Mr Pumpkin

Mr Pumpkin, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

OK, here he is in all his (grotesque) glory!!

=D

I *told* you the lady at the pumpkin patch said this one had "character" and he so totally does!!

Also, attempting to carve through his thick, tough hide made my plans for an upper body workout today completely unneeded!!

Happy weekend, everyone!! And an early Happy Halloween to you all!!!!


~Cynthia

Ornament in a snow storm

Ornament in a snow storm, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

So with Halloween card making done, I'm back to Christmas cards. This one is based on an idea from Jessica Witty on her Witticisms blog.

I'm not too sure about it. It looks way prettier on Jessica's blog. ;-)

Basically...I punched a circle on one side of a piece of white cardstock. Then I ran it through a snowflake embossing folder. I attached a piece of green swirly paper behind the punched circle, adding a red bow to mimic an ornament.

I adhered that to a white cardblank, adding the sentiment in red ink at the bottom.

So....yes?...no?


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank); Bazzill (white cardstock)
Stamp: Penny Black (Crystalline set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Fired Brick)
ETC: Martha Stewart (bow punch); Cuttlebug (snowflakes embossing folder); Marvy (circle punch); Glue Glider Pro


I guess I should start my Thanksgiving cards now. I've been busy the past few days making and working in journals. I made one journal out of a slick-papered cookbook. I love LOVE that Distress Stains work so awesomely on that kind of paper! Such fun!!

~Cynthia

Boo!

Boo!, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Here's my last Halloween card. AND I even managed to get all of them stamped, addressed and mailed. Yay me!! ;-)

Super simple card. Three stamps and two inks. Ta da! FINITO!!



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Inkadinkdado (Haunted Tree); Clear Art Stamps (Halloween Fun set)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Black Soot and Rusty Hinge)


Thanks for stopping in today--I so appreciate your visits and your comments!!!

~Cynthia

Negative Happy Birthday

Negative Happy Birthday, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Well, not negative as in the sense of "have a bad birthday," but negative as in negative space! I punched out a few yellow flowers for another project and thought the negative image looked cool, so I kept on punching and then just used it as a panel on my card!

How ingenious, eh?? ;-)

I stamped the image in blue because I love the yellow and gray-blue combination.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank);  stash (from Studio Jenn blog candy)
Stamp: Stampin Up (birthday sentiment)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Stain (Weathered Wood)
ETC: Punch Bunch (small, medium and large daisy punches); Glue Glider Pro


Today I walked outside to sweep the leaves off the porch where I took photos of my recently created cards. I looked down on the ground and saw this odd colored little leafy branch thing. Turns out it was one of the leafy branch things I punched out and used on my card I showed you yesterday.

SIGH.

I need better glue or something.


~Cynthia ;-)

Sprigs of Holly

Sprigs of Holly, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Happy Monday, y'all! First up this week is another Christmas card. This one is super simple, but it took a bit of time to bring it all together.

You know how some recipes list the prep time and also the total time?? This took a bit of prep time and a bit of 'baking' time too. ;-)

Punching out the feathery leaves was easy. I used snippets of two different green cardstock colors. It adds a bit of shadow and depth.

Then I also had to spend a little time printing out cool tickets from Miss CutiePie. She's got TONS of freebie printables on her blog! I chose the Christmas Wish one and distressed it a little with Vintage Photo Distress Ink on the edges.

I glued down the branches, tucked the ticket in, popped up on 3D Dots. Then I glued a few more branches to cover the ticket a bit and make the sprigs seem fuller.

Finally I added some berries--Distress Stickles. The only thing I don't like about Stickles is that they don't dry very shiny. But they do have a bit of glitter going on, so I guess I can live with it. ;-)

Then my 'baking' time--I had to leave the card on the table to let the Stickles dry. Heh.



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (Ivory cardblank); Bazzill (green cardstock)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Vintage Photo)
ETC: Martha Stewart (branch punch); Tim Holtz Distress Stickles (Fired Brick)  EK Success (3D Dots); Zig Two-way Glue Pen; Miss CutePie (free printable ticket) Tickets here


I still have two more Halloween cards to make. I hope to have time in the craft studio tomorrow--I had better because I need to mail them on Wednesday!! =D That's great motivation, eh??


