Bkgd

Wednesday, November 30, 2011

Snowman Candy!

Good Evening,
It snowed here last night, so today it is fitting to look at the snowman candy bar wrappers.  I downloaded the paper pattern from Laurie
http://lauriefurnell.blogspot.com/2008/11/snowman-freebie.html

Print the paper pattern off and cut to size.  Wrap the candy bars and glue shut.
For the hats,
Cut strips of fabric in six inch strips.
Fold over the strips (the wrong side of the fabric will be showing) to make them 3 inches.
Stitch to close the fabric.
Then cut them into 5 inch pieces.  Your piece will be 3x5.
 You turn the 5 inch piece inside out and turn the bottom up two times to make the hat rim.
Take some twine and tie it around the middle of the hat and tie in a button.
Cut slits in the hat to finish the hat.
You can tie fleece or twine around for the scarf.



It has been a busy week with more to come.  I have a bazar at work on Friday that I hope to sell these in.  Everyone stay warm and enjoy the magic of the holiday season!

Blessings until next time!
Athina

Saturday, November 26, 2011

For My Rock!

 Good Morning Everyone!

I have decorated my blog for the season!  It seems Christmas is coming very fast and I don't have much shopping done. At this point I don't even know what I am going to buy for anyone.  I think the hardest this year will be my husband.  He keeps declaring that he does not want anything.  YIKES!!  I have no idea this year.  I hope your shopping is progressing and that you all have time to enjoy the holidays and the true meaning.

Ok, sorry to ramble, now for the card.  I truely don't know what I would do without my best friend and I was thinking of her as I made this card.  She is my ROCK and knows me very well.  We met in college and now work together at the same company.  Even though we work together, we don't always see each other every day.  But nothing every changes in our relationship.  We pick up right where we left off the last time.  I don't know what I would ever do without her.

I took some inspiration for this card from http://inkingontheedge.blogspot.com/...sc-46warm.html.
I had colored the image in mute brown and pink tones.   The image is Stampavive Precious Moments.  The Sara Kay designs remind me of Holly Hobby growing up.  They are indeed precious.  I layered the card with My Mind's Eye paper and finished it off with lace, ribbon and a butterfly embellishment.


Copics:
Skin:  E00, E00, E11
Hair:  E15, E17, E19
Pants:  E53, E55, E57, E59
Hat:  E30, E31, E35
Patches: RV91, RV95, RV99
Shirt:  R00, R21, R22
Chicks:  YR20, YR23, YR24


The inside is layered with a few layers of cardstock and paper with a sentiment by Hampton Arts.  The sentiment is so true and fitting.

 
 In closing, just remember that person that sings to you when you forget the words and tell them how important they are to you. 
Thank you for looking and have a great day!

Until next time.
Athina

Friday, November 25, 2011

Edwin's coming for Christmas

Hello Everyone!

I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving! I must say ours was very relaxing, not your usual day.
I think this is my favorite that I have done in a while.  The Magnolia image is so cute.  I got my inspiration from jaydekay over at SCS.  Here is the link.
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/gallery/photo/2095803  I added my flavor a bit, but liked all the layers she captured.  The paper is all basic gray, another of my favorites.  The image is Edwins Christmas Eve and sentiment also my Magnolia.



Copics:
Hat/Gloves/Pants:  YG93, YG95, YG97
Hair:  C1, C5, C7
Coat:  R24, R27, R89, T1
Boots:  E21, E25, E27, E29
Basket:  E30, E31, E35
Apples:  R24, R29, E07
Present: BG11, BG72, BG78, BG75
Skin:  E000, E00, E11, E13, R20



 The inside sentiment is by Brothers Sisters Design Studio.

Thank you for looking. Blessings until next time.

Wednesday, November 23, 2011

I Can Explain!

Happy Thanksgiving Eve!

We have so much to be thankful for and we don't have to look far to see all the wonderful things around us.  I have been off work this week and had some time to relax and spend some time making some cards during the day while hubby is sleeping.

This card did not turn out like anything I had expected.  I have had this doily laying on my desk for sometime wondering how I could use it.  Well, I finally figured it out.  The image is by Stampavive, Sara Kay, named Noel Joy.  After making the front, I was looking around to find the inside sentiment.  Yet another stamp I wanted to use, but hadn't figured out yet.

Details:
The image was colored with copics and distessed with Tim Holtz distess ink.  After matting, I used the sewing machine to attach the image to the card front.  I also embossed a post mark (paper inspirations) in the top left corner.





Copics used:

Hat/Jacket:  R81, R83, R85, R89
Holly:  G20, G21, G24, G28
Bow/Dress:  YG93, YG95, YG97 (this is becoming my favorite green)
Mail Box:  W5, W7, W10
Post:  E53, E55, E57, E59
Shoes:  E21, E25, E27, E29
Hair:  E44, E47, E50

The inside sentiment fits the card well.  It is by Printwork Collections.


