A Christmas Wish

Hi everyone!

Are you nearly ready for Christmas? I've been shopping and wrapping and making my lists and checking them twice!  I love this time of the year, the beautiful lights, cards and letters from friends, visits with friends and family and a time to remember the Christmas traditions that are so special to us.

I've been a bit slowed down this past couple of weeks as I had some surgery on my finger...of course it's the pointy finger of my right hand! But it's healing nicely and although the bows on my parcels are still a bit tricky to do, I'm pleased with them!

I have this pretty card to share with you but first I would like to share my Christmas wish with you.

This Christmas, I wish you health, happiness and laughter. I wish you friendships and magical moments to share with those you love. I wish you lovely crafting times with lots of inspiration. I wish a wonderful and very Merry Christmas to all!

What I used:

Cardstock:  Bashful Blue and Whisper White

Stamp sets: Serene Snowflakes and Home for Christmas

Ink: Bashful Blue, Close to Cocoa and Soft Suede

Accessories:  Texture Plate, Eyelet Border Punch, SU Snowflake punch, Large snowflake punch (can't remember the name but its a big pink one), Crystal stickles, Rhinestone and silver cording.

Thanks for stopping by!  Merry Christmas....I hope Santa is good to all of you!

Hugs ~ Judy

Have yourself a merry little Christmas!

This is one of my favourite stamp sets, it's called Loads of Love, I think it's been around forever! Don't you just love this little tree?

This was a very easy card to make, I cut the medallion at 2 3/4" x 2 3/4" and centered each side with the scallop border punch to create the cut out edges. I used a smaller square of old olive to mat under the medallion for contrast. 

I stamped the little tree in old olive and used the blender pen to color it in, then cut it out.  I added crystal stickles and a bow to finish it....love it!

What I used:

Cardstock:  Whisper White and Old Olive

Ink: Old Olive and Chocolate Chip (for the tree trunk)

Stamp Sets:  Loads of Love and Christmas Punch (Hostess Level 2)

Accessories:  Snowflake and Swiss Dots Cuttlebug Folders, Wide Oval Punch, Scallop border Punch, Crystal Stickles & White Satin Ribbon

Thanks for stopping by! 

Enjoy ~ Judy

Warm Winter Wishes

I just love this card and the colours! I used Kraft and Soft Suede. Kraft has to be one of my favourite colours to work with...it seems that everything goes with it!

First I stamped the Santa and his reindeer in soft suede and then I ran the stamped image piece through my Big Shot using this Cuttlebug folder. I added Platinum Shimmer paint to highlight the snowy areas. I also dotted the snowflakes with a small paintbrush.

I cut out the half moon with  my 1" punch.  Here's how you do it....punch out your circle, then move your punch over on your cardstock (I always punch upside down!) and when your moon is as fat as you like, punch again and voila!  You have a cute little half moon!

What I used:

Cardstock: Kraft and Soft Suede, Silver Cardstock

Ink: Soft Suede and Platinum Shimmer Paint

Stamp sets:  Wandering Words and the sentiment is from Level 3 hostess set, The More the Merrier
Accessories:  1" Punch and Cuttlebug Folder

Peace, Love and Joy

Hi everyone...here's another Christmas card share for you.  I used Baroque Motifs for the swirl and gold embosed both the swirl and the ornament. I also gold embossed the sentiment.  The ornament was punched out and then added to the card.  Easy and elegant!

What I used:

Cardstock: Handsome Hunter and Whisper White

Ink: Gold Encore

Stamp sets:  Baroque Motifs, Delightful Decorations, All Holidays

Accessories:  Ornament punch, Gold Embossing Powder, White Organza Ribbon, Martha Stewart Fern Punch.

Thanks for stopping by ~ Judy

Digital Scrapbooking??

Well, I really never thought I'd see the day when I was scrapbooking on the computer! I've just been playing with My Digital Studio and I absolutely love it!

Of course I jumped right in and started fiddling around and I haven't even read the instructions or help manual...but I am sooooo excited with this page I created and I can't believe how easy it was!!

