Date Night...

 A Gift Card Holder with a twist - instead of a Gift Card I am inserting a tag for a  promise for Date Night.  [Guess it's pretty clear who it's for...]

This will be my DT entry for the new "Christmas" Challenge at Aud Sentiments.
The sponsor this go around is The Paper Shelter and they have graciously provided the image I chose to use here in addition to the prize for the challenge.
You can see all the Design Team's inspiration cards HERE along with the challenge details if you would like to play with us!

The Paper Shelter

TECHNIQUE

[Note: specific information on supplies and sources can be found below under “Supplies”.]

The basic card shape is from a SU Die. I learned this fold from Nancy K. in one of her classes.  It is such a cool fold for gift cards!

The image has been printed three times, colored with Copics, sculpted from the back and mounted in layers with foam tape to elevate each layer.  Two holes were punched to accommodate the ribbon.

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:

Crafting from the Heart #3 – A/G

Sentimental Sunday #186 – Anything X-mas Goes

Top Tip Tues #117 – Christmas

Sweet Stamps #149 -A/G

Sweet Pea Stampers – Christmas/ New Year

Pile it On #48 – P is for... [paper, precious, person, puffy]

Parade Your Crafts #11 Christmas/Winter

LEJ Designs #84 – A/G

Papertake Weekly – Pick of the Year ["Last X-mas Card of the Year"]

Clear it Out – Warm  Fuzzies + stash texture [image and stash ribbon]

OSAAT #194 – A/G

One Sweet Challenge – A Gift in Itself

SUPPLIES

IMAGES:  The focal image is from The Paper Shelter;   The inside Christmas sentiment is a 1994 release by Annette Allen Watkins; the word "Joy" is from a pre-inked set by Mason-Row "Miniz"

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the images; CS & DP is from SU

EMBELLISHMENTS: Ribbon is from stash; corners were punched with a "Deco" Corner Rounder.

INKS:  Images were printed on a Canon PIXMA printer & colored with Copics:

May you color with abandon, create wildly and always make what amuses you!

~ginny

A Christmas Couple...

"Christmas Couple" was generously provided
 by Rick St Dennis for this challenge.

The house is decorated, shopping is done, packages wrapped and there's three more days till the DAY!  Time to dance, the Mr. and me!
Only thing not done are the cards...heavy sigh.  Too late for that, so from here on out gonna do New Year's cards.

This card was created for the "Anything Goes" Challenge at 613 Ave Create.  You can see all of the Design Team's variations on this theme along with the sponsor's prizes and the challenge rules HERE.

TECHNIQUE

[Note: specific information on supplies and sources 

will be found below under “Supplies”.]

The image was printed and then colored with Copics.  A rectangle was cut around the image allowing parts of the image to escape the box with fussy cutting.  It was elevated with foam tape & matted on dark green, again on white that had it's edges inked with Distress Inks and finally on the wonderful Nordic DP from Basic Grey.  The snowflakes were allowed to sit off the folded edge and the dark green ribbon and double bow balanced the composition.

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:

Simon Says Mon –Use a stamp

Crafting from the Heart – A/G

Parade Your Crafts #10 Christmas Crafts

Papertake Weekly – Last X-mas Card of the Year

Paper Shelter #141 – Anything Goes

Paper Pretties #289 – Let it snow, let it snow...

Delicious Doodles #67 – White Christmas

Basic Grey #110 – A/G [Nordic Holiday]

Sweet Pea Stampers – Christmas/ New Year

Pile it On #48 – P is for... [paper, people, passion]

LEJ Designs #84 – A/G

Clear it Out – Warm  Fuzzies + stash texture [ribbon & snowflakes]

OSAAT #194 – A/G

Sentimental Sunday #186 - Anything X-mas Goes"

SUPPLIES

IMAGES:  The focal image, "Christmas Couple", is from Rick St Dennis;  sentiments are by Mason-Row's pre-inked "Miniz" word stamps and then punched and matted with SU punches.

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the images; DP is from Basic Grey's "Nordic Holiday" collection; solid green matting is from Paper Pizazz; base card & white CS from stash.

