Christmas Cards 2015 – created for some special people in our lives

Hi everyone! This year I decided to create Christmas cards for me and my husband to give to some special people in our lives. 

This is my first try at card making and it was extremely enjoyable!  I came up with the basic design and it evolved from there.  I am very pleased, in fact joyously pleased, with the beautiful effect produced by the ornate textured stamp used as the decorative background on the front of the card.  Heat embossing this gorgeous design with Lindy’s Stamp Gang’s King Midas Gold really gave the feel of Christmas elegance! 

I made these cards in ‘assembly line’ fashion – meaning that I took one element and produced it multiple times to complete all of the cards. Then I would move on to the next step and do the same thing with each card until all were completed.  The printing on the cards was done first, followed by the heat embossing of the background texture; then the other steps fell into place, with the last step of adding the greenery. I made 15 cards, so using this type of systematic creating really helped to speed up the process. 

Assembled the flower clusters



Glued the centerpieces together



Adhered centerpieces and flowers

A quick peek inside the card:

And the back of the card where the word “Peace” was heat embossed:

Deep red rose clusters with piney die cuts added color, beauty & a natural look to the card:

Thanks so much for your visit and taking a look at my Christmas cards! 

My fingers are tightly crossed in hopes that the cards arrived through the mail intact to each special person.

 

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and a healthy, happy and prosperous New Year! Lisa : )   >^..^<

Products used:

Recollections (Michael’s):

   ~cards & envelopes – Pearlized Gold

   ~Garnet Red textured cardstock

   ~Green with gold specks cardstock

   ~Pearlized White cardstock

Stampabilities wood mounted stamp – Ornate Textured Background

 

Inkadinkado clear stamp – Calligraphy Expressions “Peace”

 

Lindy’s Stamp Gang embossing powder – King Midas Gold

Lindy’s Glitz Spritz – Blazing Sun

Spellbinders dies – Labels One & Luscious Labels One

 

Wild Orchid Crafts – Open Roses 20mm – Deep Red (#MKX-002)

Wild Orchid Crafts - Rosebuds 4mm – Red Tone (#MKX-623)

Cheery Lynn Designs – Border Die B216 – Wreath Strip

 

Mark Richard’s – Metallic Gold Nail Heads

 

 

Lucy's Explanation for her Badness

Time for another Lucy layout! 

The look on Lucy’s face is absolutely PRICELESS!

 

Her expression perfectly fits the words that are on a 4"x7.5" metal sign that hangs on the wall above my computer!    I “girlied up” this sign by spraying it with Lindy’s Stamp Gang’s Glitz Spritz Sunset Pink so that it would have some pink shimmer and not just an old rusted look. : ) 

 

On November 18^th, I captured this gorgeous photo of my precious Lucy with my iPhone just after she got ‘fussed at’ for trying to remove a large thumbtack (that holds a photo of her MaMa Gali on the wall) with her tiny “baby” teeth!  I tell her “You’re gunna break a TOOF!”  LOL    She gave me a look that could certainly fit quite a bit more ‘choice’ words – LOL!  She is such a total JOY and always SO full of expression!

A closer view of the ‘look’ she was giving me – LOL! 

 

 

I used the Bo Bunny collection Rose Café to create this layout.  I spritzed the main page of the layout with LSG’s Starburst color Bodacious Blush to give it some shimmer.   I wove beautiful mauve colored ribbon through the slits in the white ribbon. 

Wild Orchid Crafts gorgeous white mulberry roses were lightly sprayed with LSG SB Bodacious Blush and then each cluster formed and glued down.  Stickers and chipboard buttons/flags from the Bo Bunny collection were added for a cohesive look.

 

 

All I can say is……….I LOVE LOVE LOVE LUCY with all of my heart!!!!

