My 2013 Christmas Cards: Loving Sparkle and Embossing

Hello all! I know I'm really behind in posting these (considering it is now past Christmas) but I got a little busy. Also, I wanted to make sure the people I sent them to got them, before I posted them. hehe.
I made 80+ handmade Christmas cards this year (a daunting task if you ask me!) Below are some of the cards I made (the rest are variations of these cards).

This year, after making my framed art as gifts to some, I had a few items leftover, so you'll notice some reusing of stamped images and products. This at least made it a little easier to put the cards together.

Also this year I used some pre-cut card backings to make the cardmaking process a little quicker (and they came with envelopes too!) I used a few of the packaged card bases from Micheal's, but I dressed them up to meet my needs, such as these snowflaked punched card bases-where I embossed, punched, stamped, washi taped and blinged them out.

This year I am all about the sparkle, embossing folders and washi tape. ;)

Enjoy the rest of the cards I made this year!

I hope you all had a great holiday and I know I'm looking forward to the new year!
-M

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DIY Circle and Star Paper Chandelier

I am part of the decorations committee for a theater gala that is in November, and I was DETERMINED to make these as part of the decorations. I found a bunch of great tutorials on Pinterest on how to make a paper chandelier from a hanging wire basket.
I'm kind of proud how it turned out, to be honest, especially since it was my first try. I still have to make another one, but I dig it. ;)
So here is how I made mine:

First, I painted the black hanging basket I got from the dollar store, gold. (the colors of the gala are blue, gold and white).

I started by punching everything out with my punches and planning out my pattern.

I then glued the punched out shapes to parts of curling ribbon and wrapping the ends of the ribbon around the bottom of the basket.

Then I glued the center portions together. The problem with the center portion is it doesn't wrap around easily- I had to glue them to the wire of the basket, then I glued another punch to the back (sandwiching the wire of the basket in between the two punches) and secure it with hot glue.

Then I wrapped the top layer around the top of the basket.

I think it turned out pretty good for never putting one together before. It isn't hard, just a little time consuming- which is why I watched Netflix while I put it together. lol

(you can see the gold ribbon wrapped around the top a little better when looking down into it).

I'm debating over putting some gold or white shiny tinsel in the basket to sort of hide the interior, but I think it will be high enough in the air, no one will notice the above parts.
I still have to make a matching one (they need two for the gala), so I guess I will have to find another movie to watch as I put it together! haha

Hope this helps someone else to know how to put a paper chandelier together- it is pretty easy and so far staying together quite nicely. I understand why circles are easier to do (they are wider all around, so they take up more space) but the stars serve their purpose. ;)
Anyways, Have a great day!
-M

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Birthday card and such

So today I was sick. So sick in fact, that I stayed home from work. Now this NEVER happens to me. I usually am well enough or tell myself I am well enough to just deal with whatever I have and go to work. This morning however, I spent all morning basically in the bathroom with a stomach ache that wouldn't go away. I drank 3 bottles of water and ate some crackers in hopes it would flush out whatever "badness" was in my system. I then went back to bed. I woke up an hour later, read some Harry Potter (I'm trying to finish book 6 before the movie comes out) and after that another power nap. I woke up eventually and felt not 100% good, but better. 

I then decided to make some cards in hopes that it would calm my head and stomach. I got my Fun-Frilled card already done for next week (my goal is to be always a week ahead, so I don't stress about it).  It was a tough challenge, since I don't have much for the theme, but I think it will do.

Among the cards I made, I created the following birthday card for my step-dad. Seeing as his birthday is Thursday (exactly a week before mine, which is Feb. 26th) I thought I should try to get it out. It won't be sent out till tomorrow, but at least he'll hopefully get it in the general time frame of his birthday. I also made another card, which technically can go with next week's Fun-Frilled theme (besides the one I made specifically for the theme), so I'll wait to post that till sometime next week. I also made one card, which I think is hideous, and therefore not even worthy of giving to anyone I like or even posting here. Only the good stuff is worthy of blogging. :)

The fun part about the birthday card, is it is a punchout kind of card. I haven't made any of these kind before, so it was fun. I know the bling, sparkle and scallop are really not "manly" but hey, guys can have bling too! lol... I know it looks simple, but it was a challenge to get all it to line up and things to work inside and out.

Hope you all are having a great day/night (whenever you read this). Make sure you check out Fun-Frilled everyday for a new take on the daily theme, and I hope you all can join in on the challenge. Especially since there is some blog candy for it this week there!

Enjoy the card!

Celebrate!

'cuz its Your Birthday!

I getting better at stamping these puppies!

These turned out great, and they took very little effort!

Happy Birthday on the inside! kinda like, Surprise! Happy Birthday!

- marvey 2 in circle punch

- gold and white paper by Paper Reflections

- designer green paper on inside of card: K&Company Berry Sweet 4x6 mat paper

- stars: Holiday cheer foam stars from Michael's

- fiscars scallop punch

- Darico self-stick gems

- stamps and ribbon??

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The monogram game

So we had picked our monograms for the wedding, and now that it is down to the putting the invitations together I have come to the point of punching them out of the nice cardstock that the printer (EBC) printed to go with the invitations. Each invitation will be closed with black & white polka dot ribbon, with the monogram glued on the center to play as the stamp/clasp to the invitations. However, my 1 1/2 inch Marvy circle punch must suck or something. Every time I try to punch it out, the edges get all rough and just do not look like they are supposed to. They just look, well, ick! After talking to my mom about this, being she's a crafty person too, told me that it is due to the fact that it is one of the "older" Marvy punches, being one that DOES NOT have a lever. According to all-knowing mother, the Marvy punches with levers do the trick. We'll see about this, since I had to order it online. (None of my local craft stores sell that size punch with the lever.) Everyone *cross fingers* that it works out, or I might have to hand cut them all out (EEKK!!) See below, rough edges!

These were the original ideas.

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