Cards Featuring Spellbinders Dies

Making cards using the Spellbinders embossing folders and their dies is easy and quick.  Couple them with some holographic paper (which Brandy has been loving for some time) and what you get is a stunning result.  This set of cards is perfect example.

 Each card has a different aesthetic.  The SSS pre-printed tiny sentiments are also an easy win to send a message without a lot of work. 

Andie for 

Joy Filled Christmas Cards

I picked up one of the Moda Scrap pattered paper packs and decided that making these cards was just the trick.  I've been inspired to use patterned paper more these last few weeks and delighted with the finish.  The outside of these cards is quite simple and the inside a simple sentiment, but they are some of my favorite makes this Christmas season.

More Spellbinders Deers

I stopping in today to share these photos of Christmas cards Brandy made during our recent trip to the Embellish It! Play All Day in Mesa, Arizona.  Brandy had some leftover pieces from this set of cards and wanted to use up the leftovers.  Rather than stamp a background, for these cards she used patterned paper in the background.

I took these photos in the lobby of the hotel where the Play All Day was held.  This wreaked havoc with my camera settings and I didn't realize it until the event was over.  Still, you get the idea that these cards were fantastic and so I'm happy to share the cards with you today.

Andie for 

The Very Best of Friends

I hope you've come to know both Brandy and I through these posts.  While Brandy doesn't always create her own posts, she is my driving inspiration.  Our friendship has survived thirteen years of life's stresses and pressures.  That is not to say we've had a lot of internal friend stress.  More that working moms doing high stress jobs spending long hours at the office have often meant that we haven't always been able to spend the time to nurture our friendship.  Thankfully, the past year has been filled with wonderful times spent together not just crafting, but also enjoying each other.  I fondly remember March's Creative Chemistry 101, April's CK convention, a smattering of  crop nights including one at our LSS, our trip to Cottonwood and the Glitter Art Institute, and our Play All Day event in Mesa. 






I've saved this post about one of my favorite gifts for my birthday because all the Christmas hype and my illness would have made it just one more post in a sea of posts.  Hopefully the delay is a true reflection of how very precious this gift was- I want to highlight and focus on Brandy's craftiness.  It is my inspiration and I hope you find inspiration too.




This mini-album was made and conceived in Brandy's mind after a conversation we had one evening.  I was talking about a blog post or comment by a friend about being convicted of loving Jesus.  The challenge was whether your life represented your love of Jesus enough that if you were brought before a court of law that you could be convicted of loving Jesus.  This was very challenging to me personally.  So much so, you've probably heard me talk of it here on this blog before.  Out of the conversation came an idea- both camera shy and usually more focused on doing for others- could we be convicted of being each other's best friend?  Brandy and I dedicated ourselves to taking photos and going places together- creating evidence that we could be convicted of being friends.  From that thought and her creative wellspring Brandy developed this mini-book.  Now, when pressed in a court of law, I can definitely provide evidence that Brandy and I are best friends. 

I can't promise to know where all the craft supplies came from or what particularly inspired each page.  You'll  notice a theme in the quotes and the liberal use of Spellbinders frames.  Much of the paper is from Brandy's stash and purchased items she intended for the project.
 





What you haven't been shown is the very lovely, personal and handwritten notes that are on the backs of the pull out tags.  These words of encouragement were meant for me and so I've kept them for me.  I page through my album when I need a pick me up or just to admire all the hard work.










There is the liberal application of Distress Inks through out mainly applied using the Ink Blending Tool

One of my favorite memories with Brandy- meeting the paper craft rockstar, Tim Holtz.  Thank you Brandy!

See that evidence?

The details that went into the crafting of each page.  Here the sentiment was embossed using a stamp.  Gorgeous!

Our trip to Sedona was such a treat.  We I was giddy at the Glitter Art Institute!



























Everything from the paper choices to the color scheme (green is my favorite color followed closely by blue!) to the kind words are just precious.  I am so grateful for my gift.  I intend to use it as inspiration forever. 

Thank you, my Brandy.  I've evidence now!

Andie

Merry Christmas

Brandy made these astounding creations for her Christmas cards this year.  The amount of work and effort that she poured into her beautiful creation is simply inspiring.  This card was a labor of love that was almost the year in making as she pieced together the intricate components of this beautiful card. Christmas is the perfect time to stop and consider how very blessed we all are.  I am blessed very much by my bff and her creativity.  It binds us, but has quietly become such a small part of our friendship which is only a reflection of how very large our friendship has become!

My personal card has a rich green background that I now realize is not accurately captured in this photo.  Yet look at that stunning detail and beautiful color combinations!


















I am going to try to list the components of this card.  Each die cut piece is embossed including the corner stamps, the frame, dove, poinsettia, and leaves. 





Poinsettias and Leaves-  Heartfelt Creations Petite Poinsettia using the Layered Poinsettia Shapeabilities Die Set
Lace "Fence"- Heartfelt Creations Decorative Lace Border which was spritzed with Glimmer Mist and crumpled while still wet.  The lace was then pulled apart to create the fence-like structure.
Dove- Heartfelt Creations Holiday Dove using the Heartfelt Creations Christmas Cheer Die Set
Frame-  Frame cut using Spellbinders Labels 20 Mega Nestabilities die and embossed using Heartfelt Creations Holiday Poinsettia Candle stamp set and Heartfelt Creations Rye Grass Flourish stamp set. 

The Heartfelt Creations Rye Grass Flourish stamp set was also used to emboss the corners of the card base.





Here's a few tags Brandy made from the spare parts.  Even the spare parts are simply fabulous, don't you think?  Please join me in encouraging Brandy.  This was a fair bit of work for a woman who works long hours supporting a large organization.  She is the very definition of dedicated, but I enjoy her dedication to her art and craft very much. 

Andie (on behalf of Brandy)