Quick and Simple Notecards

A few weeks ago, my Pastors wife asked me to make some note cards for a missionary wife that was going to visit the church. She showed me some home made cards that she recieved once when visiting a church. She loved the idea of home made note cards to send out. She only had one left though, so I decided to make her some.

First I made the folder using Paper Temptress White Gold card stock. You can see the beautiful shimmer of this paper in the photos of the note cards since it is used on every card. I used a template called All Boxed Up which was designed by Laruen Meader and is available at Papertrey Ink.

I have used this template several times with not trouble at all, but for some reason it printed all weird this time. The pockets were way to big and the folder is super tall. After altering the pockets and folder for everything to fit together, I embosses each pocket and the outside of the folder in silver.

I did adhere the pockets backward on purpose. I like the way it looks this way better, especially since I can stamp a nice image onto them this way.

I made 2 of each of these note cards for the folder.

This butterfly stamp is from Kitchen Sink and I love it. I cut it out and adhered it with dimensionals.

I made the whole set in no time yesterday afternoon, including working to fix the folder template. They go so fast expecially since there is no decorating of the insides.

I hope you all have a super weekend!
Hugs,

Note Card Set

I was asked to make a note card set for the pastors wife that will be speaking at my church's mother daughter banquet at the end of the month. We are giving her a nice thank you basket filled with lots of goodies.

I decided to use a note card folder I purchased quite a while ago from Papertrey Ink and designed my Lauren Meader . It is a great folder which I have used a few times already.

For the butterflies on the folder I used a new to me set from Kitchen Sink Stamps. The paper is the beautiful white diamond from Paper Temptress that I use quite often. I did not take a photo of the shimmer since there are quite a few photos already for this post, lol

I adhered the inside pockets backward on purpose since the folds to make it look like an envelope were not even for some reason. I think it was my printer having a hard time with the card stock. I punched the half circles to help remove the cards and envelopes easily. I actually like the pockets better this way. I did notice while editing the photos that I should have stamped the butterflies the other way, lol.
 

I made 2 of each card to include in the set. In this group picture you can see the pretty shimmer of the white diamond used for the folder, which I also used on the 2nd from the right card. All of the cards were made with colored shimmer card stock and the paper truly makes the folder and set look stunning.

Since these are note cards, I left then inside blank for lots of writing room. The paper really makes it look pretty anyway, lol Here are some photos of the individual cards.

I had a hard time making these so that they will not cost extra postage. Embellishing without pearls, rhinestones, flowers, bows, and all that fun stuff is not easy, lol I hope she likes them.

I am entering this into the following challenges:
Daring Cardmakers: the darling "bugs" of May (desinger paper does not count), I chose butterflies
Creative Cowgirls: anything goes
Scrappy Frogs: anything goes
Crazy Challenge: anything goes
Make It Monday: anything goes

Hugs,

More Quick Cards

Here are the other 3 simple cards I made the other day. This first one I used the polished stone technique, with Time Holtz distress ink and applicator. I wonder why I don't do this technique more often since it is so easy and comes out pretty. You can find a tutorial here. The butterfly is from Kitchen Sink Stamps.

This next card is just a print I have in my digital files. I really like the colors.  I added some shimmer on the flower centers with my Sakura glitter pen. It looks pretty with the shimmer, adding just that needed touch. I didn't add a photo of it so that the post would not be to long, lol.

For this final card I just let the paper do the work. It has so much embossing and glitter already on it. I would not want to cover this paper anyway so it was good to use it for this type of card.

Have a great day!!!!

Hugs,

Quick Post...Quick Cards

My Sister-in-law gave one of my cards to a friend a few weeks back. The woman really liked it and wanted some to sell at work. I sent some in and they all sold. They had no prices not them, just what they wanted to give. Not the best way to break even, but at least they are not all sitting in a box under my desk.

I was asked if I could make some simpler cards. After thinking and checking others out, I made 6 cards in 2 hours the other day! I have to admit that simple cards are almost as hard as masculine cards for me. Here are 3 of them.

