Snowing Christmas Blessings

There certainly is a chill in the air, so the perfect time to work on the snowy cards.  This Christmas card showcases many Simon Says Stamps products.  I just love the rolling stitched hills and snow falling background.

To create the blue panel, I first die cut the large rectangle from the "Bundle of Stitched Shapes" by Simon Says Stamp.  One top of that to create "snow" I used Texture Past and the "Falling Snow" Stencil also from Simon Says Stamp.

The focal point of the card was made with the "Village" dies and the "Stitched Slopes and Hills from SSS.  I added an evening glow to the back of the building with some light yellow card stock.  The Christmas Blessings sentiment is from the SSS "Christmas SSS101353" stamp set.

I hope you enjoyed this wintry scene. Can't wait to do more with this village set.

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Merry & Bright Water Color

Merry and Bright and full of color.  I am really loving this trendy water color technique.  It brings back memories of when I took art lessons as a child.

Here are the details on how you can make this card.  For the water color background, I spread  Peacock Feathers Distress Inks on my craft mat and spritzed with water.  I then placed my cardstock into the ink and let it absorb. I after several dabs I turned over and let the water do the work. 

Next, I used the large rectangle from the "Bundle of Stitched Shapes" by Simon Says Stamps.  To add another layer of interest, I used Texture Past and the "Falling Snow" Stencil from Simon Says   The "Merry" Die from MFT is cut from glitter paper and the "&" is from Avery Elle', "We R Family" Die.  Finally I heat embossed the bright greeting from Avery Elle's "Holiday Fill In the Blank" stamp set.

Wow, I didn't realize that I used some many different company's products on this card.  I really love it and hope it inspires you to dig deep in your supplies.

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Trim the Tree with Christmas Cheer

This Christmas card was inspired by one of my most popular blog posts that I did three year ago.  You can check it out here.   The tree is the main focal point and I think its curves are timeless and that is what everyone likes about it.  So, why not use the same tree in another card?  Well, that is exactly what I have done and I like this card as much as the previous one.  Here is how I did it:

The tree I used from a Cricut Christmas Solutions, cut at 4.5" on green glimmer paper.  I first used Simon Says Stamp's "Bundle of Stitched Shapes".  If you look close you can see the stitching detail around the edge.  I them made it into the background with a stencil and texture or embossing paste.  The stencil is Tim Holtz's "Holiday Knit".  I just love the texture it adds and it's subtlety behind the tree.

For the red banner, I stamped it with Stampin Up's "Sweet Essentials" Christmas Cheer sentiment.  For the finishing touch, the holly and berries were added from Papertrey Ink's "Holly Jolly Die Collection".

I may be inspired to see what other backdrops I can come up with to support the star of this card.  That tree is
Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Circle & Texture Happy Birthday Masculine Card

Can I say, I love the new crafting supplies that I have gotten recently.  I feel much more like myself when I can get in my craft room and have a few moments to myself.  That is hard with three boys running around, but I am sure going to make more of an effort.

This was a fairly simple card that I made to celebrate my Father-in-Law's birthday this week and only took about 15 minutes to make.  I used the "happy" die cut and the "Birthday" Sentiment is from My Favorite Things.  

For the Chevron Background I used Texture Paste and a Tim Holtz Chevron Stencil.  I only used the center chevron and masked over the ones I didn't need.  I let that dry for a moment and the I punched out some circles.  The largest circle is photo paper that I experimented with ink and water.  I think it add a touch of whimsy to the card.  The other circles were cut from scrap papers that I had on hand.  I think enamel dots would look nice on this as well.  I used foam dots and glues dot to assemble the layers.

I can't wait to get onto the next project.  This was so much fun!

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Fall Thank You for Teachers

Today, I wanted to share with you the Fall Thank You I sent to my son's teachers.   These are cute post it note holders with a fall theme.  I give these out often to not only teachers, but friends and family.

For the chevron background I used Stampin Up's "Positively Chevron" Background Stamp in Versa Mark Ink and Clear Embossed it.  The fall leaves are from a retired set from Stampin Up called, "Gently Falling".

I colored the leaves with distress inks and was pleased with how they turned out for my first try at using them.

I personalized the back with a punched out heart and stamped Bryan with Lawn Fawn's "Violet ABC's".

Super simple thank you for almost anyone.  If you missed my post yesterday for the Halloween Treat Bags stop by here.

Happy crafting,

Melanie

Class Halloween Treat Bags

Happy Halloween!  I have missed my craft room terribly, but I have found my way back to make my son's Halloween Treat Bags for school.

