Christmas is Coming - Let the preparations begin

Hey Everyone!  I am excited to be back with some new cards.  

I have been MIA and I'm sorry.  Life gets away from us sometimes and unfortunately things get pushed to the back burner.  2019 has not been a kind year to me, and theres been may ups and some very low moments too.  In June we lost my only remaining grandparent whom I was very close with, and while I'm sure people think I should be over it by now I most certainly am not.  In the past my cards has always been therapeutic and time by myself with my creative thoughts has never ever lead me wrong, so I thought I would try this again.  While it doesn't erase the pain that I feel it does allow mean to feel productive and allow the creative juices to flow again, and I know that my grandma would be very happy knowing that I am getting back to doing what I love. 

With that said I made this set of 10 cards (2 of each design).  I tend to sell a lot of my cards, so thought theres no time like the present to start my inventory/stock of cards.  I had already stamped and cut out the boarders, so it made it very easy to finish off these cards with some remaining scraps of paper which I had laying around.  The pattern papers are from one of my most favourite 6x6 packs, so you will see me use them a lot over the next couple posts as I wanted to use every last piece that I had.

I am trying out this photo box which is supposed to help take really good pictures, however I am not sure I am loving it.  These pictures don't show the sparkle that I have added to each of the images, but I'm going to try to give this photo box a chance, but its going to take some playing with I think to be able to show the cards like I would like to.

With that being said here are the cards that I made for this set.  Again I have 2 cards of each design.

I would love to know what you think of these cards!  Please leave me some comments and love below! 

I can provide supplies upon request, and will post supply lists over the next couple days.

Happy Long Weekend to those Celebrating Thanksgiving in Canada (like me).  Hold your loved ones close, and build lasting memories because life is precious and such a gift.

December 2017 ATC

Goodmorning Everyone!  

I am back again, and I am loving spending every morning with you!  Thinking I will make a habit of this!

For those of you who are crafters, you know that most of us are starting to think about getting started (if we haven't already) making our Christmas Cards and Tags.  I haven't quite gotten there, however as we begin to move that way I thought it would be the perfect time to share with you my December ATC from last Christmas because I am behind.  I am thrilled how this turned out.  

Most of the time I usually have an image or a die that I really want to use, and then I build the card or ATC around it, however this time I did it different and had the paper that I wanted to use.  The papers for these ATCs are scraps that I had from a past project and I really wanted to use them.  Once I had created the backgrounds the I played with my cricut machine (which I don't do often enough), and am loving this cute little guy that I cut out.

Here's the front of the view of the ATC...

Here's the side view of the ATC...

Supplies Used

Paper Trimmer - used to cut out the base of the ATC and various pieces of the pattern papers

Exacto Knife - used to help lift the pieces of the dog off the Cricut cutting sheet

EK Success Tweezers - used to help tie the bakers twine, and position the hat

Tim Holtz Scissors - used to cut the bakers twine and the edges of the sentiment strip and the dark green paper

Heat Gun - used to dry the Liquid Appliqué for the fluff on the hat

Double Sided Tape - used to attach various pieces to the front of the ATC

Mono Multi Glue - used to adhere the layers of the dog together, and the dark green strip of paper.

Foam Adhesive - used to pop the dog up and to pop up the little hat

Versafine Onyx Black Ink - used to stamp the sentiment in

Recollections Christmas 239805 Stamp Set - Happy Holidays Sentiment used for the front of this ATC. (cannot locate a link for this set, however it was purchased at Michael's Canada)

Cricut Machine - linked to a new version of the machine, even though my version is quite old at this point.

Create-a-Critter Cartridge - used to cut out the little dog for the front of this ATC

Create-a-Friend Cartridge - used to cut out the little elf/santa hat for the pup to wear

Cuttle Bug Machine - used to cut out the circle with a wafer die

MFT Stax Pierced Circle Dies - used to cut out the pattern paper behind the pup (linked to the stitched ones as it appears the pierced ones aren't available anymore)

 Bakers Twine - used to put a collar on the little pup

Liquid Applique - used to put fluff on the pups hat

White Cardstock - used for the base of the ATC

Black Cardstock - used for 

Beige Cardstock - used for the pup 

Recollections - Sugar Plum paper package - used for the pattern paper behind the sentiment, and the pattern paper used for the circle (purchased at Michaels Canada several years ago - no link available).

