Some Holiday cards

AS I work on designs for my cards, I am working through some Holiday ideas. The first is a Halloween card that used the sizzix Ghosts2 die, a tiny "bat" punch, and a Martha Stewart Fence punch. My husband, who is a huge fan of this holiday loved this one!

This uses a new Sizzix christmas chain die . I used part of it as a border, and embossing paste in a brass stencil. Simple, but I like it.

FInally the lightbulbs from QuickKutz, a memory box holly die and the stamped sentiment is from Gina K Designs.

I love the textures of this one, especially the suede paper.

starting my portfolio

I was recently asked by a local merchant if I would be willing to sell my cards in his shop. To be honest I have never thought much about it, but it would be a nice to make pocket money for my habit. so, I am designing my portfolio. both use Fiskars birthday greetings, and i was trying to go for two very different sensibilities. What do you think?

predictably, and as i had hoped, my hubby preferred the second masculine version.

Fall weather, please!!!!

As I try to get myself into preparation for the start of school, I thought I would do a couple of fall themed cards.  This is what I came up with,

This was using Mojo Monday's sketch. The colors are off- it is actually on Kraft card stock, and is richer looking IRL. The focal image is the Bitterroot image from Melanie Muenchinger's Stately Flowers and the sentiment is Gina K Designs. the color block dp is also GKD.

Again the sentiment and background image is GKD. I used distressed ink (concord grape, peeled paint, and fired brick) on the background, then heat embossed the wildflowers. The bouquet was assemblished from small blossoms in a floral pick from Michaels. Again, not sure why the colors are off, but IRL it is much more fall-like. Hope your days are comfortable, and that your fall is blessed!

Another crafting Saturday

Reviewing this week:
lots of grading, end of term blues, and escape to the craft room!
First up: another House mouse card, thus timee combining 2 stamps: "Mudpie Tells" and "Cool Breezes." I just love both images and smiled the whole time that I worked with them!

Next up, a Challenge card for Mojo Monday. I have enjoyed Mojo Monday because it makes me use layouts and layering that I would not have otherwise done. Focal image and sentiment are Gina K.

I also made my first pocket card using a template from TooMuchFun Rubberstamps. It is cute and will make a good Halloween card

Finally a challenge for Stamp TV- to use the same shape multiple ways.

This morning I went to a "garage sale" at my favorite Stamp Store "A Small Cleverness" in Orange Park, FL. It is about a 45 minute drive, but always worth the trip. I picked up a few stamps, some good dp, and a store display rack for stickles and reinkers. I resisted the urge to buy dies, as I am trying to condition myself to start saving for my Silhouette Cameo. Pray with me for strength!

Taking advantage of time off

So I have been teaching a lighter load this summer (kids in college, so I teach year round). I has freed me up to spend a bit more time in my craft room (girl cave).

Love my House Mouse stamps! I just got this one on eBay, and paper pieced it for a tablecloth, Watercolored the rest. The sentiment is Gina K, and seemed perfect here.

I had this flourish for a couple of years, part of an unmounted sheet that I had been given as a gift. I love the image, and am using it as a basis for jewelled bling. I cannot justify paying $6.00 per page for those, and I like how this looks.

The image is from the perfect patterns set from Gina K. I like how it reminded me of Frank Lloyd Wright's stained glass, so I colored it and used crystal lacquer. I like it a lot! Sentiment is from Springtime Silhouettes from Gina K. 

This was a CASE from a great card by Susan Sieracki. Hers was glitter card and a more folk art bird. I went with mirrored card and a Hummingbird stamp that I got from Michaels. I love how this turned out. Colored it with Bic Markit pens and applied crystal lacquer to give sheen to balance the mirrored card.

Two more weeks of summer school, then on to the fall term. I may not emerge from my girl cave very much before then!