Mr. Cardmaker is Getting (Senti)Mental

Last week was a big one for taking down and storing all the shiny Christmas goodness that makes the house so warm and pretty for the holidays.  Boy, does your house look as lonely and boring as mine after you put everything away?  Boo, hiss...

Anyhow, I did start the year with a card project, but it has taken until now for me to get the photos ready to post.
Nephew Elliot has his 19th birthday (don't EVEN get me started on THAT span of time) on Friday, and the family gathered this past Friday to celebrate, since he's back to college this week.  He's the big skier in the family.  (You may have seen THIS POST last January for him,and if you haven't, check it out!).  I try to make him a card that has snow and thoughts of skiing in it, even if there are no actual skis to be found.

I made this--

This started with a 4"x4"  piece of Stampin'Up cajun craze striped  DSP, with a circle out of the middle using a Spellbinders die.  I then cut a slightly smaller circle out of a 4"x4" piece of light blue paper from the rack at AC Moore.  I think it's a Bazzill Basics sheet.  Those two pieces were layered together.
Then I cut a piece of Nearly Navy DSP (again, SU)to 4"x4", and stamped with a snowflake die from PTI's In the Meadow set, and I heat embossed it with some holographic embossing powder from Paper Source.


I tore some scraps of white shimmer cardstock for PTI into strips, leaving lots of high and low places in each strip.I highlighted them with some Stickles, and when it dried, I layered them onto the blue piece, using glue and foam adhesive.  I just found a set of two mini punches at Target, and I used the tree punch to create the tiny trees.  I added snow to each tree with my handy-dandy white gel pen.  I added those to the scene with glue and more foam adhesive.  Then I added the circle cut pieces with foam adhesive, to act as a frame for my winter scene. That was all then layered onto a 4 1/4"x 4 1/4" piece of chocolate brown piece of card stock.

To do the clouds, I took scraps of two different shades of gray card stock, as well as some silver glitter paper (from Michael's), and die cut several clouds with my A*Muse Studio Cloud Duo dies.  I sponged some gray ink onto the bottoms of the clouds, and added some Stickles for more shine.  I adhered some clouds to the blue sky, and some to the outer circles, using both glue and more foam adhesive.  I like that the glitter clouds are just peeking out, showing off their "silver lining!"  Last, I added some snowflakes punched out of vanilla DCWV glitter paper with my new Martha Stewart snowflake punch-around-the-page set.  I like this one, because it punches two different sized snowflakes!

The sentiment is taken from PTI's Winter Penguin set, and that is stamped in black Archival Ink onto some of the lighter gray card stock, and layered onto a circle of brown card stock.  I used my Sakura glitter pen to trace a shiny outline around the gray piece, then I adhered the whole thing to the card front, and then adhered THAT to a white card base.

So, sort of elegant, fun and shiny, right?  Well, I just can't leave good enough alone.

I had to mix it up a bit, by adding my own special brand of irreverence to the inside.

I did this--

I did the (ahem) sentiment on my computer, and printed it out on some card stock.  I cut it into a strip, and layered it onto scraps of paper used on the front of the card, then cut it all out with a Labels Four die from Spellbinders.I edged it just a touch, and then adhered it to the inside of the card.

Elliot liked this card a whole bunch, though I am not sure he appreciated the jokester in me so much.  Some people get me, and some don't.  Oh well.  I got a million of 'em, folks!

All in all, a pretty good way to kick off 2013's card making.

Hey, thanks for stopping by.  I hope you got some inspiration, and maybe a laugh.
All Best to you in 2013!
Richard

Supplies:
Card stock and paper-  Stampin'Up, DCWV, Bazzill Basics.
Ink-  Versamark, Ranger Archival Ink, Memento London Fog, sakura white gel pen and clear glitter pen
Tools-  Cuttlebug, Spellbinders dies (Small and Large Circles, Labels Four), A*Muse Studio Cloud Duo dies, Martha Stewart punch-around-the-page snowflakes punch, scor-pal, marvy embossing heat tool.
Other-- tape runner, foam adhesive, Paper Source holographic embossing powder.

Mr Cardmaker is Having an Affair

I have a real love affair with stamp sets that have coordinating dies.  I say love affair, because I also have a crazy, nut-case addiction to punches, and it's just not like that with the stamp/die thing.  I REALLY love these things.  Like, really.  ANd, I am super selective with what I do and what I buy with these things.

This year, I bought PTI's In the Meadow set, and the dies that went with it.  I loved these the moment I saw them.  I also bought a set of two Sizzix embossing folders somewhere, and I really liked those SO much as well.  oh yeah, and the PTI Wonderful Words Holiday stamps and dies too.

Anyway, I put them to good use, I think. 

