My CHRISTmas Card This Year , a Tutorial and a Freebie.

 It is two days before Christmas and we are hoping to get on the road to Massachusetts before the storm blows in. I wanted to take a gift-wrapping break and put up a quick post about our card this year.   This year I made and mailed 120 cards.  I started them a few days day after we traveled to North Carolina (and came home) to be with our kids for Thanksgiving.  This was the first year since we moved to NY that I sent out a full list of cards.  Other years for whatever reason I just couldn't get with it to do it, Maybe losing our parents, starting a new job that was a little overwhelming, or other various family crises. Thankfully this year the "switch" was turned on and I got these cards done and enjoyed the whole process.  I love the picture cards we get from what seems like 75% of friends and family, but really, to me this ONE day a year should be about celebrating His birthday and sharing the Good News.  As my friend Miyuki perfectly put it; CHRISTmas!

One of the things I love about card making is the technical aspects of the creative process, which papers and inks work the best together, does the paper resonate and enhance the image, does the finished product convey what I am trying to say in this small 5x7 art format? Will it speak to the person I am sending it to?  Card making and sending (in my thought and prayer process) is 100% about the person receiving the card and what they will receive from it.  I try to be very purposeful.  

My Christmas cards are always Christ-centered
in one form or another.  This year I had 3 images I wanted to use;

This was the first image, for the card front

I tried several attempts and mediums for coloring

To be honest I thought the head of baby Jesus was a little weird looking - But I loved the rest of the image.  I tried this with 4 different inks, 3 types of paper, colored pencils, watercolors, alcohol markers, watercolor markers, and chalks.  And well No Bueno.

So I ditched that stamp and went very simple with the card.

This version came together so fast and was so much fun!

My choice of paper was the 5Below watercolor paper for the card face and base, I was looking for a letterpress look and feel to go with my images:

Each pad yielded  72 bases and 144 fronts, so I used 3 pads@ 15.00

I cut it with my bulk cutter, one pad at a time, so the cutting process took 15 miniutes! 

Scored the bases with a big and easy to use scoring machine

Picked my stamps and Hero India Ink

Worked on the layout

Created the card front

Then the interior

I made a few attempts until I got a just about perfect set of images.

Then I scanned them and then I printed and cut and glued 135 cards.

Angel descending right for the card front.  For the envelope, I had another angel descending left that I hand-stamped before addressing.  It took me two years to find these vintage stamps.  But they were well worth the effort.  And this is how I could make all these cards in less than a week.

I love combining technology and hand craftsmanship when I can, the paper was the real key I think to the appearance of this card. and it even weighed in under 1 ounce!

Of course, the real beauty was That Jesus, Our Redeemer, came for us and will come again.

I hope you have a wonderful Christmas and enjoy your family and friends and offer Thanks and Praise to Jesus and Honor his Birthday.

Your freebie today, looks awesome printed on watercolor paper and colored with pencil and Gamisol.

Merry Christmas and May the Lord bless you!

Ginny M

Word Art Wednesday and a Bog Hop!

                         It is Word Art Wednesday Anything Goes Challenge and a very Special Blog Hop, with Prizes! 

We have many fabulous prizes from our generous sponsors.  To be eligible to win the Stamp Simply prize, just enter your art in our gallery as usual.  The winner of this prize will be selected by random draw from our entries.

To be eligible to win prizes from Tonic Studios and other goodies, simply leave a comment on each blog to be eligible for that prize.  When you've completed the blog hop, leave a comment at Word Art Wednesday saying that you've completed the hop.

The talented team at Word Art Wednesday has another great Bible verse, 

Devotion by Karen Letchworth and beautiful cards to inspire your crafting.  Make a card, Enter it in the challenge and then send a blessing to someone near or far!  Our Sponsors this week are Stamp Simply and Tonic Studios!!

My Card:

I used a digital by an Etsy seller Pixie Jungle.  It just looked like the perfect image for this verse and it printed up beautifully!

