Dashing Poinsettias

Hi Everybody,

I want to share one more Christmas card that I made this year.  I love making this card.  I followed a video by Theresa Momber, an Illustrator for Gina K Designs.  The stamp set I used is called Dashing.  This stamp set is one of my favorites because I can make feminine and masculine cards with it.  Here's a link to the video. 

I just followed the video using the color inks she said to use.  The background stamp is called Music Background.  On the gold embossed card, I stamped it slightly darker, lighter on the other one.

I think I like the gold embossed one better.  I used colors that are more peachy, coral on this one and it looks good with the gold.  I just did a quick Copic coloring job on both but it seems like the gold embossing can make the coloring look better. :)

Which do you like?

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Snow Globe Scene

Hi Everybody,

I just wanted to share another Christmas card I made.  I made this card for someone that lives in a log cabin.  How cute is this scene??  She couldn't understand why I kept asking what color her door is hee hee.  I used a stamp set from Gina K Designs called Holiday Frame.  If you like snowglobes and building scenes, then this is the set for you!

I stamped with Gina K Designs Black Onyx Ink and colored with Copic Markers.  I used Nuvo Drops in White Blizzard to add dimension to the roof and snowflakes.  I used a white gel pen to add some white to the trees. 

This was a fun card to make!  Check out the Frame Stamp Sets by Melanie Muenchinger by clicking on Stamp Sets and then By Illustrator and click on her name.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Prismacolor Pencils on Kraft Cardstock

Hi Everybody,

I have been taking coloring classes for almost two years, pencil and marker, from Kit and Clowder.  The website is www.kitandclowder.com.  If you would like to take your coloring skills to a new level, I would highly recommend checking these classes out.  Alyce Keegan is an awesome teacher and friend.  

Right now, you can get this cute penguin image and pencil coloring class FREE.  This class is learning how to color on kraft cardstock and dark colored cardstock.  I colored the image and then made a card with it for a friend for Christmas.  I used Prismacolor Pencils to color him. 

I used Thermoweb's Decofoil Transfer Sheets for the frame (red) and the merry die (green) and I used Transfer Gel with a Brutus Monroe Snowflake Stencil and foiled with silver. I embossed the word, Christmas with white embossing powder on a black cardstock strip.  I added Nuvo Drops in various places on the penguin and finished it off with red and silver metallic twine. 

I hope I've piqued your interest in these classes.  Everyone that I have referred has been very happy and has continued on.  There are monthly classes that teach you several techniques in each class for around $15 and there are also specific classes such as Clothing where you learn how to draw in and color pleats, etc., Skin and Hair, Animals, etc.  If you refer a friend, you will receive $10 as a thank you from Alyce.  Be sure to turn in my name if I've inspired you! :) 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Foiled Snowflake Background

Hi Everybody,

I hope you all had a wonderful Christmas!  Did you get anything fun for your cardmaking this year?  I didn't but I recently bought a Gemini Jr. from HSN when it was the Special so that's my latest new fun thing for the craft room.  I've only used it a couple times... it cuts really well.  It is a lot louder than I expected it to be.

I just wanted to share a foiled card I made.  I was running behind on making Christmas cards this year so the solution was to use Thermoweb's Deco Foil Transfer Sheets, Gina K Designs Fancy Foils and Foil Mates. 

Here I used the Brutus Monroe Snowflake Stencil (which I LOVE to use with Thermoweb Transfer Gel).  I used the Transfer Gel here with the snowflake stencil and foiled with Ocean Blue Transfer Sheets.  How beautiful is this??  Then I cut a strip from the Gina K Designs Foil Mates Backgrounds using the one called Blizzard and foiled with Silver Deco Foil Transfer Sheets.  I used a sentiment from the Gina K Foil Mates and foiled with Ocean Blue Transfer Sheets finishing it off with two silver glitter strips on the sides.

You can definitely keep using this snowflake stencil over the winter to make New Year and Winter themed cards.  