I made these--

 Doesn't that sledder look like he's flying? 
To make the letters pop, I used white pigment ink direct from the pad, rubbing ever so gently over the raised portions.  I did it on the snowflakes in the blue card above, as well.  The branches are done with Martha Stewart's branch punch, and the birds are actually die cuts!  The snow is torn shimmer paper.

The snowflakes are so pretty in this set.  The tree is stamped onto its die cut.  All the figures in these die cuts are from a pewter colored shimmer paper by DCWV.

 

The green version of the sledder.

This one is just stamping, with no die cuts.  The tree is done in Versamark, and embossed with MS gold glitter embossing powder, then topped with VersaPEN around the edges and re-embossed with holographic embossing powder.  The snowflakes are in gold embossing powder and white pigment ink.  The photo doesn't do this justice.  It was one of my faves!

 

 



 

Another fave.  This embossing folder really blows my skirt up.  The aqua shimmer paper die cut against the the River Rock  card stock, and the placement of the sentiment stamp....me likey.

The white is popped off the surface with foam adhesive, as is the feeding deer, to push him into the foreground a bit.  So is the word "peace."

 

So, what's NOT to love about these stamps and dies?  See what I mean??

 

Well, it is snowing like crazy out my window right now, and everything is gorgeous.  What a solstice! 

 

I don't have much more to share, and I am out of here for the weekend.  I'll share the last of my cards soon! 

 

Happy Solstice, everyone.  Welcome back to the sun!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

All Best-

Richard

Mr. Cardmaker is Getting Tryp-y With It

My sister-in-law Susie is a very clever gal.  She finds the most clever cards to send us, and she even makes them every once in a while too! 

She sent us a very clever card with her initial cut out of it.  I can't find it, otherwise I'd show it to you.  Anyway, it inspired me to make a couple of these things. 

I made this--

So, nice, cute, whatever.  This is done with a Recollections set for the light strings, and a Sizzix stocking stamp and die duo set.  The glitter paper is from Michael's.I used a red spica pen for the stripes on the stocking, and the top are there is flocked, using my Glossy accents and some Funky Flock from The Rubber Cafe.  The sprigs are pieces from a snowflake I punched with a SU punch, and there's a punched red dot with a dollar bin pearl, as well.

 

 

But this is just the beginning!  Looks kind of small, right?  Well, this is how it looks when you open it!

 



Ok, I didn't get a great shot.  But, it's THREE panels.  I used a 4 1/4"x 5 1/2" piece of white card stock, and I scored it on my Scor-Pal on the marks with the little arrows on them.  These are just shy of 3 3/4" and just past 7 1/4".  If you don't have a Scor-Pal, you can probably just play with it a bit before you make your creases. 

I used my Cuttlebug and a Spellbinders Wonky Rectangles die to cut and emboss the front panel.
Then, I took some post-its with all over adhesive and masked two panels on the other surfaces.
I stamped the lights, and colored them with copics.  Then I grabbed my Glossy Accents and coated the lights to give them some shine.  When that dried, I took some Memento Bamboo Leaves ink and a blending tool, and colored the front surface of the card.  I added my sentiment on the third panel, and left the middle one plain, for a handwritten message.

For the panel that shows through the front opening, I cut a piece of glitter paper that covered the back of the middle panel, and adhered it.  Then I added my stocking.

This makes such a cool effect, when the image disappears as you open the card. 

But wait!  There's more.  I got fancy with the next one.
I made this--

This is exactly the same idea, only with a die from PTI's In the Meadow set.  I stamped and gold embossed some of my many many snowflake stamps onto a green glitter sheet from DCWV, and I used a Stampendous holly stamp to do the surface of the card.  I hand painted the berries with red ink and my aqua painter, and topped them with Glossy Accents.

The inside of this one looks like this--(sorry for the blur.  This would NOT photograph well, for some reason.)
Here you can see the masking and the center panel.  That sentiment is from PTI as well.
I somehow screwed up something on the front panel, so I tried to fix it with a mask and more ink.  I think it worked out pretty well, all in all.

This turns out to be much smaller than a regular A2 card.  I may figure out the proper dimensions to make one that is a larger size, but I really like the fun you can have with this.  I would probably stay with an 11"x whatever  size, though, if you're going to use your Scor-Pal to do the EASY scoring.

SO, two more of the sixty.  Hope you got some ideas.  Hey, you know, this is just about small enough that if you did a small hole through all the layers and tied a string or ribbon through them, you could have a seriously cool gift tag, as well.  Try it!

More to come! 
Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker Keeps His Christmas (card) Promises

Well, I promised some Christmas cards.  Now, I promise not to show you all sixty of them.  That would be ridiculous, you know. 
However, I will show you a good handful. 

