Keeping Christmas Blog Hop - February 2020

Hello friends!  It's February 25 and that means it's time for another Keeping Christmas inspirational blog hop.  Be sure to visit each stop (listed below) for much more beautiful inspiration.  

My post today is short as I've just returned from a warm and sunshiny almost two-week vacation and I'm kind of moving in slow motion.  Haha!  I've used WPlus9's Most Wonderful stamps and dies for my card.  This is an easy card to put together though, and it would be easy to mass produce!

Here are the steps for the card.  All of the supplies are listed at the end with links to shop.

• Die cut some blue card stock with the Snow Day Cover Plate die.  Spray with silver Glitter Dust and allow to dry.
• Adhere the die cut to a top-folding A2 card base.
• Stamp the snowman and trees in colors of your choosing and die cut with the coordinating dies.
• Hand cut a hill from white card stock and adhere to the blue panel.
• Pop up two of the trees and the snowman with foam squares.
• Adhere one tree with liquid glue and add the popped up trees and snowman.

I stamped the sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black ink and used my paper trimmer to cut it into a square shape.  Use a corner rounder on each corner.  Add a few foam squares and adhere to the card base.

That's it for me today!  I hope my quick-to-make card has given you some inspiration to build your stash of your Christmas cards for the upcoming season!

Check out these fabulous card makers for more inspiration!

Kelly Lunceford (Creator)

Vicki Finger

Claire Broadwater

Lori Tecler

Nance Salkeld

Nina Forsyth

Nancy Guse

Marybeth Lopez

Nancy Penir

Carol Hintermeier << that's me!

Supplies:

WPlus9 Most Wonderful stamps and dies

Honeybee Stamps Snow Day Cover Plate die

My Favorite Things Blueberry Prestige card stock

Simon Says Stamp Fog ink

Altenew inks:  Baby Pink, Magenta, Snapdragon, Marigold, Forest Glades, Evergreen

Therm O Web silver Glitter Dust

Elegant Floral Twist Card | Art Impressions

Hello friends!  Today I have another card featuring the Floral Twist Set.  This is one of eight sets in the new Twist Line!

I began by building my card base:

1. Use a Copic (V06) to add color to the edge of an 4-¼" x 5-½" white card stock piece.
2. Attach this to a top-folding A2 card base.
3. Position the Twist Frame die onto another A2 white piece of card stock and die cut.  Then lay that on top of your card base and trace the opening with a pencil.
4. Emboss this with an embossing folder.  The one I used is listed in the supplies below.  Trim it to 4" x 5-¼".
5. Unfold the card and line up the Twist Frame die with the pencil lines on the base.  Run it through your die cutting machine.
6. Adhere the embossed piece to the card base.

Now all you need to do is stamp the two floral images with Copic safe ink.  I colored it with the markers listed below.

I stamped the sentiment and die cut it with the smallest die from the Rectangle A2 Double Stitched dies.  I layered this onto a piece I colored with one of the yellow Copic markers I used.  Pop it up with thin foam tape and add a few yellow sequins to finish.



As always, I so appreciate you stopping by today!  Have a fun, crafty week!

Copic markers:

C3, C1, C00, V09, V06, V05, RV63, 

Y19, Y15, Y13, Y11,

YG67, YG17, YG25, YG03, YG01

Supplies:

Art Impressions Floral Twist Set

Art Impressions Twist Frame Die
Art Impressions Rectangle A2 Double Stitched dies

Ink on 3 Blackout Detail Ink

Sizzix 3-D Texture Fades Botanical embossing folder

Daisies & Gingham? Yes Please! | Rubbernecker Stamps

Hello friends!  Today I have a sweet card today using Rubbernecker Stamps beautiful Daisy Bouquet #2 stamp.  I've paired this awesome stamp with my favorite type of patterned paper--gingham!!

I love it when you have a beautiful stamp and it's also an easy one to use to make a quick card!

I began by creating the card base:

1. Layer a 5-½" x 4-¼" piece of yellow card stock on a top folding A2 card base.
2. Add gingham paper trimmed to 5-¼" x 4".
3. Stamp the Marvelous sentiment in black ink and die cut it with a die from the Nested Rectangle Small Stitched die set.
4. Layer the sentiment onto a black piece of card stock.
5. Use liquid glue and adhere it to the card base.

