Christmas Tree

Christmas Tree, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I'm back with another in the Postage Card series, based on Jen's cards at JENerally Speaking.

I love that I have tiny stamps that work for this kind of card! Sometimes I find it hard to figure out a use for them.

I die cut the postage stamp square, then punched a smaller green square. I stamped the little Christmas tree in the center and added a bit of Stickles action to the star.

Finally, I stamped the sentiment and layered/adhered everything.

Very easy. =D



Supplies:
Paper: My Mind's Eye (Wild Asparagus line, Merry Christmas Dots ); Bazzill (green cardstock)
Stamps: MIchael's Dollar Bin (tree); Kaiser Craft (Christmas Set--sentiment)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Forest Moss)
ETC: Ranger/Tim Holtz (Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles); Glue Glider Pro; Cuttlebug (postage stamp die cut); Marvy (1-inch square punch)



My mom is having her shoulder surgery today--she broke it several weeks ago. I tried to get all my errands run this morning because I doubt I'll be able to leave her house for a while. At least while she sleeps I'll be able to use her cool craft room! ;-)

Thanks for stopping in today!

~Cynthia

Candy Canes

Candy Canes, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Here's another in my little series of cards based on Jen's cards on the JENerally Speaking blog.

This time I went for the tone on tone look. I used the same red cardstock for both the postage square and the image square.

I stamped the candy canes in black ink, then covered them with Rock Candy Distress Stickles. I used 3D Dots to raise the image square off the postage square to give shadows and dimension.

Then I stamped the sentiment below.

To center the postage stamp I measured the half-way mark of the cardblank front and put a little pencil dot. Then I found the middle of the postage square by counting the little "chads." This made adhering the whole piece very easy and quick.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white cardblank); Bazzill (red cardstock)
Stamps: We R Memory Keepers (Merry Christmas set--both image and sentiment)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Black Soot, Fired Brick)
ETC: Ranger/Tim Holtz (Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles); TIm Holtz (ruler); Cuttlebug (postage stamp die cut); Marvy (1-inch square punch); EK Success (3D Dots)


We might get our first snowfall tomorrow. Oh sure, it's not going to stick. And it will be mixed in with the rain, but still. I think it counts. ;-)


~Cynthia

Holly and Peace

Holly and Peace, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I'm loving this next little series of cards! I got the idea from Jen on her JENerally Speaking blog. She used cute little stickers instead of the stamps I used. I had so much fun putting them together! I'll be making a few more of them for sure--very easy!

I die cut the postage stamp piece, then used a square punch that's a little smaller. I stamped the image, glitzed it up, and adhered everything. That's the general recipe I used for the next four cards I'll be posting.

For this one, I stamped the holly then added Xmas Red Stickles on the berries and Clear Rock Candy Distress Stickles for the leaves. I used Tim Holtz's pokey stick tool thing to move the Rock Candy around into the points of the leaves.

Then I stamped a big ol' sentiment along the bottom and, stick a fork in me, I was DONE! =D



Supplies:
Paper: Reminisce (Candycane); Bazzill (green cardstock); Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: We R Memory Keepers (Merry Christmas set); Recollections (Peace stamp)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Forest Moss)
ETC: Stickles (Xmas Red, Clear Rock Candy Distress); Cuttlebug (postage stamp die cut); Marvy (1-inch square punch); Glue Glider Pro; Tonic--Tim Holtz (Retractable Craft Pick...AKA the pokey stick thing)


I can't believe tomorrow starts Advent! I use my December Daily as part Advent, part Christmas journal/scrapbook/Smash Book thing so I'll start filling that up Sunday. WHERE DID THIS YEAR GO????


~Cynthia ;-)

PS:  If you want a good (clean!) laugh, check these videos out.  I laughed myself silly watching them!!  Kid History Episode 4 is HILARIOUS.

Mistletoe Christmas

Mistletoe Christmas, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I kinda-sorta CASE'd this from Lisa over on the I'm in Haven blog. I just started following her blog--she has the cutest cards!

I didn't have any of her supplies. (Ain't that the way it always goes???) But I did manage to make a card that I liked.

Then I managed to somehow get brown ink in spots near the word Merry.

