Golden Moments

Gold Foiled Christmas Card and Ornament

Hi there! This weekend has been wonderful with all my boys home for the first time since August. There is something about having everyone home tucked in their beds that allows me to sleep better than I ever do when they are away. I wonder if I'll ever get used to having them off on their own? Thankfully, I still have a few more years with my youngest at home before he heads off to college.

With November almost over and Thanksgiving behind us, it is time to turn our focus to the upcoming winter holidays. On my to do list for tomorrow is putting away the fall decor so I have a clean slate for my Christmas decorations. I like to take my time and add a few things here and there each day until it feels like enough. I've noticed that as the years pass, I'm happy with fewer decorations and generally things that are handmade or ones I've really come to treasure. But I also like to make room for one or two new pieces each year. 

I have lots of seasonal projects to share and will try to do a better job of posting a few times each week between now and Christmas. First up is a handmade card and ornament using the new Dear Santa collection from Photo Play Paper along with gold Deco Foil from Therm O Web.

Also in the mix are stamps and dies from Papertrey Ink. I am in love with their new ornament die and hope to make several to give as gifts.

The gold Deco Foil adds a festive touch to any project and I really like the way it worked with the new Photo Play plaid paper. 

 

It can be a challenge to capture the shine and smoothness of the gold foil in a still photograph. I'm hoping to tackle videos in 2016 and think foil, and other things with lots of texture or shine, will be much easier to see in that format.

If you would like details about the supplies used and instructions for creating these projects, you can find them HERE.

Enjoy the rest of the weekend! 

 

Veterans Day Thanks

Hello there. Popping in with a peek at two cards that were created for Veterans Day. Thank you to all that have served their country through military service.

These were created for Therm O Web and feature ways to use their iCraft Adhesive Sheets and Easy-Tear tape.

There is a lot you can do with these products in addition to using them as straight up adhesive, such as adding glitter with much less mess and more precision than liquid glues.

Thanks so much for visiting today. You can find all the details for these cards, including a supply list, over on the Therm O Web blog.

Distressing with Foil

Hello friends! Thanks so much for stopping by today. I have a wedding project and new technique to share. It is doubly fun to be showing a wedding project today since it is our 26th wedding anniversary. Time really does fly.

This is a technique for applying foil that doesn't require any special tools or heat source - so no laser printer, laminator or heat gun required. I've used it on this wedding gift card holder which is featured on the Therm O Web blog.

The card has two parts - an outer sleeve and an inner tag that has a pocket for holding a gift card (or money).

You can find all the supplies and instructions, plus additional photos, HERE. There is also a fantastic giveaway at the bottom of the post where you can win a bunch of foil and adhesive to give this technique a try for yourself, so be sure to stop by.

I hope you enjoy this technique for distressing with foil. One of the best parts - in addition to not needing any special tools or equipment - is that it works best with leftover foil scraps.

Hope you are having a wonderful week!

Back to School Projects Using DecoFoil

Mid-August! How is it even possible? This summer has been wonderful. Beautiful, sunny days jam-packed with celebrations and get togethers, reading, evenings on the porch playing board games as a family, gardening, making jams and preserves, and even some crafting... but not much in the way of blogging. Once the routine of the school year kicks in, I'm sure you will see me back here on a more regular basis.

I wanted to pop in today with links to a few recent posts over at Therm O Web featuring DecoFoil in a variety of back to school projects. The first is an apple-shaped thank you card that was created using a Silhouette electronic die cutting machine.

It takes a little time to set up the cut files, but once that is done it would be easy to reproduce multiples of this card. Change the word "Teacher" to Mr. or Ms. Teacher'sName for a customized card. The card is sized to hold a gift card inside.

You can find the full post with more detailed instructions HERE.

The next projects were created with Echo Park's new Teacher's Pet collection designed by the uber-talented Jen Gallacher. Jen and I were on the Karen Foster Design team together for years and it is so exciting to see her branching out with her own set of products! Check it out.

Cute, huh?! Here is the quick and easy card I created which has a gold foil medallion made with DecoFoil and double-sided foam adhesive.

In addition to a simple card, there is a set of mini flashcards and monogrammed bookmarks also with gold foil accents.

You can find more photos and details HERE.

