It’s Time For Our 2011 Handmade Christmas Cards using Joys of the Season Cricut Cartridge

Time has been flying since we moved.  Getting adjusted to the new town and even the new time zone for us has been exciting.  But with all of the great distractions, it is time to get started and make time for getting creative and to make our handmade Christmas Cards.

This year I need to incorporate our new address along with a Christmas theme.  So I decided to make a Christmas ornament using the Joys of the Season Cricut Cartridge, and a We’ve Moved rubber stamp from PSX. (I just wish this stamp had two cats in the window to represent my two boys).

Now deciding what color to make the ornament and back panel.  I choose………. Christmas green and red (how appropriate – LOL)

I used the Cricut Expression Machine to cut the ornaments.  Then I used a Cutter Bee paper trimmer to cut the red back panel.

Some other supplies that I will use is Copic Sketch markers, Elmer’s permanent dot runner, pop dots, natural polished hemp rope, Memento tuxedo black dye ink, and some sea shells from our beach (if you don’t have a beach near by, then you can always purchase shell online or in a craft store).

I printed our address on blue cardstock and used an oval paper punch from punch bunch to cut them out.  The reason why I had to do that was the space that the stamp provided was way to small for our address and if I did write that tiny, no one would have been able to read it.  So when I stamped the image on white cardstock I just masked that part of the image so it wouldn’t stamp.   Then to add some dimension I used a pop dot to raise the address from the card.  The finishing touch was attaching the sea shell with the hemp rope along with our inside message.

Wishing All Of Your Dreams Come True This Holiday Season

Merry Christmas Everyone

Tags: Copic sketch markers, cricut cartridge, cricut cartridge joys of the season, cricut expression, cricut expression machine, elmer's permanent dot runner, handmade christmas cards, Handmade Greeting Cards, joys of the season cricut cartrige, memento dye ink, rubber stamps, tuxedo black memento dye ink

Making A Handmade Mother’s Day Card Using Copic Markers And A Rubber Stamp

Wanting to send some sunshine to our Mom’s this year for Mother’s Day.  This was a simple card to make but it turned out really nice.  I used a rubber stamp from Outlines rubber stamp company and stamped it 3 times (since I was going to cut out images and layer with pop dots) on white cardstock and tuxedo black memento ink.

So for the first stamped image I colored it completely using Copic Sketch markers.

The second stamped image I only colored the inner square with the sun and palm tree. Then I cut it out and layered onto the first image.

Then on the third stamped image I only colored the palm tree and the circle of the sun.  I cut out the palm tree and using pop dots placed it on top of the second stamped image and did the same for the center of the sun.

I used black cardstock as the base for the stamped images then coordinated some blue cardstock for the last layer.

I’m always looking for that 3D look.

Wishing all the Mother’s a Wonderful Day Today & Always!

Tags: Copic sketch markers, handmade greeting card, handstamped greeting card, memento ink, mother's day card, outlines rubber stamp company, rubber stamp

Making Handmade Easter Cards Using Rubber Stamps ~ Copic Sketch Markers & Cricut Expression Machine

Ever since I went to my local rubber stamp convention, I have so many new ideas for handmade cards.  And the best part is that it is not costing any more money, since I have all the supplies.  I am using all of the stamps that I have already owned but am using them in a totally different way.  I went from just stamping on cardstock to making 3D images.

So here is a bunch of supplies that I have used to make this Easter Card.  Rubber stamps from Stamps Happen Inc, and Stampabilities.  Memento Tuxedo Black Ink, Cutter Bee Scissors, Martha Stewart Punch Around the Page paper punch, Cardstock and alot of Copic Sketch Markers.

I also used my Cricut Expression machine to cut out the border grass from the Plantin Schoolbook cartridge and also used the Pooh and Friends Cricut cartridge for the small patches of grass.

The template was used to cut (with X-Acto knife) small lines and then folded to make a 3-D platform.  It took awhile to get the folds just right, but it was sure worth the effort.

It was so much fun coloring these stamped Easter eggs, then I cut them out and added them  onto the card.

I almost forgot to tell you.  I wanted the front of the Easter card to be really simple since the inside had all of the fun stuff .  So all I did was stamped Happy Easter on the bottom corner and then I used some Easter egg ribbon from Bobbin Ribbon, that I wrapped around the card and made a bow on the front.  That’s it really simple.

Look how cute this Easter card came out.  This little chick is so adorable.

Happy Easter Everyone!

Tags: Copic sketch markers, cricut expression machine, handmade easter card, martha stewart border punch, memento tuxedo black ink, plantin schoolbook cricut cartridge, pooh and friends cricut cartridge, rubber stamps, stampabilities rubber stamps, stamps happen rubber stamps

Using Clear Rubber Stamps To Make A Handmade Birthday Card For The Coffee Lover

Making cards is so much fun! Here is a quick post of  a card that I made for my brother-in-law for his birthday.

The colors brown and light blue look so good together.

For the card base I used Kraft cardstock ~ Then using my Creative Memories circle cutter I just cut half a circle on the fold  of the card so that when it opened you would be able to see the image inside too!

The light blue cardstock from Stampin Up was used for the panel and the circle ~ Ribbon from Michael’s called dashes, dots & checks ~ Clear stamps from TPC called Coffee Cafe with an acrylic block, some memento ink and you have the perfect masculine card for a coffee lover.

Wishing Harry the Best Birthday!

Make it a Great Day and don’t forget to leave time to Craft!

Tags: clear rubber stamps, handmade birthday card, handmade greeting card, memento dye ink

New Paper Folding and Layering Technique For A Handmade Birthday Card

I have always loved the way greeting cards looked when you open them up and they “pop” with excitement.  Not just your ordinary card that may have a beautiful saying but nothing special.

Well those days are over.  I have been using different folding techniques that really make your handmade greeting cards fun and exciting.  It does take a little more time then your regular card, but it is well worth it.

Tomorrow is my sister-in-laws birthday and then on Monday it’s my Mom’s birthday.  I wanted to make them both a really pretty, and different card that they would remember, so here is what the birthday card looks like. (I used the same design for them both but I changed the coloring)

This is the front of the card.  I rubber stamped the image onto white cardstock (this dragonfly stamp from Stamps Happen, Inc) the stamp was a large print but I only used the center of the design and colored with Copic Sketch markers.  Then I cut out the image and layered it onto the solid green cardstock that was layered onto the patterned paper with pop dots for a dimensional look.

Now for fun inside of this birthday card.   I stamped some sentiments on white cardstock tags.  Then layered onto a light lavender cardstock.  I wanted to bring the theme of the dragonfly into the inside of the card so I stamped this image of a dragonfly (from Stamp Crafts)  three times and colored with Copic Sketch markers, then I cut them out using my Cutter Bee Precision tip scissors.  I finished them off by gluing them to each of the sentiment tags.

The great part about this card is that I have had these rubber stamps for years and used them one dimensional.  But with a different fold of the card and some layering, it is like having some brand new stamps all over again.

~ Wishing Lin Marie and my Mom a Wonderful Birthday ~

Make it a Great Day and don’t forget to leave time to Craft!

Tags: card folding techniques, Copic sketch markers, cutter bee precision tip scissors, handmade birthday card, handmade greeting card