I hope I inspired you to use Transfer Gel with your stencils and Foils.  So fun and easy!  

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Easy Christmas Card and Bag Toppers Using Foil

Hi Everybody,

A couple of posts ago, I showed how to make simple bag toppers for candy.  I am hooked on these!  I took some to my dentist office a few days ago with a card and they loved getting these.  This time I used foil which makes them even more fun to make.  Who doesn't like shiny??

I made this card using the Gina K Designs Foil Mates Backgrounds in Ornamental Holiday and Gina K Designs Foil Mates Sentiments in Holiday Cheer. I used the Thermoweb Decofoil Transfer Sheets and the Gina K Designs Fancy Foils.  I also used these to make the bag toppers.  I made these a little wider so that the tag would fit.  They are appr. 4-1/2" wide x 4-3/4" tall and scored at 2-3/8".  If you would like to see the original post about bag toppers, HERE IS A LINK to that post.

I used Fancy Foils in Radiant Red for this Background (link above for the background)
I used Silver Deco Foil Transfer Sheets for the Sentiment (link above for the sentiment)
I cut out an oval stitched die a little larger than the sentiment and foiled it in the silver. 

I just added the silver and red metallic twine sticking out from behind the tag on the card.  The cardstock layer on the bottom is Gina K Designs Red Velvet.  I love this red color for Christmas and Valentines cards. 

For the bag toppers I used a mix such as Deco Foil Transfer Sheets in Magenta (Love this color!), Fancy Foil in Sparkling Silver, Deco Foil Transfer Sheets in Ocean Blue, the background in Large Snowflakes from Gina K Designs, and I don't know the name of the second one with the ornaments on it but I don't think she sells this one any longer.  


Next week, I'll take these to my doctor's office to give to my doctor and his nurse.  It's just a little way of saying I appreciate you.  Everyone in the family will get one along with their gifts. These are great to take to teachers, kids in class, neighbors, etc.  

I hope I inspired you to use foil this year on your cards and try these fun bag toppers. Who said Christmas needs to just be red and green.  Try something different such as the magneta, ocean blue, etc. It's so much fun!

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Country Christmas Using Foil

Hi Everybody,

This month Graciellie Design is collaborating with Thermoweb.  We are having a blog hop to show you beautiful projects using Christmas and Winter themed stamps from Graciellie Design combined with products from Thermoweb such as Deco Foil, Gina K Designs Foil-Mates and Fancy Foils, Transfer Gel, and more to inspire you to make some beautiful Christmas cards.

I am using a digital stamp set called Winter Blessings. 

HERE IS A LINK to this stamp set 

HERE IS A LINK to Graciellie Design online shop

HERE IS A LINK to Thermoweb's Website

The first thing I did was position the pine limb and pine cones how I wanted them and printed on a laser printer.  This is one of the neat things about digital stamps... you can size them and place them wherever you want to and when you print out using a laser printer, you can foil the image because it printed with toner ink. In this case, I used multiple foil colors to make it look as realistic as I could. 

I am using a few products from Thermoweb on this card including the Gina K Designs Fancy Foil in Radiant Red.  This foil is SO pretty because it looks glittery. I used the Gina K Designs Fancy Foil in Radiant Red for the bow and Green Deco Foil for the pine cone with the Mini Minc Machine.  I am very fond of the watercolor foils and the Amber Watercolor Deco Foil is so perfect for the pine cones. I sponged around the focal image stamp with Distress Inks in Pumice Stone and Antique Linen to give it a 'rustic' appearance.  

I have a scalloped rectangle die that cuts out a 'frame' piece so I used that part along with the Gina K Designs Foil-Mates Backgrounds in Ornamental Holiday.  I love the look of diagonal lines on a card, which is one of the choices in this package.  I used the Gina K Designs Fancy Foil in the Radiant Red with this. 

