Blog Candy Winner

Hope everyone had a great weekend. I had a big order come over through my Etsy shop, so I was making and packing Christmas cards all weekend. Thanks to everyone who participated in my drawing. I had hoped to get more entries, but this makes it that much better for the 7 that did participate. And now, without further ado...the random pick was number 7 - Robyn L. Congratulations to Robyn - please email me with your contact information. Your December calender and set of 4 Christmas Cards will be mailed out by Wednesday!  Thanks again for playing.

Clean and Simple Cards

As a card designer, it is always instinct to add and embellish my card with lots of bling. But sometimes you just need to step back and adopt the mantra "Keep it simple!" There are many card challenges out there that have this theme. You may see it abbreviated as CAS for Clean And Simple. I do not participate in many of them as I usually do not keep it simple. Many of these cards tend to have more "white space," but that is not necessarily a requirement. The idea is typically to focus on the message rather than the embellishments. I have also seen cards with added texture to the background. This can be done with embossing or cards that are minimally embellished. The CAS style works really well when you need to replicate a card numerous times, such as Christmas Cards. Hopefully I have accomplished the CAS style with my Snowman.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

• Ends Nov 11 - Try Stampin on Tuesday #143 Sketch
• Ends Nov 11 - Fan-Tastic Tuesday #8 Anything Goes with Fibers
• Ends Nov 11 - TTCD - Anything Goes
• Ends Nov 10 - MIM Anything Goes
• Ends Nov 30 - November Christmas all year round
• Ends Nov 30 - CHNC Challenge extra for November

A birthday month for my Moms

It's Sunday afternoon and I have been doing laundry and packing. I am getting ready to hit the road for the next three weeks, coming home only on the weekends. As a consultant, my job requires me to visit clients, so it is part of the job. But when I am on the road, the rest of my world seems to stop. I don't get to make cards, I do not write in my blog as often as I would like to, and I don't participate in card challenges. It makes me a little sad, but a girl has to make a living. I often tell my husband that I wish card making was my job, but if it was, perhaps I would not enjoy it as much as I do. I thought I would enter one last card challenge, before I hit the road tomorrow. My Mother and Mother in Law both have birthday's this month. So in honor of them, I will submit this Tri Fold Mother card into the following challenges:

• CD Sunday Challenge Blog - Butterflies
• Challenges for Everybody - Anything Goes
• Scribble and Scrap - Always Anything Goes
• 2 Sisters - Anything Goes

FREE Simple Printables for Holiday Cards

I have been making cards for a while now, and I love getting new ideas. I have signed up for many on line sites through the years and get several email daily. I want to  make sure I do not miss out on the latest release, or sale that may have just started. One of the emails
 I get monthly is from Paper Crafts Magazine. They provide free printables each month that can be used for card making.
 These are great as they enable me to add different sentiments to my card without having to go out and buy a new stamp. These printables come in jpeg as well as pdf. So I thought I would share the link with you, if you are not aware of it. After all, we ALL love freebies! Have fun!

Christmas Cheer

In Card making...and Life...Practice Make Perfect

Thinking of you warms my heart

I wish I had made a copy of my very first Handmade card. I was so proud. It was so simple, but I had made it. Back then, I did not realize how many products and techniques were out in the card making world. All waiting for me to give them a try. I think as I have progressed, I have become bolder, more confident in my card making skills. I am not afraid to try new things. Take Digi stamps. Yes, I have seen what beautiful work other card makers do. I thought this was something I would not get into. I felt I did not have the skill or the tools (Copic Markers) to try this coloring technique. But when I joined the Design Team for Suzy Bee's Bloomin' Challenges, guess what, some of the challenges use Digi Stamps. I knew if I just had some time to practice, I could make my cards look...well acceptable. So that is what I did. Now, I could not very well go out and buy a full set of Copic Markers. Well, I guess I could, but then I would have to explain why we were having Campbell's soup for dinner for the next couple of weeks. But I did have colored pencils. You Tube has some great videos on how to get a Copic marker look with colored pencils.

