Partridge in a Pear Tree

Happy Holidays, Crafty Peeps! Christmas is just around the corner (yikes!) and I'm finishing off the season with one more Christmas card.

I used two stamps from Technique Junkies:  Make a Tree, Set of 12 (SS014) and Textured Newsprint (S783).  

This layered card turned out so sweet. I realize that it isn't a real partridge, nor is it a pear tree. But when you are being creative, you can overlook those things! lol

To create the card, I started with a cream CS A2 base. I added an olive green CS panel. Next I stamped the newsprint background using my MISTI and some Distress Ink in Antique Linen.

I trimmed down the panel, then began stamping the tree elements using the MISTI and Memento Inks. The tree base was stamped in Rich Cocoa. The leaves were stamped in Pistachio, and the bird in Peanut Brittle. The panel was then attached to the card base.

Using my Silhouette Cameo, I cut a few vinyl pears to add to the tree. I then used the Silhouette Markers in the Cameo to "write" the sentiment. Using a decorative die, I cut the sentiment out and attached it to the card using foam tape.

I have to say that I am loving this Make A Tree Set. There are 12 different stamps in the set: 5 Birds, 5 Sets of Leaves, and a Tree Base. The combinations are endless. You can use fall colors and several of the leaves to make an Autumn Tree, no leaves for a winter tree, bright green and several birds for Spring, or a pretend Pear Tree for Christmas like I did. That's what I call a value set of stamps!

And did you know, you can save 10% off your basket at checkout on the Technique Junkies web store by using the code below? Plus there are some great clearance stamps for as low as 50 cents! How can you go wrong?

Hope you found a little inspiration today and find some time to visit Technique Junkies. 

Til next time,

Keepin' It Inky!

SNOWFLAKE JOY

NOTE:  TODAY IS THE LAST DAY TO SAVE 30% ON CHRISTMAS STAMPS OVER AT TECHNIQUE JUNKIES! All Christmas stamps are 20% off, plus save an additional 10% using my special code (See bade to the right).

I just can't seem to get enough of these versatile snowflake stamps from Technique Junkies. There are two sets that I have been using over and over (and over!):  Snowflakes (Set of 9) and Snowflakes.  

I have made a LOT of cards with these sets in just the past couple of weeks. This one, though, oh! I've been trying to stay away from the traditional colors in my cards this year so I have frequently been using the color teal, and the snowflakes fit perfectly with that color! See if you agree...

I created the background using my MISTI and several of the stamps from the two sets shown above (with a little filler snowflake from the set Let It Snow), all stamped with a teal stamp pad. Then, using the Brother Scan-N-Cut, I cut out a "J" and a "Y" in the center of the panel, leaving enough space for a snowflake "O". I trimmed the panel down and attached it to a layer of teal CS, then to the A2 card base.  I then stamped one of the snowflakes on the same teal CS and trimmed it down. I added some shimmer using a Nuvo Glitter Gloss Aqua Pen. A little acrylic embellishment for the center of the snowflake, and some foam tape to pop the snowflake out a little, and this card is done!

Here is a closer glimpse...oh that shimmer!

Now, tell me, do you love those snowflakes or what! I also created a set of eight cards as part of a fund-raiser for my granddaughter's upcoming school trip. Just like snowflakes, no two backgrounds are ever the same!

I hope you enjoyed this post and found some creative inspiration. (Don't forget, you can save 10% on any of these stamp sets by using the code "TJ10Ro" -- see the badge on the upper right corner of my blog page).

Enjoy your holidays!

Til next time,
Keepin' it inky!

Fleas Navidad

Hi, Inky Friends! I have a super cute, super fast card for you today.

This cute little pug stamp is from Technique Junkies (Pug - SD230).

I gave him a Christmas theme by hand-drawing and snipping a santa hat.  The pug stamp was stamped all over the kraft cardstock base using Stampin' Up! Close to Cocoa. Then the pug was stamped on a separate piece of kraft cardstock with Archival Ink in Coffee. He and the hat were fussy-cut and foam taped on the base.

A simple computer generated sentiment mounted on red cardstock finished off this quick card!

If you'd like more inspiration or to get a great deal on some Christmas Stamps (25% off until December 15th), head on over to Technique Junkies today!

Til next time,
Keepin' It Inky!

THE ROBIN'S NEST PROJECT

A 3D Box Card for a Special Surprise!

Hi, all. So glad to be back crafting after such a long time. Followers know that I broke my femur back in the middle of May and have been out of commission. Remember this?

OUCH!!!!

