Embossed Sleigh

This is a card that I might give to a guy just because of its simplicity and the color scheme that is used. You'll need a stencil of a sleigh (you can choose any stencil), embossing pen, embossing powder, as well as a heat gun. I traced the stencil in parts because I wanted the powder to stick evenly--I inked part of the image and applied embossing powder, inked another part and applied embossing powder, and etc., etc., etc...

Below, is the envelope that I made to go with the card. 

Christmas Ornaments Card

This is a very simple card made from cut outs and a few embellishments. You can download and print the cut outs for free from http://www.papercraftinspirationsmagazine.co.uk/page/papercraft?entry=free_festive_fun_papers_plus2.

Quilled Snowflake-Xmas Tree Card

I took a little break from card making and now I'm rushing to finish in time~ahhh!!!

The top left quilled snowflake you may remember from a previous entry and the tree on the bottom right, I created on my own out of desperation for another item to balance out the card. The envelope in the picture will be accompanying the card and was made from the Crafter's Companion--4"x4" envelope.

I hope you're all having a blast creating holidays cards, if you haven't done so already!!!

Free X-mas Labels

http://blog.worldlabel.com/2010/christmas-labels-for-free-by-ink-tree-press.html

Stumbled across these free X-mas labels. You can input different addresses on the labels if you'd like by clicking, "Download Different Info" to personalize them. Hope this helps your holiday crafting!

Free Templates and Printable Paper Patterns

I went to Borders today and picked up two card making magazines from the UK. Why is it that the US doesn't offer all of the freebies that UK magazines offer to their readers?! Both magazines had free papers, die-cuts, stickers, and additional freebies of glitter gel pens and dry embossing templates! I realize that it costs a bit more, but at least I am building my collection as I am attempting to remake the examples in your magazine! While I do complain about this, I know that at these prices I am only able to purchase a few copies a year to work with my budget. Okay, I'll stop whining now. lol

The reason why I am bringing this up is because I am reading through the November issue of PaperCraft Inspirations and I see that their website: http://www.papercraftinspirationsmagazine.co.uk/, offers free templates (although some you may not understand how to use unless you match it up to the guide within the specific issue) and patterned paper that you may print out. I am directing this at the person who scraps or makes cards partially or fully digital. Just click on the links on the left and save whatever interests you and your collection of goodies. =)

Holidays are Coming!

This is a card I made last year for my friend, Jenny.  The snowman was taken from these Inkadinkado clear stamps set and although it is hard to see, the snowman was wet embossed with black powder. The wreath of snowflakes was created from Cuttlebug die cuts and the dots on the bottom right, inner circle were dry embossed using a Cuttlebug embossing folder. Pearl-colored beads, glitter glue, and rhinestones top off the embellishing finishes.

Snowflakes are Coming Your Way

Colder temperatures call for more seasonal themed cards. This was my first attempt at quilling a snowflake and while it didn't turn out perfect or symmetrical, I am proud to say that it is good enough to be used on someone's card this year! lol!!! Sorry in advance to the person who receives this sad snowflake! :P

I have borrowed this snowflake pattern from somewhere. I can't find the website at the moment, but I will link it as soon as I come across it! My apologizes!

When Your Mind Considers: Bad Health or No Health

Some days are worse than others and when it's bad, it can get REALLY bad. "Helpless" is the word that I often hear people use who are close to chronically or terminally ill loved ones. At times, all you can do is watch and hope for the best. At some point, those good-intentioned words of motivation and support are lost in the pain and seemingly endless suffering. Being headstrong is the only thing left for the individual when the body refuses to cooperate physically while working in tandem with your (hopefully, good and caring) doctors.

After going through some of that experience, I would say to the individual to:

1. stay reasonable, logical, and sane by way of thinking during difficult times, as tired and as frustrated as you are;

2. believe in yourself and keep your desire to live in mind;

3. know that anyone who has stopped by or even inquired about you is pulling for you and if you give up, then where is all of their energy going?;

4. let patience be on your side--the extra amount of stress on your body and mind will not get you into a better state for treatment, healing, or hope;

5. not neglect your body's needs (be it basic exercise/movement or brushing your teeth) because you will pay for it later when you recuperate (!!!);

5. reach out to god, if you believe in it.

Hopefully somewhere down the line, you arrive at a point where your health is manageable/tolerable--the ability to find a balance, where you have some good along with the bad--as I have at this time.

Best wishes and stay fighting, as others are fighting for you!

Life Doesn't Wait

It's been a mixture of good and bad lately--bad health for some and new beginnings for others. (Congrats to Eva who is delivering her first son as I write!!!) With that said, I haven't had the time to make cards and especially to update the blog.