The pencil set I have is nothing fancy. I got them at Michaels. It is a 48 piece set by Artist's Loft. Upon doing my research on line, I found that by using Gamsol, which is an odorless Mineral Spirit, you can blend your colors. The liquid results in an almost watercolor-like look. It essentially melts the pencil lines and erased the grainy appearance you typically get with colored pencils. Now this technique is made for colored pencils, not water pencils. So make sure you check what type of pencils you have. You will also need assorted blending stumps and a cleaning tool. These are used to blend your colors and clean your blending tool.They can be found at any crafts or Art store.

Basically, you color your image with colored pencils, outlining your image with the darker color and shading with the lighter color. Then you take your blending tool, dip it into the gamsol and with light pressure use circular motions to pull the darker colors towards the center of the image. This will give you a shaded appearance. I was very happy with this card. I have been practicing for a few weeks now and get more confident as I go along. As I said, practice make perfect...or at least better.

Have fun!

I have entered this card into the following challenges:

• Fat-Tastic Tuesday - Bling
• Creative Craft Challenge - Anything Goes
• Through the Craftroom Dore - Anything Goes
• Pin Inspiration Challenge - #78
• Tuesday Throw down - Awareness
• Link up for Pink 

Card Making Tools & Toys

The blog theme this week is nails When carpenters build houses, they use hammer and nails. They have a tool box with all their tools to build what they want to build. Well, with card makers, it is no different. While we don't use a hammer or nails, we do have our own tool box, or what I like to call my toy box.

Toy Box

When I started scrap booking, 16 years ago, my very first tool, next to my paper cutter, was my corner rounder. To this day, it is probably one of the tools I use the most. Many of the items I used back then were stickers and some die cuts. Once I got into card making I really started to build my toy box. I started to watch more You Tube video, read more blogs and participate in card challenges. It opened my eyes to all the toys out there for card makers. I would think to myself, boy if I only had that die cut, I could make that card. But if you are a card maker, you know how expensive this hobby can get. I have had to wait for sales, find things at garage sales and yes, even buy on Ebay. I have always loved vintage grunge and tend to go towards the "Tim Holtz" style of card making. I also like the product that Graphic 45 puts out. It is a Vintage/Grunge style as well. I am just now starting to build my collection of his products, enabling me to learn more of his techniques. But I also like the "frilly style". This leans more towards what Becca does on her blog Amazing Grace. Well,I wanted to share with you a couple of my latest toys.

Toys

I purchased an envelope maker. More recently I have been making non traditional sized cards. It is sometimes difficult to find envelopes, so I decided to buy this gadget. Now I know there are several videos on line that show you how to make envelopes without a gadget, but this is so easy, I just had to have it. I have included a video to show you how cool this envelope punch board is. I also purchased this Majestic Elements Nestabilities Die Cut from Spellbinder as well. I had a 40% coupon from Cut at home that I used. If you sign up for their mailing list, you will get a VIP 40% coupon every month to use towards Spellbinders or Quickutz or a 30% coupon to use towards Sizzix or Tim Holtz Sizzix. I included their link in case you want to check it out. I was able to create this Happy Holidays card using my Majestic Elements die cut. I added some holly, gems, pearls and ribbon and this was the result. So easy, yet so elegant by just using this die cut.  It is amazing what you can do with new toys.

 I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Happy Holidays

• 613 Avenue Create - Anything Goes
• Challenges for Everybody - #30 Anything Goes
• Make it Monday - Anything Goes
• Christmas Cards all year Round - Getting Ready for Christmas

World Card Making Day

World Card Making Day is a holiday for card makers around the world to celebrate the creativity of handmade cards and for some, to  kick off the holiday card making season. It is the first Saturday in October each year where card makers gather and share ideas and creativity. I did not make one card today. It was one of those days where life got in the way. If you were not able to participate in the fun today, like me, there still is time. Paper Crafts is hosting a card making contest where 15 winners will be chosen. The deadline to submit your cards is October 15th. so there still is time to win these fabulous prizes. 
You can find more information below:

Official World Card Making Day Site: worldcardmakingday.com/index.html

Paper Crafts magazine blog:                papercraftsconnection.cm/

Moxie Fab World blog:                      moxiefabworld.com/

And so I don't feel like I have been left out completely from all the fun, I decided to enter my card I made yesterday into a couple of challenges:

• Allsorts - Week 227 Autumn Colors
• 2 Sisters - Fall Fun
• Rogue Redhead - Autumn Colors
• Fat-Tastic Tuesday - Add some flowers

Autumn Flower

Think Pink!

