Friday, January 17, 2025

2024 Personal Favorites


These are my choices for favorite creations of 2024.
I decided not to limit myself to the usual dozen & just post all the things I liked.
I have catergorized them into cards; layouts; colorings.


Starting with my 2024 Christmas Cards.




I really loved every single birthday card that I made for my friends.
Each was unique and each was created with that person in mind.
The beautiful 49 and Market paper collections
made for some very pretty cards and elements!

In alpha order by name - 

Miss Belle's card


Carmel's card

Diana's card



Elizabeth's card


Fran's card







Kay's card





Michelle's card



Patty's card




Paulette's card




Rocky's card



Layout  (yes I only made ONE layout)

Rex

My favorite pencil colorings.

Mushroom Patch Kremlin

Animals in Flowers - Cow #1

Animals in Flowers - Elephant #1

Patchwork Scottish Highland Cow

Madison Taylor Art 2024-5-3

Madison Taylor Art 2024-4-27

Until next year end!
Have a blessed, healthly & happy 2025,
Lisa 

Tuesday, January 7, 2025

2024 Christmas Cards

Another Christmas has come & gone!
I always like to find creation elements & new ideas to make my cards,
but unfortunately, nothing in the crafting world caught my eyes this year.

What DID catch my eyes was a gorgeous digital download 
from an artist on ETSY.
I picked my favorite among 5 images of Mother Mary with baby Jesus.

Here's my 6" x 6" card.

Simple as it may seem, 
it did take a little doing to get it just right.
This may not be anything new to some, but it was for me.

I'm OCD, so if things are slightly 'off' it drives me crazy!
In order to get squares nearly perfect, one on top of the other,
instead of eye balling it, I made templates!
They worked out pretty well. 
I did this for both the front of the card & the inside.
Here's photos of the inside and how it worked for me.

First, I laid the black square template on the open card 
and taped it down to hold it in place.
This template measures 6"x6" 
with the inner opening being 5" x 5",
therefore leaving a 1/2" on all sides.


With double-sided tape on the back of the white 5" x 5" cardstock,
I carefully placed it within the center of the template.


VOILA!


Viewing the above photo, 
the inside sentiment is printed on 110 lb. white cardstock.
I chose the font "Papyrus" because it's very 'crisp'.

I then die cut the Star of Bethlehem above the sentiment
so that the navy card could show through.

I enclosed an 'explanation' of my creation,
which I started doing last year in 2023. 
It helps my friends know a few things about the card.

This is what it reads:

Dear Friends,
This year’s Christmas cards are created
using a digital download from an artist on ETSY.
I received 5 different images of the blessed
Mother Mary with baby Jesus.  
This one happens to be my favorite of them.

Sometimes I just don’t find anything in the 
‘Crafting World’ that appeals to me.
Although this year’s cards are simple, I have to say
that this beautiful image really caught my eyes. 
I hope you love it as much as I do. 

I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 
New Year in 2025.  
May God bless you & your family.

Your friend,
===============================================================

So with all of that.....
I hope everyone had a very Merry Christmas
and I wish you a Happy New Year!
Lisa



Products used:

ETSY digital image download

Maja Design - Monochromes - Shades of the Sea - Navy

Spellbinders - Glitter Cardstock in GOLD

Memory Box Die
Star of Wonder



Tools
Sizzix Big Shot Machine

Sizzix magnetic Platform


Fiskars 12" SureCut
Paper Trimmer

Martha Stewart
Scoring Board


Adhesives
Scor-Tape

Scrapbook.com
Adhesive Foam Sheets


Square Envelopes from Envelopes.com
6x6 in Metallic Gold