This is the very first one I made...I really don't like it. I used shimmer paper hoping it would pretty it up. The inside is plain with just a vanilla layer for writing on.

Here is the second card I made. Again I did not like it, so added some gem stones to snazzy it up. The inside of this card just has a vanilla layer to write on, also.

Here is the 3rd card. I liked this card. The paper is pretty and already has some gold on it. For the inside I stamped the flourishes with versa mark and embossed in gold. This card is less simple than the other two. I think that is why I like it more.

What do you think? Do you think they will like them? I need to make a bit more before sending them over but I am hoping they get better as I do more. I'll show you the others later, don't want to make this post to long, lol.

Hugs,

My Ooops! card

Well, I don't usually post on the weekends since they tend to be busy with Paul home. I thought I would make a short post with my Digital Tuesday Challenge Oooops! card, which you can read about here.

The image is from Spesch Designer Stamps and I absolutely love it. You can find it here and check out all the other wonderful stamps they have in the store too.

It really is a simple card, though I don't think it would be called CAS since it have some layers popped up with dimensionals. I made it simple so as not to distract from the image.

As you can see here, I added some glitter on the crowns, the layer edge and some sparkly spots around the princess. The paper came with the sparkly glitter already on it...love that kind of paper :o)

Of course, I have to show this to cute for words prince again!

I hope you all have a super weekend. I will be drawing the number for the blog candy tonight and post tomorrow. I did hit 200 so will be drawing 2 numbers, the second for a smaller surprise box. I so wish I could make some for everyone!!! Good luck to all my wonderful followers. I will post the winners tomorrow.
Hugs,

Lily of the Valley Quick and Easy Card

I found this image for a site called Far Far Hill where you can get loads of images and paper for free. Lily of the Valley happens to be my all time favorite flower, so I had to down load this one.

Since the image is pre-colored this card came together in a snap. I popped the layers up with demensionals to added some depth. I don't remember where the sentiment is from as I made this card last fall.

The antique brad is from Stampin' Up. I clipped the legs off with my wire cutters and simple adhered it with a glue dot.

Simple, simple card. Perfect for a thank you card too!

Thanks for stopping by >>>Big :o)

Hugs,

Cards To Have On Hand

If there is one kind of card I never seem to have, it is a sympathy card. Seems when I need one, I find my self thinking, "grrr...and I was going to make one to have on hand too".

I made this card last week to keep in my box of cards. When I showed it to my son Patrick (he is great at critiquing my projects in a nice way, lol) he said
"OH, this would be perfect for Linda".
"LINDA???, Why???" <<<me in shock
"Well. her mom just passed away" he said matter of factly.
"Oh, NO, why didn't anyone tell me?" sniff
"I don't know." as only a 23 year year old son could say

Linda, her husband and kids moved to PA a few years ago and we keep in touch through the kids, lol. The kids went to school together since 2nd grade. My boys have become like adopted sons to them and Travis has become an adopted son to us. Homes away from homes...I love having Travis around.

I used the stunningly beautiful White Diamond paper from Paper Temptress. This paper can make a card stunning if you only stamped an image on the front and left it at that! So pretty. There is no photo of the paper on her site, since the glimmer of it makes it impossible to capture on film. You would be patting yourself on the back if you sent for a free sample though. Just pop over and ask Patricia for one. Oh my gosh...you will LOVE it.

All I did was use an embossing folder for the bottom layer, score edges with my Score-pal. run my Krylon gold marker around the edges, emboss the sentiment in gold, added a little gold to the flower with the marker, put on a pretty ribbon (also from Paper Temptress), add pearls colored with the marker and adhered with dimensionals, giving me a fast and pretty card.

Phew...that sounds like a lot of steps, but they are all so quick.

For the inside sentiment, I stamped in gold and embossed with clear powder since the metallic inks never seem to dry for me and I was not sure if Versa Fine would stamp clearly.

This was such a quick to put together card, I now can make a few to keep on hand.

They other type of card I need to make and keep on hand is a masculine card! But that is a whole other post....

I am going to enter this card in the Blogger Challenge Embossing Challenge which is Embossing this week.

