Friends with Flair ~ Holiday Joy

Hello, hello! I've been busy, busy, busy making Christmas cards! I'll share some of them over the next couple of weeks during Friends with Flair ~ and hope to enjoy visiting many of you to get even more inspiration!

Today I'll show the cards I made using the Holiday Joy Stamp of the Week ~ I love how you can make your designs look so different, even using the exact same stamp!

This one focused on neutral and muted colors, showcasing the lines of the stamp itself.

I used part of the same stamp on the inside, just coloring what I wanted with brush markers. You can also see the envelope that I stamped, coloring just the wording on the stamp.

This card is all about bright and happy colors! I took my cue from the patterned paper that I used, and just used the brush markers on the image this time, sweeping it along the lines of the stamp, not worrying too much about following anything exactly.

The inside has a punched snowflake (the same as the front) and I used the negative from the punch to decorate the envelope...using it as a stencil and sponging in some ink.

Have a happy day, and thanks so much for stopping by!

Meredith

Snowman Tag ~ Silhouette Challenge

Hello Friends!

I'm participating in the Silhouette Challenge for the first time this month, and look forward to hopping around to see all the great projects!

I participated in the Tag Swap that the Facebook group did in October, and figured that I would share what I did with y'all!

Meet my little snowman tags!

I used this pin and this pin as my template, taking the details from each that I liked and combining them...isn't he cute?

You have to love little adventures in crafting...I went to use my iridescent glitter glue on his nose, and when I squeezed the bottle, it literally exploded in my hands!!! So I got out a small paintbrush and painted it onto his nose from the pieces of the bottle...hah!

Supplies:

• cardstock: American Crafts
• patterned paper: The Paper Studio
• cut file: my design!
• ribbon: Recollections
• stamps: Studio G
• sequins: Tree House Studio
• jingle bells: Tree House Studio
• ink: Ranger (faded jeans and Wild Honey), Colorbox
• glitter glue: Studio G
• gems: Recollections

I couldn't possibly leave the back plain...I'd purchased sequins and had to use them! I left plenty of space to write a greeting...I get so annoyed when I don't have room to write a full name on a gift tag!

One advantage to making your own cut file, is that I get to share this little cut file with you so that you can make your own snowman tags, have fun! And when you use him, I'd love to get a comment on how he worked out or see a picture! 

Step by step instructions are included in the download.

Snowman Tag .studio file

If you like penguins...maybe you'd like to visit my penguin tag here...that's a free cut file too! Hmm...looks like I'm making this an annual thing!

Thanks for stopping by!

Meredith

Here is the list of Silhouette challenge participants...31 this month, wow! If you would like to see more inspiration and projects, visit each one!

DIY Ironing Board Hanger by The Turquoise Home
Silhouette Challenge: Time Zone Bathroom Art by Nearly Handmade
Santa's Christmas Countdown by Tried & True
Nautical Anchor Pillow Tutorial by The Thinking Closet
Christmas Card Ornament with Free Cut File by unOriginalMom
Thanksgiving and Christmas Dual Sign by Architecture of a Mom
Itching to Etch by Get Silvered
Snowman Tag ~ Silhouette Challenge by Whats Next Ma <----- You are here
Thanksgiving Sign by Chicken Scratch NY
DIY Horse Silhouette Pillow by Rain on a Tin Roof
Sketching on Fabric by The Sensory Emporium
Paper Leaf Garland by Lil' Mrs. Tori
DIY Blessing Board - Silhouette Challenge by One Tough Mother
Christmas Pillow by Create & Babble
Glass Painting with Reverse Stencils by Givemeapaintbrush
Chalkboard Thankful Tree by Cutesy Crafts
Bottoms Up! MYO Wine Tag by From Wine to Whine
'Happy Holly-days' Tags for the Swap by An Elegant Touch...
Thank You for Dinner (Card) by Everyday Paper
Advent Star Christmas Countdown by My Favorite Finds
Geometric Fabric Bowls by Please Excuse My Craftermath...
Paper Carnival by Home At Eight
Silhouette Cameo Tutorial: Dual Sided Business Cards by Black and White Obsession
In Case of Emergency Baby Bag Tags by Tossed Salad Life
Christmas On My Mind by Creative Turn
Jingle all the Way! by My Paper Craze
Christmas Lights Garland by Making Home Base
We Are Thankful by 4 You With Love
Seattle Skyline Silhouette by Sowdering About in Seattle
DIY Stenciled Mugs by Coley's Corner

Friends with Flair ~ Shake Your Bootie

Hello Friends! I've got a fun Halloween card to share today - enjoy! And if you've got some Unity goodness to share...or just want to see lots of inspiration...come join in on Friends with Flair!

