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

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

Ironman 140.6 Bike Card

Some of you may know that triathlon is another one of my hobbies. I don't scrap as much in the spring and summer because  I spend most of my free time running, biking or swimming. This year I've decided to focus on Nationals and only race in Sprint and Olympic distances, but a few of my friends are currently training for an Ironman triathlon, which is 140.6 mile long race - 2.4 mile swim, 112 mile bike and 26.2 mile run (a full marathon). The amount of training that goes into preparing for something like that is unbelievable. I'm making some cards for them that our team will sign before the race for extra encouragement. I wanted to make some tri themed cards for a while now, but there aren't a lot of athletic stamps out there. I've had a few ideas though that I've been wanting to try and this card is one of several tri themed handmade cards that I plan to make soon. 

The card is for Simon Says Stamp Anything Goes Challenge with Technique Tuesday stamps. I had this Technique Tuesday bike chain stamp from Borderline Industry set for a while and have hardly used it, but this is a perfect occasion. I just stamped it a few times in grey ink to create a background. The bike and number die cuts are from Paper Tray Ink.  I also added eyelets to the wheels like I usually do with this stamp. It's not the most aerodynamic bike, but it'll have to do. Plus, it looks like the basket could store tons of nutrition for the 112 mile journey. I know, I need to stop making cycling jokes on a paper crafting blog, but I just can't help it. 

If you're a runner, cyclist or a swimmer, have you found other sport related stamps that you can recommend? Thanks.

Supplies: 

• Stamps: PTI Pedal Pusher, Technique Tuesday Borderline Industry
• Tools: PTI Pedal Pusher and Modern Numbers Dies, Darice Chevron embossing folder

~Olga

Watercolored Peonies

I got my Papertray Ink order a few days ago that included the new Peonies on Parade set. I thought it'd be perfect to practice all kinds of different coloring techniques. I've been inspired to color more after following all the beautiful artwork in the 30 Day Coloring Challenge on the Daily Marker Blog. This is one of the first few watercolor cards I've made. I've done some backgrounds before, but on this one the entire image is watercolored with stamp reinkers. The image is stamped with clear, glittery embossing powder for a softer look. I didn't add any other embellishments because I need more cards that are easy to mail.  

Thanks for looking.

Supplies:

• Stamps: PTI Peonies on Parade, Hooray
• Tools: Mama Elephant Femme Frames

~Olga

Cupcakes Galore

What is your ideal day? I'm not talking about extraordinary, all your wishes coming true kind of day, but what if you didn't have the usual work/family/house obligations for a day and could do whatever you want? What would it be? Being off these past few days gave me a chance to do more of the things I love. I went for a 14.5 miles run this morning, I stamped, I hung out on Splitcoast forum which I haven't done in ages and I played with the dogs. Now I just need to add some sushi, ice cream and wine to the mix and it'd be pretty close to my ideal.

Since I've had more time to stamp, I had a chance to catch up on a few challenges and play with some new stamps. Here are two cards from the Verve December sketch challenge:

This one is "Cupcakes Galore." Since I've been slacking on my marathon training, these cupcakes are a lot safer to partake in than the bakery kind. To make the cupcakes pop out a bit more, I cut out the base twice - once from cardstock and once from vellum. I scored and folded the vellum to give it a bit more pop and realistic look. I also used dimnesionals under the top cupcake. Yum.

This second card, a bit of a shabby chic. Seems no matter how much I use kraft cardstock, I don't get tired of it.

Supplies:

• Stamps: PTI Cupcake Collection; Hero Arts Starbursts
• Paper: SU Chocolate Chip, Very Vanilla, Pretty in Pink, Soft Sky, Basic Grey, Laura Ashley vellum; Tempting Turquoise, Basic Grey, Kraft
• Ink:Brilliance Moonlight White, SU Close to Cocoa, Tempting Turquoise
• Accessories: Hodgepodge Hardware, Chocolate Chip ribbon, Recollections Glitter on a Roll; rhinestones, twine, MFT Berrylicious button, Spare Parts lace
• Tools: Cuttlebug Swiss Dot folder, Modern Wallpaper, Nestabilities, PTI Coordinating cupcake die cuts

~Olga

Merry Christmas!

Merry Christmas! It's been  a while. In summer and fall any free time I had was preoccupied by triathlon training. I finished the full Texas Tri series this year including my 2nd Half Iron. For Thanksgiving I was traveling and finishing up my Christmas cards. Now I finally have some time off to create and actually post.

Kicking off with the holiday card recap. Here are few from this year.

Of course I had to get the PTI bike stamp and die cut combo and most of my tri and cycling friends got some variation of the bike card.

The second is the snowflake using SU glitter paper. My snowflake punch had a hard time punching through this paper, but I managed to make a few.

Finally, I made a few more variations of the penguin card, like I do every year. These little guys are so cute I can't pass up using the stamp.

Supplies (All supplies are Stampin'Up! unless otherwise noted) :

• Stamps: PTI Pedal Pusher, Sincere Solutations, Whipper Snapper Pile of Penguins
• Paper: Baja Breeze, Certainly Celery, Soft Sky, Wild Wasabi, Basic Grey DP, SU DP
• Ink: Sahara Sand, Certainly Celery Real Red, Wild Wasabi, Copics
• Accessories: Michael's and SU ribbon, rhinestones, brads, SIE buttons
• Tools: PTI Pedal Pusher die cut, Martha Stewart punches

~Olgy