The Daisy Bouquet:

1. Stamp the daisy onto Neenah Solar White 80# card stock with Copic safe ink.
2. Color the image with Copic markers.  I've listed the markers at the end of this post.
3. Die cut the piece with a Nested Rectangle Stitched die.
4. Layer it onto a piece of black card stock with liquid glue.
5. Add a piece of ribbon around the panel and tie into a knot.  I've had this ribbon forever in my stash!
6. Add foam tape to the back of the panel and adhere it to the card base.
7. I added a few Yellow Dandelion NUVO Crystal Drops for a bit of embellishment.

I love the daisies with the sentiment and gingham!  I hope this card makes you smile.  Thank you so much for stopping by today.  Have a wonderful, crafty week!


Copic markers:
C5, C3, C1, C00, YG17, YG25, YG03, YG01,
Y19, Y06

Birthday Card, Butterflies & an Inky Background | Honey Bee Stamps

Hello friends!  I don't know about you, but I'm ready for spring and my card today reflects that!  I've used two beautiful sets from Honey Bee Stamps to create my card today, Spring Peony and Fluttering By.

It had been a while since I made a heat-embossed, ink-smooshed background.  I love this fun technique!  Here are my steps for the background:

• Place a piece of watercolor card stock in your MISTI or other stamp positioning tool.
• Lay out the butterfly stamps from the Fluttering By set and pick up with the MISTI door.
• Use an antistatic bag on your card stock, then ink the stamps with Versamark clear embossing ink and stamp.  Repeat, if needed.
• Sprinkle on white embossing powder and heat set.
• Smoosh Distress Inks onto your craft mat.  I used Squeezed Lemonade, Abandoned Coral, Worn Lipstick and Spun Sugar.  Mist the ink with water.
• Place your embossed piece into the ink and lift.  Air or heat dry.  Repeat until you are happy with the look.
• I die cut the piece with the largest of the A2 Double Stitched Frame dies.
• TIP:  I almost always prepare at least two embossed pieces to play and experiment with.  It seems to help me not feel so much pressure to get the first one just right!

I used one butterfly from the Fluttering By set and some greenery from the Spring Peony set for the card front.  Stamp in Copic safe ink, color and die cut with the Spring Peony and Fluttering By coordinating dies.  I've listed the Copic markers I used at the end of this post.  I played around with the arrangement of the pieces until I liked it and took a photo to remember the placement.  Before I adhered the greenery, I used my fingers to slightly curl them to add dimension.  For the butterfly, I added liquid glue to just the the middle so the wings would stay raised.

To finish, I added some clear Wink of Stella to the butterfly's wings and the berries.  Then I added Glossy Accents to the berries.

I love how this turned out and had so much fun making the inky background!  Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Copic markers:

butterfly:  R24, R22, R32, Y18, Y02, RV10, RV00

greenery:  YG67, YG17, YG25, YG03

Supplies:

HBS Fluttering By stamps and Honey Cuts

HBS Spring Peony stamps and Honey Cuts

HBS A2 Double Stitched Frame dies

Distress inks:  Squeezed Lemonade, Abandoned Coral, Worn Lipstick, Spun Sugar

WOW! Opaque Bright White embossing powder
Canson XL Watercolor card stock

Versamark clear embossing ink

MISTI Original

New Easter Twist Set & Challenge | Art Impressions

Hello my friends!  Have you seen the new interactive Twist Sets by Art Impressions?  There are eight adorable sets, including the Easter Twist Set I've used for my card today.  These sets are so fun and cute!  There are included dies to cut them out and they swivel, or twist, in the frame!

These sets come with stamps for both sides of the twisting element along with the dies to cut it out.  You will need the Twist Frame Die, sold separately.  This is a very easy and quick card to make!  I started with an A2 card base cut with a Scallop A2 die.  Leave the top edge of the card just below the cut line to get this cute scalloped-edged card.  I die cut some patterned paper with a Rectangle A2 Double Stitched die and adhered it to the card base.  I opened the card base and positioned the Twist Frame Die in the center and ran it through my die cutting machine.  For the white frame around the die I cut the frame from a piece of white card stock.  Then, leaving the die in place, trace around the outside of the die with a pencil and fussy cut it.  Adhere it in place around the opening.