Welcome October 1st. Cooler weather, the start of the holiday season and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. This month is about awareness and making sure family and friends are aware of how important self examination and annual examinations are. This is a disease that can be beat, if caught early. We want our family and friends to be around for a long time and this month is about making sure everyone knows there is no room for shyness.  A fun way to show family and friends that this is an important subject and one that should not be ignored is to send them a handmade reminder card. I have created these reminder cards that you can send to your family and friends to remind them to schedule their mammograms. You could even offer to accompany them to their appointment if they are nervous or this is their first one. Believe me, this is NOT something I look forward to every year, but I faithfully get it done. Having family history with this disease, I want to make sure that if me or one of my sisters is unlucky enough to get this disease, we at least can catch it sooner rather than later, and try to beat it.

Get Them Checked

I would like to enter my Breast Cancer Awareness card into the following Challenges:

• Link up for Pink - Link Party
• Mojo Monday - #313 Card Sketch
• Lexi's Creations - #100 Pink
• Make it Monday - #160 Anything Goes
• Simon Says - Anything Goes
• D.L Art - Linky Pinky Party

Jingle Bells

Is it too early to start singing Jingle Bells? Well not according to the local stores around here. It seems like holiday decorations go up earlier every year. It is a combination of Halloween, Thanksgiving & Christmas all rolled into one.

Well I guess I am as guilty as the stores, as I too have been working on Christmas cards. But I at least have an excuse. In order for me to have all my holiday HANDMADE cards finished by Christmas, I have to start early. So here is my latest design. I hope you like it.

Jingle Bells

I am entering my Jingle Bells Card into the following Challenges:

• Bearly Mine - #105 Anything Goes
• Creative Card Crew - #45 Christmas
• Party Time Tuesday - #139 Anything Goes
• Through the Craftroom Door - Anything Goes
• Simon Says - Anything Goes

Santa Wanted...Dead or Alive

Have you ever started down a path and found that you eventual ended up some place you never anticipated? Well that happens occasionally when I am making cards. I have an idea in my mind and when I start putting it together, I find myself going in a different direction. That happened to me today. I pulled out all my Christmas stamps, and borrowed a few from my Mother in Law and started playing with the stamps. Many of my cards have a vintage feel, and of course that is the direction I started. But here is where I ended up.

Wanted: Dead or Alive

The stamp looked like Santa was on a wanted poster and that is what gave me the idea. I knew that I had some black striped paper as I had used it for some Halloween cards I made and used my distressing ink to make the paper look aged. Now I typically do not make humorous cards, but occasionally I make a good one.  I just love the way it turned out. I hope it does not get me on Santa's Naughty list!





I am entering my Santa Card into the following Challenges:

Totally Gorjuss - #201 Stripes
Crafting for all Seasons - #61 Make it Funny
Sweet Stampin Christmas - Here Comes Santa
Little Red Wagon - #203 Black White & Cream
Penny's Paper Crafty Challenge - #145 2 or More pattern paper
Make it Monday - #158 Anything goes
Holly Jolly Christmas Challenge - Non Traditional Christmas

Time to start making Christmas Cards

Vintage Reindeer & Lamppost

As you can see, I have started my Christmas Cards. I have pulled out my die cuts, ribbons and embellishments for this one. One thing I try to do when I am using die cuts is to cut out several when I have my tools out. This helps save me time when I am making more than one card. I love the vintage look on Christmas cards. That must be my theme this year as I have made several already with that particular style. I thought the reindeer would get lost on this card, being that I used the same paper for the background, but I think slightly matting it over the lamp post and using my Walnut Distress Ink helps to bring her out. I finished off the lamp post with pearls and berries for the holly. This measures 6" x 3", and is not my typical size I use for my cards, but again, I think the layout works well.