Let me explain what the Foil Mates are in case you are not familiar with them because you do not want to miss out on using these on your cards this year. The Foil Mates Backgrounds and Sentiments are designs printed with toner so that all you have to do is cut them out however you want to, put your foil on top like you normally would and feed through your Minc or Laminator.  That's it!  I had a family emergency occur in October and we are still dealing with this so I am not on schedule at all making Christmas cards.  A friend of mine told me to start in July and I did not listen lol, so I will be using these Foil Mates and Deco Foil because it is so quick to use but looks like you spent hours getting it to look that way. 

The sentiment is from the Gina K Designs Foil-Mates Sentiments in Holiday Cheer. I also used the Gina K Designs Fancy Foil in the Radiant Red with this sentiment and I cut a background out for it using the Thermoweb Toner Paper and a stitched oval die and then foiled the toner paper oval that I cut out with the die.

The bottom layer card stock is Gina K Designs Christmas Pine and the red card stock behind the pine cones image is Gina K Designs Red Velvet.  I think those colors make the perfect "Country Christmas" card. 

I also used Thermoweb's Sticky Tape Runner and Medium Zots Singles. Both of these adhesives work wonderfully.  I do believe the Sticky Tape Runner is permanent so make sure you put what you're adhering exactly where you want it, but that's a good thing. It's nice to know my card will get to the recipient in one piece without corners lifting, etc. I like the size of the Medium Zots and that they're packaged as singles.  I would recommend any of Thermoweb's products.  I have been happy with every product that I have tried. 

Your next stop in the hop will be Terri Burson.  Make sure you finish the hop with Graciellie Design blog because she always has amazing techniques to share including videos.  The November winner will be announced on that post and a $20 gift card to Gracielle Design Shop as a prize for today's hop.  

Also be sure to check out the Words and Shadows SVG Word Bundle - Winter Edition, 50% off, no code needed.  These are Christmas and Winter themed words, detailed and shadow, over 126 total.  They can be sized to whatever size you need them to be. 

I hope I inspired you to check out the Foil Mates and Fancy Foils from Thermoweb.  They practically do all of the work for you.  You just sit back and watch the foil works its magic.

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Christmas Candy Bag Toppers

Hi Everybody,

I am very excited to be guest designing this month for Top Flight Stamps.  Top Flight Stamps sells 20+ brands of stamps that are different and hard to find art stamps from around the world.  Click on Brands on their site for a drop down menu of each brand and I'm sure you'll see stamps that grab your attention because these are stamps that you do not see everyday. 

The stamp set I'm using today is called Merry Christmas by Joy Crafts.   This is what the stamp set looks like.  If you like traditional, vintage Christmas projects, this is the stamp set for you. 

I make cards for just about every project I post.  Lately I have been interested in experimenting with different creations.  I showed a decorated bag and tags in my last post.  I decided to make bag toppers using these stamps.  These are so quick and easy and you can make these and give to teachers, co-workers, family, friends, etc.  This is appropriate for anyone so these will definitely be a little happy that I will give to people in my doctor's offices, neighbors, etc. 

I purchased clear and colored bags in the sizes I wanted and sized the topper accordingly.  The bags I used here are 4" wide by 9-1/2" long.  I put the candy in the bags and used a sealer machine to make sure they were closed good.  You can also staple closed as well.  Just make sure you get them straight before sealing. 

I cut kraft, white and red cardstock to 4" wide and 4-1/2" long.  I put the cardstock in the MISTI, making sure the cardstock was in the corner and stamped and then turned the cardstock around making sure it was in the corner, same as other side and stamped again.  By using the MISTI, the stamps are in the same place on each side.  If you use the MISTI stamping tool, this goes really quick and you can make several in no time.

I scored them at 2" in the center (see pic) and placed over top of bag and stapled.  Simple as that! 

You can color the stamps in, punch a hole in the topper and add ribbon, etc., as well. 

You can also make bag toppers for Valentine's Day for your kid's class, wedding favors, baby shower favors, and on and on.