Maybe, just maybe I can finally get some scrapping done! I am sure that I can't totally give up my actual papers, stamps, ink and other goodies, but I can still add elements to the pages I print out. I won't add anything to this page because I love it just the way it is.

I love how this program (MDS) comes with so many stamps, papers, embellishments and I can use any fonts that are on my computer (believe me when I say that I have tons of fonts!!)  LOL!

I took this picture from our front porch last winter.  We had so much snow, it was really unbelievable!  We just kept shoveling and shoveling...but it was pretty.  I added the script from the stamp set Winter Post and I resized it to make it fit on my digital 8" x 8" page.

I can see that I'm going to have so much fun with this program over the holidays....I have so many pictures on my computer and now I can scrapbook from my laptop with my feet up and the fire on!  How cozy is that!!

I hope you enjoy this picture of last years snowy view.  I really hope it doesn't snow this year!  LOL!!

Thanks for stopping by ~ Judy

Vintage Dasher

I love how this card turned out...it reminds me of all of my favourite Christmas things!

I distressed the main image pieces and sponged heavily with Close to Cocoa, I love the vintage distressed look!

What I used:

Cardstock: Real Red and Very Vanilla

Stamp sets: En Francais, Dasher, To You and Yours (retired) and Patterned Pines Hotess set (snowflake)

Ink: Close to Cocoa, Soft Suede

Accessories:  Distressing Tool, Slot Punch. Red Satin Ribbon, Large Oval Punch and Scallop Oval Punch and sponging for the edges.

Hope you like it!  Thanks for stopping by....

Judy

Ribbon Tutorial

Here is the ribbon tutorial as promised! 

Before we start the tutorial, this picture shows what the bottom of your box will look like...nice and flat! 

Nothing makes me crazier than a pretty box that wobbles and won't sit properly!

Step 1. Starting with your box facing up, place your ribbon across it, making sure you have a good length that is extra. That would be the cut end we're talking about and if you look close at the picture, I don't cut the ribbon first, I work straight from the roll of ribbon. If you don't have enough, don't worry, start again and you haven't wasted any! Just run the iron over your ribbon and it's good as new.

Step 2. Bring your ribbon right around the bottom and back up to the top of your box

Step 3. Still holding the length that is off the box, twist the ribbons together and take the end thats still attached to the roll and bring it around the sides and back up to the top again.

Step 4. When you come back around the back you will just cross over the first ribbon, making a flat bottom.

Step 5. Bring your ribbon back to the top and loop the cut piece around the uncut piece

Step 6. Tie your bow

Step 7. This is where I play around with the bow, making sure the loops are just the way I want them to be. All you have to do is trim the end of the ribbon and there you have it, a beautiful flat bottomed non wiggly package.

I hope you enjoyed this tutorial!  Have fun making these!

Judy

Christmas Gift Box

This is the perfect little box for the perfect little gift!

I used the Pizza Box template pattern that Jen del Muro shared on Splitcoaststampers.  It uses 1 piece of cardstock measuring 6" x 11". It is so cute and so easy to make and perfect for all kinds of gifties!

For this little box, I used Kraft cardstock and stamped the snowflake with Whisper White beforeI did any assembly.

As soon as I can take some pictures, I will do a little tutorial on how to wrap the ribbon around the box, leaving a flat bottom, so it sits perfectly every time.  I love this ribbon tip and hope you do too!

What I used:

Cardstock: Kraft

Stamp Set: Winter Post

Ink:  Whisper White and Close to Cocoa

Accessories:  Red Satin Ribbon, Gold Thread, Designer Label Punch

Hope you like it ~ thanks for stopping by!

Judy

Icy Snowflakes

Isn't this a dainty, pretty card? And so easy to make! I used the SU wheel called Jolly, I really think this little wheel is overlooked!

I layered it and added a couple of small pearls  and some punched snowflakes....love it!

