Christmas Vine & a GREAT organizing tool

Though this Christmas card was not chosen for magazine publication, I now get to share it with you.   :-)  It also reminds me to tell you about a FAB-U-LOUS organizational tool I discovered.

I stamped a unique custom sentiment so I might catch the attention of the magazine editors.  I inked up only the "sending you" portion of a Hero Arts sentiment, and "Winter Wishes" from a Verve set.  

So...about the organizational tool.

When I made this card, it was at least a year ago, or maybe even two.  Flash forward to me creating this post in December 2013.  I had NO clue which sets I used for that custom sentiment. 

Enter Evernote.  As they say on their homepage, "Evernote makes it easy to remember things big and small from your everyday life using your computer, phone, tablet and the web."

I use Evernote to keep an inventory of every stamp, die, embossing folder and punch I own.  Yes, I am certifiably crazy-organized like that.  ;-)   

I typed "sending you" into the search box of Evernote, and it brought up every set I own that has the phrase in it.  It's amazing!  Here's a screen shot of what I saw when I did that:

 I LOVE that I can access my inventory on my computer, tablet or phone from anywhere.  When I go to the attic to craft, and am looking for a particular sentiment, I simply type in "wedding" for example, and it brings up every set with the word in it (whether the set title or a particular sentiment) or within the keywords.

It makes my organized heart SO happy!  It did take some time to upload everything into the inventory, but it seemed to go by pretty quickly.  I find the program easy to use.  You can get Evernote for free, but they give you a limited amount of data you can enter monthly, and it wasn't enough for me.  I pay a low fee each month, and it's quite worth it.   It's the ultimate organizer for my crafty supplies!

Stamps: "Winter Wishes" from Winter Mittens - Verve; "sending you" from Everyday Sayings - Hero Arts Paper: white - PTI; Always Artichoke - SU Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: Vine Trim Double Edge punch - Martha Stewart; red pearls - Queen & Co.

Christmas Peace Wreath

Hello my friends.  How are you doing today?  Have the Christmas crazies gotten hold of you?  I'm going back and forth, some days feeling frazzled, and other days (like today) feeling under control.

This card might be one of my faves from this season.  I made it in early fall.  The oval die cut has the Large Fabric Design background from Hero Arts stamped in Wheat ink.  It's very, very subtle.   The Verve wreath and sentiment from Glad Tidings were stamped right on top of that, and the little dove is from Bright Spirits.  

I hope you manage to find some calm and peace for yourself.  Take good care, so you have enough energy to get all the to-do's checked off your list!

Stamps: Glad Tidings, Bright Spirits - Verve; Large Fabric Design background - Hero Arts Paper: white - PTI Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black, Wheat chalk ink - Tsukineko Fibers: burgundy satin ribbon - Offray Accessories & Tools: Copic markers; oval die - Spellbinders; Powdered Sugar embossing folder - Sizzix

Snowflakes for the House of Cards

After seeing the inspiration photo from House of Cards  (further down this post), I knew *immediately* what I had in mind for my card!

Photo inspiration

The beautiful design on the china, in a shade somewhere between black and gray, made me think of the Fancy Circles set from Inspired By Stamping.  I stamped one of those frames repeatedly on my card base in a bluish gray, and added some snowflakes from Elegant Christmas Sentiments (also IBS) inside each one (and in between, too).  For the snowflakes between frames, I stamped off to achieve a lighter version of gray.  One snowflake from this set was stamped, trimmed, glittered and topped with a rhinestone.  In the inspiration photo, there's some bling, so I picked up on that.

"Season's Greetings" from Holiday Sentiments (IBS) went inside one strategically-placed frame.

Have a beautiful day, and thanks for your visit.  :-)

Stamps: Fancy Circles, Holiday Sentiments, Elegant Christmas Sentiments - IBS Paper: white - PTI Ink: London Fog, Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Accessories & Tools: rhinestone - Queen & Co.; Crystal glitter - Martha Stewart

Star of Joy

Greetings!  I think we'll be putting up and decorating our Christmas tree today.  It all depends on hubby carrying down the big tree box from the attic.  He's got outdoor decorating to do, too, so we shall see.  :-)

I'm sharing a card made months ago, when I was using up particular scraps.

