Christmas Postage

Christmas Postage
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

Yet another experimental card.

I guess being semi-new to all the card making stuff, I can claim that as an excuse for how funky some of my creations turn out.

You know...like this one! =D

I had just bought a new color of Tattered Angels, and so overly sprayed a kraft cardblank with it that the card headed in that "hmmm, NOW what?" direction. It's a deep red color so I was kind of limited in what other colors I thought would look good.

I chose red cardstock and some funky Graphic 45 paper. I distressed the Graphic 45 a little, but the whole thing needed something.

I remembered a tutorial of sorts on how to make faux postage stamps. Simply cut a small square or rectangle, then use a regular hole punch along the edge to make the little 'tear-apart' edges. (I'm sure there's a scientific word for that, but I hope you know what I mean!)

I stamped a tiny tree, the 'be merry' sentiment and a 25 for the postage. Then I distressed the edges with a bit of ink (Antique Linen).

I like the postage stamp--I think that came out really cute.

The rest of the card...not so much.

I suppose I could save it somewhat by adding an image or something to the center panel.


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (red and cream cardstock); Graphic 45 (Botanicabella Collection--Secret Garden); The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank)
Stamps: Tree (unknown dollar stamp); Penny Black (Crystalline set); JustRite Stamps (numbers set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Pine Needles, Antique Linen, Black Soot); Tattered Angels (Brick)
ETC: hole punch; Glue Glider Pro; Making Memories (paper distresser)


I've spent a lot of time in the studio the past few days and I really do have some cute cards made! ;-) Thanks for stopping by to check this one out.

~Cynthia

Twinkle, twinkle, little...um...TREE??

Twinkle, twinkle, little...um...TREE??
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

I love this little tree stamp! You could go so many different ways with it--colors, sparkles, gems. Very fun!

I took a "less is more" approach and highlighted just a few of the ornaments with red and green Brush Markers, then I used a sparkle gel pen for all the rest of the dots.

Yeah, that took some time.

The background is cream cardstock, with snowflakes stamped in Pumice Stone Distress Ink, and distressed with Antique Linen and Brushed Corduroy.

I did the same to the Christmas tree piece of cardstock, but I also pulled it across a Fired Brick Distress Ink inkpad. I layered that on a piece of red cardstock, which I slightly distressed.

The ribbon is seam binding which I sprayed with a bit of homemade spritz spray in Walnut Stain Distress Ink. I crinkled it up then dried it out with a heat gun.

The picture doesn't do this card justice. It's pretty cute in real life! :-)


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (cream and red cardstock); Recollections (ivory cardblank)
Stamps: Penny Black (Starlit [tree] and Crystalline set [snowflake])
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Fired Brick, Pumice Stone, Brushed Corduroy, Antique Linen, Walnut Stain); Marvy Brush Markers
ETC: The Sewing Place (seam binding); Gelly Roll (glitter pen)


Are you getting tired of Christmas cards yet? Yeah, me neither! ;-)

~Cynthia

Vertically Challenged Rejoicing!

Vertically Challenged Rejoicing!
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

Here's another card that almost hit the trash can.

Several times, in fact.

I love that Rejoice stamp. So, I crossed my fingers and held my breath..and stamped it directly on the ivory cardblank.

I almost never do that because, 9 times out of 10, I make a smudge or don't get the stamp inked up fully or it's crooked...or...or...you get the picture.

Here I had a bit of random ink on the edge of the stamp's rubber.

Grrrrr.

There was no camouflaging it. So, I cut off the bottom of the cardblank and tried again.

THIS time, I stamped it on a piece of the cardblank I had cut off, then used a word tag punch to punch it out.

Alas, the Rejoice was too long for any of the tag sizes.

By now I'm aggravated. I punch it out anyway.

I grab a leaf punch and add those to the mix.

So now I've got a short card with a short Rejoice and some leaves.

I had to give up on this one. There was no fixing it.

But the passage of time heals all angry card-making sessions and now I think this card maybe isn't half bad.

