Christmas Cards

With my (yet again) late start I decided to try mass producing cards this season and chose to use some stamps and holiday ribbon that have been laying around unused for several years. 


I started with several full sheets of white paper and stamped snowflakes all over them, up to 3 times before re-inking the stamp.  Stamped & embossed the script, then measured and cut around each script to size.  The ribbon is glued onto white paper (cut to the width of the ribbon) to help stabilize it and to help the white on the ribbon  POP.  Attaching the ribbon directly to the blue background subdued the white too much for me. 

Even then, I had to have some diversity...notice the shade of blue paper changes and the amount of embossing sparkle between these 2?  

Some of the early ones (before really getting into the production line of doing these) the embossing powder stuck to a few of the snowflake images too, giving even more variety to the batch.  I can't decide which I like better.  : )


Stamps - Penny Black
Ink - Memento blue, Versamark & Fine Gold Embossing powder
Ribbon - JoAnns


When that ribbon ran out I grabbed another holiday roll.  These big spools take up space and it's nice to see them put to some good use (I have no idea what I was thinking when I bought them a few years ago)! : )  It was fun trying different papers behind this ribbon and seeing the effect the colors had.  I settled on using the same Kraft cardstock I used for the card base.  I thought it showed the browns & gold in the ribbon nicely.

I knew I didn't have enough of the stripe paper to make many and after trying several other patterns (but no likey) I remembered I had a holiday embossing folder that might just work!

Since I embossed thin designer paper, the pattern showed some white edges & mini tears.  I rubbed Gold Brilliance ink over the surface (direct to paper) giving it a gold antiquing & shimmer for the finished look of my background. 

Ahh, yet another version!  I really have a hard time making more than a few of any one design or color.  It helps that I don't have enough of any one color or paper to use up the ribbon, so some variation is needed. : )


Stamp: Stampin'Up
Ink: Versamark & Fine Gold Embossing powder; Brilliance Gold
Other: Holly Ribbons Cuttlebug Embossing Folder, Ribbon-JoAnns, Spellbinders Labels 4


Wow, this was fun and I used up some ribbon!  I was able to make about 20 cards per roll of ribbon here, that took care of a big chunk of my Christmas card list!  


Hope everyone had a Merry Christmas and has a Happy & Healthy New Year!

HOPE You Can Cling To Batch 2

Here's another batch of cards I finished up for the SplitCoast Challenges!

HYCCT1119 - Use Pressure Embossing

Stamps-Starvingartistamps; Ink-Stampin'Up Rose Romance, Memento Rich Cocoa (words) and Pink (sponging);

Sakura Stardust pen used on the letters; Cuttlebug EF Victorian

HYCCT1112 - Incorporate at least 1 Heart

Stamps-Penny Black bear, Hero Arts sentiment; Ink-VersaFine, Tombow Markers, Sakura Glaze pens on the rose;

Paper-K&CCompany, DCWV; Spellbinders Heart die; scallop edging scissors

HYCCT1124 - Thank you card for a caregiver

Stamp-Inkadinkado; Ink-Stampin'up, Tombow marker; Paper-K&CCompany, DCWV; Sakura Stardust pen, ribbon

HYCCT1122 - Take Inspiration from your Happy Place

Stamp-Inkadinkado; Ink-VersaFine, Tombow Markers; Stickles, Prima flowers, Sizzix Leafy branch die, MS edger punch

HYCCT1111 - Use Girly elements - bling, ribbon, lace, etc.

Stamp-Stampin'Up; Paper-DCWV; Ink-VersaFine, Tombo Markers; Stickles, Ribbon, Pink Lace, 1/2 Pearls

HYCCT1109 - Things you see when you look UP!

Stamp-Inkadinkado clear; Ink-Memento, Tombow markers; ribbon

On white paper, I sponged yellow ink, placed circle cutout down and sponged other colors to make a sunrise/set. Then I stamped, colored & cutout the bird image to pop up, covering some smudges : ) This was my first try at sponging a sunrise/set, after seeing this done so often by Theresa Momber. I didn't take the time to check out some of her stuff to refresh my memory, but I think I did alright for my spur of the moment, let's do this, first try. : )

HYCCT1121 - Use 2 different sizes of one shape

Stamps-JustRite; Ink-Stampin'Up, Memento; Paper-Hot off the Press, DCWV; Spellbinders dies, Pearls

HYCCT1106 - Looking in on you (window card)

Stamp-Hero Arts; Paper-DCWV Garden Party, Stampin'Up; Spellbinders Labels4, ribbon

This was an interesting challenge for me (esp at 1am), the first time I've tried a window cutting 3 times (base card and 2 layers) then stamping in the window, whew! It might have been easier to make the solid color frame to place around the window rather than do the recessed solid frame, oye!

