MOJO Monday 217

This week's challenge on MOJO Monday gives a choice between a square or circular card. It's such a perfect design for a Christmas card.

Mine is 4.75 inches square to fit in my 5 inch kraft envelopes. All of the papers and embellishments are Close To My Heart, although the papers are retired now (Emporium and Wings). The image stamp set is Glory to God (D1483) although the sentiment is from a retired set. I love the latest Red Ribbon Collection and Red Assortment of buttons.

Autumn Cards using Verve patterns

I had made these cards for the month of October, but didn't get them posted when I was sick. Verve has a weekly challenge on Splitcoast Stampers each month. It's called Viva La Verve. I made multiples of each card so I could sell some in the two craft fairs I participated in. Here is the Christmas card I made for week 1. I used a Cuttlebug embossing folder turned sideways to make the snowy frame and a Martha Stewart border punch that I inked. The stamp set is from CTMH.

 I love using the autumn colors so here's the resulting combination. I added a little "pink" to the color combo of some of the cards. Here is Week 2. The stamp sets, ink, Sunset dotted paper, Blush pink cardstock,  and ribbon are all CTMH.

Here's the card for week 3. All of the materials are from Close To My Heart. The papers are from the CTMH Roxie packet. The Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge helped me cut out the stamped shape that goes with the sentiment. It's hard to see, but the black and softie cardstock strip is pleated on the right with sparkles on the pleats. There is also a large sparkle inside the ribbon flower.

The next card for the week 4 design has an embossed circle. The sentiment, flower, and corduroy brad inside the flower are from CTMH.

The last card was for October's Week 5. It uses Basic Grey paper. The stamp set, buttons and flower are CTMH. The black fiber is actually crochet thread. I like the stiffer quality because it helps me thread the buttons more easily and shows up really well. The oval and frame are both cut using the Cricut Art Philosophy cartridge. That is my absolute favorite cartridge because of the 700 different shapes.

Mojo Monday 216

Once I got sick in the middle of October, I got really behind in everything. I've had repeated sore throats and bronchial issues that finally seem better. I did keep making cards but I'll have to catch up posting these. This card for Mojo Monday was a going away card for my sweet friend Trish who moved yesterday with five of her kids so they could be with her husband where he was transferred. We made cards and scrapbooked together so my hope and prayer is that she'll find new friends to crop with. I couldn't believe she cropped with us Friday night before flying out Saturday morning. It shows how dedicated she was to scrapbook her family's adventures.

More Than a Card

There are some great You Tube tutorials for papercrafting projects. Tracylovestoscrap has a Triple Tea Bag Holder tutorial that I thought would make great Christmas cards when you need just a little more than a card to give someone to show you care. Here are two samples I made with my CTMH Roxie paper (plaid) and Christmas snowflake paper from last year's Mistletoe collection.

I cut snowflakes, the snowflake border, and the shaped mats on front using the Cricut Art Philosophy. The snowflakes are enhanced by stamping with Bamboo ink and a touch of Glitter Glue.  The cup looked better embossed with black e.p. It's from the set called "A Sip." I wasn't sure how I'd ever use that stamp set until I decided to make these cards.  I found the poem  I used inside Betsy Flot's book, Inspiration Station on page 425. It's a 607 page resource for card makers.

I think this last photo shows how it looks if you use contrasting paper on the pockets and add the tea bags. This puts me in the Christmas spirit and it's only October!

Just Us Girls Sketch- Anniversary Card

I wanted happy, warm colors for this anniversary card so it would reflect the happiness I'm wishing my dear friend Marilyn and her husband. I'm love the silhouette of the couple holding hands because it really does portray the idea of Togetherness expressed in the sentiment. I used the design from Just Us Girls Sketch 104.

To add extra dimension, I pop dotted the bottom of the tulip diamond patterned paper, pleated the velvet corduroy ribbon, and added jute to my large cocoa button.

Together 6.5" x 5" card materials:

Paper - Elemental (sorbet background pattern), retiredVeranda (creme brulee pattern), retired Perfect Day (tulip, sorbet mat, cocoa cs)

Stamp - Bliss (CTMH Summer 2011 Workshops on the Go)

Inks - Creme Brulee, Cocoa

Accessories - Spring Blossom flowers, ribbon- CTMH cocoa collection, buttons - CTMH basic assortment, waxy flax, jute, Cream lace (KaiserCraft)

Freshly Made Sketch cards

Today's cards used both the Freshly Made Sketches design for today and the palette from Color Throwdown challenge 162.

 I used the CTMH equivalents of the colors, which are Breeze (retired), Buttercup, Brown Bag, and Cocoa.

I used this design to create a card for two new parents and their 3 month old baby boy who are my "Baby Grace" buddies. I plan to call, encourage, and pray for them along with sending them cards of encouragement.

I thought this design would also be perfect to highlight the dry embossed design on the "Bird Call" Cuttlebug embossing folder. I lightly sponged the raised portion with Brown Bag ink to highlight the image, but it does give it a shabbier appearance when inked. I needed this to be a "male" thank you card for my friend's husband who baked a birthday cake for me and Trish to share yesterday. He often bakes amazing desserts so the sentiment fits perfectly: "Once again, like so many times before, your generosity astounds."

Baby Love 5.5" x 4.25" card supplies:
Paper - Cocoa, Buttercup, Brown Bag, White Daisy CS, Breeze Paisley B&T (retired)
Stamp - B1368 Baby Love
Ink - Cocoa
Accessories - Cream Soda floss (WeR Memory Keepers), felt button (Making Memories), Heart Blocks embossing folder (Provo Craft Cuttlebug)

Bird Call 5.5" x 4.25" Thank you card materials:
Paper - Cocoa, Breeze, Buttercup, Brown Bag, White Daisy CS
Stamp - D1444 A Little Thanks
Ink - Brown Bag, Cocoa
Accessories - Cocoa grosgrain ribbon, Bird Call embossing folder (Provo Craft Cuttlebug)

Mojo Monday Birthday Card

I have a sweet friend who has a birthday this week. This card is for Trish. I loved the sentiment which said, What a wonderful world . . because you are in it." She's very active in the lives of all six of her children and scrapbooks really fast to preserve their memories. She blesses those around her with her sweet thoughtfulness. And we, her friends, are amazed at how calm she is in the midst of pressures.

This Mojo Monday design by Julie Tilman went perfectly with the Dreamin' papers from Close To My Heart. The Goldrush cardstock was embossed with a Cuttlebug folder.  I lightly sponged the raised design with Brown Bag ink. The blue scallop is one of the "zip strips" that now border the CTMH patterned papers. I used a one eighth hole punch and mini-brads to bring out some of the design on the strip.  Happy Birthday, Trish!

Wonderful World 5" x 6.5" card

Paper - Dreamin' pack, Cocoa and Goldrush CS

Inks - Cocoa and Brown Bag

Stamps - C1463 Harvest Happiness (leaf), D1153 Because of You (sentiment) CTMH

Accessories - Antiques Copper mini-brads from the Metal Assortment(CTMH), Cuttlebug EF "Japanese Scales," Spellbinder's Nestabilities "Labels Nine," Hug Snug seam binding