Next I stamped the images in Copic safe ink and colored the bunny images with a few markers listed below.  I also stamped the egg portion of the images onto some patterned paper.  It was easy to fussy cut around the egg.  To give your fussy cutting a finished look, be sure to use a black marker to go around the edges.  I like to use a Tuxedo Black Memento Dual Marker.  Adhere the patterned eggs to the images. 

I do like to share what I've learned from my oopsies so hopefully it will help you!  I always save larger scraps of card stock to use.  I had a couple scrap pieces that the images fit onto when stamped.  Well......oops!  I didn't plan on room for the dies!  I made it work by die cutting these, then trimming off the top and bottom tabs.  I die cut one more from plain card stock and adhered them to the front and back.  It all worked out just fine!  My motto is to always try to find a way to fix it!

To finish up, I stamped the sentiment with Versafine Onyx Black ink and die cut it out with a die from the Tag Stitched Dies set.  I die cut two more from the patterned paper and layered all three together.  (Tip:  I had a silver brad and tapped it into my Versamark ink pad and dipped it into some pink embossing powder.  Heat set it, and while it's still hot, dip it into the powder and heat it again.  Repeat until you like the look!  I popped it up with a couple of foam squares.

I added some sparkle in the white stripes to both sides of the egg with a clear sparkle pen.  (I recently ordered and received these from Scrapbook.com and really like them.  These pens are equal to others and are at a great price point.)  I used a white gel pen to add dots to the eggs.  This photo will give you an idea of what the card looks like standing up.

Thank you for stopping by!  I sure hope to see your entry in the Movers and Shakers Challenge!  Stay crafty!

Copic markers:

C1, C0, RV11, RV21, W3, W1, W0

Supplies:

Art Impressions Easter Twist Set
Art Impressions Twist Frame Die

Art Impressions Tag Stitched Dies

Art Impressions Rectangle A2 Double Stitched Dies
Honey Bee Stamps Scallop A2 Card Frame dies

Queen & Co. Flirty Florals 6x6 paper pad

Scrapbook Adhesives 3D foam squares; EZ Runner tape

Gardening Circlet Birthday Card | Art Impressions

Happy Monday friends!  I'm over on Art Impressions' blog today with a sweet birthday card featuring the  beautiful Gardening Circlet MTF set.

This card is very easy to create as the directions for the card size, where to fold and stamp are all included on the back of the packaging.  First I stamped the images and used the dies to cut the openings in the first two panels.

I decided to use my Prismacolor Pencils to color these as the images are a bit on the small side.  Keeping your pencils very sharp at all times makes the coloring very easy!

I love this row of birds!  The illustration reminds me of the sweet Chickadees that visit our backyard bird feeders.  I did a web search of images of them to use as a guide for my coloring.  Note:  you do not need to use as many pencil colors as I did--I just wanted to do a lot of shading.  The list of the colors I used are at the end of this post.

I used a sentiment from the Exclusive Hydrangeas Set and stamped it with black ink.  I definitely used my MISTI to stamp this since I sure didn't want to mess it up after all of my coloring!  Haha!

I hope I've inspired you to give these sweet mini trifold sets a try!  I'm always thankful for you taking a moment to stop by and take a look.  Have a wonderful, crafty week!

Prismacolor pencils:

Chartreuse, Spring Green, Apple Green, Lime Peel, Prussian Green, Kelp Green, Olive Green,

Dark Green, Mahogany Red, Magenta, Process Red, Hot Pink, Diox. Purple Hue, Parma Violet, Lilac, Indigo Blue, Cerulean Blue, Light Cerulean Blue, Blue Slate, Sky Blue Light, Terra Cotta,

Burnt Ochre, Mineral Orange, Goldenrod, Jasmine, Yellow Ochre, Canary Yellow,

Dark Umber, Chocolate, Light Umber, Sandbar Brown, Ginger Root,

Cool Grey: 90%, 70%, 50%, 30%, 20%; Black

Supplies:

Art Impressions Gardening Circlet MTF

Scrapbook.com/Art Impressions Exclusive Hydrangeas Set

Neenah Solar White 80# card stock

Versafine Onyx Black ink

You're Paw-some! | Art Impressions

Happy Monday friends!  I have one last card (well for a while-LOL!) using the Art Impressions' Lovable Animals set.  This cute little fox is perfect for a birthday card, or switch up the colors, and it would be just right for Valentine's Day!

