Christmas Baubles

Since it's been such a long while that I've put some effort into a card, I thought I would participate in a couple of blog challenges to get the creative juices flowing again.  This one was challenging for several reasons, including not wanting to stick to the foam I have it mounted on using my tried and true tape runner. So I decided to use gel glue to hold things in place and that changed the colors of the inks on my stitched panel and ornaments which I then had to go back and touch up. I'm still relatively happy with how it turned out.

I started by stenciling and then stitching the Taylored Expressions Beautiful Baubles. I poked the stitching holes with a needle, trying to mimic the spacing of my background die. This set did not originally come with matching dies so I fussy cut them along with the little hanger/toppers that I heat embossed and then finished off with jump rings and baker's twine.

Next, I ran my A2 white panel trough my die cut machine with the PaperTrey Ink Cover Plate: Stitched Florals die.  I then inked my background, stitched with 2 strands of DMC floss and then spattered with water and bleed proof white.  

The vellum banner was stamped with VersaMark and heat embossed with black powder.  The lower left bauble and panel are bumped up on foam and mounted to coordinating background paper from my stash.

I would like to enter this card into the following challenges:

Build Your Stash Holiday Cardmaker Group: Sketch #50

Fans of Taylored Expressions FB Group: Colors: Jalepeno, Cherry Pop + Your Choice

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge: Christmas

A Pair of Anniversaries

I've made two anniversary cards for two very special couples this month; my in-laws, Bill and Jean's 72nd and my dear friends, Arthur and Donna's 40th.

I'm very much out of practice making cards, much less coming up with ideas for them and so I decided to case a card made by someone who's beautiful creations speak to my imagination like no other's.  I'm using what I have on hand though, so really, the only thing that's similar is the flower arrangement.

Firstly, I cut turquoise cardstock using the PTI Border Bling: Blooming Hearts large die, used my corner rounder and then sponged a light layer of Picket Fence Distress Ink right at the cut design.

Next, I cut a small panel of white cardstock to fit within the dotted design of the diecut.  I then stenciled vertical stripes using Salty Ocean Distress Ink and PTI's Watercolor Plaid stencils.  The sentiment is an old, wooden Hampton Art stamp.

The florals were made by cutting watercolor paper with PTI's Into The Blooms: Dahlia, Birthday Bouquet and Sizzix: Branch w/Leaves, sponged with Mowed Lawn, Peeled Paint, Twisted Citron, Mustard Seed and Wild Honey Distress Inks.  All were spattered with water and Vintage Photo DI.

Lastly, I mounted my card front to a 4.25 x 5.50 inch card base, added a button and bow using PTI's Festive Birds dies and then some yellow sequins for a bit of bling.