Thanks so much for visiting my blog. I hope you have a wonderful day!

 

 

Deco Foil Cards and Tags

Hello friends! The last few weeks have been such a whirlwind of activity with graduation festivities for my middle son, in addition to all the usual end of year events. This year I am particularly thankful to be able to enjoy them all. So much better than last summer when I was going through chemo. 

This week I've had two posts over at Therm O Web showcasing their super trendy new Deco Foil. Have you jumped on the foiling bandwagon yet? So much fun to use and it adds such a shine to any project. Here is a peek at my projects:

The first ones all feature products from the latest Paper Issues kit - lots of goodies there! (it looks like the one I used is sold out, but there are several others to choose from).

The wood-grained white cardstock is incredibly detailed. Might be my favorite thing from the entire kit.

The next post features an assortment of projects I made for Therm O Web's trade show booth. Simple designs aimed at showing off the colorful foils. 

And a little cake box that would be great way to package up a wedding or shower favor:

You can find the post with the Paper Issues cards, which includes a tutorial for a few different ways of applying the foil, HERE.

You can find the post for the other projects HERE.

Deco Foil also works on fabric and the Therm O Web team has been posting lots of projects with ideas for that on the blog. I have a post HERE that shows my first attempt at using it on fabric and includes a link to a more detailed tutorial.

Thank you so much for taking time to visit my blog - I really appreciate each and every one of you that are still coming here! This past year has been difficult and I haven't posted nearly as much as I would like... now that I'm feeling better and getting my energy back, I'm looking forward to being much more active in the design world. Your support means so much - thank you!

Have a wonderful day!

 

Craft Ideas Easter Tulips Card

Happy Easter weekend! I have a card to share with you that is in the Spring 2015 issue of Craft Ideas magazine. Have you checked out Craft Ideas lately? I love the new, modern updated look and feel and appreciate all the step-out photos that are now included with many of the projects.

 

This was a fun card to make - and easy enough to create multiples if you work assembly line style. While you can find a detailed supply list and instructions HERE, I thought I would share a few photos to give you an idea of the process.

This card has a bit of dimension, but not so much that it would be difficult to mail.

The stamped tulip image was heat embossed on vellum.

And quickly colored with markers on the reverse side. Love this technique as it is so forgiving!

The colors are softened by the vellum, so use darker colors than you want on the finished card.

I love using a computer to generate the sentiment - especially if I don't have a stamp that fits. Creating your own sentiment also allows you to choose the fonts that fit the style of the card. The only tricky part is die-cutting it after printing. Creating a template out of printer paper makes it easy to position the die exactly where needed.

Thanks so much for visiting today. I wish you and your loved ones a very Happy Easter! Hope the bunny is good to you... those Reese's Peanut Butter eggs are my downfall, what's yours?

Don't forget to check out Craft Ideas magazine for all sorts of DIY inspiration.

 

Quilled Christmas Cards with 3Birds Design

Ho Ho Ho and Happy Hanukkah! Not much time left until Christmas. How are your holiday plans progressing? I still have lots to do but am trying to take my time and relish the process. I've been especially thankful this year to be able to fully enjoy the season with my family and friends. Nothing like a bit of cancer to help reinforce one's priorities in life! I'm still carving out time to be creative - although most of those projects need to be kept under wraps for a bit longer. Fun stuff though, I promise. I'm looking forward to 2015!

Today I have a few cards that were created for a joint 3Birds Design and Therm O Web design week featuring the 3Birds Quilled Holiday Card Kit. Just look at all the goodies they pack into this kit!

I'm very new to quilling and my shapes are pretty basic, but it is a very interesting technique and I'm looking forward to experimenting with it more in the future. Here are three cards I came up with using the kit:

The first card uses one of the 3Birds round window cards as a base. I quilled the berries on the wreath die cut.

You can see the window a bit better in this photo:

The next card base is really unique - it folds up to become a shadow box frame. I love the way these look and the dimension is even better in person. The poinsettia is quilled using one of the pre-cut petal strips that comes in the kit.

The last card came together quickly because everything is pre-cut, including the quilling strips to create the flowers. Just roll them up, glue, and adhere to the card.