I stamped the fox and other images in Copic safe ink with my MISTI and colored them with the Copic markers listed below.  I started with an A2 top-folding card base and added blue, black, and patterned paper layers with liquid adhesive.  I cut two thin strips of the blue card stock and adhered them on each side of the black striped paper.  

Then I used the included dies to cut out the images.  I love how the die cuts the slits for the fox to hold a treat, a cupcake in this case.  I popped up the fox and second cupcake with foam squares.

Stamp the sentiment with black ink and die cut it with a Flag Double Stitched die.  I then die cut the end again to shorten the overall length.  Matt this on a blue layer then pop it up with foam squares.  For a bit of sparkle and shine I added some clear sparkle with a glitter pen to the cupcake icing and Diamond Glaze to the cupcake sprinkles.

Thank you so much for stopping by!  I hope you've enjoyed seeing these cards using each cute animal from the Lovable Animals set.  Thanks for stopping by and I hope you have a fun, crafty week!

Copic markers:

BG15, BG13, BG11, BG10, C3, C1, C00,

E99, E97, E95, E53, E51, E50, E33, E27,

RV23, RV21, RV10, R00, Y19, Y04

Supplies:

Art Impressions Lovable Animals

Art Impressions Flag Double Stitched Dies

My Favorite Things card stock: Summer Splash Prestige; Black Licorice
Honey Bee Stamps Over The Rainbow 6x6 paper pad
MISTI Original
Scrapbook.com Clear Glitter Brush pen
Judikins Diamond Glaze

3D foam squares

You're Bloomin' Marvelous | Rubbernecker Stamps

Hello friends!  You do know that YOU are "bloomin' marvelous", right?  I love this sentiment and the fonts in it!  This fits for many different types of cards and I know I'll be using it a lot! I've used the Poppy Bouquet stamp for the main focus and have used my Copic markers to color it.

Here are the quick and easy steps to create this card.

1. Stamp the bouquet in Copic safe ink and color it.  The markers I've used are: petals: YR16, Y38, Y35, Y32; flower centers: E49, E47, E44; other flowers: R27, R05; leaves: G07, YG17, YG25, YG03, YG01
2. Die cut with the largest die from the Nested Rectangle Scallop with Holes die set.
3. Stamp the sentiment in Versafine Onyx Black ink.
4. Adhere the panel to a green card stock top-folding A2 card base.
5. Add a few NUVO Key Lime Jewel Drops for a bit of embellishment.

I love the extra touch the Scallop die adds!

I hope you are inspired to give the sweet Poppy Bouquet stamp a try for an easy-to-make card.  Thank you for stopping by!  Have a wonderful, crafty week!

Spring Flowers Post Box Card | Honey Bee Stamps

Hello friends!  Is it cold and miserable where you are?  Well, I have a bright and cheerful card for you today!  I had so much fun using Honey Bee Stamps' awesome Post Box Card Base die to make this spring-time inspired card.

Steps for the card base:

1. Die cut the Post Box card base and the hinge from patterned paper from the Great Outdoors 6x6 paper pad.  Die cut another post box from white Neenah 80# card stock.
2. For the two additional pieces on the post box, I inked some white card stock with Evergreen Bough Distress Oxide using a foam ink blending tool.  I then die cut them out with dies in the set.
3. Next I used stamps from Love Enclosed and stamped the sentiment, hearts and decorative corners with Versamark.  I heat embossed it with WOW Opaque Bright White embossing powder.

Embellishing the Post Box card:

1. Next comes the fun part!  Die cut a bunch of flowers, stems and leaves from the Bunch of Bouquets Honey Cuts.  (Note: Before die cutting the yellow flowers, green stems and leaves, I used a few Copic markers to color the white card stock.)
2. Using an embossing stylus from the Flower Shaping Essentials Kit, shape the flowers and leaves.
3. Add yellow and white NUVO Crystal drops to the flower centers and set them aside to dry.
4. Stamp an envelope from the Love Enclosed set in black ink and cut it out.  Tuck it into the mail slot adding some glue to hold it in place.
5. Once the flower centers were dry, I used liquid glue to attach stems and leaves to some of them.  I adhered the stemmed flowers along the bottom and then used the Grass Border Honey Cut to cut out two strips of grass.  I colored the front and back of these strips with a Copic marker.  This will hide the Copic ink bleed through when the card is open.  Adhere one grass strip to the bottom front.
6. Open the card and color any of the backs of stems that show.  Adhere the second grass piece on the inside of the card front.
7. I totally forgot to stamp the inside sentiment before adding all the dimensional elements!  The Thanks A Bunch set is perfect for this as it also has coordinating dies for the sentiments.  I stamped it with black ink, die cut it, and adhered it with liquid glue.