EMBELLISHMENTS: Snowflakes are punched with an EK Punch; ribbon is from stash and the double bow has been tied with the aid of a handmade gift from Barbara and Kenny P.  Kenny, at Barbara's bequest, handcrafted this beautiful Bow Tying Aid that has routered edges and holes drilled at perfect distances for card making.  It is sanded, varnished to a high luster and finished off with a cork bottom to keep it from sliding!!  Thank you both for the time and effort that went into this early Christmas present!

Thank you Barb and Kenny!

INKS: "Frayed Burlap" Distress inks was used on the edges of some of the matting; the images were printed on a Canon PIXMA printer & colored with Copics:

May you color with abandon, create wildly and always make what amuses you!

~ginny

A Sassy Holiday...

Oh my!  Not my typical Holiday card... but I did have fun coloring and layering her to be a 3-D image.  And, I have an 80+ year old cousin who will get a kick out of her... so done and done!

TECHNIQUE

[Note: specific information on supplies and sources 

will be found below under “Supplies”.]

Image was printed three times, colored with Copics, fussy cut, sculpted and then layered on foam tape.  Four layers of scrap papers from Basic Grey were layered as a background and the focal image layered on top.   You can see the depth a little better in this angled shot on the right.  The sentiment was stamped and slipped in under one of the layers and three pearl clusters [the last ones ever!] were added as bling.

Inside

This card should be eligible for the following 

CHALLENGES:

Pile it On #48 – P is for... [pretty, paper, pale, pearls]

Divas by Design – A/G

Paper Crafting Journey – It's Christmas Time

OSAAT #193 – Seeing Red

LEJ Designs #83 – Festive Fun

Crafty Sentiments –Christmas

Through the Craft Room Door – A/G

Quirky Crafts #25 – Christmas + a “treasure” [last three pearl clusters saved for the perfect card...sigh.]

Crafting from the Heart – A/G

Parade Your Crafts #10 - Christmas Crafts

SUPPLIES

IMAGES:  The focal image is from Sassy Studio Designs; "Ho" sentiment is by Gail Green from Impression Obsessions; inside "Merry Christmas' is from Country Impressions.

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the images; DP is from Basic Grey's "Nordic Holiday" collection.

EMBELLISHMENTS: Pearl clusters from stash

INKS: the images were printed on a Canon PIXMA printer & colored with Copics.

May you color with abandon, create wildly and always make what amuses you!

~ginny

Santa's Little Helper Tag...

"Santa's Little Helper with a Candy Cane" was provided by Stamp Fairy

This tag was created for Aud Sentiments' #95 Challenge: A Christmas Tag [with a sentiment].  

Stamp Fairy Shop

Stamp Fairy is the Sponsor this go around 
and I chose this really fun to color image for my tag!

You can see the Design Team's take on this theme HERE along with the rules and deadline for the challenge.

TECHNIQUE

[Note: specific information on supplies and sources 

will be found below under “Supplies”.]

The image was printed three times, colored with Copics, two were fussy cut, sculpted and layered with foam tape to create the 3-D image.  A snowflake punch was used in the corners and the positives were then layered together with a small button and red waxed linen thread and then fixed to the lower corner for composition balance. The image panel was layered on the green Basic Grey DP [for contrast and to hide the Copic ink that shows thru the back] with a punched layer of icicles along the side [?? have you ever seen them grow straight out?].   Slots were punched in the top to add the Christmas ribbon, the red heart button was attached using the same waxed linen to tie it together.  [The ribbon is has been a hoarded treasure for many Christmases - I won't waste it on a bow - only small links like I have used here.] The Sentiment was stamped & cut out - corners were rounded and it was tucked under the heart button & attached with foam tape.  Gold foil was glued to the belt buckle and the bell on his cap and shoes for a touch of bling. 