I bought some lovely Anna Griffin Christmas stamps from HSN earlier this fall, and used one on here, embossed in gold.  It sits in the center of the negative of a star die cut (Wplus9).  You can see the positive star on THIS card.

Here's a "stock" cereal box-chipboard star.  One day I just made a whole bunch of them - punched, inked and glittered - so that I can grab them as needed.  It's a time-saver.

I also have the new-to-me Branch Punch by Martha Stewart on here.  Yippee!  There was a period of a couple of years when I could not find one for sale (except used on eBay).  Then, when I shopped HSN for the Anna Griffin stamps, I saw this punch.  Score!

Thanks so much for your visit today!

Stamps: Christmas sentiment - Anna Griffin Paper: cereal box chipboard; Purely Pomegranate, Sahara Sand, Old Olive, Bella Bleu designer paper - SU Ink: Versamark - Tsukineko Fibers: white seam binding - Hug Snug Accessories & Tools: star punch - Fiskars; clear glitter, Branch Punch, gold embossing powder - Martha Stewart; star die - Wplus9

Star of Wonder

Christmas is coming, and it's one of my favorite times of the year.  My 15 YO's, too.  We love everything about it:  decorating the house, baking wonderful things, crisp winter air, Christmas Eve church service by candlelight, celebrating with loved ones, and so much more.  My daughter told me that she would decorate our whole house by herself, that's how much she loves it.  I just might hold her to that...

This card is full of things that make my heart happy:  pretty embossing, vintage thread...

...damask paper, subtle touches of glitter, beautiful stars, a sheer bow tied off with a pearly button and sentiment from Hero Arts.  Oh, and a pearl.  I love m'pearls.  You know I do!

Have you sent out your holiday cards yet?

Stamps: Holiday Sayings - Hero Arts Paper: cereal box chipboard; Sahara Sand, Bella Bleu pattern, Very Vanilla - SU Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Walnut Stain - Ranger Fibers: vintage thread; sheer ivory ribbon - Stamp Simply Ribbon Store Accessories & Tools: star punch - Fiskars; pearl - Recollections; large star die - Wplus9; Aviary small embossing folder - Anna Griffin; Crystal Glitter - Martha Stewart; flower button - SU; tag

Miss Our Times

So....this is another card passed up for publication.  It's okay.  That means, more to share here!

The pattern running vertically down the card was stamped with Wplus9's Magical Moments set.  The sentiment is by Stampendous.  I rely upon that set (Sincere Sentiments) a lot.  It's got just what you need for sympathy, get well, and thinking of you.

Gosh, this card would be appropriate for so many lovely friends I've met along the way in life.  I do miss hanging out with them.  Child-raising years can limit one's time to get together with our pals.  Now that my two kiddos (15 and 12) are more self-sufficient, I'll have to schedule some precious time with dear friends.

Some great friendship quotes:

"Don't walk behind me; I may not lead. Don't walk in front of me; I may not follow. Just walk beside me and be my friend."

- Albert Camus 

"Friendship... is not something you learn in school. But if you haven't learned the meaning of friendship, you really haven't learned anything."

- Muhammad Ali

"Let us be grateful to people who make us happy, they are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom."

- Marcel Proust 

Stamps: medallion, Magical Moments) Wplus9 (sentiment, Sincere Sentiments) Stampendous Paper: Crumb Cake - SU; white - PTI Ink: Walnut Stain - Ranger; Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko Fibers: crochet trim - Simplicity Accessories & Tools: Scalloped Circle, Floral Doily Motif dies) Spellbinders; Fibers: (crochet trim) Simplicity; Accents:  (pearls) Queen & Co.

Quick Christmas Cards

Who doesn't love to make quick Christmas cards?  And when they use up hoarded scraps, too, what could be better?

The first one uses a sentiment from Inspired By Stamping's Elegant Christmas Sentiments, and puh-lenty of paper scraps from Stampin' Up!:

The second one is not really a scrap-user, but helped me dig into my plentiful supply of K & Co. goodies.