The majority of these are made with papers from My Mind's Eye, and with PTI dies.  There's also some Stampendous stamps, Stampin' Up stamps, papers, and inks, as well as my Martha Stewart branch punch and sizzix embossing folders. 

Let's start the show!

 

The glitter paper used on these cards is from Michael's.  This is super sturdy card stock (which is actually more like card BOARD) and actually, when I tried to use my dies on it, it really didn't work at first.  I solved the issue by peeling away half of the backing on the paper.  Once I got rid of some of the bulk, it worked just fine.

 These snowflake punches are from Stampin' Up and Martha Stewart.  The background paper is from Basic Gray.

Shimmer paper used in the die cut is by DCWV, the Shimmer Stack.

Photo corner punch from EK Success.

The silver swirly paper is from AC Papers.  The swirly stamp (in red) is from PTI.

The globe stamp is from Jillibean Soup.  

Peace ON Earth.  Get it?? 

 

 

This is the first batch.  I have more.  I STILL promise not to show you all sixty.  On account of that would be ridiculous.  And, on account of I still have to make about 8 more to reach sixty.

Back to work!

 

Thanks for stopping by!

All Best-

Richard

 



'Tis the Season to Break into a Cold Sweat

It's COMING!!  CHRISTMAS is COMING!!!!  Are you ready?  Are your cards started?  Designed?  Have you even shopped for the STAMPS and paper and envelopes yet?  WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU PEOPLE????

Oh, sorry.  Whew.    Just a minor freak out there.  But really, it IS time to at least let your brain start to wander into Christmas mode, just a little bit.  Many of my blog friends are full force already.  I can't.  Nope.  Can't do it.  I have five Autumn birthdays to create for, and I host Thanksgiving, so...

Ok, trying to make myself breathe after that last statement.  If I am not WELL on my way by Thanksgiving.....Head between my knees. Brown paper bag time. 

However!  I do have TWO, count them, TWO Christmas cards done!  I made them for sketch challenges that I did NOT enter, for some reason or other.

I made this--

This is a 4"x4" card on GinaK Designs Kraft card stock.  The papers are by My Mind's Eye, and the sentiment stamp is by Stampendous, the Holiday Home set.

To assemble this, I adhered the background piece (DCWV, embossed with a Sizzix embossing folder)and layered the biggest flag on top of that.  Then I used foam tape to pop the red and green flags off of the surface.

 I used Distress Inks to do the Sentiment oval, and I backed it with a scalloped oval made with glitter paper from DCWV's Linen stack.  They are put together with more foam tape, and even MORE foam tape is used to add it to the card front.

The snowflake is from a scrap of white glitter paper, punched with a Martha punch, and the button is one from my very old stash.  That went on with a mini Zots glue dot.

Then I made this--

This started with a piece of Beige card stock from the same DCWV Linen stack.  Same paper from MME is adhered to it, and the same glitter paper makes the scalloped oval.  I am sensing a THEME here, folks!!

The image is from Stampin'Up!, the SNow Much Fun set, and I used my Copics to color this cutie in.

As you can see, I am NO Copic expert!

The snowflakes here are PTI white shimmer paper, and the bling is from the dollar bin somewhere.  The ribbon is from Michael's.  The bow turned out like that because I didn't cut enough ribbon, but I kind of like it!

So, that's a start anyway.  Maybe these will inspire me (and even you) to get a move on!!

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker CASEs Himself

A couple of years ago, in my "early days" of cardmaking, I saw a video about using the masking technique, and decided to try it out with my shiny new stamps and $1 Studio G ink pads. 
I made this--

This was made with Inkadinkadoo Flowers and Stampendous Happy Everything sets, and I am sure this is on discount card stock, with DCWV paper as the mat.  I thought this was kind of cute, especially for a beginner.

Now, as a semi-beginner, I decided that I really liked the way it all turned out, so I went back to it and tried to see what else I could come up with.

So, I made this--

So, immediately I notice that my new, homemade lightbox is working pretty well!  Boo-yah!

I like this well enough, and I think there is at least SOME progress being made. 

I still have DCWV paper on there, but I have graduated to much better SU and PTI card stock. 

Surprisingly, my StudioG stamp pads still have some ink, and I LOVE the colors and coverage.
 
The bottom of the card is punched with an EK Success punch, and if you look closely, you can see the white dots on the inside of the card.  I could NOT get a good shot of the thing closed.

The pearls are from Kaisercraft, and the ribbon is the LAST of my roll from AC Moore.  No ACM in MI, and I am sad that I can't find any more of this stuff.  Wah.

So, what do you think?  Any progress happening here (other than my photography skills), or was I better as a newbie?

Thanks for stopping by, and have a wonderful weekend!
All Best-
Richard

Birthdays by the Shore

 I am hosting the Free For All Friday Challenge at GinaK Designs on Friday, July 13! 