I used:

• Tim Holtz Alterations Reindeer and Lampost with Holly die cuts
• Tim Holtz Distress Ink - Walnut
• Tim Holtz Holiday Paper for green back ground
• Musical Notes paper from The Paper Studio
• Pearls and gems and ribbons

I entered my Get Well Card in the following challenges:

CHNC - #142 Cut it out

CHNC 2 - Anything goes

Christmas Card Challenge - #42 Music

The Kraft Journal - Make it Monday Song Book

ABC Christmas - R is for Recipe

Grid Technique

I wanted to share a new technique I learned this weekend. Got the idea from a challenge and played with it all weekend. It is called the Grid Technique and is very easy to use. You need to have a scoring board to create the affect. If you want to give it a try, I have attached the link with the instructions. I made several cards using this technique, but wanted to share one with you.

Get Well soon - Grid Technique

I love the color combination on this card. I used Adirondack alcohol inks to make the star and the band on the bottom. The stamp is from "My Acrylix" It is a spring collection stamp set called "Enjoy Every Moment", but I think it worked well for a Get Well Card.

I entered my Get Well Card in the following challenges:

 Just Us Girls - Technique Challenge "Grid"

Less is More - Get Well Soon

Challenges 4 Everybody - #29 Anything Goes

Scribble & Scrap - Anything Goes

Make it Monday - Anything Goes 
Sister Act - #24 Anything Goes
Created with Love - #58 Anything Goes

Christmas Card kits are still handmade

As a crafter and card maker for many years, I have been able to add to my "tools of the trade" and collect all sorts of paper, embellishments and ribbons along the way. I am able to create the most extravagant cards using die cuts and various sorts of "bling" because I have these items readily available. But for card makers that are new to this hobby, or want to try something different and make handmade cards this Christmas season, the task may not be that easy, or may end up costing them a small fortune by purchasing all the tools and supplies to make these one of a kind cards. Not to forget the time necessary to come up with the layout and design.

Card kits have become increasingly popular with all age groups. They are great for a first time crafter who may be hesitant about what to do and how to do it. It is also a way for more seasoned crafters to perhaps try out a new skill or technique they may not have tried before. Time can also be a factor. Card kits save on time having everything pre cut, stamped with all supplies right at your finger tips. These card kits also make great Arts and Crafts ideas for teachers during the holidays as well as a thoughtful gift.

Store assembled craft kits many times come with instructions, but for me, they can sometimes feel like they were written in a foreign language. When preparing my card kits, I always include a finished product. I am a visual person, as many people are. Having the ability to visually dissect the making of a card always helps me to create a duplicate.

Now some people may equate handmade with homemade, which for some people equates to tacky or cheap. If you believe this, you have not been on Pinterest or Etsy recently. Many stores cannot duplicate some of these handmade cards that are being created by individuals just like you and me. The craft arena is in boom right now, and will continue to get busier as we approach the holiday months. So if you do decide handmade is the way to go this year, you will want to start thinking about this sooner rather than later.

So whatever path you decide to go down this year, making or giving a handmade card, know that your recipients will appreciate the extra mile and personalized sentiment. Choose what is right for you and give or make a handmade card with pride. It will single out your card from the crowd this year.

I entered my Holiday cards in the following challenges:

 

ABC Christmas Challenge - R is for Recipe

Christmas Stampin all year long- #32 Layers

CHNC challenge - #141 Layers

Merry Monday Christmas Card Club - #74 Green and White 

Weekly Christmas Card Challenges  - #41 Snowmen

CRAFT challenge - #223 Christmas

Cutie Pie challenge - #52 Cute Christmas in September

Crafty Creations - Lets Get Crafty

Cute Card Thursday - #286 Hip to be Square

365 Cards - #255 Bling Fling

The Glory of Christmas Challenge - #15 anything goes

Men inspired Cards

My brother in law recently had a birthday...and I did not have a card for him. I had been traveling weeks before his birthday and did not realize, until it was too late, that I did not have any Male birthday cards. Now I could have easily sent him a pink card with ribbons, or a yellow card with butterflies, but how personal is that, and when it comes to cards, they are nothing but personal. So I rectified that problem this weekend by making several cards especially for men. After all, they have birthdays too. So Marc, Happy Belated birthday, from across the pond!

