Blog Archives

Thankful Friends

8/30/2019

Hello friends and happy Friday! TGIF and YAY for the long weekend! We have zero plans on our calendar for the next three days and I couldn't be more happy about that. I'm hoping there will be equal parts crafting and equal parts relaxing with my fur fam. I hope you will enjoy today's cards and I wish you all a fabulous end-of-summer weekend yourself!

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Soft Suede cardstock. I cut a sheet of Pumpkin Pie cardstock measuring 5 1/2" x 4" and used a scalloped die border to edge both sides. I cut a sheet of patterned paper (I think it's from Echo Park) and adhered it directly over the scalloped Pumpkin Pie cardstock. Using the Gina Marie Designs Stitched Nesting Circles, I die cut a circle from Soft Suede cardstock and stamped the sentiment in Versamark ink. I heat embossed the sentiment in white embossing powder. I stamped the fox in Cajun Craze ink and die cut it using the Thankful Friends coordinating dies. I stamped the scarf in Crushed Curry ink and fussy cut the scarf before adhering it to the fox. I added a strip of gold glimmer paper and a strip of burlap ribbon underneath the fox before adhering the fox to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added height.

Here is the Thankful Friends stamp set from Spellbinders/FSJ that I used to create these cards:

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Soft Suede cardstock. The first 5 1/4" x 4" matted layer is a sheet of fall patterned paper that, I think, is from Echo Park. Sorry, I can't remember the company entirely! Using the Gina Marie Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangles, I die cut a piece of Soft Suede cardstock. I cut a piece of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock measuring 3" x 2" inches and stamped the sentiment in Cajun Craze ink. I mounted the sentiment onto the scalloped Soft Suede background and adhere both to the center of the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. On a separate sheet of white cardstock, I stamped the squirrel in Cajun Craze ink and the scarf and coffee cup in Crushed Curry ink. I die cut the squirrel using the coordinating Thankful Friends dies, but I fussy cut the scarf and coffee cup. I adhered the squirrel to the card with 3M foam adhesive for even more dimension.

Thank you for taking the time to visit my blog today! Have a wonderful (and hopefully long) holiday weekend!

XO, Crystal

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Martha's Pumpkins

8/29/2019

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Hi friends! Today's card features a stamp set called "Martha's Pumpkins" from Spellbinders/FSJ, but my first question is who is Martha!? And, why did she have pumpkins named after her? Shouldn't it be like "Peter's Pumpkins" or "Perfect Pumpkins?" Maybe even, "Plump Pumpkins?" Martha is just throwing me way off! I feel like there is a story behind the naming of this stamp set and inquiring minds (a.k.a., me) want to know! But, anyway, it took me about three attempts for me to settle on a card I liked using this set. I knew that I wanted pumpkins in all different colors and not just orange. So, I stamped each of the five pumpkins included in the stamp set multiple times in all rich, earthy colors and played around with their placement and layout. Nothing seemed to be catching my eye until I finally settled on using the same pumpkin, just in different colors. I feel like I achieved balance and symmetry with the final result and I was able to still feature a variety of color.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. The first matted layer is a sheet of yellow plaid cardstock from the Lawn Fawn Perfectly Plaid paper pack. Using the Gina Marie Designs Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangles, I cut a piece of Crumb Cake cardstock. I placed a 4" x 3" sheet of white cardstock paper directly onto the Crumb Cake cardstock. On a separate sheet of Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock, I stamped the smallest pumpkin in Soft Suede ink, Pool Party ink, Crushed Curry ink, Rich Razzleberry ink, Old Olive ink and Cajun Craze ink. I die cut each of the small pumpkins using the coordinating dies and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added height. On a thin strip of white cardstock, I stamped the sentiment in Rich Razzleberry ink, notched both ends and adhered to the center of the card.

Here is the Martha's Pumpkin stamp set from Spellbinders/FSJ that I used to create this card:

Thanks for visiting and happy crafting!

