Blog Updates and White Christmas Card

Since I didn't post anything in 2017 I considered closing the blog, but I still want to be able to participate in the blog hops and challenges from time to time or share favorite projects. So the blog will stay open for occasional posts, but I will put most of my projects on Instagram since it's a lot quicker and allows me to share more. I still really enjoy blogging, but I enjoy creating even more and with the limited time I have to craft, I want to maximize that time.

It feels incomplete to have a post without a project though, so sharing one of my favorite cards from 2017 - the White Christmas card. It's a shaker card with the sparkling snow filling, light sponging to create the scene and adorable die cuts from Mama Elephant and MFT. It was a little time consuming to mass produce, but I love how it turned out.

Thanks for checking out my blog and please connect with me on Instagram for more regular updates. Thanks!

Supplies:

• Stamps: Mama Elephant Winter Wonderland
• Tools: MFT Birch Trees, Inside & Out Diagonal Stitched Rectangle STAX Die-namics

~Olga

Merry Christmas 2016

I took another long break from posting. I've been working on my Christmas cards over the last couple of months, but with travel and other obligations didn't get a chance to actually post any of them. I made a few different designs and now that they're all mailed, it's a good time to share some of them before New Year. 

The first design was various combinations with the PTI Spruce and Springs set. I had green and red base cards and made lots of different variations where cards had similar layouts, but the winter bouquet compositions were all a bit different. 

Here's another card from the set. I liked the time savings of being able to pre-cut and stamp a bunch of the same images, yet have all the cards be a little bit unique.  Thanks for looking.

Do you have time saving tips for "mass" producing cards?

Supplies:

• Stamps: Papertray Ink Spruce & Springs stamps and die 
• Accessories: Washi tape

~Olga

Embossed Peonies

I haven't posted in a while. Work kept me busy, was traveling a bit and when I did get to play in my craft room I've primarily been working on my Christmas cards instead of the weekly challenges. I needed a few thank you cards though and the Simon Says Stamp Thanks/Thanksgiving challenge was perfect timing. I wanted minimal layers on the card for easy mailing so opted to add dimension with color. The flowers were masked and then embossed. I also added some clear shimmer inside the flowers. 

In person the card looks really vibrant and I ended up making a few other variations for birthday and other celebrations. Thanks for looking.

Supplies:

• Stamps: PTI Peonies on Parade
• Tools: Simon Says Stamp Thanks craft die S202, Zing embossing powder in Cricket, Grapefruit, Butter and Powder. 

~Olga

Birthday Cone Card for MFTWSC297

This is a second quick and simple birthday card I made based on the MFTWSC297 Sketch Challenge.  Similar look and feel to the earlier one with pattern paper base, but this time I moved the sentiment lower on the card.

The ice cream cone is from a Stampin'Up set and both sentiments are from My Favorite Things. The image is colored with watercolors and covered with clear Wink of Stella pen.

Thanks for looking.

Supplies:

• Stamps:MFT Delicious Birthday,  SU Honeycomb Happiness
• Tools: MFT Happy and Fishtail STAX Dienamics

~Olga

Birthday Chick Card

I made two different cards for the MFTWSC297 sketch challenge this week. This first one is dubbed The Birthday Chick.

The image is from a Stampin'Up! set and both sentiments are from My Favorite Things.  I was practicing coloring using watercolors on both the chick and the balloon, but since I covered the balloon in Stickles it's hard to tell what it looks like underneath. I didn't add any embellishments because I needed more flat birthday cards that are easy to mail.

Thanks for looking. 

Supplies:

• Stamps: MFT Delicious Birthday, Label Maker Love , SU Honeycomb Happiness
• Tools: MFT Dienamics, Koi watercolors

~Olga

Party Cows Card

Every time I reach for The Whole Herd stamp set from My Favorite Things, I end up using the cow image and the "Let's party 'til the cows come home" sentiment. I like the other images too, but this is my favorite one.  I did the same thing on this card, which is based on the MFTWSC296 sketch.

It's a quick card with just white, insulation pink and black colors. The background is sponged using the Cow Print stencil. The images are colored with Copics and adhered with foam for extra dimension.

Thanks for stopping by.

Supplies:

• Stamps: MFT The Whole Herd
• Accessories: Washi tape
• Tools: MFT Cow Print Stencil

~Olga

Wedding Champagne Glasses Card

I've been making mostly quick cards lately that I haven't been posting, but this week I wanted to play along with the CAS-ual Fridays challenge because I love making contrasting black and white cards. Plus, this combo was perfect for a wedding card I needed. My "extra" color was silver, although I also have a few gold sequins as well.