Hugs,

Ohhh...So Cute Chihuahua

I love this digital stamp from Wink Wink Ink, especially since I own 2 chihuahua's. I have one black and one white with black spots (she even has one black eye...so cute) Neither one has Rosy cheeks though. Therefore I opted to color this one brown, since it has to be the brown ones that have the rosy cheeks, tee he he
You can click on him...or is this a her??? to see the stamp in more detail. I did not write down the copic colors I used for this stamp, but plan to for my future cards.
After I colored the image, I cut it out and adhered it to the panel using my ATG...no dimensionals for a change! This is when I added the shadow and the outline.
I did attach the sentimentt with dimensionals though...I simply could not bring myself to leave the whole card without some dimensions...I am addicted!
I kept the inside very simple. Actually the whole card was very simple, except for the coloring. I find coloring takes me quite a bit of time. Often I am not happy with the results early on and decide to start again. It is always worth it to me.
I have an iris that I colored on Sunday which I started 5 times before I was happy with the first petal, sigh, LOL. I plan on making a card with it for Friday, so stop by.
BUT...don't forget to stop by tomorrow, OK!
Hugs, Sandy O
Comments from before moving to blogger
Sandy, LOVE the card! You did such a beautiful job inside and out! Keep up the good work! ;o) Posted by: Melanie April 09, 2010 at 10:46 AM Adorable! Love your card - and the inside is just as cute as the outside! Posted by: Marlene April 09, 2010 at 09:21 AM You did such a wonderful job of coloring Sandy! WOWZA!! And, the inside of the card is just as pretty as the outside! I often times forget about doing the inside ... thanks for the inspiration!! Awesome creation!! Posted by: Darlene (akronstamperdpk) April 07, 2010 at 07:55 AM Oh my, what a cute image! Posted by: lisa808 April 06, 2010 at 04:36 PM oh, he is cute!! Posted by: sarah coyle April 06, 2010 at 10:10 AM

Quick and Easy Card for a Quick Post

There are all different kinds of digital stamp companies popping up everywhere. Some have only black & white images while others include a colored version.  Wink wink Ink is one of the companies that includes a color image with every stamp.
At first I thought it was to help with knowing how to color the image, LOL. Then I saw some people actually making cards with them! WOW, I was not sure I could do that, ha ha ha, seemed kind of like cheating.
When you are looking for a really quick card to make, using the colored image is actually a great choice to make. Simply print it, cut it and attach it. The very best part is that you are not leaving a mess that you will sigh over the next time you enter your craft room.
This is one of the 3 projects that I have made with the color version of thier digital stamps. You can see the other 2 projects here and here.

Now how cute is this! Maybe it is because of my new grandson, but the first thing I thought of when I saw this image is "new baby".
I suppose this is a boy too, since it's egg is blue, LOL. Don't you wonder if the little chick thinks the rabbit is his mother, ha ha ha
I decorated the inside also. I used to decorate the inside all the time. A card simply did not seemed finished otherwise. But then.....I got lazy!
I have seen some cards where the inside is decorated almost better than the outside. I looks really nice, but I don't think I will ever go there. A little bit for looks and continuity is nice though.
Here is the inside of this card:

Not my best work, but a good start in getting back to truely completing a card.
I have found a couple of sites that have such fun items to download. I can hardly wait to share them as well as some of the projects with you.
Well, I am off to download one of my orders and then...well...PLAY!
Have a super day, Hugs, Sandy O
Comments from before swithing to Blogger This is adorable Sandy. Love the image. I have tried colored things before (well, only digital designer paper) and my printer doesn't print it very well. Your printer sure does a great job with the colored images. Love the way you decorated the inside too with matching designer paper and the flower circle. Posted by: Ellie | March 08, 2010 at 09:27 PM

Quick and Easy Cards

Today my post is going to be a quick and easy as the cards I have to share with you, LOL These 2 cards probably took me 1/2 hour each, but...that is because I do not start a project with a complete idea in mind. Usually I have an image, embellishment or color I want to use. I started these cards knowing what I wanted to use for my focal points. The rest came as searched out colors, embellishments, shape, etc. If you were to make one though, it most likely would not take you more than 10 minutes!