What I used:

Cardstock:  Bashful Blue and Whisper White

Stamp Set: SU Jolly Wheel, Best Yet (Hostess Retired)

Accessories:  Small pearls, Snowflake punch, Crystal Stickles, Scallop Border Punch

Thanks for stopping by ~ Judy

Another card for today....

Here's another card I meant to share...then I'll have lots of Christmas cards to share with you!

I love the look of this card and love the colours too!  It's a really easy card to do and I think it's so pretty.

How I made it:

Cardstock: Whisper White and Sahara Sand
Stamp Set:  Autumn Days and Pocket Silhouettes
Ink: Sahara Sand
Accessories:  Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder, Scallop Border Punch, Kraft Taffeta Ribbon, Close to Cocoa Marker for dots

Enjoy ~ Judy

 

Scallop Envelope Gift Box

Well, I haven't been on my blog for ages...it's time to do a little catching up!

This is such a pretty little box and so versatile! It could hold chocolate (always a good idea!) or in this sample, it holds 3" x 3" notecards and envelopes.

I die cut 2 scallop envelopes, trimmed the bottom edges and attached them together using sticky strip.  I left one of the flaps up and the other I folded down and tied some Whisper White Tafetta  Ribbon around it. 

The flower is from Simple Friendship, it's sponged and cut out and the leaves are from the Little Leaves Sizzlet die.  I made a little note card by folding a 6" x 3" piece of cardstock.  For the white layer, I placed the edge into the Petals a Plenty Embossing folder to emboss just the edge.  I then used my Stamp a ma Jig (SAMJ..I love this tool!! ) and stamped my sentiment.

What I used:
Cardstock:  Whisper White, Elegant Egglplant and Old Olive
Stamp sets:  Simple Friendship and Sincere Salutations
Ink: Elegant Eggplant and Perfect Plum
Accessories:  Scallop Envelope Die, Little Leaves Sizzlet, Whisper White Taffeta Ribbon, Rhinestone, Petals a Plenty Embossing Folder, Mini Square Envelope


I hope you like this little box....thanks for stoppping by!
Judy

Remembrance Day

Today is Remebrance Day, it's a day for us to honour our soldiers and wear our poppies with great respect and pride.  It's a day that is very important to me and my family.  Each year we watch the planes flying over our house, in perfect formation. The empty space representing the missing soldier and his plane always makes me cry.

I think of the soldiers that went to war so long ago, leaving their families and loved ones, enduring God knows what hardships....for us....to keep us free and safe.  I think of our soldiers now, fighting, caring and enduring....for us... to make the world a better place.

I wish our brave soldiers safety and peace. I am so proud of them.  Each time I hear of another soldier lost, I take a moment to remember, their life and their sacrifice. I think of their families and loved ones who, somehow .... have to cope without them.

I hope we will all  take the time today to remember the soldiers who fought and still fight so bravely for us and our freedoms.  May God protect them and keep them safe.

Remembering with love
Judy

Vintage Postcard

Hi everyone

Here's another Christmas card to share with you. I just love this set and I love the vintage feeling of this little postcard.

I distressed the edges with Stampin'Up's! Distressing Tool, ( I love this little gizmo!!) then I ripped, crumpled just a bit and sponged the layeres to give it a well worn look. This has to be one of my all time favourite techniques!

Here's what I used:

Cardstock: Kraft and Baja Breeze (retired)

Stamp Sets: French Script Background (retired), Winter Post

Ink: Baja Breeze and Close to Cocoa

Accessories: Snowflake punch, Antique Brads, Twine, Icy Stickles

Hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by ~ Judy

Enchanted Forest

Hi everyone!

Well, here we are in November and I promised myself that I wouldn't post anything to do with Christmas until after Halloween.
Here's my first Christmas card share with you, actually it's a card I made last year and I still love it! I hope you do too!!

What I used:

Cardstock:  Kraft and Old Olive

Stamp sets: Lovely as a Tree, Winter Post and Itty Bitty Backgrounds

Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink, Old Olive and Chocolate Chip

Accessories:  Top Note Bigz Die, Old Olive Organza Ribbon, Glue Pen, Dazzling Diamonds, Slot Punch.

