Christmas Gift Card Holder

12/01/2016 Update: Top Three winner in the AHSC #187.

Since retiring and moving to Arizona, our family is located far away. Once moved, we decided the best way to provide Christmas gifts is by checks or gift cards - especially with young people. I've been making gift card holders for the recipients. Understanding that many people do not save the lovely cards that we make them, I knew my niece would keep whatever I made for her. Using a sketch challenge, I created a Christmas card and added the gift card holder to the inside.

Instructions on making the gift card holder can be found HERE (at 4:40). Using designer paper, I cut the sentiment block and a strip of flowers. A block of cardstock was dry embossed with texture but is difficult to discern in the photos. A panel of green cardstock was adhered to the card base, then a panel of red cardstock. The additional blocks were adhered. Foam was adhered to the sentiment block for dimension. The velvet glitter ribbon was added along with sequins.

To create the holder on the inside of the card, two labels were die cut, scored and folded in half. Two halves were adhered with sticky strip to hold the gift card, the

other halves were adhered to the card base. The inside was stamped with a Christmas sentiment and a block from the Designer paper was added.

 

The card is being submitted to the following challenges:

1. Atlantic Heart Sketch Challenge #187:






2A. Crafty Hazelnut's Challenge #309:(Christmas + a sentiment)


2B. Crafty Hazelnut's November Challenge Extra:

3. Creative Corner:
(winter theme)



4. Brown Sugar Challenge #226:
(anything goes)








5. Happy Little Stampers November Die Challenge:

Techniques: Stamping, die cutting, dry embossing
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamp set: "Reason for the Season" (interior sentiment)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla, Cherry Cobbler, Garden Green
Die: Deco Labels
Misc: Diagonal stripe TIEF, Dimensionals foam

Other Materials
DSP: Graphic 45 St. Nicholas Collection
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black
Misc.: Sticky strip tape, sequins & ribbon from stash

Blessings

12/04/2016 Update: Top Three winner at Cut It Up #109!

My card is in response to a card challenge whose theme is "The First Thanksgiving." The card was required to have either a Pilgrim or a Native American included plus a die cut.

The image was downloaded, colored, die cut, backed with foam and adhered to the card base, to which a panel of designer paper had been adhered. The inside of the card was decorated with a matching strip of paper. I elected to keep the card somewhat simple.

The card is being submitted to

1. Cut It Up "The First Thanksgiving" Theme 
Challenge #109: (must include a Pilgrim or Native American image)

2. Happy Little Stampers November Anything with Dies Challenge:


Techniques: Digital downloading, coloring, die cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Stampin Up! Materials
Cardstock: Very Vanilla
Misc.: Dimensionals foam

Other Materials
Stamps: A Day for Daisies "Garden Dreams" (digital)
Paper: Authentique from stash
Markers: Spectrum Noir (alcohol)
Die: Lil Inker Designs "Stitched Rounded Rectangles"

Reindeer Trio Greetings

12/07/2016 Update: Top Three at November Critters & Creatures Challenge



11/28/2016 Update: Splitcoast Stampers Weekly Favorite

This week I spotted several challenges that I thought were perfect for my humorous reindeer trio. I rarely participate in challenges with randomly selected winners but they usually offer prizes. The reindeer were downloaded as one digital image, already framed and with the sentiment in place. I wanted to have a background so I used a craft knife to cut around the deer and stars. This would have been a fun shaker card but I decided not to do it. The image was colored with clear Wink of Stella on the stars and Glossy Accents on the noses. The cut out frame was adhered to a panel of plaid paper and a card base. The inside of the card is decorated with plaid paper.

The card is being submitted to the following:

1. Crafty Creations Animal Theme Challenge #328 (winner selected randomly)

2A. Crafty Hazelnut's Christmas Challenge #308 (also random)

2B. Crafty Hazelnut's November Challenge Extra (also random)

3. Creative Corner (Team Jess) Anything Goes Challenge (also random)



4. November Critters and Creatures Linky Party 9

Techniques: Digital downloading, fussy cutting, coloring
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamps: Christmas Pines (inside sentiment)
Cardstock: Very Vanilla
DSP: Warmth and Cheer Collection

Other Materials
Stamp: Bugaboo "Reindeer Trio"
Ink: Memento Tuxedo Black (inside sentiment)
Markers: Spectrum Noir (alcohol)
Misc.: ZIG Wink of Stella (clear), Ranger Glossy Accents

It's Coffee O'Clock

One of my favorite challenge blogs has a coffee/tea themed challenge this week. When it comes to coffee, I keep it simple - no fancy roasts or flavors, no complex recipes. Just pour into a tall mug, add a dollop of milk, and I'm happy.

When I saw this image, I thought, "Day or night, it's coffee o'clock," so I tried to create that day and night theme in my card. The stars were punched along the edges of a navy blue panel and it was adhered to a white card base. The image was colored with markers, backed with orange cardstock and foam tape and adhered to the star panel. The sun was die cut, backed with foam, adhered, and touched up with clear Wink of Stella. The inside was stamped with, "There is always time for coffee."