I hope you have enjoyed today's post.  Count your blessings and all that you are thankful for with the upcoming holiday.

Thank you for looking.
Blessings until next time!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Holiday Miracles

Happy Sunday Everyone in Blog Land!

The weather is a bit chilly today, so what better day to post this little snowman from Whipper Snapper! His name is Think Snow-Man! I have told myself that I would get some projects done to donate for a church auction since the beginning of the year.  Well the auction is on Wednesday and this is all I have to show for the year of thinking.  I made a total of six of these and packaged them up in hopes that someone will find a good home for them this holiday season.

I am a bit excited about the image as I have been looking at Zoe's work from Make it Crafty http://www.makeitcrafty.com.au/crafts-blog.  She is absolutely amazing!  I read an article of hers in the latest issue of Magnolia Ink and she shows how to use the gray tone copics for shadowing.  I have been doing this all along with the prisma pencils.  Well today, I am proud to say that I only used the pencils for the outline to make him stand out a bit.  All the image shading is done with the gray tones!!! I was so excited.  I guess that means I need more gray copics, good thing Christmas is coming =-).

Now for the details:
I used craft paper as the card base, I love the warm feel of that brown.  The paper is by My Minds Eye, both the striped and tree papers.  The image is Whipper Snapper, sentiment is Magnolia and the lacy border around the image is a Spellbinders die.  I embossed some snowflakes randomly around the snowman to give it some extra texture. I finished it off with some twine.


Copics:
Nose:  E97, YR65, YR68
Arms:  E31
Shoes:  E31, E37, E57
Trim:  W1, W3, W5
Coat & Hat:  T1, R83, R85, W1, W3, W5
Bell:  E97, E99
Scarf:  YG93, YG95, YG97; E30, E31, E34

Now for the inside:
The sentiment is by Printworks Collection.  The snowflakes were cut with a Tim Holtz Alterations Die.  I added a bit of shimmer to the snowflakes by embossing.

Finally, I packaged six of them up and made a little tent topper to make them a bit more presentable.  I stamped the inside sentiment on a tag for people to see.

Now that this project is done, I am off to color some more and practice some pleats and shading with the grays!  I hope you have a fantastic day!

Thanks for looking!  Your comments are always appreciated.
Until next time.....
Athina

Tuesday, November 15, 2011

Ele-Fun Birthday!

Hello Everyone!

Today has been a chilly and windy day!  I think fall has finally set in.  I have made a double diagonal fold card today.  My husband says that I should not make this style because things will get lost.  I beg to differ!  I think they are unique!

I found the idea over at SCS in the resources area.  Here is the link.
http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/diagonal_double_pocket_card/

 I choose cosmo cricket double sided paper in a fun theme for a birthday card.  The sentiment is by Stampin Up and the image is a High Hopes stamp, Ele-fun.  Isn't he the cutest little guy?  I would celebrate my birthday with him anytime!





The first pocket holds the High Hopes sentiment stamped on a die cut by Spellbinders.  I inked the edges in Tim Holtz distress ink and shifted the background layer a bit to add some contrast.  Finish it with some ribbon and a flower to match.

The second pocket holds a little envelope.  This is where my husband and I disagree.  My opinion is that this is a great place for a gift card.  He thinks no one will look at it and the card will go to waste.  Anyhow, the little envelope is covered with paper and a little Stampin Up sentiment finished off with ribbon colored with copic markers to match.

The little elephant is colored with copic markers and finished off with prisma pencils for extra shading.

Copics used:
Elephant:  C0, C1, C3, C5, R20, R21, R22
Hat/Cupcake Holder:   YR15, YR12, YR18
Cupcake:  Y02, Y04, Y06
Toe/Husk - W1, 0
Candle/Ball:  B91, B93, B95

Pocket # 2

Pocket 1


Thanks for looking!  I hope you enjoyed the card.  Your comments are much appreciated!
Have a great day!

Sunday, November 13, 2011

A Frog's Blessing...

Happy Sunday Everyone!

It has been one long week!  But I am hoping to get back on track this week and get things in order!  It is so hard to believe that Thanksgiving is only 1 1/2 weeks away!  Where did fall go?  Thankfully our weather is still pretty nice, but that will be changing this week.

I want to share with you a little frog from High Hopes.  Isn't he the cutest little thing?  The sentiment inside fits the card perfectly, also by High Hopes.  The sentiment on the outside is a by Stampin up.

I used a big fat ribbon on the front to coordinate the colors.  The frog is colored with copics.  The front sentiment is is stamped on a die cut by spellbinders inked with Tim Holtz distress ink.