Those K & Co. pretties always help me make cards in a jiffy.  The sentiment sticker and evergreen garland border are from them.  The patterned paper is old My Mind's Eye, I think.

I need to get some more mini jingle bells.  They look so cute on a card, don't they?
Thanks for coming by today!

 

Inexpensive Christmas gifts to make 'em say "Wow!"

Are you sitting down for a bit?  I've got a photo-heavy Christmas gift post to share.  Would you believe that each of these gifts cost me no more than $3.00 to make?  Granted, I have many, many (many) supplies on hand already -- like the paper, ribbons, pearls -- that I'm not adding in to the cost.  Each beautiful candle ring cost no more than $2.00 on sale, and the wooden frames were each $1.00.  

Each frame started off looking like this:

I'm in all things miniature (check out my Pinterest board, "Miniatures") and these candle rings just grabbed me by the heartstrings.  They're only about 3 3/4" wide, and, well, I just love 'em!

The next one has Champagne Metallic craft paint by Martha Stewart on the frame.   You can't see the pretty shimmer it has here.

I used Light Gold Metallic craft paint, also by Martha, on the following frame.  It's got a terrific pearly shine, but so hard to photograph!

The next two frames were primed with white craft paint first, and then washed with Heavenly Hues Gold paint wash by DecoArt, and wiped off.

You can see the gold better here:

Stampin' Up! lovers will recognize this retired flocked patterned paper from several years back.  It makes a dramatic piece, doesn't it?

Similar to the one above, the frame below has a slightly different 'wreath' on it.  It doesn't have white berries.

I lined the recessed part with metallic gold ribbon.  Can you see it?

Of all the frames, I fell in love with this modern one below, destined for my mother.  She loves black and all things contemporary.  Something about the simple lines and clean palette appealed to me.

I used another piece of retired Stampin' Up! designer paper (a wedding set...forget the name) behind the wreath.  It's got stripes of matte and glossy black.

Lucky me....these projects fit in the City Crafter challenge:  Wood + Frame.  It's like it was made for me!!  I'm also entering at The Paper Players -- theme is "Evergreen."  These wreaths are definitely fitting in. :-)

I'm glad you stopped by!  Which one is your favorite?

Silent Night

Here's a Christmas card that was passed up for publication earlier this year, and I've kind of given up on submitting to pubs for now.  So...I get to show it to you!

I glittered up some snowflakes, used a bunch of rhinestone bling, and a pretty flair sticker from K & Co.

I hope we get some REAL snowflakes here in New Jersey this winter.  I miss snow!  Seems whenever the East Coast gets snowstorms, our little area always get passed up.  Just one, big, wonderful storm would make my snowflake-loving heart happy.  :-)

Paper:  white - PTI; Patterned Paper: (green, ice blue – Holly Jolly) My Mind’s Eye Accessories & Tools: (Himalayan, Snowflake punches) Martha Stewart, (Organic Flourish embossing folder) Cuttlebug; (bird sticker) K & Co, (iridescent glitter), (clear rhinestones) Queen & Co.

Golden Snowflake Peace

I believe it's the first time I've inked up snowflakes from Verve's Glad Tidings set.  (ahem, it takes me a while to get around to showing all my stamps some love)  They are SO pretty! I'm a sucker for beautiful snowflakes.  :-)

These deserve some gilding with gold embossing powder.  The sentiment is Verve Bright Spirits.  Papers are a combo of Basic Grey Wassail (the main panel), deep red from Stampin' Up!, and green flourishes from Anna Griffin.

No particular sketch used here....just let all the elements flow together.  

Have a beautiful day!

Stamps: Bright Spirits, Glad Tidings - Verve Paper: Sahara Sand, Mellow Moss, red pattern - SU; green flourish - Anna Griffin; white - PTI; floral - Wassail - Basic Grey Ink: Versafine Onyx Black - Tsukineko; Antique Linen - Ranger Fibers: twine - Creative Impressions Accessories & Tools: snowflake die - Verve; circle die - Spellbinders; pearls