It's really hard to see the beautiful shimmer from the Dazzling Diamonds, I added a bit of glue pen here and there and dusted with the Dazzling Diamonds so the background trees look like they are icy. I stamped the snowflakes (Itty Bitty Backgrounds) all over the Kraft card, then I layered the 2 Top Note Dies, trimming the top one.  I stamped the white trees and then the foreground trees in Old Olive, added more snowflakes and then added my reindeer to prance happily in my Enchanted Forest.  I hope you like it!

Thanks for stopping by!

Judy

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

Happy Halloween everyone!

 I took this photo a couple of years ago at one of our local pumpkin patches, don't those pumpkins look great?

I hope you all have lots of chocolate, laughter and fun today! Halloween has always been one of my favourite times of the year! I'm busy carving this years pumpkins, but here's a photo of last years creations. How do you like the little squash with the parsnip nose and olive eyes? LOL!! 

I'm all ready for the kiddies, I love to see all the costumes! Ghosties and Witches, Pirates and Princesses, Dinasaurs and Ballerinas, all  to knock on my door tonight! Hope you have a happy and safe Halloween with lots of chocolate!!

Don't forget to save the pumpkin seeds for roasting...here's my recipe!
Roasted Pumpkin Seeds:

Try to pull off all the yucky stuff and spread the seeds on a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper. Add dollops of butter around and bake in a 325 oven for a few minutes until the butter is all melted. Stir around and sprinkle with salt. Roast for about 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how hot your oven is....just until they turn golden brown. Take out of the oven, sprinkle with a bit more salt and serve when cooled. Delish!!

Here's a bit of Halloween Lore for you!

Did you know long ago the Celts believed that Halloween was a time when the veil between the spirit world and our world was the thinnest? They believed that spirits wandered freely on this night between both worlds looking for their homes. Many believed their dearly departed ones would travel on this night to the Summerland, their resting place. They believed that this, of all nights of the year needed some extra precautions!

Candles were lit along roadsides and in windows to guide the lost spirits on their way and offerings of food were left on door steps and along roadways to provide food for them.

Many were afraid these spirits would possess them and so they carved out pumpkins and turnips with scary faces, lighting a candle in them to scare away the spirits.

Travelling at night wasn’t considered a good idea at all , so if they had to venture out, they would dress in white so they would look like ghosts, or they would wear masks or blacken their faces so they would avoid recognition by the spirits.

They also believed the Fairie Folk or the Wee People were out on this night, catching people by surprise,  playing tricks on them and causing general mayhem in the villages.Townfolk would light bonfires around their homes and through the villages to keep them safe and ward away the ghostly apparitions.

BOO!!  Happy Halloween! 

Thanks for stopping by ... have a Spooktacular time!!

Judy

Envelope Tutorial

Here is my first picture tutorial, I hope you like it!

I really love to make 4" x 4" cards, but what I don't like, is that it's so hard to find a really nice envelope to put them in. I know you can put them into a regular envie... and maybe it's just me...but it really bugs me to have the card sliding around!

So, I took an envelope apart and made my own template which I've tried to make into a PDF to include here....but sigh...my techie skills just won't stretch that far!!

So...now I have to tell you what I'm so excited about with this little 4 1/4" x 4 1/4" envelope. It will fit the scallop card (see previous post) if you turn the card sideways!! Woohoolies!!! Check out the pictures!

Just a sidenote, LOL! I'm really not that colour challenged that I would put together the pattern on the envelope with the colours in the card...it's just so that you can see it better! LOL!!

This is what the envelope looks like and will fit your 4 x 4 card.

See how the scallop card slides in sideways!

You will need to fold your flap about 1/4" higher than the template shows to make it fit your scallop cards.

Here you can see I show with 2 pieces of ribbon: the bottom ribbon is where the fold would be for your regular 4 x 4 card.  The top ribbon points to where the fold should be when you are using your scallop fold cards.