~Cynthia

Winterscape

Winterscape, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

OK, let's start with my second most used disclaimer:

I totally copied this idea from another card maker and now I can't remember who it was and I feel bad for stealing the idea and not giving credit.

Sigh.

(**Number one most used disclaimer is--"Sorry for the horrible photo." You know, in case you were wondering. ;-) **)


With that out of the way...here's today's card. I really like it and it was really easy to make! The best kind, right??

I cut a piece of kinda lighter navy blue cardstock and used a white ink pad to swipe the bottom of the paper, drifting-snow like. (Note to self: Don't swipe a lot or the preciously pristine white ink pad will become slightly blue. Sigh.)

I also swiped the ink pad along all the edges of the card, which I think brings in a bit of Professional Card Maker kind of vibe.

Then I stamped the awesome, magical trees and hit the floating snow with a glitter gel pen and dotted a few bits of the snow in the trees as well. I also added a bit of snow at the tree trunk base with a white gel pen.

And I was done! I think I'll just stamp the sentiment on the inside. It's way too cool to mess up the outside! Heh heh. ;-)


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank); Bazzill (blue cardstock)
Stamp: Penny Black (Snow Dust)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot); Color Box (Frost White)


Pumpkin Update: I haven't carved Mr. Pumpkin yet, maybe on Monday. He's sitting happily outside on the deck railing in the sun at the moment. :-)


Have a crafty day and thanks for stopping in! Your comments are ALWAYS appreciated!!!! =D


~Cynthia

Christmas CAS

Christmas CAS, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Here's one last Christmas tree card. This CAS design was once again CASE'd from Vicky at Crafting Clare's Paper Moments.

This layout is closer to the card Vicky actually made--white snow and blue sky.

Of all the cards in this series, this is my favorite. :-)


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Penny Black (Crystalline set--sentiment); Stampabilities (Christmas Tree With Swirls)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass and Fired Brick)


Happy Friday, all!! Have a great weekend!! And thanks for stopping by today!


~Cynthia

Christmas Tree Farm

Christmas Tree Farm, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Here's another card using the same Christmas tree as some of the previous cards. I CASE'ed this from the KingstonMamaCrafts blog, run by Ann. She has some really cool, really clean and simple cards that are quite beautiful.

I like how the trees look as if they're standing on a Christmas tree farm. I did a bit of masking to add the "behind" trees. Super simple and it went very fast. I think maybe I'll add a bit of bling to the tops for some sparkle. =D


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Stampabilities (Christmas Tree With Swirl); Penny Black (Crystalline set--sentiment)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Peeled Paint, Fired Brick)



It's windy and chilly out today, but the sun is shining gloriously as it dries out the remains of the close-to-two-inches of rain we've had the past few days.

I went out to my favorite pumpkin lot and grabbed a jack-o-lantern with personality, as the lady working there said. =D

I love carving pumpkins.

There.

I said it.


~Cynthia

Snowy tree

Snowy tree, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Quick post tonight!

This is the same card as two days ago (Saturday), I just changed it to a vertical card. I played with the Tumbled Glass ink a bit to make the tree look like it's standing on a snowy hill.

Again, I borrowed the idea from Vicky at Crafting Clare's Paper Moments blog.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Penny Black (Crystalline set--sentiment); Stampabilities (Christmas Tree With Swirls)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass); ColorBox (Chianti Pigment Ink)


Craft happy!! =D

~Cynthia

Poinsettias? Maybe

Poinsettias? Maybe, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Boy, did I ever have troubles with this card.

I started out with pretty, light blue punched snowflakes. Three of them. Falling out of the sky. So peaceful.

And I hated them.

So I ripped them off, leaving glue spots.

And the sad little card sat on my work desk for weeks.

I could almost hear it crying.

So I punched out some white daisies and adhered them to the card.

But it didn't really go with the brown ink nor the sentiment.