I hope I inspired you to try to make bag toppers, something a little different than the cards we usually make.  Check out Top Flight Stamps and I think you'll really like what you see because they are stamps like their site says, hard to find and different.  Why do we want to use what everyone else uses?  :)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Bought With Love

Hi Everybody,

I was planning a visit to see my Mother In Law in the hospital and wanted to take something to her so I bought this cute snowman in which you can track the days until Christmas.  I told her she could use it in the meantime to track the number of days until she could come home.  :)

The only bag I could find was plain white with handles. Well that wasn't going to work, so I decorated it simply to look like a snowman to match what I was giving her.  You can add hair, earmuffs, etc.  

I used this stamp set from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps called Christmas Tag Sentiments.  These sentiments are all so great!  They are a nice size and fun to use.  She always brags about how I make her everything so I love this stamp that says made and scratched out, bought with love. 

Here's what the stamp set looks like

I made two tags.... first  I made this red and green one.  I love how these inks look on this tag.  I used Colorbox Cherry and Jalapeno.  The tag is cute but kind of blended in too much with the white bag so I made another one that looks like chalkboard.  

For the black tag, I used Gina K Designs Black Onyx Cardstock and her white pigment ink.  This ink provides excellent coverage and dries pretty fast. I went around the edge with the white ink and added a few enamel dots from the Eyelet Outlet. The black and white gingham ribbon is also from Gina K Designs. The red and white twine is from We R Memory Keepers. I glued a snowflake from my stash on top of the ribbon and twine to add some sparkle and interest and added some white dots with a Sigmo Uniball White Gel Pen. 

I used Gina K Designs Heavy Base Weight White Cardstock for the other one, the Colorbox Inks mentioned above, went around edge with the red ink and added a few enamel dots from Eyelet Outlet.  I needed some sparkle so I cut out a few stars from red and green glitter paper using the Star Dies. The beautiful red and white ribbon is from Really Reasonable Ribbon.  They have a monthly ribbon club and put together a beautiful assortment of ribbons that coordinate together.  I used the Christmas Assortment.  I am really impressed with the quality of the ribbon from this company.  

Go ahead and buy the solid color bags with the handles from a dollar store and decorate it yourself.  Another idea I had was to stamp the sentiments all over the bag. Tags make your gift more interesting and they're quick and fun to make.

I hope I inspired you to make some tags for your gifts this year. 

Thank you for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Merry Christmas

Hi Everybody,

I made this Christmas card for today's post using Brutus Monroe products and I'm also up on the Brutus Monroe blog today. 

I don't make a lot of square cards but sometimes when I'm using a 6"x6" stencil and I want to keep most of the background, I'll make it square.  This card base is 5-1/2"x5-1/2".  

I started by using a sheet of this pretty gray cardstock from the Kaleidoscope Wings Inspiration Kit.  An alternative would be to use the Lunchbag cardstock that is the Kraft color.  I wanted to use the Snowflake Stencil and make it glittery and dimensional.  I decided to use some Cosmic Shimmer Glitter Embossing Paste in Frosted Dawn Sparkle.  It has the exact look that I was going for!  You just spread the paste over the taped down stencil with a palette knife, get the excess off to put back in the jar and then pull off the stencil carefully.  It needs to dry for a few hours so keep that in mind when using this, but it's worth it.

Next I grabbed a cup of Gevalia Mocha Latte (because it is expresso coffee) and sat down to color some of the stamps in the new Comfort and Joy Holiday Kit. I stamped the images with Memento Black Tuxedo Ink and colored with Copic Markers, just using 2 reds and 2 greens.  I use Xpress It Blending Card when coloring with Copics. I decided to fussy cut them out which was a little bit of a challenge with the holly leaves but I took my time and was able to do it.  I popped these up with Scrapbook Adhesives Black 3D Foam Squares.  

I embossed the Merry Christmas sentiment on Wagon Cardstock with Brutus Monroe Ultra Fine Alabaster Embossing Powder and cut out with a banner die. 

