Side Step Cards

As you can see, I've created a series of cards using the side step pattern. I have created these cards over several weeks but decided to post all of them together as they share the same card folding technique. It's a fun technique with loads of possibilities. The card with the deer is really dark blue, but for some reason I couldn't get a decent photo of it. 

Layer upon Layer

Are you looking for inspiration?  If so, please visit us at The Sketch File. Kathy and I would love to see what you create with our November sketch. You can use the sketch as is or shrink it, enlarge it or rotate it. I've chosen to use the layers as a flap on the front of this card. Can you still see the sketch on this card?

Holly & Holly Berries

Do you have a favorite punch that you use over and over again? My holly leaf punch is among my favorite punches. I use it repeatedly when creating Christmas cards and love how a little bit of chalk and a dry embossed line down the center make the leaf look more realistic.

Three Ornaments

I love the combination of white and dark red/maroon. To me it is an elegant combination and that was what I was trying to accomplish with this card. I die cut the three ornaments and added silver embroidery thread to make the ornaments look like they are hanging. I dry embossed the front white panels and added a computer generated sentiment.  On my computer screen the sentiment looks like it was matted on a brighter red cardstock, but it is really the same cardstock as the card base.

THANKS FOR STOPPING BY!

Four Trees on the Diagonal

I have been trying to come up with alternatives to the basic 5"x 7" card base. So for this card, I folded the sides to of the front panel to the center and cut away a portion of the card base at a diagonal. I then used scraps of  patterned paper and cut four trees (all the same size).  I matted the trees and used them to attach the diagonal panels on the front of the card.  I like that this card looks very different from the other 5" x 7" cards that I have been creating. 

Dangling Snowflakes

I'm sharing a Z fold card. I've used this pattern to create other Christmas cards already, but here I decided to dangle a few snowflakes from the strip of the blue cardstock. I used patterned snowflake paper for the background. I doubled each snowflake sandwiching embroidery thread between each and attached the thread to the blue strip at the top of the card. It's a pretty simple card (hhhmmmm, maybe that's why I like it).

Hat & Mittens @ The Sketch File

It's Tuesday and time to share another card based on the November sketch. I hope you can find some time to play along with us over at The Sketch File. Our sketch will be around for the entire month of November and we'd love to see what you can create with it. I decided to create a set of hat and mittens and use them as the focal point. I ended up handwriting my sentiment, but will probably change it out and print the sentiment with MS Word. The white gel pen that I used just doesn't allow the words to pop enough.  Here's our sketch (two versions of it):

Silver Jingle Bell

Good morning. I have been working like a crazy person trying to catch on my Christmas cards. It has paid off and now I am slowly getting around to sharing them. This card came together from bits and pieces that I had on my work surface.The snowflakes and corrugated cardstock were extras from previous projects. I layered the corrugated cardstock on maroon and then added a few maroon snowflakes. I die cut the silver jingle bell and used the maroon strips to add a border.

Thank you for stopping by. I hope you don't get tired of looking at Christmas cards!

GLITTERED TREE

As I was searching through my paper stash, I ran across the tree patterned paper used on the background on this card. I was inspired by the trees and ended up creating a similar tree on a piece of green cardstock. I used glitter glue to draw a larger version of the tree and used it as the focal point of the card.

Holly with Red and White Striped Background

I've created a very bright Christmas card. I started by using a punch to create the holly for each of the panels on the front of this card. I scored each holly leaf and then used dark green chalk to add detail to each of the leaves. The berries started with punched red circles and then I used a white gel pen to add the white highlights. I added strips of white cardstock to the red cardbase to break up the red. I think the addition of the white stripes really helped to pull the card elements together.

MAROON JINGLE BELLS

I love the patterned paper that I have used on this card. I find the soft green color and the combination of hearts, stars and leaves so very appealing. It was exactly what I needed to inspire this Christmas card. I simply added the die cut jingle bells and a computer generated sentiment.

Stamped Tree on Z Folded Card

I am back again with a Z Fold Card. I have used this design before and love it. I also decided that I needed to break away from my current Christmas patterned paper. I feel like I use the same papers over and over again, so I was ready for a change. Since the plaid patterned paper has a bit of red and green, I thought it would work for a background paper on this card. I simply stamped the tree image on white cardstock and matted it on a panel that I adhered to the front of the card. I used a small piece of cardstock to print my sentiment and attached it to the inside panel.

Warm Winter Wishes w/ Green Mittens

Several months ago I cut out the mittens that I have used for this card. At the time, I was unhappy with the mittens and found that they just didn't work for the project I had been working on so I set them aside. When I was going though my stash of shapes that I have previously cut and set aside, I rediscovered them and finally decided to use them. I ended up scoring the upper part of the mitten, the part that would cover the wrist. I wanted it to look more like a cabled knit stitch. I used a snowflake punch to create a snowflake pattern on each mitten and tied a bit of twine around each before matting them on white dry embossed cardstock. Inside the card is a sentiment that says "sending warm winter wishes".  

Poinsettia on Split front Panel

I'm back with another Christmas card and I'm using a split front panel once again. Since I don't have a punch for a poinsettia, I used a circle punch to create the petals. I punched a half circle, rotated the half circle and punched again so that I ended up with the petal shapes. I scored each petal in the center and slightly folded them. I created the flower center from a series of  1/4" flower punches and layered the flower on punched leaves.

Red & White Snowflake Card

I have been working endlessly on the weekends to create Christmas cards and I love it when I sit down and inspiration hits and the card comes together quickly (which is what happened when I made this card). I began by dry embossing the white snowflake background and then used punched maroon snowflakes on top of the panel. I used a word document to print my sentiment and added a bit of twine for an accent.