HYCCT1118 - Use purple on the card (Survivor color)

Stamp-Inkadinkado; Ink-Encore Metallic Purple; Paper-Hot Off the Press, DCWV; MS Edger punch, Rhinestones

HYCCT1126 - Send a little sunshine

Stamp-Inkadinkado clear; Paper-Hot Off the Press, Stampin'Up; Ink-Colorbox Chalk Ink,

Sakura Stardust pen; CM mini punch

HYCCT1120 - Make a card with a treat

Stamp-Inkadinkado clear; Ink-Colorbox Chalk Ink, Tombow Markers; Sakura Soufle pen(white icing),

Stardust pen, Cuttlebug EF Happy Birthday, Stickles, Rhinestone (cherry), ribbon

HYCCT1129 - Use words of encouragement (word, quote, or sentiment)

Stamp-A Country Welcome; Ink-VersaFine; Paper-K&CCompany; Ribbon, Heart buttons

Well that's all of them I finished & posted by the deadline Monday (11/7). So close, only 5-6 more to complete the challenges but even if I had stayed up all night and taken the 1/2 day off of work I probably wouldn't have been able to finish the last bunch and posted them by the deadline of 12 noon my time. Around 3 am I was feeling alittle creatively burned out and pretty tired. : ) I'm pretty happy that I got as many done as I did these past 2 weeks and I used some stamps I've had for years and hadn't used before!

Now, I really need to clean this place up before hubby gets home! It looks pretty neglected and Sissy thinks she has been to, silly dog. : )

Young fellas with horns

It's the beginning of November and we had our first snow of the season on Oct 31st. It hit other areas around us a few days earlier. We didn't get much and there isn't much left here, most of it has melted in the sun or blown away in the wind. It's trying to snow now, letting me know more is on the way, Fall (Autumn) is no more!

Looking out my kitchen window, I saw 2 moose romping and nudging each other in the clearing a ways out. I was thinking they were the older 2 calves playing. A few minutes later they made their way into our yard. Whoa, these aren't the 2 calves!

Hello fellas!

They seem to be listening to the traffic out on the road.

Moving on, see ya!

HOPE You Can Cling To Challenge Cards

Splitcoast Stampers is hosting a full month of challenges in October to make cards for MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston TX for cancer patients and their families. 3 challenges were posted on Oct. 1 then one challenge a day has been posted for the rest of the month for 33 total. We have until Nov 7 to complete them and post pictures of the cards to the Splitcoast gallery, then we package up our batch, with envelopes and plastic bags and send them to MD Anderson. They make the cards available to the families there to use. In case anyone needs some extra motivation, there are tons of sponsors who are contributing stamping related prizes to those who participate in these challenges. They will be given out with random drawings.

I have made maybe 3 cards since January so I'm using these challenges to motivate me to make some cards for a great cause (prize or no prize)! I don't know that I can get all 33 done in this short of time, this late in the game, at the rate I make cards but we'll see! Scott is off to work for awhile so I'm trying to creatively manage my after-work time to get some made! Here's my first batch to post, made over the past 1 1/2 weeks, in no particular order!

HYCCT1107 - Colors of Hope - Use green, brown & yellow

Paper-DCWV; Stamp-Printworks; Ink-Memento; Sizzix Leafy branch,

Prima flowers, Stickles, mini buttons

HYCCT1101C - Make a circle card

Stamp-Inkadinkado clear stamp; Ink-Fresco Chalk Ink, Tombow Marker; tiny rhinestones,

mini button, ribbon, Spellbinders die

HYCCT1102 - Inspiration Challenge

Stamp-Stampin'Up balloon, JustRite alphabet; ribbon, Stickles

HYCCT1103 - Masculine card with pink

Stamps-PSX, Biblical Impressions (ToY); Ink-Memento; Paper-DCWV; Spellbinders die, brads

HYCCT1101A - Make any animal pink!

