Morning everyone!  Hanukkah is coming early this year, so I made sure to create some Hanukkah greeting cards.  This first one is for some very close friends of ours:

This design is counted cross stitch in DMC cotton floss and metallic gold.  Base paper is from the Very Merry Christmas paper pack (Echo Park).  The two Small Swirls (MyFavoriteThings) are cut from metallic paper.  Very simple, but cute Hanukkah card.

I put in a request to DCWV to create a Hanukkah paper pack and bling for next holiday season.  My request was forwarded to the design team, so keeping my fingers crossed!  It is difficult finding neutral holiday-type paper for the Hanukkah cards, so really looking forward to see what they come out with.

A holiday craft bazaar is coming this weekend, so I wanted to make sure I had Hanukkah cards on hand to sell.  I just about sold out last year.  This is what I have for this year:

Hanukkah design (Stampinton & Company) was embossed with Gold embossing powder (Tim Holtz).  Base paper is Christmas Milestones (Creative Memories).  Scallop Trim paper punch (Stampin' Up!) at right edge.  Music ribbon sticker (ArtTalent -- The Netherlands).  Two Glitter Red brads (WeRMemoryKeepers) add the finishing touch to this card.

A huge thank you to our friends, Greg & Dominique in Belgium, for all ArtTalent items used in our cards.   I am really getting into using these goodies!

Same Hanukkah design, but done in Silver embossing powder (Tim Holtz).  Papers and right edge punch are the same as above card.  The Purple Ribbon (ribbon inspiration), three rhinestones and Star of David with two more rhinestones in upper left finish this card.

Shabbat Shalom (Heritage Handcrafts) is done in Glossy Blue embossing paste (Dreamweaver) and adhered with pop dots.  Base paper is from Visions of Christmas paper pad (K&Company). Stock sheer ribbon.  Driedel and Star of David stickers (Life's Little Occasions) complete this card.

Happy Chanukah (The Stencil Collection) is done in Pearlescent embossing paste (Dreamweaver) on black card stock for an outstanding effect.  Base paper from The Traditional Holiday paper pad (DCWV).  Music craft tape (Washi) is brand new -- just picked it up at Michaels Arts & Crafts store.  The 3 Stars of David (Life's Little Occasions) complete this popular design card.

Lastly, this Candelabra (Life's Little Occasions) card is a little different.  Main piece is a 3-D sticker, like the Driedel and three Stars of David.  Base paper is from Home for the Holidays (Recollections) paper pack.  The gold Star of David on green paper is embossed in Metallic Gold embossing paste (Dreamweaver).

Hope to see you at the Holiday Craft Shows this year!

Since it looks like my husband will be off work for quite a while, we hope to be able to do additional craft shows next year -- spring, summer, fall and the holidays.  Come on out and buy your year's supply of greeting cards, chocolates, etched glassware and other gifts!

Happy Hanukkah and Happy Thanksgiving!

Hi Everyone -- Today dawned bright, beautiful and cold!  At least, there is no rain.

Here are some cards I worked up over the weekend.  This first one was a commissioned Christmas card from a wife (who loves penguins) to her husband (who is a postage stamp dealer):

This Holiday Penguin is a digi my sister had.  (It is enjoyable being able to share ideas and supplies with someone who enjoys the craft as much as you do!).  Penguin is colored with Copics and glitter glue in the snowflakes; a Snow marker adds a realistic touch.  He is edged with Broken China distressed ink (Tim Holtz).  Base papers are from Festive Collection paper pack (Authentique).  I used the last of my silver Snowflake ribbon with a silver Snowflake brad in upper left corner.  She loves the card!

I am still working on postage stamp greeting cards for my craft shows.  What doesn't sell at the Holiday Craft Bazaars this season, I will take to a local stamp show for interested customers.  (I know of at least two who were reminiscing about these cards.)

This block of four Butterflies and Flowers stamps comes from Burundi.  Yes, these are real stamps!  Most of the stamps I use on my cards have been used, but it is often difficult getting stamps where the cancellation does not interfere with the stamp design.  