This card should be eligible for the following

CHALLENGES:

Pile it On #48 – P is for... [paper, petite, pretty bauble]
Divas by Design – A/G

Paper Crafting Journey – It's Christmas Time

Sweet Stampin' – Ribbons Basic Grey #109 – Happy Christmas OSAAT #193 – Seeing Red Robyn's Fetish #189 – Must have a bow[bow on heart button with red waxed linen] ABC Challenge –A for Almost Christmas LEJ Designs #83 – Festive Fun Crafty Sentiments –Christmas Through the Craft Room Door – A/G Sweet Stamps #147 – Simple Christmas Clear it Out – A/G + stash A/G [ribbon & buttons] Crafty Ribbons #73 – Anything Goes with Ribbons Quirky Crafts #25 – Christmas + a “treasure” [green & red plaid ribbon hoarded!] Crafting from the Heart – A/G Sisterhood of Crafters – Christmas Sparkle [gold foil embellishments] Parade Your Crafts #10 Christmas Crafts

SUPPLIES

IMAGES:  The focal image is from the Stamp Fairy Shop; Christmas sentiment is a 1994 release by Annette Allen Watkins

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the images; DP is from Basic Grey's "Nordic Holiday" collection.

EMBELLISHMENTS:  Sentiment tab is made with a corner rounder punch as were the corners of the image panel and mat; a Martha punch was used for the icicles, snowflake punch is an unknown; ribbon and buttons from stash.

INKS: the image was printed on a Canon PIXMA printer & colored with Copics:

May you color with abandon, create wildly and always make what amuses you!

~ginny

Mini Calendar Gift...

This card was created for the "Anything Goes" or optional twist 
"Create a  Calendar" Challenge at 613 Ave C.

A Day For Daisies graciously provided images for the Design Team to use for inspiration - and I chose "Fairy Bird #1".  I already had "Fairy Bird #2" in my collection and I jumped at the chance to use them together!

You can see all the Design Team's versions of the theme 

and the challenge rules HERE.

A Day For Daisies

I am in love with so many of the A Day For Daisies images - and these "Fairy Birds" are among my favorites!  I am hoping to make several of these Easel Cards to give as gifts.

TECHNIQUE

Base card is 5.5 x 5.25 size with a basic Easel Card construction.  Papers from two different companies were found in my color palette [as always, specific information on supplies will be found below] and all the inside and front DPs were inked along the edges with Distress Inks.  Layered on top are the die cut branches from Tim Holtz - cut from the leftover deep brown paper used for the base card.  The Fairy Bird images were both printed out twice, colored with Copics, fussy cut, both sculpted from the back to round them and finally each layer is mounted on foam tape to maintain their depth and shape.  These were mounted above the branches & off the page.

The inside reveals the 2014 Calendar - each mounted on foam tape to provide the Easel stop.  A space above the stop has been created for a personal message but will not be seen once the Easel is in place.

This card should be eligible for the following

CHALLENGES:

Pile it On #48 – P is for... [pretty, precious, perpetual, paper]
Paper Crafting Journey – It's Christmas Time
Crafting from the Heart – A/G

LEJ Designs #82 – Christmas is Coming
Through the Craft Room Door – A/G

Papertake Weekly – A/G w/ optional CAS card

Sisterhood of Crafters –Handmade [Paper sculpted images]

Divas by Design – Feeling Festive

Delicious Doodles #65 – Christmas/ New Year

Basic Grey #109 – Happy Christmas

Beyond Grey #44 – 3D Gift Challenge [Birds have been sculpted with 3 layers for this calendar gift designed to stand up on a desk]  TOP THREE

ABC Challenge –A for Almost Christmas

Clear it Out – A/G + stash A/G

Paula Holifield Crafts (ALBC) – Christmas Cheer

One Sweet Challenge – A Gift in Itself

SUPPLIES

IMAGES:  The focal image is from A Day for Daisies; Christmas sentiment is a 1994 release by Annette Allen Watkins; 2014 is computer generated.

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the images; DP is from Basic Grey's "Sweet Threads" & Studio Calico's "Heyday Collection";  base CS is stash.

EMBELLISHMENTS: Tim Holtz' Die Cut bare branches; Judikens "Rustique Patina Azure" EP used to embellish the wings and feelers.

INKS: "Old Paper" & "Tea Dye" Distress Inks were used to ink the edges of all the papers; the image was printed on a Canon PIXMA printer & colored with Copics:

May you color with abandon, create wildly and always make what amuses you!

~ginny

Vintage Birds...

