Quick, Easy, and Beautiful Winter Wreath Card for the Holidays

Happy end of November my friends!  Can you believe it?  This year has flown, and so has my brain because I meant to have this post ready on Tuesday!  LOL!

If you need a quick and easy card to get ready to mail for the holidays, this one featuring Rubbernecker Stamps Winter Wreath is one to make!  It's really beautiful and has coordinating coloring stencils too!

Since I need to get caught up on everything, I'm sending you over to my blog post on Rubbernecker's blog for all of the easy directions to make this card.

If you would like to check out the products I used, the links are below.

If you stop over at my post on Rubbernecker's blog, I hope you'll say hi!  Have a fabulous day!

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Happy Holidays -- Let's Decorate A Die Cut Window Frame!

Hello, crafty friends!  Can you believe November is almost over?!!  Well, I have another Christmas card to share with you.  This card features the beautiful Lovely Layers: Seasonal Frame by Honey Bee Stamps.  I've always loved those old windows where someone has added greenery and flowers to it and used it as a wall hanging!  There are many different dies included in this set to use for the holidays, autumn, and spring themed cards too.

First I created the A2 card base and layers. I added a piece of patterned paper from the Grain and Grunge paper pad, trimmed it to 4-¼" x 5-½" and glued it to my card base. Next I die cut 80# Neenah with the window frame from the Lovely Layers: Seasonal Frame three times. After I glued the three layers together, I adhered it to the card front.

To fill in the window openings, I chose a blue snowy piece of paper from the Winter Wonder paper pad and ran it through my die cutting machine with the window frame die. This time I used the four squares from the die cut and adhered them into the window openings.

I chose one of the flowers, the greenery, bird, pinecone and berries dies from the Seasonal Frame and die cut the pieces from 80# Neenah. I used my detail blender brushes to color the pieces with various inks. Several of the inks I used were Distress Ink. The colors I used are: Candied Apple, Aged Mahogany, Shabby Shutters, Mowed Lawn, and Rustic Wilderness. The other inks are from my stash.

I glued the bird and flower layers together, then arranged the pieces on my card. When I was happy with the arrangement, I used glue with a fine tip nozzle to adhere the pieces. I also used my favorite reverse tweezers in the assembly.

The sentiment is from the Seasonal Sentiments stamp set and stamped in black ink. After I cut it out with the coordinating die, I added a foam tape strip to the back to pop it up on the card.

Here is when I decided to add a bit of glitter! Haha! I used that fine-tipped glue to add lines of glue to the flowers and berries. Then I sprinkled on some fine white glitter. When the glue had dried, I used a soft brush to sweep away any stray glitter. I love the subtle sparkle!

I can think of several ways to use the Seasonal Frame and can't wait to try making one with bright springtime colors! Thanks so much for stopping by. I appreciate you!

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Create A Watercolor Look With Solid Stamps with Watercolor Pines Stamp Set

Hello crafty friends! Today I'm sharing my winter scene Christmas card that features the beautiful Watercolor Pines stamps and the coordinating Honey Cuts by Honey Bee Stamps! Using the gorgeous paper from the Winter Wonder paper pad makes this card super quick and easy to make! I'll also explain how to get this pretty watercolored look for your trees!

I truly think that Honey Bee has the most gorgeous paper pads! For this card I chose the beautiful blue piece with the varying shades of blue trees found in the Winter Wonder paper pad. I used the paper for my color cues when I stamped the Watercolor Pines stamps. The technique I used to ink up these stamps is best when used with a stamp positioning tool such as the MISTI as it usually requires a few repeats of the stamping.

I used blending brushes to add some Distress Inks to the Watercolor Pines stamps. I used Chipped Sapphire, Stormy Sky, Faded Jeans, and Walnut Stain for the tree trunks. I used blending brushes to add the ink to the stamps because I can blend the colors and also get a very light layer of ink onto the stamp.

Next I misted the stamps very lightly with water and stamped them onto Bristol Smooth cardstock. This is a smooth heavy weight cardstock that is able to withstand some water. These mini misters are great for easily getting a very fine mist of water!