Base papers are from Grandmother paper pad (KaiserCraft).  A stock Yellow ribbon and three rhinestones (Me&MyBigIdea) complete the card.

This block of four stamps also hails from Burundi.

Base papers are from the Violet Leaf stack (DCWV).  Red Floral ribbon and 5 stock buttons complete the card.  If you haven't seen this paper pack, it is so pretty!  I love the colors!

This Owl stamp is from the old Soviet Republic.

Base papers are from the Orange paper block (ArtTalent from The Netherlands); the papers include glitter butterflies and foil (under Owl paper).  Dark green coral ribbon and Brown Glitter Leaf (Splendor Fall mix by Prima) complete the card.  Simple, but attractive.

This Owls stamp is from Mongolia.

Base papers are from Chanteuse collection (KaiserCraft) -- notice the embossed leaves.  The Brown and Off-White rope (Light Jute pack by Little Yellow Bicycle), and Acorn and Maple Leaf brads complete this card.

Of course, I had to do some Horse cards -- This pony is from Poland.

The base papers are Hay (my stash) and Spring Greens (colorbok).  The Rope (Paper Studio) and black Horse brad complete the card.

This noble Arabian on the Poland stamp should be a quick sell.

His base papers are Wood Plank (my stash) and Spring Greens (colorbok).  A white Horse brad and multi-colored "stretchy" ribbon complete the card.

I also did some greeting cards using Cats, Dogs, Elephants and Dinosaur stamps.

All these greeting cards, others I have shown previously on this blog, and more will be available for sale at our Holiday Craft Bazaars:

"Follow the Star" Arts & Craft Fair

Friday, November 29

Saturday, November 30

10:00 am to 4:00 pm

Edmonds Masonic Center

515 Dayton

Edmonds, WA

Holiday Arts & Crafts Fair

Saturday, December 7, 2013

10:00 am to 5:00 pm

Edmonds-Woodway High School

7600 212th Street SW

Edmonds, WA

My husband Keith will also have his homemade chocolates and etched glassware available.  These shows are great venues to find gifts for those hard-to-buy for relatives and friends.  Hope to see you out there!

If you cannot make it to the fairs, there are more greeting cards on the I Did It Creations showroom site.

Now, it is time to get out the holiday papers and bling, and start making those Hanukkah and Christmas cards!  I mean....Holiday music is already playing on the radio!

Lastly, a huge Congratulations to my sister Jan for winning a gift pack from DCWV!  Lots of fun coming her way!

Now, for the other cards I finished this weekend and did not enter into a Challenge:

Antique Rose

This dry-embossed Antique Rose (American Traditional) was colored with Glazed Dimensions (The Stencil Company).  Base paper is from LaBella Rouge stack (DCWV).  Bird dazzle (starform) is colored with Copics and adhered with pop dots.  Stock sheer yellow ribbon for finishing touch.

Glazed Dimensions is a thick gel and gives designs a stained glass window effect.  Limited color selections come in Regular, Pastel, Metallic and Pearl.  I use a mix, depending on what colors I need.


For many years, I used postage stamps in my greeting cards.  I haven't used them in a while, so that was the goal this past weekend.  I completed 12 stamp greeting cards this weekend with one entered into a Challenge earlier today.  Here are some of the others I completed:

Background paper is dry embossed (cuttlebug) Musical and sprayed with Memories Mist.  It was difficult choosing which music ribbon to put on the card as I have several designs.  Love the matching Cello brad!  I did two other Composers stamp greeting cards that all turned out very well.

This is a simple card, where I made the paper work for me.  The Bugs are in a souvenir sheet from Denmark.  Notice the little Lady Bug brad in lower right.  The Red Leaf is from a package of various size leaves that I bought some time ago.  When I came across it yesterday, it was perfect for this card!

The Pope stamp greeting cards are popular at my craft shows.  This is Pope John Paul II (I think).  The twine and flower are nice touches to this simple card.

I did other stamp greeting cards using a combination of papers, ribbons, brads, buttons, bling and paper flowers.  I have more to do and will show those on my blog as I make them.

