Sunday, October 29, 2017

More Sizzix Bell Jar Cards - Christmas


In a recent post, Tim Holtz Halloween Bell Jar cards, I showed you some super fun Halloween cards I created in a Sandy Brien class at the Stamp Art Shoppe last fall.  Here are some more amazing holiday cards created in the same class. Sandy's card designs are always so beautiful and having her as an instructor is such a treat.


I remember being delighted with how these cards turned out and thinking I would make some for other occasions during the year.  Well, it's a year later and let's just say I'm glad I saved the directions. 

Want to create some of these darling holiday scenes for yourself?  Here's some of the things we used.

        Card Base: 10" x 7"
        Large Layer (Patterned Paper) 4 3/4 x 6 3/4
        Small Layer (Solid) 4 1/4 " x 6  1/4"
        Design Layer: 4" x 6"
        Cardstock for scene die cuts
        Transparency scrap for Bell Jar
        Sentiment stamps
        Sizzix Bell Jar die 658244
        Christmas dies from Impression Obsession and Memory Box
        White embossing powder
        Versamark pen
        Distress Inks
        Gems, stickers

The snow on the pine trees is made by inking the die cut tree with Versamark and then embossing with white embossing powder.

Thanks for visiting.
Go forth and create something fabulous.
Nancy




        










Thursday, October 26, 2017

Rockin' a Jelly Roll Quilt - Benartex Sunny Days Fabric


Hi everyone, 

Jelly rolls are so yummy and satisfying...both the edible and the fabric kind!  I made this fast and easy baby quilt, measuring 36" x 36", with a gorgeous Benartex  Jelly Roll.   

The roll contained 42 2 1/2" strips of  the Benartex "Sunny Days" collection. I downloaded a free easy-to-follow pattern after I watched  this Fat Quarter Shop YouTube  video.


I love the bright sunny patterns and colors in this collection.  But most of all, I love having so many different fabrics to sew into one happy scrappy quilt.  

Thanks for visiting.
Go forth and create something fabulous.
Nancy




Wednesday, October 18, 2017

Lovely Lady Birthday Cards - Normal Burnell Digi's


This month it is again my honor and privilege to create two birthday cards for my sweet friends in our bi-weekly card group.  It is our tradition to make cards for the birthday girl and the result is a beautiful array of original cards for her to take home.  Only handmade card artists can appreciate the happy significance of this for both giver and recipient. 


I have lately become enamored with the beautiful mystical art of Norma Burrell.  These stunning fairy digital images were purchased from her Etsy shop.  I love that I can download them immediately after I purchase them and have them ready to color with just some sizing and a quick printing on Copic compatible paper.  I  die cut these images with a Spellbinders label die which I outlined with a silver paint marker.  I had an absolutely delightful time coloring them with my Copic markers. I added a little glitz to the flowers in their hair with some sparkly peel off stickers and embellished the corner with a glittered rose. The card base and layers are from a Close to My Heart Art Philosophy Cricut cartridge file which I sized to 5"x7" in Cricut Design Space.  I like to  die cut  matching easels to send with my cards if the recipient chooses to display them.

Girlie art makes me so happy!

Thanks for visiting
Go forth and be fabulous.
Nancy

Playing along with
        Scrapyland Challenge
        Crafting with Friends
        Inky Chicks Challenge
        The Corrosive Challenge

Friday, October 13, 2017

Happy Spooky Halloween - Lori Whitlock Halloween Scene Pop Dot SVG


I can always depend on Lori Whitlock and Cricut Design Space when I need some mojo to help me create a card.  I purchased this fun Halloween Scene Pop Dot Card from Lori's SVG shop, downloaded it into Design Space, cut it out on my Cricut and went to work making it my own.  I haven't had the best of luck using foam tape or pop dots on these scenes because they turn out a little too wavy and lumpy for me.  I fixed that by going into Design Space and creating plain frames to cut out on card stock.  With a couple of  card stock layers, my card comes out with just the right amount of dimension to show off the frames in the scene.  I lit up my glittery haunted house with orange paper behind the windows and created a spooky sky with some artsy background paper.  I used my Misti stamp positioner to center the Happy Halloween perfectly on the outer frame.  I'll admit it did take some time to layer six of these cards to send to some friends, but it was so fun because I had so much help from Design Space.  I sure do love my Cricut!!!

Thanks for visiting.
Go forth and be fabulous.
Nancy

Playing along with:

        Double D Challenges
        CAS on Friday
        Eclectic Ellapu
        Always Fun Challenges
        Crafty Gals Corner
        That's Crafty
        

Thursday, October 12, 2017

Sizzix Tim Holtz Bell Jar Halloween Cards - 2016 Stamp Art Shoppe Class Flashback


While searching through my "Big Box O' Halloween Stuff" for some inspiration and supplies, I was excited to find these fun cards that I made in a class at the Stamp Art Shoppe last year.  Our amazingly talented teacher, Sandy Brien, showed us how to use the Sizzix Bell Jar die with acetate to give a realistic-ish glass jar look.  She instructed us to temporarily center the bell jar transparency on our paper and carefully sponge around the edge with distress ink to make the jar look lighter. We then cleaned and dried the transparency and adhered it to the pedestal after creating our scene.  I had forgotten how cute these cards turned out.  


The ghosts, pumpkins, bats, grass and scene dies are all from Impression Obsession. The leaves were made with punches.  The fabulous bell jar die is Sizzix Bell Jar 658244, which I've seen on Amazon recently.  I have a similar Sizzix Snow Globe die with a Christmas scene that I can't wait to use with this same process. 

Sadly, the Stamp Art Shoppe closed earlier this year, but Sandy still comes to town to teach classes about once a month.  I always look forward to being enlightened by her mad skills and talent.

Thanks for visiting. 
Go forth and be fabulous.
Nancy

Tuesday, October 3, 2017

Welcome Fall Log Cabin Wall Hanging - Accuquilt Go


While I'm still a relative newbie at piecing quilts, this lovely traditional art is fast becoming one of my favorite creative pass times.  Actually, it's a lot like my other obsession, paper crafting, because it involves a lot of the same techniques and skills.  Design, layout, color coordination...they're all there. And don't even get my started on the joys of die cutting.


The log cabin block for this wall hanging was a cinch to create using the Accuquilt  Go log cabin die and my Go Big electronic die cut machine. I can make several different size blocks with this one die just by adding additional strips,  but I chose to use a six-inch block for this quilt.

  
Accuquilt also makes an assortment of  fun applique dies like the pumpkins and leaves I used  for the 6-inch white blocks in this quilt. I purchased some really cute Etsy embroidery files  made specifically to spiff up the Go die cuts from VStitch Designs.


I promise I'm not an Accuquilt Go sales  rep, but I really love using die  cuts to make precise cuts for my quilts.  I'm not lazy...just rotary cutter impaired!

Thanks for visiting.
Go forth and be fabulous.
Nancy