I dried each ink layer with my heat tool, and then repeated the stamping a few times until I was happy with the results. This is a very imprecise technique, so just have fun with it. Vary the amounts of water you spray to get different results! Now you have beautiful pine trees that look watercolored!

I cut the trees out with the coordinating Watercolor Pines dies and set them aside to create the background layers. Next I trimmed the paper from the Winter Wonder paper pad to 4-¼" x 5-½". Then I used Bee Creative glue to adhere it to an A2 card base.

Next I used the hill die found in the Horizon Slimline Borders dies to cut a piece of glitter cardstock I have in my stash. The piece I had was 8-½" long so I just cut the strip with one hill die, then I cut it into two 4-¼" pieces. I adhered the layers together with glue then added them to the card.

Next I stamped a few snowflakes from the Let It Snow stamp set with clear embossing ink onto 80# Neenah. Then I sprinkled on White Puff Twinkle embossing powder and used my heat tool to set it. This embossing powder has a bit of dimension when heated with a very pretty sparkle! I cut the snowflakes out with the coordinating dies.

I stamped the sentiment also in the Let It Snow stamp set with black ink and then cut it out with the coordinating die. After I decided on an arrangement for the trees, I used glue and foam dots to adhere them, the snowflakes and the sentiment to the card.

And lastly, I decided to add white splatters! So I just covered the sentiment with some removable tape before I added the splatters. Then I also decided to add a bit of sparkle with some Bee Shimmery liquid shimmer watercolor. I put a drop of it onto my craft mat, diluted it with a tiny bit of water, then splattered drops with a paint brush.

If you didn't want this to be a Christmas card, this design would work with a variety of holiday or winter sentiments. I hope you've enjoyed my process for making this card and have been inspired to try this yourself!

At this time of year, I am always so thankful for many things, and YOU are one of those things I'm thankful for. I so appreciate your visits, and kind comments too! Have a wonderful Thanksgiving day tomorrow (if you celebrate that) and otherwise, have a wonderful day no matter what!

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A Quick and Easy Card with Coneflowers Layering Stencils

I'm interrupting my Christmas card making to bring you a touch of bright spring colors on this card I'm sharing today.  I features the fun and so easy-to-use Coneflowers Layering Stencils by Spellbinders!

 I used ink blending brushes and several different inks (from my stash and linked below) to color through each of the five Coneflower layering stencils.

When I was finished with each stencil, I used the stencil layer with the detail dots and lines for the petals and flower centers to add some sparkly iridescent glitter gel.  This adds just a touch of sparkle and is so pretty!

I trimmed the panel to 4" x 5-¼", added foam tape to the back, and adhered it to my A2 card base.

I chose a sentiment from the Be Bold Glimmer Sentiments hot foil plates.  Then I hot foiled it onto Glimmer Specialty Cardstock with Black Glimmer Foil using my Glimmer Hot Foil Machine.  I cut it out with the included coordinating die.  I added a few foam squares to pop it up on the card.

I really love the crisp sharp black of the foil on this sentiment!   And the Specialty Cardstock takes foiling to perfection!

I hope you've enjoyed this bright and cheerful card full of color!  Thanks so very much for stopping by!

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All Is Calm, All Is Bright Winter Scene Card

Hello crafty friends! Have you ever began a card with a certain design in mind and then you go off in a totally different direction? Well, that's what happened with my card today featuring Honey Bee Stamps beautiful Lovely Layers: Deer! This time, I'm happy that I just went with what evolved, and I love it!

First I die cut the main layers of the Lovely Layers: Deer from Neenah Desert Storm cardstock.  The other small detail pieces are cut from 80# Neenah.  I used my Copic markers in various brown shades to color the deer. I used these markers: B15, B18, B23, B37, and B39. The layering guide, found in the product description, is very helpful for assembling your deer. I think these deer look so sweet!

Three of my go-to tools when assembling detailed dies like these are my reverse tweezers, my die release tool, and my Crystal Katana. These tools stay in front of me in my tool storage caddy at all times!

I used glue with a fine tip to assemble each sweet deer. I used a white paint pen to add a few extra details to the deer.

