Christmas Up Up and Away

I work in an office and I have the BEST boss.  We all love him.  At Christmas we want to get him the #1 gift but every year it is hard to figure out what to get him.  Every once in a while someone comes up with an awesome idea.  This year, I think, was one of those times.  In October 2019, he is planning to go to the big Balloon  Festival in New Mexico so one of my co-workers came up with the idea to get him a gift card to pay for his flight!

The paper I used on this card is from Reminisce Snowflake Ridge paper set.  Oh my gosh...I have to tell you that paper is Gorgeous!   I remember the day when I use to hoard paper/cardstock but I asked myself why?  So... not anymore.   The dies I used on the front is the Sizzix Tim Holtz Merry Moose die set. Isn't it the cutest!  I just had to have it and was worth waiting 3 weeks while it was on backorder.  I made one extra page to the card and placed it before the balloon page so everyone had enough room to write a message to our boss.

I wanted to make a card that would go along with the balloon festival that we all could sign.  I had his emoji he created on his phone and I printed it out to put him in the balloon.  I also found a black and white line image of a balloon.  Once I had that, I was off and running with no real idea of what to do.  Created as I went. You can see in the third photo, the balloon popped up when you opened the card.  I will admit, the cardstock cracked where it bent for the popup but I fixed it by gluing a white piece of cardstock on the inside where no one could see it to make it more stable.  It worked perfectly.

So without further ado.....

Christmas Ornaments on a Card

I have a small 4.5 x 6.5 paper pad that is several years old.  Are you like me and get tired of looking at the same paper year after year? 

 I was trying to come up with a way to use some of the papers.  Using just ornament dies, I cut the paper out and popped it up on a card.  The extra small ornament I had cut decorated the inside.  For the strings, I cut thin strips of sparkled black cardstock.  I also used the black Spica pen on the ornaments to follow some of the lines on the ornaments to give it a bit of sparkle.  You can't see it on the photo...trust me...it's there!

I am just about done making all my Christmas cards but I will keep going.  Since I have the Christmas spirit, I might as well keep going.  You never know when you need an extra card!

Enjoy your crafting day!

Netta

It's Snowing!

Well.....not really.  This is about as close to snow as I will get in Florida.  I loved the Christmas snow before I moved here.  I have many fond memories and maybe some not so great ones too lol.

My husband asked me why I put wintery things on my Christmas cards one day.  Seriously?  Who wants to make a Christmas card with a beach scene!  Not I!

Anyway....this card was quick and simple.  The stamp set is a BoBunny Snowflakes stamp set.  It comes with 11 different shapes and sizes as we all know all snowflakes are different!  Just a versamark pad, embossing powder and a heat gun is all you need for this one.

The sentiment came from Stampin Up Beautiful Blizzard stamp set and the Nuvo Crystal Drops were added to finish off the card.

Thank you for stopping by!

Netta

Have Yourself a Very Merry Fairy Christmas

Is she just the cutest!  She is from Whimsy Stamps called "Holly".  I had so much fun coloring her up with my copics.  

How are you all doing with your cards?  

Netta

52 CCT November Stash Challenge-Ribbon & Glitter

Just a quick post today to show my piece for the 52 CCT Ribbon & Glitter challenge.  

This is a die from Tim Holtz collection and it has amazing detail!  I alternated a deep red metallic and cardstock for the petals.  Along each petal is a lot of glitter glue.  Ribbon was a small piece I found in my red drawer.   It matched the metallic red color and has a edge of gold.

Now that it is December .....(where did November go!)....I get to announce the great news!  I was chosen as one of the new Design Team Members for 52 Christmas Card Throwdown!  I am looking forward to and very excited to be working with the team in 2019.  

Hope all of you are busy crafting....for me....I am off to work!

Enjoy

Netta

Happy Hanukkah!

Whew!  Got my Hanukkah cards done just in the nick of time.

Happy Hanukkah to all who celebrate!

This is my 2nd post today.  I wanted to get this out since it is the season.