Here's the pattern, if you would like me to email it to you so you can print it on your computer, just send me a note with your email addy. There's a little 'Email me' on the right hand side of my blog!

I hope you enjoy this little tutorial and enjoy making  lots of these sweet little square cards!

Thanks for stopping by!

Judy

Scallop Butterfly Card

This card was very easy and quick to make because I used the Scallop Square Bigz Clear Die and my Big Shot. I placed the fold of the card just below the top edge of the die, so that when I ran it through the Big Shot, it just cut the 3 outside edges.  I CASED it from this beautiful card here.  I just loved her colour choices and the way the background paper is made!

I stamped the swirls and flowers in White craft ink on Night of Navy cardstock. Next I stamped the butterfly with Old Olive on Whisper White,   then cut it out, leaving a tiny white border to make it stand out with just a little bit of contrast.

What I used:
Cardstock: Old Olive, Night of Navy and Whipsper White
Ink: Whisper White Craft Ink, Not quite Navy and Old Olive
Stamp set: Simple Friendship
Accessories: Bigz Clear Scallop Die, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Scallop Circle Punch, Scissors for cutting...easy! 

See the next post for an envelope template to fit this card!
Thanks for stopping by and sharing your time with me!

Judy

Fall Colours!

This stamps set has to be one of my all time faves! It's so versatile, each and every time it turns out beautiful!

To colour the tree I used my blender pen and dipped it right into the ink pad. I started with the lightest colour, Crushed Curry, then blended in Old Olive and Dusty Durango. To smooth out the effect I shaded in with Close to Cocoa Ink. I then overstamped in Creamy Caramel with the Itty Bitty Background stamp.

I love this card!

 

What I used:
Cardstock: Watercolour Paper, Really Rust, Chocolate Chip
Stamp set: Lovely as a Tree, Autumn Days
Ink: Basic Brown, Close to Cocoa, Creamy Caramel, Old Olive, Crushed Curry, Dusty Durango
Accessories: Cuttlebug Embossing folder, Blender Pen

Thanks for stopping by!
Enjoy ~ Judy

Vintage Thank You

Hi everyone!

We're having a cozy, very rainy day here on the southwest coast, it's a good day for stamping or digging around in your card stash!

I found this card I made a couple of years ago and I know that I cased it from somewhere, I just can't remember who it was from...if you know please let me know and I'll provide a link! Oh...my memory!!

 

What I used:
Carstock: Close to Cocoa, Designer Paper for the flowers (Unknown), Mellow Moss (Stems & Leaves)
Stamp Sets: Lovely Labels (retired), Canvas Background (retired)and Itty Bitty Backgrounds and the sentiment is from Happy Everything.
Ink: Close to Cocoa
Accessories: Martha Flower Punches, 1 3/8" Circle Punch, Round Tab Punch, Photo Corner Punch, Brads, Papershapers small circle and leaf punch, Paper Piercer and Mat Pack

I cut the rectangle for the front pocket, then cut a half circle out to make it really look like a pocket! Then I pierced around it and did faux stitching with my Close to Cocoa marker. And my favourite finishing touch...I sponged all the edges of the card and all the punched out pieces with Close to Cocoa.

Hope you like it! Thanks for stopping by!

Judy

Halloween Gift Holders

Halloween Gift Holders....too cute!

These little gift card holders are so cute and so easy to make! Perfect for your favourite older goblins who don't go out to 'Trick or Treat" but would love a treat of Starbucks for their coffee or hot chocolate fix on Halloween! Mmmm...Pumpkin Spice Latte...I think I hear it calling my name! Okay, getting back on track [g] it could even hold a gift card for a scary movie rental...hmmm...lot's of ideas! LOL!

I used SU Designer paper from last year and rounded the top portion of the card holder with my circle Coluzzle...which is also retired, but you can use a saucer or small plastic lid, just trace around until you get the shape you like. You could also cut it square and use a little corner rounder too, for a different look...it's a very adaptable little pattern. See below for the measurements and directions.

The front view in Orange DSP and Pumpkin Pie Cardstock....don't you just love those booglie eyes!