Next I created the A2 card base and the background layers. The papers in the Winter Wonder paper pad are so gorgeous and I chose two for my background layers. I die cut the tan snowflake paper with the largest Sweet Stacks: Rectangles and then with the Scattered Stars cover plate die. I glued that to my A2 white card base. I die cut the snowy hills with the hills die found in the Horizon Slimline Borders die set and glued them to the card base.

I die cut a set of Lovely Layers: Trees from 80# Neenah. I decided to keep them all white to keep the emphasis on the deer. Then I glued the tree layers together and adhered them to the card.

For the sentiment, I chose one from the Heart Be Light stamp set and stamped it with a coordinating brown ink. Then I cut it out with the coordinating die and popped it up on the card with foam tape.

I added lots of pretty sparkle with some Star Dust Stickles. I love the subtle sparkle this gives! (I wish photos did a better job of showing the sparkle!)

I really love how this turned out and hope you do too!  Thanks so much for stopping by today!

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Quick and Easy Holiday Card For Your Stash!

 Hello friends!  Today I'm sharing my card featuring Rubbernecker Stamps' beautiful Bells and Garland Set and the coordinating coloring stencils!

I decided to go with a more clean and simple design for this card.  I used ink blending brushes with a few Color Fuse inks (linked below) to add the colors through each Bells and Garland stencil layer.  I used Lost Shadow Distress Ink for the bell.

When I was finished coloring, I placed the panel into my MISTI.  Then I positioned the Bells and Garland stamp over the stenciled image.  Next I stamped it with some black pigment ink for a nice crisp image!  (NOTE:  If you are not comfortable stamping after stenciling, then for sure go ahead and stamp first.  Just be sure your black ink is dry.)

I added a pink cardstock layer I die cut with the Nested Scallop Rectangle die and a coordinating green cardstock layer (from the Welcome Spring paper pad) to an A2 card base.

I chose one of the five included sentiments from the Bells and Garland Set and stamped it onto the colored panel with black ink.  Then I added foam tape to the back to adhere it to the card.

This beautiful card would be so easy to mass produce to send to your family and friends!  I hope you've found some inspiration today!  Thank you so much for stopping by today!

Blooming Flowers Stencils Makes A Beautiful Christmas Card!

 Happy Monday, crafty friends!  Today I'm sharing my card featuring the beautiful Blooming Flowers stencil set from Spellbinders new Flower Market Collection!  Now, I think any stamp or stencil with flowers is just perfect for spring and summer cards, but I'm totally in Christmas card making mode!  So I wondered if I could make this set work as a Christmas card.

By changing the colors I use to a more seasonal palette I think this works!  I used blending brushes and some Distress Inks to add color through three of the Blooming Flowers stencil layers.  I used Candied Apple, Festive Berries, Mowed Lawn, and Rustic Wilderness.

For the final stencil I added some pretty sparkle by spreading gold texture paste through it!  Once the piece was dry, I trimmed it to 3-¾" x 5" and adhered it to a panel of gold glitter cardstock, and then to an A2 card base.

The sentiment is found in the Wonderful Winter Sentiments Hot Foil Plate and Die Set.  I love that there are six sentiments on one hot foil plate!  I used my Glimmer Hot Foil System to add Speckled Aura Glimmer Foil to some 80# cardstock.  The coordinating die cuts out all of the sentiments all in one pass through my Platinum die cutting machine!

I added some foam tape to the back of the sentiment to pop it up.

I think this is just so pretty with all of the sparkle and the colors make it perfect for my holiday card!  What do you think?  The Blooming Flowers stencils make a very fun and super easy card to make!

Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you have a wonderful week filled with lots of crafty time!

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Snow Globe Christmas Card

Hello crafty friends!  Today I'm sharing my card that features Spellbinders Simon's Snow Globe die set.  There are lots of fun included details to create your own snow globe with four sentiments to choose from!  There are also three more add-on sets to create scenes with different scenes:  1) Woodland Scene; 2) Nativity Scene; and 3) Snowman Scene.  Which scene would you choose?

I die cut most of the pieces of Simon's Snow Globe from 80# Neenah.  The base is die cut from matte silver cardstock and Santa and his reindeer from Glossy Black mirror cardstock.

I used Distress Oxide Inks and blending brushes for the coloring.  The colors I used are Chipped Sapphire, Stormy Sky, Rustic Wilderness, and Festive Berries.

