Toymaker Elf ~

Last year I got so behind in making my Christmas cards that I never gave one to my parents.  Shameful, I know.  I actually got this stamp for their card last year and never colored it, so I was determined to make it happen this year.  I colored it up on WCMD and it sat until Christmas Eve. 

I adore this Christmas paper pad from Echo Park – ‘Tis the Season.  Lots of smoky grays and warm reds.  I had him all cut out with the LID Stitched Rectangles and mounted on foam tape before I realized I wanted to stamp the sentiment along the side.  Whoops!  I think it turned out ok though.  It’s a sweet little sentiment from Lil’ Inker Designs Holly Jollly sentiments.  I finished it off by adding some gray twill and a silk bow on Christmas day.  In 2014 I will have my parents card done by November 1.  You all will have to hold me to it!! 

One last little detail are his glasses.  I used a Sakura glitter pen to add a squiggle of glitter and swirled it around with a waterbrush.  When they were dry, I added a thick coat of glossy accents…that a Copic rolled right through!  Aaaaaaahhh!  Lots of cuss words were uttered and yelled while I quickly tried to get as much of it off his face as possible.  You can still see a little on the bridge of his nose but only if you’re looking for it. 

Ok, that wraps up Xmas cards for 2013.  New year’s resolution is to have them all done, including our family photo card by Thanksgiving!  We took our family photo on Dec. 18th, one week before Christmas.  No time to order Shutterfly or anything like that, so I just photoshopped a greeting and printed them at home.  If I’m really on top of it next year, I’d love to do a collage family photo card with a letter of all that we’ve done.  Cross your fingers for me!  Thanks for sticking around for all this!  Hope you have a lovely day! 

 

Alyssa

CAS Christmas ~

Every year I end up giving a few gift cards.  They’re just easier for everyone!  I don’t end up having to take something back for my step-daughter because she wants a different size or color, and I don’t end up worrying that she’s saying she likes something when she really doesn’t.  I also give gift cards to my brother who has purchased a fixer-upper.  Seems better to get him a Home Depot gc rather than some book he doesn’t have time to read.  KWIM? 

I wanted pretty cards for them to receive them in, but I didn’t give myself much time to create.  The first is Kayla’s.  I used the leftover strips from the Lil’ Inker Designs Stitches & Stripes Cover Up die along one corner of the card.  I save all kinds of leftovers from die cuts, do you?

 

The snowflake is heat embossed with heat and stick powder and covered in an iridescent white glitter with a pink hue.  Riddle me why one side is more sparkly than the other…I certainly don’t know.  Perhaps I heated it up too much on one side?? 

The center of the snowflake is dressed up with a twine bow tied up with red and silver jingle bells atop a red button.  I wonder if this card can still be called CAS with that large embellishment?  Probably not.

This next card is for my brother.  I’m sure he’s not one of my family members that saves all the cards I make, so I opted for a pretty simple one here.  I used more of the foil paper, but in green this time, to back the Lil’ Inker Designs ornament die from the Christmas bits die set.

The sentiment is from the Jolly & Joyful sentiments set.  I used the Annabelle Stamps Border 1 die to create a little more interest in the background and backed it with red paper. 

Thanks for stopping by today!  I’ll have a fun little elf card to share.  Have a wonderful day!!

 

Alyssa

Poinsettias ~

Hi there!  I thought I’d bop in here and try to share the last of my Christmas cards over the next few days - even though the holiday has passed and we’re all gearing up for the next one.  I pretty much adore the Papertrey Ink Year of Flowers Poinsettia and matching die.  I know I should probably retire it and find a new one to love, but I’m just not ready yet.  haha 

I have two cards today.  The first is one I had die cut and embossed last year and never colored.  I colored it up this year at our WCMD party and finally got it put on a card on the eve of Christmas eve. {World’s Best Procrastinator}

I used both the large and small sizes and stacked them atop each other with dimensional foam tape.  The green leaf part is a large one with each point cut apart and arranged.

 

I love this color combo more than the one I’ve done in previous years – R24, 29, RV69 with G21, 24 & 28.  The green is just a fresher, more true-to-life contrast.  I also tried to remove the color along the veins of the red petals with the colorless blender and found that it would not happen.  Reds are just too stubborn.  One of these days, I’ll actually send this along to the friend I made it for.  lol  Good thing she likes and understands me!

This next one I made for a friend who loves all things trendy, so I went with chevron and gold.  These trends are probably no longer trendy but hey, that’s how I roll!  Always a step behind and a dollar short!

This card is much prettier in real life when you can twist it this and that way to see the lovely shimmer.

The poinsettia is stamped and embossed in white on vellum.  I quickly colored the back with a red Copic.  The last detail are some mini gold beads on a bed of Glossy Accents. 