Just a little closer look at the frog!
Copics:
Frog:  YG11, G21, G94, R20
Clothes pins:  E31, E33
Rope:  E97
Shorts:  B21, B24, B26;  E97, YR68
Buttons C7



The inside of the card is an irish blessing.  I love the sense of humor of it!


Your kind comments are always welcomed and appreciated.

Enjoy your week!  Thank yo for stopping by!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

You Brighten My Day!

Hello,

I wanted to try something different than the normal card that I do.  So I decided to branch out.  I searched the resources over at SCS and came up with the Double Z folded card.  Here is the link with instructions.

http://www.splitcoaststampers.com/resources/tutorials/doublezfold/

I was feeling a bit like spring when I made this card.  I went with the green, pink and brown, one of my favorite color combinations.

Sentiment:  The Greeting Farm
Die Cut: Spellbinders (airbrushed with R22 copic)
Paper: My Minds Eye
Paper Studio Pearls



I hope you enjoyed it.

Have a wonderful day!  Thank you for looking.  Kind comments are always appreciated.

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Reindeer Tilda

Hello!

Today I have Reindeer Tilda.  I just love the sweet magnolia image.  The window she is sitting on is a spellbinders die.  The background paper is My Minds Eye (of course).  The sentiment is by stampin up.


Copics used:
Skin:  E000, E00, E11, R20
Hair:  E35, E37, E59, E57
Antlers:  E30, E33
Socks:  C1, C3, C5
Jumper:  B91, B93, B95, B97
Bells:  E99


The Inside

I hope you have a great day!
Thank you for looking.  Your comments are always appreciated.

Sunday, November 6, 2011

Thank you!

Good Morning!

Today I have a bit of a different post.  Veteran's Day is this week and at work we are collecting items to send to the troops overseas.  As we were discussing different ideas someone said, why don't we put a personal note in each card?  They were thinking we could get the 50 cent Hello cards for the notes.  I said I could make them for the group.  Well I was thinking maybe 10-15 cards.  So I went home that night and mentioned it to my husband.  He did not say much.  The next morning, I asked how many do we need.  The reply was about 50.  Oh MY!  I thought how am I going to get 50 cards done.

Well, I went simple which is very different for me, as I am used to the stamped images that are colored and a few embellies.  I am pleased with the way they turned out.  I hope they brighten a military members day when they receive them.  My co-workers will put a personal note in each one.   It took a total of 3 hours to put these together.  My husband even helped stamp the sentiment for each of them.  How sweet of him to help!

But please remember, these are nothing compared to the sacrifice that our military makes for us every day.  If you see a military member or veteran, please take a moment to thank them for there service.



Thank you to all the wonderful men and women who keep us safe each day.  I pray that you will return home safely.
Athina

Thursday, November 3, 2011

The Tree Cutting!

Good Evening Friends!

I hope you are all doing well as we settle into fall.  I have been working on more Christmas cards.  I hope to have something different posted next week!  Stay tuned!

I have a Magnolia Tilda with Fir image colored with Copics.  I do not have the colors today, as the image was colored long ago.  I used pearl smooch on the edges of the trees to give me some snow.  The sentiment Santa is Coming to Town is also by Magnolia.  I used handmade paper on the side for some additional texture.




The inside I also have handmade paper layered with a spellbinder shape.  The sentiment is by Stampin Up.

I hope you have a great Friday!
Thanks for stopping by!

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Warm Snowy Hug

Good Evening!

Thank you for stopping by.  I did get a few cards done this weekend, so I have something to post!  I had fun with this one!  Not your normal card.  I used copics and prisma pencils to color the image by Magnolia.  The sentiment is by Stampabilities.  The postage mark is by Paper inspirations.

Here is the detail:

Paper is by Basic Gray (not MME this time).  I used canvas as the background to the image and frayed the canvas to give it a rough look.  The image is sewn onto the canvas and then Tim Holtz Straw distress ink around the edges.  I used flower soft and glitter under the snowman and on his broom.  The postage circle was dipped into distress ink and perfect pearls for a shimmer before stamped.




Copics:
Pants:  E30, E31, E35
Coat & Hats:  T1, R27, R24, R89
Skin:  E000, E00, E11, R20
Shoes:  E29, E39, E35
Hair:  E21, E25, E29
Snowman:  0, W1, W2
Broom:  E50, E53, E55, E57
Buttons: W5, W7, W9
Nose:  E08, E97, E19


The inside is Basic Gray & Cosmo Cricket paper sewn together.  The sentiment is stamped on a cut out by Spellbinders, inked with Tim Holtz Distress ink.

Thanks for stopping!  I hope you have a fantastic nite!