It's got a festive, clean/simple look to it. You know, for a vertically challenged card and all! ;-)

Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (green cardstock); Recollections (ivory cardblank)
Stamps: Inkadinkado (Rejoice #96920)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Fired Brick)
ETC: McGill (Word Tag Punch); Martha Stewart (leaf punch); Glue Dots


I had so much fun in the studio yesterday--a rainy, windy day. I got a bunch more Christmas cards done. I really need to count them and see how many more I need. :-)

~Cynthia

Polar Bear at Night

Polar Bear at Night
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

This started out as an experimental card, but I kinda like it! ;-)

I ran a piece of purple vellum through an embossing folder, then realized the BACK side is probably the coolest side! It came out swirly and frosty, like a snowstorm at night.

Conveniently, it matched a polar bear stamp I had recently purchased. It's all swirly and frosty too! So I stamped that in Dusty Concord Distress Ink, which also conveniently matched the purple vellum. SWEET.

For a bit of color, I die cut the nativity star from yellowy-orange cardstock and then covered it with Glossy Accents, to give it a neat shine.

I'm taking a bit of artistic license here with the story of Jesus' birth--I doubt there were any polar bears around the manger--but maybe if you think more about Jesus as our Guiding Light, the card might work. Yes? ;-)

Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (yellow and white cardstock); Stamp On It (translucent vellum); Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamp: Inkadinkado (polar bear, #99434)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Dusty Concord)
ETC: Cuttlebug (D'vine Embossing Folder); Glossy Accents; EK Success (3D Dots); Glue Glider Pro; QuicKutz (nativity star)


The rain is POURING down here! I'm not complaining ONE BIT because we need it!! Of course, that just means I get an All Day in the Studio kind of day! YAY!!

~Cynthia

Holly and Ornaments

Holly and Ornaments
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

I think this card is hilarious! =D

I love how all the ornaments seem to be swinging around, like a cat got into the Christmas tree!! ;-)

The one thing I would change next time is the border across the top. I think it would've looked better if it went all the way across.

Pretty simple to put together too. I used a die cut for the ornaments. Then I stamped the sentiment below and the holly leaves on a separate piece of kraft cardstock.

I adhered the kraft piece, then the ornaments. I drew the lines then stamped the sentiment.


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (kraft cardstock); My Mind's Eye (Wild Asparagus--Merry Christmas Dots/Blue Paper); silver cardstock from stash (ornament caps)
Stamps: Heartfelt Creations (Holly Berry Filler set); Penny Black (Winter Whites and Greens set--sentiment)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Pine Needles, Fired Brick) Tulip Matte 3D Paint (Wild Berry--would not recommend using this. Next time I'll use Stickles for the berries.)
ETC: QuicKutz (ornament die cut); Glue Glider Pro; Zig Millennium (Pure Black Pen)


Looks like rain is headed our way. That just means more studio time for me!!! YAY!! Thanks for stopping by today!


~Cynthia

Oh Christmas Tree...

Oh Christmas Tree...
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

Except for the crooked, hand-drawn line of snow, this little card is not so bad.

Oh no.

My card has become Charlie Brown's Christmas tree.

Maybe if I put a string of lights on it and sing a carol, it will perk up.

No?

Hmmmm.....

So I embossed a strip of paper in a snowflake embossing folder.

Then I cut out a rectangle of green cardstock. I stamped a little tree on a small piece of kraft. I added snow using one of those seriously cool snow pen thingys.

Then I put the tilted, snow covered ground beneath the tree....or there was an earthquake...or the tree is growing on the side of a mountain....

Finally, I stamped 'let it snow' three times. Cuz it's just fun to stamp stuff three times.


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (green and kraft cardstock); The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank)
Stamps: Penny Black (Crystalline set): Picture Show (evergreen tree)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Pine Needles)
ETC: Cuttlebug (Snowflake Embossing Folder); Marvy (Snow Marker)


Have a great Saturday! I'll be in the studio later today--I've still got a few more Christmas cards to make. And I've managed to fit in a few birthday cards too!! :-)

~Cynthia

Snowflakes on Blue

Snowflakes on Blue
Originally uploaded by HikerCynthia

I hesitate to post this one.

I mean...it's...you know....BORING.

I'm not happy with it at all. But then again, it's not trash can worthy either.

Super simple. Stamp stars, emboss with white embossing powder. Stamp sentiment.

All the stamps are from Penny Black.

The end.


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (blue cardstock)
Stamps: Penny Black (Crystalline set)
Ink: VersaMark
ETC: JudiKins (white embossing powder)


Have a lovely day!!

~Cynthia