 

The background stamp is from Hero Arts and is stamped in VersaMark.  I then brushed on some interference gold powder from Stampin’ Up.  I wonder if Pearl Ex powders would work better.  I’ve never used them.  You can kind of see the gold shimmer in this photo.  It really is prettier in real life but not what I’d imagined it would be. 

I hope she likes it!  She won’t get it till we meet up sometime next month.  Now I just have to get her present finished.  ;)

 

Thanks so much for stopping by!  I’m off until tomorrow! 

 

Alyssa

Lil’ Inker Designs Release Hop Day 3 ~

Hey there!  Glad to have you back for the last day of this fantastic release hop for Lil’ Inker Designs!!  Hopefully you’ve found your way here from the amazing Alicia’s blog.  If not, comment here first, and then bop on back to Laura’s to get started off right!! 

I have one more Valentine’s day inspired card to show you…though you could really give this card on any day of the year just to say ‘I love you!’

I made a shaker card!  I used the new Floating Hearts die, On the Diagonal and the Love Things stamp set.  A box of foam tape around the die cut along with a sheet of acetate holds the little metallic hearts in place.  The kisses and hugs form a border and the red sentiment adds just a little more red.  A perfect little way to tell someone how you feel!

Next is a birthday card I sent to my FIL.  A super fun set to play along with the stitched stars, if you so desire – Shiny Happy Sentiments

Completely out of my comfort zone because it’s all tilty, but I ended up loving it!  Since I think my Dad2 is Far Out, Stellar and Groovy in every way, this is the perfect sentiment!  To keep it more masculine, I added some stars and buttons and called it done.

Hope you’re having fun on the hop!  Make sure to leave comments for prizes!  Take a hop on to the amazing Amy next!

 

Alyssa

Lil’ Inker Designs Release Hop Day 2 ~

Welcome to Day 2 of the December Release Hop for Lil’ Inker Designs!!  Hopefully you’ve found your way here from the amazing Alicia’s blog.  If not, comment here first, and then bop on back to Laura’s to get started off right!

Today I thought I’d show you the second Cover Up die that Lil’ Inkers is releasing.  This one is called Stitches and Stripes.  My initial inspiration was as a candy cane/Xmas card, so I hurried off to Hobby Lobby for some red foil paper.  Once I had it all together, all I could think of was a Valentine’s card with the new Love Tags dies and Love Things stamp set.

 

I still adore the chalkboard trend!  Once the tag was cut, I colored in all the hearts with a white gel pen, stamped the sentiment and added the glitter hearts.  A little twine, ribbon and a tilt were all that was left! 

Next I used the punny new sentiment set, The Fine Print.  The card looks all sweet and innocent…

 

until you focus and skim the sentiment.  Once you really take a good hard look, you realize all you have to do is read the fine print!

“When you’re not here with me a pain runs through my heart”

This set is full of funny sentiments such as these!  Ok, you’re off to your next stop, Amy!!  Leave comments along the hop for your chance at Lil’ Inker Designs goodies!

 

Alyssa

 

 

Lil’ Inker Designs Release Hop Day 1 ~

Welcome to Day 1 of the December Release Hop for Lil’ Inker Designs!!  We have a whole bunch of fabulous new products we’re introducing today!  If you follow the Lil’ Inker Designs blog, then you’ve been lucky enough to see some sneak peeks of these goodies!! 

This is a hop so hopefully you’ve found your way here from Alicia’s beautiful blog.  If not, comment here first, and then bop on back to Laura’s fabby space to get started off right! 

When I first got all the release stuff, I had this idea for a card…but I needed Heat and Stick powder.  It felt like forever till it came!  lol  This is the Love Cover Up Die.  I went with an ombre color scheme behind this gorgeous plate. 

The glitter is adhered/embossed to a sheet of acetate and is oh.so.sparkly in person!

At the last minute, I added a small stitched heart from the Of the Heart dies.  But then it needed some sparkle too, so it got covered with Cotton Candy Stickles and Glossy Accents. 

 

Ok, thanks for sticking around!  Head on over to Amazing Amy's fantastic blog!  Don’t forget to comment along the way for your chance at two $10 gift certificates to Lil’ Inker Designs!!  Thanks for stopping by!

 

Alyssa

 

Happy Holidays ~

Wow!  Christmas is creeping up on me!!  It’s only twelve days away, and I don’t even have all my cards made!  So here’s a simple, easy-to-mail one using some fun Lil’ Inker Designs goodies.

These snowflakes are some of my all time faves!  The sentiment is a tad blurry because it’s stamped on birch wood, but it adds to the rustic charm…don’tcha think? ;)

Before I head off to mass produce some more cards, I thought I’d let you know that in just a few short days, Lil’ Inker will be having a new release!  A lot of fun goodies are coming out, so save your Christmas money and buy something for yourself!!  

Have a super day!

 

Alyssa