I mean...white daisies, on kraft, with Walnut Stain Christmas??

So I punched out some medium red daisies. And brought everyone together.

And I think it's OK.

So tell me honestly....should this card hit the bin? Or is it Christmasy enough to send to someone??



Supplies:
Paper: The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank); Recollections (white cardstock); Bazzill (red cardstock)
Stamps: Stampabilities (Merry Christmas 08)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Walnut Stain)
ETC: Punch Bunch (large, medium, small daisy punch)


I'm off to rake leaves. To me, this is worse than dusting. I mean, more leaves are going to fall on the yard five minutes after I'm done. AM I RIGHT????


~Cynthia ;-)

Tree on a snowy day

Tree on a snowy day, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I totally got the idea for this card over on Crafting Clare's Paper Moments blog. She has some gorgeous cards on her site! She (Vicky) posted this on Simplicity's blog for the One Layer Wednesday Challenge.

I reversed Vicky's idea a bit. I stamped a tree, then tore a piece of scrap paper to make a frozen pond. I used the paper as an template/outline, brushing ink along the tear and down toward the bottom of the card.

I really love the way the colors look together too! Cute and quick!!



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Penny Black (Crystalline set--sentiment); Stampabilities (Christmas Tree With Swirls)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Peeled Paint, Tumbled Glass and Fired Brick)


I've had so much fun today! I got the pesky one thing that was still on my To Do List done and I've spent all day in my craft room! I cranked out a bunch of Christmas cards--yay!!

Thanks for stopping by today--I hope you find time for creativity!


~Cynthia

Last Halloween Card

Last Halloween Card, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I don't often do layered cards, but I thought it would be fun to do one for Halloween.

I tried to find papers that had the same colors and then did a lot of distressing (with inks and a paper distresser) .

First layer is printed tissue paper, which I think is 7Gypsies, but the package has no name on it. Then some BoBunny paper, a bit of black cardstock, and the top layer is a Tim Holtz sticker which I left on the backer paper to give it some dimension.

I inked the edges of the cardblank and the BoBunny paper, as well as the tissue paper. I used Vellum Tape to adhere the tissue paper and it worked really well.

I stamped the sentiment in the corner and called it a day!


Supplies:
Paper: The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank); 7Gypsies (printed tissue paper); BoBunny (et cetera Collection); Bazzill (black cardstock); Tim Holtz Ideology (Salvage Stickers)
Stamp: Clear Art Stamps (Halloween Fun set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot)
ETC: Scotch Vellum Tape; Glue Glider Pro; Making Memories Paper Distresser


I can't believe it's Friday! Where did this week go?? Thankfully I've gotten most of my To Do List done. Just one more pesky item and then I've got a free weekend!! YAY!!

Have a wonderful weekend!!!! =D

~Cynthia

Caught in a spider web!

Caught in a spider web!, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I hope you can see this one! It's quite possibly my most favorite Halloween card ever.

And I do mean ever.

Seriously.

Check it:

I ran the front of a white card blank through a spider web embossing folder.

Then I stamped the spider up in the corner. And miraculously and I do mean MIRACULOUSLY there was room at the bottom for my sentiment.

The design forms an awesome little visual triangle--although it's totally an obtuse angle! ;-)

Quick and easy.

Sweet!


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Clear Art Stamp (Halloween Fun set)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Black Soot and Rusty Hinge)
ETC: Sizzix Big Shot for Stampin Up (Textured Impressions--Spider Web embossing folder)



I still need to make one more Halloween card--I've been playing in my art journal this week and haven't gotten the last card finished! Better get on that! ;-)

Thanks for stopping in!

~Cynthia

Five Little Pumpkins

Five Little Pumpkins, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

This card makes me smile.

Five little pumpkins.

A strip of white.

A happy little wish.

That's all. =D

To make the pumpkins, I dragged Rusty Hinge Distress Ink across a piece of cardstock, then spritzed it with water to create a mottled look. When that was dry, I stamped the pumpkins, cut them out and created shadows on the bottom by rubbing the ink pad lightly on each pumpkin. Then I used a Sharpie maker for the stems.