Thanks for viewing and have a great day!  Lisa : )

Products used:

Bo Bunny Rose Café collection ~ page names: Espresso (both front & backside) & Post

                                              ~ Buttons & Combo Stickers

Martha Stewart punch – French Scroll

Wild Orchid Crafts flowers – White Wild Roses 30mm (#QVR-014 ) & White Hip Rosebuds (#GST-020)

Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starburst Spray – Bodacious Blush

Hobby Lobby ribbons

Signs of the Season

Hi everyone!  If you know me, then you know how much I love to scrap photos of my flowers!  Another season of bloom for my beautiful Christmas Cactus that was my Dad’s.  I’ve had it for 4 years now and it has, at the very least, tripled in size.  It is truly an amazingly gorgeous plant that blooms from October (usually) through December.  This year, since it’s been so warm so late in the year, it started blooming just this month.  The whole plant is FULL of blooms with so many more buds that are fixing to burst into gorgeous flowers! 
These photographs were taken by me on November 27^th.

My original vision for this layout got scrapped – literally!  LOL!  This is what I ended up creating....glittery gaudy Christmassy goodness all over the page....like decorating a Christmas tree :)

I have always been very attracted to the paisley shape, so this gorgeous Memory Box die named Calypso Flourish was a must have!  It is very intricate with its delicate and fragile lines.  I definitely had to run this die through my Big Shot quite a bit because of the type of paper I was cutting.  So, because of the results with each cut, I came up with three different designs and I love them all!

Memory Box die - Calypso Flourish
 

 

I sprayed the green glitter paper used for two of the calypso flourish die cuts and some of the butterflies with Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starburst color Cathedral Pines because I didn’t care too much for the color of the original green of the paper.  Nice!  I pieced together a Christmas bead spray with grapevine and some leaves, then tied it off with natural jute.

 

 

Thanks for stopping by!  Have a great day; week; month!  Lisa : )

 

 

Products used:

Recollections (Michael’s):

    ~Pearlized white card stock

    ~Red card stock   

    ~Gold glitter card stock

    ~Green glitter card stock

    ~Glitter dots – white & gold

    ~Christmas pick

    ~Grapevine

    ~Artificial leafy branches

    ~Brown Jute

    ~Christmas Ribbon

    ~Glitter Glue – Christmas Red

    ~Deco scissors

Memory Box die – Calypso Flourish

Martha Stewart punches – Monarch Butterfly & Large Monarch Butterfly

Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starburst – Cathedral Pines

Want2Scrap Pearls - Red

This Magical Moment

Hello and welcome!  Today I’m sharing a wintry photo of my daughter and her little family taken in December 2008.  This photo is framed and placed on my dresser because it is a VERY favorite of mine.  During this time, Brianne was living in the Chicago suburb of Naperville while earning a Masters Degree.  The apartments that she lived in were right next to one of the many nature preserves in the area.  Gorgeous Greta is only 1 yr-10 months and her new little sister, Marcy the Calico, is 9 months old.  They each have on velvet collars with a jingle bell and Brianne is wearing a Santa’s hat.  For me, this wonderful photo says it all…..purely magical.

 

I found the perfect Maja Design papers in their collection “It’s Christmas Time”! 

I’ve entered my layout for the Maja Design November 2015 Mood Board. 

My focus is on family, together, friends, rustic, red, green, white and dark brown.

 

I kept this design simple for two reasons.  Foremost, I wanted the focus to be on the photo. I also didn’t want to hide the beauty of this paper. The pine branches from a Christmas tree adorned with ornaments was a perfect setting for this adorable photo. The edge of the paper is a beautifully ornate frame.  Adding pearls really makes it “POP”!

 

The chipboard title was heat embossed in a deep forest green color and then topped in white to mimic snow. 

 

The Maja Design “Festive Season” paper, used for the photo underlay and the wreath die cuts, works great with the whole color scheme.  Finishing touches of glittered pine cone embellishments and wonderful berry stems by Prima were added for eye catching pops of interest. 

 

I added tiny gold pine cones to the berry stem. I really love the look!  Each berry stem, as well as the edges of the paper under the photo, were rubbed with gold wax for added shine.

 

Finally, the entire layout (photo covered for protection) was generously sprayed with Lindy's Stamp Gang Glitz Spritz Blazing Sun.  You can really see its beautiful glistening gold in bright light! 