Thank you for stopping by.  Please leave me some love below, and I will be back shortly tomorrow to share something else with you!

November 2017 ATC

Hello Ya'll!

Here we are on Day 3!  I am so excited to be on here posting more frequently, and I will continue to do so, and eventually it's going to become habit.  I am not sure how many people actually follow my posts but it doesn't seem to matter at all.  If you are here, then please leave me some love below in the comment section, and let me know what you are hoping for more of!

Today I am sharing with you a November ATC that I had made last year for the group that I am in.  If you aren't sure what ATCs are I explained them in one of my latest posts.

I purchased this stamp because it LOVED the look of it, and the way that it could be used for things beyond Remembrance Day (here in Canada)!  I didn't do very much in way of a background because I felt as though the stamp should be the main focus, and that it was enough all on its own!  It must also have been made on a day that I was feeling like colouring, and playing, and I couldn't be happier with the results.

Here's a view of the front of the ATC...

Here's a view of the side of the ATC...this should show you some dimension...

Supplies Used

Paper Trimmer - used to cut out the ATC base

Tim Holtz Scissors - used to cut out the sentiment and the sentiment mat

Acrylic Block - used to attach the stamp to assist with stamping the image

Watercolour Brush - used to help blend out the colours of the Zig Clean Colour Real Brush

Exacto Knife - used to help add the gems to the ATC

Double Sided Tape - used to attach the sentiment

Versafine Onyx Black Ink - used to stamp the image with

Zig Clean Colour Real Brush - used to colour the image with

Technique Tuesday Budding Poppies - stamp used as the main focal point on the ATC

Label Maker - used for the sentiment

Black Gems - used to help embellish the front of the ATC

White Cardstock - used for the ATC base.

Red Cardstock - scraps used for the background on the label sentiments (not an exact product link as I used scraps, but linked to something similar)

Bridesmaid Wedding Request

Hey Everyone!  I hope that everyone's week is off to a good start! I thought that the weekends were for recovering and relaxing, but somehow mine aren't at all like that. 

This past weekend I went to a friends house, and enjoyed some card making time with her.  It's been close to 3 years since we've had a chance to do this, and hopefully this is just the start of card making together again.  I spent a lot of time colouring, so am very excited to start assembling the cards!

Anyways, I am back to share something new with you!  When I say something new I don't just mean a new card that I created, but I mean this was NEW for me.  I have NEVER created a card like this in all my years of card making, and I was honoured to have been asked to create this for a friend to help her ask people to be in her wedding.  

She her only request for this card was that the sentiment be the one that she sent me and that the colours be yellow and black (Hufflepuff colours).  Skies the limit right?  

This in itself I found fairly challenging, so I took to my Photoshop program, and started playing around and I came up with this really cute image.  I decided that I was happy with it, but that was only half the battle.  The other challenge was to make sure she like it, which thankfully she was in LOVE with what I had created.

This is a one of a kind card.  I did not create a second one of this, just the one that she's given to her Bridesmaid!

Here's the front view of the card that I created for her bridesmaid...

Here's the side view of the card that I created for her bridesmaid...

Supplies Used

Paper Trimmer - used to cut out the card base

Prisma Colour Pencil Crayons - used to colour the image

Blending Stumps - used with the blending solution to smooth out the pencil crayons

Gamsol Blending Solution - used with the paper blending stumps to help break down the waxy pigment of the pencil crayon, and smooth out the colours.

Lyra Blending Pen - help to smooth out the pencil crayons and remove the steaks that pencil crayon colouring leave behind. (cannot find the exact product, so linked to something similar)

Tim Holtz Scissors - used to fussy cut out the image before applying it to the card front

Double Sided Tape - used to attache the front and back of the card to each other.