XO, Crystal

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Hola

8/28/2019

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Hola, mis amigos! Today we're taking a break from the fall themed cards, just so I can try to appease the readers who maybe aren't yet ready to embrace the fall season. I'm all about keeping everyone happy, which is virtually impossible I know, yet still I try! : ) The next few weeks and months will be a creative blend of fall, Halloween, Thanksgiving, and, (dare I say?) Christmas, with lots of randomness in between. I like the simplicity of today's card, but I'm bummed that I used the best sentiment on the inside of the card and failed to take a picture of it! So, just pretend you're the recipient of this card and when you open it, you read "Another birthday? No probllama!" And then we laugh and laugh! LOL.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. Using the Gina Marie Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangle dies, I cut the first layer from Old Olive cardstock. Next I cut a 5" x 3 3/4" sheet of white cardstock and adhered it directly to the Old Olive scalloped cardstock. I stamped the sentiment at the top of the card in Tuxedo Memento Black ink. I stamped the llama, cactus, sombrero and blanket on a separate sheet of white cardstock in Tuxedo Memento Black ink and colored the images with Spectrum Noir markers. I die cut the images using the coordinating Honey Bee diecuts and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly I added a coat of Clear Wink of Stella to the cactus, blanket and sombrero for some subtle sparkle.

Here is the No Probllama stamp set from Honey Bee Stamps that I used to create today's card:

Adios amigos! Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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Happy Harvest

8/27/2019

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Hello crafty people! Perhaps you will recognize the scarecrow on today's card as being very similar to the one seen on yesterday's farmers market card and you would be correct, they are one and the same! Good eye! I had this Lawn Fawn "Happy Harvest" stamp set out on my desk over the weekend and while I was coloring the images I thought I would make a few extra cards using this set. It just might be my current favorite fall stamp set, even though it's one of Lawn Fawn's older sets. It's still a classic. And remember, if you wait long enough, everything comes back around! Eventually. : )

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. For the first matted 5 1/4" x 4" layer, I used the darkest brown sheet of paper from the Lawn Fawn Knock on Wood paper pack. Using the Gina Marie Designs Stitched Half Circles dies, I cut a sheet of yellow paper from the Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow Scallops paper pack. I stamped all of the images in Tuxedo Memento Black ink on the Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I colored in all of the images using my Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink Markers. I added highlights to many of the colored images with a Uniball Sigma White Gel Pen. I adhered the images to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added height. Lastly, I stamped the sentiment in Early Espresso ink on white cardstock and notched both ends before adhering it to the bottom of the card.

Here is the Happy Harvest stamp set by Lawn Fawn that I used to create today's card:

I hope you have enjoyed today's card! Thanks for visiting and happy creating!

XO, Crystal

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Farmer's Market

8/26/2019

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Hello readers and happy Monday! Welcome back from what turned out to be the most beautiful of weekend's here in Massachusetts! The weather could not have been more perfect, which worked out great because we hosted a BBQ at our house on Saturday night. The mildly chilly mornings and evenings are starting to give me all the fall feels and that is a perfect segway to today's card featuring a fall farmer's market scene using a combo of stamps from Avery Elle and Lawn Fawn.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White cardstock. The background paper is a sheet of paper from the Lawn Fawn Watercolor Wishes paper pack. I did not watercolor that myself! I stamped the market stand in Early Espresso ink on woodgrain paper and used the coordinating die to cut the stand out. I stamped the word "Harvest" and "Farmer's Market" also in Early Espresso ink. I stamped all of the other images from each of the two stamps sets (seen further below) in Memento Tuxedo Black ink and colored all of the images with Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink markers. I added highlights to each image using a Uniball Sigma White Gel Pen. I adhered the images to the card with 3M foam adhesive for added height and just strategically placed all the images to create the desired scene.

Here are the two stamp sets I used to create today's card:

Avery Elle Market Stand

Lawn Fawn Happy Harvest

Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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Harvest Mouse

8/23/2019

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Hi readers and happy Friday! I hope you have fun things planned for the weekend ahead! I have lots of work to do in my craft room from preparing for next week's gel cards class to ALL the samples I need to create to share here on the blog over the coming weeks. Right now I have a whopping zero cards "in the works!"
So, there's always something crafty that needs to be done!

