Pretty Poinsettia

Continuing  with the gift card envelope decorating. Today, using this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches

The envelope is die cut with SU die and Big Shot. Love that it not only cuts but scores on fold lines also. This is a great way to use up those small scraps in your file. A few years ago, I bought a long garland of poinsettia blossoms at Michael's. That was a great bargain. I have used them on cards, gift bags, home decor, and still have a few left. So this is a very expensive looking but not so costly way to give gift cards.

Gift Card Envelope

I just received a Sizzix template for gift card envelopes from Stampin' Up. It cuts and scores the folds. It is just easier to give gift cards to my kids. And the grands are getting old enough they like to shop for themselves.
 I tried the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches to see if it would work on the smaller size. I love how it turned out. So this is a good way to dress up those gift cards.

The DP, stamps and tree punch are from SU. The size of that sentiment in the Festival of Trees set works well with small banners. I used Gorgeous Grunge from SU to stamp the white "snowflakes" in the background. I put a matching white button on the back flap, thinking I will close this with a glue dot after the card is inserted. I am experimenting with ways to keep the envelope closed without gluing in place. Any suggestions?

Here is the sketch

Here are a couple more of the gift card envelopes. The one on the right has a belly band ribbon that can be slipped off and back on after inserting the card.

Krafty Christmas

I made this clean and layered Kraft based card for the Krafty Christmas challenge at The Card Concept

The DPs are from my scrap file. Other supplies: Sizzix stars impression folder. From SU: stars framelit dies, little stars punch, tree punch, and gold/white twine. The Merry Christmas DP was thin so I adhered it to a piece of white cardstock and popped it up with dimensionals. I've been noticing the trend of loopy cord behind images and thought I would try that for a fun twist on this sketch I used from Freshly Made Sketches

Computer Tricks

I usually copy and paste the sketch from Tuesday Morning Sketches to a Word document so I can print it out to lay on my desk for easier reference. So here is the sketch as seen on Tuesday Morning Sketches

But that is not what my Word document showed. It actually turned the sketch upside down. I have not had that happen before and certainly am not techie enough to explain how that happened. Here is the card I made because this is the way it printed.

I know it is okay to flip a sketch but I was a bit surprised when I went to post my blog and found my card totally different. So I decided to make another one and amend my post. Here is the second try

I like the second one better because of that sweet angel snowman. And did you notice the tree topper is a mini-angel snowman?

Let It Snow

Let it snow--somewhere else. This is for all the crafty bloggers in the USA that are expecting snowflakes in the next day or two. I don't mind a little bit of snow, but prefer it is confined to around Christmas.

And for CAS(E) This Sketch

The DP is from last year's Martha Stewart mat stack. Sentiment and embellishments are Stampin'Up.

Bright Stars for Christmas

I received a package from Stampin' Up today with the star impression folder. And you know you have to play with new tools as soon as you get them!! The card base as well as the burgandy strip have the star impressions. Then, I used Stampin' Up star framelit dies to cut out 2 stars in glitter gold paper for the centerpiece of this card and a small handheld punch for 3 more stars inside.

  

The front and inside greetings are both SU. The papers are from my scrap box.

I used this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches

And I am still playing with the new gingerbread set from Lawn Fawn. While working with a sketch, why not make 2 cards using the same design? The house is Studio G but the rest of the stamps are Lawn Fawn,

The Grinch Christmas

The Grinch has a wonderful Christmas message in one of my favorite quotes. So I decided to incorporate that into a couple of cards. I am linking them up at Word Art Wednesday and Simon Says Stamp Blog since both have anything goes challenges.

I did the quote on the computer and printed out 2 copies. After I had made the first card, I found another Grinch card by Heather at Houses Built of Cards who explained that the Grinch's heart grew 3 sizes that day. I just had to make another card inspired by hers with the 3 hearts. I found out on Heather's blog that a stamp with this quote is available at Craft Spot.

Gingerbread House

I'll have to admit, I have not been big on making gingerbread houses even when my kids were little. My one attempt was a dismal failure so decided to put my creative talents elsewhere. So now, I can make gingerbread houses on cards.

The house stamp is Studio G, colored with pencils. The gumdrop border, sentiment, and gingerbread cookie are from a new set by Lawn Fawn. It comes with a coordinating die set which I will be going back to order. I stamped the gingerbread cookie on Kraft paper and fussy cut it out. Fussy cutting very many gingerbread cookies would get really tedious. I used a white gel pen to make the icing borders on the cookie, then sponged on some white ink to give it the dusted with sugar look. I used a red colored pencil to draw on the heart. The companion girl cookie is on the inside.

That sentiment is done on the computer.
This is from a sketch by Tuesday Morning Sketches

Kitty Sparkles

Cats and Christmas are a big adventure requiring constant vigil. My cat loved to play with all the ornaments and would even climb the tree. So I can just see a cat entangling themselves with lights as on this card. But they are so cute, you just have to love them!

The image is from from Newton's Nook. They have an "inky paws challenge" of adding a little sparkle. I added a strip of gold glitter paper and a punched star from the same paper. The lights are colored with star gel pens so do have some shine which doesn't show well in the photo. The sentiment is from the same Newton's Nook set. The DP is from SU.

I followed this sketch from The Paper Players

 

Sparkle Tree

Yesterday, I used the retired SU silver glimmer paper for stars. See it here. Today I decided to try it as a tree. Once you decide to use that hoarded paper, there's no stopping!!

The DP is from last years Martha Stewart mat stack and I found some aqua cardstock that it paired really well with. The sentiment is from SU's More Merry Messages. I stamped it with VersaMark and embossed with silver. The ribbons and tree punch are also from SU.
I was inspired with this sketch from Freshly Made Sketches