I made this card using a Thomas Kinkade postcard. Here is a side view: 

I cut the postcard using my nestabilities. Being a Thomas Kinkade image, just about any color paper would have worked as the framing layer. It really all depends on what part of the photo you want to bring out the most.

The color I chose softened the image. The white, which is White Diamond from the Paper Temptress brought out the haze and light peeking through trees. Outlining the image with my Krylon 18kt gold marker caused the light and the golden hints in the flowers show up better. Adding the pale pink pearls also helped to bring out more of the color in the flowers.

As you can see, I popped up 2 of the layers with pop dots which gave just the right dimension. I attached the charm with cord I ran through 2 holes I made with my paper piercer adhering the cord in the back with tape.

For this second card I used a sticker for the focal point. It is a 3-D sticker I have had for well over a year. I added a ribbon by wrapping it around the pot, making the bow separate and adhering with glue dots.

Deciding that the sticker needed some bling, I used my glue pen to add some glitter.

I decided to frame it with some paper piercing, which I love to add to floral images. The piercing is really very quick once you have the template in place. I use doto removable tape to hold the template so it does not slip from position.

I chose 2 colors in the flowers that I wanted to use for my layers and just rounded the corners with a punch. As it happened, I also had the same color gems in my gem, pearls and charms drawer.

Both of these cards are so quick and perfect for those last minute cards you may suddenly need. Best of all, they can fit with just about any occasion. 

What are some of your favorite ways to make quick and simple cards?  I would love to know.

Hugs, Sandy O

Comments from before moving to blogger The flowers looks beautiful. Posted by: underground hypnosis | March 12, 2010 at 12:25 AM Wowza! Beautiful work! Posted by: Marlene | February 22, 2010 at 02:29 PM OMG, Sandy these are fantastic. I love Thomas Kinkade and what a fantastic idea to use a postcard in your handmade creation. The flower sticker in your second cards looks stunning. So detailed and realistic!! Posted by: Ellie | February 18, 2010 at 10:44 PM These are both GORGEOUS!!! Love the vibrant color of the pansy bouquet yet the softness of the Kinkade image is very soft & soothing! Fantastic!! Posted by: Darlene (akronstamperdpk) | February 18, 2010 at 05:36 PM

Quick, Simple and Fun

As paper crafters, we are always evolving. Learning new technique and how to use new tool. To expand our horizons by trying new styles and new to us ideas. On that note, I am getting quite used to the quick and simple cards. They were the hardest style for me to make not so long ago. Being an embellishment addict I would sometimes overload my projects! Now I suppose I am finding myself going in the opposite direction but hopefully to find a nice balance in the near future.

I made these 2 quick cards yesterday. This one is for the Clean & Simple sketch challenge this week.

I really could not get away with no bling at all, lol. This beautiful shimmery paper is called White Diamond from Paper Temptress. The name describes the paper perfectly. The shimmer on this paper can not be hidden. I tried to get a photo of it showing through the copic coloring here. This elegant image and sentiment are from the Stampin' Up stamp set Abundant Hope which is available in the occasions mini currently out.

My next card I made from a sketch on Aly's Sunday Sketch challenge. If you have never been to Aly's, please stop by. Aly is a 11 year old crafter and she makes the cutest sketches that are fun to make.

Following her sketch exactly for this card you can see quite well what the sketch looks like. You can also click on the lind above. Is that not the cutest layout.

I really don't know why the photos come out so dark when uploaded to my blog. I am going to have to figure it out. This card is a good example of how dark they actually download. The white is such a vibrant white in real life.

If you click on the photos though, you can see how much better the cards look before downloading :o)

On a personal note...I am so excited I have to share...my son Patrick is flying into Boston this afternoon for his 2 week R&R from Iraq. So glad we get these 2 weeks with him in the middle of his tour. My other son who is in the USMC did not get an R&R mid tour. Today will be the first time Patrick will see his 3 week old nephew too. It is going to be a fun evening when the whole family gets together.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Hugs, Sandy O