I'm making up the Halloween cards to send out to friends and family, including a card exchange that I joined up with over at the ScrapZee Forum. As I was browsing the Silhouette store I came across a card file that I decided to try...its called a 'penny slider' card, have you seen one?

The rest of the stamped saying is on the inside...I thought that this one went with the interactive card quite well!

I'll spend this weekend making up the other 12 that I need to send out...fun!

Supplies:

• cardstock: American Crafts
• patterned paper: Cloud9Designs
• stamps: Unity Itty Bitty Shake Your Bootie
• card cut file: Silhouette America
• die cut: Spellbinders
• ink: Versafine

Thanks for stopping by!

Meredith

Here is a tiny video of the card in action. How fun is that? And just in case you are not able to view the video, the way the card is put together the ghost rolls across the front of the card when you tip it to the side!

Friends with Flair ~ Kraft Card Set

Ooh, another Friends with Flair Friday! And I have another card set made for auction to share...but first, a peek at a new visitor to my craft room...

She is a new addition to the household, much to the dismay of our older cat...and much to the delight of our Great Dane!

She has decided that her favorite roost is the tippy top of the tower on top of the workbench in my craft room...at least when I am in there!

Now, on to the cards! I made another set of cards for auction...this time for the professional group I belong to. I had my kraft cardstock out on my workbench and decided to use it all up! Seriously, I only have a partial page left!

I only have a picture of one card, because this time I made the set and had it out the door in one morning...without taking time to grab the camera! So I used my last piece to make one for myself, so that I could remember what I'd done!

I know that looks like a lot of fussy cutting around the sentiment, doesn't it...but not me!

I measured the square and used the Silhouette Studio software to draw a square slightly larger, welded with circles (subtract) to make the curved out corners. I cut lots of that shape out of kraft cardstock. I used the shadow function to make a larger shape to cut out of the colored cardstock. Then I used my stamp-a-ma-jig to line up the frame and sentiment stamps with the kraft pieces that I cut out. I had a few off center stamps, but not many!

The sentiment portion is on foam tape to give some dimension, and the kraft mat is dry embossed for texture. I did make several sentiments for each card base, that seems to be popular at auctions, so the winner can choose whichever they need at the time.

I love the bright color with the kraft...I guess I'll have to go to the store to get another pack of kraft cardstock...what a trial...LOL.

Supplies:

• cardstock: stash
• stamps: Unity Everything Wonderful Sentiment Set
• ink: Versafine
• embossing folders: Cuttlebug

Just one more pic of the new cutie...such adorableness!

Thanks for stopping by, I know that I will enjoy looking at all of your projects today and over the weekend!

Meredith

Friends with Flair ~ Card Sets for Auction

Happy Friday!!! Its time for tons of inspiration from my Friends with Flair 'buddies'! I love seeing the creative ways that each of you use the Unity stamps...thank you so much for sharing!

The women's group at my church holds an annual Service Auction, where the ladies offer to share their personal talents with others, the services offered range from two hours of weeding or babysitting, to homemade cinnamon rolls (yum!) and various handmade crafts. Since I'm a cardmaker, I made up two sets of cards to donate to the auction. 

I had such fun putting together these two sets, and let me tell you, it was fairly difficult to narrow down my choices!

Here is an example from the first set...strait up a CASE of this card set. Well, ok...I changed it up a bit...but not much. I loved choosing the paper for this set, so fun to combine the patterns!

I used a sentiment that I thought could be used for many different situations and celebrations...congratulations, thinking of you, birthday, whatever the auction recipient wants, hopefully!

The base cardstock is not exactly premium weight, so I like to line the inside of the card to give it that special something extra.