I entered my Butterfly card in the following challenges:

 

Make it Monday - #157 With Milk and Coffee

Loves Rubber stamps Challenges - #68 Anything Goes

Butterflies Signify Change

I love butterflies. They have become my mascot in my card making. My stamp that I use for the back of my personal cards "Handmade by Monica" features a butterfly, and I have a special section in my on line store just for butterfly cards. They are versatile, you can use them for Thank you cards, birthday cards, Spring, Summer, Get Well, the list goes on and on. But I think the reason I really like Butterflies, is because for me, they signify change. Many people are afraid of change. It is the unknown, but whenever I have to embrace change, I think of the Butterfly, keeping in mind the change may be even better than where you started.

Don't be afraid of change

I entered my Butterfly card in the following challenges:

 

Anything goes challenge Blog #100 - In the Garden

Make it Monday - #156 Saturated Canary

Loves Rubber stamps Challenges - #68 Anything Goes

Chocolate,Coffee and Cards - #47 Layout

Creative Card Crew -  #44 Things with Wings

Crafty Bloggers Network - Things with Wings

Allsorts Challenge Blog - #222 It's all about the sentiment

Jellypark Challenges - Things that Fly

I used:

 

• Beige Card Stock for base of card
• DCWV Card stock for printed paper
• Tim Holtz - Ideology word bands
• "Butterfly Ribbon
• Spellbinder Shapeabilities
• Bling 

Fun Handmade Thanksgiving Place Cards

When we think of thanksgiving, we think of family and friends gathering together to share a meal and reminisce about things we are thankful for. But before we can get to the point of "enjoying", there is a lot of preparation that goes into this day. One way to really make your friends and families feel welcome at the thanksgiving table is to set name place cards. These cards are typically little tents with your guests name on them. But this year, why not turn that Name plate into a keepsake.

Many hostesses like to send home a favor for each of their guests. This handmade card can be attached to a small box of treats that each guest can take home. Your guests will appreciate the thoughtfulness and  have a keepsake helping them to reminisce about the wonderful memories this years Thanksgiving has brought.
I had a lot of fun designing this card. You can find these at Taylor's Cards N Things. Would love for you to stop by.

I entered my Thanksgiving card in the following challenges:

 

2 Creative Chicks - #6 Scarecrow

Make it Monday - #156 Anything Goes

Sister Act #22 - Anything Goes

I used:

 

• Brown Card Stock for base of card
• Recollections Card stock for printed paper
• Rubber stamp " Scarecrow"
• Sizzix die cut for Scarecrow mat
• "Happy Thanksgiving" rubber stamp
• Bows and Bling