Stamps-vap scrap cow (Micheals $ bin), Hero Arts; Ink-Memento, Stickles on center cow,

tag punch, heart punch, ribbon

HYCCT1105 - Circles Sketch

Stamps-Great Impressions, JustRite (sentiment); Ink-Memento, Tombow markers;

Paper-K&CCompany; Spellbinders, Stickles

HYCCT1116 - Use a pink ribbon

Stamp-Starvingartistamps; Ink-Memento; Paper-Kaisercraft; Offray Ribbon,

Love dangly from JoAnn's wedding decor dept

HYCCT1114 - Pink Collage

Stamp-Inkadinkado; Ink-VersaFine, Tombow Marker; Paper-Tim Holtz, DCWV; Stickles on butterflies,

Diamond Glaze on larger watch face

HYCCT1110 - Incorporate pink, ribbon & friend theme

Stamps-Rubber Stampede Cherry Blossoms, Stampin'Up sentiment; Ink-VersaFine, Tombow markers;

Stickles, MS Border punch, ribbon

HYCCT1128 - Primarily Pink Holiday Card and ODBDSLC82

Stamps-OurDailyBreadDesigns; Ink-VersaFine Smokey Grey, SU Rose Romance & Pretty in Pink,

Blender Pen; Cuttlebug EF Holly Ribbon; Sakura Stardust pen, Offray Ribbon

HYCCT1113 - Incorporate Butterflies

Stamp-Stampendous sentiment- stamped, sponged with pink, cut out and popped up; Ink-Memento;

Paper-DCWV Garden Party- background between butterflies sponged with pink ink

HYCCT1104 - (H)aving (O)nly (P)aper (E)lements (no bling, no ribbon, etc.)

Paper-Kaisercraft - too pretty to embellish anyway : )

HYCCT1127 - Pickled Tink Humerous CAS with touch of Pink

Stamps-Eureka Stamps ducklings, Hero Arts sentiment; Ink-Memento, Tombow markers; Corner rounder punch;

Stickles on pink duckling : )

HYCCT1123 - Bees, yellow or bee friendly environment

Stamps-Rubber Stampede bee, Hero Arts sentiment; Ink-Memento, Tombow Marker

HYCCT1101B - Use Bling

Stamp-Inkadinkado; Ink-Memento; Glittery Paper-sale bin at JoAnns; Stickles, Rhinestones, ribbon

I'm trying to think less as I work on these, helps me to make more than 1 per day now and then! : ) Now, Off with the TV, ON with the music and back to making some cards.

Moose in October

It's past the midpoint in October, snow is on the way! The garden has been cleaned up by woman & beast (not in that order). Moose hunting season is over so the moose come out of their hiding (not really, but it sure seems like they know when to disappear) to continually check on the garden that produces no more. Who's here today?

Hello Mama! Trim my bushes while you're back there, I forgot to. (They're some variation of sweet pea but not the garden variety; bushy, woody, some thorns...I always forget the name and ask my neighbor every year.)

Nope, nothing left, all cleaned up. No dessert for you!

BTW, where's your baby?

There she is!

Ok baby, that Mt. Ash really doesn't need an annual trim.

At this rate it will never grow to be over 3 ft tall. Move along, thank you.

We've had this pair and a cow with 2 older calves make regular appearances in our yard. The 2 families seem to take turns moving thru, spending a few days here and there then back again. I have to be on the lookout on our jaunts thru the woods. If Sissy sees them she will try to chase them off, to the edge of the yard or across the trail. Not always a good thing.

To Clean or to Hike...

hmmm, that is the question. HAH right!! Sunny, fall day... Hike it is! Today we climbed the Butte. It's a nice little "hill" in the middle of a wide, flat, glacial valley. From the highway it looks kind of weird there, out of place, but it is a nice bit of a climb with a wonderful view at the top, for us non-mountain climbers! : )

Look, termination dust on the mountains, already!

Ahhh, view of the glacier from top of the Butte.

Slight zoom.

Ok, picture for Scott, away at work on this fine day. Uh, You whooo, Sisssssy, squeak!

There we go! Gotta be fast with dogs!

Sigh, back down the trail we must go.

Still time to clean a bit, but probably not tonight! : )

Fall off-road trip

Now that his Toy (truck) is home, Scott has been itching to take it out for a drive on our AK trails! It's hunting season for moose here so this became a combo scenic, camping, off-road, hunting trip. It was a quick trip tho, only 2 nights, over the rainy, cool Labor Day weekend, but it was beautiful, and a pretty comfy ride! : )

Our camping spot, transport & abode -

The views surrounding our spot -

Closer in - waiting on the fire...

The views along the trail -

Colors all around -

An old beaver dam still stands -

Sheep. They were on the move!

The hunt for moose was not successful but for beauty and escape, it was!

Good night!