Foam Adhesive - used to pop up the main wreath image

Icicle Stickles - used to add some shimmer to the main image and help add some dimension to the image.

Doodlebug Sprinkles (white lily, bumblebee, and limeade) - used to help embellish the card front. 

Scraps - Orange Paper used for the card base (this is a scrap piece of paper, so I don't have a link for this resource unfortunately, however you could use pretty much any heavy weight cardstock for the card front/base.)

September 2017 ATC

Hi Ya'll!  I know that I have been away for a very long time, however it's been a very interesting couple months.  I won't bore you with the finer details, however in the last couple months we've welcomed a new baby into the family...not mine, but I've got a brand new nephew!  Labour and delivery was a challenge for my sister, so we have been picking up the pieces and spending more time with my 28 month old niece to do our best to help out.  During my time away from my blog we've done some traveling (most recently to Nashville).  I've been doing some massive physio for my vertigo, and it seems like it's FINALLY under control, so I will be able to sit and blog again without feeling like I'm on a boat!  

I cannot tell you how excited I am to be back with you!

For those of you who are new to my blog usually I don't take the time to go through the process step by step, as often it happens over several sittings.  I don't mind answering any questions with regards to the process privately if you wish to talk about it.  Also below I do my absolute best to link to as many products as possible.  If the products are no longer available, then I will note this, and will link to a substitution if I know of one.  Some of the products that I use are scraps (which is often the case with ATCs like this one, so I may not know the exact product, but I will do my best to link to something similar.)

I am behind posting so much, but I thought that I would start with posting some of my 2017 ATCs that I haven't shared with you yet.  For those of you who don't know what ATCs are there are not honestly very many rules to creating them.  The only concrete rule is that they are 3.5 inches by 2.5 inches.  Everything else is up to you!  When I create mine I tend to really pull my inspiration from either the time of year or the holiday and season that is upon us.  Generally I make one a month, and I am in a group where we trade with one another.  Basically once you receive one in the mail from someone, you are responsible for returning mail to them with a new ATC.  

Because I live in Canada usually September is back to school for all the little ones, so I thought that I would create my ATC with this in mind.  I had a pattern paper that I was really wanting to use, so this provided the PERFECT opportunity to do this.  I should also mention that usually I create 10 of the same ATC, however sometimes the colour combinations of scrap papers differ between them, and I usually intend to use up scraps, and this is an amazing chance to do so.

Here is the front view of my September ATC...

Here is the side view of my September ATC...

Supplies Used

Paper Trimmer - used to cut out the card base and the pattern paper background.

Acrylic Block - used to attach the polymer stamps to.

EK Success Tweezers - used to help position the stars and the little extra school supplies to.

Anti-Static Powder Tool - used to ensure that the embossing powder only sticks too where the embossing ink was stamped.

Tim Holtz Scissors - used to fussy cut out the school supplies, as well as the chalkboard.

Paint Brush - used to splatter the white acrylic paint onto the black cardstock.

Double Sided Tape - used to attach the pattern paper, and the chalkboard to the base of the ATC

Foam Adhesive - used to pop up 2 of the stars and the apple.

Mono-Multi Glue - used to attach the chalk, brush and stars to the base of the ATC.

Watercolour Pencil Crayons - used to colour the images with
Waterbrush - used to blend out the watercolour pencil crayons

Versamark Embossing Ink - used to stamp the sentiment in

MFT Ink - used to stamp the school supplies with

White Acrylic Paint - used to splatter on the chalk board, to make it look a little bit dirty/used.

White Embossing Powder - used to really bring emphasis to the sentiment. 

Lawn Fawn "a good apple" - stamp set used to stamp the school supplies, and the chalk board.
Impression Obsession "Dream what you want" - used to stamp the main sentiment on the ATC

Cuttlebug Machine - used to cut out the stars with the the star dies

MFT Stacking Stars - Due cut set used to cut out the stars. (struggling to find a Canadian or US source)

White Cardstock - used to stamp for the ATC base and used to stamp the chalk onto.

Watercolour Cardstock - used to stamp the apple, brush and chalkboard onto prior to colouring them.