You don't have to go broke to fund your card making hobby

If you have been scrapbooking or card making for a while, you know that it is not an inexpensive hobby. Many people, including myself will designate an entire room for our "craft room". I have converted my closet so that it has shelving to hold all of my card stock, stickers, stamps, ink pads, ribbon, brads....the list goes on and on. I am fortunate enough that I live in a big city. I am near a Michaels, Hobby Lobby and a JoAnn's fabric. We have weekly coupons typically of 40% off. But these stores are limited, and even at 40% off, supplies can get expensive. But did you know that there are other outlets to find reasonably priced craft items. In Phoenix, there is a used bookstore called bookmans that has used rubber stamps. They accept trade-ins for credit and I have used my credits to buy several used stamps. I also recently found out that thrift stores carry used rubber stamps, buttons, raffia and lace. I bought a bag of 10 rubber stamps for $4.99. I only found 4 that I wanted, but I was able to trade the others at bookmans to get stamps that I did want. What is fun about these used stamps, is that they are typically older stamps that you cannot find anymore and some of them are very cute!  I also shop on line on Ebay, Etsy and Ecrater. I have purchased Tim Holt's products on line for more than 80% off of retail prices. The trick is to find someone that has many items that you want so you can combine shipping. I love those $0.99 deals. Craigs list is another place that I routinely check to find people looking to downsize as well. Many times these people are selling items for $1 - $2 that can typically sell for $15 - $20. I recently went to a garage sell and spent $25 and took home over $200 in supplies.  One other retail store that I check weekly is Tuesday Morning. These are typically stores that get overstock and can sell crafting items sometimes at 80% off retail prices. My hotel in Pittsburgh has a Tuesday Morning right across the street. Well, you guessed it, I checked it out and found severeral more "new" stamping items I will be able to use for my Christmas cards. If the product is one I know will be in demand, I will buy several, list on Ebay for retail, and use my profit to purchase other items on line at discounted prices. I have been able to stock up on so many items to support my hobby, and it really has not cost me a fortune. I wanted to share with you one of the cards I made with a stamp I got at Bookmans on a trade. I have made several card kits from this stamp on Grandparent's Day cards, which is Septermber 8th, by the way.




Black and White Cards

Black and White Card Challenge

I just love Black and white cards. I stumbled across this challenge for Black and White cards and I just had to share. I usually do not post more than one time a day, but I figured when I am on the road, I may not be able to post at all.

I entered "Live in the Sunshine"  in the following challenges:

Creative Time-- Designer Challenge

I used:

• Black Card Stock for base of card
• Tree stamp from Rubber Stampede
• Bench and sentiment from Stampin UP!
• Clear embossing powder

Very simple card, but I just love it. Hope you do too!

Tim Holtz 12 tags of 2013 - August

Well...I took the plunge. After several years of following Tim's blog and all his wonderful work, I finally decided to participate in his monthly tag themes, along with a couple others I found. I am finally starting to build up my supplies and I was able to pull enough items together to create these two tags. The theme this month was travel. He demonstrated some layered masking techniques on the tags he created which inspired me to create these:

Live the LIFE you've imagined

Enjoy the Journey

You can see his demo here: 

I entered "Live the Life you've imagined" in the following challenges:

Tim Holtz -- Tags of 2013 - August

Callenges 4 Everybody -- Anything Goes

The Pink Elephant -- Texture

Two Sisters - Anything Goes

I will be traveling next week, so these tags are a good way to start my journey. I hope you enjoy them!

Halloween Grunge Tags

I love Tim Holtz, and I know I am not alone. I have been following his blog and his creations since I started making cards. But I could never seem to get my tags to look as good as his, or even close. Well, I have been practicing, with some of the purchases I have made recently. I have been stocking up on stamps, ink pads, embellishments and tools to help me in my card making obsession. I watched several of his videos for inspiration and took the leap. Here is what I came up with:

I used tea die Distressing Ink on both of my tags to make the tags look aged. I used 3 stamps and a quick kutz die for the pumpkin:

Vintage Scarecrow

• Black diamond stamp is from Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous
• Inkadinkado for background words
• Scarecrow stamp - Not sure where I got that, have had it for a while.

I used heavy duty card stock for the Tag as well as the pumpkin. Distressed the tag with tea dye Distressing Ink. The pumpkin I glued together with tacky glue and then sprayed it with acrylic spray. This hardens the embellishment and gives it a glossy look. Then I sprayed the finished tag with 2 layers of acrylic spray. I don't think many people do that, but I like how it shines and how the finished product feels. I finished the tag off with raffia.

Vintage Pumpkin

I used Tea dye and Fired brick distressing ink on this tag to make an orange vintage look. I used several stamps on this tag:

• Ticket boarder and Bingo numbers are from Tim Holtz Stampers Anonymous
• Bats, spiders and pumpkins are from Inkadinkado

I sprayed the middle pumpkin and purple ticket with acrylic spray attached them as embellishments and completed it with an acrylic spray finish and raffia.

I am very proud of these and it just goes to show, you never know what you can do until you try.