I even tried to erase it. I may end up chucking the card or spritzing it with something.

Oh well.

I had fun putting it together. It's pretty simple and one of those kinds of cards that can easily be mass produced.

I stamped the branch image, then covered the flowers with red berries. I punched those using a regular hole punch. (When I make this card again, I'll probably cover each berry with Glossy Accents or something along those lines for a bit of shine.)

Then I used an old rain drop punch for the leaves. I just creased them heavily down the middle, then flipped them over and adhered them on the wide end with a mini glue dot, scrunching them up a bit when I pressed them to the cardblank. I made veins by 'scoring' the leaves with my finger nail. I colored in the tiny leaves that remained with watercolor pencils.


Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (red and green cardstock); Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Stampabilities (sentiment); Hero Arts (Flower and Leaf Branch)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Fired Brick and Walnut Stain)
ETC: EK Success (rain drop punch); WalMart (I think--it was a long time ago--hole punch); GlueDots; Artist's Loft (watercolor pencils)


Well, I hope everyone survived Thanksgiving! We had our usual family drama. Heh. But we're all still talking to one another, so I guess we survived for another year. =D

Now I just have to clean up the mess and get back to CRAFTING. YAY!


~Cynthia

Lodge Tree, Take 2

Lodge Tree, Take 2, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Here's my second Lodge Tree card.

I used the same layout as yesterday's CASE'd KingstonMama's card, I just changed up the colors. And I added a pearl on the top instead of the button that KingstonMama used or the daisy I used yesterday.

I also cut the background paper smaller so here the sentiment can be seen.


Supplies:
Paper: The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank); Bazzill (red and kraft cardstock); BoBunny (Olive Dots)
Stamp: Inkadinkado (Christmas set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Brushed Corduroy)
ETC: Punch Bunch (Christmas Tree punch); QuicKutz (Nameplate die cut); Recollections (Rhinestone Stickers); Zig Two-way Glue; Glue Glider Pro



Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends!! And to all of you--thanks so much for stopping by and for making such encouraging comments on my creations! I am grateful! =D


~Cynthia

Sparkly Lodge Tree

Sparkly Lodge Tree, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Finally! Success! I got Flicker and Picnik to work! We'll just all cross our fingers when I try to post it, OK?? =D

This card is loosely based on KingstonMama's card on her blog, KingstonMamaCrafts. I really love her creations--clean with lots of color and patterns.

I kinda, sorta followed along with what she had created, but I really wanted to make a mine a Christmas card.

First I die cut a nameplatel, rotated it, then trimmed the bottom bit off. I punched the tree out, distressed the edges and adhered that awesomely sparkly blue paper behind it.

And I totally had to hold my mouth JUST RIGHT to line up those stars!! LOL!!

I punched the little daisy--KingstonMama used a button--for...I don' t know...maybe a star in the sky or the Star of Bethlehem? Then I adhered everything to one of my favorite patterned papers--the olive dots.

At the bottom I stamped the sentiment, which is just barely visible. Next time I'll stamp it with a darker color, but it's kind of cool, almost subliminal, hanging out down there. ;-)



Supplies:
Paper: American Crafts (Chap: Scott); BoBunny (Olive Dots); Bazzill (kraft cardstock); The Paper Studio (kraft cardblank)
Stamp: Inkadinkado (Christmas set)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Brushed Corduroy)
ETC: Punch Bunch (Small Daisy punch Christmas tree punch); QuicKutz (Nameplate die cut); Zig Two-way Glue; Glue Glider Pro


Has it felt like a long week already to you? I keep thinking it's Wednesday already. And I'm definitely not ready for Thanksgiving yet. What does Willy Wonka say? "So much time and so little to do. Strike that. Reverse it." ;-)


~Cynthia

It's Monday.....grrrrrrr

So.  I can't seem to get my photos moved over to Flicker and thus to my blog.  I keep getting an error message.

I can't seem to comment on other blogs.  I keep getting an error message.  When I did a search to get some help, the ideas concerned Internet Explorer.  I use Firefox.

I will keep trying.

Just cuz it's Monday, I will not let myself be defeated by technology.



~Cynthia  ;-)