Winter Sunset

I came across this image last summer and thought it was stunning.  I used watercolor paper and my Kuretake watercolors to make the sky and then used this Penny Black rubber cling stamp along with some Copic pens for the trees.  The dark purple mat and lavendar frame sets off the colors of the sunrset sky perfectly.  (I must have tried dozens of combinations before I came up with this one!)

I think that during the winter one of the loveliest sights is the delicate tracery of bare branches against the sky - especially at sunset.  I made this card just because I thought it would be beautiful, and I wasn't sure if I would ever send it away.  But at this time of year that's supposed to be filled with joy, a friend suffered the terrible loss of her son.  

I mailed it to her,  along with my thoughts and prayers.

Silent Night

This was a special card.  I happened to come across the stamped image last summer and knew it would be perfect for my sister.  We are preacher's kids, and for our family, the most special time of all was the ending of the midnight Christmas Eve service.  All the lights were turned off and only the glow of candlelight illuminated the church.  The choir stood in the back and softly sang "Silent Night".  Such a precious and beautiful lullaby.  As we went through life, we came to appreciate more and more that spccial moment and what a privilege it is to be surrounded by the people you love.  

Cardstock:  PTI Pure Poppy

Paper: Graphic 45 "Twas the Night Before Christmas"

Image:  Impression Obsession "Silent Night"

Ribbon: Michaels

Santa And His Sleigh

This is another one of my favorites from this year's collection.  When I was growing up, I lived in the same town as Norman Rockwell, the marvelous painter of American Life in the 40's and 50's.  Stockbridge Massachusetts is still the classic New England village that was painted on the cover of the Saturday Evening Post so many years ago.  I love this card because it also captures the essence of that tradition --the red holly berries and ribbon, the snow and evergreens, a starry night sky, and of course-- Santa and Rudolph.  

From a paper-crafting point of view, this card has lots of layers, some "bling" on Rudolph's red nose, gold touches with a gel pen, satin ribbon and I got to use my Kuretake watercolors!  

Cardstock:  PTI Pure Poppy, Vintage Cream

Paper:  Graphic 45

Image:  PTI Santa's Sleigh

Uniball Gold Impact Gel Pen

Kuretake Watercolors

Snowy Night

I had so many ideas for Christmas cards this year and here's another one of my favorites.  It's a shaker card. Inside the window are a bunch of iridescent sequins - "snow".   The word "peace" was made by layering 4 die cuts with Glossy Accents glue. The stillness of a winter's night in the woods reminds me of a Christmas I spent with my dad up on the coast of Maine. 

There's nothing like the quiet of a snowy night...

Cardstock: PTI Stampers Select White, Enchanted Evening

Sequins: Michael's

Dies: MFT Stitched Circles, PTI Christmas Tro, Lawn Fawn Stitched Hillside, Spellbiders circle

I have several knitting friends and am a sock knitter myself. 

 ( I always have a pair of socks that I'm working on inside my tote bag.  Perfect for boring meetings and waitng for doctors or other people to show up!). 

Last month PTI released a stamp set called "Fair Isle" and I remembered that I already had their darling sweater die from 2013.  I wasn't sure that the images would be small enough to fit the sweater, but I found a few that worked perfectly!  I love Christmas sweaters - have you seen some of them that Jimmy Fallon has been giving away on the "tonight" show? 

Anyway, this Christmas sweater ranks as one of my favorite creations for this season!

Cardstock:  PTI Stampres Select White, Pure Poppy

Die:  PTI

Images:  PTI Fair Isle

Inks: PTI Pure Poppy, New Leaf

Time to Take Care of Yourself

I've been immersed in Christmas Card making for the last month or so - haven't posted any of my favorites yet until I mailed them all.  

Meanwhile, I have a friend who has lost her mother after a long haul with Alzheimer's.  I found it hard to send a "sympathy" card because I feel that both she and her mom are finally free after a long hard journey.  And this morning the perfect idea arrived.  This card is all about taking care of oneself.

This set of images and dies has been waiting for me for more than a month and it sends the perfect message.  The little tea bag tag dangles from the cup and in addition to "popping" the mug out with foam tape, I added some shading with a grey Copic pen.  And the polka dot paper is perfect for a cheery background that matches my little flowers.  

Best of all, inside there is a little pocket iinsie theis card containing a Wild Sweet Orange teabag from Tazo. The scent is divine!  The message is clear - "You did a great job - now it's time to take care of yourself.  Rest. Recuperate."

Die Cut mug:  PTi Cuppa Love

Images: PTI Cuppa Love

Inks: PTI Orange Zest, New Leaf, Summer Sunrise

Various Copic pens 

Paper:  Polka Dot Summer Sunrise (PTI)