Well, I had a craft area where I stood to craft, which left me uncrafting (is that a word?) for way too long. I'm still on a crutch, but have been able to revamp my craft room with a beautiful new desk that I got on clearance at Office Depot (60% off!) and now I can sit and craft to my heart's content. So get ready....

The card I'm featuring today is made with The Robin's Nest cardstock. I love their products and was very happy to be able to play with them again. I am applying for the Design Team again, so here is my project.

To start with, I used my Silhouette Cameo to cut a 3D Box Card designed by Samantha Walker. Here is what they pieces look like set up on my screen.

I used the TRN Red Classic Swirl for the box part of the card, and TRN Valentine Stripe for the accents.

Since the score lines are already cut with the design, all I had to do was fold and add some scoretape.

I adhered the accent pieces to the top and inside of the card and assembled the box.

It went together so quickly and the papers just pop with each other!

Once folded closed, the band goes around to keep it from popping open.

I found some cut little stickers in my stash from The Paper Studio called Christmas Holly. I placed them on both the outside and inside of the card.

I added a couple more stickers and some green Dew Drops (which are stuck down with Patina Stickles to add a little glitter to them).  This 3D Box Card is perfect to tuck in a gift card or other small item. I think I'll be making several of these for the holiday season.

Supplies used for this project:
   Red Classic Glitter Swirl Cardstock by The Robin's Nest
   Valentine Stripe Cardstock by The Robin's Nest
   Green Dew Drops by The Robin's Nest
   3D Box Card by Samantha Walker
   Christmas Holly by Paper Studio
   Patina Stickles
   Scoretape

Wish me luck on the Design Team!

Also, as a bonus, I have included photos of a few other cards I whipped up recently.  Hope you like them!

Hope you are all inspired and like what I have to share with you today.

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!

The Robin's Nest

Merry Christmas! Happy Holidays! 

I am happy to share my final Christmas card of the year with you.  I realize it's the day after Christmas, but it's still the Christmas season.  I have a special type of card today, it's called a Bendi Fold Card. The instructions for this card can be found at Splitcoast Stampers. And here it is...

This very dimensional card was a lot easier to make than it looks.  You start out with three basic pieces of cardstock.  I used the black and silver glitter cardstocks from The Robin's Nest. They made THE perfect snowy ground and twinkly night sky.

Once the pieces were cut, tabbed and assembled, it looked something like this:

I then used my Silhouette Cameo to cut tiny houses and trees, and a Santa and his reindeer. They were then added to to the base and tabs with a little white gel pen to accent snow.  A few deer stamped and a embossed sentiment finish off this amazing little card.

Here are a couple more views of it opened up.

I've been wanting to try this card for a while and, once I got started, it was much easier than it looks. 

If you'd like to see some really beautiful papers, this month over at TRN, the Russian Winter Collection is on sale for 20% off!!!  

Thanks for letting me share with you today.  Enjoy your holidays and be safe!

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!

Ro Donner
Toodle Noodle Creative

TRN Supplies Used:
Black Glitter Cardstock  
Silver Glitter Cardstock  
Red Dew Drops

Other Supplies:
Silhouette Cut Files:
   Winter Trees #22748
   Home for the Holidays #34225
   Santa & Sleight #5437
Red & Green Cricut Cardstock
Stamps:  Deer (Rubber Stamp Tapestry); Sentiments (Hot Off The Press)
Zing Embossing Powder
Versamark

Merry Christmas from Me & FCCB!

Since the holidays are upon us and I'm busy wrapping and preparing for Christmas, I am just sharing a quick little post with you today.

I did a quick little last-minute kind of card using some paper scraps and my Stretch Your Imagination cart.  Since my Cricut and Mac still aren't speaking, I grudgingly cut directly from my cartridge. Nothing picture-worthy there...lol.

But here is my little card:

I cut the tree at 2 3/4" and filled it with green and yellow stickles.  The Noel is from a section of an Anna Griffin embossing folder, highlighted with black ink.  I then "hand stitched" around the card using a white gel pen.  Easy Peasy.

I hope you and yours enjoy a wonderful Holiday.  Merry Christmas.

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!

FANTABULOUS CRICUT CHALLENGE #190: HOLIDAY CARDS

Welcome back to another Fantabulous Challenge!!

Challenge #190 Holiday Cards

Show us your holiday cards!

~This Weeks Sponsor~

Winner of this week's challenge will win a $25.00 Gift Certificate!

Visit Fantabulous Cricut and join the challenge. 
Be sure to use at least 1 Cricut cut on your project!