I used repositional tape to hold scrap paper down while I dragged a white chalk ink pad across the cardblank to create the white stripe.

Then I stamped the Halloween sentiment.

Easy...as pie! ;-)


Supplies:
Paper: The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank); Recollections (white cardstock)
Stamps: Heartfelt Creations (Pumpkin/Autumn Vines set); Stampabilities (Halloween stamp)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Black Soot, Rusty Hinge); VersaMagic (Cloud White)
ETC: Glue Glider Pro; Sharpie (green marker)


Yesterday was such a dreary day. I stayed in my craft studio all day working in my art journal. Diane Marra at the Adore HIM Creations blog posted a link to a Dyan Revealey video on art journaling. I became an instant follower! And fan!! =D And I was so inspired I fixed a page in my art journal I was unhappy with and finished a new page! I'll try to get some good pictures and post them later this week.  (Here's the link to Dyan's page:  Dyan)


Thanks for having a look-see today! Craft on!!

~Cynthia

Pumpkin Tag

Pumpkin Tag, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I have a love/hate relationship with this card.

I love the tag.

I hate the card.

Hmmm.........

I used Tim Holtz's Wrinkle Free Distress Technique. [Drag Distress Ink pad (or pads) across craft mat, spritz with water. Drag tag through water/ink mess. Dry. Repeat as desired.] I absolutely love the effect I got from the Distress Inks. SO grungy!! =D

Then I stamped pumpkins and vines, followed by the Halloween sentiment. I adhered it to a kraft cardblank.

Maybe I need to distress the cardblank.....


Supplies:
Paper: The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank); tag (office supply type)
Stamps: Clear Art Stamp (Halloween Fun set--sentiment); Heartfelt Creations (Pumpkin/Autumn Vines set)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Black Soot, Rusty Hinge, Forest Moss, Walnut Stain, Vintage Photo)
ETC: Sharpie (green marker); Glue Glider Pro


We're getting some much-needed rain here. It makes for a lazy, motivation-less day. ;-) Guess I'd better get going anyway, huh?


~Cynthia

Scullz!

Scullz!, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Love this image!! Love even more that it was FREE!! =D

All I did was print it out, distress it a bit, adhere it to a kraft cardblank and add my sentiment.

This card's heading to my nephew, who loves those computer games where you get to kill zombies.

I think I might go back and add a bit of distressing around the edges. It looks a little plain...now that I've studied it. :-)



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (kraft cardblank): Springhill Vellum Bristol (ivory)
Stamp: Stampabilities (Happy Halloween)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Vintage Photo and Black Soot)
ETC: Free image from Celeste at Design, Wash, Rinse, Repeat blog site; Glue Glider Pro


Thanks for stopping in today--I really enjoy your comments and getting to visit everyone's sites. Isn't the blog thing cool??? ;-)


~Cynthia

PS:  If you want to check out Celeste's images, here's the link:  Celeste

Bats!

Bats!, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

OK, I'm not too sure about this card. It might go to my youngest niece, who doesn't really care how the card looks, as long as she just gets one! ;-)

I was just goofing off with the stamps from the Clear Art Stamps set--Halloween Fun. It has a ton of cute images, sentiments and odd little things like what looks to be the Wicked Witch of the West's shoe. Or something.

I love the little bats and the expression on the cat's face is hilarious. So I just started stamping randomly, added the spider web because I could, and then stamped the sentiment.

The cat was kind of hanging in midair, so I used a watercolor pencil to give him a bit of a shadow. Maybe that's why he's screaming. Heh heh heh.



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Clear Art Stamps (Halloween Fun set)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Black Soot, Rusty Hinge)
ETC: The Artists Loft (watercolor pencil)


Thanks for stopping by today! I've got almost all of my Halloween cards done. Yay!

Have a great weekend!

~Cynthia

Scary Stripes!