Thanks so much for dropping by!  Have a great day!  Lisa : )  

Products used:

Maja Design “It’s Christmas Time” collection – pages: Deck the Halls & Festive Season

The Dusty Attic – Mini ABC UPPER

Want2Scrap chipboard word – Magical; mini cranberry pearls

Lindy’s Stamp Gang Embossing Powder – Tannebaum Green Gold

Lindy’s Stamp Gang Glitz Spritz – Blazing Sun

Stampendous Fran-táge Embossing Enamel – Shabby White

Prima – A Victorian Christmas collection – Midnight Kiss berries

Jolee’s Boutique – Glittered Edge Pine Cones

Cheery Lynn Designs – Wreath Strip B216

Viva Décor Inka Gold - Gold

 

Maja Design - Deck the Halls

Maja Design - Festive Season

 

endure

I was so drawn to this darling photo on Pinterest.  This vintage teddy bear has definitely persevered; enduring the test of time.  Whoever made this little beauty sure gave it personality.  I just LOVE the undying expression on his precious little face that seems to be beckoning ‘Give me a great big hug and I will love you back’. Awwww.

 

The Dusty Attic November 2015 Mood Board was the complete inspiration for this layout. 
The blues and plum-mauve colors, as well as the words ‘Imperfect’ and ‘Unbroken’ really set the ideal tone.

Looking closely at the photo, there is some cranberry colored flannel on the right pant leg.  I thought it would be so awesome to use flannel in this design.  So, off to the fabric store I went and when I walked in, there it was right in front of me…the almost identical color!  I couldn’t believe my eyes!  And to top it off, it even has a touch of baby blue in it like the Mood Board!  This really put me in gear with total excitement to get started!

 

 

A mixture of gesso and acrylic paint dry brushed on the page gave more focus to the photo area.  This same mixture was brushed on the burlap, the rustic olive green buttons and The DustyAttic chippie letters for the title.  Random edge punching in a plaid design with a plum color underlay, as well as embroidered “Xs” made by using the Sew Easy tool “Cross” really helped to tie in to the vintage country feel of the layout.  I also sponged the page with brown & blue inks to add some distress.  I really wanted this page to be rustic but also pretty at the same time – just like the teddy bear "star" of the page!

Pops of orange were inspired by the Mood Board colors.

Thanks so much for taking a look and hope you have a great day!  Lisa : )  

Products used:

Prima Timeless Memories collection – backside of page named Moments

The Dusty Attic – Mini ABC lowercase (#DA0862), Page Pebbles #9 (#DA1114), Heart Arrows #2 (#DA1026)

EK Success edge punch – Plaid

Wild Orchid Crafts mulberry flowers – Blue/Aqua mix Chrysanthemums (#QVR-006)

Prima Color Bloom spray – Gilded

Recollections – tiny ivory Burlap Bows

Ranger Tim Holtz Distress Ink – Vintage Photo

VersaMagic chalk ink – Night Sky

Lindy’s Stamp Gang Moon Shadow Mist – Buccaneer Bay Blue  (used on the cardboard that the photo is mounted on); Embossing Powder Hydrangea Blue Mauve (title letters)

Marcy's Glorious Cat Nap

My daughter, Brianne, recently captured this adorable photo of her gorgeous sweetie, Marcy, catching a cat nap! Isn’t this photo absolutely priceless?!  

All stretched out….very relaxed….paws together….head on the pillow....WOW!

A few flowers, die cut leaves, stenciling and beaded trim were all that was needed to minimally embellish this already beautifully printed paper!  I used acrylic gold metallic paint on the chipboard letters as well as sparsely sponged onto the layout for an aged look.  LOVE it!

Watercolor paper sprayed with Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starburst Wake me before you go Gold frames the photo and was also die cut into those gorgeous leafy vines.  Adding LSG SB Golden Sleigh Bells (a true “Christmas” gold) to the dark brown ribbon of the bead trim resulted in a beautiful gold shimmer!

Gold Crackle stenciling added a little more “drama” to this page.

