself to a CAS card. Now for the Paper Yummies:

Stampin' Up! Melon Mambo ink was a pretty close match to this patterned paper by GCD Studios. I punched the bottom edge of the patterned paper with a Martha Stewart punch (not sure of the name) that does both the scalloped edge and a little hole above each scallop. Then I hand-stitched some baker's twine through the punched holes. I finished it off with some white dashed lines around the ornament and the kraft cardstock. Here's a closer view:
I'm also playing along with Lily Pad Cards patterned paper challenge sponsored by Simon Says Stamp. Thanks for looking!

Supplies: cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Recollections (kraft); patterned paper: GCD Studios; stamps: Darkroom Door (background text), TPC Studio (ornament); inks: Stampin' Up! (melon mambo), Joann (white); edge punch: Martha Stewart; baker's twine: Divine Twine; white pen: Signo Uniball; corner rounder: We R Memory Keepers

CPS Day 7 - Merry Christmas

Happy Saturday! I have a couple posts coming your way today as I try to catch up on the Card Positioning Systems 5th anniversary celebration's 15 sketches. This is the sketch from day 7, and today they posted the 14th sketch. Eek! This is sketch #242:

I gotta be honest - this sketch challenged me a little bit. I knew I was going to do a Christmas theme so that I could also use this card in my upcoming Christmas in February card class. And I knew I wanted to use that cute little birdie and the branch, both by Hero Arts. And I had a bunch of this red cardstock pre-cut to this size from a previous class. For some reason, though, the card really didn't come together for me until I added those little black dashed lines around the die-cut piece and the strip of kraft cardstock with the scalloped edge. I am super pleased with the final result - I think it's pretty darn cute! Now for the paper yummies:

I embossed the red cardstock with my "Seeing Spots" Cuttlebug folder, and lightly went over the raised areas with some white ink. I used a Nestabilities die for the white cardstock piece, then stamped the lil' birdie and the branch underneath him. I colored them in with Prismacolor markers, then used some Frosted Lace Stickles to look like snow had fallen on them. The beautiful sentiment stamp is from Market Street Stamps "Essential Holiday Elegance" set. I stamped the little snowflake and embossed it with white powder, then punched it out with my Martha Stewart scalloped circle punch. Here is a little closer look at the "snow" (click on any picture to make it larger):

I'm also playing along with Christmas Card Challenges "Create your own background" challenge. Thanks for looking!

Supplies: cardstock: Georgia Pacific (white), Core'dinations (red), Recollections (kraft); stamps: Hero Arts (bird, branch), Market Street Stamps (sentiment), Hampton Art (snowflake); ink: Tsukineko (black Versafine, Versamark), Making Memories (white); embossing powder: American Crafts; markers: Prismacolor; die cut: Nestabilities by Spellbinders; embossing folder: Cuttlebug; die cut machine: Cuttlebug; scallop edge punch: EK Success; scallop circle punch: Martha Stewart; ribbon: Target; black pen: Recollections; glitter glue: Ranger

CPS Day 6 - Christmas Joy (and a trick for ribbon scraps)

Happy Friday! Today I have my card for day 6 of Card Positioning Systems 5th anniversary. I really liked this simple little sketch, and thought it would be perfect for my upcoming Christmas in February class at Real Deals. Yep... I said Christmas. This year I started a monthly Christmas card class where I teach 3 Christmas cards and one everyday card, so that by the time Christmas rolls around, you've built up a stash of cute, handmade cards and you don't have to scramble at the last minute. And you have some everyday cards to give along the way. Here is the sketch (#37):
For my card, I wanted to use my Happy Holidays stamp set from Hero Arts/Basic Grey's Nordic Holiday collection. Along those same lines, I chose some pretty patterned paper from GCD Studios' Scandia Jul collection. Now for the paper yummies:

While making this card, I invented (LOL) a new way to use a ribbon scrap that's not long enough to tie into a knot, much less a bow. I wrapped it around the card front, and used the baker's twine to secure the ribbon (in a half-knot) like you would a pony tail. Then I separated the two ends of the ribbon and pulled them in opposite directions (like when you separate your pony tail into two sections and pull them apart from one another to make the hair band tighter). Then I brought the baker's twine to the top of the ribbon, threaded the two ends through a couple of stacked buttons, and tied the baker's twine into a bow, securing both the ribbon and the buttons. I thought it looked pretty cute, and I'll definitely be using this trick on future projects. Here's a closer picture:
I'm also playing along with Jingle Belles "All Buttoned Up" challenge

Thanks for looking!

Supplies: cardstock: Recollections (kraft), Georgia Pacific (white), Core'dinations; patterned paper: GCD Studios; stamps: Hero Arts/Basic Grey; inks: American Crafts (green), Joann (white); embossing powder: Hampton Art; white pen: Signo Uniball; edge punch: Fiskars; ribbon: Michael's; baker's twine: Divine Twine: buttons: craft supply; sewing machine: Kenmore; thread: Singer

Valentine's Day card class

Love is in the air! Here are some Valentine's Day cards I made, and will be teaching in an upcoming class at Real Deals. This class is Tuesday evening, January 31st, from 6-8 pm, and includes everything you'll need to create these 4 super cute love day cards for your sweetheart, kids, grandchildren, best friend, or anyone else you wanna share some love with! If you're in the Tucson area, we'd love to have you! Ok, on to the paper yummies!

You have my heart:

Vintage Valentine's Day:

I'm your love monster:

Hello cupcake:

Thanks for looking!

Christmas in January

I've started a new series of classes this year: monthly Christmas cards. Each month we'll be making 3 Christmas cards and 1 all-occasion card. By the time Christmas rolls around, you'll have plenty of handmade cards to go around (36 if you take all the classes), without having to scramble at the last minute. And you'll have made 12 all-occasion cards to give throughout the year.
These classes are SUPER affordable and are suitable for crafters (and non-crafters - LOL!) of any level. You'll learn several techniques, including heat embossing, dry embossing, paper piecing, die cutting, and more. This month's class is Saturday, January 21, from 1-3 pm at Real Deals Tucson. There are still plenty of spaces left for this class. Call, email, or hit up our Facebook page to sign up. Ok, now for the paper yummies:

Merry Christmas

Wishing you joy

Winter wishes to warm your heart


And here is the all-occasion card for this month: birthday
Birthday wishes (my card was featured on Hero Arts' Twitter page! Squeal!)

Hope to see you Saturday! Thanks for looking.

Vintage Valentine mini mailbox

This is the vintage Valentine's Day mini mailbox I will be teaching as a class at my local Real Deals On Home Decor. This class will be this Thursday evening (January 19) from 6-8 pm at the Tucson store. Cost is only $8, and includes all the supplies you'll need to make your own (finished product wil vary. Each class participant will be able to select from various patterned papers and mailboxes to personalize her own project). You can fill each mailbox with whatever treats (homemade or otherwise) your heart desires. These make the cutest little gifts for teachers, friends, or your sweetheart. Thanks for looking!

Supplies: Mailbox: Target; patterned papers: My Mind's Eye, Creative Imaginations; cardstock: Recollections; stamps: Stampin Up!, Hampton Art, Imaginisce; markers: Prismacolor; tag die cut: Cricut; inks: Versafine, Tim Holtz distress ink, punches: Fiskars; ribbon, burlap: stash