My stamp greeting cards will be available for sale at our local holiday craft bazaars in November and December.  If I have time, I will make some to put up on I Did It Creations sale website as well.

I will start my Hanukkah and holiday cards this coming weekend.  I sold out of Hanukkah cards last year, so definitely have to make them over the next two weeks as Hanukkah starts Thanksgiving Eve.

It has been a long time since I've entered a Simon Says Stamp Wednesday Challenge -- Keep it Clean & Simple, so here goes:  Friendship

When one enters challenges, the promoters like you to use their products in your creations if you have them.  I do not have anything from Simon Says, but if I win this challenge, that problem will be resolved!

I love working with Dazzles, and it was time I did some more.  These dazzles are from the Far East dazzles collection (HOTP). Base paper is The Far East paper stack (DCWV).  

Clean and simple card.  Remember -- make your base papers work for you in your design!

For the Papertake Weekly Challenge, Anything Goes,  I submit Asian Love

Central Dazzle is from the Far East dazzles collection (HOTP) on pop dots.  Base papers are from The Far East paper stack (DCWV).  White doily (Wilton), and two flower pieces to make one with a button in the middle to complete the card.  Love sentiment (Creative Memories) with yellow Rhinestone for bling.

Cute Card Thursday Challenge time, #294 - Animal Magic -- Winter Penguins

I have used postage stamps in my greeting cards for many years.  In fact, I used to make stamp greeting cards as fund raisers for a philatelic educational non-profit for many years.  Unfortunately, they were forced to close almost three years ago, so now I can make the stamp greeting cards for my enjoyment (and as gifts!).  

The Penguin stamp is from Russia, on swirl metallic white paper.  Base paper is multiple blue heavy paper.  The snowflake dazzles are see-through and pick up the paper color for a dazzling effect (literally!).  A snowflake ribbon completes the card.  I love this ribbon; am out now and need to get some more.

Check out the rest of my blog for more greeting stamp cards and other card designs..

My entry for the Flutter By Wednesday #260 challenge is Glazed Iris & Shimmer Butterfly

The hand-embossed Iris (Heritage Handicrafts) was colored with Glazed Dimensions (The Stencil Collection).  Base papers are from DCWV's La Creme stack.  The embossed and die-cut Butterfly (Spellbinders) is on a metallic paper.  Basic green ribbon, Small Swirl of metallic green (My Favorite Things) and 3 stock buttons complete the card.

Remember -- make your papers work for you!

With so much going on the past couple of weeks, I haven't had a chance to post my Halloween cards. So, here they are...

A Happy Hallowe'en (Art by Reminisce).  Base paper Candy Corn, White Paper Doily (Wilton), and Leaf embossed die-cut (Cuttlebug).  Jack-O-Lantern (Judith) gold powder embossed.

All the Halloween art on these cards is by Reminisce.

Hallowe'en Greetings curled at the corners.  Base paper Spider Web (Creative Imaginations).  Bat ribbon and Spider brad.

A Jolly Hallowe'en on black card stock (Paper Accents), Pumpkin embossed die-cut (Cuttlebug), Bat brad and Ghosts ribbon.

Hallowe'en Greetings on base paper Autumn Layered Paper Pack (Me&MyBigIdeas) and Paper Doily (Wilton).  Owl & 2 Leaves brads.  I made this card for my mother.

A Happy Hallowe'en on dark Gold/Brass Metallic paper die-cut.  Base paper Harvest & Holiday paper pack (Debbie Mumm) base paper. Boo to You and 2 Leaves brads.

A Jolly Hallowe'en on Spider Web (Creative Imaginations) base paper.  Halloween ribbon, layered Black Spider and 3 Halloween color rhinestones (Queen&Co).

A Merry Hallowe'en on Autumn Layered paper pad (Me&MyBigIdeas).  Multi-colored Jack-O-Lantern ribbon, Pinecone and Leaf brads, and 2-layered Bat.

Hope you all had a good, safe Halloween.

Now to get ready for Thanksgiving and Hannukah....