Thanks for visiting and have a beautiful day!  Lisa : )   >^..^<

Products used:

Bo Bunny – Autumn Song collection – page named Beautiful
The Dusty Attic – Mini Script ABC set #DA0859
Americana stencil – Royal Tiles
Prima Finnabair artExtravagance Texture paste – Gold Crackle
Spellbinders Shapeabilities – Romantic Vines
Lindy’s Stamp Gang Starburst Wake me before you go Gold & Golden Sleigh Bells; Glitz Spritz Blazing Sun
Prima Flowers – Cloissone Bronze
Hobby Lobby Paper Studio Spare Parts – wine colored organza flower

Piece of my Heart

The psychedelic colors in the Lindy's Stamp Gang Drop Dead Diva set by Limor Webber was a definite must have for me! These colors inspired me to create something in memory of the great Janis Joplin….

My canvas creation has been entered in the Lindy’s Stamp Gang October 2015 Color Challenge!  The Drop Dead Diva Mega Set contains every Starburst spray and embossing powder color in this month's challenge.  I used each and every color in both the sprays and the EPs.

In order, as shown in the LSG graphic, are the beautiful colors used in my creation.

I've provided links to the individual Starburst sprays.

      Bling-y Blond

      Hi Maintenance Magenta

      Drop Dead Gorgeous Green

      Prima Donna Purple

      Sassy Sapphire

The photo I chose of Janis reminded me of her softly singing “Didn’t I make you feel like you were the only man” – a small part of the lyrics to her song Piece of my Heart.   I could picture her hair flowing onto the canvas in psychedelic colors, so that is exactly what I created using modeling paste applied and formed with a palette knife. All of the Starburst sprays were applied with a paint brush and then the entire area was heat embossed with LSG EP Magic Moon Pearls.  This resulted in a beautifully smooth finish!

Punched retro flowers , flower centers and metal peace signs were all colored using the Drop Dead Diva sprays and embossing powders.

 

I made cool mum flowers out of some of the flower centers; and heat embossed a heart stamp in the Hi Maintenance Magenta color.

 

 

Archival Jet Black ink was used to apply the stamps. 
Colored rhinestones in coordinating colors added some bling. 

 

I had so much fun creating this canvas! 
Thanks for stopping in for a quick view. Have a wonderful day!  Lisa : )

Products used:
12 x 12 White Canvas Panel
Lindy’s Stamp Gang - Drop Dead Diva Mega Set;  Magic Moon Pearls embossing powder

EK Success punches – large and medium Retro Flower
Cheery Lynn Designs – Black Eyed Susan Strip (flower center die)
Inkadinkado clear stamps – Organic Fabric Flourishes; Hearts
Kaisercraft clear stamp – Scallop Lace
Michael’s – metal peace sign beads; ‘J’ metal monogram; colored rhinestones
Ranger – Archival Jet Black ink

Garden Beauty

I have another beautiful memory to share.  Magenta gladiolas with soft yellow centers bunched together in a semi-circle forming the prettiest back drop for the prettiest statue in my front garden. This beauty is the Blessed Virgin Mother, Mary. This is one of my very most favorite photos that I took on a beautiful Spring day.

 

Simplicity is always essential when I scrap my garden flowers. I want the focus to be on the photo.

Just a little bit of white crackle texture paste stenciling was applied.  To go with the garden theme, fussy-cut butterflies decorated with handmade antennae and colored Diamond Dust, as well as butterfly washi tape were added.  The intricately detailed doily die cuts really add a feminine touch.

 

 

The layout title is computer printed on the same butter tone cardstock as the doily dies using magenta color for the letters.  I came up with the idea to string the letters with some tiny seed beads. 

 

Thanks for viewing my latest page and have a wonderful day!  Lisa : )

Products used:
Heartfelt Creations paper – Countryside Evening Collection
Prima purple metal die – Doilies One
Prima 6x6 Stencil – Flourish
Prima Finnabair artEXTRAvagance Texture Paste – White Crackle
Wild Orchid Crafts – Medium Green Grass; White Gypsophila on stem; Baby Pink Bead Berry Cluster
Michael’s/Hobby Lobby – washi tape; magenta color flower; yellow berry stems; seed beads
Marvy ½” Round Punch