I created layers for interest and added rose gold glitter

For one layer I trid using that thin packing foam, it worked great and the glueing was no problem

I cut a the gold out and added glitter.

each layer of the sandscape was fussy cut from a second print with a different "filler"  giving each layer a slightly different height

A 5x7 card printed on Strathmore felt finish #110 cover

The Blog Hop Prize from Word Art Wednesday and Maxamadestudio!:

Remember to leave a comment! 

Here are the next stops in the Blog Hop, stop at each one, leave a comment and maybe your name will be drawn!

Natalie Houston

Joann Atterbury

Christine Miller

Gail Scott

Cynthia Olheiser

Esther Asbury

Karen Letchworth

Word Art Wednesday

My Freebie for you

Have a great day, and Enjoy the Hop!

Ginny M

What a great New Year's Card Verse!

This weeks Verse in Caligraphy by Karen Murray

Japanese Holiday Card a Challange and a Freebie

 It has been a lovely snowy day here in CNY, a great time for resting and enjoying an unhurried day. Tommorow morning and the rush for work will look completely different, but that can wait till tomorrow!

I've made a couple Japanese motif cards this weekend, both for challenges. 

The First Card:

This card was made a for using your oldest stamps "Challenge"

This is a Marks of Distinction stamp from 1986. I also used a paper crimper from the same era.

The Second Card:

This card was for a "New Year Greetings"

I have a friend who is a Japanese language student and I am sure she will enjoy this.

The Kanji writing says Happy New Year.

for the image, I used a 7x7 piece

of origami paper from Amazon, I think this package was under $12.00

I found an image I thought would be perfect for a new year

These are lovely, but for card making a little bit of a challenge due to image size

I also gave the image a coat of Lineco glue, to give it that lacquered look.

I'm entering the Happy New Year Card in 

Simon Says Holiday Cheer Challenge

I hope you are enjoying your Sunday,

I have a freebie for you too:

Ginny M

A Batch of Fast Scrap Card Thank You's and a Freebie

 Hi Everyone, If you are like most crafters you are very busy right now with crafting for  your holidays.  Whatever you are doing now chances are you will need thank-you's later, so I thought I would show you a quick batch I made. If you like them I have a quick and easy process to show you.

I made a dozen in less than an hour

These are 4.5x6 side opening

The base paper is Strathmore warm white, felt finish 110# cover.

I printed them on the same paper

Trimmed and edged in Black

Set aside

Pulled scraps from my scrap bin

cut to size, edeged with black

Glued and done!

Just a simple design on sumptuous paper,

Makes these quite nice ( I think!)

I think shes' so simply elegant!

With this card, I used a "thank you" rubber stamp

If you would like to make a batch, I have the freebie for you!!

The "Thank You" script I added in  Publisher Software.

Thanks for stopping by, I hope you are enjoying your days before the Holidays.  If you are feeling overwhelmed, Please just sit and take a break, you owe it to yourself to take a breather.  Pace your self!

Ginny M

Word Art Wednesday and a Freebie

 It is Wonderful Word Art Wednesday! I hope you take the time to click over to Word Art Wednesday and check out Karen's beautiful devotion along with  Karen Murphy's Digital Caligraphy featuring this week's verse: Galatians 4:45. We also have the inspiring art using the Scripture by the design team! 

Make a card and enter the challenge and maybe you will win a prize, this challenge's sponsor is The Rabit Hole Designs with a fab $15.oo shop card. Mail the card and you will make someone's day!!

My Card:

When I meditate on this verse, I am Struck by The waiting for the "Fullness of Time"

I am so thankful he waited, and continues to wait  - for us!

I printed this card on Strathmore felt finish 110 coverstock paper.  I love using texture with digitals.

I use both digitals and hand-stamped images, I love both mediums for card making.

These are the diamonds used for "Diamond Painting". I love how they look and as an added bonus, you can buy a jar for 2.99 and it will contain I think 500 diamonds it comes in more colors than you will ever find with traditional blingy things.

I use my regular Lineco glue to place them

It dries clear and hold well.  The post office likes these too - they don't cause problems with their machines!

Today's Freebie:  Something a little different.

Thank you for stopping by, Don't forget to check out Word Art Wednesday and enter!

Ginny M