Before I assembled my scene, I added lots of white splatters and sparkly splatters onto the background, trees, and houses.  It is a snow globe after all!  Haha!

I decided to make it appear that lights are on in the houses, so I used my Y08 Copic marker to color some scrap paper and trimmed the pieces to go behind the windows.  For dimension on the Santa and reindeers, I adhered two more layers of white cardstock behind the black layer.

I wanted some type of detail for the background layer, so I used the Leafy 3D embossing folder to achieve that for the card base layer.  

Such a fun card to make!  I hope you enjoyed my Snow Globe card today and are inspired to create your own snow globe!  Thank you for stopping by--have a fun and crafty weekend!

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Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas

Hello, crafty friends!  Today I'm sharing another holiday card featuring Honey Bee Stamps gorgeous Good Tidings stamp set with the coordinating coloring stencils and dies.  P.S.:  I also had the privilege of being a guest designer over on the blog of Scrapbook & Cards Today where I also featured this card!

This card includes two of my favorite trending crafty items:  coloring stencils and 3D embossing folders!  (I’m so happy that embossing folders have made a comeback!)  While this card may look complicated, I’m going to share my tips for easy ways to take your card from “very pretty” to “wow” by adding just a few extra details!

First I put a 4-¼” x 5-½” piece of 80# Neenah Solar White into the Snowy Pines 3D Embossing Folder.  Run that through your die cutting machine with the recommended sandwich for your type of machine.  This gorgeous embossed white background will make the images pop!  I used glue to adhere it to a top-folding A2 card base.

I don't know about you, but I have had several instances that I have smeared the black outline of the stamped image during stenciling, so I like to do all of the stenciling first.

The six stencils in the Good Tidings stencil set are numbered and fully etched with the entire image to make lining up each layer super easy!  I began with stencil Layer 1 and used small detail blending brushes to add the inks. I used a few Distress Inks in the colors of Gathered Twigs, Walnut Stain, Mowed Lawn, Rustic Wilderness, Festive Berries, and Aged Mahogany.  For the pine branches of the stencils and the Lovely Layers: Pinecone I used some green inks from Simon Says Stamp (linked below).

After I finished with each Good Tidings stencil layer, I placed the panel into my MISTI.  Then I put the Good Tidings outline stamp over the colored image.  I only had to spend about a minute to line up the stamp with the stenciled image!  I picked up the stamp with the MISTI door and inked it up with a black pigment ink.  Using a pigment ink will give a beautiful crisp stamped image!  I cut the image out with the coordinating Good Tidings Honey Cut.

Of course, if you are not comfortable stamping after you have colored your image with the stencils, go ahead and stamp it first!  Just make sure that the ink is totally dry to avoid any smearing.

Another way I like to add details to a stamped image is to use a coloring medium, such as alcohol markers or colored pencils to add more depth to the shadowed areas of your image!  Since I used a pigment ink to stamp the image, I needed to use colored pencils.  (Pigment ink and alcohol markers are not compatible.)

I took a photo after I added the colored pencils to one pinecone so you can see the difference.  The difference is quite noticeable!

Another way to up the beauty of your card is to add more interest to your focal image with additional die cuts that coordinate with the theme of the card.   The pine sprigs I added from the Lovely Layers: Pinecone Honey Cuts are a good example.  I die cut them from white cardstock and used Picket Fence Studios Paper Pouncers to add two shades of green ink to the sprigs.  These Paper Pouncers make it so easy to quickly color die cuts like these!  After adding additional color to deepen the shadows, I used a white pencil to highlight the edges of the pinecone layers.  Just use a very light hand with your pencil to get a subtle effect!

I rarely make a card without adding dimension and this card is no exception!  I added foam tape to the back of the colored image to adhere it to my card.  I played around with the arrangement of the pine sprigs by tucking them here and there under the Good Tidings image.  Once I was happy with the arrangement, I added dots of glue to adhere them in place.

My final tip for taking your card to the wow level is to add sparkle!  Now, I’m a sparkle-loving gal, so I used glue with a  fine tip to place lines of glue in various spots on the branches and image.  Then I sprinkled Clear Rock Candy Distress Glitter over the glue and tapped the excess into a coffee filter to funnel it back into the jar.  If glitter is not your thing, you can use a clear glitter pen to add that pretty sparkle to your card.