Today I have created a fun fall card by spelling out the word "F-A-L-L" with my (retired) Large Letter Framelit dies by Stampin' UP! I used lots of fall colors in both polka dot and plaid patterns, and added a couple of cute mice - one playing in the leaves and one carrying a pumpkin to convey that fall feeling.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. The first 5 1/4" x 4" matted layer is a yellow polka dot piece of paper from Echo Park. Using the Gina Marie Scalloped Stitched Nesting Rectangle Dies, I cut a piece of Cajun Craze cardstock and lined it with a sheet of white cardstock (also cut with the Gina Marie Designs Stitched Nesting Rectangle dies). Using the (retired) Large Letter Framelit Dies from Stampin' UP! I die cut the letters "F-A-L-L" from another piece of plaid paper from the C elebrate Autumn paper pack by Echo Park. I adhered the letters to the white cardstock using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the mouse images in Memento Tuxedo black ink on white cardstock and colored them using Spectrum Noir Alcohol Ink markers. I added small details to the images using a Uniball White Gel Pen. I die cut the images and adhered them to the card. Lastly, I added a coat of Nuvo Crystal Glaze to the pumpkins and leaves to give them a glossy coating.

Here is the Harvest Mouse stamp set from My Favorite Things that I used to make today's card:

Thanks for visiting and have a great weekend!

XO, Crystal

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Altenew Sunflower Daisy

8/22/2019

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Hello friends and happy Thursday! I hope you are having a good week so far. Today I'm sharing the first of my fall floral cards using this beautiful Altenew Sunflower Daisy stamp set. If you're a regular follower of mine then you will know that I love the Altenew color-layering floral stamp sets! But, one of my botany knowledgeable readers might have to explain to me, is this actually a sunflower or a daisy? Is it both? I'm slightly confused by the name of this stamp set! Either way, the end result of this color layering stamp is simply gorgeous no matter what colors you use.

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. From Rich Razzleberry cardstock, I die cut the frame using the Altenew Watercolor Stripes cover die. Next I stamped each of the sunflower daisies in Sahara Sand ink, Daffodil Delight ink, Rich Razzleberry ink and Blackberry Bliss ink. I die cut each flower using the coordinating dies. I stamped each leaf in Sahara Sand ink and Rich Razzleberry ink. I die cut the leaves and began to assemble the flowers onto the card using 3M foam adhesive. I stamped the sentiment in Rich Razzleberry ink on white cardstock and notched both ends before adhering it to the card. Lastly, I put a coat of Clear Wink of Stella on the flowers for added sparkle.

Today's cards were created using the Altenew Sunflower Daisy stamp set and coordinating dies:

I hope you have enjoyed today's first fall floral cards!
Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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Tim Holtz Vagabond 2

8/20/2019

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Ugh, so I wasn't planning on purchasing a new $200 crafting machine anytime soon. . . But last week, the stars and moons aligned as such that my aging Sizzix Big Shot machine died. Bonnie bit the bullet. Yes, I named my Big Shot "Bonnie." And no, the other Big Shot I own is not named "Clyde." Naturally, it's
Bertha. . . Anywho, as the handle fell off and the inside thingies started grinding, I knew death was imminent. She had served me well for fourteen years and was worth every penny of her at-the-time $79 price tag! I mourned for all of 18 seconds before I thought, "Oh crap! I have a class to teach on Saturday, what am I going to do?" I do own two Big Shot machines, essentially I keep one for embossing and one is all set up with a magnetic platform for die cutting. It was a good investment with as many classes as I teach. I've never not been without two machines, so I panicked just a bit before full recon mode commenced.

Appearance of Vagabond 2 when closed

Appearance of Vagabond 2 with platforms open

I know I'm not alone when I talk about purchasing quasi-expensive craft machines that I don't use!
Hello Silhouette and Cricut machines collecting dust bunnies in the corner. . . So, I was hesitant to drop anywhere from $139-$199 for another electronic machine. My ultimate deciding factor was that if I was going to spend $119 to purchase a new Big Shot, why not spend $20 more ($139) for the Vagabond 2? Thanks to some Amazon credit, I was also lucky enough to get the price I paid down to $89.
Plus, hello, delivery in two days - just in time for class!