After a made the card, I was not sure if it met the standard for simply stamping... somehow I missed that part of the challenge requirements until I was posting the link. I don't have time to redo the card so I'm taking a chance!

My card is being submitted to:

1. Watercooler Wednesday Challenge #94:





2. Brown Sugar Anything Goes Challenge #225:







3. Creative Corner (Team Jess) Anything Goes Challenge:




4. Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies November Challenge:



Techniques: Stamping, coloring, die cutting, punch cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Stampin' Up! Materials
Inks: Night of Navy (inside), Baked Brown Sugar (inside)
Markers: Stampin' Write Island Indigo, Pumpkin Pie, Cajun Craze, Daffodil Delight
Cardstock: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Pumpkin Pie, Daffodil Delight
Punch: Confetti Stars
Misc.: Dimensionals

Other Materials
Stamps: Bugaboo "Scarlette Coffee O'Clock" (card front) & Lil Inker Designs "Coffee Cozy" (inside)
Die: Reverse Confetti "Sun 'n Clouds" (sun)
Misc.: ZIG Wink of Stella (clear)

Bunches of Cheer

11/23/2016 Update: Top Three winner in Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge
#183.

In response to a sketch challenge, I was inspired to use some new papers and stamps that I recently acquired. I was struck by the large flowers and the color combination and pleased to have a coordinating stamp set.

On a panel of white cardstock, the center design was built using two of the designs from the paper and some navy blue cardstock. The vertical navy strip was die cut along one edge. This was then adhered to the card base. The sentiment was stamped in two different ink colors, one shadowing the other. Some small leaves were also added to the sentiment and then colored with a marker. The white panel was die cut along the bottom edge to coordinate with the vertical strip and backed with a mat of navy, also die cut. It was backed with foam to add dimension. Touches of Wink of Stella were added randomly to the flowers. The inside of the card was lined with white cardstock, die cut along one edge, and decorated with a strip of paper. The birthday stamp was also added.

Card interior:

This card is being submitted to:
1. Atlantic Hearts Sketch Challenge #186:







2. Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with Dies November Challenge:





3. Brown Sugar Anything Goes Challenge #225:








4. Creative Corner Team Jess Anything Goes Challenge:


Techniques: Stamping, coloring, die cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Stampin' Up! Materials
Stamp Set:  "Age Awareness" (inside card sentiment)
Inks: Night of Navy, Pool Party
Marker: Stampin' Write Pool Party
Cardstock: Whisper White, Night of Navy, Pool Party
Misc.: Dimensionals

Other Materials
Stamp Set: Lil' Inker Designs "Hello Beautiful" (card front sentiment) & Dare 2B Artzy "Blissful Blooms"
Designer Paper: Dare 2B Artzy "Modern Bliss"
Die: Lawn Fawn "Puffy Clouds" set
Misc.: ZIG Wink of Stella (clear)

Give Thanks - CAS

Thanksgiving in the USA is only a week away and I'm still making cards. I'm trying to keep them CAS for ease of mailing.

Using a die, the leafy frame was cut from cardstock. Some of the center was trimmed away to allow space for the sentiment. The cut frame was adhered to the card base. Two stamps were combined to create the sentiment and the inside of the card was decorated with leaf images.

I am submitting the card into the following challenges:
1. CASE This Sketch #198:






2. Aud Sentiments Anything Goes with a Sentiment #168:


3. Happy Little Stampers Anything Goes with a Die November Challenge:






Techniques: CAS, die cutting, stamping
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Materials
Stampin' Up! Very Vanilla cardstock and Peach Parfait (retired) ink
Reverse Confetti Cover Die "Leaves"
Concord & 9th Stamp Set "Give Thanks" (sentiment and inside decoration)

Blissful Blooms - CAS

Having a December birthday means that I have to make cards for an online group of crafting ladies who also have December birthdays. I look forward to the exchange of cards! I made four of these cards but will need to make more using other papers. I may add a sentiment on the front of this card, but because I am submitting this to a challenge, I omitted it for now. My design was inspired by the challenge.

On a panel of navy cardstock, I stamped some
tiny flowers in navy ink then adhered the panel to a white card base. A strip of DSP was adhered and then flowers were cut from a sheet of DSP and popped up with foam for dimension. Sequins were adhered to finish the card. A bit of clear glitter glue was added to the center of each flower. The inside was decorated with a fussy cut flower.

The card is being submitted to Fab Friday Sketch Challenge #99:

Techniques: Stamping, fussy cutting
Size: A2 (4.25" x 5.5")

Stampin' Up! Materials
Ink: Night of Navy
Cardstock: Whisper White, Night of Navy
Misc.: Dimensionals foam

Other Materials
Stamps: Reverse Confetti "Blooms 'n Buds"
DSP: Dare2B Artzy Modern Bliss "Blissful Blooms"
Misc.: Studio G Glitter Glue (clear), Pretty Pink Posh sequins