Snowflakes on Split Front Panel

I am sharing another Christmas card and this one has a split or space in the front panel. I covered each part of the front panel with a multi patterned background which I recycled from the cover of a pad of paper. Since the pattern has a lot  maroon in it, I punched maroon snowflakes and used them to attached the two pieces of the front panel. I like the design of the card base and how quickly the card came together so I know I will be creating similar projects. Thanks for stopping by and taking a peak at my card!

Jingle Bell Card

Yesterday I posted a Christmas card with the same type of fold that I used on today's card. Once folded there are five panels. I kept the card clean and simple and only added embellishments to three of the five panels. I added hanging jingle bells to the center and  kept the largest jingle bell stationary with some 3D adhesive. The two smaller bells are hanging loosely. I can see myself using this folding technique again and again and it is easily accomplished. For a how to video go to  Debbie's Designs.

Thanks for stopping by and taking a peak at today's card!

November at The Sketch File

It's a new month which means that we are ready to introduce you to the new sketch at The Sketch File.  It's a fun sketch and it inspired me to create this Christmas card with a unique fold. I had seen the folding technique at Debbie's Designs. I was eager to try the folding technique and wanted to incorporate our current sketch. I hope you will take a few minutes to create a card or two with the sketch and share it with us.

Final Card for October Sketch

Tonight I'm sharing one final card based on the October Sketch at The Sketch File. Kathy has also posted a card to help inspire you. If you are feeling creative and want to play along with us, we'd love to see what you create with the sketch. Sorry for such a quick post, but I am exhausted. I've put in another very long day at work. Tomorrow will be another long day, so I've got to get plenty of rest.

October Sketch

Lately I feel like I can't take a decent photo. It is driving me crazy. I have tried in various parts of the house, outside and even in the car! I just can't seem to get the lighting right. So, I apologize for the photo, but hope it won't discourage you from taking a peek at this month's sketch and playing along with us at The Sketch File. I have adapted the sketch as you can see and Kathy and I encourage you to do so as well. I'm not sure you can tell from the photo, but I started with a 5"x7" card base and folded the front panel toward the fold at 2.5". I am loving this fold and have been creating several cards with this pattern.

October at The Sketch File

I am working like a crazy woman trying to get my Christmas cards done. I think I have about 55 out of 85 complete which isn't too bad at this point. This card is inspired by our October sketch at The Sketch File. Kathy and I hope you will join us and share a card or two.  As always the sketch will be up for the entire month.  I have folded this card a bit differently. I started with a 5"x7" card base and folded the front panel at 2.5". I attached the holly patterned paper to the front fold and added the details. I like this fold and will be revisiting it again and again. I hope you can still see the sketch in this card and I must apologize for the dark photo. I am always challenged when it comes to photographing a card that has a lot of white on it!

Introducing the OCTOBER SKETCH

It's time to introduce the newest sketch at The Sketch File. The October sketch will be available all month and we hope you will find time to create something based on the sketch. Kathy has provided a few versions of the sketch to encourage you to resize, rotate, flip, shrink, enlarge and generally have fun with the sketch.  

I have decided to focus on Christmas cards and I'm sharing this one with candy canes. I've used dry embossing for the snowflake background and used  a punch to create the boughs. The candy canes are handcut from red cardstock. I used paint to add the white stripes. After I had finished adhering all the bits and pieces, I regretted that I didn't make the candy canes larger and more of a focal point. 

Last Week in September

As we head into the last week in September, I have one more card to share with you. Once again I have used the September sketch from The Sketch File. It has been an interesting and inspiring sketch to work with and I am happy that it lent itself so well to yet another Christmas card. I am seriously behind on my Christmas cards and hope that I have the time, energy and creative inspiration to finish about another 30 or so before Christmas is upon us. The sketch has multiple layers to play with and Kathy and I want to encourage you to use the sketch and share your creation with us at The Sketch File. Here are a few versions of the sketch:

September Sketch @ The Sketch File

 I'm sharing another card inspired by our current sketch at The Sketch File. The September sketch has multiple layers. Initially I found it a bit challenging but the more I've worked with it, the more creative I felt. My favorite part of this card is the layer under the flower. I started with a circle, cut around the outside edge toward the center and then trimmed off the edges at an angle. I think it gave the flower more of a focus.  Unfortunately, the photo didn't come out well. It's hard to tell that the lighter areas are light green. They look gray on my computer. Sorry for the poor quality. If I had a lot more energy, I would make another attempt at getting a better photo but the day has already been too long. Here's the sketch: enlarge it, shrink it, rotate it and have fun!

Catching Up

Tonight I realized that I hadn't posted the SEPTEMBER sketch for the The Sketch File.  I had written the post, but just never posted. So the previous card is one that should have been posted last Tuesday. Of course, that means I'm running a week behind. It doesn't surprise me. I have been so busy with work that I am having a hard time remembering things. After spending 12 or more hours a day at work, it is hard to come home and think of anything else except resting.  I hope you enjoy Kathy's sketch and feel inspired by our cards. Please post your creation with us at The Sketch File.

September Sketch @ The Sketch File

I made this card for my niece. She has recently headed off for her first year at a university and I thought she'd like to hear from family. The layout for the card was inspired by the newest sketch at The Sketch File.  The September sketch is one of Kathy's multi-layer sketches. I hope you are feeling inspired and will join us this month. We'd love to see what you do with the sketch. Feel free to enlarge bits and pieces of it, shrink them or rotate or flip the sketch. HAVE FUN!