I used an older set from Close to my Heart called Jewish Remembrance for the background.  The dreidels were stamped and heat embossed with Silver Tinsel embossing powder.  The Dreidel Song along the edge was printed in Word.  I finished it off with drops of Nuvo Crystal Drops "Simply White".

Now to quickly get them ready for the mail.

Netta

52 CCT November Theme Challenge-Snow Globe

Hello and welcome!  

I just returned from being away on vacation and a brief time of being ill.  Today, I am feeling more myself so playing catch up on a couple of challenges and my blog.

First up was the 52 Christmas Card Throwdown November theme challenge- SnowGlobes.  I actually had the card done before I left and ran out of time to share it.  This card was all done with dies.  I wish I could tell you where I got the snowglobe free die but I don't remember which magazine it came in a year or so ago.

If you are trying to get your cards done & run out of ideas, head on over to http://52cct.blogspot.com and get some inspiration!

Netta

Christmas Minc Bears

I decided to try my hand at using the Heidi Swapp Minc Machine and foil. 

 A little bit of coloring red and sparkle on the hat makes for a simple quick but cute Christmas card. 

So quick....I actually made two.

Have you tried foiling? If not, the idea is just to use heat and pressure of the Minc Machine or laminator that presses the foil against the image printed with toner.  A regular printer would not work because the image is printed with an ink jet.  If you have all the equipment/tools and have not tried, you should!  You might be pleasantly surprised.

Netta

Winter and Polar Bear

This was a quick card to make.  Scrap Papers took care of this card...white cardstock and a blueish background with white dots.  I am considering them as snow and to top it off, I added one little cluster of snowflakes stamped in white.  A circle punch took care of moon and trees cut from Tim Holtz Set Merry Christmas.

Stamped the Recollections Polar Bear onto a scrap of white and even though a die came with the set, I cut it out with scissors. I was not sure if this was still available to buy, but I did find it at Amazon so you can see what it looks like. Copics colors BG11 and BG13 to lightly color the bear and scarf.  I hand cut the snowy hills and popped each layer from the one behind to give it a 3D look.  The hills also have the edge colored with BG11.

Thank you for stopping by.  Now...go get your scrap box out and use them up!

Netta

52 CCT November Challenge-Colors

I am so excited!  I was asked to be a guest designer for this weeks challenge at 52 Christmas Card Throwdown and I have never been a guest designer before.  What an exciting time for me!

This weeks challenge was to use colors.  The colors are not something I typically use so I had to really figure this one out.  This is what I came up with.  

This image was a digital image from Becky's Place but not sure if it is still there as I got it long ago.  I printed it out and colored it...trying to match the colors in the challenge as much as possible.  The trees look dark however I thought it matched very well to the green in the challenge.

I could not believe the colors I used in the snowman!  A lot!  

Copics: #BG10, BG11, BG13, B63, R20, R22, R30, E43, YR04,YR09, C00, C3 and Colorless Blender.  

The hills were hand cut with a touch of B0000 on the edge.  After I glued them all in place...stickles along the edge of the hills and all the way around the whole card for a border topped it all off.  My sister says "It is not a Christmas card without sparkles".   Maybe she has something there!

  The snow background was a folder that I wiped with Memento Summer Sky before I embossed so the flakes have a hint of soft blue.  

I can't believe how many cards I have done so far.  I think I am very close to my goal.  

How many more do you need to do?

Netta

52 CCT Challenge-November Sketch

What is a sketch?  

A sketch is just a great way to get an idea when you are making a card.  They even have them for scrapbooks layouts too.  I have even taken a scrapbook sketch and made a card out of it and vice versa.  You can flip them...turn them sideways...upside down...whatever you want!  If you are stuck, they are a great way to get you unstuck and the ideas flowing.

Here is my version of this months sketch at 52 CCT November challenge

Here is the original sketch

and here is what I used...I flipped it completely.

