Magical Re-make

Good morning,

Card companies pay designers to create beautiful cards using amazing imagery and colors. It heartbreaking to see these cards tossed in the trash so I like to try and re-use them to create new cards or gift tags. I hope this post inspires you to re-think ways to recycle and reuse those beautiful cards you receive, regardless of season!

I am still going through a box of old Christmas cards I received from the last several Christmas’s. I will apologize in advance; I had planned to take pictures of the card before I start dismantling it but totally spaced so I have no before pictures. I really need to get better at that!

Anyway …

I loved this Christmas card from the moment I saw it. It was so festive and magical looking with the achromatic and foggy background and those pops of foiled red and green!

When trying to decide if I wanted to make into Christmas tags or a card, I remembered a set of stamps I had from Echo Park that would be perfect so a card it became.

Since the card was bigger than an A2 but small that a 5 x 7 I decided to trim up and bit then cut into strips. The sentiment was then stamped onto vellum and laid over the top so you can still see the colors underneath which I think is a perfect complement to that foggy looking backdrop of the trees.

 

Supplies

• Christmas card
• Ink from Tsukineko (VersaClaire Fine)
• Rhinestones from my Stash
• Sentiment stamp from Echo Park (Christmas Sentiments)
• Vellum from Stampin Up!

Thanks for stopping by!
(Hugs) Cara

Sharing Christmas ...

Good morning,

Sharing some fun Christmas cards that I made for two very special people.

Found these fun cards on Pinterest using different sized circles to create some interesting designs. The card I am showing today was Cas(d) from HERE

Supplies for A2 cards

Cardstock: Stampin Up!

Design Paper: Recollections (Christmas), Photo Play (Luke 2)

Dies: Sizzix (Classic Circles) and Sentiment Unknown

Embossing folders: Gina K Designs (Holiday Flora), Stampin Up! (Snowflake Sky)

Stash: Sequins

Thanks for stopping by!

Hugs, Cara

Exploding Pop-up card for the in-laws

Good morning,

I love making special Christmas cards the parents but I think this year I outside myself for the In-laws!

I found a tutorial on YouTube for an Exploding Pop-up card that just had to make …

You should start HERE on her blog or you can find the video HERE

The card itself is not overtly complicated but the folds can be fussy when trying to manipulate but seriously worth the effort when done!

Edith did an amazing job teaching how to make this card and I will definitely be making this card again.

*** Sorry about the photo quality - I just could not seem to get a really good picture of the card before I had to gift it.

OUTSIDE

INSIDE

The outside of the card based on a sketch from Scrapbook + cards found HERE

SUPPLIES: 

• Card Stock: The Paper Studio, Stampin Up! and scrap bin
• Design paper: Stampin Up! (Painted Christmas)
• Dies: Sizzix (Layered Christmas Tree) and Sizzix (Holly 3D cut & emboss)
• Embossing folders: Sizzix (Winter Snowflakes) and Stampin Up! (Subtle)
• Ink: Stampin Up!
• Misc: Nuvo Crystal Drops
• Punch: Stampin Up! (Banner punch)
• Stamps: Close to My Heart, outside sentiment (To you & Yours), Penny Black, inside sentiment (Joy & Merriment) and Stampin Up! Various star images)

THIS CARD WAS ENTERED INTO THE FOLLOWING CHALLENGES

Lil Patch of Crafty Friends - #222-Streamside Studios, Anything goes

Peace on Earth Challenge #56

Holly and Christmas Challenge - # 155 - Anything Christmas Goes

Paper quilts

Good morning,

My son-in-law has a mother that quilts. Beautiful quilts and she blessed me with one a couple years ago that I absolutely love.

I was thinking of what to get her this year when I decided to make her a set of seasonal quilt pieces for her quilting room only, I would make mine out of paper instead of fabric.

The four pictures represent Winter, Spring, Summer and Fall. It was a lot of die cutting and gluing but these turned out amazing and I know she’s going to love them.

WINTER

SPRING

SUMMER

FALL

I methodically wrote down every die I used, the cardstocks and design papers I used and I can’t find it anywhere so I’m betting it got caught up in some tossed scraps when I was cleaning off my work table. Don’t you hate it when that happens??? Anyway, I spent some time going back through everything and I think I got most, if not all of what I used.

