Merry Christmas and Good Health

Guess what!!!  The flu shot doesn't cover all the flu viruses this year.  Our family has been sick since Thanksgiving night.  I rarely get sick...think I built up immunities teaching in a high school setting for 33 years.  Even though I still sub some, I guess it wasn't enough to keep my immunities in tact.  My DH and I dragged our bodies to the doctor this past Tuesday.  He confirmed that the flu had hit and the vaccine didn't cover all the influenza out there this year.  Oh well, at least we were all sick together, but it was "each man for himself"....haha  Therefore, I confirm this is the longest I've ever worked on a card...I call it finished but only after I felt like I was free of germs to continue with it knowing I would be sending it to one of YOU...haha  Trust me...it's germ free!

I married two Doodle Pantry images, made my own cut file similar to the Cottage Cutz window die, made a window for the inside of the card to look more attractive, and finished it with flower, branch and holly punches, along with gold microbeads for flower center and some stitching.

A2 vertical, pop-ups for dimension, cut window for added dimension

Nativity Scene

I love doing side step cards.  I think they are easy, but makes it look like you spent "forever" on it.  I got this nativity scene svg last year from Cheryl at Cafexpressions, but I never had a chance to play with it.  This year, this easy, pretty card will be one of my two Christmas cards I'll be sending to family and friends.  Splitcoasters Stamps is where I followed a video tutorial for my step-card.  The only thing different I did was to made sure I had 3.5 inches on the step part rather than what the lady said.  Cheryl has the step card svg to go with her scene.  I think there is a pdf file to tell you where to cut and crease.

I made a gold shadow for each layer. I added an angel with trumpet instead of a star. I embossed with a Stampin' Up folder.  I will add a sentiment at the bottom before I send the card.

A2, side-step card...will add sentiment at bottom before mailing

Side-view....I used pop-ups behind each layer, including angel

Christmas house shaped card

I CASED KittyKraft Christmas card.  I made a solid template and an outer frame for the door using Silhouette Studio.  The window/door and fence die sets are from Impression Obsession. I used 2 different MS border punches for curtains and eave of roof.  All other elements are from punches too. I sewed, added pop-ups for window, fence and roof dimensions, 2 ribbon bows and it's finished for me...haha

A2 size, straight crimper for roof

side view

Peace on Earth

It could also be a silent night. After the snow has fallen, do you notice how quiet, almost silent, the air is around you?   It's a wonderful, blissful feeling that comes over me each time.  Of course, the next day comes the children screaming and playing and the sound of snow shovels and snow blowers.  But for those first few hours after the snow has fallen, well, it's a wonderful quietness.

My brother and SIL live in Little Compton, RI...little beach community with woods and deer.  You can sit quietly, look out their window and see the deer.  A beautiful winter scene.

I made the window and the dimensional tree in Silhouette Studio.  I do not plan to change the tree into an svg, but it you have any type of Silhouette machine, just email me (don't ask in the comment box below because it does NOT give me your email) and I will be happy to send.

A2 size, wavvy crimper, stickles, pop-ups for dimension, Memory Box deer

side view to help see dimension

Inside of card

My Mixer is SMOKIN' !

For Christmas, we get together with our friends from Charleston and try to exchange "homemade" gifts.  Doesn't always happen, but we try..haha !

This year my friend Harry asked for some "flames" to put on his Kitchen Aid mixer.  I have the exact same mixer so I used mine as the prototype.  I will change the writing for his mixer to "Stirring Things Up" or "Always Stirring Things Up" because he does get me "stirred up"...on purpose...haha  I will use black vinyl...little more "manly".

I used a flame file from Silhouette.  I adjusted to compensate for the 1.5" circle the flames had to go around.   Working around curves in two different directions was a little tricky, but I am happy with the final project.

Wishing you a Happy Thanksgiving

One of my favorite Fall/Thanksgiving images from Bugaboo Stamps is AKV Fall Wheelbarrow Kids.  It's a CAS card, but to jazz it up, I made it an easel card. Some ribbon, Spellbinder scallop die, acrylic button, copics and I'm happy with the look.  All my inspiration came from Deloris at Stampin at the Lake. (Going "out on a limb" here with the theme for Catch the Bug..the birdie has tail feathers...haha)

Will fit in an A2 envelop

Photos of easel cards is hard for me...haha

Challenges:

Sentimental Sunday: dimension and sentiment
Catch the Bug:  Things with tails

Happy Thanksgiving

Isn't this the most fun cutting file for Thanksgiving!  This was a free cutting file from Barking Dogs blog.  I added (my version) of a sunflower to the top along with some leaves from Impression Obsession.   I also added some olive green paper to the inside for added interest.  I adjusted the file just a tad so I can mail in a legal size envelop.

Here are some pics at different angles:

Fits into a legal size envelop

added olive green paper insert

distressed edges of flower and used liquid pearls for center

Caroling with Friends

Doodle Pantry has some of the most adorable images...b/w and pre-colored, along with sentiments.  This one is called Caroling Friends.  I'm entering the card in the monthly Doodle Pantry Blog challenge and Joan's Garden's challenge.

I love the new Spellbinder D-Lites dies.  I made my own svg version using my Silhouette Studio software.  I removed the bar in center and added extra panels.  You will see some different versions of this die and card over the next few days with one being the Spellbinder window 2 die.

I also tore paper, used Stickles and pop-ups for a snow look with dimension.  I used a red copic on the music staff, and colored dots of liquid pearls for the holly berries.  Lastly, Cheery Lynn Holly Flourish die.

Also added stitching, acrylic circle, ribbon and embossing