Thoughtful Branches 'For You' Card

This little card was one of my favorites I made this year.  I used a lot of fun 'tools' to create this card.  Doing so enabled me to make a great card quickly.  A little light sponging around the tree and it is ready for Christmas.

Well, this is scary to think that I may be winding up my Christmas prep for this year.  I finished my shopping Friday, with my daughter and our sweet baby Joey.  He is a great little shopper.  I finished my cards a couple days ago that I will mail.  I just need to wrap up everything and then I have a couple of projects I'm working on for the kids (almost finished with those, too).  It's so much fun to have a little extra time to do some extra projects.  Like I said, it's scary.  What did I forget to do that I have this extra time?

I'm continuing to share little treats whenever I'm out somewhere.  This is super fun and I'm spreading the joy.  I've been leaving treats for the mail carrier in my mailbox each day.  They work hard and deserve some extra spoiling.

Sunday morning, I was knocked out of commission by a headache from %$#@$%#@$.  I think I was dehydrated.  I rested, drank copious amounts of water and my head feels normal again.  Well, I'm sure my head was never truly normal, but it feels better:)  In the afternoon, Jenn and I took the two older boys to a tour of two famous mansions in Decatur --- the Millikin Homestead and the Governor Oglesby Mansion.  They were all decked out for Christmas and looked just gorgeous.  I took my students to the Millikin Homestead every year when I taught third grade and we studied about early Decatur, so I know a lot about that home and ended up actually giving a tour to the boys.  My husband is a docent at the Oglesby Mansion, so he gave us a tour there.  He knows a lot about its history, too.  I think the boys learned a lot and enjoyed our outing.

Updates:

- I have 1 more of the Tin of Tags class kits available.

- I'll have class schedules coming out soon for 2017.

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

- Look on the left for sneak peeks and registration policies. 

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- Come  back often for more creative inspiration. 

Copper Tree Fall Card And A Few Good Tips

I have a card for you today that is full of sparkle and shimmer.  The tree is cut from our Copper Foil Sheets and the background is endless shimmer ... because I really spritzed it ... a LOT.

More about the background:
- Cut an oval from watercolor paper.
- Add a couple of colors quickly, using an Aqua Painter.
- After the background dries, spritz it (A LOT) with a shimmer mist.

Tips for attaching a 'sprig' of ribbon:
- Add Liquid Tombow to the flatter side of the knot.
- Take a large punch (leaving it closed) and set it over the knot.
- Leave the punch weighting down the knot until the adhesive dries.

In the photo below, you can see all the shimmer I added to the background.

We made this card at one of my previous Saturday Stampers classes.  It was a big hit.

Don't forget these upcoming events:

October 1 is World Card Making Day.

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

- Look on the left for sneak peeks and registration policies. 

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- Come  back often for more creative inspiration. 

Razzleberry Fun Fold Card

Today's card was created with a color I don't use very often ... no special reason ... just don't.  I am trying to use it more frequently, as it is a very pretty color.  I used one of my favorite fun folds to create this card. 

The card is a standard size of 4 1/4 X 11" and is scored at 2 3/4" and 5 1/2".  You fold like a regular card and then fold the front back the opposite direction.

You can fancy up the inside of the card, as well, coordinating the design to work when the card is opened or closed.

For fun, I tied some of the ribbon around the envelope.  This may not go through the mail, but you can do it for a hand delivered card.  The ribbon is gorgeous!

Don't forget these upcoming events:

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

- Look on the left for sneak peeks and registration policies. 

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- Come  back often for more creative inspiration. 

Watercolor Tag Card and A Funny Story

Here's a closer look at one of the cards we made at my last Saturday Stampers class.  Check out the detailed embossing.  

Our new Cable Knit embossing folder is an entirely new way of embossing.  It's super thick, therefore using only one cutting plate with the Big Shot.  The results are a deeply textured embossing for your project.  I love it!

I have to share the funny story behind this pretty card.  One day, I was happily working away in my studio, playing with inks and watercolor paper.  I was big into Fall cards and, therefore, using lots of Cajun Craze.  I wanted to test how dark I'd mixed the ink before working on my card, so I grabbed what I thought was a scrap of watercolor paper.  After I'd added a little ink, I realized I'd mistakenly grabbed a good tag ... so ... I quickly continued my color on to cover the main portions of the tag.  I already had out the text and leaf image stamps in my work area, so the inspiration hit quickly and the next thing I knew, I had created a beautiful Fall card:)  I love it!

If you haven't worked much with watercolor, I hope you'll give it a try.  You are only limited by your creativity ... and ... I think watercolor seems to be my best inspirational motivation.  It sets my creative juices on fire.  I hope it will work that way for you, too.

Don't forget these upcoming events:

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

- Look on the left for sneak peeks and registration policies. 

- Please sign up to follow my blog and/or leave a comment. 

- Come  back often for more creative inspiration. 

Thoughtful Branches

Today, I thought I'd share some of the Stampin' Up! samples for some inspiration in using our wonderful Thoughtful Branches bundle.  It's a wonderful stamp set and the dies are so versatile.  I'm sure you'll come up with more ideas on your own and, hopefully, these will help you get started.

Aren't these great ideas?

- Thanks for stopping by my corner of the blogging world. 

- Click on the tab at the top to see my class schedules. 

- Look on the left for sneak peeks and registration policies. 

- Please sign up to follow my blog and/or leave a comment. 

- Come  back often for more creative inspiration.