To my amazement, I didn't use any stamps on this card - only die cuts and embellishments. The layered champagne glass die is from My Favorite Things and Congratulations sentiment is from Simon Says Stamp. The glasses are popped up with foam for extra dimension. I like the simple, but elegant look.
I'm also posting the card on the Simon Says blog for the Anything Goes challenge this week since I've used their products.

Supplies:

• Accessories: Simon Says Sparkle & Shine SNS736 sequins
• Tools: MFT Layered Champagne Glass Die-namics, SSS Congratulations die

~Olga

MFTWSC291 Cowgirl Card

I've made a few quick cards in the last few weeks, but haven't had time to post. Finally playing along with MFT sketch challenge this week. It's based on MFTWSC291. 

The little cowgirl has a paper pierced dress and is colored with Copics. The rest of the card is pretty straightforward. The background is embossed and the bottom edge of the card is die cut. Thanks for looking. 

Supplies:

• Stamps: MFT Pure Innocence Cowgirl
• Tools: Cuttlebug Swiss Dot embossing folder, PTI Edgers #3 Scallop Die, Spellbinder scallop rectangle

~Olga

Chevron Birthday CAS Card

Playing along with CASology Chevron challenge today.This is a single layer card with a side cut-out and flowers peeking out from the inside of the card. I sponged the chevron background with MFT Lemon Drop ink and stamped flowers and sentiment with SU Melon Mambo for a bright summer combo.

Here's the cue card for the challenge if you're interested in playing:

Thanks for reading.

Supplies:

• Stamps: PTI Think Big Favorites #7 Mini Stamp Set, SU Happy Harmony (retired)
• Tools: MFT Die-namics Blueprints 21, Stencil On the Diagonal stencil

~Olga

Red White and Blue Ironman Card

Last month I posted the first Ironman card that I made for friends who will be doing a 140.6 mile triathlon race in Chattanooga. Here's another good luck card. The red, white and blue colors were part of the Simon Says Monday Challenge and are very fitting for the 4th of July week.

Again, since I struggled to find triathlon specific stamps, I was trying to find other stamps that could work.  Here I used the US map from Lawn Fawn Wish You Were Here and colored Tennessee in red since that's where the race is. The "Good Luck" sentiment is from Papertray Ink These United States and die cut numbers are from PTI as well.

Thanks for looking and I'd love to hear your ideas on what stamps can be used for athletic inspired cards.

Supplies:

• Stamps: Lawn Fawn Wish You Were Here, PTI These United States
• Tools: PTI Modern Numbers Dies, Darice Chevron embossing folder

~Olga

Baby Card Pink Giraffe

Simon Says Stamp Wednesday challenge this week was Animal Magic. I have a good selection of animal stamps to choose from, but needed a baby card for a friend's shower so went with this cute little giraffe. 

This is a 2007 Stampin'Up! set called Bundle of Joy that I've used a lot over the years. The paper and buttons are also old SU that coordinated with the cardstock. The image and star diecuts were finished off with the clear Wink of Stella pen for a touch of whimsy. 

Thanks for looking.

Supplies:

• Stamps: SU Bundle of Joy, Avery Elle Oh Happy Day
• Tools:MFT Blueprints 13 Dienamics, Spellbinder Ovals 

~Olga

Thank You Gift Card Set

Every year it seems like there's a constant stream of birthdays, weddings and baby showers April through July. A handmade card gift set makes a great small gift or adds a personal touch to a store-bought item. I've made gift sets in the past and often they would similar cards with slightly different sentiments or color variations of a card. This time around I made a set of Thank You cards based on the CAS(E) This Sketch 176.

Here's my take on it:

I know the card doesn't look like a clean and simple card at first glance because of the colors, but it's just a single sheet of patterned paper so it's very simple and quick to make. I added sentiment from Avery Elle Oh Happy Day set and added a touch of gold washi tape. That's it! The inside of each card and corner of the envelopes are stamped with the flowers from the same set to coordinate with the colors of the paper. The inside of the envelopes are lined with paper from the same collection.

In this set the cards are all the same so my friend can send them to her baby shower guests. I put the set in a clear box I bought from PapertrayInk and finished it off with coordinating ribbon. I used the paper from the same set as wrapping paper and added a coordinating tag.

What kind of card sets do you like to make?

Supplies:

• Stamps: Avery Elle Oh Happy Day
• Paper: Paper Studio Hello Darling
• Accessories: PTI gift boxes
• Tools: MFT Stitched Fishtail Flag Dienamics  

~Olga