Mistletoe

Mistletoe, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

And here's the final card in my little series of Postage Cards based on Jen's creations on JENerally Speaking.

I used the same recipe as the previous cards. One postage stamp die cut, one square punch, one stamp on the square and one sentiment. I did add some Stickles to the berries. They look so cute in real life!

I used Forest Moss for both images. I thought the sentiment fit perfectly with the flirty mistletoe. ;-) Probably gonna have to be careful about who gets this card! LOL!



Supplies:
Paper: Bazzill (green cardstock); Reminisce (Candycane) ; Recollections (white cardblank)
Stamps: Michael's (Dollar Stamps--Christmas image set); Kaiser Craft (Merry Christmas set--sentiment)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Forest Moss)
ETC: Ranger/Tim Holtz (Xmas Red Stickles); Glue Glider Pro; Tim Holtz (ruler); Cuttlebug (Postage stamp die cut); Marvy (1-inch square punch)


My Mom's surgery lasted seven long hours yesterday. Originally, she was supposed to come home today, but because the injury to her arm and shoulder was worse than the doctor thought, she will stay another day. So I've been busy cleaning her house and...ahem..abusing her craft room! ;-)


Thanks for stopping in. Have a crafty day!


~Cynthia

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