To finish it off I added some gold glitter Stickles to the center of the poinsettia and glossy accents on the berries. 

This was a fun card to make!  Grab the coloring media of choice and a stencil and make a beautiful Christmas card. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

So Happy

Hi Everybody,

I have only been on the Sweet 'N Sassy Design Team a few months and I'm so excited to be a part of their 10th Anniversary Celebration.  There are lots of giveaways and surprises in store.  HERE'S A LINK outlining everything.

I used the stamp set below from Sweet 'N Sassy Stamps called So Happy.  

I made a couple of Quick and Easy birthday cards using this stamp set.  There are SO many possibilities.....

FREE GIFT WITH PURCHASE

Through the entire month of November EVERY $50 order* will also include the “So Happy” stamp set, a $15.95 value, at no additional charge!! No coupon required.

*Order must total $50 after discounts and before tax and shipping.

I have been wanting to make a card for so long just using a blob of watercolor as the background so that's what I did with this one.  I used Bristol Smooth paper and wet it first in the middle and then just added some Gambai Tambi Watercolor Paint in a purple color, I think it's #135.  I let it go wherever it wanted to.  I heat set it, added a little more color and swirled it around a little with a paint brush.  Next I embossed the word Happy with Brutus Monroe Ultrafine Alabaster Embossing Powder. I also embossed the word Birthday with the Alabaster on black cardstock and cut it down into a strip.  The silver glitter strip is a strip of glitter paper just cut into a strip.  I layered it on black cardstock and added a few clear sequins. 

For this card, I used Blue Lagoon cardstock by Gina K Designs, Turquoise Sea would also work.  I used the MISTI to stamp and space out the word, Happy, and embossed with Brutus Monroe Ultrafine Alabaster Embossing Powder.  Also embossed the word Birthday same powder.  I had used Thermoweb Transfer Gel with a stencil and foiled with Rainbow Decofoil so I cut a couple of thin strips and adhered to the sides.  This foil just screams birthday, celebration, etc., to me.  I added some clear sequins to finish it off. 

I think you will have a lot of fun with this stamp set and it would also make a great gift for a crafty friend. 

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina

Cozy Coffee

Hi Everybody,

Coffee stamps are very popular right now so I am using this cute stamp set from Brutus Monroe called Cozy Coffee. I love the sweaters the coffee cups have on, as well as the sentiments and the font used.  I made this card for my Mother in Law who is in the hospital right now and she LOVES coffee, which is really probably an understatement. :)

For the background I used the stencil called Jagged Heart.  I used a palette knife and spread Nuvo Mousse in Burnished Bronze over the openings in the stencil.  I love the shine and dimension from this mousse and it dries pretty quick as well, which is a huge plus for me because I do not like to wait to finish the card because of drying time.

I stamped the coffee cups with Memento Rich Cocoa and colored with Copic Markers.  I used Fall colors because that is what my MIL likes, especially green, her favorite color. 

I cut a strip of clear vellum to go across the middle of the card adhering it with Stick It and placing coffee cups on the vellum staggered popped up with pop dots.

HERE'S A TIP:  Stick It will not show under vellum as long as you don't mess the sticky part up, like with your finger.  

The sentiment was stamped with Memento Rich Cocoa and cut out with a stitched oval die.  I used Tim Holtz Distress Ink in Vintage Photo to go around the edges of the die and card stock the stencil was used on.  It bothers me to see light edges for some reason.

To finish it off I used some brown, glitter enamel dots and clear Wink of Stella glitter brush pen on parts of the cup.

For the inside, I used another scalloped edge die and kraft card stock.  I stamped the sentiment using Memento Rich Cocoa and the hearts with Memento Bamboo Leaves.  I stamped the hearts in green because that is my MIL's favorite color. 


Here's another version using patterned paper from Authentique. 

This stamp set is so much fun to color!  I hope you'll give it a 'shot' LOL, get it, shot?  :)

Thanks for stopping by and have a great day!

Regina