Come play with us!!



Back at the end of May, my Aunt Lauri had a birthday.  She is a particular favorite of mine, and she is a big collector of shells and all things beachy. 

I thought this would be appropriate for her--

One day I am going to get myself a REAL photo set-up, I swear. 

This is a kraft card base, made from GinaK Designs 120# base-weight card stock.  The clouds is a DCWV photo paper.  I have done other cards with the blue sky in the past, but this is the sepia version of that paper.  I used yellow swiss dot SU Designer series paper, and a scrap of blue dp that I have had for a million years, and have lost the label to.  The stamps are from GKD, the Gifts from the Sea set by Melanie Meunchinger.  This is one of my go-to sets, for sure. 

The die used to make the pull tab and the "open" and arrow stamps are all PTI.  Under the tab is a lovely sentiment as well.  I should have marked down what it was that I stamped there, because my addled brain has forgotten what it was!  Oh, great...

Anyway, the shells are all stamped in Memento Rich Cocoa ink, and there are touches of hand coloring here and there.  I smooch spritzed them for a bit of shimmer, and then adhered them with some foam tape.  The bling and ribbon is from AC Moore.

The pull-tab set up requires some strong tape to make sure things don't fall apart on you when you pull the tab.  I find 1/8" Scor-tape is the best for this.

Now, notice the missed opportunity for genius here.  PLANNING would have made all the difference.  See how the ribbon goes across, and you can see the blue paper going over it?  Now, IF I had planned, I would have seen that if I had increased the size of the blue strip (by, what, 1/8 of an inch ?), I could have had a seamless transition going on.  ARGH!  The things we notice in hindsight.  SIGH...

Note to self.  Maybe flying by the seat of one's pant isn't always the way to go.  Think about it.

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker has a CASE of the Graduation Hooplas

SO after I made nephew Elliot's card, seen HERE,  I needed three more cards for my younger brother, my cousin, and another nephew.  Time was of the essence, so I made almost identical cards for them all.  They look like this--

This design started with a CASE of a card I saw on Pinterest.  You can see the original with all due credits HERE.  I liked the idea of the partial mortar board hat, and the tassel, so I ran with it.

I started with a white card stock base, 4.25"x 5.5".  I then added a piece of DCWR cloud paper, trimmed down to 4"x 5.25".
With a Jenny Bowlin Studio "seal" (looks like a sun to me) stamp, I stamped a sun on SU Dandelion Delight CS with two yellow shades of ink (sorry, I did not note which I used).  Then I found a Spellbinders circle die that fit it, and put it through my Cuttlebug.
I stamped the sentiment "You" (Papertrey Ink's Simply YOU set) on the sun with gray ink, and then stamped the center circle and the second part of the sentiment with black stazon ink, just to get that amazing crispness.  MUCH easier to read.  I cut the circle part out with a Fiskars circle punch, and adhered it with some foam tape. I attached the sun with some adhesive, making sure to overlap the open edges of the background piece.
To do the mortar board, I used some DCWR Brights cardstock stack green and cut a square, cut it in half diagonally, then rounded the corners with a 1/2" rounder punch.  I used some gray ink on a foam dauber to give some texture to the edges. 
I used a 1 1/2" x 1" piece of the same CS, as well as a scrap of yellow in the same size, and used my snips to create a fringed edge.  I rolled the uncut side around a piece of yellow cord, and made a tassel.  I attached the end of the cord to the underside of the mortar board, and adhered the whole shebang with foam tape.  I secured the tassel to the card front with a glue dot. and let the cord move around freely.
I felt like there was too much negative space at the bottom of the card, so I stamped some birds from Melanie Muenchinger's Gifts form the Sea set, by GKD.  I find myself going back to that stamp often!
I happened to have two graduates with green and yellow as their colors, so I did two of them.  The other one was red and white, with navy. 
I made this one--

This one is the same idea, different colors.  I decided to overlap the sun and the mortar board on this one, rather than have the sun overlap the outer edge.  They both work for me, I think  The red one has a more pronounced tassel.  That would probably change every time I make this card.

SO, graduations are over.  On to new adventures for these guys.  I, myself, am very proud of each of them.

Thanks for stopping by!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker is Searching

This week is graduation for Elliot, one of the nephews.  Everyone else has happened already.  I am BROKE, shelling out for gifties!  I DO love my nephews...