This is one of the very fun images by Vincent Ballard at his Crafty Moments site out of the UK.  Vince amazingly offers all his sketches and colorized versions for free!   Check out his recent Christmas images [I love the American Gothic Snowmen!] as well as several great Steampunk ones that really amuse me!
Want to know a secret?  I think some of Vince's freebies are better than some I've seen that the artists are charging for!  Needless to say, I follow Crafty Moments daily so I don't miss a single one!

TECHNIQUE

The image was colored with Copics and mounted on the red and white DP from Basic Grey, matted with the white CS left over from the A2 base card and then elevated with foam tape on a 2nd set of the same DP& CS.  The same method was used for the sentiment.  Red ribbon and a red Candi [colored with a red Copic to match] balanced out the composition for me.

Inside

This card should be eligible for the following

CHALLENGES:

Pile it On #48 – P is for... [purple, piles of paper]
Divas by Design – Feeling Festive

Paper Pretties #287 – It's Beginning to Look a Lot like X-mas

Totally Papercrafts #195 – Ho, Ho Holidays

2 Sisters #172 – A/G

OSAAT #192 – Use a digi

Robyn's Fetish #188 – Christmas Cards

Sentimental Sunday #183 – Traditional Christmas Colors + sent

Crafting from the Heart – A/G

LEJ Designs #82 – Christmas is Coming

Through the Craft Room Door – A/G Basic Grey #109 – Happy ChristmasSweet Stamps #146 – red and Green Clear it Out – A/G + stash A/G Paula Holifield Crafts (ALBC) – Christmas Cheer

SUPPLIES

IMAGES:  The focal image is a freebie by Vincent Ballard at his site Crafty Moments; the sentiment is by Annette Allen Watkins

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the images; DP is from the "Nordic Holiday" Collection by Basic Grey; base CS is Georgia Pacific

EMBELLISHMENTS: Ribbon from stash; a white Candi dot was colored with a matching red Copic.

INKS: Distress Inks were used to create the faux frame; the image was printed on a Canon PIXMA printer & colored with Copics:

May you color with abandon, create wildly and always make what amuses you!

~ginny

BLOCK PARTY...

The owners of 613 Ave C are throwing a party and asked me to let you know about it.  Here is some information about the great prizes and the simple process to join in.  I think this will be great fun - jump in with both feet and become a follower to play!  ~ginny

BLOCK PARTY - 500 FOLLOWERS GIVEAWAY

Hello, Crafty Peeples,

We are so close to 500 followers! 

 We would love to meet that milestone by JANUARY 12, 2014

CUZ

We're having a BLOCK PARTY to celebrate our 1 Year Blogaversary!

  Of course, we don't want to stop at 500, so KEEP adding your links.  

We have lined up some fabulous prizes for our BLOCK PARTY and more prizes are being added daily.  If you would like a chance to win here is a partial list of possible prizes:  WRMK - Envelope Punch Board;  Prima Mixed Media Dolls(We will be giving away two of these); A Ribbon Bundle from Really Reasonable Ribbons and the list goes on.   Eligibility is simple:

1.  Become a follower of our blog.
2.  Become a Facebook Fan.
3.  Add your blog to the linkup below.

Click HERE to go to our Facebook Page and Like Us!

Good Luck!  Thanks for helping us reach our goal.  The Drawing will be held on January 12th and the winners announced on January 13th.  Winners will have 5 days to claim their prizes, if they do not, a consolation drawing will be held.

Vintage Clown...

 I LOVE this image from A Day For Daisies - there is a set of three Vintage Clowns that are referenced below under supplies in case you want to check them out.  Fun to color!  And I used a tag for the sentiment on this one.

This card was created for the fortnight challenge "Any Sentiment You Want" at Aud Sentiments.  A Day For Daisies graciously provided  images for the design team to use.

A Day For Daisies 

You can see all of the Design Teams inspiration for you and the challenge rules HERE.

TECHNIQUE

I started with an A2 size base card in a yellow-gold color.  The "Vintage Bell Clown" image was printed out and I colored him with Copics.  This layer was matted with the base card CS.  The next step was to stamp the background with the Print Pattern using "Wild Honey" & "Rusty Hinge" Distress Inks.  Extra stamp-offs of this were used for the tag and for the interior.  To kick up the texture and detail, I added gold foil to the bow tie and to the dingle-bells hanging off his clothing & the bells.  Faux brads were created for the intersection point of the diamonds in the background by using a 1/16th hole punch, gluing the hole centers down and then applying gold foil to them.  The interior has faux stitches around the message panel.

