Unbelievable!! I've been trying for a week to show these cards. The three of us, the two Lindas and myself, made the 9 square on our Friday gathering. Actually it has been a couple weeks ago. The muted blue papers are pretty, but was so hard to match a bow! For this card I layered, stitched, the background papers. I gessoed the top square and distressed everything! 

The paper is glittered, but I still distressed the top square. Felt odd to do 'glitter & distress"! Like using the heart here. I did sent this off for Valentines day. 

This is the glittered paper too. But I think this is my favorite. Love the softness of the wreath and flowers. The wreath is a memory box die. 

Thanks for looking!

Mary

The Paper Smoochies, yes Paper Smoochies "Retro" die is my new obsession! Before we get started, here is a link to Paper Smoochies http://www.papersmoochesstamps.com/Retro_Arrow_Die_p/m2d-14-144.htm

Looks pretty much like a 'one time use' die. Oh no. It is not .

The 'happiness' card actually is for the church. It has an inspirational verse on the inside. 

This next one in the yellow, turquoise, and red has a distinct ethnic look. I put the layers down alternating direction of the arrows.

Finally, the reason I bought this was Jocelyn Olsons 'retro shaker'. Still obsessed with the shaker cards!

http://redballooncards.blogspot.com/2014/05/retro-arrow-shaker.html

Thanks to all for looking and especially 'thanks' to Jocelyn, for this adorable card!!

 

 

Just one more! I made the triple pockets for this one. I think, probably 'never again'! One of a kind is good isn't it??

 

I've been having fun!! Love the Julia Nutting paper dolls! Reminds me of  'a long time ago' when my friend Linda and I sat in Union Park in Des Moines, Ia.  We drew and colored and it was a safe place!

Thanks for looking!
           Mary

 

 

This is pretty long post, so again, I hope you can stay! When I do a shaker card usually the openings are (easy) square with foam mounting tape following the design. When you want to do the specific shapes it gets alittle more complicated. Like the butterfly, star, circles and even a tree shape. This time I would like to share a step by step instruction for any design that you can cut multiple times. The butterfly I used is a Memory box die.



 

 

The first step is to die cut your shape on the patterned paper or cover paper of your choice. I cut the base card (not shown yet) 4 1/2 x 6, The green accent paper is 4 1/4 x 5 3/4 and the printed paper is 4 x 5 1/2. Next cut the 4 pieces of cardstock ( about 3 1/2 x 4). For this cut you will line up the die for the white cardstock to fit under the patterned paper. I cut 2 at a time.  TIP: think where  you are placing the die on the patterned paper. I thought I placed the die too low on the orange card,  I cut higher on this card so that I could add an embellishment or sentiment.

The photo above shows all 4 die cuts cut out. The next step is to tape all four die cuts around the edges. Notice we didn't use foam tape, only two-sided tape! Tape fairly close to the shape. We are making a package for your confetti. The next photo shows the butterfly all lined up and taped together.

 

Next I attached the transparency to the cover paper just over the die cut. Now add the 'package' or cardstock with your die cuts tape behind the transparency. It is alittle different here. I used foam mounting for attaching the 'die cut out' to the green base. I taped all around the butterfly just as I had done with the regular tape. Remove the backing from the tape from ONLY 3 sides. Leave the backing on the top of the card. This is the difference, you will fill your card from the top instead of laying flat!

 

Sorry these last two photos are reversed! The one just shows the card with the confetti added. This one is my finished card. Hope you enjoy!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Happy New Year to you! We have had a nice Christmas and a quiet news year, but  happy is here and doing very well. I hope you will tag along today as I have some Christmas cards, (sorry, but I just can't stop.) that I just made. I know, I know, but I do  Christmas all year for a nursing home. I do inspirational cards for a couple churches here so be prepared! The first two are Christmas shaker cards...

 

Both cards were made with the stitched frame die from WPlus-9 dies or stamps The die set is called 'Aperture'. So the next card is the aperture. See the rows of little trees. 

Say around I did another shaker card for you to see!

 

This is it!! One more day until Christmas. I absolutely love Christmas, yet I haven't posted any cards that we did this year. We did do cards for the nursing home. We have been handing out cards at this home for ten years! Where did the time go??? Here is a link for some of our previous Christmas card ideas along with other ideas from 2013. http://theartisticavenues.typepad.com/the_artistic_avenues/

Went back to Ralph Jones.. Wish I had a reason to buy this! Its Las Vegas so, no snow here, although it has snowed in past years.



Yes, time is precious!
Today will be a day of baking and preparing for tomorrow. We have the fudge, the butter toffee, the party mix and spritz cookies for before and after snacks. I still need to make the cheese ball and this year will be the Red cake.

Thanks to all of you and a very Merry Christmas!!

Another Shaker card! It's probably been 10 years since I made one as we were into the 'altered art' world for a long time. Had fun matching the cardstock to the wrapping paper. Think I was lucky, as both were older styles, and not coordinated to match



Like how it turned out!