My Initial Review:

Technically I've only used my new Vagabond 2 about a dozen times, so can I write a fair and detailed review? Not particularly. But, so far I'm loving it! I can tell you this, it is a solidly built machine, that is compact enough to fit on a TV tray table. It has a fairly short electrical cord, so you might need an extension cord to set it up, depending upon it's location. It's easy to operate with only two buttons - direction and power. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE that it takes just the push of one finger. Amen to no more cranking!! I do wish you only had to push the button once to move the plates through, but you actually have to hold it down for the entire duration. This is probably my biggest complaint about the machine so far. I am hesitant that the motor will die more than likely one year and one day after the warranty runs out. Will it last me 14 years? Most likely not, but will my wrist and shoulder thank me? They already do!

Here is Tim Holtz demonstrating how the Vagabond 2 works at the 2016 CHA show:

Now, I need a name for my new Vagabond. . . Vinnie? Vlad? Vanna? Any thoughts?

XO, Crystal

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Color Layering Fawn

8/19/2019

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Hello friends and happy Monday! Welcome back from the weekend and cheers to a new cardmaking season! Last Friday, I announced the "end of my summer cards" and today we are kicking off all things fall. Fall truly is my favorite time of the year because of all the gorgeous colors and yes, all things pumpkin spice!
I'm excited to begin using lots of golden hues, burnt oranges and rich earthy browns in my color palette.
I'm also itching to start playing with my Halloween products too!

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a piece of Lawn Fawn Knock on Wood paper measuring 5' x 3 3/4" and mounted it to a sheet of Soft Suede cardstock. I heat embossed the sentiment in the lower right corner using white embossing powder. I die cut a large circle in the middle of these papers to create a shaker card with. I adhered a piece of clear acetate film behind the circular hole and lined the card base with some fall leaf paper (source unknown, sorry!) I die cut two birch trees from the Lawn Fawn Birch Tree Lawn Cuts and adhered them over the fall leaf paper. I filled the shaker frame with amber sequins. On a separate sheet of white cardstock, I stamped the Color Layering Fawn in Sahara Sand, Soft Suede and Early Espresso inks. I die cut the fawn and adhered it to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. I stamped the leaves in Versamark ink on both Pumpkin Pie cardstock and Crushed Curry cardstock and die cut the leaves with the coordinating die. I adhered the leaves around the deer using 3M foam adhesive.

Here is the Color Layering Fawn set from Hero Arts that I used to create today's cards:

Additionally, I used the leaves and sentiment from the Second Spring stamp set by A Muse Studio to help complete these cards:

I hope you have enjoyed today's first seasonal cards and are as excited as I am about the holiday projects
to come. Thanks for visiting and have a wonderfully creative day!

XO, Crystal

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So Long Summer

8/16/2019

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Hi friends! I know it's only August 16th, but let's consider today's card my official cardmaking end of summer. I know, I know. . . Collective groans from the interwebs! : ) But, you can't be too sad because today's card IS filled with butterflies and rainbows and both of those just exude happiness. I say "end of summer" because I need to begin creating cards for my fall classes, so I'll begin using a new color palette and switching out to more seasonal and holiday products. I'm excited, so you have no choice but to embrace it too! Hmmmm, now doesn't that kind of leave you excited for what next week's posts might be?!

Card details:

The base of this A2 sized card is made from Neenah Solar White Smooth cardstock. I cut a sheet of Lawn Fawn Really Rainbow paper for the first mat. Using Memento Tuxedo Black ink, I stamped the sentiment on a sheet of white cardstock and die cut it using the Gina Marie Designs Stitched Oval Nesting dies. On a separate sheet of white cardstock, I stamped the butterflies in a rainbow of colors using Lovely Lipstick ink, Pumpkin Pie ink, Daffodil Delight ink, Pear Pizzazz ink, Marina Mist ink (retired) and Gorgeous Grape ink. I punched the butterflies using the coordinating punch and adhered them to the card using 3M foam adhesive for added dimension. Lastly, I put a coat of Clear Wink of Stella on each butterfly for added sparkle.