This card should be eligible for the following

CHALLENGES:
Crafty Ribbons #71 – Stitching real or faux [faux stitching was used to tack down the message panel]

Inside

A Day for Daisies #83 – Add some Gold [gold foil]
Delicious Doodles #63 – NO DP [background is stamped]
Robyn's Fetish #187 – Vintage Style
Paula Holifield Crafts (ALBC) – Sparkle & Shine [gold foil]
Crafty Sentiments – Anything Goes
Paper Crafting Journey – Bling it Up [gold foil]
Crafting from the Heart – Anything Goes
Through the Craft Room Door - Anything Goes
Sisterhood of Crafters - Handmade [Faux brads -see details under embellishments below]
Simon Says Wed Challenge - Anything Goes

SUPPLIES

IMAGES:  The focal image is "Vintage Bell Clown" from A Day For Daisies;  background is done with a rubber stamp - "SU Paint Pattern", no DP is used; sentiment is from Hero Arts

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the images;  matting & base CS is from stash.

EMBELLISHMENTS: Sentiment tag is an oval punch with slot punched in the top to create the tag; orange twine from stash; gold foil applied with Duo Glue. Faux brads were created for the intersection point of the diamonds in the background by using a 1/16th hole punch, gluing the hole centers down and then applying gold foil to them. Finally faux stitching was used to tack down the message panel.

INKS: "Wild Honey" and "Rusty Hinge" Distress Inks were used for the background pattern; the image was printed on a Canon PIXMA printer & colored with Copics:

May you color with abandon, create wildly and always make what amuses you!

~ginny

Cuppa Cocoa to Celebrate!

This post is dedicated to all the people who helped me through my post-op recovery!  I now have TWO artificial hips and I feel like Wonder Woman when she runs at super speed... LOL!  I am walking with OUT pain and I am ecstatic!  I send out a humongous thank you to those of you who had my back during these last 4 weeks - I am whole again, and grateful for the kindness you all have shown me!

On to my second piece of news... this is my first post for the Design Team at 613 Ave C!  I was slated to start the week before my surgery and I had to go on a leave before I even had submitted a single card.  Kathi and Chana, the owners of 613 Ave C have been unbelievably supportive and patient with me.  I have found an incredible group here - organized, supportive and communicative - I am in good hands now!

Finally, on to business!
This first challenge for me at 613 Ave C is "Anything Goes - with an optional twist to Create Your Own Challenge"   If you go for the optional twist - you would choose 1 to 3 out of each column from the challenge grid below.   You can see some really fun samples from the other team members HERE.

The sponsor is Bugaboo Stamps 

Sculpted cup

Inside

TECHNIQUE
On this card I chose the following items:  from Column #1 image [Bugaboo image: , sentiment & DP  #2 dry embossing - the penguin & cup were fussy cut and dry embossed from the back to sculpt it and the base CS was embossed with a Cuttlebug folder.  #3 Glossy Accents was used on the mistletoe berries  #4 button added to the sentiment tag  #5 twine bow on the button & faux stitching around the cup handle.  Phewww!  Getting all that in was indeed a challenge!

This card should be eligible for the following

CHALLENGES:

Crafty Sentiments –Christmas
Sweet Stamps #144 – A/G
Fab and Funky #194 – A/G
Paper Shelter #138 – Christmas is Coming
Sisterhood of Crafters – Embossing [background & image]
Totally Papercrafts #194 – Add a Bow [on the button]

SUPPLIES:

IMAGES:  The focal image is "Poppi X-mas Cocoa" from Bugaboo; sentiment is from The Artful Stamper

PAPER:  Neenah Classic Crest Solar White 80# Cover Wt. used for the images; DP is from Penny Black's "Madison" Collection; base CS is Georgia Pacific

EMBELLISHMENTS: Button & twine from my stash; Glossy Accents for the berries

INKS:  the image was printed on a Canon PIXMA printer & colored with Copics:

May you color with abandon, create wildly and always make what amuses you!

~ginny