I chose one of the four sentiments in the Good Tidings stamp set (the fonts are beautiful!) and stamped it with black pigment ink.  I love how Honey Bee Stamps has coordinating dies for the sentiments!

I sure hope you’ve enjoyed my card making process today and have learned some new tips for taking your card to the next level!  Thank you so much for stopping by!  Have a wonderful and crafty day!

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Thinking of You Card -- Sunflower Serenade

Hello, crafty friends!  Today I'm sharing this card that features Spellbinders' Sunflower Serenade die set!  I added a sentiment that makes this card perfect for many different occasions.

First I die cut the Sunflower Serenade dies from 80# Neenah.  (I die cut two of the flower die.)  I used small ink blending brushes to add some warm golden yellows to the flower petals and two green inks to the leaves and stem.

For extra dimension on the flower, I used a ball stylus from the Ultimate Tool Kit to shape the petals.  Next I glued the flower together and set it aside while I made the frame.

For the frame, I used 80# Neenah and die cut the opening with the 5th largest Essential Arches die.  Then I blended on a warm yellow ink over all of the piece.  Next I placed it into the Flower Frenzy 3D embossing folder and ran it through my Platinum die cutting machine.

To make the embossed detail stand out even more, I added a bit darker warm yellow ink by lightly brushing the details with a blender brush.  I glued the flower onto an A2 card base, and added foam tape to the back of the frame to adhere it to the card.

The sentiment is from the Hummingbird Sentiments set.  I trimmed it into a strip and popped it up with a few foam squares.  It doesn't really show in the photos, but I added some pretty and subtle sparkle with a Wink of Stella glitter pen.

Thank you for stopping by!  I hope you're having lots of fun crafty time this weekend!!

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Cutest Bear Christmas Card

I have always loved bear stamps, and this Beary Christmas To You stamp set by Picket Fence Studios is no exception!  I think it's absolutely adorable!

I stamped the bear in the Beary Christmas To You set with Copic safe ink.  After I colored him with my Copic markers, I cut him out with the coordinating die.

I wanted to do something a bit different with the Christmas Wishes background stamp, so first I stamped it with clear embossing ink onto coordinating teal cardstock that I cut to 4" x 5-¼".  Then I used a soft brush to add Confetti White Perfect Pearls.  I used a clean microfiber cloth to gently wipe off the extra.

I used glue to adhere the teal panel to my A2 card base.  I added foam tape to the back of the bear image to pop it up on the card front.  I chose one of the four included sentiments from the Beary Christmas To You set and stamped it in black ink.  After I cut it out with the coordinating die, I adhered it to the card.

For some sparkle, I chose some sequin from the Nostalgic Times Sequin mix and used Distress Collage Matt Medium to adhere.  The bit of sparkle on the bear's hat is glitter from my stash.

And that's it for this cutest bear card ever!  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope your Friday is fabulous!

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Snowflakes Holiday Card with a 3D Embossing Folder

Hello friends!  Today I'm sharing a quick post for my card featuring more beautiful new products from Honey Bee Stamps' Holiday Wishes release!  I shared this card over on Instagram for the Honey Bee hop too!  There will be two $50 gift cards awarded to two crafters that comment by November 3.  Check it out today or tomorrow for your chance to win!  

My card features the gorgeous new Snowflakes 3D embossing folder with the Lovely Layers: Large Snowflakes die set.

This card was so simple to make!  I used 80# Neenah, Blue Obsidian mirror card, and silver glitter paper from my stash for the various card base layers and the snowflakes.  (Check the links below for all current products.)

I stamped the sentiment from the Peace, Love, Joy stamp set with clear embossing ink onto a piece of the Blue Obsidian cardstock.  I added white embossing powder and heat set it.  I was careful to not concentrate the heat for too long on the mirror cardstock.  Pretty much treated it as I would heat embossing on vellum.  I cut the sentiment out with the coordinating die.

I added a few beautiful pearls from the Winter Pearls stickers set.  Thanks so much for stopping by.  I hope you have a wonderful and crafty weekend!

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