To add a bit more cuteness, I stamped and Copic colored three birds from the Birds and the Bees set.  I used the coordinating Honey Cuts to die cut them.

I hope my card has brightened your day some.  Spring will be here before we know it!  Thank you very much for stopping by!  Stay crafty!

Supplies:

Honey Bee Stamps:

Post Box Card Base

Bunch of Bouquets

Love Enclosed

Grass Border
Birds and The Bees stamps & Honey Cuts

Thanks A Bunch stamps & Honey Cuts
Great Outdoors 6x6 paper pad

Other:

Heartfelt Creations Flower Shaping Essentials Kit
NUVO Crystal Drops:  White and Dandelion Yellow
Evergreen Bough Distress Oxide
WOW Opaque Bright White embossing powder

Cutest Coffee Gift Card Holder! | Art Impressions

Hello friends!  We are in week two of a new challenge over at Art Impressions.  It's called Give It Away! Hop over to the challenge blog for the challenge details.  Just in time for this challenge, Art Impressions has two new gift card holder sets.  One is called Mailbox Gift Card Holder, and the one I'm using is Coffee Gift Card Holder.

All the dies you need are included, including the insert that holds a gift card.

These are really easy and quick to make.  Plus it's a great time to pull out that pretty patterned paper you're hoarding and make some pretty coffee cups.  I've had this paper from Queen & Co. for a while, but it's still in stock on their website.  For each gift card holder, cut two of the coffee cup and one each of the lid, insert and band.



Fold the scored tabs on the coffee cup and add adhesive.  I used liquid glue on one and Scor-tape on another.  Both adhesives work equally well.  Add a thin line of glue along the top of the gift card insert and adhere the coffee cup lid.  I used three Copic markers (C1, C00, blender) to add some dimension to the lid.



For this cup, I stamped the sentiment and die cut it with the scalloped circle die.  I attached it to the band and adhered it to the cup.  I love how the die for the band embosses the lines in it!



I LOVE this stamp that has all the options and you can check them all, or just the ones that you want for the occasion!  The one that the tag is hiding says You're the Best!  Next die cut the smaller heart from patterned paper and the tag from white card stock.  I popped up the heart with a foam square on the tag.  Then I used some green twine from my stash to wrap around the cup and tie on the tag.

For perspective, here is a photo of the Coffee Gift Card Holder on an A2 envelope.  It's a fun and cute size with plenty of room to go into the envelope.



Thank you so much for stopping by today!  I hope to see your entry into the Give It Away Challenge over at Art Impressions.  Happy crafting!

Supplies:
Art Impressions Coffee Gift Card Holder set
Queen & Co. Flirty Florals 6x6 paper pad
3D foam squares

Owl Always Love You | Art Impressions

Happy Monday friends!  Today I have another card using Art Impressions new Lovable Animals set.  If you missed the first two I made, check out the blog post here.  

This card features the cute little owl, which is one of the four cute critters in the set.  I love how the included dies cut slits for the critters to hold various objects!

After I stamped and Copic colored the owl and flower, I used the coordinating dies to cut them out.  The Copic colors I used are listed at the end of this post.  Next I used the heart die that's also in the set to cut an opening in some red card stock.  I used a white gel pen to add some stitching around the edge of the heart.  Next, emboss a 4-¼" x 5-½" piece of white card stock with a heart embossing folder.  I added foam tape to the back of the red layer and wrapped some bakers twine around the top before adhering it to the white embossed layer.

I adhered the flower in his wings, added some foam squares to the back of the owl and centered it in the heart opening.  I stamped the sentiment in black ink and die cut it with a Tag Stitched die.  I used more baker's twine to tie it on.

Stay tuned for next week when I'll have the fourth critter in the set on a sweet card.  Thank you so much for stopping by!  Stay crafty!

Copic markers:

owl:  E18, E39, E15, E13, E11, Y19, Y08, Y13

flower:  Y19, Y15, Y08, YG17, YG25, YG01

Supplies:

Art Impressions Lovable Animals set

Art Impressions Tag Stitched dies

Signo Uniball white gel pen

3D foam squares

baker's twine