Scary Stripes!, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I totally LOVE this card! Simple and cute! ;-)

First I dragged a Rusty Hinge ink pad across a piece of white cardstock. Then I spritzed it with a little water which gave the paper a mottled look. When it was dry, I stamped the pumpkin, colored his stem with a green Sharpie and cut him out.

The striped paper already had this really cool corrugated, rusty look so I just stamped my sentiment and adhered the pumpkin. I distressed the edges a tad with Vintage Photo Distress Ink too.

Easy peasy!!


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (ivory cardblank and white cardstock); Little Yellow Bicycle (Fresh Print Traveler--Orange Wide Stripe--->Thanks, Studio Jenn!!)
Stamps: Stampabilities (Happy Halloween and Happy Jack O' Lantern)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot, Rusty Hinge, Vintage Photo)
ETC: Sharpie (green); Glue Glider Pro


Happy Friday, everyone! We made it through another week. And now...have a happy crafting weekend! ;-)


~Cynthia

Last Leaves of Summer

Last Leaves of Summer, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I didn't really need another birthday card, but I wanted to try out the new stamps I got from Stampland. I saw the leaf stamps demonstrated at the stamp show I went to a few weeks ago and just loved the outcome.

So this is my first try. Lots of lessons learned on this one! I used two different leaf stamps and masked the small one on the right to create the one in the back.

I used three different Distress Inks (and the leaf stencils) to create shading. I backed the panel with a sheet of leftover green cardstock. I really like the effect.

And I purposefully cut off the left side of the green cardstock and white top panel because...er...um...I cut the papers crooked to begin with. Oops. But now it has a sort of modern, artistic flair! OK, that's just what I'm going with.

;-)



Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank and white cardstock); Bazzill (green cardstock)
Stamps: Stampland (leaves); Stampin Up (birthday)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Shabby Shutters, Peeled Paint, Forest Moss)
ETC: Stampland (leaf mask and stencil); Glue Glider Pro


I got started on my Halloween cards yesterday. I so love fall and pumpkins and all the lovely colors!!!

Thanks for stopping by today--I really appreciate your encouraging comments!!


~Cynthia

We Three Kings...

We Three Kings..., a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Here's my final Christmas card in this group--I really REALLY need to get my Halloween cards started soon! ;-)

Another super simple card, but I really like the effect. I stamped the wise men. Then I added a bit of glitter pen to their crowns and gifts.

The end.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamp: Endless Designs
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot)
ETC: Spica (glitter pen)


I've never been one to want the "latest thing" or to go after limited addition anythings--BUT. I so want Tim Holtz's limited edition Distress Inks. I just got an email from one of my local stamp stores saying they are taking pre-orders for the set. I feel goofy doing it, but I'm sucking it up and driving out to pre-order them. Does this make me a bad crafter??????? ;-)


~Cynthia

Kinda like a polar bear in a snowstorm...

Kinda like a polar bear in a snowstorm..., a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

...you know...like white on white on white??

In person, this card is really cool. I added a bit of glitter pen to the centers of the snowflakes. And I dotted the I in Christmas with it too.

Alas. The Internet has conspired against me on this photo. I'm not sure you can see anything at all of my lovely card. So just squint your eyes and pretend! =D


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Penny Black (Crystalline set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Tumbled Glass)
ETC: Spica (Glitter Pen)


Happy Monday!! I hope everyone has a wonderful week! Craft on!!!

~Cynthia

Red and Green

Red and Green, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I couldn't think of a snappy title for this one. ;-)

Based on a card by....you guess it...Susan Raihala, this is my first Christmas card of the season. Woo hooo!!

I stamped a branch several times, right off the edge of the card. I stamped the ornaments on a sheet of white cardstock, cut them out, adhered them to the branches and covered them with Glossy Accents. Then I stamped the sentiment.

Done and done.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank and white cardstock)
Stamps: Michael's Dollar Stamps (ornaments); Heartfelt Creations (Holly Berry Set--branch); Penny Black (Winter Whites and Greens set--sentiment)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Inks (Fired Brick, Forest Moss)
ETC: Glossy Accents


Thanks so much for stopping by today!! Have a wonderful weekend!

~Cynthia