There are lots of beautiful examples of quilling on the 3Birds website. There is also a fantastic giveaway going on, so be sure to stop by the Therm O Web blog, leave a comment, and enter the contest.

Have a wonderful day!

Paper Crafts & Scrapbooking Magazine Special Thanks Blog Hop

Today is a day of mixed feelings. I have so many wonderful memories associated with PaperCrafts magazine and many special friendships that have some connection to the publication, but I'm also sad that they are closing and feel like in some ways it represents the end of an era in the paper crafting world. I wish the current editorial team nothing but the best and know there is a silver lining out there waiting for them all to discover.

PaperCrafts was the first magazine that I started to work with regularly. The first month I got up the nerve to submit some projects I was completely clueless and sent a dozen or more items for them to consider - most of which had nothing to do with the issue/season they were looking to fill! I was thrilled (and looking back on it - shocked!) to get an email from Valerie Pingree, the magazine's founding Editor-in-Chief, telling me they wished to publish a few things.

Even though it would be months before the August/September 2004 issue made its way to store shelves, I couldn't help checking every time I visited the grocery store or book store. Back then, it was easy to find the latest PaperCrafts and Creating Keepsakes - most grocery and general stores seemed to carry them. I was beyond excited when a friend called to tell me she had spotted the issue and had bought me a copy.

 

That was the beginning of turning my hobby into a paying job - one that I've been doing ever since. I'm so thankful to PaperCrafts for giving me a start in something that has allowed me to be home raising my boys while satisfying my need to be creative, not to mention all the wonderful friendships and memories that have happened as a result during the last ten years.

I spent two years on the Editorial Board of PaperCrafts and have so many fond memories of my trips to Utah. Love this photo from one of the early board meetings with (back row left to right) Nichole Heady, me, Alisa Bangerter, Susan Neal, (front row left to right) Kim Kesti, Teri Anderson, and Valerie Pingree.

(thanks for sharing the photo, Nichole!)

Love you PaperCrafts & Scrapbooking! Thanks for everything!!

You should have arrived here from Lisa Henke's blog. Next up is someone who helped shape PaperCrafts into the trend setting publication we all love - someone who I feel lucky to have been able to spend time with over the years in her beautiful home and will always consider a friend - the sweet, talented, and moxie fab Cath Edvalson.

 

Trio of cards using mambi's pocket page inserts

Hello and happy election day! It still seems strange to not be baking in preparation for voters... seemed like every year my kids were in elementary and middle schools we would have a huge bake sale fundraiser right outside the polls. Guess I'll have to settle for purchasing a few goodies today instead. :)

Today I have a few card ideas to share which feature an assortment of new products from me & my BIG ideas put together with my favorite adhesives from Therm O Web. There is also a big giveaway going on over at the Therm O Web blog where you can win almost all of the products used in these cards.

It can be a challenge to adhere a clear element to a card. Therm O Web's photo corners are a great solution.

Here are peeks at the other two cards. You can find lots more details on the Therm O Web post.

If you are looking for a quick and easy card, this one fits the bill... mambi's talk bubble die cuts and stickers make this one come together in minutes.

 

So glad you stopped by today! Don't forget to visit the Therm O Web blog to enter the giveaway to win this fantastic prize pack:

Have a wonderful day and good luck in the drawing!

Halloween Cards with Simple Stories

I love that my favorite season of the year is finally here. The days are still sunny and warm, but the mornings and evenings are cool and the leaves are starting to change. Of course that means one of my favorite holidays is almost here... hint: it involves lots of candy corn and Reese's peanut butter cups. 

Today on the Therm O Web blog I'm sharing three Halloween cards made using the new Frankie and Friends collection from Simple Stories. I'm not currently doing any pocket-style scrapbooking, but I love using all the products that have popped up to go along with the trend. The pocket inserts make great backgrounds for quick and easy cards.

With the background done, you can create a quick card using dimensional adhesive to add a few paper cutouts, as I did with the card below. This card came together in minutes.

Or you can spend more time adding details such as die cutting a window in the card and using a few more embellishments. Nothing says "Halloween" like googly eyes.

Thanks so much for spending a few minutes here today. Be sure to head over to the Therm O Web blog to say hello and enter the Simple Stories collection giveaway.

Have a wonderful day!