I made Elliot this card--

This is a really cool stamp from Stamps of Life.  I ran into this company at the MegaMeet in Novi, MI, and I really like some of their stuff!  I stamped this in Memento Paris Dusk ink onto PTI white card stock, and then mounted it onto some navy cardstock (probably SU Night of Navy).  That went onto a layered background, using DCWV Cotton Bloom paper (oval) Basic Grey Boxer paper (the blue piece) and My Mind's Eye Lost and Found Two Sunshine paper (the big houndstooth background piece.  The base is SU More Mustard (I think.  I also have a multicolor pack from PTI, and I may have used one of theirs).  All on a base of PTI white card stock.
I inked the edges of the puzzle piece with some Distress Ink Tea Stain, and I die cut the letters of his school initials with some sizzix dies, and used my glue pen to adhere them  That rhinestone is some random foundling.

The inside looks like this--

I used Spellbinders Labels Four and Labels Four Small dies with my old bud the Cuttlebug to do the center piece (Dollars to doughnuts there is some messed up stamping underneath it), and I used my pennant punch from SU to do the pennant pieces.  Stringing these puppies onto that twine was a pain in the butt, but it looks good, so, there that is.  The sentiments stamps are GinaK Designs and SU, and the twine is from Memory Keepers. 

So that's it!  Hope he likes it.

Thanks for stopping by! 
All Best--
Richard

Mr Cardmaker has a Mojo-free day...

Several years ago, I was fortunate enough to hear Vidal Sassoon speak about his long career in hairdressing.  He spoke most passionately about "process", and how you have to do something all the time, whether it's good or not, so you can make breakthroughs and come up with something really great.

So, with that in mind, on a very NON-MOJO day, I pulled out a stack of DP I hadn't used yet; Cotton Bloom from DCWV.  Pretty, happy paper, some glittery, nice stuff. 

I made these-

This could not have been simpler.  The top strip is popped up (doesn't it make you giggle when you accidentally write "pooped up"?)  with some foam tape, and is edged with a strip that was punched with a Martha Stewart punch.  The sentiment is SU, and the swirl stamp is GinaK Designs.  Blah blah blah, you gotta card.  I am going right now to round those bottom corners.  Be right back.

Ok, done.  Sorry about that.  Next!



This one has a bit more effort, working the ribbon under the dp strips.  Again, simple, simple.
It's sometimes nice to just let the pretty paper do the work for you.  I will remember these ideas when I am pressed for time.  I think I would definitely round all the edges on this one if I recreate it, though. 

Thanks for stopping by.
Next time, I have some MUCH more involved projects to share.  Stay tuned!

All Best-
Richard

Mr. Cardmaker is a User

I have been collecting all kinds of stuff for a couple of years now.  Paper, brads, stamps, inks, paper, cutters, glitter, stamps, paper, embossing powder, paper, stamps......oh, and some paper.  Other stuff too.

Anyway, I am making it my mission to use ALL of my stamps this year.  Of course, I will also buy more.  I feel it is my duty to support the stamp-making community.  I am going to drag out each set, one-by one, and use them!  I also have a love-it-or-die rule going on.  Sorta self-explanatory there, right?

However!  I did pull out a set that I have not given much use, and I did create a card with it.

I made this-

This was made with GinaK Designs set called Nesting.  I have previously used this set on THIS POST, and decided to see what else I could come up with.  I liked the nest image, and I like how the eggs on the yellow piece sort of reinforce the eggs in the nest.  There's just a little copic action happening on the nest and eggs, too.

The DP is from DCWV, and the card stock is all from SU, with the exception of the scalloped oval.  That's from DCWV as well.

The flourishes are done with an Inkadinkadoo set called Dot Flourishes, and they're stamped with Versamark.

I am also experimenting with doing MORE layers.  I am always so impressed by these cards I see with SO much great stuff going on. 

This could certainly be an all-occasion card, but I did stamp Happy Birthday inside. 

Thanks for stopping by!

All Best-

Richard

Mr Cardmaker's Ski-Crazed Nephew has a Birthday

Nephew Elliot is a ski-all-the-time kinda guy.  The winter he learned to ski, he cried when the family came home from a Florida vacation to find all the snow had melted.  He pretty much hates Florida now.  No snow.

Anyway, he turns 18 this year.  He is co-captain of his soccer team, and a mean dude with a la crosse stick, let me tell you.  He is a great artist (like, OMG) and a really NICE kid.  Wicked smaht, too. That's a New England thing....not a typo.

So, I made him this--

This makes you happy about snow and skiing, right?  That's gotta be some black diamond stuff there....just sayin'. 

This image is from GinaK Designs, the Happy Camper set by Theresa Momber.  All except for the birds.  Those are also GKD, but from the Gifts from the Sea set, by my friend Melanie Meunchinger.  The sky was in need of something....Negative space is my nemesis sometimes, let me tell you...

So, to do this, I stamped the image onto the white card stock I was using, and again onto a scrap of card stock, which I cut out to use as a mask.  I like to use a good, heavy cardstock when I make a mask, so it doesn't get all mashed up when I do my stuff on top of it. I used repositionable tape runner to hold the mask in place.