If you are ever stuck...do a google search card sketch.  Trust me....you will be glad you did!  Soon you will be off and running with ideas.

Thank you for stopping by,

Netta

Birthday-Whoopie

Co-worker had a birthday recently and I made her card.  At the office, when someone has a birthday, we celebrate with cards and whatever dessert they choose.  You also get to wear a crown during this celebration and a photo is taken.  

Humiliating? Naaaaaaaa.  We laugh and have fun.

When I saw this image at Mo's Digital Pencil, I just had to have it!  It was perfect! 

I put it inside to surprise her.  Her expression was priceless!

This was on the front.

I make cards to bring a smile or chuckle to someone's face...even if it is for just a fleeting moment.  I did my job on this one!

Netta

Junk Box Example

A few days ago I mentioned my junk-box.  All mistakes go into it for possible future use.  I wanted to show you how useful that junk box was....once again.

The background on this card was in that  junk-box and it was too pretty to leave in there.  When I had cut it out, the border was off and too skinny on one side.  I figured I might be able to cut a die out it or something so I saved it.  I decided I could use it and make another sympathy card by cutting an extra border for the edge to hide the mistake.  I glued the background down so it was centered on the card.  I glued the border down over the top of the background and now you can't see it was a mistake!  Border is now even all the way around and I have an extra sympathy card for my stash.

Keep your mistakes.  Some day you might find a treasure inside.

Have a great crafting day!

Netta

Season Has Begun

I wish I was referring to Christmas Season but I am not.  It is the season for banging out those Holiday cards but sadly it is also the season for Sympathy as well. 

If you have followed my blog for at least a year, you have heard me talk about it.  For those of you who are new....for the past 15+ years I make and donate all the sympathy cards to a local nursing home throughout the year.   Thanksgiving through New Years is always the worse.  There has been some years where I had to switch off...one Christmas...one Sympathy.  Last year was not as busy, which was good for the nursing home.  Not many passed away thank goodness!

This season started early.

I was asked to make 3.  I better make a stack and be ready.

Here is what I made.

I recently picked up a die from Diesire called "Classic Floral Frame".  My first one did not cut out all the pieces so for the rest I shimmed with a piece of copy paper and it worked excellent.  It may be time to switch out my plates on my Big Shot.  The sentiment outside came from Stampin Up set "Walk in the Wild".  The bow, which I LOVE, is an Impression Obsession bow.  I topped it off with Stickles "True Blue" on some of the flower centers.

Thank you for stopping by!

Netta

Bugaboo Reindeer

I had printed and colored up two of the digital reindeer image from Bugaboo (see 1st card here Crazy Reindeer), so I decided to go ahead and make the second one into a card.  I fussy cut it out and glued it on after creating my background.

 For my birthday I had received the Copic Air brushing system. I played around with spraying some different colors to get some practice and saved them in my junk box.  My junk box is a container where I throw samples/practices/cards with mistakes/etc into.  Sometimes I will dig into it because there might be something I can cut up or use on a card.   The background on this card was one of those practice pieces.  

I am slowly getting to my goal for Christmas Cards this year.  I might actually be done early!  yaaaaaa

Happy Crafting....

Netta

52 CCT October Challenge-Masking Take 2

52 Christmas Card Throwndown new challenge is about masking.  I already did one card.  To read about it and what is masking... click here 52 CCT October Challenge-Masking technique.  I did have this card posted on that same page but I was not able to upload it to the challenge so I opened up another page for this card.

  On this card, I masked the penguins to protect them when I stamped the big tree.  I also masked the snowman's butt area to stamp my little tree.   This card has one more fun technique called paper piecing on it. I stamped the jacket, hats and scarfs on other paper. Cut them out and glued them in place.  

Going to go add this one to the challenge as well.  Happy Crafting!!

Netta

52 CCT October Challenge-Masking Technique

Update!  
My card was chosen as the winner for this October Masking Technique!  