Supplies for 10 x 10 pictures

• Frames purchased from Heart Art via Amazon
• Embossing folders: Cuttlebug (Spring set); Gina K Designs (Falling Leaves); Sizzix (Airplane & dotted lines set); Sizzix (Snow & tree set)
• Cardstock: The Paper Studio
• Design Papers are all from Honeybee Stamps: Beach vibes; Great outdoors; Hot tropics; Hugs & kisses; Over the Rainbow
• Dies are all from Gina Marie Designs: #1 quilt; #10, Hexagon center; #11, Arrows & squares; #12, Blocks & lines; #14, Triangle me happy; #18, Patchwork; #19, Compass star; #2 quilt; #3, flower burst; #4, Circles; #5 quilt; #8 quilt; Diamond drop quilt; Leaf quilt; Pumpkin quilt; Spring flower quilt

Thanks for stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

Birthday Circles ...

Good morning,

Sharing a December birthday card make for my Niece.

Found these fun cards on Pinterest using different sized circles to create some interesting designs. The card I am showing today was Cas(d) from HERE. 

Supplies for 5 x 7 card

• Cardstock: The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!
• Design Paper: Stampin Up! (22-24 In Color pack)
• Dies: Sizzix (Classic Circles & Classic Scalloped Circles) and Reasonable Craft Dies (Rectangle Background #1)
• Embossing folder: Stampin Up! (Subtle)
• Ink: Stampin Up!
• Punch: Stampin Up! Banner punch
• Stamps: Unity Stamps (Sentiment)
• Stash: Rhinestones

Thanks for Stopping by!

(Hugs) Cara

This card was entered into the following challenges

Entry 60 - Double D Challenges, Birthdays/Anniversaries

Entry 15 - Pennys Paper Crafty Challenge #562, Anything Goes

December Birthday, one of several!

Good morning,

Being a December birthday baby (elose to Christmas) myself, my mom always kept the two separate and enforced that rule with family as well however, I attended a early December birthday where the child requested a Christmas themed birthday party.

Not going to lie, it felt a bit awkward trying to figure and then make a Christmasy birthday card and honestly it just looks more like winter but it was well received and that’s what is important. 

I purchased the image lasy yea but this is the fist time I've used it.

The layout of the card is based on a sketch from Scrapbook + cards found HERE

Supplies for 5 x 7 card

• Card stock: The Paper Studio (Base) and Stampin Up!
• Design Paper: Stampin Up! (Penguin Playmates)
• Dies: Craft Desert Divas (Fancy Stitched Labels)
• Embossing folder from Close to My Heart
• Inks: Versafine Claire, ProMarkers
• Misc: Deco time (3D deco snow) and Stampin Up! (tiny snowflake sequins)
• Stamp & die: The Rabbit Hole Designs (Merry Mousmas)

Thanks for Stopping By!
Cara

This card has been entered into the following challenges

Entry 23 - Penny's paper-crafty Challenge - Anything goes

Entry 13 - Ellibelles Corner, Wednesday Challenge - Anything goes
Entry 4 - Creative Knockouts Challenge - Celebrations
Entry 10 - Creative Inspirations Challenge - Anything goes
Entry 11 - Allsorts Challenge - Anything goes / Mood board

Love is in the Air ...

Good morning!

Helping out the Festive Friday Challenge at The Outlawz Challenges this month which can be can be found HERE

This challenge requires your card/project to have sentiment on the front and that you follow one of the given themes.

For 2024, the Festive Friday Challenge is going to a no sponsor format but we will have surprise pop-up Sponsors on occasion, so be sure to follow us to catch the special challenges!

We are also retaining the Christmas theme for every challenge as well as adding several other themes you can choose from and which will change with each challenge. 

Here is our current challenge list:

Christmas

Love is in the Air

Fun in the Snow

Something New

And here is my card.

Well, actually, my card set. I generally get busy with end of year / new year stuff and never seem to get my Valentines cards made and mailed in time so I opted for using the Love is in the Air theme and a Sheetload of card layout from Call me Craft Al which uses 6 x 6 papers and mkes 9 cards total.

The adorable bunny image is from a Stampin Up! set I found thrifting. It was brand new, never used which was amazing since the stamp is pre-2014 and is so stinking cute and works for so many things!

Supplies: (A2) 5.50 x 4.25

• Cardstock from The Paper Studio
• Design paper from Honeybee Stamps (Hugs & Kisses)
• Dies from Close to My Heart (Basic Ovals)
• Glossy Accents from Ranger
• Ink from Tsukineko (Versafine Claire)
• Sketch layout: SUYSOct2022
• Stamps from Stampin up! (Blowing Kisses)
• ProMarkers:
• Hearts - Crimson (R445), Poppy (R565) & Rose Pink (M727)  

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to check out the main blog located HERE to see the other challenges!