 

The front view in Green DSP and Old Olive Cardstock...this little guy is not so booglie looking, he looks more surprised. LOL!!

 

What the inside looks like:

 

Measurements and how I made it:

Cut cardstock or designer paper at 11" x 4". Score at 3", 6 1/8" and 9 1/4". Place your circle tracer, at the 1 3/4" section, placing the top of your circle on the top edge. See above inside view to see what I mean.

Next on the first 3" section, place your Word Window punch as far up on this section as it will reach (centered) and punch. Move it to the left and right, keeping it lined up and punch again until it fits your gift card.

Run your sticky strip only on the section that you have punched, on each edge side, fold it up and there you go....your little card holder is nearly done! All that is left is the decorating on the front.

I used the Batty for You stamps, punched out the little bat with the 1 1/4" punch and layered it with the 1 3/8" punch and then the scallop circle punch. I added googlie eyes and dotted the scallop with my marker.

To close the gift holder, I used velcro dots (you can see the open orange one, it's black). Here's a little tip: Keep both velcro pieces stuck together and adhere them to the back of the scallop layer, then fold up your gift holder until it's completely closed, press the flap down and you will have perfectly aligned velcro dots.

I hope you'll give these little gift holders a try, I found the pattern on the web, but it was so long ago, I don't know who the orignal creator is for this cute pattern. But many thanks for a wonderful idea! If you change up the papers, this gift card holder would be great for any occassion!

Happy creating and thanks for stopping by!
Judy

Vintage Autumn

Hi everyone!

Here's a card that I made a few years ago when I first started stamping and I love the way it turned out. I pull it out every Fall because it reminds me of the beautiful patterns the leaves make when they've landed all over the grass and the walks.

I brayered the background and sponged bits of colour here and there...sorry... I made it so long ago, I can't remember exactly what the colours were!

I overstamped with Stampin'Up's! Autumn stamp set, which retired long ago. I just love the skeleton leaves in this old set. The Autumn word is from Hero Arts and that's another oldie but goodie. The ribbon is a gold organza that probably came from my ribbon stash!

 

Recipe...what I know for sure:
Stamp set: Stampin'Up! Autumn (retired) HA: Autumn sentiment
Accessory: Gold Organza Ribbon

Close equivalent to what I used:
Cardstock: More Mustard, Old Olive, Whisper White
Ink: Brayering & Sponging: Hmmm...maybe Close to Cocoa, More Mustard, Old Olive and Rose Red, and I remember that I sponged on a bit of Gold craft here and there too. The leaves would be stamped in Basic Brown or Chocolate Chip.

That's it! Hope you like my vintage favourite, thanks so much for stopping by!

Judy

Gingersnap Cookies...delish!

Here's a wonderful and old cookie recipe to share with you. They are perfect for Fall or really anytime! If you make then 1" size they are hard and crispy, if you make them into 2" size, they are softer and chewy. Both ways are equally yummalicious!

I must say they look beautiful on my pretty plate. The china is from the Empress Hotel in Victoria...another one of my favourite things!

 

Gingersnap Cookies

1 cup white sugar
3/4 cup Margarine
1/4 cup Molasses
1 Egg
1/4 Tsp Salt
2 cups Flour
2 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Ginger
1/2 Tsp Cloves

Cream in order given. Roll dough into 1" balls. Roll into white sugar and place on greased or parchment lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 12 to 15 minutes. Cool and enjoy.

Judy

Cranberries and Fall Colours....

Cranberries from the Cranberry Festival...now, what's not to love about these little guys!! They're so pretty, round and red, I love to make my own cranberry sauce (with Grand Marnier...yummm!), to bake with them and I love to put them around tea lights, so festive. I just love looking at them, they make me happy!

 

These are some of the colours we are enjoying this year...aren't they fantastic? This is taken while driving in Stanley Park...breathtaking!


 

I hope your enjoying the changing seasons wherever you live! Thanks for stoppping by for a peek into my world!

Judy