All Seasons 2 Paper Package - used for the background pattern paper. (purchased at Hobby Lobby - All Seasons 4 is currently available)

Various Cardstock Scraps - black, yellow, red, orange, blue, green and purple. (from my scraps, so you can use anything to cut out these stars.)

He or She? What will the baby be?

Hey Everyone!  This is a very special post for me.  One of my really good friends is having a baby!  I was so excited to be asked to put together a couple of things for her reveal party.

I think she would agree with me...some of the coolest things are the little hand made touches that add to special moments like this.  

I made 3 different things, however I will only feature 2 in this post as I totally forgot to take pictures of the 3rd thing.  

She had bowls with M & Ms and she had asked me to put together a couple little onesies to tell people what kind of M & Ms they were.  The wording was quite clever too...YAY Pinterest win for the idea, but I executed this one all by myself!

The second thing that she had wanted was that she wanted something that her guests could guess the gender, birth date and weight of the baby.  I thought that It would be cute to stick with the same onesie theme and the same pattern papers, and these came about because of this...

Guesses for a Baby Boy...Front and Back

Guesses for a Baby Girl... Front and Back

All Guessing Cards...(20 total - 10 of each)

Supplies Used

Paper Trimmer - used to cut the paper down to size

EK Success Tweezers - used to attach the rhine stones, and to help tie the bow-tie

Tim Holtz Scissors - used to cut down the ribbon used for the bow-tie

Glue Dots - used to attach the bow-tie to the front of the onesie

Mono Multi Glue - used to attach the printed onesie with the words to a plain white onesie, and then attached to a pattern paper onesie.

Cuttle Bug Machine - used with the dies to cut out the adorable baby outfit shapes

Blue Offray Ribbon - little scrap piece used for the bow-tie

Silver Gems - gems used for the embellishment on the front of the girls onesie

Black Letters - used for the letters on the front which say "nuts?/no nuts?" (this is not an identical product, but I linked to something similar as I couldn't find the exact product)

MFT Baby Onesie Die  - used to cut out the 

White Card Stock - paper that the guesses were printed on, as well as the in between pieces used to help make the onesies thicker

Pattern Papers - the white and pink and the blue and white card stock (pattern papers) were in my drawer of assorted random paper (so I don't know where this paper came from - there are lots of other  papers that you could use if you were looking to recreate this)

The words were printed on the computer, and I configured them in a word document.  Then I cut them out with the die cut and the cuttle bug, and attached them with the pattern paper on the back.

LOVE How these turned out!  Would love to know your thoughts?  Leave some comment love before and check back very soon for some more unique and new designs!

August ATC 2017

Hi Everyone!  I know that this post is a little late, but I'm working on getting back on track. 

Life has been crazy, but I am soooooo excited to be back at this!

I designed this ATC back last August for the group that I trade these with.  I wanted to do something bright, but very simple and clean/classic.  I used very minimal supplies which was fun, and worked on using up some scraps of string that I had laying around.

Here is the front of my ATC...

Supplies Used

Paper Trimmer - used to trim down the Kraft Cardstock for the background of the ATC

Tim Holtz Scissors - used to cut the ends of the bakers twine/bow

EK Success Tweezers - used to help tie the bow on the card front, and keep the string tight

Water Brush - used to pick up the ink and place it on the image/sentiment where I wanted it.

Acrylic Block - used to attach the stamp to in order to help stamp the sentiment/image

Clear Embossing Ink  - the ink that the image was stamped in

Anti Static Powder Tool - used to coat the paper before stamping to ensure that the embossing powder only sticks to the ink

White Embossing Powder - power put onto the wet ink, and then melted

Heat Gun - used to melt the embossing powder

Tim Holtz Distress Ink - smooshed ink onto a craft matt and then used the water brush to paint the ink onto the image/sentiment

MFT Celebrate Life Stamp Set - used for the main image/sentiment on this ATC

White Gel Pen - used to add some handmade touches of white onto the image/sentiment

Silver Twine - used to add the bow and ribbon down the left side.

Kraft Paper - used for the background/base of the ATC