Here is how I made them:

I used treat bags from the Dollar Tree, they came 40 for $1.  Can't beat that deal.  I then used the Top Note retired die from Stampin Up for the topper of my bag.  I wanted to give that some glimmer so I sprayed it with shimmer paint.  The Witches Hat is from another retired Stampin Up set, "Wicked Cool".  I stamped in black clear embossed to give it some more shine and texture.    I punched an oval and embossed it with the dots folder.  If  you look close you can see that I actually used the back side.  The "BOO" sentiment, which I changed to "EEK!" later on is Lawn Fawn's Violet ABC's.

I folded the treat bag over and stapled the banner and topper.  I then covered that up with the Witches Hat and oval punch with foam dots.

For the back I stamped my son's name Bryan on the back the the Lawn Fawn Violet ABC's.  I am getting a lot of use out of that set already.

I hope you enjoyed and it in spires you to do your own.

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Free Father's Day Card Printable

I always struggle with creating masculine cards for my husband, dad and father-in-law.  So I wanted to share with you a free printable (for personal use only) that I created if you struggle like me.  This Father's Day Card was created with different Free fonts that I downloaded and imported into Photoshop.  There I  sized and placed them to my liking.

Here is how you can make one of your own with this free download.  Click here to download file.

After you print the file onto card stock you will need to pull out your paper cutter or scissors would work too. 

I trimmed at at 5.5" mark on the long side.  The right hand portion will be your card base with the "Happy Father'd Day" sentiment on the inside.  

  

Score and fold this portion of the the card. 

Now I trimmed down the front of the card to 5.25" x 4" and matted a black piece of card stock that was 1/16" wider.  This picks up the black lettering on the card and it feels very masculine.  Here is where you can adjust accordingly to your personal liking.  You could add your the recipients favorite color or leave white for clean look.  I place some foam tape on the back to give this layer some depth.

I hope this inspire you to make this card or put your own fonts to work in a program like photoshop.

Enjoy and happy crafting,

Melanie

Affordable End of the Year Teacher Note Card Set

If you are like me you like a good deal and I love Target's $1 section.  I happened upon these cute black and white note cards sets.  My wheels instantly were turning on how I could take these up a notch.  You may have seem my other note card portfolios or gift card bouquet that I have done in the past for my son's teachers.  I now have three sons and our family is going many directions, so I don't have the time to do projects from the past.  This note card set will be equally special, but done during one or two afternoons while the kids are napping or still at school.

Here is the card set I purchased from Target's $1 bin:

Next, I used some Big Shot Alphabet Dies to cut out the monogram letters.  I cut out 9 for each; 8 for the note cards and one for the front of the portfolio.

Note Card Portfolio Dimensions:
8" H x 9.5" W
Score at 2" along the 9.5" section
Score in half at 4.75"

I hope you enjoyed this project and it inspires you to make your own.  They make a great gift or thank-you for anyone in your life.  I went back to Target and picked up a few more sets for my shelf.

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

ConKerr Cancer Pillow Cases Service Project - Girl Scout Silver & Bronze Awards

My nieces, Abigail McGovern and Victoria McGovern, have done this wonderful service project with Girl Scouts and sewing pillow cases for ConKerr Caner.

ConKerr Caner Pillow Cases is a wonderful way to volunteer your sewing skills and extra fabric stash.  My nieces set such a great example on how we can all volunteer and help brighten children's day in a hospital with a bright colorful pillow case.  Together, they made 39 pillowcases to donate and achieved their Silver and Bronze Awards.  I am such a proud Aunt!

If you would like to lend your sewing skill or even teach your child a great way they can help, this is the perfect service project for you.  See ConKerr Caner Volunteer page for more details.

I hope this inspires you to check out your fabric stash.

Happy Crafting,

Melanie

Colorado Inspired Wedding Gift Card Holder

My brother-in-law go married in Colorado over the summer and the wedding decor was inspired by the beautiful mountains surrounding Denver.  We gave the new married couple a gift card and I wanted to design a gift card holder that would be in keeping with this natural theme.

Here is how I created it:

I used Stampin Up's "Top Note" bigz die to cut the gift card holder as well as the interior pocket.  To create the gift card holder I folded a 4.25" x 5.5" piece of card stock in half.  I place the folded edge just below the cut line on the Top Note die. I then cut another Top Note from the dies and cut it in half.  I ran some tombo adhesive around the 3 side of my interior pocket and glued it to the folded I just made holder.  

Next, I needed to create the embellishment on the front.  I embossed the outer pocket with the Stampin Up "Woodgrain" textured impressions embossing folder.  Cut a piece of burlap from the Apothacary Framelits dies, stamped and clear embossed a sentiment from the "Label Love" Stampin Up stampset.  I used stampin write markers on the "Tags Til Christmas" pine cone image for the rustic feel.

Now it is time to assemble, I used Stampin Up dimensional, glue dots to hold it all together.

I hope you enjoyed this gift card holder and may it inspire you to get crafty for a special occasion.

Happy crafting,

Melanie