I even decorated the bag that I put them in...because I had some extra butterflies floating around!

Supplies:

• cardstock: cream(wausau), brown(stash)
• patterned paper: Prima()
• ink: Ranger Distress Ink(Walnut Stain)
• stamp: Unity()
• punches: Martha Stewart(butterfly), ???(circle)
• die cut: Birds Cards(label)
• bag: Hobby Lobby
• ribbon: Hug Snug seam binding(cream)

The second set ended up a bit more colorful...I like this patterned paper! 

I started with this sketch, varied it just a bit...and went to town mixing the patterned papers.

I guess I didn't get a picture of the inside, but I lined the card again, with a layer of cream, and added an inked strip of the patterned paper near the top, as in the other set.

I went ahead and used specific sentiments for this set, just to differentiate from the first set. It doesn't show in the pictures, but I embossed the sentiments with a sparkly embossing powder, just to add a little something extra.

And of course, since the first bag was decorated, I couldn't leave this one plain!

Supplies:

• cardstock: kraft(unknown), cream(wausau)
• patterned paper: Basic Grey(Life of the Party)
• stamps: Unity(Circle Sentiments)
• ribbon: Celebrate it
• bag: Hobby Lobby
• punches: EK Success
• ink: Ranger Distress Ink(Walnut Stain)
• embossing powder: StampCraft(crystal sparkle)
• bowmaker: 3GirlJam

Thanks so much for stopping by! I love reading your comments!

Meredith

Friends with Flair ~ Achieving Dreams

I love Fridays...although last Friday was a bit frustrating, since I couldn't get blogger to work on my ipad! Time to get my post for Friends with Flair finished!

I know a lovely young lady, who is my 'daughter from another mother', as a family we have known her for years, and love her dearly! We have hung onto eachother through good times and bad times...and this card was made to celebrate one of her very good times! 

She was homeschooled, and struggled with some things, but just last month she passed her GED!!!! We're incredibly proud of course, and I wanted to make her a special card to celebrate.

I used a couple of Distress Ink pads to add color to the background...and used the same ink pads to dye the ribbon I used for the bow!

And I love the stamp I used on the inside...so inspiring!

I followed this tutorial to dye the ribbon...and made a few more while I was at it! Try it! You just need a bit of water and a Distress Ink pad...really, that's it!!!

Would you believe that the ribbons started out looking like this???

Supplies:

• cardstock: Neenah
• ink: Ranger Distress Ink, Memento
• ribbon: Hug Snug seam binding
• stamps: Unity 'Impossible Dream', 'empowered words'

Thanks so much for stopping by, and have fun hopping around for inspiration!

Meredith

Friends with Flair ~ Face the Sunshine Tag

I ordered the Phyllis Harris stamp, "Face the Sunshine" with my last Unity stamp order, and managed to color it up...I thought it would make a perfect bookmark for my niece to use now that she is in school again...to help remind her of summer! She actually started school three weeks ago...wow, that seems so early to me!

I dyed the ribbon myself...I'll share more about that next week, but here's a closer look!

I do love the style of Phyllis Harris' illustration...I need to save up to get some more of her sets...the hardest part is choosing which ones...since they are all so adorable!

Here's hoping that she will like it!

Supplies:

• markers: Spectrum Noir
• skin: TN4,TN5,TN6,TN7,TN8
• hair: BG3,BG4,BG5,BG6,BG7
• flowers & grass: GB3,GB5,OR1,CT4,CG2,CG4,DG3
• dress & sash: LV1,LV2,LV3,IG1,BGR1,blender
• stamp: Unity: Phyllis Harris Face the Sunshine
• cardstock: Neenah(white),Coredinations(green),scrap(purple)
• ink: Ranger Distress Ink(Dusty Concord)
• ribbon: Hug Snug seam binding
• embossing folder: Darice Basket Weave
• punch: EK Success(square), Martha Stewart(border),1/4" hole punch

I'm entering this tag into three challenges:

• Unity Friends with Flair
• 3GirlJam - Back to School w/ Ribbon
• Spectrum Noir - Anything but a Card

Thanks for stopping by!

Meredith