I was taught when I oil painted, you always start with images far away like mountains and work your way in close.   One thing I discovered in card making it is opposite.  You start with images closest to you and work your way backwards so the mountains would be last.  

This week at 52 Christmas Card throwdown.... it is all about masking.  

 In my Santa card, if I did not use the masking technique, my big tree would have been stamped over the reindeer.  The Christmas Tree would have been stamped over the Santa.  The Santa would have....oh well........you get the idea!

  So masking is important to get the images behind each other instead of over.

  Definition of masking is basic stamping technique of covering a stamped image so that other images may be placed over it.  Masking may seem difficult but it is really quite easy. 

 Just stamp the image you need to protect on a piece of thin scrap paper.  I used a post it note so it is stuck down and won't move on me.  Just make sure to stamp part of the image on the sticky area of the post it note.  This next part will seem a bit weird and out of the norm.  

Cut the post it note image out but not on the line...Cut the image out just inside the lines.  If you cut on the line and stamp over it, it will leave a slight white edge around the image.  If you cut just inside the line the white edge will be hidden in the stamped image you are protecting.  Hope that makes sense!

Oh......a little tidbit..........keep your mask with your rubber stamps!  Next time you need a mask for that image, you are all set.  It's all done for you.

Here is what it looks like using the mask.   I am protecting the deer image I have stamped underneath..... (using my Wizard of Oz voice "pay no attention to the human shadow in the photo") 

Here is another mask protecting the Santa .  I want the tree to look like it is behind the Santa.  You notice on this mask I did not cut the whole Santa out as I only needed to protect one small area.

When you remove the mask, you can see how the tree now looks like it is behind the Santa.  

Another great reason to use the masking technique.....when you need to protect your images when you are air brushing backgrounds or sponging backgrounds as well. 

 Love to see what you do!

I am off to go add this to the challenge .....

http://52cct.blogspot.com/2018/10/october-technique-challenge-dt-call.html

Happy crafting!

Netta

Crazy Reindeer

This digital image was free from Bugaboo Stamps back in 2017 I believe.  Never used it before so I printed it and colored it up with my copics.  I fussy cut it out so I could glue it down on the background I had airbrushed earlier today.  The background of snow was just hand drawn with copics.  The snow was done by using my favorite....white gel pen.  I love this crazy reindeer all done up.  He is so cute!

Happy crafting

Netta

Another Christmas Pet for 52CCT

Update!  
I got Honorable Mention for October Pet Theme!  

Another pet card for 52 Christmas Card Throwdown!  

With a sponge  and Nuvo Mousse Powder Blue..I covered the entire background. Next I used the mousse color Coastal Surf to get a darker color along the top edge. The mousse glides on so smoothly and has such a pretty sheen to it.  I stamped snow swirls all along the top and sprinkled glitter on it.

The cute stamp is from Whipper Snapper called "Hello Friend".

I die cut the Merry Christmas words twice....once on white cardstock and once right through the scene.  After I got the card put together, I glued the white words down into where I cut out and then put the blue words right on top so they are raised slightly yet still part of the scene.  

If you try this Camouflage technique, make sure you save all the little tiny pieces you would normally throw out.  You need to put them back as well.

One more added!

Netta

52 CCT Challenge-October Theme

Update!  
My card was chosen as the winner for this October Pet Theme!

  

This weeks challenge at 52cct.blogspot.com is about theme's and the theme is Pets.  I had to dig hard to find something that was considered a pet and not a wild animal like a polar bear, deer or moose.  I finally remembered I had bought a set of stamps last year from Art Impressions called "Santa Paws Set".  As a matter of fact...I liked this set so much I bought it twice!  LOL  Gave the other set to another friend.  

I used the group stamp in this set and the words "Happy Howl-idays!".  I also used two stamps from a Stampin Up set called "Winter Woods".  I used the mask technique so the trees look like they are behind the group of dogs. 