I finally got one of these, but I haven't even had time to play around with it. :(














Anyway, the cold weather is hitting and my skin is going nuts, so I thought I'd share this free Vaseline sample as well as these articles for dry skin:  

-8 Reasons for Dry, Itchy Skin in Fall and Winter; 
-Different Skin Care for Different Body Parts

Inside Design: Rub-on Flourishes and Rhinestones

With the use of flourishes and rhinestones as semi-borders, it draws the attention away from the outline of the paper.

While I'm Still Cleaning: A Card From Earlier This Year

I can not express to you how quickly this card was put together (compared to other ones at least). Just 4 pieces of paper that you work with in total, 2 flowers, a piece of ribbon, and some glitter glue and you're done! It is suitable for many occasions which is also a huge plus.

Flower Thank You Note Card

You don't always have to send over an entire card to express your thanks. Why not a dressed up note card? On the back side of the card, I attached my note.

Penciled in Stamp

My friend, Colleen, received this birthday card from me for her last birthday. The stamped image was colored in with regular Crayola color pencils. It goes to show that you can use whatever you have at home to make nice cards. :)

Happy stamping!

Forever...a Wedding Card

I really should be unpacking, but I'm not...:X

This is a wedding card for my friend, Katie, who tied the knot back in July. It was very quick to make as I used stickers. The yellow Prima flower was dusted with perfect pearls and the pretty floral ribbon matched nicely thanks to the array of black dots sprawled all over the background.

Enjoy your Tuesday!

♥A Sweet Wish for My BF♥

The internet was finally set up today. :))) We're far from settling into the new apartment, but we have almost everything in here except the cookware. It was all thanks to all of my great friends and parents that we were able to get everything done in one day! It's great to be back in the neighborhood, Bensonhurst, where I was raised and around most of my friends and family. 

I'm still getting used to the noises of this apartment. It is situated near two intersecting avenues while the last apartment was on a much quieter street in the middle of the block.

I gave this cupcake card to my boyfriend one day. I made it originally not having plans for anyone in particular, but he came home from work and said he really liked it so why not? So what if it's pink? :D

I quickly made up the inside with a post-it note, so please don't mind it. The card twists a full 360º thanks to an eyelet that was set through both pieces of cardstock and hidden behind the frosting cut out.

Have a super sweet week!

Little One

With one of my friend's first child on the way, I have created a card to give to her at the baby shower next Sunday. She is due to have a boy in December, so I chose the color blue. I really hope she doesn't take a look here before I give it to her! =X

I used Perfect Pearls for the cat face on the bib (my friend thought it was a toilet and the pattern paper reminded him of bathroom tiles...I guess a bib doesn't come to mind right away, but I hope she gets it. :D).

This is the interior:

I used scalloped scissors to form the frilling of the bib.

I won't have internet for a few days due to the move this weekend, but Cablevision plans to come on Monday to restore service at the new apartment so I'll be back online then. I hope you all have a fun-filled weekend.

Girlie Thanks!

I currently have this card up in my etsy shop. It comes with free shipping. =)

Most of the time spent was on the flower. It's made out of vellum and wet embossed.

A Thank You to My Brother

Today marks the 50th card that I made! Yay!!!

This card is currently on its way to my brother in Astoria, Queens, NY. I tried to make it very boyish with stars and the toned down colors. I bought braiding cords from Walmart and had these confetti stars left over from a party many years ago. This picture really doesn't do justice for the shiny-ness of the stars.

Supplies:
-Braiding cords or any type of twine
-Cardstock
-Stars
-Glue
-Rub-on sticker
-White pigment ink (for the edges of the papers)
-Patterned paper

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Heart Through Time

I worked on this tonight. If you'd like a better image, please leave me a comment under this post with your e-mail. :)

To sum it up, the heart is symbolic in that I wanted to show how love has come out on top despite all the rough parts in a relationship. I was going for something similar to "beauty is only skin deep" to demonstrate that what's important is still safely protected within.

Have a great night!

First Time With Someone Else

I hope everyone's long weekend was as great as the weather here! It was a comfortable 75 all weekend long with no rain and a lot of sunshine.

On Sunday, I made a card for the first time with someone else. Ellen needed a wedding card and it was her first time. I wasn't very good at giving instructions, but she picked up on things quickly anyway. :P This is what we came up with:

Butterfly Thank You 2

This is a variation on the Butterfly Thank You card posted on 8.26.2010. The only real difference is in the color palette (I used pink instead of all the blues) and I set the background with embossing powder instead of Perfect Pearls.

You can see how differently it shimmers in the light as compared to the Perfect Pearls application. 

Supplies (may not be linked to the exact product that I used):
-White cardstock
-Felt butterfly
-Rhinestones of various sizes
-Patterned paper
-Adhesive
-Butterfly stamp
-Pigment ink
-Border punch
-Heat gun
-Glitter embossing powder
-Watermark ink
-Glitter glue