I then used a foam applicator and applied some Iced Spruce Distress Ink all over the card stock, leaving it somewhat uneven, so I could make a subtle cloud look.  Then I used some Evergreen Bough Distress ink on the lower portion, and around the edges of my shape. 

The shape is a Labels Four die from Spellbinders, btw.  The white piece behind it is also a Spellbinders die, also edged with the evergreen bough.  Each piece is mounted on foam tape to pop it up a bit.

After I was happy with my ink, I removed my mask, and colored my image with copics.  I am NOT a copics expert by ANY means, but I do love the colors and I have a small collection.  I am LEARNING how to use them.  I did not pay much attention to the colors I used, so I can't list them here.  Oh well.  I did concentrate on making the mountain in the back a bit darker, to help it look further away.  I then added some Glossy Accents to almost everything to give it an icy feeling. 

The striped paper is My Mind's Eye, Lost and Found pad, and I punched some snowflakes with a Martha punch.  The base is DCWV, edged with more Rich Cocoa ink.  I did some faux stitching, added some of my dollar bin ribbons, mounted the whole thing on some white PTI card stock and viola!  Card.

I hope that Elliot likes it, and that it makes him want to go skiing.  Like he needs any encouragement from me.....

Thanks for stooping by!  I hope I inspired you, if not to go skiing, then perhaps to make a card!!
All Best-
Richard

Mr Cardmaker is a Cagey Fellow....

I felt like I was really lucky to get my cards done and out this year.  GIFTS?!  You want me to make GIFTS!???   Ok, so I made those pad thingies, seen HERE, but those were meant to be PRE-Holiday gifts, because they were for Christmas lists.  Get it? 

Anyway, my sister always sends me a lovely gift, even though we were supposed to be done with that years ago....I HAD to make her something, right?

SO I made these things--

This card collection was made with A*Muse Studio stamps, the Life is a Song set.  I liked all the different sentiments, and the cages are pretty, too.  I really wish I had taken a better close up of some of the cards, but I made and sent these babies out in one day, and I barely managed to get the pics I did get. 

The card base is GinaK Designs Pure Luxury Ivory, in the heavy base weight.  I ran it through my Cuttlebug with a Sizzix hounds tooth folder.  The heavy weight paper really makes the embossing pop. 

I then layered on pieces of DP from DCWV.  This paper was amazing for this project.  It was random words with definitions, and I managed to make some of the words work really well with the corresponding sentiments.  I even found the word "reminiscence" for my sympathy card.  I was so happy and amazed at how well it worked.

The image is on more Ivory, done with Memento Tuxedo Black ink, and the birds are Distress Ink, Broken China.  I added detail with a gray copic, and a black pen.

I tore the card stock, and edged it with SU More Mustard ink, and backed it with a torn piece of More Mustard paper, which I also edged in the ink.

Because I wanted these cards to be sent with no issue of extra postage, I didn't add any bling.  The only ornamentation is the little bit of paper piercing I did at the top right part of the image, and under some of the sentiments.  Simple. 

I have to admit, I sense a slight balance problem with some of these cards.  Too much on the right side of the image, I think.....but, maybe I am just overly critical.  I tend to do that.

I then grabbed some envelopes and popped the whole shebang into a clear box, also from GinaK Designs.  The medium box easily (but snugly) held all six cards and envelopes.  The box is causing the glare in the pic above.   Sorry about that.

So, that's my ONE Christmas gift.  I have a calendar template on my computer, maybe I can get somethings together to be New Year's gifts.  Wait, those will need cards, too, right?  And then there's that thank you cards I have to make....Hoo BOY!!  I better get to work!!

Thanks for stopping by!  Your continued support is my best Christmas gift!!!
All Best-
Richard

Mr. Cardmaker is Comin' In for a BIG Finish!

I have to post quickly, because I'm working today.  Somebody tell my cold to "buzz off" already!!

I finally came up with a sketch and image that I was happy with, and I pounded out the last of my cards.  Of course, I had to play with different papers and stuff, just to keep it interesting.   I made these--

 This is the one that I made the most of.  I made the DP myself with a speckle background stamp from JoAnn's, and a snowflake stamp from SU!  The Sizzix embossing folder is from SU as well, as and the card stock is actually from The Paper Company (my discount stuff from AC Moore).  I liked the colors, I had plenty of it, and I like the light weight for layering.  The ribbon is from AC Moore's dollar bin.  I ran out of this.  Boo.