I got to play with my Derwent Inktense 36 pencils for this card.  It's been a long time since I pulled them out and I think I will do more with them.  After the card was put together, I used Nuvo Crystal Drops "Simple White" for the fur on the hats and for snow.  The snow on the ground and tree were sprinkled with a dusting of sparkle while wet & then extra knocked off.  I only wanted a hint of sparkle.  Snow falling was just a white pen.

Well I am off to go add this to Christmas Card Throwdown for pets. 

Hope to see you there too!

Netta

Peaceful Ocean Turtles

A woman saw a Christmas card I made my boss last year and asked if I could make her husband a birthday card for her. 

I had not used these dies nor had I inked up the turtle before.  After I was done, I was reminded of the time I once saw a turtle while on vacation.  I was snorkeling by myself in the ocean by Turks and Caicos.  I was giddy with happiness as I spotted a turtle peacefully swimming along without a care in the world!  I followed him at a safe distance away so I would scare him.  It was a pure joy to watch.  

This card was fun to make..especially since it reminded me of that day snorkeling with the big sea turtle.

Happy Crafting!

Netta

52 CCT Challenge-October Color-Take 2

I decided to give the silver challenge another go (see prior post) 

This time I used Distress Oxides colors Seedless Preserves, Lucky Clover, Twisted Citron and Mustard Seed.  I just kept coloring all over the white square with different colors until it was filled and I was satisfied with the color.  I had no idea if this next idea would work but I decided to give it a try.

I wet a paper towel & folded it to make it like an ink pad.  I stamped a pine branch stamp against the wet paper towel to "ink" it up and set it down onto the paper...letting it set for a moment before lifting it off.  I had a dry paper towel which I padded gently after each time I inked with water.  I was a bit disappointed my idea did not work until it began to dry and I could see it was doing exactly as I hoped. It had lifted just enough color and if you look close you can see the pine bough marks behind the ornaments.  I wanted the effect of Christmas tree boughs and the hint of color from Christmas tree lights bouncing off the boughs.

All in all...I was quite happy with the results!

I will be adding this to the challenge at http://52cct.blogspot.com as well.

Happy Crafting!

Netta

52 CCT Challenge-October Color

I have been busy making Christmas cards and happy to say I have passed the 1/2 way mark of what I need!  It is a good feeling...especially with the holidays only a few weeks away.

I have several I have made, but for today I want to show the card I made for this challenge.  This week it is color over at Christmas Card Throwdown and that color is Silver.

I always love blue and sparkling silver together.  I think it is so beautiful on a card.  The silver on this card was backed on the baubles and hand trimmed.  The background also has silver as well.  Silver snowflakes, with a hint of sparkle in them, line along one edge (take my word for it..they sparkle but the card just would not photo well!).  

Off to go load it up for the silver challenge.

Enjoy!!

Netta

52 CCT Challenge-October Sketch

Update!  
My card was chosen as the winner for this October sketch!  

Sketch Challenge

Every week there is a new challenge at Christmas Card Throwdown that involves the following....

Week 1 - Sketch
Week 2 - Colour
Week 3 - Theme 
Week 4 - Technique or Stash

I have been following along at home but I decided this time to actually start posting.  When I play along with the challenges, it helps to keep me on track with making my Christmas cards.  I got a little slack this year and catching up now!

Here is my post for sketch!

Here is the sketch I used.

One more for my holiday box!

Netta

Sweet 16 Pop-Up Book Fold

I was asked to make a special Sweet 16 Birthday Card.  

I love the digital image I used.  It is located in an Etsy Store called "Small and Round".  The image is called Spirals Digital Image.   I printed it out with my canon jet printer onto X-Press It blending card and used copics to color with.  

I cut the Happy Birthday three times & glued them altogether.  I offset the white color layer to give it a highlighted background.  Ranger Glossy Accents covered the top of the words and while wet I sprinkled a very tiny amount of fine glitter on top.  Just to give a hint of sparkle.

 I have colored very few images of people with copics.  I need to do it more often.  It's actually very relaxing when you take your time.

Have a great day and thank you for stopping by! 

Netta