Hanging of the Greens

Hanging of the Greens, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I always love that Sunday at church, usually the first Sunday of Advent, when all the "greens" would be hung--all the wreaths, the swags, the garlands, the trees would be placed around the sanctuary for Christmas.

So here's my nod to the traditional hanging of the greens. I'm not totally loving this card...I think I would make the wreath larger next time, but I like the rustic vibe going on.

I die cut two pinked circles--one within the other to create a wreath. I dusted it lightly with Picket Fence Distress Stain then brushed the edges with Gathered Twigs Distress Ink.

I punched the bow and dusted it with Picket Fence too. Then I dusted the edges of the whole card with Picket Fence.

Finally I stamped the sentiment.

Super easy, but it's kind of cute in a really ski lodge/log cabin kind of way. ;-)


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (kraft card blank); Bazzill (green and red cardstock)
Stamp: Stampabilities (sentiment)
Inks: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Gathered Twigs); Distress Stain (Picket Fence)
ETC: Martha Stewart (bow punch); Nestabilities (Small Pinking Circles); Glue Glider Pro


I'm making headway with the cards. I managed to get my To Do List cleared off yesterday so I could spend a couple of hours making cards. No time crunch or pressure here. No, sir.


~Cynthia ;-)

The Sisters

The Sisters, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Two variations of the same card today. I got the inspiration from this card by MeeMee which was posted on the Addicted to CAS challenge blog.

I began with kraft card blanks and stamped snowflakes in Frost White. Love that color!

Then I die cut the trees from sparkly paper.

For the snow drifts, I roughly tore white cardstock so there would be bends in the paper to give some texture. Finally I stamped the sentiment.

These came together super quick. I think they would be great for assembly-line-style construction.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (kraft card blank); Neenah (Solar White cardstock); unknown source (sparkly paper)
Stamps: KaiserCraft (Christmas sentiment set); Penny Black (Winter Greens and Whites)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black); Color Box (Frost White)
ETC: Impression Obsession (DIE031-N Christmas tree); Glue Glider Pro


So the Christmas makes continue around here! I've got another 3 days or so to get them finished. How about you? Are you ready?? ;-)


~Cynthia

I'll have a Blue Christmas....

I'll have a Blue Christmas...., a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I so love using Tim Holtz's Tumbled Glass Distress Ink for Christmas cards. I think it's the most icy, snowy color out there!

I stamped the snowflakes in Tumbled Glass, then die cut the rectangle. While it was still in the die I dusted Tumbled Glass over the shape, with the more intense color on the edges and less in the middle.

I dusted more Tumbled Glass on white cardstock then die cut the fancy Christmas tree.

Instant color match! =D

Finally I die cut the second Christmas tree--the plain shape--out of white cardstock.  I added a bit of glitter to the star and then stamped the sentiment and...there's another Christmas card under the old belt!!


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white card blank); Neenah (Solar White cardstock)
Stamps: Studio G (snowflake); KaiserCraft (Christmas set sentiment)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Tumbled Glass)
ETC: Impression Obsession (DIE031-N--Christmas trees); Nestabilities (Large Labels); Sakura Gelly Roll pen (Clear Star)


In between making cards, I've been checking out other crafters' December Daily albums. They're so fun, gorgeous, funky, beautiful, simple, layered...well, you get the picture! So much inspiration out there!!! =D


~Cynthia

Christmas Make Marathon!

Christmas Make Marathon!, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

I realized with a start this morning that this Saturday is DECEMBER FIRST! And I was so proud of myself for getting all my Thanksgiving cards done and mailed! Now I've got to do it all over again! ;-)

You know I love it, right?

And so begins my Christmas Make Marathon....

Today's card is super simple and quite elegant looking.

Punch three squares, cut six short strips, punch three ribbons, adhere three gems, stamp one sentiment.

Done.

I couldn't decide on the color for the sentiment, but in the end, I think the black looks quite sharp.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white card blank); Neenah (Solar White cardstock); Bazzill (red cardstock)
Stamp: Penny Black (A Bright Tomorrow)
Ink: Memento (Tuxedo Black)
ETC: Martha Stewart (bow punch); Marvy (1-inch square punch); KaiserCraft (bling); Glue Glider Pro; Zig Two-way Glue Pen



So the number one most-asked question floating around the blog-o-sphere this morning is....Are you finished making your Christmas cards?? =D



~Cynthia

Leaf Polaroid

Leaf Polaroid, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

This is my final lost turkey.

On Saturday, I realized I was three turkeys short for my Thanksgiving cards. So I quickly made the cards. Wouldn't want anyone to go turkey-less for the Big Day, right??? =D

As I did for the other lost turkeys, I used a layout I had used earlier this month as inspiration.

Love this Polaroid look from Meghan's blog!

I die cut the square, die cut the leaf, and adhered everything! Stamp the sentiment and call it a day!


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (kraft card blank); Cosmo Cricket (I think); Neenah (Solar White cardstock)
Stamp: Stampabilities (T'day)
Ink: Tim Holtz (Rusty Hinge)
ETC: Nestabilities (Classic Square Large); Cuttlebug (Leaves die cut)



Happy Thanksgiving, everyone!! I am so SO grateful for each of you. For all your comments and helpful tips and for all your visits to my little corner of the blog world--I AM SO THANKFUL!!!!!!!

~Cynthia

Negativity can be fun!

Negativity can be fun!, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

Here's the twin sister of yesterday's card. I made everything the same way, except I die cut the leaf from the embossed panel and then layered a different die cut leaf over the negative of the first leaf.

Got all that? =D

I really, really like this style and layout. I could totally see using a snowflake embossing folder and die cutting snowflakes--negative and positive images. Maybe in a gorgeous icy blue??

Why, yes. Thank you!


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white card blank); Neenah (Solar White cardstock); snippet (pretty sure it was some Cosmo Cricket paper)
Stamp: Stampabilities (Happy T'day)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Rusty Hinge)
ETC: Cuttlebug (Forest Branches embossing folder; Leaves die cut); Glue Glider Pro



Only one more Thanksgiving card and then it's back to Christmas makes!

Thanks for stopping in today!


~Cynthia

Short a Turkey

Short a Turkey, a photo by HikerCynthia on Flickr.

So when I got ready to mail off my Thanksgiving cards on Saturday, I realized I was three turkeys short! Oh no! So I quickly headed to the craft room and got creating!

This card was kind of inspired by several of the cards I've made in the past few weeks. The combination produced a card that is fun to make and super quick!

I ran a piece of white cardstock through an embossing folder, die cut the leaf and stamped a sentiment.

The white leaf--kind of a shadow thing going on there--was die cut from the card I'll post tomorrow.


Supplies:
Paper: Recollections (white card blank); Neenah (Solar White cardstock); snippet (pretty sure it was some Cosmo Cricket paper)
Stamp: Stampabilities (Happy T'day)
Ink: Tim Holtz Distress Ink (Rusty Hinge)
ETC: Cuttlebug (Forest Branches embossing folder; Leaves die cut); Glue Glider Pro



So did you get all your Thanksgiving cards mailed out?? Now I've got to get back to making Christmas cards! =D


~Cynthia