 The Image is from SU!, and I have no idea about which set, because this was a gift.  I colored him with copics, and had a BLAST doing it.  I learned about doing white images from CardMaker Mag. and Theresa Momber, who is an amazing colorer and all-around artist.  I had also stamped the card stock with the speckles from the DP I made.  The papers in the card above are from AC Papers, the Dear Lizzie Christmas set, and the snowflake is punched with a SU punch from DCWV paper.
Hey, I forgot to put the rhinestone on this one....oops.

The big change here, other than the DP, is the fact that I did a direct-to-paper rub with white ink over the dry embossed paper.  I think it helps point up the flakes. 

So, the cards are done and out.  I did some others, and I may get to post them, but I have SO much to accomplish before NEXT SATURDAY!!!!  ooooooooh, my heart.  oooooooh, my back.   ooooooh, my goodness!!!

Hope your projects are going well, and that you are not so nuts at this time of year.
Thanks for dropping by!!
All Best, and Happy Holidays-
Richard

Mr. Cardmaker has had his "Thinking Yarmulke" on...

 Progress is a good thing, especially when it comes to my Christmas projects.  I made this little notepad a while back for my SIL.  I made more.  These are them (they?).

These have more good stuff all over them than the original.  I was under a time crunch on that one.  You can see it and what the insides of all of them looked like HERE. 

As you can see, these are multi-denominational.  My SIL Andee will be getting the Hanukkah one.
I also worked hard to keep the snow theme prevalent, but those stickers from K&CO's Life's Little Occasions were too hard to resist.  I made the medalion on the non-Jewish one, with some SU and EK Success punches, and a stamp I found somewhere along the way.

Speaking of things Hanukkah, I also made a card.  It looks like this--

I made this using some candle stamps I got from Ditto.  I have used them primarily as birthday candles, but they dress up really nice for Hanukkah. 

I stamped these with Delicata gold ink.  LET me TELL you how much I love this ink!!!  It is so rich in color, and it looks like it has been embossed all on it's own.  SO pretty.

I tore the edges of my blue card stock, (some of my discount stuff....shh, no one will ever guess!) and inked it with some Night of Navy ink from SU.  Then I sprayed it with some  smooch spritz from SU.I also tore some shimmer paper just a bit larger and did the same inking. 

 I layered them onto a piece of gold Christmas paper (shhhhhh.....)that I edge punched and inked up with an EK Success and some more Delicata. 

I stamped the Star of David onto more of the Xmas paper, punched it with a 1 1/2" circle punch (Fiskars) and I inked the edges of that, too.  The card front is a piece of shimmer paper from DCWV, and the whole thing is on a white card base made with PTI card stock.

Lastly, I added the little gold pearls, and staggered them to help create the idea of a flickering candle. 

I have only one Hanukkah card to make each year, so far, and I love taking some time and making it just right. 

I have finally come up with my perfect sketch and image to finish up my cards for this season.  I'll show you them next time!  To say I am relieved is a HUGE understatement. 

Thanks for stopping by!  Get those cards done!!

All Best-

Richard

Mr. Cardmaker had BEST get busy...

So, my DP's sibs had their birthdays.  We met up with SIL Jan and her guy Ronny for Chinese and presents, and the morning before we went, I frantically made this--

(OK, I don't know what I did, but I can't seem to put my pics where I want them.  Please bear with me.)

This is a pocket tissue holder.  I used a template given to me by my friend Amy Corr, and went to town.  The base is some Mostly Mustard cs by SU!, and the dp is from M&MBI.  I used a scalloped square punch and a small circle punch to make the clasp-y thing, and I had some ancient chipboard cut outs that I inked up with some StudioG chalk inks.  The brads are from Michael's.  I love how it perfectly fit the center of the flower.







Here is a view of the inside.  I used the same inks as the ones I used on the flower, and I used some GinaK Designs stamps to make the design on the cs.  This is a cute and easy project.  Jan loved this.  I am making one for niece Jessica, who is coming to spend Thanksgiving with us.  I think I am about 90% done with it, but I need to get on it, since my list of stuff-to-do is about a million miles long.

Then, because the morning wasn't frantic enough, I made this, too--

Inside this puppy is a 2 1/2" by 8" notepad from PTI.  I used a piece of GinaK Designs onxy cs cut at 5 1/4" by 8 1/2", scored in the middle to allow for a depth of 1/8".  I attached the pad with some scor-tape to the inside, and used some snowflake stamps from ScrappyCat (from my Goodwill store, no less) and some K&Co stickers to doll it up a bit.  The whole thing is tied together with some white ribbon.  A red button on top of a white one, tied with some red and white twine finishes it all off. 

The inside---This could CLEARLY get really all jazzed up with some rhinestones and other colors, but I was really pressed for time.  Oh yeah, I also stamped a snowflake in pale blue on each of the pages of the pad.  'Cause I'm decorative that way.  Yes, I am.  I have a pack of ten (I think) of these pads.  I will do more!!!