My card this week features a branch and a snowflake from the Winter Woodland cartridge.  

I cut my card base from some silver cardstock and layered onto it a piece of white cardstock that has been embossed with the Snow Flurry embossing folder from Anna Griffin/Cuttlebug.  

I tore two pieces of white cardstock and adhered them with dimensional tape, then I added the branch.  To all those pieces, I added some Diamond Stickles Glitter Glue to give it some sparkle.  

I stamped the greeting on the snowflake and added some more Stickles and some red Dew Drops from The Robin's Nest.

This card is not fancy, but it's not plain either.  The embossed background give it just enough character and the layers add some dimension.  

Now, it's your turn!  See what you can come up with!  Need more inspiration, head on over to Fantabulous Cricut and see what the other designers have to share.  And please!!! Play along!!!!

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!

TRN Black & White

Doin' Christmas Up Right...In Black and White!

Merry Christmas, everybody!  I know it's still a little early, but I can't help being in the Christmas crafting groove with these awesome Robin's Nest supplies!  The theme this month is Black and White Christmas and I have been LOVING creating my cards!  If you missed my special post sharing some TRN Christmas cards, you can go here. (And remember...you'll receive 20% off any of the papers in the monthly theme at The Robin's Nest site.)

I chose to work with the Snow Covered Glitter Trees cardstock.  I have always been a fan of the beauty of snow-covered trees and this paper is breathtaking!  The second I saw it, I was inspired!

Here are my cut measurements:

I cut two pieces from the Snow Covered Glitter Trees to use on both the outside and the inside of the card. I also did that with the Red paper.  I stamped the deer on the section for the outside of the card and embossed them with black embossing powder.

I added some Red Glitter letters, to which I added some Xmas Red Stickles to give it a little more dimension and sparkle. I also added some red ribbon and some Dew Drops to accent the letters.

I created a Poinsettia style flower using the red diamond shaped Dew Drops with a black Dew Drop center.

For the inside of the card, I mimicked the basic style and matting of the front of the card and added a sentiment using Versamark ink and white embossing powder.

Supplies Used:

• The Robin's Nest:  Snow Covered Glitter Trees, Red Distressed Cardstock (reverse side used), Black Dew Drops, Red Dew Drops, Ruby Red Diamond Dew Drops, Red Glitter Letters
• Stamps:  Christmas Cheer (HOTP); Forest Silhouettes (Sweet 'n Sassy)
• Other:  black cardstock (Recollections); Xmas Red Stickles; red ribbon; Versamark; black and white embossing powders; adhesive

Purple Cows Co-Sponsoring This Month!

Also this month, Purple Cows is generously co-sponsoring!  So I decided to do a second card featuring a beautiful border punched with the Tonic Studios Vine Strip Pattern Punch.

This card features not only a beautiful border, but a very stunning Flame Swirl background (The Robin's Nest) stamped with gold embossed trees (Stampin' Up).  Outline stickers finish off the edges and a sentiment highlighted with Dew Drops completes the card.  Here are the measurements and supplies used:

I mounted the flame cardstock onto the gold cardstock, and then mounted that onto the black card base. I added outline stickers along the border and stamped the trees with Versamark. I then heat embossed them with gold embossing powder.

I then embossed the sentiment with gold onto black cardstock, and mounted that on the card with a couple of gold Dew Drops.  I added a touch of glitter to the main star.

Here are a couple of close-ups so you can really see the detail:

For the inside of the card, I kept it very simple:

I have to say that those Tonic punches are rock stars!  The gold cardstock that I used was fairly heavy and the punch went through it like butter with little pressure from me.  I can't wait to get my hands on a couple more of these little giants.

Supplies used:

• The Robin's Nest:  Flame Glitter Swirls cardstock, Gold Dew Drops
• Tonic Studios Vine Strip Pattern Punch (Purple Cows)
• Stamps:  Lovely As a Tree (Stampin' Up!); Merry Christmas (Katie & Co); Christmas Cheer (HOTP)
• Other:  Black cardstock (Recollections); Gold cardstock (unknown); Versamark ink; Gold embossing powder (JoAnn's); Outline Stickers (Starform); adhesive

Thanks for letting me share my cards with you!  I hope you will be inspired to try these beautiful Robin's Nest papers and embellishments.  And be sure to visit our co-sponsor this month: Purple Cows.

And stay tuned...The Robin's Nest and SmoothFoam are co-sponsoring an ornament blog hop here starting November 15th (tomorrow)!  See the info in my side bar!

Til next time, keepin' it crafty!