(Hugs) Cara

This card has been entered into the following challenges

• Dream Valley Challenges
• Pennys Paper-Crafty Challenge Blog
• C.R.A.F.T. Challenge
• Creative Inspiration Challenges
• Krafty Chicks Challenge

Daisy Hello ...

Good morning!

I’ve joined the Wednesday Sketch team at The Outlawz Challenges and a we have a new sketch challenge located HERE.

This challenge is sponsored by SheepSki Designs with a prize of 2 images and will run through February 6, 2024

Look forward to seeing you there!

I love working with sketches especially when I am struggling with a start point. Using a sketch helps me focus and get the creativity moving.

For my card I didn’t use a sponsor image as I was running a but behind with holiday and family stuff.

  

Sketch

Supplies: 5 x 7 card

• Cardstock from The Paper Studio (base) and Close to My Heart
• Design paper from Close to My Heart (Chelsea Gardens)
• Dies from Creative Expressions (Delicate Daisies) & StudioLight (Hello)
• Ink from Stampin Up!
• Rhinestones from Stampin Up!

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to check out the main blog located HERE to see the other challenges!

(Hugs) Cara

CHALLENGES ENTERED

A Perfect Time To Craft Open Challenge for January, #1-2024

Entry 54

Ally's Angels Challenge #77,  Anything Goes

Entry 74

Beautiful Blossoms: Challenges for Days Anything Goes Flowers with Optional Mood Board #12

Entry 50

The Craft Addicts Challenge #9, Anything goes

Entry 2

Dream Valley Challenge # 306 - Anything Goes

Entry 199

Cut it Up Challenge #294 ~ Anything Goes

Entry 33

Progressive Freebie Challenge: January 2024

Good morning!

Happy New Year! I hope the new year brings you and yours much joy and success!

A new Progressive Freebie Challenge has started at The Outlawz Challenges located HERE.

If you are not playing along and wish to join the rules are very simple:

You need to be a member of The Outlawz Challenge Facebook Fan Page and you will need to send us an email to outlawzprogressivechallenge@gmx.com. We’ll send you the image. All you have to do is enter a card/project made with the image supplied before the challenges closes on the last day of the month and you will automatically get the next image. If for any reason you don’t get your project made and you would like to rejoin us, contact us and we will let you know how to jump back in. And as long as you enter before the end of the month you will get the next one free and you will then get them automatically each month you enter a project.

This month we are using an image created by me … I’m trying to get back into playing with my pencils. I hope you like it and enjoy coloring it up! I am also using one of my sketches which can be found in the sketch tab above.

Supplies for 5 x 7 card

• Card candy from Jot
• Cardstock from The Paper Studio and my scrap bin
• Design Paper from my scrap bin
• Dies from Love 2 Craft (Layered Ornaments), My Favorite Things (Cross Stitched Rectangles), Spellbinders (Heirloom Ornaments 2014) & Unbranded (Round Ornament)
• Images By Me (Mr. Squiggles) printed on Hammermill color copy
• Ink from Tsukineko (VersaFine Clair)
• Sentiment from Hampton Arts (Holiday Sentiments)
• Sketches by Me CCBC31
• ProMarkers
• Arms: Warm gray 1, 4 & 7
• Cheeks: Rose Pink (M727)
• Coal: Ice gray 2, 4 & 7
• Highlights on snowman: Pastel Blue (C719), Blender Pen
• Nose: Gold (O555), Orange (R866), Spice (O346)
• Scarf, hat & gloves: Bright green (G267), Forest green (G356), Leaf green (G258)
• Scarf, hat & gloves: Burgundy (R424), Crimson (R445), Lipstick red (R576)

Thanks for stopping by and don’t forget to check out our MAIN blog and join our Facebook Fan Page
(Hugs) Cara

CHALLENGES ENTERED

C.R.A.F.T. Challenge

Challenge #702 Christmas the Last Stretch

Entry 37

Creative Knockouts sponsored challenges

#511-Time To Be Merry-The Paper Shelter

Entry 28

Creative Fingers Challenge

Creative Fingers 🎁 BlogCandy!

Entry 18

Crafting Happiness Challenges

Ch 155, Anything goes

Entry 23

Di's DigiStamps

Any Winter Holiday Challenge

Entry 34