Peace on Earthtones

I had mentioned in a post earlier this week that my Papertrey Ink Winter Village stamp and die set has been a real inspiration to me.  I really wasn't kidding and used this pin to inspire a very different card design for me.  I'm sure it is mostly the lovely stamp set design, but I like even this starker design as it inspires a smile and joy to me.

On the inside is a simple stamped sentiment from the stamp set.  Elegant and joyful all at the same time.

Those gold sprinkles are made using my Starry Colors watercolors.  They never fail to deliver sparkly goodness to a card design.

We don't get snow here in Arizona so that might be a reason why I am enjoying these snowy scenes so much.  I know that I'm very spoiled, but I just can't help myself.

Just a few short days left.  Happy celebrating.

Christmas Greetings

This card is my original card design selected last year (!) when I received the Papertrey Ink Winter Village stamp and die set for a birthday present.  Distress Oxide inks were new to the market and I really wanted to see how I could use them to blend a night sky scene with snowy hills and yellow lit windows.  As you may have noticed with my gifts created earlier in the month and shared in this post, this post and this post, I have been unduly inspired with this stamp and die set.

The inks here are Papertrey as well and pattern after this card design.   

Ultimately, I made around 32 of these cards, masking with a die cut piece of cardstock/double sided 3M sticky note and using my ink blending tool.  I alternated between a more blue background (Faded Jeans as above) and one with more purple (Seedless Preserves in this second card) chosing to highlight with Cracked Pistachio in both. 

The brown ink ultimately showed some difference in shading when stamped over the Distress Ink so I used a white Signo pen to add show to the tree limbs and fence posts.  In some cards, as above, I used a yellow colored pencil to shade the windows.  Others I left plain.

This was a pretty labor intensive effort which my MISTI helped immensely in reducing.  I'm ever so pleased with the final product and had great joy in sending them out to family and friends earlier this week.

I hope this post finds you having finished all your holiday crafting or nearly so. 

Happy Christmas preparations!

Spreading Peace on Earth

I had bits and pieces leftover from the cards I made for my mom and decided to add this particular design to the mix.  More blue colored houses to create that "cold" feeling which we will decidedly not be enjoying for Christmas here in the desert.  I considered making these shaker cards, but left it more clean and simple. I really like the dimension created with some craft foam.

I do like these light teal colored cards the best.  The ink creates a chill in the air that is not otherwise there.  On the inside - matching sentiments in the matching ink color. 

Piles and piles of cards with more to make.  I'm feeling the mojo and feel inspired to make some more gifts.  Stay tuned for more holiday fun.

A Gift Set of Cards

I so liked the light blue cards that I made for my mom, I decided to make some bolder blue versions.  These create a bit different feel, but I like them as well.

I used my Papertrey Ink Winter Village stamp and die set again.  The inks are a combination of Close to My Heart and Archival Ink.  Strong colors for a stamp set that is less layering than geometrically matching.  These cards are A2 size - a little smaller than I'm used to but it works greate with these stamps.

I'll give these to my mom as well - keeping the set together.  I need to switch gears and get some crafty gifts made.  I'm hoping to be able to pull a post together soon.

I'm entering this card into the following challenges:

City Crafter Challenge Blog - I believe in Santa Claus  This challenge is to pick a theme from an old Kenny Rogers/Dolly Parton Christmas album.  I think my card matches their White Christmas song.

Make It Monday #305 - Love of Layers I used Fun Foam to raise up the ovals and the front of the card does have lots of layers with all those die cuts.

Simon Says Stamp's Wednesday Challenge - Anything Goes

Word Art Wednesday's Challenge 310/311 - Anything Goes

All is Calm, All is Bright

Whew!  It has been a whirlwind of family celebrations for the Thanksgiving holiday.  We also squeezed into the long weekend a birthday celebration for my daughter Katie.  Here I find myself at the end of the long weekend - content, tired and having enjoyed myself. 

I had shared that I made my mother some cards for her birthday.  I've finally edited the photos and am sharing here.

I made these cards using my Papertrey Ink Winter Village stamp and die set.  We live in sunny, warm Arizona.  It was record highs in the high 80s all week.  We don't have a white Christmas unless you count the blinding white light of the noonday sun.  So, I thought it might be fun to create these cards which imply a cold winter day.  My mom's favorite color is blue, so I used several shades her.  I super love how the houses turned out and am sure that I will make more cards with this stamp and die set for the season since the stamps and dies are out on the workbench. 

I've seen some of the Christmas creations you are all up to out there.  Keep the inspiration coming. 

A New Home

I'm back today to share a change of address notification card that I made for my grandmother.  They recently moved from Colorado to Arizona and now live 12 miles from me.  Yay!  I couldn't resist the urge to combine stamps from my Papertrey Ink Winter Village stamp set with my Art Impressions Foliage stamp set to create this lovely scene.  The inks used are also Papertrey Ink Dark Chocolate, Simply Chartreuse, Soft Granite, Sweet Blush and Lovely Lady inks.

I printed the text out at FedEx again with their white, matte cardstock.  This makes it easy to handle and stamp over.  I die cut the image out with my WPlus9 Sunshine Layers die to create that fabulous stitched frame.  All in all, I think it pleased her to send out this card to her friends and family.  Moving at 90 (my grandfather is 92) is a daunting task and making these for her to show off was a pleasure.

I'm entering this card in the following challenges:

City Crafter Challenge Blog - Through the Window since my house has quite a few windows!

Word Art Wednesday's challenge - Week 274/275 Anything Goes

Hope your week starts off with a bang!