Back to the Christmas Cards

There is a new sketch up over at the LCOM Sketch blog and this week's card returns to the Christmas theme.  Time is starting to run out and I am still debating on what I am going to make for this year's card.

Materials used:  Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey pattern paper, Echo Park pattern paper, Distress ink dauber, KaiserCraft bling, Spellbinder Fancy Tag die, Cherry Lynn Holly Flourish die and Marianne's Design Poinsettia dies.

I am addicted to dies and one of the nice things about using die cuts is that you can layer them to make a dramatic card very quickly.  This card only took 15 minutes to put together once I gathered up all the supplies.  It is definitely a candidate for the this years card.

If you want to check out the sketch at the LCOM Sketch Blog, it is one of mine.  It was designed to take advantage of all those dies that everyone has hanging around their craft rooms.  If you make a card or layout from the sketch, I would love to see it.

Have a good Wednesday.  Is anyone else just hanging out waiting for Tim's first tag to be posted?  Following Mario's twitter feed to see those behind the scene photos?

Taking a break from Christmas Cards

I just had to take a break from the Christmas cards this week.  I recently picked up a new Outlines stamp that was just begging to be used.  I love playing with the Outline stamps since they have so much potential for colouring and this particular one fit well with Rusha's sketch this week over at the LCOM Sketch blog.

Speaking of the LCOM Sketch blog, it has had a make over.  The look is clean and fresh.  Just another incentive for you to head on over and check it out.

The stamp that I used on this weeks card is the Woodlands stamp from Outline's new Serendipity line.  It is a fun whimsical series out of which I have already acquired 5 or 6 sets.

Materials used:  Prism Simply Smoth cardstock, Prism cardstock, Core-dinations cardstock, Basic Grey pattern paper, Copic makers, Memento ink, Stickles, KaiserCraft bling.

I coloured in the stamped image with Copic markers.  This is not the best picture but I highlighted some of the flowers, butterfly, leaves and toad stools with Stickles.  I stamped the image a second time to have elements that I could pop up and give dimension to the image.  Because the image is so busy, I decided to forgo the sentiment on the front.  I seem to have a thing against putting the sentiment on the front of cards.

Happy Thanksgiving to all my American friends and for everyone, have a good Thursday evening.

T'is that time again

Yes, that's right.  Time for another card sketch over at the LCOM Sketch Blog.  This week's sketch is one by yours truly.  It was designed to have either a large central stamped image or phrase on a square card base.  I decided that I wasn't going to follow this sketch so literally.  I also wanted to play with the many sets of dies that I have but haven't seem to be using lately.

Materials used:  Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey pattern paper, KaiserCraft bling, miscellaneous ribbon, and distress ink.

The bird, bird cage and leaves are Marianne's Designs dies and the filigree accents and background shapes are Spellbinders.

This is my second mock up for my Christmas cards.  Surprisingly, this card takes less time to put together than the one I came up with last week even though it looks more complicated.

Speaking of Christmas cards, if you are keen to work on your cards this weekend, the forum over at LCOM is having an on-line Christmas card crop.  There will be lots of card sketches to get your mojo flowing, games and even some prizes.  Come on over and join us -- the more the merrier.

Playing with Christmas Card Designs

As we are getting closer to Christmas, I have been thinking more about Christmas cards.  It is one of the few things that I start preparing before December 1.  So I took the opportunity to use Jerusha's card sketch on the LCOM Sketch Blog to see what I could come up with .  Her sketch is a great one for highlighting a stamped image.

Materials used:  Bazzill swiss dot cardstock, Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey pattern paper, Starform peel-offs, Tim Holtz Distress ink, Tombow markers, Basic Grey stickers, Ikea ribbon and miscellaneous brads.

When it comes to Christmas cards, I am usually looking for a design that is fairly easy and quick to mass produce but doesn't look like it was quick and easy.  I will often do two or three mock up before deciding which one I like better.

If you would like to see what the rest of the design team has made and check out the sketch, head on over to the Sketch Blog.  You can even play along with us if you like.  We would love to see your creations.

Have a good Wednesday.

Bright Colours

There is just something about the red and yellow leaves of fall that has gotten my mojo going this past week.  For this week’s LCOM card sketch, I was rocking the reds and yellows with the new Basic Grey Picadilly collection.  I am just loving the small floral prints and the bright vibrant colours of this collection.

There has been a change to the LCOM card team this week.  Instead of having a Team A and B, the teams have been combined and everyone will be making a card every week instead of alternating the teams each week.  What that means for Rusha and I, the two sketch designers, is that we will get the opportunity to create cards for the other one’s sketches.  I am looking forward to trying out my interpretations of Rusha’s designs….but that will have to wait until next week. 

This week’s sketch is one of mine and without further ado….here is my interpretation:

 Materials used:  Prism & Bazzill cardstock, Basic Grey Picadilly pattern paper, KaiserCraft wood bird cage, Prima metal embellishment, Tim Holtz metal corners, Maya Road stick pins & kraft tickets, miscellaneous feathers, and Cheryl's crocheted blossoms.

If you want to check out the card sketch or participate along with the design team, please head on over to the LCOM Sketch Blog.  I would love to see what you do with the sketch.

Have a happy Friday.  I am certainly looking forward to the weekend.  Today is payday and I think I need to stop and pick up a scrappy treat on the way home.