Then, I have still been struggling to come up with a Christmas card style that I love.  I made a bunch, and I have some ideas, but there's SOOOO much work to do between now and when I have to trot these babies to the post office.  Oh yeah, the cards...

I made these--

Ok, so the skinny on these bad boys---sorry I didn't do individual pics.  I just haven't got the strength...If you click on the pic, you will be able to see it a bit larger.

The base is PTI cs.  I like the weight (110#, I think), and the awesome price!!  $6.00 for 40 sheets.  Anyway, I am using American Crafts dp, shimmer paper from PTI and DCWV, and glitter paper from DCWV.  The sentiments are from A*muse Studio and SU!, with some StudioG thrown in.   The snowflake punch is Martha Stewart, and the label design is from GinaK Designs, cut out with Spellbinders dies.I also did some dry embossing with Sizzix and Cuttlebug folders, and the ribbon and bling are from various dollar bins. 

Notice how there are only nine, count them, NINE cards so far??  I gotta get off this computer and go make some more RIGHT NOW!!!!  

Thanks for stopping by, and have a WONDERFUL Thanksgiving!!  I am very thankful for YOU and your support!!!

All Best--

Richard

Mr Cardmaker is a Thankful Guy...

My time for blogging sure gets awfully short when I have to MAKE things instead of blog!!! 
I have been up to my armpits in Christmas cards, so it has taken me a while to get to these Thanksgiving cards that I want to share with you.

I pumped most of these out in one looooooooooong day.  I really have to train myself to craft while sitting, or at least, perching on a stool at my counter. 
Anyhoo--

I made this--

This was mostly about the DP, as you can see. 
I went a little coocoo with the brads, but it worked out just fine.  The zigzag was done with an ek success punch.  The sentiment is from Inkadinkadoo, the Harvest Expressions set.
The card stock is from SU, DCWV, and the DP is Me & My Big Ideas. Brads and ribbon are AC Moore. 
This card is actually much nicer than the photo, now that I'm looking at both....oh well. 

Kinda simple.  

Then I made this--
This was made on SU River Rock CS, and I stamped it with River Rock ink to make the background with Inkadinadoo's Autumn Foliage set.  Then I used the same image on a piece of white CS (GinaK Designs Pure Luxury 120#) inked with the same River Rock on the greens, but with an orange Tombo pen on the pumpkins.  Then I overstamped that with the sentiment, which was also inked with River Rock, but then I used a crayola green marker over it to get the sentiment to stand out.  die cut the whole thing out with a Spellbinders die and my Cuttlebug, and I inked the edges with some inkbox brown while it was still in the die.  I also edged the cardbase, while I was at it.I added a loop of orange ribbon (AC Moore) and the rhinestones (AC Moore again), and that was that.

This is the same idea with different stamps from the sets.  This background was done with versamark ink on GinaK Designs CS, and the pumpkin was stamped onto some soft yellow scrap and decorated with some orange Stickles.  I just used a corner punch here, instead of dies.

This is another quick one. This is an image from Inkadinkadoo, again....from the dollar bin, this time. The sentiment, I believe, is StudioG, but I may be wrong. (I can't find it to check at the moment. You should see my mess....)

The card stock is SU!, and the DP is M&MBI. Ribbon and bling form AC Moore.

This card also has a homemade background paper, using some StudioG stamps with SU River Rock ink on River Rock CS.  I really like how subtle this effect is.  I added a strip of M&MBI dp to the lower portion, and then added a ribbon (AC Moore dollar bin.  What else?).  The image is GinaK Designs, from the Enjoy the Sunshine set.  I colored this with copics, then cut it out with a labels four die from spellbinders, and used the same river rock ink to edge this while still in the die.  This makes a really pretty frame around the image.  I used brown on the outside edge to further punch it up.  This was mounted with foam tape.  I then stamped the sentiment first in orange, then in brown.  This gives it a shadowed effect.  I kind of like the sentiment put in on the vertical.  Change it up!  The buttons were a gift from my pal Michelle, and I used little strips of paper to make the stitching instead of twine or floss or something.  This seems easier for me for some reason.

Now, this one you may remember from when it was just a pumpkin--I layered up some of the papers I used previously, and added some buttons, and some Jolies leaves.  (Uh, I DID try to hide the "I" again, but things didn't quite work out....sorry about that!!)  This is a HUMOROUS card, not a "poison pen" thing by any means.  Oh PUH-LEASE--Like I would put THIS much work into someone I didn't like.  Riiiiiiiight....... 

SO!

Those are most of my Thanksgiving cards.  The others you've already seen, or they didn't photograph so well.  I liked them, and I think the people who will get them will like them too!

Hope you got some inspiration.

Thanks for stopping by!

All Best--

Richard